Dell Vostro 260/260s Slim-Tower
Owner's Manual
Regulatory Model D11D
Regulatory Type D11M001
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your
computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if
instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or
death.
Information in this publication is subject to change without notice.
© 2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is
strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text:
Latitude™, Latitude ON™, OptiPlex™, Vostro™, and Wi-Fi Catcher™ are trademarks of Dell Inc. Intel®,
Pentium®, Xeon®, Core™, Atom™, Centrino®, and Celeron® are registered trademarks or trademarks of Intel
Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. AMD® is a registered trademark and AMD Opteron™,
AMD Phenom™, AMD Sempron™, AMD Athlon™, ATI Radeon™, and ATI FirePro™ are trademarks of
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Microsoft®, Windows®, MS-DOS®, Windows Vista®, the Windows Vista start
button, and Office Outlook
United States and/or other countries.
(BDA) and licensed for use on discs and players. The
owned by the
registered trademark of Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, Inc.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this publication 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.
Bluetooth
Dell™, the DELL logo, Dell Precision™, Precision ON™,ExpressCharge™,
®
are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
®
SIG, Inc. and any use of such mark by Dell Inc. is under license.
Blu-ray Disc
™
is a trademark owned by the Blu-ray Disc Association
Bluetooth
®
word mark is a registered trademark and
Wi-Fi
®
is a
2011 — 10
Rev. A00
Contents
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings..................................................................2
1 Working on Your Computer......................................................................7
Before Working Inside Your Computer.............................................................................7
Recommended Tools.........................................................................................................8
Turning Off Your Computer................................................................................................8
After Working Inside Your Computer................................................................................9
2 Cover..........................................................................................................11
Removing The Cover.......................................................................................................11
Installing The Cover.........................................................................................................12
3 Front Bezel.................................................................................................13
Removing The Front Bezel...............................................................................................13
Installing The Front Bezel................................................................................................14
4 Expansion Card.........................................................................................15
Removing The Expansion Card........................................................................................15
Installing The Expansion Card.........................................................................................16
5 Memory......................................................................................................17
Removing The Memory...................................................................................................17
Installing The Memory.....................................................................................................18
6 Optical Drive..............................................................................................19
Removing The Optical Drive............................................................................................19
Installing The Optical Drive.............................................................................................20
7 Hard Drive..................................................................................................21
Removing The Hard Drive................................................................................................21
Installing The Hard Drive.................................................................................................23
8 Fan..............................................................................................................25
Removing The Fan...........................................................................................................25
Installing The Fan............................................................................................................26
9 Power Supply............................................................................................27
Removing The Power Supply..........................................................................................27
Installing The Power Supply ...........................................................................................29
10 Power Switch..........................................................................................31
Removing The Power Switch..........................................................................................31
Installing The Power Switch...........................................................................................32
11 Input/Output Panel.................................................................................33
Removing The I/O Panel..................................................................................................33
Installing The I/O Panel...................................................................................................36
12 Processor................................................................................................37
Removing The Processor................................................................................................37
Installing The Processor.................................................................................................40
13 Coin-Cell Battery....................................................................................41
Removing The Coin-Cell Battery.....................................................................................41
Installing The Coin-Cell Battery.......................................................................................42
14 System Board..........................................................................................43
Removing The System Board..........................................................................................43
Installing The System Board...........................................................................................44
15 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card.....................................47
Removing The WLAN Card..............................................................................................47
Installing The WLAN Card...............................................................................................48
16 Specifications.........................................................................................49
Specifications..................................................................................................................49
17 Troubleshooting......................................................................................55
Diagnostic Power LED Codes..........................................................................................55
Diagnostic Beep Codes...................................................................................................56
Diagnostic Error Messages.............................................................................................57
System Error Messages..................................................................................................63
18 System Setup..........................................................................................65
System Setup Overview..................................................................................................65
System Setup Screens....................................................................................................65
Enter System Setup.........................................................................................................66
System Setup Option.......................................................................................................67
19 Contacting Dell.......................................................................................71
Contacting Dell................................................................................................................71
6
1
Working on Your Computer
Before Working Inside Your Computer
Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage
and to help to ensure your personal safety. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure
included in this document assumes that the following conditions exist:
• You have read the safety information that shipped with your computer.
• A component can be replaced or--if purchased separately--installed by performing
the removal procedure in reverse order.
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that
shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see
the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You
should only perform troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your
product documentation, or as directed by the online or telephone service and
support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered
by your warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the
product.
CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist
grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface, such as a
connector on the back of the computer.
CAUTION: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components
or contacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket.
Hold a component such as a processor by its edges, not by its pins.
CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its pull-tab, not
on the cable itself. Some cables have connectors with locking tabs; if you are
disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before you disconnect
the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending
any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, ensure that both connectors
are correctly oriented and aligned.
7
NOTE: The color of your computer and certain components may appear differently
than shown in this document.
To avoid damaging your computer, perform the following steps before you begin working
inside the computer.
1. Ensure that your work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover from
being scratched.
2. Turn off your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer).
CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your
computer and then unplug the cable from the network device.
3. Disconnect all network cables from the computer.
4. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.
5. Press and hold the power button while the computer is unplugged to ground the
system board.
6. Remove the cover.
CAUTION: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by
touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at the back of the
computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to
dissipate static electricity, which could harm internal components.
Recommended Tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
• Small flat-blade screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Small plastic scribe
• Flash BIOS update program media
Turning Off Your Computer
CAUTION: To avoid losing data, save and close all open files and exit all open
programs before you turn off your computer.
1. Shut down the operating system:
• In Windows 7:
Click Start , then click Shut Down.
• In Windows Vista:
8
Click Start , then click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu
as shown below, and then click Shut Down.
• In Windows XP:
Click Start → Turn Off Computer → Turn Off . The computer turns off after the
operating system shutdown process is complete.
2. 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 6 seconds to turn them
off.
After Working Inside Your Computer
After you complete any replacement procedure, ensure you connect any external
devices, cards, and cables before turning on your computer.
1. Replace the cover.
CAUTION: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device
and then plug it into the computer.
2. Connect any telephone or network cables to your computer.
3. Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets.
4. Turn on your computer.
5. Verify that the computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics.
9
10
Cover
Removing The Cover
2
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the screws that secure the cover to the computer.
3. Slide the computer cover towards the back of the computer.
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
11
4. Remove the computer cover.
Installing The Cover
1. Place the cover on the chassis.
2. Push the cover towards the front of the computer.
3. Replace the screws to secure the cover to the computer.
4. Follow the procedures in
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
12
Front Bezel
Removing The Front Bezel
3
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Pry the front panel retention clips away from the chassis.
4. Rotate the front bezel away from the computer, to release the hooks on the opposite
edge of the bezel from the chassis.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
13
Installing The Front Bezel
1. Place the hooks on the notches in the computer.
2. Rotate the front bezel towards the computer .
3. Press the front bezel till the tabs snap in to place.
4. Replace the
5. Follow the procedures in
cover
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
14
Expansion Card
Removing The Expansion Card
4
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Pull up the release tab on the card-retention latch.
4. Press on the release-lever to release the securing tab from the notch in the card.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
15
5. Lift the expansion card up and out of it's connector and remove it from the
computer.
Installing The Expansion Card
1. Place the expansion card on it's connector.
2. Press down the card-retention till it snaps into place.
3. Secure the expansion card by pushing the card-retention latch till it snaps into
place.
cover
4. Replace the
5. Follow the procedures in
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
16
Memory
Removing The Memory
5
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Press down on the memory retention tabs on each side of the memory module.
4. Lift the memory module out of it's connector on the system board.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
17
Installing The Memory
1. Place the memory module into it's connector on the system board.
2. Press the memory module into the socket till it snaps into place.
cover
3. Replace the
4. Follow the procedures in
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
18
Optical Drive
Removing The Optical Drive
6
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Disconnect the data cable and power cable from the optical drive.
4. Pull the optical-drive release latch and then push the optical drive towards the front
of the computer.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
19
Installing The Optical Drive
1. Push the optical drive into the computer till it snaps into place.
2. Connect the data cable and power cable to the optical drive.
cover
3. Replace the
4. Follow the procedures in
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
20
Hard Drive
Removing The Hard Drive
7
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Disconnect the SATA cable and power cable from the hard drive.
4. Remove the screws that secure the hard drive to the computer.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
21
5. Remove the hard drive from the computer.
6. Remove the screws that secure the bracket to the hard drive.
22
Installing The Hard Drive
1. Replace the screws that secure the bracket to the hard drive.
2. Replace the hard drive into the computer.
3. Replace the screws that secure the hard drive to the computer.
4. Connect the SATA cable and power cable to the hard drive.
5. Replace the
6. Follow the procedures in
cover
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
23
24
Fan
Removing The Fan
8
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Disconnect the fan cable from the system board.
4. Remove the screws that secure the fan to the computer.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
25
5. Remove the fan from the computer.
Installing The Fan
1. Place the fan on the computer.
2. Replace the screws to secure the fan to the computer.
3. Connect the fan cable to the system board.
4. Replace the
5. Follow the procedures in
cover
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
26
Power Supply
Removing The Power Supply
9
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Remove the
4. Remove the
5. Remove the
6. Disconnect the power cables from the system board.
7. Un-thread the power cables from the metal clips.
cover
front bezel
optical drive
hard drive
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
.
.
.
27
8. Remove the screws that secure the power supply to the computer.
9. Push-in on the blue release tab beside the power supply, and slide the power
supply towards the front of the computer.
28
10. Lift the power supply out of the computer.
Installing The Power Supply
1. Place the power supply into the computer.
2. Slide the power supply towards the back of the computer till it snaps into place.
3. Replace the screws to secure the power supply to the computer.
4. Thread the power cables through the metal clips.
5. Connect the power cables to the system board.
6. Replace the
7. Replace the
8. Replace the
9. Replace the
10. Follow the procedures in
hard drive
optical drive
front panel
cover
.
.
.
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
29
30
Power Switch
Removing The Power Switch
10
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Disconnect the power-switch cable from the system board.
4. Remove the hard drive LED button by pulling it out from the slot.
5. Remove the power button by pressing on the two latches and pulling it out from the
slot.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
31
6. Slide the power switch and hard drive LED cable out through the front of the
computer.
Installing The Power Switch
1. Insert the power switch and hard drive LED cable through the front of the computer.
2. Place the hard drive LED button into the slot by pulling it in into it's slot
3. Push the power button into it's slot and press it in till it snaps into place.
4. Connect the power-switch cable to the system board.
cover
5. Replace the
6. Follow the procedures in
32
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
Input/Output Panel
Removing The I/O Panel
11
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Disconnect the three I/O panel and FlyWire cables from the system board.
4. Un-thread the cables from the metal clips.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
33
5. Remove the hard drive LED button by pulling it out from the slot.
6. Remove the power button by pressing on the two latches and pulling it out from the
slot.
7. Remove the screw that secures the I/O panel to the computer.
34
8. Slide the I/O panel towards the bottom of the computer and remove the I/O panel
from the computer.
9. Release the securing clips using a small flat-headed screwdriver and push up the
SD Card Reader.
35
10. Remove the SD card reader from the I/O panel bracket.
Installing The I/O Panel
1. Place the SD card reader into the I/O panel bracket.
2. Route the cable through the I/O panel slot and then slide the I/O panel towards the
top of the computer.
3. Replace the screw that secures the I/O panel.
4. Place the hard drive LED button by pushing it into it's slot.
5. Push the power button into it's slot.
6. Route the three cables through the metal clips.
7. Connect the three I/O panel and FlyWire cables to the system board.
8. Replace the
9. Follow the procedures in
cover
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
36
Processor
Removing The Processor
12
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Disconnect the heat sink and fan assembly cable from the system board.
4. Loosen the captive-screws that secure the heat sink and fan assembly to the
system board.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
37
5. Lift the heat sink and fan assembly upward, and remove it from the computer.
NOTE: Lay the assembly with the fan facing downward, and with the thermal grease
facing upward.
6. Press the release lever down and then move it outward to release it from the
retention hook that secures it.
38
7. Lift the processor cover.
8. Lift the processor to remove it from the socket and place it in an antistatic
packaging.
39
Installing The Processor
1. Align the two notches on the processor and insert it into the socket, the processor
should slide in and fit into the socket without any force.
NOTE: The processor is notched at one end with a triangle marking. The same
marking is also notched on the processor socket.
2. Close the processor cover.
3. Press the release lever down and move it inwards to secure it with the retention
hook.
4. Place the heat sink and fan assembly on the processor.
5. Tighten the captive-screws that secure the heat sink and fan assembly to the
system board.
6. Connect the heat sink and fan assembly cable to the system board.
cover
7. Replace the
8. Follow the procedures in
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
40
Coin-Cell Battery
Removing The Coin-Cell Battery
13
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Press the release latch away from the battery to allow the battery to pop up from
the socket.
4. Lift the coin-cell battery out of the computer.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
41
Installing The Coin-Cell Battery
1. Place the coin-cell battery in it's socket on the system board.
2. Press the coin-cell battery till it snaps into place.
cover
3. Replace the
4. Follow the procedures in
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
42
System Board
Removing The System Board
14
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Remove the
4. Remove the
5. Remove the
6. Remove the
7. Remove the
8. Remove the
9. Disconnect and un-thread all the cables connected to the system board.
cover
front bezel
memory
optical drive
hard drive
expansion card
processor
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
.
.
.
.
10. Remove the screws that secure the system board to the computer.
43
11. Slide the system board towards the front of the computer and carefully tilt to 45–
degree angle.
12. Lift the system board out of the computer and place it in an antistatic packaging.
Installing The System Board
1. Place the system board into the computer at a 45–degrees angle and then slide it
towards the back of the computer.
2. Replace the screws to secure the system board to the computer.
3. Thread and connect all the cables connected to the system board.
4. Replace the
5. Replace the
6. Replace the
7. Replace the
processor
.
expansion card
hard drive
optical drive
.
.
.
44
8. Replace the
9. Replace the
10. Follow the procedures in
front panel
cover
.
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
45
46
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card
Removing The WLAN Card
15
1. Follow the procedures in
2. Remove the
3. Remove the antennae.
4. Pull-up the release tab on the card-retention latch.
cover
Before Working Inside Your Computer
.
.
47
5. Grasp the card by it's top corners, and ease it out of it's connector.
Installing The WLAN Card
1. Insert the card into it's connector on the computer.
2. Push down the release tab on the card-retention latch.
3. Replace the antennae.
cover
4. Replace the
5. Follow the procedures in
.
After Working Inside Your Computer
.
48
Specifications
Specifications
NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. The following specifications are only those
required by law to ship with your computer. For more information regarding the
configuration of your computer, click Start → Help and Support and select the
option to view information about your computer.
Processor
16
Type
L2 cache up to 6 MB (depending on the processor)
Memory
Memory module connector two DIMM slots
Memory module capacity 1 GB, 2 GB, or 4 GB
Type 1333 MHz DDR3 (Non-ECC)
Minimum memory 1 GB
Maximum memory 8 GB
Video
Video Type:
Integrated
• Intel Core i3 series
• Intel Core i5 series
• Intel Pentium Dual-Core
• Intel HD Graphics (with Intel Pentium
Dual-Core CPU-GPU combo)
• Intel HD Graphics 2000 (with Intel Core
i3/i5 65W and 95W CPU-GPU combo)
49
Video
Discrete PCI Express x16 graphics card
• AMD Radeon HD 6450 1GB DDR3 (DVI,
VGA, HDMI)
• AMD Radeon HD 5450 1GB DDR3 (DVI,
VGA, HDMI)
• AMD Radeon HD 6670 1GB DDR3 (DVI,
VGA, HDMI)
Integrated video memory up to 1.7 GB shared video memory
(Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7)
Audio
Integrated Integrated 5.1 high-definition audio
Network
Integrated Realtek 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
System Information
Chipset Intel H61
BIOS chip (NVRAM) 32 Mb
Expansion Bus
Bus type
Bus speed:
PCI Express
50
• PCI Express 2.0
• SATA 1.0 and 2.0
• USB 2.0
• 8-in-1 media-card reader (for Vostro
260S)
• 19-in-1 media card reader (optional in
Vostro 260)
• PCI Express x1-slot (includes mini PCIExpress) support speed – 500 Mbps
(Gen 2)
• PCI Express x16-slot support speed – 8
Gbps (Gen 2)
Expansion Bus
SATA 1.5/3.0/6.0 Gbps
eSATA 3.0 Gbps
USB 480 Mbps
Cards
PCIe x16 one full-height card
PCIe x1 up to three full-height cards
Drives
Vostro 260 Vostro 260S
Externally accessible:
5.25 inch drive bays two one
Internally accessible:
3.5 inch drive bays two one
External Connectors
Audio:
Back panel three connectors
Front Panel two front-panel connectors for headphone
and microphone
Network one RJ45 connector
USB:
Front panel
Back panel six USB 2.0 connectors
Video
• one USB 2.0 connector
• one powered USB 2.0 connector
• one 15-hole VGA connector
• one 19-pin HDMI connector
51
Control Lights And Diagnostic Lights
power button light white light — solid white light indicates
power-on state.
amber light — solid amber light indicates
sleep/stand by state of the computer;
blinking amber light indicates a problem
with the system board.
drive activity light white light — blinking white light indicates
that the computer is reading data from, or
writing data to the hard drive.
Power
Coin-cell battery 3 V CR2032 lithium coin cell
Input voltage
Input frequency 50 Hz to 60 Hz
Wattage:
Vostro 260 300 W
Vostro 260S 250 W
Input current:
Vostro 260 9.00 A (8.00 A)/4.50 A
Vostro 260S 8.00 A/4.00 A
NOTE: Total power output of +5.50 V and +3.30 V can not exceed 160 W
Maximum heat dissipation:
Vostro 260 1574 BTU/hr
Vostro 260S 1312 BTU/hr
NOTE: Heat dissipation is calculated by using the power supply wattage rating.
• 100 VAC to 127 VAC
• 200 VAC to 240 VAC
52
Physical
Vostro 260:
Height 360.00 mm (14.17 inches)
Width 175.00 mm (6.89 inches)
Depth 436.30 mm (17.18 inches)
Weight (Minimum) 8.20 Kg (18.08 lb)
Vostro 260S:
Height 360.00 mm (14.17 inches)
Width 102.00 mm (4.02 inches)
Depth 433.10 mm (17.05 inches)
Weight (Minimum) 7.60 Kg (16.76 lb)
Environmental
Temperature:
Operating 10 °C to 35 °C (50 °F to 95 °F)
Storage –40 °C to 65 °C (–40 °F to 149 °F)
Relative humidity 20 % to 80 % (noncondensing)
Altitude:
Operating –15.20 m to 3048 m (–50 ft to 10,000 ft)
Storage –15.20 m to 10,668 m (–50 ft to 35,000 ft)
Airborne contaminant level G1 as defined by ISA-S71.04–1985
53
54
Troubleshooting
Diagnostic Power LED Codes
Power LED Light Status Possible Cause Troubleshooting Steps
17
Off The computer is either
turned off or is not
receiving power.
Blinking Amber Computer fails to complete
POST or processor failure.
• Re-seat the power
cable in the power
connector on the back
of the computer and the
electrical outlet.
• If the computer is
plugged into a power
strip, ensure the power
strip is plugged into an
electrical outlet and is
turned on. Also, bypass
power protection
devices, power strips,
and power extension
cables to verify the
computer turns on
properly.
• Ensure the electrical
outlet is working by
testing it with another
device, such as a lamp.
• Remove and then
reinstall any cards.
• Remove and then
reinstall the graphics
card, if applicable.
• Ensure the power cable
is connected to the
motherboard and
processor.
55
Power LED Light Status Possible Cause Troubleshooting Steps
Steady Amber Computer is in standby or
this is a computer fault
error condition, including
the power supply. Only the
+5VSB rail on the power
supply is working correctly.
Steady White The computer is fully
functional and in the On
state.
• Press the power button
to bring the computer
out of standby mode.
• Ensure all power cables
are securely connected
to the system board.
• Ensure the main power
cable and front panel
cable are securely
connected to the
system board.
If the computer is not
responding, do the
following:
• Ensure the display is
connected and turned
on.
• If the display is
connected and turned
on, listen for a beep
code.
Diagnostic Beep Codes
Beep Possible Cause Troubleshooting Steps
1 BIOS ROM checksum in
progress of failure.
2 No RAM detected No memory detected
3
56
• Chipset Error (North
and South Bridge
Chipset, DMA/IMR/
Timer Error for Intel
platform); Chipset Error
• Time-Of-Day Clock test
failure
• Gate A20 failure
• Super I/O chip failure
System board failure,
covers BIOS corruption or
ROM error
System board Failure
Beep Possible Cause Troubleshooting Steps
• Keyboard controller
test failure
4 RAM Read/Write failure Memory failure
5 RTC Power Fail COMS battery failure
6 Video BIOS Test Failure Video card failure
7 Processor Failure Processor Failure
Diagnostic Error Messages
Error Messages Description
AUXILIARY DEVICE FAILURE The touch pad or external mouse may be
faulty. For an external mouse, check the
cable connection. Enable the Pointing
Device option in the system setup
program.
BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME Ensure that you have spelled the
command correctly, put spaces in the
proper place, and used the correct
pathname.
CACHE DISABLED DUE TO FAILURE The primary cache internal to the
microprocessor has failed.
CD DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE The optical drive does not respond to
commands from the computer.
DATA ERROR The hard drive cannot read the data.
DECREASING AVAILABLE MEMORY One or more memory modules may be
faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the
memory modules and, if necessary,
replace them.
DISK C: FAILED INITIALIZATION The hard drive failed initialization. Run the
hard drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Contact Dell
.
57
Error Messages Description
DRIVE NOT READY The operation requires a hard drive in the
bay before it can continue. Install a hard
drive in the hard drive bay.
ERROR READING PCMCIA CARD The computer cannot identify the
ExpressCard. Reinsert the card or try
another card.
EXTENDED MEMORY SIZE HAS CHANGED The amount of memory recorded in non-
volatile memory (NVRAM) does not match
the memory installed in the computer.
Restart the computer. If the error appears
again,
contact Dell
.
THE FILE BEING COPIED IS TOO LARGE
FOR THE DESTINATION DRIVE
A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF
THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS: \ / : * ? " <
> | -
GATE A20 FAILURE A memory module may be loose. Reinstall
GENERAL FAILURE The operating system is unable to carry
HARD-DISK DRIVE CONFIGURATION
ERROR
The file that you are trying to copy is too
large to fit on the disk, or the disk is full.
Try copying the file to a different disk or
use a larger capacity disk.
Do not use these characters in filenames.
the memory modules and, if necessary,
replace them.
out the command. The message is usually
followed by specific information. For
example, Printer out of paper. Take the
appropriate action.
The computer cannot identify the drive
type. Shut down the computer, remove the
hard drive, and boot the computer from a
optical drive. Then, shut down the
computer, reinstall the hard drive, and
restart the computer. Run the Hard Disk
Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
HARD-DISK DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE0The hard drive does not respond to
commands from the computer. Shut down
the computer, remove the hard drive, and
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Error Messages Description
boot the computer from a optical drive.
Then, shut down the computer, reinstall
the hard drive, and restart the computer. If
the problem persists, try another drive.
Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell
Diagnostics.
HARD-DISK DRIVE FAILURE The hard drive does not respond to
commands from the computer. Shut down
the computer, remove the hard drive, and
boot the computer from a optical drive.
Then, shut down the computer, reinstall
the hard drive, and restart the computer. If
the problem persists, try another drive.
Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell
Diagnostics.
HARD-DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE The hard drive may be defective. Shut
down the computer, remove the hard
drive, and boot the computer from a
optical. Then, shut down the computer,
reinstall the hard drive, and restart the
computer. If the problem persists, try
another drive. Run the Hard Disk Drive
tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA The operating system is trying to boot to
non-bootable media, such as a floppy disk
or optical drive. Insert bootable media.
INVALID CONFIGURATION
INFORMATION-PLEASE RUN SYSTEM
SETUP PROGRAM
KEYBOARD CLOCK LINE FAILURE For external keyboards, check the cable
KEYBOARD CONTROLLER FAILURE For external keyboards, check the cable
The system configuration information does
not match the hardware configuration. The
message is most likely to occur after a
memory module is installed. Correct the
appropriate options in the system setup
program.
connection. Run the Keyboard Controller
test in the Dell Diagnostics.
connection. Restart the computer, and
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Error Messages Description
avoid touching the keyboard or the mouse
during the boot routine. Run the Keyboard
Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics.
KEYBOARD DATA LINE FAILURE For external keyboards, check the cable
connection. Run theKeyboard Controller
test in the Dell Diagnostics.
KEYBOARD STUCK KEY FAILURE For external keyboards or keypads, check
the cable connection. Restart the
computer, and avoid touching the
keyboard or keys during the boot routine.
Run the Stuck Key test in the Dell
Diagnostics.
LICENSED CONTENT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE
IN MEDIADIRECT
MEMORY ADDRESS LINE FAILURE AT
ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING
VALUE
MEMORY ALLOCATION ERROR The software you are attempting to run is
MEMORY DOUBLE WORD LOGIC FAILURE
AT ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING
VALUE
MEMORY ODD/EVEN LOGIC FAILURE AT
ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING
VALUE
MEMORY WRITE/READ FAILURE AT
ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING
VALUE
Dell MediaDirect cannot verify the Digital
Rights Management (DRM) restrictions on
the file, so the file cannot be played.
A memory module may be faulty or
improperly seated. Reinstall the memory
modules and, if necessary, replace them.
conflicting with the operating system,
another program, or a utility. Shut down
the computer, wait 30 seconds, and then
restart it. Try to run the program again. If
the error message still appears, see the
software documentation.
A memory module may be faulty or
improperly seated. Reinstall the memory
modules and, if necessary, replace them.
A memory module may be faulty or
improperly seated. Reinstall the memory
modules and, if necessary, replace them.
A memory module may be faulty or
improperly seated. Reinstall the memory
modules and, if necessary, replace them.
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Error Messages Description
NO BOOT DEVICE AVAILABLE The computer cannot find the hard drive. If
the hard drive is your boot device, ensure
that the drive is installed, properly seated,
and partitioned as a boot device.
NO BOOT SECTOR ON HARD DRIVE The operating system may be corrupted,
contact Dell
NO TIMER TICK INTERRUPT A chip on the system board may be
malfunctioning. Run the System Set tests
in theDell Diagnostics.
.
NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES.
EXIT SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN
OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND Reinstall the hard drive (see your
OPTIONAL ROM BAD CHECKSUM The optional ROM has failed.
SECTOR NOT FOUND The operating system cannot locate a
SEEK ERROR The operating system cannot find a
SHUTDOWN FAILURE A chip on the system board may be
You have too many programs open. Close
all windows and open the program that
you want to use.
Owner's
Manual
at support.dell.com). If the
problem persists,
contact Dell
.
Contact Dell
sector on the hard drive. You may have a
defective sector or corrupted FAT on the
hard drive. Run the Windows errorchecking utility to check the file structure
on the hard drive. See Windows Help and
Support for instructions (click Start > Help
and Support). If a large number of sectors
are defective, back up the data (if
possible), and then reformat the hard
drive.
specific track on the hard drive.
malfunctioning. Run the System Set tests
in the
contact Dell
.
.
TIME-OF-DAY CLOCK LOST POWER System configuration settings are
corrupted. Connect your computer to an
electrical outlet to charge the battery. If
61
Error Messages Description
the problem persists, try to restore the
data by entering the system setup
program, then immediately exit the
program. If the message reappears,
contact Dell
TIME-OF-DAY CLOCK STOPPED The reserve battery that supports the
system configuration settings may require
recharging. Connect your computer to an
electrical outlet to charge the battery. If
the problem persists, contact Dell.
.
TIME-OF-DAY NOT SET-PLEASE RUN THE
SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM
TIMER CHIP COUNTER 2 FAILED A chip on the system board may be
UNEXPECTED INTERRUPT IN PROTECTED
MODE
X:\ IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE DEVICE IS
NOT READY
WARNING: BATTERY IS CRITICALLY LOW The battery is running out of charge.
The time or date stored in the system
setup program does not match the system
clock. Correct the settings for the Date
and Time options.
malfunctioning. Run the System Set tests
in the Dell Diagnostics.
The keyboard controller may be
malfunctioning, or a memory module may
be loose. Run the System Memory tests
and the Keyboard Controller test in the
contact Dell
Insert a disk into the drive and try again.
Replace the battery, or connect the
computer to an electrical outlet;
otherwise, activate hibernate mode or
shut down the computer.
.
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System Error Messages
System Message Description
Alert! Previous attempts at booting this
system have failed at checkpoint [nnnn].
For help in resolving this problem, please
note this checkpoint and contact Dell
Technical Support
CMOS checksum error Possible motherboard failure or Real-time
CPU fan failure CPU fan has failed
System fan failure System fan has failed
Hard-disk drive failure Possible hard disk drive failure during
Keyboard failure Keyboard failure or loose cable. If
No boot device available No bootable partition on hard disk drive,
The computer failed to complete the boot
routine three consecutive times for the
same error.
clock (RTC) battery low.
POST
reseating the cable does not solve the
problem, replace the keyboard.
the hard disk drive cable is loose, or no
bootable device exists.
• If the hard drive is your boot device,
ensure that the cables are connected
and that the drive is installed properly
and partitioned as a boot device.
• Enter system setup and ensure that
the boot sequence information is
correct.
No timer tick interrupt A chip on the system board might be
malfunctioning or motherboard failure.
USB over current error Disconnect the USB device. The USB
device needs more power for it to function
properly. Use an external power source to
connect the USB device, or if the device
has two USB cables, connect both of
them.
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System Message Description
CAUTION - Hard Drive SELF MONITORING
SYSTEM has reported that a parameter
has exceeded its normal operating range.
Dell recommends that you back up your
data regularly. A parameter out of range
may or may not indicate a potential hard
drive problem
S.M.A.R.T error, possible hard disk drive
failure
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18
System Setup
System Setup Overview
System Setup allows you to:
• change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any
hardware in your computer.
• set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password.
• 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.
CAUTION: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings for
this program. Certain changes can cause your computer to work incorrectly.
System Setup Screens
Menu — Appears on top of the System Setup window. This field provides a menu to
access the System Setup options. Press < Left Arrow > and < Right Arrow > keys to
navigate. As a Menu option is highlighted, the Options List lists the options that define
the hardware installed on your computer.
Options List — Appears on
the left side of the System
Setup window. The field
lists features that define the
configuration of your
computer, including
installed hardware, power
conservation, and security
features. Scroll up and
down the list with the upand down-arrow keys. As
Options Field — Appears
on the right side of Dell
Diagnostics and contains
information about each
option listed in theDell
Diagnostics. In this field
you can view information
about your computer and
make changes to your
current settings. Press <
Enter> to make changes to
Dell Diagnostics —
Appears on the right side of
the System Setup window
and contains help
information about the
option selected in Dell
Diagnostics.
65
an option is highlighted, the
Options Field displays the
option's current and
available settings.
Dell Diagnostics — Appears below the Dell Diagnostics and lists keys and their
functions within the active system setup field.
Use the following keys to navigate through the System Setup screens:
Keystroke Action
< F2 > Displays information on any selected item
< Esc > Exit from current view or switch the
< Up Arrow > or < Down Arrow > Select an item to display.
< Left Arrow > or < Right Arrow > Select a menu to display.
– or + Change existing item value.
< Enter > Select the sub menu or execute command.
your current settings. Press
<ESC> to return to the Dell
Diagnostics.
NOTE: Not all settings
listed in the Options
Field are changeable.
in the System Setup.
current view to the Dell Diagnostics page
in the System Setup.
< F9 > Load setup default.
< F10 > Save current configuration and exit
System Setup.
Enter System Setup
1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2. When the blue DELL logo is displayed, you must watch for the F2 prompt to appear.
3. Once the F2 prompt appears, press <F2> immediately.
NOTE: The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard has initialized. This prompt can
appear very quickly, so you must watch for it to display, and then press <F2> . If you
press <F2> before you are prompted, this keystroke will be lost.
4. 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.
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System Setup Option
Main
System Information Displays the computer model number.
BIOS Version Displays the BIOS revision.
Build Date Displays the date the system BIOS was
built.
System Date Re-sets the date on the computer's
internal calendar.
System Time Re-sets the time on the computer's
internal clock.
Service Tag Displays the service tag of your computer.
Asset Tag Displays the asset tag of your computer (if
available).
Processor Information
Processor Type Displays the type of processor.
L2 Cache Size Displays the processor L2 cache size.
L3 Cache Size Displays the processor L3 cache size.
Memory Information
Memory Installed Displays the total computer memory.
Memory Speed Displays the memory speed.
Memory Technology Displays the type and technology.
Device Information
SATA 0 Displays the model number and capacity
of the hard drive.
SATA 1 Displays the model number and capacity
of the hard drive.
SATA 2 Displays the model number and capacity
of the hard drive.
SATA 3 Displays the model number and capacity
of the hard drive.
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Advanced
CPU Configuration
Hyper-threading Enable or disable processor
hyper-threading.
Limit CPUID Value Enable or disable the Limit
CPUID Value feature.
CPU XD Support Enable or disable the CPU
XD feature.
Intel Virtualization
Technology
Intel SpeedStep Enable or disable the Intel
CPU C6 Report Enable or disable the
System Configuration
Onboard Audio Controller Enable or disable the
Onboard LAN Controller Enable or disable the
Onboard LAN Boot ROM Enable or disable the
USB Controller Enable or disable the USB
USB Storage Boot Function Enable or disable the option
Power Management
Restore AC Power Loss Specifies how the
Enable or disable the Intel
Virtualization feature.
SpeedStep feature.
processor power saving
report to the operating
system.
onboard audio controller.
onboard LAN controller.
onboard LAN boot ROM.
controller.
to boot through a USB
device
computer will behave when
AC power is restored after
an AC power loss.
Default: Enabled
Default: Enabled
Default: Enabled
Default: Enabled
Default: Enabled
Default: Enabled
Default: Enabled
Default: Enabled
Default: Disabled
Default: Enabled
Default: Enabled
Default: Power Off
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CPU Configuration
Wake on Lan from S4/S5 Allows the computer to be
remotely turned on.
Auto Power On Enable or disable the
computer to power on
automatically. You can
further specify the date and
time the computer power
on.
Post Behaviour
NumLock Key Enable or disable the
NumLock State light during
POST.
Keyboard Error Report Enable or disable the
Keyboard Error Report to be
displayed during POST.
Boot
Default: Enabled
Default: Disabled
Default: On
Default: Enabled
Set Boot Priority
Hard Disk Drives Specify which hard drive the computer
CD/DVD ROM Drives Specify which CD/DVD the computer can
Specifies the order of different devices in
which the computer will boot through at
start up.
can boot through.
boot through.
Security
Unlock Setup Status
Admin Password Status Specifies whether an administrator
System Password Status Specifies whether a system password has
Admin Password Allows you to change or delete the
Specifies whether the BIOS can be edited.
password has been assigned.
been assigned.
administrator password.
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Exit
This section allows you to save, discard, and load default settings before exiting from
System Setup.
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19
Contacting Dell
Contacting Dell
NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact
information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.
Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options.
Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in
your area. To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues:
1. Visit support.dell.com.
2. Select your support category.
3. If you are not a U.S. customer, select your country code at the bottom of the page,
or select All to see more choices.
4. Select the appropriate service or support link based on your need.
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