Boot sequence in BIOS?

I just looked at mine for the first time the other day and noticed the boot sequence.

1. Flopping drive
2. Hard drive
3. CD/DVD
4. USB

• What's the purpose of having a floppy drive 1st since the laptop didn't come with one?

• What's the normal order?

• If I were to use the reinstall CD would I have to change the order?

• In case of failure would the reinstall CD work set as is?

• I have my system backed-up to a USB external hard drive and created a bootable disk using Seagate Disk Wizard. What would be the best order to use?

• Will the bootable disk change the setting to access the back-up on the USB hard drive?

 

1. who cares
2. the normal order is what works for your particular setup; i.e., there isn't a "normal" order, however, usually the HD is the last thing on the list in case you want to boot from another drive first (like a flash drive or the DVD drive).
3. yes
4. no (this is the same question as 3)
5. DVD before HD
6. huh?

 

Sometimes laptop's can be configured with floppys but don't worry about it in your BIOS. It shouldn't harm anything.

Normal order (for a quick BIOS load) is:

1. Hard Drive
2. CD/DVD drive
3. USB
4. Other (whatever's left over)

To reinstall, make sure your CD/DVD drive is listed as first, then Hard Drive, USB, etc.

It could work but if your computer loads directly into the OS, then you have to configure it as 1. CD/DVD Drive.

Use the same settings listed where the CD/DVD drive is first order..

No, as long as your USB hard disk drive is listed under the boot order, it will work correctly. If you remove it from the order, it won't affect anything other than that the USB drive won't boot with your computer.

 

I use the settings above and change it only when I have problems and have to boot from a floppy or USB drive (once in a blue moon )

 

1. just wondering why it's even there.
2. OK, not normal, just usual. Got it.
3. Thanks
4. No, not quite. I can change the boot sequence now, but will I be able in a system failure when I need the CD?
5. Is this normal?
6. That was my question. What's the bootable disk for?

 

Thanks SciFi and Surf. I have a better understanding of how it works now.

 

If you can't get into the BIOS, a recovery CD is not going to help you. Some older computers needed a configuration program to access the BIOS, but your Dell should have the BIOS setup in read-only memory.

 

No problem. If you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

OK thanks.... What's the bootable disk do, that I made with Seagate Disk Wizard?

 

I think I get it. What you're saying if my HD crashes I still should be able to turn the laptop on, and get into my BIOS? So failing that, it goes back to Dell if it's still covered?

 

Yes, exactly. If your computer can't even get to the BIOS, it will never get to the point where it will start reading the boot device.

The bootable disk you made is still a good idea for a backup. Backups are always a good idea. If you accidentally mess up your software or delete files that you want back, you can recover them from the backup. Even if your computer is totally fried, at least you'll still have your files.