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System Setup Program

Dell™ Dimension™ 4600C Service Manual

  Overview

  Entering the System Setup Program

  Clearing Forgotten Passwords

Overview

The system setup program contains the standard settings for your computer.

NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings for this program. Certain changes might make your computer work incorrectly.

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 computer
  
  
• To set or change user-selectable options—for example, the user password
  
  

Dell recommends that you write down the system setup program screen information for future reference.

Entering the System Setup Program

Viewing Settings

1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
   
   
2. 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 and try again.

See the following figure for an example of the main program screen.

System Setup Screens

The system setup program screens display the current configuration information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into five areas:

• Title — The box at the top of all screens that lists the computer name.
  
  
• Computer data — Two boxes below the title box that display your computer processor, L2 cache, service tag, and the version number of the BIOS.
  
  
• Options — A scrollable box listing options that define the configuration of your computer, including installed hardware, power conservation, and security features.
  
  

Fields to the right of the option titles contain settings or values. The fields that you can change appear bright on the screen. The fields that you cannot change (because they are set by the computer) appear light blue in color. When <Enter> appears to the right of an option title, press <Enter> to access a popup menu of additional options.

• Key functions — A line of boxes across the bottom of all screens that lists keys and their functions within system setup.
  
  
• Help — Press <F1> for information on the option that is selected (highlighted).
  
  

Option	Function
System Time	Displays the system time.
System Date	Displays the system date.
Drive Configuration	Displays drive configurations when <Enter> is pressed.
Boot Sequence	Displays boot sequence when <Enter> is pressed.
Memory Information	Displays amount of system memory when <Enter> is pressed.
CPU Information	Displays CPU information when <Enter> is pressed.
Integrated Devices (Legacy Select Options)	Displays integrated device options when <Enter> is pressed.
Power Management	Displays power management options when <Enter> is pressed.
System Security	Displays system security options when <Enter> is pressed.
Keyboard Numlock	Turns the Keyboard NumLock option on and off. The default is On.
Report Keyboard Errors	Displays keyboard errors when set to Report. The default is Report.
Auto Power On	Allows auto power-on. The default is Disabled.
Fast Boot	Turns the fast boot option on and off. The default is On.
OS Install Mode	Turns the OS Install Mode on and off. The default is Off. When set to On, memory is limited to 256 MB to allow the installation of older operating systems that have 2 GB memory limits.
IDE Hard Drive Acoustics Mode	Sets the performance speed of your hard drive. The default is Bypass.
System Event Log	Displays the system event log when <Enter> is pressed.
Asset Tag	Displays asset tag information.

The following table shows Drive Configuration option information.

Diskette Drive A:	Sets the status of a floppy drive. The default is 3.5 inch, 1.44 MB.
SATA Primary Drive:	If no device is attached as SATA primary drive, then Off is displayed. If a device is attached, the type of drive is displayed. If <Enter> is pressed, device information is displayed and the drive type can be set as Auto (default) or Off.
IDE Primary Drive 0:	If no device is attached as primary drive 0, then Off is displayed. If a device is attached, the type of drive is displayed. If <Enter> is pressed, device information is displayed and the drive type can be set as Auto (default) or Off.
IDE Primary Drive 1:	If no device is attached as primary drive 1, then Off is displayed. If a device is attached, the type of drive is displayed. If <Enter> is pressed, device information is displayed and the drive type can be set as Auto or Off (default).
IDE Secondary Drive 0:	If no device is attached as secondary drive 0, then Off is displayed. If a device is attached, the type of drive is displayed. If <Enter> is pressed, device information is displayed and the drive type can be set as Auto (default) or Off.
IDE Secondary Drive 1:	If no device is attached as secondary drive 1, then Off is displayed. If a device is attached, the type of drive is displayed. If <Enter> is pressed, device information is displayed and the drive type can be set as Auto or Off (default).
IDE Drive UDMA:	Turns IDE Drive UDMA on and off. The default is On.

The following table shows Memory Information option information.

Option	Function
Installed System Memory	Displays the amount of installed system memory.
System Memory Speed	Displays the speed of your system memory.
System Memory Channel Mode	Displays the mode of your system memory.
AGP Aperture	Displays the amount of aperture memory. The default is 128 MB.

The following table shows CPU Information option information.

Option	Function
Hyper-Threading	Enables Hyper-Threading. The default is Disabled. NOTE: This option is displayed only if the installed microprocessor supports Hyper-Threading.
CPU Speed	Sets the CPU speed. The default is Normal.
Bus Speed	Displays the bus speed.
Processor 0 ID	Displays processor ID.
Clock Speed	Displays clock speed.
Cache Size	Displays cache size.

The following table shows Integrated Devices (Legacy Select Options) option information.

Option	Function
Sound	Turns the integrated sound off and on. The default is On.
Network Interface Controller	Turns the network interface controller off and on or on with PXE support. The default is On.
Mouse Port	Turns the mouse port off and on. The default is On.
USB Emulation	Turns USB emulation off and on. The default is On.
USB Controller	Turns the USB controller off and on. The default is On.
Parallel Port	Displays parallel port settings when <Enter> is pressed. The default mode is PS/2 and the I/O address default is 378h.
Primary Video Controller	Sets the primary video controller. The default is Auto.
Onboard Video Buffer	Sets the onboard video buffer size. The default is 1 MB.

The following table shows Power Management option information.

Option	Function
Suspend Mode	Displays the suspend state used by the computer. The default is S3.
AC Power Recovery	Enables AC power recovery to occur. The default is Off.
Low Power Mode	Minimizes power use when the computer is off. The default is Disabled.

The following table shows System Security option information.

Option	Function
Password Status	Locks and unlocks the password option. The default is Unlocked.
System Password	Enables and disables the system password. The default is Not Enabled.
Setup Password	Enables and disables the setup password. The default is Not Enabled.
POST Hotkeys	Selects key that are active during POST. The default is F2 and F12.
PXE BIS Default Policy	Specifies how the computer responds to boot integrity services authentication requests when no certificate has been installed. When set to Deny (the default), this request is rejected. The request is accepted when set to Accept.

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Owner's Manual or Product Information Guide.

If you forget your user or setup password, you cannot operate your computer or change settings in the system setup program until you clear the forgotten password(s).

NOTICE: This process erases both the system and setup passwords.

1. Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
   
   

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

2. Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their electrical outlets.
   
   
3. Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   
4. Remove the computer stand, if it is attached.
   
   

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

5. Open the computer cover.
   
   
6. Locate password jumper PWD1 on the system board and remove the jumper plug.
   
   
7. Close the computer cover, plug your computer into an electrical outlet, and then turn on the computer.
   
   

The existing password(s) will be erased.

8. Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
   
   

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

9. Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their electrical outlets.
   
   
10. Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
    
    
11. Open the computer cover.
    
    
12. Reconnect the jumper plug to password jumper PWD1 on the system board.
    
    
13. Close the computer cover.
    
    
14. Attach the computer stand (optional).
    
    

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer.

15. Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    

Turning on your computer with password jumper PWD1 installed reenables the password feature.

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