Commonly Used Options - Dell Inspiron 9300 Owner's Manual

The window at the bottom tells you how to control system setup with key functions. Use these keys
to select a category, modify its settings, or exit system setup.

Commonly Used Options

Certain options require that you reboot the computer for new settings to take effect.
Changing the Boot Sequence
The boot sequence, or boot 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 system setup.
NOTE:
page 108.
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:
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.
• To enable or disable a device, highlight the item and press the space bar. Enabled items are
preceded by a number; disabled items are not preceded by a number.
• To reorder a device in the list, highlight the device and press either <u> to move the device
up the list or <d> to move a device down the list.
Boot sequence changes take effect as soon as you save the changes and exit system setup.
Performing a One-Time Boot
You can set a one-time-only boot sequence without entering system setup. (You can also use this
procedure to boot the Dell Diagnostics on the diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive.)
1
Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
2
If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked), undock it. See the documentation
that came with your docking device for instructions.
108
Appendix
To change the boot sequence on a one-time-only basis, see "Performing a One-Time Boot" on
Only devices that are preceded by a number are bootable.