Dell 8500 manual System Setup Screens, Commonly Used Options, Changing the Boot Sequence, 146

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NOTE: To change the boot sequence on a one-time-only basis, see page 147.

System Setup Screens

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.

The Boot Order page displays a general list of the bootable devices that may be installed in your computer, including but not limited to the following:

•Diskette Drive

•Modular bay HDD

•Internal HDD

•CD/DVD/CD-RW drive

During the boot routine, the computer starts at the top of the list and scans each enabled device for the operating system start-up files. When the computer finds the files, it stops searching and starts the operating system.

To control the boot devices, select (highlight) a device by pressing the

or key, and then enable or disable the device or change its order in the list.

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Appendix