POST and the BIOS Setup Utility     
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Starting Setup 
You can enter and start Setup under several conditions: 
•  When you turn on the server, after POST completes the memory test 
•  When you reboot the server by pressing <Ctrl+Alt+Del> while at the DOS operating system 
prompt 
•  When you have moved the CMOS jumper on the server board to the “Clear CMOS” position 
(enabled); for the procedure, see Chapter 5 on Page 127. 
In the three conditions listed above, after rebooting, you will see this prompt: 
Press <F2> to enter SETUP 
✏ 
  
 
NOTE 
If the BIOS setup option “POST Diagnostic Screen” is enabled (Default), 
you will not see the message “Press <F2> to enter SETUP.”  This message is 
hidden by the Manufacturer’s Splash screen.  To see the message, press the 
<ESC> key while the splash screen is displayed.  This will temporarily 
disable the splash screen allowing you to see the message. 
In a fourth condition, when CMOS/NVRAM has been corrupted, you will see other messages but 
not the <F2> prompt: 
Warning:  CMOS checksum invalid 
Warning:  CMOS time and date not set 
In this condition, the BIOS will load default values for CMOS and attempt to boot. 
 
Setup Menus 
Each Setup menu page contains a number of features.  Except those used for information purposes, 
each feature is associated with a value field that contains user-selectable parameters.  Parameters 
may be changed depending upon the security option chosen.  If a value is not changeable due to 
insufficient security privileges (or other reasons), the feature’s value field becomes inaccessible. 
The bottom portion of the Setup screen provides a list of commands that are used for navigating the 
Setup utility.