Overview
Each time you turn on or reboot your computer system, the system
compares the hardware installed in the system to the hardware listed in the system
configuration information stored in nonvolatile random-access memory (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 setting.
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 all integrated devices in your system.
 |
CAUTION:
Whenever you make changes to the System Setup program
or change settings for built-in devices, you must run the Resource Configuration Utility
(RCU), make any necessary changes, and save the system configuration information. Failure
to do so may cause resource conflicts between Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)
devices (such as PCI expansion cards, the built-in video controller, or the built-in small
computer system interface [SCSI] host adapter). See Configuring PCI Expansion Cards
for more information about how PCI devices are configured based on settings in the
Resource Configuration Utility. |
You can view the current settings any
time you run the System Setup program. When you change a setting, the system reboots
automatically so that the change can take effect.
After you set up your system, run the
System Setup program to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information
and optional settings. Dell™ recommends that you print the System Setup screens (by
pressing the <Print Screen> key) or write down the information for future reference.
Before you use the System Setup program,
you need to know the kind of diskette drive(s) and hard-disk drive(s) installed in your
computer. If you are unsure of any of this information, see the Manufacturing Test Report
that was shipped with your system. You can access the Manufacturing Test Report in the
Dell Accessories folder.
Enter the System Setup program as
follows:
Turn on your system.
If your system is already on, shut it down and then turn it on again.
Press <F2> immediately after you see the following message:
Press <F2> for System Setup
If you wait too long and your operating
system begins to load into memory, let the system complete the load operation; then shut
down the system and try again.
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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.
The two System Setup screens, Page 1 and
Page 2, display the current setup and configuration information and optional settings for
your system. Typical examples are illustrated in Figure 1.
Information on the two System Setup screens is organized in five boxed areas:
The box at the top of both screens lists
the system name, page number (Page 1 or Page 2), and the revision number of the basic
input/output system (BIOS).
The box on the left half of both screens
lists the categories that define the installed hardware in your computer.
Fields beside the categories contain
options or values; those that appear bright on the screen can be changed. Options or
values that you cannot change because they are determined by the system appear less
bright.
Some categories have multiple fields, which
may show options or values as bright or less bright depending upon what options or values
you entered in other fields.
The box on the upper-right half of both screens displays help
information for the category with a currently highlighted field.
The box in the lower-right corner of both
screens displays information about your system.
The line of
boxes across the bottom of both screens lists keys and their functions within the System
Setup program.
Table 1 lists the
keys you use to view or change information on the System Setup screens and to exit the
program.
| Table
1. System-Setup Navigation Keys |
Figure 1. System Setup Screens
The following subsections explain in
detail each of the options on the System Setup screens:
Time resets the time on the computer's
internal clock.
Time is kept in a 24-hour format
(hours:minutes:seconds). To change the time, 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 numbers in each of the appropriate fields.
Date resets the date on the computer's
internal calendar.
Your system automatically displays the
day of the week corresponding to the settings in the three fields that follow (month,
day-of-month, and year).
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 numbers in the month and
day-of-month fields.
Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B
identify the type of diskette drive installed in your computer. With the standard cabling
configuration, Diskette Drive A (the boot diskette drive) is the 3.5-inch diskette drive
installed in the top externally accessible drive bay.
The settings always match the physical
locations of the drives in your computer--the first drive listed on Page 1 of the System
Setup screens is the top drive in your computer.
The
settings are:
- 3.5 Inch, 720 KB
- 3.5 Inch, 1.44 MB
- 5.25 Inch, 360 KB
- 5.25 Inch, 1.2 MB
- Not Installed
Sets the state of the processor cache to
On (default) or Off.
Num Lock 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).
When Num Lock mode is activated, the
rightmost bank of keys on your keyboard provides the mathematical and numeric functions
shown at the tops of the keys. When Num Lock mode is turned off, these keys provide
cursor-control functions according to the label on the bottom of each key.
Speaker determines whether the built-in
speaker is On (the default) or Off. Rebooting the system is required for the changes to
take effect.
Processors 1, 2, 3, and 4 display the
version or stepping number of each processor slot in the system. These options have no
user-selectable settings.
Keyboard Errors enables or disables
reporting of keyboard errors during the power-on self-test (POST), which is a series of
tests that the system performs on the hardware each time you turn on the system or press
the reset button.
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 to the keyboard controller during POST. This option does not affect the operation of
the keyboard itself if a keyboard is attached to the computer.
Boot Sequence can be set to Diskette
First (the default) or to Hard Disk Only.
The term
boot refers to the system's start-up procedure. When turned on, the system
"bootstraps" itself into an operational state by loading into memory a small
program, which in turn loads the necessary operating system. Boot Sequence tells the
system where to look for the files that it needs to load.
Selecting Diskette First causes the
system to try booting from drive A first. If the system finds a diskette that is not
bootable in the drive or finds a problem with the drive itself, it displays an error
message. If it does not find a diskette in the drive, the system tries to boot from the
CD-ROM, then from the hard-disk drive (drive 0), and finally from the Plug and Play
network adapters.
Selecting Hard Disk Only causes the
system to attempt to boot first from the hard-disk drive and then from the Plug and Play
network adapters in the order found.
This option determines the order in
which PCI devices are scanned by the system, and it allows you to select the built-in SCSI
controller or an optional PCI expansion-card SCSI controller as the boot device. The
options are:
- Embedded Devices First
- Slots First (High/Low) (the default)
- Slots First (Low/High)
System Password displays the current
statusof your system's password security feature and allows
you to assign and verify a new password. No one can assign a new password unless the
current status is Not Enabled, which is displayed in bright characters.
The settings for the System Password
are:
- Not Enabled (the default)
- Enabled
- Disabled by Jumper (jumper removed)
When Setup Password is set to Enabled,
Password Status 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 password in Setup Password and then change Password Status to Locked. In
this state, the system password cannot be changed through System Password
and cannot be disabled at system start-up by pressing <Ctrl><Enter>.
To unlock the system password, you must
enter the setup password in Setup Password and then change Password Status to Unlocked. In
this state, the system password can be disabled at system start-up by pressing
<Ctrl><Enter> and then changed through System 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. The settings are:
- Not Enabled (the default)
- Enabled
- Disabled by Jumper (jumper removed)
Mouse enables or disables the system's
built-in Personal System PS/2-compatible mouse port. Disabling the mouse allows an
expansion card to use IRQ12.
Serial Port 1 and Serial Port 2
configure the system's built-in serial ports. These options can be set to Auto (the
default) to automatically configure a port, to a particular designation (COM1 or COM3 for
Serial Port 1; COM2 or COM4 for Serial Port 2), 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
built-in port to the next available port designation that shares the same interrupt
request (IRQ) setting as follows:
- COM1 (input/output [I/O] address 3F8h), which shares IRQ4 with COM3, is
remapped to COM3 (I/O address 3E8h).
- Likewise, COM2 (I/O address 2F8h), which shares IRQ3 with COM4, is
remapped to COM4 (I/O address 2E8h).
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NOTE: When two COM ports
share an IRQ setting, you can use either port as necessary, but you may not be able to use
them both at the same time. If the second port (COM3 or COM4) is also in use, the built-in
port is turned off. |
Parallel Port configures the system's
built-in parallel port. Parallel Port can be set to 378h (the default), to alternate addresses 278h or 3BCh, or
to Off to disable the port.
|
NOTE: Do not set Parallel
Port to 278h if you have an Extended Capabilities Port (ECP) device connected to the port. |
Parallel Mode controls whether the
system's built-in parallel port acts as an
AT-compatible (unidirectional) or PS/2-compatible (bidirectional) port.
Set Parallel Mode 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.
Diskette controls the operation of the
system's built-in diskette drive controller.
With Auto (the default) selected, the
system turns off the built-in diskette drive controller when necessary to accommodate a
controller card installed in an expansion slot.
With Write Protect selected, nothing can
be written to diskette drives using the system's built-in diskette drive controller. (The
system can still read from the drives.) When this option is selected, the Auto option
(whereby the system turns off the built-in diskette drive controller as necessary) is also
in effect.
Selecting Off turns off the built-in
diskette controller; this option is used primarily for troubleshooting purposes.
Primary SCSI A, Primary SCSI B and
Secondary SCSI turn the respective SCSI controller on or off. Selecting On (the default
option) enables the built-in PCI SCSI controller and scans the associated read-only memory
(ROM). For the system to boot from a drive attached to the built-in SCSI controller, the
drive must be enabled. Selecting Off causes the BIOS to mask the presence of a device.
The following fields, which are not
selectable, display information about the system:
- The processor line displays the microprocessor type and speed.
- Level 2 Cache displays the size of the integrated cache (512 kilobytes
[KB]).
- System Memoryindicates the entire amount of
installed memory detected in your system, except for memory on Expanded Memory
Specification (EMS) expansion cards. After adding memory, check System Memory to confirm
that the new memory is installed correctly and is recognized by the system.
- Video Memory displays the amount of video memory detected in your system.
- Service Tag displays the system's five-character service tag number,
which was programmed into NVRAM by Dell during the manufacturing process. Refer to this
number during technical assistance or service calls. The service tag number is also
accessed by certain Dell support software, including the diagnostics software.
- Asset Tag displays the customer-programmable asset tag number for the
system if an asset tag number has been assigned. You can use the Asset Tag utility, which
is included with your software support utilities, to enter an asset tag number up to ten
characters long into NVRAM. See Asset Tag Utility
for information on loading the Asset Tag utility.
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CAUTION:
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, as
described in the next subsection, Assigning 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 System Password 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 (see Deleting or Changing an Existing
System Password found later in this section). 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 "Disabling a Forgotten Password" found
later in this chapter). Note that when you erase the system password, you erase the setup
password at the same time.
|
CAUTION:
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 System Password.
When a system password is assigned,
System Password is Enabled. When the system password feature is disabled by a jumper
setting on the system board, the status shown is Disabled by Jumper. You cannot change or
enter a new system password if either of these options is displayed.
When no system password is assigned and
the password jumper on the system board is in the enabled position (its default), the
status shown for System Password is Not Enabled. Only when System Password is set to Not
Enabled can you assign a system password, using the following procedure:
Verify that Password Status is set to Unlocked.
For instructions on changing the setting for Password Status, see Password Status.
Highlight System Password, and then press the left- or right-arrow
key.
The heading changes to Enter Password, followed by an empty seven-character field in
square brackets.
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 category 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 your system or
reboot by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> key combination, the following
prompt appears when Password Status 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 Password Status 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 and/or
mouse to operate your system as usual.
If a wrong
or incomplete system password is entered, the following message appears on the screen:
** Incorrect password. **
Enter password:
If an incorrect or incomplete system
password is entered again, the same message appears on the screen.
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.
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NOTE: You can use Password
Status in conjunction with System Password and Setup Password to further protect your
system from unauthorized changes. For more information, see Password
Status. |
To delete or change an existing system
password, perform the following steps:
- Enter the System Setup program, and verify that the Password Status
category is set to Unlocked.
Enter the System Setup program by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Enter> key
combination. Press the <Alt><p> key combination to move to Page 2 of the
System Setup screens. For instructions on changing the setting for Password Status, see Password Status.
- 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
category of the System Setup program.
If Not Enabled appears in the System Password category, 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 category, 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, as
described in the next subsection, Assigning 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" found later in this section). If you assign and later forget a setup
password, you need to remove the computer cover to change a jumper setting that disables
the setup password feature (see Disabling a
Forgotten Password). Note that you erase the system password at the same time.
A setup password can be assigned (or
changed) only when Setup Password is set to Not Enabled. To assign a setup password,
highlight Setup Password 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, Setup
Password changes to Enabled. The next time you enter the System Setup program, the system
prompts you for the setup password.
A change to Setup Password becomes
effective immediately (rebooting 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,
Page 2 of the System Setup screens appears with Setup Password highlighted, prompting you
to type the password.
If you do not enter the correct password
in three attempts, the system lets you view, but not modify, the System Setup
screens--with the following exceptions:
- You can still modify Date, Time, CPU Speed, Num Lock, and Speaker.
- If System Password is not enabled and is not locked via Password Status,
you can assign a system password (however, you cannot disable or change an existing system
password).
|
NOTE: You can use Password
Status in conjunction with Setup Password to protect the system password from unauthorized
changes. For more information, see Password Status. |
To delete or change an existing setup
password, perform the following steps:
Enter the System Setup program.
Highlight Setup Password, 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, follow the procedure in
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,
respectively, 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 "Disabling a Forgotten Password" in Appendix B of the
Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
If an error message appears on your
monitor screen while the system is booting, make a note of the message. Then, before
entering the System Setup program, refer to "System Beep Codes" and "System
Messages" in Chapter 3 of the Installation and Troubleshooting
Guide for an explanation of the message and suggestions for correcting any errors.
(An exception to this routine: It is normal to receive an error message the first time you
boot your system after installing a memory upgrade. In that situation, do not refer to
"System Beep Codes" and "System Messages." Instead, follow the
instructions in "Performing a Memory Upgrade" in Chapter 8 of the Installation
and Troubleshooting Guide.)
If you are given an option of pressing
either <F1> to continue or <F2> to run the System Setup program, press the
<F2> key.
Back To Contents Page
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