Dell Dimension 4300 User Manual

2H930bk1.book Page 1 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Dell™ Dimension™ 4300

Solutions Guide

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

2H930bk1.book Page 2 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Hints, Notices, and Cautions

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

use of your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE ind icates either potential damage to hardware or loss of

data and tells you how to avoid the problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potent ial fo r prope rty dama ge,

personal injury, or death.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

F or a co mplete list of abb rev iations and acro nyms, see the Tell Me How help
file. To access help files, see page24.

____________________

Information in this do cum e nt is subj ec t to change without notice.
© 2001 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.

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

Dell

, the

DELL

logo,

Trademarks used in this text:

Precision, DellPlus

are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation;
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 disc la ims any
proprietary interest in trad em arks and trade names other than its own.

This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of
certain U.S. patents and other intellec tual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporati on
and other rights owners. Use of this copyright pro tec ti on te chnology must be authorized by
Macrovision Corporation, and is in ten de d for hom e and oth er lim ite d vi ew in g uses onl y unless
otherwise auth orize d by Macro vi sion Corp oration. Reverse engineering or disassembly is
prohibited.

November 2001 P/N 2H930 Rev. A01

, and

DellNet

are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation;

Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude, OptiPlex, Dell

Microsoft

and

Windows

Intel

are registered

and

Pentium

2H930bk1.book Page 3 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Contents

Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

When Using Your Computer

Ergonomic Computing Habits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

When Working Inside Your Computer
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

1 Setting Up

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

. . . . . . . . . . . 13

Connecting a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Parallel Printer

USB Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Installing the Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Transferring Information to a New Computer (Windows XP Only) 18
Setting Up a Home and Office Network (Windows XP Only) . . . 19
Turning Off the Computer

Windows XP

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Windows Me and Windows 2000

2 Solving Problems

Finding Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Accessing Help Files

Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Start-Up Error Messages
Video and Monitor Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

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

Contents 3

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If the screen is blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

If the screen is difficult to read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

If you cannot print to a parallel port printer

If you cannot print to a USB printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

. . . . . . . . . . 29

Scanner Problems
Modem Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Mouse Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Keyboard Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Drive Problems

If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk
If you cannot play a music CD or install a program from a CD

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

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

. 36

If you cannot play a DVD movie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

If the CD-RW drive stops writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

If you have a hard drive problem

Network Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Microsoft® Windows® Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

General Program Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

A program crashes
A program stops responding
A program error causes the system to lock up
A solid blue screen appears

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

. . . . . . . . . 41

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system 41

4 Contents

Internet Connection Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

If you have a problem with your Inte rnet connection

E-Mail Problems
Resolving Other Technical Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

. . . . . . 42

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Reinstalling Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Using the Windows XP Device Driver Rollback

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities . . . . . . . 46

Windows XP

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Windows Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Using System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Creating a Restore Point

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State . . . . . . 51

Undoing the Last System Restore

. . . . . . . . . 45

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Reinstalling Windows XP

Reinstalling Windows Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Reinstalling Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

3 Adding Parts

Front and Back View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Reattaching the Front Door and Hinge Arms . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Reattaching the Front Door

Reattaching the Hinge Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Opening the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Looking Inside Your Computer

System Board

Adding Cards
Removing Cards

Adding Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Replacing the AGP Card

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Adding a Second Hard Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Contents 5

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Adding Other Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

5.25-Inch Devices

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

3.5-Inch Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Closing the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

4 Appendix

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Standard Settings

Viewing Settings
System Setup Program Screens

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Replacing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Definition of “Dell-Installed” Software and Peripherals

. . . . 98

Definition of “Third-Party” Software and Peripherals . . . . . 99

Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Contact Numbers and Addresses

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit . . . . . . . . . 114

Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

FCC Notices (U.S. Only)
Battery Disposal
NOM Information (Mexico Only)
Información para NOM (únicamente para México)

Limited Warranties and Return Policy

One-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only)
Two-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

. . . . . . . 119

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

. . . . . . . . . . . . 120

. . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Three-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Four-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only)
One-Year Limited Warra nty (Canada Only)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 129

. . . . . . . . . . . 132

Two-Yea r Limited Warranty (C anada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . 134

6 Contents

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Three-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . 137

"Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (U.S. and Canada Only) . . . 141
One-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee (Latin America and the

Caribbean Only)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Contents 7

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8 Contents

2H930bk1.book Page 9 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Safety Instructions

As you use your computer, observe the following safe-handling guidelines.

When Using Your Computer

CAUTION: Do not operate your computer with any cover(s)

(including the computer cover, filler brackets, front-panel inserts,
and so on) removed or opened.

• To help avoid damaging your computer, be sure that the voltage

selection switch is set to match the AC power available at your
location:

– 115 V/60 Hz in most of North and South America and some Far

Eastern countries such as South Korea and Taiwan
– 100 V/50 Hz in ea stern Japan and 100 V/60 Hz in western J apan
– 230 V/50 Hz in most of Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East

Also be sure that your monitor and attached devices are electrically
rated to operate with the AC power available in your location.

• To avoid shorting out your comp uter when disconnecting a network

cable, first unplug the cable from the network adapter on the back of
your computer, and then from the network jack. When reconnecting a
network cable to your computer, first plug the cable into the network
jack, and then into the network adapter.

• To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds

after turning off the computer before disconnecting or connecting a
non-USB device from the computer.

9

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• To help prevent electr i c shock, plug the computer and device power

cables into properly grounded power sources. These cables are
equipped with 3-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not
use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a cable. If you
must use an extension cable, use a 3-wire cable with properly grounded
plugs.

• To help protect your computer from sudden, transient increases and

decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner,
or uninterruptible power supply.

• Be sure that nothing rests on your computer’s cables and that the

cables are not located where they can be stepped on or tripped over.

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• Do not spill food or liquids on your computer. If the computer gets

wet, contact Dell (see page 100).

• Do not push an y ob jects into the o penin gs of your compu ter. Doing so

can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components.

• Keep your computer away from radiators and heat sources. Also , do not

block cooling vents. Avoid placing loose papers underneath your
computer; do not place your computer in a closed-in wall unit or on a
bed, sofa, or rug.

Ergonomic Computing Habits

CAUTION: Improper or prolonged keyboard u se may resul t in

injury.

CAUTION: Viewing the monitor screen for extended periods of

time may result in eye strain.

For comfort and efficiency, observe the following ergonomic guidelines
when setting up and using your computer:

• Position your computer so that the monitor and keyboard are directly

in front of you as you work. Special shelves are available (from Dell and
other sources) to help you correctly position your keyboard.

• Set the monitor at a comfortable viewing distance (usually 510 to 610

millimeters [20 to 24 inches] from your eyes).

• Make sure the monitor screen is at eye level or slightly lower when you

are sitting in front of the monitor.

10

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• Adjust the tilt of the monitor, its contrast and brightness settings, and

the lighting around you (such as overhead lights, desk lamps, and the
curtains or blinds on nearby windows) to minimize reflections and
glare on the monitor screen.

• Use a chair that provides good lower back support.

• Keep your forearms horizontal with your wrists in a neutral,

comfortable position while using the keyboard or mouse

• Always leave space to rest your hands while using the keyboard or

mouse.

• Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides.

• Sit erect with your feet resting on the floor and your thighs level.

• When sitting, make sure the weight of your legs is on your feet and not

on the front of your chair seat. Adjust your chair’s height or use a
footrest, if necessary, to maintain proper posture.

• Vary your work activities. Try to organize your work so that you do not

have to type for extended periods of time. When you stop typing, try
to do things that use both hands.

11

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monitor screen at or
below eye level

wrists relaxed
and flat

computer positioned
directly in front of
user

arms at desk
level

feet flat on the
floor

When Working Inside Your Computer

Before you open the computer cover, perform the following steps in the
sequence indicated.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to service the computer yourself,

except as explained in this guide and elsewhere in Dell
documentation. Always follow installation and service
instructions closely.

Turn off the computer (see page 20).

1
2 Turn off all devices.

12

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3 Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface at the back of

the computer before touching anything inside your computer.
While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the

computer to dissipate any static electricity that might harm in ternal
components.

4 Disconnect any devices connected to the computer, including the

monitor, from their electrical outlets to reduce the potential for
personal injury or shock. Also, disconnect any telephone or
telecommunication lines fr om the computer.

5 Disconnect the power cable to your computer, and then press the

power button to ground the system board.

In addition, take note of these safety gu idelines when appropri ate:

• When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector, not on the cable

itself. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid
bending any pins. Also, before you connect a cable, make sure that
both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.

• Handle components and cards with care . Don ’t touch the components

on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal bracket.

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is

incorrectly installed. Replace the batter y only with the same or
equivalent type recomme nded by the manufacture r. Discard used
batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructio ns.

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before
you touch anything inside your computer and periodically while you work
inside the computer. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface
on the back of the computer.

You can also take the following steps to prevent static damage:

• Do not remove items from their antistatic packing material until you

are ready to install them in your computer. Just before unwrapping the
antistatic packaging, be sure to discharge static electricity from your
body.

• When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic

container or packaging.

13

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14

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SECTION 1

Setting Up

Connecting a Printer
Transferring Information to a New Computer (Windows

XP Only)

Setting Up a Home and Office Network (Windows XP

Only)

Turning Off the Computer

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2H930bk1.book Page 16 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Connecting a Printer

See the documentation that came with the printer fo r any recommended
preparation procedures, such as:

• Removing the packaging

• Installing the toner or ink cartridge

• Loading paper

Then follow the instructions that came with the printer to connect it to the
computer. If no information is provided, see the following sections.

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Parallel Printer

Follow the instructions that came with the parallel printer to connect it to
the computer. If no information is provided, then follow the instructions in
this section.

1 Turn off the computer (see page 20).

NOTICE: Use only a standard IEEE parallel cable measuring 3 m (10 ft) or

less to connect the printer to the computer. Use of a nonstandard cable may
prevent the printer from working.

Attach the parallel printer cable to the parallel connector on the

2

computer and tighten the two screws. Attach the cable to the parallel
connector on the printer and snap the two clips into the two notches.

screws (2)

parallel printer
cable

parallel connector
on computer

parallel connector
on printer

clips (2)

16 Setting Up

notches (2)

2H930bk1.book Page 17 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

3 Turn on the pri nter and then turn on the computer. If the Add New

Hardware Wizard window appears, click Cancel.

4 Install the printer driver if necessary (see "Insta lling the P rinter Drive r"

on page 18).

USB Printer

Follow the instructions that came with the USB pr inter to connect it to the
computer. If no information is provided, then follow the instructions in this
section.

1 Install the printer driver if necessary (see the following section).

2 Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connector on the computer

and the printer. The USB connectors only fit one way.

USB connector

USB printer
cable

USB connector
on printer

HINT: You can connect

USB devices while the
computer is turned on.

HINT: Y our computer has

two USB connectors on
the back panel (see
page 61) and two USB
connectors inside the door
on the front panel (see
page 61).

Setting Up 17

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Installing the Printer Driver

Follow the instructions that came with the printer to install printer drivers.
If no information was provided with the printer, then refer to the following
instructions.

If you need to install a printer driver, insert the printer installation CD into
the CD or DVD drive. Then follow the prompts on the screen using the
instructions that came with the printer.

If your printer installation CD does not automatical ly run, click the Start
button on the Mic r os oft

x:\setup.exe (where x is the letter of your CD or DVD drive [usually

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drive D]). Then click OK and follow the prompts on your screen. If your
printer installation CD still does not run, check the documentation that
came with your printe r for instructions on how to sta r t the printer
installation CD.

If you connect an older printer and it doesn’t work after you install the
driver, access the system setup program (see page 94) and ensure that the
parallel port is set to operate in bidirectional mode.

To check if your printer driver is installed on a computer running the
Windows XP operating system, click the Start button, click Control Panel,
click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Vi ew ins talle d pri nters
or fax printers. If your computer runs either Windows 2000 or Windows
Millennium Edition (Me), click the Start button, point to Settings, and
then click Printers. If your printer is listed in the Printers window, the
printer is ready to use.

®

Windows® desktop, click Run, and type

Transferring Information to a New
Computer (Windows XP Only)

18 Setting Up

Windows XP provides a Fi les and Settings Transfer Wizard to move data,
such as e-m ails, windo w sizes, toolbar settings, and Inter net bookma rks,
from one computer to another. First you collect the data from the source
computer, and then you import the data to the new computer.

2H930bk1.book Page 19 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

If the source computer uses another Windows operating system, the wizard
can be launched from the Windows XP operating system CD or from a
floppy disk created on the Windows XP computer. You may transfer the
data to the new computer over a network or serial connection, or you may
store it on a removable medium, such as a floppy disk, a Zip disk, or a
writable CD.

1

On the Windows XP computer, cli ck the Start button, point to All
Programs—> Accessories—> System Tools, and then click Files and
Settings Transfer Wizard.

2 On the welcome screen, click Next.
3 On the Which computer is this? screen, select New Computer, and

then click Next.

4 Follow the instructions on the screen.

Setting Up a Home and Office Network
(Windows XP Only)

Windows XP 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.

1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs—> Accessories—>

Communications, and then click Network Setup W izard.

2 On the welcome screen, click Next.
3 Click checklist for creating a network.

Complete the checklist and required preparations, and then return to

4

the Network Setup Wizard.

5 Follow the instructions on the screen.

HINT: The CD that you

need to place in your CD
or DVD drive is titled

Operating System

HINT: Selecting the

connection method This
computer connects
directly to the Internet

enables the integrated
firewall provided with
Windows XP.

.

Setting Up 19

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Turning Off the Computer

NOTICE: To prevent data loss, you must turn off your computer through the

Start menu rather than by pressing the power button.

HINT: If you are having

difficulty turning off your
computer, see "General
Program Problems” on
page 40.

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Windows XP

1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
2 Click the Start button and then click Turn off Computer.
3 Click Turn off.

The computer automatically turns off after th e shutdown process
finishes.

4 Turn off your monitor and any other devices connected to power.

Windows Me and Windows 2000

1 Save and exit any programs and files you have open.
2 Click the Start button, and then click Shut Down.
3 Click the pull-down menu under What do you want the computer to

do?.

4 Click Shut down and then click OK.

The computer automatically turns off after th e shutdown process
finishes.

5 Turn off your monitor and any other devices connected to power.

20 Setting Up

2H930bk1.book Page 21 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

SECTION 2

Solving Problems

Finding Solutions
Accessing Help Files
Power Problems
Start-Up Error Messages
Video and Monitor Problems
Sound and Speaker Problems
Printer Problems
Scanner Problems
Modem Problems
Mouse Problems
Keyboard Problems
Drive Problems
Network Problems
Microsoft
General Program Problems
Internet Connection Problems
E-Mail Problems
Resolving Other Technical Problems
Reinstalling Drivers
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibiliti es
Using System Restore
Reinstalling Windows XP
Reinstalling Windows Me
Reinstalling Windows 2000

®

Windows® Error Messages

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2H930bk1.book Page 22 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Finding Solutions

Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out where to go for answers. Use this chart
to help you quickly find the answers to your questions .

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See page 25.

Get technical assistance from
Dell. See page 100.

22 Solving Problems

See page 25.

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See page 26.

See page 28.

See page 29.

See page 32.

See page 34.

See page 35.

See page 35.

See page 43.

See page 38.

See page 31.

See page 39.

See page 40.

See page 42.

See page 43.

Solving Problems 23

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Accessing Help Files

TO ACCESS THE

Tell Me How

HELP FILE

Microsoft® Windows® XP

1 Click the Start button, and then click Help and Support.
2 Click User and system guides, and then click User’s guides.
3 Click Tell Me How.

Windows Millennium Edition (Me) and Windows 2000

Click the Start button, point to Programs, point to User’s Guides, and then click
Tell Me How.

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TO ACCESS HELP IN WINDOWS XP

1 Click the Start button, and then 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, and then click Display.
4 Follow the instructions sho wn on the screen.

TO ACCESS HELP IN WINDOWS ME

1 Click the Start button, and then click Help.
2 T ype a word or phrase that describes your problem in the Search box, and then

click Go.

3 Click the topic that describes your problem, and then click Display.
4 Follow the instructions sho wn on the screen.

24 Solving Problems

TO ACCESS HELP IN WINDOWS 2000

1 Click the Start button, and then click Help.
2 Click the Search tab.
3 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem, and then click List Topics.
4 Click the topic that describes your problem, and then click Display.
5 Follow the instructions sho wn on the screen.

2H930bk1.book Page 25 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Power Probl ems

CHECK THE POW ER LIGHT— When the power light is lit or blinking, the

computer has power. If the power light is blinking, the computer is in standby
mode—press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse. If the power light is off,
the computer is either not turned on or is not receiving electrical power.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET—Ensur e tha t the elec trica l outlet is worki ng

by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

CHECK THE POW ER CABLE CONNECTION—Be sure that the power cable is

firmly inserted into the electrical outlet and the computer power connector.

CONNECT THE COM PUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET—

Bypass power protection devices, power strips, and the extension cable to verify
that the computer turns on.

SWAP THE COMPUTER AND MONITOR POWER CABLES—Swap the

computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is defective.

CHECK FOR INTERFERENCE—Electrical appliances on the same circuit or

operating near the computer can cause interference. Other causes of
interference: power extension cables, keyboard and mouse extension cables, too
many devices on a power strip, or multiple power strips connected to the s a me
electrical outlet.

HINT: See the

help file for

How

information on the
standby mode.

Tell Me

CHECK THE POWER PROPERTIES—See the Tell Me How help file or search

for the keyword standby in the Help and Support Center in Windows XP and
Windows Me (Help in Windows 2000). To access help files, see page 24.

Start-Up Error Messages

OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND— Call Dell for technical assistan ce (see

page 100).

Solving Problems 25

2H930bk1.book Page 26 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA—The operating system is trying to boot to a

nonbootable floppy disk or CD. Insert a bootable floppy disk or CD.

NON-SYSTEM DISK ERROR— There is a floppy disk in the floppy drive.

Remove the floppy disk and restart the computer.

Video and Monitor Problems

If the screen is blank

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

HINT: See the

documentatio n that come
with your monitor for
fault indications and
troubleshooting
procedures specific to
your monitor.

CHECK THE VIDEO CABLE CONNECTION—Check for bent pins (most video

cable connectors have missing pins, but not bent pins). Ensure that the video
cable is connected as shown on the START HERE sheet for your computer.

PRESS THE MONITOR POWER BUTTON— Be sure that you firmly pr esse d the

monitor power button.

26 Solving Problems

CHECK THE POW ER LIGHT— When the power light is lit or blinking, the

monitor has power. If the power light is blinking, press a key on the keyboard or
move the mouse.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET—Ensur e tha t the elec trica l outlet is worki ng

by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

SWAP THE COM PUTER AND MONITOR POWER CABLES —Swap the

computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is defective.

TEST THE VIDEO EXT ENSI ON CABLE (IF USED)— If you are us ing a video

extension cable and removing the cable solves the problem, the cable is defective.

TEST THE MONITOR— If another monitor is available, connect it to the

computer.

2H930bk1.book Page 27 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

CHECK THE BACK PANEL LIGHTS— If all four lights below the serial

connector (see page 61) are not green, call Dell for technical assistance (see
page 100).

CHECK THE POWER PROPERTIES—See the Tell Me How help file or search

for the keyword standby in the Help and Support Center in Windows XP and
Windows Me (Help in Windows 2000). To access help files, see page 24.

If the screen is difficult to read

ADJUST THE CO NTRAST AND BRIGHTNESS— See the documentation that

came with your monitor for instructions on adjusting the contrast and brightness.

MOVE THE SUBWOOFER AW AY FROM THE MONITOR— If your speaker

system includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 2 ft (60cm)
away from the monitor.

MOVE THE MONITOR AWAY FROM EXTE RNAL POWER SOURCE S—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 F ACE A DIFFE RENT DIRECTION— Eliminate

sunlight glare, which can cause poor picture quality.

DEGAUSS (DEMAGNETIZE) THE MONIT OR—See the documentation that

came with your monitor.

RUN THE MONITOR SELF-TEST—See the documentation that came with

your monitor.

RESTORE THE RECOMMENDED S ETTINGS—Restore the original resolution

and refresh rate settings. See the Tell Me How help file for instructions. To access
help files, see page 24.

Solving Problems 27

2H930bk1.book Page 28 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

CHECK FOR ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS—See the documentation that

came with your monitor for any additional adjustments that your monitor may
require.

ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS

Windows XP

1 Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2 Click Appearance and Themes.
3 Click Display, and then click the Settings tab.
4 Try different settings for Screen resolution and Color quality.

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Windows Me and Windows 2000

1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2 Double-click the Display icon, and then click the Settings tab.
3 Try different settings for Colors and Screen area.

HINT: The volume

control in some MP3
players overrides the
Windows volume setting.
If you have been listening
to MP3 songs, make sure
that you did not turn the
player volume down or off.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

Sound and Speaker Problems

ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURN ED

ON—See the setup diagram supplied wit h the speakers.

ADJUST THE SPEAKER CONTR OLS—If your speakers have volume controls,

adjust the volume, bass, or treble to eliminate distortion.

VERI FY THE SPEAKER CABLE CONNECTIONS— Ensure that the speakers

are connected as shown on the START HERE sheet for your comp u te r an d th e
setup diagram supplied with the speakers.

BE SURE THAT HEAD PHONES ARE NOT CONNEC TED TO THE FRONT-

PANEL HEADPHONE JACK— Sound from the speakers is automatically

disabled when headphones are connected to th e computer’s front-panel
headphone jack.

28 Solving Problems

2H930bk1.book Page 29 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTR OL—In Windows XP, click the

speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. In Windows Me or 2000,
double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Be sure that
the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.

RUN THE SPEAKER DIAGNOSTICS— Some speaker systems have self-

contained diagnostics. See the speaker documentation for diagnostics
instructions.

ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE—Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent

lights, or halogen lamps to check for interference.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET—Ensur e tha t the elec trica l outlet is worki ng

by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

REINSTALL THE SOUND (AUDIO ) DRIVER— See page 44.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

Printer Problems

If you cannot print to a parallel port printer

VERI FY THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS— Ensure that th e printer

cable is connec te d a s de sc r ibed on page 16.

ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON—See the do c umentation

supplied with the printer.

HINT: If you need

technical assistance for
your printer, call the
printer’s manufacturer
(see the documentation
that came with the printer
for the correct phone
number). Dell does not
cover the printer’s
warranty.

Solving Problems 29

2H930bk1.book Page 30 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

VERI FY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS

Windows XP

1 Click the Start button.
2 Click Control Panel.
3 Click Printers and Other Ha rdware.
4 Click View installed printers or fax printers. If the printer is listed, right-clic k

the printer icon.

5 Click Properties, and then select the Ports tab. Ensure that the Print to the

following port(s): setting is LPT1 (Printer Port).

Windows Me and Windows 2000

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

If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon .

2 Click Properties, and then select the Details tab in Windows Me and the

Ports tab in Windows 2000. Ens ure that the Print to the following port(s):
setting is LPT1 (Printer Port).

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET—Ensur e tha t the elec trica l outlet is worki ng

by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER— See page 18.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

If you cannot print to a USB printer

VERI FY THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS— Ensure that th e p rinter

cable is connected as described on page 17.

ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON—See the documentation

supplied with the printer.

30 Solving Problems

2H930bk1.book Page 31 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

VERI FY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS

Windows XP

1 Click the Start button.
2 Click Control Panel.
3 Click Printers and Other Hardware.
4 Click View installed printers or fax printers. If the printer is listed, rig ht- cl ick

the printer name.

5 Click Properties, and then select the Ports tab. Ensure that the Print to the

following port(s): setting is USB.

Windows Me and Windows 2000

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

If the printer is listed, right-click the printer ico n.

2 Click Properties, and then select the Details tab in Windows Me and the

Ports tab in Windows 2000. Ensure that the Print to the following port(s):
setting is USB.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET—Ensur e tha t the elec trica l outlet is worki ng

by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER— See page 18.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

Scanner Problems

CHECK THE POW ER CABLE CONNECTION—If your scanner has a power

cable, ensure that the power cable is firmly connected to a working electrical
power source and that the scanner is turned on.

CHECK THE SCANNER CABLE CONNECTION— Ensure that the scanner

cable is firm ly connected to the com p u ter and to the scanne r.

UNLOCK THE SCAN NER—Ensure that your scanner is unlocked if it has a

locking tab or button.

HINT: If you need

technical assistance for
your scanner, call the
scanner’s manufacturer
(see the documentation
that came with the
scanner for the correct
phone number). Dell does
not cover the scanner’s
warranty.

Solving Problems 31

2H930bk1.book Page 32 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

REINSTALL THE SCANNER DR IVER—Reinstall the sca nner driver. See the

scanner documentation for instructions.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

Modem Problems

HINT: Connect the

modem to an analog
telephone jack only. The

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modem does not operate
while it is connected to a
digital telephone network.

CHECK THE CONNECTION— V erify th at the t elepho ne line is connecte d to the

green jack on the modem. (The green line-in jack has either a LINE IN label or a
connector-shaped ic on ne xt to it .) Mak e sur e you hea r a c lic k whe n y ou i nse rt t he
telephone line connector.

CHECK THE TELEPHONE JACK— Disconnect the telephone line from the

modem and connect it to a telephone. Listen for a dial tone.

CONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK—If

you have other tel epho ne devic es sharin g the li ne, su ch a s an an sw ering mac hin e,
fax machine, surge protector, or line splitter, then bypass them and connect the
modem directly to the telephone wall jack with the telephone line.

CHECK THE TELEPHONE LIN E—Try using a different telephone line. If you

are using a line that is 10 ft (3 m) or more in length, try a shorter one.

32 Solving Problems

2H930bk1.book Page 33 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

VERI FY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH WINDOWS

Windows XP

1 Click the Start button.
2 Click Control Panel.
3 Click Network and Int ernet Connections.
4 Click Internet Options.
5 Click Network Diagnostics and perform the connectivity test.

Windows Me

1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
2 In the Control Panel, double-click Modems.

If multiple entries appear for the same modem, or if modems are listed that
are not installed, delete the entries and restart the computer.

3 Click the Diagnostics tab.
4 Click the COM port for your modem.
5 Click More Info to verify that the modem is co mmunicating with Windows.

If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.

Windows 2000

1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2 Double-click Phone and Modems.

If multiple entries for the same modem or modems are listed but not installed,
delete the entries, restart the computer, and repeat steps 1 and 2.

3 Click the Modems tab.
4 Click the COM port for your modem.
5 Click Properties, click the Diagnostics tab, and then click Query Modem to

verify that the modem is communicating with Windows.
If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.

BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE SUBS CRIBED TO AN INTERNET SERVICE

PROVIDER—Contact an Internet service provider to subscribe.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

Solving Problems 33

2H930bk1.book Page 34 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Mouse Problems

IF YOU CO NNECTED THE MOUSE BEFORE TURNING ON THE

COMPUTER, RECONNECT THE MOUSE CABLE

1 Press <Ctrl><Esc> to display the Start menu.
2 In Windows XP, type the letter u, and then type the letter u again. In

Windows Me and Windows 2000, use the keyboard arrow keys to highlight
Shut Down, and then press th e <Enter> key.

3 After the computer turns off, reconnect the mouse cable as shown on the

START HERE sheet for your computer.

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4 Start the computer.

IF YOU CONNECTED THE MOUSE AFTER TURNING ON THE COMPUTER,

REMOVE THE POWE R C ABLE, AND THEN RE CONNECT THE MOUSE
CABLE— If the mouse is con nected after th e power is turned on, the mouse will

appear to be nonfunctional. To make the mouse function properly:

1 While your computer is on, remove the power cable from the back of the

computer.

2 Connect the mouse to th e com p u te r.
3 Reconnect the power cable.
4 Turn on your computer.

Pre ssing the power button does not clea r th e co m p u te r’s sett in g s an d does not
restore mouse functionality.

34 Solving Problems

CHECK THE MOU SE SETTINGS

Windows XP

1 Click the Start button, click Co ntrol Panel, and then click Printers and Other

Hardware.

2 Click Mouse.

Try adjusting the se ttings.

Windows Me and Windows 2000

1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Co ntrol Panel.
2 Double-click the Mouse icon.

Try adjusting the se ttings.

2H930bk1.book Page 35 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

IF A WIRELESS DEVICE BEGINS TO OPERAT E IMPROPERLY AND A

DEVICE IS CONNECTED TO A FRON T-PANEL USB CONNECTOR,

USB

RECONNECT THE US B DEVICE TO THE FRONT -PANEL USB
CONNECTOR— Any USB device(s) connected to the front-panel USB

connector(s) can cause interference with a wireless device.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

Keyboard Problems

RECONNECT THE KEYBOARD CABLE— Shut do wn the computer (see

page 20), reconnect the keyboard cable as shown on the
your computer, and then restart the computer.

ST ART HERE sheet for

IF A WIRELESS DEVICE BEGINS TO OPERAT E IMPROPERLY AND A

DEVICE IS CONNECTED TO A FRON T-PANEL USB CONNECTOR,

USB

RECONNECT THE US B DEVICE TO THE FRONT -PANEL USB
CONNECTOR— Any USB device(s) connected to the front-panel USB

connector(s) can cause interference with a wireless device.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

Drive Problems

If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk

ENSURE THAT WINDOWS RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE— In Windows XP,

Click the Start button, and then click My Computer. In W ind ows Me and
Windo ws 2000 , doub le- cli ck th e My Computer icon on the Windows desktop. If
the floppy drive is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus soft ware to
check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from
recognizing the drive.

Solving Problems 35

2H930bk1.book Page 36 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

TEST THE DRIVE WITH ANOTHER FLOPPY DI SK—Insert another floppy

disk to eliminate the possibility that the original floppy disk is defective.

CANNOT SAVE FILES TO A FLOPPY DI SK—Ensure that the floppy disk is

not full or write -p r o te c te d (locked). See th e fo l l ow i n g illustration.

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back of floppy disk

write-protected

HINT: High-speed CD

drive vibration is normal
and may cause noise. This
does not indicate a defect
in the drive or the CD.

not write­protected

If you cannot play a music CD or install a program from a CD

ENSURE THAT WINDOWS RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE— In Windows XP,

click the speaker icon in the lower-right cor ner of your scr ee n. In Windows Me or
2000, double- click the sp eak er i con i n th e low er-right corn er of your scr een . If the
floppy 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 WITH ANOTHER CD— Insert another CD to eliminate the

possibility that th e original CD is defective.

CLEAN THE DISC—See the Tell Me How help file for instructions. To access

help files, see page 24.

36 Solving Problems

2H930bk1.book Page 37 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTR OL—In Windows XP, click the

speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. In Windows Me or 2000,
double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Be sure that
the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.

IF HEADPHONES ARE CONNECTED TO THE FRONT-PANEL HEA DPHONE

JACK, CHECK FOR SO UND FROM THE HEAD PHONES—Sound from the

speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the
computer’s front-panel headphone jack.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

If you canno t play a DVD movie

ENSURE THAT WINDOWS RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE— In Windows XP,

Click the Start button, and then click My Computer. In W ind ows Me and
Windo ws 2000 , doub le- cli ck th e My Computer icon on the Windows desktop. If
the floppy drive is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus soft ware to
check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from
recognizing the drive.

HINT: Because of

different worldwide file
types, not all DVD titles
work in all DVD drives.

TEST THE DRIVE WITH AN OTHER DVD— Insert another DVD to eliminate

the possibility tha t the original DVD is defective.

CLEAN THE DI SC—See the Tell Me How help file for instructions.

If the CD-RW drive stops writing

TURN OFF STANDBY IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD -RW

DISC— See the Tell Me How help file or search for the keyword standby in the

Help and Support Center in Windows XP and Windows Me (Help in Windows

2000). To access help files, see pa ge 24.

HINT: If you disable

standby mode to write to a
CD-RW drive, remember
to reenable standby mode
when you finish writing to
the CD.

Solving Problems 37

2H930bk1.book Page 38 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

CHANGE THE WRITE SPEED TO A SLOWER RATE—The CD-RW drive

must rece ive a stea dy str eam of da ta wh en wri ting. I f th e str eam i s inte rrup ted, an
error occurs. Closing all programs before writing to the CD-RW may also
alleviate the problem.

If you have a hard drive problem

RUN SCANDISK

Windows XP and Windows 2000

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1 In Windows XP click the Start button, and then click My Computer. In

Windows 2000 double-click the My Computer icon on the Windows desktop.

2 Right-click on the drive letter (local disk) that you want to scan for errors, and

then click Properties.

3 Click the Tools tab.
4 Under Error-checking, click Check Now.
5 Click Start.

Windows Me

Click the Start button, point to Programs—> Accessories—> System Tools, an d
then click ScanDisk.

38 Solving Problems

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

Network Problems

CHECK THE NET WORK CABLE CONNECTOR— Ensure that the network

cable conne c to r is fi r m ly co n nected to the connector on the co mp u t er an d the
network wall jack as shown on the

CHECK THE NET WORK LIGHTS ON THE BACK OF THE COMPUTER—A

green light indicates a 10-Mbps network connection, and an orange light
indicates a 100-Mbps network connection. The light blinks amber when there is
any network traffic. I f the light is dark, try replacin g the network cable.

START HERE sheet for your computer.

2H930bk1.book Page 39 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

RESTART THE CO MPUTER— Try to log on to the network again.

CONTACT YOUR NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR—Verify that your network

settings are correct and that the network is functioning.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS— See page 46.

Microsoft® Windows® Error Messages

x

:\ IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE DEV ICE IS NOT READY —Insert a disk into

the drive and try agai n.

A FILENAME CANNO T CONTAIN AN Y OF THE FO LLOWING

CHARACTERS: \ / : * ? “ < > |— Do not use these characte rs in

filenames.

NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOU RCES. CLOSE SOME PROGRAMS AND

TRY AGAIN—You have too many programs open. Close all windows and open

the program that you want to use. In some cases, you might have to restart your
computer to restore computer resources. If so, try running the program that you
want to use first.

THE FILE BE ING COPIED IS TOO LARGE FOR THE DESTINATION

DRIVE— The file that you are trying to copy is too large to fit on the disk. Try

copying the file to a blank disk or use a larger-capacity disk.

Solving Problems 39

2H930bk1.book Page 40 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

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 the Start button.
2 Click Control Panel.
3 Click Add or Remove Programs.
4 Select the program you want to remove.
5 Click the Change or Remove Program icon.
6 See the pro g ra m documentation for installation instructi ons.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Windows Me and Windows 2000

1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2 Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
3 Select the program th at you want to remove.
4 Click Add/Remove (click Change/Remove in Windows 2000) and follow the

prompts on the screen.

5 See the pro g ra m documentation for installation instructi ons.

40 Solving Problems

General Program Problems

A program crashes

SEE THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION—Many software manufacturers

maintain websites with information that may hel p you to solve the problem.

A program stops responding

END THE PROG RAM

1 Simulta neously press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc>.
2 In Windows XP and Windows 2000, click the Applications tab, and then

select the program that is no longer responding. In Windows Me, just select
the program that is no longer responding.

3 Click the End Task button.

2H930bk1.book Page 41 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

A program error causes the system to lock up

TURN THE COMPU TER OFF—If your compute r locks up and you ar e unab le 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. Then press the power button again to turn on the computer. You might lose
data if you are unable to perform a Microsoft Windows shutdown.

A solid blue screen appears

TURN THE COMPU TER OFF—If your compute r locks up and you ar e unab le 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. Then press the power button again to turn on the computer. The solid blue
screen appears because you were not able to perform a proper Windows
shutdown. Y ou might lose data if you are unable to perform a Microsoft Windows
shutdown.

HINT: ScanDisk may

run when you restar t the
computer. Follow the
instructions on the screen.

HINT: ScanDisk may

run when you restar t the
computer. Follow the
instructions on the screen.

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system

RUN THE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD

Windows XP provides a Program Compatibility Wizard that configures a
program to run in an environment more similar to older Windows operating
system envir o nm e nt s .

1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs—> Accessories, and then click

Program Compatibility Wizard.

2 On the welcome screen, click Next.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Solving Problems 41

2H930bk1.book Page 42 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Internet Connection Problems

If you have a problem with your Internet connection

REVIEW “MODEM PROBLEM S”— See page 32.

TURN OFF CALL WAITING (CATCH-PHO NE)— See your telephone directory

for instructions on deactivating this feature. Then adjust the dial-up networking
connection properties .

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Windows XP

1 Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2 Click Printers and Other Ha rdware, and then click Phone and Modem

Options.

3 Click to highlight your connection type in the displayed list.
4 Click the Dialing Rules tab, and then click the Edit button.
5 Click to place a checkmark in the To Disable Call Waiting box.
6 Select the disable code from the drop down menu (for example, *70).
7 Click Apply, and then click OK.

Windows Me

1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2 Double-click the Modems icon.
3 In the Modems Properties window, click Dialing Properties.
4 Ensure that To disable call waiting, dial: is checked, and then select the

proper code according to the in formation in your telephone directory.

5 Click Apply, and then click OK.
6 Close the Modems Properties window.
7 Close the Control Panel.

Windows 2000

1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2 Double-click the Phone and Modems Options ico n.
3 In the Locations window, select th e loc ation for wh ich you w ant t o dis able call

waiting, and then cl ick Edit.

4 Ensure that T o disable call waiting, dial: is checked and then select the proper

code according to the information in your telephone directory.

5 Click Apply and then click OK.
6 Close the Phone and Modems Options window.
7 Close the Control Panel.

42 Solving Problems

2H930bk1.book Page 43 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE SUBS CRIBED TO AN INTERNET SERVICE

PROVIDER—Contact an Internet service provider to subscribe.

CONTACT YOUR INTERNET SERVICE PR OVIDER—Contact your Internet

service provider for ass ist a n ce.

E-Mail Problems

ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CO NNECTED TO THE INTERNET— With the

Outlook Express e-mail program open, click File. If Work Offline has a check
next to it, click the check to remove it and connect to the Internet.

CONTACT YOUR INTERNET SERVICE PR OVIDER—Contact your Internet

service provider for ass ist a n ce.

Resolving Other Technical Problems

GO TO THE DELL SUPPORT WEBSITE—Go to http://support.dell.com for

help with general usage, installation, and troubleshooting questions. See "Dell
Technical Support Policy" on page 98 for a description of the hardware and
software support provided by Dell.

E-MAIL DELL— Go to http://support.dell.com, and then click E-Mail Dell in

the Communicate list. Send an e-mail message to Dell about your problem; you
can expect to receive an e-mail message from Dell within hours. See "Dell
Technical Support Policy" on page 98 for a description of the hardware and
software support provided by Dell.

CALL DELL—If you cannot solve your problem using the Dell support webs ite

or e-mail service, call Dell for technical assistance (see page100). See "Dell
Technical Support Policy" on page 98 for a description of the hardware and
software support provided by Dell.

Solving Problems 43

2H930bk1.book Page 44 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Reinstalling Drivers

NOTICE: The Dell support website, http://support.dell.com, and the

Dimension ResourceCD

install drivers obtained from othe r sources, your computer might not work
correctly.

provide approved drivers for Dell™ computers. If you

Dell

Dell installed the following drivers on your computer:

®

• Intel

Chip Set Update Utility Driver — Installs the Microsoft
Windows operating system device installation files (.inf) that tell the
operating system how certain chip set components should be
configured for proper operation.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

• ADI AC-97 Audio Codec Driver — Enables the optional built-in

sound controller to produce sound.

• Yamaha Wavetable Driver — Enables the optional built-in sound

controller to produce sound.

• Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver — Improves your computer's

performance by transferring certain functions from the microprocessor
during data transfers from storage devices.

• Other Drivers — Controls the devices such as the modem and

network cards that might be installed in your computer. For
information on those drivers, click the Start button, point to

Programs

—> User's Guides, and click the appropriate guide from the

list.

44 Solving Problems

Sometimes you can fix a device problem by reinstalling its driver:

1 From the Windows desktop, insert the Dell Dimension ResourceCD

into the CD or DVD drive.
If this is your first time to use the ResourceCD, go to step 2. If not, go

to step 5.

2 When the ResourceCD Installation program starts, follow the

prompts on the screen.

3 When the InstallShield Wizard Complete window appears, remove

the ResourceCD and click Finish to restart the computer.

4 When you see the Windows desktop, reinsert the ResourceCD into the

CD or DVD drive.

5 At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen, click Next.

A message appears that says the ResourceCD is detecting hardware in
your computer.

2H930bk1.book Page 45 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

The drivers that are used by your computer are automatically displayed
in the My Drivers—The ResourceCD has identified these
components in your system window.

Click the driver that you want to reinstall and follow the instructions

6

on the screen.
If a particular driver is not listed, then that driver is not required by

your operating system.

To view other contents on the ResourceCD:

1 Verify that your computer is selected in the System Model list.
2 Verify that your operating system is selected in the Operating System

list.

3 Select the type of device in the Device Type list.

NOTICE: The

your computer. Only reinstall the specific drivers for hardware included in your
computer. Otherwise, your computer might not work correctly.

4

Select a topic in the Topic list.

ResourceCD

contains drivers for devices that are not part of

If you select Drivers in the Topic list and a particular driver is not
listed, then that driver is not required by your operating system.

Using the Windows XP Device Driver Rollback

The Windows XP Device Driver Rollback can replace a device driver with
the previously installed version if you install a new device driver that causes
system instability. If you cannot reinstall your previous driver with the
Driver Rollback process, then use System Restore (see page 49) to attempt
to return your operating system to its previous oper ating state before the
new device driver installation:

HINT: The

displays drivers only for
hardware that Dell
installed at the time of
purchase. If you installed
any additional hardware,
those drivers may not be
displayed by the

ResourceCD

drivers are not displayed,
exit the ResourceCD
program and refer to the
documentation and
drivers that came with
that product.

ResourceCD

. If those

1 Click the Start button, and then right-click My Computer.
2 Click Properties.
3 Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
4 In the Device Manager window, right-click the device for which the

new driver was installed, and then click Properties.

5 Click the Drivers tab.
6 Click Roll Back Driver.

Solving Problems 45

2H930bk1.book Page 46 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Resolving Software and Hardware
Incompatibilities

Windows XP, Windows Me, and Wi ndows 2000 IRQ conflicts occur if a
device either is not detected during the operating system setup or is
detected but incorrectly configured.

Windows XP

To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows XP, perform the
following steps:

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

1 Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2 Click Perf ormance and Mainten ance, and the n click System.
3 Click the Hardware tab, and then cli c k the Device Manager button.
4 In the Device Manager list, check for conflicts with the other devices.

Conflicts are indicated by a yellow exclamation point (!) beside the
conflicting device or a red X if the device has been disabled.

5 Double-click any conflicting device listed to bring up the Properties

window so you can determine what needs to be reconfigured or
removed from the Device Manager .

Resolve these conflicts before checking specific devices.

6 Double-click the malfunctioning device type in the Device Manager

list.

7 Double-click the icon for the specific device in the expanded list.

The Properties window appears.

8 Resolve any IRQ conflicts.

If there is an IRQ conflict, the Device status area in the Properties
window reports what expansion cards or devices are sharing the
device's IRQ.

46 Solving Problems

2H930bk1.book Page 47 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

You can also use the Windows XP Hardware Troubleshooter. To use the
troubleshooter, click the Start button and click Help and Support. Type

hardware troubleshooter in the Search field, and then click the arrow

to start the search . Click Hardware Troubleshooter in the Search Results
list. In the Hardware Troubleshooter list, click I need to resolve a hardware
conflict on my computer , and then click Next.

Windows Me

To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows Me, perform the
following steps:

1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
2 In the Control Panel, double-click System.
3 Click the Device Manager tab.
4 In the Device Manager list, check for conflicts with the other devices.

Conflicts are indicated by a yellow exclamation point (!) beside the
conflicting device or a red X if the device has been disabled.

5 Double-click any conflicting device listed to bring up the Properties

window so you can determine what needs to be reconfigured or
removed from the Device Manager .

Resolve these conflicts before checking specific devices.

6 Double-click the malfunctioning device type in the Device Manager

list.

7 Double-click the icon for the specific device in the expanded list.

The Properties window appears.

8 Resolve any IRQ conflicts.

If there is an IRQ conflict, the Device status area in the Properties
window reports what expansion cards or devices are sharing the
device's IRQ.

Solving Problems 47

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You can also use the Windows Me Hardware Troubleshooter. To use the
troubleshooter, click the Start button and click Help. Click

Troubleshooting in the What would you like help with? list, click Hardware
& system device problems, click Hardware, memory, & others, and then
click Hardware Troubleshooter . 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, perform the
following steps:

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
2 In the Control Panel, double-click System.
3 Click the Hardware tab.
4 Click Device Manager.
5 Click View, and then click Resources by connection.
6 Double-click Interrupt request (IRQ) to view the IRQ assignments.

Conflicts are indicated by a yellow exclamation point (!) beside the
conflicting device or a red X if the device has been disabled.

7 Double-click any conflicting device listed to bring up the Properties

window so you can determine what needs to be reconfigured or
removed from the Device Manager . Resolve these conflicts before
checking specific devices.

8 Double-click the malfunctioning device type in the Device Manager

list.

9 Double-click the icon for the specific device in the expanded list.

The Properties window appears.

10 If there is an IRQ conflict, the Device status area in the Properties

window reports what expansion cards or devices are sharing the
device's IRQ. Resolve the IRQ conflicts.

48 Solving Problems

2H930bk1.book Page 49 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

You can also use the Windows 2000 Hardware Troubleshooter. To use the
troubleshooter, click the Start button and click Help. Click

Troubleshooting and Maintenance on the Contents tab, click Windows
2000 troubleshooters, and then click Hardware. In the Hardware
Troubleshooter list, click I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my
computer, and then click Next.

Using System Restore

Windows XP and Windows Me provide a System Restore feature that allows
you to return your computer to an earlier operating state if changes to the
computer’s hardware or software (including new hardware or program
installations), or other system settings, have left the computer in an
undesirable operating state. You can also undo the last System Restore.

System Restore automatically creates system checkpoints. You can also
manually create your own checkpoints by creating Restore Points. To limit
the amount of hard disk space used, older restore points will be
automatically purged.

If your computer experiences an operating system problem, you can use
System Restore from Safe Mode or Normal Mode to return your computer
to an earlier operating state.

System Restore does not cause you to lose personal files stored in the My
Documents folder, data files, or e-mail messages after restoring the
computer to an earlier time. If you restore the computer to a point before
you installed a program, the program’s data files won’t be lost, but you will
have to reinstall the actual program again.

NOTICE: It is important to make regular backups of your data files. System

Restore does not monitor changes to or recover your data files. If the original
data on the hard disk is accidentally erased or overwritten, or becomes
inaccessible because of a hard disk malfunction, you will need your backup
files to recover the lost or damaged data.

Solving Problems 49

2H930bk1.book Page 50 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

System Restore is enabled on your new computer. However, if you reinstall
Windows XP or Windows Me with less than 200 MB of free hard-disk space
available, System Restore is automatically disabled. T o see if System Restore
is enabled:

Windows XP

1 Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2 Click Perf ormance and Mainten ance.
3 Click System.
4 Click the System Restore tab.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

5 Make sure that Turn off System Restore is unchecked.

Windows Me

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

Panel.

2 Double-click the System icon.
3 Click the Performance tab.
4 Click File Syste m.
5 Click the Troubleshooting tab, and make sure that Disable System

Restore is unchecked.

Before proceeding with any System Restore function, Dell recommends that
you thoroughly read Microsoft’s information about using System Restore.
To access this information:

1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs (Programs in Windows

Me)—> Accessories—> System Tools, and then click System
Restore.

2 Click Help in the upper-right corner of the Welcome to System

Restore screen.

50 Solving Problems

2H930bk1.book Page 51 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Creating a Restore Point

Using the XP System Restore Wizard

In Windows XP you can manually create restore points or you can use the
System Restore Wizard to create the restore points for you. To use the
System Restore Wizard, click the Start button, cli c k Help and Support,
click System Restore, and then follow the instructions on the screen. You
can also create and name a restore point if you are logged on as the
computer administrator or a user with administrator rights.

Manually Creating the Restore Points

1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs (Programs in Windows

Me)—> Accessories—> System Tools, and then click System
Restore.

2 Click Create a restore point.
3 Click Next.
4 Type a name for your new restore point in the Restore point

description field.
The present date and time are automatically added to your restore

point.

5 Click Create (click Next in Windows Me).
6 Click OK (click Close in Windows Me).

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State

If problems occur after installing a device driver, first try using Device
Driver Rollback (see page 45). If that is unsuccessful, then use System
Restore.

NOTICE: Before restoring the computer to an earlier time, 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 (Programs in

1

Wind ows Me)—> Accessories—> System Tools, and then click
System Restore.

2 Be sure Restore my computer to an earlier time is selected, and then

click Next.

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

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

4 Select a restore point, and then 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 want to use.

NOTICE: 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

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

complete.

Click Next (OK in Windows Me ).

5

The Restoration Complete screen appears (the Restoration in
Progress screen in Windows Me) after System Restore completes

collecting data, and th en the computer automatica lly 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.

Undoing the Last System Restore

NOTICE: Before undoing the last system restore, 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.

1

Click the Start button, point to All Programs (Programs in Windows
Me)—> Accessories—> System T ools, and then click System
Restore.

2 Select Undo my last restoration and click Next.

NOTICE: 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.

3

Click Next (OK in Windows Me).

4 The System Restore (Undoing Last Restoration in Window s Me)

screen appears, and then the computer automatically restarts.

5 After the computer restarts, click OK.

52 Solving Problems

2H930bk1.book Page 53 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Reinstalling Windows XP

Before reinstalling the Windows XP operating system to correct a problem,
try correcting the problem by performing a Windows XP System Restore
(see page 49).

NOTICE: The

Windows XP operating system. The options can potentially overwrite files
installed by Dell and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive.
Therefore, Dell does not recommend that you reinstall your operating system
unless instructed to do so by a Dell technical support representati ve.

NOTICE: To prevent conflicts with Windows XP, you must disable any

virus protection software installed on your computer before you reinstall
Windows XP.

1

Insert the Operating System CD into the CD or DVD drive.

Operating Syste m

CD provides options for reinstalling your

Close any program or utility that may start to run after you insert the
CD into the drive.

2 Turn off the computer (see page 20), and then turn the computer on

again.

3 When the blue Dell logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

If you wait too long and the operating system l ogo appea rs, continue to
wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop. Then shut down
the computer and try again.

4 Use the arrow keys to select the CD-ROM option, and then press

<Enter>.

5 When the Windows XP Setup screen appears, press <Enter> to

select To set up Windows now.

HINT: The CD that you

need to place in your CD
or DVD drive is titled

Operating System

.

6 Read the information in the License Agreement window, and then

press <F8> on your keyboard to agree with the license information.

7 If your computer already has Windows XP installed and you want to

recover your current Windows XP data, type

R to select the repair

option, and then go to step 15.
If you want to install a new copy of Windows XP, press <Esc> to

select the fresh copy option, and then press <Enter> on the next
screen to select the highlighted partition (recommended). Then follow
the instructions on the screen.

Solving Problems 53

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8 The Windows XP Setup screen appears and Windows XP begins to

copy files and install the devices. The computer automatically restarts
multiple times before it requires additional input.

9 When the Welcome to Microsoft screen appears, click the green arrow

icon at the bottom of the screen to conti nue. Follow the on-screen
directions to finish.

10 When the Regional Settings screen appears, select the settings for

your locale, and then click Next.

11 Enter your name and organization in the Personalize Your Software

screen, and then click Next.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

12 If you are reinstalling Windows XP Home Edition, enter a name for

your computer when the Computer Name window appears, and then
click Next.

If you are reinstalling Windows XP Professional, enter a name for your
computer and a password when the Computer Name and
Administrator Password window appears, and then click Next.

13 If you have a modem installed, the Modem Dialing Information

screen appears. Enter the requested information, and then click Next.

14 Enter the date, time, and time zone in the Date and Time Settings

window, and then click Next.

15 If you have a network card in your computer, select the appropriate

network settings. If you do not have a network card, you will not see
this opti on .

Windows XP begins to install its components and configure the
computer. The computer automatically restarts.

16 When the W elcome to Microsoft screen appears, click the green arrow

icon at the bottom of the screen to conti nue. Follow the on-screen
directions to finish.

17 Remove the CD from the drive.
18 Reinstall the approp riate drivers (see page 44).

54 Solving Problems

19 Reinstall your virus protection software.

2H930bk1.book Page 55 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Reinstalling Windows Me

Before reinstalling the Windows Me operatin g system to cor re ct a problem,
try correcting the problem by performing a Windows System Restore (see
page 49).

NOTICE: The

Windows Me operating system. The options can potentially overwrite files
installed by Dell and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive.
Therefore, Dell does not recommend that you reinstall your operating system
unless instructed to do so by a Dell technical support representati ve.

NOTICE: To prevent conflicts with Windows Me, you must disable any virus

protection software installed on your computer before you reinstall Windows
Me.

1

Insert the Operating System CD into the CD or DVD drive.

Operating Syste m

CD provides options for reinstalling your

Close any program or utility that may start to run after you insert the
CD into the drive.

2 Turn off the computer (see page 20), and then turn the computer on

again.

3 When the blue Dell logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

If you wait too long and the operating system l ogo appea rs, continue to
wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop. Then shut down
the computer and try again.

4 Use the arrow keys to select the CD-ROM option, and then press

<Enter>.

5 Select Start Windows Setup from CD-ROM, and then press

<Enter>.

HINT: The CD that you

need to place in your CD
or DVD drive is titled

Operating System

.

6 Press <Enter> agai n.
7 Select Continue Setup and replace your current operating system,

and then press <Enter>.

8 Press <Enter> agai n.

ScanDisk automatically starts and checks your hard drive.

9 Click Next in the Welcome to Windows Me window.

10 Select the directory in which Windows resides.

If C:\WINDOWS (recommended) is displayed, select it, and then
click Next.

Solving Problems 55

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If C:\WINDOWS.000 (recommended) is displayed, click Other,
change

11 Ensure that Typical is selected, and then click Next.
12 Specify a computer name, workgroup, and computer description, if

desired, and then click Next.

13 Select a country in the Country/Region window, and then click Next.
14 Specify a time zo ne in the Establish Time Zone window, and then

click Next.

15 Click Finish.

C:\WINDOWS.000 to C:\WINDOWS, and then click Next.

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Windows Setup installs necessary files, and then r estarts the computer.

16 Select Boot From Hard Drive, and then press <Enter>.
17 In the User Information window, type your name and, if applicable,

company name, and then click Next.
The Name field must be completed; the Company Name field is

optional.
The License Agreement window appears.

18 Click I accept the Agreement, and then click Next.
19 Type the Windows product key in the fields provided, and then click

Next.
The product key is the bar code number found on the Microsoft

Windows label, which is located behind the front-panel connector
door as shown on the START HERE sheet for your computer.

20 Click Finish.

Windows Setup installs additional files, and then restarts the

computer.

21 Select Boot From Hard Drive, and then press <Enter>.

Windows Setup installs additional files, and then restarts the

computer.

56 Solving Problems

22 Select Boot From Hard Drive, and then press <Enter>.
23 Enter a password in the Enter Network Password window, if desired,

and then click Next.

2H930bk1.book Page 57 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

24 Remove the operating system CD from the CD or DVD drive.
25 Enter the system setup program as directed by a Dell technical support

representative.

26 In the system setup program Boot menu, change the boot sequence

back to the original boot sequence. Then, exit the system setup
program.

Reinstalling Windows 2000

NOTICE: The

Windows 2000 operating system. The options can potentially overwrite files
installed by Dell and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive.
Therefore, Dell does not recommend that you reinstall your operating system
unless instructed to do so by a Dell technical support representati ve.

NOTICE: To prevent conflicts with Windows 2000, you must disable any

virus protection software installed on your computer before you reinstall
Windows 2000.

1

Insert the Operating System CD into the CD or DVD drive.

Operating Syste m

CD provides options for reinstalling your

Close any program or utility that may start to run after you insert the
CD into the drive.

2 Turn off the computer (see page 20), and then turn the computer on

again.

3 When the blue Dell logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

If you wait too long and the operating system l ogo appea rs, continue to
wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop. Then shut down
the computer and try again.

4 Use the arrow keys to select the CD-ROM option, and then press

<Enter>.

5 When the Windows 2000 Setup screen appears, ensure that the To

setup Win2000 now, press ENTER option is highlighted. Then press

<Enter>.

HINT: The CD that you

need to place in your CD
or DVD drive is titled

Operating System

.

6 Read the information in the License Agreement screen, and t hen p re ss

<F8> to continue.

7 When the Windows 2000 Professional Setup screen appears, use the

arrow keys to select the Windows 2000 partition option that you want.
To continue, press the key specified in the partition option that you
chose.

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8 When the Windows 2000 Professional Setup screen reappears, use the

arrow keys to select the type of file system that you want Windows
2000 to use, and then press <Enter>.

9 Press <Enter> again to restart your computer.

10 Click Next when the Welcome to the Windows 2000 Setup Wizard

screen appears.

11 When the Regional Settings screen appears, select the settings for

your locale, and then click Next.

12 Enter your name and organization in the Personalize Your Software

screen, and then click Next.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

13 Type the Windows product key in the fields provided, and then click

Next.
The product key is the bar code number found on the Microsoft

Windows label, which is located behind the front-panel connector
door as shown on the START HERE sheet for your computer.

14 When the Computer Name and Administrator Password screen

appears, enter a name for your computer and a password, if desired.
Then click Next.

15 Enter the date an d time in the Date and Time Settings screen, and

then click Next.
Windows 2000 now begins to install its components and configure the

computer.

16 When the Comp leti ng the Windows 20 00 Setu p Wizard sc reen

appears, remove the CD from the drive, and then click Finish.
The computer automatically restarts.

58 Solving Problems

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SECTION 3

Adding Parts

Front and Back View of the Computer
Reattaching the Front Door and Hinge Arms
Opening the Computer Cover
Looking Inside Your Computer
Adding Cards
Removing Cards
Adding Memory
Replacing the AGP Card
Adding a Second Hard Drive
Adding Other Drives
Closing the Computer Cover

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

FILE LOCATION:

FILE LOCATION: C:\Projects\Green_Lantern_solutions\2H930c31.fm

FILE LOCATION:FILE LOCATION:

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

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FILE LOCATION:

FILE LOCATION: C:\Projects\Green_Lantern_solutions\2H930c31.fm

FILE LOCATION:FILE LOCATION:

Front and Back View of the Computer

CD volume
control dial

CD activity light
CD drive eject

button

CD headphone
jack

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floppy drive light

power button

floppy drive
eject button

hard drive light

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

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60 Adding Parts

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FILE LOCATION:

FILE LOCATION: C:\Projects\Green_Lantern_solutions\2H930c31.fm

FILE LOCATION:FILE LOCATION:

Windows
license label

USB connectors

headphone jack

HINT: To prevent

damage to your computer,
the front door is designed
to “break away” if it is
lifted up too far. See
page 62 for instructions
on how to reattach the
door.

service tag

power connector

voltage selection switch

parallel connector

serial connector

keyboard connector
USB connectors

line-out jack

line-in jack

microphone jack

mouse connector

video connector

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

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FILE LOCATION:

FILE LOCATION: C:\Projects\Green_Lantern_solutions\2H930c31.fm

FILE LOCATION:FILE LOCATION:

Reattaching the Front Door and Hinge
Arms

To prevent damage to your computer, the front door is designed to “break
away” if it is lifted up too far. If the front door breaks away, you might need
to reattach both the front door and the hinge arms.

Reattaching the Front Door

1 Shut down the computer (see page 20).
2 Lower the hinge arms to the vertical positi on.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

3 Align the two clips on the inside of the front door with the two hinge

arms.

4 Press inward on the front door until it clips to both hinge arms.

front-door
clips (2)

front door

hinge arms (2)

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

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62 Adding Parts

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FILE LOCATION:

FILE LOCATION: C:\Projects\Green_Lantern_solutions\2H930c31.fm

FILE LOCATION:FILE LOCATION:

Reattaching the Hinge Arms

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,

follow the safety instructions listed in "When Working Inside Your
Computer" on page 12.

Shut down the computer (see page 20).

1
2 Disconnect the power cable from your computer.
3 Remove the front door, if it is attached.

The front door snaps off of the two hinge arms.

4 Remove the front-panel insert above the front-door bay area.

Pull the bottom of the insert with your finger s to remove it.

front-panel
insert

use fingers
to pull here

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

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5 Lift both hinge arms to the horiz ontal position.
6 Use the two view slots to align the pivot bar with the two pivot- bar

slots.

view slots (2)

hinge arms in
horizontal
position

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pivot-bar slots (2)

pivot bar

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64 Adding Parts

NOTICE: Using excessive force to pull the hinge arms into place may damage

the arms or the front panel.

Pull the arms toward you until they snap into place.

7

If the hinge arms don’t snap back into place on the first attempt,
slightly reposition the arms and try again.

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8 After the hinge arms clip into place, lower and raise the arms two or

three times to properly seat them.

9 Reattach the front-panel insert.
10 Reconnect the power cable to your computer.
11 Reattach the front door as described on page 62.

Opening the Computer Cover

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection,

follow the safety instructions listed in “When Working Inside
Your Computer ” on page 12.

1

Shut down the computer (see page 20).

2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cab le, first unplug the cab le from your

computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

3

press the power button to ground the system board.

NOTICE: Ensure that there is sufficient space to support the open cover—at

least 30 cm (1 ft) of desk top space.

Lay the computer on its side so that the arrow on the bottom of the

4

computer points up.Located the two release buttons shown in the
illustrations. Then, press the two release buttons as you lift the cover.

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release
button

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

arrow

release button

back of computer

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Looking Inside Your Computer

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection,

follow the safety instructions listed in “When Working Inside
Your Computer ” on page 12.

NOTICE: Be careful when opening the computer cover to ensure that you do

not inadvertently disconnect cables from the system board.

drive cabl es
(page 81)

power cables
(page 81)

power supply

HINT: The AGP card is

removed from the
following illustration to
provide a better view of
the inside of your
computer.

computer cover*
(page 65 and
page 87)

hard drive
(page 77)

back of computer

system board
(page 68)

filler brackets for empty
card slots (4) (page 69
and page 72)

* Depending on the types of drives installed in your computer, the cover

may not open as widely as shown in the figure.

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System Board

floppy drive
connector (DSKT)

battery socket
(BATTERY) page 97

configuration jumper
(PSWD) page 95

main power conne cto r
(POWER)

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

microprocessor fan
connector (FAN)

microprocessor
connector (CPU)

CD drive connector
(IDE2) page 81

standby power light
(AUX_PWR)

front panel switch connector
(FRONTPANEL)

hard drive
connector (IDE1)

memory module
connectors
(DIMM A, DIMM B)
page 74

AGP slot connector
(AGP) page 76

PCI card connectors
(PCI1–PCI4) page 69

CD audio connector
(CD IN)

*

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68 Adding Parts

connector (MODEM)

back of computer

*

On computers with the optional telephony modem

front panel audio
cable connector
(FRONTAUDIO)telephony voice modem

*

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Adding Cards

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection,

follow the safety instructions listed in “When Working Inside
Your Computer ” on page 12.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your

computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

The computer’s card connectors allow you to install different types of
devices such as modems, network adapters, and video cards.

1 Shut down the computer (see page 20).

2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cab le, first unplug the cab le from your

computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

3

press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Open the computer cover (see page 65).

5 To raise the securing lever, press the tab until it is free from the latch

and then lift the lever.

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HINT: The AGP card is

removed from the
following two illustrations
to provide a better view of
the inside of your
computer.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

6 Insert the card into the connector.

card

card bracket

slot connector

securing lever

system board

back of computer

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7 Ensure that the card is fully seated in the connector.

bracket caught
outside of slot

bracket within slot

not fully seated

fully seated

back of computer

8 Lower the plastic securing lever.

9 Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.

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

10 Close the comput er cover (see page 87).
11 Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and

turn them on.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable in to the network

wall jack and then plug it in to the computer.

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

12

documentation.

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Removing Cards

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedur es in thi s secti on,

follow the safety instructions listed in “When Working Inside
Your Computer ” on page 12.

Shut down the computer (see page 20).

1
2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the ne twork wall jack.

Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

3

press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Open the computer cover (see page 65).
5 If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card.
6 To raise the securing lever, press the tab until it is free from the latch

and then lift the lever.

tab

securing lever

card
bracket

back of computer

latch

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7 To remove the card, grasp the card by the top corners and lift it out.

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

card

securing lever

slot connector

system board

filler bracket in empty
card-slot opening

back of computer

If you are not replacing the card, install a filler bracket in the empty

8

card-slot opening.
If you are adding a card, see page 69.

9 Lower the securing lever.
10 Close the comput er cover (see page 87).
11 Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and

turn them on.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable in to the network

wall jack and then plug it in to the computer.

HINT: The AGP card is

removed from the
following illustration to
provide a better view of
the inside of your
computer.

HINT: Installing filler

brackets over empty card­slot openings is necessary
to maintain Federal
Communications
Commission (FCC)
certification of the
computer. The brackets
also keep dust and dirt out
of your computer.

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Adding Memory

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedur es in thi s secti on,

follow the safety instructions listed in “When Working Inside
Your Computer ” on page 12.

You can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on
the system bo ard . For information on the type of me mory su pported by your
computer, see “Memory type” under “Memory” on page 91.

HINT: Memory

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

purchased from Dell is
covered under your
computer warranty.

1 Shut down the computer (see page 20).
2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the ne twork wall jack.

Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

3

press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Open the computer cover (see page 65).

5If necessary, remove a memory module:

a Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module

connector.

b 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.

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6 To insert a module, press out the securing clip at each end of the

memory module connector.

memory module connectors

securing clips (2)

notches (2)

memory module

connector

cutouts (2)

step 6

step 7

step 8

7 Align the notches on the bottom of the module with the crossbar s in

the connector.

NOTICE: T o avoid breaking the memory module, do not press near the middle

of the module.

8

Insert the module straight down into the connector, ensuring that it
fits into the vertical guides at each end of the connector. Press firmly
on the ends of the module until it snaps into place.

If you insert the module correctly, the securing clips snap into the
cutouts at each end of the module.

9 Close the computer cover (see page 87).
10 Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and

turn them on.

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NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable in to the network

wall jack and then plug it in to the computer.

Right-click the My Computer icon and then click Properties.

11
12 Click the General tab.
13 To verify that the memory is installed correctly, check the amount of

memory (RAM) listed.

Replacing the AGP Card

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

follow the safety instructions listed in “When Working Inside
Your Computer ” on page 12.

Shut down the computer (see page 20).

1
2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the ne twork wall jack.

Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

3

press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Open the computer cover (see page 65).
5 Press the card clip lever on the side of the AGP car d to release the card

from the slot connector, and remove the card.

AGP card

card clip
lever

AGP card clip

slot connector

back of computer

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6 To replace the AGP card, gently press it down into the slot connector

until it clicks into place. Press the card clip lever while inserting the
card into the slot connector.

AGP card

card clip
lever

AGP card clip

slot connector

back of computer

Adding a Second Hard Drive

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection,

follow the safety instructions listed in "When Working Inside Your
Computer" on page 12.

Your computer includes one hard drive. To add a second hard drive:

1 Shut down the computer (see page 20).

2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cab le, first unplug the cab le from your

computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

3

press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation.

See the drive documentation to ensure that the drive is set up for your
computer.

5 Open the computer cover (see page 65).

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HINT: Two sets of rails

are attached to the inside
of the compu t e r cover.
Use the two longer rails
on 5.25-inch drives.
Use the shorter rails for

3.5-inch drives. Rails for
a second hard drive are
attached inside the hard­drive bay.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Remove the two green plastic rails from the inside of the hard-drive

6

bay.
These rails are not attached to the ins ide of the hard-drive bay with

screws. To remove the rails, gently pull the rails up and out of the bay.

7 Attach the rails to the hard driv e using the two screws attached to th e

rails.
Ensure that the rail tabs are positioned at the back of the hard drive.

NOTICE: Do not install any drive into the lower hard-drive bay until after you

have removed the green drive rails from the inside of the hard-drive cage.

Remove the first hard drive from the upper bay and install it in the

8

lower bay:

a Disconnect the power cable and the data cable from the back of

the first hard drive.

b Press in the two green rail tabs and pull the first hard drive out of

the upper bay.

c Gently slide the first hard drive into the lower bay until you hear a

click.

d Reconnect the power cable and the data cable to the back of the

first hard drive.

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9 Gently slide the new hard drive into the upper bay until you hear a

click.

rail tabs (2)

second hard drive
in upper bay

first hard drive in
lower bay

hard drive cage

10 Connect a power cable to the drive.

NOTICE: Match the colored strip on the cable with pin 1 on the drive.

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11 Locate the extra connector on the drive cable that is attached to your

first hard drive and attach the connector to the second hard drive.

HINT: Your computer

uses cable-select drive
cables. This means that
the device connected to
the end connector of the
drive cable is the master
device and the device
connected to the middle
connector is the slave
device. Be sure that the

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

jumper setting on the new
device is set for "cable
select" (see the
documentatio n that came
with the drive for
information).

power cable

second hard-drive
cable (secondar y
drive)

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80 Adding Parts

first hard-drive
cable (primary
boot drive)

Close the computer cover (see page 87).

12
13 Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and

turn them on.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable in to the network

wall jack and then plug it in to the computer.

See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on

14

installing any software required for drive operation.

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Adding Other Drives

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection,

follow the safety instructions listed in “When Working Inside
Your Computer ” on page 12.

NOTICE: To avoid possibly damaging the drive by electrostatic discharge

(ESD), ground yourself by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface on
the back of the computer.

Your computer includes a floppy drive and a CD or DVD drive. You can add
other devices, such as a Zip drive, a CD-RW drive, or a tape drive.

5.25-Inch Devices

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection,

follow the safety instructions listed in “When Working Inside
Your Computer ” on page 12.

1 Shut down the computer (see page 20).

2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cab le, first unplug the cab le from your

computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

3

Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then
press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation.

See the documentation that came with the drive to ensure that the
drive is set up for your computer.

HINT: D rives sold by Dell

come with their own
operating software and
documentation. After you
install a drive, refe r to the
documentation that came
with the drive for
instructions on installing
and using the driv e
software.

5 Remove the two short, green pla st ic r ails from the inside of the

computer cover.
These rails are not attached to the computer cover with screws. To

remove the rails, gently ease the rails up and out.

6 Attach the rails to the drive using the two screws supplied with the

drive.
Ensure that the rail tabs are positioned at the back of the drive.

7 Open the computer cover (see page 65).

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8 To remove the front panel insert, carefully press the panel out from the

inside of the computer.

remove front panel
insert through here

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

securing tabs (4)

front-panel insert
securing tab

drive-bay cover panel

front panel insert

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9 Gently slide the drive into the bay until you hear a click.

rail tabs (2)

drive

drive bay

10 Connect a power cable to the drive.
11 See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on

connecting a drive cable to the drive and system board.

power cable

drive cable

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HINT: Your computer

uses cable-select drive
cables. This means that
the device connected to
the end conne c t or of th e
drive cable is the master
device and the devic e
connected to the middle
connector is the slave
device. Be sure the jumper
setting on the new device
is set for “cable select”
(see the documentation
that came with the drive
for information).

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12 Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and

turn them on.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable in to the network

wall jack and then plug it in to the computer.

See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on

13

installing any software required for drive operation.

3.5-Inch Devices

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedur es in thi s secti on,

follow the safety instructions listed in “When Working Inside

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Your Computer ” on page 12.

Shut down the computer (see page 20).

1
2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the ne twork wall jack.

Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

3

press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation.

See the documentation that came with the drive to ensure that the
drive is setup for your computer.

5 Open the computer cover (see page 65).
6 To remove the front panel insert, carefully press the panel out from the

inside of the computer.

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7 To remove the drive-bay cover panel, press the four tabs and pull the

insert away from the panel.

remove front panel
insert through here

securing tabs (4)

front-panel insert
securing tab

drive-ba y cover panel

front panel insert

8 Remove the two short, green plast ic r ails from the inside of the drive

cage.
These rails are not attached to the drive cage with screws. To remove

the rails, firmly pull the rails from the drive cage.

9 Attach the rails to the drive using the two captive screws on each rail.

Ensure that the rail tabs are positioned at the back of the drive.

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FILE LOCATION:

FILE LOCATION: C:\Projects\Green_Lantern_solutions\2H930c31.fm

FILE LOCATION:FILE LOCATION:

10 Gently slide the d rive into the bay until you hear a click.

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rail tabs
(2)

drive

drive bay

11 Carefully replace the front panel insert.

You do not need to replace the drive-bay cover panel.

12 Connect a power cable to the drive.

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

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86 Adding Parts

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FILE LOCATION:

FILE LOCATION: C:\Projects\Green_Lantern_solutions\2H930c31.fm

FILE LOCATION:FILE LOCATION:

13 See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on

connecting a drive cable to the drive.

power cable

drive cable

HINT: Your computer

uses cable-select drive
cables. This means that
the device connected to
the end conne c t or of th e
drive cable is the master
device and the devic e
connected to the middle
connector is the slave
device. Be sure the jumper
setting on the new device
is set for “cable select”
(see the documentation
that came with the drive
for information).

Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and

14

turn them on.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable in to the network

wall jack and then plug it in to the computer.

Install any drivers required for the drive as described in the drive

15

documentation.

Closing 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 ensure that the release buttons click into

place.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable in to the network

wall jack and then plug it in to the computer.

Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and

4

turn them on.

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

Adding Parts 87

2H930bk1.book Page 88 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

FILE LOCATION:

FILE LOCATION: C:\Projects\Green_Lantern_solutions\2H930c31.fm

FILE LOCATION:FILE LOCATION:

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01DELL CONFIDENTIAL – PRELIMINARY 11/20/01

88 Adding Parts

2H930bk1.book Page 89 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

SECTION 4

Appendix

Specifications
Standard Settings
Clearing Forgotten Passwords
Replacing the Battery
Dell T echnical Support Policy (U.S. Only)
Contacting Dell
Regulatory Information
Limited Warranties and Return Policy

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2H930bk1.book Page 90 Tuesday, November 20, 2001 5:02 PM

Specifications

Microprocessor

Microproc e ssor type Intel
L1 cache 8 KB first-level
L2 cache integrated 256 - KB a t fu ll microprocessor

System Information

System chip set Intel 845

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DMA channels four
Interrupt levels 15
System BIOS chip 4 Mb (512 KB)
System clock 400-MHz data rate

®

Pentium® 4 microprocessor

speed

Expansion Bus

Bus types PCI and AGP
Bus speed PCI: 33 MHz; AGP: 66 MHz
AGP connector one
AGP connector size 172 pins
AGP connector data width

(maximum)
AGP bus protocols 4x/2x modes at 1.5 V
PCI connectors four
PCI connector size 120 pins
PCI connector data width

(maximum)

32 bits

32 bits

90 Appendix

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Memory

Architecture SDRAM PC133
Memory connectors two
Memory capacities 64-, 128-, 256-, and 512-MB non-ECC or

ECC SDRAM

Minimum memory

1

64 MB
Maximum memory 512 MB
Memory type PC133 (non-ECC or ECC)
BIOS address F8000h

Drives

Externally accessible two 5.25-inch bays

two 3.5-inch bays
Internally accessible two bays for 1-inch–high IDE hard drives
Available devices ATA-66 or ATA-100 Ultra DMA hard drive,

CD drive, Zip drive, DVD drive, and CD-RW

drive

Ports and Connectors

Externally accessible:

Serial 9-pin connector; 16550C-compatible
Parallel 25-hole connector (bidirectional)
Video 15-hole connector
Keyboard 6-pi n mini-DIN connector or USB connector
Mouse 6-pin mini-DIN connector or USB conn ector
USB two front-panel and two back-panel

USB–compliant connectors

Headphone front-panel miniature jack

2

Audio

three miniature jacks for line-in, line-out, and

microphone

1

Microsoft requires a minimum of 128 MB of memor y for Windows XP.

2

Present only on computers with built-i n aud io capa bi li ties .

Appendix 91

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Ports and Connectors

(continued)

Internally accessible:

Primary IDE channel 40-pin connector on PCI local bus
Secondary IDE channel 40-pin connector on PCI local bus
Floppy drive 34-pin connect o r

3

Audio

Audio controller Analog Devices AD1885 AC97 Codec

Video

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Video contr oller AGP 4X

Controls and Lights

Power control push button
Power light green light on power button—blinking green

in sleep state; solid green for power on state
Hard-drive access light green
Diagnostic code light s four bicolor (amber and gre en ) loc ate d on

back panel

Power

DC power supply:

Wattage 250 W
Heat dissipation 534 BTU (fully-loaded computer without

monitor)

Voltage (switch-selectable
on back panel)

90 to 135 V at 50/60 Hz;1 80 to 265 V at 50 /60

Hz;100 V at 50/60 Hz for Japanese computers
Backup battery 3-V CR2032 coin cell

3

Present only on computers with built-in aud io capa bi litie s

92 Appendix

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Physical

Height x Width x Depth 42.5 x 18.1 x 44.7 cm

(16.7 x 7.1 x 17.6 inches)

Weight 12.7 kg (28 lb)

Environmental

Temperature:

Operating 10°to 35°C (5 0 ° to 95°F)4

Storage –40°to 65°C (–40° to 149°F)
Relative humidity 20% to 80% (noncondensing)
Maximum vibration:

Operating 0.25 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 1/2 octave/min

Storage 0.5 G at 3 to 20 0 Hz at 1/2 octave/min
Maximum shock:

Operating bottom half-sine pulse with a change in

velocity of 50.8 cm/sec (20 inches/sec)

Storage 23-G faired-square wave with a velocity

change of 508 cm/sec (200 inches/sec)

Altitude:

Operating –15.2 to 3048 m (–50 to 10,000 ft)

Storage –15.2 to 10,670 m (–50 to 35,000 ft)

4

At 35°C (95°F), the maximum operating altitude is 914 m (3000 ft)

4

Appendix 93

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Standard Settings

The system setup program contains the standard settings for your
computer.

NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, don’t change the settings

for this program. Certain changes might make your computer work incorrectly.

See the following figure for an example of the main program screen.

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94 Appendix

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Viewing Settings

1 Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2 When the blue Dell™ logo appears, press <F2> immediately.

If you wait too long and the operating system l ogo appea rs, continue to
wait until you see the Microsoft

®

Windows® desktop. Then shut

down your computer and try again.

System Setup Program Screens

The system setup program screens display the current configuration
information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into
five areas:

• Title – The area at the top of all system setup screens that displays

your computer’s model number.

• Computer data – Two boxes below the title that display the system

processor, L2 cache, service tag, and the version number of the BIOS.

• Options – A scr ollable box l isting op tions that define the co nfiguration

of your computer (including installed hardware, power conservation,
and security features).

Fields to the right of the listed options co ntain settings or values. The
settings and values that you can change are brighter on the screen. All
other settings and values are set by the computer and cannot be
changed. When <Enter> appears to the right of an option, press
<Enter> to access a pop-up menu of additional options.

• Key functions – A line of boxes across the bottom of all system setup

screens that lists keys and their functions within the system setup
program.

• Help – Press <F1> for information on the opti on that is selected

(highlighted).

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

CAUTION: Before you begin this procedur e, follow the sa fety

instructions l isted in “When Worki ng Insi de Your Computer” on
page 12.

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If you forget your user or setup passwor d, you cannot operate your computer
or change settings in the system setup program until you clear the forgotten
password(s).

NOTICE: This process erases both the system and setup passwords.

1 Shut down the computer (see page 20).
2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the ne twork wall jack.

3

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Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then
press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Open the computer cover (see page 65).
5 Locate jumper PSWD on the system board (see page 68) and remove

the jumper plug from pins 1 and 2.

6 Close the computer cover (see page 87), plug your computer into an

electrical outlet, and turn on the computer.
This process erases the existing password(s).

7 Shut down the computer (see page 20).
8 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the ne twork wall jack.

9

Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then
press the power button to ground the system board.

10 Open the computer cover (see page 65).
11 Reinstall the PSWD jumper plug on pins 1 and 2 (pin 1 is marked on

the system board).

12 Close the computer cover (see page 87), plug your computer into an

electrical outlet, and turn on the computer.
Turning on your computer with the PSWD jumper installed reenables

the password feature.

96 Appendix

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Replacing the Battery

CAUTION: Before you begin this procedur e, follow the sa fety

instructions l isted in “When Worki ng Insi de Your Computer” on
page 12.

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 i nstalled .

Replace the 3-V CR2032 battery only with the same or equiv alent
type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries
according to the manufacturer’s in structions.

1

Record all the screens in the system setup program (see page 95) so
that you can restore the correct settings in step 7.

2 Open the computer cover (see page 65).
3 Locate the battery socket BATTERY (see page 68).
4 Remove the battery by carefully prying it out of its socket with yo ur

fingers or with a blunt, nonconducting object such as a plastic
screwdriver.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the system board while you pry the battery

loose, be sure to insert the plastic screwdriver between the battery and the
socket (not the system board).

battery

battery socket
(BATTERY)

5 Insert the new battery into the socket with the side labeled “+” facing

up and snap it into pl ace.

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6 Close the computer cover (see page 87), and plug your computer and

devices into their electrical outlets.

7 Access the system setup program (s ee page95) and restore the sett ings

you recorded in step 1.

8 Properly dispose of the old battery (see page 118).

Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S.
Only)

Technician-assisted technical support requires the cooperation and

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

participation of the customer in the troubleshooting process and provides
for restoration of the operating system, application software, and hardware
drivers to the original default configuration as shipped from Dell, as well as
the verification of appropriate functionality of the computer and all Dell­installed hardware. In addition to this technician- assisted technical support,
online technical support is available at support.dell.com. Additional
technical support options may be available for purchase.

Dell provides limited technical support for the computer and any “Dell-

1

installed ” software and peripherals

. Support for third-party software and
peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer, including those
purchased and/or installed through Dell Software and Peripherals,

2

Readyware, and Custom Factory Integration (DellPlus™)

1

Repair services are provided pursuant to the terms and conditions of your limited
warranty and any op tio nal suppo rt service contract pu rcha sed wi th the
computer.

2

All Dell-standard components included in a Custom Factory Integration (CFI)
project are covered by the standard Dell limit ed warranty for your computer.
However, Dell also extends a parts replacement program to cover all nonstand­ard, third-party hardware compone nts in teg r ate d throu gh C FI for the duration
of the computer’s serv ic e contract.

.

Definition of “Dell-Installed” Software and Peripherals

Dell-installed software includes the operating system and some of the
application software that is preinstalled on the computer during the
manufacturing process (Microsoft Office, Norton Antivirus, and so on).

98 Appendix

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Dell-installed peripherals include any internal expansion cards, or Dell­branded module bay or PC Card accessories. In addition, any Dell-branded
monitors, keyboards, mice, speakers, microphones for telephonic modems,
docking stations/port replicators, networking products, and all associated
cabling are included.

Definition of “Third-Party” Software and Perip h erals

Third-party software and peripherals include any peripheral, accessory, or
application software sold by Dell not under the Dell brand (printers,
scanners, cameras, games, and so on). Support for all third-party software
and peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer of the product .

Appendix 99

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Contacting Dell

HINT: Toll-free numbers

are for use within the
country for which they are
listed.

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Country (Ci ty)
International Access Code
Country Code
City Code

Antigua and Barbuda General Support 1-800-805-5924
Argentina (Buenos Aires)

International Access Code: 00
Country Code: 54
City Code: 11

Australia (Sydney)

International Access Code: 0011
Country Code: 61
City Code: 2

When you need to contact Dell, use the telephone numbers, codes, and
electronic addresses provided in the following tables. If you need assistance
in determining which codes to use, contact a local or an international
operator.

See “Dell Technical Support Policy” on page 98 for a desc ription of the
hardware and software su pport provided by Dell.

Contact Numbers and Addresses

Department Name or Service Area ,

Website and E-mail Address

Tech Support and Customer Care toll free: 1-800-444-0733
Sales toll free: 1-800-444-3355
Tech Support Fax [phone]
Customer Care Fax [phone]
Website: www.dell.com.ar
Home and Small Business 1-300-65-55-33
Government and Business toll free: 1-800-633-5 59
Preferred Accounts Division (PAD) toll free: 1-800-060-889
Customer Care toll free: 1-800-819-339
Corporate Sales toll f ree: 1-800-808-385
Transaction Sales toll free: 1-800-808-312
Fax toll free: 1-800-818-341

Local Numbers, and

Area Codes,

Toll Free Numbers

100 Appendix