entering system setup

Question

According to Tech Support and the manuals, to set a system password I should press Delete as the system boots up. This has no effect at all (on all four new machines). It's Sunday. Anyone out there any solutions?

perplexed-patti · Answer

tried that - it doesn't work. I've got four new machines here - and it doesn't work on any of them. In the manual it says press delete when you get the blue dell screen - that doesn't appear on any of these new machines - it goes straight into the Windows 98 screen. So tried pushing delete there, and one machine just hangs, the others sit there for a bit and then go into Windows.

caddellwr · Answer

When you reboot you need to repeatedly push the delete button as it reboots. It does not work if you just hold the delete button down. Ralph Caddell

caddellwr · Answer

I start hitting the delete button just as soon as it reboots and don't wait for the blue dell screen. It always works for me. When I wait for the blue dell screen it is to late. Ralph Caddell

KayH · Answer

Patti:Try hitting the Esc key as soon as the blue Dell globe comes up--this removes the BIOS splash screen so you can watch the written result of the POST. Look to the bottom left of the screen just after the video card survey and the RAM survey and you should see instructions as to how to get to Setup using your particular BIOS. Press the given key at this time.HTH,Kay

perplexed-patti · Answer

Thanks. It's always worked for me before like that, but with these four new machines there's no way I can get it. I can start hitting the button as I switch on and still nothing. They were delivered Friday, and I can only assume Dell have done something new and wonderful without telling the poor sod who's bought the machine. There's nothing on their site, nothing in the manual, tech support are shut and I wanted to get these machines singing before the office opened on Monday. Boo hoo! I'll just have to talk to an Irishman tomorrow - but thanks for trying. I wondered if there was something new someone knew about and I'd missed. Like I said, there is no blue Dell screen either, so they've obviously changed something.

KayH · Answer

One thing--you have 4 new systems in an office situation--if these are networked and/or running Win 2K, you may need administrator privileges to access the BIOS. I know nothing of this area, but it's something to consider, since these systems are behaving unusually. If this applies, how you would accomplish this, I don't know, but Dell Tech support should be able to help.

If it doesn't apply, then sorry not to have been able to help, and I wish you luck with it.

Kay

Richard L · Answer

Hi, I have a Dell Dimension XPS R 350. It is two years old. I must first press Ctrl-Alt-Enter at initial boot up. Then the next Window has the message to press Del to enter Setup. HTH

perplexed-patti · Answer

Thanks everyone. I did it last night. Let system load, restart, but start pressing delete as soon as you've clicked on restart. I'm in!

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entering system setup

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