Dell 420 Personal Computer User Manual


 
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System Setup Program
Dell™Vostro™420/220/220sServiceManual
Overview
Entering the System Setup Program
System Setup Program Screens
System Setup Program Options
Boot Sequence
Clearing Forgotten Passwords
Clearing CMOS Settings
BIOS
Overview
Use the system setup program as follows:
l To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your computer
l To set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password
l To read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed
Before you use the system setup program, it is recommended that you write down the system setup screen information for future reference.
Entering the System Setup Program
1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2. WhentheblueDELL™logoisdisplayed,youmustwatchfortheF2prompttoappear.
3. Once this F2 prompt appears, press <F2> immediately.
4. 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 (see Turning Off Your Computer) and try again.
System Setup Program Screens
The system setup program screen displays current or changeable configuration information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into three
areas: the options list, active options field, and key functions.
NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings for this program. Certain changes can make your computer work
incorrectly.
NOTE: The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard has initialized. This prompt can appear very quickly, so you must watch for it to display, and then
press <F2>. If you press <F2> before you are prompted, the computer cannot acknowledge the keystroke.
Options List This field appears on the left side of the system setup program window. The field
is a scrollable list containing features that define the configuration of your computer, including
installed hardware, power conservation, and security features.
Scroll up and down the list with the up- and down-arrow keys. As an option is highlighted, the
Option Field displays more information about that option and the option's current and available
settings.
Option Field This field contains information about each
option. In this field you can view your current settings and
make changes to your settings.
Use the right and left arrow keys to highlight an option.
Press <Enter> to make that selection active.