The computer retains system configuration information in the nonvolatile random-access
memory (NVRAM) maintained by the reserve battery. Each time you turn on the computer, the
system compares the installed hardware with the system configuration information stored in
NVRAM. If the system detects a discrepancy, it generates an error message that identifies
the incorrect configuration setting.
The system setup program can be used to perform the following tasks:
Change the system configuration information after adding, changing, or
removing hardware connected to or installed inside the computer.
Verify information about the current configuration, such as the amount
of system memory.
Set or change selectable features—for example, power management or
security features.
NOTE: When the computer is running the Windows� operating system,
the Windows power settings override the system setup program settings.
Accessing the System Setup Program
NOTICE: To avoid data loss, exit any application programs before rebooting the
computer to enter the system setup program.
To access the system setup program, turn on the computer and press <F2> when the
Dell logo appears.
The Main menu of the system setup program shows
how the computer is configured. In addition to the Main menu, you can
also access the System Devices menu, Security
menu, Power menu, Boot
menu, and Exit menu.
Navigating Through the System Setup Program
Use the integrated keyboard to make all selections in the system setup program.
NOTE: External Universal Serial Bus (USB) keyboards only function when
Windows is running.
Key
Function
<F1>
System setup program Help information appears.
up-arrow and down arrow
Highlights an item.
<F5> or <F6>
Changes the setting value.
<F9>
Selects the default settings for all settings in the system setup program.
<Esc>
Exits the system setup program without saving changes.
left-arrow and right-arrow
Highlights a menu item.
<Enter>
Highlights a submenu item (or executes a command on the Exit menu
only).
<F10>
Saves changes and exits the system setup program.
Main Menu
NOTICE: Video driver settings override the Television Type setting.
Option
Function
System Time
Resets the time on the internal clock.
System Date
Resets the date on the internal calendar.
Floppy Drive
Identifies the type of diskette drive being used
by the computer. This option is not configurable.
Hard Disk
Displays the capacity of the internal hard-disk
drive. This option is not configurable.
NOTE: If a second hard-disk drive is
installed, it does not appear in this option even if installed.
Quiet Boot
When set to Disabled, allows POST
messages and the summary screen to appear at system start-up. When set to Enabled
(default), prevents the diagnostic POST messages and summary screen from appearing at
system start-up. If Quiet Boot is enabled, a boot device cannot be selected during
start-up.
Video Display Device
Allows you to specify whether video is visible
only on the integrated display (LCD Mode), only on an external monitor or projector
(CRT Mode), or on both the display and an external device simultaneously (Simul
Mode, the default).
Press <Fn><F8> to change the video display device
when Windows is running.
Television Port
When set to Enabled (default), allows the
computer to display the screen image on a TV (if one is attached to the TV-out S-video
connector) and disables the integrated display as well as an external monitor. When set to
Disabled, allows the screen image to appear on the device specified in the Video
Display Device option.
Television Type
Allows you to set the TV-out signal to NTSC
(default) or PAL.
Consult your television documentation for information on which setting
you should use.
NOTICE: Video driver settings override the Television Type setting.
System Memory
Displays the base amount of DRAM installed in
the computer. Each computer has 640 KB of base memory. This option has no selectable
settings.
Extended Memory
Displays the total amount of memory above 1 MB.
Each computer comes standard with at least 32 MB of memory installed. If you install or
remove memory, the amount of extended memory displayed changes. This option has no
selectable settings.
System Tag Number
Also known as the system service tag sequence.
This sequence is the same sequence found on the bar code label on the computer. It is used
to identify the computer.
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this
table, see the Glossary in the system Help.
System Devices Menu
Option
Function
IDE Controller
Configures the integrated local-bus IDE adapter.
Options are Both (default), Disabled, or Primary. If Both is
selected, you can access both the hard-disk drive and the media bay device(s). If Primary
is selected, only the hard-disk drive and megabit device is accessible. When Disabled,
the media bay device(s) and hard-disk drive are disabled.
FDD Controller
Enables the diskette-drive controller. If this
option is set to Disabled, the diskette drive is unavailable.
Internal touchpad
When set to Enabled (default), allows the
touch pad to continue working when an external mouse or other pointing device is
connected. Auto Disabled disables the touch pad when an external pointing device is
connected.
Serial Port
Lets you map the address of the serial port to
avoid address conflicts with other devices or disable the port for security. When set to Auto,
allows the operating system or the BIOS to configure the port automatically. When set to Customized
(default), sets the Base I/O address/IRQ to 3F8 IRQ4. If there is a conflict
between two or more addresses, an asterisk appears next to the port type. Off
disables the serial port to conserve power.
Infrared Port
Lets you map the address of the infrared port to
avoid address conflicts with other devices. The default is Off. Dell recommends
that you retain the default unless you are using an infrared device with the computer.
When this option is set to Customized, the Mode is SIR and the Base
I/O address/IRQ is 2F8 IRQ3. If you change the infrared port address, be
careful not to create a conflict with the addresses of the serial port or the parallel
port. If there is a conflict between two or more addresses, an asterisk appears next to
the port type.
Parallel Port
Controls whether the parallel port acts as an
AT-compatible (unidirectional), PS/2-compatible (bidirectional), EPP-compatible, or
ECP-compatible port. When this option is set to Customized (default), the Mode
is ECP, the Base I/O address is 378, the Interrupt is IRQ 7,
and the DMAchannel is DMA 3. The Auto setting allows the
operating system or the BIOS to configure the port automatically. When the option is set
to Off, the port is disabled and you can use its assigned LPT resources for another
device. If you change the parallel port address and/or DMA channel, be careful not to
create a conflict with the address or DMA channel of the infrared port.
Modem
This option has no selectable settings.
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this
table, see the Glossary in the system Help.
Security Menu
Option
Function
System Password is
If no system password is set, the setting is Clear.
Otherwise, the setting is Set.
Set System Password
Press <Enter> to set up a new system
password, and then follow the instructions on your screen. This password restricts access
to the system setup program settings.
Password On Boot
When this option is enabled, you must enter a
password before the computer loads the operating system into memory. Settings for this
option are Disabled (default) and Enabled. To enable this option, the System
Password option must be set.
Processor Serial Number
(Intel Pentium III processor only)
Settings for this option are Disabled
(default) and Enabled. If disabled, prevents the transmission of the processor
serial number when connected to the Internet.
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this
table, see the Glossary in the system Help.
Power Menu
NOTE: The power settings of the Windows 98 operating system take
precedence over the settings described here. For more information, see "Conserving
Power" in the system Help.
Option
Function
Power Management Mode
Disabled (default) turns off power
management. Customized allows you to control each power management setting. Max.
Power Savings conserves the maximum amount of system power, and Max. Performance
conserves power but allows the greatest system performance.
Standby Time-out
Lets you determine how long the computer remains
idle (no I/O activity) before activating standby mode to conserve battery power. Settings
for this option are Disabled (default), 1 Minute, 2 Minutes, 4
Minutes, 6 Minutes, 8 Minutes, 12 Minutes, and 16 Minutes.
To increase battery operating time, set this option to a lower number of minutes. Press
any key on the integrated keyboard to resume normal computer operation.
NOTE: Set
this option to Disabled if it causes compatibility problems with your software.
Suspend Time-out
Lets you determine how long the computer remains
idle (no I/O activity) before activating save-to-disk suspend mode. Settings for this
option are Disabled, 5 Minutes, 10 Minutes, 15 Minutes, 20 Minutes, 30 Minutes, 40
Minutes, and 60 Minutes. To increase battery operating time, set this option to
a lower number of minutes.
NOTE: Set this option to Disabled if it causes
compatibility problems with your software.
Suspend Mode
When this option is set to Save to RAM
(default), the computer conserves battery power by entering standby mode. In suspend
mode, almost all computer activity stops, but the computer remains ready to resume
operations in seconds. Resume normal computer activity by pressing the power button (the
computer may take several seconds to return to normal operation).
When this option is
set to Save to Disk, the computer copies all system data to a reserved area on the
hard-disk drive and then turns off all power to the computer. When the computer resumes
normal operation, the same programs will be running and the same files will be open that
were loaded before you activated this mode. Use save-to-disk suspend mode to conserve
battery power or to preserve system data by quickly saving it to the hard-disk drive if
you are about to run out of battery power.
Resume On Modem Ring
Setting this option to Enabled tells the
computer to resume normal operation when an incoming call is detected by a modem and the
computer is in standby mode. The default is Disabled. To use this option, Suspend
Mode must be set to Save to RAM.
Resume On Time of Day
When the Resume On Time of Day option is
set to Enabled, a computer in standby mode resumes normal operation at the time
specified in the Resume Time field. The default is Disabled. To use this
option, Suspend Mode must be set to Save to RAM.
Resume Time
Lets you specify a time when the computer
resumes from standby mode to normal operation. To use this option, Suspend Mode
must be set to Save to RAM.
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this
table, see the Glossary in the system Help.
Boot Menu
Option
Function
Floppy
The computer attempts to boot first from a
bootable diskette. If it does not detect a bootable disk, the computer tries to boot from
the hard-disk drive. If a disk is in the diskette drive, but does not have the required
system files, an error message appears.
Internal Hard Drive
The computer boots only from the hard-disk
drive. If it fails to boot from the hard-disk drive, the computer does not attempt to boot
from the diskette drive.
CD-ROM/DVD
Causes the computer to attempt to boot first
from a bootable CD. If it does not detect a bootable CD in the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive,
the computer tries to boot from the hard-disk drive. If a CD is in the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
drive, but the CD does not have the required boot files, an error message appears.
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this
table, see the Glossary in the system Help.
Exit Menu
Option
Function
Save Changes and Exit
Saves any changes you have made and exits the
system setup program.
Discard Changes and Exit
Discards any changes you have made and exits the
system setup program.
Load Factory Defaults
Discards any changes you have made
and reverts all options to their original default settings, but does not exit the system
setup program.
Load Last Saved Values
Discards the settings you have made and restores
the settings you previously saved. Press <Enter> when prompted to continue.
Save Changes
Saves settings without exiting the system setup
program. Press <Enter> when prompted to continue, and then return to other menus to
make changes.
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this
table, see the Glossary in the system Help.
