Dell Dimension 3100C - Manual (Page 36)

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System Setup
Clearing Forgotten Passwords
Clearing CMOS Settings
Overview
Use system setup 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 system setup, it is recommended that you write down the system setup screen information for future reference.
Entering System Setup
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 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 and try again.
System Setup Screens
The system setup 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 . If you press before you are prompted, this keystroke will be lost.
Options List — This field appears on the left side of the system setup 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. By
pressing or the left and right arrow keys, you can toggle between a primary topic (collapsed)
and subtopics (expanded).
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 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 field.