Chapter 4: System Setup; Bios Overview; Entering Bios Setup Program; Navigation Keys - Dell P46E Service Manual

CAUTION: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings in the BIOS Setup program. Certain
changes can make your computer work incorrectly.
NOTE: Before you change BIOS Setup program, it is recommended that you write down the BIOS Setup program screen
information for future reference.
Use the BIOS Setup program for the following purposes:
• Get information about the hardware installed in your computer, such as the amount of RAM and the size of the hard drive.
• Change the system configuration information.
• Set or change a user-selectable option, such as the user password, type of hard drive installed, and enabling or disabling base devices.

BIOS overview

The BIOS manages data flow between the computer's operating system and attached devices such as hard disk, video adapter, keyboard,
mouse, and printer.

Entering BIOS setup program

Steps
1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2. During POST, when the DELL logo is displayed, watch for the F2 prompt to appear, and then press F2 immediately.
NOTE: The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard is initialized. This prompt can appear very quickly, so you must
watch for it, and then press F2. If you press F2 before the F2 prompt, this keystroke is lost. If you wait too long and
the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the desktop. Then, turn off your computer and try
again.

Navigation keys

NOTE: For most of the System Setup options, changes that you make are recorded but do not take effect until you
restart the system.
Keys Navigation
Up arrow Moves to the previous field.
Down arrow Moves to the next field.
Enter Selects a value in the selected field (if applicable) or follow the link in the field.
Spacebar Expands or collapses a drop-down list, if applicable.
Tab Moves to the next focus area.
Esc Moves to the previous page until you view the main screen. Pressing Esc in the main screen displays a message
that prompts you to save any unsaved changes and restarts the system.

Boot Sequence

Boot Sequence allows you to bypass the System Setup–defined boot device order and boot directly to a specific device (for example:
optical drive or hard drive). During the Power-on Self Test (POST), when the Dell logo appears, you can:
System setup
System setup
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