Dell XPS 420 manual

www .dell.com | support.dell.com Dell™ XPS™ 420 Owner’ s Manual Model DC01L book.book Page 1 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM[...]

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. If you purchased[...]

Contents 3 Contents Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 1 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer . . . 15 Front and Back View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . 15 Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Front I/O Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Back View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1[...]

4 Contents Intel ® Viiv™ T echnology (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Using Intel Viiv Quick Resume T echnology (QRT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Enabling the QRT Feature in Sy stem Setup . . . . 42 Enabling the QRT Feature in the Operating Sy stem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Using Multimedia . . . . . . . . . [...]

Contents 5 Power Management Options in Windows Vista . . . . 56 Sleep Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Hybrid Sleep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Hibernate Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Configuring Power Management Settings . . . . . 57 2 Optimizing for Greater Performance . . . . 59 Understanding Intel™ [...]

6 Contents Sy stem Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 When to Use Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Starting Dell Diagnostics From Y our Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Starting Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media . . . .[...]

Contents 7 Inside View of Y our Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Sy stem Board Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Memory Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Installing Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Removing Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

8 Contents CD/DVD Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Removing a CD/DVD Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Installing a CD/DVD Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 Processor Airflow Shroud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Removing the Processor Airflow Shroud Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Installing t[...]

Contents 9 Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . 170 Replacing the Co mputer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 A Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Sy stem Setup . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

10 Contents AutoT ech Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Automated Order -Status Service . . . . . . . . . 197 Problems With Y our Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Product Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Returning Items for Warran ty Repair or Credit . . . . . 198 Before Y ou Call . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

Finding Information 11 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 . What Are Y ou Looking For? Find It Here • A diagnostic program for my computer • Drivers for [...]

12 Finding Information • 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 set up my computer Setup Diagram • Service T ag and Expr ess Service Code • Microsoft W indows License La[...]

Finding Information 13 • Solutions — T roubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, online courses, and frequently ask ed questions • Community — Online discussion with other Dell customers • Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as the memory , hard drive, and operating system • Customer Care — Contact in[...]

14 Finding Information • How to use your W indows™ operating system • How to work with programs and files • How to personalize my desktop Windows Help and Support 1 T o access W indows Help and Support: • In W indows Vista™, click the W indows Vista Start button ™ and click Help and Support . 2 T ype a wor d or phrase that describes y[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 15 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Front and Back V iew of the Computer Front View 1 16 17 15 3 4 5 2 6 8 14 13 12 7 10 9 11 book.book Page 15 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM[...]

16 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 1 cover release latch Use this latch to remove the cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 101). 2 storage space Use to stack CDs, place a digital camera while transferring images to system and so on. 3 LCD display menu Use to scroll thro ugh the different menu options available on LCD displ[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 17 9 USB connectors (2) Use the front US B connectors for devices that you connect occasionally , such as flash memory keys, cameras, or bootable USB devices. F or more information on booting to a USB device, see "System Setup" on page 178. NOTE: It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors fo[...]

18 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Front I/O Connectors 1 microphone connector Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program. 2 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones. 3 USB connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices t[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 19 Back View 1 power connector Insert the power cable. The appearance of this connector may differ from what is pictured. 2 audio connectors Connect appropria te audio devices (see "Back I/O Connectors" on page 20). 3 USB connectors Recommended for devic es that typically remain connected, such as print[...]

20 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Back I/O Connectors 6 card slot s Access connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express car ds. NOTE: Some connector slots support full-length cards. 7 IEEE 1394 Use the IEEE 1394 connec tor for high-speed data devices such as digital video cameras and external storage devices. 8 network adapter connector NOT[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 21 5 link integrity light • Green — A good connection e xists between a 10-Mbps network and the computer . • Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the computer . • Y ellow — A good connection exists between a 1000-Mbps (1-Gbps) network and the computer . • Off — The comp[...]

22 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Installing Y our Computer in an Enclosure Installing your computer in an enclosure can r estrict the airflow and impact your computer ’s performance, possibly causing it to overheat. F ollow the guidelines below when installing your computer in an enclosure: NOTICE: The operating temperature specificat ions [...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 23 • Leave a 10.2 centimeter (4 inch) minimum clearance on all vented sides of the computer to permit the airflow requir ed for proper ventilation. • If your enclosure has doors, they need to be of a type that allows at least 30% airflow through the en closure (front and back). • If your computer is install[...]

24 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer • Do not install your computer in an encl osure that does not allow airflow . Restricting the airflow impacts your computer ’s performance, possibly causing it to overheat. Connecting Monitors CAUTION: Before you perform any of the proce dures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product [...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 25 Connecting a Monitor (Without an Adapter) CAUTION: Before you perform any of the pro cedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . 1 Save and close all open files and exit all open programs. 2 Shut down the operating system: • In W indows V ista™, click th e W i[...]

26 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 4 Connect the D VI or VGA connector of your monitor to the appropriate connector on the back of the computer: T o connect a monitor with a DVI conne ctor , use the (white) DVI port on your computer . T o connect a monitor with a VGA connector , use the (blue) VGA port on your computer . NOTE: T o connect a mon[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 27 3 Ensure that the computer and all attached devices ar e turned off. If your computer and attached devices did no t automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system, pr ess and hold the power button for about 4 seconds to turn them off. 4 Connect the D VI-to- VGA adapter to th e VGA connector on[...]

28 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Connecting T wo or More Monitors CAUTION: Before you perform any of the proce dures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTE: Y our video card has one DVI (white) po rt, one DVI-I (bla ck) port, and one VGA (blue) port. 1 Save and close all open files and exit all[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 29 Connecting a TV CAUTION: Before you perform any of the pro cedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTE: If you are connecting a TV to your co mputer , you may c onnect only one monitor (VGA or DVI) in addition to the TV . NOTE: See the documentation that came[...]

30 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Changing the Display Settings 1 After you connect the monitor(s) or TV , turn on the computer . The Microsoft ® W indows ® desktop displays on the primary monitor . 2 Enable extended desktop mode in the display settings. In e xtended desktop mode, you can drag objec ts from one screen to the other , effectiv[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 31 Another advantage of a R A ID level 0 config uration is that it utilizes the full storage capacities of the drives. F or example, two 120-GB drives combine to provide 240 GB of hard drive space on which to stor e data. NOTE: In a RAID level 0 configur ation, the size of the confi guration is equal to the size [...]

32 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer If a drive failure occurs, subsequent r ead and write operations are directed to the surviving drive. A replacement drive can then be r ebuilt using the data from the surviving drive. NOTE: In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configurati on is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the configu[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 33 Setting Y our Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode NOTICE: Back up any data you wa nt to keep befor e entering the RAID-Enabled mode. The RAID configuration procedure can result in loss of all data from the hard drives. 1 Enter system setup (see "Entering System Setup" on page 179). 2 P ress the up- and dow[...]

34 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 5 P ress the up- and down-arrow keys to select R AID0 (Stripe) , then press <Enter>. 6 If there ar e more than two har d drives available, press the up- and down-arrow keys and spacebar to select the two or thr ee drives you want to use to make up your configuration, then press <Enter>. NOTE: Selec[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 35 7 Select the desired capacity for the volume, then pr ess <Enter>. The default value is the maximum available size. 8 P ress <Enter> to create the volume. 9 P ress <Y> to confirm that you wa nt to create the R AID volume. 10 Confirm that the correct volume conf iguration is displayed on the m[...]

36 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Using the Intel ® Application Accelerator If you already have one har d drive with the operating system installed on it, and you want to add a second hard d rive then r econfigure both drives into a R A ID volume without losing the exist ing operating system or data, use the migrating option (see "Migrat[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 37 6 In the Specify V olume Size window , click the V olume Size desired, then click Next . 7 Click Fi n i s h to create the volume, or click Back to make changes. Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration NOTICE: The following procedure wi ll result in the loss of all data on the hard drives in your RAID configurati[...]

38 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Deleting a RAID V olume NOTE: While this procedure delete s the RAID 1 volume, it also splits the RAID 1 volume into two non-RAID hard drives with a partition, and leaves any existing data files intact. Deleting a RAID 0 volume, however , des troy s all data on the volume. 1 Click the Start button and point to[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 39 8 On the Select Source Hard Drive screen, double-click the har d drive from which you want to migrate, and click Next . NOTE: The source hard drive should be the hard drive contain ing the data or operating sy stem files that you wa nt to keep on the RAID volume. 9 On the Select Member Hard Drive screen, doubl[...]

40 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 9 On the Specify V olume Size screen, select the volume size you want, then click Next . NOTICE: The next step will result in the loss of all data on the member drive. 10 Click Fi n i s h to start migrating, or click Back to make changes. Y ou can use your computer normally during migration process. Creating a[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 41 Dell DataSafe (Optional) Dell DataSafe is a solution to help you protect your data against unfortunate events such as data loss from system cr ashes, har d drive failures, softwar e corruption, viruses, and ot her accidents. Using Intel technology , your computer has a robust level of data protection out of th[...]

42 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Enabling the QRT Feature in Sy stem Setup The QR T drivers must be installed before the Quick Resume featur e becomes active. The QR T drivers are installed w hen this option is or dered. Also , Quick Resume is enabled in system setup when this feature is or dered. 1 Enter system setup (see "Entering Syst[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 43 T o format CDs for storing data, to create music CDs, or to copy CDs, see the CD software that came with your computer . NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws w hen you create media. A CD player includes the following basic buttons: A D VD player includes the following basic buttons: Play Move backwa[...]

44 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer These controls may not exist on all players in the system. F or more information on playing CDs, D VDs, or BDs, click Help on the CD or DVD player (if available). Copying Media This section applies only to computers that have a DVD+/-R W drive or a BD-RE drive. NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copy right laws[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 45 NOTE: Most commercial DVDs have copyri ght protection and ca nnot be copied using Roxio Creator Plus. 1 Open Roxio Creator Plus. 2 Under the Copy tab, click Disc Copy . 3 T o copy the CD or DVD: • If you have one CD/DVD drive , ensure that the settings ar e correct, and then click Disc Copy . The computer re[...]

46 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer CD-Writable Drives DVD-Writable Drives Helpful T ips • Use Microsoft ® W indows ® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-R W only after you start Roxio Creator Plus and open a Creator project. • Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular ster eos. CD-R Ws may not play in many h[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 47 • Use a blank CD-R W to practice CD re cording until you are familiar with CD recor ding techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the CD-R W and try again. Y ou can al so use blank CD-RWs to test music file projects before you r ecord the project permanently to a blank CD-R. • See the S[...]

48 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 1 Inspect the media card to determine th e proper orientation for insertion. 2 Slide the media card into the appropri ate slot of the media car d reader until it is completely seated in the connector . If you encounter resistance, r emove the ca rd, check for proper orientation, and then try again. 1 xD-Pictur[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 49 Understanding the Media Xcelerator™ (Optional) The Dell Media Xcelerator™ is an int ernal USB 2.0 bus-powered device that increases the speed and performance of MPEG transcoding and transrating for various 3rd party applications supporting the Sonic D VD engine. The Xcelerator™ device enables faster form[...]

50 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Understanding Windows ® SideShow™ and the LCD display Y our LCD display device is located at the top of the system. P owered by W indows Sideshow tec hnology ,the LCD display device is designed to provide quick to access to information available on a computer running W indows Vista. SideShow technology uses[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 51 Configuring the LCD display The LCD display is configured to star t whenever your system is power ed on. However , the default configuration can be mo dified by the user . T o disable LCD Display 1 Enter system setup (see"Entering System Setup" on page 179). NOTE: The sy stem setup screen display s c[...]

52 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Setting Up a Printer NOTICE: Complete the operating sy stem setup b efore you connect a printer to the computer . See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information, including how to: • Obtain and install updated drivers. • Connect the printer to the computer . • Load paper and instal[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 53 3 T urn on the printer and then turn on the computer . 4 Y our operating system includes a printer wizard to help you install the printer driver: Click the W indows Vista Start button™ and click Network → Add a printer to start the Add P rinter Wizard . 5 Install the printer driver if necessa ry . See &quo[...]

54 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer Connecting to the Internet NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country . T o connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP). Y our ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options: • DSL connections that provide high-s peed Inter[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 55 If you do not have an ISP icon on yo ur 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 are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems" on page 63. If yo u cannot connect[...]

56 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer T ransferring Information to a New Computer Y ou can use your operating system "wizar ds" to help you transfer files and other data from one computer to another—for example, from an old computer to a new computer . F o r instructions, se e the following section that corresponds to the operating sys[...]

Setting Up and Using Y our Computer 57 Hibernate Mode Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved ar ea on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer . When the computer exits hibernate mode, it r eturns to the same operating state it was in before entering hibernate mode. T o manually enter hibernate mo de [...]

58 Setting Up and Using Y our Computer book.book Page 58 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM[...]

Optimizing for Gr eater Performance 59 Optimizing for Greater Performance Understanding Intel™ SpeedStep ® T echnology SpeedStep technology controls your computer's processor performance automatically , dynamically adjusting t he operating frequency and voltage, according to the task at hand. When an application does not r equire full perfo[...]

60 Optimizing for Gr eater Performance book.book Page 60 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM[...]

T roubleshooting 61 T roubleshooting Solving Problems F ollow these tips when you troubleshoot your computer: • If you added or removed a part befo r e the problem started, review the installation procedures and ensur e th at the part is correctly installed. • If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly connected. ?[...]

62 T r oubleshooting Drive Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . E NSURE THAT M ICROSOFT ® W INDOWS ® R ECOGNIZES THE DRIVE — • Click the W indows Vista Start button™ and click Computer . If the drive is not listed, perform a full scan wit[...]

T roubleshooting 63 Hard drive problems R UN C HECK D ISK — 1 Click W indows Vista Start and click Computer . 2 Right-click Loc al D isk C : . 3 Click P roperties → T ools → Check Now . The User Account Control window may appear . If you are an administrator on the computer , click Continue ; otherwise, contact your ad ministrator to continue[...]

64 T r oubleshooting R UN THE M ODEM DIAGNOSTIC T OOL — 1 Click Start → All P rograms → Modem Diagnostic T ool . 2 F ollow the instructions on the screen to identify and resolve modem problems. Modem diagnostics are not available on all computers. V ERIFY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH W INDOWS — 1 Click Start → Control P anel → H[...]

T roubleshooting 65 N OT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES . C LOSE SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN — Close all windows and open the progra m that you want to use. In some cases, you may have to restart your computer to r estore computer resources. If so , run the program that you want to use first. O PERATING SY STEM NOT FOUND — Ensur e that there is no [...]

66 T r oubleshooting T EST THE KEYBOARD — Connect a properly working key boar d to the computer , then try using the keyboar d. W ORKING W ITH AN USB K EYBOARD — During the first system boot, the operating system takes time to configur e the USB key board. Reboot the system to configure the keyboar d faster . USB K EYBOARD OR M OUSE F AILURE ?[...]

T roubleshooting 67 A program crashes repeatedly NOTE: Most software includes ins tallation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk, CD, or DVD. C HECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION — If necessary , uninstall and then reinstall the program. A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating sy stem R UN THE P ROGRAM C OMPATIBILITY [...]

68 T r oubleshooting Memory Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . I F YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE — • Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you ar e not using to see if that resolves the problem. • See the s[...]

T roubleshooting 69 3 After the computer turns off, reconnect the mouse cable as shown on the setup diagram. 4 T urn on the computer . T EST THE MOUSE — Connect a properly working mou se to the computer , then try using the mouse. C HECK THE MOUSE SETTINGS — 1 Click Start → Control P anel → Hardware and Sound → Mouse . 2 Adjust the settin[...]

70 T r oubleshooting I F THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING BLUE — • The computer is in standby mode. P ress a key on the k eyboard, move the mouse, or press the power button to r esume normal operation. • USB keyboar d and mouse wake up the system if these devices ar e configured as wake up devices in the operating sy stem devices properties. Other[...]

T roubleshooting 71 Printer Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your printer , contac t the printer’ s manufacturer . C HECK THE PRINTER DOCUMENTATION — See the printer docu mentation for setup and [...]

72 T r oubleshooting V ERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY M ICROSOFT W INDOWS — 1 Click Start → Control P anel → Hardware and Sound → Scanners and Cameras . 2 If the scanner is listed, W indows recognizes the scanner . R EINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER — See the scanner documentation for instructions. Sound and Speaker Problems CAUTION: [...]

T roubleshooting 73 No sound from headphones C HECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION — Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone co nnector (see "F ront and Back V iew of the Computer" on page 15). A DJUST THE W INDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower -right corner of you[...]

74 T r oubleshooting C HECK THE MONITOR POWER LIGHT — • If the power light is lit or blinking, the monitor has power . • If the power light is off, firmly press th e button to ensur e that the monitor is turned on. • If the power light is blinking, press a key on the keyboard o r move the mouse to resume normal operation. T EST THE ELECTRIC[...]

T roubleshooting 75 Power Lights CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . The power button light located on the front of the computer illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate differ ent states: • If the power light is blue and th e computer is no[...]

76 T r oubleshooting • If the power light is steady amber , a device may be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed. – Remove and then reinstall the memory modules (see "Memory" on page 104). – Remove and then reinstall any car ds (see "Cards" on page 109). • Eliminate interference. Some possible causes of interfer ence [...]

T roubleshooting 77 Memory modules are detected, but a memory failure has occurr ed. • If two or more memory modules are installed, r emove the modules (see "Removing Memory" on page 108), then reinstall one module (see "Installing Memory" on page 106) and restart the computer . If the computer starts normally , continue to in[...]

78 T r oubleshooting No memory modules are detected. • If two or more memory modules are installed, remove the modules (see "Removing Memory" on page 108), then reinstall one module (see "Installing Memory" on page 106) and restart the computer . If the computer starts normally , continue to install additional memory modules ([...]

T roubleshooting 79 A possible expansion car d failure has occurr ed. 1 Determine if a conflict exists by removing an e xpansion card (not a graphics card) and restarting the computer (see "Removing a PCI Card" on page 114 and "Removing a PCI Express Car d" on page 121). 2 If the problem persists, reinstall the card you r emoved[...]

80 T r oubleshooting Another failure ha s occurred. • Ensure that all har d drive and optical drive cables are properly connected to the system board (see "System Board Components" on page 103). • If there is an error message on the screen identifying a problem with a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive), check the device t[...]

T roubleshooting 81 Beep Codes Y our computer might emit a series of beeps during start- up if the monitor cannot display errors or problems. This s eries of beeps, called a beep code, identifies a problem. F or example, b eep code 1-3-1 (one possible beep code) consists of one beep, a burst of three beeps, and then one beep. This beep code tells y[...]

82 T r oubleshooting 3-2-4 Keyboar d Controller T est failure 3-3-1 NVRAM power loss 3-3-2 Invalid NVRAM configuration 3-3-4 Video Memory T e st failure 3-4-1 Screen initialization failur e 3-4-2 Screen r etrace failure 3-4-3 Search for video ROM failure 4-2-1 No timer tick 4-2-2 Shutdown failure 4-2-3 Gate A20 failure 4-2-4 Unexpected interrupt in[...]

T roubleshooting 83 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[...]

84 T r oubleshooting 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 "Entering System Setup[...]

T roubleshooting 85 FDD Controller Failure HDD Controller Failure The BIOS cannot communicate with the floppy drive or hard drive controller . Ensure that the floppy drive or the hard drive is installed correctly in the computer (see "Drives" on page 128) and defined correctly in the system setup program (see "System Setup" on p[...]

86 T r oubleshooting Dell Diagnostics CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . When to Use Dell Diagnostics If you experience a problem with your computer , perform the checks in "Solving P roblems" on page 61 and run Dell Diagnostics before you con[...]

T roubleshooting 87 Starting Dell Diagnostics From Y our Hard Drive 1 Ensure that the computer is connected to an electrical outlet that is known to be working properly . 2 T urn on (or restart) your computer . 3 When the DELL™ logo appears, pr ess <F12> immediately . Select Diagnostics from the boot menu and press <Enter>. NOTE: If y[...]

88 T r oubleshooting Starting Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media 1 Insert the Drivers and Utilities media . 2 Shut down and restart the computer . When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately . NOTE: If you wait too long and the operati ng sy stem logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft ® Windows [...]

T roubleshooting 89 2 After you have selected the T est System option from the main menu, the following menu appears: NOTE: It is recommended that you select Extended T est from the menu below to run a more thorough check of devices in the computer . 3 If a problem is encountered during a test, a message appears with an error code and a description[...]

90 T r oubleshooting 5 When the tests are complete, close th e test scr een to return to the Main Menu screen. T o exit the Dell Diagnostics and r estart the computer , close the Main Menu screen. 6 Remove the Dell Drivers and Utilities media. Drivers What Is a Driver? A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer , mouse, or keybo[...]

T roubleshooting 91 Many drivers, such as the keyboar d driver , come with your Microsoft W indows operating system. Y ou may need to install drivers if you: • Upgrade your operating system. • Reinstall your operating system. • Connect or install a new device. Identifying Drivers If you experience a problem with any de vice, identify whether [...]

92 T r oubleshooting 3 Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed and click P roperti es . 4 Click Drivers and click Roll Back Driver . If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore (see "Restoring Y our Operating System" on page 94)to r eturn your computer to the operating state that e[...]

T roubleshooting 93 If a particular driver is not listed, that driver is not requir ed by your operating system. NOTE: It is recommended, for op timized performance, that you install the hardware drivers in the following order: • Desktop Sy stem Software • Chipset or SMBus driver • Processor Driver (if applicable) • Video • Audio (sound) [...]

94 T r oubleshooting Restoring Y our Operating Sy stem Y ou can restor e your operating system in the following ways: • System Restore r eturns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files. Use System Rest ore as the first solution for r estoring your operating system and preserving data files. • Dell F actory Image [...]

T roubleshooting 95 In the event that System Restore did no t r esolve the issue, you may undo the last system restor e. Undoing the Last Sy stem Restore NOTICE: Before you undo the last sy stem res tore, save and close all open files and exit any open programs. Do not alter , open, or delete any files or programs until the sy stem restoration is c[...]

96 T r oubleshooting 4 T o access the recovery options, log on as a local user . T o access the command prompt, type administrator in the User name field, then click OK . 5 Click Dell F actory Image Restore . NOTE: Depending upon your configurati on, you may need to select Dell Factory T ools , then Dell Factory Image Restore . The Dell F actory Im[...]

T roubleshooting 97 T o reinstall W indows, yo u need the following items: •D e l l ™ Operating System media •D e l l Drivers and Utilities media NOTE: The Dell Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during the assembly of the computer . Use the Dell Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers. Depending[...]

98 T r oubleshooting T roubleshooting LCD Display Problems LCD display includes a built in self -test which allows the user to diagnose and troubleshoot any issues related to the application. T o run the Built-in Self-T est 1 Ensure that the system is switched off. 2 P ress and hold the menu button (see "Understanding W indows® SideShow™ an[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 99 Removing and Installing Parts Before Y ou Begin This chapter provides procedures for r emoving and installing the components in your computer . Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exis t: • Y ou have performed the steps in "T urning Off Y our Computer" on page 99 [...]

100 Removing and Installing Parts Before W orking Inside Y our Computer Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety . CAUTION: Before you perform any of the proce dures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . CAUTION: W[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 101 Removing the Computer Cover CAUTION: Before you perform any of the pro cedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . CAUTION: T o guard against electrical shock, alway s unplug your computer from the electrical outlet befor e removing the cover . NOTICE: Before touching [...]

102 Removing and Installing Parts 5 Locate the three hinge tabs on the bottom edge of the computer . 6 Grip the sides of the computer cover and pivot the cover up. 7 Lift the cover away and set it aside in a secure location. Inside V iew of Y our Computer CAUTION: Before you perform any of the proce dures in this section, follow the safety instruct[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 103 Sy stem Board Components 1 5 18 19 2 6 4 9 11 10 8 7 13 12 14 15 3 17 16 book.book Page 103 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM[...]

104 Removing and Installing Parts Memory Y ou can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on the system board. Memory Overview • Memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size, speed, and technology . If the memory modules are not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate, but with a [...]

Removing and Installing Parts 105 NOTE: Alway s install memory modules in the order indicated on the sy stem board. The r ecommended memory configurations are: – A pair of matched memory modules installed in connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM_2 or – A pair of matched memory modules installed in connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM_2 and another matched pair inst[...]

106 Removing and Installing Parts Addressing Memory With 8-GB Configurations Y our computer supports a maximum of 8 GB of memory when you use four 2-GB DIMMs. However , the amount of me mory available to the operating system is less than 8 GB. This is because certain components within the computer requir e address space in the 8-GB range; and any a[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 107 5 Align the notch on the bottom of the module with the crossbar in the connector . NOTICE: T o avoid damage to the memory mo dule, press the mo dule straight down into the connector while y ou apply equal force to ea ch end of the module. 1 memory slot on system board 2 memory slot 1 cutouts (2) 2 memory module 3 n[...]

108 Removing and Installing Parts 6 Insert the module into the connector until the module snaps into position. If you insert the module correctly , the securing clips snap into the cutouts at each end of the module. 7 Replace the computer cover . NOTICE: T o connect a network cable , first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it [...]

Removing and Installing Parts 109 3 P ress out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector . 4 Grasp the module and pull up. If the module is difficult to remove, gently ease th e module back and forth to remove it from the connector . Cards CAUTION: Before you perform any of the pro cedures in this section, follow the safety instr[...]

110 Removing and Installing Parts Installing a PCI Card NOTE: Dell offers an optional custo mer kit for Audigy II and IEEE 1394 PCI add-in- cards that includes a front-mo unted IEEE 1394 connector . NOTE: The PCI connecto r adjacent to the hard dr ive can accommodate a card 5.5 inches in length. Inor der to accommodate a long er card (upto 10.5 inc[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 111 3 P u sh the two release tabs on the car d retention door from the inside to pivot the door open. Because the door is hinged, it will remain in the open position. 4 If your computer includes a card r etention mechanism to secure the x16 card, pr ess the release tab downwar d gently and then pivot the mechani sm upw[...]

112 Removing and Installing Parts 8 Place the card in the connector and pr es s down firmly . Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot. 9 Before you close the car d retention door , ensure that: • The tops of all car ds and filler bracke ts are flush with the alignment bar . • The notch in the top of the car d or filler bracket fits aro[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 113 10 Close the card r etention door by snapping it into place to secure the card(s). NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or behind the cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent the compu ter cover from closing prop erly or cause damage to the equipment. 11 Connect any cables that should be attached to the car[...]

114 Removing and Installing Parts 15 Replace the computer cover , reconne ct the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on. 16 If you installed a sound card: a Enter system setup, select Integrated Audio Controller , and then change the setting to Off . b Connect external audio devices to the sound car d connectors. Do not c[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 115 6 If you removed a sound car d: a Enter system setup, select Integrated Audio Controller , and then change the setting to On . b Connect external audio devices to the audio connectors on the back panel of the computer . 7 If you removed an add-in network connector : a Enter system setup, select Integrated NIC Contr[...]

116 Removing and Installing Parts Installing a PCI Express Card 1 F ollow the procedures in "Befor e Y ou Begin" on page 99. 2 If present on your computer , rotate the lever on the chassis wall upward. 3 P ush the two release tabs on the card r etention door toward each other and pivot the door open. Because the door is captive, it will r[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 117 4 If your computer includes a card r etention mechanism to secure the x16 card, pr ess the release tab downwar d gently and then pivot the mechani sm upward to access the car d slots. 5 If you are installing a new car d, remove the filler bracket to cr eate a card-slot opening. Then continue with step 7. 6 If you a[...]

118 Removing and Installing Parts 7 P ull the securing tab, grasp the card by its top corners, and then ease it out of its connector . 8 P repare the car d for installation. See the documentation that came with the card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise customizing it for your computer . CAUTION: Som[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 119 11 Ensure that: • The tops of all car ds and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar . • The notch in the top of the car d or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide. 12 If you removed a car d retention mechanism, snap it into place, securing the PCI Express car d. 1 fully seated card 2 not full[...]

120 Removing and Installing Parts NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or be hind the cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent the computer cover from closing proper ly or cause damage to the equipment. NOTICE: T o connect a network cable, first pl ug the cable into the network device and then plug the cable into the computer . 13 Replace t[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 121 15 If you installed an add-in networ k adapter and want to disable the integrated network adapter: a Enter system setup, select Integrated NIC Controller , and then change the setting to Off . b Connect the network cable to the add-in network adapter ’s connectors. Do not connect the network cable to the integrat[...]

122 Removing and Installing Parts 3 If present on your computer , rotate the lever on the chassis wall upward. 4 P ush the two release tabs on the card r etention door toward each other and pivot the door open. Because the door is hinged, it will r emain in the open position. 5 If your computer includes a card r e tention mechanism to secure the x1[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 123 NOTICE: Ensure that you release the securing tab to unseat the card. If the card is not removed correctly , the sy stem board may be damaged. 6 Release the securing tab on the card slot to unseat the car d. 7 If you are r emoving the card permanen tly , install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening. If yo[...]

124 Removing and Installing Parts Drive Panels CAUTION: Before you perform any of the proce dures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . CAUTION: T o guard against electr ical shock, alway s unplug your computer from the electrical outlet befor e removing the cover . Removing the Drive Panel 1 F ollow the[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 125 3 Grasping the lever on the sliding plat e, pull the sliding plate downward and hold in place. NOTE: The sliding plate secures and releases the drive panel and helps to secure the drives. Push from the inside and pi vot the drive panel to the left to release the panel from its side hinges. 4 The drive panel clicks [...]

126 Removing and Installing Parts Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert 1 Align the notches on the drive-panel in sert to the corresponding slots on the drive panel and snap into place. 2 Ensure that the drive-panel insert is corr ectly seated in the drive panel. 1 drive panel 2 drive-panel insert tab 3 drive-panel insert 1 2 3 book.book Page 126 Tuesda[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 127 Replacing the Drive Panel 1 F ollow the procedures in "Befor e Y ou Begin" on page 99. 2 Remove the computer cover (see "R emoving the Computer Cover" on page 101). 3 Align the drive panel tabs with the side-door hinges. 4 Rotate the drive panel toward the co mputer until the sliding plate lever[...]

128 Removing and Installing Parts Drives Y our computer supports: • T wo hard drives (Serial A T A) • T wo FlexBay drives (can contain an optional floppy drive, an optional Media Card Reader , or an optional hard drive). • T wo CD or DVD drives General Installation Guidelines Connect the hard drives to the connec tors labeled "SA T A0&qu[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 129 Hard Drive CAUTION: Before you perform any of the pro cedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . CAUTION: T o guard against electrical shock, alway s unplug your computer from the electrical outlet befor e opening the cover . NOTICE: T o avoid damage to the drive, do [...]

130 Removing and Installing Parts 4 P ress in on the tabs on each side of the drive and slide the drive up and out. 5 Replace the computer cover (see "R eplacing the Computer Cover" on page 172). 6 If removing this drive changes the dr ive configuration, then be sur e to reflect these changes in the BIOS. Wh en you r estart your computer [...]

Removing and Installing Parts 131 5 If your replacement har d drive does not have the hard-drive bracket attached, remove the brack et from th e old hard drive by unsnapping it from the drive. 6 Snap the hard-drive brack et bracket onto the r eplacement hard drive. 7 Install the hard drive into the comput er by sliding the drive into place until it[...]

132 Removing and Installing Parts 9 Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated. 10 Replace the computer cover (see "R eplacing the Computer Cover" on page 172). NOTICE: T o connect a network cable, fi rst plug the cable in to the network wall jack and then plug the cable into the computer . 11 Conne[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 133 5 Snap the hard-drive brack et onto the new hard drive. NOTICE: Do not install any drive into the lo wer hard-drive bay until you have removed the hard-drive bracket from the insi de of the hard drive bay . 6 Slide the new hard drive into the empty bay and click it into place. 7 Connect the power and hard drive cab[...]

134 Removing and Installing Parts 9 Replace the computer cover ("Replac ing the Computer Cover" on page 172). NOTICE: T o connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it in to the computer . 10 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on. 11 When you restart your[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 135 3 Remove the drive panel (see "Removing the Drive P anel" on page 124). 4 Remove the shoulder screws from the inside of the drive-panel insert and attach the screws to the new drive (s ee "Removing the Drive-P anel Insert" on page 125). 5 T urn th e FlexBay knob on the cage at 90 degr ees, in th[...]

136 Removing and Installing Parts 1 F ollow the procedures in "Befor e Y ou Begin" on page 99. 2 Remove the computer cover (see "R emoving the Computer Cover" on page 101). 3 Disconnect the power and hard-drive cables from the back of the drive. 4 P ull the sliding plate down and hold in place. 5 Slide the hard drive out of the [...]

Removing and Installing Parts 137 6 P u ll the sliding plate down and hold in place. 7 Slide the floppy drive out of the floppy drive bay . 1 power cable 2 floppy-drive cable 3 floppy drive 4 sliding plate lever 5 sliding plate 6 processor airflow shroud 1 2 3 5 4 6 book.book Page 137 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM[...]

138 Removing and Installing Parts 8 If you are not r eplacing the drive, replace the drive-panel insert (see "Replacing the Drive-P anel Insert" on page 126). 9 Replace the drive panel (see "Replac ing the Drive P anel" on page 127). 10 Replace the computer cover (see "R eplacing the Computer Cover" on page 172. 11 If [...]

Removing and Installing Parts 139 7 Slide the floppy drive into the floppy drive bay until the sliding plate clicks into place and the drive snaps into position. 8 Attach the power and floppy-drive cables to the floppy drive. 9 Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents. 10 Replace t[...]

140 Removing and Installing Parts Media Card Reader F or information on using the Media Ca rd Reader , see "Using a Media Card Reader" on page 47. Removing a Media Card Reader CAUTION: Before you perform any of the proce dures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTICE: T o prevent static dam[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 141 5 Disconnect the USB cable on the back of the Media Card Reader . Disconnect the other end of the cab le from the USB connector on the system board (see "System Boar d Components" on page 103). Remove the cable from any clips and lift out of the computer . 6 P u ll the sliding plate towards the bo ttom of[...]

142 Removing and Installing Parts Installing a Media Card Reader CAUTION: Before you perform any of the proce dures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTICE: T o prevent static damage to componen ts inside your computer , discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your comput[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 143 8 Gently slide the drive into plac e till it clicks in securely . NOTE: Ensure that the Media Ca rd Reader is installed before conn ecting the USB cable. 9 Connect the USB cable to the back of the Media Card Reader and to the USB connector on the system board (see "System Boar d Components" on page 103). [...]

144 Removing and Installing Parts CD/DVD Drive CAUTION: Before you perform any of the proce dures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . CAUTION: T o guard against electr ical shock, alway s unplug your computer from the electrical outlet b efore opening the cover . Removing a CD/DVD Drive 1 F ollow the p[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 145 5 Slide the drive release mechanism to th e right to r elease the shoulder screw and slide the drive out to remove it from the drive bay . 6 If you are not r eplacing the drive, replace the drive panel insert (see "Replacing the Drive-P anel Insert" on page 126). 7 Replace the drive panel (see "Repla[...]

146 Removing and Installing Parts Installing a CD/DVD Drive 1 F ollow the procedures in "Befor e Y ou Begin" on page 99. 2 Remove the computer cover (see "R emoving the Computer Cover" on page 101). 3 If you are installing a new drive, un pack the drive and pr epare it for installation. Check the documentation that accompa nied [...]

Removing and Installing Parts 147 8 Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents. 9 Replace the drive panel (see "Replaci ng the Drive P anel" on page 127). 10 Replace the computer cover (See "R eplacing the Computer Cover" on page 172). NOTICE: T o connect a networ[...]

148 Removing and Installing Parts Processor Airflow Shroud CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide . Removing the Processor Airflow Shroud Assembly 1 F ollow the procedures in "Befor e Y ou Begin" on page 99. 2 Remove the computer cover (see "R emoving the Co[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 149 NOTICE: The processor heat sink is attached to the proc essor airflow shroud. When you remove the airflow shroud, lay it upside down or on its side to avoid damaging the heat sink thermal interface. 4 Loosen the captive screws securing the processor airflow shroud to the chassis, then pivot the shroud forw ard and [...]

150 Removing and Installing Parts 5 Lift and hold the release tab pr esent on the bottom of the fan cage, press down on the top of the cage and slide it towar d s the back of the system to dislodge the tabs from the grooves that hold them down. 6 Ease the cage out of the housing. Installing the Processor Fan Cage 1 F ollow the procedures in "B[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 151 Removing the Processor Fan 1 F ollow the procedures in "Befor e Y ou Begin" on page 99. 2 Remove the computer cover (see "R emoving the Computer Cover" on page 101). 3 Disconnect the fan cable from the F AN_CPU connector on the system board (see "System Boar d Components" on page 103).[...]

152 Removing and Installing Parts Installing the Processor Fan 1 W ith the fan power cable oriented downward, align the rubber grommets in the fan with the holes in each corn er of the processor airflow shroud, then pull the grommets through until they snap into place. NOTE: Airflow direction and orientation are shown on the side of the fan. 2 Repl[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 153 6 One by one, carefully pull on each co rner of the fan to detach the four rubber grommets securing the fan to the fan cage. 1 fan cage 2 tab 1 card fan 2 rubber grommet (4) 3 card fan cage 1 2 2 1 3 book.book Page 153 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM[...]

154 Removing and Installing Parts Installing the Card Fan NOTICE: Ensure the fan cable is co rrectly routed through th e opening in the lower - right corner of the fan cage. 1 W ith the fan power cable oriented downward, align the rubber grommets in the fan with the holes in each corn er of the fan cage, then pull the grommets through until they sn[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 155 4 Remove the airflow shroud (see "Rem oving the P rocessor Airflow Shroud Assembly" on page 148). 5 P u sh down and out on the socket r elease lever . 6 Lift the socket r elease lever and open the processor cover . 7 Remove the processor from the socket. Leave the release lever extended in the r ele ase p[...]

156 Removing and Installing Parts 3 Align the pin-1 corner of the processor and socket. NOTICE: Socket pins are delicate. T o avoid damage, ensure that the processor is aligned properly with the socket, and do not use excessive force when you install the processor . Be careful not to touch or be nd the pins on the sy stem board. 4 Set the processor[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 157 9 Close the computer cover (see "R eplacing the Computer Cover" on page 172). NOTICE: T o connect a network cabl e, first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer . 10 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on. Sy stem Board CAUTION:[...]

158 Removing and Installing Parts Installing the Sy stem Board NOTICE: The sy stem board and metal tray ar e connected and are installed as one piece. NOTICE: If you are replacing the sy stem boar d, visually compare the replacement sy stem board to the existing sy stem bo ard to make sure that you have the correct part. NOTE: Some components and c[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 159 6 Replace the processor airflow shroud (s ee "Installing the P rocessor Airflow Shroud Assembly" on page 149) and the P rocessor F an assembly (see "Installing the P rocessor F an Cage" on page 150 and "Installing the P rocessor F an" on page 152). 7 Replace the card fan assembly (see [...]

160 Removing and Installing Parts Power Supply CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . Power Supply (PSU) DC Connector Pin Assignments DC Power Connector P1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 23 4 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 book.book Page 160 Tuesday, November 27[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 161 375-W Power Supply 425-W Power Supply Pin Number Signal name 18-A WG Wire Color Signal name 18-A WG Wire Color 1 +3.3VDC Orange +3.3 VDC Orange 2 +3.3 VDC Orange +3.3 VDC Orange 3 COM Black COM Black 4+ 5 V D C R e d + 5 V D C R e d 5 COM Black COM Black 6+ 5 V D C R e d + 5 V D C R e d 7 COM Black COM Black 8 POK [...]

162 Removing and Installing Parts DC Power Connector P2 DC Power Connector P3 and P5 375-W Power Supply 425-W Power Supply Pin Number Signal name 18-A WG Wire Color Signal name 18-A WG Wire Color 1 COM Black COM Black 2 COM Black COM Black 3 +12 V A DC Y ellow +12 V A DC Y ellow 4 +12 V A DC Y ellow +12 V A DC Y ellow 375-W Power Supply 425-W Power[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 163 DC Power Connector P7 DC Power Connectors P8, P9, P13, and P14 375-W Power Supply 425-W Power Supply Pin Number Signal name 18-A WG Wire Color Signal name 18-AWG Wire Color 1 +5 V DC Red +5 V DC Red 2 COM Black COM Black 3 COM Black COM Black 4 +12 V ADC Y ellow +12 V ADC Y ellow 375-W Power Supply 425-W Power Supp[...]

164 Removing and Installing Parts DC Power Connectors P10 DC Power Connectors P12 375-W Power Supply 425-W Power Supply Pin Number Signal name 18-A WG Wire Color Signal name 18-A WG Wire Color 1 +12 V A DC Y ellow +12 VB DC White 2 COM Black COM Black 3 COM Black COM Black 4 +5 V DC Red +5 V DC Red 375-W Power Supply 425-W Power Supply Pin Number S[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 165 DC Power Connector P15 (For 425-W PSU Only) NOTE: The P15 connector is intended for use with the PCI Express graphics cards whose power requirements exceed 75 watts. Removing the Power Supply 1 F ollow the procedures in "Befor e Y ou Begin" on page 99. 2 Remove the computer cover (see "R emoving the [...]

166 Removing and Installing Parts 5 P ress and hold the metal release tab at the bottom of the power supply unit, push the power supply towards th e front of the computer to fr ee it from the securing tabs on the computer chassis. 6 Gather the power supply bundles that stem from the power supply , for easy removal and lift it out of the computer . [...]

Removing and Installing Parts 167 4 Replace the computer cover (see "Rep lacing the Computer Cover" on page 172). NOTICE: T o connect a network cabl e, first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer . 5 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on. Front I/O Panel [...]

168 Removing and Installing Parts Removing the Front I/O Panel CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . 1 F ollow the procedures in "Befor e Y ou Begin" on page 99. 2 Remove the computer cover (see "R emoving the Computer Cover" on page 10[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 169 8 Remove the two screws that hold the I/O panel assembly to the front of the chassis. 9 Gently ease out the lower end of the I/O assembly first from its groove on the chassis followed by the upper end. Installing the Front I/O Panel CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety[...]

170 Removing and Installing Parts 3 Align the screw holes on the I/O panel with the scr ew holes on the chassis, and replace the two scr ews. 4 Reconnect the cable that attaches the power button to the I/O panel. 5 Reconnect the 1394 cable, and audio cable (if it exists and you had removed it). 6 Reconnect the control-panel cable to the I/O panel c[...]

Removing and Installing Parts 171 T o replace the battery : 1 Enter the system setup program and recor d the values for all the screens (see "Entering System Setup" on page 179) so that you can restor e the correct settings after installing the new battery . 2 F ollow the procedures in "Befor e Y ou Begin" on page 99. 3 Remove t[...]

172 Removing and Installing Parts NOTICE: T o connect a network cable, first pl ug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer . 8 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on. 9 Enter system setup and restor e the settings you recor ded in step 1 (see "Entering System Setup" on p[...]

Appendix 173 Appendix Specifications Processor P rocessor type Intel ® Core™ 2 Duo Intel ® Core™ 2 Extr eme (dual-core processor) Intel ® Core™ 2 Quad (quad-cor e processor) Level 2 (L2) Cache Intel ® Core™ 2 Duo - 2 MB or 4 MB Intel ® Core™ 2 Extr eme - 4 MB or 8 MB Intel ® Core™ 2 Quad - 8 MB Memory T ype dual-channel 667 and 80[...]

174 Appendix Memory speed 667/800 MHz NIC Integrated Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 System clock 800/1066/1333 MHz (depending on processor) Vide o T ype PCI Express Gen2 x16 Audio T ype HDA 7.1 channel Expansion Bus Bus type PCI Express x1, x8, and x16 PCI 32-bit (PCI specification 2.3) PCI Connectors three Connector size 124 pins Connector data widt[...]

Appendix 175 Bus throughput 16 GB/s PCI Express Connector one x8 (electrically configured for an x4 car d) Connector size 98 pins Connector data width (maximum) 8 PCI Express lanes Bus throughput 2 GB/s Drives A vailable devices Serial A T A drive, floppy drive, memory devices, Blu-ray Disc™ drive, D VD drive, DVD-R W drive, CD-R W/DVD combo driv[...]

176 Appendix System board co nnectors: Serial A T A five 7-pin connectors FlexBay 2 port USB header uDOC 1 port USB header LCD Dell proprietary USB based LCD header Fa n two 5-pin connectors PCI three 124-pin connectors PCI Express x1 36-pin connector PCI Express x16 164-pin connector PCI Express x4/x8 98-pin connector Controls and Lights P ower co[...]

Appendix 177 Activity light (on integrated network adapter) yellow blinking light when there is activity on the network; if there is not an y network activity , the light will be off Diagnostic lights four blue lights on the top bezel(see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 76) Standby power light A UX_PWR_LED on the system board Power DC power s[...]

178 Appendix Sy stem Setup Overview Use system setup as follows: • T o change the system configuration infor mation after you add, change, or remove any har dware in your computer • T o set or change a user -selectable option such as the user password • T o read the curr ent amount of memo ry or set the type of hard drive installed Before you[...]

Appendix 179 Entering Sy stem Setup 1 T urn on (or restart) your computer . 2 When the DELL logo appears, press <F2> immediately . NOTE: Keyboard failure may result when a key on the keyboard is held down for extended periods of time. T o avoi d possible keyboard failure, press and release <F2> in even intervals until the sy st em setup[...]

180 Appendix Sy stem Setup Options NOTE: Depending on your compu ter and installed devices, the items listed in this section may not appear , or may not appear exactly as listed. Sy stem System Info Lists system informatio n, such as the computer name, the BIOS version number and date, the system service tag, expr ess service code and asset tag, an[...]

Appendix 181 SA T A Drives 0 through 4 ( On default) Enables or disables drives atta ched to the SA T A connectors on the system board. • Off — A device attached to th e interface is not usable. • On — A device attached to the interface is usable. • RA ID O n - A device attached to th e interface is configur ed for R A ID (see "About[...]

182 Appendix 1394 Controller ( On default) Enables or disables the i ntegrated IEEE 1394 controller . • Off — The 1394 controller is disabled. • On — The 1394 controller is enabled. LCD Display ( On default) Enables or disables the L CD display on the top bezel. • Off — The LCD device is disabled. • On — The LCD device is enabled. N[...]

Appendix 183 SpeedStep (Off default) Specifies whether Enhanced Intel SpeedStep ® technology is enabled for all supported processors in the system. • Off — Disable Enhanced SpeedStep technology • On — Enable Enhanced SpeedStep technology HDD Acoustic Mode (Bypass default) Determines the acoustic mode at which the hard drive operates. • B[...]

184 Appendix Execute Disable ( On default) Enables or disables Execute Disable Memory P rotection technology . • Off — Execute Disable Memory P rotection technology is disabled. • On — Execute Disable Memory P rotection technology is enabled. Power Management AC Recovery ( Off default) Specifies how the computer will behave when AC power is[...]

Appendix 185 Suspend Mode ( S3 default) Specifies the power mana gement suspend mode. • S1 — The computer resumes mo r e quickly from sleep mode. • S3 — The computer conserves more power when not in use (system memory remains active). Quick Resume This feature enables/disables the Intel ® V iiv™ Quick Resume T echnology . The default set[...]

186 Appendix Boot Sequence This feature allows you to set the or de r in which the BIOS will search devices when trying to find an operating system. NOTICE: If you modify any boot s equence settings, save the new settings to avoid losing the changes. Option Settings NOTE: The computer attempts to boot from al l bootable devices, but if no bootable [...]

Appendix 187 • Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the CD drive. If no CD is in the drive, or if the CD has no operating system, the computer attempts to boot from the next bootable device. • USB Device — Insert the memory device in to a USB port and restart the computer . When F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upp[...]

188 Appendix Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots 1 Enter system setup (see "Entering System Setup" on page 179). 2 Use the arrow keys to highlight the Boot Sequence menu option and press <Enter> to access the menu. NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it. 3 P ress the up- and down-arrow keys to[...]

Appendix 189 3 Locate the R TCRST_PSWD jumper on the system board (see "System Board Components" on page 103), then r emove the jumper plug (located on pins three and four) and set the plug aside. 4 Close the computer cover . 5 Connect your keyboar d and mouse, then connect your computer and monitor to electrical outlets and turn them on.[...]

190 Appendix 11 Replace the computer cover (see "R eplacing the Computer Cover" on page 172). NOTICE: T o connect a network cable , first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer . 12 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on. NOTE: In sy stem setup (s ee "Enter[...]

Appendix 191 Cleaning Y our Computer CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . Computer , Keyboard, and Monitor CAUTION: Before you clean your computer , dis connect the computer from the electrical outlet. Do not use liquid or ae rosol cleaners, w hich may co[...]

192 Appendix 5 Recenter the rollers in their channels if they are misaligned. Ensur e that fluff from the swab is not left on the rollers. 6 Replace the ball and retainer ring, and turn the r etainer ring clockwise until it clicks into place. Floppy Drive NOTICE: Do not attempt to clean drive head s with a swab. The heads may become misaligned and [...]

Appendix 193 FCC Notices (U.S. Only) Most Dell computer systems are clas sified by the F ederal Communications Commission (FCC) as Class B digital devices. T o determine which classification applies to your comput er system, examine all FCC r egistration labels located on the bottom, side, or back panel of your computer , on card- mounting brackets[...]

194 Appendix Class B This equipment has been tested and fo und to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device purs uant to P art 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits ar e designed to provide reasonable prot ection against harmful interfer ence in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency ener g[...]

Appendix 195 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 your computer , you can complete the following steps to diagnose and troubleshoot the problem: 1 See "T roubleshooting" on p[...]

196 Appendix T echnical Support and Customer Service Dell's support service is available to answer your questions about Dell™ hardwar e. Our support staff uses computer -based diagn ostics to provide fast, accurate answers. T o contact Dell's support service, see "Before Y ou Call" on page 198, and then see the contact informa[...]

Appendix 197 • 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—[...]

198 Appendix Returning Items for W arranty Repair or Credit P repare all items being r eturned, wheth er 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 your region, see "Contacting Dell" [...]

Appendix 199 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 Authorization 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, an[...]

200 Appendix Contacting Dell 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. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be availab[...]

Glossary 201 Glossary T erms in this Glossary are provided fo r informational purposes only and may or may not describe features inclu ded with your particular computer . A AC — alternating current — The form of electricity that powers your computer when you plug the AC adapter power cable in to an electrical outlet. ACP I — advanced configur[...]

202 Glossary B battery life span — The length of time (years) duri ng which a portable computer battery is able to be depleted and rechar ged. battery operating time — The length of time (minutes or hours) that a portable computer battery powers the computer . BIOS — basic input/output system — A prog ram (or utility) that serves as an inte[...]

Glossary 203 L1 cache — P rimary cache stored inside the processor . L2 cache — Secondary cache which can either be external to the processor or incorporated into the processor architecture. carnet — An international customs document that facilitates temporary imports into foreign countries. Also known as a merchandise passport . CD-R — CD [...]

204 Glossary D DDR SDR AM — double-data-rate SDRAM — A type of SDR AM that doubles the data burst cycle, improving system performance. DDR2 SDR AM — double-data-rate 2 SDRAM — A type of DDR SDR AM that uses a 4-bit prefetch and other architectural changes to boost memory speed to over 400 MHz. device — Hardwar e such as a disk drive, prin[...]

Glossary 205 dual display mode — A display setting that allows you to use a second monitor as an extension of your display . Also referred to as extended display mode . D VD-R — DVD r ecordable — A recor dable versi on of a DVD. Data can be r ecorded only once onto a DVD-R. Once r ecorded, th e data cannot be erased or written over . DVD + RW[...]

206 Glossary Express Service Code — A numeric code located on a sticker on your Dell™ computer . Use the Express Service Code when contacting Dell for assistance. Express Service Code service may not be available in some countries. extended display mode — A display setting that allows yo u to use a second monitor as an extension of your displ[...]

Glossary 207 GHz — gigahertz — A measurement of fr eque ncy that equals one thousand million Hz, or one thousand MHz. The speeds for computer processors, buses, and interfaces are often mea sured in GHz. graphics mode — A video mode that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors. Graphics modes can display an unli[...]

208 Glossary infrared sensor — A port that allows you to transf er data between the computer and infrared-compatible devices without using a cable connection. integrated — Usually refers to components that ar e physically locate d on the computer ’s system board. Also r e ferred to as built-in . I/O — input/output — An operation or device[...]

Glossary 209 LED — light-emitting diode — An electronic component that emits light to indicate the status of the computer . local bus — A data bus that provides a fast throughput for devices to the processor . LPT — line print terminal — The designation fo r a parallel connection to a printer or other parallel device. M Mb — megabit —[...]

210 Glossary Mini-Card — A small card designed for integrated peripherals, such as communication NICs. The Mini-Card is func tionally equivalent to a standar d PCI expansion car d. modem — A device that allows your computer to communicate with other computers over analog telephone lines. Three types of modems include: e xternal, PC Card, and in[...]

Glossary 211 partition — A physical storage area on a har d drive that is assigned to one or more logical storage areas known as logical driv es. Each partition can contain multiple logical drives. PC Card — A removable I/O car d adhering to the PCMCIA standard. Modems and network adapters are common types of PC Car ds. PCI — peripheral compo[...]

212 Glossary R RAI D — redundant array of independent disks — A method of providing data redundancy . Some common implementations of RAID include R AID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, R AID 10, and RAID 50. RAM — random-access memory — The primary temporary storage area for program instructions and data. Any information stored in R AM is lost when you s[...]

Glossary 213 S SAS — serial attached SCSI — A faster , se rial version of the SCSI interface (as opposed to the original SCSI parallel architecture). SA T A — serial A T A — A faster , serial version of the A T A (IDE) interface. ScanDisk — A Microsoft utility that checks files , folders, and the hard disk’s surface for errors. ScanDisk[...]

214 Glossary StrikeZone ™ — Reinforced area of the platform base that protects the har d drive by acting as a dampening device when a computer experiences r esonating shock or is dropped (whether the computer is on or off). surge protectors — P revent voltage spik es, such as those that may occur during an electrical storm, from entering the [...]

Glossary 215 TPM — trusted platform module — A har dwar e-based security feature that when combined with security software enhances network and computer security by enabling features such as file and e-mail protection. travel module — A plastic device designed to fit inside the module bay of a portable computer to reduce the weight of the com[...]

216 Glossary video memory — Memory that consists of memory chips dedicated to video functions. Video memory is usually faster than sy stem memory . The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can display . video mode — A mode that describes how text and graphics are displayed on a monitor . Grap[...]

Glossary 217 write-protected — F iles or media that cannot be changed. Use write-protection when you want to protect data from being changed or destroyed. T o write-protect a 3.5-inch floppy disk, slide its write-protect tab to the open position. WW AN — wir eless wide area network. A wi reless high-speed data network using cellular technology [...]

218 Glossary book.book Page 218 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM[...]

Index 219 Index A audio . See sound B battery problems, 6 1 replacing, 1 7 0 beep codes, 81 BIOS, 178 boot sequence a b o u t , 186 c h a n g i n g , 187-188 option settings, 1 8 6 booting to a USB device, 1 8 7 C cards installing PCI Express, 1 1 6 PCI Express, 1 1 5 removing PCI, 1 1 4 removing PCI Expr ess, 1 2 1 slots, 2 0 CD-R W drive problems[...]

220 Index cover replacing, 1 7 2 CPU overclocking, 59 D Dell c o n t a c t i n g , 193, 200 support site, 1 3 Dell Diagnostics, 86 Dell P remier Support website, 12 DellConnect, 196 Device Driver Rollback, 91 diagnostic lights, 76 diagnostics beep codes, 8 1 Dell, 8 6 lights, 7 6 display . See monitor documentation End User License Agreement, 1 2 e[...]

Index 221 G Graphics Dual Graphics, 5 9 H hard drive problems, 6 3 hardwar e beep codes, 8 1 conflicts, 9 3 Dell Diagnostics, 8 6 drives, R AID configuration, 3 0 Hardwar e T roubleshooter , 93 headphone connector , 1 8 Help and Support, 14 hibernate mode, 57 I IEEE connectors, 16, 18 IEEE 1394 problems, 6 5 installing parts before you begin, 9 9 r[...]

222 Index memory problems, 6 8 messages error , 6 4 system, 8 3 Microsoft W indows label, 12 modem problems, 6 3 monitor blank, 7 3 clone mode, 3 0 connect DVI, 2 4 , 2 6 connect TV , 2 4 connect VGA, 2 4 - 2 6 connecting, 2 4 connecting two , 2 5 - 2 6 display settings, 3 0 dual monitors, 2 4 extended desktop mode, 3 0 ha rd t o re ad , 7 3 proble[...]

Index 223 printer cable, 5 2 connecting, 5 2 problems, 7 1 setting up, 5 2 USB, 5 2 problems battery , 6 1 beep codes, 8 1 blue screen, 6 7 CD-R W drive, 6 2 computer crashes, 6 6 - 6 7 computer stops responding, 6 6 conflicts, 9 3 Dell Diagnostics, 8 6 diagnostic lights, 7 6 drives, 6 2 e-mail, 6 3 error messages, 6 4 general, 6 6 hard drive, 6 3 [...]

224 Index settings system setup, 1 7 8 sleep mode about, 5 6 SLI See Scalable Link Interface technology software conflicts, 9 3 p r o b l e m s , 66-67 sound problems, 7 2 volume, 7 2 speaker problems, 7 2 volume, 7 2 specifications computer information, 1 7 3 connectors, 1 7 5 controls and lights, 1 7 6 drives, 1 7 5 environmental, 1 7 7 expansion[...]

Index 225 W warranty information, 12 W indows Vista F actory Image Restore, 9 5 Help and Support, 1 4 hibernate mode, 5 7 Network Setup W izard, 5 5 r e i n s t a l l i n g , 14, 94 sleep mode, 5 6 System Restore, 9 4 W indows XP Hardwar e T roubleshooter , 9 3 Help and Support, 1 4 Network Setup W izard, 5 5 r e i n s t a l l i n g , 14, 94 System[...]

226 Index book.book Page 226 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM[...]