Dell OptiPlex 745c User Manual [en, es, fr]

Dell™ OptiPlex™ 745c

Quick Reference Guide

Model DCSM

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 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, and OptiPlex are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel is registered trademarks of Intel Corporation;

Microsoft, Windows, and Vista 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 DCSM

February 2007 P/N PJ179 Rev. A00

Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

System Views

Mini Tower Computer — Front View Mini Tower Computer — Back View

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Mini Tower Computer — Back-Panel Connectors

Removing the Computer Cover

Before You Begin Mini Tower Computer

Inside Your Computer

Mini Tower Computer

Setting Up Your Computer

Set Up Your Keyboard and Mouse Set Up Your Monitor Power Connections

Solving Problems

Dell Diagnostics System Lights

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

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

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

Diagnostic Lights Beep Codes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP Microsoft

Windows Vista™. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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

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

The support.dell.com user interface may vary depending on your selections.

Using the Drivers and Utilities CD

Drivers for Your Computer

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

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

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

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Contents 3

4 Contents

Finding Information

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

• My computer documentation

• My device documentation

• Desktop System Software (DSS)

• How to remove and replace parts

• Specifications

• How to configure system settings

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

Drivers and Utilities CD (ResourceCD)

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD may be optional

and may not ship with your computer.

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers (see "Using the Drivers and Utilities CD" on page 34), run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 21), or access your documentation.

Readme files may be included on your CD to provide lastminute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technical reference material for technicians or experienced users.

NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be

found at support.dell.com.

Dell™ OptiPlex™ User’s Guide

Microsoft Windows XP Help and Support Center

Click

Start→

Help and Support→ Dell User and

→

System Guides

Click the

The User’s Guide is also available on the optional Drivers and Utilities CD.

User’s Guide

System Guides

for your computer.

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

• How to reinstall my operating system

• How to use Windows XP

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

Operating System CD

NOTE: The Operating System CD may be optional and

may not ship with your computer.

The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system, use the Operating System CD (see "Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP" on page 30).

After you reinstall your operating system, use the optional Drivers and Utilities CD (ResourceCD) to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer. For more information, see

"Drivers and Utilities CD (ResourceCD)" on page 5.

Your operating system product key label is located on your computer (see "Service Tag and Microsoft® Windows® Product Key" on page 7).

NOTE: The color of your Operating System CD varies

according to the operating system you ordered.

Windows Help and Support Center

Click

Start→

Help and Support

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.

6 Quick Reference Guide

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft Windows Product Key Label

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.co

or contact

support.

• Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support.

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

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region or business segment to

view the appropriate support site.

• 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

• 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 on 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 Dell™

3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel

processors, optical drives, and USB devices. DSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer.

To download Desktop System Software:

Go to

support.dell.com

business segment, then enter your Service Tag.

Select

Click your operating system, and then search for the keyword

NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface may vary

depending on your selections.

, select your region or

Drivers & Downloads

Desktop System Software

, then click Go.

Quick Reference Guide 7

System Views

Mini Tower Computer — Front View

5 6

8 Quick Reference Guide

1 5.25-inch drive bay Can contain an optical drive. Insert a CD or DVD (if supported) into this drive. 2 5.25-inch drive bay Can contain an optical drive. Insert a CD or DVD (if supported) into this drive. 3 3.5-inch drive bay Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional media card reader. 4 USB 2.0 connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as

joysticks or cameras, or for bootable USB devices (see your online User’s Guide for more information on booting to a USB device).

It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

5 LAN indicator light This light indicates that a LAN (local area network) connection is established. 6 diagnostic lights Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the

diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 25.

7 power button Press this button to turn on the computer.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not turn off the computer by pressing the

power button. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown. See "Before You Begin" on page 13 for more information.

NOTICE: If your operating system has ACPI enabled, when you press the

power button the computer will perform an operating system shutdown.

8 power light The power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different

operating modes:

• No light — The computer is turned off.

• Steady green — The computer is in a normal operating state.

• Blinking green — The computer is in a power-saving mode.

• Blinking or solid amber — See

To exit from a power-saving mode, press the power button or use the keyboard or the mouse if it is configured as a wake device in the Windows Device Manager. For more information about sleep modes and exiting from a power-saving mode, see your online User’s Guide.

See "System Lights" on page 24 for a description of light codes that can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer.

9 hard-drive activity light This light flickers when the hard drive is being accessed. 10 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most kinds of speakers. 11 microphone connector Use the microphone connector to attach a microphone.

your online User’s Guide

Quick Reference Guide 9

Mini Tower Computer — Back View

2 3

10 Quick Reference Guide

1 cover-release latch This latch allows you to open the computer cover. 2 padlock ring Insert a padlock to lock the computer cover. 3 voltage selection switch Your computer is equipped with a manual voltage-selection switch.

To help avoid damaging a computer with a manual voltage-selection switch, set the switch for the voltage that most closely matches the AC power available in your location.

NOTICE: The voltage selection switch must be set to the 115-V position even

though the AC power available in Japan is 100 V.

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

4 power connector Insert the power cable. 5 back-panel connectors Plug serial, USB, and other devices into the appropriate connectors (see "Mini

Tower Computer — Back-Panel Connectors" on page 11).

6 card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI and PCI Express cards.

Mini Tower Computer — Back-Panel Connectors

98 7

Quick Reference Guide 11

1 parallel 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 your online User’s Guide.

2 link integrity light

3 network adapter

connector

• 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 1-Gbps (or 1000-Mbps) network and the computer.

• Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.

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 the back panel of your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached.

NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector.

On computers with a network connector card, use the connector on the card.

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.

4 network activity light Flashes a yellow light 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.

5 line-out connector Use the green line-out connector to attach most speakers with integrated

amplifiers.

6 line-in/microphone

connector

7 USB 2.0 connectors (6) Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as

8 video connector Plug the cable from your VGA-compatible monitor into the blue connector.

Use the blue and pink line-in/microphone connector to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR.; or a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.

printers and keyboards.

NOTE: If you purchased an optional graphics card, this connector will be covered by

a cap. Connect your monitor to the connector on the graphics card. Do not remove the cap.

NOTE: If you are using a graphics card that supports dual monitors, use the y-cable

that came with your computer.

9 serial connector Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. The default

designations are COM1 for serial connector 1 and COM2 for serial connector 2.

For more information, see your online User’s Guide.

12 Quick Reference Guide

Removing the Computer Cover

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

Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before

removing the cover.

Before You Begin

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, save and close any open files and exit any open programs before you turn off

your computer.

Shut down the operating system:

Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, click the

Turn Off Computer

In the

Turn off computer

window, click

Tur n o ff

The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process finishes.

Ensure that the computer and any attached devices are turned off. If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system, turn them off now.

Before Working Inside Your Computer

Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety.

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

Product Information Guide.

Start

button, and then click

CAUTION: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a

card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a processor by its edges, not by its pins.

NOTICE: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to servicing

that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty.

NOTICE: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself.

Some cables have a connector with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before you disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.

To avoid damaging the computer, perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer.

Turn off your computer.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the

network wall jack.

Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

Quick Reference Guide 13

Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets, and then press the power button to ground the system board.

If applicable, remove the computer stand (for instructions, see the documentation that came with the stand).

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before

removing the cover.

Remove the computer cover. See "Mini Tower Computer" on page 14.

NOTICE: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface,

such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components.

Mini Tower Computer

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

Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before

removing the computer cover.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 13.

Lay the computer on its side as shown in the illustration.

Locate the cover release latch shown in the illustration. Then, slide the release latch back as you lift the cover.

Grip the sides of the computer cover and pivot the cover up using the hinge tabs as leverage points.

Remove the cover from the hinge tabs and set it aside on a soft nonabrasive surface.

CAUTION: Graphic card heatsinks may become very hot during normal operation. Ensure that a graphic card

heatsink has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it.

14 Quick Reference Guide

1 security cable slot 2 cover release latch 3 padlock ring

Quick Reference Guide 15

Inside Your Computer

Mini Tower Computer

1 optical drive 2 floppy drive 3 power supply 4 chassis-intrusion switch 5 system board 6 heat-sink assembly 7 hard drive

16 Quick Reference Guide

System Board Components

MFG_MODE

Quick Reference Guide 17

1 fan connector (FAN) 12 internal USB (INTERNAL_USB) 2 processor connector (CPU) 13 battery socket (BATT) 3 processor power connector (12VPOWER) 14 PCI Express x16 connector (SLOT1) 4 memory module connectors (DIMM_1, DIMM_2,

DIMM_3, DIMM_4)

5 RTC reset jumper (RTCRST) 16 PCI connector (SLOT2) 6 password jumper (PSWD) 17 PCI connector (SLOT3) 7 SATA drive connectors (SATA0, SATA1, SATA4, SATA5) 18 serial connector (SER2) 8 manufacturing mode jumper (MFG_MODE) 19 floppy drive connector (DSKT) 9 front-panel connector (FNT_PANEL) 20 system board speaker (BEEP) 10 power connector (POWER) 21 speaker connector (INT_SPKR) 11 intrusion switch connector (INTRUDER)

15 PCI Express x1 connector (SLOT4)

Jumper Settings

NOTE: Do not populate the MFG_MODE jumper. Active Management technology will not function properly. Only

manufacturing uses this jumper.

Jumper Setting Description

PSWD Password features are enabled

(default setting).

Password features are disabled.

RTCRST The real-time clock has

not been reset.

jumpered unjumpered

The real-time clock is being reset (jumpered temporarily).

18 Quick Reference Guide

Setting Up Your Computer

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

Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: If your computer has an expansion card installed (such as a modem card), connect the appropriate cable

to the card, not to the connector on the back panel.

NOTICE: To help allow the computer to maintain proper operating temperature, ensure that you do not place the

computer too close to a wall or other storage compartment that might prevent air circulation around the chassis. See your Product Information Guide for more information.

NOTE: Before you install any devices or software that did not ship with your computer, read the documentation

that came with the device or software, or contact the vendor to verify that the device or software is compatible with your computer and operating system.

You must complete all the steps to properly set up your computer. See the appropriate figures that follow the instructions.

NOTICE: Do not attempt to operate a PS/2 mouse and a USB mouse simultaneously.

Connect the keyboard and mouse.

NOTICE: Do not connect a modem cable to the network adapter connector. Voltage from telephone

communications can cause damage to the network adapter

Connect the modem or network cable.

Insert the network cable, not the telephone line, into the network connector. If you have an optional modem, connect the telephone line to the modem.

Connect the monitor.

Align and gently insert the monitor cable to avoid bending connector pins. Tighten the thumbscrews on the cable connectors.

NOTE: Some monitors have the video connector underneath the back of the screen. See the documentation

that came with your monitor for its connector locations.

Connect the speakers.

Connect power cables to the computer, monitor, and devices and connect the other ends of the power cables to electrical outlets.

NOTICE: To avoid damaging a computer with a manual voltage-selection switch, set the switch for the voltage that

most closely matches the AC power available in your location.

NOTICE: In Japan, the voltage selection switch must be set to the 115-V position even though the AC power

available in Japan is 100 V.

Verify that the voltage selection switch is set correctly for your location.

Your computer has a manual voltage-selection switch. Computers with a voltage selection switch on the back panel must be manually set to operate at the correct operating voltage.

Quick Reference Guide 19

Set Up Your Keyboard and Mouse

Set Up Your Monitor

20 Quick Reference Guide

Power Connections

Solving Problems

Dell provides a number of tools to help you if your computer does not perform as expected. For the latest troubleshooting information available for your computer, see the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

If computer problems occur that require help from Dell, write a detailed description of the error, beep codes, or diagnostics light patterns, record your Express Service Code and Service Tag below, and then contact Dell from the same location as your computer. For information on contacting Dell, see your online User’s Guide.

For an example of the Express Service Code and Service Tag, see "Finding Information" in your computer User’s Guide.

Express Service Code: ___________________________

Service Tag: ___________________________

Dell Diagnostics

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

Product Information Guide.

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in "Solving Problems" in your online User’s Guide and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance. For information on contacting Dell, see your online User’s Guide.

NOTICE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell™ computers.

Quick Reference Guide 21

Enter system setup (see "System Setup" in your online User’s Guide for instructions), review your computer’s configuration information, and ensure that the device you want to test displays in system setup and is active.

Start the Dell Diagnostics from either your hard drive or from the optional Drivers and Utilities CD (ResourceCD).

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive

Turn on (or restart) your computer.

When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

NOTE: If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, run the Dell

Diagnostics from the optional Drivers and Utilities CD (see "Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD" on page 22).

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft

Windows® desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.

When the boot device list appears, highlight

When the Dell Diagnostics

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD

Insert the

Shut down and restart the computer.

Drivers and Utilities

Main Menu

CD.

Boot to Utility Partition

appears, select the test you want to run.

and press <Enter>.

When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.

NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only. On the next start-up, the computer boots

according to the devices specified in system setup.

When the boot device list appears, highlight the listing for the CD/DVD drive and press <Enter>.

Select the listing for the CD/DVD drive option from the CD boot menu.

Select the option to boot from the CD/DVD drive from the menu that appears.

Ty p e 1 to start the

Ty p e 2 to start the Dell Diagnostics.

Select

Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics

Drivers and Utilities

CD menu.

from the numbered list. If multiple versions are listed, select

the version appropriate for your computer.

When the Dell Diagnostics

Main Menu

appears, select the test you want to run.

22 Quick Reference Guide

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the

Main Menu

screen appears, click the button for the option

you want.

Option Function

Express Test Performs a quick test of devices. This test typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and

requires no interaction on your part. Run Express Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly.

Extended Test Performs a thorough check of devices. This test typically takes an hour or more

and requires you to answer questions periodically.

Custom Test Tests a specific device. You can customize the tests you want to run.

Symptom Tree Lists the most common symptoms encountered and allows you to select a test

based on the symptom of the problem you are having.

If a problem is encountered during a test, a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem. Write down the error code and problem description and follow the instructions on the screen.

If you cannot resolve the error condition, contact Dell. For information on contacting Dell, see your online

User’s Guide

NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen. If you contact Dell,

technical support will ask for your Service Tag.

If you run a test from the

Custom Test

Symptom Tree

option, click the applicable tab described in

the following table for more information.

Tab Function

Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered.

Errors Displays error conditions encountered, error codes, and the problem

description.

Help Describes the test and may indicate requirements for running the test.

Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device.

The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for all devices from system setup, memory, and various internal tests, and it displays the information in the device list in the left pane of the screen. The device list may not display the names of all the components installed on your computer or all devices attached to your computer.

Parameters You can customize the test by changing the test settings.

Quick Reference Guide 23

When the tests are completed, if you are running the Dell Diagnostics from the CD (optional), remove the CD.

Close the test screen to return to the computer, close the

Main Menu

screen.

screen. To exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the

System Lights

Your power light may indicate a computer problem.

Power Light Problem Description Suggested Resolution

Solid green Power is on, and the computer is

operating normally.

Blinking green The computer is in a power-saving

mode.

Blinks green several times and then turns off

Solid yellow A device on the system board may be

Blinking yellow A power supply or system board

Solid green and a beep code during POST

Solid green power light, no beep code and no video during POST

Solid green power light and no beep code, but the computer locks up during POST

A configuration error exists. Check Diagnostic Lights to see if the specific problem

faulty or incorrectly installed or the voltage selection switch on the power supply may be set incorrectly.

failure has occurred.

A problem was detected while the BIOS was executing.

The monitor or the graphics card may be faulty or incorrectly installed.

An integrated system board device may be faulty.

No corrective action is required.

Press the power button, move the mouse, or press a key on the keyboard to wake the computer.

is identified (see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 25).

Check Diagnostic Lights to see if the specific problem is identified (see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 25).

See "Power Problems" in your online User’s Guide.

If the computer does not boot, contact Dell for technical assistance.

Dell, see your online

Check Diagnostic Lights to see if the specific problem is identified (see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 25).

See "Power Problems" in your online User’s Guide.

If the computer does not boot, contact Dell for technical assistance.

Dell, see your online

For instructions on diagnosing the beep code see "Beep Codes" on page 27. Also, check Diagnostic Lights to see if the specific problem is identified.

Check Diagnostic Lights to see if the specific problem is identified.

Check Diagnostic Lights to see if the specific problem is identified. If the problem is not identified, contact Dell for technical assistance.

contacting Dell, see your online

Drivers and Utilities

For information on contacting

User’s Guide

For information on contacting

User’s Guide

For information on

User’s Guide

24 Quick Reference Guide

Diagnostic Lights

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

Product Information Guide.

To help you troubleshoot a problem, your computer has four lights labeled "1," "2," "3," and "4" on the front or back panel. The lights can be "off" or green. When the computer starts normally, the patterns or codes on the lights change as the boot process completes. If the POST portion of system boot completes successfully, all four lights display solid green for a short time, and then turn off.

If the computer malfunctions during the POST process, the pattern displayed on the LEDs may help identify where in the process the computer halted. If the computer malfunctions after a successful POST, the diagnostic lights do not indicate the cause of the problem.

NOTE: The orientation of the diagnostic lights may vary depending on the system type. The diagnostic lights can be

either vertically or horizontally oriented.

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

The computer is in a normal "off" condition, or a possible pre-BIOS failure has occurred.

The diagnostic lights are not lit after the computer successfully boots to the operating system.

A possible BIOS failure has occurred; the computer is in recovery mode.

A possible processor failure has occurred. Reinstall the processor and restart the

Memory modules are detected, but a memory failure has occurred.

Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet and press the power button.

Run the BIOS Recovery utility, wait for recovery completion, and then restart the computer.

computer.

the processor, see your online

• If you have one memory module installed,

• If you have two or more memory modules

• If available, install properly working

• If the problem persists,

For information on reinstalling

User’s Guide

reinstall it and restart the computer. For information on reinstalling memory modules, see your online

installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module, and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.

memory of the same type into your computer.

For information on contacting Dell, see your online

User’s Guide

contact Dell

Quick Reference Guide 25

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

A possible graphics card failure has occurred.

A possible floppy or hard drive failure has occurred.

A possible USB failure has occurred. Reinstall all USB devices, check cable

No memory modules are detected.

• If the computer has a graphics card, remove the card, reinstall it, and then restart the computer.

• If the problem still exists, install a graphics card that you know works and restart the computer.

• If the problem persists or the computer has integrated graphics, For information on contacting Dell, see your online

Reseat all power and data cables and restart the computer.

connections, and then restart the computer.

• If you have one memory module installed, reinstall it and restart the computer. For information on reinstalling memory modules, see your online

• If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module, and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.

• If available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer.

• If the problem persists, information on contacting Dell, see your online

User’s Guide

contact Dell

. For

26 Quick Reference Guide

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

Memory modules are detected, but a memory configuration or compatibility error exists.

A failure has occurred.

This pattern also displays when you enter system setup and may not indicate a problem.

• Ensure that no

module/memory connector placement requirements

• Verify that the you are installing are compatible with your computer.

• If the problem persists, information on contacting Dell, see your

User’s Guide

online

• Ensure that the cables are properly connected to the system board from the hard drive, CD drive, and DVD drive.

• Check the computer message that appears on your monitor screen.

• If the problem persists, information on contacting Dell, see your

User’s Guide

online

special memory

exist.

memory modules

contact Dell

that

. For

Beep Codes

Your computer might emit a series of beeps during start-up if the monitor cannot display errors or problems. This series of beeps, called a beep code, identifies a problem. One possible beep code (code 1 3-1) consists of one beep, a burst of three beeps, and then one beep. This beep code tells you that the computer encountered a memory problem.

If your computer beeps during start-up:

Write down the beep code.

See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 21 to identify a more serious cause.

Contact Dell for technical assistance. For information on contacting Dell, see your online

User’s Guide

Code Cause Code Cause

1-1-2 Microprocessor register failure 3-1-4 Slave interrupt mask register failure

1-1-3 NVRAM read/write failure 3-2-2 Interrupt vector loading failure

1-1-4 ROM BIOS checksum failure 3-2-4 Keyboard Controller test failure

1-2-1 Programmable interval timer failure 3-3-1 NVRAM power loss

1-2-2 DMA initialization failure 3-3-2 Invalid NVRAM configuration

1-2-3 DMA page register read/write failure 3-3-4 Video Memory test failure

1-3 Video Memory test failure 3-4-1 Screen initialization failure

Quick Reference Guide 27

Code Cause Code Cause

1-3-1 through 2-4-4

3-1-1 Slave DMA register failure 3-4-3 Search for video ROM failure

3-1-2 Master DMA register failure 4-2-1 No timer tick

3-1-3 Master interrupt mask register failure 4-2-2 Shutdown failure

4-2-3 Gate A20 failure 4-4-1 Serial or parallel port test failure

4-2-4 Unexpected interrupt in protected mode 4-4-2 Failure to decompress code to

4-3-1 Memory failure above address 0FFFFh 4-4-3 Math-coprocessor test failure

4-3-3 Timer-chip counter 2 failure 4-4-4 Cache test failure

4-3-4 Time-of-day clock stopped

Memory not being properly identified or used

3-4-2 Screen retrace failure

shadowed memory

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured, you can use the Hardware Troubleshooter to resolve the incompatibility.

Click the

Ty p e

Click

In the click

Start

button and click

Help and Support

hardware troubleshooter

Hardware Troubleshooter

in the

list, click

in the

field and click the arrow to start the search.

Search Results

list.

I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my computer

, and

Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore

The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides System Restore to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without affecting data files) if changes to the hardware, software, or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. See the Windows Help and Support Center for information on using System Restore. To access the Windows Help and Support Center, see "Windows Help and Support Center" on page 6.

NOTICE: Make regular backups of your data files. System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them.

Creating a Restore Point

Click the

Click

Follow the instructions on the screen.

28 Quick Reference Guide

Start

button and click

System Restore

Help and Support

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State

NOTICE: Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state, save and close any open files and exit any

open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

Click the

Ensure that

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

The

Start

button, point to

Restore my computer to an earlier time

Select a Restore Point

All Programs→

Accessories→

is selected, and click

System Tools

, and then click

System Restore

screen provides a calendar that allows you to see and select restore points.

All calendar dates with available restore points appear in boldface type.

Select a restore point and click

If a calendar date has only one restore point, then that restore point is automatically selected. If two or more restore points are available, click the restore point that you prefer.

Click

The

Restoration Complete

screen appears after System Restore finishes collecting data and then the

computer restarts.

After the computer restarts, click OK.

To change the restore point, you can either repeat the steps using a different restore point, or you can undo the restoration.

Undoing the Last System Restore

NOTICE: Before you undo the last system restore, save and close all open files and exit any open programs. Do not

alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

Click the

Click

The

Start

button, point to

Undo my last restoration

System Restore

screen appears and the computer restarts.

All Programs→ Accessories→ System Tools

and click

, and then click

System Restore

After the computer restarts, click OK.

Enabling System Restore

If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free hard-disk space available, System Restore is automatically disabled. To verify that System Restore is enabled:

Click the

Click

Click the

Ensure that

Start

button and click

Control Panel

Performance and Maintenance

System

System Restore

tab.

Turn off System Restore

is unchecked.

Quick Reference Guide 29

Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP

Getting Started

NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view in Windows XP Home Edition, so

the steps will differ if you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view or are using Windows XP Professional.

If you are considering reinstalling the Windows XP operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver, first try using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback.

Click the

Under

Click

In the

Click

Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed and click

Click the

Click

If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore to return your operating system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver (see "Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore" on page 28).

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD contains drivers that were installed during assembly of the computer. Use the

Drivers Utilities CD to load any required drivers, including the drivers required if your computer has a RAID controller.

Start

button and click

Pick a Category

System

System Properties

Device Manager

Drivers

tab.

Roll Back Driver

Control Pane

, click

Performance and Maintenance

window, click the

Hardware

tab.

Properties

Reinstalling Windows XP

NOTICE: You must use Windows XP Service Pack 1 or later when you reinstall Windows XP.

NOTICE: Before performing the installation, back up all data files on your primary hard drive. For conventional

hard drive configurations, the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer.

To reinstall Windows XP, you need the following items:

•Dell

Operating System

Drivers and Utilities

To reinstall Windows XP, perform all the steps in the following sections in the order in which they are listed.

The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you must also reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software.

NOTICE: The Operating System CD provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options can overwrite files

and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows XP unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so.

NOTICE: To prevent conflicts with Windows XP, disable any virus protection software installed on your computer

before you reinstall Windows XP. See the documentation that came with the software for instructions.

30 Quick Reference Guide

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