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PowerEdge: How to reset the BIOS

Summary: This article explains how to restore the BIOS defaults settings on a Dell PowerEdge Server. This procedure may be valid for other Dell products.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Table of Contents 

  1. Restore the BIOS default settings
  2. Clearing the BIOS using the motherboard Jumper

1.  Restore the BIOS defaults settings on a Dell PowerEdge Server.

Caution: Resetting your BIOS clears all settings back to default. This may prevent your system from booting to the operating system until custom settings are reapplied.

Follow the steps to restore the BIOS defaults settings in the system setup page.

  1. Power on the system.

  2. While the blue Dell logo is visible, press the F2 key to enter the System Setup.


    Post F2
  3. Enter the System BIOS section
    System BIOS section
  4. Click the button Default in the low-end corner.

    Close up of Default and Finish

    Popup message
  5. When the confirmation appears, press Yes
  6. The BIOS settings are now reset.
     

If it does not work, try the following sequence:

  • Press the Num Lock key, and verify that the Num Lock light is on.
  • Press the Caps Lock key, and verify that the Caps Lock light is on.
  • Press the Scroll Lock key, and verify that the Scroll Lock light is on. The lights on the keyboard should all be illuminated as in Figure 1.
  • Press the Alt + F keys simultaneously. The system beeps as the setup defaults are restored.


The image of key mapping and light location for your reference 
Keyboard scheme and hotkeys
 


2. Clearing the BIOS using the motherboard Jumper 
 

The jumpers on the system motherboard located next to the coin-cell battery are the NVRAM_CLR and PWRD_EN jumpers.
These can be used to reset your BIOS.

Example Motherboard 
Motherboard NVRAM_CLR bridge example

   

Jumper Setting Description
NVRAM_CLR     example setting one(default) The configuration settings are retained at system boot (pins 3-5)
  example setting two The configuration settings are cleared at the next system boot (pins 1-3)
PWRD_EN     example setting three(default) The password feature is enabled (pins 2-4)
  example setting four The password feature is disabled (pins 4-6)

 

Steps:

  1. Ensure you are using an Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) wristband when working inside the server
  2. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet
  3. Open the System
  4. Remove the jumper plug from the NVRAM_CLR jumper [See the Figure above to locate the password jumper (labeled NVRAM_CLR) on the system board]
  5. Move the Jumper from Pin's 3-5 to pins 1-3.
  6. Close the system, reconnect power cables
  7. Turn the system on for 10 s
  8. Turn the system off
  9. Open the system
  10. Move the jumper back to Pins 3-5 (default)
  11. Close the system
  12. Reconnect your system and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn on the system

You must enter the system BIOS and reenter the time and date as well as all settings required.

Affected Products

PowerEdge XR2, PowerEdge C4130, Poweredge C4140, PowerEdge c6320, PowerEdge c6320p, PowerEdge C6420, PowerEdge C6520, PowerEdge C6525, PowerEdge C6615, PowerEdge C6620, Poweredge FC430, Poweredge FC630, PowerEdge FC640, Poweredge FC830 , PowerEdge FM120x4 (for PE FX2/FX2s), PowerEdge M630, PowerEdge M630 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge M640, PowerEdge M640 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge M830, PowerEdge M830 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge MX740C, PowerEdge MX750c, PowerEdge MX760c, PowerEdge MX840C, PowerEdge R230, PowerEdge R240, PowerEdge R250, PowerEdge R260, PowerEdge R330, PowerEdge R340, PowerEdge R350, PowerEdge R360, PowerEdge R430, PowerEdge R440, PowerEdge R450, PowerEdge R530, PowerEdge R530xd, PowerEdge R540, PowerEdge R550, PowerEdge R630, PowerEdge R640, PowerEdge R6415, PowerEdge R650, PowerEdge R650xs, PowerEdge R6515, PowerEdge R6525, PowerEdge R660, PowerEdge R660xs, PowerEdge R6615, PowerEdge R6625, PowerEdge R670, PowerEdge R730, PowerEdge R730xd, PowerEdge R740, PowerEdge R740XD, PowerEdge R740XD2, PowerEdge R7415, PowerEdge R7425, PowerEdge R750, PowerEdge R750XA, PowerEdge R750xs, PowerEdge R7515, PowerEdge R7525, PowerEdge R760, PowerEdge R760XA, PowerEdge R760xd2, PowerEdge R760xs, PowerEdge R7615, PowerEdge R7625, PowerEdge R770, PowerEdge R830, PowerEdge R840, PowerEdge R860, PowerEdge R930, PowerEdge R940, PowerEdge R940xa, PowerEdge R960, PowerEdge T130, PowerEdge T140, PowerEdge T150, PowerEdge T160, PowerEdge T30, PowerEdge T330, PowerEdge T340, PowerEdge T350, PowerEdge T360, PowerEdge T40, PowerEdge T430, PowerEdge T440, PowerEdge T550, PowerEdge T560, PowerEdge T630, PowerEdge T640, PowerEdge XE2420, PowerEdge XE7100, PowerEdge XE7420, PowerEdge XE7440, PowerEdge XE8545, PowerEdge XE8640, PowerEdge XE9640, PowerEdge XE9680, PowerEdge XR11, PowerEdge XR12 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000128677
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 30 Oct 2024
Version:  7
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