To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your computer
To set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password
To read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed
Before you use system setup, it is recommended that you write down the system setup screen information for future reference.
NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings for this program. Certain changes can make your computer work incorrectly.
Entering System Setup
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
When the blue DELL logo is displayed, you must watch for the F2
prompt to appear.
Once this F2 prompt appears, press <F2> immediately.
NOTE: The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard has initialized. This prompt can appear very quickly, so you must watch for it to display, and then press <F2>. If you press <F2> before you are prompted, this keystroke will be lost.
If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to
wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop. Then, shut down
your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer) and try again.
System Setup Screens
The system setup screen displays current or changeable configuration information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into three areas: the options list, active options field, and key functions.
Options List This field appears on the left side of the system setup window. The field is a scrollable list containing features that define the configuration of your computer, including installed hardware, power conservation, and security features.
Scroll up and down the list with the up- and down-arrow keys. As an option is highlighted, the Option Field displays more information about that option and the option's current and available settings.
Option Field This field contains information about each option. In this field you can view your current settings and make changes to your settings.
Use the right and left arrow keys to highlight an option. Press <Enter> to make that selection active.
Key Functions This field appears below the Option Field and lists keys and their functions within the active system setup field.
System Setup Options
NOTE: Depending on your computer and installed devices, the items listed in this section may not appear, or may not appear exactly as listed.
System Info
BIOS Info
Shows the BIOS version number and date information.
System Info
Lists system information such as the computer name, and other system-specific information.
CPU Info
Identifies whether the computer's processor supports Hyper-Threading and lists the processor bus speed, processor ID, clock speed, and L2 cache.
Memory Info
Indicates amount of installed memory, memory speed, channel mode (dual or single), and type of memory installed.
Standard CMOS Features
Date/Time
Displays current date and time settings. Date (mm:dd:yy)
SATA Info
Displays the SATA drives integrated in the system (SATA -0; SATA-1; SATA-2; SATA-3; SATA-4; SATA-5).
SATA HDD Auto-Detection
Auto detects the SATA connector to which the hard drive is attached.
Capacity
The combined installed capacity of all the SATA devices.
Drive A
None; 1.44M; 3.5 in. 1.44M (3.5 in by default).
Halt On
All Error; All; But Keyboard. (All, But Keyboard by default).
Advanced BIOS Features
CPU Feature
Limit CPUID ValueEnabled; Disabled (Disabled by default)
Execute Disable BitEnabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
Virtualization TechnologyEnabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
Core Multi-ProcessingEnabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
Boot Up NumLock Status
Off; On (On by default)
Boot Device Configuration
Removable Device Priority
Used to set the device priority of removable devices like USB floppy drives. The items displayed are dynamically updated according to the removable devices connected.
Hard Disk Boot Priority
Used to set the device priority of hard drives. The items displayed are dynamically updated according to the hard drives detected.
First Boot Device
Removable; Hard Disk; CDROM; USB-CDROM; Legacy LAN; Disabled (Removable by default)
Second Boot Device
Removable; Hard Disk; CDROM; USB-CDROM; Legacy LAN; Disabled (Hard disk by default)
Third Boot Device
Removable; Hard Disk; CDROM; USB-CDROM; Legacy LAN; Disabled (CD-ROM by default)
Boot Other Device
Enabled; Disabled (Disabled by default)
Advanced Chipset Features
Init Display First
PCI Slot, Onboard, PCIEx (PCI Slot by default)
Video Memory Size
1 MB, 8 MB (8 MB by default)
DVMT Mode
FIXED, DVMT (DVMT by default)
DVMT/FIXED Memory Size
128 MB, 256 MB, MAX (128 MB by default)
Integrated Peripherals
USB Device Setting
USB ControllerEnabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
USB Operation ModeHigh Speed; Full/Low Speed (High Speed by default)
Onboard FDC Controller
Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard Audio Connector
Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard LAN Connector
Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard LAN Boot ROM
Enabled or Disabled (Disabled by default)
SATA Mode
IDE; RAID; AHCI (IDE by default)
Power Management Setup
ACPI Suspend Type
S1(POS); S3(STR) (S3(STR) by default)
Quick Resume
Disabled; Enabled (Disabled by default)
Remote Wake Up
On; Off (On by default)
USB KB Wake-Up From S3
Enabled; Disabled (Disabled by default)
Auto Power On
Enabled; Disabled (Disabled by default)
Auto Power On Date
0
Auto Power On Time
0:00:00
AC Recovery
Off; On; Former-Sts (Off by default)
Boot Sequence
This feature allows you to change the boot sequence for devices.
Option Settings
Diskette Drive The computer attempts to boot from the floppy drive. If the floppy disk in the drive is not bootable, if no floppy disk is in the drive, or if there is no floppy drive installed in the computer, the computer generates an error message.
Hard Drive The computer attempts to boot from the primary hard drive. If no operating system is on the drive, the computer generates an error message.
CD Drive The computer attempts to boot from the CD drive. If no CD is in the drive, or if the CD has no operating system, the computer generates an error message.
USB Flash Device Insert the memory device into a USB port and restart the computer. When F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press <F12>. The BIOS detects the device and adds the USB flash option to the boot menu.
NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure that your device is bootable, check the device documentation.
Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot
You can use this feature, for example, to tell the computer to boot from the CD drive so that you can run the Dell Diagnostics on the Dell Drivers andUtilitiesmedia, but you want the computer to boot from the hard drive when the diagnostic tests are complete. You can also use this feature to restart your computer to a USB device such as a floppy drive, memory key, or CD-RW drive.
If you are booting to a USB device, connect the USB device to a USB
connector.
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
When F2 = Setup, F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upper-right
corner of the screen, press <F12>.
If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.
The Boot Device Menu appears, listing all available boot devices. Each device has a number next to it.
At the bottom of the menu, enter the number of the device that is to be
used for the current boot only.
For example, if you are booting to a USB memory key, highlight USB Flash Device and press <Enter>.
NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure your device is bootable, check the device documentation.
Use the arrow keys to highlight the Boot Sequence menu option and press
<Enter> to access the menu.
NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it.
Press the up- and down-arrow keys to move through the list of devices.
Press the spacebar to enable or disable a device (enabled devices have a
checkmark).
Press plus (+) or minus () to move a selected device up or down the list.
Clearing Forgotten Passwords
CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
Locate the 3-pin password connector (PSWD) on the system board.
Remove the 2-pin jumper plug from pins 2 and 3 and fix it on pins 1 and 2.
Wait for approximately five seconds to clear the password.
Remove the 2-pin jumper plug from pins 1 and 2 and replace it on pins 2
and 3 to enable the password feature.
Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer.
Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn
them on.
Clearing CMOS Settings
CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
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