Dell Precision 610 User Manual

Dell Precision™ WorkStation 610 Mini Tower Systems User's
Guide

Safety Instructions
Introduction
Using the Software Support Utilities
Using the System Setup Program
Using the ISA Configuration Utility
Using the Network Interface Controller
Using the Integrated Audio Controller
Using the Integrated SCSI Controllers
Working Inside Your Computer
Installing System Board Options
Installing Drives
Technical Specifications
Hardware Configuration Features
ISA Configuration Utility Messages
Maintaining the System
Regulatory Notices
Warranties and Return Policy
Glossary

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 1999 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Dell OpenManage, and Dell Precision are trademarks and DellWare is a service
mark of Dell Computer Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks and MMX and Intel386 are trademarks of Intel
Corporation; Microsoft, MS- DOS, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; OS/2 is a
registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation; UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Novell, Inc.; Netware is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.; VESA is a registered trademark of
Video Electronics Standards Association; 3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation; Compuserve is a registered
trademark of CompuServe, Inc.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or
their products. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Initial release: 19 May 1999

Safety Instructions: Dell™ Precision™ WorkStation 610 Mini Tower
Systems

When Using Your Computer
System

Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer system from potential damage and to ensure your own personal
safety.

Ergonomic Computing
Habits

When Working Inside Your
Computer

Protecting Against Electrostatic
Discharge

When Using Your Computer System

As you use your computer system, observe the following safety guidelines.

WARNING: Do not operate your computer system with any cover(s) (including computer covers, bezels, filler

brackets, front - panel inserts, and so on) removed.

To help avoid damaging your computer, be sure the voltage selection switch on the power supply is set to match the AC
power available at your location:

– 115 volts (V)/60 hertz (Hz) in most of North and South America and some Far Eastern countries such as Japan,
South Korea, and Taiwan

– 230 V/50 Hz in most of Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East

Also be sure your monitor and attached peripherals are electrically rated to operate with the AC power available in your location.

Before working inside the computer, unplug the system to help prevent electric shock or system board damage. Certain
system board components continue to receive power any time the computer is connected to AC power.
To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off the system before disconnecting a
device from the computer.
To help prevent electric shock, plug the computer and peripheral power cables into properly grounded power sources. These
cables are equipped with three- prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not use adapter plugs or remove the
grounding prong from a cable. If you must use an extension cable, use a three-wire cable with properly grounded plugs.
To help protect your computer system from sudden, transient increases and decreases in electrical power, use a surge
suppressor, line conditioner, or un -interruptible power supply (UPS).
Be sure nothing rests on your computer system’s cables and that the cables are not located where they can be stepped on
or tripped over.
Do not spill food or liquids on your computer. If the computer gets wet, consult your Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide.
Do not push any objects into the openings of your computer. Doing so can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out
interior components.
Keep your computer away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling vents. Avoid placing loose papers
underneath your computer; do not place your computer in a closed- in wall unit or on a bed, sofa, or rug.

Ergonomic Computing Habits

WARNING: Improper or prolonged keyboard use may result in injury.

For comfort and efficiency, observe the following ergonomic guidelines when setting up and using your computer system:

Position your system so that the monitor and keyboard are directly in front of you as you work. Special shelves are available

(from Dell and other sources) to help you correctly position your keyboard.

Set the monitor at a comfortable viewing distance (usually 510 to 610 millimeters [20 to 24 inches] from your eyes).
Make sure the monitor screen is at eye level or slightly lower when you are sitting in front of the monitor.
Adjust the tilt of the monitor, its contrast and brightness settings, and the lighting around you (such as overhead lights, desk

lamps, and the curtains or blinds on nearby windows) to minimize reflections and glare on the monitor screen.
Use a chair that provides good lower back support.
Keep your forearms horizontal with your wrists in a neutral, comfortable position while using the keyboard or mouse.
Always leave space to rest your hands while using the keyboard or mouse.
Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides.
Sit erect, with your feet resting on the floor and your thighs level.
When sitting, make sure the weight of your legs is on your feet and not on the front of your chair seat. Adjust your chair’s

height or use a footrest, if necessary, to maintain proper posture.
Vary your work activities. Try to organize your work so that you do not have to type for extended periods of time. When you

stop typing, try to do things that use both hands.

When Working Inside Your Computer

Before you remove the computer cover, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to service the computer system yourself, except as explained in this guide and

elsewhere in Dell documentation. Always follow installation and service instructions closely.

To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off the system before removing a component
from the system board or disconnecting a peripheral device from the computer.

1. Turn off your computer and any peripherals.

2. Disconnect your computer and peripherals from their power sources. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication
lines from the
computer.

Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or shock.

3. Touch

an unpainted metal surface on the chassis, such as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of the

computer, before touching anything inside your computer.

In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:

There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or
equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.

While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static
electricity that might harm internal components.

When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain -relief loop, not on the cable itself. Some cables have a
connector with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before disconnecting the
cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you
connect a cable, make sure both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
Handle components and cards with care. Don’t touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by
its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a microprocessor chip by its edges, not by its pins.

WARNING

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

Static electricity can harm delicate components inside your computer. To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from
your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components, such as the microprocessor. You can do so by touching
an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

As you continue to work inside the computer, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to remove any static charge your body
may have accumulated.

You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD):

When unpacking a static- sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not remove the component from the antistatic
packing material until you are ready to install the component in your computer. Just before unwrapping the antistatic
packaging, be sure to discharge static electricity from your body.
When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic container or packaging.
Handle all sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use antistatic floor pads and workbench pads.

The following caution may appear throughout this document to remind you of these precautions:

CAUTION: See " Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge".

Introduction: Dell™ Precision™ WorkStation 610 Mini Tower
Systems

Overview System Features Important Note to Windows NT 4.0 Users Front Panel Back Panel Getting Help

Overview

Dell Precision 610 systems are high -speed, upgradable workstations designed around Intel® Pentium® II Xeon® processors.
These Dell systems support the high- performance Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus and the accelerated graphics port
(AGP) bus. Each system also has an Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) design with one ISA slot that allows you to configure the
computer system to your initial requirements and then upgrade it as necessary.

This chapter describes the major hardware and software features of the system and provides information you will need to reinstall
the operating system, if necessary. It also provides information about the indicators and controls on the computer's front panel and
discusses connecting external devices to the computer.

System Features

The system offers the following features:

An Intel Pentium II Xeon processor. The following processor option is available:

- Single or dual Intel Pentium II Xeon processor(s) with an internal speed of 400 MHz or 450 MHz and an external speed of
100 MHz

The Intel Pentium II Xeon processor includes MMX technology designed to handle complex multimedia and communications
software. This processor incorporates new instructions and data types as well as a technique called single instruction,
multiple data (SIMD). SIMD allows the processor to process multiple data elements in parallel, thereby improving system
performance when you are running application programs written to take advantage of MMX technology.

The Intel Pentium II Xeon processor has a 16 -kilobyte (KB) internal data cache and a 16 -KB internal instruction cache, an
internal math coprocessor, and other advanced internal logic.

A secondary cache of 512 KB or 1 megabyte (MB) of static random-access memory (SRAM) integrated in the Slot 2 single­edge contact (Slot 2 SEC) cartridge. The secondary cache also provides error checking and correction (ECC) capability.
Dual- processor capability. The system allows the installation of a second Slot 2 SEC cartridge (operating at the same
frequency as the installed processor), which can be purchased as a kit from Dell. Dual processing improves performance

under operating systems that support multiprocessing, such as Microsoft
Windows NT

A 16-bit, integrated Plug and Play Crystal CS4237B audio controller that is Sound Blaster Pro-compatible and that supports
the Microsoft Windows

System memory that can be increased incrementally up to 512 MB using unbuffered synchronous dynamic random-access
memory (SDRAM) dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), or up to 2048 MB using registered SDRAM DIMMS.

The memory subsystem also provides ECC capability, which corrects all single-bit memory errors and detects all multibit
errors. See "Adding Memory

®

4.0.

®

Sound System. See "Using the Integrated Audio Controller" for details.

". for details on installing additional memory.

®

Self- Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) support, which warns you at system start- up if the hard-disk
drive has become unreliable. To take advantage of this technology, you must have a SMART- compliant hard-disk drive in
the computer. All enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) and small computer system interface (SCSI) hard -disk drives
shipped with Dell Precision 610 systems are SMART -compliant.
The system's basic input/output system (BIOS), which resides in flash memory and can be upgraded remotely or by diskette
if required.
Plug and Play capability, which greatly simplifies the installation of expansion cards. Plug and Play support included in the

system BIOS allows you to install a Plug and Play expansion card without setting jumpers or switches or performing other

configuration tasks. The ISA Configuration Utility (ICU) allows you to configure an existing ISA expansion card for conflict­free operation. Also, because the system BIOS is stored in flash memory, it can be updated to support future enhancements
to the Plug and Play standard.

NOTE: The Windows NT operating system does not provide ISA Plug and Play support. Therefore, some ISA

Plug and Play cards (such as modem, sound, and network cards) may not work with your Windows NT operating
system unless you configure them manually.

Wakeup On LAN capability, which, when enabled in the System Setup program, allows the system to be started up from a
server management console. Wakeup On LAN capability also allows remote computer setup, BIOS upgrades, software
downloading and installation, file updates, and asset tracking after hours and on weekends when local area network (LAN)
traffic is at a minimum.
Universal Serial Bus (USB) capability, which simplifies connection of peripheral devices such as mice, printers, and computer
speakers. The USB connectors on the computer's back panel provide a single connection point for multiple USB- compliant
devices. USB- compliant devices can also be connected and disconnected while the system is running.

CAUTION: Do not attach a USB device or a combination of USB devices that draw a maximum current over

500 milliamperes (mA) per channel or +5 volts (V). Attaching devices that exceed this threshold may cause
the USB ports to shut down. See the documentation that accompanied the USB devices for their maximum
current ratings.

A modular computer chassis with a minimum number of screws for easy disassembly and improved serviceability.
A high-speed, high -resolution AGP or PCI graphics adapter. (Documentation from the graphics adapter manufacturer is
included with the system.) AGP greatly improves graphics performance by providing a dedicated bus for a faster interface
between the video subsystem and system memory. AGP also allows conventional memory to be used for video-related
tasks.

The system board includes the following integrated features:

Five 32 - bit PCI expansion slots, including one that is a shared PCI (32-bit) /ISA (16 -bit) expansion slot and one that
has an extension for a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) upgrade.
One AGP expansion slot.
A diskette drive interface, which supports a 3.5 - inch slimline diskette drive.
Two ATA -33 channels that support up to four EIDE devices. The primary and secondary channels utilize the PCI bus
to provide faster data throughput. Each channel supports extremely high -capacity EIDE drives, as well as devices
such as EIDE CD-ROM drives and EIDE tape drives.
SCSI support using two integrated SCSI channels.

- The primary channel provides Ultra2/Wide low voltage differential (LVD) (80-MB/second) support for high­performance SCSI hard-disk drives and an optional RAID subsystem.

- The secondary channel provides support for external Ultra/Wide
(40-MB/second) SCSI devices such as scanners and for internal narrow SCSI devices such as CD -ROM drives, tape
drives, and optical drives.

Two high-performance serial ports and one bidirectional parallel port for connecting external devices.
A Personal System/2 (PS/2)-style keyboard port and a PS/2-compatible mouse port.
An integrated 10/100- megabit-per-second (Mbps) 3Com ® PCI 3C905b-TX Ethernet network interface controller (NIC)
with Wakeup On LAN support. The NIC is configured using software described in "Using the Network Interface

Controller".

The following software is included with your Dell computer system:

Utilities that safeguard the system and enhance the operation of its hardware features; for example, the
AutoShutdown service lets you perform an orderly shutdown with a single touch of the power button. For more
information on these utilities, see "Using the Software Support Utilities
Video drivers for the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 operating system.

NOTE: Some graphics adapters support the Windows NT 4.0 operating system only. Refer to the

documentation that came with your graphics adapter for more information.

".

To change the resolution, check the documentation that came with your monitor to determine the resolutions and
refresh rates supported by the monitor. Then check the documentation that came with your AGP or PCI graphics
adapter for instructions on changing the resolution.

The System Setup program for quickly viewing and changing the system configuration information. For more

information on this program, see "Using the System Setup Program".
Enhanced security features available through the System Setup program (a setup password, a system password, a
system password lock option, a write- protect option for diskette drives, and automatic display of the system's service
tag number). In addition, a customer- definable asset tag number can be assigned via a software support utility and
viewed on the System Setup screens. A built- in chassis intrusion detector is also available. For more information, see
"Using the Software Support Utilities
Advanced power management options that can reduce the energy consumption of the system. For more information,
see "Using the System Setup Program
The ICU, which allows you to configure ISA expansion cards manually. After resources have been assigned to these
cards, the system BIOS can assign resources to PCI and Plug and Play expansion cards for a conflict- free
configuration. For more information, see " Using the ISA Configuration Utility
Dell Diagnostics for evaluating the computer's components and devices. For information on using the diagnostics, see
"Running the Dell Diagnostics" in the Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide .
Network device drivers for several network operating systems. These drivers are described in " Using the Network

Interface Controller ".

Desktop Management Interface (DMI) support for managing the computer system. DMI defines the software,
interfaces, and data files that enable the system to determine and report information about system components.

If the system has a Dell- installed Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Windows NT operating system, DMI is already
installed on the system's hard-disk drive. To learn more about DMI, double-click the Dell DMI Help icon in the Dell
DMI folder under the Start button.

Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) for operating systems that support ACPI functionality.
The Dell OpenManage Client Administrator/Client program, which is available in administrator and client versions.

" and " Using the System Setup Program".

".

".

Dell OpenManage™ Client Administrator is the Dell software-management application interface for DMI. Dell
OpenManage Administrator is designed for network administrators to remotely manage connected Dell Precision 610
systems in a Dell DMI client network.

Features of Dell OpenManage Client Administrator include:

- Compliance with the DMI 2.0 specification

- Support for the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 operating system

- Remote Flash BIOS support that enables you to perform BIOS updates on remote systems in a Dell DMI client
network

- Wakeup On LAN support that allows you to remotely turn on Dell systems with Wakeup On LAN capabilities in a
Dell DMI client network

- Password security that allows you to maintain standard attribute values and hardware configuration settings for the
local and remote systems in a Dell DMI client network

- A System Properties window that allows you to view, set, and disable certain hardware configuration settings for the
local and remote systems in a Dell DMI client network

- An Alert Settings window that enables you to monitor remote systems, set thresholds, and detect events for the local
system or remote system in a Dell DMI client network

- Support for the Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), which allows you to export one or more groups to an
SMS directory that the SMS administrator can access

- Automated mapping of one or more groups to a user- defined directory

- A LAN Adapter component that lists information about the NIC for the local or remote system

- A Dell event log that stores events generated by Dell systems

- Automated inventory control for all active discovered systems

- Support for the application used to create user-definable attributes (UDAs)

Dell OpenManage Client is the Dell software-management application interface for DMI. Dell OpenManage Client is

designed for local systems in a Dell DMI client network and includes the following features:

Windows NT 4.0 Microsoft updated ATAPI driver – See "Microsoft Updated ATAPI Drivers".

- Compliance with the DMI 2.0 specification
Support for the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 operating system

- Support to view and modify a local system's hardware configuration settings

- Support for the Microsoft SMS, which allows you to export one or more groups to an SMS directory that the SMS
administrator can access

- Automated mapping of one or more groups to a user- defined directory

- A LAN Adapter component that lists detailed information about the NIC for the local system

- An event log that stores events generated by the system

- Support for the application used to create UDAs

If you ordered Dell -installed software, such as the Microsoft Windows NT operating system, Dell provides a menu that allows
you to make program diskette sets of the Dell-installed software. A program diskette set is an uninstalled version of a
software package that you can use to reinstall or reconfigure the software. You can use this same menu to remove diskette
image files (individual files that correspond to each diskette in a program diskette set) to reclaim space on the computer's
hard - disk drive. For more information on making program diskette sets, see the online help provided in the Program Diskette
Maker, which is available in the Dell Accessories program folder.

Important Note to Windows NT 4.0 Users

Your system was configured by Dell to optimize the features of your computer and of the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
operating system. If you need to reinstall this operating system, there are several supplemental items that also must be
installed to return the system to its full functionality. See the appropriate subsection that follows for your operating system.

Reinstalling Windows NT 4.0

To reinstall the Windows NT 4.0 operating system, you must have the following items:

Windows NT 4.0 CD from Dell
Windows NT 4.0 SCSI controller driver diskettes
Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 CD
Windows NT 4.0 Microsoft updated ATAPI driver diskette
Windows NT 4.0 video driver diskettes
Windows NT 4.0 NIC driver diskette
Windows NT 4.0 audio driver diskette

NOTE: You must create all the diskettes listed previously by using the Program Diskette Maker, which is located

in the Dell Accessories folder.

CAUTION: When reinstalling Windows NT 4.0, you must exit the installation process by pressing <F6> when

the system displays the message Setup is inspecting your hardware configuration. Then you must install
the SCSI controller drivers as described in "Using the Integrated SCSI Controllers
installing the other supplemental items. If you do not interrupt the installation procedure, the system will
misidentify the primary SCSI controller as being the same as the secondary SCSI controller and lock up.

" and then proceed with

NOTE: You must install Windows NT 4. 0 Service Pack 3 and the Microsoft updated ATAPI driver before

installing the NIC drivers. Otherwise, the integrated NIC will not function properly.

See the Dell Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Setup Guide for general installation information for Windows NT 4.0
and for information about other drivers or supplements that may be required. For installation instructions for the various
drivers, see the appropriate section or document as follows:

Windows NT 4.0 SCSI controller drivers – See "SCSI Drivers for Windows NT 4.0"

Windows NT 4.0 video drivers – See the documentation for your graphics adapter.

Windows NT 4.0 NIC driver – See "Windows NT 4.0 NIC Driver".

For information about enabling, disabling, or configuring input/output (I/O) ports and connectors, see "Using the System

Windows NT 4.0 audio drivers – See "Audio Drivers for Windows NT 4.0".

Creating Disk Partitions for Windows NT 4.0

After you have completed the setup procedure for the Dell-installed Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 operating system, you can
perform the following procedure to create disk partitions on your large-capacity hard-disk drive(s):

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click Administrative Tools.

2. Click Disk Administrator.
Follow the instructions in the Disk Administrator utility to partition and format your drives.

Front Panel

The computer's front panel contains the following indicators and controls (see Figure 1-1 ):

The power button provides control of the system's alternating current (AC) input power. The push- button switch
operates as follows:

- When the computer is turned off, pressing the button turns the computer on.

- When the computer is turned on, pressing the button turns the computer off. However, a low- voltage (standby)
current is maintained by the power supply. To completely remove all power from the system, unplug the AC power
cable from its source.

For systems running Microsoft Windows NT with the Dell AutoShutdown service operational, pressing the power
button causes the system to perform an orderly operating system shutdown before turning off. (For more information,
see "Dell AutoShutdown Service

NOTE: A Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS) monitor does not begin warming up until the

computer to which it is attached is turned on. Thus, some DPMS monitors may not display a video image
until several seconds after you turn on the computer.

The power indicator light is green during normal system operation and amber when the computer is in sleep mode.
The hard- disk drive access indicator lights up when a hard-disk drive is in use. (Drive access indicators for diskette
drives and tape drives are located on the front of the drives.)
The reset button reboots (restarts) the system without your having to turn the power off and then on again. Rebooting
the system in this manner reduces stress on system components.

".

Figure 1-1. Front Panel

Back Panel

The computer's back panel contains various ports and connectors for attaching external devices and includes a security
cable slot. These features are described in the following subsections.

Setup Program". For detailed descriptions and illustrations of each port and connector on the back panel, see " I/O Ports

and Connectors".

Connecting External Devices

You can connect various external devices, such as a mouse and printer, to the I/O ports and connectors on the computer's
back panel. The system BIOS detects the presence of most external devices when you boot or reboot the system. When
connecting external devices to the computer, follow these guidelines:

Check the documentation that accompanied the device for specific installation and configuration instructions.
For example, most devices must be connected to a particular I/O port or connector to operate properly. Also, external

devices like a mouse or printer usually require you to load software files called device drivers into system memory
before they will work. These software drivers help the computer recognize the external device and direct its operation.

Dell recommends that you attach external devices only while the computer is turned off unless you are instructed
otherwise in the documentation for the particular device. Then turn the computer on before turning on any external
devices unless the documentation for the device specifies otherwise. (If the computer does not seem to recognize the
device, try turning on the device before turning on the computer.)

CAUTION: When disconnecting external devices from the back of the computer, wait 10 to 20 seconds after

disconnecting the computer from AC power before you disconnect the device to avoid possible damage to
the system board.

Security Cable Slot and Padlock Ring

On the back of the computer are a security cable slot and padlock ring (see Figure1-2) for attaching commercially available
antitheft devices. Security cables for personal computers usually include a segment of galvanized cable with an attached
locking device and key. To prevent unauthorized removal of the computer, loop the cable around an immovable object,
insert the locking device into the security cable slot on the back of the computer, and lock the device with the key provided.
Complete instructions for installing this kind of antitheft device are usually included with the device.

NOTE: Antitheft devices are of differing designs. Before purchasing such a device, make sure it will work with the

cable slot on the computer.

The padlock ring allows you to secure the computer cover to the chassis to prevent unauthorized access to the inside of the
computer. To use the padlock ring, insert a commercially available padlock through the ring and then lock the padlock.

Figure 1-2. Security Cable Slot and Padlock Ring

Getting Help

If at any time you don't understand a procedure described in this guide or if the system does not perform as expected, Dell
provides a number of tools to help you. For more information on these help tools, see the chapter titled "Getting Help" in
your Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide.

Using the Software Support Utilities: Dell™ Precision™
WorkStation 610 Mini Tower Systems

Overview Dell-Installed Software

Support Utilities

Backing Up the
Software Support
Utilities

Software Support
Utilities on Diskette

System Utilities
and Services

Microsoft Updated
ATAPI Drivers

Overview

Your Dell system comes with software support utilities on diskette or on your computer's hard-disk drive. These software support
utilities include system utilities, system services, and Microsoft updated ATAPI drivers, all of which are documented in this chapter.

For information on the additional software support utilities you received with your system, refer to the following chapters or
documents:

Video drivers - See the documentation from the graphic adapter manufacturer. (Video drivers support the video graphics
requirements of a variety of monitors and application programs running under the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 operating
system.)

NOTE: Some graphic adapters support the Windows NT 4.0 operating system only. Refer to the documentation

that came with your graphic adapter for more information.

Audio drivers - See "Using the Integrated Audio Controller".
Network interface drivers - See "Using the Network Interface Controller ".
SCSI interface drivers - See "Using the Integrated SCSI Controllers".

System utilities and services can be used to safeguard your system and to explicitly control certain hardware features. Refer to
"System Utilities and Services

" for information about these utilities.

Microsoft updated ATAPI drivers are provided with your Dell system for the Windows NT 4.0 operating system. Refer to "Microsoft

Updated ATAPI Drivers" for information about these drivers.

Dell-Installed Software Support Utilities

The system utilities, services, and Microsoft updated ATAPI drivers are already installed on your hard-disk drive in two different
forms: as working utilities, operative immediately, and as diskette images.

In case you later need to reinstall the files for any reason, you need to copy the diskette images to a backup diskette (see the next
section, Backing Up the Software Support Utilities). From the backup diskette, you can install the desired file(s) to a directory on
your hard-disk drive. Further instructions for installing the utilities, services, and drivers are provided later in this chapter.

Backing Up the Software Support Utilities

Dell recommends that you create original diskette copies, or program diskette sets, of your Dell- installed software. You will need
these diskettes if you ever want to reconfigure or reinstall your Dell-installed software. To create program diskettes, use the
Program Diskette Maker (available through the Dell Accessories program folder).

Software Support Utilities on Diskette

If you received Dell software support diskettes, the Dell system utilities, services, and Microsoft updated ATAPI drivers are provided
on these diskettes. To use a utility, service, or Microsoft updated ATAPI driver, you must install the utility, service, or driver as
described later in this chapter.

NOTE:

On each software support diskette set you receive, a release.txt file may be included (on diskette 1 of the set).

If included, the release.txt file contains the latest updates to the information in this guide. Use the editor included with
your operating system to view and/or print the contents of the release.txt file.

System Utilities and Services

The following utilities and services are included on your Dell system utilities diskette:

The Asset Tag utility lets you enter a system asset tag number into nonvolatile random -access memory (NVRAM).
Thereafter, you can display this number using the Asset Tag utility or the System Setup program.
The Dell AutoShutdown service provides Windows NT 4.0 the ability to perform an orderly system shutdown when the
power button is pressed.
The Dell ThermalShutdown service provides Windows NT 4.0 the ability to perform an orderly system shutdown in the event
of a thermal failure. This feature prevents permanent damage to your system caused by a component overheating.
The Auto Power On utility (which runs under the MS- DOS ® operating system only) reports what caused the system to
power on, such as the power switch or a call from the Auto Power On utility itself. This utility also enables you to create a
batch file to carry out a series of commands when your system is powered on by the Auto Power On feature or by the
power switch.

Reinstalling the Dell System Utilities and Services for Windows NT 4.0

The system utilities and services are already installed and operative on your hard-disk drive. If, for any reason, you need to reinstall
the utilities and services, perform the following steps:

1. If you have not already done so, use the Program Diskette Maker to make a diskette copy of the Dell system utilities diskette
image on your hard-disk drive.

The Program Diskette Maker is available through the Dell Accessories program folder. For more information, refer to the
online help provided in the Program Diskette Maker.

2. Start Windows NT and log in as Administrator or as a user with administrative privileges. If you are already running Windows
NT, close any open documents or application programs.

3. With the backup diskette in drive A, run the setup.exe program from the diskette.

4. Follow the on- screen instructions to install the Dell utilities and/or services. When the installation is finished, restart your
system to activate the services.

5. Verify that the utilities and/or service(s) are installed and running.
Double-click the Services icon in the Control Panel. AutoShutdown and ThermalShutdown should be listed with the status of

Started.
The Asset Tag utility and Auto Power On utility (if installed) are located in the c:\dellutil directory on the drive containing the

Windows NT 4.0 system files.

Removing a Service

To remove a service, perform the following steps:

1. Insert the backup diskette in drive A.

2. Run remove.exe from the diskette.

3. Select the service(s) you want to remove and click Next.

Asset Tag Utility

The Asset Tag utility allows you to enter an asset tag number for the computer. The default System Setup screens (see Figure 3-

1) do not show the asset tag number unless you enter one using this utility.

NOTE: The Asset Tag utility does not function correctly under Windows NT. However, you may be able to run the utility

in Windows NT by booting from a DOS diskette or diagnostics diskette, exiting to the DOS prompt, and then entering the
asset command on the DOS command line.

You can use the Asset Tag utility to enter an asset tag number that you or your company assign to the computer; you can also use

it to reenter the computer's service tag number if that becomes necessary.
Use the asset command from an MS-DOS prompt. To view existing asset tag and service tag numbers, type asset and press

<Enter>. (You can also view the asset tag number by using the System Setup program described in Chapter 3.) To display the
Asset Tag utility help screen, type asset /? and press <Enter>.

Assigning and Deleting an Asset Tag Number

An asset tag number can have up to ten characters; any combination of characters excluding spaces is valid. To assign or change
an asset tag number, type asset and a space followed by the new number; then press < Enter>. For example, type the following
command line and press <Enter>:

asset 1234$ABCD&

When prompted to verify the asset tag number, type y and press <Enter>. The system then displays the new or modified asset tag
number and the service tag number.

To delete the asset tag number without assigning a new one, type asset /d and press <Enter>.

Assigning and Deleting an Owner Tag

You can use the Asset Tag Utility to assign an owner tag that will be displayed on the Dell logo screen whenever you boot your
system.

An owner tag can be up to 80 characters; any combination of letters, numbers, and spaces is valid. To assign an owner tag, type
asset /o and a space followed by the new owner tag; then press <Enter>. For example, type the following command line and press
<Enter>:

asset /o ABC Company

When prompted to verify the owner tag, type y and press <Enter>. The system then displays the new owner tag.
To delete the owner tag without assigning a new one, type asset /o /d and press <Enter>.

Dell AutoShutdown Service

The Dell AutoShutdown service (available with the Windows NT 4.0 operating systems) provides the ability to perform an orderly
system shutdown when the power button is pressed.

How AutoShutdown Works

The power button operates in two modes: immediate and AutoShutdown mode.
When the system is off, the power button always acts in immediate mode- that is, when the button is pressed, the system starts up

immediately.
When the system is on and the AutoShutdown service is installed, the power button operates in AutoShutdown mode. Pressing the

power button signals the service to perform an orderly operating system shutdown (reducing the possibility of data loss and file
corruption) before removing power from the system. During the shutdown sequence, the power indicator on the front panel of the
computer flashes.

NOTE: The presence of the AutoShutdown service does not affect the operation of the system reset button.

If Your Operating System Locks Up

If, when you press the power button, the power indicator begins to flash but the system does not turn off, your operating system
may have locked up. (A locked -up operating system cannot perform a safe shutdown.)

To ensure that the system can be turned off under these circumstances, a manual intervention mechanism has been included in

the software. To turn off a locked- up system, either press the power button a second time or press the reset button.

Dell ThermalShutdown Service

The Dell ThermalShutdown service helps protect components such as the system processor and the primary hard-disk drive from
damage due to overheating. It can also protect your system data from loss or corruption resulting from a thermal-related system
shutdown.

When installed, the service uses sensors to monitor the temperature of critical internal components. If a sensor detects a thermal
event, the system first performs an orderly operating system shutdown and then turns itself off. During the shutdown phase, the
power indicator flashes and a screen message notifies the user that the system is shutting down.

If the ThermalShutdown service is unable to shut down the system, the system will be shut down if Thermal Power-off is enabled
in the System Setup program. (See "Thermal Power-Off

CAUTION: The thermal sensors are always installed and operational. If the ThermalShutdown service is not

installed and a thermal event occurs, the system turns off after approximately 3 minutes if Thermal Power-off is
enabled in the System Setup program.

Auto Power On Utility

The Auto Power On utility (available for MS-DOS only) enables your system to automatically perform routine tasks in your absence.
For example, you might want your system to turn on at night and perform a backup procedure. To use the utility, you need to
create a batch file containing the command(s) or program(s) that you want performed in your absence. The Auto Power On utility
determines whether system power was turned on by the power button or by the Auto Power On setting in the System Setup
program and passes this information on to your batch file, which initiates the appropriate commands at system start-up. See "Auto

Power On" in for information on setting Auto Power On in the System Setup program.

" in for more information.)

The following example shows the contents of a possible batch file.

NOTE: The first three lines of your batch file must match the first three lines in the following example.

autopowr
if errorlevel 2 goto alarm
if errorlevel 1 goto button
:alarm
call alarm.bat
autopowr /off
:button
call button.bat
goto end

The autopowr /off command turns off your computer.

Installing the Auto Power On Utility

The Auto Power On utility is already installed on your hard-disk drive. If you need to reinstall the Auto Power On utility, perform the
following steps:

1. If you have not already done so, use the Program Diskette Maker to make a diskette copy of the Dell System Utilities
diskette image on your hard-disk drive.>

The Program Diskette Maker is available through the Dell Accessories program folder. For more information, refer to the
online help provided in the Program Diskette Maker.

2. With the backup diskette in drive A, copy autopowr.com from the diskette to a directory of your choice on your hard-disk
drive.

If the path statement in your autoexec.bat file does not already contain the directory in which you reinstalled the Auto Power On

utility, modify the path statement to include that directory. (See your MS -DOS reference documentation for information on

modifying the autoexec.bat file.)

Microsoft Updated ATAPI Drivers

Microsoft updated ATAPI drivers (provided for Windows NT 4.0 operating system) offer a performance improvement by off -loading
certain functions from the system processor during multithreaded operations. Dell has installed the Microsoft updated ATAPI driver
for your operating system, and it is operative when you receive your computer. No further installation or configuration is needed.

NOTE: If Windows NT 4.0 is reinstalled, the Microsoft updated ATAPI drivers must also be reinstalled.

The driver for Windows NT 4.0 has also been copied to your hard- disk drive in diskette-image form. If you need to reinstall or
remove this driver, you can do so as described in the following subsections.

Reinstalling the Windows NT 4.0 Microsoft Updated ATAPI Driver

NOTE: To install the Microsoft updated ATAPI driver for Windows NT 4.0, you must have a mouse connected to the

system and Windows NT 4.0 must already be installed on the hard -disk drive connected to the primary EIDE channel.

To reinstall the Microsoft updated ATAPI driver for Windows NT 4.0, perform the following steps:

1. If you have not already done so, use the Program Diskette Maker to make a diskette copy of the Dell Microsoft updated
ATAPI driver diskette image on your hard-disk drive.

The Program Diskette Maker is available through the Dell Accessories program folder. For more information, refer to the
online help provided in the Program Diskette Maker.

2. Start the Windows NT operating system. If you are already running Windows NT, close any open documents or application
programs.

3. Insert the Microsoft updated ATAPI driver diskette in drive A.

4. Click the Start button.

5. Click Run, type a:\setup.bat in the Run window, and then click OK.
A black screen will quickly appear and disappear, which indicates that the driver file has been loaded. Setup automatically

saves the existing atapi. sys driver as atapi.000 and loads the new driver into the system32\drivers subdirectory in the
Windows NT directory.

6. Remove the diskette from drive A. Then restart the computer.

NOTE: To enable or disable direct memory access (DMA) while using the Microsoft updated ATAPI driver, run

dmacheck.exe from \support\utils\i386 on the Microsoft Windows NT Service Pack 3 CD-ROM.

CAUTION: If your system contains an Iomega Zip drive, do not enable DMA for the updated ATAPI driver for

Windows NT 4.0. Doing so will result in loss of data on your system.

Removing the Windows NT 4.0 Microsoft Updated ATAPI Driver

To remove the Microsoft updated ATAPI driver, follow these steps:

1. Start the Windows NT operating system. If you are already running Windows NT, close any open documents or application
programs.

2. Use Explorer to open the system32\drivers subdirectory in the Windows NT directory.

3. Rename the existing atapi.sys file to atapi.bak.

4. Rename the atapi.000 file to atapi.sys.

5. Restart the computer.

Using the System Setup Program: Dell™ Precision™ WorkStation
610 Mini Tower Systems

Overview Entering the System

Setup Program

Using the System
Password Feature

Using the Setup Password
Feature

System Setup Screen Using the System Setup

Program

Disabling a Forgotten
Password

Responding to Error
Messages

System Setup
Options

Overview

Each time you turn on your computer system or press the reset button, the system compares the hardware installed in the system
to the hardware listed in the system configuration information stored in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) on the
system board. If the system detects a discrepancy, it generates error messages that identify the incorrect configuration settings.
The system then prompts you to enter the System Setup program to correct the setting.

You can use the System Setup program as follows:

To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your system
To set or change user-selectable options - for example, the time or date on your system
To enable or disable all integrated devices in your system

You can view the current settings at any time. When you change a setting, in many cases, you must reboot the system before the
change takes effect.

After you set up your system, run the System Setup program to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information and
optional settings. For future reference, Dell recommends that you print the System Setup screen (by pressing the <Print Screen>
key) if you have a local printer installed, or write down the information if you do not have a printer.

Before you use the System Setup program, you need to know the kind of diskette drive(s) and hard-disk drive(s) installed in your
computer. If you are unsure of any of this information, see the Manufacturing Test Report that was shipped with your system and is
located in the Dell Accessories folder.

Entering the System Setup Program

Enter the System Setup program as follows:

1. Turn on your system.
If your system is already on, shut it down and then turn it on again.

2. When the Press <F2> to Enter Setup window appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press <F2>.

If you wait too long and your operating system begins to load into memory, let the system complete the load operation ; then shut
down the system and try again.

NOTE: To ensure an orderly system shutdown, consult the documentation that accompanied your operating system.

You can also enter the System Setup program by responding to certain error messages. See "Responding to Error Messages".

System Setup Screen

The System Setup screen displays the current setup and configuration information and optional settings for your system. (Typical

Save Changes and Exit option exits the System Setup program and reboots the system,

examples are illustrated in Figure 3-1.) Information on the System Setup screen is organized in four areas:

Title box
The box at the top of the screen lists the system name.
System data
The two boxes below the title box display information about your system, such as the basic input/output system (BIOS)

revision number.
Configuration options
The box under the system data boxes lists options that define the installed hardware in your computer.
Fields beside the options contain settings or values; you can change those that appear in white on the screen. You cannot

change settings or values that appear in a color highlight because they are determined by the system.
Some options have multiple fields, which may show settings or values as bright or less bright depending upon the settings or

values you entered in other fields.
Key functions
The line of boxes across the bottom of the screen lists keys and their functions within the System Setup program.

Using the System Setup Program

Table 3 -1 lists the keys you use to view or change information on the System Setup screen and to exit the program.

Table 3-1. System-Setup Navigation Keys

Keys Action

Moves to the next field.

Moves to the previous field.

Cycles through the settings in a field. In many fields, you can also type the appropriate value.

Enters the selected field's pop-up settings menu.

Cycles through the settings in the selected field's pop- up settings menu.

Saves the selected settings in a field's pop -up settings menu and returns to the main System Setup
screen. For a few options (as noted in the help area) the changes take effect immediately.

Exits the System Setup program at the System Setup screen if no settings in any option were
changed. Provides exit menu options if changes were made. Highlight a menu option to select it and
press <Enter> to activate it.

implementing any changes you have made.

Discard Changes and Exit option exits the System Setup program without rebooting the system
and returns the system to its previous state - the boot routine.

Return to Setup option returns to the System Setup screen.

Resets the selected options to their default settings.

Displays help information for the selected option.

Figure 3 -1. Typical System Setup Screen

System Setup Options

The following subsections explain in detail each of the options on the System Setup screen.

System Time

System Time resets the time on the computer's internal clock.
Time is kept in a 24-hour format (hours:minutes:seconds). To change the time, press the left- or right- arrow keys to select a field,

and then press <+> or < -> to increase or decrease the number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in each of the fields.

System Date

System Date resets the date on the computer's internal calendar.
Your system automatically displays the day of the week corresponding to the settings in the month, day-of-month, and year fields.
To change the date, press the left- or right-arrow keys to select a field, and then press <+> or < -> to increase or decrease the

number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in the day-of-month and year fields.

Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B

Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B identify the type(s) of diskette drive(s) installed in your computer. The standard configuration
for this system is one 3.5 -inch slimline diskette drive installed at the top of the drive cage. This drive is designated Diskette Drive A
and is normally the only diskette drive in the computer.

The options always match the physical locations of the drives in your computer - the first drive listed is the top drive in your
computer.

The Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B options have the following settings:

5.25 Inch, 360 KB

5.25 Inch, 1.2 MB

3.5 Inch, 720 KB

3.5 Inch, 1.44 MB
Not Installed

NOTE: Tape drives are not reflected in the Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B settings. For example, if you have a

single diskette drive and a tape drive attached to the diskette/tape drive interface cable, set Diskette Drive A to match
the characteristics of the diskette drive and set Diskette Drive B to Not Installed.

Primary Drive and Secondary Drive

Primary Drive identifies drives attached to the primary enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) interface connector (labeled

"IDE1") on the system board; Secondary Drive identifies drives connected to the secondary EIDE interface connector (labeled
"IDE2"). Dell recommends that you use the secondary EIDE interface connector for EIDE CD-ROM and EIDE tape drives.

NOTE: For all devices obtained from Dell that use the built- in EIDE controller, set the appropriate Drive option to Auto.

The four Primary Drives n and Secondary options identify the type of EIDE devices installed in the computer. For each drive, five
parameters can be chosen as a group by drive-type number, entered individually from the keyboard, or set automatically. A drive-
type number specifies the parameters of a hard-disk drive, based on a table recorded in the system's BIOS.

To choose a setting for each option, press <Enter> to access the field's pop- up settings menu. Then type characters from the
keyboard or use the left- or right- arrow key to cycle through the following settings:

Auto (use this setting for all EIDE devices from Dell)
Off
User 1 or User 2
A specific drive-type number

NOTE: Operating systems that bypass the system BIOS may not obtain optimum hard- disk drive performance.

EIDE Devices

For EIDE hard-disk drives, the system provides an automatic drive-type detect feature. To use this feature for Primary Drive 0,
highlight the Primary Drive 0 option and type a (for automatic); to use it for Primary Drive 1, highlight the Primary Drive 1 option
and type a. In each case, the option setting changes to Auto. After the system reboots, the System Setup program automatically
sets the correct drive-type number and options for each drive.

Before installing a new EIDE hard-disk drive, also check the documentation that came with the drive to verify that all jumper
settings on the drive are appropriate for your configuration.

If You Have a Problem

If the system generates a drive error message the first time you boot your system after installing an EIDE drive, it may mean that
your particular drive does not work with the automatic drive-type detect feature. If you think that your problem is related to drive
type, try entering your drive-type information as described in the following subsections.

If You Know the Drive-Type Number

Use the drive -type number you found in the documentation that came with the drive, or if the drive was installed by Dell when you
purchased your system, access the Manufacturing Test Report from the Dell Accessories folder.

To set the drive-type number in the System Setup program, highlight the appropriate drive option (Primary Drive 0 or Primary
Drive 1) and type the correct drive -type number. If you prefer, you can press the right- or left-arrow key to increase or decrease,
respectively, the drive - type number until the correct one is displayed.

If You Do Not Know the Drive-Type Number

The Primary or Secondary Drive 0 and Drive 1 options display the following five parameters for each drive:

Drive Type is the drive-type number for the selected hard-disk drive.
Capacity (automatically calculated by the system) indicates the number of millions of bytes of storage provided by the drive.
Cylinders is the number of logical cylinders.
Heads indicates the number of logical heads in the drive.
Sectors is the number of logical sectors per track.

If none of the supported drive types match the parameters of your new drive, you can enter your own parameters. To do so,
highlight the Primary or Secondary Drive 0 option and type u to display User 1. You can then use the right- or left-arrow key to
switch between the User 1 and User 2 settings (only two user- defined drive types are allowed). Then press <Tab> to highlight
each of the parameter fields in succession, and enter the appropriate number for each field.

NOTE: The User 1 and User 2 drive types can be used for both the Primary and Secondary Drive 0 and Drive 1

options. However, if you select the User 1 or User 2 drive type, you may not obtain optimum hard-disk drive
performance. Also, the User 1 and User 2 drive types cannot be used for hard-disk drives greater than 528 megabytes
(MB) in capacity.

Hard-Disk Drive Sequence

Hard-Disk Drive Sequence lists installed adapter cards and devices in the order they will be initialized. The first hard-disk drive in
the list becomes the bootable drive C.

Boot Sequence

Boot Sequence enables you to set the order of the devices from which the system attempts to boot.
The term boot refers to the system's start-up procedure. When turned on, the system "bootstraps" itself into an operational state by

loading into memory a small program, which in turn loads the necessary operating system. Boot Sequence tells the system where
to look for the files that it needs to load.

To set the boot device order, press <Enter> to access the field's pop- up options menu. Use the up- and down-arrow keys to move

effect immediately (rebooting the system is not required).

through the list of devices. Press the spacebar to enable or disable a device (enabled devices appear with a check mark). Press
<+> or < -> to move a selected device up and down the list. The following subsections detail typical choices.

Diskette Drive A:

Selecting Diskette Drive A: as the first device causes the system to boot from drive A first. If the system finds a diskette that is not
bootable in the drive or finds a problem with the drive itself, it displays an error message. If it does not find a diskette in the drive,
the system tries to boot from the next device in the boot sequence list.

Hard- Disk Drive C:

Selecting Hard Disk Drive C: causes the system to boot first from the hard - disk drive and then from the next device in the boot
sequence list.

IDE CD- ROM Reader

Selecting IDE CD -ROM Reader causes the system to boot from the CD-ROM drive first. If the system finds a CD that is not
bootable in the drive or finds a problem with the drive itself, it displays an error message. If it does not find a CD in the drive, the
system tries to boot from next device in the boot sequence list.

PXE

Selecting PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment) causes the system to boot from the integrated network interface controller (NIC)
first. If a boot routine is not available from the network server, the system tries to boot from the next device in the boot sequence
list.

System Memory

System Memory indicates the entire amount of installed memory detected in your system, except for memory on Expanded Memory
Specification (EMS) expansion cards. After adding memory, check this option to confirm that the new memory is installed correctly
and is recognized by the system.

Reserved Memory

Reserved Memory allows you to designate a region of system board memory that can be supplied by an expansion card. You
should not enable the reserved memory feature unless you are using an expansion card that requires special addressing.

For example, you may have a memory expansion card that needs to be addressed starting at 15 MB. Selecting the 15MB-16MB
setting in the Reserved Memory option specifies that the base memory from 15 MB to 16 MB comes from the memory expansion
card (the base memory below the 15- MB address comes from the dual in-line memory modules [DIMMs] on the system board).

The Reserved Memory option has the following settings:

None Reserved (the default)
512KB-640KB
15MB-16MB

CPU Speed

CPU Speed indicates the processor speed at which your system boots.
Press the left- or right - arrow key to toggle the CPU Speed option between the resident processor's rated speed (the default

setting) and a lower compatibility speed, which lets you accommodate speed-sensitive applications. A change to this option takes

To toggle between the rated processor speed and the compatibility speed while the system is running in real mode, press
<Ctrl><Alt><\>. (For keyboards that do not use American English, press <Ctrl><Alt> <#>.)

CPU ID(s)

CPU ID(s) provides the manufacturer's identification code for the installed processor(s).

Integrated Devices

Integrated Devices configures the devices integrated into the system board. Press <Enter> to configure these options.

Sound

Sound determines whether the integrated audio controller is On (the default) or Off. When Sound is set to Off, no sounds are
emitted from any attached external speakers or from the on- board speaker, except for beep codes. Set Sound to Off if you want to
use a sound expansion card instead of the integrated audio controller or if you need the resources used by the controller.

NIC

Network Interface Controller (NIC) determines whether the integrated NIC is set to On, Off, or On with PXE. The default is On,
which means that the NIC is enabled but not set to boot the system remotely from a network server.

Mouse Port

Mouse Port enables or disables the system's built-in Personal System/2 (PS/2)-compatible mouse port. Disabling the mouse allows
an expansion card to use interrupt request (IRQ) 12.

For more information about built- in ports, port designations, IRQs, and the remapping of ports, see "Hardware Configuration

Features".

Serial Port 1 and Serial Port 2

Serial Port 1 and Serial Port 2 configure the system's built-in serial ports. These options can be set to Auto (the default) to
automatically configure a port, to a particular designation (COM1 or COM3 for Serial Port 1; COM2 or COM4 for Serial Port 2), or
to Off to disable the port.

If you set a serial port to Auto and add an expansion card containing a port configured to the same designation, the system
automatically remaps the built- in port to the next available port designation that shares the same IRQ setting as follows:

COM1 (input/output [I/O] address 3F8h), which shares IRQ4 with COM3, is remapped to COM3 (I/O address 3E8h).
COM2 (I/O address 2F8h), which shares IRQ3 with COM4, is remapped to COM4 (I/O address 2E8h).

NOTE: When two COM ports share an IRQ setting, you can use either port as necessary, but you may not be able to

use them both at the same time. If the second port (COM3 or COM4) is also in use, the built - in port is turned off.

For more information about built- in ports, port designations, IRQs, and the remapping of ports, see "Hardware Configuration

Features".

Parallel Port

Parallel Port configures the system's built-in parallel port. This option can be set to 378h (the default), to alternate addresses 278h
or 3BCh, or to Off to disable the port.

NOTE: Do not set Parallel Port to 278h if you have an Extended Capabilities Port (ECP) device connected to the port.

Parallel Port Mode

Parallel Port Mode controls whether the system's built-in parallel port acts as an AT-compatible (unidirectional) or PS/2 - compatible
(bidirectional) port.

Set this option according to the type of peripheral device connected to the parallel port. To determine the correct mode to use, see
the documentation that came with the device.

IDE Drive Interface

IDE Drive Interface enables or disables the system's built -in EIDE hard- disk drive interface.
With Auto (the default) selected, the system turns off the built-in EIDE interface when necessary to accommodate a controller card

installed in an expansion slot.
As part of the boot routine, the system first checks for a primary hard-disk drive controller card installed in an expansion slot. If no

card is found, the system enables the built- in EIDE interface to use IRQ14 and IRQ15.
If the system detects a primary controller on the expansion bus, it disables the built-in EIDE interface.
Selecting Off disables the built-in EIDE interface.

Diskette Interface

Diskette Interface controls the operation of the system's built-in diskette drive controller.
With Auto (the default) selected, the system turns off the built-in diskette drive controller when necessary to accommodate a

controller card installed in an expansion slot.
With Write Protect selected, nothing can be written to diskette drives and tape drives using the system's built -in diskette drive

controller. (The system can still read from the drives.) The Auto option (whereby the system turns off the built-in diskette drive
controller as necessary) is also in effect.

Selecting Off turns off the built-in diskette/tape drive controller; this option is used primarily for troubleshooting purposes.

PC Speaker

PC Speaker determines whether system sounds (other than beep codes) are emitted by the on- board speaker. A change takes
effect immediately (rebooting the system is not required).

However, even with PC Speaker set to Off, sounds from the integrated audio controller will be emitted by the on- board speaker. To
disable the on-board speaker completely, follow these steps:

1. Start the Windows NT operating system.

2. Double-click the speaker icon in the right corner of the task bar.

3. From the Master Out panel, select Advanced Controls from the Options menu.

4. Click Advanced under the Master Out column.

5. Click the PC Speaker Mute check box.

Video DAC Snoop

Video DAC Snoop lets you correct video problems that may occur when certain video expansion cards are used. The default is Off.
If you are using a video card and problems such as incorrect colors or blank windows occur, set Video DAC Snoop to On.

Primary SCSI and Secondary SCSI

SCSI controls the system's on -board primary and secondary small computer system interface (SCSI) controllers. The settings for
Primary SCSI and Secondary SCSI are:

Off (the default)
On

Refer to "Using the Integrated SCSI Controllers
devices.

" and "Installing Drives" for information about configuring and installing SCSI

System Security

System Security configures the password and chassis intrusion settings. Press <Enter> to configure these settings.

System Password

System Password displays the current status of your system's password security feature and allows you to assign and verify a new
password. A new system password can be assigned only when the current status is either Not Enabled or Enabled, which is
displayed in bright characters.

The System Password option has the following settings:

Not Enabled (the default)
Enabled
Disabled by Jumper

NOTE: Read "Using the System Password Feature" for instructions on assigning a system password and using or

changing an existing system password. See "
system password.

Disabling a Forgotten Password " for instructions on disabling a forgotten

Password Status

When Setup Password is set to Enabled, Password Status prevents the system password from being changed or disabled at
system start-up.

To lock the system password, you must first assign a setup password in the Setup Password option and then change the
Password Status setting to Locked. When the Setup Password feature has a password assigned and Password Status is set to
Locked, the system password cannot be changed through the System Password option and cannot be disabled at system start-up
by pressing <Ctrl><Enter>.

To unlock the system password, you must enter the setup password in the Setup Password option and then change the Password
Status setting to Unlocked. In this state, the system password can be disabled at system start- up by pressing <Ctrl><Enter> and
then changed through the System Password option.

Setup Password

Setup Password lets you restrict access to your computer's System Setup program in the same way that you restrict access to your
system with the system password feature. The options are:

Not Enabled (the default)
Enabled
Disabled by Jumper

NOTE:

Read "Using the Setup Password Feature" for instructions on assigning a setup password and using or changing

an existing setup password. See " Disabling a Forgotten Password " for instructions on disabling a forgotten setup
password.

Chassis Intrusion

Chassis Intrusion displays the status of the system chassis intrusion monitor.
If the computer cover is removed, the setting changes from Not Detected to Detected and the following message is displayed

during the boot sequence at system start- up:

Alert! Cover was previously removed.

To clear this field and allow future intrusions to be detected, enter the System Setup program, as described in "Entering the

System Setup Program". At the Chassis Intrusion option, use the left - or right -arrow key to choose Reset. Then press <Esc> to

save the changes and reboot the system.

NOTE: When enabled, the setup password is required in order to reset the Chassis Intrusion option from Detected to

Not Detected. You cannot reset the Chassis Intrusion option without a password.

Keyboard NumLock

Keyboard NumLock determines whether your system boots with the Num Lock mode activated on 101 - or 102 -key keyboards (it
does not apply to 84-key keyboards).

When Num Lock mode is activated, the rightmost bank of keys on your keyboard provides the mathematical and numeric functions
shown at the tops of the keys. When Num Lock mode is turned off, these keys provide cursor-control functions according to the
label on the bottom of each key.

Report Keyboard Errors

Report Keyboard Errors enables or disables reporting of keyboard errors during power-on self-test (POST), which is a series of
tests that the system performs on the hardware each time you turn on the system or press the reset button.

This option is useful when applied to self -starting servers or host systems that have no permanently attached keyboard. In these
situations, selecting Do Not Report suppresses all error messages relating to the keyboard or to the keyboard controller during
POST. This option does not affect the operation of the keyboard itself if a keyboard is attached to the computer.

Auto Power On

Auto Power On allows you to set the time and days of the week to turn on the computer system automatically. You can set Auto
Power On to turn on the system either every day or every Monday through Friday.

NOTE: This feature does not work if you turn off your system using a power strip or surge protector.

Time is kept in a 24-hour format (hours:minutes). To change the time, press the left- or right- arrow keys to select a field, and then
press <+> or < -> to increase or decrease the number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in each of the fields.

The default for Auto Power On is Disabled.

Wakeup On LAN

Wakeup On LAN determines whether the Wakeup On LAN feature is set. The settings for Wakeup On LAN are:

Off
On (Add -in NIC)
On (Integrated NIC)

If On (Add- in NIC) or On (Integrated NIC) is selected, a special local area network (LAN) signal from a server management console
starts the system. Wakeup On LAN capability also allows remote computer setup, BIOS upgrades, software downloading and
installation, file updates, and asset tracking after hours and on weekends when LAN traffic is typically at a minimum. You must
reboot your system for a change to take effect.

NOTE: The Wakeup On LAN feature functions even when the computer is turned off; however, the computer must be

plugged into a working electrical outlet at all times and must be shut down in the normal method expected by the
operating system. Thus, if you disconnect the system power cable from its electrical outlet, if a power failure occurs, or if
you shut down the system abnormally, the Wakeup On LAN feature will not work.

Power Management

For certain types of monitors and most EIDE hard-disk drives, you can reduce system power consumption by enabling the power
management feature. With power management enabled, these monitors and drives automatically switch into low- power mode during
periods of system inactivity.

Power Management can be implemented at three levels - Maximum, Regular, and Minimum. (The different levels apply to the
monitor only; hard-disk drive operation is the same for all three.) The default for this option is Disabled.

Saving Monitor Power

If you have a Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA®) Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS)-compliant monitor,
enabling the power management option reduces monitor power consumption during periods of keyboard and mouse inactivity.

CAUTION: Check your monitor documentation to make sure you have a DPMS-compliant monitor before you

enable this feature. Otherwise, you risk damaging the monitor.

NOTES: The power management feature monitors activity of a mouse connected to the PS/2 - compatible mouse port.

Some 3D graphics cards do not support DPMS. Refer to the 3D graphics card documentation for DPMS compliance
information.

By setting Power Management to Maximum, Regular, or Minimum, you can set predefined time - out periods (see Table 3- 2) for the
two successive monitor shutdown stages, standby and off.

NOTE: Each monitor manufacturer defines the details of the shutdown stages for its own monitors. However, in all cases

power consumption decreases with each stage from "on" (full power) to "standby" (reduced power; the display image
usually disappears) to "off" (where power consumption is minimal). To define these stages for your monitor, see the
documentation that came with the monitor.

For most DPMS-compliant monitors, any subsequent activity - including moving the mouse - should return full power to the monitor.
Check your monitor documentation for information on how your monitor is designed to operate.

Saving EIDE Hard -Disk Drive Power

For most systems, enabling Power Management at any level causes EIDE hard - disk drives to switch to low- power mode after
about 20 minutes of system inactivity (see Table 3-2).

NOTES:

All EIDE drives shipped by Dell with your system support this feature.

However, not all EIDE hard-disk drives support this feature. Enabling this feature for drives that do not support it may

The following options, which are not selectable, display information about the system:

cause the EIDE drive to become inoperable until the computer is restarted and the Power Management option is
disabled.

In low-power mode, the disks inside the drive stop spinning. They remain idle until the next drive access, which causes them to
start spinning again. (Because the disks take a few seconds to regain full speed, you may notice a slight delay the next time you
access the hard-disk drive.)

When Power Management is set to Disabled (the default), the disks spin constantly as long as the system is turned on.

Table 3-2. Power Time-Out Periods

Power
Management
Setting

Disabled Never Never Never
Maximum 20 minutes 10 minutes 1 hour
Regular 20 minutes 20 minutes 1 hour
Minimum 20 minutes 1 hour Never

EIDE Drive
Spindown
Time-Outs

Monitor
Standby
Time-Outs

Monitor Off
Time-Outs

ACPI

ACPI controls the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface. If the operating system supports ACPI and ACPI is toggled On,
pressing the power button momentarily places the system in a power-saving mode. You can turn the system completely off by
pressing and holding the power button for more than 4 seconds. When ACPI is activated (On), IRQ 9 is not available for use by
expansion cards.

When ACPI is toggled Off, pressing the power button turns the system completely off. When ACPI is not activated (Off), IRQ 9 is
available for use by expansion cards.

NOTE: If your operating system does not support ACPI, the computer will not go into power- saving mode when you

press the power button, even if ACPI is toggled to On in the System Setup program.

Thermal Power-Off

Thermal Power- off, when enabled, sets a timer to shut down the system approximately 3 minutes after the system BIOS detects a
temperature that exceeds preset levels for a processor or hard-disk drive. This feature provides a safeguard in the event that
another shutdown utility, such as the Dell AutoShutdown service, is not installed or fails to shut down the system after a preset
temperature level is exceeded.

Asset Tag

Asset Tag displays the customer- programmable asset tag number for the system if an asset tag number has been assigned. You
can use the Asset Tag utility, which is included with your software support utilities, to enter an asset tag number up to ten
characters long into NVRAM. For information on using the utility, see "Using the Software Support Utilities

".

System Data Options

The processor type and BIOS level are listed in the system data boxes.
Level 2 Cache displays the size of the integrated cache.
Service Tag displays the system's five-character service tag number, which was programmed into NVRAM by Dell during
the manufacturing process. Refer to this number during technical assistance or service calls. The service tag number is also
accessed by certain Dell support software, including the diagnostics software.

Using the System Password Feature

CAUTION: The password features provide a basic level of security for the data on your system. However, they are

not foolproof. If your data requires more security, it is your responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of
protection, such as data encryption programs.

Your Dell system is shipped to you without the system password feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should
operate your system only with system password protection.

You can assign a system password, as described in the next subsection, "Assigning a System Password
System Setup program. After a system password is assigned, only those who know the password have full use of the system.

When the System Password option is set to Enabled, the computer system prompts you for the system password just after the
system boots.

To change an existing system password, you must know the password (see "Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password
If you assign and later forget a system password, you must remove the computer cover to change a jumper setting that disables
the system password feature (see "Disabling a Forgotten Password

CAUTION: If you leave your system running and unattended without having a system password assigned, or if

you leave your computer unlocked so that someone can disable the password by changing a jumper setting,
anyone can access the data stored on your hard - disk drive.

"). Note that you erase the setup password at the same time.

", whenever you use the

Assigning a System Password

Before you can assign a system password, you must enter the System Setup program and check the System Password setting in
the System Security option.

When a system password is assigned, the System Password setting shown is Enabled. When the system password feature is
disabled by a jumper setting on the system board, the option shown is Disabled by Jumper. You cannot change or enter a new
system password if the Disabled by Jumper option is displayed. When a system password is not assigned, the System Password
setting shown is Not Enabled.

").

To assign a system password, follow these steps:

1. Verify that the Password Status setting is set to Unlocked.
For instructions on changing this setting, see "Password Status

2. Highlight the System Security setting and press <Enter>.

3. Highlight the System Password setting and press <Enter>.

4. Type the desired system password in the Enter Password field and press <Enter>.
You can use up to seven characters in your password.
As you press each character key (or <Spacebar> for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.
The password assignment operation recognizes keys by their location on the keyboard, without distinguishing between

lowercase and uppercase characters. For example, if you have an M in your password, the system recognizes either M or m
as correct.

".

Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter one of these combinations, the speaker emits a beep.
To erase a character when entering your password, press <Backspace> or the left- arrow key.

NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press <Esc>.

5. Type the desired system password in the Confirm Password field and press <Enter>.
The system password is now assigned and is Enabled. You can exit the System Setup program and begin using your

system. Password protection takes effect after the system reboots.

Using Your System Password to Secure Your System

Whenever you turn on your system, press the reset button, or reboot the system by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> key
combination, the following prompt appears on the screen when the Password Status setting is set to Unlocked:

Type in the password and...

- press <ENTER> to leave password security enabled.

- press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password security.
Enter password:

If the Password Status setting is set to Locked, the following prompt appears:

Type the password and press <Enter>.

After you type the correct system password and press <Enter>, your system boots and you can use the keyboard and/or mouse to
operate your system as usual.

NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password (see "Using the Setup Password Feature"), the system accepts your

setup password as an alternate system password.

If a wrong or incomplete system password is entered, the following message appears on the screen:
** Incorrect password. **
Enter password:
If an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered again, the same message appears on the screen.
The third and subsequent times an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered, the system displays the following

message:
** Incorrect password. **

Number of unsuccessful password attempts: 3
System halted! Must power down.

The number of unsuccessful attempts made to enter the correct system password can alert you to an unauthorized person
attempting to use your system.

Even after your system is turned off and on, the previous message is displayed each time an incorrect or incomplete system
password is entered.

NOTE: You can use the Password Status setting in conjunction with System Password and Setup Password to further

protect your system from unauthorized changes. For more information, see "Password Status

Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password

To delete or change an existing system password, follow these steps:

1. Enter the System Setup program and verify that the Password Status setting is set to Unlocked.

".

Enter the System Setup program by pressing <F2>. For instructions on changing the setting for Password Status, see

"Password Status".

2. Highlight the System Security setting and press <Enter>.

3. Highlight the System Password setting and press <Enter>.

4. To delete an existing system password, press <Enter> in the Enter Password field and in the Confirm Password field. To
change an existing system password, type the new password in the Enter Password field and press <Enter>, and then type
the new system password in the Confirm Password field and press <Enter>.

If a character is illegal for password use, the system emits a beep. If the system password is deleted, the System Password
setting changes to Not Enabled. If the system password is changed, the System Password option remains Enabled.

NOTE: An existing system password can also be disabled when the system is rebooted, as explained in "Using
Your System Password to Secure Your System".

If you want to assign a new system password, follow the procedure in "Assigning a System Password

".

Using the Setup Password Feature

Your Dell system is shipped to you without the setup password feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should operate
your system with setup password protection.

You can assign a setup password, as described in the next subsection, Assigning a Setup Password, whenever you use the
System Setup program. After a setup password is assigned, only those who know the password have full use of the System Setup
program.

To change an existing setup password, you must know the setup password (see "Deleting or Changing an Existing Setup

Password"). If you assign and later forget a setup password, you need to remove the computer cover to change a jumper setting

that disables the setup password feature (see "Disabling a Forgotten Password
same time.

Assigning a Setup Password

To assign a setup password, follow these steps:

1. Enter the System Setup program.

2. Highlight the System Security option and press <Enter>.

3. Highlight the Setup Password option and press <Enter>.

4. Type the desired setup password in the Enter Password field and press <Enter>.

"). Note that you erase the system password at the

If a character is illegal for password use, the system emits a beep.

5. Type the desired setup password in the Confirm Password field and press <Enter>.
The setup password is now assigned and is Enabled.

NOTES: The setup password can be the same as the system password.

If the two passwords are different, the setup password can be used as an alternate system password. However, the
system password cannot be used in place of the setup password.

After you verify the password, the Setup Password setting changes to Enabled. The next time you enter the System Setup
program, the system prompts you for the setup password.

A change to the Setup Password setting becomes effective immediately (rebooting the system is not required).

Operating With a Setup Password Enabled

If Setup Password is set to Enabled, you must enter the correct setup password before you can modify the majority of the System
Setup options.