Dell E510 User Manual

Dell™ Dimension™ 5150/E510

Owner’s Manual

CD or DVD eject button

CD or DVD activity light

FlexBay for optional floppy drive or Media Card Reader

microphone connector

headphone connector

diagnostic lights

hard-drive activity light

power button/ power activity light

USB 2.0 connectors (2)

Service Tag

cover latch release

Model DCSM

network adapter

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

power connector

sound connectors (integrated) (5)

VGA video connector (integrated)

USB 2.0 connectors (5)

card slots for PCI Express x16 (1), PCI (2), PCI Express x1 (1)

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

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

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

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

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

____________________

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude , PowerEdg e, PowerVault, P owerApp,

DellNet, and PowerConnect are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, and Outlook are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; EMC is the registered trademark of EMC 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 Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model DCSM

September 2006 P/N WD846 Rev. A02

Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Setting Up a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Printer Cable

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

Connecting a Printer

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

Connecting to the Internet

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

Playing CDs and DVDs

Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture

Copying CDs and DVDs

How to Copy a CD or DVD Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful Tips

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

Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)

Connecting Two Monitors

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors Connecting One Monitor With a VGA Connector and

One Monitor With a DVI Connector Connecting a TV

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Changing the Display Settings

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard

Power Management

Standby Mode Hibernate Mode

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

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

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

Power Options Properties

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Hyper-Threading

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

Contents 3

About RAID Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Determining If RAID Is Working RAID Level 1 Troubleshooting RAID Recovering From a Multiple Hard Drive Failure Using the

Intel

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

RAID Option ROM Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Recovering From a Single Hard Drive Failure Using the Intel Matrix Storage Manager

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

2 Solving Problems

Troubleshooting Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Battery Problems

Drive Problems

CD and DVD drive problems Hard drive problems

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

Error Messages

Media Card Reader Problems

Keyboard Problems

Lockups and Software Problems

The computer does not start up The computer stops responding A program stops responding A program crashes repeatedly

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft operating system

A solid blue screen appears Other software problems

Memory Problems

Mouse Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Windows®

4 Contents

Network Problems

Power Problems

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

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

Printer Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Scanner Problems

Sound and Speaker Problems

No sound from speakers No sound from headphones

Video and Monitor Problems

If the screen is blank If the screen is difficult to read

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

3 Troubleshooting Tools

Diagnostic Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Dell Diagnostics

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

Drivers

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

What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Restoring Your Operating System

Using Microsoft Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec Using the Operating System CD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

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

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

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

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

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

Windows XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

4 Removing and Installing Parts

Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer

Front View of the Computer

Back View of the Computer

Removing the Computer Cover

Inside View of Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Contents 5

System Board Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Memory

Cards

Drive Panel

Drives

Hard Drive

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

DDR2 Memory Overview Addressing Memory With 4-GB Configurations Installing Memory Removing Memory

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

PCI Cards

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

PCI Express Cards

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Removing the Drive Panel Removing the Drive-Panel Insert Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert Replacing the Drive Panel.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

IDE Drive Addressing Connecting Drive Cables Drive Interface Connectors Power Cable Connector Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Removing a Hard Drive Installing a Hard Drive Adding a Second Hard Drive

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

6 Contents

Floppy Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Removing a Floppy Drive Installing a Floppy Drive

Media Card Reader

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Removing a Media Card Reader Installing a Media Card Reader

CD/DVD Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Removing a CD/DVD Drive Installing a CD/DVD Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Replacing the Battery

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

Replacing the Computer Cover

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

5 Appendix

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

System Setup

Overview Entering System Setup System Setup Options Boot Sequence

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

Clearing CMOS Settings

Cleaning Your Computer

Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor Mouse Floppy Drive CDs and DVDs

Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)

Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

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

. . . . . . . . 118

. . . . . . . . . 118

FCC Notices (U.S. Only)

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

Class A Class B

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

FCC Identification Information

Contacting Dell

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

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

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

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Contents 7

8 Contents

Finding Information

NOTE: Additional documentation may be included with your computer, depending on your country.

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• Warranty information

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• How to set up my computer

Setup Diagram

Finding Information 9

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft Windows License Label

• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, and online courses, frequently asked questions

• Community — Online discussion with other Dell customers

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

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

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

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

• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License

These labels are located on your computer.

• Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use

support.dell.com

technical support.

• Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting technical support. The Express Service Code is not available in all countries.

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate

support site.

NOTE: Corporate, government, and education customers

can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website at premier.support.dell.com.

or contact

10 Finding Information

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• Desktop System Software (DSS)— If you reinstall the operating system for your computer, you should also reinstall the DSS utility. DSS provides critical updates for your operating system and support for Dell™

3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel

Pentium® M processors, optical drives, and USB devices. DSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer. The software automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration.

• How to use Windows XP

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

To download

Go to

support.dell.com

Enter your Service Tag or product model.

In the

Select the operating system and operating system language for your computer, and click

Under

Configuration Utilities Software

Windows Help and Support Center

Click the

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

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Desktop

System Software:

and click

Download Category

Select a Device

, scroll to

, and click

Start

button and click

Downloads

drop-down menu, click

Submit.

System and

Dell Desktop System

Help and Support

All

Finding Information 11

12 Finding Information

Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Setting Up a Printer

NOTICE: Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the computer.

See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information, including how to:

• Obtain and install updated drivers

• Connect the printer to the computer

• Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge

• Contact the printer manufacturer for technical assistance

Printer Cable

Your printer connects to your computer with a USB cable. Your printer may not come with a printer cable, so if you purchase a cable separately, ensure that it is compatible with your printer. If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer, the cable may arrive in the computer box.

Connecting a Printer

NOTE: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.

Complete the operating system setup, if you have not already done so.

Install the printer driver if necessary. See the documentation that came with your printer.

Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer. The USB connectors fit only one way.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 13

USB connector on computer

USB printer cable

USB connector on printer

Connecting to the Internet

NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country.

To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP), such as AOL or MSN. Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options:

• Dial-up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line. Dial-up connections are considerably slower than DSL and cable modem connections.

• DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing telephone line. With a DSL connection, you can access the Internet and use your telephone on the same line simultaneously.

• Cable modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your local cable TV line.

NOTE: If you use a dial-up connection, you need an add-in PCI modem expansion card.

If you are using a dial-up connection, connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your computer and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection. If you are using a DSL or cable modem connection, contact your ISP for setup instructions.

14 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

To set up an AOL or MSN connection:

Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.

Double-click the

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

If you do not have an MSN Explorer or AOL icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP:

Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.

Click the

The

New Connection Wizard

Click

Connect to the Internet

In the next window, click the appropriate option:

• If you do not have an ISP and want to select one, click

providers (ISPs)

• If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not receive a setup CD,

click

Set up my connection manually

• If you have a CD, click

Click

If you selected on the screen to complete the setup.

MSN Explorer

Start

button and click

AOL

Internet Explorer

appears.

Use the CD I got from an ISP

Set up my connection manually

icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop.

Choose from a list of Internet service

, continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the instructions

NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, contact your ISP.

Click the appropriate option under

Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.

How do you want to connect to the Internet?

, and then click

If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems" on page 33. If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past, the ISP might have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the service status, or try connecting again later.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 15

Playing CDs and DVDs

NOTICE: Do not press down on the CD or DVD tray when you open or close it. Keep the tray closed when you are

not using the drive.

NOTICE: Do not move the computer when you are playing CDs or DVDs.

Press the eject button on the front of the drive.

Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray.

Press the eject button or gently push in the tray.

To format CDs for storing data, to create music CDs, or to copy CDs, see the CD software that came with your computer.

NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs.

A CD player includes the following basic buttons:

Play

Move backward within the current track

Pau se

Move forward within the current track

Stop

Go to the previous track

Eject

Go to the next track

16 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

A DVD player includes the following basic buttons:

Stop

Restart the current chapter

Play

Fast forward

Pau se

Fast reverse

Advance a single frame while in pause mode

Go to the next title or chapter

Continuously play the current title or chapter

Go to the previous title or chapter

Eject

For more information on playing CDs or DVDs, click Help on the CD or DVD player (if available).

Adjusting the Volume

NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing.

Click the

Volume Control

In the or down to increase or decrease the volume.

For more information on volume control options, click Help in the Volume Control window.

Start

button, point to

Volume Control

All Programs→ Accessories→ Entertainment

window, click and drag the bar in the

Volume Control

, and then click

column and slide it up

Adjusting the Picture

If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing DVD playback, adjust the display properties:

Click the

Under

In the

800 by 600 pixels

Click the drop-down menu under

Click OK.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

Pick a task...

, click

Display Properties

Control Panel

Appearance and Themes

Change the screen resolution

window, click and drag the bar in

Color quality

, and then click

Screen resolution

Medium (16 bit)

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 17

to change the setting to

Copying CDs and DVDs

NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when creating CDs or DVDs.

This section applies only to computers that have a CD-RW, DVD+/-RW, or CD-RW/DVD (combo) drive.

NOTE: The types of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell™ may vary by country.

The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD. You can also use Sonic DigitalMedia for other purposes, such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data. For help, open Sonic DigitalMedia and then click the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of the window.

How to Copy a CD or DVD

NOTE: CD-RW/DVD combo drives cannot write to DVD media. If you have a CD-RW/DVD combo drive and you

experience recording problems, check for available software patches on the Sonic support website at www.sonic.com.

The DVD-writable drives installed in Dell computers can write to and read DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW and DVD+R DL (dual layer) media, but cannot write to and may not read DVD-RAM or DVD-R DL media.

NOTE: Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Sonic DigitalMedia.

Click the

Under the

To copy the CD or DVD:

•

Start

button, point to

Copy

tab, click

If you have one CD or DVD drive

button. The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive.

When prompted, insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive and click

All Programs→

Disc Copy

Sonic→ DigitalMedia Projects

, ensure that the settings are correct and click the

, and then click Copy

Disc Copy

•

If you have two CD or DVD drives

DVD and click the to the blank CD or DVD.

Once you have finished copying the source CD or DVD, the CD or DVD that you have created automatically ejects.

18 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Disc Copy

, select the drive into which you have inserted your source CD or

button. The computer copies the data from the source CD or DVD

Using Blank CDs and DVDs

CD-RW drives can write to CD recording media only (including high-speed CD-RW) while DVD-writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media.

Use blank CD-Rs to record music or permanently store data files. After creating a CD-R, you cannot write to that CD-R again (see the Sonic documentation for more information). Use blank CD-RWs to write to CDs or to erase, rewrite, or update data on CDs.

Blank DVD+/-Rs can be used to permanently store large amounts of information. After you create a DVD+/-R disc, you may not be able to write to that disc again if the disc is "finalized" or "closed" during the final stage of the disc creation process. Use blank DVD+/-RWs if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on that disc later.

CD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

C D- RW Ye s Ye s Ye s

DVD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

C D- RW Ye s Ye s Ye s

DVD+R Yes Yes No

DVD-R Yes Yes No

DV D +R W Yes Ye s Ye s

DV D -R W Ye s Ye s Ye s

DVD+R DL Yes Yes No

DVD-R DL Maybe No No

DVD-RAM Maybe No No

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 19

Helpful Tips

• Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after you start Sonic DigitalMedia and open a DigitalMedia project.

• Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs do not play in most home or car stereos.

• You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic DigitalMedia.

• Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed.

• Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may not support all available DVD formats. For a list of formats supported by your DVD player, see the documentation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer.

• Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD-RW to its maximum capacity; for example, do not copy a 650-MB file to a blank 650-MB CD. The CD-RW drive needs 1–2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording.

• Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the CD-RW and try again. You can also use blank CD-RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD-R.

• See the Sonic website at

www.sonic.com

for additional information.

Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)

Use the Media Card Reader to transfer data directly to your computer.

The Media Card Reader supports the following memory types:

•xD-Picture Card

• SmartMedia (SMC)

• CompactFlash Type I and II (CF I/II)

• MicroDrive Card

• SecureDigital Card (SD)

• MultiMediaCard (MMC)

• Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro)

For information on installing a Media Card Reader, see "Installing a Media Card Reader" on page 95.

20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

xD-Picture Card and SmartMedia (SMC)

CompactFlash Type I and II (CF I/II) and MicroDrive Card

Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro)

SecureDigital Card (SD)/ MultiMediaCard (MMC)

To use the Media Card Reader:

Check the media or card to determine the proper orientation for insertion.

Slide the media or card into the appropriate slot until it is completely seated in the connector.

If you encounter resistance, do not force the media or card. Check the card orientation and try again.

Connecting Two Monitors

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

Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: If you are connecting two monitors that have VGA connectors, you must have the optional DVI adapter.

If you are connecting two flat-panel monitors, at least one of them must have a VGA connector. If you are connecting a TV, you may connect only one monitor (VGA or DVI) in addition to the TV.

If you purchased a graphics card that supports dual monitors, follow these instructions to connect and enable your monitors. The instructions tell you how to connect either two monitors (each with a VGA connector), one monitor with a VGA connector and one monitor with a DVI connector, or a TV.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 21

Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 59.

NOTE: If your computer has integrated video, do not connect either monitor to the integrated video connector.

If the integrated video connector is covered by a cap, do not remove the cap to connect the monitor or the monitor will not function.

Connect one of the monitors to the VGA (blue) connector on the back of the computer.

Connect the other monitor to the optional DVI adapter and connect the DVI adapter to the DVI (white) connector on the back of the computer.

optional DVI adapter

DVI (white) connector*

TV-OUT connector*

VGA (blue) connector

*May not be present on your computer.

Connecting One Monitor With a VGA Connector and One Monitor With a DVI Connector

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 59.

Connect the VGA connector on the monitor to the VGA (blue) connector on the back of the computer.

Connect the DVI connector on the other monitor to the DVI (white) connector on the back of the computer.

22 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Connecting a TV

NOTE: You must purchase an S-video cable, available at most consumer electronics stores, to connect a TV to

your computer. It is not included with your computer.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 59.

Connect one end of the S-video cable to the optional TV-OUT connector on the back of the computer.

Connect the other end of the S-video cable to the S-video input connector on your TV.

Connect the VGA or DVI monitor.

Changing the Display Settings

After you connect the monitor(s) or TV, turn on the computer.

The Microsoft

Enable clone mode or extended desktop mode in the display settings.

• In clone mode, both monitors display the same image.

• In extended desktop mode, you can drag objects from one screen to the other, effectively doubling

the amount of viewable work space.

For information on changing the display settings for your graphics card, see the user’s guide in the Help and Support Center (click the

Device guides

Windows® desktop displays on the primary monitor.

Start

button, click

, and then click the guide for your graphics card).

Help and Support

, click

User and system guides

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

, click

Connecting to a Network Adapter

NOTICE: Plug the network cable into the network adapter connector on the computer. Do not plug the network

cable into the modem connector on the computer. Do not plug a network cable into a telephone wall jack.

Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your computer.

Insert the cable until it clicks into place, and then gently pull it to ensure that it is secure.

Connect the other end of the network cable to a network device.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 23

network adapter connector

network device

network adapter connector on computer

network cable

Network Setup Wizard

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office.

Click the

Network Setup Wizard

On the welcome screen, click

Click

NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated

firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack.

Complete the checklist and required preparations.

Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen.

Start

button, point to

All Programs→ Accessories→ Communications

Checklist for creating a network

, and then click

Power Management

The Microsoft® Windows® XP power management features can reduce the amount of electricity your computer uses when it is on and you are not using it. You can reduce power to just the monitor or the hard drive, or you can use standby mode or hibernate mode to reduce power to the entire computer. When the computer exits from a power conservation mode, the Windows desktop is restored to the state it was in before it entered the mode.

NOTE: Windows XP Professional includes security and networking features not available in Windows XP Home

Edition. When a Windows XP Professional computer is connected to a network, different options related to security and networking appear in certain windows.

24 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Standby Mode

Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a time-out. When the computer exits from standby mode, it returns to the operating state it was in before it entered standby mode.

To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity:

Click the

Under

To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity, click the Start button, click Turn Off Computer, and then click Stand by.

To exit from standby mode, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.

NOTICE: If your computer loses power while in standby mode, it may lose data.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

or pick a Control Panel icon

, click

Control Panel

Performance and Maintenance

, click

Power Options

Hibernate Mode

Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits from hibernate mode, the desktop is restored to the state it was in

To activate hibernate mode:

Click the

Under

Define your hibernate settings on the

To exit from hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit from hibernate mode. Pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring the computer out of hibernation, because the keyboard and the mouse do not function when the computer is in hibernate mode.

Because hibernate mode requires a special file on your hard drive with enough disk space to store the contents of the computer memory, Dell creates an appropriately sized hibernate mode file before shipping the computer to you. If the computer’s hard drive becomes corrupted, Windows XP recreates the hibernate file automatically.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

or pick a Control Panel icon

before it entered hibernate mode.

Control Panel

, click

Performance and Maintenance

, click

Power Schemes

Power Options

tab,

Advanced

tab, and

Hibernate

tab.

Power Options Properties

Define your standby mode settings, hibernate mode settings, and other power settings in the Power Options Properties window.

Click the

Under

Define your power settings on the

Start

button and click

Pick a category

or pick a Control Panel icon

, click

To access the Power Options Properties window:

Control Panel

Performance and Maintenance

, click

Power Schemes

Power Options

tab,

Advanced

tab, and

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 25

Hibernate

tab.

Power Schemes Tab

Each standard power setting is called a scheme. If you want to select one of the standard Windows schemes installed on your computer, choose a scheme from the Power schemes drop-down menu. The settings for each scheme appear in the fields below the scheme name. Each scheme has different settings for starting standby mode or hibernate mode, turning off the monitor, and turning off the hard drive.

The Power schemes drop-down menu displays the following schemes:

•

Always On

Home/Office Desk

•

(default) — If you want to use your computer with no power conservation.

— If you use your computer as a home or office computer and you require minimal

power conservation.

•

Presentation

•

Minimal Power Management

•

Max Battery

— If you want your computer to run without interruption (using no power conservation).

— If you want your computer to run with minimal power conservation.

— If your computer is a portable computer and you run your computer from batteries for

extended periods of time.

If you want to change the default settings for a scheme, click the drop-down menu in the Turn off monitor, Turn off hard disks, System stand by, or System hibernates field, and then select a time-out from the

displayed list. Changing the time-out for a scheme field permanently changes the default settings for that scheme, unless you click Save As and enter a new name for the changed scheme.

NOTICE: If you set the hard drive (hard disk) to time-out before the monitor does, your computer may appear to be

locked up. To recover, press any key on the keyboard or click the mouse. To avoid this problem, always set the monitor to time-out before the hard drive.

Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab allows you to:

• Place the power options icon in the Windows taskbar for quick access.

• Set the computer to prompt you for your Windows password before the computer exits from standby mode or hibernate mode.

• Program the power button to activate standby mode, activate hibernate mode, or turn off the computer.

To program these functions, click an option from the corresponding drop-down menu and click OK.

Hibernate Tab

The Hibernate tab allows you to enable hibernate mode. If you want to use the hibernate settings you defined on the Power Schemes tab, click the Enable hibernate support check box on the Hibernate tab.

For more information on power management options:

Click the

In the

Start

button and click

Help and Support

window, click

Performance and maintenance

window, click

Conserving power on your computer

26 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Hyper-Threading

Hyper-Threading is an Intel® technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing one physical processor to function as two logical processors, capable of performing certain tasks simultaneously. It is recommended that you use the Microsoft later operating system because Windows XP is optimized to take advantage of Hyper-Threading technology. While many programs can benefit from Hyper-Threading, some programs have not been optimized for Hyper-Threading and may require an update from the software manufacturer. Contact the software manufacturer for updates and information about using Hyper-Threading with your software.

To determine if your computer is using Hyper-Threading technology:

Click the

Click

In the enabled, the processor is listed twice.

You can enable or disable Hyper-Threading through system setup. For more information on accessing system setup, see "System Setup" on page 107. For more information on Hyper-Threading, search the Knowledge Base on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

Start

button, right-click

Hardware

Device Manager

and click

My Computer

Device Manager

window, click the plus (+) sign next to

, and then click

Windows® XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or

Properties

Processors

. If Hyper-Threading is

About RAID Configurations

This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration that you might have selected when you purchased your computer. Of the several RAID configurations available in the computer industry for different types of uses, Dell offers RAID level 1 on your computer. This configuration is recommended for users that desire a higher level of protection against data loss.

The Intel RAID controller on your computer can only create a RAID level configuration using two physical drives. The drives should be the same size to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.

NOTE: If you purchased your Dell computer with RAID, your computer has been configured with two hard drives

that are the same size.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 27

Determining If RAID Is Working

Your computer displays information pertaining to your RAID configuration at startup, before loading the operating system. If RAID is not configured, the message none defined will be displayed under RAID Volumes, followed by a list of the physical drives installed in your system. If a RAID volume is identified, you can then check the Status field to determine the current state of your RAID configuration. The Status field contains information about the following conditions:

•

Normal

Degraded

— Your RAID configuration is functioning properly.

— One of your hard drives has failed. The computer is still bootable; however, RAID is not

functioning and data is not being copied to the other drive.

•

Rebuild

— Following a degraded condition, the computer has detected the replacement/connection of a secondary hard drive and will automatically restore the RAID configuration the next time the operating system loads.

RAID Level 1

RAID level 1 uses a data-redundancy storage technique known as "mirroring." When data is written to the primary drive, the data is automatically copied—or mirrored—to the secondary drive.

hard drives configured for RAID level 1

file 1

file 2

file 3

file 4

file 5

file 6

hard drive 1

copy of file 1

copy of file 2

copy of file 3

copy of file 4

copy of file 5

copy of file 6

hard drive 2

If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the surviving drive. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drive.

NOTE: Because data is duplicated on both drives, the maximum amount of data storage available is limited to that

of the smallest drive. For example, two 120-GB RAID level 1 drives collectively have a maximum of 120 GB on which to store data.

28 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Troubleshooting RAID

You can use one of two methods to troubleshoot RAID hard drive volumes. One method uses the Intel RAID Option ROM utility and is performed before you install the operating system onto the hard drive. The second method uses the Intel Matrix Storage Manager, or Intel Matrix Storage Console, and is performed after the operating system and the Intel Matrix Storage Console have been installed. Both methods require that you set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 30) before you begin.

Recovering From a Multiple Hard Drive Failure Using the Intel® RAID Option ROM Utility

NOTE: Although hard drives of any size may be combined to create a RAID configuration, the drives should ideally

be of equal size when using the Intel RAID Option ROM utility. In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configuration will be equivalent to the smaller of the two drives used.

Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 30).

Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight

Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default and press <Enter>.

Select

RAID1(Mirror)

Select the desired capacity for the volume, and press <Enter>. The default value is the maximum

and press <Enter>.

available size.

Press <Enter> to create the volume.

Press <y> to confirm that you want to create the RAID volume.

Confirm that the correct volume configuration is displayed on the main Intel RAID Option ROM utility screen.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to select

Install the operating system using the supplied media.

Create RAID Volume

Exit

and press <Enter>.

Recovering From a Single Hard Drive Failure Using the Intel Matrix Storage Manager

NOTE: The following steps can be performed only after the failed hard drive has been replaced (see "Hard Drive"

on page 85).

Click the

Storage Console

Click the

NOTE: You can use your computer while the computer is rebuilding the RAID level 1 volume.

Start

button and point to

Programs→ Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager→ Intel Matrix

to launch the Intel Storage Utility.

Restore RAID 1 data protection

Rebuild RAID volume now

Yes

button to start rebuilding the RAID volume to the new hard drive.

button.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 29

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode

Enter system setup (see "System Setup" on page 107).

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight

Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight

NOTE: For more information about RAID options, see "System Setup Options" on page 109.

Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight resume the boot process.

Drives

, and press <Enter>.

SATA Operation

RAID On

Save/Exit

, press <Enter>, and then press <Esc>.

, and press <Enter> to exit system setup and

, and press <Enter>.

30 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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