Dell 6T337, 650 User Manual

Dell Precision™ Workstations 450 and 650

Setup and Quick Reference Guide

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better

use of your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of

data and tells you how to avoid the problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage,

personal injury, or death.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the “Glossary” in the

User’s Guide.

____________________

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

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and Dell Precision are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

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 Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

December 2002 P/N 6T337 Rev. A01

Contents

Finding Information and Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Connect the keyboard and the mouse

Connect the modem or the network cable

Connect the monitor

Connect the speakers

Connect the power cables and turn on the computer and monitor

Install additional software or devices

Connect the keyboard and mouse

Connect the modem or network cable

Connect the monitor

Connect the speakers

Connect the power cables and turn on the computer and monitor

Install Additional Software or Devices

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

. . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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Caring for Your Computer

Solving Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Using System Restore in Windows XP

Using Last Known Good Configuration

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

Starting the Dell Diagnostics

System Lights

Beep Codes

Error Messages

Diagnostic Lights

Frequently Asked Questions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

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Opening the Computer Cover

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Contents 3

4 Contents

Finding Information and Assistance

The following table lists the resources that Dell provides as support tools. Additional resources may be shipped with your computer.

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• A diagnostic program for my computer

• Drivers for my computer

•My User’s Guide

• My device documentation

• How to set up my computer

• How to care for my computer

• Troubleshooting information

• How to open my computer cover

• How to locate other documentation

Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as the ResourceCD)

You can use this CD to access documentation, reinstall drivers, or run diagnostics tools.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 5

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• Express Service Code and Service Tag

• Microsoft

Windows® License Label

Express Service Code and Product Key

The labels are located on your computer.

• How to reinstall my operating system Operating System CD and Installation Guide

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

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

6 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• How to remove and replace parts

User’s Guide Icon (Microsoft Windows 2000)

• Technical specifications

• How to configure system settings

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

Double-click the User’s Guide icon on your desktop.

Windows XP Help and Support Center

1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support. 2 Click User’s Guide.

• Location of connectors on the system board System Information Label

• Latest drivers for my computer

• Answers to technical service and support questions

• Online discussions with other users and technical support

• Documentation for my computer including the Service Manual

The label is located on the inside of your computer cover.

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

The Dell Support website provides several online tools, including:

• Knowledge Base — Hints, tips, and online courses

• Customer Forum — Online discussion with other Dell customers

• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as memory, the hard drive, and the operating system

• Customer Care — Contact information, order status, warranty, and repair information

• Downloads — Drivers, patches, and software updates

• Reference — Computer documentation, product specifications, and white papers

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 7

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• Service call status and support history

• Top technical issues for my computer

• Frequently asked questions

• File downloads

• Details on my computer’s configuration

Dell Premier Support Website —

premiersupport.dell.com

The Dell Premier Support website is customized for corporate, government, and education customers. This website may not be available in all regions.

• Service contract for my computer

• Warranty information System Information Guide

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

• How to use Windows XP

• Documentation for my computer and devices

Windows XP Help and Support Center

1 Click the Start button, and click Help and Support. 2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem, and click the

arrow icon.

3 Click the topic that describes your problem. 4 Follow the instructions shown on the screen.

NOTE: For help using Windows 2000, click the Start button and click Help.

8 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

Setting Up Your Dell Precision™ 650 Computer

You must complete all steps to properly set up your computer.

Connect the keyboard and the mouse

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 9

NOTE: If your computer

has a network card installed, connect the network cable to the card.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Connect the modem or the network cable

NOTICE: Do not connect a modem cable to the network adapter. Voltage

from telephone communications can damage the network adapter.

10 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

Connect the monitor

Depending on your graphics card, you can connect your monitor in various ways.

A B C D

NOTICE: Your computer may require the use of the provided adapter or cable

to connect to your monitor.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 11

For single- and dual-monitor capable cards with a single connector

VGA Adapter

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

VGA

• Use the VGA adapter when you have a single monitor graphics card and you want to connect to a VGA monitor.

Dual VGA Y Cable Adapter

VGA

• Use the appropriate Y cable when your graphics card has a single connector and you want to connect to one or two VGA monitors.

The dual-monitor cable is color coded; the blue connector is for the primary monitor, and the black connector is for the secondary monitor. To enable dual-monitor support, both monitors must be attached when the computer starts.

Dual DVI Y Cable Adapter

DVI

• Use the appropriate Y cable when your graphics card has a single connector and you want to connect to one or two DVI monitors.

12 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

For dual-monitor capable cards with 1 DVI and 1 VGA connector

Single DVI/Single VGA

DVI

Dual VGA With VGA Adapter

VGA

• Use the appropriate connector when you connect to

• Use the VGA adapter when you want to connect to

one or two monitors.

For dual-monitor capable cards with 2 DVI connectors

Dual DVI

DVI

• Use the DVI connectors to connect to one or two DVI monitors.

Dual DVI With One VGA Adapter

DVI

VGA

• Use the VGA adapter to connect a VGA monitor to one DVI connector.

VGA

two VGA monitors.

Dual DVI With Two VGA Adapters

VGA

• Use two VGA adapters to connect two VGA monitors to the DVI connectors.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 13

NOTE: If your computer

has an audio card installed, connect the speakers to the card.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Connect the speakers

14 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

Connect the power cables and turn on the computer and monitor

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 15

Install additional software or devices

Before you install any devices or software that did not come with your computer, read the documentation that came with the software or device or contact the vendor to verify that the software or device is compatible with your computer and operating system.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Congratulations! You have completed the setup for your computer.

Your Dell Precision Workstation 650 User’s Guide contains additional information about your computer such as:

• Technical specifications

• Front and back views of your computer, including all of the available connectors

• Inside views of your computer, including a detailed graphic of the system board and the connectors

• Instructions for cleaning your computer

• Information on software features, such as LegacySelect Technology control, using a password, and system setup options

• A description of the Windows XP operating system

• Instructions for removing and installing parts, including memory, cards, drives, the microprocessor, the VRM, and the battery

• Information for troubleshooting various computer problems

• Instructions for using the Dell Diagnostics and reinstalling drivers

• Information on how to contact Dell

You can access the User’s Guide from your hard drive, the Drivers and Utilities CD, or the Dell Support website.

16 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

To access the User’s Guide from your hard drive:

If you have Windows 2000, double-click the User’s Guides icon.

If you have Windows XP, click the Start button and click Help and

Support.

To access the User’s Guide from the CD:

1 Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD into the drive.

If you are using the Drivers and Utilities CD for the first time, the ResourceCD Installation window opens to inform you that the CD is about to begin installation.

2 Click OK to continue and then respond to the prompts offered by the

installation program.

3 Click Next at the Welcome Dell System Owner screen.

4 Select the appropriate System Model, Operating System, and Topic.

To access your User’s Guide from the Dell Support Site:

1 Go to support.dell.com.

2 Follow the prompts on the website that ask you for information

specific to your computer.

3 At the Dell Support website home page, click Reference, click User’s

Guides, click Systems, and then select your Dell Precision computer.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 17

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Setting Up Your Dell Precision 450 Computer

You must complete all steps to properly set up your computer.

Connect the keyboard and mouse

18 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

Connect the modem or network cable

NOTICE: Do not connect a modem cable to the network adapter. Voltage

from telephone communications cause damage the network adapter.

NOTE: If your computer

has a network card installed, connect the network cable to the card.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 19

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Connect the monitor

Depending on your graphics card, you can connect your monitor in various ways.

A B C D

NOTICE: Your computer may require the use of the provided adapter or cable

to connect to your monitor.

20 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

For single- and dual-monitor capable cards with a single connector

VGA Adapter

VGA

• Use the VGA adapter when you have a single monitor graphics card and you want to connect to a VGA monitor.

Dual VGA Y Cable Adapter

Dual DVI Y Cable Adapter

VGA

• Use the appropriate Y cable when your graphics card has a single connector and you want to connect to one or two VGA monitors.

DVI

• Use the appropriate Y cable when your graphics card has a single connector and you want to connect to one or two DVI monitors.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 21

For dual-monitor capable cards with 1 DVI and 1 VGA connector

Single DVI/Single VGA

DVI

Dual VGA With VGA Adapter

VGA

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

• Use the appropriate connector when you connect to one or two monitors.

For dual-monitor capable cards with 2 DVI connectors

Dual DVI

DVI

• Use the DVI connectors to connect to one or two DVI monitors.

Dual DVI With One VGA Adapter

• Use the VGA adapter to connect a VGA monitor to one DVI connector.

DVI

VGA

• Use the VGA adapter when you want to connect to two VGA monitors.

Dual DVI With Two VGA Adapters

VGA

• Use two VGA adapters to connect two VGA monitors to the DVI connectors.

22 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

Connect the speakers

NOTE: If your computer

has an audio card installed, connect the speakers to the card.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 23

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Connect the power cables and turn on the computer and monitor

24 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

Install Additional Software or Devices

Congratulations! You have completed the setup for your computer.

Yo u r Dell Precision Workstation 450 User’s Guide contains additional information about your computer such as:

• Technical specifications

• Front and back views of your computer, including all of the available connectors

• Inside views of your computer, including a detailed graphic of the system board and the connectors

• Instructions for cleaning your computer

• Information on software features, such as LegacySelect Technology control, using a password, and system setup options

• A description of the Windows XP operating system

• Instructions for removing and installing parts, including memory, cards, drives, the microprocessor, the VRM, and the battery

• Information for troubleshooting various computer problems

• Instructions for using the Dell Diagnostics and reinstalling drivers

• Information on how to contact Dell

You can access the User’s Guide from your hard drive, the Drivers and Utilities CD, or the Dell Support website.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 25

To access the User’s Guide from your hard drive:

If you have Windows 2000, double-click the User’s Guides icon.

If you have Windows XP, click the Start button and click Help and

Support.

To access the User’s Guide from the CD:

1 Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD into the drive.

If you are using the Drivers and Utilities CD for the first time, the ResourceCD Installation window opens to inform you that the CD is about to begin installation.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

2 Click OK to continue and then respond to the prompts offered by the

installation program.

3 Click Next at the Welcome Dell System Owner screen.

4 Select the appropriate System Model, Operating System, and Topic.

To access your User’s Guide from the Dell Support Site:

1 Go to support.dell.com.

2 Follow the prompts on the website that ask you for information

specific to your computer.

3 At the Dell Support website home page, click Reference, click User’s

Guides, click Systems, and then select your Dell Precision computer.

Caring for Your Computer

To help maintain your computer, follow these suggestions:

• To avoid losing or corrupting data, never turn off your computer when the hard drive light is on.

• Schedule regular virus scans using virus software.

• Manage hard drive space by periodically deleting unnecessary files and defragmenting the drive.

• Back up files on a regular basis.

• Periodically clean your monitor screen, mouse, and keyboard (see your User’s Guide for more information).

26 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

Solving Problems

Follow these tips when troubleshooting your computer:

• If you added or removed a computer 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 technical support diagnose and fix the problem(s).

• If an error message occurs in a program, consult the program’s documentation.

• If the recommended action in the troubleshooting section is to see a section in your User’s Guide, you can use your Drivers and Utilities CD or go to support.dell.com (on another computer if necessary) to access your User’s Guide.

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Windows XP

Windows XP IRQ conflicts occur if a device either is not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured.

To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows XP:

1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel.

2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click System.

3 Click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager.

4 In the Device Manager list, check for conflicts with the other devices.

Conflicts are indicated by a yellow exclamation point ( conflicting device or a red

5 Double-click any conflict to display the Properties window.

If an IRQ conflict exists, the Device status area in the Properties window reports the cards or devices that share the device's IRQ.

X if the device has been disabled.

!) beside the

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 27

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Resolve conflicts by reconfiguring the devices or removing the devices from the Device Manager.

To use the Windows XP Hardware Troubleshooter:

1 Click the Start button 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 then click Next.

Windows 2000

To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows 2000:

1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control

Panel.

2 In the Control Panel window, double-click System.

3 Click the Hardware tab.

4 Click Device Manager.

5 Click Vie w and click Resources by connection.

6 Double-click Interrupt request (IRQ) to view the IRQ assignments.

Conflicts are indicated by a yellow exclamation point ( conflicting device or a red

7 Double-click any conflict to display the Properties window.

If an IRQ conflict exists, the Device status area in the Properties window reports the cards or devices that share the device's IRQ.

8 Resolve conflicts by reconfiguring the devices or removing the devices

from the Device Manager.

28 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

!) beside the

X if the device has been disabled.

To use the Windows 2000 Hardware Troubleshooter:

1 Click the Start button and click Help.

2 Click Troubleshooting and Maintenance on the Contents tab, click

Windows 2000 troubleshooters, and then click Hardware.

3 In the Hardware Troubleshooter list, click I need to resolve a hardware

conflict on my computer, and then click Next.

Using System Restore in Windows XP

The Windows XP operating system provides System Restore to allow 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. See "Windows XP Help and Support Center" on page 8 for additional information on using System Restore.

NOTICE: Back up your data files regularly. System Restore does not monitor

your data files or recover them.

Creating a Restore Point

1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support.

2 Click System Restore.

3 Follow the instructions on the screen.

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State

NOTICE: Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state, save

and close all open files and close all open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories→ System

To ol s , and then click System Restore.

2 Ensure that Restore my computer to an earlier time is selected, and

click Next.

3 Click a calendar date to which you want to restore your computer.

The Select a Restore Point screen provides a calendar that allows you to see and select restore points. All calendar dates with available restore points appear in bold.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 29

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4 Select a restore point and click Next.

If a calendar date has only one restore point, then that restore point is automatically selected. If two or more restore points are available, click the restore point that you prefer.

5 Click Next.

The Restoration Complete screen appears after System Restore finishes collecting data, and then the computer automatically restarts.

6 After the computer restarts, click OK.

To change the restore point, you can either repeat the steps using a different restore point, or you can undo the restoration.

Using Last Known Good Configuration

1 Restart your computer and press <F8> when the message Please

select the operating system to start

2 Highlight Last Known Good Setting, press <Enter>, press <l>, and

then select your operating system when prompted.

Other Options to Help Resolve Additional Device or Software Conflicts

NOTICE: The following processes erase all of the information on your hard

drive.

appears.

• Reinstall your operating system using the operating system installation guide and operating system CD.

During the operating system reinstallation, you can select to delete the existing partitions and reformat your hard drive.

• Reinstall all drivers, beginning with the choppiest, using the Drivers and Utilities CD.

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in "Solving Problems" in your User’s Guide and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance. Running the Dell Diagnostics may help you resolve the problem without contacting Dell. If you do contact Dell, the test results can provide important information for Dell's service and support personnel.

30 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

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