Dell N8152 User Manual
Dell Precision™ Workstation 380
Quick Reference Guide
Model DCTA
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Notes, Notices, and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the
problem.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the Glossary in your
If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft
User’s Guide
.
®
Windows®
operating systems are not applicable.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2005 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and Dell Precision are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel and Pent iu m are registered trademarks
of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products.
Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Model DCTA
May 2005 P/N N8152 Rev. A01
Contents
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Setting Up Your Computer (Tower Orientation)
Setting Up Your Computer (Desktop Orientation)
About Your Computer
Front View (Tower Orientation)
Back View (Tower Orientation)
Front View (Desktop Orientation)
Back View (Desktop Orientation)
Back-Panel Connectors
Inside View
System Board Components
Locating Your User’s Guide
Removing the Computer Cover
Caring for Your Computer
Solving Problems
Troubleshooting Tips
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Using Microsoft
®
Windows® XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Using the Last Known Good Configuration
Dell Diagnostics
Before You Start Testing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
. . . . . . . . . . . 32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Beep Codes
Diagnostic Lights
Frequently Asked Questions
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Error Messages
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Contents 3
4 Contents
Finding Information
NOTE: Some features may not be available for your computer or in certain countries.
NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• A diagnostic program for my computer
• Drivers for my computer
• My computer documentation
• My device documentation
• Desktop System Software (DSS)
• How to set up my computer
• How to care for my computer
• Basic troubleshooting information
• How to run the Dell Diagnostics
• Error codes and diagnostic lights
• How to remove and install parts
• How to open my computer cover
Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as ResourceCD)
Documentation and drivers are already installed on your
computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers, run the
"Dell Diagnostics" on page 34, or access your
documentation.
NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be found at
support.dell.com.
Quick Reference Guide
Readme files may be
included on your CD to
provide last-minute
updates about technical
changes to your
computer or advanced
technical-reference
material for technicians
or experienced users.
NOTE: This document is available as a PDF at
support.dell.com.
Quick Reference Guide 5
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• Warranty information
Dell™ Product Information Guide
• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
• Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement
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• How to remove and replace parts
• Specifications
• How to configure system settings
• How to troubleshoot and solve problems
User’s Guide
Microsoft
1
2
The User’s Guide is also available on the
Utilities
• Service Tag and Express Service Code
• Microsoft Windows License Label
Service Tag and Microsoft® Windows® License
These labels are located on your computer.
• Use the Service Tag to
®
Windows® XP Help and Support Center
Click the
Click
Start
button and click
User’s and system guides
CD
.
identify your
computer when you
support.dell.com
use
or contact technical
support.
Help and Support
and click
User’s guides
.
.
Drivers and
6 Quick Reference Guide
• Enter the Express
Service Code to direct
your call when
contacting technical
support.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles
from technicians, 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
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. The website may not be
available in all regions.
• 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
• 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.
To download Desktop System Software:
1
Go to
support.dell.com
2
Enter your Service Tag or product model.
3
In the
Download Category
4
Select the operating system and operating system
language for your computer, and click
Under
Select a Device
Configuration Utilities
Software
.
• How to use Windows XP
• Documentation for my computer
• Documentation for devices (such as a modem)
and click
Downloads
drop-down menu, click
Submit.
, scroll to
, and click
System and
Dell Desktop System
.
All
.
Windows Help and Support Center
1
Click the
2
Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and
click the arrow icon.
3
Click the topic that describes your problem.
4
Follow the instructions on the screen.
Start
button and click
Help and Support
.
Quick Reference Guide 7
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• How to reinstall my operating system
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Operating System CD
The operating system is already installed on your
computer. To reinstall your operating system, use the
Operating System CD. See your User’s Guide for
instructions.
NOTE: The color of your CD varies based on the operating
system you ordered.
NOTE: The Operating System CD is optional and may not
ship with your computer.
• How to use Linux
• E-mail discussions with users of Dell Precision™
products and the Linux operating system
• Additional information regarding Linux and my Dell
Precision computer
Dell Supported Linux Sites
• Linux.dell.com
• Lists.us.dell.com/mailman/listinfo/linux-precision
• Docs.us.dell.com/docs/software/oslinux/
After you reinstall your
operating system, use the
optional Drivers and
Utilities CD to reinstall
drivers for the devices
that came with your
computer.
Your operating system
product key label is
located on your
computer.
8 Quick Reference Guide
Setting Up Your Computer (Tower Orientation)
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the
Product Information Guide.
You must complete all steps to properly set up your computer.
1
2
Connect the keyboard and the mouse.
Connect the modem or the network cable.
NOTICE: Do not connect a modem cable to the
network adapter. Voltage from telephone
communications can damage the network adapter.
USB
PS/2
or
PS/2
USB
Network
or
NOTE: If your computer has a network card installed,
connect the network cable to the card.
Modem
Quick Reference Guide 9
3
Depending on your graphics
card, you can connect your
monitor in various ways.
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Connect the monitor.
NOTE: You may need to use
the provided adapter or
cable to connect your
monitor to the computer.
10 Quick Reference Guide
For single- and dual-monitor capable cards with a single connector
One VGA adapter:
VGA
Use the VGA adapter when you have a single-monitor
graphics card and you want to connect your computer to a
VGA monitor.
Dual VGA Y cable adapter:
Dual DVI Y cable adapter:
VGA
VGA
Use the appropriate Y cable when your graphics card has a
single connector and you want to connect your computer
to one or two VGA monitors.
Use the appropriate Y cable when your graphics card has a
single connector and you want to connect your computer
to one or two DVI monitors.
DVI
DVI
The dual-monitor cable is color-coded; the blue connector is for the primary monitor, and the black
connector is for the second monitor. To enable dual-monitor support, both monitors must be
attached to the computer when you start the computer.
Quick Reference Guide 11
For dual-monitor capable cards with one DVI connector and one VGA connector
One DVI connector and one VGA connector:
DVI
VGA
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Use the appropriate connector(s) when you want to
connect your computer to one or two monitors.
Two VGA connectors with one VGA adapter:
Use the VGA adapter when you want to connect your
computer to two VGA monitors.
For dual-monitor capable cards with two DVI connectors
Two DVI connectors:
Two DVI connectors with one VGA
adapter:
VGA
VGA
Two DVI connectors with two VGA
adapters:
DVI
DVI
Use the DVI connectors to connect
your computer to one or two DVI
monitors.
12 Quick Reference Guide
DVI
VGA
Use the VGA adapter to connect a
VGA monitor to one of the DVI
connectors on your computer
VGA
VGA
Use two VGA adapters to connect two
VGA monitors to the DVI connectors
on your computer.
4
5
Connect the speakers.
NOTE: If your
computer has a sound
card installed, connect
the speakers to the
card.
Connect the power
cables and turn on the
computer and monitor.
LINE OUT
1234
Quick Reference Guide 13
6
Before you install any devices or software that did not come with your computer, read the
documentation that came with the software or device or contact the vendor to verify that the
software or device is compatible with your computer and operating system.
You have now completed the setup for your tower computer.
Install additional software or devices.
Setting Up Your Computer (Desktop Orientation)
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the
Product Information Guide.
You must complete all steps to properly set up your computer.
1
Connect the keyboard and the
mouse.
NOTICE: Do not connect a
modem cable to the network
adapter. Voltage from
telephone communications
can damage the network
adapter.
PS/2
PS/2
USB
or
USB
or
14 Quick Reference Guide
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