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System Setup Program: Dell Inspiron 3700 System Reference
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Each time you turn on your computer, it compares the installed
hardware with the system configuration information stored in nonvolatile random-access
memory (NVRAM). If the system detects a discrepancy, it generates an error
message for each incorrect configuration setting. You can use the System Setup
program to adjust the configuration settings.
You can use the System Setup program as follows:
- To set or change user-selectable features—for
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.
 |
NOTE: If you
change an option that is activated by rebooting, the System Setup program
displays the setting you selected rather than the setting currently in
effect. You must reboot for the new setting to take effect. |
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.
|
NOTE: If the computer
uses the Microsoft� Windows NT� 4.0 or Windows� 98 operating system, you
must use the System Setup program to view and change your system configuration. |
Enter and use the System Setup
program as follows:
Press <Fn><F1> at any
time on the keyboard (or <Scroll Lock><F1> on an external keyboard
if the External Hot Key option is enabled). If you press
<Fn><F3> (or <Scroll Lock><F3> on an external keyboard
if the External Hot Key option is enabled), the System Setup
program opens directly to the Battery Status screen.
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NOTE: Certain
key combinations may not function with the Advanced Configuration and
Power Interface (ACPI) or may require activation with the Power
Management Properties window in the Control Panel.
See Power Conservation. |
Press <Esc> to exit the System
Setup program. 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 1, 2, and 4 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. |
To enter System Setup on a system
running ACPI, you must enter System Setup before the operating system loads.
Enter System Setup by pressing <Fn><F1> or <F2> when the
F2 message appears during the System Power On startup process.
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 all screens
lists the page number, system name, and version number of the basic input/output
system (BIOS).
- Options
The box on the left half of screens
1, 2, and 4 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 screens 1, 2, and 4 displays help information for the option with a currently
highlighted field.
- Computer data
The box in the lower-right corner
of screens 1, 2, and 4 displays information about your computer.
- Key functions
The line of boxes across the
bottom of all screens lists keys and their functions within the System Setup
program.
Page
1 Options
See Figure
1 and Table 1 for an explanation of the options
and settings on Page 1 of the System Setup program.
Figure
1. Page 1 of the System Setup Program
Table
1. Page 1 Options of the System Setup Program
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Option
|
Function
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Time
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Resets the time on
the computer's internal clock. Time is kept in a 24-hour format
(hours:minutes:seconds).
NOTE: If a network
server controls the time reflected by the Time option, changing
this option has no effect.
A change to the Time
option takes effect immediately (rebooting is not required). However,
you must reboot to make the change apparent to the operating system.
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Date
|
Resets the date on
the computer's internal calendar.
Your computer automatically
displays the day of the week corresponding to the settings in
the three fields that follow (month, day-of-the-month, and year).
A change to the Date
option takes effect immediately (rebooting is not required). However,
you must reboot to make the change apparent to the operating system.
To change the date,
press the right-arrow key to increase the number in the highlighted
field, or press the left-arrow key to decrease the number. If
you prefer, you can type in numbers in the month and day-of-the-month
fields.
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Primary Hard Drive
|
Displays the capacity
of the computer's internal hard-disk drive. This option does not
have any user-selectable settings.
NOTE: The optional
second or third hard-disk drives do not appear in this option,
even if installed.
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Diskette Drive A
|
Identifies the location
of the 3.5-inch diskette drive: Modular Bay, Parallel
Port, or Not Installed. No user-selectable settings
are available for this option.
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Diskette Drive B
|
Identifies the location
of a second 3.5-inch diskette drive: Parallel Port, Modular
Bay, or Not Installed. No user-selectable settings
are available for this option.
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Diskette Reconfig
|
Allows application
programs that access the diskette drive to run at their optimum
speed. Settings are At Reboot Only and Any Time.
When Diskette Reconfig
is set to Any Time (the default), you do not have to reboot
after you install a diskette drive in the media bay or attach
a diskette drive to the parallel connector on the back of the
computer. However, some application programs such as virus scans
that access the diskette drive will run very slowly if the diskette
drive is not in the media bay or connected to the parallel port.
When Diskette Reconfig
is set to At Reboot Only, such application programs run
at normal speed, but you must reboot after installing or attaching
a diskette drive.
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Modular Bay
|
(Media Bay) Identifies
the kind of device—Diskette Drive, Battery,
or CD-ROM Drive—that is installed in the media bay.
If the media bay does not contain a device or if a travel bay
is installed, this option reads Not Installed. No user-selectable
settings are available for this option.
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|
Docking Ethernet
|
Controls the internal
ethernet controller in the advanced port replicator. A change
to this option takes effect when you reboot.
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Docking IRQ
|
Tells the computer
which IRQ to assign to the advanced port replicator during the
boot sequence. If this option is set to Optimized, the
docking station or replicator is assigned a dedicated IRQ during
the boot sequence. Select IRQ 11 if a peripheral device requires
the use of the dedicated IRQ.
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Docking Status
|
Shows whether the
computer is attached to an advanced port replicator. No user-selectable
settings are available for this option.
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Universal Connect
|
Functions with the
advanced port replicator (APR) if the computer uses Windows 98.
Set this option to
Enabled (the default) if you often use more than one APR
and want to minimize the initialization time when you connect
the replicator to the computer. When this option is set to Disabled,
the APR is reinitialized each time it is connected to the computer.
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Boot Speed
|
Allows you to choose
between the computer's processing speed (the default) and Compatible,
a slower compatibility speed. The compatibility speed varies,
depending on the configuration of your system.
When you change the
setting in the Boot Speed option, the System Setup program
stores and continues to display the new setting even if you do
not reboot your computer when you exit the System Setup program.
If you start the System Setup program again during your current
work session, the processing speed displayed for the Boot Speed
option may not match the actual speed at which your computer is
running.
For a change in the
Boot Speed option to take effect, you must reboot your
computer.
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Boot First device
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Determines which disk
device your computer uses to find the software needed to start
the operating system.
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. Boot First device tells the computer
where to look first for the files that it needs to load.
Settings for this option
are:
Diskette Drive
(the default) — Causes your computer to attempt first to
boot from a bootable diskette
Internal HDD
— Causes your computer to boot from the hard-disk drive
CDROM/DVDROM Drive
— Causes your computer to attempt first to boot from a bootable
CD
Modular Bay HDD
— Causes your computer to attempt first to boot from the
second hard-disk drive installed in the modular (media) bay
None
I3700 APR NIC
— Causes your computer to attempt first to boot from a network
source.
For a change in the
Boot First device option to take effect, you must reboot
your computer.
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Boot Second device
|
If the computer cannot
find the software it needs to start the operating system on the
drive identified in Boot First device, it will search the
device named in Boot Second device.
Settings for the option
are:
Internal HDD
(the default) — Causes your computer to attempt to boot from
the hard-disk drive
Diskette Drive
— Causes your computer to attempt to boot from the diskette
drive
CDROM/DVDROM Drive
— Causes your computer to attempt to boot from a bootable
CD
Modular Bay HDD
— Causes your computer to boot from the second hard-disk
drive installed in the modular (media) bay
None
I3700 APR NIC
— Causes your computer to attempt first to boot from a network
source.
For a change in the
Boot Second device option to take effect, you must reboot
your computer.
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|
Boot Third device
|
If the computer cannot
find the software it needs to start the operating system on the
drive identified in Boot Second device, it will search
the device named in Boot Third device.
Settings for the option
are:
None (the default)
Internal HDD
— Causes your computer to attempt to boot from the hard-disk
drive
Diskette Drive
— Causes your computer to attempt to boot from the diskette
drive
CDROM/DVDROM Drive
— Causes your computer to attempt to boot from a bootable
CD
Modular Bay HDD
— Causes your computer to attempt to boot from the second
hard-disk drive installed in the modular (media) bay
I3700 APR NIC
— Causes your computer to attempt first to boot from a network
source.
For a change in the
Boot Third device option to take effect, you must reboot
your computer.
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|
NOTE: For
the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see
the Glossary in the system Help. |
Page 2
Options
See Figure
2 and Table 2 for an explanation of the options
and settings on Page 2 of the System Setup program.
Figure
2. Page 2 of the System Setup Program
Table
2. Page 2 Options of the System Setup Program
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Option
|
Function
|
|
Serial Port
|
Allows you to map
the address of the serial port or to disable the serial port.
Settings for this option
are:
COM1 (the default)
— Maps the serial port to COM1
COM2 —
Maps the serial port to COM2
COM3 —
Maps the serial port to COM3
COM4 —
Maps the serial port to COM4
Disabled —
Disables the serial port and its assigned COM address, freeing
that interrupt for another device to use
For a change in the
Serial Port option to take effect, you must reboot
your computer.
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|
Infrared Data Port
|
Allows you to avoid
resource conflicts by remapping the address of the infrared ports
or disabling the port. The COM1, COM2, COM3,
and COM4 settings allow you to take advantage of the computer's
Fast IR support.
Settings for this option
are:
Disabled —
Disables the infrared data port and makes the direct memory access
(DMA), interrupt request (IRQ), and I/O resources available for
another serial device to use
COM1 —
Maps the infrared data port to COM1
COM2 —
Maps the infrared data port to COM2
COM3 (the default)
— Maps the infrared data port to COM3
COM4 —
Maps the infrared data port to COM4
For a change in the
Infrared Data Port option to take effect, you must
reboot your computer.
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|
Infrared Mode
|
If Infrared Data
Port is set to any function other than Disabled, specify
the Infrared Mode by selecting one of the following functions:
Fast IR —
Use Fast IR if the infrared device supports the Fast IR
specification.
Slow IR —
Use Slow IR if the infrared device does not support the
Fast IR specification.
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|
Parallel Mode
|
Controls whether the
computer's integrated parallel port acts as a Personal System/2
(PS/2)-compatible (Bidirectional) port, Advanced Technology
(AT)-compatible (Normal) port, or Extended Capabilities
Port (ECP)-compatible port. The default for Parallel
Mode is ECP.
Windows 98 uses ECP
protocol automatically if it detects an ECP-compatible device.
Set this option according
to the type of peripheral device connected to the parallel port.
To determine the correct mode to use, see the documentation that
came with the device.
NOTE: The ECP setting
also works for most software written for the AT and PS/2 modes.
Devices that use ECP mode may come with special drivers that need
to be installed in order to use these modes.
Setting Parallel
Mode to Disabled disables the parallel port and its
assigned LPT address, freeing its interrupt for another device
to use.
For a change in the
Parallel Mode option to take effect, you must reboot your
computer.
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|
Audio Mode
|
Defines the audio
resources of the computer and the external devices you use with
it. Audio Mode is set to Full Duplex, which allows
the computer's audio system to play and record sounds simultaneously.
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Click Volume
|
Allows you to disable
or adjust the volume of the keyboard clicks if the Keyboard
Click option is enabled. The default is Maximum.
A change to the Click
Volume option takes effect immediately (rebooting is not required).
|
|
Keyboard Click
|
Lets you choose whether
the integrated keyboard makes audible clicking sounds. The Click
Volume option must be enabled for this option to function.
The volume of the simulated key clicks is controlled by the setting
in the Click Volume option.
Settings for this option
are Disabled (the default) and Enabled.
A change to the Keyboard
Click option takes effect immediately (rebooting is not required).
|
|
Num Lock
|
Determines if the
system boots with the Num Lock enabled or disabled when
an external keyboard is attached.
Settings for this options
are Disabled (the default) and Enabled.
A change to the Num
Lock option has no effect when the system is booted unless
an external keyboard is attached.
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|
Pointing Device
|
Enables and disables
the computer's touch pad and track stick.
Settings for this option
are:
Touch Pad-PS/2 Mouse
(the default)
Serial Mouse
— Disables the touch pad and track stick and allows you to
use a mouse connected to the serial connector on the I/O port
If you want to use
a serial mouse, you must first set the Pointing Device
option to Serial Mouse.
For a change in the
Pointing Device option to take effect, you must reboot
your computer.
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|
External Hot Key
|
Lets you use the <Scroll
Lock> key on the external keyboard the same way you use the
<Fn> key on the computer's built-in keyboard. Set this option
to Scroll Lock (the default) if you are using an external
keyboard. Set this option to Not Installed to disable this
function on the external keyboard.
|
|
Primary Password (System
Security)
|
Displays the current
status of the primary password and allows you to assign or change
this password.
Settings for this option
are:
Disabled (the
default) — Indicates that no primary password is assigned
Enabled —
Indicates that a primary password is currently assigned
If you assign a primary
password, the computer prompts you for the password each time
you boot the computer
NOTICE: The password
features provide a high level of security for the data in your
computer. However, they are not foolproof. If your data requires
more security, you should obtain and use additional forms of protection,
such as data encryption programs or PC Cards with encryption features.
|
|
Admin Password (System Security)
|
Displays the current
status of your administrator password and allows you to assign
or change this password. Settings for this option are:
Disabled (the
default) — Indicates that no administrator password is assigned.
Enabled —
Indicates that an administrator password is currently assigned.
To enable a password, set the Admin Password option to
Enabled, then enter a password when prompted. When prompted
to verify the password, re-enter the password.
NOTE: When Admin
Password is enabled, all System Setup options, except passwords,
are locked out.
The administrator
password is designed for use by system administrators and service
technicians in corporate environments. If an administrator password
is assigned, you can use it to access the computer even if you
do not know the primary password.
NOTICE: The password
features provide a high level of security for the data in your
computer. However, they are not foolproof. If your data requires
more security, you should obtain and use additional forms of protection,
such as data encryption programs or PC Cards with encryption features.
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|
Hard-disk drive password(s)
-System Primary
-System Modular Bay
|
Displays the current
status of the primary hard-disk drive password and allows you
to assign or change this password. You can set a primary password
for the system.
Settings for this option
are:
Disabled (the
default) — Indicates that no password is assigned
Enabled —
Indicates that a password is currently assigned
NOTICE: The password
features provide a high level of security for the data in your
computer. However, they are not foolproof. If your data requires
more security, you should obtain and use additional forms of protection,
such as data encryption programs or PC Cards with encryption features.
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|
NOTE:
For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used
in this table, see the Glossary in the system Help.
|
Page
3 Options
See Figure
3 and Table 3 for an explanation of the options
and settings on Page 3 of the System Setup Program.
Figure
3. Page 3 of the System Setup Program
Table
3. Page 3 Options of the System Setup Program
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Option
|
Function
|
|
Battery Status
-Left Battery
-Right Battery
|
Displays the charge
status of the installed batteries.
|
|
NOTE: For
the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table,
see the Glossary in the system Help. |
Page
4 Options
See Figure
4 and Table 4 for an explanation of the options
and settings on Page 4 of the System Setup program.
Figure
4. Page 4 of the System Setup Program
Table
4. Page 4 Options of the System Setup Program
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Option
|
Function
|
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Brightness
|
Allows you to specify
the brightness of the display when the computer is operating on
battery power. Use the left- and right-arrow keys to change the
brightness of the display. When the computer is powered by a battery,
the default is Minimum. If the computer is using AC power,
the default is Maximum.
A change to the Brightness
option takes effect immediately (rebooting is not required).
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Power Management
|
Allows you to enable
or disable power conservation features when the computer is being
powered by a battery or AC power.
If you want to use
any of the time-out options while using battery power, set the
Battery option to Enabled. If you want to use the
time-out options while using AC power, set the AC option
to Enabled.
A change to the Power
Management option takes effect immediately (rebooting is not
required).
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Display Time-Out
|
When the Power
Management option is set to Enabled, you may set the
Display Time-out option. This option determines how long
the display is inactive before it turns off.
Settings for this option
are Disabled, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes,
4 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes,
30 minutes, or 1 hour.
A change in this option
takes effect immediately.
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Disk Time-out
|
When the Power
Management option is set to Enabled, you may set the
Disk Time-out option. This option determines how long the
hard-disk drive is inactive before it turns off.
Settings for this option
are Disabled, 15 seconds, 1 minute, 2
minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes,
10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1
hour.
A change in this option
takes effect immediately.
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Suspend Time-out
|
When the Power
Management option is set to Enabled, you may set the
Suspend Time-out option. This option determines how long
the computer is inactive before it enters standby mode.
Settings for this option
are Disabled, 1 minute, 2 minutes,
3 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes,
10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30
minutes, or 1 hour.
A change in this option
takes effect immediately.
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S2D Time-out
|
When the Power
Management option is set to Enabled, you may set
the S2D Time-out option. This option determines how long
the computer is inactive before it copies all system information
to a file on the hard-disk drive. This setting has no effect when
the computer is docked.
Settings for this option
are Disabled, 30 minutes, 1 hour,
2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours,
6 hours, 8 hours, or 12 hours.
A change in this option
takes effect immediately.
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|
Smart CPU Mode
|
When the Power Management option is set to Enabled, you
may set the Smart CPU Mode option. This option is key to
good thermal performance.
When set to Disabled, the microprocessor runs at its highest
speed and may impact thermal performance.
When set to Enabled, the computer changes the clock speed
according to the needs of the application.
A change in this option
takes effect immediately.
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Display Close
|
Lets you determine
whether your computer enters standby mode when the display is
closed or whether only the display is turned off.
Suspend (the
default) — Allows the computer to enter standby mode when
the display is closed.
Active —
Turns off the display, but does not put the computer into standby
mode.
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|
Ring/Event Resume
|
Lets you determine
if the computer exits standby mode when an installed modem card
receives an incoming call. This feature must be supported by your
modem PC Card and your operating system.
Settings for this option
are:
Disabled (the
default) — Resumes normal operation when the computer detects
a modem ring
Enabled —
Keeps the computer in standby mode when the computer detects a
modem ring
NOTE: Dell recommends
that you set Ring/Event Resume to Disabled when
an external serial device, other than a modem, is connected to
your computer.
In order
for the Ring/Event Resume option to work properly, this
feature must be enabled in the device driver for your modem PC
Card. All drivers supplied by Dell with your computer are configured
to allow the computer to resume normal operation when a modem
receives an incoming call. If you use a PC Card that you did not
receive from Dell, check the documentation to make sure this feature
is set to Enabled.
A change to the Ring/Event
Resume option takes effect immediately (rebooting is not required).
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|
Alarm Resume
|
Directs the computer
to resume normal operation when it is in suspend mode and detects
an alarm from the RTC. Such alarms can be set through various
application programs. In order for the alarms in these programs
to work, the Alarm Resume option must be set to Enabled.
Settings for this option
are:
Enabled (the
default) — Resumes normal operation when the computer detects
an alarm.
Disabled —
Keeps the computer in suspend mode even if the computer detects
an alarm.
A change to the Alarm
Resume option takes effect immediately (rebooting is not required).
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|
Wakeup On LAN
|
Enables the computer
to power up when triggered by a special LAN signal.
A change to the Wakeup
On LAN option takes effect immediately.
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NOTE:
For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used
in this table, see the Glossary in the system Help.
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