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Using the System Setup Program: Dell PowerEdge 2400 Systems User's Guide
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Overview • Entering
the System Setup Program • System Setup Screens
• System Setup Options • Using the System Password Feature • Using the Setup Password Feature •
Disabling a Forgotten Password • Responding to Error Messages
Each time you turn on your computer system or press the reset
button, 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
NOTICE: Whenever you make changes to the System Setup program or add or remove
Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion cards, add or remove memory, or change
settings for integrated devices, you must run the Resource Configuration Utility, 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 integrated video controller, or the integrated small computer
system interface [SCSI] host adapter). See "Configuring ISA and 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 at any time. 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 record 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 three System Setup screens, Page 1, Page 2, and the Device List screen, display the
current setup and configuration information and optional settings for your system.
(Typical examples are illustrated in Figure 1.) Information on the
System Setup screens is organized in five boxed areas:
- Title box — The box at the top of both screens lists the system name, page number,
and the revision number of the basic input/output system (BIOS).
- Configuration options — The box on the left half of both screens lists the options
that define the installed hardware in your computer.
Fields beside the options contain settings or values; those that appear bright on the
screen can be changed. Settings or values that you cannot change because they are
determined by the system appear less bright.
Some options have multiple fields, which may show settings or values as bright or less
bright depending upon what settings or values you entered in other fields.
- Help — The box on the upper-right half of both screens displays help information
for the option with a currently highlighted field.
- System data — The box in the lower-right corner of both screens displays
information about your system.
- Key functions — 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 that 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
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 option's 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
The Fan Speed option has the following settings:
- Full Speed (the default setting)
- Noise Reduced
The System Alert option has the following settings:
- Fault (the default setting)
- Warning
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.
Setting this option to Enabled (the default) allows
the system to be reset when the reset button is pushed.
Processor Serial Number enables or disables the
processor serial number feature. This option has the following settings:
- Disabled (the default setting)
- Enabled
Processor Bus
Processor Bus displays the current processor bus
speed (100 or 133 MHz). This option has no user-selectable settings.
Processor 1 and Processor 2 display
the stepping number of the processor in processor slot 1 or slot 2 (such as A0),
if one is installed. If the stepping number is unknown, Newer than xxx
is displayed. If no processor is installed in this slot, Not Installed is
displayed. This option has 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 setting 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 setting) 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.
- Diskette First
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 hard-disk drive (drive 0). If the hard-disk drive
is not bootable, the system tries to boot from the Plug and Play network adapters in the
boot order set by the Device List.
- Hard Disk Only
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 boot order set by the Device List.
- Device List, Ctrl–>
Selecting Device List, Ctrl–> causes the system to attempt to
boot from devices in the list shown on the Device List screen of the System Setup program.
Pressing <Ctrl> and the right-arrow key simultaneously causes the Device List screen
to appear.
System Password displays the current status of 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 option are:
- Not Enabled (the default setting)
- 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 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.
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 setting)
- Enabled
- Disabled by Jumper (jumper removed)
USB enables or disables the system's Universal
Serial Bus (USB) ports. Disabling the USB ports makes system resources available for other
devices.
Mouse enables or disables the system's integrated Personal System/2
(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 integrated serial ports. These options can be set to Auto (the
default setting) 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 integrated
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).
- 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 integrated port is turned off. |
Parallel Port configures the system's integrated parallel port. This
option can be set to 378h (the default), to alternate addresses 278h
or 3BCh, or to Off to disable the port.
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NOTE: Do not set Parallel Port to 278h
if you have an Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP) device connected to the port. |
Parallel Mode controls whether the system's integrated parallel port
acts as an AT-compatible (unidirectional) or PS/2-compatible (bidirectional) port.
Set this option according to the type of peripheral device that is connected to the
parallel port. To determine the correct mode to use, see the documentation that came with
the device.
Ethernet Controller determines whether the system's integrated network
interface controller (NIC) is On or Off (the default).
MAC Address
The MAC Address field displays the address of the
media access control (MAC) address used by the integrated NIC. This field has no
user-selectable settings.
Diskette controls the operation of the system's integrated diskette
drive controller.
With Auto (the default setting) selected, the system turns off the
integrated 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
and tape drives using the system's integrated diskette drive controller. (The system can
still read from the drives.) When this setting is selected, the Auto
setting (whereby the system turns off the integrated diskette drive controller as
necessary) is also in effect.
Selecting Off turns off the integrated diskette controller; this
setting is used primarily for troubleshooting purposes.
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).
Primary SCSI and Secondary SCSI turn the respective
SCSI controller on or off. Selecting On (the default setting) enables the
integrated PCI SCSI controller and scans the associated ROM. For the system to boot from a
drive attached to the integrated SCSI controller, the drive must be enabled. Selecting Off
causes the BIOS to mask the presence of a device.
If the integrated RAID controller is activated, the RAID
field appears instead of the Primary SCSI field.
The RAID field appears if the optional PERC 2/Si
integrated RAID controller is activated. The settings are:
NOTICE: To avoid possible data loss, back up all data on the
hard-disk drives before changing the mode of operation of the integrated SCSI controller.
The following categories, 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 Memory indicates the entire amount of installed memory detected
in your system, except for memory on Expanded Memory Specification (EMS) expansion cards.
After adding memory, check this option 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.
- If an asset tag number has been assigned, Asset Tag displays the
customer-programmable asset tag number for the system. 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.
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 (see "Deleting or Changing an Existing
System 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 "Disabling a
Forgotten Password"). Note that you 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 setting), 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.
For instructions on changing the setting for Password Status, see "Password Status."
- Highlight the System Password option, and then press
the left- or right-arrow key.
The option 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.
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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 pressing the reset
button or by turning the system off and then on again.
Whenever you turn on your system, press the reset button, or reboot the 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 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 the Password Status option
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
option is set to Unlocked.
Enter the System Setup program by pressing the <F2> key. 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
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 need to
remove the computer cover to change a jumper setting that disables the setup password feature. Note that
you erase the system password at the same time.
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.
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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).
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 the Setup Password option highlighted, prompting 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, CPU Speed,
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 system password).
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NOTE: You can use the Password Status option
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 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, 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 until you remove the computer cover, change the
password jumper setting to disable the passwords, and erase the existing passwords.
To disable a forgotten password, perform the following steps.
NOTICE: See "Protecting Against
Electrostatic Discharge."
- Remove the computer
cover.
- Remove the jumper plug from the PASSWD jumper to disable the password
feature.
See Figure 4 in "Working Inside Your Computer"
for the location of the PASSWD jumper.
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 "Messages and Codes" in 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 for performing a memory upgrade in “Adding
Memory” in "Installing System Board Options" in 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.
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