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Using the System Setup Program: Dell PowerEdge 2300 Systems User's Guide
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Each time you turn on your computer
system or press the reset button, the system compares the hardware installed in the system
to the hardware listed in the system configuration information stored in nonvolatile
random-access memory (NVRAM) on the system board. If the system detects a discrepancy, it
generates error messages that identify the incorrect configuration settings. The system
then prompts you to enter the System Setup program to correct the setting.
You can use the System Setup program as
follows:
- To change the system configuration information after you add, change,
or remove any hardware in your system
- To set or change user-selectable options--for example, the time or
date on your system
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CAUTION: Whenever you make
changes to the System Setup program or add, reposition, or remove Industry-Standard
Architecture (ISA) expansion cards, add or remove memory, or change settings for built-in
devices, you must run the Resource Configuration Utility, make any necessary changes, and
save the system configuration information. Failure to do so may cause resource conflicts
between Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) devices (such as PCI expansion cards, the
built-in video controller, or the built-in small computer system interface [SCSI] host
adapter). See "Configuring
ISA and PCI Expansion Cards" for more information about how PCI devices are
configured based on settings in the Resource Configuration Utility.
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You can view the current settings at
any time. However, when you change a setting, the system reboots automatically so that the
change can take effect.
After you set up your system, run the
System Setup program to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information
and optional settings. Dell recommends that you print the System Setup screens (by
pressing the <Print Screen> key) or write down the information for future reference.
Before you use the System Setup
program, you need to know the kind of diskette drive(s) and hard-disk drive(s) installed
in your computer. If you are unsure of any of this information, see the Manufacturing Test
Report that was shipped with your system. You can access the Manufacturing Test Report in
the Dell Accessories folder.
Enter the System Setup program as
follows:
1. Turn on your system.
If your system is already on, shut it
down and then turn it on again.
2. Press
<Ctrl><Alt><Enter> immediately after you see the following message:
Press
<Ctrl><Alt><Enter> for System Setup
If you wait too long and your operating
system begins to load into memory, let the system complete the load operation; then shut
down the system and try again.
 NOTE: To ensure an orderly system shutdown, consult the
documentation that accompanied your operating system.
You can also enter the System Setup
program by responding to certain error messages. See "Responding to Error
Messages" at the end of this chapter.
The two System Setup screens, Page 1
and Page 2, display the current setup and configuration information and optional settings
for your system. (Typical examples are illustrated in Figure 1.)
Information on the two System Setup screens is organized in five boxed areas:
- Title box
The box at the top of both screens lists the system name, page number (Page 1 or Page 2),
and the revision number of the basic input/output system (BIOS).
- Configuration options
The box on the left half of both screens lists the categories that define the installed
hardware in your computer.
Fields beside the categories contain options or values; those that appear bright on the
screen can be changed. Options or values that you cannot change because they are
determined by the system appear less bright.
Some categories have multiple fields, which may show options or values as bright or less
bright depending upon what options or values you entered in other fields.
- Help
The box on the upper-right half of both screens displays help information for the category
with a currently highlighted field.
- System data
The box in the lower-right corner of both screens displays information about your system.
- Key functions
The line of boxes across the bottom of both screens lists keys and their functions within
the System Setup program.
Table 1 lists
the keys you use to view or change information on the System Setup screens and to exit the
program.
Figure 1. System
Setup Screens
The following subsections explain in
detail each of the categories on the System Setup screens.
Time resets the time on the computer's
internal clock.
Time is kept in a 24-hour format
(hours:minutes:seconds). To change the time, press the right-arrow key to increase the
number in the highlighted field or press the left-arrow key to decrease the number. If you
prefer, you can type numbers in each of the appropriate fields.
Date resets the date on the computer's
internal calendar.
Your system automatically displays the
day of the week corresponding to the settings in the three fields that follow (month,
day-of-month, and year).
To change the date, press the
right-arrow key to increase the number in the highlighted field or press the left-arrow
key to decrease the number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in the month and
day-of-month fields.
Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B
identify the type of diskette drive installed in your computer. With the standard cabling
configuration, Diskette Drive A (the boot diskette drive) is the 3.5-inch diskette drive
installed in the top externally accessible drive bay.
The category options always match the
physical locations of the drives in your computer--the first drive listed on Page 1 of the
System Setup screens is the top drive in your computer.
The
options are:
- 3.5 Inch, 720 KB
- 3.5 Inch, 1.44 MB
- 5.25 Inch, 360 KB
- 5.25 Inch, 1.2 MB
- Not Installed
Reserved Memory allows you to designate
a region of system board memory that can be supplied by an expansion card. You should not
enable the reserved memory feature unless you are using an expansion card that requires
special addressing.
For example, you may have a memory
expansion card that needs to be addressed starting at 15 MB. Selecting the 15M - 16M
option in the Reserved Memory category specifies that the base memory from 15 to 16 MB
come from the memory expansion card (the base memory below the 15-MB address comes from
the dual in-line memory modules [DIMMs] on the system board).
The Reserved Memory category has the
following options:
- None (the default option)
- 15M - 16M
CPU Speed indicates the processor speed
at which your system boots.
Press the
left- or right-arrow key to toggle the CPU Speed category between the resident
microprocessor's rated speed (the default) and a lower compatibility speed, which lets you
accommodate speed-sensitive application programs.
Num Lock determines whether your system
boots with the Num Lock mode activated on 101- or 102-key keyboards (it does not apply to
84-key keyboards).
When Num Lock mode is activated, the
rightmost bank of keys on your keyboard provides the mathematical and numeric functions
shown at the tops of the keys. When Num Lock mode is turned off, these keys provide
cursor-control functions according to the label on the bottom of each key.
Setting this category to Enabled (the
default) allows the system to be reset when the reset button is pushed.
Processor 1 and Processor 2 display the
status of each processor slot in the system. These categories have no user-selectable
options.
The Fan Speed category has the
following options:
- Full Speed (the default option)
- Noise Reduced
The System Alert category has the
following options:
- Fault (the default option)
- Warning
Keyboard Errors enables or disables
reporting of keyboard errors during the power-on self-test (POST), which is a series of
tests that the system performs on the hardware each time you turn on the system or press
the reset button.
This category is useful when applied to
self-starting servers or host systems that have no permanently attached keyboard. In these
situations, selecting Do Not Report suppresses all error messages relating to the keyboard
or to the keyboard controller during POST. This option does not affect the operation of
the keyboard itself if a keyboard is attached to the computer.
Boot Sequence can be set to Diskette
First (the default option) or to Hard Disk Only.
The term
boot refers to the system's start-up procedure. When turned on, the system
"bootstraps" itself into an operational state by loading into memory a small
program, which in turn loads the necessary operating system. Boot Sequence tells the
system where to look for the files that it needs to load.
Selecting Diskette First causes the
system to try booting from drive A first. If the system finds a diskette that is not
bootable in the drive or finds a problem with the drive itself, it displays an error
message. If it does not find a diskette in the drive, the system tries to boot from the
hard-disk drive (drive 0). If the hard-disk drive is not bootable, the system tries to
boot from the Plug and Play network adapters in the order found.
Selecting Hard Disk Only causes the
system to attempt to boot first from the hard-disk drive and then from the Plug and Play
network adapters in the order found.
This category determines the order in
which PCI devices are scanned by the system, and it allows you to select the built-in SCSI
controller or an optional PCI expansion-card SCSI controller as the boot device. The
options are:
- Embedded Devices First
- Slots First (H/L) (the default)
- Slots First (L/H)
System Password displays the current
status of your system's password security feature and allows
you to assign and verify a new password. No one can assign a new password unless the
current status is Not Enabled, which is displayed in bright characters.
The options for the System Password
category are:
- Not Enabled (the default option)
- Enabled
- Disabled by Jumper (jumper removed)
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NOTE: Read "Using the System Password
Feature" found later in this chapter for instructions on assigning a system password
and using or changing an existing system password. See "Disabling a Forgotten
Password" found later in this chapter for instructions on disabling a forgotten
system password. |
When Setup Password is set to Enabled,
Password Status allows you to prevent the system password from being changed or disabled
at system start-up.
To lock the system password, you must
first assign a setup password in the Setup Password category and then change the Password
Status category to Locked. In this state, the system password cannot be changed through
the System Password category and cannot be disabled at system start-up by
pressing <Ctrl><Enter>.
To unlock the system password, you must
enter the setup password in the Setup Password category and then change the Password
Status category to Unlocked. In this state, the system password can be disabled at system
start-up by pressing <Ctrl><Enter> and then changed through the System
Password category.
Setup Password lets you restrict access
to your computer's System Setup program in the same way that you restrict access to your
system with the system password feature. The options are:
- Not Enabled (the default option)
- Enabled
- Disabled by Jumper (jumper removed)
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NOTE: Read "Using the System Password
Feature" found later in this chapter for instructions on assigning a system password
and using or changing an existing system password. See "Disabling a Forgotten
Password" found later in this chapter for instructions on disabling a forgotten
system password.
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Mouse enables or disables the system's
built-in PS/2-compatible mouse port. Disabling the mouse allows an expansion card to use
IRQ12.
Serial Port 1 and Serial Port 2
configure the system's built-in serial ports. These categories can be set to Auto (the
default option) to automatically configure a port, to a particular designation (COM1 or
COM3 for Serial Port 1; COM2 or COM4 for Serial Port 2), or to Off to disable the port.
If you set a serial port to Auto and add an expansion card
containing a port configured to the same designation, the system automatically remaps the
built-in port to the next available port designation that shares the same IRQ setting as
follows:
- COM1 (input/output [I/O] address 3F8h), which shares IRQ4 with COM3,
is remapped to COM3 (I/O address 3E8h).
- Likewise, COM2 (I/O address 2F8h), which shares IRQ3 with COM4, is
remapped to COM4 (I/O address 2E8h).
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NOTE: When two COM ports share an IRQ setting, you
can use either port as necessary, but you may not be able to use them both at the same
time. If the second port (COM3 or COM4) is also in use, the built-in port is turned off.
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Parallel Port configures the system's
built-in parallel port. This category can be set to 378h (the default), to alternate
addresses 278h or 3BCh, or to Off to disable the port.
NOTE: Do not set Parallel Port to 278h if you have an Enhanced
Capabilities Port (ECP) device connected to the port.
Parallel Mode controls whether the
system's built-in parallel port acts as an AT-compatible (unidirectional) or
PS/2-compatible (bidirectional) port.
Set this category according to the type
of peripheral device connected to the parallel port. To determine the correct mode to use,
see the documentation that came with the device.
Diskette controls the operation of the
system's built-in diskette drive controller.
With Auto (the default option)
selected, the system turns off the built-in diskette drive controller when necessary to
accommodate a controller card installed in an expansion slot.
With Write Protect selected, nothing
can be written to diskette drives and tape drives using the system's built-in diskette
drive controller. (The system can still read from the drives.) When this option is
selected, the Auto option (whereby the system turns off the built-in diskette drive
controller as necessary) is also in effect.
Selecting Off turns off the built-in
diskette controller; this option is used primarily for troubleshooting purposes.
Speaker determines whether the onboard
speaker is On (the default) or Off. A change to this category takes effect immediately
(rebooting the system is not required).
Primary SCSI and Secondary SCSI turn
the respective SCSI controller on or off. Selecting On (the default option) enables the
built-in PCI SCSI controller and scans the associated ROM. For the system to boot from a
drive attached to the built-in SCSI controller, the drive must be enabled. Selecting Off
causes the BIOS to mask the presence of a device.
The following categories, which are not
selectable, display information about the system:
- The Processor line displays the microprocessor type and speed.
- Level 2 Cache displays the size of the integrated cache (
512 kilobytes [KB]).
- System Memory indicates the entire
amount of installed memory detected in your system, except for memory on Expanded Memory
Specification (EMS) expansion cards. After adding memory, check this category to confirm
that the new memory is installed correctly and is recognized by the system.
- Video Memory displays the amount of video memory detected in your
system.
- Service Tag displays the system's five-character service tag number,
which was programmed into NVRAM by Dell during the manufacturing process. Refer to this
number during technical assistance or service calls. The service tag number is also
accessed by certain Dell support software, including the diagnostics software.
- Asset Tag displays the customer-programmable asset tag number for the
system if an asset tag number has been assigned. You can use the Asset Tag utility, which
is included with your software support utilities, to enter an asset tag number up to ten
characters long into NVRAM. See "Asset Tag
Utility" for information on loading the Asset Tag utility.
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CAUTION: The password
features provide a basic level of security for the data on your system. However, they are
not foolproof. If your data requires more security, it is your responsibility to obtain
and use additional forms of protection, such as data encryption programs.
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Your Dell system is shipped to you
without the system password feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should
operate your system only with system password protection.
You can assign a system password, as
described in the next subsection, "Assigning a System Password," whenever you
use the System Setup program. After a system password is assigned, only those who know the
password have full use of the system.
When the System Password category is
set to Enabled, the computer system prompts you for the system password just after the
system boots.
To change an existing system password,
you must know the password (see "Deleting or Changing an Existing System
Password" found later in this section). If you assign and later forget a system
password, you need to be able to remove the computer cover to change a jumper setting that
disables the system password feature (see "Disabling a Forgotten Password" found
later in this chapter). Note that you erase the setup password at the same time.
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CAUTION: If you leave your
system running and unattended without having a system password assigned, or if you leave
your computer unlocked so that someone can disable the password by changing a jumper
setting, anyone can access the data stored on your hard-disk drive.
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Before you can assign a system
password, you must enter the System Setup program and check the System Password category.
When a system password is assigned, the
option shown in the System Password category is Enabled. When the system password feature
is disabled by a jumper setting on the system board, the option shown is Disabled by
Jumper. You cannot change or enter a new system password if either of these options is
displayed.
When no system password is assigned and
the password jumper on the system board is in the enabled position (its default setting),
the option shown for the System Password category is Not Enabled. Only when this category
is set to Not Enabled can you assign a system password, using the following procedure:
1. Verify that the Password Status
category is set to Unlocked.
For instructions on changing the
setting for Password Status, see "Password Status" found earlier in this
chapter.
2. Highlight the System Password
category, and then press the left- or right-arrow key.
The category heading changes to Enter
Password, followed by an empty seven-character field in square brackets.
3. Type your new system password.
You can use up to seven characters in
your password.
As you press each character key (or the
spacebar key for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.
The password assignment operation
recognizes keys by their location on the keyboard, without distinguishing between
lowercase and uppercase characters. For example, if you have an M in your password, the
system recognizes either M or m as correct.
Certain key combinations are not valid.
If you enter one of these combinations, the speaker emits a beep.
To erase a character when entering your
password, press the <Backspace> key or the left-arrow key.
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NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a
system password, press the <Tab> key or the <Shift><Tab> key combination
to move to another field, or press the <Esc> key at any time prior to completing
step 5.
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4. Press <Enter>.
If the new system password is less than
seven characters, the whole field fills with placeholders. Then the category heading
changes to Verify Password, followed by another empty seven-character field in square
brackets.
5. To confirm your password, type it a
second time and press <Enter>.
The password setting changes to
Enabled. Your system password is now set; you can exit the System Setup program and begin
using your system. Note, however, that password protection does not take effect until you
reboot the system by pressing the reset button or by turning the system off and then on
again.
Whenever you turn on your system, press
the reset button, or reboot the system by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Del>
key combination, the following prompt appears on the screen when the Password Status
category is set to Unlocked:
Type in the password and... -- press <ENTER> to leave password
security enabled. -- press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password security. Enter
password:
If the Password Status category is set
to Locked, the following prompt appears:
Type the password and press <Enter>.
After you type the correct system
password and press <Enter>, your system boots and you can use the keyboard and/or
mouse to operate your system as usual.
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NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password (see
"Using the Setup Password Feature" found later in this chapter), the system
accepts your setup password as an alternate system password.
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If a
wrong or incomplete system password is entered, the following message appears on the
screen:
** Incorrect password. **
Enter password:
If an incorrect or incomplete system
password is entered again, the same message appears on the screen.
The third and subsequent times an
incorrect or incomplete system password is entered, the system displays the following
message:
** Incorrect password. ** Number of unsuccessful password attempts:
3 System halted! Must power down.
The number of unsuccessful attempts
made to enter the correct system password can alert you to an unauthorized person
attempting to use your system.
Even after your system is turned off
and on, the previous message is displayed each time an incorrect or incomplete system
password is entered.
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NOTE: You can use the Password Status category in
conjunction with System Password and Setup Password to further protect your system from
unauthorized changes. For more information, see "Password Status" found earlier
in this chapter.
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To delete or change an existing system
password, perform the following steps:
1. Enter the System Setup program, and
verify that the Password Status category is set to Unlocked.
Enter the System Setup program by
pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Enter> key combination. Press the
<Alt><p> key combination to move to Page 2 of the System Setup screens. For
instructions on changing the setting for Password Status, see "Password Status"
found earlier in this chapter.
2. Reboot your system to force it to
prompt you for a system password.
3. When prompted, type the system
password.
4. Press the <Ctrl><Enter>
key combination to disable the existing system password, instead of pressing <Enter>
to continue with the normal operation of your system.
5. Confirm that Not Enabled is
displayed for the System Password category of the System Setup program.
If Not Enabled appears in the System
Password category, the system password has been deleted. If you want to assign a new
password, continue to step 6. If Not Enabled is not displayed for the System Password
category, press the <Alt><b> key combination to reboot the system, and then
repeat steps 3 through 5.
6. To assign a new password, follow the
procedure in "Assigning a System Password" found earlier in this section.
Your Dell system is shipped to you
without the setup password feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should
operate your system with setup password protection.
You can assign a setup password, as
described in the next subsection, "Assigning a Setup Password," whenever you use
the System Setup program. After a setup password is assigned, only those who know the
password have full use of the System Setup program.
To change an existing setup password,
you must know the setup password (see "Deleting or Changing an Existing Setup
Password" found later in this section). If you assign and later forget a setup
password, you need to remove the computer cover to change a jumper setting that disables
the setup password feature (see "Disabling a Forgotten Password" found later in
this chapter). Note that you erase the system password at the same time.
A setup password can be assigned (or
changed) only when the Setup Password category is set to Not Enabled. To assign a setup
password, highlight the Setup Password category and press the left- or right-arrow key.
The system prompts you to enter and verify the password. If a character is illegal for
password use, the system emits a beep.
NOTE: The setup password can be the same as the system password.
If the two passwords are different,
the setup password can be used as an alternate system password. However, the system
password cannot be used in place of the setup password.
After you verify the password, the
Setup Password setting changes to Enabled. The next time you enter the System Setup
program, the system prompts you for the setup password.
A change to the Setup Password category
becomes effective immediately (rebooting the system is not required).
If Setup Password is set to Enabled,
you must enter the correct setup password before you can modify the majority of the System
Setup categories.
When you start the System Setup
program, Page 2 of the System Setup screens appears with the Setup Password category
highlighted, prompting you to type the password.
If you do not enter the correct
password in three tries, the system lets you view, but not modify, the System Setup
screens--with the following exceptions:
- You can still modify the Date, Time, CPU Speed, Num Lock, and Speaker
categories.
- If System Password is not enabled and is not locked via the Password
Status category, you can assign a system password (however, you cannot disable or change
an existing system password).
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NOTE: You can use the Password Status category in
conjunction with Setup Password to protect the system password from unauthorized changes.
For more information, see "Password Status" found earlier in this chapter.
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To delete or change an existing setup
password, perform the following steps:
1. Enter the System Setup program.
2. Highlight the Setup Password
category, and press the left- or right-arrow key to delete the existing setup password.
The setting changes to Not Enabled.
3. If you want to assign a new setup
password, follow the procedure in "Assigning a Setup Password" found earlier in
this section.
If you forget your system or setup
password, you cannot operate your system or change settings in the System Setup program
until you remove the computer cover, change the password jumper setting to disable the
passwords, and erase the existing passwords.
To disable a forgotten password,
perform the following steps:
1. Remove the computer cover according
to the instructions in "Removing
the Computer Covers".
CAUTION: See "Protecting Against
Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions at the front of this guide.
2. Remove the jumper plug from the
PASSWD jumper to disable the password feature.
See
Figure 6 for the location of the password jumper (labeled "PASSWD") on the
system board. Refer to "Jumpers and Switches--A General Explanation" in Appendix
B of the Installation and Troubleshooting Guide for information about the system's
jumpers.
3. Replace the computer cover.
4. Reconnect your computer and
peripherals to their power sources, and turn them on. Proceed to step 5 if you want to
assign a new password.
Booting your system with the PASSWD
jumper plug removed erases the existing password(s).
NOTE: Before you assign a new system and/or setup password, you
must replace the PASSWD jumper plug.
5. Repeat step 1.
6. Replace the PASSWD jumper plug.
7. Replace the computer cover, and then
reconnect the computer and peripherals to their power sources and turn them on.
Booting with the PASSWD jumper
installed reenables the password feature. When you enter the System Setup program, both
password categories appear as Not Enabled, meaning that the password feature is enabled
but that no password has been assigned.
8. Assign a new system and/or setup
password.
To assign a new system password, see
"Assigning a System Password" found earlier in this chapter. To assign a new
setup password, see "Assigning a Setup Password" found earlier in this chapter.
If an error message appears on your
monitor screen while the system is booting, make a note of the message. Then, before
entering the System Setup program, refer to "System Beep Codes" and "System
Messages" of the Installation and Troubleshooting Guide for an explanation
of the message and suggestions for correcting any errors. (An exception to this routine:
It is normal to receive an error message the first time you boot your system after
installing a memory upgrade. In that situation, do not refer to "System Beep
Codes" and "System Messages." Instead, follow the instructions in
"Performing a Memory Upgrade" in Chapter 8 of the Installation and
Troubleshooting Guide.)
If you are given an option of pressing
either <F1> to continue or <F2> to run the System Setup program, press the
<F2> key.
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