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: Do not change the settings in system setup unless you are an expert computer user. Certain changes can cause your computer to work incorrectly.
Entering System Setup
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
When the DELL logo appears, press <F2> immediately.
NOTE: Keyboard failure may result when a key on the keyboard is held down for extended periods of time. To avoid possible keyboard failure, press and release <F2> in even intervals until the system setup screen appears.
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.
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, the 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 Options Field displays more information about that option and the option's current and available settings.
Options Field — This field appears on the right side of the system setup window and contains information about each option listed in the Options List. In this field you can view information about your computer and make changes to your current settings.
Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight an option. Press <Enter> to make that selection active and return to the Options List.
NOTE: Not all settings listed in the Options Field are changeable.
Key Functions — This field appears below the Options 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
System Info
Lists system information such as the system model number, the BIOS version number and date, the system service tag, express service code and asset tag, and other system-specific information.
Processor Info
Identifies the processor type, clock speed, bus speed, L2 cache, L3 cache, ID, and whether the processor is multiple core capable, supports Hyper-Threading and supports 64-bit technology.
Memory Info
Identifies the memory type, speed, and channel mode (dual or single) by DIMM slot location.
PCI Info
Indicates the expansion card type by slot location.
Date/Time
Displays current date and time settings.
Boot Sequence
The computer attempts to boot from the sequence of devices specified in this list.
NOTE: If you insert a boot device and restart the computer, this option appears in the system setup menu. To boot from a USB memory device, for example, select the USB device and move it so that it becomes the first device in the boot sequence.
Drives
SATA Drives 0 through 4
(On default)
Enables or disables drives attached to the SATA connectors on the system board.
Off — A device attached to the interface is not usable.
On — A device attached to the interface is usable.
eSATA
(On default)
Enables or disables eSATA.
Off — eSATA is disabled.
On — eSATA is enabled.
NOTE: eSATA is not supported in ATA mode.
SATA Operation
(RAID On default)
Enables or disables RAID (for more information, see the Dell Technology Guide).
RAID Autodetect/ATA — RAID if signed drives, otherwise ATA.
RAID On — SATA is configured for RAID on every boot.
Onboard Devices
Integrated NIC
(On default)
Enables or disables the integrated network interface controller (NIC).
Off — The integrated NIC is disabled.
On — The integrated NIC is enabled.
On w/PXE — The integrated NIC is on (with PXE enabled).
NOTE: PXE is required only if you are booting to an operating system located on another computer. If a boot routine is not available from the remote system, the computer attempts to boot from the next device listed in the boot sequence.
Integrated Audio
(Auto default)
Enables or disables the onboard audio controller.
Off — Integrated audio is disabled.
On — Integrated audio is enabled.
Auto — If installed, the add-in audio controller is enabled.
USB Controller
(On default)
Enables or disables the internal USB controller. Set to On (default) so that USB devices will be detected and supported in the operating system.
Off — The USB controller is disabled.
On — The USB controller is enabled.
No Boot — The USB controller is enabled; however, the BIOS will not recognize USB storage devices.
NOTE: Operating systems with USB support will recognize USB storage devices regardless of the No Boot setting.
Rear Tri USB
(On default)
Enables or disables the indicated group of USB ports.
Off — The USB group is disabled.
On — The USB group is enabled.
Rear Dual USB
(On default)
Enables or disables the indicated group of USB ports.
Off — The USB group is disabled.
On — The USB group is enabled.
Front USB
(On default)
Enables or disables the indicated group of USB ports.
Off — The USB group is disabled.
On — The USB group is enabled.
USB for FlexBay
(No Boot default)
Enables or disables the internal USB for FlexBay.
Off — Internal USB for FlexBay is disabled.
On — Internal USB for FlexBay is enabled.
No Boot — Internal USB for FlexBay is enabled, but not bootable.
1394 Controller
(On default)
Enables or disables the integrated IEEE 1394 controller.
Off — The 1394 controller is disabled.
On — The 1394 controller is enabled.
Media Accelerator
(On default)
Enables or disables the Media Accelerator device.
Off — Media Accelerator is disabled.
On — Media Accelerator is enabled.
Video
Primary Video
(PEG default)
Specifies the display device the computer uses first when it starts.
PCI — Use the PCI video controller.
PEG — Use the PCI Express Graphics video controller.
Performance
Multiple CPU Core
(On default)
Specifies whether the processor has more than one core enabled.
Off — Multiple CPU core technology is disabled.
On — Multiple CPU core technology is enabled.
NOTE: The performance of some applications may improve with an additional core enabled.
SpeedStep
(Off default)
Specifies whether Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology is enabled for all supported processors in the system.
Off — Disable Enhanced SpeedStep technology
On — Enable Enhanced SpeedStep technology
Virtualization
(Off default)
Specifies whether a virtual machine monitor (VMM) can utilize the additional hardware capabilities provided by Intel® Virtualization Technology.
Off — Disable Virtualization Technology
On — Enable Virtualization Technology
HDD Acoustic Mode
(Bypass default)
Determines the acoustic mode at which the hard drive operates.
Bypass — Do nothing (needed for older drives).
Quiet — The hard drive operates at a slower, but quieter speed.
Suggested — Allow the hard drive manufacturer to select the mode.
Performance —The hard drive operates at a faster, but possibly noisier speed.
NOTE: Switching to performance mode may cause an increase in noise produced by the drive, but does not affect the drive's performance.
NOTE: Changing the acoustics setting does not alter your hard drive image.
Security
Admin Password
(Not Set default)
Used to prohibit an unauthorized user from changing any configuration settings in the system setup.
System Password
(Not Set default)
Used to prohibit an unauthorized user from booting to the operating system.
Password Changes
(Unlocked default)
This option locks the system password field with the administrator (admin) password.
NOTE: When the system password field is locked, you can no longer disable password security by pressing <Ctrl><Enter> when the computer starts.
Execute Disable
(On default)
Enables or disables Execute Disable Memory Protection technology.
Off — Execute Disable Memory Protection technology is disabled.
On —Execute Disable Memory Protection technology is enabled.
Power Management
AC Recovery
(Off default)
Specifies how the computer will behave when AC power is restored after an AC power loss.
Off — The system stays off after AC power is restored.
On — The system powers on after AC power is restored.
Last — The system returns to the previous state after AC power is restored.
Auto Power On
(Off default)
Disables or selects when to automatically turn on the computer.
Off — Do not use the Auto Power Time.
Everyday — Turn the computer on every day at the time set in Auto Power Time.
Weekdays — Turn the computer on Monday through Friday at the time set in Auto Power Time.
NOTE: This feature does not work if you turn off your computer using a power strip or surge protector.
Auto Power Time
Specifies the time to automatically turn on the computer.
Change the time to automatically turn on the computer by pressing the up- or down-arrow key to increase or decrease the numbers, or type the numbers in the appropriate time field.
NOTE: This feature does not work if you turn off your computer using a power strip or surge protector.
Remote Wake Up
(Off default)
This option allows the computer to power up when a Network Interface Controller or Remote Wakeup-capable modem receives a wake up signal.
Off — Remote wake up is disabled.
On — Remote wake up is enabled.
On w/Boot to NIC — The computer attempts to boot from a network prior to using the boot sequence.
Suspend Mode
(S3 default)
Specifies the power management suspend mode.
S1 — The computer resumes more quickly from sleep mode.
S3 — The computer conserves more power when not in use (system memory remains active).
Maintenance
Service Tag
Displays the system service tag.
SERR Message
(On default)
Controls the SERR message mechanism. Some graphics cards require that the SERR Message mechanism be disabled.
Off — Do not use the SERR message mechanism.
On —Use the SERR message mechanism.
Load Defaults
This setting restores the computer's factory-installed default settings.
Cancel — Do not restore factory-installed default settings.
Mark all entries — Mark all event log entries as read (R).
Clear log — Clear all event log entries.
NOTE: Once an event log entry is marked as read (R) that entry cannot be marked as unread (U).
POST Behavior
Fastboot
(On default)
Enables or disables the option to speed up the boot process by skipping certain configurations and tests.
Off — Do not skip any steps in the boot process.
On — Boot quickly.
Numlock Key
(On default)
Enables or disables the numerical and mathematical features of the rightmost bank of keys on the keyboard.
Off — Right keypad keys function as arrows.
On — Right keypad keys function as numbers.
POST Hotkeys
(Setup & Boot Menu default)
Specifies the function keys to display on the screen when the computer starts.
Setup & Boot Menu — Display both messages (F2=Setup and F12=Boot Menu).
Setup — Display the setup message only (F2=Setup).
Boot Menu — Display the Quickboot message only (F12=Boot Menu).
None — Neither message is displayed.
Keyboard Errors
(Report default)
Enables or disables keyboard error reporting when the computer starts.
Report — Display any keyboard errors.
Do not report — Do not display any keyboard errors.
Boot Sequence
This feature allows you to set the order in which the BIOS will search devices when trying to find an operating system.
NOTICE: If you modify any boot sequence settings, save the new settings to avoid losing the changes.
Option Settings
NOTE: The computer attempts to boot from all bootable devices, but if no bootable device is found, the computer generates an error message that states No boot device available. Press the <F1> key to retry the boot, or press the <F2> key to enter the setup utility.
USB Floppy Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the floppy drive. If there is no floppy drive connected to a USB port, the computer attempts to boot from the next bootable device in the sequence.
NOTE: If there is a non-bootable floppy in the drive, the computer generates an error message. Follow the instructions on the screen to retry the boot.
Onboard SATA Hard Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the primary hard drive. If no operating system is on the drive, the computer attempts to boot from the next bootable device.
Onboard or USB CD-ROM 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 attempts to boot from the next bootable device.
USB 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 option to the boot menu.
NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To ensure that your device is bootable, check the device documentation.
Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot
You can use this feature, for example, to restart your computer to a USB device such as a floppy drive, memory key, or CD-RW drive.
NOTE: If you are booting to a USB floppy drive, you must first set the floppy drive to OFF in system setup (see System Setup Options).
If you are booting to a USB device, connect the USB device to a USB
connector (see "Front View of the Computer" in the Quick Reference
Guide).
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 (see Before You Begin) 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 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.
Locate the RTCRST_PSWD jumper on the system board (see System
Board Components), then remove the jumper plug (located on pins three
and four) and set the plug aside.
Close the computer cover.
Connect your keyboard and mouse, then connect your computer and
monitor to electrical outlets and turn them on.
After the Microsoft® Windows® desktop appears on your computer, turn
the computer off:
Save and close all open files and exit all open programs.
Shut down the operating system.
NOTE: Ensure that the computer is off and not in a power management mode. If you cannot shut down the computer using the operating system, press and hold the power button for 4 seconds.
Disconnect the keyboard and mouse, then disconnect the computer and
monitor from their electrical outlets.
Press the power button on the computer to ground the system board.
Locate pins three and four of the RTCRST_PSWD jumper on the system
board (see System Board Components), and then reinstall the jumper plug
to enable the password feature.
Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn
them on.
NOTE: In system setup (seeEntering System Setup), both system and administrator password options appear as Not Set. The password feature is enabled but a password is not assigned.
Clearing CMOS Settings
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions that shipped with your computer.
NOTE: This procedure clears and resets system and setup passwords.
Remove the password jumper plug (located on pins three and four), then
place the plug on the CMOS jumper pins (pins one and two) and wait for
approximately 5 seconds.
Remove the jumper plug from the RTCRST_PSWD jumper, and then
reinstall the plug on the pins three and four to enable the password
feature.
