PowerEdge 840 Boot Options? CD Temporary?

Question

This is our first PowerEdge 840 Server.  We'd like to 'Optionally' boot from CD (Ghost and MS-DOS) then at the conclusion of the backup job we automatically reboot the server back into production, ie Windows off the Hard Disk.  We have to leave the CD inplace during the Backup so that Command.com (DOS) can continue the simple batch and Reboot.exe.   All of our previous servers during startup used to show a F12 Boot Options, and we'd select CD instead of the BIOS Default of Hard Disk.  In this way, the unattended reboot after the Backup would boot from the Hard Disk.    The new Poweredge 840 has NO F12 boot options.   What happen?   Any comments are appreciated.

darktech11 · Answer

i believe f12 is the key combo for client machines (Dimension, Optiplex, Latitude, Inspiron, etc..) the key combo for boot menu on Dell PE servers is f11 if i am not mistaken this is a new option for Dells 9 gen servers (840 being an 8 generation server).   try hitting f11 during POST on the 840 - see what the result is. i am interested in knowing.   hope this helps

JohnReam · Answer

I tried your F11 suggestion... nothing, my repeated attempts were all ignored.   Here are the exact F key powerup boot options which appear in upper right corner of my brand new Dell PowerEdge 840 :   F2 = Setup F10 = Utility Mode F12 = PXE Boot   I just can't believe that Dell would produce a PC where some type of temporary Boot device selection is not possible....  Am I missing some obvious here?    I've searched the BIOS setup looking for a possible option to allow for powerup options, think that maybe Dell decide to make this a security option.  Still no luck.   So, to refresh:  Can I  Boot the 840 with a CD,  only temporarily,  so that upon next reboot the PC boots to the default Hard Disk first and bypassed CD.   The Dell 840 is the first Dell PC I've ever seen where this simply task is not possible.

PowerEdge Hardware General

PowerEdge 840 Boot Options? CD Temporary?

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