Dell Dimension 8100 User Manual
Dell™ Dimension™ 8100 System
SOLUTIONS GUIDE
www.dell.com
supperl.dell.com
D^LOCOM"
Hints, Notices, and Cautions
^ HINT: A HINT indicates important information that helps you make better
use of your computer.
O NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of
data and tells you how to avoid the problem.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
For a complete listing of abbreviations and acronyms, see the Glossary in
the Tell Me How help file (see the START HERE sheet for instructions on
how to open the help file).
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2000 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer
Corporation is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: De//, the logo, the DELL E COM logo, Dimension, and
DeiiWareare trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Inteiand Pentium are registered
trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation; 3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities
claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any
proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
October 2000 P/N 65JDG Rev. A00
Contents
Safety Instructions.......................................................................................... 7
When Using Your Computer................................................................... 7
When Working Inside Your Computer.................................................... 8
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
1 Setting Up
Connecting a Printer.....................................................................................12
Parallel Printer......................................................................................12
USB Printer...........................................................................................13
Installing the Printer Driver...................................................................14
Turning Off the Computer.............................................................................14
Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)
and Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
Windows 2000 ..................................................................................... 15
...........................................
.................................................
9
15
2 Solving Problems
Finding Solutions..........................................................................................18
Power Problems............................................................................................20
Start-Up Error Messages...............................................................................21
Video and Monitor Problems.........................................................................21
If the screen is blank..............................................................................21
If the screen is difficult to read..............................................................22
Sound and Speaker Problems.......................................................................23
Contents I 3
Printer Problems.........................................................................................24
If you cannot print to a parallel port printer
If you cannot print to a USB printer
........................................
......................................................
24
25
Scanner Problems.........................................................................................25
Modem Problems
.......................................................................................
26
Mouse Problems........................................................................................... 27
Keyboard Problems.......................................................................................27
Drive Problems..............................................................................................27
If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk................................................27
If you cannot play a music CD or install a
program from a CD.............................................................................2 8
If you cannot play a DVD movie............................................................29
If the CD-RW drive stops writing...........................................................29
If you have a hard drive problem...........................................................29
Network Problems......................................................................................30
Windows Error Messages............................................................................30
General Program Problems.........................................................................31
A program crashes..............................................................................31
A program stops responding...............................................................31
A solid blue screen appears ................................................................31
Internet Connection Problems....................................................................32
^ I Contents
E-Mail Problems..........................................................................................32
Resolving Other Technical Problems
..........................................................
32
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities....................................................................33
Reinstalling Windows 98
Reinstalling Windows Me
...............................................................................
..............................................................................
35
Reinstalling Windows 2000 ...........................................................................39
37
3 Adding Pauts
Removing the Computer Cover
Looking Inside Your Computer
Rotating the Power Supply...........................................................................46
Removing and Replacing the Front Panel
Removing and Replacing the AGP Card Brace..............................................4 s
Adding Cards................................................................................................49
Removing Cards............................................................................................52
Adding Memory............................................................................................53
Adding or Replacing Other Drives.................................................................54
Replacing the Computer Cover.....................................................................59
4 Appendix
....................................................................
.....................................................................
42
44
System Board.......................................................................................45
.....................................................
Installing a Card....................................................................................50
47
Specifications............................................................................................... 62
Standard Settings.........................................................................................6 5
Viewing Settings...................................................................................6 6
System Setup Screens..........................................................................6 7
Clearing Forgotten Passwords..............................................................6 7
Replacing the Battery...........................................................................6s
Contacting Dell.............................................................................................6 9
Index.............................................................................................................................S3
Contents I 5
^ I Contents
Safety Instructions
Use the following safety guidelines to proteet yourself and your eomputer.
For eomfort and effieieney, observe the ergonomie guidelines provided in
the Tell Me How help file.
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.
• To help avoid damaging your eomputer, the power voltage is
automatieally sensed to mateh the AC power available at your
loeation. If your eomputer does not automatieally sense the power
voltage, please set it to the proper voltage for your loeation.
Also be sure that your monitor and attaehed deviees are eleetrieally rated to
operate with the AC power available in your loeation.
• To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seeonds
after turning off the eomputer before diseonneeting or eonneeting a
non-USB deviee from the eomputer.
• To help prevent eleetrie shoek, plug the eomputer and deviee power
eables into properly grounded power sourees. These eables are
equipped with 5-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not
use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a eable. If you
must use an extension eable, use a 5-wire eable with properly grounded
plugs.
• To help proteet your eomputer from sudden, transient inereases and
deereases in eleetrieal power, use a surge suppressor, line eonditioner,
or uninterruptible power supply.
• Be sure that nothing rests on your eomputer’s eables and that the
eables are not loeated where they ean be stepped on or tripped over.
• Do not spill food or liquids on your eomputer. If the eomputer gets
wet, eontaet Dell (see page 69).
• Do not push any objeets into the openings of your eomputer. Doing so
ean eause fire or eleetrie shoek by shorting out interior eomponents.
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Keep your eomputer away from radiators and heat sourees. Also, do not
Eloek eooling vents. Avoid plaeing loose papers underneath your
eomputer; do not plaee your eomputer in a elosed-in wall unit or on a
bed, sofa, or rug.
When Working Inside Your Computer
Before you remove the eomputer eover, perform the following steps in the
sequenee indieated.
NOTICE: Do not attempt to service the computer yourself, except as
o
explained in this guide and elsewhere in Dell documentation. Always follow
installation and service instructions closely.
1 Turn off your eomputer and all deviees.
2 Ground yourself by touehing an unpainted metal surfaee at the baek of
the eomputer before touehing anything inside your eomputer.
While you work, periodieally toueh an unpainted metal surfaee on the
eomputer to dissipate any statie eleetrieity that might harm internal
eomponents.
Diseonneet any deviees eonneeted to the eomputer, ineluding the
3
monitor, from their eleetrieal outlets to reduee the potential for
personal injury or shoek. Also, diseonneet any telephone or
teleeommunieation lines from the eomputer.
8 1
4
Diseonneet the power eable to your eomputer, and then press the
power button to ground the system board.
In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:
•
When you diseonneet a eable, pull on its eonneetor, not on the eable
itself. As you pull eonneetors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid
bending any pins. Also, before you eonneet a eable, make sure that
both eonneetors are eorreetly oriented and aligned.
•
Handle eomponents and eards with eare. Don’t toueh the eomponents
on a eard. Hold a eard by its edges or by its metal braeket.
CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is
A
incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or
equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used
batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
To prevent statie damage, diseharge statie eleetrieity from your body before
you toueh anything inside your eomputer and periodieally while you work
inside the eomputer. You ean do so by touehing an unpainted metal surfaee
on the baek of the eomputer.
You ean also take the following steps to prevent statie damage:
• Do not remove items from their antistatie paeking material until you
are ready to install them in your eomputer. -ust before unwrapping the
antistatie paekaging, be sure to diseharge statie eleetrieity from your
body.
• When transporting a sensitive eomponent, first plaee it in an antistatie
eontainer or paekaging.
I 9
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SECTION 1
¡Setting Up
Connecting a Printer
Turning Off the Computer
1
Connecting a Printer
See the doeumentation that eame with the printer for any reeommended
preparation proeedures, sueh as:
• Removing the paekaging
• Installing the toner or ink eartridge
• Loading paper
Then follow the instruetions that eame with the printer to eonneet it to the
eomputer. If no information is provided, see the following seetions.
Parallel Printer
1 Turn off the eomputer (see page 14).
O 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.
2 Attaeh the parallel printer eable to the parallel eonneetor on the
eomputer and tighten the two serews. Attaeh the eable to the parallel
eonneetor on the printer and snap the two elips into the two notehes.
1^ I Setting Up
parallel connector on
screws (2)
3 Turn on the printer and then turn on the eomputer. If the Add New
computer
parallel
connector on
printer
Hardware Wizard window appears, eliek Cancel.
4 Install the printer driver if neeessary (see page 14).
USB Printer
clips (2)
1 Install the printer driver if neeessary (see page 14).
2 Attaeh the USB printer eable to the USB eonneetor on the eomputer
and the printer. The USB eonneetors only fit one way.
^ HINT: You can connect
USB devices while the
computer is turned on.
Setti nj I 13
Installing the Printer Driver
USB connector
on printer
HINT: Dell installs
drivers for some new
printers. 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.
If you need to install a printer driver, insert the installation CD into the CD
or DVD drive. Then follow the prompts on the sereen using the instruetions
that eame with the printer.
If your printer installation CD does not automatieally run, eliek the Start
button on the Windows desktop, eliek Run, and type x:\setup .exe
(where x is the letter of your CD or DVD drive [usually drive D]). Then
eliek OK and follow the prompts on your sereen.
If you eonneet an older printer and it doesn’t work after you install the
driver, aeeess the system setup program (see
parallel port is set to operate in bidireetional mode.
page 65) and ensure that the
Turning Off the Computer
NOTICE: To prevent data loss, you must perform the
O
shutdown procedure.
licrosoft® Windows^
1^ I Setting Up
Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) and Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
1 Save and exit any programs and files you have open.
2 Cliek the Start button, and then eliek Shut Down.
3 In the Shut Down Windows window, eliek Shut down and then eliek
OK.
The eomputer automatieally turns off after the shutdown proeess
finishes.
4 Turn off your monitor and any other deviees eonneeted to power.
Windows 2000
1 Save and exit any programs and files you have open.
2 Cliek the Start button, and then eliek Shut Down.
3 Cliek the pull-down menu under What do you want the computer to
do".
4 Cliek Shut down and then eliek OK.
The eomputer automatieally turns off after the shutdown proeess
finishes.
5 Turn off your monitor and any other deviees eonneeted to power.
Setti ng I 15
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SECTION 2
SolYing Problems
Finding Solutions
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
Windows Error Messages
General Program Problems
2
Internet Connection Problems
E-Mail Problems
Resolving Other Technical Problems
Reinstalling Drivers
Reinstalling Windows 98
Reinstalling Windows Me
Reinstalling Windows 2000
Finding Solutions
Sometimes it’s diffieult to figure out where to go for answers. Use this ehart
to help you quiekly find the answers to your questions.
NO
o
NO
o
CONTINUE
I Solving Problems
Solving Problems I 19
HINT: Seethe Tell Me
//oM/help file for
information on the
standby mode.
Power Problems
Check the power light— When the power light is lit or blinking, the
eomputer has power. If the power light is blinking, the eomputer is in standby
mode—press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.
Test the electrical outlet— Ensure that the eleetrieal outlet is working
by testing it with another deviee, sueh as a lamp.
Check the power cable connection— Be sure that the power eable is
firmly inserted into the eleetrieal outlet and the eomputer power eonneetor.
Connect the computer directly to an electrical outlet—
Bypass power proteetion deviees, power strips, and the extension eable to verify
that the eomputer turns on.
Swap the computer and monitor power cables— Swap the
eomputer and monitor power eables to determine if the power eable is defeetive.
Check for interference — Eleetrieal applianees on the same eireuit or
operating near the eomputer ean eause interferenee. Other eauses of
interferenee: power extension eables, keyboard and mouse extension eables, too
many deviees on a power strip, or multiple power strips eonneeted to the same
eleetrieal outlet.
2^ I Solving Problems
Check the Power Properties— See Windows Help.
To aeeess Windows Help:
1 Cliek the Start button and then eliek Help.
2 For Windows 98 and Windows 2000, eliek the Search tab.
3 For Windows 98 and Windows 2000, type standby and then eliek List
Topics. For Windows Me, type standby and then eliek Go.
4 For Windows 98 and Windows 2000, eliek To change the elapsed time before
your computer automatically goes on standby. For Windows Me, eliek
Changing the elapsed time before computer goes on standby or hibernate.
Start-Up Error Messages
Operating system not found— Call Dell for technical assistance (see
page 69).
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
press the monitor power button— Be sure that you firmly pressed the
monitor power button.
Check the power 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.
^ HINT: See the monitor
documentation for fault
indications and
troubleshooting
procedures specific to
your monitor.
Test the electrical outlet— Ensure that the electrical outlet is working
by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
Swap the computer and monitor power cables— Swap the
computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is defective.
Test the video extension cable (if used)— If removing the video
extension cable solves the problem, the cable is defective.
Test the monitor— if another monitor is available, connect it to the
computer.
Solving Problems I 21
Check the back panel lights— If all four lights below the serial port are
not green, eall Dell for teehnieal assistanee (see page 69).
Check the Power Properties if the monitor screen
occasionally turns blank — See Windows Help.
To aeeess Windows Help:
1 Cliek the Start button and then eliek Help.
2 For Windows 98 and Windows 2000, eliek the Search tab.
3 For Windows 98 and Windows 2000, type standby and then eliek List
Topics. For Windows Me, type standby and then eliek Go.
4 For Windows 98 and Windows 2000, eliek To change the elapsed time before
your computer automatically goes on standby. For Windows Me, eliek
Changing the elapsed time before computer goes on standby or hibernate.
If the screen is difficult to read
adjust the contrast and brightness— See the monitor
doeumentation for instruetions on adjusting the eontrast and brightness.
move the subwoofer away from the monitor— If your speaker
system ineludes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 2 ft (60 em)
away from the monitor.
2^ I Solving Problems
Eliminate possible interference— Turn off nearby fans, fluoreseent
lights, or halogen lamps to eheek for interferenee.
rotate the monitor to face a different direction— Eliminate
sunlight glare, whieh ean eause poor pieture quality.
degauss (demagnetize) the monitor— See the monitor
doeumentation.
Run the monitor self-test— See the monitor doeumentation.
Restore the recommended settings— Restore the original resolution
and refresh rate settings. See the Tell Me How help file for instruetions.
Check for additional adjustments— See the monitor doeumentation
for any additional adjustments that your monitor may require.
Adjust the Windows display settings— Cliek the Start button,
point to Settings, and eliek Control Panel. Double-eliek the Display ieon and
then eliek the Settings tab. Try different settings for Colors and Screen area.
Sound and Speaker Problems
Verify the speaker cable connections— Ensure that the speakers
are eonneeted as shown on the START HERE sheet for your eomputer and the
setup diagram supplied with the speakers.
Test the electrical outlet— Ensure that the eleetrieal outlet is working
by testing it with another deviee, sueh as a lamp.
Ensure that the speakers are turned on— See the setup diagram
supplied with the speakers.
Adjust the speaker controls— Adjust the volume, bass, or treble
eontrols to eliminate distortion.
HINT: The volume
control In some 0 P3
players overrides the
Windows volume setting.
If you have been listening
to 0P3 songs, make sure
that you did not turn the
player volume down or off.
Adjust the Windows volume control— Double-eliek the yellow
speaker ieon in the lower-right eorner of your sereen. Be sure that the volume is
turned up and that the sound is not muted.
Test the speakers— Plug the speaker audio eable into the headphone jaek
of the CD drive. Ensure that the headphone volume eontrol is turned up. Play a
musie CD.
Run the speaker self-test— Some speaker systems have a self-test
button on the subwoofer. See the speaker doeumentation for self-test
instruetions.
Solving Problems I 23
Move the subwoofer away from the monitor— If your speaker
system ineludes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 2 ft (6 em)
away from the monitor.
Eliminate possible interference— Turn off nearby fans, fluoreseent
lights, or halogen lamps to eheek for interferenee.
reinstall the sound (audio) driver— See page 33.
Printer Problems
If you cannot print to a parallel port printer
verify the printer cable connections— Ensure that the printer
eable is eonneeted as deseribed on page 16.
Test the electrical outlet— Ensure that the eleetrieal outlet is working
by testing it with another deviee, sueh as a lamp.
Ensure that the printer is turned on— See the doeumentation
supplied with the printer.
2^ I Solving Problems
verify that the printer is recognized by Windows
1 Cliek the Start button, point to Settings, and then eliek Printers.
If the printer is listed, right-eliek the printer ieon, eliek Properties, and then
seleet the Details tab.
2 Ensure that the Print to the following port: setting is LPTl (Printer Port).
reinstall the printer driver— See page 14.
If you cannot print to a USB printer
Verify the printer cable connections— Ensure that the printer
eable is eonneeted as deseribed on page 16.
Test the electrical outlet— Ensure that the eleetrieal outlet is working
b\ testing it with another deviee, sueh as a lamp.
Ensure that the printer is turned
supplied with the printer.
Verify that the printer is recognized by Windows— Cliek the
Start button, point to Settings, and then eliek Printers. If the printer is listed,
right-eliek the printer ieon, eliek Properties, and then seleet the Details tab.
reinstall the printer driver— See page 14.
on— See the doeumentation
Scanner Problems
Check the power cable connection— Ensure that the seanner power
eable is firmly eonneeted to a working eleetrieal power souree and that the
seanner is turned on.
Check the scanner cable connection— Ensure that the seanner
eable is firmly eonneeted to the eomputer and to the seanner.
Unlock the scanner— Ensure that your seanner is unloeked if it has a
loeking tab or button.
reinstall the scanner driver— Reinstall the seanner driver. See the
seanner doeumentation for instruetions.
Solving Problems I 25
Modem Problems
NOTICE: Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only. Connecting
the modem to a digital telephone network damages the modem.
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 telephone devices sharing the line, such as an answering machine,
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 connection — Verify that the telephone line is connected to the
green jack on the modem. (The green line-in jack has either a LINE IN label or a
connector-shaped icon next to it.)
Check the telephone line — 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.
Verify that the modem is communicating with Windows
1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
2 In the Control Panel, double-click Modems.
If there are multiple entries for the same modem or modems listed that are
not installed, delete the entries and restart the computer.
3 Click the Diagnosties tab.
4 Click the COM port for your modem.
5 Click More Info to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows.
If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.
2^ I Solving Problems
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