Using The System Setup Program; Entering The System Setup Program - Dell Precision 410 User Manual

Chapter 3

Using the System Setup Program

E
ach 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 sys-
tem 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 set-
tings. 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 ex-
ample, the time or date on your system
You can view the current settings at any time. When you
change a setting, in many cases you must reboot the sys-
tem before the change takes effect.
After you set up your system, run the System Setup
program to familiarize yourself with your system
configuration information and optional settings. Dell rec-
ommends that you print out the System Setup screens (by
pressing the <Print Scrn> key) or write down the infor-
mation 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 manu-
facturing test report from the Dell Accessories program
folder.
E
ntering the System Setup
Program
To enter the System Setup program, press the System
Setup key combination during the system's power-on self
test (POST), as follows:
1. Restart your system.
2. During the boot routine, the message Press
<Ctrl><Alt><Enter> for System Setup
appears on the screen. When the message
appears, immediately hold down the <Ctrl> and
<Alt> keys and press the <Enter> key.
The message Entering System Setup
..... Please wait appears and is soon
replaced by Page 1 of the System Setup screens.
If you wait too long to press the <Ctrl><Alt><Enter> key
combination, the Press <Ctrl><Alt><Enter>
for System Setup message disappears and your
operating system begins to load into memory. If this situ-
ation occurs, let the system complete the load operation;
then shut it down 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.
Using the System Setup Program 3-1