Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly
forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Dell Precision, and Dell OpenManage are
trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, and Vista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries. Computrace and Absolute are registered trademarks of Absolute
Software 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.
NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your
computer. Some features or media may not be available 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
• Desktop System Software (DSS)
Drivers and Utilities Disc
NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities disc may
be optional and may not ship with your
computer.
Documentation and drivers are already
installed on your computer. You can use
the Drivers and Utilities disc to reinstall
drivers (see "Reinstalling Drivers and
Utilities" on page 132), or to run the Dell
Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on
page 107).
Readme files may be included on your
disc to provide last-minute updates about
technical changes to your computer or
advanced technical-reference material for
technicians or experienced users.
Drivers and documentation updates can be
found at support.dell.com.
Finding Information15
What Are You Looking For?Find It Here
• How to set up my computer
Quick Reference Guide
• How to care for my computer
• Basic troubleshooting information
• How to run the Dell Diagnostics
• Tools and utilities
• How to open my computer
NOTE: This document is available as a PDF
at support.dell.com.
• Warranty information
• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
• Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement
Dell™ Product Information Guide
• How to remove and replace parts
• Specifications
• How to configure system settings
• How to troubleshoot and solve problems
16Finding Information
Dell Precision™ User’s Guide
Microsoft Windows XP and Windows
™
Help and Support Center
Vista
1
Click
Start→
Help and Support→
→
Dell User and System Guides
System Guides
2
Click the
.
User’s Guide
for your
computer.
What Are You Looking For?Find It Here
• Service Tag and Express Service Code
• Microsoft
®
Windows® Product Key
Service Tag and Microsoft Windows
Product Key
These labels are located on your
computer.
• Use the Service Tag to identify your
computer when you use
support.dell.com
• Enter the Express Service Code to
direct your call when contacting
support.
NOTE: As an increased security measure,
the newly designed Microsoft Windows
license label incorporates a missing
portion, or hole, to discourage removal of
the label.
or contact support.
Finding Information17
What Are You Looking For?Find It Here
• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and
tips, articles from technicians, online
courses, and frequently asked questions
• Community — Online discussion with
other Dell customers
• Upgrades — Upgrade information for
components, such as the memory, hard
drive, and operating system
• Customer Care — Contact information,
service call and order status, and
warranty and repair information
• Service and support — Service call
status, support history, service contract,
and online discussions with support
• Dell Technical Update Service —
Proactive e-mail notification of software
and hardware updates for your computer
• 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 automatically
detects your computer and operating
system and installs the updates
appropriate for your configuration,
providing critical updates for your
operating system and support for
processors, optical drives, USB devices,
etc. DSS is necessary for correct
operation of your Dell computer.
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
NOTE: Select your region or business
segment to view the appropriate support
site.
To download Desktop System Software:
1
Go to
support.dell.com
country/region, and then click
& Downloads
2
Click
Select Model
make the appropriate selections or enter
the appropriate information for your
computer, and then click
3
Scroll down to
Configuration Utilities
System Software
Download Now.
NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface
may vary depending on your selections.
, select your
.
or
Enter a Tag
Confirm
System and
→
, and then click
Drivers
Desktop
,
.
18Finding Information
What Are You Looking For?Find It Here
• How to use Windows XP
• How to use Windows Vista
• How to work with programs and files
• How to personalize my desktop
Windows Help and Support Center
1
Click
Start→
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.
• How to reinstall my operating system
Operating System Media
The operating system is already installed
on your computer. To reinstall your
operating system, use the Operating System reinstallation media that came
with your computer (see "Restoring Your
Operating System" on page 136).
Help and Support
.
After you reinstall your operating system,
use the optional Drivers and Utilities disc
to reinstall drivers for the devices that
came with your computer
Your operating system product key label is
located on your computer.
NOTE: The color of your operating system
installation media varies according to the
operating system you ordered.
Finding Information19
What Are You Looking For?Find It Here
• 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
Supports an optical drive or an additional hard drive
(SATA only).
Supports a floppy drive, a Media Card Reader, or an
additional hard drive (SATA or SAS).
About Your Computer21
4lower 3.5-inch drive
bay
5hard drive activity
light
6IEEE 1394 connector
(optional)
7USB 2.0 connectors
(2)
Supports a floppy drive or a Media Card Reader.
The hard drive activity light is on when the computer
reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The
light may also be on when a device such as an optical
drive is in operation.
Use the optional IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed
data devices such as digital video cameras and external
storage devices.
Use the front USB connectors for devices that you
connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys or
cameras, or for bootable USB devices (see "System
Setup" on page 81 for more information on booting to
a USB device).
NOTE: It is recommended that you use the back USB
connectors for devices that typically remain connected,
such as printers and keyboards.
8Dell badge (rotatable) Use the plastic handle on the back of the Dell badge to
rotate the badge for tower-to-desktop or desktop-totower conversion.
9power buttonPress to turn on the computer.
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the
power button to turn off the computer. Instead,
perform an operating system shutdown.
22About Your Computer
NOTICE: If your operating system has ACPI
enabled, when you press the power button the
computer will perform an operating system
shutdown.
NOTE: The power button can also be used to wake the
system or to place it into a power-saving state (see
"Power Management" on page 40 for more information).
10 power lightThe power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid
to indicate different states:
• No light — The computer is turned off (S4, S5, or
mechanical OFF).
• Steady green — The computer is in a normal
operating state.
• Blinking green — The computer is in a powersaving state (S1 or S3).
• Blinking or solid amber — See "Power Problems" on
page 123.
To exit from a power-saving state, press the power
button or use the keyboard or mouse if it is configured
as a wake device in the Windows Device Manager. For
more information about sleep states and exiting from a
power-saving state, see "Power Management" on
page 40.
For a description of diagnostic light codes for
troubleshooting problems with your computer, see
"Diagnostic Lights" on page 100.
11 microphone
connector
12 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.
13 diagnostic lights (4)Use the diagnostic lights to help you troubleshoot a
14 network link lightThe network link light is on when a good connection
Use the microphone connector to attach a personal
computer microphone for voice or musical input into a
sound or telephony program.
problem with your computer (see "Diagnostic Lights"
on page 100).
exists between a 10-Mbps, 100-Mbps, or 1000-Mbps
(1-Gbps) network and the computer.
About Your Computer23
Back View (Tower Orientation)
1
2
3
4
1 power connectorInsert the power cable.
2 voltage selection
switch
See the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide for more information.
NOTE: The voltage selection switch is available on the 375-W
PSU only.
3 back panel
connectors
Plug serial, USB, and other devices into the appropriate
connector.
24About Your Computer
4 card slotsAccess connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express
cards.
NOTE: The upper five connector slots support full-length
cards; the connector slot at the bottom supports a half-length
card.
NOTE: Check the documentation for cards to ensure that you
can accommodate them in your configuration. Some cards
that require more physical space and power (such as PCI
Express graphics cards) may restrict the use of other cards.
Front View (Desktop Orientation)
127
1upper 5.25-inch drive
bay
2lower 5.25-inch drive
bay
33.5-inch drive baySupports a floppy drive or a Media Card Reader.
4hard drive activity
light
3
56
4
9101112
Supports an optical drive.
Supports an optical drive or an additional hard drive
(SATA only).
The hard drive activity light is on when the computer
reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The
light may also be on when a device such as an optical
drive is in operation.
8
About Your Computer25
5IEEE 1394 connector
(optional)
6USB 2.0 connectors
(2)
Use the optional IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed
data devices such as digital video cameras and external
storage devices.
Use the front USB connectors for devices that you
connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys or
cameras, or for bootable USB devices (see "System
Setup" on page 81 for more information on booting to
a USB device).
NOTE: It is recommended that you use the back USB
connectors for devices that typically remain connected,
such as printers and keyboards.
7power buttonPress to turn on the computer.
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the
power button to turn off the computer. Instead,
perform an operating system shutdown.
NOTICE: If your operating system has ACPI
enabled, when you press the power button the
computer will perform an operating system
shutdown.
NOTE: The power button can also be used to wake the
system or to place it into a power-saving state. See
"Power Management" on page 40 for more information.
26About Your Computer
8power lightThe power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid
to indicate different states:
• No light — The computer is turned off (S4, S5, or
mechanical OFF).
• Steady green — The computer is in a normal
operating state.
• Blinking green — The computer is in a powersaving state (S1 or S3).
• Blinking or solid amber — See "Power Problems" on
page 123.
To exit from a power-saving state, press the power
button or use the keyboard or mouse if it is configured
as a wake device in the Windows Device Manager. For
more information about sleep states and exiting from a
power-saving state, see "Power Management" on
page 40.
For a description of diagnostic light codes for
troubleshooting problems with your computer, see
"Diagnostic Lights" on page 100.
9diagnostic lights (4)Use the diagnostic lights to help you troubleshoot a
problem with your computer (see "Diagnostic Lights"
on page 100).
10 microphone
connector
11 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.
12 network link lightThe network link light is on when a good connection
Use the microphone connector to attach a personal
computer microphone for voice or musical input into a
sound or telephony program.
exists between a 10-Mbps, 100-Mbps, or 1000-Mbps
(or 1-Gbps) network and the computer.
About Your Computer27
Back View (Desktop Orientation)
1
4
1card slotsAccess connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express
cards.
32
NOTE: Check the documentation for cards to ensure that
you can accommodate them in your configuration. Some
cards that require more physical space and power (such
as PCI Express graphics cards) may restrict the use of
other cards.
2power connectorInsert the power cable.
3voltage selection
switch
See the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide for more information.
NOTE: The voltage selection switch is available on the
375-W PSU only.
4back panel connectors Plug serial, USB, and other devices into the
appropriate connector.
28About Your Computer
Back Panel Connectors
1
1mouse connector Plug a PS/2 mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off
2parallel
connector
2345
6
7
891011
the computer and any attached devices before you connect a
mouse to the computer. If you have a USB mouse, plug it
into a USB connector.
Connect a parallel device, such as a printer, to the parallel
connector. If you have a USB printer, plug it into a USB
connector.
NOTE: The integrated parallel connector is automatically
disabled if the computer detects an installed card containing a
parallel connector configured to the same address. For more
information, see "System Setup Options" on page 82.
3link integrity
light
• Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps
network and the computer.
• Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps
network and the computer.
• Yellow — A good connection exists between a 1000-Mbps
(or 1-Gbps) network and the computer.
• Off — The computer is not detecting a physical
connection to the network.
About Your Computer29
4network adapter
connector
5network activity
light
6line-out
connector
7line-in connector Use the blue line-in connector to attach a record/playback
8Rear Dual USB
2.0 connectors
(2)
To attach your computer to a network or broadband device,
connect one end of a network cable to either a network jack
or your network or broadband device. Connect the other
end of the network cable to the network adapter connector
on your computer. A click indicates that the network cable
has been securely attached.
NOTICE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network
connector.
On computers with an additional network connector card,
use the connectors on the card and on the back of the
computer when setting up multiple network connections
(such as a separate intra- and extranet).
It is recommended that you use Category 5 wiring and
connectors for your network. If you must use Category 3
wiring, force the network speed to 10 Mbps to ensure
reliable operation.
The network activity light is on (flashing) when the
computer is transmitting or receiving network data. A high
volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be
in a steady on state.
Use the green line-out connector to attach headphones and
most speakers with integrated amplifiers.
On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the
card.
device such as a microphone, cassette player, CD player, or
VCR.
On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the
card.
Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically
remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.
NOTE: It is recommended that you use the front USB
connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as
flash memory keys or cameras, or for bootable USB devices.
30About Your Computer
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