720H2C | Dell XPS 720 H2C Owner's Manual

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Dell™ XPS™ 720 H2C Owner's Manual

Finding Information Troubleshooting

Setting Up and Using Your Computer Removing and Installing Parts

Optimizing for Greater Performance

Dell™ QuickSet

Appendix

Glossary

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.

If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft® Windows® operating systems are not applicable.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

© 2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, XPS, H2C, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude, PowerEdge, PowerVault, PowerApp, TravelLite, Strike Zone, and Dell

OpenManage are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel, Pentium, Celeron, and Intel Core 2 Extreme are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Windows,

Windows Vista, and the Windows Vista Start button are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model DCDO

April 2007 P/N KP688 Rev. A00


Computer Information

Chipset

Northbridge

Southbridge

DMA channels

Interrupt levels

BIOS chip (NVRAM)

NIC

Video

Type

Audio

Type

Expansion Bus

Bus type


Appendix

Dell™ XPS™ 720 Owner's Manual

Specifications

System Setup

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

Clearing CMOS Settings

Cleaning Your Computer

FCC Notices (U.S. Only)

Contacting Dell

Specifications

Processor

Processor type

Cache

Memory

Type

Memory connectors

Memory capacities

Minimum memory

Maximum memory

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo (dual-core processor)

Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme (dual-core processor)

Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme (quad-core processor) at least 1 MB

800, and 667-MHz DDR2 unbuffered SDRAM; SLI memory four

512 MB, 1 GB, or 2 GB non -ECC

1 GB

8 GB

NOTE: See Addressing Memory Configurations to verify the amount of memory available to the operating system.

NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI

C55XE

MCP55PXE five

24

4 Mb integrated network interface capable of 10/100/1000 communication

PCI Express

HDA 7.1 channel

PCI Express x1 and x16

PCI (SLOT3, SLOT5, SLOT6)

Connector

Connector size

Connector data width (maximum)

Bus speed

PCI Express (SLOT1)

Connector

Connector size


Bus throughput

PCI Express (SLOT7)

Connector

Connector size


Bus throughput

PCI Express (SLOT2, SLOT4)

Connector

Connector size


Bus throughput

Drives

Available devices

PCI 32-bit

three

124 pins

32 bits

33 MHz

NOTE: If a graphics card is installed in each of the

PCI Express x16 card slots in the dual-graphics configuration, the PCI Express x1 card slot is not accessible for use. one x1

36 pins

1 PCI Express lane x1 slot bidirectional speed — 2.5 Gbps

one x16

164 pins

8 PCI Express lanes x16 slot bidirectional speed — 20 Gbps

two x16

164 pins

16 PCI Express lanes x16 slot bidirectional speed — 40 Gbps

Externally accessible:

Internally accessible:

Serial ATA drive, floppy drive, memory devices,

Blu-ray™ Disc drive, DVD drive, DVD-RW drive,

CD-RW/DVD combo drive, and media card reader two 3.5-inch drive bays four 5.25-inch drive bays four 3.5-inch drive bays for hard drives

Connectors

External connectors:

IEEE 1394

Network adapter

PS/2 (keyboard and mouse)

USB

System board connectors:

IDE drive

Serial ATA

Floppy drive

Fan

Liquid cooling (optional)

PCI

PCI Express x1

PCI Express x16 (SLOT7); card length up to

17.8 cm (7 inches only)

PCI Express x16 front and back-panel 6-pin serial connectors

RJ45 connector two 6-pin mini-DIN two front-panel, six back-panel, and two internal

USB 2.0– compliant connectors one 40-pin connector six 7-pin connectors

34-pin connector three 5-pin connectors one 12-pin connector three 124-pin connectors

36-pin connector

164-pin connector three 164-pin connectors

Controls and Lights

Power control

Power light push button green light — Blinking green in sleep state; solid green for power-on state.

Hard-drive access light

Network activity light (front panel)

Link integrity light (on integrated network adapter)

Activity light (on integrated network adapter)

Diagnostic lights

Standby power light

Front panel LEDs

Back panel LEDs amber light — Blinking amber indicates a problem with an installed device; solid amber indicates an internal power problem. green solid green indicates network connection green light — A good connection exists between a

10-Mbps network and the computer. orange light — A good connection exists between a

100-Mbps network and the computer. yellow light — A good connection exists between a 1-

GB (1000-Mbps) network and the computer. off (no light) — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network. yellow blinking light when there is activity on the network; if there is not any network activity, the light will be off four lights on the front panel (see Diagnostic Lights )

AUXPWR on the system board eight multi-colored LEDs provide illumination for the front of the computer

NOTE: The color of the front panel LEDs can be adjusted in system setup (see

System Setup ).

two multi-colored lights provide illumination for the

I/O panel on the back of the computer

NOTE: The color of the back panel LEDs can be adjusted in system setup (see

System Setup ).

Power

DC power supply:

Wattage

Voltage (see the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide)

Backup battery

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury, do not overload an electrical 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 rating.

750 W or

1 KW auto-sensing power supply—90 V to 265 V at 50/60

Hz

3-V CR2032 lithium coin cell

Physical

Height

Without stand

Width

With stand

Without stand

With stand

Depth

Weight

Typical configuration

Maximum configuration

Environmental

Temperature:

Operating

Storage

55.5 cm (21.9 inches)

57.2 cm (22.5 inches)

21.9 cm (8.6 inches)

35.6 cm (14.0 inches)

59.4 cm (23.4 inches)

21.7 kg (47.8 lb)

25.6 kg (56.4 lb)

10° to 35°C (50° to 95°F)

–40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F)

Relative humidity

Maximum vibration:

Operating

Storage

Maximum shock:

Operating

Storage

Altitude:

Operating

Storage

20% to 80% (noncondensing)

0.25 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 0.5 octave/min

0.5 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 1 octave/min bottom half-sine pulse with a change in velocity of 20 inches/sec (50.8 cm/sec)

27-G faired square wave with a velocity change of

200 inches/sec (508 cm/sec)

– 15.2 to 3048 m (–50 to 10,000 ft)

– 15.2 to 10,668 m (–50 to 35,000 ft)

System Setup

Overview

Use system setup as follows: l l l

To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your computer

To set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password

To read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed

Before you use system setup, it is recommended that you write down the system setup screen information for future reference.

NOTICE: Do not change the settings in system setup unless you are an expert computer user. Certain changes can cause your computer to work incorrectly.

Entering System Setup

1.

Turn 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. To avoid possible keyboard failure, press and release <F2> in even intervals until the system setup screen appears.

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop, then shut down your computer and try again.

System Setup Screens

The system setup screen displays current or changeable configuration information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into three areas: the options list, the active options field, and key functions.

Options List — This field appears on the left side of the system setup window. The field is a scrollable list containing features that define the configuration of your computer, including installed hardware, power conservation, and security features.

Options Field — This field appears on the right side of the system setup window and contains information about each option listed in the Options List. In this field you can view information about your computer and make changes to your current settings.

Scroll up and down the list with the up- and downarrow keys. As an option is highlighted, the Options

Field displays more information about that option and the option's current and available settings.

Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight an option. Press <Enter> to make that selection active and return to the Options List.

NOTE: Not all settings listed in the Options Field are changeable.

Key Functions — This field appears below the

Options Field and lists keys and their functions within the active system setup field.

System Setup Options

NOTE: Depending on your computer and installed devices, the items listed in this section may not appear, or may not appear exactly as listed.

System

System Info

Processor Info

Memory Info

PCI Info

Date/Time

Boot Sequence

Lists system information, such as the computer name, the BIOS version number and date, the system service tag, express service code and asset tag, and other system-specific information.

Identifies the processor type, clock speed, bus speed, L2 cache, L3 cache, ID, and whether the processor is multiple core capable, supports Hyper-

Threading and supports 64-bit technology.

Identifies the memory type, speed, and channel mode (dual or single) by DIMM slot location.

Indicates the expansion card type by slot location.

Displays current date and time settings.

The computer attempts to boot from the sequence of devices specified in this list.

NOTE: If you insert a boot device and restart the computer, this option appears in the system setup menu. To boot from a USB memory device, for example, select the USB device and move it so that it becomes the first device in the boot sequence.

Drives

Diskette Drive

(Internal default)

SATA Drives 0 through 5

(On default)

PATA Drives 0 through 1

(On default)

SMART Reporting

(Off default)

Enables and disables the floppy drive attached to the

DSKT connector on the system board and sets read permissions for the drive. l l l l

Off — All floppy drives are disabled.

USB — USB floppy drives are enabled

Internal — The integrated floppy drive is enabled.

Read Only — The integrated floppy drive is enabled with read-only access.

NOTE: Operating systems with USB support will recognize USB floppy drives regardless of this setting.

Enables or disables drives attached to the SATA connectors on the system board. l l l

Off — A device attached to the interface is not usable.

On — A device attached to the interface is usable.

RAID On - A device attached to the interface is configured for RAID (see About Your RAID

Configuration ).

Enables or disables drives attached to the ATA connectors on the system board, and lists the controller details. l l

Off — A device attached to the interface is not usable.

On — A device attached to the interface is usable.

Determines whether hard-drive errors for internal drives are reported during system startup. l l

Off — Errors are not reported.

On — Errors are reported.

Onboard Devices

Integrated NIC

(On default)

Enables or disables the integrated network interface controller (NIC). l l l

Off — The integrated NIC is disabled.

On — The integrated NIC is enabled.

On w/PXE — The integrated NIC is on (with

PXE enabled).

Integrated Audio

(On default)

USB Controller

(On default)

1394 Controller

(On default)

PS/2 Mouse Port

(On default)

LED Control

Front Upper LED

Front Lower LED

Rear Panel LED

LED Intensity

Performance

Multiple CPU Core

(On default)

Advanced

NOTE: PXE is required only if you are booting to an operating system located on another computer. If a boot routine is not available from the remote system, the computer attempts to boot from the next device listed in the boot sequence.

Enables or disables the onboard audio controller. l l

Off — Integrated audio is disabled.

On — Integrated audio is enabled.

Enables or disables the internal USB controller. l l l

Off — The USB controller is disabled.

On — The USB controller is enabled.

No Boot — The USB controller is enabled; however, the BIOS will not recognize USB storage devices.

NOTE: Operating systems with USB support will recognize USB storage devices regardless of the No

Boot setting.

Enables or disables the integrated IEEE 1394 controller. l l

Off — The 1394 controller is disabled.

On — The 1394 controller is enabled.

Enables or disables the onboard PS/2-compatible mouse controller. l l

Off — The PS/2 legacy mouse port is disabled.

On — The PS/2 legacy mouse port is enabled.

Adjusts the color of the upper front panel LEDs (see

Front and Back View of the Computer ).

Adjusts the color of the lower front panel LEDs (see

Front and Back View of the Computer ).

Adjusts the color of the rear panel LEDs (see Front and Back View of the Computer ).

Adjusts the intensity for the color of the upper and lower front panel LEDs and the rear panel LEDs.

Specifies whether the processor has more than one core enabled. l l

Off — Multiple CPU core technology is disabled.

On — Multiple CPU core technology is enabled.

NOTE: The performance of some applications may improve with an additional core enabled.

Displays processor type and current BIOS settings for processor clock speed, processor multiplier, front side bus (FSB) clock, and CPU core voltage. These settings may have been set by performance tuning applications or may change depending on settings in performance applications that you have installed.

For systems with Intel Extreme processors, the following fields are adjustable through the BIOS: l l

Processor Clock Speed: Adjusts the multiplier of the processor. For processors that cannot be overclocked, this field reports the current settings and cannot be changed.

Performance Application Support: Enables software applications to display and modify key

SpeedStep

(Off default)

Virtualization

(Off default)

HDD Acoustic Mode

(Bypass default)

Security

Admin Password

(Not Set default)

System Password

(Not Set default)

Password Changes

(Unlocked default)

Execute Disable

(On default)

Power Management

AC Recovery system parameters to tune system performance. These applications are not installed or supported by Dell. The default is

Off.

NOTE: To enable overclocking of other system components, you first need to enable the

Performance Application Support option in BIOS and then download an application like NVIDIA nTune version 5.0 or higher.

NOTE: Pressing <Alt><F> returns your system to the factory defaults including RAID settings.

Specifies whether Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology is enabled for all supported processors in the system. l l

Off — Disable Enhanced SpeedStep technology

On — Enable Enhanced SpeedStep technology

Specifies whether a virtual machine monitor (VMM) can utilize the additional hardware capabilities provided by Intel Virtualization Technology l l

Off — Disable Virtualization Technology

On — Enable Virtualization Technology

Determines the acoustic mode at which the hard drive operates. l l l l

Bypass — Do nothing (needed for older drives).

Quiet — The hard drive operates at a slower, but quieter speed.

Suggested — Allow the hard drive manufacturer to select the mode.

Performance — The hard drive operates at a faster, but possibly noisier speed.

NOTE: Switching to performance mode may cause an increase in noise produced by the drive, but does not affect the drive's performance.

NOTE: Changing the acoustics setting does not alter your hard drive image.

Used to prohibit an unauthorized user from changing any configuration settings in the system setup.

Used to prohibit an unauthorized user from booting to the operating system.

This option locks the system password field with the administrator (admin) password.

NOTE: When the system password field is locked, you can no longer disable password security by pressing <Ctrl><Enter> when the computer starts.

Enables or disables Execute Disable Memory

Protection technology. l l

Off — Execute Disable Memory Protection technology is disabled.

On — Execute Disable Memory Protection technology is enabled.

Specifies how the computer will behave when AC

(Off default)

Auto Power On

(Off default)

Auto Power Time

Low Power Mode

(Off default)

Suspend Mode

(S3 default)

Maintenance

Service Tag

SERR Message

(On default)

Load Defaults

Event Log

POST Behavior power is restored after an AC power loss. l l l

Off — The system stays off after AC power is restored.

On — The system powers on after AC power is restored.

Last — The system returns to the previous state after AC power is restored.

Disables or selects when to automatically turn on the computer. l l l

Off — Do not use the Auto Power Time.

Everyday — Turn the computer on every day at the time set in Auto Power Time.

Weekdays — Turn the computer on Monday through Friday at the time set in Auto Power

Time.

NOTE: This feature does not work if you turn off your computer using a power strip or surge protector.

Specifies the time to automatically turn on the computer.

Change the time to automatically turn on the computer by pressing the up- or down-arrow key to increase or decrease the numbers, or type the numbers in the appropriate time field.

NOTE: This feature does not work if you turn off your computer using a power strip or surge protector.

Specifies how aggressive the system is at conserving power while in hibernate mode or turned off. l l

Off — Add more functionality.

On — Conserve more power.

Specifies the power management suspend mode. l l

S1 — The computer resumes more quickly from sleep mode.

S3 — The computer conserves more power when not in use (system memory remains active).

Displays the system service tag.

Controls the SERR message mechanism. Some graphics cards require that the SERR Message mechanism be disabled. l l

Off — Do not use the SERR message mechanism.

On — Use the SERR message mechanism.

This setting restores the computer's factory-installed default settings. l l

Cancel — Do not restore factory-installed default settings.

Continue — Restore factory-installed default settings.

Displays the system event log. l l

Mark all entries — Mark all event log entries as read (R).

Clear log — Clear all event log entries.

NOTE: Once an event log entry is marked as read (R) that entry cannot be marked as unread (U).

Fastboot

(On default)

Numlock Key

(On default)

POST Hotkeys

(Setup & Boot Menu default)

Keyboard Errors

(Report default)

Enables or disables the option to speed up the boot process by skipping some compatibility tests. l l

Off — Do not skip any steps in the boot process.

On — Boot quickly.

Enables or disables the numerical and mathematical features of the rightmost bank of keys on the keyboard. l l

Off — Right keypad keys function as arrows.

On — Right keypad keys function as numbers.

Specifies the function keys to display on the screen when the computer starts. l l l l

Setup & Boot Menu — Display both messages

(F2=Setup and F12=Boot Menu).

Setup — Display the setup message only

(F2=Setup).

Boot Menu — Display the Quickboot message only (F12=Boot Menu).

None — Neither message is displayed.

Enables or disables keyboard error reporting when the computer starts. l l

Report — Display any keyboard errors.

Do not report — Do not display any keyboard errors.

Boot Sequence

This feature allows you to change the boot sequence for the bootable devices installed on your computer.

Option Settings l l l l

Diskette Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the floppy drive. If the floppy disk in the drive is not bootable, if no floppy disk is in the drive, or if there is no floppy drive installed in the computer, the computer attempts to boot from the next bootable device in the boot sequence.

Hard Drive — The computer attempts to boot from the primary hard drive. If no operating system is on the drive, the computer attempts to boot from the next bootable device in the boot sequence.

CD 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 in the boot sequence.

USB Flash Device — Insert the memory device into a USB port and restart the computer. When F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press <F12>. The BIOS detects the device and adds the USB flash option to the boot menu.

NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure that your device is bootable, check the device documentation.

NOTE: An error message is generated only after the computer attempts to boot from every device in the boot sequence and no operating system is found.

Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot

You can use this feature, for example, to tell the computer to boot from the CD drive so that you can run the Dell Diagnostics on the Drivers and Utilities media, but you want the computer to boot from the hard drive when the diagnostic tests are complete. You can also use this feature to restart your computer to a

USB device such as a floppy drive, memory key, or CD-RW drive.

NOTE: If you are booting to a USB floppy drive, you must first set the floppy drive to OFF in system setup (see

System Setup

).

1.

If you are booting to a USB device, connect the USB device to a USB connector (see Back View ).

2.


3.


NOTE: Keyboard failure may result when a key on the keyboard is held down for extended periods of time. To avoid possible keyboard failure, press and release <F12> in even intervals until the Boot Device Menu appears.

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop, then shut down your computer and try again.

4.

At the Boot Device Menu, use the up- and down-arrow keys or press the appropriate number on the keyboard to highlight the device that is to be used

for the current boot only, and then press <Enter>.

For example, if you are booting to a USB memory key, highlight USB Flash Device and press <Enter>.

NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure that your device is bootable, check the device documentation.

Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots

1.

Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup ).

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.

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to move through the list of devices.

4.

Press the spacebar to enable or disable a device (enabled devices have a checkmark).

5.

Press plus (+) or minus (–) to move a selected device up or down the list.

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: This process erases both the system and setup passwords

1.

Follow the procedures in Before You Begin .

2.

Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover ).

3.

Locate the 2-pin password jumper (PASSWORD) on the system board (see System Board Components ), then remove the jumper plug and set the plug aside.

4.

Close the computer cover.

5.

Connect your keyboard and mouse, then connect your computer and monitor to electrical outlets and turn them on.

6.

After the Microsoft® Windows® desktop appears on your computer, turn the computer off: a.

Save and close all open files and exit all open programs. b.

Shut down the operating system:

¡ In Windows XP, click Start® Turn Off Computer® Turn off.

¡

In Windows Vista, click Start , click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu as shown below, and then click Shut Down.

The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process is complete.

NOTE: Ensure that the computer is off and not in a power management mode. If you cannot shut down the computer using the operating system, press and hold the power button for 4 seconds.

7.

Disconnect the keyboard and mouse, then disconnect the computer and monitor from their electrical outlets.

8.

Press the power button on the computer to ground the system board.

9.

Open the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover ).

NOTICE: The password jumper plug must be reinstalled on the password jumper pins in order to enable the password feature.

10.

Locate the 2-pin password jumper on the system board (see System Board Components ), and then reinstall the jumper plug to enable the password feature.

11.

Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover ).

NOTICE: To 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 system setup (see

Entering System Setup

), both system and administrator password options appear as Not Set. The password feature is enabled but a password is not assigned.

Clearing CMOS Settings


NOTE: This procedure does not clear or reset system and setup passwords.

1.


2.

Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover ).

3.

Locate the password (PASSWORD) and CMOS (RTCRST) jumpers on the system board (see System Board Components ).

4.

Remove the password jumper plug, then place the plug on the CMOS jumper pins and wait approximately 5 seconds.

NOTICE: The password jumper plug must be reinstalled on the password jumper pins in order to enable the password feature.

5.

Remove the jumper plug from the CMOS jumper pins, and then reinstall the plug on the password jumper pins to enable the password feature.

6.

Close the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover ).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer.

7.


Cleaning Your Computer


Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor

CAUTION: Before you clean your computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet. Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances.

l Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove dust from the slots and holes on your computer and from between the keys on the keyboard.

NOTICE: Do not wipe the display screen with any soap or alcohol solution. Doing so may damage the antiglare coating.

l To clean your monitor screen, lightly dampen a soft, clean cloth with water. If possible, use a special screen-cleaning tissue or solution suitable for the monitor's antistatic coating.

l Wipe the keyboard, computer, and plastic part of the monitor with a soft cleaning cloth moistened with water.

Do not soak the cloth or let water drip inside your computer or keyboard.

Mouse

If your screen cursor skips or moves abnormally, clean the mouse. To clean a non-optical mouse:

1.

Turn the retainer ring on the underside of your mouse counterclockwise, and then remove the ball.

2.

Wipe the ball with a clean, lint-free cloth.

3.

Blow carefully into the ball cage to dislodge dust and lint.

4.

If the rollers inside the ball cage are dirty, clean the rollers with a cotton swab moistened lightly with isopropyl alcohol.

5.

Recenter the rollers in their channels if they are misaligned. Ensure that fluff from the swab is not left on the rollers.

6.

Replace the ball and retainer ring, and turn the retainer ring clockwise until it clicks into place.

Floppy Drive

NOTICE: Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab. The heads may become misaligned and prevent the drive from operating.

Clean your floppy drive using a commercially available cleaning kit. These kits contain pretreated floppy disks to remove contaminants that accumulate during normal operation.

CDs and DVDs

NOTICE: Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the optical drive, and follow the instructions that come with the compressed air. Never touch the lens in the drive.

If you notice problems, such as skipping, with the playback quality of your discs, try cleaning the discs.

1.

Hold the disc by its outer edge. You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole.

NOTICE: To prevent damaging the surface, do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc.

2.

With a soft, lint-free cloth, gently wipe the bottom of the disc (the unlabeled side) in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc.

For stubborn dirt, try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap. You can also purchase commercial products that clean discs and provide some protection from dust, fingerprints, and scratches. Cleaning products for CDs are safe to use on DVDs.

FCC Notices (U.S. Only)

Most Dell computer systems are classified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as Class B digital devices. To determine which classification applies to your computer system, examine all FCC registration labels located on the bottom, side, or back panel of your computer, on card-mounting brackets, and on the cards themselves. If any one of the labels carries a Class A rating, your entire system is considered to be a Class A digital device. If all labels carry an FCC Class B rating as distinguished by either an FCC ID number or the FCC logo, ( ), your system is considered to be a Class B digital device.

Once you have determined your system's FCC classification, read the appropriate FCC notice. Note that FCC regulations provide that changes or modifications not expressly approved by Dell could void your authority to operate this equipment.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1.

This device may not cause harmful interference.

2.

This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Class A

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses,

and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction manual, may cause harmful interference with radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference, in which case you will be required to correct the interference at your own expense.

Class B

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction manual, may cause interference with radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: l l l l

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.

Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.

FCC Identification Information

The following information is provided on the device or devices covered in this document in compliance with FCC regulations: l l

Product name: Dell™ XPS™ 720

Model number: DCDO

Company name:

Dell Inc.

One Dell Way

Round Rock, Texas 78682 USA

512-338-4400

Contacting Dell

You can contact Dell through the Internet and by phone: l l l

For support through the web, go to support.dell.com.

For worldwide support through the web, use the Choose A Country/Region menu near the bottom of the page, or see the web addresses listed in the following table.

For support by e-mail, see the e-mail addresses listed in the following table.

NOTE: Toll-free numbers are for use within the country for which they are listed.

NOTE: In certain countries, support specific to Dell™ XPS™ computers is available at a separate telephone number listed for participating countries. If you do not see a telephone number listed that is specific for XPS computers, you may contact Dell through the support number listed and your call will be routed appropriately.

l

For support by phone, use the phone numbers and codes provided in the following table. If you need assistance in determining which codes to use, contact a local or an international operator.

NOTE: The contact information provided was deemed correct at the time that this document went to print and is subject to change.

Country (City)

International Access Code

Country Code

City Code

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Aomen

Country Code: 853

Service Type

Online Support

E-mail Address

Technical Support, Customer Service, Sales

Online Support


Technical Support

Customer Service (Xiamen, China)

Transaction Sales (Xiamen, China)

Online Support

Area Codes,

Local Numbers, and

Toll-Free Numbers

Web and E-mail Address www.dell.com/ai [email protected] toll-free: 800-335-0031 www.dell.com.ag [email protected]

1-800-805-5924 toll-free: 0800-105

34 160 910

29 693 115 www.dell.com.ar

Argentina (Buenos Aires)

International Access Code: 00

Country Code: 54

City Code: 11

E-mail for Desktops and Portables

E-mail for Servers and EMC® Storage Products

Customer Service

Technical Support – Dell PowerApp™, Dell PowerEdge™, Dell

PowerConnect™, and Dell PowerVault™

Technical Support Services

Sales

Aruba

Online Support


Australia (Sydney)

International Access Code:

0011

Country Code: 61

City Code: 2

Online Support


Technical Support for XPS computers only

Home and Home Office

Medium and Large Business

Small Business, Education, Local Government

Customer Service

Online Support

Austria (Vienna)


Home/Small Business Sales

International Access Code: 900

Home/Small Business Fax

Country Code: 43 Home/Small Business Customer Service

Home/Small Business Support

City Code: 1

Preferred Accounts/Corporate Customer Service

Preferred Accounts/Corporate Support

Switchboard

Bahamas

Online Support


Online Support

Barbados

Belgium (Brussels)


Country Code: 32

City Code: 2


Online Support


General Support

General Support Fax

Customer Service

Corporate Sales

Fax

Switchboard

Bermuda

Online Support


Online Support

Bolivia


Brazil

Online Support


Country Code: 55

City Code: 51

British Virgin Islands

Customer Service and Tech Support

Technical Support Fax

Customer Service Fax

Sales


Technical Support (Penang, Malaysia) [email protected] [email protected] toll-free: 0-800-444-0730 toll-free: 0-800-222-0154 toll-free: 0-800-444-0724

0-810-444-3355

www.dell.com.aw [email protected] toll-free: 800-1578 support.ap.dell.com support.ap.dell.com/contactus

toll-free: 1300 790 877 toll-free: 1300-655-533 toll-free: 1800-633-559 toll-free: 1800-060-889 toll-free: 1300-662-196

support.euro.dell.com [email protected]

08 20 24 05 30 81

08 20 24 05 30 00

08 20 24 05 30 49

08 20 24 05 30 14

08 20 24 05 30 17

08 20 24 05 30 16

08 20 24 05 30 17

08 20 24 05 30 00

www.dell.com/bs [email protected] toll-free: 1-866-874-3038 www.dell.com/bb [email protected]

1-800-534-3142

support.euro.dell.com

02 481 92 96

02 481 92 88

02 481 92 95

02 713 15 65

02 481 91 00

02 481 92 99

02 481 91 00 www.dell.com/bm [email protected]

1-877-890-0751 www.dell.com/bo [email protected] toll-free: 800-10-0238

www.dell.com/br

[email protected]

0800 970 3355

51 2104 5470

51 2104 5480

0800 970 3390 toll-free: 1-866-278-6820

604 633 4966

Brunei


Customer Service (Penang, Malaysia)

Transaction Sales (Penang, Malaysia)

Online Order Status

Online Support

AutoTech (automated Hardware and Warranty Support)

Customer Service

Home/Home Office

Small Business

Medium/Large Business, Government, Education

Hardware Warranty Phone Support

Canada (North York, Ontario)

XPS Computers Only

International Access Code: 011 Computers for Home/Home Office

Computers for Small/Medium/Large Business, Government

Printers, Projectors, Televisions, Handheld, Digital Jukebox, and

Wireless

Sales

Cayman Islands

Home and Home Office Sales

Small Business

Medium/Large Business, Government

Spare Parts and Extended Service

Online Support


Chile (Santiago)

Country Code: 56

City Code: 2

Online Support

Sales and Customer Support

China (Xiamen)

Country Code: 86

City Code: 592

Online Support

Technical Support E-mail

Customer Service E-mail


Technical Support – XPS computers only

Technical Support – Dell™ Dimension™ and Dell Inspiron™

Technical Support – Dell OptiPlex™, Dell Latitude™, and Dell

Precision™

Technical Support – Servers and Storage

Technical Support – Projectors, PDAs, Switches, Routers, etc.

Technical Support – Printers

Customer Service


Home and Small Business

Preferred Accounts Division

Large Corporate Accounts GCP

Large Corporate Accounts Key Accounts

Large Corporate Accounts North

Large Corporate Accounts North Government and Education

Large Corporate Accounts East

Large Corporate Accounts East Government and Education

Large Corporate Accounts Queue Team

Large Corporate Accounts South

Large Corporate Accounts West

Large Corporate Accounts Spare Parts

Colombia

Online Support


Online Support

Costa Rica [email protected] toll-free: 1230-020-3397 or 800-20-1385

support.dell.com.cn support.dell.com.cn/email [email protected]

592 818 1350 toll-free: 800 858 0540 toll-free: 800 858 2969 toll-free: 800 858 0950 toll-free: 800 858 0960 toll-free: 800 858 2920 toll-free: 800 858 2311 toll-free: 800 858 2060

592 818 1308 toll-free: 800 858 2222 toll-free: 800 858 2557 toll-free: 800 858 2055 toll-free: 800 858 2628 toll-free: 800 858 2999 toll-free: 800 858 2955 toll-free: 800 858 2020 toll-free: 800 858 2669 toll-free: 800 858 2572 toll-free: 800 858 2355 toll-free: 800 858 2811 toll-free: 800 858 2621

www.dell.com/co [email protected]

01-800-915-4755

www.dell.com/cr [email protected]

604 633 3101 or toll-free: 801 1012

604 633 3101 or toll-free: 801 1012

www.dell.ca/ostatus support.ca.dell.com toll-free: 1-800-247-9362

toll-free: 1-800-847-4096 toll-free: 1-800-906-3355 toll-free: 1-800-387-5757


1-877-335-5767


1 866 440 3355 [email protected]

1-877-262-5415

www.dell.com/cl


Online Support

Czech Republic (Prague)



Denmark (Copenhagen)


Country Code: 45

Technical Support

Customer Service

Fax

Technical Fax

Switchboard

Online Support


Technical Support

Customer Service – Relational

Home/Small Business Customer Service

Switchboard – Relational

Switchboard Fax – Relational

Switchboard – Home/Small Business

Switchboard Fax – Home/Small Business

Dominica

Online Support


Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Online Support


Online Support

Technical Support, Customer Service, Sales (calling from Quito)

Technical Support, Customer Service, Sales (calling from Guayaquil)

Online Support


Online Support

Finland (Helsinki)

Technical Support


Customer Service

Country Code: 358 Switchboard

Fax

City Code: 9

Sales under 500 employees

Sales over 500 employees

France (Paris) (Montpellier)

Online Support


Home and Small Business

Technical Support

Customer Service

Switchboard

Switchboard (calls from outside of France)


Country Code: 33

City Codes: (1) (4)

Sales

Fax

Fax (calls from outside of France)

Corporate

Technical Support

Customer Service

Switchboard

Sales

Fax

Online Support

0800-012-0231


22537 2727

22537 2707

22537 2714

22537 2728

22537 2711


7010 0074

7023 0182

7023 0184

3287 5505

3287 1200

3287 1201

3287 5000

3287 5001

www.dell.com/dm [email protected] toll-free: 1-866-278-6821

www.dell.com/do [email protected]

1-800-156-1588

www.dell.com/ec [email protected] toll-free: 999-119-877-655-3355 toll-free: 1800-999-119-877-655-3355

www.dell.com/sv [email protected]

800-6132


0207 533 555

0207 533 538

0207 533 533

0207 533 530

0207 533 540

0207 533 533


0825 387 129

0825 387 270

0825 823 833

0825 004 700

04 99 75 40 00

0825 004 700

0825 004 701

04 99 75 40 01

0825 004 719

0825 338 339

01 55 94 71 00

01 55 94 71 00

01 55 94 71 01


Germany (Frankfurt)


Country Code: 49

City Code: 69

Greece


Country Code: 30


Technical Support


Global Segment Customer Service

Preferred Accounts Customer Service

Large Accounts Customer Service

Public Accounts Customer Service

Switchboard

Online Support

Technical Support

Gold Service Technical Support

Switchboard

Gold Service Switchboard

Sales

Fax

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

Online Support


Online Support


Online Support


Online Support


Technical Support – Dimension and Inspiron

Hong Kong Technical Support – OptiPlex, Latitude, and Dell Precision



Technical Support – Projectors, PDAs, Switches, Routers, etc.


Customer Service

Large Corporate Accounts

Global Customer Programs

Medium Business Division

Home and Small Business Division

Online Support

Portable and Desktop Support

Desktop Support E-mail

Portable Support E-mail

Phone Numbers

Server Support

E-mail

Phone Numbers

India

Gold Support Only

E-mail

Phone Numbers

XPS Support Only

E-mail

Phone Numbers

Customer Service



069 9792 7222

069 9792 -7200

0180-5-224400

069 9792 -7320

069 9792 -7320

069 9792 -7320

069 9792 -7320

069 9792 -7000


00800-44 14 95 18

00800-44 14 00 83

2108129810

2108129811

2108129800

2108129812 www.dell.com/gd [email protected] toll-free: 1-866-540-3355 www.dell.com/gt [email protected]

1-800-999-0136 [email protected] toll-free: 1-877-270-4609 support.ap.dell.com support.dell.com.cn/email

00852-3416 6923

00852-2969 3188

00852-2969 3191

00852-2969 3196

00852-3416 0906

00852-3416 0910

00852-3416 0907

00852-3416 0908

00852-3416 0912

00852-2969 3105 support.ap.dell.com

[email protected] [email protected]

080-25068032 or 080-25068034 or your city STD code + 60003355 or toll-free: 1-800-425-8045

[email protected]

080-25068032 or 080-25068034 or your city STD code + 60003355 or toll-free: 1800 425 8045

[email protected]

080-25068033 or your city STD code + 60003355 or toll-free: 1-800-425-9045

[email protected]

080-25068066 or toll-free: 1-800-425-2066

[email protected] toll-free: 1800-4254051

[email protected]

Sales



Online Support

Ireland (Cherrywood)



City Code: 1

Italy (Milan)


Country Code: 39

City Code: 02

Jamaica


XPS computers only

Business computers

Home computers

At Home Support

Sales

Home

Small Business

Medium Business

Large Business

Sales E-mail

Customer Service


Business (greater than 200 employees)

General

Fax/Sales Fax

Switchboard

U.K. Customer Service (dial within U.K. only)

Corporate Customer Service (dial within U.K. only)

U.K. Sales (dial within U.K. only)

Online Support


Technical Support

Customer Service

Fax

Switchboard

Corporate

Technical Support

Customer Service

Fax

Switchboard

Online Support

Technical Support, Customer Service, Sales (dial from within Jamaica only)

Online Support


Technical Support outside of Japan – XPS computers only

Technical Support – Dimension and Inspiron

Technical Support outside of Japan – Dimension and Inspiron

Technical Support – Dell Precision, OptiPlex, and Latitude

Technical Support outside of Japan – Dell Precision, OptiPlex, and

Latitude

Technical Support – Dell PowerApp, Dell PowerEdge, Dell

PowerConnect, and Dell PowerVault

Technical Support outside of Japan – PowerApp, PowerEdge,

PowerConnect, and PowerVault

Japan (Kawasaki)

Technical Support – Projectors, PDAs, Printers, Routers


Technical Support outside of Japan – Projectors, PDAs, Printers,

Routers

Country Code: 81

Faxbox Service

City Code: 44

24-Hour Automated Order Status Service

Customer Service

Business Sales Division – up to 400 employees

Preferred Accounts Division Sales – over 400 employees toll-free: 1800-4252067

1600 33 8044

1600 33 8046


1850 200 722

1850 543 543

1850 543 543

1850 200 889

1850 333 200

1850 664 656

1850 200 646

1850 200 646

[email protected]

01 204 4014

1850 200 982

01 204 0103

01 204 4444

0870 906 0010

0870 907 4499

0870 907 4000


02 577 826 90

02 696 821 14

02 696 821 13

02 696 821 12

02 577 826 90

02 577 825 55

02 575 035 30

02 577 821 [email protected]

1-800-440-9205

support.jp.dell.com toll-free: 0120-937-786

81-44-520-1235 toll-free: 0120-198-226

81-44-520-1435 toll-free: 0120-198-433

81-44-556-3894 toll-free: 0120-198-498

81-44-556-4162 toll-free: 0120-981-690

81-44-556-3468

044-556-3490

044-556-3801

044-556-4240

044-556-1465

044-556-3433

Public Sales – government agencies, educational institutions, and medical institutions

Global Segment Japan

Individual User

Individual User Online Sales

Individual User Real Site Sales

Switchboard

Online Support

Korea (Seoul) Technical Support for XPS computers only


Technical Support, Customer Service

Technical Support – Dimension, PDA, Electronics, and Accessories

Country Code: 82

Sales

City Code: 2

Latin America

Fax

Switchboard

Customer Technical Support (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)

Customer Service (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)

Fax (Technical Support and Customer Service) (Austin, Texas,

U.S.A.)

Sales (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)

Sales Fax (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)

Luxembourg



Malaysia (Penang)


Country Code: 60

City Code: 4

Online Support

Support

Home/Small Business Sales

Corporate Sales

Customer Service

Fax

Online Support


Technical Support – Dell Precision, OptiPlex, and Latitude

Technical Support – Dimension, Inspiron, and Electronics and

Accessories

Technical Support – PowerApp, PowerEdge, PowerConnect, and

PowerVault

Customer Service

Transaction Sales

Corporate Sales

Online Support

Technical Support

Mexico


Sales

Customer Service

Country Code: 52

Main

Montserrat

Netherlands Antilles

Netherlands (Amsterdam)


Country Code: 31

Online Support


Online Support


Online Support


Technical Support



Relational Customer Service

Home/Small Business Sales toll-free: 1800 881 386 toll-free: 1800 881 306 (option 6) toll-free: 1 800 888 202 toll-free: 1 800 888 213 www.dell.com/mx [email protected]

001-866-563-4425

50-81-8800 or 001-800-888-3355

001-877-384-8979 or 001-877-269-3383

50-81-8800 or 001-800-888-3355 or 001-866-851-1754 [email protected] toll-free: 1-866-278-6822 [email protected]

001-800-882-1519


020 674 45 94

020 674 45 00

020 674 47 66

020 674 42 00

020 674 4325

020 674 55 00

044-556-5963

044-556-3469

044-556-1657

044-556-2203

044-556-4649

044-556-4300 support.ap.dell.com toll-free: 080-999-0283 toll-free: 080-200-3800 toll-free: 080-200-3801 toll-free: 080-200-3600

2194-6202

2194-6000

512 728 -4093

512 728 -3619

512 728 -3883

512 728 -4397

512 728 -4600 or 512 728 -3772


342 08 08 075

+32 (0)2 713 15 96

26 25 77 81

+32 (0)2 481 91 19

26 25 77 82

support.ap.dell.com toll-free: 1 800 885 784 toll-free: 1 800 880 193 toll-free: 1 800 881 306

City Code: 20

Relational Sales

Home/Small Business Sales Fax

Relational Sales Fax

Switchboard

Switchboard Fax

New Zealand

Online Support


Country Code: 64



Online Support

Nicaragua

Norway (Lysaker)


Country Code: 47


Online Support


Technical Support



Switchboard

Fax Switchboard

Panama

Peru

Online Support


Online Support


Online Support

Poland (Warsaw)

Customer Service Phone


Customer Service

Country Code: 48 Sales


City Code: 22

Reception Desk Fax

Switchboard

Portugal


Online Support

Technical Support

Customer Service

Sales


Fax

Online Support

Puerto Rico

St. Kitts and Nevis

Technical Support

Customer Service and Sales

Online Support


St. Lucia

St. Vincent and the

Grenadines

Online Support


Online Support


NOTE: The phone numbers in this section should be called from within Singapore or Malaysia only.

020 674 50 00

020 674 47 75

020 674 47 50

020 674 50 00

020 674 47 50

support.ap.dell.com support.ap.dell.com/contactus toll-free: 0800 335 540

0800 441 567 www.dell.com/ni [email protected]

001-800-220-1377


815 35 043

671 16882

671 17575

23162298

671 16800

671 16865 www.dell.com/pa [email protected]

011-800-507-1264 www.dell.com/pe [email protected]

0800-50-669


57 95 700

57 95 999

57 95 999

57 95 806

57 95 998

57 95 999


707200149

800 300 413

800 300 410 or 800 300 411 or 800 300 412 or

21 422 07 10

21 424 01 12 www.dell.com/pr [email protected] toll-free: 1-866-390-4695 or 1-866-851-1760

1-877-537-3355

www.dell.com/kn [email protected] toll-free: 1-866-540-3355

www.dell.com/lc [email protected] toll-free: 1-866-464-4352

www.dell.com/vc [email protected] toll-free: 1-866-464-4353

Online Support

Singapore (Singapore)



Technical Support – Dimension, Inspiron, and Electronics and

Accessories

Technical Support – OptiPlex, Latitude, and Dell Precision

Country Code: 65

Technical Support – PowerApp, PowerEdge, PowerConnect, and

PowerVault

Customer Service

Transaction Sales

Corporate Sales

Online Support

Slovakia (Prague)



Technical Support

Customer Service

Fax

Tech Fax

Switchboard (Sales)

South Africa (Johannesburg)

Online Support

International Access Code:

09/091

Country Code: 27

City Code: 11

Gold Queue

Technical Support

Customer Service

Sales

Fax

Switchboard

Southeast Asian and Pacific

Countries

Technical Support, Customer Service, and Sales (Penang, Malaysia)

Spain (Madrid)


Country Code: 34

City Code: 91

Sweden (Upplands Vasby)


Country Code: 46

City Code: 8

Online Support


Technical Support

Customer Service

Sales

Switchboard

Fax

Corporate

Technical Support

Customer Service

Switchboard

Fax

Online Support


Technical Support



Employee Purchase Program (EPP) Support


Sales

Online Support

Switzerland (Geneva)


Country Code: 41

City Code: 22


Technical Support – Home and Small Business

Technical Support – Corporate

Customer Service – Home and Small Business

Customer Service – Corporate

Main

Fax

Sales

Online Support

support.ap.dell.com toll-free: 1800 394 7464 toll-free: 1 800 394 7430 toll-free: 1 800 394 7488 toll-free: 1 800 394 7478 toll-free: 1 800 394 7430 (option 6) toll-free: 1 800 394 7412 toll-free: 1 800 394 7419


02 5441 5727

420 22537 2707

02 5441 8328

02 5441 8328

02 5441 7585


011 709 7713

011 709 7710

011 709 7707

011 709 7700

011 706 0495

011 709 7700

604 633 4810


902 100 130

902 118 540

902 118 541

902 118 541

902 118 539

902 100 130

902 115 236

91 722 92 00

91 722 95 83


77 134 03 40

08 590 05 199

08 590 05 642

08 587 70 527

020 140 14 44

08 590 05 594

08 587 705 81


[email protected]

0848 338 857

0844 811 411

0844 822 844

0848 802 202

0848 821 721

0848 335 599

022 799 01 90

022 799 01 01

support.ap.dell.com support.dell.com.cn/email


Taiwan


Technical Support – OptiPlex, Latitude, Inspiron, Dimension, and

Electronics and Accessories



Customer Service

Transaction Sales

Corporate Sales

Online Support

Technical Support (OptiPlex, Latitude, and Dell Precision)

Thailand


Technical Support (PowerApp, PowerEdge, PowerConnect, and

PowerVault)

Customer Service

Country Code: 66

Corporate Sales

Transaction Sales

Trinidad/Tobago

Online Support


Turks and Caicos Islands

Online Support


Online Support

U.K. (Bracknell)


Country Code: 44

City Code: 1344

Customer Service Online support.euro.dell.com/uk/en/ECare/form/home.asp

Sales

Home and Small Business Sales

Corporate/Public Sector Sales

Customer Service


Corporate

Preferred Accounts (500–5000 employees)

Global Accounts

Central Government

Local Government & Education

Health


XPS Computers Only

Corporate/Preferred Accounts/PCA (1000+ employees)

Other Dell Products

General

Home and Small Business Fax

Uruguay

Online Support


Dell Services for the Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, or Speech-Impaired

Fax

Technical Support

XPS

Home and Home Office

Portable and Desktop AutoTech

Small Business


State and Local Government

Federal Government

Healthcare

K-12 Education toll-free: 0080 186 3085 toll-free: 0080 186 1011 toll-free: 0080 160 1256 toll-free: 0080 160 1250

(option 5) toll-free: 0080 165 1228 toll-free: 0080 165 1227

support.ap.dell.com toll-free: 1800 0060 07 toll-free: 1800 0600 09 toll-free: 1800 006 007

(option 7) toll-free: 1800 006 009 toll-free: 1800 006 006

www.dell.com/tt [email protected] toll-free: 1-888-799-5908

www.dell.com/tc [email protected] toll-free: 1-877-441-4735


0870 907 4000

01344 860 456

0870 906 0010

01344 373 185

0870 906 0010

01344 373 186

01344 373 193

01344 373 199

01344 373 194

0870 366 4180

0870 908 0500

0870 353 0800

0870 907 4006

www.dell.com/uy [email protected] toll-free: 000-413-598-2521 toll-free: 1-877-DELLTTY

(1-877-335-5889) toll-free: 1-800-727-8320 support.dell.com toll-free: 1-800-232-8544 toll-free: 1-800-624-9896 toll-free: 1-800-247-9362 toll-free: 1-800-456-3355 toll-free: 1-877-671-3355 toll-free: 1-800-981-3355 toll-free: 1-800-727-1100 toll-free: 1-800-274-1550 toll-free: 1-888-977-3355

Higher Education

U.S.A. (Austin, Texas)

Printers, Projectors, PDAs, and MP3 Players


Customer Service

Country Code: 1

Automated Order Status

Small Business


State and Local Government

Federal Government

Healthcare

K-12 Education

Higher Education

Employee Purchase Program (EPP)

Financial Services

Leases and Loans

Dell Preferred Accounts (DPA)

Sales

Dell Outlet Store

Software and Peripherals Sales

U.S. Virgin Islands

Online Support


Venezuela

Online Support



toll-free: 1-800-274-7799 toll-free: 1-877-459-7298 toll-free: 1-800-624-9897 toll-free: 1-800-433-9014 toll-free: 1-800-456-3355 toll-free: 1-877-671-3355 toll-free: 1-800-981-3355 toll-free: 1-800-727-1100 toll-free: 1-800-274-1550 toll-free: 1-888-977-3355 toll-free: 1-800-274-7799 toll-free: 1-800-695-8133

www.dellfinancialservices.com toll-free: 1-877-577-3355 toll-free: 1-800-283-2210

1-800-289-3355 or 1-800-879-3355 toll-free: 1-888-798-7561 toll-free: 1-800-671-3355 www.dell.com/vi [email protected] toll-free: 1-877-702-4360

www.dell.com/ve [email protected]

0800-100-4752


Finding Information


NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries.

NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.

What Are You Looking For? l l l l

A diagnostic program for my computer

Drivers for my computer

My device documentation

Desktop System Software (DSS)

Find It Here

Drivers and Utilities Media

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer.

You can use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers (see

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities ), access your documentation or run the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics ). l l l l l l

Warranty information

Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

Safety instructions

Regulatory information

Ergonomics information

End User License Agreement l How to set up my computer

Readme files may also be included on your media to provide lastminute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technical reference material for technicians and experienced users.

NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be found at

support.dell.com.

Dell™ Product Information Guide

Setup Diagram l l

Service Tag and Express Service Code

Microsoft® Windows® Product Key Label

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows Product Key

These labels are located on your computer. l

l l l l l l l l l l l

Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, online courses, and frequently asked 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 information, service call and order status, and warranty and repair information

Service and Support — Service call status, support history, service contract, and online discussions with support

Reference — Computer documentation, details on my computer configuration, product specifications, and white papers

Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates

Desktop System Software (DSS) — If you reinstall the operating system on your computer, you should also reinstall the DSS utility. DSS automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration, providing critical updates for your operating system and support for Dell™ 3.5

-inch USB floppy drives, Intel®

Pentium® M processors, optical drives, and USB devices. DSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer.

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region or business segment to view the appropriate support site.

To download Desktop System Software:

1.

Go to support.dell.com, select your business segment, and then enter your Service Tag or product model.

2.

Select Drivers & Downloads, and then click Go.

3.

Select your operating system and language, and then search for the keyword Desktop System Software.

NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface may vary depending on your selections.

How to use your Windows™ operating system

How to work with programs and files

How to personalize my desktop

Windows Help and Support

1.

To access Windows Help and Support:

¡

In Windows XP, click Start and click Help and Support.

¡ In Windows Vista™, click the Windows Vista Start button

and click Help and Support.

2.

Type a word or phrase that describes your problem, and then click the arrow icon.

3.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

4.

Follow the instructions on the screen. l How to reinstall my operating system l

Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use

support.dell.com or contact support.

Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support.

Operating System Media

The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system, use the Operating System media.

After you reinstall the operating system, use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer.

The operating system product key label is located on your computer.

NOTE: The color of your Operating System media varies according to the operating system you ordered.



Glossary


Terms in this Glossary are provided for informational purposes only and may or may not describe features included 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.

ACPI — advanced configuration and power interface — A power management specification that enables Microsoft® Windows® operating systems to put a computer in standby or hibernate mode to conserve the amount of electrical power allocated to each device attached to the computer.

AGP — accelerated graphics port — A dedicated graphics port that allows system memory to be used for video-related tasks. AGP delivers a smooth, true-color video image because of the faster interface between the video circuitry and the computer memory.

AHCI — Advanced Host Controller Interface — An interface for a SATA hard drive Host Controller which allows the storage driver to enable technologies such as Native Command Queuing (NCQ) and hot plug.

ALS — ambient light sensor — A feature that helps to control display brightness.

antivirus software — A program designed to identify, quarantine, and/or delete viruses from your computer.

ASF — alert standards format — A standard to define a mechanism for reporting hardware and software alerts to a management console. ASF is designed to be platform- and operating system-independent.

B

battery life span — The length of time (years) during which a portable computer battery is able to be depleted and recharged.

battery operating time — The length of time (minutes or hours) that a portable computer battery powers the computer.

BIOS — basic input/output system — A program (or utility) that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system. Unless you understand what effect these settings have on the computer, do not change them. Also referred to as system setup.

bit — The smallest unit of data interpreted by your computer.

Blu-ray Disc™ (BD)— An optical storage technology offering storage capacity of up to 50 GB, full 1080p video resolution (HDTV required), and as many as 7.1 channels of native, uncompressed surround sound.

Bluetooth

®

wireless technology — A wireless technology standard for short-range (9 m [29 feet]) networking devices that allows for enabled devices to automatically recognize each other.

boot sequence — Specifies the order of the devices from which the computer attempts to boot.

bootable media — A CD, DVD, or floppy disk that you can use to start your computer. In case your hard drive is damaged or your computer has a virus, ensure that you always have a bootable CD, DVD, or floppy disk available. Your Drivers and Utilities media is an example of bootable media.

bps — bits per second — The standard unit for measuring data transmission speed.

BTU — British thermal unit — A measurement of heat output.

bus — A communication pathway between the components in your computer.

bus speed — The speed, given in MHz, that indicates how fast a bus can transfer information.

byte — The basic data unit used by your computer. A byte is usually equal to 8 bits.

C

C — Celsius — A temperature measurement scale where 0° is the freezing point and 100° is the boiling point of water.

cache — A special high-speed storage mechanism which can be either a reserved section of main memory or an independent high-speed storage device. The cache enhances the efficiency of many processor operations.

L1 cache — Primary 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 recordable — A recordable version of a CD. Data can be recorded only once onto a CD-R. Once recorded, the data cannot be erased or written over.

CD-RW — CD rewritable — A rewritable version of a CD. Data can be written to a CD-RW disc, and then erased and written over (rewritten).

CD-RW drive — A drive that can read CDs and write to CD-RW (rewritable CDs) and CD-R (recordable CDs) discs. You can write to CD-RW discs multiple times, but you can write to CD-R discs only once.

CD-RW/DVD drive — A drive, sometimes referred to as a combo drive, that can read CDs and DVDs and write to CD-RW (rewritable CDs) and CD-R

(recordable CDs) discs. You can write to CD-RW discs multiple times, but you can write to CD-R discs only once.

clock speed — The speed, given in MHz, that indicates how fast computer components that are connected to the system bus operate.

CMOS — A type of electronic circuit. Computers use a small amount of battery-powered CMOS memory to hold date, time, and system setup options.

COA — Certificate of Authenticity — The Windows alpha-numeric code located on a sticker on your computer. Also referred to as the Product Key or

Product ID.

Control Panel — A Windows utility that allows you to modify operating system and hardware settings, such as display settings.

controller — A chip that controls the transfer of data between the processor and memory or between the processor and devices.

CRIMM — continuity rambus in-line memory module — A special module that has no memory chips and is used to fill unused RIMM slots.

cursor — The marker on a display or screen that shows where the next keyboard, touch pad, or mouse action will occur. It often is a blinking solid line, an underline character, or a small arrow.

D

DDR SDRAM — double-data-rate SDRAM — A type of SDRAM that doubles the data burst cycle, improving system performance.

DDR2 SDRAM — double-data-rate 2 SDRAM — A type of DDR SDRAM that uses a 4-bit prefetch and other architectural changes to boost memory speed to over

400 MHz.

device — Hardware such as a disk drive, printer, or keyboard that is installed in or connected to your computer.

device driver — See driver.

DIMM — dual in-line memory module — A circuit board with memory chips that connects to a memory module on the system board.

DIN connector — A round, six-pin connector that conforms to DIN (Deutsche Industrie-Norm) standards; it is typically used to connect PS/2 keyboard or mouse cable connectors.

disk striping — A technique for spreading data over multiple disk drives. Disk striping can speed up operations that retrieve data from disk storage.

Computers that use disk striping generally allow the user to select the data unit size or stripe width.

DMA — direct memory access — A channel that allows certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the processor.

docking device — See APR.

DMTF — Distributed Management Task Force — A consortium of hardware and software companies who develop management standards for distributed desktop, network, enterprise, and Internet environments.

domain — A group of computers, programs, and devices on a network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures for use by a specific group of users. A user logs on to the domain to gain access to the resources.

DRAM — dynamic random-access memory — Memory that stores information in integrated circuits containing capacitors.

driver — Software that allows the operating system to control a device such as a printer. Many devices do not work properly if the correct driver is not installed in the computer.

DSL — Digital Subscriber Line — A technology that provides a constant, high-speed Internet connection through an analog telephone line.

dual-core — A technology in which two physical computational units exist inside a single processor package, thereby increasing computing efficiency and multitasking ability.

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.

DVD-R — DVD recordable — A recordable version of a DVD. Data can be recorded only once onto a DVD-R. Once recorded, the data cannot be erased or written over.

DVD+RW — DVD rewritable — A rewritable version of a DVD. Data can be written to a DVD+RW disc, and then erased and written over (rewritten). (DVD+RW technology is different from DVD-RW technology.)

DVD+RW drive — drive that can read DVDs and most CD media and write to DVD+RW (rewritable DVDs) discs.

DVI — digital video interface — A standard for digital transmission between a computer and a digital video display.

E

ECC — error checking and correction — A type of memory that includes special circuitry for testing the accuracy of data as it passes in and out of memory.

ECP — extended capabilities port — A parallel connector design that provides improved bidirectional data transmission. Similar to EPP, ECP uses direct memory access to transfer data and often improves performance.

EIDE — enhanced integrated device electronics — An improved version of the IDE interface for hard drives and CD drives.

EMI — electromagnetic interference — Electrical interference caused by electromagnetic radiation.

ENERGY STAR® — Environmental Protection Agency requirements that decrease the overall consumption of electricity.

EPP — enhanced parallel port — A parallel connector design that provides bidirectional data transmission.

ESD — electrostatic discharge — A rapid discharge of static electricity. ESD can damage integrated circuits found in computer and communications equipment.

expansion card — A circuit board that installs in an expansion slot on the system board in some computers, expanding the capabilities of the computer.

Examples include video, modem, and sound cards.

expansion slot — A connector on the system board (in some computers) where you insert an expansion card, connecting it to the system bus.

ExpressCard — A removable I/O card adhering to the PCMCIA standard. Modems and network adapters are common types of ExpressCards. ExpressCards support both the PCI Express and USB 2.0 standard.

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 you to use a second monitor as an extension of your display. Also referred to as dual display mode.

extended PC Card — A PC Card that extends beyond the edge of the PC Card slot when installed.

F

Fahrenheit — A temperature measurement scale where 32° is the freezing point and 212° is the boiling point of water.

FBD — fully-buffered DIMM — A DIMM with DDR2 DRAM chips and an Advanced Memory Buffer (AMB) that speeds communication between the DDR2 SDRAM chips and the system.

FCC — Federal Communications Commission — A U.S. agency responsible for enforcing communications-related regulations that state how much radiation computers and other electronic equipment can emit.

fingerprint reader — A strip sensor that uses your unique fingerprint to authenticate your user identity to help secure your computer.

folder — A term used to describe space on a disk or drive where files are organized and grouped. Files in a folder can be viewed and ordered in various ways, such as alphabetically, by date, and by size.

format — The process that prepares a drive or disk for file storage. When a drive or disk is formatted, the existing information on it is lost.

FSB — front side bus — The data path and physical interface between the processor and RAM.

FTP — file transfer protocol — A standard Internet protocol used to exchange files between computers connected to the Internet.

G

G — gravity — A measurement of weight and force.

GB — gigabyte — A measurement of data storage that equals 1024 MB (1,073,741,824 bytes). When used to refer to hard drive storage, the term is often rounded to 1,000,000,000 bytes.

GHz — gigahertz — A measurement of frequency that equals one thousand million Hz, or one thousand MHz. The speeds for computer processors, buses, and interfaces are often measured 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 unlimited variety of shapes and fonts.

GUI — graphical user interface — Software that interacts with the user by means of menus, windows, and icons. Most programs that operate on the Windows operating systems are GUIs.

H

hard drive — A drive that reads and writes data on a hard disk. The terms hard drive and hard disk are often used interchangeably.

heat sink — A metal plate on some processors that helps dissipate heat.

hibernate mode — A power management mode that saves everything in memory to a reserved space on the hard drive and then turns off the computer.

When you restart the computer, the memory information that was saved to the hard drive is automatically restored.

HTTP — hypertext transfer protocol — A protocol for exchanging files between computers connected to the Internet.

Hyper-Threading — Hyper-Threading is an Intel technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing one physical processor to function as two logical processors, capable of performing certain tasks simultaneously.

Hz — hertz — A unit of frequency measurement that equals 1 cycle per second. Computers and electronic devices are often measured in kilohertz (kHz),

megahertz (MHz), gigahertz (GHz), or terahertz (THz).

I

IC — integrated circuit — A semiconductor wafer, or chip, on which thousands or millions of tiny electronic components are fabricated for use in computer, audio, and video equipment.

IDE — integrated device electronics — An interface for mass storage devices in which the controller is integrated into the hard drive or CD drive.

IEEE 1394 — Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. — A high-performance serial bus used to connect IEEE 1394-compatible devices, such as digital cameras and DVD players, to the computer.

infrared sensor — A port that allows you to transfer data between the computer and infrared-compatible devices without using a cable connection.

integrated — Usually refers to components that are physically located on the computer's system board. Also referred to as built-in.

I/O — input/output — An operation or device that enters and extracts data from your computer. Keyboards and printers are I/O devices.

I/O address — An address in RAM that is associated with a specific device (such as a serial connector, parallel connector, or expansion slot) and allows the processor to communicate with that device.

IrDA — Infrared Data Association — The organization that creates international standards for infrared communications.

IRQ — interrupt request — An electronic pathway assigned to a specific device so that the device can communicate with the processor. Each device connection must be assigned an IRQ. Although two devices can share the same IRQ assignment, you cannot operate both devices simultaneously.

ISP — Internet service provider — A company that allows you to access its host server to connect directly to the Internet, send and receive e-mail, and access websites. The ISP typically provides you with a software package, user name, and access phone numbers for a fee.

K

Kb — kilobit — A unit of data that equals 1024 bits. A measurement of the capacity of memory integrated circuits.

KB — kilobyte — A unit of data that equals 1024 bytes but is often referred to as 1000 bytes.

key combination — A command requiring you to press multiple keys at the same time.

kHz — kilohertz — A measurement of frequency that equals 1000 Hz.

L

LAN — local area network — A computer network covering a small area. A LAN usually is confined to a building or a few nearby buildings. A LAN can be connected to another LAN over any distance through telephone lines and radio waves to form a wide area network (WAN).

LCD — liquid crystal display — The technology used by portable computer and flat-panel displays.

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 for a parallel connection to a printer or other parallel device.

M

Mb — megabit — A measurement of memory chip capacity that equals 1024 Kb.

Mbps — megabits per second — One million bits per second. This measurement is typically used for transmission speeds for networks and modems.

MB — megabyte — A measurement of data storage that equals 1,048,576 bytes. 1 MB equals 1024 KB. When used to refer to hard drive storage, the term is often rounded to 1,000,000 bytes.

MB/sec — megabytes per second — One million bytes per second. This measurement is typically used for data transfer ratings.

media bay — A bay that supports devices such as optical drives, a second battery, or a Dell TravelLite™ module.

memory — A temporary data storage area inside your computer. Because the data in memory is not permanent, it is recommended that you frequently save your files while you are working on them, and always save your files before you shut down the computer. Your computer can contain several different forms of memory, such as RAM, ROM, and video memory. Frequently, the word memory is used as a synonym for RAM.

memory address — A specific location where data is temporarily stored in RAM.

memory mapping — The process by which the computer assigns memory addresses to physical locations at start-up. Devices and software can then identify information that the processor can access.

memory module — A small circuit board containing memory chips, which connects to the system board.

MHz — megahertz — A measure of frequency that equals 1 million cycles per second. The speeds for computer processors, buses, and interfaces are often measured in MHz.

Mini PCI — A standard for integrated peripheral devices with an emphasis on communications such as modems and NICs. A Mini PCI card is a small external card that is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card.

Mini-Card — A small card designed for integrated peripherals, such as communication NICs. The Mini-Card is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card.

modem — A device that allows your computer to communicate with other computers over analog telephone lines. Three types of modems include: external, PC

Card, and internal. You typically use your modem to connect to the Internet and exchange e-mail.

module bay — See media bay.

MP — megapixel — A measure of image resolution used for digital cameras.

ms — millisecond — A measure of time that equals one thousandth of a second. Access times of storage devices are often measured in ms.

N

network adapter — A chip that provides network capabilities. A computer may include a network adapter on its system board, or it may contain a PC Card with an adapter on it. A network adapter is also referred to as a NIC (network interface controller).

NIC — See network adapter.

notification area — The section of the Windows taskbar that contains icons for providing quick access to programs and computer functions, such as the clock, volume control, and print status. Also referred to as system tray.

ns — nanosecond — A measure of time that equals one billionth of a second.

NVRAM — nonvolatile random access memory — A type of memory that stores data when the computer is turned off or loses its external power source. NVRAM is used for maintaining computer configuration information such as date, time, and other system setup options that you can set.

O

optical drive — A drive that uses optical technology to read or write data from CDs, DVDs, or DVD+RWs. Example of optical drives include CD drives, DVD drives, CD-RW drives, and CD-RW/DVD combo drives.

P

parallel connector — An I/O port often used to connect a parallel printer to your computer. Also referred to as an LPT port.

partition — A physical storage area on a hard drive that is assigned to one or more logical storage areas known as logical drives. Each partition can contain multiple logical drives.

PC Card — A removable I/O card adhering to the PCMCIA standard. Modems and network adapters are common types of PC Cards.

PCI — peripheral component interconnect — PCI is a local bus that supports 32-and 64-bit data paths, providing a high-speed data path between the processor and devices such as video, drives, and networks.

PCI Express — A modification to the PCI interface that boosts the data transfer rate between the processor and the devices attached to it. PCI Express can transfer data at speeds from 250 MB/sec to 4 GB/sec. If the PCI Express chip set and the device are capable of different speeds, they will operate at the slower speed.

PCMCIA — Personal Computer Memory Card International Association — The organization that establishes standards for PC Cards.

PIO — programmed input/output — A method of transferring data between two devices through the processor as part of the data path.

pixel — A single point on a display screen. Pixels are arranged in rows and columns to create an image. A video resolution, such as 800 x 600, is expressed as the number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down.

Plug-and-Play — The ability of the computer to automatically configure devices. Plug and Play provides automatic installation, configuration, and compatibility with existing hardware if the BIOS, operating system, and all devices are Plug and Play compliant.

POST — power-on self-test — Diagnostics programs, loaded automatically by the BIOS, that perform basic tests on the major computer components, such as memory, hard drives, and video. If no problems are detected during POST, the computer continues the start-up.

processor — A computer chip that interprets and executes program instructions. Sometimes the processor is referred to as the CPU (central processing unit).

PS/2 — personal system/2 — A type of connector for attaching a PS/2-compatible keyboard, mouse, or keypad.

PXE — pre-boot execution environment — A WfM (Wired for Management) standard that allows networked computers that do not have an operating system to be configured and started remotely.

R

RAID — redundant array of independent disks — A method of providing data redundancy. Some common implementations of RAID include RAID 0, RAID 1,

RAID 5, RAID 10, and RAID 50.

RAM — random-access memory — The primary temporary storage area for program instructions and data. Any information stored in RAM is lost when you shut down your computer.

readme file — A text file included with a software package or hardware product. Typically, readme files provide installation information and describe new product enhancements or corrections that have not yet been documented.

read-only — Data and/or files you can view but cannot edit or delete. A file can have read-only status if:

¡

¡

It resides on a physically write-protected floppy disk, CD, or DVD.

It is located on a network in a directory and the system administrator has assigned rights only to specific individuals.

refresh rate — The frequency, measured in Hz, at which your screen's horizontal lines are recharged (sometimes also referred to as its vertical frequency). The higher the refresh rate, the less video flicker can be seen by the human eye.

resolution — The sharpness and clarity of an image produced by a printer or displayed on a monitor. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image.

RFI — radio frequency interference — Interference that is generated at typical radio frequencies, in the range of 10 kHz to 100,000 MHz. Radio frequencies are at the lower end of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum and are more likely to have interference than the higher frequency radiations, such as infrared and light.

ROM — read-only memory — Memory that stores data and programs that cannot be deleted or written to by the computer. ROM, unlike RAM, retains its contents after you shut down your computer. Some programs essential to the operation of your computer reside in ROM.

RPM — revolutions per minute — The number of rotations that occur per minute. Hard drive speed is often measured in rpm.

RTC — real time clock — Battery-powered clock on the system board that keeps the date and time after you shut down the computer.

RTCRST — real-time clock reset — A jumper on the system board of some computers that can often be used for troubleshooting problems.

S

SAS — serial attached SCSI — A faster, serial version of the SCSI interface (as opposed to the original SCSI parallel architecture).

SATA — serial ATA — A faster, serial version of the ATA (IDE) interface.

ScanDisk — A Microsoft utility that checks files, folders, and the hard disk's surface for errors. ScanDisk often runs when you restart the computer after it has stopped responding.

SCSI — small computer system interface — A high-speed interface used to connect devices to a computer, such as hard drives, CD drives, printers, and scanners. The SCSI can connect many devices using a single controller. Each device is accessed by an individual identification number on the SCSI controller bus.

SDRAM — synchronous dynamic random-access memory — A type of DRAM that is synchronized with the optimal clock speed of the processor.

serial connector — An I/O port often used to connect devices such as a handheld digital device or digital camera to your computer.

Service Tag — A bar code label on your computer that identifies your computer when you access Dell Support at support.dell.com or when you call Dell for customer service or technical support.

setup program — A program that is used to install and configure hardware and software. The setup.exe or install.exe program comes with most Windows software packages. Setup program differs from system setup.

shortcut — An icon that provides quick access to frequently used programs, files, folders, and drives. When you place a shortcut on your Windows desktop and double-click the icon, you can open its corresponding folder or file without having to find it first. Shortcut icons do not change the location of files. If you delete a shortcut, the original file is not affected. Also, you can rename a shortcut icon.

SIM — Subscriber Identity Module — A SIM card contains a microchip that encrypts voice and data transmissions. SIM cards can be used in phones or portable computers.

smart card — A card that is embedded with a processor and a memory chip. Smart cards can be used to authenticate a user on computers equipped for smart cards.

S/PDIF — Sony/Philips Digital Interface — An audio transfer file format that allows the transfer of audio from one file to another without converting it to and from an analog format, which could degrade the quality of the file.

standby mode — A power management mode that shuts down all unnecessary computer operations to save energy.

Strike Zone™ — Reinforced area of the platform base that protects the hard drive by acting as a dampening device when a computer experiences resonating shock or is dropped (whether the computer is on or off).

surge protectors — Prevent voltage spikes, such as those that may occur during an electrical storm, from entering the computer through the electrical outlet.

Surge protectors do not protect against lightning strikes or against brownouts, which occur when the voltage drops more than 20 percent below the normal

AC-line voltage level.

Network connections cannot be protected by surge protectors. Always disconnect the network cable from the network connector during electrical storms.

SVGA — super-video graphics array — A video standard for video cards and controllers. Typical SVGA resolutions are 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768.

The number of colors and resolution that a program displays depends on the capabilities of the monitor, the video controller and its drivers, and the amount of video memory installed in the computer.

S-video TV-out — A connector used to attach a TV or digital audio device to the computer.

SXGA — super-extended graphics array — A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1280 x 1024.

SXGA+ — super-extended graphics array plus — A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1400 x 1050.

system board — The main circuit board in your computer. Also known as the motherboard.

system setup — A utility that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system. System setup allows you to configure userselectable options in the BIOS, such as date and time or system password. Unless you understand what effect the settings have on the computer, do not change the settings for this program.

T

TAPI — telephony application programming interface — Enables Windows programs to operate with a wide variety of telephony devices, including voice, data, fax, and video.

text editor — A program used to create and edit files that contain only text; for example, Windows Notepad uses a text editor. Text editors do not usually provide word wrap or formatting functionality (the option to underline, change fonts, and so on).

TPM — trusted platform module — A hardware-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 computer.

U

UAC — user account control— Microsoft Windows

®

Vista™ security feature that, when enabled, provides an added layer of security between user accounts and access to operating system settings.

UMA — unified memory allocation — System memory dynamically allocated to video.

UPS — uninterruptible power supply — A backup power source used when the electrical power fails or drops to an unacceptable voltage level. A UPS keeps a computer running for a limited amount of time when there is no electrical power. UPS systems typically provide surge suppression and may also provide voltage regulation. Small UPS systems provide battery power for a few minutes to enable you to shut down your computer.

USB — universal serial bus — A hardware interface for a low-speed device such as a USB-compatible keyboard, mouse, joystick, scanner, set of speakers, printer, broadband devices (DSL and cable modems), imaging devices, or storage devices. Devices are plugged directly in to a 4-pin socket on your computer or in to a multi-port hub that plugs in to your computer. USB devices can be connected and disconnected while the computer is turned on, and they can also be daisy-chained together.

UTP — unshielded twisted pair — Describes a type of cable used in most telephone networks and some computer networks. Pairs of unshielded wires are twisted to protect against electromagnetic interference, rather than relying on a metal sheath around each pair of wires to protect against interference.

UXGA — ultra extended graphics array — A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1600 x 1200.

V

video controller — The circuitry on a video card or on the system board (in computers with an integrated video controller) that provides the video capabilities—in combination with the monitor—for your computer.

video memory — Memory that consists of memory chips dedicated to video functions. Video memory is usually faster than system 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. Graphics-based software, such as Windows operating systems, displays in video modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors. Character-based software, such as text editors, displays in video modes that can be defined as x columns by y rows of characters.

video resolution — See resolution.

virus — A program that is designed to inconvenience you or to destroy data stored on your computer. A virus program moves from one computer to another through an infected disk, software downloaded from the Internet, or e-mail attachments. When an infected program starts, its embedded virus also starts.

A common type of virus is a boot virus, which is stored in the boot sectors of a floppy disk. If the floppy disk is left in the drive when the computer is shut down and then turned on, the computer is infected when it reads the boot sectors of the floppy disk expecting to find the operating system. If the computer is infected, the boot virus may replicate itself onto all the floppy disks that are read or written in that computer until the virus is eradicated.

V — volt — The measurement of electric potential or electromotive force. One V appears across a resistance of 1 ohm when a current of 1 ampere flows through that resistance.

W

W — watt — The measurement of electrical power. One W is 1 ampere of current flowing at 1 volt.

WHr — watt-hour — A unit of measure commonly used to indicate the approximate capacity of a battery. For example, a 66-WHr battery can supply 66 W of

power for 1 hour or 33 W for 2 hours.

wallpaper — The background pattern or picture on the Windows desktop. Change your wallpaper through the Windows Control Panel. You can also scan in your favorite picture and make it wallpaper.

WLAN — wireless local area network. A series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves using access points or wireless routers to provide Internet access.

write-protected — Files or media that cannot be changed. Use write-protection when you want to protect data from being changed or destroyed. To writeprotect a 3.5-inch floppy disk, slide its write-protect tab to the open position.

WWAN — wireless wide area network. A wireless high-speed data network using cellular technology and covering a much larger geographic area than WLAN.

WXGA — wide-aspect extended graphics array — A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1280 x 800."

X

XGA — extended graphics array — A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1024 x 768.

Z

ZIF — zero insertion force — A type of socket or connector that allows a computer chip to be installed or removed with no stress applied to either the chip or its socket.

Zip — A popular data compression format. Files that have been compressed with the Zip format are called Zip files and usually have a filename extension of .zip. A special kind of zipped file is a self-extracting file, which has a filename extension of .exe. You can unzip a self-extracting file by double-clicking it.

Zip drive — A high-capacity floppy drive developed by Iomega Corporation that uses 3.5-inch removable disks called Zip disks. Zip disks are slightly larger than regular floppy disks, about twice as thick, and hold up to 100 MB of data.



Removing and Installing Parts


Before You Begin

Removing the Computer Cover

Memory

Cards

Drives

Hard Drive

Drive Panel

Floppy Drive

Media Card Reader

Optical Drive

Liquid Cooling Assembly

Processor

Fans

System Board

Power Supply

Front I/O Panel

Battery

Removing the Computer Stand

Replacing the Computer Cover

Before You Begin

This chapter provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that a component can be replaced by performing the removal procedure in reverse order.

Recommended Tools

The procedures in this document may require one or more of the following tools: l l l

Small flat-blade screwdriver

Phillips screwdriver

Flash BIOS update (see the Dell support website at support.dell.com)

Preparing to Work Inside Your Computer

Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety.



CAUTION: Your computer is heavy and can be difficult to maneuver. Seek assistance before attempting to lift, move, or tilt the computer and always lift correctly to avoid injury; avoid bending over while lifting.

CAUTION: The liquid cooling assembly is not user serviceable or upgradeable. All required service should be done by qualified service personnel only. The liquid cooling assembly in your system contains a non-refillable coolant. In the event of a coolant leak, shut down your system immediately. Unplug your system from the power outlet and contact Dell Technical Support. In the event of skin contact with the coolant, wash your skin with soap and water. Seek medical attention if irritation develops. In the event of eye contact with the coolant, rinse your eyes immediately with water, with your eyelids open, for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

NOTICE: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty.

NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge and damage to internal components, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

NOTICE: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card. Instead, hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a microprocessor by its edges, not by its pins.

NOTICE: When disconnecting a cable, pull on the cable's connector or its strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself. Some cables have connectors with locking tabs; before disconnecting this type of cable, press inward on the locking tabs to release the connector. When connecting or disconnecting a cable, ensure that the connectors are correctly oriented and aligned to avoid damage to the connector and/or the connector's pins.

1.

Ensure that the work surface is level and protected to prevent either the surface or the computer from being scratched.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, save any work in progress and exit all open programs before turning off your computer.

2.

Shut down the operating system: l

In Windows XP, click Start® Turn Off Computer® Turn off.

l



3.

Ensure that the computer and all attached devices are turned off. If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system, press and hold the power button for about 4 seconds to turn them off.

NOTICE: When disconnecting a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network port or device.

4.

Disconnect all external cables from the computer.

5.

Carefully, lift the rear of the computer and rotate the stabilizing feet into the closed position.

6.

With the help of an assistant, carefully lay the computer down on a flat surface with the computer cover facing up.

Removing the Computer Cover


CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the cover.


1.


2.

Pull back on the cover release latch.

NOTICE: Ensure that sufficient space exists to support the removed cover—at least 30 centimeters (1 foot) of desktop space.

1 computer cover

4 stabilizing feet (closed)

2 cover release latch

3 cover hinge tabs

3.

With the cover release latch pulled back, grip the sides of the cover, then pivot the top of the cover up and away from the computer.

4.

Slide the cover forward and up to remove it from the hinge slots, then set it aside in a secure and protected location.

Inside View of Your Computer

1 optical drive bays (4)

4 card fan

2 floppy drive/media card reader

5 liquid cooling assembly

System Board Components

3 hard drive bays (4)

1 white memory module connectors (DIMM_1-2)

2 black memory module connectors (DIMM_3-

4)

3 hard drive fan connector

(FAN_HDD)

4 IDE drive connector

(IDE)

5 front I/O panel connector

(FRONTPANEL)

6 back LED connector

7 power button

(PWR_BT)

10 SATA connectors

(SATA0-5)

13 PCI-Express x1 card slot (SLOT1)

This slot is not available in the dualgraphics configuration

16 PCI-Express x16 card

8 FlexBay connector

(INT_USB)

11 front USB connector

(FRNT_USB)


9 main power connector

(POWER1)

12 front panel 1394 connector

(FP1394)

15 PCI card slot (SLOT3)

This slot is not available in the dual-graphics or double-width, single graphics configuration.

17 PCI card slot (SLOT5) 18 PCI card slot (SLOT6)

slot (SLOT4)


22 password jumper

(PASSWORD)

25 card cage fan connector (FAN_CAGE)

28 processor fan connector (FAN1_CPU)

20 RTC reset jumper

(RTCRST)

23 power connector

(POWER2)

26 liquid cooling assembly

(TEC_PUMP)

21 battery socket (BATTERY)

24 floppy drive (DSKT)

27 processor (CPU)

Memory

You can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on the system board.

Your computer supports DDR2 memory. For additional information on the type of memory supported by your computer, see Memory .

DDR2 Memory Overview

l

DDR2 memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size and speed. If the DDR2 memory modules are not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate, but with a slight reduction in performance. See the label on the upper-right or upper-left corner of the module to determine the module's capacity.

NOTE: Always install DDR2 memory modules in the order indicated on the system board.

The recommended memory configurations are: or

¡ A pair of matched memory modules installed in DIMM connectors 1 and 2

¡

A pair of matched memory modules installed in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 and another matched pair installed in DIMM connectors 3 and 4

NOTICE: Do not install ECC memory modules.

. l l

If you install mixed pairs of PC2-5300 (DDR2 667-MHz) and PC2-6400 (DDR2 800-MHz) memory, the modules function at the speed of the slowest module installed.

Be sure to install a single memory module in DIMM connector 1, the connector closest to the processor, before you install modules in any other connector.

A matched pair of modules in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 (white securing clips)

B matched pair of memory modules in DIMM connectors 3 and 4 (black securing clips)

NOTICE: If you remove your original memory modules from the computer during a memory upgrade, keep them separate from any new modules that you may have, even if you purchased the new modules from Dell. If possible, do not pair an original memory module with a new memory module.

Otherwise, your computer may not start properly. You should install your original memory modules in pairs either in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 or DIMM

connectors 3 and 4.

NOTE: Memory purchased from Dell is covered under your computer warranty.

Addressing Memory Configurations

If you are using a 32-bit operating system such as Microsoft

®

Windows Vista™, your computer will support a maximum of 4 GB of memory. If you are using a

64-bit operating system, your computer will support a maximum of 8 GB (2-GB DIMMs in each of the four slots) of memory.

Installing Memory



1.


2.

Remove the computer cover (see

Removing the Computer Cover ).

3.

Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector.

1 memory connector closest to processor 2 securing clips (2) 3 memory connector

4.

Align the notch on the bottom of the module with the crossbar in the connector.

2

memory module

1

4 cutouts (2) crossbar

3

notch

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the memory module, press the module straight down into the connector while you apply equal force to each end of the module.

5.

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.

6.

Replace the computer cover (see

Replacing the Computer Cover ).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer.

7.

Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.

8.

When the message appears stating that memory size has changed, press <F1> to continue.

9.

Log on to your computer.

10.

Right-click the My Computer icon on your Windows desktop and click Properties.

11.

Click the General tab.

12.

To verify that the memory is installed correctly, check the amount of memory (RAM) listed.

Removing Memory



1.


2.

Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector.

3.

Grasp the module and pull up.

If the module is difficult to remove, gently ease the module back and forth to remove it from the connector.

Cards


Your computer provides the following slots for PCI and PCI Express cards: l l l l

Three PCI card slots

Two PCI Express x16 card slots (can be used in a dual-graphics configuration)

One PCI Express x16 card slot (wired as x8)

One PCI Express x1 card slot

NOTE: If a graphics card is installed in each of the PCI Express x16 card slots in the dual-graphics configuration, the PCI Express x1 and one PCI card slot are not accessible for use.

1 PCI card

4 PCI Express x1 card slot

2 PCI Express x16 card

5 PCI Express x1 card

3 PCI Express x16 card slot

Removing PCI and PCI Express Cards


NOTICE: If your computer came with a PCI graphics card installed, removal of the card is not necessary when installing additional graphics cards; however, the card is required for troubleshooting purposes. If you remove the card, store it in a safe and secure location.

NOTICE:

If you have the optional dual graphics card configuration, see Removing a PCI Express Graphics Card from a Dual Configuration

to remove or replace a graphics card.

1.


2.



3.

Disconnect any cables connected to the card.

4.

Press down the tab on the top of the card retainer at the appropriate card slot and pivot the card retainer back through the chassis wall.

5.

If present, press the tab on the card retention device that lays over the installed cards and lift it to gain full access to the card.

1

4 release tab fan bracket

2

card retainer

3

alignment guide

6.

Press the release tab (if present) on the system board connector as you grasp the card by its top corners, and then ease the card out of the connector.

NOTE: If the card is full length, press the release tab on the end of the alignment guides on the fan bracket.

1 PCI Express x16 card 2 securing tab 3 PCI Express x16 card slot

7.

Install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening. If you are replacing the card, see Installing PCI and PCI Express Cards

.

NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.

NOTICE: Before rotating the card retainer back into place, ensure that the tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar and the notch in the top of each card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide.

NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or behind the cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent the computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment.

8.

Rotate the card retainer back into its original position; push its tip so that its tab clicks into place.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug the cable into the computer.

9.

If present, lower the card retention device that lays over the installed cards and snap it into place.

10.


Replacing the Computer Cover ), reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.

11.

Uninstall the driver for the card that you removed.

NOTE:

If you removed a sound card or a network adapter, see Network Adapter and Sound Card Settings .

Installing PCI and PCI Express Cards


NOTICE: If your computer came with a PCI graphics card installed, removal of the card is not necessary when installing additional graphics cards; however, the card is required for troubleshooting purposes. If you remove the card, store it in a safe and secure location.

NOTICE: If you have or are upgrading to the optional dual-graphics configuration, see

Installing a PCI Express Graphics Card in a Dual Configuration

to install a graphics card.

1.


2.



3.

If present, press the tab on the card retention device that lays over the installed cards and rotate it upwards to gain full access to the card.

4.


1


2

card retainer

3

alignment guide

5.

Remove the filler bracket or existing card (see Removing PCI and PCI Express Cards ) to create a card- slot opening.

6.

Prepare the card 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.

7.

Position the card so that it is aligned with the slot and the securing tab (if present) is aligned with the securing slot.

NOTE: If the card is full length, insert the card guide into the alignment slot on the fan bracket.


NOTICE: Ensure that you release the securing tab to seat the card. If the card is not installed correctly, you may damage the system board.

8.

Gently pull the securing tab (if present) and place the card in the connector. Press down firmly and ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot.

1 card connector (seated)

4 bracket improperly aligned outside of slot

2 card connector (not seated)

5 alignment bar

3 bracket properly aligned within slot

6 alignment guide


NOTICE: An incorrectly attached graphics power cable may result in degraded graphics performance.

9.

Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.

See the documentation for the card for information about the card's cable connections.


10.


11.



12.



13.

Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation.

NOTE:

If you installed a sound card or a network adapter, see Network Adapter and Sound Card Settings

.

Removing a PCI Express Graphics Card from a Dual Configuration

NOTE: This section regards dual configurations of PCI Express x16 graphics cards only. For removal of any other type of PCI or PCI Express cards, see

Removing PCI and PCI Express Cards

.

1.


2.



3.


4.

Gently securing both graphics cards with one hand, remove the graphics card bridge (if present) with your other hand by pulling it up and away from the computer. Set it aside.

1 graphics card bridge 2 power connectors (2) 3 dual-PCI Express graphics cards

5.

Disconnect any cables connected to the card.

6.


1


2

card retainer

3

alignment guide

7.

Press the release tab (if present) on the system board connector as you grasp the card by its top corners, and then ease the card out of the connector.

NOTE: If the card is full length, press the release tab on the end of the alignment guides on the fan bracket.


8.

Install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening. If you are replacing the card, see Installing a PCI Express Graphics Card in a Dual Configuration .

NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.

NOTE: The graphics card bridge (not present in all dual-graphics configurations) is not necessary in a single graphics card configuration.



9.



10.


11.



Installing a PCI Express Graphics Card in a Dual Configuration

NOTE: To upgrade to or downgrade from a dual-graphics configuration, you will need additional parts that can be ordered from Dell (see Contacting

Dell ).

This section pertains to dual PCI Express graphics card configurations only. For installation of other types of PCI or PCI Express cards, see Installing PCI and

PCI Express Cards .

The PCI Express x1 card slot is not available for use if a graphics card is installed in each of the PCI Express x16 card slots in a dual graphics card configuration. If you are upgrading from a single graphics card to a dual-graphics card configuration, you will need to remove any card installed in the PCI

Express x1 card slot (see System Board Components to locate the PCI Express x1 card slot). To remove a PCI Express card, see Removing PCI and PCI

Express Cards .

NOTICE: For information about upgrading your system to use NVIDIA SLI (Scalable Link Interface) dual-graphics technology, see the Dell website at

support.dell.com.

To learn more about NVIDIA SLI (Scalable Link Interface) dual graphics technology, see Understanding Dual-Graphics Technology .

1.


2.



3.


4.


1


2

card retainer

3

alignment guide

5.

Remove the filler bracket or existing graphics card (see Removing a PCI Express Graphics Card from a Dual Configuration

) to create a card-slot opening.

NOTE: If you are upgrading to a dual graphics card configuration and have a card installed in the PCI Express x1 card slot, remove the card (see

Removing PCI and PCI Express Cards

).

6.

Prepare the card 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.

7.

Position the card so that it is aligned with the slot and the securing tab (if present) is aligned with the securing slot.

NOTE: If the card is full length, insert the card guide into the alignment slot on the fan bracket.


NOTICE: Ensure that you release the securing tab to seat the card. If the card is not installed correctly, you may damage the system board.

8.

Gently pull the securing tab (if present) and place the card in the connector. Press down firmly and ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot.


NOTICE: An incorrectly attached graphics power cable may result in degraded graphics performance.

9.

Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.

See the documentation for the card for information about the card's cable connections.


10.


11.

Attach the graphics card bridge (if required for your dual-graphics configuration), pressing firmly so that it completely covers the connector tabs.

1 graphics card bridge (not present on some dual graphics card configurations)

2 power connectors (2)

3 dual-PCI Express graphics cards


12.


13.



Network Adapter and Sound Card Settings

If you installed a sound card:

1.

Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup ), select Integrated Audio Controller, and then change the setting to Off.

2.

Connect external audio devices to the sound card connectors. Do not connect external audio devices to the microphone, speaker/headphone, or line-in connectors on the back panel.

If you removed a sound card:

1.

Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup ), select Integrated Audio Controller, and then change the setting to On.

2.

Connect external audio devices to the audio connectors on the back panel of the computer.

If you installed an add-in network adapter and want to disable the integrated network adapter:

1.

Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup ), select Integrated NIC Controller, and then change the setting to Off.

2.

Connect the network cable to the add-in network adapter connectors. Do not connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel.

If you removed an add-in network connector:

1.

Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup ), select Integrated NIC Controller, and then change the setting to On.

2.

Connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel of the computer.

Drives

Your computer supports: l l l l

Six SATA devices (hard drives or optical drives)

Two IDE devices (two hard drives or two optical drives)

One floppy drive

One Media Card Reader

NOTICE: When removing and replacing drives, be sure to leave the drive data and power cables connected to the system board.

NOTE: The 5.25-inch Media Card Reader/floppy drive carrier is not interchangeable with the hard drive carrier.

3 hard-drive bays (4) 1 optical drive bays (4) 2 floppy drive/media card reader

About Serial ATA Drives

Your computer supports up to four serial ATA hard drives and two serial ATA optical drives. Serial ATA drives provide the following benefits by transferring data using serial technology and flexible cables that are thinner and longer than IDE cables:

l l

Improved cable routing facilitates more efficient airflow inside the chassis.

Compact cable connectors save space on the system board and on the hard drive, allowing for more efficient utilization of space inside the chassis.

General Drive Installation Guidelines

SATA hard drives should be connected to connectors labeled "HDD" on the system board. Non-hard drive SATA devices should be attached to the connectors labeled SATA, with the exception of a 5th SATA hard drive installed in a 5.25-inch drive bay, which much be connected to the SATA0 connector. IDE optical drives should be connected to the connectors labeled "IDE."

When connecting a SATA cable, hold the cable by the connector at each end and press firmly into the connector. When disconnecting a SATA cable, hold the cable by the connector at each end and pull until the connector detaches.

1 SATA data cable 2 SATA data connector (on the system board) 3 SATA drive

When you connect two IDE devices to a single IDE data cable and configure the devices for the cable select setting, the device attached to the last connector on the data cable is primary or the boot device, and the device attached to the middle connector on the data cable is the secondary device. See the drive documentation in your upgrade kit for information on configuring devices for the cable select setting.

To connect an IDE data cable, align the tab on one connector with the notch on the other. When disconnecting an IDE data cable, grasp the colored pull-tab and pull until the connector detaches.

Hard Drive

Removing a Hard Drive


CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the cover.

NOTICE: If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data that you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.

1.


2.



3.

Disconnect the power cable and the data cable from the hard drive.

1 power cable 2 data cable

4.

Press the blue tabs on each side of the hard drive bracket toward each other and slide the drive up and out of the hard-drive bay.

1 blue tabs (2) 2 hard drive 3 hard drive bay

5.

Ensure that all connectors are properly cabled and firmly seated.

6.




7.

Connect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.

Installing a Hard Drive


1.


2.



3.

Remove the existing hard drive, if applicable (see

Removing a Hard Drive ).

NOTE: If a hard drive bracket is installed inside of the hard drive bay, remove the bracket before you install the new hard drive.

4.

Prepare the new hard drive for installation and check the documentation for the hard drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer.

NOTE: If hard drive you are installing does not have the hard drive bracket attached, use your original hard drive bracket; snap the bracket onto the new drive.

hard drive bracket 1 hard drive 2

5.

Verify that the hard drive bay is empty and unobstructed.

6.

Slide the hard drive into the hard drive bay until it clicks securely into place.

1 hard drive bay hard drive 2

NOTICE: Ensure that all connectors are properly cabled and firmly seated.

7.

Connect the power cable to the hard drive.

8.

Connect the hard drive data cable to the hard drive.


9.




10.


See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.

Drive Panel


Removing the Drive Panel

1.


2.



3.

Grasp the drive release latch and slide it towards the base of the computer until the drive panel snaps open.

3 drive panel tabs 1 drive release latch 2 drive panel

4.

Pivot the drive panel outward and lift it from its side hinges.

5.

Set the drive panel aside in a secure location.

Replacing the Drive Panel

1.


2.



3.

Align the drive panel tabs with the side-door hinges.

3 drive panel tabs 1 drive release latch 2 drive panel

4.

Rotate the drive panel toward the computer until it snaps into place on the drive panel.

5.




Floppy Drive


Removing a Floppy Drive

1.


2.



3.

Remove the drive panel (see Removing the Drive Panel

).

4.

Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the floppy drive.

1 power cable 2 floppy drive data cable

5.

Slide the drive release latch towards the base of the computer to release the shoulder screw, and then slide the drive out of the drive bay.

1 drive release latch 2 floppy drive

6.

Replace the drive panel (see Replacing the Drive Panel

).

7.




8.


Installing a Floppy Drive

1.


2.



3.


).

4.

Remove the existing floppy drive, if applicable (see

Removing a Floppy Drive

).

5.

If no screws are attached to the new floppy drive, check the inside of the drive panel for shoulder screws. If screws are present, attach the screws to the new drive. shoulder screws (4) 1 floppy drive 2

6.

Slide the floppy drive into the drive bay until it clicks into place.

1 drive release latch 2 floppy drive

7.

Connect the power and data cables to the back of the floppy drive.

8.

Check all cable connections and fold cables out of the way to avoid blocking airflow between the fan and cooling vents.

9.


).

10.



NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable in to the network port or device and then plug it in to the computer.

11.

Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.


12.

Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup ), and select the appropriate Diskette Drive option.

Media Card Reader


Removing a Media Card Reader

1.


2.



3.


).

4.

Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the Media Card Reader.

1 media card reader power cable 2 system board connector

5.

Slide the drive release latch towards the base of the computer to release the shoulder screw, and then slide the media card reader out of the drive bay.

1 drive release latch 2 media card reader

6.


).

7.




8.


Installing a Media Card Reader

1.


2.



3.


).

4.

Remove the existing media card reader, if applicable (see

Removing a Media Card Reader ).

5.

If no screws are attached to the Media Card Reader, check the inside of the drive panel for shoulder screws. If screws are present, attach the screws to the new card reader.

1 media card reader 2 shoulder screws (4)

6.

Slide the Media Card Reader into the drive bay until it clicks into place.

1 drive release latch 2 media card reader

7.

Attach the power and data cables to the back of the Media Card Reader.

8.


9.


).

10.




11.



12.

Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup ) and select the appropriate USB for FlexBay option.

Optical Drive


Removing an Optical Drive

1.


2.



3.


).

4.

Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the drive.

NOTE: If you are uninstalling your only optical drive and will not replace it at this time, disconnect the data cable from the system board and set it aside.

1 data cable 2 power cable

5.

Slide the drive release latch towards the base of the computer to release the shoulder screw, and then slide the optical drive out of the drive bay.

1 drive release latch 2 optical drive

6.


).

7.




8.


Installing an Optical Drive

1.


2.



3.


).

4.

Remove the existing optical drive, if applicable (see

Removing an Optical Drive

).

5.

Prepare the optical drive for installation and check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer.

NOTE: If you are installing an IDE drive, configure the drive for the cable select setting.

6.

If no screws are attached to the drive, check the inside of the drive panel for screws and, if screws are present, attach the screws to the new drive.

1 optical drive 2 shoulder screws (3)

7.

Gently slide the drive into the drive bay until you hear a click or feel the drive securely installed.


8.

Attach the power and data cables to the optical drive.

To locate the system board connector, see System Board Components

.


9.


10.


).

11.




12.



13.

Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup ) and select the appropriate Drive option.

Liquid Cooling Assembly

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, follow the safety instructions located in

Safety Instructions for Liquid Cooling Assembly

and the

Product Information Guide.

Safety Instructions for Liquid Cooling Assembly

l l l l

The liquid cooling assembly is not user serviceable or upgradeable. All required service should be done by qualified service personnel only.

The liquid cooling assembly in your system contains a non-refillable coolant. In the event of a coolant leak, shut down your system immediately. Unplug your system from the power outlet and contact Dell Technical Support.

In the event of skin contact with the coolant, wash your skin with soap and water. Seek medical attention if irritation develops.

In the event of eye contact with the coolant, rinse your eyes immediately with water, with your eyelids open, for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

Removing the Liquid Cooling Assembly

1.


2.



CAUTION: The processor heat sink can get very hot during normal operation. Be sure that the heat sink has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it.

3.


).

4.

Slide the drive release latch towards the base of the computer to release the shoulder screw(s) on the optical drive(s), then slide the optical drive(s) forward, out of the way.

NOTE: It is not necessary to disconnect the optical drive cables unless you intend to fully remove the optical drive(s) from the computer. For information on how to remove an optical drive, see

Removing an Optical Drive

.


5.

Remove any full-length expansion cards (see Removing PCI and PCI Express Cards ).

6.

Disconnect the liquid cooling assembly power cable.

7.

Disconnect the liquid cooling assembly cable from the TEC_PUMP connector on the system board (see System Board Components

).

1 power cable 2 TEC_PUMP

8.

Disconnect the fan cable from the FAN1_CPU connector on the system board (see System Board Components ).

NOTICE: The processor heat sink is attached to the liquid cooling assembly. When you remove the liquid cooling assembly, lay it upside down or on its side to avoid damaging the heatsink thermal interface.

NOTICE: The screw at the front of the liquid cooling assembly is not captive. Remove the screw and set it aside in a secure location.

9.

Loosen the seven screws on the liquid cooling assembly, then lift the assembly out of the computer and set it aside.

1 liquid cooling assembly 2 captive screws (6) 3 screw (loose)

Installing the Liquid Cooling Assembly

1.


2.



NOTICE: Ensure that adequate thermal grease is applied to the top of the processor. Thermal grease is critical for ensuring adequate thermal bonding, which is a requirement for optimal processor operation.

3.

Apply thermal grease to the top of the processor as needed.

4.

Align the screw holes on the liquid cooling assembly with the holes on the base of the computer, then tighten the seven screws to secure the assembly.

5.

Connect the fan cable to the FAN1_CPU connector on the system board (see System Board Components

).

6.

Connect the liquid cooling assembly cable to the TEC_PUMP connector on the system board (see

System Board Components

).

7.

Connect the liquid cooling assembly power cable.

8.

Gently slide the optical drive(s) into the drive bay until you hear a click or feel the drive securely installed.

9.


).

10.

Replace any expansion cards that you removed (see

Installing PCI and PCI Express Cards ).

11.



12.


Processor


NOTICE: Do not perform the following steps unless you are familiar with hardware removal and replacement. Performing these steps incorrectly could damage your system board.

Removing the Processor

1.


2.



3.

Disconnect the power cables from the POWER1 and POWER2 connectors (see System Board Components

) on the system board.

4.

Remove the liquid cooling assembly (see

Removing the Liquid Cooling Assembly

).

5.

Push down and out on the socket release lever.

6.

Lift the socket release lever and open the processor cover.

1

4 processor cover socket release lever

2

processor

3

socket

7.

Remove the processor from the socket.

Leave the release lever extended in the release position so that the socket is ready for the new processor.

Installing the Processor

NOTICE: Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

1.

Unpack the new processor.

NOTICE: You must position the processor correctly in the socket to avoid permanent damage to the processor and the computer when you turn on the computer.

2.

If the release lever on the socket is not fully extended, move it to that position.

3.

Align the pin-1 corner of the processor and socket.

1 processor cover 2 processor 3 socket

4 socket release lever 5 socket pin-1 indicator

NOTICE: Socket pins are delicate. To 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 bend the pins on the system board.

4.

Set the processor lightly in the socket and ensure that the processor is level in the socket. When the processor is positioned correctly, press it with minimal pressure to seat it.

5.

When the processor is fully seated in the socket, close the processor cover.

6.

Pivot the socket release lever back toward the socket and snap it into place to secure the processor.

7.

Replace the liquid cooling assembly (see Installing the Liquid Cooling Assembly

).

8.

Reconnect the power cables to the POWER1 and POWER2 connectors (see

System Board Components

) on the system board.

9.



10.


Fans

Removing the Card Fan

1.


2.



3.


4.

Disconnect the fan cable from the FAN_CAGE connector on the system board (see System Board Components ).

5.

Press down on the two tabs along the top of the fan cage, then slide the fan cage back and out of the cage housing.

1 cage housing 2 fan cage 3 tab (2)

6.

In succession, carefully pull on each corner of the fan to detach the rubber grommets securing the fan to the fan cage.

1 card fan 2 rubber grommet (4)

Installing the Card Fan

3 fan cage

NOTICE: Ensure the fan cable is correctly routed through the opening in the lower-right corner of the fan cage.

1.

With the fan power cable oriented downward, align the rubber grommets in the fan with the holes in each corner of the fan cage, then pull the grommets through until they snap into place.

NOTE: Airflow direction and orientation are shown on the side of the fan.

1 card fan 2 rubber grommet (4) 3 fan cage

2.

Insert the tabs along the bottom of the fan cage into the corresponding slots on the cage housing, then rotate the fan cage forward until it snaps into place.

3.

Connect the fan cable to the FAN_CAGE connector on the system board (see System Board Components

).

4.



5.



NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into your computer.

6.


Removing the Optional Hard Drive Fan

1.


2.



3.

Remove all installed memory modules (see

Removing Memory ).

4.

Disconnect the fan cable from the FAN_HDD connector on the system board (see

System Board Components ).

5.

Press the release latch on the hard drive fan and slide it out from between the hard drive bays, then lift it from the computer.

1 hard-drive fan release latch 2 hard drive fan

Installing the Optional Hard Drive Fan

1.

Slide the fan between the hard drive bays until it snaps into place.

2.

Connect the fan cable to the FAN_HDD connector on the system board (see System Board Components ).

3.




4.


System Board

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide

Removing the System Board

NOTICE: The system board and metal tray are connected and are removed as one piece.

1.


2.



3.

Disconnect the fan cable from the FAN_CAGE connector on the system board (see System Board Components ).

4.


5.

Remove the two screws securing the card fan assembly, then remove the assembly and set it aside.

3 fan connector 1 screw (2) 2 card fan assembly

6.

Remove any additional components that may restrict access to the system board.

7.

Disconnect all cables from the system board.

NOTICE: If you are replacing the system board, visually compare the replacement system board to the existing system board to make sure that you have the correct part.

8.

Remove the two screws securing the system board assembly to the chassis, then pull on the two tabs to slide the system board assembly towards the front of the computer.

1 screw (2) 2 tabs

NOTICE: The system board and metal tray are connected and are removed as one piece.

9.

Carefully, lift the system board assembly up and out of the computer.

Installing the System Board

NOTICE: The system board and metal tray are connected and are installed as one piece.

NOTICE: If you are replacing the system board, visually compare the replacement system board to the existing system board to make sure that you have the correct part.

NOTE: Some components and connectors on replacement system boards may be in different locations than corresponding connectors on the existing system board.

NOTE: Jumper settings on replacement system boards are preset by the factory.

1.

Transfer components from the existing system board to the replacement system board, if applicable.

2.

Orient the system board assembly by aligning the notches on the bottom of the assembly with the tabs on the computer.

3.

Slide the system board assembly toward the back of the computer until the assembly clicks into place.

4.

Replace the two screws to secure the system board assembly to the chassis.

5.

Align the screw holes on the card fan assembly with the screw holes on the system board assembly, then replace the two screws to secure the card fan assembly.

6.

Connect the fan cable to the FAN_CAGE connector on the system board (see System Board Components

).

7.



8.

Replace any additional components that you removed from the system board.

9.

Reconnect all cables to the system board.

10.




11.


12.

Flash the system BIOS, as needed.

NOTE: For information on flashing the system BIOS, see support.dell.com.

Power Supply


Power Supply (PSU) DC Connector Pin Assignments

DC Power Connector P1

1-KW Power Supply 750-KW Power Supply

14

15

16

17

10

11

12

13

18

19

20

21

22

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Pin Number Signal name

1

2

+3.3 VDC

+3.3 VDC/SE

COM

+5 VDC

COM

+5 VDC

COM

POK

+5 VFP

+12 VD DC/SE Yellow/White

+12 VD DC

+3.3 VDC

+3.3 VDC

-12 VDC

COM

PS_ON

COM

COM

COM

N/C

+5 VDC/SE

+5 VDC

18-AWG Wire Color

Orange

Orange

Black

Red

Black

Red

Black

Gray

Purple

Yellow/White

Orange

Orange

Blue

Black

Green

Black

Black

Black

N/A

Red

Red

Signal name

+3.3 VDC

+3.3 VDC/SE

COM

+5 VDC

COM

+5 VDC

COM

POK

+5 VFP


Orange

Orange

Black

Red

Black

Red

Black

Gray

Purple

+12 VD DC/SE Yellow/White

+12 VD DC

+3.3 VDC

+3.3 VDC

-12 VDC

COM

PS_ON

COM

COM

COM

N/C

+5 VDC/SE

+5 VDC

Yellow/White

Orange

Orange

Blue

Black

Green

Black

Black

Black

N/A

Red

Red

23

24

+5 VDC

COM

Red

Black

DC Power Connector P2

+5 VDC

COM

Red

Black


10

11

12

13

6

7

8

9

14

15

16

17

18

19

20


1

2

3

4

5

+12 VC DC

+12 VC DC


Blue/White

Blue/White

COM

COM

Black

Black

+12 VA DC/SE Yellow

Signal name

+12 VC DC

+12 VC DC

COM

COM


Blue/White

Blue/White

Black

Black

+12 VA DC/SE Yellow

+12 VA DC

COM

COM

Yellow

Black

Black

+12 VB DC/SE White

+12 VB DC White

+12 VC DC/SE Blue/White

COM

COM

COM

+12 VA DC

COM

COM

COM

+12 VB DC

NC

Black

Black

Black

Yellow

Black

Black

Black

White

N/A

+12 VA DC

COM

COM

+12 VB DC/SE White

+12 VB DC

+12 VC DC/SE Blue/White

COM

COM

COM

+12 VA DC

COM

COM

COM

+12 VB DC

NC

Yellow

Black

Black

White

Black

Black

Black

Yellow

Black

Black

Black

White

N/A

DC Power Connector P3 (Graphics Card)


3

4

5

6


1

2

+12 VE DC/SE

+12 VE DC


Blue/Yellow

Blue/Yellow

+12 VE DC

COM

COM

COM

Blue/Yellow

Black

Black

Black

Signal name 18-AWG Wire Color

+12 VB DC

+12 VB DC

+12 VB DC

COM

COM

COM

White

White

White

Black

Black

Black

DC Power Connector P4 (Graphics Card)


3

4

5

6


1

2

+12 VE DC

+12 VE DC

+12 VE DC

COM

COM

COM


Blue/Yellow

Blue/Yellow

Blue/Yellow

Black

Black

Black


+12 VC DC

+12 VC DC

+12 VC DC

COM

COM

COM

Blue/White

Blue/White

Blue/White

Black

Black

Black

NOTE: The P3 and P4 connectors are intended for use with the PCI Express graphics cards whose power requirements exceed 75 watts.

DC Power Connector P5 (FD1)



1

2

+5 VDC

COM

3

4

COM

+12 VE DC


Red

Black

Black

Blue/Yellow


+5 VDC

COM

COM

+12 VB DC

Red

Black

Black

White

DC Power Connector P6 and P7 (BAY1 and Bay2)



1

2

+12 VE DC

COM

3

4

COM

+5 VDC


Blue/Yellow

Black

Black

Red


+12 VB DC

COM

COM

+5 VDC

White

Black

Black

Red

DC Power Connectors P8 and P9 (HDD0 and HDD1)


3

4

5


1

2

+3.3 VDC

COM

+5 VDC

COM

+12 VE DC


Orange

Black

Red

Black

Blue/Yellow


+3.3 VDC

COM

+5 VDC

COM

+12 VB DC

Orange

Black

Red

Black

White

DC Power Connectors P10-P13 (HDD2 and HDD5)


3

4

5


1

2

+3.3 VDC

COM

+5 VDC

COM

+12 VE DC


Orange

Black

Red

Black

Blue/Yellow


+3.3 VDC

COM

+5 VDC

COM

+12 VC DC

Orange

Black

Red

Black

Blue/White

DC Power Connectors P14 (Peripheral)


4

5

6


1

2

3

+12 VB DC

COM

COM

+3.3 VDC

+5 VDC

+12 VC DC


White

Black

Black

Orange

Red

Blue/White


+12 VA DC

COM

COM

Yellow

Black

Black

+3.3 VDC

+5 VDC

+12 VD DC

Orange

Red

Yellow/White

DC Power Connector P15 (Graphics Card – 1-KW PSU Only)

4

5

6

Pin Number

1

2

3

Signal Name

+12 VB DC

+12 VB DC

+12 VB DC

COM

COM

COM


White

White

White

Black

Black

Black

DC Power Connector P16 (Graphics Card – 1-KW PSU Only)

3

4

5

6

Pin Number

1

2

Signal Name

+12 VC DC

+12 VC DC

+12 VC DC

COM

COM

COM


Blue/White

Blue/White

Blue/White

Black

Black

Black

NOTE: The P15 and P16 connectors are intended for use with the PCI Express graphics cards whose power requirements exceed 75 watts.

Removing the Power Supply

1.


2.



NOTICE: Note the location and ID of each power connector before disconnecting the power supply cables.

3.

Follow the DC power cables that stem from the power supply and disconnect each connected power cable.

NOTE: Note the routing of the power cable bundles as you disconnect them. You must route these cables properly when you replace them to prevent them from being pinched or crimped.

4.

Remove all hard drives installed in the interior hard drive bays (see Removing a Hard Drive

).

5.

Remove the optional hard drive fan, if applicable (see Removing the Optional Hard Drive Fan ).

6.

Remove the two screws that attach each hard drive bay.

7.

Remove the hard drive bays from the chassis.

1 screws (4) 2 hard-drive bays

8.

Remove the four screws that attach the power supply to the back of the computer chassis.

9.

Gather the power supply bundles that stem from the power supply, for easy removal.

1 power supply screws (4)

10.

Slide the power supply towards the front of the computer to free it from the securing tabs on the computer chassis.

11.

Slide the power supply toward the hard drive bay area, so that it will clear the protruding lip of the chassis and lift the power supply from the computer.

Installing the Power Supply

1.

Slide the power supply into place, ensuring that the tabs on the rear wall of the computer chassis latch into place.

2.

Replace the four screws that secure the power supply to the back of the computer chassis.

3.

Replace the two hard drive bays.

4.

Replace all hard drives installed in the interior hard drive bays (see Installing a Hard Drive

).

5.

Replace the optional hard drive fan, if applicable (see

Installing the Optional Hard Drive Fan

).

6.

Reattach each of the DC power cables that were previously connected, carefully rerouting them as you found them.

7.




8.


Front I/O Panel

Front I/O-Panel Components

1 external IEEE

1394 port

4 headphone connector

7 bottom LED connector

10 power button connector

2 external USB ports

(2)

3 power, diagnostics, hard drive, and network activity LEDs

5 microphone connector

6 internal front panel I/O connector

8 top LED connector 9 internal USB connector

11 internal 1394 connector

12 internal audio interface connector

Removing the Front I/O Panel


1.


2.



3.


NOTICE: Carefully note the routing of each cable before you disconnect it, so that you are sure to re-route cables correctly. An incorrectly routed or a disconnected cable could lead to computer problems.

4.

Remove the processor airflow shroud (see Removing the Liquid Cooling Assembly

).

5.

Disconnect the front fan and the card fan from the system board.

6.

Unscrew the two screws that hold the processor and card fan assembly in place and lift it away from the computer.

7.

Disconnect the control-panel cable from the I/O panel connector by pulling the cable loop.

1 Front I/O panel 2 mounting screws (4)

8.

Remove the four mounting screws from the I/O panel.

9.

Lift to remove the I/O panel from the computer.

Installing the I/O Panel


NOTICE: Ensure that you replace all cables originally attached to the I/O panel or you computer may not function properly.

1.


2.



3.

Align the screw holes on the I/O panel with the screw holes on the chassis, and then tighten the four mounting screws.

4.

Connect the control-panel cable to the I/O panel connector.

5.

Replace the processor and card fan assembly.

6.

Connect the front fan and the card fan to the system board.

7.

Replace the liquid cooling assembly (see Installing the Liquid Cooling Assembly

).

8.

Replace any full-length expansion cards (see Installing PCI and PCI Express Cards

) that were uninstalled during removal of the I/O panel.

9.



Battery


Replacing the Battery

A coin-cell battery maintains computer configuration, date, and time information. The battery can last several years.

If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on the computer, replace the battery.

CAUTION: A new battery can explode if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

To replace the battery:

1.

Record all the screens in system setup (see System Setup ) so that you can restore the correct settings after the new battery has been installed.

2.


3.

Open the computer cover (see


4.

Locate the battery socket (see System Board Components

).

NOTICE: If you pry the battery out of its socket with a blunt object, be careful not to touch the system board with the object. Ensure that the object is inserted between the battery and the socket before you attempt to pry out the battery. Otherwise, you may damage the system board by prying off the socket or by breaking circuit traces on the system board.

5.

Remove the battery by prying it out of its socket with your fingers.

6.

Insert the new battery (CR2032) into the socket with the side labeled "+" facing up, and press the battery into place.

7.




8.


9.

Enter system setup (see System Setup ) and restore the settings you recorded in

step 1 .

10.

Properly dispose of the old battery. See the Product Information Guide for battery disposal information.

Removing the Computer Stand



CAUTION: The computer stand should be installed at all times to ensure maximum system stability. Failure to install the stand could result in the computer tipping over, potentially resulting in bodily injury or damage to the computer.

1.


2.

Loosen the captive screw securing the stand to the base of the computer.

3.

Gently slide the stand back, towards the rear of the computer, then pull the stand away from the computer to remove it.

1 computer stand 2 captive screw

Replacing the Computer Cover





1.

Ensure that all cables are connected, and fold cables out of the way.

2.

Ensure that no tools or extra parts are left inside the computer.

3.

Pivot the cover down and into position.

4.

Press down on the cover until it clicks into place.

NOTE: The computer cover should easily snap into place; however, if necessary, pull back on the cover release latch until the cover is completely closed, then slide the release latch forward to secure the cover.

1 computer cover 2 cover hinge tabs 3 hinge slots

5.

Carefully, lift the rear of the computer and slide the stabilizing feet outward into the open position.

6.

With the help of an assistant, carefully set the computer upright.


7.




Optimizing for Greater Performance


Understanding Dual-Graphics Technology

Understanding CPU Overclocking

Understanding Dual-Graphics Technology

With dual-graphics technology, an optional second PCI Express graphics card will significantly increase graphics performance on your computer. Benefits of this technology can be seen in the improved portrayal of the 3-D graphics used in gaming and design applications.

Each graphics card includes at least one GPU (graphics processing unit). In dual graphics card configurations, multiple GPUs dynamically share their workload to provide the best possible performance. For a given application, the software selects the optimum rendering (processing) mode.

For more information about your graphics card, go to support.dell.com.

Understanding CPU Overclocking

NOTICE: Dell does not recommend operating the processor or other system components beyond the factory default settings. This may cause system instability and reduce the operating life of your system components.

NOTICE: Dell Technical Support will verify the full functionality of the CPU at the factory default setting and support the CPU performance settings available within the system BIOS. Dell does not provide technical support for any hardware or software issues arising from any third party applications used to enable overclocking, such as NVIDIA nTune 5.0.

Overclocking is the process of causing a computer component to run faster than designed or designated by the component manufacturer. Depending upon your application (such as gaming or video editing), your performance may benefit from overclocking different subsystems within your computer.

The Dell™ XPS™ 720 H 2C™ Edition ships with an overclocked Intel® Core™2 Extreme Edition processor and an H2Ceramic (also called H2C™ or Hot-to-Cold) cooling system designed to improve overall thermal capacity.

The processor has been overclocked through CPU multiplier overclocking via the BIOS to speeds faster than the standard speed of the processor.

You can make limited adjustments to the CPU operating frequency in system setup. For more information on accessing system setup, see System Setup . For information on performance options, see Performance .



Dell™ QuickSet


NOTE: This feature may not be available on your computer.

Dell™ QuickSet allows you to select and adjust LED light effects, also known as LightFX™.

You can start QuickSet by either clicking, double-clicking, or right-clicking the QuickSet icon in the Microsoft® Windows® taskbar. The taskbar is located in the lower-right corner of your screen.

For more information about QuickSet, right-click the QuickSet icon and select Help.



Setting Up and Using Your Computer


Front and Back View of the Computer

Attaching the Computer Stand

Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure

Connecting Monitors

About Your RAID Configuration

Using Multimedia

Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)

Network Setup Wizard

Transferring Information to a New Computer

Power Management Options in Windows XP

Power Management Options in Windows Vista

Front and Back View of the Computer

Front View

1 front I/O connectors

2 3.5-inch drive bays (2)

Plug USB and other devices into the appropriate connectors (see

I/O Connectors ).

Can hold an optional Media Card Reader or floppy drive.

Front

3-

6

5.25-inch drive bays (4)

Can hold an optical or SATA hard drive in a 5.25-inch drive bay carrier.

7 front panel

LEDs (4)

NOTE: The hard drive carrier is only for use in the 5.25-inch drive bays.

The floppy-drive/Media Card Reader and hard drive carriers are not interchangeable.

Use the sequence of these diagnostics lights to help troubleshoot a problem with your computer (see Dell Diagnostics ).

8

9 optical drive tray eject button (4) front panel

LEDs (4)

NOTE: The color of the front panel LEDs can be adjusted in system setup (see System Setup ).

Use to eject the drive tray of an optical drive.

NOTE: The optical drive tray eject button is not a handle. The selftending doors open automatically when the eject button is pressed and the drive tray is ejected.

Multi-colored lights provide illumination for the front of the computer.

NOTE: The color of the front panel LEDs can be adjusted in system

setup (see System Setup ).

10 power button Press to turn on the computer.

11 power light

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.

NOTE: The power button can also be used to wake the system or to

place it into a power-saving state (see Power Management Options in

Windows XP ).

The power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states:

¡

¡

¡

¡

¡

No light — The computer is turned off.

Steady green — The computer is in a normal operating state.

Blinking green — The computer is in a power-saving state.

Steady amber — There may be a problem with an installed device.

Blinking amber — An internal power problem may exist.

12 computer stand Attach the computer stand to provide stability to the system.


Front I/O Connectors


2 headphone connector

Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.

Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.

3 diagnostic lights (4)

4 hard-drive activity light

5 network link light

Use the sequence of these diagnostics lights to help troubleshoot a problem with your computer (see Dell Diagnostics ).

The hard drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light may also be on when a device such as your CD player is operating.

The network link light is on when a good connection exists between a network and the computer.

6 USB 2.0 connectors (2)

Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys, cameras, or bootable USB devices. For more information on bootable USB devices see Boot Sequence .

7 IEEE 1394 connector

Dell recommends that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

Use the IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices such as digital video cameras and external storage devices.

Back View

1 power connector Insert the power cable. The appearance of this connector may differ from what is pictured.

2 back panel LEDs

(2)

Multi-colored lights provide illumination for the I/O panel on the back of the computer.

3 back I/O connectors

4 card slots

NOTE: The color of the back panel LEDs can be adjusted in system setup (see System Setup ).

Plug USB and other devices into the appropriate connectors (see Back

I/O Connectors ).

Access connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express cards.

NOTE: Some connector slots support full-length cards.

Back I/O Connectors

1 link integrity light l l l l

Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps network and the computer.

Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the computer.

Yellow — A good connection exists between a 1000-Mbps (1-

Gbps) network and the computer.

Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.

2 network adapter connector

NOTICE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network adapter connector.

Use the network adapter connector to attach your computer to a network or broadband device. Connect one end of a network cable to either a network jack or your network or broadband device, and then connect the other end of the network cable to the network adapter connector on your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached.

On computers with an additional network connector card, use the

15 IEEE 1394 connector connectors on the card and on the back of the computer when setting up multiple network connections (such as a separate intra- and extranet).

3 network activity light

NOTE: Dell recommends that you use Category 5 wiring and connectors for your network. If you must use Category 3 wiring, force the network speed to 10 Mbps to ensure reliable operation.

Flashes a yellow light when the computer is transmitting or receiving network data. A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady "on" state.

4 keyboard connector

Plug a standard PS/2 keyboard into the purple keyboard connector.

Turn off the computer and any attached devices before you connect a keyboard to the computer. If you have a USB keyboard, plug it into a USB connector.

5 mouse connector Plug a standard PS/2 mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off the computer and any attached devices before you connect a mouse to the computer. If you have a USB mouse, plug it into a USB connector.

6 side surround sound connector

Use the (silver) side surround connector to attach additional speakers.

Use the (orange) subwoofer connector to attach a single subwoofer. 7 center subwoofer/LFE connector

NOTE: The LFE (Low Frequency Effects) Audio channel, found in digital surround sound audio schemes, carries only low frequency information of 80 Hz and below. The LFE channel drives a subwoofer to provide extremely low bass extension. Systems not using subwoofers can shunt the LFE information to the main speakers in the surround sound setup.

8 surround sound connector

Use the (black) surround sound connector to attach multichannelcapable speakers.

9 line-in connector Use the (blue) line-in connector to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR.

10 lineout/headphone connector

On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

Use the (green) line-out connector to attach headphones and speakers with integrated amplifiers.


12 Optical S/PDIF connector

13 RCA S/PDIF connector

14 USB 2.0 connectors (6)

On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

Use the (pink) microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.

Use the optical S/PDIF connector to transmit digital audio without going through an analog audio conversion process.

Use the RCA S/PDIF connector to transmit digital audio without going through an analog audio conversion process.

Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

NOTE: Dell recommends that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys, cameras, or bootable USB devices.

Use the IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices such as digital video cameras and external storage devices.

Attaching the Computer Stand




1.


2.

Remove the thumb screw that is installed on the base of the computer.

NOTE: If the thumb screw is not already installed in the stand, it has been packaged separately.

3.

Insert the six alignment tabs into the corresponding slots on the base of the computer, then slide the stand forward until all six tabs catch in the slots.

4.

Ensure that the screw hole on the stand is aligned with the screw hole on the base of the computer.

5.

Insert the captive screw into the screw hole, then tighten the screw to secure the stand to the base of the computer.

1 captive screw

4 slots (6)

2

stabilizing feet (closed)

3

computer stand

6.

With the help of an assistant, carefully set the computer upright.

7.

Carefully, lift the rear of the computer and slide the stabilizing feet outward into the open position.

Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure

Installing your computer in an enclosure can restrict the airflow and impact your computer's performance, possibly causing it to overheat. Follow the guidelines below when installing your computer in an enclosure:

NOTICE: The operating temperature specifications indicated in your Owner's Manual reflect the maximum ambient operating temperature. The room's ambient temperature needs to be a consideration when installing your computer in an enclosure. For example, if the ambient room temperature is at

25° C (77° F), depending on your computer's specifications, you only have 5° to 10° C (9° to 18° F) temperature margin before you reach your computer's maximum operating temperature. For details about your computer's specifications, see Specifications . l l

Leave a 10.2 centimeter (4 inch) minimum clearance on all vented sides of the computer to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation.

If your enclosure has doors, they need to be of a type that allows at least 30% airflow through the enclosure (front and back). l

If your computer is installed in a corner on a desk or under a desk, leave at least 5.1 centimeters (2 inch) of clearance from the back of the computer to the wall to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation.

l Do not install your computer in an enclosure 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 procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.


NOTE: Depending on the options selected when you purchased your computer, your video card may have two DVI ports, or one DVI and one VGA port.

1 DVI (white) connector 2 TV-OUT connector 3 VGA (blue) connector

Connecting a Monitor (Without an Adapter)


NOTE: If your monitor has a VGA connector and your computer does not have a VGA port, follow the instructions in Connecting a Monitor (With an

Adapter) .

1.

Save and close all open files and exit all open programs.

2.

Shut down the operating system: l In Windows XP, click Start® Turn Off Computer® Turn off. l

In Windows Vista™, click the Windows Vista Start button , click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu as shown below, and then click Shut Down.


3.

Ensure that the computer and all attached devices are turned off. If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system, press and hold the power button for about 4 seconds to turn them off.Disconnect the computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.

4.

Connect the DVI or VGA connector of your monitor to the appropriate connector on the back of the computer:

To connect a monitor with a DVI connector, use the (white) DVI port on your computer.

To connect a monitor with a VGA connector, use the (blue) VGA port on your computer.

Connecting a Monitor (With an Adapter)


NOTE: In order to connect a monitor with a VGA connector to the DVI port on the back of your computer, a DVI-to-VGA adapter is required.

1.


2.

Shut down the operating system: l In Windows XP, click Start® Turn Off Computer® Turn off. l



3.


4.

Connect the DVI-to-VGA adapter to the VGA connector on your monitor, and then connect the other end of the adapter to the (white) DVI port on the back of the computer.

1 DVI (white) connector 2 DVI-to-VGA adapter (optional) 3 TV-OUT connector

Connecting a Monitor in a Dual Graphics Card Configuration


Dual graphics card configurations with multi-GPU technology enabled support only a single monitor. The monitor must be connected to the primary graphics card in order to function.

NOTE: If you have modified your primary graphics card settings in the BIOS, then the left DVI connector at the rear of your computer is the default primary connector.

NOTE: If your primary graphics card is equipped with two DVI ports and you are using a monitor with a VGA connector, a DVI-to-VGA adapter is required

to connect the monitor. See Connecting a Monitor (With an Adapter)

.

1.


2.

Shut down the operating system: l In Windows XP, click Start® Turn Off Computer® Turn off. l In Windows Vista, click Start , click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu as shown below, and then click Shut Down.


3.


4.

Connect the DVI or VGA connector of your monitor to the appropriate connector on the computer's primary graphics card:

To connect a monitor with a DVI connector, use the (white) DVI port on the primary graphics card.

To connect a monitor with a VGA connector, use the (blue) VGA port on the primary graphics card.

Connecting Two or More Monitors


NOTE: In order to connect and use two or more monitors in a dual graphics card configuration, multi-GPU technology must be disabled. To disable multi-

GPU, see Changing the Display Settings to Support Two or More Monitors

.

NOTE: Depending on the options selected when you purchased your computer, your video card may have two DVI ports, or one DVI and one VGA port.

1.


2.


In Windows XP, click Start® Turn Off Computer® Turn off. l



3.


4.

Connect two or more monitors to the appropriate DVI or VGA ports on the back of the computer.

NOTE: In order to connect a monitor with a VGA connector to the DVI port on the back of your computer, a DVI-to-VGA adapter is required.

To connect two or more monitors directly to the DVI or VGA ports on your computer, see Connecting a Monitor (Without an Adapter) .

To connect the VGA connectors of one or more monitors to the DVI port(s) on your computer, see Connecting a Monitor (With an Adapter)

.

5.

Change the display settings to support multiple monitors (see Changing the Display Settings to Support Two or More Monitors ).

Connecting a TV


NOTE: If you are connecting a TV to your computer, you may connect only one monitor (VGA or DVI) in addition to the TV.

NOTE: See the documentation that came with your TV to ensure that you properly configure and connect the TV.

To connect a TV to your computer, an S-video cable is required. If you do not have an S-video cable, you may purchase one at most consumer electronics stores. An S-video cable is not included with your computer.

1.


2.


In Windows XP, click Start® Turn Off Computer® Turn off. l In Windows Vista, click Start , click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu as shown below, and then click Shut Down.


3.


4.

Disconnect the computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.

5.

Connect one end of the S-video cable to the TV-OUT connector on the back of the computer.

6.

Connect the other end of the S-video cable to the S-video input connector on your TV.

7.

Connect one monitor, as needed, with a DVI or VGA connector as described in

Connecting Monitors

.

Changing the Display Settings to Support Two or More Monitors

NOTE: Dual graphics card configurations with multi-GPU technology enabled support only a single monitor. In order to connect and use two or more monitors in a dual graphics card configuration with multi-GPU technology, multi-GPU must be disabled.

1.

With your monitors connected and turned on, turn on the computer.

The Microsoft® Windows® desktop displays on the primary monitor.

2.

Disable multi-GPU technology in the display settings (applies only to dual graphics card configurations with multi-GPU technology enabled):

3.

Enable clone mode or extended desktop mode in the display settings. l l

In clone mode, all monitors display the same image.

In extended desktop mode, you can drag objects from one screen to the other, increasing the amount of viewable work space.

For more information on changing the display settings for your graphics card, see the device's User's Guide in the Help and Support Center. (From the Help and

Support Center, click User and system guides® Device guides, and then select the guide for your graphics card.)

About Your RAID Configuration

NOTICE: In order to use the migrating option to convert a RAID configuration without losing data, your hard drive must initially be set up as a single

drive RAID 0 array before the operating system is loaded onto the drive (see Using the NVIDIA MediaShield ROM Utility for instructions).

This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration you may have selected when you purchased your computer. There are several RAID configurations available in the computer industry for different types of uses. Your computer supports RAID level 0, RAID level 1, RAID level 5 (customer-installed), or RAID level

0+1 (customer-installed). A RAID level 0 configuration is recommended for high-performance programs, while RAID level 1 is recommended for users that desire a high level of data integrity.

NOTE: RAID levels do not represent a hierarchy. A RAID level 1 configuration is not inherently better or worse than a RAID level 0 configuration.

The drives in a RAID configuration should be the same size in order to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.

RAID level 0 and RAID level 1 require a minimum of two drives. RAID level 5 requires a minimum of three drives. RAID level 0+1 requires a minimum of four drives.

RAID Level 0 Configuration

NOTICE: Because a RAID level 0 configuration provides no data redundancy, a failure of one drive results in the loss of all data. To protect your data when using a RAID level 0 configuration, perform regular backups.

RAID level 0 uses a storage technique known as "data striping" to provide a high data access rate. Data striping is a method of writing consecutive segments, or stripes, of data sequentially across the physical drive(s) to create a large virtual drive. Data striping allows one of the drives to read data while the other drive is searching for and reading the next block.

Another advantage of a RAID level 0 configuration is that it utilizes the full storage capacities of the drives. For example, two 120-GB hard drives combine to provide 240 GB of hard drive space on which to store data.

NOTE: In a RAID level 0 configuration, the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive multiplied by the number of drives in the configuration.


RAID level 1 uses a data-redundancy storage technique known as "mirroring" to enhance data integrity. When data is written to the primary drive, the data is also duplicated, or mirrored, on the second drive in the configuration. A RAID level 1 configuration sacrifices high data-access rates for its data redundancy advantages.

If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the surviving drive. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drive.

NOTE: In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the configuration.

RAID Level 0+1 Configuration

A RAID 0+1 array combines the high data access rate of a RAID level 0 array and the data protection (redundancy) of a RAID level 1 mirror by striping data across two drives and mirroring that striped data on a second set of two drives.

If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the other surviving drives. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drives. Also, because data is duplicated on the primary and additional drives, four 120-GB RAID level 1 drives collectively have a maximum of 240-GB on which to store data.


RAID level 5 also uses data parity. RAID level 5 stripes both data and parity information across three or more drives. It provides data striping at the byte level and also stripe error correction information (rotating parity array). This results in excellent performance and good fault tolerance. RAID level 5 is one of the most popular implementations of RAID.

RAID level 5 is faster than RAID level 1, but requires more hard drives than a RAID level 0 or RAID level 1 configuration.

If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the other surviving drives. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drives. Also, because data is duplicated on the primary and additional drives, four 120-GB RAID level 1 drives collectively have a maximum of 360-GB on which to store data.

Configuring Your Hard Drives for RAID

Your computer can be configured for RAID, even if you did not select a RAID configuration when the computer was purchased. For an explanation of RAID levels

and their requirements, see About Your RAID Configuration

. For information on how to install a hard drive, see Installing a Hard Drive .

You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes. The first method uses the NVIDIA MediaShield ROM utility and is performed before you install the operating system onto the hard drive. The second method uses NVIDIA MediaShield and is performed after you have installed the operating system and NVIDIA RAID drivers.

Both methods require that you set your computer to RAID-enabled mode before you begin.

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode

1.

Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup ).

2.

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight Drives, then press <Enter>.

3.

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight the applicable SATA drive, then press <Enter>.

4.

Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight RAID On, and then press <Enter>. Repeat the process, as needed, for each SATA hard drive.

NOTE: For more information about RAID options, see System Setup Options .

5.

Press <Esc>, press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight Save/Exit, and then press <Enter> to exit system setup and resume the boot process.

Using the NVIDIA MediaShield ROM Utility

NOTICE: The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on your hard drive(s). Back up any data you want to keep before continuing.

NOTE: Do not use the following procedure to migrate an existing RAID configuration (see Converting From One RAID Configuration to Another RAID

Configuration .

Hard drives of any size may be used to create a RAID configuration. Ideally, however, the drives should be of equal size to avoid unallocated or unused space.

For an explanation of RAID levels and their requirements, see About Your RAID Configuration . For information on how to install a hard drive, see Installing a

Hard Drive .

1.

Enable RAID for each applicable hard drive on your computer (see

Setting Your Computer to RAID- Enabled Mode

).

2.

Restart the computer.

3.

Press <Ctrl><N> when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.

NOTE: If the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop, then shut down your computer and try again.

The Define a New Array window appears.

4.

Press <Tab> to navigate to the RAID Mode field.

To create a RAID 0 configuration, use the arrow keys to select Striping.

To create a RAID 1 configuration, use the arrow keys to select Mirroring.

To create a RAID 0+1 configuration, use the arrow keys to select Stripe Mirroring.

To create a RAID 5 configuration, use the arrow keys to select RAID 5.

5.

Press <Tab> to navigate to the Free Disks field.

6.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to select a hard drive to include in the RAID array and then use the right-arrow key to move the selected drive from the Free Disks field to the Array Disks field. Repeat for each disk you want to include in the RAID array.

NOTE: Your computer supports a maximum of two drives per RAID 1 array and four drives per RAID 0 array.

7.

After assigning the hard drives to an array, press <F9>.

The Clear disk data prompt appears.

NOTICE: You will lose all data on the selected drives in the next step.

8.

Press <Y> to clear all data from the selected drives.

The Array List window appears.

9.

To review the details of the array that you set up, use the arrow keys to highlight the array in the Array Detail window and press <Enter>.

The Array Detail window appears.

NOTE: To delete an array, use the arrow keys to select the array and press <D>.

10.

Press <Enter> to return to the previous screen.

11.

Press <Ctrl><X> to exit the RAID BIOS.

Using NVIDIA MediaShield

NVIDIA MediaShield allows you to create, view, and manage RAID configurations.

NOTE: Use NVIDIA MediaShield to create a RAID configuration only when you are adding one or more new hard drives to an existing (non-RAID) singledrive computer, and you want to configure the new drive(s) into a RAID array.

Hard drives of any size may be used to create a RAID configuration using NVIDIA MediaShield. Ideally, however, the drives should be of equal size to avoid unallocated or unused space. For an explanation of RAID levels and their requirements, see

About Your RAID Configuration

.

Creating a RAID Array

NOTICE: The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on your hard drive(s). Back up any data you want to keep before continuing.

NOTE: Do not use the following procedure to migrate an existing RAID configuration (see Converting From One RAID Configuration to Another RAID

Configuration .

1.

Enable RAID on your hard drives (see

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode

).

2.

After rebooting your computer, launch NVIDIA MediaShield.

3.

Click Create under System Tasks.

The NVIDIA Create Array Wizard appears and lists the disks that are available for configuration.

4.

Click Next.

5.

Click Custom, then click Next.

6.

Use the drop-down box to select Striping (RAID 0), Mirroring (RAID 1), Stripe Mirroring (RAID 0+1), or RAID 5.

7.

Click Next.

The Free Disk Selection window appears.

NOTE: Only RAID-enabled hard drives are listed as free disks.

8.

Click to select the drives that will make up the RAID configuration, click Next, and then click Next again.

NOTE: Your computer supports a maximum of two drives per RAID 1 array and four per RAID 0 array.

The Clearing System Data window appears.

NOTICE: The Clear System Data option deletes all data on the selected drive.

9.

Click Next.

10.

Click Finish to create the RAID configuration.

The MediaShield RAID management utility window appears and lists the array along with any other installed hard drives.

Deleting a RAID Array

NOTE: While this procedure deletes 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, destroys all data on the volume.

NOTE: If your computer currently boots to RAID and you delete the RAID volume, your computer will become unbootable.

1.

Launch NVIDIA MediaShield.

2.

Click to select the array you want to delete.

3.

Click Delete Array in the System Tasks pane.

The NVIDIA Delete Array Wizard appears.

4.

Click Next.

A confirmation screen appears with the name and size of the array that you have marked for deletion.

5.

Click Finish to delete the RAID configuration.

The MediaShield RAID management utility window appears and lists any remaining arrays along with any other installed hard drives.

Converting From One RAID Configuration to Another RAID Configuration

NOTICE: In order to use the migrating option to convert a RAID configuration without losing data, your hard drive must initially be set up as a single

drive RAID 0 array before the operating system is loaded onto the drive (see Using the NVIDIA MediaShield ROM Utility for instructions).

NVIDIA MediaShield utilizes a one-step process known as migrating to change the current state of a disk or array without losing any data. If needed, additional hard drives can be added to an existing array, including a single-drive RAID 0 configuration for conversion to a two-drive RAID 0 configuration; however, the capacity of the resulting array must be equal to or greater than the size of the original configuration.

RAID 0 to RAID 1 conversions cannot be performed using the migrating process.

NOTICE: Additional hard drives to be used in the (migrated) array must be no smaller than any of the drives in the current configuration.

NOTE:

Ensure that all drives to be used in the RAID configuration are RAID-enabled (see Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode .)

1.


2.

Click to select the array you want to convert.

3.

Click Convert Array in the System Tasks pane.

The NVIDIA Convert Array Wizard appears.

4.

Click Next.

5.

Under RAID Mode Selection, select Mirroring, Striping, Strip Mirroring, or RAID 5 from the drop- down menu.

6.

Click Next.

NOTICE: You will lose all data on the selected drives in the next step.

7.

Under Free Disk Selection, select the hard drive(s) you want to include in the (migrated) array by clicking the checkbox beside it.

8.

Click Finish.

The MediaShield RAID management utility window appears and displays the status of the upgrade/migration process along with any other installed hard drives.

NOTE: The time it takes to convert an array depends on several factors, such as the speed of the CPU, the type and size of the hard drive being used, the operating system, etc.

Rebuilding a RAID Configuration

If one of the hard drives in a RAID array fails, you can rebuild the array by restoring the data to a replacement drive.

NOTE: Rebuilding an array can only be performed on RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 0+1 configurations.

1.


2.

Click to select your RAID configuration (Mirroring) in the management utility window.

3.

Select Rebuild Array in the System Tasks pane.

The NVIDIA Rebuild Array Wizard appears.

4.

Click Next.

5.

Select the hard drive you want to rebuild by clicking the checkbox beside it.

6.

Click Next.

7.

Click Finish.

The MediaShield RAID management utility window appears and displays the status of the rebuild process.

NOTE: You can use your computer while the computer is rebuilding the array.

NOTE: You can use any available (RAID-enabled) free disk to rebuild an array.

Using Multimedia

NOTICE: Do not press down on the optical drive tray when you open or close it. Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive.

NOTICE: Do not move the computer while playing media.

1.

To open the tray, press the eject button on the front of the drive.

2.

Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray.

3.

To close the tray, press the eject button or gently push in the tray.

To 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 when you create media.

A CD player includes the following basic buttons:

Play.

Move backward within the current track.

Pause.

Move forward within the current track.

Stop.

Go to the previous track.

Eject.

Go to the next track.

A DVD player includes the following basic buttons:

Stop.

Restart the current chapter.

Play.

Fast forward.

Pause.

Fast reverse.

Advance a single frame while in pause mode.

Go to the next title or chapter.

Continuously play the current title or chapter.

Go to the previous title or chapter.

Eject.

These controls may not exist on all players in the system. For more information on playing CDs, DVDs, or BDs, click Help on the media player (if available).

Copying CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) Media

This section applies only to computers that have a DVD+/-RW drive or a BD-RE drive.

NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when copying media.

NOTE: The types of optical drives offered by Dell may vary by country.

The following instructions explain how to make a copy of a CD, DVD, or BD using Roxio Creator. You can also use Roxio Creator for other purposes, such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data. For help, open Roxio Creator, and then press <F1>.

The DVD drives and BD drives installed in Dell computers do not support HD-DVD media. For a list of supported media formats, see Using Blank CD, DVD, and

BD Media .

How to Copy a CD, DVD, or BD

NOTE: BD media can only be copied to other BD media. DVD media can only be copied to other DVD-recordable/rewritable media. CD media can only be copied to other CD-recordable/rewritable media.

NOTE: Copying a BD-R to BD-RE will not produce an exact copy. Border information will be lost.

NOTE: Most commercial DVDs and BDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Roxio Creator.

1.

Open Roxio Creator Plus.

2.

Under the Copy tab, click Disc Copy.

3.

To copy the CD, DVD, or BD: l

If you have one optical drive, insert the source disc into the drive, ensure that the settings are correct, and then click the Copy Disc button to

continue. The computer reads your source disc and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive.

When prompted, insert a blank disc into the drive and click OK. l

If you have two optical drives, select the drive into which you have inserted your source disc and click the Copy Disc button to continue. The computer copies the data from the source disc to the blank disc.

Once you have finished copying the source disc, the disc that you have created automatically ejects.

Using Blank CD, DVD, and BD Media

CD-writable drives can only write to CD recording media. DVD-writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media. BD-writable drives can write to

CD, DVD and BD recording media.

Use blank CD-Rs to record music or permanently store data files. After creating a CD-R, you cannot write to that CD-R again (see the Sonic documentation for more information). Use blank CD-RWs if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on that disc later.

Blank DVD+/-R or BD-R media can be used to permanently store large amounts of information. After you create a DVD+/-R or BD-R, you cannot write to that disc again if the disc is "finalized" or "closed" during the final stage of the disc creation process. Use blank DVD+/-RW or BD-RE media if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on that disc later.

CD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R

CD-RW

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

DVD-Writable Drives


CD-R Yes Yes No

CD-RW

DVD+R

Yes Yes

Yes Yes

Yes

No

DVD-R

DVD+RW

DVD-RW

Yes Yes

Yes Yes

Yes Yes

DVD+R DL Yes Yes

DVD-R DL Yes No

DVD-RAM No No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

BD-Writable Drives


CD-R Yes Yes No

CD-RW

DVD+R

DVD-R

DVD+RW

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

DVD-RW Yes Yes

DVD+R DL Yes Yes

DVD-R DL

DVD-RAM

BD-R

BD-RE

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

Helpful Tips

l l l

Use Microsoft Windows Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after you start Roxio Creator and open a Creator project.

Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD-RW to its maximum capacity; for example, do not copy a 650-MB file to a blank 650-MB CD. The CD-RW drive needs 1–2

MB of the blank space to finalize the recording.

Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs do not play in most home or car stereos.

l l l l l l

Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed.

Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the

CD-RW and try again. You can also use blank CD-RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD-R.

You cannot create audio DVDs with Roxio Creator.

Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may not support all available DVD formats. For a list of formats supported by your

DVD player, see the documentation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer.

Commercially available BD players used in home theater systems may not support all available BD formats. For a list of formats supported by your BD player, see the documentation provided with your BD player or contact the manufacturer.

See the Roxio website at www.sonic.com for additional information.

Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)


Use the media card reader to transfer data directly to your computer.

The media card reader supports the following memory types: l l l l l l l l l

xD-Picture card

SmartMedia card (SMC)

CompactFlash card Type I and II (CF I/II)

MicroDrive card

SecureDigital card (SD)

MiniSD card

MultiMediaCard (MMC)

Reduced-size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC)

Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo)

For information on installing a media card reader, see Installing a Media Card Reader .

1 xD-Picture card and

SmartMedia Card (SMC)

4 CompactFlash card Type I and II (CF I/II) and

MicroDrive card

2 Memory Stick

(MS/MS Pro/MS

Duo/MS Pro Duo)

3 Secure Digital card

(SD/miniSD)/MultiMedia-Card

(MMC/RS-MMC)

1.

Inspect the media card to determine the proper orientation for insertion.

2.

Slide the media card into the appropriate slot of the media card reader until it is completely seated in the connector.

If you encounter resistance, remove the card, check for proper orientation, and then try again.

Network Setup Wizard

The Microsoft Windows operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office.

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start, point to All Programs® Accessories® Communications, and then click Network Setup Wizard.

2.

On the welcome screen, click Next.

3.

Click Checklist for creating a network.

NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP

SP1.

4.

Complete the checklist and required preparations.

5.

Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Connect to® Set up a connection or network.

2.

Select an option under Choose a connection option.

3.

Click Next and follow the instructions in the wizard.

Transferring Information to a New Computer

You can use your operating system "wizards" to help you transfer files and other data from one computer to another—for example, from an old computer to a

new computer. For instructions, see the following section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is running.

Windows XP:

To prepare the new computer for the file transfer:

1.

Click Start® All Programs® Accessories® System Tools ® Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears.

2.

Click Next.

3.

On the Which computer is this? screen, click New Computer, and then click Next.

4.

On the Do you have a Windows XP CD? screen, click I will use the wizard from the Windows XP CD, and then click Next.

5.

When the Now go to your old computer screen appears, go to the source (old) computer that contains the data to be transferred. Do not click Next at this time.

To copy data from the source computer:

1.

On the source computer, insert the Windows XP Operating System CD.

2.

On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen, click Perform additional tasks.

3.

Under What do you want to do?, click Transfer files and settings.

4.

On the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen, click Next.

5.

On the Which computer is this? screen, click Old Computer, and then click Next.

6.

On the Select a transfer method screen, click the transfer method of your preference.

7.

On the What do you want to transfer? screen, select the items you want to transfer, then click Next.

After the information has been copied, the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears.

8.

Click Finish.

To transfer data to the new computer:

1.

On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer, click Next.

2.

On the Where are the files and settings? screen, select the method you chose for transferring your files and settings, and then click Next.

The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.

When all of the settings and files have been applied, the Finished screen appears.

3.

Click Finished and restart the computer.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Transfer files and settings® Start Windows Easy Transfer.

2.

In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.

3.

Click Start a new transfer or Continue a transfer in progress.

4.

Follow the instructions provided on the screen by the Windows Easy Transfer wizard.

Power Management Options in Windows XP

The Microsoft Windows XP power management features can reduce the amount of electricity your computer uses when it is on and you are not using it. You can reduce power to just the monitor or the hard drive, or you can use standby mode or hibernate mode to reduce power to the entire computer. When the computer exits from a power conservation mode, it returns to the operating state it was in prior to entering the mode.

NOTE: Windows XP Professional includes security and networking features not available in Windows XP Home Edition. When a Windows XP Professional computer is connected to a network, different options related to security and networking appear in certain windows.

NOTE: The procedures to activate the standby and hibernate modes may vary according to your operating system.

Standby Mode

Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a designated period of time, known as a time-out. When the computer exits from standby mode, it returns to the operating state it was in prior to entering standby mode.

NOTICE: If your computer loses power while in standby mode, it may lose data.

To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity:

1.

Click Start and click Control Panel.

2.

Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.

3.

Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Power Options.

To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity, click Start® Turn Off Computer® Stand by.

To exit from standby mode, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.

Hibernate Mode

Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive, and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits from hibernate mode, the desktop is restored to the state it was in prior to entering hibernate mode.

To activate hibernate mode:

1.


2.


3.


4.

Define your hibernate settings on the

Power Schemes tab, Advanced tab, and

Hibernate tab.

To exit from hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit from hibernate mode. Because the keyboard and mouse do not function in hibernate mode, pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring the computer out of hibernation.

Because hibernate mode requires a special file on your hard drive with enough disk space to store the contents of the computer memory, Dell creates an appropriately sized hibernate mode file before shipping the computer to you. If the computer's hard drive becomes corrupted, Windows XP recreates the hibernate file automatically.

Power Options Properties

Define your standby mode settings, hibernate mode settings, and other power settings in the Power Options Properties window. To access the Power

Options Properties window:

1.


2.


3.


4.

Define your power settings on the

Power Schemes

tab, Advanced tab, and

Hibernate tab.

Power Schemes Tab

Each standard power setting is called a scheme. If you want to select one of the standard Windows schemes installed on your computer, choose a scheme from the Power schemes drop-down menu. The settings for each scheme appear in the fields below the scheme name. Each scheme has different settings for starting standby mode, hibernate mode, turning off the monitor, and turning off the hard drive.

NOTICE: If you set the hard drive to time-out before the monitor does, your computer may appear to be locked up. To recover, press any key on the keyboard or click the mouse. To avoid this problem, always set the monitor to time-out before the hard drive.

The Power schemes drop-down menu displays the following schemes: l l l l l l

Always On (default) — If you want to use your computer with no power conservation.

Home/Office Desk — If you want your home or office computer to run with little power conservation.

Portable/Laptop — If your computer is a portable computer that you use for traveling.

Presentation — If you want your computer to run without interruption (using no power conservation).

Minimal Power Management — If you want your computer to run with minimal power conservation.

Max Battery — If your computer is a portable computer and you run your computer from batteries for extended periods of time.

If you want to change the default settings for a scheme, click the drop-down menu in the Turn off monitor, Turn off hard disks, System stand by, or System

hibernates field, and then select a time-out from the displayed list. Changing the time-out for a scheme field permanently changes the default settings for that scheme, unless you click Save As and enter a new name for the changed scheme.

Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab allows you to: l l l

Place the power options icon in the Windows taskbar for quick access.

Set the computer to prompt you for your Windows password before the computer exits from standby mode or hibernate mode.

Program the power button to activate standby mode, activate hibernate mode, or turn off the computer.

To program these functions, click an option from the corresponding drop-down menu and click OK.

Hibernate Tab

The Hibernate tab allows you to enable hibernate mode. If you want to use the hibernate settings as defined on the Power Schemes tab, click the Enable

hibernate support check box on the Hibernate tab.

For more information on power management options:

1.

Click Start and click Help and Support.

2.

In the Help and Support window, click Performance and maintenance.

3.

In the Performance and maintenance window, click Conserving power on your computer.

Power Management Options in Windows Vista

The Microsoft Vista power management features can reduce the amount of electricity your computer uses when it is on and you are not using it. You can reduce power to just the monitor or the hard drive, or you can use sleep mode or hibernate mode to reduce power to the entire computer. When the computer exits from a power conservation mode, it returns to the operating state it was in prior to entering the mode.

Sleep Mode

Sleep mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a predetermined period of inactivity (a time-out). When the computer exits sleep mode, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering sleep mode.

To enter sleep mode in Windows Vista, click Start , click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu, and then click Sleep.

To exit sleep mode, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.

Hibernate Mode

Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits hibernate mode, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering hibernate mode.

To manually enter hibernate mode in Windows Vista, click Start , click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu, and then click Hibernate.

Configuring Power Management Settings

You can use the Windows Power Options Properties to configure the power management settings on your computer.

To access Power Options Properties, click Start ® Control Panel® System and Maintenance® Power Options.



Troubleshooting


Solving Problems

Power Lights

Diagnostic Lights

Beep Codes

System Messages

Dell Diagnostics

Drivers

Restoring Your Operating System

Solving Problems

Follow these tips when you troubleshoot your computer: l l l l

If you added or removed a part before the problem started, review the installation procedures and ensure that the part is correctly installed.

If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly connected.

If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message. This message may help support personnel diagnose and fix the problem(s).

If an error message occurs in a program, see the program's documentation.

NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view, so they may not apply if you set your Dell™ computer to the

Windows Classic view.

Battery Problems

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.


Replace the battery —

If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on the computer, or if an incorrect time or date displays during start-up, replace the battery (see Replacing the Battery ). If the battery still does not work properly, contact Dell (see Contacting Dell ).

Drive Problems


Ensure that Microsoft® Windows

®

Recognizes the drive —

Windows XP: l Click Start and click My Computer.

Windows Vista™ : l

Click the Windows Vista Start button and click Computer.

If the drive is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive.

Test the drive — l l

Insert another disc to eliminate the possibility that the original drive is defective.

Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer.

Clean the drive or disk —

See Cleaning Your Computer .

Check the cable connections

Run the Hardware Troubleshooter —

See Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems .

Run the Dell Diagnostics —

See Dell Diagnostics .

Optical drive problems

NOTE: High-speed optical drive vibration is normal and may cause noise, which does not indicate a defect in the drive or the media.

NOTE: Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all DVD titles work in all DVD drives.

Adjust the Windows volume control — l l l

Click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen.

Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slidebar and dragging it up.

Ensure that the sound is not muted by clicking any boxes that are checked.

Check the speakers and subwoofer —

See Sound and Speaker Problems .

Problems writing to an optical drive

Close other programs —

The optical drive must receive a steady stream of data during the writing process. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. Try closing all programs before you write to the optical.

Turn off standby mode in Windows before writing to a disc —

See Configuring Power Management Settings or search for the keyword standby in Windows Help and Support for information on power management modes.

Hard drive problems

Run Check Disk —

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start and click My Computer.

2.

Right-click Local Disk C:.

3.

Click Properties® Tools® Check Now.

4.

Click Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors and click Start.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start and click Computer.

2.

Right-click Local Disk C:.

3.

Click Properties® Tools® Check Now.

The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue the desired action.

4.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems


NOTE: Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only. The modem does not operate while it is connected to a digital telephone network.

NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network adapter connector (see Back I/O Connectors ).

Check the Microsoft Outlook® Express security settings — If you cannot open your e-mail attachments:

1.

In Outlook Express, click Tools® Options® Security.

2.

Click Do not allow attachments to remove the checkmark, as needed.

Check the telephone line connection

Check the telephone jack

Connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack

Use a different telephone line — l l l l

Verify that the telephone line is connected to the jack on the modem (the jack has either a green label or a connector-shaped icon next to it).

Ensure that you hear a click when you insert the telephone line connector into the modem.

Disconnect the telephone line from the modem and connect it to a telephone, then listen for a dial tone.

If you have other telephone devices sharing the line, such as an answering machine, fax machine, surge protector, or line splitter, bypass them and use the telephone to connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack. If you are using a line that is 3 meters (10 feet) or more in length, try a shorter one.

Run the Modem diagnostic Tool —

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start® All Programs® Modem Helper.

2.

Follow the instructions on the screen to identify and resolve modem problems. Modem Helper is not available on certain computers.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® All Programs® Modem Diagnostic Tool.

2.

Follow the instructions on the screen to identify and resolve modem problems. Modem diagnostics are not available on all computers.

Verify that the modem is communicating with Windows —

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start® Control Panel® Printers and Other Hardware® Phone and Modem Options® Modems.

2.

Click the COM port for your modem® Properties® Diagnostics® Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows.

If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Control Panel® Hardware and Sound® Phone and Modem Options® Modems.

2.

Click the COM port for your modem® Properties ® Diagnostics® Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows.

If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.

Ensure that you are connected to the Internet — Ensure that you have subscribed to an Internet provider. With the Outlook Express e-mail program open, click File. If Work Offline has a checkmark next to it, click the checkmark to remove it and connect to the Internet. For help, contact your Internet service provider.

Error Messages


If the error message is not listed, see the documentation for the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared.

A filename cannot contain any of the following characters: \ / : * ? " < > | — Do not use these characters in filenames.

A required .DLL file was not found — The program that you are trying to open is missing an essential file. To remove and then reinstall the program:

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start® Control Panel® Add or Remove Programs® Programs and Features.

2.

Select the program you want to remove.

3.

Click Uninstall.

4.

See the program documentation for installation instructions.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Control Panel® Programs® Programs and Features.

2.

Select the program you want to remove.

3.

Click Uninstall.

4.

See the program documentation for installation instructions.

drive letter :\ is not accessible. The device is not ready — The drive cannot read the disk. Insert a disk into the drive and try again.

Insert bootable media — Insert a bootable floppy disk, CD, or DVD.

Non-system disk error — Remove the floppy disk from the floppy drive and restart your computer.

Not enough memory or resources. Close some programs and try again — Close all windows and open the program that you want to use. In some cases, you may have to restart your computer to restore computer resources. If so, run the program that you want to use first.

Operating system not found — Contact Dell (see Contacting Dell ).

IEEE 1394 Device Problems


NOTE: Your computer supports only IEEE 1394a standard.

Ensure that the cable for the IEEE 1394 device is properly inserted into the device and into the connector on the computer

Ensure that the IEEE 1394 device is enabled in system setup — See System Setup Options .

Ensure that the IEEE 1394 device is recognized by Windows —

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start and click Control Panel.

2.

Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance® System® System Properties ® Hardware® Device Manager.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Control Panel® Hardware and Sound.

2.

Click Device Manager.

If your IEEE 1394 device is listed, Windows recognizes the device.

If you have problems with a Dell IEEE 1394 device —

Contact Dell (see Contacting Dell ).

If you have problems with an IEEE 1394 device not provided by Dell — Contact the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer.

Keyboard Problems


Check the keyboard cable — l l l l

Ensure that the keyboard cable is firmly connected to the computer.

Shut down the computer (see Preparing to Work Inside Your Computer ), reconnect the keyboard cable as shown on the setup diagram for your computer, and then restart the computer.

Ensure that the cable is not damaged or frayed and check cable connectors for bent or broken pins. Straighten any bent pins.

Remove any keyboard extension cables and connect the keyboard directly to the computer.

Test the keyboard — Connect a properly working keyboard to the computer, then try using the keyboard.


See Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems .

Lockups and Software Problems


The computer does not start up

Check the diagnostic lights —

See Diagnostic Lights

.

Ensure that the power cable is firmly connected to the computer and to the electrical outlet

The computer stops responding

NOTICE: You may lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.

Turn the computer off — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds (until the computer turns off), and then restart your computer.

A program stops responding

End the program —

1.

Press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously to access the Task Manager.

2.

Click the Applications tab.

3.

Click to select the program that is no longer responding.

4.

Click End Task.

A program crashes repeatedly

NOTE: Most software includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk, CD, or DVD.

Check the software documentation —

If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system

Run the Program Compatibility Wizard —

Windows XP:

The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-XP operating system environments.

1.

Click Start® All Programs® Accessories® Program Compatibility Wizard® Next.

2.


Windows Vista:

The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-Windows Vista operating system environments.

1.

Click Start ® Control Panel® Programs® Use an older program with this version of Windows.

2.

In the welcome screen, click Next.

3.


A solid blue screen appears

Turn the computer off —

If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds

(until the computer turns off), and then restart your computer.

Other software problems

Check the software documentation or contact the software manufacturer for troubleshooting information — l l l l l

Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on your computer.

Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software. See the software documentation for information.

Ensure that the program is installed and configured properly.

Verify that the device drivers do not conflict with the program.

If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.

Back up your files immediately

Use a virus-scanning program to check the hard drive, floppy disks, CDs, or DVDs

Save and close any open files or programs and shut down your computer through the Start menu

Memory Problems


If you receive an insufficient memory message — l l l l

Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem.

See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements. If necessary, install additional memory (see Installing Memory ).

Reseat the memory modules (see Memory ) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.

Run the Dell Diagnostics (see

Dell Diagnostics ).

If you experience other memory problems — l l l l

Reseat the memory modules (see Memory ) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.

Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines (see Installing Memory ).

Ensure that the memory you are using is supported by your computer. For more information about the type of memory supported by your computer, see Memory .

Run the Dell Diagnostics (see

Dell Diagnostics ).

Mouse Problems


Check the mouse cable — l l l

Ensure that the cable is not damaged or frayed and check cable connectors for bent or broken pins. Straighten any bent pins.

Remove any mouse extension cables, and connect the mouse directly to the computer.

Verify that the mouse cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for your computer.

Restart the computer —

1.

Simultaneously press <Ctrl><Esc> to display the Start menu.

2.

Press <u>, press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight Shut down or Turn Off, and then press <Enter>.

3.

After the computer turns off, reconnect the mouse cable as shown on the setup diagram.

4.

Turn on the computer.

Test the mouse — Connect a properly working mouse to the computer, then try using the mouse.

Check the mouse settings —

Windows XP

1.

Click Start® Control Panel® Mouse.

2.

Adjust the settings as needed.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Control Panel® Hardware and Sound® Mouse.

2.

Adjust the settings as needed.

Reinstall the mouse driver —

See Drivers .


See Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems

.

Network Problems


Check the network cable connector — Ensure that the network cable is firmly inserted into the network connector on the back of the computer and the network jack.

Check the network lights on the back of the computer — If the link integrity light is off (see Controls and Lights ), no network communication is occurring.

Replace the network cable.

Restart the computer and log on to the network again

Check your network settings — Contact your network administrator or the person who set up your network to verify that your network settings are correct and that the network is functioning.



.

Power Problems


If the power light is green and the computer is not responding —

See Diagnostic Lights .

If the power light is blinking green — The computer is in standby mode. Press a key on the keyboard, move the mouse, or press the power button to resume normal operation.

If the power light is off — The computer is either turned off or is not receiving power. l l l l l

Reseat the power cable in the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.

Bypass power strips, power extension cables, and other power protection devices to verify that the computer turns on properly.

Ensure that any power strips being used are plugged into an electrical outlet and are turned on.

Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board (see System Board Components ).

If the power light is blinking amber — The computer is receiving electrical power, but an internal power problem may exist. l l

Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location (if applicable).

Ensure that all components and cables are properly installed and securely connected to the system board (see System Board Components ).

If the power light is steady amber — A device may be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed.

l l l

Ensure that the processor power cable is securely connected to the system board power connector (POWER2) (see System Board Components ).

Remove and then reinstall all memory modules (see Memory ).

Remove and then reinstall any expansion cards, including graphics cards (see Removing PCI and PCI Express Cards ).

Eliminate interference — Some possible causes of interference are: l l l

Power, keyboard, and mouse extension cables

Too many devices connected to the same power strip

Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet

Printer Problems


NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your printer, contact the printer's manufacturer.

Check the printer documentation — See the printer documentation for setup and troubleshooting information.

Ensure that the printer is turned on

Check the printer cable connections — l l

See the printer documentation for cable connection information.

Ensure that the printer cables are securely connected to the printer and the computer.

Test the electrical outlet — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

Verify that the printer is recognized by Windows —

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start® Control Panel® Printers and Other Hardware® View installed printers or fax printers.

2.

If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.

3.

Click Properties® Ports. For a parallel printer, ensure that the Print to the following port(s): setting is LPT1 (Printer Port). For a USB printer, ensure that the Print to the following port(s): setting is USB.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Control Panel® Hardware and Sound® Printer.

2.

If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.

3.

Click Properties and click Ports.

4.

Adjust the settings, as needed.

Reinstall the printer driver —

See the printer documentation for information on reinstalling the printer driver. —

Scanner Problems


NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your scanner, contact the scanner's manufacturer.

Check the scanner documentation — See the scanner documentation for setup and troubleshooting information.

Unlock the scanner — Ensure that your scanner is unlocked (if the scanner has a locking tab or button).

Restart the computer and try the scanner again

Check the cable connections — l l

See the scanner documentation for information on cable connections.

Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer.

Verify that the scanner is recognized by Microsoft Windows —

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start® Control Panel® Printers and Other Hardware® Scanners and Cameras.

2.

If your scanner is listed, Windows recognizes the scanner.

Windows Vista:

Reinstall the scanner driver — See the scanner documentation for instructions.

1.

Click Start ® Control Panel® Hardware and Sound® Scanners and Cameras.

2.

If the scanner is listed, Windows recognizes the scanner.

Sound and Speaker Problems


No sound from speakers

NOTE: The volume control in MP3 and other media players may override the Windows volume setting. Always check to ensure that the volume on the media player(s) has not been turned down or off.

Check the speaker cable connections — Ensure that the speakers are connected as shown on the setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If you purchased a sound card, ensure that the speakers are connected to the card.

Ensure that the subwoofer and the speakers are turned on — See the setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If your speakers have volume controls, adjust the volume, bass, or treble to eliminate distortion.

Adjust the Windows volume control — Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.

Disconnect headphones from the headphone connector — Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the computer's front-panel headphone connector.


Eliminate possible interference — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, or halogen lamps to check for interference.

Run the speaker diagnostics

Reinstall the sound driver — See

Drivers .



.

No sound from headphones

Check the headphone cable connection — Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector (see Front and Back View of the Computer ).

Adjust the Windows volume control — Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.

Video and Monitor Problems


NOTICE: If your computer came with a PCI graphics card installed, removal of the card is not necessary when installing additional graphics cards; however, the card is required for troubleshooting purposes. If you remove the card, store it in a safe and secure location. For information about your graphics card, go to support.dell.com.

The screen is blank

NOTE: For troubleshooting procedures, see the monitor's documentation.

The screen is difficult to read

Check the monitor cable connection — l l l l l l

Ensure that the monitor cable is connected to the correct graphics card (for dual graphics card configurations).

If you are using the optional DVI-to-VGA adapter, ensure that the adapter is correctly attached to the graphics card and monitor.

Ensure that the monitor cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for your computer.

Remove any video extension cables and connect the monitor directly to the computer.

Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine if the monitor's power cable is defective.

Check the connectors for bent or broken pins (it is normal for monitor cable connectors to have missing pins).

Check the monitor power light — l l l

If the power light is lit or blinking, the monitor has power.

If the power light is off, firmly press the button to ensure that the monitor is turned on.

If the power light is blinking, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse to resume normal operation.


Check the diagnostic lights —

See Diagnostic Lights

.

Check the monitor settings — See the monitor documentation for instructions on adjusting the contrast and brightness, demagnetizing (degaussing) the monitor, and running the monitor self-test.

Move the subwoofer away from the monitor — If your speaker system includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is positioned at least 60 centimeters

(2 feet) away from the monitor.

Move the monitor away from external power sources — Fans, fluorescent lights, halogen lamps, and other electrical devices can cause the screen image to appear shaky. Turn off nearby devices to check for interference.

Rotate the monitor to eliminate sunlight glare and possible interference

Adjust the Windows display settings —

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start® Control Panel® Appearance and Themes.

2.

Click the area you want to change or click the Display icon.

3.

Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Control Panel® Hardware and Sound® Personalization® Display Settings.

2.

Adjust Resolution and Colors settings, as needed.

3D image quality is poor

Check the graphics card power cable connection — Ensure that the power cable for the graphics card(s) is correctly attached to the card.

Check the monitor settings — See the monitor documentation for instructions on adjusting the contrast and brightness, demagnetizing (degaussing) the monitor, and running the monitor self-test.

Power Lights


The power button light located on the front of the computer illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states: l l l l l l

If the power light is green and the computer is not responding, see Diagnostic Lights

.

If the power light is blinking green, the computer is in standby mode. Press a key on the keyboard, move the mouse, or press the power button to resume normal operation.

If the power light is off, the computer is either turned off or is not receiving power.

¡

Reseat the power cable into both the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.

¡

¡

¡

If the computer is plugged into a power strip, ensure that the power strip is plugged into an electrical outlet and that the power strip is turned on.

Bypass power protection devices, power strips, and power extension cables to verify that the computer turns on properly.

Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

¡ Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board (see System Board Components ).

If the power light is blinking amber, the computer is receiving electrical power, but an internal power problem might exist.

¡ Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location, if applicable.

Ensure that the processor power cable is securely connected to the system board (see System Board Components ).

¡

If the power light is steady amber, a device may be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed.

¡

Remove and then reinstall the memory modules (see Memory ).

¡

¡

Remove and then reinstall any cards (see Cards ).

Eliminate interference. Some possible causes of interference are:

Power, keyboard, and mouse extension cables

¡

¡

Too many devices on a power strip

Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet

Diagnostic Lights


To help troubleshoot a problem, your computer has four lights labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the front panel (see Front View ). When the computer starts normally, the lights flash before turning off. If the computer malfunctions, the sequence of the lights help to identify the problem.

NOTE: After the computer completes POST, all four lights turn off before booting to the operating system.

Light Pattern Problem Description

The computer is in a normal off condition or a possible pre-BIOS failure has occurred.

Suggested Resolution l l

Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet (see Power Problems

).

If the problem persists, contact Dell (see Contacting Dell ).

The diagnostic lights are not lit after the system successfully boots to the operating system.

A possible processor failure has occurred. l l

Reseat the processor (see Processor ).


Memory modules are detected, but a memory failure has occurred. l l l

If two or more memory modules are installed, remove the modules (see Removing Memory ), then reinstall one module (see Installing Memory ) and restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, continue to install additional memory modules (one at a time) until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.

If available, install working memory of the same type into your computer (see Installing Memory ).


A possible graphics card failure has occurred. l l l

Reseat any installed graphics cards (see Cards ).

If available, install a working graphics card into your computer.


A possible floppy drive or hard drive failure has occurred.

Reseat all power and data cables.

A possible USB failure has occurred.

Reinstall all USB devices and check all cable connections.

No memory modules are detected.

Memory modules are detected, but a memory configuration or compatibility error has occurred. l l l

If two or more memory modules are installed, remove the modules (see Removing Memory ), then reinstall one module (see Installing Memory ) and restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, continue to install additional memory modules (one at a time) until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.

If available, install working memory of the same type into your computer (see Installing Memory ).

If the problem persists, contact Dell (see Contacting Dell ). l l l

Ensure that no special requirements for memory module/connector placement exist (see

Memory ).

Ensure that the memory you are using is supported by your computer (see Memory ).


A possible expansion card failure has occurred.

1.

Determine if a conflict exists by removing an expansion card (not a graphics card) and restarting the computer (see Removing PCI and PCI Express Cards ).

2.

If the problem persists, reinstall the card you removed, then remove a different card and restart the computer.

3.

Repeat this process for each expansion card installed. If the computer starts normally,

troubleshoot the last card removed from the computer for resource conflicts (see Troubleshooting

Software and Hardware Problems ).

4.


Another failure has occurred. l l l l

Ensure that all hard drive and optical drive cables are properly connected to the system board

(see System Board Components ).

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 to make sure it is functioning properly.

If the operating system is attempting to boot from a device (such as the floppy drive or optical drive), check system setup (see System Setup ) to ensure the boot sequence is correct for the devices installed on your computer.


Beep Codes

Your computer might emit a series of beeps during start-up if the monitor cannot display errors or problems. This series of beeps, called a beep code, identifies a problem. For example, beep 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 you that the computer encountered a memory problem.

Reseating the memory modules may correct the following beep code errors. If the problem persists, contact Dell (see Contacting Dell ) for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Code Cause

1-3-1 through 2-4-4 Memory not being properly identified or used

4-3-1 Memory failure above address 0FFFFh

If you experience any of the following beep code errors, see Contacting Dell for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Code

1-1-2

1-1-3

1-1-4

1-2-1

1-2-2

1-2-3

Cause

Microprocessor register failure

NVRAM read/write failure

ROM BIOS checksum failure

Programmable interval timer failure

DMA initialization failure

DMA page register read/write failure

1-3 Video Memory Test failure

1-3-1 through 2-4-4 Memory not being properly identified or used

3-1-1

3-1-2

Slave DMA register failure

Master DMA register failure

3-1-3

3-1-4

3-2-2

Master interrupt mask register failure

Slave interrupt mask register failure

Interrupt vector loading failure

4-2-2

4-2-3

4-2-4

4-3-1

4-3-3

4-3-4

4-4-1

4-4-2

4-4-3

4-4-4

3-2-4

3-3-1

3-3-2

3-3-4

3-4-1

3-4-2

3-4-3

4-2-1

Keyboard Controller Test failure

NVRAM power loss

Invalid NVRAM configuration

Video Memory Test failure

Screen initialization failure

Screen retrace failure

Search for video ROM failure

No timer tick

Shutdown failure

Gate A20 failure

Unexpected interrupt in protected mode

Memory failure above address 0FFFFh

Timer-chip counter 2 failure

Time-of-day clock stopped

Serial or parallel port test failure

Failure to decompress code to shadowed memory

Math-coprocessor test failure

Cache test failure

System Messages

NOTE: If the message you received is not listed in the table, see the documentation for either the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared.

Message

8042 Gate-A20 error

Address Line

Short!

C: Drive Error

Possible Cause

The keyboard controller failed its test.

Corrective Action

If you receive this message after you make changes in the system setup program, enter the system setup program and restore the original value(s).

Reseat the memory modules (see Memory ). An error in the address decoding circuitry in the memory has occurred.

The hard drive is not working or is not configured correctly.

Ensure that the hard drive is installed correctly in the computer (see Hard Drive ) and defined correctly in the system setup program (see System Setup ).

C: Drive

Failure

Cache Memory

Bad, Do Not

Enable Cache

CH-2 Timer

Error

CMOS Battery

State Low

CMOS Checksum

Failure

The cache memory is not operating.

An error is occurring on the timer on the system board.

The system configuration information in the system setup program is incorrect or the battery charge may be low.

See Contacting Dell for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

See Contacting Dell for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Enter the system setup program (see

Entering System Setup ), verify the system configuration, and then restart the computer.

CMOS System

Options Not Set

CMOS Display

Type Mismatch

CMOS Memory

Size Mismatch

CMOS Time and

Date Not Set

Diskette Boot

Failure

Drive A or B is present but has failed the BIOS POST.

Error in the DMA controller on the system board.

Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the computer (see Drives ) and defined correctly in the system setup program (see

System Setup ). Check the interface cable at both ends.

The keyboard or system board may need to be replaced.

DMA Error

DMA 1 Error

DMA 2 Error

FDD Controller The BIOS cannot Ensure that the floppy drive or the hard

Failure

HDD Controller

Failure

INTR1 Error communicate with the floppy drive or hard drive controller. drive is installed correctly in the computer

(see Drives ) and defined correctly in the system setup program (see System Setup ).

Check the interface cable at both ends.

An interrupt channel on the system board failed to

POST.

The keyboard or system board may need to be replaced.

INTR2 Error

Invalid Boot

Diskette

The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C.


System Setup ) and confirm that drive A or drive C is properly identified.

Keyboard Error

The BIOS has detected a stuck key.

Ensure that nothing is resting on the keyboard; if a key appears to be stuck, carefully pry it up. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the keyboard.

KB/Interface

Error

No ROM Basic

An error occurred with the keyboard connector.

Ensure that nothing is resting on the keyboard; if a key appears to be stuck, carefully pry it up. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the keyboard.

The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C.


Entering System Setup ) and confirm that drive A or drive C is properly identified.

Dell Diagnostics


When to Use Dell Diagnostics

If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in

Solving Problems

and run Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance.

NOTE: Dell Diagnostics only operate on Dell computers.

Run Dell Diagnostics from your hard drive or from the Drivers and Utilities media.

Starting Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive

1.


2.


NOTE: Keyboard failure may result when a key is held down for extended periods of time. To avoid possible keyboard failure, press and release

<F12> in even intervals to open the Boot Device Menu.

NOTE: If at any time a message appears stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, run Dell Diagnostics from your Drivers and

Utilities media (see

Starting Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media

).

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop, then shut down your computer and try again.

3.

At the Boot Device Menu, use the up- and down-arrow keys or press the appropriate number on the keyboard to highlight Boot to Utility Partition, and then press <Enter>.

NOTE: The Quickboot feature changes the boot sequence for the current boot only. Upon restart, the computer boots according to the boot sequence specified in system setup.

4.

At the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu, left-click with the mouse, or press <Tab> and then <Enter>, to select the test you want to run (see Dell Diagnostics

Main Menu ).

NOTE: Write down any error codes and problem descriptions exactly as they appear and follow the instructions on the screen.

5.

After all tests have completed, close the test window to return to the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu.

6.

Close the Main Menu window to exit Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer.

Starting Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media

1.

Turn on your computer.

2.

Press the eject button on the front of the optical drive to open the drive tray.

3.

Place the Drivers and Utilities media in the center of the drive tray, then press the eject button or gently push on the tray to close it.

4.


5.


NOTE: Keyboard failure may result when a key on the keyboard is held down for extended periods of time. To avoid possible keyboard failure, press and release <F12> in even intervals until the Boot Device Menu appears.

If you wait too long and the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop, then shut down your computer and try again.

6.

At the Boot Device Menu, use the up- and down-arrow keys or press the appropriate number on the keyboard to highlight Onboard or USB CD-ROM, and then press <Enter>.

NOTE: The Quickboot feature changes the boot sequence for the current boot only. Upon restart, the computer boots according to the boot sequence specified in system setup.

7.

At the CD-ROM Startup Menu, use the up- and down-arrow keys or press the appropriate number on the keyboard to highlight Boot from CD-ROM, and then press <Enter>.

If you wait too long and the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop, then shut down your computer and try again.

8.

Press <1> to select the Dell Diagnostics.

9.

At the Dell Diagnostics Menu, press <1> to select Dell Diagnostics (graphical user interface).

10.

At the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu, left-click with the mouse, or press <Tab> and then <Enter>, to select the test you want to run (see Dell Diagnostics

Main Menu ).

NOTE: Write down any error codes and problem descriptions exactly as they appear and follow the instructions on the screen.

11.

After all tests have completed, close the test window to return to the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu.

12.

Remove the Drivers and Utilities media, then close the Main Menu window to exit Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer.

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

The following tests can be run from the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu:

Option Function

Express Test Performs a quick test of system devices. The test typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part. Run Express Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly.

Extended

Test

Performs a thorough check of system devices. The test typically takes an hour or more and periodically requires your input to answer specific questions.

Custom Test Tests a specific device in the system and can be used to customize the tests you want to run.

Symptom

Tree

Lists a number of common symptoms and allows you to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having.

For any problem encountered during a test, a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem. Write down the error code and problem description exactly as it appears and follow the instructions on the screen. If you cannot resolve the problem, contact Dell (see Contacting Dell ).

NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen. When contacting Dell support, have your Service Tag ready.

The following tabs provide additional information for tests run from the Custom Test or Symptom Tree option:

Tab

Results

Errors

Help

Configuration

Function

Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered.

Displays error conditions encountered, error codes, and the problem description.

Describes the test and any requirements for running the test.

Displays the hardware configuration for the selected device.

(Custom Test only)

The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for all devices from system setup, memory, and various internal tests, and it displays the information in the device list in the left pane of the screen.

Parameters

(Custom Test only)

NOTE: The device list may not display the names of all the components installed on your computer or all devices attached to your computer.

Allows you to customize the test, if applicable, by changing the test settings.

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require 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 of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes.

Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed—no further installation or configuration is needed.

NOTICE: The Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer. Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system.

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft Windows operating system. You may need to install drivers if you:

l l l

Upgrade your operating system.

Reinstall your operating system.

Connect or install a new device.

Identifying Drivers

If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver.

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start and click Control Panel.

2.

Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance® System® Hardware ® Device Manager.

3.

Scroll down the list of devices and check for an exclamation point (a circle with a [!]) next to the device name.

If an exclamation point appears next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver (see

Drivers ).

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Computer.® System Properties® Device Manager.

NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue.

2.

Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a [!]) on the device icon.

If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver (see

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities ).

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

NOTICE: The Dell Support website at support.dell.com and your Drivers and Utilities media provide approved drivers for Dell™ computers. If you install drivers obtained from other sources, your computer might not work correctly.

Using Windows Device Driver Rollback

If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver, use Windows Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version.

Windows XP:

1.


2.

Under Pick a Category® Performance and Maintenance® System® System Properties® Hardware® Device Manager.

3.

Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed, then click Properties.

4.

Click Driver and click Roll Back Driver.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Computer® System Properties® Device Manager.

NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager.

2.

Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties.

3.

Click Drivers and click Roll Back Driver.

If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore to return your computer to the operating state that existed before you installed the driver.

Using the Drivers and Utilities Media

If using Device Driver Rollback or System Restore does not resolve the problem, then reinstall the driver from the Drivers and Utilities media.

1.

With the Windows desktop displayed, insert the Drivers and Utilities media.

If this is your first time to use the Drivers and Utilities media, go to step 2. If not, go to step 5.

2.

When the Drivers and Utilities installation program starts, follow the prompts on the screen.

3.

When the InstallShield Wizard Complete window appears, remove the Drivers and Utilities media and click Finish to restart the computer.

4.

When you see the Windows desktop, reinsert the Drivers and Utilities media.

5.

At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen, click Next.

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities media displays drivers only for hardware that came installed in your computer. If you installed additional hardware, the drivers for the new hardware might not be displayed by the Drivers and Utilities media. If those drivers are not displayed, exit the Drivers and Utilities

media program. For drivers information, see the documentation that came with the device.

A message appears, stating that the Drivers and Utilities media is detecting hardware in your computer.

The drivers that are used by your computer are automatically displayed in the My Drivers—The Drivers and Utilities media has identified these

components in your system window.

6.

Click the driver that you want to reinstall and follow the instructions on the screen.

If a particular driver is not listed, that driver is not required by your operating system.

Manually Reinstalling Drivers

After extracting driver files from the Drivers and Utilities media to your hard drive, you may be required to update the driver manually.

Windows XP:

1.


2.

Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance® System® System Properties® Hardware® Device Manager.

3.

Double-click the type of device for which you are installing the driver.

4.

Right-click the device for which the driver is being reinstalled, then click Properties.

5.

Click Driver® Update Driver® Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)® Next.

6.

Click to check Include this location in the search, then click Browse and navigate to where the driver files are located on your hard drive.

7.

When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click Next.

8.

Click Finish and restart your computer.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start ® Computer® System Properties® Device Manager.

NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager.

2.

Double-click the type of device for which you are installing the driver (for example, Audio or Video).

3.

Double-click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver.

4.

Click Driver® Update Driver® Browse my computer for driver software.

5.

Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files.

6.

When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click the name of the driver.

7.

Click OK® Next® Finish and restart your computer.

Restoring Your Operating System

You can restore your operating system in the following ways:

l l l

System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files. Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files.

Dell PC Restore by Symantec (available in Windows XP) and Dell Factory Image Restore (available in Windows Vista) restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Both permanently delete all data on the hard drive and remove any programs installed after you received the computer. Use Dell PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

If you received an Operating System disc with your computer, you can use it to restore your operating system. However, using the Operating System disc also deletes all data on the hard drive. Use the disc only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

Using Microsoft Windows System Restore

The Windows operating systems provide a System Restore option which allows you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without affecting data files) if changes to the hardware, software, or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. Any changes that System

Restore makes to your computer are completely reversible.

NOTICE: Make regular backups of your data files. System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them.

NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view, so they may not apply if you set your Dell™ computer to the

Windows Classic view.

Starting System Restore

Windows XP:

NOTICE: Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state, save and close any open files and exit any open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

1.

Click Start® All Programs® Accessories® System Tools® System Restore.

2.

Click either Restore my computer to an earlier time or Create a restore point.

3.

Click Next and follow the remaining on-screen prompts.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start .

2.

In the Start Search box, type System Restore and press <Enter>.

NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue the desired action.

3.

Click Next and follow the remaining prompts on the screen.

In the event that System Restore did not resolve the issue, you may undo the last system restore.

Undoing the Last System Restore

NOTICE: Before you undo the last system restore, save and close all open files and exit any open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start® All Programs® Accessories® System Tools® System Restore.

2.

Click Undo my last restoration and click Next.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start .

2.

In the Start Search box, type System Restore and press <Enter>.

3.

Click Undo my last restoration and click Next.

Enabling System Restore

NOTE: Windows Vista does not disable System Restore; regardless of low disk space. Therefore, the steps below apply only to Windows XP.

If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free hard-disk space available, System Restore is automatically disabled.

To see if System Restore is enabled:

1.

Click Start® Control Panel® Performance and Maintenance® System.

2.

Click the System Restore tab and ensure that Turn off System Restore is unchecked.

Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore

NOTICE: Using Dell PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using these options. Use PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec and Dell Factory Image Restore may not be available in certain countries or on certain computers.

Use Dell PC Restore (Windows XP) or Dell Factory Image Restore (Windows Vista) only as the last method to restore your operating system. These options restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Any programs or files added since you received your computer— including data files—are permanently deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos, music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore or Factory Image Restore.

Windows XP: Dell PC Restore

Using PC Restore:

1.

Turn on the computer.

During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.

2.

Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press <Ctrl><F11>.

If you do not press <Ctrl><F11> in time, let the computer finish starting, and then restart the computer again.

NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot.

3.

Click Restore and click Confirm.

The restore process takes approximately 6 to 10 minutes to complete.

4.

When prompted, click Finish to reboot the computer.

NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot.

5.

When prompted, click Yes.

The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the screens that appear, such as the End User License

Agreement, are the same ones that appeared the first time the computer was turned on.

6.

Click Next.

The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.

7.

After the computer restarts, click OK.

Removing PC Restore:

NOTICE: Removing Dell PC Restore from the hard drive permanently deletes the PC Restore utility from your computer. After you have removed Dell PC

Restore, you will not be able to use it to restore your computer operating system.

Dell PC Restore enables you to restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased your computer. It is recommended that you do not remove PC Restore from your computer, even to gain additional hard-drive space. If you remove PC Restore from the hard drive, you cannot ever recall it, and you will never be able to use PC Restore to return your computer operating system to its original state.

1.

Log on to the computer as a local administrator.

2.

In Microsoft Windows Explorer, go to c:\dell\utilities\DSR.

3.

Double-click the filename DSRIRRemv2.exe.

NOTE: If you do not log on as a local administrator, a message appears stating that you that you must log on as administrator. Click Quit, and then log on as a local administrator.

NOTE: If the partition for PC Restore does not exist on your computer hard drive, a message appears stating that the partition was not found.

Click Quit; there is no partition to delete.

4.

Click OK to remove the PC Restore partition on the hard drive.

5.

Click Yes when a confirmation message appears.

The PC Restore partition is deleted and the newly available disk space is added to the free space allocation on the hard drive.

6.

Right-click Local Disk (C) in Windows Explorer, click Properties, and verify that the additional disk space is available as indicated by the increased value for Free Space.

7.

Click Finish to close the PC Restore Removal window and restart the computer.

Windows Vista: Dell Factory Image Restore

Using Factory Image Restore:

1.

Turn on the computer. When the Dell logo appears, press <F8> several times to access the Vista Advanced Boot Options Window.

2.

Select Repair Your Computer.

The System Recovery Options window appears.

3.

Select a keyboard layout and click Next.

4.

To access the recovery options, log on as a local user. To access the command prompt, type administrator in the User name field, then click OK.

5.

Click Dell Factory Image Restore.

NOTE: Depending upon your configuration, you may need to select Dell Factory Tools, then Dell Factory Image Restore.

The Dell Factory Image Restore welcome screen appears.

6.

Click Next.

The Confirm Data Deletion screen appears.

NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with Factory Image Restore, click Cancel.

7.

Click the checkbox to confirm that you want to continue reformatting the hard drive and restoring the system software to the factory condition, then click

Next.

The restore process begins and may take five or more minutes to complete. A message appears when the operating system and factory-installed applications have been restored to factory condition.

8.

Click Finish to reboot the system.

Using the Operating System Media

Before you Begin

If you are considering reinstalling the Windows operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver, first try using Windows Device Driver

Rollback. See Using Windows Device Driver Rollback . If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore to return your operating

system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver. See

Using Microsoft Windows System Restore .

NOTICE: Before performing the installation, back up all data files on your primary hard drive. For conventional hard drive configurations, the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer.

To reinstall Windows, you need the following items: l l

Dell™ Operating System media

Dell 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 on the region from which you ordered your computer, or whether you requested the media, the Dell

Drivers and Utilities media and Operating System media may not ship with your computer.

Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista

The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you must also reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software.

NOTICE: The Operating System media provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs that are installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows XP unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so.

1.

Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.

2.

Insert the Operating System disc.

3.

Click Exit if the Install Windows message appears.

4.



NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop; then, shut down your computer and try again.

NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only. On the next start-up, the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program.

5.

When the boot device list appears, highlight CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive and press <Enter>.

6.

Press any key to Boot from CD-ROM.

7.

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.

Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems

If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured, you can use the Hardware Troubleshooter to resolve the incompatibility.

Windows XP:

1.

Click Start and click Help and Support.

2.

Type hardware troubleshooter in the Search field and click the arrow to start the search.

3.

Click Hardware Troubleshooter in the Search Results list.

4.

In the Hardware Troubleshooter list, click I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my computer, and click Next.

Windows Vista:

1.

Click Start

and click Help and Support.

2.

Type hardware troubleshooter in the search field and press <Enter> to start the search.

3.

In the search results, select the option that best describes the problem and follow the remaining troubleshooting steps.


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