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.
CAUTION: 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
Options List — This field appears on the top of the system setup window. The tabbed options contain features that define the configuration of your computer, including installed hardware, power conservation, and security features.
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.
Help Field — This field provides context sensitive help based on the options selected.
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.
Inspiron 535/537
System Info
System
Displays the computer model number.
BIOS Info
Shows the BIOS version number and date information.
Asset Tag
Displays the asset tag for the computer, if present.
Service Tag
Displays the service tag of the computer.
Processor Type
Displays the processor type.
Processor Level 2 Cache
Displays the amount of processor Level 2 cache.
Memory Installed
Indicates the amount of installed memory.
Memory Available
Indicates the amount of available memory.
Memory Speed
Indicates the frequency of installed memory.
Memory Channel Mode
Indicates the channel mode of installed memory.
System Memory Type
Indicates the type of installed memory.
Standard CMOS Features
Date
Displays current date in the format (mm:dd:yyyy).
Time
Displays current time in the format (hh:mm:ss).
SATA 0
Displays the SATA drives connected to the SATA 0 connector.
SATA 1
Displays the SATA drives connected to the SATA 1 connector.
Halt On
All Errors; All, But Keyboard (All, But Keyboard by default)
Advanced BIOS Features
CPU Feature
Limit CPUID Value—Enabled; Disabled (Disabled by default)
Execute Disable Bit—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
Core Multi-Processing—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
Boot Up Numlock Status
Off; On (On by default)
Module Bay
Identifies the device installed in the module bay.
Boot Device Configuration
Removable Boot 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.
CD/DVD Boot Priority
Used to set the device priority of CD/DVD drives. The items displayed are dynamically updated according to the CD/DVD drives detected.
Network Boot Priority
Used to set the device priority of network devices. The items displayed are dynamically updated according to the network devices detected.
USB Boot Priority
Used to set the device priority of USB drives. The items displayed are dynamically updated according to the USB drives detected.
First Boot Device
Removable Dev.; Hard Drive; CD/DVD; Network; USB; Disabled (Removable Dev. by default)
Second Boot Device
Removable Dev.; Hard Drive; CD/DVD; Network; USB; Disabled (Hard Drive by default)
Third Boot Device
Removable Dev.; Hard Drive; CD/DVD; Network; USB; Disabled (CD/DVD by default)
Fourth Boot Device
Removable Dev.; Hard Drive; CD/DVD; Network; USB; Disabled (Network by default)
Fifth Boot Device
Removable Dev.; Hard Drive; CD/DVD; Network; USB; Disabled (USB by default)
Boot Other Device
Enabled; Disable (Enabled by default)
Advanced Chipset Features
Init Display First
PCI Slot, Onboard (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)
NOTE: The DVMT Mode and FIXED Memory Size features are not available in Inspiron 537
Integrated Peripherals
USB Device Setting
USB Controller—Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
USB Operation Mode—High Speed; Full Speed; Low Speed (High Speed by default)
Onboard SATA Controller
Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard AUDIO Controller
Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard LAN Controller
Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard LAN Boot ROM
Enabled or Disabled (Disabled by default)
Power Management Setup
ACPI Suspend Type
S1(POS); S3(STR) (S3(STR) by default)
Remote Wake Up
On; Off (On 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; Last (Off by default)
Set Supervisor Password
Supervisor Password
Installed; Not Installed (Not Installed by default)
Change Supervisor Password
Press Enter to change the supervisor password
Set User Password
User Password
Installed; Not Installed (Not Installed by default)
Change User Password
Press Enter to change the user password
Inspiron 545
System Info
System
Displays the computer model number.
BIOS Info
Shows the BIOS version number and date information.
Service Tag
Displays the service tag of the computer.
Processor Type
Displays the processor type.
Processor L2 Cache
Displays the amount of processor Level 2 cache
Memory Installed
Indicates the amount of installed memory.
Memory Available
Indicates the amount of available memory.
Memory Speed
Indicates the frequency of installed memory.
Memory Channel Mode
Indicates the channel mode of installed memory.
Memory Technology
Indicates the type of installed memory.
Standard CMOS Features
Date
Displays current date in the format (mm:dd:yyyy).
Time
Displays current time in the format (hh:mm:ss).
SATA 0
Displays the SATA drives connected to the SATA 0 connector.
SATA 1
Displays the SATA drives connected to the SATA 1 connector.
SATA 4
Displays the SATA drives connected to the SATA 4 connector.
SATA 5
Displays the SATA drives connected to the SATA 5 connector.
Halt On
All Errors; All, But Keyboard (All, But Keyboard by default)
Advanced BIOS Features
CPU Feature
Limit CPUID Value—Enabled; Disabled (Disabled by default)
Execute Disable Bit—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
Core Multi-Processing—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
Boot Up Numlock Status
Off; On (On by default)
Module Bay
Identifies the device installed in the module bay.
Boot Device Configuration
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; Disabled (Removable by default)
Second Boot Device
Removable; Hard Disk; CDROM; USB-CDROM; Disabled (Hard Disk by default)
Third Boot Device
Removable; Hard Disk; CDROM; USB-CDROM; Disabled (CDROM by default)
Boot Other Device
Enabled; Disable (Enabled by default)
Advanced Chipset Features
Init Display First
PCI Slot, Onboard (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 Controller—Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
USB Operation Mode—High Speed; Full/Low Speed (High Speed by default)
Onboard AUDIO Controller
Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard LAN Controller
Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard LAN Boot ROM
Enabled or Disabled (Disabled by default)
SATA Mode
IDE; RAID (IDE by default)
Power Management Setup
ACPI Suspend Type
S1(POS); S3(STR) (S3(STR) by default)
Remote Wake Up
On; Off (On 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; Last (Off by default)
Set Supervisor Password
Supervisor Password
Installed; Not Installed (Not Installed by default)
Change Supervisor Password
Press Enter to change the supervisor password
Set User Password
User Password
Installed; Not Installed (Not Installed by default)
Change User Password
Press Enter to change the user password
Inspiron 546
System Info
BIOS Info
Shows the BIOS version number and date information.
System
Displays the computer model number.
Asset Tag
Displays the asset tag for the computer, if present.
Service Tag
Displays the service tag of the computer.
Processor Type
Displays the processor type.
CPU Speed
Displays the processor speed.
Processor L2 Cache
Displays the amount of processor Level 2 cache
Memory Installed
Indicates the amount of installed memory.
Memory Available
Indicates the amount of available memory.
Memory Speed
Indicates the frequency of installed memory.
Memory Channel Mode
Indicates the channel mode of installed memory.
Memory Technology
Indicates the type of installed memory.
Standard CMOS Features
System Time
Displays current time in the format (hh:mm:ss).
System Date
Displays current date in the format (mm:dd:yy).
SATA 0
Displays the SATA drives connected to the SATA 0 connector.
SATA 1
Displays the SATA drives connected to the SATA 1 connector.
SATA 2
Displays the SATA drives connected to the SATA 2 connector.
SATA 3
Displays the SATA drives connected to the SATA 3 connector.
Advanced BIOS Features
CPU Feature
AMD Virtualization—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
AMD Cool 'N' Quiet Function—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
AMD Live!—indicates the AMD Live! status.
USB Device Setting
USB Controller—Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
USB Operation Mode—High Speed; Full/Low Speed (High Speed by default)
Identifies the device installed in the module bay.
Boot Device Configuration
Boot Settings Configuration
Fast Boot—Disabled; Enabled (Enabled by default)
Numlock Key—OFF; ON (ON by default)
Keyboard Errors—Report; Do Not Report (Report by default)
Hard Disk Boot Priority
1st Boot Device—Removable; CD/DVD; Hard Drive; Disabled (Removable by default)
2nd Boot Device—Removable; CD/DVD; Hard Drive; Disabled (CD/DVD by default)
3rd Boot Device—Removable; CD/DVD; Hard Drive; Disabled (Hard Drive by default)
Boot Other Device
No; Yes (Yes by default)
Power Management Setup
ACPI Suspend Type
S1(POS); S3(STR) (S3(STR) by default)
C1E Support
Disabled; Enabled (Disabled by default)
Remote Wake Up
Disabled; Enabled (Enabled by default)
AC Recovery
Off; On; Last (Off by default)
Auto Power On
Disabled; Enabled (Disabled by default)
Auto Power On Date
0
Auto Power On Time
0:00:00
BIOS Security Features
Supervisor Password
Displays the status of the supervisor password
User Password
Displays the status of the user password
Set Supervisor Password
Set the supervisor password through this menu
The following options are available when the Supervisor Password is set.
User Access Level
Set User Password
Password Check
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 Drivers and Utilities media, 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 bottom-
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 Device Configuration 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 plus (+) or minus (–) to change the boot priority of device.
Clearing Forgotten Passwords
WARNING: 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.
Locate the 3-pin password reset jumper on the system board.
NOTE: The location of the password connector may vary depending on the system.
Inspiron 535/537
Inspiron 545
Inspiron 546
Remove the 2-pin jumper plug from pins 2 and 3 and fix it on pins 1 and 2.
Turn on the computer, wait for approximately five seconds, and then turn
off the computer. If required, press and hold the power button to turn off
the computer.
Remove the 2-pin jumper plug from pins 1 and 2 and replace it on pins 2
and 3 to enable the password feature.
