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Using the System Setup Program: Dell Latitude C810 User's Guide
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Using the System Setup
Program: Dell Latitude C810 User's Guide
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NOTE: This section provides general
information on using the system setup program. For detailed information on options and
settings, enter the system setup program and navigate through the screens,
or visit the Dell support website at http://support.dell.com. |
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NOTE: ACPI operating systems, such as
Microsoft® Windows® 2000 or Windows XP, automatically configure
most of the setup options available in the system setup program, and
override options entered through the system setup program.
One exception is the External Hot Key option, which you can disable or
enable only through the system setup program. For more information on configuring features
for these operating systems, see your Microsoft Windows Help. |
You can use the system setup program as follows:
- To set or change user-selectable featuresfor example, your
password or power management features
- To verify information about your computer's current configuration,
such as the amount of system memory
For some setup options, you must reboot the computer before any
changes take effect. Changes for other options take effect immediately. The Help text in the upper-right corner of
system setup screens tells you if the computer must be rebooted.
After you set up your computer, run the system setup program to
familiarize yourself with your system configuration information and optional settings.
Dell recommends that you write down the information for future reference.
| Action |
Computer or
External Keyboard |
| Enter the system setup program. |
<F2> when prompted during the system boot routine.
If you do not enter the system setup program when
prompted, wait until the computer finishes the boot routine, restart the
computer, and then begin again.
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| Exit the system setup program. |
<Esc> If
you change the setting of an option that requires rebooting to take effect, exit the
operating system before rebooting. (The Help text in the upper-right corner of
system setup screens tells you if the computer must be rebooted.) |
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NOTE: If the system setup
program is running when the computer enters standby mode, the computer exits the system
setup program and then activates standby mode. |
The system setup screens display the current setup and configuration
information and optional settings for your computer. Information on the screens is
organized in five boxed areas:
- Title
The box at the top of each screen lists the page number,
system name, and version number of the basic input/output system (BIOS).
- Options
The box on the left half of each screen lists
options that define the installed hardware in your computer and the power conservation and
security features for your computer.
Fields next to the options contain settings or values. You can
change those values that appear bright on the screen. Options or values that you cannot
change (because they are determined or calculated by the computer) appear less bright.
- Help
The box on the upper-right half of each screen
displays help information for the option with a currently highlighted field.
- Computer data
The box in the lower-right corner of each
screen displays information about your computer.
- Key functions
The line of boxes across the bottom of each
screen lists
keys and their functions within the system setup program.
To change the computer's boot sequence, change the device settings in the Boot First
Device, Boot Second Device, or Boot Third Device options.
| Boot Sequence Option |
Description |
| Boot First
Device |
Tells the computer where to
look first for the software it needs to start the operating system |
| Boot Second
Device |
Tells the computer where to
look if it cannot find the software it needs to start the operating system on the drive
identified in Boot First Device |
| Boot Third
Device |
Tells the computer where to
look if it cannot find the software it needs to start the operating system on the drive
identified in Boot First Device or Boot Second Device |
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NOTE: You can only boot
from a CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive installed as a fixed optical drive. You
cannot boot from one of these modules installed in the modular bay. |
For a change in the boot sequence options to take effect, you must
reboot your computer.
The term boot refers to the computer's start-up procedure.
When you turn on the computer, it "bootstraps" itself into an operational state
by loading into memory a small program, which in turn loads the necessary operating
system. The boot sequence tells the computer where to look to find the software
needed to start the operating system.
Set the Parallel Mode option according to the type of printer or device
connected to the parallel port. To determine the correct mode to use, see the documentation that came with the device.
Setting Parallel Mode to Disabled disables the parallel port and its
assigned LPT address, freeing its interrupt for another device to use.
Serial Port allows you to map the address of the serial port, or to disable the serial port and its
assigned COM address, freeing that interrupt for another device to use.
- Set the Infrared Data Port option to a COM setting (COM3 is
recommended).
- Set the Infrared Mode option to either Fast IR or Slow IR.
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