Reference Guide
Table Of Contents
- Me and My Dell For Inspiron, G-Series, XPS, and Alienware computers
- Setting up your computer
- About your computer
- Using your computer
- Ports and connectors
- Software and Applications
- Restoring your operating system
- Troubleshooting
- BIOS
- Getting help and contacting Dell
- References
BIOS
BIOS stores hardware information about your computer and passes on the information to the operating system when the
computer boots up. You can make changes to the basic hardware settings stored in the BIOS using BIOS setup program.
You can use BIOS setup program to:
● Set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password.
● Determine the devices installed on your computer, such as amount of memory, type of hard drive, and so on.
● Change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your computer.
Changing BIOS settings
NOTE: Incorrect settings in BIOS setup program may cause your computer to not boot, work incorrectly, or damage your
computer.
You may need to change settings such as date and time, boot devices and boot sequence, enable or disable PowerShare, and
so on. To change the settings, enter BIOS setup program, locate the setting that you want to change, and follow the on-screen
instructions.
Entering BIOS setup program
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.
Resetting BIOS password
BIOS passwords are used to add extra security to computers. You can configure your computer to prompt for a password when
booting or when entering BIOS setup program.
Use one of the following methods, depending on your computer type, to reset lost or forgotten BIOS passwords.
CAUTION:
Resetting the BIOS password involves clearing all data from the CMOS. If you have changed any BIOS
settings, you must make those changes again after resetting the password.
Remove the CMOS battery
CAUTION: Read the safety instructions before working inside your computer.
Almost all system boards use a coin‑cell battery that helps retain BIOS settings, including the password. To reset the password,
remove the coin‑cell battery, wait for 15 to 30 seconds and replace the coin‑cell battery.
NOTE:
For more information on the location of the coin‑cell battery and instruction on removing and replacing it, see the
Service Manual at www.dell.com/support.
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