Dell Inspiron 300m Owner's Manual - Page 123

Viewing the System Setup Screens, System Setup Screens, Commonly Used Options, Boot Order - hard drive password

Page 123 highlights

• Basic device configuration settings • System security and hard-drive password settings NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user or are directed to do so by Dell technical support, do not change the settings for the system setup program. Certain changes might make your computer work incorrectly. Viewing the System Setup Screens 1 Turn on (or restart) your computer. 2 When the DELL™ logo appears, press immediately. If you wait too long and the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 41) and try again. System Setup Screens NOTE: For information about a specific item on a system setup screen, highlight the item and see the Help area on the screen. On each screen, the system setup options are listed at the left. To the right of each option is the setting or value for that option. You can change settings that appear as white type on the screen. Options or values that you cannot change (because they are determined by the computer) appear less bright. The upper-right corner of the screen displays help information for the currently highlighted option; the lower-right corner displays information about the computer. System setup key functions are listed across the bottom of the screen. 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 the system setup program. NOTE: To change the boot sequence on a one-time-only basis, see "Performing a One-Time Boot" on page 124." Appendix 123

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Appendix
123
Basic device configuration settings
System security and hard-drive password settings
NOTICE:
Unless you are an expert computer user or are directed to do so by Dell technical
support, do not change the settings for the system setup program. Certain changes might make
your computer work incorrectly.
Viewing the System Setup Screens
1
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2
When the DELL™ logo appears, press <F2> immediately. If you wait too long and
the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop.
Then shut down your computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 41) and
try again.
System Setup Screens
NOTE:
For information about a specific item on a system setup screen, highlight the item and
see the
Help
area on the screen.
On each screen, the system setup options are listed at the left. To the right of each option is
the setting or value for that option. You can change settings that appear as white type on
the screen. Options or values that you cannot change (because they are determined by the
computer) appear less bright.
The upper-right corner of the screen displays help information for the currently highlighted
option; the lower-right corner displays information about the computer. System setup key
functions are listed across the bottom of the screen.
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 the system setup program.
NOTE:
To change the boot sequence on a one-time-only basis, see "Performing a One-Time Boot"
on page 124."