Each time you turn on your system, the system compares the configuration of the hardware installed in the system to the hardware listed in the system configuration information stored in NVRAM on the system board. If the system detects a discrepancy, it generates error messages that identify the incorrect configuration settings. The system then prompts you to enter the System Setup program to correct the settings.
You can use the System Setup program as follows:
To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your system
To set or change user-selectable options—for example, the time or date on your system
To enable or disable any integrated device in your system
After you set up your system, run the System Setup program to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information and optional settings. Print the System Setup screens (by pressing the <Print Screen> key) or record the information for future reference.
If your system is already on, shut it down and then turn it on again.
Press <F2> immediately after you see the following message in the upper-right corner
of the screen:
F2 = System Setup
You can also press <F10> to enter Utility Mode or <F12> for PXE Boot. PXE Boot forces a system boot from the network.
If you wait too long and your operating system begins to load into memory, let the system complete the load operation, and then shut down the system and try again.
NOTE: To ensure an orderly system shutdown, consult the documentation that
accompanied your operating system.
You can also enter the System Setup program by responding to certain error messages. See "Responding to Error Messages."
NOTE: For help using the System Setup program, press <F1> while in the program.
If an error message appears on your monitor screen while the system is starting up, make a note of the message. Then, before entering the System Setup program, see "System Beep Codes" and "System Messages" for an explanation of the message and suggestions for correcting any errors.
If you are given an option of pressing either <F1> to continue or <F2> to run the System Setup program, press the <F2> key.
Cycles through the settings in a field. In many fields, you can also type the appropriate value.
<Esc>
Exits the System Setup program and restarts the system if any changes were made.
For most of the options, any changes you make are recorded but do not take effect until the next time you start the system. For a few options (as noted in the help area), the changes take effect immediately.
When the System Setup program runs, the main program screen appears (see Figure 6-1).
Figure 6-1. Main System Setup Screen
The following options and information fields appear on the main System Setup screen:
System Time — Resets the time on the system's internal clock.
System Date — Resets the date on the system's internal calendar.
Diskette Drive A: — Displays the type of diskette drive for your system.
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 microprocessor bus and microprocessors.
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.
Embedded Server Management — Displays the Embedded Server Management screen, discussed later in this section.
PCI IRQ Assignment — Displays a screen that allows you to change the IRQ allocated to each of the integrated devices on the PCI bus, as well as any installed expansion cards that require an IRQ.
PCI Hot-Plug Slot Information — Displays information about each of the system's hot-pluggable PCI and PCI-X slots. This information can be used to determine in which slot a card should be added to achieve optimal performance.
Redundant Memory — Enables or disables redundant memory features. All banks should have memory modules of the same type and size for this feature to function properly.
The redundant memory options vary according to the number of populated memory banks and whether the same type of memory modules are installed in each bank:
Disabled — One or two memory banks are populated with the same type of memory modules or the memory banks are populated with different types of memory modules.
Disabled and Spare Bank Enabled — Three memory banks are populated with the same type of memory modules.
Disabled, Spare Bank Enabled, and Mirror Enabled — Four memory banks are populated with the same type of memory modules.
Console Redirection — Displays a screen that allows you to configure console redirection. The submenu allows you to turn the feature on or off, select the remote terminal type, and enable or disable redirection after booting. For more information on using console redirection, see your User's Guide.
Keyboard NumLock — Determines whether your system starts up with the Num Lock mode activated on 101- or 102-key keyboards (does not apply to 84-key keyboards).
Report Keyboard Errors — Enables or disables reporting of keyboard errors during the POST. This option is useful when applied to self-starting 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 keyboard controller during POST. This setting does not affect the operation of the keyboard itself if a keyboard is attached to the system.
OS Install Mode — Determines the maximum amount of memory available to the operating system. Some operating systems will not install with more than 2 GB of system memory. When set to On, the maximum memory available is 256 MB. When set to Off (default), all the system memory is available to the operating system. Turn this option On during operating system installation and Off after installation.
Power Button — When this option is set to Enabled, you can use the power button to turn the system off or shut down the system if you are running Microsoft® Windows® 2000 or another operating system that is compliant with the ACPI specification. When this option is set to Disabled, you cannot use the power button to turn off the system.
NOTE: You can still turn a system on using the power button when the Power Button
option is set to Disabled. If the option setting is changed to Disabled, the change will not
take effect until the next boot. The power button is enabled throughout POST and is
disabled right before the operating system boots.
NMI Button — This button may be used for troubleshooting software and device drivers when running certain operating systems. The button is protected behind a small hole in the control panel housing and can be activated by inserting a paper clip. Use this button only if directed to do so by qualified support personnel or by the operating system's documentation. When NMI Button is set to Enabled and the button is pushed, an NMI alerts the system.
Asset Tag — Displays the user-programmable asset tag number for the system if an asset tag number has been assigned. To enter an asset tag number of up to 10 characters into NVRAM, see "Using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD" in your User's Guide.
The Boot Sequence screen options determine the order in which the system looks for boot devices that it needs to load during system startup. Available options include the diskette drive, CD drive, network, and hard drives. 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.
If you plan to boot the system from a hard drive, the drive must be attached to the primary (or boot) controller.
TheHard-Disk Drive Sequence screen options determine the order in which the system searches the hard drives for the files that it needs to load during system startup. The choices depend on the particular hard drives installed in your system. To change the order in which devices are searched, use the <+> and <–> keys. Press <Enter> to confirm your selection.
This screen is used to configure the following devices:
Embedded SCSI Controller — Enables or disables the integrated SCSI controller.
Primary Embedded GB NIC — Enables or disables the primary integrated NIC. Options are On without PXE, On with PXE, and Off. PXE support allows the system to boot from the network. Changes take effect after system reboot.
Primary NIC MAC Address — Displays the MAC address for the primary 10/100/1000 NIC. This field has no user-selectable settings.
Secondary Embedded GB NIC — Enables or disables the secondary integrated NIC. Options are On without PXE, On with PXE, and Off. PXE support allows the system to boot from the network. Changes take effect after system reboot.
Secondary NIC MAC Address — Displays the MAC address for the secondary 10/100/1000 NIC. This field has no user-selectable settings.
Serial Port 1 — Configures the system's integrated serial port. The options can be set to Auto (default) to automatically configure the port, to a particular designation, or to Off to disable the port.
If you set the serial port to Auto and add an expansion card with 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.
USB Controller — Sets the USB controller to On with BIOS Support, On Without BIOS Support, or Off. If you have a PS/2 keyboard attached, On Without BIOS Support disables BIOS USB support. If you do not have a PS/2 keyboard attached and select On Without BIOS Support, USB mouse and keyboard devices function only during the boot process. When set to On With BIOS Support, USB mouse and keyboard devices are controlled by the BIOS until an operating system driver is loaded.
IDE CD-ROM Interface — Enables or disables the system's IDE CD drive interface.
Diskette Controller — Enables or disables the system's diskette drive controller. When Auto (default) is selected, the system turns off the controller when necessary to accommodate a controller card installed in an expansion slot. You can also set up the drive to be Read Only so that the drive cannot be used to write to a disk.
Speaker — Toggles the integrated speaker On (default) or Off. A change to this option takes effect immediately (rebooting the system is not required).
You can set the following options through the Embedded Server Management screen:
Front Panel LCD Options — Controls the type of static information displayed on the front-panel LCD. Options are Default, None, and User-Defined String.
User String — Allows the user to enter a static five-character string in Line 1 and a static sixteen-character string in Line 2.
You can set the following security features through the System Security screen:
Password Status — When Setup Password is set to Enabled, this feature 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 system password.
Setup Password — Allows you to restrict access to the System Setup program in the same way that you restrict access to your system with the system password feature.
Extended Security — Allows you to add keyboard lockout during BIOS POST without halting the boot process unless an authorized user disables this option the System Setup program. When enabled, only the <F2> key is recognized, and a password prompt is displayed, allowing 20 seconds for a valid entry before continuing to boot the operating system.
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 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 system prompts you for the system password just after the system starts.
To change an existing system password, you must know the password (see "Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password"). If you assign and later forget a system password, you must remove the system cover to change a jumper setting that disables the system password feature (see "Disabling a Forgotten Password"). Note that this erases 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 system unlocked so that someone can disable the password by
changing a jumper setting, anyone can access the data stored on your hard 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. If the Password Status optionis Unlocked, you can change the system password. If the Password Status option is Locked, you cannot change the system password. When the system password feature is disabled by a jumper setting on the system board, the setting shown is Disabled, and you cannot change or enter a new system password.
When no system password is assigned and the password jumper on the system board is in the enabled (default) position, the setting shown for the System Password option is Not Enabled and the Password Status field is Unlocked. To assign a system password, perform the following steps:
Verify that the Password Status option is set to Unlocked.
Highlight the System Password option and then press <Enter>.
Type your new system password.
You can use up to 32 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 <Enter> to
move to another field, or press <Esc> at any time prior to completing step 5.
Press <Enter>.
To confirm your password, type it a second time and press <Enter>.
The System Password option changes to Enabled. Your system password is now set. You can exit the System Setup program and begin using your system.
NOTE: Password protection does not take effect until you restart 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 completes the startup sequence and you can use the keyboard or mouse to operate your system as usual.
NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password (see "Using the Setup Password
Feature"), 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 the System
Password and Setup Password options to further protect your system from
unauthorized changes.
When prompted, press <Ctrl><Enter> to disable the existing system password,
instead of pressing <Enter> to continue with the normal operation of your system.
If you are asked to enter your setup password, you may need to contact your network administrator who has the setup password.
Enter the System Setup program by pressing <F2> during POST.
Select the System Security screen field to verify that the Password Status option is set
to Unlocked.
When prompted, type the system password.
Confirm that Not Enabled is displayed for the System Password option.
If Not Enabled is displayed 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 restart the system, and then repeat steps 2 through 6.
Your system is shipped to you without the setup password feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should operate your system with the setup password feature enabled.
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 you open the system chassis, change the password jumper setting to disable the passwords, and erase the existing passwords. This procedure is described in the "Disabling a Forgotten Password."
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.
NOTE: 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 (restarting the system is not required).
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 exception. If System Password is not set to Enabled and is not locked via the Password Status option, you can assign a system password (however, you cannot disable or change an existing system password).
NOTE: You can use the Password Status option in conjunction with the Setup
Password option to protect the system password 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 option.
Highlight the Setup Password option, press <Enter> to access the setup password
window, and press <Enter> two more times to clear the existing setup password.
The system's software security features include a system password and a setup password. A password jumper on the I/O riser card enables these password features or disables them and clears any password(s) currently in use.
To disable a forgotten system password or setup password, perform the following steps.
CAUTION: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the Safety
Instructions in your System Information document.
Refer to Figure 5-2 for the location of the password jumper (labeled "PSWD") on the
I/O riser card.
Remove the jumper plug from the PSWD jumper.
Replace the back cover, and then reconnect the system to an electrical outlet and turn
it on.
The existing passwords are not disabled (erased) until the system boots with the PSWD jumper plug removed. However, before you assign a new system and/or setup password, you must install the jumper plug.
NOTE: If you assign a new system and/or setup password with the jumper plug still
removed, the system disables the new password(s) the next time it boots.
Repeat step 1.
Install the jumper plug on the PSWD jumper (see Figure 5-2).
Replace the back cover, and then reconnect the system and peripherals to their
electrical outlets and turn them on.
