Random question re: Dell PCs stock boot priority

[Cerpin Taxt]

Are Dell desktop PCs usually shipped with the BIOS set to boot from the HDD first? Or is there any chance they're set up with CD-ROM boot priority before they're sold?

My gut tells me it's HDD first, but I've never owned a Dell so I thought I'd ask.
I do not know the model of the Dell PC in question, but I suppose I could find out.

In case anyone is curious, I'm helping someone wipe their HDD before they donate their PC, and I want to know if I can just give them DBAN on CD and expect their PC to already be configured to boot it. I don't want to have to actually go to their house, but I also don't think these users are savvy enough to figure out how to re-order their boot priority if it's not already configured to boot the CD first.

Thanks for any and all info.

 

[mfenn]

Their servers have the HDD first, but I'm not sure about the desktops. Every Dell machine I've seen has a one-time boot device selection menu though. There's a message on the BIOS screen that tells you which key to press (F10 I think).

 

[ch33zw1z]

Dell desktops i touch have always been fdd, cd, hdd. newer ones are cd, hdd.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

There's a message on the BIOS screen that tells you which key to press (F10 I think).

I'm sure it's not TOO complicated, but I want to make this as interaction-free as possible. I just want to tell them to put the CD in, restart, type "autonuke" (or maybe just "quick") at the prompt and be done.

Dell desktops i touch have always been fdd, cd, hdd. newer ones are cd, hdd.

Thank you, I was hoping this was the case.