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 Screen
The system setup screen displays current or changeable configuration information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into four areas: the menu at the top, the main window, the Item Help field on the right, and key functions listed on the bottom.
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 by using 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
System Info
Displays the System name, BIOS Version, Service Tag, Express Service Code, and Asset Tag.
NOTE: The system name listed in the BIOS may not appear exactly as the name that appears on the computer or in the computer's documentation.
Processor Info
Displays the following information for the processor installed in the system: Processor Type, Processor Clock Speed, Processor Bus Speed, Processor L2 Cache, Processor ID, and if the processor has 64-bit technology.
Memory Info
Displays the amount of Installed Memory, Memory Speed, Memory Channel Mode, and a description of the Memory Technology.
PCI Info
Displays the contents of each PCI slot.
Date/Time
Controls the system's internal calendar and clock.
Boot Sequence
Determines the order in which the system searches for boot devices during system startup.
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, select the USB device and move it so it becomes the first device in the list.
HDD Boot Sequence
Lists the order that the BIOS will search the available hard drives in the system.
Drives
Diskette Drive
(Internal default)
Enables and disables the floppy drives and sets read permission for the internal floppy drive.
Off — disables all floppy drives
USB — enables the USB floppy drive
Internal — enables the internal floppy drive
Read Only — enables the internal drive controller and allows the internal floppy drive read-only permission
NOTE: Operating systems with USB support will recognize USB floppy drives regardless of this setting.
Drives 0 through 3
(On default)
Enables or disables an ATA or SATA device (such as hard-drive, CD drive, or DVD drive). On enables the interface so that the device can be used.
Displays the Controller type (ATA or SATA), Port number the drive is using, Drive ID number, Capacity, and whether the drive is controlled by the BIOS.
SATA Operation
(Off default)
The field configures the operating mode of the integrated hard drive controller.
RAID Off — No RAID support
RAID On — SATA is configured for RAID on every boot.
SMART Reporting
(Off default)
This setting determines whether integrated drive errors are reported or not during system startup.
Onboard Devices
Integrated NIC
(On default)
Enables or disables the integrated NIC controller. Settings are Off, On, On w/ PXE, or On w/RPL. When the On w/ PXE or the On w/RPL setting is active, if a boot routine is not available from the network server, the computer attempts to boot from the next device in the boot sequence list.
Integrated Audio
(On default)
Enables or disables the onboard audio controller.
USB Controller
(On default)
Enables or disables the internal USB controller. No Boot enables the controller but disables the ability to boot from a USB device.
NOTE: Operating systems with USB support will recognize USB floppy drives regardless of the No Boot setting.
Rear Dual USB0
(On default)
Enables or disables the indicated group of USB ports on the back of the computer.
Rear Dual USB1
(On default)
Enables or disables the indicated group of USB ports on the back of the computer.
Front USB
(On default)
Enables or disables the indicated group of USB ports on the front of the computer.
Video
Primary Video
(Auto default)
Specifies which video controller is primary when two video controllers are present on the computer. Auto enables the add-in video controller. Onboard enables the integrated video controller.
Video Memory Size
(64MB default)
This setting configures the amount of system memory that is reserved for the integrated video controller. The settings are Auto, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, or Off.
Performance
HDD Acoustic Mode
Bypass is default
Bypass — Your computer does not test or change the current acoustics mode setting.
Quiet — The hard drive operates at its most quiet setting.
Suggested — The hard drive operates at the level suggested by the drive manufacturer.
Performance —The hard drive operates at its maximum speed.
NOTE: Switching to performance mode will cause the drive heads to move faster, causing the hard drive to be noisier. However, some drives may not see an increase in data transfer rates.
NOTE: Changing the acoustics setting does not alter your hard drive image.
Security
Unlock Setup
When an administrator password is being used, allows the user access to modify system setup settings. Enter the administrator password at the prompt to unlock system setup. If the correct password is not entered here, the user can view but not modify system setup fields.
Admin Password
(Not Set default)
Displays the current status of your system setup program's password security feature and allows you to verify and assign a new admin password.
System Password
(Not Set default)
Displays the current status of the system's password security feature and allows a new system password to be assigned and verified.
Password Changes
(Unlocked default)
Determines the interaction between the System password and the Admin password. Locked prevents a user without a valid Admin password from being able to modify the System password. Unlocked allows a user with a valid System password to modify the system password.
No-Execute
(On default)
Enables or disables Execute Disable memory protection technology.
Power Management
AC Recovery
(Off default)
Determines how the system responds when AC power is re-applied after a power loss.
Off — The system remains off when power is re-applied. You must press the front-panel power button before the system turns on.
On — The system turns on when power is re-applied.
Last — The system returns to the last power state the system was in just before it was turned off.
Auto Power On
(Off default)
Sets the computer to automatically turn on.
Off — disables the Auto Power On feature
Everyday — turns the computer on every day at the time set in Auto Power Time
Weekdays — turns the computer on every day from 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
Sets time to automatically turn on the computer.
Time is kept in the standard 12-hour format (hours:minutes). Change the startup time by pressing the right- or left-arrow key to increase or decrease the numbers, or type numbers in both the date and time fields.
Low Power Mode
(Off default)
When Low Power Mode is selected, remote wakeup events will no longer power up the computer from Hibernate or Off via the onboard network controller.
Cool and Quiet
(On default)
This option enables or disables the Cool 'n' Quiet technology for all supported processors
Suspend Mode
(S3 default)
Sets the computer's suspend mode.
S1 — sets the computer to a suspend state where the computer is running in a low-power mode
S3 — sets the computer to a standby state where the power is reduced or turned off for most components; however, system memory remains active for both settings
Maintenance
Service Tag
Displays the service tag for your computer.
Load Defaults
Restores system setup options to their factory defaults.
Event Log
Allows you to view the Event Log. Entries are marked R for Read and U for Unread. Mark All Entries Read puts an R to the left of all entries. Clear Log clears the Event Log.
POST Behavior
Fast Boot
(On default)
When enabled, this feature reduces computer startup time by bypassing some compatibility steps.
Off — does not skip any steps during computer startup
On — starts the system more quickly
Numlock Key
(On default)
Determines the functionality of the numeric keys on the right side of your keyboard.
Off — commands the right keypad keys to function as arrows
On — commands the right keypad keys to function as numbers
POST Hotkeys
(Setup & Boot Menu default)
Determines whether the sign-on screen displays a message stating the keystroke sequence that is required to enter the Setup program or the Quickboot feature.
Setup & Boot Menu — displays both messages (F2=Setup and F12=Boot Menu)
Setup — displays the setup message only (F2=Setup)
Boot Menu — displays the Quickboot message only (F12=Boot Menu)
None — displays no message
Keyboard Errors
(Report default)
When set to Report and an error is detected during POST, the BIOS will display the error message and prompt you to press <F1> to continue or press <F2> to enter system setup.
When set to Do Not Report (disabled) and an error is detected during POST, the BIOS will display the error message and continue booting the system.
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.
Bootable 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.
Onboard Floppy 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.
Onboard 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 generates an error message.
Integrated NIC — The computer attempts to boot using the integrated NIC. If integrated NIC is not connected, the computer generates an error message.
USB-Device, USB-Floppy, USB-CDROM — Attach the device to a USB port and restart the computer before selecting the option from the Boot Menu. The computer will attempt to boot from the appropriate USB device. If no operating system is on the appropriate drive or disk, the computer will generate an error message.
NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To ensure that a 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, CD-RW drive, or PXE (NIC).
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).
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
When F2 = Setup, F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press <F12>.
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 <F12> in even intervals until the Boot Device Menu 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.
Press <F1> to continue.
The Boot Menu appears, listing all available boot devices.
Use the arrow keys to select the appropriate device (for the current boot only).
NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure your device is bootable, check the device documentation.
Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots
Enter system setup, select Boot Sequence from the System group (see Entering System Setup).
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 highlight the appropriate Boot Sequence option.
Press the U or D keys to move the option up or down in the boot sequence.
Press <Enter> to Save the changes or <Esc> to Cancel.
NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure your device is bootable, check the device documentation.
Clearing Forgotten Passwords
CAUTION: Before you perform any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
Locate the 2-pin password jumper (PSWD) on the system board (see System Board Components) and
attach the jumper to pins 1 and 2 to re-enable the password feature.
