Dell N8152 manual

www .dell.com | support.dell.com Dell Precision™ W orkstation 380 Quick Reference Guide Model DCT A N8152bk1.book Page 1 Wednes day, May 25, 2005 3:08 PM[...]

Notes, Notices, and Cautions NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer . NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, pe rsonal injury , or death. Abbreviations an[...]

Contents 3 Contents Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Setting Up Y our Computer (T ower Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Setting Up Y our Compu ter (Desktop Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 About Y our Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

4 Contents N8152bk1.book Page 4 Wednes day, May 25, 2005 3:08 PM[...]

Quick Reference Guide 5 Finding Information NOTE: Some features may not be available for your computer or in certain countries. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer . What Are Y ou Looking For? Find It Here • A diagnostic program for my computer • Drivers for my computer • My computer documentation • My device documentat[...]

6 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com • W arranty information • T erms and Conditions (U.S. only) • Safety instructions • Regulatory information • Ergonomics information • End User License Agreement Dell™ Product Information Guide • How to remove and r eplace parts • Specifications • How to configure system se[...]

Quick Reference Guide 7 • Solutions — T roubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, online courses, frequently ask ed questions • Community — Online disc ussion with other Dell customers • Upgrades — Upgrade informa tion for components, such as memory , the har d drive, and the operating system • Customer Care — Contac[...]

8 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com • How to reinstall my operating system Operating Sy stem CD The operating system is already installed on your computer . T o reinstall your operating system, use the Operating System CD. See your User ’s Guide for instructions. After you reinstall your operating system, use the optional D[...]

Quick Reference Guide 9 Setting Up Y our Computer (T ower Orientation) CAUTION: Before you begin any of the pr ocedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. Y ou must complete all steps to properly set up your computer . 1 PS/2 USB or PS/2 USB or Connect the keyboa rd and the mouse. Network Modem 2 NOTIC[...]

10 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com 3 Depending on your graphics card, you can connect your monitor in various ways. NOTE: Y ou may need to use the provided adapter or cable to connect your monitor to the computer . Connect the monitor . N8152bk1.book Page 10 Wednesday, May 25, 2005 3:08 PM[...]

Quick Reference Guide 11 The dual-monitor cable is color -coded; the blue co nnector is for the primary monitor , and the black connector is for the second monitor . T o enable dual-monitor support, both monitors must be attached to the computer when you start the computer . For single- and dual-monitor capab le cards with a single connector One VG[...]

12 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com For dual-monitor capable card s with one DVI connector and one VGA connector One D VI connector an d one VGA connector: Use the appropriate connec tor(s) when you want to connect your computer to one or two monitors. T wo VGA connectors with one VGA adapter: Use the VGA adapter when you want[...]

Quick Reference Guide 13 4 LINE OUT NOTE: If your computer has a sound card installed, connect the speakers to the card. Connect the speakers. 1234 5 Connect the power cables and turn on the computer and monitor . N8152bk1.book Page 13 Wednesday, May 25, 2005 3:08 PM[...]

14 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com Before you install any devices or softwar e that did not come with your computer , read the documentation that came with the software or de vice or contact the vendor to verify that the software or device is compatible with your computer and operating system. Y ou have now completed the setu[...]

Quick Reference Guide 15 Modem Network 2 NOTE: If your computer has a network card installed, connect the network cable to the card. Connect the mo dem or the network cable. 3 Connect the monitor . Depending on your graphics card, you can connect your monitor in various ways. NOTE: Y ou may need to use the provided adapter or cable to connect your [...]

16 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com The dual-monitor cable is color -coded; the blue co nnector is for the primary monitor , and the black connector is for the second monitor . T o enable dual-monitor support, both monitors must be attached to the computer when you start your computer . For single- and dual-monitor ca pable ca[...]

Quick Reference Guide 17 For dual-monitor capable cards with on e DVI connector and one VGA connector One D V I connector and one VGA connector: Use the appropriate connector(s) when you want to connect your computer to one or two monitors. T wo VGA connectors with one VGA adapter: Use the VGA adapter when yo u want to connect your computer to two [...]

18 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com NOTE: If your computer has a so und card installed, conne ct the speakers to the card. Before you install any devices or softwar e that did not come with your computer , read the documentation that came with the software or de vice or contact the vendor to verify that the software or device [...]

Quick Reference Guide 19 About Y our Computer Front View (T ower Orientation) 1 upper 5.25-inch drive bay Holds a CD/D VD drive. 2 lower 5.25-inch drive bay Holds a CD/D VD driv e or an optional third har d drive. 3 upper 3.5-inch drive bay Holds an opti onal fourth hard drive (serial A T A). 4 lower 3.5-inch drive bay Y ou can use the bay fo r an [...]

20 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com 6 IEEE 1394 connector (optional) Use the optional IEEE 1394 co nnectors for high-speed data devices such as digital video cameras and exte rnal storage devices. 7 USB 2.0 connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally , such as flash memory keys or came[...]

Quick Reference Guide 21 Back View (T ower Orientation) 1 power connector Insert the pow er cable into this connector . 2 voltage selection switch See the safety instructions in the P roduct Information Guide for more information. 3 back-panel connectors Plug serial, USB, and o ther devices into the appropriate connector . 4 card slots Access conne[...]

22 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com Front View (Desktop Orientation) 1 2 3 4 1 2 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 1 upper 5.25-inch drive bay This bay holds a CD/D VD drive. 2 lower 5.25-inch drive bay This bay hold s an optional CD/DVD drive or an optional thir d hard drive (serial A T A or SCSI). 3 3.5-inch drive bay Y ou can use the [...]

Quick Reference Guide 23 6 USB 2.0 connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally , such as flash memory keys or cameras, or for bootable USB devices (see system setup for more information on booting to a USB device). It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain conn[...]

24 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com Back View (Desktop Orientation) Back-Panel Connectors 3 2 4 1 1 card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express car ds. 2 power connector Insert the power cable into this connector . 3 voltage selection switch See the safety instructions in the P roduct Information Guide fo[...]

Quick Reference Guide 25 1 mouse connector Plug a standard mouse into the gr een mouse connector . T urn off the computer and any attached devices before you connect a mouse to the computer . If you have a USB mouse, plug it into a USB connector . If your computer is running the Microsoft ® W indows XP operating system, the necessary mouse drivers[...]

26 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com 6 line-in connector Use the blue line-i n connector to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player , CD player , or VCR. On computers with a sound car d, use the connector on the card. 7 line-out connector Use the green line-out connector to attach headphones and most speak ers[...]

Quick Reference Guide 27 Inside View CAUTION: Before you begin any of the pr ocedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . 1 power supply 6 card fan 2 optional additional fan 7 processor fan 3 system board 8 lower 3.5-inch drive bay 4 hard drive 9 upper 5.25-inch drive bay 5 processor airflow shroud 10 [...]

28 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com Cable Colors Sy stem Board Components Device Color Hard drive blue cable Floppy drive black pull tab CD/D VD drive orange pull tab 8 6 1 9 2 23 3 4 5 7 12 19 10 11 16 17 13 14 15 18 22 21 20 N8152bk1.book Page 28 Wednesday, May 25, 2005 3:08 PM[...]

Quick Reference Guide 29 Locating Y our User’ s Guide Y our User ’s Guide contains additional informatio n about your computer such as: • T echnical specifications • Information for changing the orientation of your computer from a desktop to a tower • F ront and back views of your computer , including all of the available connectors • I[...]

30 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com T o access the User’ s Guid e from your hard drive: Click the Start button and click Help and Support . T o access your User’ s Guide from the Dell Support website: 1 Go to support.dell.com . 2 F ollow the prompts on the website that ask yo u for information specific to your computer . 3[...]

Quick Reference Guide 31 6 Locate the three hinge tabs on the edge of the computer . 7 Grip the sides of the computer cover and pi vot the cover up, using the hinges as leverage points. 8 Release the cover from the hinge tabs and set it aside in a secure location. Caring for Y our Computer T o help maintain your computer , follow these suggestions:[...]

32 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com Solving Problems T roubleshooting T ips P erform the following checks when you troubleshoot your computer: • If you added or removed a part befor e the pro blem started, review the installation procedures and ensure that the part is corr ectly installed. • If a peripheral device does not[...]

Quick Reference Guide 33 Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State NOTICE: Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state, sa ve and close any open files and exit any open program s. Do not alter , open, or delete any files or pr ograms until the sy stem restoration is complete. 1 Click the Start button, point to All P rog[...]

34 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com 4 Click the System Restore tab. 5 Ensure that T urn off System Restore is unchecked. Using the Last Known Good Configuration 1 Restart your computer and press <F8> when the message Please select the operating system to start appears. 2 Highlight Last Known Good Configuration , press &l[...]

Quick Reference Guide 35 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Y our Hard Drive 1 T urn on (or restart) your computer . 2 When the DELL™ logo appear s, press <F12> immediately . NOTE: If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, see "Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD"[...]

36 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com Before Y ou Start T esting CAUTION: Before you begin any of the pr ocedures in this section, foll ow the safety inst ructions in the Product Information Guide. • T urn on your printer if one is attached. • Enter system setup, review your computer’s co nfiguration information, and enabl[...]

Quick Reference Guide 37 Error Messages NOTE: If the message is not listed, see the documentation for either the op erating sy stem or the program that was running when the message appeared. If an error occurs during start-up, a message may be displayed on the monitor identifying the problem. See "Error Messages" in the User ’s Guide fo[...]

38 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com A possible BIOS failure has occurr ed; the computer is in the recovery mode. R un the BIOS Recovery utility , wait for recovery completion, and then r estart the computer . A possible processor failure has occurr ed. R einstall the processor and restart the computer . Memory modules are dete[...]

Quick Reference Guide 39 A possible expansion car d failure has occurred. 1 Determine if a conflict exists by removing a car d (not the graphics card) and then r estarting the computer . F or more information on removing a car d, see your User ’s Guide . 2 If the problem persists, reinstall the card that you r emoved, remove a different car d, an[...]

40 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com No memory modules are detected. 1 Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory . 2 Restart the computer . 3 If the problem still exists, r emove all the memory modules and install one memory module in memory module connector 4. 4 Restar[...]

Quick Reference Guide 41 Memory modules are detected, but a memory configuration or compatibility error exists. • Ensure that no special memory module/memory connector placement requir ements exist. • V erify that the memory modules that you are installing ar e compatible with your computer . • Reinstall the memory modules and restart the com[...]

42 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com Frequently Asked Questions The computer is in a normal operating condition after POST . NOTE: The diagnostic lights turn off after a short time if the computer is in a normal operating condition after POST . None. Light Pattern Problem Desc ription Suggested Resolution How Do I... Solution W[...]

Quick Reference Guide 43 F ind the right connectors for my USB or IEEE 1394 devices? Y our tower computer has eight USB connectors (two on the front, one internal, and five on the back). Y our desktop computer has eight USB connectors (two on the front, one internal, and five on the back) and an optional front IEEE 1394 connector . This connector i[...]

44 Quick Reference Guide www .dell.com | support.dell.com N8152bk1.book Page 44 Wednesday, May 25, 2005 3:08 PM[...]

Index 45 Index B beep codes, 36 C car ds s l o t s , 21, 24 computer beep codes, 3 6 restor e to previous state, 3 2 conflicts so ft wa re an d h ard wa re incompatibilities, 3 2 connectors headphone, 2 0 , 2 3 I E E E , 20, 22 key bo ard , 2 6 line-in, 2 6 line-out, 2 6 microphone, 2 6 mouse, 2 5 network adapter , 2 5 parallel, 2 5 p o w e r , 21,[...]

46 Index 46 Index lights back of computer , 3 7 d i a g n o s t i c , 20, 23, 37 hard-drive activity , 1 9 - 2 0 , 22-23 link integrity , 2 5 network, 2 5 network activity , 2 5 p o w e r , 20, 23 M microphone connector , 2 6 Microsoft W indows label, 6 motherboard. See system board mouse connector , 2 5 N network connector , 2 5 O Operating System[...]