Dell G884D manual

www .dell.com | support.dell.com Dell™ XPS™ 430 Quick Reference Guide Model DC01L book.book Page 1 Monday, September 22, 2008 1:55 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 ha rdware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury , or death. Macrovision Prod[...]

Contents 3 Contents 1 About Y our Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Front View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Back View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Front Panel Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Back Panel Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2 Setting Up Y our Computer . .[...]

4 Contents 5 T roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 T roubleshooting T ools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Sy stem Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

Contents 5 7 Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 8 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Obtaining Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 T echnical Support and Customer Service . . . . . 50 Online Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 AutoT ech Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

6 Contents book.book Page 6 Monday, September 22, 2008 1:55 PM[...]

About Y our Computer 7 About Y our Computer NOTE: For more information abo ut the ports and connectors on your computer , see "Specifications" on page 15. Front V iew of the Computer 1 cover release latch 2 optical drive tray eject button (2) 3 vents 4 power button 5 front panel connectors 6 3.5-inch flexbays (2) 7 5.25-inch drive bays (2[...]

8 About Y our Computer Back V iew of the Computer 1 power connector 2 voltage selector switch 3 back panel connectors 4 card slots 3 2 1 4 book.book Page 8 Monday, September 22, 2008 1:55 PM[...]

About Y our Computer 9 Front Panel Connectors Back Panel Connectors 1 microphone connector 2 headphone connector 3 USB 2.0 connectors (2) 4 IEEE 1394 connector 1 IEEE 1394 connector 2 eSA T A connecto r 3 S/PDIF (RCA) connector 4 USB 2.0 connectors (3) 5 link integrity light 6 network adapter connector 7 network activity light 8 surround sound conn[...]

10 About Y our Computer book.book Page 10 Monday, September 22, 2008 1:55 PM[...]

Setting Up Y our Computer 11 Setting Up Y our Computer Safety Instructions Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help to ensure your own personal safety . CAUTION: Before you begin any of th e procedures in this section, read the safety information that shipped with your computer . For additi[...]

12 Setting Up Y our Computer • If your computer is installed in a corn er on a desk or under a desk, leave at least 5.1 cm (2 in) clearance from th e back of the computer to the wall to permit the airflow requir ed for proper ventilation. book.book Page 12 Monday, September 22, 2008 1:55 PM[...]

Setting Up Y our Computer 13 NOTICE: Do not install your computer in an en closure that does not allow airflow . Restricting the airflow impacts your compute r’ s performance, poss ibly causing it to overheat. Connecting to the Internet NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country . T o connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connect[...]

14 Setting Up Y our Computer If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP , perform the steps in the following section. NOTE: If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past, the ISP might have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the ser[...]

Specifications 15 Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. For more info rmation regarding the configuration of your computer , click Start → Help and Support and select the option to view information about your computer . Processor P rocessor type Intel ® Cor e™2 Duo Intel Core2 Extr eme (dual-core and quad-core processor) Intel Cor[...]

16 Specifications Expansion Bus Bus type PCI Express x1, x8, and x16 PCI 32-bit (PCI specification 2.3) PCI connectors two connector size 124 pins connector data width (maximum) 32-bit, version 2.3 Bus speed 33 MHz PCI Express connector two x1 connector size 36 pins connector data width (maximum) 1 PCI Express lane Bus throughput 1 GB/s PCI Express[...]

Specifications 17 Drives Externally accessible: two 3.5-inch flexbays two 5.25-inch drive bays Internally accessible two 3.5 HDD bays A vailable devices Serial A T A (SA T A) hard drive, memory devices, SA T A Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) writer , SA T A BD/D VD combo drive, SA T A D VD+/-RW drive, SA T A DVD drive (2nd drive only), Media Card Reader , and[...]

18 Specifications Aud io HDA 7.1 channel six connectors for 7.1 support rear L/R surround connector — Use the black surround connector to attach multichannel-capable speakers. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card. line-in connector — Use the bl ue line-in co nnector to attach a recor d/playback device such as a cassette[...]

Specifications 19 Aud io ( continued ) side surround sound conn ector — Use the gray side surround sound connector to attach multichannel- capable speakers. The side-surround output provides enhanced surround audio for computers with 7.1 speakers. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card. S/PDIF (RCA) connector — Conn ects [...]

20 Specifications Controls and Lights F ront of computer: Po w e r b u t t o n push button P ower light blue light — Blinking blue in sleep state; solid blue for power -on state amber light — The blinking amber indicates a problem with the system bo ard. A solid amber light when the system does not boot indicates that the system board cannot st[...]

Specifications 21 Power DC power supply : CAUTION: T o reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury , do not overload an elec trical outlet, power strip, or convenience receptacle. The total ampere rating of all products plugged into an electrical outlet, power strip, or other receptacle should not exceed 80 percent of the branch circuit rati[...]

22 Specifications Maximum vibration (using a random-vibration spectrum that simulates user environment): Operating 0.9 GRMS Storage 1.3 GRMS Maximum shock (measured with hard drive in head- parked position and a 2-ms half -sine pulse): Operating 122 G Storage 163 G Altitude (maximum): Operating –15.2 to 3048 m (–50 to 10,000 ft) Storage –15.2[...]

Optimizing for Gr eater Performance 23 Optimizing for Greater Performance Understanding Intel ® SpeedStep ® T echnology SpeedStep technology controls your computer's processor performance automatically , dynamically adjusting t he operating fr equency and voltage, according to the task at hand. When an application does not r equire full perf[...]

24 Optimizing for Gr eater Performance book.book Page 24 Monday, September 22, 2008 1:55 PM[...]

T roubleshooting 25 T r oubleshooting Safety Instructions Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help to ensure your own personal safety . CAUTION: Before working inside yo ur computer , read the safety information that shipped with your computer . For additiona l safety best practices informa[...]

26 T roubleshooting If your computer b eeps during start-up: 1 W rite down the beep code. 2 R un the Dell Diagnostics to identif y a more serious cause (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 31). Code (repetitive short beeps) Description Suggested Remedy 1 BIOS checksum failure. P ossible system board failur e. Contact Dell. F or mor e informati[...]

T roubleshooting 27 4 R AM Read/W rite failure 1 Ensure that no special memory module/memory connector placement requir ements exist (see the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com ). 2 V erify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your computer (see the Service Manual on the Dell Support websit[...]

28 T roubleshooting Sy stem Messages NOTE: If the message you received is not listed in the table, see the documentation for either the operating sy stem or the pr ogram that was running when the message appeared. Message Possible Cause Corrective Action 8042 Gate-A20 error The keyboar d controller failed its test. If you receive this message after[...]

T roubleshooting 29 CMOS Battery State Low CMOS Checksum Failure CMOS System Options Not Set CMOS Display Type Mismatch CMOS Memory Size Mismatch CMOS Time and Date Not Set The system configuration information in the system setup program is incorrect or the battery charge may be low . Enter the system setup program ( see the Service Manual on the D[...]

30 T roubleshooting INTR1 Error INTR2 Error An interrupt channel on the system board failed to POST . The keyboar d or system board may need to be replaced. Invalid Boot Diskette The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C. Enter the system setup program ( see the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com ) and[...]

T roubleshooting 31 Dell Diagnostics CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions that sh ipped with your computer . When to Use Dell Diagnostics If you experience a problem with yo ur computer , perform the checks in "Solving P roblems" on page 35 and run Dell Diagnostics before you con[...]

32 T roubleshooting 5 At the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu , left-click with the mouse, or press <T ab> and then <Enter>, to select the test you want to run (see "Dell Diagnostics Main Menu" on page 33). NOTE: Write down any error codes and proble m descriptions exactly as they appear and follow the in structions on the screen. 6[...]

T roubleshooting 33 Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 1 After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears, click the button for the option you want. NOTE: It is recommended that you select T est Sy stem to run a complete test on your computer . 2 After you have selected the T est System option from the main menu, the following menu appears[...]

34 T roubleshooting 3 If a problem is encountered during a te st, a message appears with an error code and a description of the proble m. W rite down the error code and problem description and see "Contacting Dell" on page 54 NOTE: The Service T ag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen. If you contact Dell, technical[...]

T roubleshooting 35 T o start the Hardwar e T roubleshooter: 1 Click the W indows Vista start button ™, and click Help and Support. 2 Ty p e hardware troubleshooter in the search field and press <Enter> to start the search. 3 In the search results, select the opti on that best describes the problem and follow the remaining troubleshooting s[...]

36 T roubleshooting Memory Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions that shipp ed with your computer . I F THE POWER LIGHT IS STEADY AMBER — a device may be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed. • Remove and then reinstall the memory modules (see the Service Manual on the Dell [...]

T roubleshooting 37 Lockups and Software Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions that sh ipped with your computer . The computer does not start up The computer stops responding NOTICE: Y ou might lose data if you are unab le to perform an operating sy stem shutdown. A program crashes[...]

38 T roubleshooting A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft ® Windows ® operating sy stem A solid blue screen appears Other software problems R UN THE P ROGRAM C OMPATIBILITY W IZARD — The P r ogram Compatibility W izard configur es a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non- W indows Vi sta operating system environments.[...]

Reinstalling Y our Operating Sy stem 39 Reinstalling Y our Operating Sy stem Drivers What Is a Driver? A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer , mouse, or keyboar d. All devices requir e a driver program. A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device. Each device has its own set[...]

40 Reinstalling Y our Operating Sy stem Identifying Drivers If you experience a problem with any devi ce, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary , update the driver . 1 Click the W indows Vista start button ™, and right-click Computer . 2 Click P roperties → Device Manager . NOTE: The User Account Control wi[...]

Reinstalling Y our Operating Sy stem 41 Using the Drivers and Utilities media If using Device Driver Rollback or Sy stem Restore ("Restoring Y our Operating System" on page 42) does not resolve the problem, then r einstall the driver from the Drivers and Utilities media. 1 W ith the W indows desktop displayed, insert the Drivers and Utili[...]

42 Reinstalling Y our Operating Sy stem Manually Reinstalling Drivers After extracting the driver files to your har d drive as described in the previous section: 1 Click the W indows Vista start button , and right-click Computer . 2 Click P roperties → Device Manager . NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear . If you are an administrator[...]

Reinstalling Y our Operating Sy stem 43 Using Microsoft Windows Sy stem Restore The W indows operating systems provide a System Restore option which allows you to return your computer to an earl ier operating state (without affecting data files) if changes to the hardwar e , software, or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirabl[...]

44 Reinstalling Y our Operating Sy stem Using Dell Factory Image Restore NOTICE: Using Dell Factory Image Restore pe rmanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or drivers instal led after you received your computer . If possible, back up the data before using these options. Use Dell Factory Image Restore only if Sy stem R[...]

Reinstalling Y our Operating Sy stem 45 7 Click the checkbox to confirm that yo u want to continue reformatting the hard drive and r estoring the system so ftware to the factory condition, then click Next . The restor e process begins and may take five or more minutes to complete. A message appears when the operati ng system and factory-installed a[...]

46 Reinstalling Y our Operating Sy stem Reinstalling Windows Vista The reinstallation process can tak e 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you must also r einstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software. 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs. 2 Insert the Operating Syst[...]

Finding Information 47 Finding Information NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and ma y not ship with your computer . Some features or media may n ot be available in certain countries. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer . Document/Media/Label Contents Service T ag/Express Ser vice Code The Service T ag/Express Service[...]

48 Finding Information Dell™ P roduct Information Guide The Dell P roduct Information Guide is a hardcopy document that may have shipped with your computer . F or additional regulatory information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage on www .dell.com at the following location: www .dell.com/regulatory_compliance. • W arranty information • [...]

Getting Help 49 Getting Help Obtaining Assistance CAUTION: If you need to remove the comp uter cover , first disconnect the computer power and modem c ables from all electrical outlets. If you experience a problem with yo ur computer , you can complete the following steps to diagnose and troubleshoot the problem: 1 See "T roubleshooting" [...]

50 Getting Help NOTE: Some of the following serv ices are not alway s available in all locations outside the continental U.S. Call your loca l Dell representative for information on availability . T echnical Support and Customer Service Dell's support service is available to answer your questions about Dell™ hardwar e. Our support staff uses[...]

Getting Help 51 • Dell Marketing and Sales e-mail addr esses apmarketing@dell.com (Asian/P acific countries only) sales_canada@dell.com (Canada only) • Anonymous file transfer protocol (FTP) ftp.dell.com Log in as user: anonymous , and use your e-mail address as your passwor d. AutoT ech Service Dell's automated support service—AutoT ech[...]

52 Getting Help Returning Items for W arranty Repair or Credit P repare all items being r eturned, whether for repair or credit, as follows: 1 Call Dell to obtain a Return Materi al Authorization Number , and write it clearly and prominently on the outside of the box. F or the telephone number to call for yo ur region, see "Contacting Dell&quo[...]

Getting Help 53 Diagnostics Checklist Name: Date: Address: Phone number: Service T ag (bar code on the back or bottom of the computer): Express Service Code: Return Material Authorizatio n Number (if provided by Dell support technician): Operating system and version: Devices: Expansion cards: Are you connected to a network? Y es No Network, version[...]

54 Getting Help Contacting Dell F or customers in the United States , call 800- WWW -DE LL (800-999-3355). NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, yo u can find contact information on your purchase invoice, pa cking slip, bill, or Dell product catalog. Dell provides several online and teleph one-based support and service options. Av[...]

Index 55 Index B beep codes, 25 C computer beep codes, 2 5 crashes, 3 7 - 3 8 restor e to previous state, 4 2 stops responding, 3 7 conflicts so ft w are an d ha rd wa re incompatibilities, 3 4 contacting Dell, 54 CPU overclocking, 23 D Dell contacting, 5 4 Dell Diagnostics, 31 Dell T echnology Guide, 48 Desktop System Software, 47 diagnostics beep[...]

56 Index H hardwar e beep codes, 2 5 conflicts, 3 4 Dell Diagnostics, 3 1 Ha rd w are T r o ub l es h oo t er , 3 4 I Internet connection about, 1 3 options, 1 3 setting up, 1 3 IRQ conflicts, 34 L license label, 48 M media Drivers and Utilities, 4 7 operating system, 4 7 memory problems, 3 6 messages system, 2 8 O Online, 50 operating system media[...]

Index 57 programs and W indows compatibility , 3 8 restor e to previous state, 4 2 - 4 3 s o f t w a r e , 37-38 P rogram Compatibility Wi z a r d , 3 8 S Service Manual, 48 Service T ag, 47 software conflicts, 3 4 p r o b l e m s , 37-38 specifications computer information, 1 5 connectors, 1 7 controls and lights, 2 0 drives, 1 7 environmental, 2 [...]

58 Index book.book Page 58 Monday, September 22, 2008 1:55 PM[...]