Dell Dimension PY349, OptiPlex DCSM, E521, Dimension E521 Owner's Manual

book.book Page 1 Monday, July 23, 2007 3:47 PM

Dell™ Dimension™ E521

Service Tag

CD or DVD eject button

CD or DVD activity light

FlexBay for optional floppy drive or Media Card Reader

Owner’s Manual

cover latch release

microphone connector

headphone connector

diagnostic lights

hard-drive activity light

power button/ power activity light

USB 2.0 connectors (2)

Model DCSM

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

book.book Page 2 Monday, July 23, 2007 3:47 PM

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" on page 145.

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

Windows®

____________________

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, PowerEdge, P owerV ault, P owerApp,

DellNet, Dell T r avelLite, Strike Zone, and PowerConnect are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Bluetooth is a re gistered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license; Microsoft, Windows, and Outlook are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. ENERGY STAR is a registered trademark of the U.S. En vironmental Protection Agency .

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

July 2007 P/N PY349 Rev. A03

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Contents

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

1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Front View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Back View of the Computer

Back Panel Connectors

Setting Up a Printer

Printer Cable

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

Connecting a Printer

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

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

Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)

Connecting Two Monitors

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

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

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

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

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

One Monitor With a DVI Connector Connecting a TV

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

Changing the Display Settings

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

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

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

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Contents 3

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Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Standby Mode Hibernate Mode Power Options Properties

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

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

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

Enabling Cool ’n’ Quiet™ Technology

About RAID Configurations

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

RAID Level 1 Configuration Configuring Your Hard Drives for RAID Using the Nvidia MediaShield ROM Utility Using Nvidia MediaShield

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

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

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

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

2 Solving Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Troubleshooting Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Battery Problems

Drive Problems

CD and DVD drive problems Hard drive problems

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

Error Messages

Keyboard Problems

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

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

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

4 Contents

Lockups and Software Problems

The computer does not start up The computer stops responding A program stops responding A program crashes repeatedly A program is designed for an earlier

Microsoft

Windows® operating system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

A solid blue screen appears Other software problems

Media Card Reader Problems

Memory Problems

Mouse Problems

Network Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

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

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

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

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Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Printer Problems

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

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

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

3 Troubleshooting Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Diagnostic Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Dell Diagnostics

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

Drivers

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

What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers

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

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Restoring Your Operating System

Using Microsoft

Windows XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Using Dell PC Restore Using the Operating System CD

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

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

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

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

4 Removing and Installing Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer

Removing the Computer Cover

Inside View of Your Computer

System Board Components

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

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

Contents 5

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Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Memory Installation Guidelines Addressing Memory With 4-GB Configurations Installing Memory Removing Memory

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Cards

PCI Cards

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

PCI Express Cards

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

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

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

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

Drive Panel

Drives

Hard Drives

Floppy Drive

Media Card Reader

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

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

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

Recommended Drive Cable Connections Connecting Drive Cables Drive Interface Connectors Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Removing a Floppy Drive Installing a Floppy Drive

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

Removing a Media Card Reader Installing a Media Card Reader

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

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

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

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

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

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

CD/DVD Drive

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

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

Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Replacing the Battery Replacing the Computer Cover

6 Contents

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

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A Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

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)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FCC Notice (U.S. Only)

FCC Class B

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

. . . . . . . . . 121

. . . . . . . . . . . 121

Contacting Dell

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Index

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Contents 7

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8 Contents

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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

• Warranty information

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

• How to set up my computer

Dell™ Product Information Guide

Setup Diagram

• 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 identify your computer when you use

support.dell.com

contact support.

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

Finding Information 9

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What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• 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

• 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, 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.

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.

To download

Go to

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

Desktop

support.dell.com

System Software:

and click

Download Category

Select a Device

, scroll to

, and click

Downloads

drop-down menu, click

Submit.

System and

Dell Desktop System

All

• How to use Windows XP

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

10 Finding Information

Windows Help and Support Center

Click

Start→

Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and

Help and Support

click the arrow icon.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

book.book Page 11 Monday, July 23, 2007 3:47 PM

Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Front View of the Computer

8 9

1 cover latch release Use this latch to remove the cover. See "Removing the

Computer Cover" on page 63.

2 location of Service Tag Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you access

the Dell Support website or call technical support.

3 CD or DVD eject button Press to eject a disk from the CD or DVD drive.

4 CD or DVD activity light The drive light is on when the computer reads data from the

CD or DVD drive.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 11

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5 FlexBay drive Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card

6 microphone connector Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer

7 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most

8 diagnostic lights (4) Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem

9 hard-drive activity light The hard drive activity light is on when the computer reads

10 power button,

power light

Reader. For information on using the Media Card Reader, see "Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)" on page 22.

microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program. On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.

kinds of speakers.

based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 49.

data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when a device such as a CD player is operating.

Press the power button to turn on the computer. The light in the center of this button indicates power state. See "Controls and Lights" on page 109 for more information.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button

to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.

11 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 "System Setup Options" on page 112 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.

12 vents For adequate cooling, do not block any of the vents.

NOTICE: Ensure that there is a minimum of two inches of

space between all vents and any object near these vents.

NOTICE: Keep the vent area clean and dust-free to ensure

that the computer is adequately ventilated. Use only a dry cloth to clean the vent area to avoid water damage to the computer.

12 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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Back View of the Computer

1 2

1 voltage selection switch See the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide for more

information.

2 power connector Insert the power cable.

3 back panel connectors Plug USB, audio, and other devices into the appropriate connector.

See "Back Panel Connectors" on page 14 for more information.

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

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 13

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Back Panel Connectors

1 link integrity light

2 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.

• 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 port 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.

3 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.

4 surround connector Use the black surround connector to attach multichannel-capable speakers.

5 line-in connector Use the blue line-in connector to attach a record/playback device such as a

cassette player, CD player, or VCR. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

6 line-out connector Use the green line-out connector (available on computers with integrated sound)

to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

7 microphone Use the pink connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or

musical input into a sound or telephony program. On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.

14 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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8 side surround connector Use the silver connector to provide enhanced surround audio for computers with

9 center/subwoofer

connector

10 USB 2.0 connectors (4) Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as

11 VGA video connector Connect the monitor’s VGA cable to the VGA connector on the computer.

Setting Up a Printer

7.1 speakers. On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.

Use the yellow connector to attach a speaker to a Low Frequency Effects (LFE) audio channel.

printers and keyboards.

It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras.

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

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.

For technical assistance, refer to the printer owner's manual or contact the printer manufacturer.

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.

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 15

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1 USB connector on computer 2 USB printer cable 3 USB connector on printer

Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer. If the appears, click

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

Cancel

Add New Hardware Wizard

window

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). 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.

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.

16 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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Setting Up Your Internet Connection

To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut:

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

Double-click the ISP icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop.

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

If you do not have an ISP 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

Click

Start

button and click

New Connection Wizard

Connect to the Internet

Internet Explorer

appears.

In the next window, click the appropriate option:

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

providers (ISPs)

Choose from a list of Internet service

• 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

Set up my connection manually

Use the CD I got from an ISP

, continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the instructions

on the screen to complete the setup.

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 35. 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 17

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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

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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

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

or down to increase or decrease the volume.

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

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

Start

button and click

Pick a category

Control Panel

, click

Appearance and Themes

Under

In the

800 by 600 pixels

Click the drop-down menu under

Click OK.

Pick a task...

, click

Display Properties

Change the screen resolution

window, click and drag the bar in

Color quality

Screen resolution

, and then click

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 19

to change the setting to

Medium (16 bit)

book.book Page 20 Monday, July 23, 2007 3:47 PM

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

Start→

To copy the CD or DVD:

•

If you have one CD or DVD drive

All Programs→

Sonic→ DigitalMedia Projects→ Copy→ Disc Copy

, ensure that the settings are correct and click the

Disc Copy

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

If you have two CD or DVD drives

• DVD and click the

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

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.

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.

20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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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

CD- RW Yes Yes Yes

DVD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

CD- RW Yes Yes Yes

DVD+R Yes Yes No

DVD-R Yes Yes No

DV D+R W Ye s Ye s Ye s

DV D-R W Yes Yes Yes

DVD+R DL Yes Yes No

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.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 21

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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 98.

1 xD-Picture Card and

SmartMedia (SMC)

3 Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro) 4 SecureDigital Card (SD)/

22 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

2 CompactFlash Type I and II

(CF I/II) and MicroDrive Card

MultiMediaCard (MMC)

book.book Page 23 Monday, July 23, 2007 3:47 PM

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.

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.

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

connect the cable. 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.

Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 61.

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.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 23

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*May not be present on your computer

1 optional DVI adapter 2 DVI (white) connector 3 TV-OUT connector

4 VGA (blue) connector

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

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 61.

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.

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 61.

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.

24 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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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.

Windows® desktop displays on the primary monitor.

• 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

, click

guides

Device guides

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Start

button, click

Help and Support

, click

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

User and system

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.

1 network adapter connector 2 network device 3 network adapter connector on computer

4 network cable

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 25

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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

Checklist for creating a network

All Programs→ Accessories→ Communications

, 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.

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.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

, click

Control Panel

Performance and Maintenance

or pick a Control Panel icon

, click

Power Options

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.

26 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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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.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

or pick a Control Panel icon

, click

before it entered hibernate mode.

Control Panel

Performance and Maintenance

, click

Power Schemes

Power Options

tab,

Advanced

tab, and

Hibernate

tab.

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.

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

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

power conservation.

Presentation

•

Minimal Power Management

Max Battery

• extended periods of time.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

or pick a Control Panel icon

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

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

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

, click

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

To access the Power Options Properties window:

Control Panel

Performance and Maintenance

, click

Power Schemes

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

Power Options

tab,

Advanced

tab, and

Hibernate

tab.

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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

Help and Support

Performance and maintenance

window, click

Conserving power on your computer

Enabling Cool ’n’ Quiet™ Technology

Cool ’n’ Quiet technology controls your computer’s processor performance automatically, dynamically adjusting the operating frequency and voltage, according to the task at hand. When an application does not require full performance, significant amounts of power can be saved. Performance is designed to still be responsive, with maximum processor performance being delivered when required, and automatic power savings when possible.

Run the system setup program and enable Cool ’n’ Quiet technology using the Power Management options (see "System Setup" on page 111).

Click on the

Properties

From the

Management

Start→ Settings→ Control Panel→ Power Options

window.

Power Schemes

tab, click the Power Schemes drop-down menu and select

and then click OK.

28 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

to access the

Power Options

Minimal Power

book.book Page 29 Monday, July 23, 2007 3:47 PM

About RAID Configurations

This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration you may have selected when you purchased your computer. Your computer supports RAID level 1. A RAID level 1 is recommended for users that desire a high level of data integrity.

The drives in a RAID configuration should be the same size in order to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.

RAID Level 1 Configuration

RAID level 1 uses a data-redundancy storage technique known as mirroring to enhance data integrity. When data is written to the primary drive, the data is also duplicated, or mirrored, on the second drive in the configuration. A RAID level 1 configuration sacrifices high data-access rates for its data redundancy advantages.

serial ATA RAID configured for RAID level 1

segment 1

segment 2

segment 3

segment 4

segment 5

segment 6

hard drive 1

segment 1 duplicated

segment 2 duplicated

segment 3 duplicated

segment 4 duplicated

segment 5 duplicated

segment 6 duplicated

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: In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the

configuration.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 29

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Configuring Your Hard Drives for RAID

Your computer can be configured for RAID, even if you did not select a RAID configuration when the computer was purchased. For an explanation of RAID levels and their requirements, see "About RAID Configurations" on page 29. For information on how to install a hard drive, see "Hard Drives" on page 87.

To configure RAID hard drive volumes use the Nvidia MediaShield ROM utility before you install the operating system onto the hard drive.

Ensure that you set your computer to RAID-enabled mode before you begin.

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode

Enter the system setup (see "Entering System Setup" on page 111).

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight the SATA operation, then press <Enter>.

Drives

, then press <Enter>.

Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight

NOTE: For more information about RAID options, see "System Setup Options" on page 112.

Press <Esc>, press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight

RAID On

, and then press <Enter>.

Save/Exit

, and then press <Enter> to

exit system setup and resume the boot process.

Using the Nvidia MediaShield ROM Utility

NOTICE: The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on your hard drive(s). Back up any data you want

to keep before continuing.

Hard drives of any size may be used to create a RAID configuration. Ideally, however, the drives should be of equal size to avoid unallocated or unused space. For an explanation of RAID levels and their requirements, see "About RAID Configurations" on page 29. For information on how to install a hard drive, see "Installing a Hard Drive" on page 88.

Enable RAID for each applicable hard drive on your computer (see "Setting Your Computer to RAIDEnabled Mode" on page 30).

Restart the computer.

Press <Ctrl><N> when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.

NOTE: If the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop,

then shut down your computer and try again.

The

Define a New Array

window appears.

Press <Tab> to navigate to the

To create a RAID 1 configuration, use the arrow keys to select

Press <Tab> to navigate to the

30 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

RAID Mode

Free Disks

field.

Mirroring

+ 128 hidden pages

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