Owners Manual

System Setup

Topics:

• Boot Menu

• Timing Key Sequences

• Dell Diagnostics

• About system setup

Boot Menu

As with previous workstation platforms, this computer includes a one-time boot menu. This feature gives users a quick and convenient

mechanism to bypass the System Setup-defined boot device order and boot directly to a specific device (for example: floppy, CD-ROM,

or hard drive). The boot menu enhancements introduced on previous platforms are as follows:

• Easier access — Although the <Ctrl><Alt><F8> keystroke still exists and can be used to call up the menu, simply press <F12> during

system boot to access the menu.

• User prompting — Not only is the menu easy to access, but the user is prompted to use the keystroke on the BIOS splash screen.

The keystroke is no longer "hidden" from the user.

• Diagnostics options — The boot menu includes two diagnostic options, IDE Drive Diagnostics (90/90 Hard Drive Diagnostics) and

Boot to the Utility Partition. The benefit here is that the user does not have to remember the <Ctrl><Alt><D> and <Ctrl><Alt><D>

and <Ctrl><Alt><F10> keystrokes.

NOTE:

Since the one-time boot menu only affects the current boot, it has the added benefit of not requiring the

technician to restore the customer's boot order after completing troubleshooting.

The computer has several keystroke options available during the POST process at the Dell Logo screen. These keystrokes make several

options available.

Keystroke

Function Description

<F2> Enter System Setup Use System Setup to make changes to the user-definable

settings.

<F12> Enter Boot Menu One-time boot and diagnostics utility menu.

Timing Key Sequences

The keyboard is not the first device initialized by Setup. As a result, if you press a keystroke too early, you lock out the keyboard. When

this happens, a keyboard error message appears on the monitor, and you cannot restart the system with the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> keys.

To avoid this scenario, wait until the keyboard is initialized before pressing the keystroke. There are two ways to know that this has

happened:

• The keyboard lights flash.

The second method is good if the monitor is already warmed up. If it is not, the system often passes the window of opportunity before the

video signal is visible. If this is the case, rely on the first method—the keyboard lights—to know the keyboard is initialized.

Dell Diagnostics

Factory-installed platforms include 32-bit system diagnostics on the installed utility partition. Access these diagnostics using the <F12>

keystroke during system boot and select Diagnostics.

After pressing the keystroke, the appropriate modules load and the PSA diagnostics run. If this passes, the standard Dell Diagnostics main

menu appears. When exiting the diagnostics, the system reboots and returns to the installed operating system. Restarting the computer

with the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> keystroke also returns the system to the normal boot sequence as well.

100 System Setup