HINT: Your operating
system may automatically
configure most of the
options available in the
system setup program,
thus overriding options
that you set through the
system setup program.
(An exception is the
External Hot Key option,
which you can disable or
enable only through the
system setup program.)
For more information on
configuring features for
your operating system, see
your Microsoft® Windows
Help or Windows Help
and Support Center.
You can use the system setup program as follows:
To set or change user-selectable features—for example, your password
To verify information about your computer's current configuration, such as the amount of system memory
After you set up your computer, run the system setup program to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information and optional settings. Dell recommends that you write down the information for future reference.
NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user or are directed to do so by
Dell technical support, do not change the settings for this program. Certain
changes might make your computer work incorrectly.
If you wait too long and the Windows® logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.
Depending on your computer, you may also be able to enter the system setup program by pressing the
keyboard shortcut at any time while the computer is running.
The system setup screens display the current setup information and settings for your computer. Each screen is laid out with the system setup options listed at the left. To the right of each option is a field that displays the setting or value for that option. You can change settings that appear as white type on the screen. Options or values that you cannot change (because they are determined by the computer) appear less bright.
A box in the upper-right corner of the screen displays help information for the currently highlighted option; a box in the lower-right corner displays information about the computer. System setup key functions are listed across the bottom of the screen.
The screens display such information as:
System configuration
Boot configuration and dock configuration settings
Basic device configuration settings
Battery charge status
Power management settings
System security and hard drive password settings
HINT: Certain options
require that you reboot
the computer for new
settings to take effect.
The boot sequence tells the computer where to look to find the software needed to start the operating system. To change the computer's boot sequence, change the device settings in the Boot First Device, Boot Second Device, or Boot Third Device options.
Boot Sequence Option
Description
Boot First Device
Tells the computer where to look first for the software it needs to start the operating system
Boot Second Device
Tells the computer where to look next if it cannot find the software on the drive identified in Boot First Device
Boot Third Device
Tells the computer where to look next if it cannot find the software on the drives identified in Boot First Device or Boot Second Device
For a change in the boot sequence options to take effect, you must reboot your computer.
Set the Parallel Mode option according to the type of printer or device connected to the parallel port. To determine the correct mode to use, see the documentation that came with the device.
Setting Parallel Mode to Disabled disables the parallel port and its assigned LPT address, freeing its interrupt for another device to use.
Serial Port allows you to map the address of the serial port, or to disable the serial port and its assigned COM address, freeing that interrupt for another device to use.
Press
and repeat to locate the Infrared Data Port option
under the Basic Device Configuration heading of the system setup
program.
Press the down-arrow key to highlight Disabled next to Infrared Data
Port.
Press the right-arrow key to highlight a COM port.
Ensure that the COM port that you highlight is different from the Serial Port COM port.
Press the down-arrow key to highlight Fast IR or Slow IR.
Dell recommends that you use Fast IR. If the infrared device cannot communicate with your computer, turn off the computer and repeat this procedure to change the setting to Slow IR.
Press
to save the changes and exit the system setup program.
The Microsoft® Windows® operating system starts automatically.
Follow the instructions on the screen while the infrared sensor driver is
installing.
At the end of the install process, click Yes to restart the computer.
When your computer detects the presence of another activated
infrared device, double-click the infrared icon that appears on the
Windows taskbar.
HINT: If the infrared
device cannot
communicate with your
computer, turn off the
computer and repeat this
procedure to change the
system setup program
setting to Slow IR. If the
infrared device still
cannot communicate with
your computer, contact
the infrared device
manufacturer.
The Infrared Monitor screen appears.
Click the Options tab and then click Enable Infrared
Communication.
Click OK.
See the infrared device documentation for device setup instructions.
immediately.
keyboard shortcut at any time while the computer is running.
and repeat to locate the Infrared Data Port option
under the Basic Device Configuration heading of the system setup
program.
to save the changes and exit the system setup program.