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Service Hints & Tips

Document ID: MNOK-3TBMA7

Aptiva - 2159 Using the setup utility

Applicable to: World-Wide

Purpose of Using the Setup Utility
What are some examples of using the Setup Utility?

- Use the Setup Utility when adding or replacing a hardware option. The option may be a diskette drive, hard disk drive, adapter card, or memory module. The utility allows you to verify or make a change.

- Use the Setup Utility when verifying a change after removing a hardware option.

- The Setup Utility is helpful after receiving an error code and message.

- Use the Setup Utility to check the computer's hardware features. For example, you can use this program to check the amount of memory or the size of the hard disk in the computer.

- You can use the Setup Utility to change the computer's serial and parallel port settings, and the parallel port mode.

- The Setup Utility can be used to set up or change a password on the computer.

- The Setup Utility allows you to change the date and time on the computer.

- Use the Setup Utility to reduce the amount of energy the computer uses by setting up the computer's Power Management features.

- Use the Setup Utility to determine which Plug and Play adapter cards you want configured by system Basic Input/Output System (BIOS


Starting the Setup Utility

The Setup Utility displays screens that let you view information about how the computer is set up (called the configuration), or change certain information on the computer. There are two ways to display the Setup Utility screen:

1. When you power on the computer, press F1 when the IBM APTIVA logo appears.

2. If you have an error, the computer shows a pop-up window with an error code and description. Press Enter to get the Setup Utility screen.

The Setup Utility screens display the type of information shown here. The actual screens on the computer might look slightly different, but they operate the same way.

Here are the keys you use to move through and make changes to the Setup Utility screens.

Keys Function:

- F1 Help. Press this key if you want more information about an option or using the screen.

- F2 General Help. Press this key if you want general information about the computer features.

- Page Down Press this key to see the next page (screen).

- Page Up Press this key to go to the previous page (screen).

Brackets show which options can be changed on the screen.

The * symbol on the screen shows you that an option has been changed.

Now that you know how to work with the Setup Utility screens, read on to learn about the options you can change on the screen.

Making Changes with the Setup Utility

You can change only some of the information that appears on the Setup Utility screen. The information you can change is always enclosed in brackets like this: (Disabled). The entries on the screen that you cannot change provide useful information about the computer and its hardware. For example, if the mouse is not working or installed incorrectly, the entry will show if it is disabled or not installed.

To access a topic in the setup utility you must use the arrow keys to move up or down the menu. When your selection is made press Enter. Some options on the system can be changed by pressing the right or left arrow keys to cycle through the different settings available for the topic.

The following selections appear in the Main Menu. Click on each one for a brief explanation.

System Information:
This menu will provide a listing of the hardware, and port settings.

Video Information:
Will identify the display adapter and amount of video memory on the system.

Disk Drives:
- Diskette drive A: (1.44 MB 3.5")
Identifies the installed drive type for the a: drive
- Diskette drive B: (Not installed)
Identifies the installed drive type for the b: drive (default is not installed) allows support for another floppy drive. (5.25" or 3.5")
- System Board Diskette Controller (Enabled)
Enables floppy drive port on system board.
- Hard Disk Drive 1
Size (Displays size of drive) - When this displays the correct size of the Hard Disk the system
Local Bus IDE Mode (High Performance) - Do not change!
Read Prefetch (Enabled) - Default is enabled. This allows drive caching. (Do not change).
Disk BIOS Translation (LBA) - This setting allows drives bigger than 512 MB to be recognised. Do not change!
- Hard Disk 2 (Not Installed)
For installing slave drive on the primary controller
- Hard Disk 3 (Not Installed)
- Hard Disk 4 (Not Installed)
- CD ROM Drive 5 Size (Installed)
Confirms the system BIOS recognises the drive as installed.
IDE Controller Address (170h-IRQ 15) [Displays the default IRQ used for the secondary hard disk controller]

Note: Because the host adapter card on this system has an extra controller this system shows five drive controllers instead of the normal four present on most EIDE system. This is a result of the split design of the system.

Input/Output Ports:
This screen allows you to change the serial and parallel port addresses. Mouse and keyboard information are also provided on this screen. The computer has one serial port and one parallel port. Each port has a special address (identifying location) assigned to it. If you add any additional serial or parallel port adapters, make sure that each port has a different address. The serial port A default address is 2F8-IRQ3. The parallel port default address is 3BCh. Other serial and parallel port addresses are available. However, if you change an address on this screen, you might also need to make changes to the software. For instructions on changing the software, see the user's guide or on-line information supplied with the software. The Parallel Port Mode allows you to change the mode of the parallel port. The standard mode for the parallel port is the Compatible mode. You can increase the efficiency of the parallel port by using Enhanced modes with supporting hardware.

- Serial Port A (2F8-IRQ 3)
Used for installing external devices using a 9 pin serial connector.
- Universal Serial Bus (Disabled)
The USB port will allow for future expansion of the system using USB enabled devices and drivers. This setting is disabled by default on systems loaded with Windows 95a version. The Win 95a operating system has no USB drivers to support this port.
- Parallel Port (3BCh)
Default printer port address. To enable EPP port support, set the port address to 378h and select the appropriate parallel port mode.
- Parallel Port Mode (Compatible)
Default setting is (Compatible). Some bi-directional printers will not work properly with the parallel port protocol set to compatible.
Check your printer documentation for the type of parallel port protocol needed by your printer.
Additional protocols available.
(PS/2 BI-DIRECTIONAL)
(ECP)
(ECP and EPP 1.9) (set port address to 378h)
(ECP and EPP 1.7) (set port address to 378h)
- Mouse (Installed)
Shows PS/2 port mouse is detected and installed.
- Keyboard NumLock State (ON)
Sets the Numlock to on. Enables use of the numeric keypad.
- Keyboard Speed (ON)
Sets keyboard type ahead speed.

Rapid Resume:
This screen provides information about the Power Management features. Power Management puts the computer in a low power state when suspend is invoked by the operating system.
What types of things can Power Management do?

Rapid Resume can put the computer in a Suspend mode to conserve energy when you have not used the mouse, keyboard, or hard disk for an amount of time you select. Rapid Resume can automatically resume the computer when the phone rings so that the computer can receive a fax or take a message. Rapid Resume can automatically power-on and power-off the computer when using Home Director.

The following are the Rapid Resume options you can change:

- APM BIOS Mode (Enabled)
This option allows your computer to save energy by using Advanced Power Management (APM) in the operating system. Rapid Resume functions (except Standby) are not available when this option is disabled.
- Rapid Resume (Enabled)
If your operating system supports Advanced Power Management (APM) and APM BIOS is enabled, you may use Rapid Resume to save energy and to return quickly to your operating environment. When Rapid Resume is enabled, the state of your computer will be saved when you suspend or turn off power from the operating system. When you turn the computer back on, it will be restored to the previous state.
- Automatic Power Off
If Rapid Resume is enabled, you may use this option to select the number of minutes your computer must be inactive before the automatic power off. You may use the Rapid Resume Advanced Options Menu to select the devices BIOS checks for activity.
- Initialise Adapter Cards
This option allows you to select how adapter cards in the system will be reinitialised when your computer starts using Rapid Resume. If this option is set to "reload device drivers" the operating system will reload device drivers in config.sys and autoexec.bat and then execute Resume.exe to resume.
- Standby (15)
When standby is enabled, your computer will automatically save energy by turning off hard disks and blanking the monitor. Use this option to select the number of minutes your computer must be inactive before it enters Standby. You may use the Rapid Resume Advanced Options Menu to select devices BIOS checks for activity.
- Snapshot (disabled)
When Snapshot is enabled, your computer saves the state of the system when it enters Standby. If a power loss occurs during standby, your computer will try to return to the previous state using the Rapid Resume feature.
- Halt CPU when Idle
This option allows you to save energy by stopping the processor (CPU) while your computer is in Standby. Your computer will continue to operate normally while this option is enabled.
- Blink Power Light
You can choose whether the power light will blink to alert you when your computer is in Standby.
- Wake Up on Ring
This option selects whether a phone ring detected by the modem will turn on your computer. Your modem must support the wake on ring indicator signal for this option to work.
- Ring Indicator
This option selects whether your computer will indicate that it has been turned on due to a phone ring. When your computer is off, the power light will flash to indicate it was turned on due to a phone ring.
- Automatic Power On
Use this option to turn on your computer at a specific date and time, or daily at a specific time.
Note: Values in this field will be overwritten by the Rapid Resume Scheduler program.

Rapid Resume Advanced Options:
- Check Keyboard and Mouse Activity
With this option enabled, your computer will not enter Standby or Rapid Resume while there is keyboard activity. If your computer enters standby with this option enabled, the computer will exit Standby when you use the keyboard.
- Check Mouse Activity
With this option enabled, your computer will not enter Standby or Rapid Resume while there is mouse activity. If your computer enters standby with this option enabled, the computer will exit Standby when you use the mouse. The same would be true for the following options.
- Check Disk Drive 1 and 2 Activity
- Check Disk Drive 3 and 4 Activity
- Check Diskette Drive Activity
- Check Serial Port Activity
- Check Parallel Port Activity
- Check Modem Activity
- APM Connection

Plug and Play:
This option displays the number of Plug and Play cards your computer has detected. The ID string for each card is displayed and identified.

ISA Legacy Resources:
ISA Legacy Resources (DMA, Interrupts, Memory, and Input/Output ports) are resources that are used by non-Plug and Play ISA adapter cards. The computer will not automatically detect these adapter cards. You must set the resources used by ISA legacy cards to "Not Available" to prevent the system BIOS from assigning these resources to Plug and Play cards.
Startup Options:
This menu allows you to view or change startup sequence, memory test, and virus detection options. Your computer uses the Startup Device sequence to search for the operating system. This option allows you to choose a Startup Device (Diskette drive A:, CD-ROM Drive, a hard disk, or network adapter. Your computer will start the operating system from the first startup device that is available on which it detects the operating system. The default settings are listed below. These default settings will allow the system to boot from the recovery CD-ROM or diagnostic CD-ROM if an operating system problem is encountered.
First Startup Device (Diskette Drive A:)
Second Startup Device (CD-ROM Drive)
Third Startup Device (Hard Disk 1)
Fourth Startup Device (Disabled)
System Memory Test (Enabled)

This option allows you to choose whether your computer tests the system memory before it starts the operating system.

Virus Detection:
Your computer has a built in virus detection program. This option allows you to set your computer to check for viruses before starting the operating system.

Security Options
Power On Password is the option that allows you to create a power on password to restrict the use of the computer. Each time the computer is powered on, you must enter this password before you can use the computer. A password can be up to seven characters long (letters, numbers, or both). Once you create the password, be sure to write it down and put it in a secure place.

Diskette Drive Access allows you to enable or disable the diskette drive access.
Operate without Keyboard allows you to enable or disable the keyboard.
Operate without Diskette Drive(s) allows you to enable or disable the diskette drive.

Cache options: (cache size, cache state)
This option shows the amount of internal cache memory in the computer's processor. You cannot add internal cache memory to the computer. Cache memory is special buffer storage that holds frequently used instructions and data, and works faster than main storage. With cache memory installed, the applications and programs run faster. You can disable cache memory to slow down the computer.

ROM shadowing:
Provides memory boundary information.

Memory options:
Provides standard and EDO feature information.

PCI card options:
Allows you to enable or disable card bus mastering.

Search Keywords

Hint Category

BIOS, Hardware Installation/Configuration

Date Created

07-04-98

Last Updated

09-12-98

Revision Date

09-12-99

Brand

IBM Aptiva

Product Family

Aptiva

Machine Type

2159

Model

13R; 14R; 15R; 16R; 17R; 18R; 19R; 20R; B60; B65; B75; B80; B85; B95; S64; S66; S74; S76; S78; S7H; S80; S90

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