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.

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

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

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.

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

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!