Figure 1, System Setup Screen, shows a sample system setup screen. The actual
contents of your setup screen may differ slightly from the example shown, depending on the
characteristics of your PowerEdge 1400.
Figure 1. System Setup Screen
Table 1, System Setup Options, briefly describes each setup option in the order
they appear on the setup screen.
Table 1. System Setup Options
| Option |
Function |
| Time |
Resets the time on the computer's internal
clock. |
| Date |
Resets the date on the computer's internal
calendar. |
| Diskette Drive A |
Identifies the type of diskette drive installed
in your computer. |
| System Memory |
Displays the amount of system memory. This
option has no user-selectable settings. |
| Video Memory |
Displays the amount of video
memory. This option has no user-selectable settings. |
| CPU Information |
Displays information related to the system bus
and microprocessors. This screen has no user-selectable settings. |
| Boot Sequence |
Displays the Boot Sequence screen,
discussed later in this section. |
| Hard-Disk Drive Sequence |
Displays the Hard Disk Drive Sequence
screen, discussed later in this section. |
| Integrated Devices |
Displays the Integrated Devices screen,
discussed later in this section. |
| PCI/IRQ Assignment |
Displays a screen that allows you to change the
interrupt request (IRQ) allocated to each of the three integrated devices on the
peripheral component interface (PCI) bus, as well as any installed expansion cards that
require an IRQ. |
| System Security |
Displays a screen which allows you to configure
the system password and setup password features. See the User's Guide for detailed
instructions. |
| Keyboard Numlock |
Determines whether your system boots with the
Num Lock mode activated on 101- or 102-key keyboards (it does not apply to 84-key
keyboards). |
| Report Keyboard Error |
Enables or disables the
reporting of keyboard errors during POST. This option
is useful when applied to self-starting servers or host systems that have no permanently
attached keyboard. In these situations, selecting Do Not Report suppresses all
error messages relating to the keyboard or o the keyboard controller during POST. This
setting does not affect the operation of the keyboard itself if a keyboard is attached to
the computer. |
Asset Tag |
Displays the
programmable asset tag number (if assigned). To enter an
asset tag number of up to ten characters into NVRAM, follow the procedure in the User's
Guide. |
Boot Sequence Screen
The Boot Sequence screen options determine the order in
which the system looks for the files that it needs to load during system startup.
Available options include the diskette drive, CD-ROM drive, and hard-disk drive. You can
enable or disable a device by selecting it and pressing the spacebar. To change the order
in which devices are searched, use the <+> and <-> keys.
Hard-Disk Drive Sequence Screen
The Hard-Disk Drive Sequence screen options determine the order in
which the system searches hard-disk drives for the files that it needs to load during
system startup. The choices depend on the particular hard-disk drives installed in your
system. You can enable or disable a device by selecting it and pressing the spacebar. To
change the order in which devices are searched, use the <+> and <-> keys.
Integrated Devices Screen
The following devices on the system board are configured
through this screen:
- SCSI Controller — determines whether the system's
integrated small computer system interface (SCSI) controller is enabled. Changes take
effect after reboot.
- Network Interface Controller — determines whether
the system's integrated network interface controller (NIC) is enabled. Changes take effect
after reboot.
- NIC MAC Address — displays the address of the media
access control (MAC) address used by the integrated NIC. This field has no user-selectable
settings.
- Mouse Controller — enables or disables the system's
mouse controller. Disabling the mouse controller allows an expansion card to use IRQ12.
- Serial Port 1, Serial Port 2 — configure the
system's integrated serial ports. These options can be set to Auto (the default) to
automatically configure a port, to a particular designation, or to Off to disable
the port.
If you set a serial port to Auto and add an expansion card containing a port
configured to the same designation, the system automatically remaps the integrated port to
the next available port designation that shares the same IRQ setting
- Parallel Port — configures the system's integrated
parallel port.
- Parallel Port Mode — controls whether the system's
integrated parallel port acts as an AT-compatible (unidirectional) or PS/2-compatible
(bidirectional) port. To determine the correct mode to use, see the documentation that
came with the peripheral device connected to the serial port.
- USB Controller — enables or disables the system's
USB ports. Disabling the USB ports makes system resources available
for other devices.
- IDE CD-ROM Interface — enables or disables the
system's IDE CD-ROM interface.
- Diskette Controller — enables or disables the
system's diskette drive controller. With Auto (default) selected, the system turns
off the controller when necessary to accommodate a controller card installed in an
expansion slot.
- Speaker — determines whether the integrated speaker
is On (the default) or Off. A change to this option takes effect immediately
(rebooting the system is not required).
System Security Screen
You can set the following security features through the
System Security screen:
- Password Status — when Setup Password is set to Enabled,
allows you to prevent the system password from being changed or disabled at system
start-up.
- To lock the system password, you must first assign a setup password
in the Setup Password option and then change the Password Status option to Locked.
In this state, the system password cannot be changed through the System Password
option and cannot be disabled at system start-up by pressing <Ctrl><Enter>.
- To unlock the system password, you must enter the setup password in
the Setup Password option and then change the Password Status option to Unlocked.
In this state, the system password can be disabled at system start-up by pressing
<Ctrl><Enter> and then changed through the System Password option.
- System Password — displays the current status of your
system's password security feature and allows you to assign and verify a new password.
- Setup Password — lets you restrict access to your
computer's System Setup program in the same way that you restrict access to your system
with the system password feature.
- Chassis Intrusion — lets you enable the system chassis
intrusion switch to detect if the system cover is removed. If this option is set to Enabled,
a warning message is displayed during system startup. If the option is set to
Enabled – Silent, no Startup message is displayed, but the Chassis
Intrusion option in the System Setup program will change to Detected.
Exit Screen
After you press <Esc> to exit the System Setup program, the
Exit screen displays the following choices:
- Save Changes and Exit
- Discard Changes and Exit
- Return to Setup
NOTICE: The password features provide a basic level of security for
the data on your system. However, they are not foolproof. If your data requires more
security, it is your responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of protection, such
as data encryption programs.
Your Dell system is shipped to you without the system password
feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should operate your system only with
system password protection.
You can assign a system password whenever you use the System Setup
program. After a system password is assigned, only those who know the password have full
use of the system.
When the System Password option is set to Enabled, the
computer system prompts you for the system password just after the system boots.
To change an existing system password, you must know the password.
If you assign and later forget a system password, you need to be able to remove the
computer cover to change a jumper setting that disables the system password feature (see
"Deleting or Changing an Existing
System Password"). Note that you will erase the setup password at the same time.
NOTICE: If you leave your system running and unattended without
having a system password assigned, or if you leave your computer unlocked so that someone
can disable the password by changing a jumper setting, anyone can access the data stored
on your hard-disk drive.
Before you can assign a system password, you must enter the System
Setup program and check the System Password option.
When a system password is assigned, the setting shown for the System
Password option is Enabled. When the system password feature is disabled by a
jumper setting on the system board, the setting shown is Disabled by Jumper. You
cannot change or enter a new system password if either of these settings is displayed.
When no system password is assigned and the password jumper on the
system board is in the enabled position (its default), the setting shown for the System
Password option is Not Enabled. Only when this option is set to Not Enabled
can you assign a system password, using the following procedure:
- Verify that the Password Status option is set to Unlocked.
- Highlight the System Password option and then press the left-
or right-arrow key.
- Type your new system password.
You can use up to seven characters in your password.
As you press each character key (or the spacebar key for a blank space), a placeholder
appears in the field.
The password assignment operation recognizes keys by their location on the keyboard
without distinguishing between lowercase and uppercase characters. For example, if you
have an M in your password, the system recognizes either M or m as correct. Certain key
combinations are not valid. If you enter one of these combinations, the speaker emits a
beep. To erase a character when entering your password, press the <Backspace> key or
the left-arrow key.
 |
NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a system
password, press the <Tab> key or the <Shift><Tab> key combination to
move to another field, or press the <Esc> key at any time prior to completing step
5. |
- Press <Enter>.
If the new system password is less than seven characters, the whole field fills with
placeholders. Then the option heading changes to Verify Password, followed by
another empty seven-character field in square brackets.
- To confirm your password, type it a second time and press
<Enter>.
The password setting changes to Enabled. Your system password is now set; you can
exit the System Setup program and begin using your system. Note, however, that password
protection does not take effect until you reboot the system by turning the system off and
then on again.
Whenever you turn on or reboot your system by pressing the
<Ctrl><Alt><Del> key combination, the following prompt appears on the
screen when the Password Status option is set to Unlocked:
Type in the password and... -- press <ENTER> to leave
password security enabled. -- press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password
security. Enter password:
If the Password Status option is set to Locked, the following prompt
appears:
Type the password and press <Enter>.
After you type the correct system password and press <Enter>,
your system boots and you can use the keyboard or mouse to operate your system as usual.
|
NOTE:
If you have assigned a setup password (see "Assigning a Setup Password" ), the system accepts
your setup password as an alternate system password.
|
If a wrong or incomplete system password is entered, the following
message appears:
** Incorrect password. **
Enter password:
If an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered again, the
same message appears.
The third and subsequent times an incorrect or incomplete system
password is entered, the system displays the following message:
** Incorrect password. **
Number of unsuccessful password attempts: 3
System halted! Must power down.
The number of unsuccessful attempts made to enter the correct system
password can alert you to an unauthorized person attempting to use your system.
Even after your system is turned off and on, the previous message is
displayed each time an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered.
|
NOTE: You can use the Password Status option in
conjunction with System Password and Setup Password to further protect your
system from unauthorized changes. |
To delete or change an existing system password, perform the
following steps:
- Enter the System Setup program by pressing <F2>. Select the
System Security screen to verify that the Password Status option is set to Unlocked.
- Reboot your system to force it to prompt you for a system password.
- When prompted, type the system password.
- Press the <Ctrl><Enter> key combination to disable the
existing system password, instead of pressing <Enter> to continue with the normal
operation of your system.
- Confirm that Not Enabled is displayed for the System
Password option of the System Setup program.
- If Not Enabled appears for the System Password option,
the system password has been deleted. If you want to assign a new password, continue to
step 6. If Not Enabled is not displayed for the System Password option,
press the <Alt><b> key combination to reboot the system, and then repeat steps
3 through 5.
- To assign a new password, follow the procedure in "Assigning a System Password."
Your Dell system is shipped to you without the setup password
feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should operate your system with
setup password protection.
You can assign a setup password whenever you use the System Setup
program. After a setup password is assigned, only those who know the password have full
use of the System Setup program.
To change an existing setup password, you must know the setup
password (see "Deleting or Changing an
Existing Setup Password"). If you assign and later forget a setup password, you
cannot operate your system or change settings in the System Setup program until a trained
service technician opens the computer chassis, changes the password jumper setting to
disable the passwords, and erases the existing passwords. This procedure is described
in Appendix B of the Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
A setup password can be assigned (or changed) only when the Setup
Password option is set to Not Enabled. To assign a setup password, highlight
the Setup Password option and press the left- or right-arrow key. The system
prompts you to enter and verify the password. If a character is illegal for password use,
the system emits a beep.
|
NOTES: The setup password can be the same as the system password.
If the two passwords are different, the setup password can be used
as an alternate system password. However, the system password cannot be used in place of
the setup password.
After you verify the password, the Setup Password setting
changes to Enabled. The next time you enter the System Setup program, the system
prompts you for the setup password.
A change to the Setup Password option becomes effective
immediately (rebooting the system is not required). |
Operating With a Setup Password Enabled
If Setup Password is set to Enabled, you must enter
the correct setup password before you can modify the majority of the System Setup options.
When you start the System Setup program, the program prompts you to type the password.
If you do not enter the correct password in three tries, the system
lets you view, but not modify, the System Setup screens—with the following
exceptions:
- You can still modify the Date, Time, Keyboard Num Lock, and Speaker
options.
- If System Password is not enabled and is not locked via the
Password Status option, you can assign a system password (however, you cannot disable
or change an existing
|
NOTE: You can use the Password Status option in
conjunction with System Password and Setup Password to further protect your
system from unauthorized changes. |
To delete or change an existing setup password, perform the
following steps:
- Enter the System Setup program and select the System Security
Screen option.
- Highlight the Setup Password option and press the left- or
right-arrow key to delete the existing setup password.
- The setting changes to Not Enabled.
- If you want to assign a new setup password, perform the steps in the
section "Assigning a Setup Password."
If you forget your system or setup password, you cannot operate your
system or change settings in the System Setup program until a trained service technician
opens the computer chassis, changes the password jumper setting to disable the passwords,
and erases the existing passwords. This procedure is described in Appendix B of the Installation
and Troubleshooting Guide.
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