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System Setup Program

Dell™ Dimension™ 8300 Series Service Manual

  Overview

  Entering the System Setup Program

  Hyper-Threading

  Clearing Forgotten Passwords

Overview

The system setup program contains the standard settings for your computer.

NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings for this program. Certain changes might make your computer work incorrectly.

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.

Entering the System Setup Program

Viewing Settings

1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
   
   
2. When the blue DELL logo appears, press <F2> immediately.
   
   

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.

See the following figure for an example of the main program screen.

System Setup Screens

The system setup program screens display the current configuration information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into five areas:

• Title — The box at the top of all screens that lists the computer name.
  
  
• Computer data — Two boxes below the title box that display your computer processor, L2 cache, service tag, and the version number of the BIOS.
  
  
• Options — A scrollable box listing options that define the configuration of your computer, including installed hardware, power conservation, and security features.
  
  

Fields to the right of the option titles contain settings or values. The fields that you can change appear bright on the screen. The fields that you cannot change (because they are set by the computer) appear less bright. When <Enter> appears to the right of an option title, press <Enter> to access a popup menu of additional options.

• Key functions — A line of boxes across the bottom of all screens that lists keys and their functions within system setup.
  
  
• Help — Press <F1> for information on the option that is selected (highlighted).
  
  

Option	Function
System Time	Displays the system time.
System Date	Displays the system date.
Drive Configuration	Displays drive configurations when <Enter> is pressed.
Boot Sequence	Displays boot sequence when <Enter> is pressed.
Memory Information	Displays amount of system memory when <Enter> is pressed.
CPU Information	Displays CPU information when <Enter> is pressed.
Integrated Devices (Legacy Select Options)	Displays integrated device options when <Enter> is pressed.
Power Management	Displays power management options when <Enter> is pressed.
System Security	Displays system security options when <Enter> is pressed.
Keyboard Numlock	Turns the Keyboard NumLock option on and off. The default is On.
Report Keyboard Errors	Displays keyboard errors when set to Report. The default is Report.
Auto Power On	Allows auto power-on. The default is Disabled.
Fast Boot	Turns the fast boot option on and off. The default is On.
OS Install Mode	Turns the OS Install Mode on and off. The default is Off.
IDE Hard Drive Acoustics Mode	Sets the performance speed of your hard drive. The default is Bypass.
System Event Log	Displays the system event log when <Enter> is pressed.
Asset Tag	Displays asset tag information.

The following table shows Drive Configuration option information.

Diskette Drive A:	Displays floppy drive details.
SATA Primary Drive:	Displays SATA primary hard drive (if installed). The default is Auto.
SATA Secondary Drive:	Displays SATA secondary hard drive (if installed). The default is Auto.
IDE Primary Drive 0:	Displays primary hard drive 0. The default is Auto.
IDE Primary Drive 1:	Displays primary hard drive 1 (if installed). The default is Off.
IDE Secondary Drive 0:	Displays secondary hard drive 0. The default is Auto.
IDE Secondary Drive 1:	Displays secondary hard drive device type. The default is Off.
IDE Drive UDMA:	Turns IDE Drive UDMA on and off. The default is On.

The following table shows Memory Information option information.

Option	Function
Installed System Memory	Displays the amount of installed system memory.
System Memory Speed	Displays the speed of your system memory.
System Memory Channel Mode	Displays the mode of your system memory.
AGP Aperture	Displays the amount of aperture memory. The default is 128 MB.

The following table shows CPU Information option information.

Option	Function
Hyper-Threading	Enables Hyper-Threading. The default is Disabled.
CPU Speed	Sets the CPU speed. The default is Normal.
Bus Speed	Displays the bus speed.
Processor 0 ID	Displays processor ID.
Clock Speed	Displays clock speed.
Cache Size	Displays cache size.

The following table shows Integrated Devices (Legacy Select Options) option information.

Option	Function
Sound	Turns the integrated sound off and on. The default is On.
Network Interface Controller	Turns the network interface controller off and on. The default is On.
Mouse Port	Turns the mouse port off and on. The default is On.
USB Emulation	Turns USB emulation off and on. The default is On.
USB Controller	Turns the USB controller off and on. The default is On.
Serial Port 1	Sets serial port options and turns the port off and on. The default is Auto.
Parallel Port	Displays parallel port settings when <Enter> is pressed. The default mode is PS/2 and the I/O address default is 378h.
Diskette Interface	Sets diskette interface options. The default is Auto.
PC Speaker	Turns the PC speaker off and on. The default is On.
Primary Video Controller	Sets the primary video controller. The default is AGP.

The following table shows Power Management option information.

Option	Function
Suspend Mode	Displays the suspend state used by the computer. The default is S3.
AC Power Recovery	Enables AC power recovery to occur. The default is Off.
Low Power Mode	Minimizes power use when the computer is off. The default is Disabled.

The following table shows System Security option information.

Option	Function
Password Status	Locks and unlocks the password option. The default is Unlocked.
System Password	Enables and disables the system password. The default is Disabled.
Setup Password	Enables and disables the setup password. The default is Disabled.
POST Hotkeys	Selects key that are active during POST. The default is F2 and F12.
PXE BIS Default Policy	Specifies how the computer will respond to boot integrity services authentication requests when no certificate has been installed. When set to Deny (the default), this request is rejected. The request is accepted when set to Accept.

Boot Sequence

This feature allows you to change the boot sequence for devices.

Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot

You can use this feature, for example, to tell the computer to boot from the CD drive so that you can run the Dell Diagnostics on the ResourceCD, but you must set the computer to boot from the hard drive when the diagnostic tests are complete.

1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
   
   
2. When the blue DELL logo appears, press <F2> immediately.
   
   

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.

The Boot Device Menu appears, listing all available boot devices. Each device has a number next to it.

3. At the bottom of the menu, enter the number of the device that is to be used for the current boot only.
   
   

Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots

1. Enter the system setup program.
   
   
2. Use the arrow keys to highlight the Boot Sequence menu option and press <Enter> to access the pop-up menu.
   
   

   NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it.

   
   
   
3. Press the up- and down-arrow keys to move through the list of devices.
   
   
4. Press the spacebar to enable or disable a device (enabled devices have a checkmark).
   
   
5. Press plus (+) or minus (–) to move a selected device up or down the list.
   
   

Hyper-Threading

Hyper-Threading is an Intel® technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing one physical microprocessor to function as two logical microprocessors, capable of performing certain tasks simultaneously. It is recommended that you use the Microsoft Windows XP operating system because Windows XP is optimized to take advantage of Hyper-Threading technology. While many programs can benefit from Hyper-Threading, some programs have not been optimized for Hyper-Threading and may require an update from the software manufacturer. Contact the software manufacturer for updates and information about using Hyper-Threading with your software.

To determine if your computer is using Hyper-Threading technology:

1. Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
   
   
2. Click Hardware and click Device Manager.
   
   
3. In the Device Manager window, click the plus (+) sign next to the processor type. If Hyper-Threading is enabled, the processor is listed twice.
   
   

You can enable or disable Hyper-Threading through the system setup program. For more information on Hyper-Threading, search the Knowledge Base on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in your Owner's Manual.

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

NOTICE: This process erases both the system and setup passwords.

1. Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
   
   

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

2. Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their electrical outlets.
   
   
3. Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

4. Open the computer cover.
   
   
5. Locate jumper PSWD on the system board and remove the jumper plug.
   
   
6. Close the computer cover, plug your computer into an electrical outlet, and turn on the computer.
   
   

The existing password(s) will be erased.

7. Shut down the computer.
   
   

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

8. Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their electrical outlets.
   
   
9. Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   
10. Open the computer cover.
    
    
11. Reconnect the jumper plug to jumper PSWD on the system board.
    
    
12. Close the computer cover.
    
    

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer.

13. Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    

Turning on your computer with the PSWD jumper installed reenables the password feature.

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