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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:

• To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your computer
  
  
• To set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password
  
  
• 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.

NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings for this program. Certain changes can make your computer work incorrectly.

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.
   
   

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.

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.

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.

Key Functions — This field appears below the Option Field and lists keys and their functions within the active system setup program field.

System Setup Program Options

NOTE: Depending on your computer and installed devices, the items listed in this section may not appear, or may not appear exactly as listed.

System Info
System Info	Lists system information such as the computer name, and other system-specific information.
BIOS Info	Shows the BIOS version number and date information.
Service Tag	Displays computer service tag number for support purposes.
CPU Info	Identifies whether the computer's processor supports Hyper-Threading and lists the processor type, processor bus speed, processor ID, clock speed, and L2 cache.
Memory Info	Indicates amount of installed memory, memory speed, channel mode (dual or single), and type of memory installed.
Standard CMOS Features
Date/Time	Displays current date and time settings. Date (mm:dd:yy)
SATA Info	Displays the SATA drives integrated in the system (SATA -0; SATA-1; SATA-2; SATA-3; SATA-4; SATA-5).
SATA Mode	AHCI by default
Halt On	All Error; All; But Keyboard. (All, But Keyboard by default)
Advanced BIOS Features
CPU Feature	SpeedStep—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default) Execute Disable Bit—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default) Hyper-Threading—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default) Core Multi-Processing—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default) Intel(R) C-STATE tech—Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
Boot Up NumLock Status	Off; On (On by default)
Quiet Boot	Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
Boot Configuration
Hard Disk Boot Priority	Used to set the device priority of hard drives. The items displayed are dynamically updated according to the hard drives detected.
Removable Drives Boot Priority	Used to set the device priority of removable devices such a media card readers. The items displayed are dynamically updated according to the removable devices connected.
First Boot Device	Removable; Hard Disk; CDROM; USB-CDROM; Legacy LAN; Disabled (Removable by default)
Second Boot Device	Removable; Hard Disk; CDROM; USB-CDROM; Legacy LAN; Disabled (Hard disk by default)
Third Boot Device	Removable; Hard Disk; CDROM; USB-CDROM; Legacy LAN; Disabled (CD-ROM by default)
Boot Menu Security	Enabled; Disabled (Disabled by default)
Advanced Chipset Features
Init Display First	Onboard, PCI, PCI-Express (PCI-Express by default)
Integrated Peripherals
USB Controller	Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard Audio Connector	Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard LAN Connector	Enabled or Disabled (Enabled by default)
Onboard LAN Boot ROM	Enabled or Disabled (Disabled by default)
Serial Port	OFF, COM 1, AUTO, COM 3 (AUTO by default)
Power Management Setup
ACPI Suspend Type	S1(POS); S3(STR) (S3(STR) by default)
AC Recovery	Power Off, Power On, Last State (Power Off by default)
Remote Wake Up	Enabled; Disabled (Enabled by default)
Auto Power On	Enabled; Disabled (Disabled by default)
Auto Power On Date	0
Auto Power On Time	0:00:00
Load Defaults
Load Optimal Defaults	Resets CMOS defaults to factory install values.

Boot Sequence

This feature allows you to change the boot sequence for devices.

Option Settings

• Diskette Drive — The computer attempts to boot from a floppy drive (if installed). If the floppy disk in the drive is not bootable, if no floppy disk is in the drive, or if there is no floppy drive installed in the computer, the computer generates an error message.
  
  
• Hard Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the primary hard drive. If no operating system is on the drive, the computer generates an error message.
  
  
• CD Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the CD drive. If no CD is in the drive, or if the CD has no operating system, the computer generates an error message.
  
  
• USB Flash Device — Insert the memory device into a USB port and restart the computer. When F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press <F12>. The BIOS detects the device and adds the USB flash option to the boot menu.
  
  

NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure that your device is bootable, check the device documentation.

Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot

You can use this feature, for example, to tell the computer to boot from the CD drive so that you can run the Dell Diagnostics on the Dell Drivers and Utilities disc, but you want the computer to boot from the hard drive when the diagnostic tests are complete. You can also use this feature to restart your computer to a USB device such as a floppy drive, memory key, or CD-RW drive.

1. If you are booting to a USB device, connect the USB device to a USB connector.
   
   
2. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
   
   
3. When F2 = Setup, F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press <F12>.
   
   

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 and try again.

The Boot Device Menu appears, listing all available boot devices. Each device has a number next to it.

4. At the bottom of the menu, enter the number of the device that is to be used for the current boot only.
   
   

For example, if you are booting to a USB memory key, highlight USB Flash Device and press <Enter>.

NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure your device is bootable, check the device documentation.

Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots

1. Enter the system setup program (see Entering the System Setup Program).
   
   
2. Use the arrow keys to highlight the Boot Sequence menu option and press <Enter> to access the menu.
   
   

NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it.

3. Press the up- and down-arrow keys to move through the list of devices.
   
   
4. Press the spacebar to enable or disable a device (enabled devices have a checkmark).
   
   
5. Press plus (+) or minus (–) to move a selected device up or down the list.
   
   

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance

1. Follow the procedures in Before Working on Your Computer.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
3. Locate the 3-pin password connector (PSWD) on the system board.
   
   
4. Remove the 2-pin jumper plug from pins 2 and 3 and fix it on pins 1 and 2.
   
   
5. Wait for approximately five seconds to clear the password.
   
   
6. Remove the 2-pin jumper plug from pins 1 and 2 and replace it on pins 2 and 3 to enable the password feature.
   
   
7. Follow the procedure in After Working on Your Computer.
   
   

Clearing CMOS Settings

CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance

1. Follow the procedures in Before Working on Your Computer.
   
   

NOTE: The computer must be disconnected from the electrical outlet to clear the CMOS setting.

2. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
3. Reset the current CMOS settings:
   
   
   1. Locate the 3-pin CMOS jumper (CLEAR CMOS) on the system board (see System Board Components).
      
      
   2. Remove the jumper plug from the CMOS jumper (CLEAR CMOS) pins 2 and 3.
      
      
   3. Place the jumper plug on the CMOS jumper (CLEAR CMOS) pins 1 and 2 and wait approximately five seconds.
      
      
   4. Remove the jumper plug and replace it on the CMOS jumper (CLEAR CMOS) pins 2 and 3.
      
      
4. Follow the procedure in After Working on Your Computer.
   
   
5. Reboot your computer.
   
   

Your computer will emit five beeps, and then issue a CMOS checksum error.

6. Press <F1> to continue.
   
   

BIOS

The system setup program resides within the BIOS on the system board. If you install a new system board, you may need to update (or flash) the BIOS.

Flashing the BIOS From the Hard Drive

1. Turn on the computer.
   
   
2. Locate the latest BIOS update file for your computer at support.dell.com.
   
   
3. Click Download Now to download the file.
   
   
4. If the Export Compliance Disclaimer window appears, click Yes, I Accept this Agreement.
   
   

The File Download window appears.

5. Click Save this program to disk, and then click OK.
   
   

The Save In window appears.

6. Click the down arrow to view the Save In menu, select Desktop, and then click Save.
   
   

The file downloads to your desktop.

7. Click Close if the Download Complete window appears.
   
   

The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file.

8. Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the instructions on the screen.
   
   

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