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Overview | |
Boot Screen |
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Entering the System Setup Program | |
Exit Screen |
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Main Screen | |
Clearing NVRAM |
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Advanced Screen | |
Enabling the Processor Serial Number |
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Security Screen |
Each time you turn on or restart your computer system, the system compares the hardware installed in the system to the hardware listed in the configuration information stored in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) on the system board. If the system detects a discrepancy between the two, it generates error messages that identify the incorrect configuration settings. The system then prompts you to enter the system setup program to correct the setting.
You can use the system setup program as follows:
Dell recommends that you print the system setup program screens (by pressing <Print Screen>) or write down the information for future reference.
The system setup screens are organized as follows:
The menu bar provides access to the following screens:
In addition to these screens, options identified by a right arrow provide access to submenus.
Table 1. Main Screen Menu Options
| Option | Function |
|---|---|
| BIOS Version | Displays the version of the BIOS being used. |
| Processor Type | Displays the type of microprocessor installed. NOTE: The 533- and 600-MHz processors have an "EB" code that identifies them as having an external speed of 133 MHz. |
| Processor Speed | Displays the internal speed of the microprocessor. |
| Cache RAM | Displays the cache random access memory. |
| Service Tag | Displays the service tag for the system. |
| Total Memory | Displays the total system memory. |
| Memory Bank 0 | Displays the memory in memory bank 0 (RIMM PC600, RIMM PC700, RIMM PC800, or Not Installed [empty]). |
| Memory Bank 1 | Displays the memory in memory bank 1 (RIMM PC600, RIMM PC700, RIMM PC800, or Not Installed [empty]). |
| Processor Serial Number | Displays the serial number of the microprocessor when set to Enabled. Disabled (default) turns off this feature. |
| Memory Configuration | Selects ECC (default) or Non-ECC memory operation. |
| Cache Bus ECC | Determines if cache bus ECC is Enabled (default) or Disabled. |
| System Time | Resets the time on the system's internal clock. |
| System Date | Resets the time on the system's internal calendar. |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
Table 2. Advanced Screen Menu Options
| 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. |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
Table 3. Boot Configuration Submenu Options
| Option | Function |
| Plug and Play OS | Determines whether the system is configured to support Plug and
Play devices from the operating system or from the system BIOS. Leave this option set to No
so the BIOS handles all Plug and Play operation. NOTE: Be sure that this option is set to No before running Dell Diagnostics. Otherwise, some diagnostics may incorrectly fail. |
| 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 system boots. This option automatically reverts back to the No setting. |
| Numlock | Selects power on state for Numlock. |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
Table 4. Peripheral Configuration Submenu Options
| 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:
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| 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:
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| Legacy USB Support | Set to Disabled if legacy USB support is not desired. Auto (default) and Enabled allow support for legacy USB. | ||||||||||||
| IRQ5 | Reserved (default) indicates the IRQ is reserved for use by legacy systems. Available indicates that a specific IRQ is available on the system. | ||||||||||||
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |||||||||||||
Table 5. IDE Configuration Submenu Options
| Option | Function |
|---|---|
| IDE Controller | Configures the integrated primary and secondary EIDE controllers and detects the types of drives attached to them. If set to Primary, Secondary, or Both, 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. |
| Primary IDE Master | Identifies the first drive attached to the primary EIDE interface, usually the boot hard-disk drive. See "Primary IDE Master Submenu." |
| Primary IDE Slave | Identifies the second drive attached to the primary EIDE interface, usually a second hard-disk 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 EIDE 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 EIDE interface, usually a CD-ROM or tape drive. The format of this submenu is the same as the one described in "Primary IDE Master Submenu." |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
Table 6. Primary IDE Master Submenu Options
| Option | Function |
|---|---|
| Type | Specifies the type of hard-disk drive. Settings for this option are User, Auto, CD-ROM, ATAPI Removable, Other ATAPI, IDE Removable, and None. |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
Table 7. Diskette Configuration Submenu Options
| Option | Function |
|---|---|
| Diskette controller | Configures the diskette drive interface. Options are Enabled (default) and Disabled. |
| Diskette A | Selects the diskette 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 diskette from being written to when set to Enabled. When this option is set to Disabled (default), the diskette is not protected unless the write-protect tab is in place. |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
Table 8. Event Log Configuration Submenu Options
| 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 system restarts if set to Yes. Retains the event log information if set to No (default). |
| Event Logging | Enables or disables event logging. |
| ECC Event Logging | Enables or disables ECC event logging. |
| Mark Events As Read | Press <Enter>, and then select Yes or No to mark DMI events as either read or unread. |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
Table 9. Video Configuration Submenu Option
| Option | Function |
|---|---|
| AGP Aperture Size | Sets the aperture size for the AGP controller to 64 MB (default) or 256 MB. |
| Primary Video Adapter | Supports the Windows® 98 and Windows 2000 multiple-monitor feature. Select AGP (default) to specify the AGP video card as the primary video adapter. Select PCI to specify a PCI video card as the primary video adapter. |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
Table 10. Security Screen Options
| 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. |
| Set User Password | Sets and confirms a user password. |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
Table 11. Boot Screen Options
| Option | Function |
|---|---|
| Quiet Boot | Enabled (default) displays the Dell logo. 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. |
| Restore on AC/ Power Loss | Determines what state the system enters when AC power is
restored after a power loss. Settings are as follows:
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| 1st Boot Device | Determines which device the system tries to boot from
first. Use the up- or down-arrow key to highlight one of the following settings:
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| 2nd Boot Device — 7th Boot Device | Determines which device the system tries to boot from
if it cannot boot from the previous boot device in the list. Settings for this option are
the same as for 1st Boot Device. If you select Disabled
for any of these devices, no further boot devices appear on the list. NOTE: The system displays only the bootable devices that are installed. Therefore, you may see less than seven settings in this option. |
| IDE Drive Configuration | Determines the primary master IDE, primary slave IDE, secondary master IDE, and secondary slave IDE drive boot order. |
| * Where SCSI is the name of the installed SCSI device. | |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
Table 12. Exit Screen Options
| Option | Function |
|---|---|
| Exit Saving Changes | Saves any changes you have made, exits the system setup program, and restarts the system. |
| Exit Discarding Changes | Discards any changes you have made, exits the system setup program, and restarts the system. |
| 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 | Loads settings saved using Save Custom Defaults option. Press <Enter>. Then press the spacebar to select Yes or No at the confirmation pop-up menu, and press <Enter> again. |
| 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. |
| NOTE: The Glossary defines abbreviations and acronyms. | |
To clear NVRAM for all devices and restart the system, perform the following steps:
The Intel
® Pentium® III microprocessor includes a processor serial number feature designed to provide additional user security and manageability benefits. By default, this feature is disabled on Dell systems to protect your privacy. However, it can be enabled through the Processor Serial Number option in the system setup program.| NOTICE: Do not change this setting by any means other than the system setup program. Otherwise, your system may become unusable. |
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NOTE: The processor serial number feature remains enabled until you disable it in the system setup program. |
To disable the processor serial number feature, repeat steps 1 through 5, selecting Disabled in step 3.
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