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 appears, press <F2> immediately.
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.
System Setup Options
NOTE: Depending on your computer, BIOS version, 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 number, BIOS Date, 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 Cache Size, Processor ID number, whether the processor is Hyperthreading Capable, 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. This option also displays a table that describes the memory size, whether the memory module is ECC capable, single or dual rank, type, and organization.
PCI Info
Displays the contents of each PCI slot.
Date/Time
Controls the system's internal calendar and clock.
Boot Sequence
(Diskette drive default)
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.
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
(RAID Autodetect/ATA default)
Identifies and defines the SATA controller settings for RAID. You can set the SATA controller to RAID Autodetect/ATA or RAID On.
Onboard Devices
Integrated NIC
(On default)
Enables or disables the integrated NIC controller. Settings are On, Off, or On w/PXE. When the On w/PXE setting is active (available only for setting up a future boot process), the computer prompts you to press <Ctrl><Alt><b>. Pressing this key combination causes a menu to display that allows you to select a method for booting from a network server. 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 Controller
Enables or disables the onboard audio controller.
USB for Flexbay
(On default)
Enables or disables internal USB for FlexBay.
NOTE: This USB option appears only if a FlexBay device is installed.
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
(8 MB default)
Configures the system memory allocation reserved for the integrated video controller. Settings are 1MB and 8MB.
Performance
Hyper-Threading
(On default)
Determines whether the physical processor appears as one or two logical processors. The performance of some applications improve with additional logical processors installed.
SpeedStep
(On default)
Allows the BIOS to modify the processor fan and speed based on processor temperature readings.
NOTE: Intel SpeedStep® is not supported by all processors; therefore, this option will appear only when a supported processor is installed.
HDD Acoustic Mode
(Bypass 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
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 without a valid Admin password to modify the system password
Execute Disable
(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.
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
SERR DMI Message
(On default)
Controls the SERR DMI message mechanism.
NOTE: Some graphics cards require that the SERR DMI message mechanism be disabled.
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
Fastboot
(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 change the boot sequence for devices.
Option Settings
NOTE: The computer attempts to boot from all bootable devices listed in the boot sequence. If no bootable device is detected the computer displays the error message No bootable devices. Press the <F1> key to retry the boot or press the <F2> key to enter the setup utility.
Diskette Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the floppy drive. If there is no floppy disk in the drive, or there is no floppy drive installed, the computer attempts to boot from the next bootable device in the sequence.
NOTE: If there is a non-bootable floppy disk in the drive, the computer generates an error message. Follow the on-screen instructions to retry the boot.
Hard Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the primary hard drive. If there is no operating system on the drive, the computer attempts to boot from the next bootable device in the sequence.
CD-ROM Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the CD-ROM drive. If there is no CD in the drive, or if the CD in the drive is non-bootable, the computer attempts to boot from the next bootable device in the sequence.
Onboard Network Controller — The computer attempts to boot from the network. If no network is detected, the computer attempts to boot from the next bootable device in the sequence.
NOTE: To boot from a network the onboard network controller must be set to On w/PXE.
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 the <F12> key. The BIOS detects the device and adds the USB flash option to the boot menu.
NOTE: To boot from a USB device, the device must be bootable. To verify 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).
If you are booting to a USB device, connect the USB device to a USB connector (see
Connectors).
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 Turning Off 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.
Locate the 3-pin password jumper (PSWD) on the system board (see System Board
Components), and attach the jumper plug to pins 2 and 3 to clear the password.
NOTE: When you receive your computer, the jumper plug is attached to pins 1 and 2.
Locate the 3-pin password jumper (PSWD) on the system board (see System Board
Components) and attach the jumper to pins 1 and 2 to reenable the password feature.
