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System Setup Program

Dell™ Dimension™ 4400

Overview

Each time you turn on or restart your computer system, the computer compares the hardware installed in the computer to the hardware listed in the configuration information stored in NVRAM on the system board. If the computer detects a discrepancy between the two, it generates error messages that identify the incorrect configuration settings. The computer then prompts you to enter the system setup program to correct the setting.

You can use the system setup program as follows:

• To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your computer
  
  
• To set or change user-selectable options—for example, the user password
  
  

Dell recommends that you write down the system setup program screen information for future reference.

The system setup screens are organized as follows:

• At the top is a menu bar for accessing the main program screens.
  
  
• The box on the left side of each screen lists options that define the installed hardware in the computer. Fields beside the options contain settings or values. You can change those that are enclosed in brackets. Values that are grayed out contain status information reported by the system.
  
  
• The box on the right side of each screen displays help information for the option with a currently highlighted field.
  
  
• The lower-right area lists keys and their functions for the currently displayed screen.
  
  

The menu bar provides access to the following screens:

• Main screen — Provides settings for the basic computer configuration
  
  
• Advanced screen — Provides detailed settings for some computer features
  
  
• Security screen — Provides indications and settings for system password and setup password
  
  
• Power screen — Provides settings for system power management features
  
  
• Boot screen — Provides information about which device boots the computer
  
  
• Exit screen — Provides selections for saving and loading the configurations and options
  
  

In addition to these screens, options identified by a right arrow provide access to submenus.

Entering the System Setup Program

1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
   
   
2. When the blue DELL™ logo appears, press <Del>.
   
   

If you wait too long and the operating system begins to load into memory, let the system complete the load operation. Then shut down the computer and try again.

Main Screen

Option	Function
BIOS Version	Displays the version of the BIOS being used.
Processor Type	Displays the type of microprocessor installed.
Processor Speed	Displays the internal speed of the microprocessor.
System Bus Frequency	Displays the external speed of the microprocessor.
Cache RAM	Displays the cache random access memory.
Service Tag	Displays the service tag for the computer.
Total Memory	Displays the total computer memory.
Memory Bank 0	Displays the memory size and type in memory bank 0.
Memory Bank 1	Displays the memory size and type in memory bank 1.
System Time	Resets the time on the computer's internal clock.
System Date	Resets the time on the computer's internal calendar.

Advanced Screen

Option	Function
Boot Configuration	Displays the Boot Configuration submenu.
Peripheral Configuration	Displays the Peripheral Configuration submenu.
IDE Configuration	Displays the IDE Configuration submenu.
Diskette Configuration	Displays the Diskette Configuration submenu.
Event Log Configuration	Displays the Event Log Configuration submenu.
Video Configuration	Displays the Video Configuration submenu.

Boot Configuration Submenu

Option	Function
Plug and Play OS	Determines whether the computer is configured to support Plug and Play devices from the operating system or from the system BIOS. Leave this option set to Yes so the operating system handles all Plug and Play operation. Be sure that this option is set to No before running Dell Diagnostics. Otherwise, some diagnostics may incorrectly fail. The system setup program automatically checks the configuration of a Simple Boot Flag-compatible operating system at POST. Depending on its configuration, the system setup program may automatically set this option to No or Yes.
Reset Config Data	Permits resetting Plug and Play configuration data to default values. Yes resets the data; No (default) retains the current Plug and Play settings. If set to Yes, configuration data reverts to default values the next time the computer boots. This option automatically reverts back to the No setting.
Numlock	Selects power-on state for Numlock.

Peripheral Configuration Submenu

Option	Function
Serial Port A	Configures the serial port. Set this option to Auto (default), Enabled, or Disabled. Depending on the port setting, you can set the following additional options: Base I/O Address If the port is set to Enabled, available I/O addresses are 3F8, 3E8, 2F8, and 2E8. Interrupt If the port is set to Enabled, available interrupts are IRQ3 and IRQ4.
Parallel Port	Configures the parallel port. Set this option to Auto (default), Enabled, or Disabled. Depending on the port setting, you can set the following additional options: Mode If the port is set to Auto or Enabled, available modes are Output Only, Bi-Directional (default), ECP, and EPP. See the device manufacturer's documentation for information on which mode to use before changing this setting. Base I/O Address If the port is set to Enabled, available I/O addresses are 378 (default), 278, and 228. Interrupt If the port is set to Enabled, available interrupts are 7 and 5.
Onboard Audio Device	Sets the integrated audio controller to either Enabled (default) or Disabled.
Legacy USB Support	Set to Enabled (default) to allow support for legacy USB.  Set to Disabled if legacy USB support is not desired.

IDE Configuration Submenu

Option	Function
IDE Controller	Configures the integrated primary and secondary IDE controllers and detects the types of drives attached to them. If set to Primary, Secondary, or Both (default), the designated controller(s) are enabled, and the types of drives attached are displayed. If set to either Primary or Secondary, the other controller is not enabled and the IRQ it normally uses becomes available. If set to Disabled, the system cannot detect any drives attached to the controllers and displays None for all four IDE drive options.
PCI IDE Bus Master	Set to Disabled to disable the computer's PCI IDE Bus Master functions. Set Enabled (default) to enable the features.
Primary IDE Master	Identifies the first drive attached to the primary IDE interface, usually the boot hard drive. See "Primary IDE Master Submenu."
Primary IDE Slave	Identifies the second drive attached to the primary IDE interface, usually a second hard drive. The format of this submenu is the same as the one described in "Primary IDE Master Submenu."
Secondary IDE Master	Identifies the first drive attached to the secondary IDE interface, if there is one. The format of this submenu is the same as the one described in "Primary IDE Master Submenu."
Secondary IDE Slave	Identifies the second drive attached to the secondary IDE interface, usually a CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive. The format of this submenu is the same as the one described in "Primary IDE Master Submenu."

Primary IDE Master Submenu

Option	Function
Drive Installed	Displays the primary IDE device type.
Type	Specifies the type of hard drive. Settings for this option are User, Auto, CD-ROM, ATAPI Removable, Other ATAPI, IDE Removable, and None.
Maximum Capacity	Displays the maximum capacity of the primary IDE device.
LBA Mode Control	Displays whether LBA mode control is enabled or not on the primary IDE device.
Multi-Sector Transfers	Displays the multi-sector transfer setting of the primary IDE device.
PIO Mode	Displays the PIO mode setting of the primary IDE device.
Ultra DMA	Displays the ultra DMA setting of the primary IDE device.
Cable Detected	Displays the type of cable connected to the primary IDE device.

Diskette Configuration Submenu

Option	Function
Diskette Controller	Configures the floppy drive interface. Options are Enabled (default) and Disabled.
Diskette A	Selects the floppy drive type from Not Installed, 360 KB 5 1/4", 1.2 MB 5 1/4", 720 KB 3 1/2", 1.44/1.25 MB 3 1/2", or 2.88 MB 3 1/2".
Diskette Write Protect	Protects a floppy disk from being written to when set to Enabled. When this option is set to Disabled (default), the floppy disk is not protected unless the write-protect tab is in place.

Event Log Configuration Submenu

Option	Function
Event Log	Displays the space available for the event log.
Event Log Validity	Displays the validity of the event log.
View Event Log	Press <Enter> to view the event log.
Clear All Event Logs	Clears all event logs when the computer restarts if set to Yes. Retains the event log information if set to No (default).
Event Logging	Enables or disables event logging.
Mark Events As Read	Press <Enter>, and then select Yes or No to mark DMI events as either read or unread.

Video Configuration Submenu

Option	Function
AGP Aperture Size	Sets the AGP aperture size as 64 MB (default) or 256 MB.
Primary Video Adapter	Supports the Windows® 2000 multiple-monitor feature. Select AGP (default) to specify the integrated AGP video controller as the primary video adapter. Select PCI to specify a PCI video card as the primary video adapter.
AGP Hardware Detected	Displays the type of AGP hardware detected by the computer.

Security Screen

Option	Function
Supervisor Password Is	Indicates whether a supervisor password has been assigned.
User Password Is	Indicates whether a user password has been assigned.
Set Supervisor Password	Sets and confirms a supervisor password. If a supervisor password is set, a User Access Level option appears that enables you to set the user access level as Full (default), Limited, No Access, or View Only.
Set User Password	Sets and confirms a user password.

Power Screen

Option	Function
ACPI Suspend State	Determines the ACPI suspend state. Options are State 1 and State 3 (default).
Restore on AC/Power Loss	Determines what state the computer enters when AC power is restored after a power loss. Settings are as follows: Last State (default) Computer returns to the state it was in when power was lost. Stay Off Computer stays off when power is restored; you must press the power button to turn on the computer. Power On Computer turns on when power is restored.
Wake on PME	Determines what state the computer enters when a PCI Power Management Enable wake-up event occurs. Settings are Power On and Stay Off (default).

Boot Screen

Option	Function
Quiet Boot	Enabled (default) displays the Dell logo during POST. Disabled displays the normal POST messages.
Quick Boot	When set to Enabled, this option shortens POST by eliminating some tests. If set to Disabled (default), all POST tests occur. The system setup program automatically checks the configuration of a Simple Boot Flag-compatible operating system at POST. Depending on its configuration, the system setup program may automatically set this option to Enabled or Disabled.

Exit Screen

Option	Function
Exit Saving Changes	Saves any changes you have made, exits the system setup program, and restarts the computer.
Exit Discarding Changes	Discards any changes you have made, exits the system setup program, and restarts the computer.
Load Setup Defaults	Discards any changes you have made and reverts all options to their defaults, but does not exit the system setup program.
Load Custom Defaults	Discards any changes you have made and reverts all options to their defaults, but does not exit the system setup program.
Save Custom Defaults	Saves any changes you have made, but does not exit the system setup program.
Discard Changes	Discards any changes you have made and reverts all options to their last saved settings, but does not exit the system setup program.

Clearing NVRAM

To clear NVRAM for all devices and restart the computer:

1. Enter the system setup program.
   
   
2. Press the right-arrow key to move to the Advanced menu.
   
   
3. Select the Boot Configuration submenu by pressing <Enter>.
   
   
4. Press the down-arrow key to highlight Reset Config Data. Then change the setting to Yes (see "Boot Configuration Submenu").
   
   
5. Press <F10> to exit the program and restart the computer.
   
   

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in "Safety Instructions."

If you forget your supervisor or setup password, you cannot operate your computer or change settings in the system setup program until you clear the forgotten password(s).

NOTICE: The following procedure resets all standard settings for your computer. Before proceeding, record all current settings so that you can restore them when you finish this procedure.

1. Shut down the computer.
   
   
2. Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their electrical outlets.
   
   

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

3. Disconnect the power cable from your computer, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   
4. Open the computer cover.
   
   
5. Locate the configuration jumper on the system board, and move the jumper plug so that pins 2 and 3 are jumpered (to "clear" the password when you turn on the computer).
   
   
6. Close the computer cover, connect your computer to an electrical outlet, and turn on the computer.
   
   
7. Access the system setup program and assign a new supervisor or setup password in the Maintenance menu.
   
   
8. Exit and save the system setup program settings.
   
   
9. After the computer boots, turn it off, and unplug it from the electrical outlet.
   
   
10. Open the computer cover again.
    
    
11. Move the configuration jumper plug so that pins 1 and 2 are jumpered (the "normal" setting).
    
    
12. Close the computer cover, connect your computer to an electrical outlet, and turn on the computer.
    
    

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