Viewing System Settings With the System Setup
Program
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: To learn more about configuring operating system features (system settings), see Windows Help and Support: click Startor ® Help and Support.
Use the system setup program to:
Change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove hardware on your computer
Set or change user-selectable options such as your password
Verify information about your computer's current configuration, such as the amount of system memory
Run the system setup program to become familiar with your system configuration information and optional settings. Write down the information for future reference.
NOTE: Unless you are an expert computer user or are directed to do so by Dell technical support, do not change the system setup program settings. Certain changes might make your computer work incorrectly.
Entering the System Setup Program
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
When the 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 and try again.
Working With Options on the System Setup Program Screen
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about a specific item on a system setup program screen, highlight the item and see the Help area on the screen.
On each screen, the system setup options are listed at the left. To the right of each option is 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.
The upper-right corner of the screen displays help information for the currently highlighted option. The lower-right corner displays information about the computer. System setup key functions are listed across the bottom of the screen.
The system setup screens display the current setup information and settings for your computer, such as:
System configuration
Boot order
Boot (start-up) configuration
Basic device configuration settings
System security and hard drive password settings
Changing the Boot Sequence
The boot sequence,orboot order,tells the computer where to look to find the software needed to start the operating system. You can control the boot sequence and enable/disable devices using the Boot Order page of the system setup program.
The Boot Order page displays a general list of the bootable devices that may be installed in your computer, including but not limited to the following:
Diskette Drive
Internal HDD
USB Storage Device
CD/DVD/CD-RW drive
Modular Bay HDD
NOTE: Only devices that are preceded by a number are bootable.
During the boot routine, the computer starts at the top of the list and scans each enabled device for the operating system start-up files. When the computer finds the files, it stops searching and starts the operating system.
To control the boot devices, select (highlight) a device by pressing the down-arrow or up-arrow key, and then enable or disable the device or change its order in the list.
Enter the system setup program.
Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight the Boot tab.
Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight the Boot Device Property,
and then press <Enter>.
Press the up- and down-arrow keys to select the boot device you want to
change, and then press <Enter>.
Press <F10> and then press <Enter> to exit the system setup program
and resume the boot process.
Boot sequence changes take effect as soon as you save the changes and exit the system setup program.
Performing a One-Time Boot
You can set a one-time-only boot sequence without entering the system setup program.
Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
Turn on the computer. When the DELL logo appears, press <F12>
immediately.
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.
When the boot device list appears, highlight the device from which you
want to boot and press <Enter>.
The computer boots to the selected device.
The next time you reboot the computer, the previous boot order is restored.
Changing Boot Sequence 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 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 Windows desktop, then shut down your computer and try again.
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 ensure that a device is bootable, check the device documentation.
Changing the BIOS Settings
The BIOS is a utility that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system. The BIOS settings may need to be updated for certain hardware replacements.
Locate the BIOS Version/Date item in System Summary.
This BIOS Version/Date item displays the BIOS version and date.
Upgrading the BIOS (Flashing the BIOS)
The BIOS may require flashing when an update is available or when replacing the system board.
NOTE: It is recommended that you review specifics about the BIOS update to determine if it applies to your system. Some updates contain changes that impact only certain configurations, or provide new features that may/may not apply to your environment.
Turn on the computer.
Locate the BIOS update file for your computer at the Dell Support
website at support.dell.com.
Click Download Now to download the file.
If the Export Compliance Disclaimer window appears, click Yes, I Accept
this Agreement.
The File Download window appears.
Click Save this program to disk, and then click OK.
The Save In window appears.
Click the down arrow to view the Save In menu, select Desktop, and then
click Save.
The file downloads to your desktop.
Click Close when the Download Complete window appears.
The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file.
Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the instructions on
the screen.
