Dell OptiPlex GX150 User Manual

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Dell™OptiPlex™GX150SystemUser'sGuide



Models DHS, DHP, and DHM

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

Notes, notices, and cautions are used as follows:

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, OptiPlex, OptiFrame, Dell OpenManage, Dimension, Latitude, and InspironaretrademarksofDellComputerCorporation;Microsoft, Windows, WindowsNT, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; 3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks, and Celeron is a trademark of Intel Corporation; Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc; IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. As an ENERGY STAR partner, Dell has determined that certain configurations of this product meet the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.

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 disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Reader Survey

We want to hear from you. Please take our document survey.

Safety Information

Overview When Using Your Computer Ergonomic Computing Habits When Working With Your Computer Electrostatic Discharge

About Your Computer

Front View Back View Inside Your Computer

Advanced Features

Manageability Security Password Protection System Settings Additional System Setup Options Jumper Settings Software Installation and Configuration

Installing Upgrades

Computer Cover Expansion Cards System Memory AGP Graphics Card/GPA Card Microprocessor Hard Drives Diskette Drives Optical Drives Battery

Technical Specifications Solving Problems

Finding Solutions Dell Diagnostics Messages and Codes Software Problems BIOS Recovery Utility

Getting Help

Help Overview Contacting Dell

Additional Information

Regulatory Notices ENERGY STAR®Compliance Limited Warranty and Return Policy

Microsoft®Windows®XP Features

NOTE: You can obtain the latest version of this document from the Dell | Support website at support.dell.com.

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.

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February 2002 08WUP A06

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fBack to Contents Page

AboutYourComputer:Dell™OptiPlex™GX150SystemUser'sGuide

Front View

The following figures show the controls, indicators, and features located on the front panel of the small form-factor, small desktop, and small minitower systems.

Front View of the Small Form-Factor System Small Form-Factor Computer

Front View of the Small Desktop System

Front View of the Small Mini-Tower System

Front-Panel Door

Open the front-panel door to access two Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors and the headphone connector. This door is removable; if you remove it or accidentally knock it off its hinges, it snaps back in place.

View With the Front-Panel Door Open on the Small Desktop System

Front View

Back View

Inside Your Computer

USB connectors (2)

Headphone connector

Hard drive access indicator

Power button

Power indicator

Front-panel door

Power button

Power indicator

Removable optical drive front panel

Removable diskette drive front panel

Diskette drive access indicator

Hard drive access indicator

Power indicator

Power button

Front-panel door

Removable diskette drive front panel

Diskette drive access indicator

Removable optical drive front panel

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View With the Front-Panel Door Open on the Small Mini-Tower System

Power Button

The power button controls the system's AC input power. The Microsoft®Windows®98, Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), Windows 2000, and Windows XP operating systems let you configure the

function of the power button through the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) feature, as shown in the following table.

NOTICE: To turn off your computer system, perform an orderly system shutdown using the operating system menu when possible.

Power Button Behavior Under Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Operating Systems With ACPI

*Pressing or holding the power button to shut down the system may result in data loss. Use the power button to shut down the system only if the

operating system is not responding.

The following table shows power button functions for the Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, and Windows XP operating systems that have the ACPI feature disabled.

Power Button Behavior Under Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, and Windows XP (With Dell AutoShutdown Loaded)

*Pressing or holding the power button to shut down the system may result in data loss. Use the power button to shut down the system only if the

operating system is not responding.

The following table shows power button functions for Microsoft Windows NT®operating systems.

USB connectors (2) (do not use these front connectors for USB keyboards or mice)

Headphone connector

Breakaway hinges (2)

Front-panel door, with two breakaway hinges

Headphone connector

USB connectors (2) (do not use these front connectors for USB keyboards or mice)

Action

Results

System Turned On and ACPI Enabled

System in Standby Mode

System Turned Off

Press power button

System goes into standby mode or turns off (depending on the operating system setup)

System turns on

Boots and system turns on Hold power button for 6 seconds*

System turns off

Boots and system turns on

Action

Results

System Turned On and ACPI Disabled

System in Suspend Mode

System Turned Off

Press power button

System turns off immediately

Boots and system turns on

Hold power button for 6 seconds*

System turns off

Boots and system turns on

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Power Button Behavior Under Microsoft Windows NT (With Dell AutoShutdown Loaded)

*Pressing or holding the power button to shut down the system may result in data loss. Use the power button to shut down the system only if the

operating system is not responding.

If the system does not turn off when you press the power button, the system may be hung. Press and hold the power button until the system turns off completely (this process may take several seconds). If the system is hung and the power button fails to function properly, unplug the AC power cable from the computer, wait for it to completely stop running, and plug in the AC power cable. If the system does not restart, press the power button to restart the system.

Power Indicator

The power indicator contains a light-emitting diode (LED) that illuminates in two colors and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states (normal and nonnormal). The following are normal indicators:

l No light — system is in the off state (S4, S5, or mechanical OFF) l Steady green — normal operating state l Blinking green — low-power state (S1 or S3)

See "Diagnostic LEDs" for a description of nonnormal indications.

Diskette Drive Access Indicator

The diskette drive access indicator lights when the drive is reading data from, or writing data to, a diskette. Wait until this indicator turns off before you remove the diskette from the drive.

Hard Drive Access Indicator

The hard drive access indicator lights when the system is reading data from, or writing data to, the drive.

Back View

The following figure shows the connectors and indicators on the back of your computer for attaching external devices.

Small Form-Factor System Back-Panel Connectors and Indicators

I/O Panel

Action

Results

System Turned On

System Turned Off

Press power button

System shuts down

Bootsandsystemturnson

Hold power button for 6 seconds*

System turns off

Boots and system turns on

NOTE: Your system can resume from the S3 state (suspend to RAM) in several ways. Pressing the power button always works. Certain USB devices also wake the system from S3, and the action required varies by device. Check your device documentation for details. Remote Wake Up also creates an S3 wake event if enabled in system setup and in your operating system. Personal System/2 (PS/2) wake events also vary depending on your operating system. For example, PS/2 mice will not wake from S3 in Windows 98 SE or Windows Millennium (Me), but will wake from S3 in Windows 2000 or Windows XP if enabled in the operating system (OS). PS/2 keyboards will always wake the system from S3 in Windows 98 SE or Windows Me and will wake from S3 in Windows 2000 or Windows XP if enabled in the OS.

Half-height PCI expansion-card slot

AC adapter

AC voltage switch

Parallel connector

Keyboard connector

Mouse connector

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

Small Desktop System Back-Panel Connectors and Indicators

Small Mini-Tower System Back-Panel Connectors and Indicators

Link integrity light

Network adapter

Activity light

Video connector

Microphone connector

Audio line-in connector

Audio line-out connector

USB connectors (2)

Diagnostic lights

Serial 2 connector

Serial 1 connector

Parallel port connector

Diagnostic LEDs

Mouse connector

Link integrity indicator (see "Integrated NIC connector")

Integrated NIC connector

Activity indicator (see "Integrated NIC connector")

Video connector

PCI slots

AC voltage switch

AC power connector

Half-height AGP slot

Line-out jack, line-in jack, and microphone jack

USB connectors

Keyboard connector

Serial port 2 connector

Serial port 1 connector

ACpowerconnector

AC voltage switch

Parallel port connector

Mouse connector

Link integrity indicator (see "Integrated NIC connector")

Integrated NIC connector

Activity indicator (see "Integrated NIC connector")

Padlockring

Video connector

PCI expansion-card slots

AGP slot

Line-out jack, line-in jack, and microphone jack

USB connectors

Keyboard connector

Diagnostic LEDs

Serial port 2 connector

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Connecting Devices

When you connect external devices to your computer's back panel, follow these guidelines:

l Check the documentation that accompanied the device for specific installation and configuration instructions.

For example, you must connect most devices to a particular input/output (I/O) port or connector to operate properly. Also, external devices like a mouse or printer usually require you to load device drivers into system memory before they will work.

l Always attach external devices while your computer is turned off. Then turn on the computer before turning on any external devices, unless

the documentation for the device specifies otherwise. (If the computer does not seem to recognize the device, try turning on the device before turning on the computer.)

NOTICE: When you disconnect external devices from the back of the computer, wait 5 seconds after turning off the computer before you disconnect any devices to avoid possible damage to the system board.

Parallel Port Connector

This is used to connect printers. Default designation is LPT1.

Mouse Connector

Turn off the computer and any attached peripherals before connecting a mouse to the computer. If your system uses Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.0, Dell installed the necessary mouse drivers on your hard drive.

USB Connectors

These are used to attach USB-compliant devices such as keyboards, mice, printers, and computer speakers to your system. If you use a USB keyboard or mouse, attach these devices to the back panel connectors only.

Integrated NIC Connector

The network interface controller (NIC), which includes a Remote Wake Up feature, has the following indicators:

l A yellow activity indicator flashes when the system is transmitting or receiving network data. (A high volume of network traffic may make this

indicator appear to be in a steady "on" state.)

l A dual-colored link integrity indicator, which is green when there is a good connection between a 10-megabit per second (Mbps) network

and the NIC and orange when there is a good connection between a 100-Mbps network and the NIC. When the indicator is off, the computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.

Network Cable Requirements

The NIC connector attaches an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Ethernet cable to your system. Press one end of the UTP cable to an RJ45 jack wall plate or to an RJ45 port on a UTP concentrator or hub, depending on your network configuration, and press the other end of the UTP cable into the NIC connector until the cable snaps securely into place.

Dell recommends the use of Category 5 wiring and connectors for our customers' networks.

Line-In Jack

This jack is used to attach record/playback devices such as cassette players, CD players, and VCRs. Connect the line-out cable from any of these devices to the line-in jack.

Line-Out Jack

This jack is used to attach computer speakers. This jack is amplified, so speakers with integrated amplifiers are not required. Connect the audio cable from the speakers to this jack.

Microphone Jack

This jack is used to attach a standard personal computer microphone. Connect the audio cable from the microphone to the microphone jack.

Video Connector

This connector is used to attach a video graphics array (VGA)-compatible monitor to your system.

Serial port 1 connector

NOTE: The integrated parallel port is automatically disabled if the system detects an installed expansion card containing a parallel port configured to the same address as specified in "Additional System Setup Options."

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Serial Port Connectors

Default port designations: COM1 for serial port 1 and COM2 for serial port 2. You can reassign the serial port's designation if you add an expansion card containing a serial port using this designation.

If you set the system’s serial ports to Auto in system setup and add an expansion card containing a serial port configured to a specific designation, the computer automatically maps (assigns) the integrated ports to the appropriate COM setting as necessary.

Before you add a card with a serial port, check the documentation that accompanied your software to make sure that the software can be mapped to the new COM port designation.

Keyboard Connector

Attach the keyboard cable to the 6-pin connector on the back panel.

Inside Your Computer

The following figures show the desktop systems with their covers opened.

Inside the Small Form-Factor Chassis

Inside the Small Desktop Chassis

Inside the Small Mini-Tower Chassis

NOTE: Do not use this connector if your computer contains an add-in accelerated graphics port (AGP) and/or Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) card. This connector can be used for a secondary display if multi-monitor is supported and enabled in your operating system and you have an add-in PCI video card.

Hard drive

3.5-inch floppy drive

CD drive

Cover release buttons (2)

Internal speaker

Chassis intrusion switch

System board

Power supply

AC power connector

I/O ports and connectors

Padlock ring

Heat sink and blower assembly

Diskette drive

Hard drive

Internal speaker

Chassis intrusion switch

Expansion-card cage

Power supply

Expansion-card slots

AC power connector

Padlock ring

I/O ports and connectors

Microprocessor and heat sink

System board

Optical drive

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System Cables Cabling in the Small Form-Factor Desktop System



Cabling in the Small Desktop System Without a Sound Card Installed

Optical drive

Diskette drive

Hard drive

Internal speaker

Chassis intrusion switch

System board

Expansion-card slots

I/O ports and connectors

AC power connector

Power supply

Padlock ring

Microprocessor and heat sink shroud



CD drive data cable

Floppy drive data cable

Control-panel cable

CD drive power cable

IDE drive power cable (hard drive)

IDE data cable (hard drive)

Input/output cable

Input/output audio cable

CD audio cable

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Cabling in the Small Desktop System With a Sound Card Installed

Cabling in the Small Mini-Tower System

Optical drive audio cable

Optical drive cable

Diskette drive cable

Control panel cable

Front input/output cable

Front input/output audio cable

EIDE interface cable (hard drive)

Optical drive audio cable

Optical drive cable

Diskette drive cable

Control panel cable

Front input/output cable

Front input/output audio cable

EIDEinterfacecable(harddrive)

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The following table provides a color code key for the cables inside your system.

System Board Components

Optical drive power cable

Optical drive audio cable

Optical drive data cable

Diskette drive power cable

Diskette drive data cable

Hard-drivepowercable

Hard-drivedatacable

Front I/O cable

Front I/O audio cable

Hard drive

Blue

Diskette drive

Black

Optical drive

Orange

USB

Gray

ATA, IDE, or EIDE drive

Green

Control panel

Yellow

CD audio

Blue

System audio

Black

Front of Computer

Back of Computer

PC speaker

DC power connector

Diskette drive connector

Battery

EIDE2 connector

Auxiliary power indicator

Memory module (DIMM) connectors (2)

Front-panel cable connector

EIDE1 connector

PCI 2 riser connector (not populated on the small form-factor chassis, used as the riser in the small desktop chassis, and can be populated with PCI expansion card in the small mini-tower chassis)

PCI 1 connector (not able to be populated on the small desktop chassis)

AGP/GPA (AIMM) connector

Video connector (upper) and audio connectors (lower)

CD audio and telephony connectors

NIC connector (upper) and USB connectors (2) (lower)

Keyboard (lower) and mouse (upper) connectors

Diagnostic LEDs

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System Board Labels

The following table lists the labels for connectors and sockets on the system board and gives a brief description of their functions. System Board Connectors and Sockets

Back to Contents Page

Voltage regulator module (may not be removable on some systems)

Parallel port (upper) and serial port (2) (lower) connectors

Microprocessor fan connector

Microprocessor and heat sink assembly

Connector or Socket

Description

AGP

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) Pro connector

AUDIO

Line-in, line-out, and microphone jacks

AUX_PWR

Auxiliary power indicator

BATTERY

Battery socket

CD-IN

CD-ROM drive audio cable connector

DIAG_LED

Diagnostic LEDs

DIMM_x

Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) socket

DSKT

Diskette drive interface connector

FAN

Microprocessor fan connector

FRONTAUDIO

Front panel audio connector for onboard audio

FRONTPANEL

Front panel cable connector

IDEn

EIDE interface connector

KYBD_MOUSE

Keyboard and mouse connectors

MICROPROCESSOR

Microprocessor connector

MODEM

Telephony connector

MONITOR

Video connector

NIC_USB

Integrated NIC connector and USB connectors

PAR_SER1_SER2

Parallel and serial port connectors

PCI1 and 2

PCI expansion card connectors

POWER

Main power input connector

PSWD

Password jumper

VRISER

Riser board connector

SPEAKER

Internal speaker

VRM

Voltage regulator module connector (may not be removable on some systems)

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Back to Contents Page

Additional Information:Dell™OptiPlex™GX150SystemUser'sGuide

Regulatory Notices

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is any signal or emission, radiated in free space or conducted along power or signal leads, that endangers the functioning of a radio navigation or other safety service or seriously degrades, obstructs, or repeatedly interrupts a licensed radio communications service. Radio communications services include but are not limited to AM/FM commercial broadcast, television, cellular services, radar, air-traffic control, pager, and Personal Communication Services (PCS). These licensed services, along with unintentional radiators such as digital devices, including computer systems, contribute to the electromagnetic environment.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the ability of items of electronic equipment to function properly together in the electronic environment. While this computer system has been designed and determined to be compliant with regulatory agency limits for EMI, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference with radio communications services, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

l Reorient the receiving antenna. l Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver. l Move the computer away from the receiver. l Plug the computer into a different outlet so that the computer and the receiver are on different branch circuits.

If necessary, consult a Dell Technical Support representative or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions. Dell computer systems are designed, tested, and classified for their intended electromagnetic environment. These electromagnetic environment

classifications generally refer to the following harmonized definitions:

l Class A is typically for business or industrial environments. l Class B is typically for residential environments.

Information Technology Equipment (ITE), including peripherals, expansion cards, printers, input/output (I/O) devices, monitors, and so on, that are integrated into or connected to the system should match the electromagnetic environment classification of the computer system.

A Notice About Shielded Signal Cables: Use only shielded cables for connecting peripherals to any Dell device to reduce the possibility of interference with radio communications services. Using shielded cables ensures that you maintain the appropriate EMC classification for the intended environment. For parallel printers, a cable is available from Dell. If you prefer, you can order a cable from Dell on the World Wide Web at http://accessories.us.dell.com.

Most Dell computer systems are classified for Class B environments. To determine the electromagnetic classification for your system or device, refer to the following sections specific for each regulatory agency. Each section provides country-specific EMC/EMI or product safety information.

FCC Notices (U.S. Only)

Most Dell computer systems are classified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as Class B digital devices. However, the inclusion of certain options can change the rating of some configurations to Class A. To determine which classification applies to your computer system, examine all FCC registration labels located on the bottom or back panel of your computer, on card-mounting brackets, and on the cards themselves. If any one of the labels carries a Class A rating, your entire system is considered to be a Class A digital device. If all labels carry an FCC Class B rating as distinguished by either an FCC ID number or the FCC logo ( ), your system is considered to be a Class B digital device.

Once you have determined your system's FCC classification, read the appropriate FCC notice. Note that FCC regulations provide that changes or modifications not expressly approved by Dell could void your authority to operate this equipment.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

l This device may not cause harmful interference. l This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Class A

Regulatory Notices

ENERGY STAR®Compliance

Limited Warranty and Return Policy

Page 14

equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction manual, may cause harmful interference with radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference, in which case you will be required to correct the interference at your own expense.

Class B

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction manual, may cause interference with radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

l Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. l Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver. l Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. l Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.

The following information is provided on the device or devices covered in this document in compliance with FCC regulations:

l Model numbers: DHS, DHP, and DHM l Company name: Dell Computer Corporation

One Dell Way Round Rock, Texas 78682 USA

IC Notice (Canada Only)

Most Dell computer systems (and other Dell digital apparatus) are classified by the Industry Canada (IC) Interference-Causing Equipment Standard #3 (ICES-003) as Class B digital devices. To determine which classification (Class A or B) applies to your computer system (or other Dell digital apparatus), examine all registration labels located on the bottom or the back panel of your computer (or other digital apparatus). A statement in the form of "IC Class A ICES-003" or "IC Class B ICES-003" will be located on one of these labels. Note that Industry Canada regulations provide that changes or modifications not expressly approved by Dell could void your authority to operate this equipment.

CE Notice (European Union)

Marking by the symbol indicates compliance of this Dell system to the EMC Directive and the Low Voltage Directive of the European Union. Such marking is indicative that this Dell system meets the following set of technical standards:

l EN 55022 — "Limits and Methods of Measurement of Radio Interference Characteristics of Information Technology Equipment." l EN 55024 — "Information technology equipment - Immunity characteristics - Limits and methods of measurement." l EN 61000-3-2 — "Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 3: Limits - Section2:Limitsforharmoniccurrentemissions(Equipmentinput

current up to and including 16 A per phase)."

l EN 61000-3-3 — "Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part3:Limits- Section3:Limitationofvoltagefluctuationsandflickerinlow-

voltage supply systems for equipment with rated current up to and including 16 A."

l EN 60950 — "Safety of Information Technology Equipment."

l Class A is for typical commercial areas. l Class B is for typical domestic areas.

RF INTERFERENCE WARNING: This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause radio frequency (RF) interference, in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.

This Dell device is classified for use in a typical Class B domestic environment. A "Declaration of Conformity" in accordance with the preceding directives and standards has been made and is on file at Dell Computer

Corporation Products Europe BV, Limerick, Ireland.

This Class B (or Class A, if so indicated on the registration label) digital apparatus meets the requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

CetappareilnumériquedelaClasseB(ouClasseA,siainsiindiquésurl'étiquetted'enregistration)respectetouteslesexigencesduReglement

sur le Materiel Brouilleur du Canada.

NOTE: EN 55022 emissions requirements provide for two classifications:

Page 15

Battery Disposal

Your computer system uses a lithium battery. The lithium battery is a long-life battery, and it is very possible that you will never need to replace it. However, should you need to replace it, refer to the section about replacing the battery in your Dell system documentation for instructions.

Do not dispose of the battery along with household waste. Contact your local waste disposal agency for the address of the nearest battery deposit site.

CCIB Notice (China Only)

On Class A systems, the following warning will appear near the regulatory label:

WARNING: This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interference, in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.

EN 55022 Compliance (Czech Republic Only)

This device belongs to Class B devices as described in EN 55022, unless it is specifically stated that it is a Class A device on the specification

label.ThefollowingappliestodevicesinClassAofEN55022(radiusofprotectionupto30meters).Theuserofthedeviceisobligedtotakeall

steps necessary to remove sources of interference to telecommunication or other devices.

VCCI Notice (Japan Only)

Most Dell computer systems are classified by the Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) as Class B information technology equipment (ITE). However, the inclusion of certain options can change the rating of some configurations to Class A. ITE, including peripherals, expansion cards, printers, input/output (I/O) devices, monitors, and so on, integrated into or connected to the system, should match the electromagnetic environment classification (Class A or B) of the computer system.

To determine which classification applies to your computer system, examine the regulatory labels/markings (see Figure 1 and Figure 2) located on the bottom or back panel of your computer. Once you have determined your system's VCCI classification, read the appropriate VCCI notice.

Class A ITE

 This is a Class A product based on the standard of the Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) for information technology equipment. If

this equipment is used in a domestic environment, radio disturbance may arise. When such trouble occurs, the user may be required to take corrective actions.

Figure 1. VCCI Class A ITE Regulatory Mark



Class B ITE

 This is a Class B product based on the standard of the Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) for information technology equipment. If

this equipment is used near a radio or television receiver in a domestic environment, it may cause radio interference. Install and use the equipment according to the instruction manual.

Figure 2. VCCI Class B ITE Regulatory Mark

Page 16

MIC Notice (Republic of Korea Only)

To determine which classification (Class A or B) applies to your computer system (or other Dell digital device), examine the Republic of Korean Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) registration labels located on your computer (or other Dell digital device). The MIC label may be located separately from the other regulatory marking applied to your product. Line three of the label identifies the emissions class for the product— "(A)"forClassAproductsor"(B)"forClassBproducts.

l Class A devices are for business purposes. l Class B devices are for nonbusiness purposes.

Class A Device

Please note that this device has been approved for business purposes with regard to electromagnetic interference. If you find that this device is not suitable for your use, you may exchange it for a nonbusiness-purpose device.

MIC Class A Regulatory Label

Class B Device

Please note that this device has been approved for nonbusiness purposes and may be used in any environment, including residential areas.

MIC Class B Regulatory Label

Polish Center for Testing and Certification Notice

The equipment should draw power from a socket with an attached protection circuit (a three-prong socket). All equipment that works together (computer, monitor, printer, and so on) should have the same power supply source.

The phasing conductor of the room's electrical installation should have a reserve short-circuit protection device in the form of a fuse with a nominal value no larger than 16 amperes (A).

To completely switch off the equipment, the power supply cable must be removed from the power supply socket, which should be located near the equipment and easily accessible.

NOTE: MIC emissions requirements provide for two classifications:

Page 17

A protection mark "B" confirms that the equipment is in compliance with the protection usage requirements of standards PN-93/T-42107 and PNEN 55022: 1996.



NOM Information (Mexico Only)

The following information is provided on the device(s) described in this document in compliance with the requirements of the official Mexican standards (NOM):

InformaciónparaNOM(únicamenteparaMéxico)

Lainformaciónsiguienteseproporcionaeneldispositivooenlosdispositivosdescritosenestedocumento,encumplimientoconlosrequisitos

de la Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM):

Exporter:

Dell One Dell Way Round Rock, TX 78682

Importer:

DellComputerdeMéxico, S.A.deC.V.

Paseo de la Reforma 2620 - 11°Piso Col. Lomas Altas

11950México,D.F.

Ship to:

DellComputerdeMéxico, S.A.deC.V.alCuidado deKuehne&Nagelde MéxicoS.deR.I.

Avenida Soles No. 55

Col.PeñondelosBaños15520 México,D.F.

Supply voltage:

115/230 VAC

Frequency:

60/50 Hz

Input current rating:

DHS — 2.0/1.0 A DHP — 1.5/0.75 A DHM — 3.0/1.5 A

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BSMI Notice (Taiwan Only)

Exportador:

Dell One Dell Way Round Rock, TX 78682

Importador:

DellComputerdeMéxico, S.A.deC.V.

Paseo de la Reforma 2620 - 11°Piso Col. Lomas Altas

11950México,D.F.

Embarcar a:

DellComputerdeMéxico, S.A.deC.V.alCuidado deKuehne&Nagelde MéxicoS.deR.I.

Avenida Soles No. 55

Col.PeñondelosBaños 15520México,D.F.

Tensiónalimentación:

115/230 VAC

Frecuencia:

60/50 Hz

Consumo de corriente:

DHS — 2.0/1.0 A DHP — 1.5/0.75 A DHM — 3.0/1.5 A

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ENERGY STAR®Compliance

Certain configurations of Dell computer systems comply with the requirements set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for energyefficient computers. If the front panel of your computer bears the ENERGY STAR®Emblem (see figure below), your original configuration complies with these requirements and all ENERGY STAR®power management features of the computer are enabled.

ENERGY STAR®Emblem

NOTES: As an ENERGY STAR®Partner, Dell has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR®guidelines for energy efficiency.

Any Dell computer bearing the ENERGY STAR®Emblem is certified to comply with EPA ENERGY STAR®requirements as configured when shipped by Dell. Any changes you make to this configuration (such as installing additional expansion cards or drives) may increase the system's power consumption beyond the limits set by the EPA's ENERGY STAR®Computers program.

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The EPA's ENERGY STAR®Computers program is a joint effort between the EPA and computer manufacturers to reduce air pollution by promoting energy-efficient computer products. The EPA estimates that use of ENERGY STAR®computer products can save computer users up to two billion dollars annually in electricity costs. In turn, this reduction in electricity usage can reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the gas primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect, and sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are the two primary causes of acid rain.

Computer users can also help to reduce electricity usage and its side effects by turning off their computer systems when they are not in use for extended periods of time—particularly at night and on weekends.

Limited Warranty and Return Policy

The following sections describe the limited warranty for your computer, the manufacturer guarantee for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the return policy for the U.S. and Canada.

Three-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only)

Dell Computer Corporation ("Dell") manufactures its hardware products from parts and components that are new or equivalent to new in accordance with industry-standard practices. Dell warrants that the hardware products it manufactures will be free from defects in materials and workmanship. The limited warranty term is three years beginning on the date of invoice, as described in the following text.

Damage due to shipping the products to you is covered under this limited warranty. Otherwise, this limited warranty does not cover damage due to external causes, including accident, abuse, misuse, problems with electrical power, servicing not authorized by Dell, usage not in accordance with product instructions, failure to perform required preventive maintenance, and problems caused by use of parts and components not supplied by Dell.

This limited warranty does not cover any items that are in one or more of the following categories: software; external devices (except as specifically noted); accessories or parts added to a Dell system after the system is shipped from Dell; accessories or parts added to a Dell system through Dell's system integration department; accessories or parts that are not installed in the Dell factory; or Dell Software and Peripherals products. Monitors, keyboards, and mice that are Dell-branded or that are included on Dell's standard price list are covered under this limited warranty; all other monitors, keyboards, and mice (including those sold through the Dell Software and Peripherals program) are not covered. Batteries for portable computers are covered only during the initial one-year period of this limited warranty.

Coverage During Year One

During the one-year period beginning on the invoice date, Dell will repair or replace products covered under this limited warranty that are returned to Dell’s facility. To request warranty service, you must call Dell’s Customer Technical Support within the warranty period. See "Getting Help" to obtain customer assistance. If warranty service is required, Dell will issue a Return Material Authorization Number. You must ship the products back to Dell in their original or equivalent packaging, prepay shipping charges, and insure the shipment or accept the risk of loss or damage during shipment. Dell will ship the repaired or replacement products to you freight prepaid if you use an address in the continental U.S., where applicable. Shipments to other locations will be made freight collect.

Dell owns all parts removed from repaired products. Dell uses new and reconditioned parts made by various manufacturers in performing warranty repairs and building replacement products. If Dell repairs or replaces a product, its warranty term is not extended.

Coverage During Years Two and Three

During the second and third years of this limited warranty, Dell will provide, on an exchange basis and subject to Dell’s Exchange Policy in effect on the date of the exchange, replacement parts for the Dell hardware product(s) covered under this limited warranty when a part requires replacement. You must report each instance of hardware failure to Dell’s Customer Technical Support in advance to obtain Dell’s concurrence that a part should be replaced and to have Dell ship the replacement part. Dell will ship parts (freight prepaid) if you use an address in the continental U.S., where applicable. Shipments to other locations will be made freight collect. Dell will include a prepaid shipping container with each replacement part for your use in returning the replaced part to Dell. Replacement parts are new or reconditioned. Dell may provide replacement parts made by various manufacturers when supplying parts to you. The warranty term for a replacement part is the remainder of the limited warranty term.

You will pay Dell for replacement parts if the replaced part is not returned to Dell. The process for returning replaced parts, and your obligation to pay for replacement parts if you do not return the replaced parts to Dell, will be in accordance with Dell’s Exchange Policy in effect on the date of the exchange.

You accept full responsibility for your software and data. Dell is not required to advise or remind you of appropriate backup and other procedures.

General Provisions

THIS LIMITED WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS, WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE (OR JURISDICTION TO JURISDICTION). DELL'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR MALFUNCTIONS AND DEFECTS IN HARDWARE IS LIMITED TO REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT AS SET FORTH IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY STATEMENT. ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED

NOTE: Before you ship the product(s) to Dell, back up the data on the hard drive(s) and any other storage device(s) in the product(s). Remove any removable media, such as floppy disks, CDs, or PC Cards. Dell does not accept liability for lost data or software.

Page 21

WARRANTIES FOR THE PRODUCT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE AND NO WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WILL APPLY AFTER SUCH PERIOD.

SOME STATES (OR JURISDICTIONS) DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE PRECEDING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

DELL DOES NOT ACCEPT LIABILITY BEYOND THE REMEDIES SET FORTH IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY STATEMENT OR LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY LIABILITY FOR PRODUCTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE FOR USE OR FOR LOST DATA OR SOFTWARE.

SOME STATES (OR JURISDICTIONS) DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE PRECEDING EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

These provisions apply to Dell’s three-year limited warranty only. For provisions of any service contract covering your system, refer to your invoice or the separate service contract that you will receive.

If Dell elects to exchange a system or component, the exchange will be made in accordance with Dell’s Exchange Policy in effect on the date of the exchange. In any instance in which Dell issues a Return Material Authorization Number, Dell must receive the product(s) for repair prior to the expiration of the warranty period in order for the repair(s) to be covered by the limited warranty.

Three-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only)

Dell Computer Corporation ("Dell") manufactures its hardware products from parts and components that are new or equivalent to new in accordance with industrystandard practices. Dell warrants that the hardware products it manufactures will be free from defects in materials and workmanship. The warranty term is three years beginning on the date of invoice, as described in the following text.

This limited warranty does not cover any items that are in one or more of the following categories: software; external devices (except as specifically noted); accessories or parts added to a Dell system after the system is shipped from Dell; accessories or parts added to a Dell system through Dell’s system integration department; accessories or parts that are not installed in the Dell factory; or DellWare products. Monitors, keyboards, and mice that are Dell-branded or that are included on Dell’s standard price list are covered under this limited warranty; all other monitors, keyboards, and mice (including those sold through the DellWare program) are not covered. Batteries for portable computers are covered only during the initial one-year period of this limited warranty.

Coverage During Year One

During the one-year period beginning on the invoice date, Dell will repair or replace products covered under this limited warranty that are returned to Dell’s facility. To request warranty service, you must call Dell’s Customer Technical Support within the warranty period. See "Getting Help" to obtain customer assistance. If warranty service is required, Dell will issue a Return Material Authorization Number. You must ship the products back to Dell in their original or equivalent packaging, prepay shipping charges, and insure the shipment or accept the risk of loss or damage during shipment. Dell will ship the repaired or replacement products to you freight prepaid if you use an address in Canada, where applicable. Shipments to other locations will be made freight collect.

Coverage During Years Two and Three

During the second and third years of this limited warranty, Dell will provide, on an exchange basis and subject to Dell’s Exchange Policy in effect on the date of the exchange, replacement parts for the Dell hardware product(s) covered under this limited warranty when a part requires replacement. You must report each instance of hardware failure to Dell’s Customer Technical Support in advance to obtain Dell’s concurrence that a part should be replaced and to have Dell ship the replacement part. Dell will ship parts (freight prepaid) if you use an address in Canada, where applicable. Shipments to other locations will be made freight collect. Dell will include a prepaid shipping container with each replacement part for your use in returning the replaced part to Dell. Replacement parts are new or reconditioned. Dell may provide replacement parts made by various manufacturers when supplying parts to you. The warranty term for a replacement part is the remainder of the limited warranty term.

You accept full responsibility for your software and data. Dell is not required to advise or remind you of appropriate backup and other procedures.

General Provisions

NOTE: If you chose one of the available warranty and service options in place of the standard three-year limited warranty described in the preceding text, the option you chose will be listed on your invoice.

Page 22

DELL MAKES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS BEYOND THOSE STATED IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY STATEMENT. DELL DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SOME STATES (OR JURISDICTIONS) DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, SO THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

DELL’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR MALFUNCTIONS AND DEFECTS IN HARDWARE IS LIMITED TO REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT AS SET FORTH IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY STATEMENT. THESE WARRANTIES GIVE YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS, WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE (OR JURISDICTION TO JURISDICTION).

SOME STATES (OR JURISDICTIONS) DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE PRECEDING EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

One-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee (Latin America and the Caribbean Only)

Guarantee

Dell Computer Corporation ("Dell") warrants to the end user in accordance with the following provisions that its branded hardware products, purchased by the end user from a Dell company or an authorized Dell distributor in Latin America or the Caribbean, will be free from defects in materials, workmanship, and design affecting normal use, for a period of one year from the original purchase date. Products for which proper claims are made will, at Dell’s option, be repaired or replaced at Dell’s expense. Dell owns all parts removed from repaired products. Dell uses new and reconditioned parts made by various manufacturers in performing repairs and building replacement products.

Exclusions

This Guarantee does not apply to defects resulting from: improper or inadequate installation, use, or maintenance; actions or modifications by unauthorized third parties or the end user; accidental or willful damage; or normal wear and tear.

Making a Claim

Claims must be made in Latin America or the Caribbean by contacting the Dell point of sale within the guarantee period. The end user must always supply proof of purchase, indicating name and address of the seller, date of purchase, model and serial number, name and address of the customer, and details of symptoms and configuration at the time of malfunction, including peripherals and software used. Otherwise, Dell may refuse the guarantee claim. Upon diagnosis of a warranted defect, Dell will make arrangements and pay for ground freight and insurance to and from Dell’s repair/replacement center. The end user must ensure that the defective product is available for collection properly packed in original or equally protective packaging together with the details listed above and the return number provided to the end user by Dell.

Limitation and Statutory Rights

Dell makes no other warranty, guarantee or like statement other than as explicitly stated above, and this Guarantee is given in place of all other guarantees whatsoever, to the fullest extent permitted by law. In the absence of applicable legislation, this Guarantee will be the end user’s sole and exclusive remedy against Dell or any of its affiliates, and neither Dell nor any of its affiliates shall be liable for loss of profit or contracts, or any other indirect or consequential loss arising from negligence, breach of contract, or howsoever.

This Guarantee does not impair or affect mandatory statutory rights of the end user against and/or any rights resulting from other contracts concluded by the end user with Dell and/or any other seller.

Dell World Trade LP

One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682, USA

Dell Computadores do Brasil Ltda (CNPJ No. 72.381.189/0001-10)/ Dell Commercial do Brasil Ltda (CNPJ No. 03 405 822/0001-40)

Avenida Industrial Belgraf, 400 92990-000 - Eldorado do Sul – RS - Brasil

Dell Computer de Chile Ltda

Coyancura 2283, Piso 3- Of.302, Providencia, Santiago - Chile

Dell Computer de Colombia Corporation

Carrera 7 #115-33 Oficina 603 Bogota, Colombia

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Dell Computer de Mexico SA de CV Paseo de la Reforma 2620 - 11°Piso Col. Lomas Altas 11950México,D.F.

"Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (U.S. and Canada Only)

If you are an end-user customer who bought new products directly from a Dell company, you may return them to Dell within 30 days of the date of invoice for a refund or credit of the product purchase price. If you are an end-user customer who bought reconditioned or refurbished products from a Dell company, you may return them to Dell within 14 days of the date of invoice for a refund or credit of the product purchase price. In either case, the refund or credit will not include any shipping and handling charges shown on your invoice. If you are an organization that bought the products under a written agreement with Dell, the agreement may contain different terms for the return of products than specified by this policy.

To return products, you must call Dell Customer Service to receive a Credit Return Authorization Number. See "Getting Help" to obtain customer assistance. To expedite the processing of your refund or credit, Dell expects you to return the products to Dell in their original packaging within five days of the date that Dell issues the Credit Return Authorization Number. You must also prepay shipping charges and insure the shipment or accept the risk of loss or damage during shipment. You may return software for refund or credit only if the sealed package containing the floppy disk(s) or CD(s) is unopened. Returned products must be in as-new condition, and all of the manuals, floppy disk(s), CD(s), power cables, and other items included with a product must be returned with it. For customers who want to return, for refund or credit only, either applications software or an operating system that has been installed by Dell, the whole system must be returned, along with any media and documentation that may have been included in the original shipment.

This "Total Satisfaction" Return Policy does not apply to DellWare products, which may be returned under DellWare's then-current return policy. In addition, reconditioned parts purchased through Dell Spare Parts Sales in Canada are nonreturnable.

Back to Contents Page

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Back to Contents Page

AdvancedFeatures:Dell™OptiPlex™GX150SystemUser'sGuide

Manageability

l DellOpenManage™ITAssistant— the Dell software-management application interface for the Desktop Management Interface (DMI);

allows management of system-level information such as system configuration information and Management Information Format (MIF) database values.

Fault management features:

¡ Alerts to warn you about events generated by Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) drives on a local or

remote system

¡ An event log that reports System Name, Component Name, Date and Time, Event Type, Event Severity, Event Class, and

Event System

Configuration management features:

¡ Remote Wake Up support ¡ A System Properties window that enables network administrators to view, set, or disable certain hardware configuration

settings for the local and remote systems in a Dell DMI network

Support for the Microsoft® System Management Server (SMS), which allows the exporting of one or more groups to an SMS directory that the SMS administrator can access

¡ A monitor component for systems running Windows®2000 and having a display data channel (DDC)-compliant video subsystem

and monitor

¡ Automated inventory control of one or more groups for the remote systems in a Dell DMI network ¡ Network administrators can automate inventory to occur every day, week, or month at a certain hour, on the hour; or they can

enable inventory as needed

¡ Support for the application program used to create user-definable attributes (UDAs)

Asset management features:

¡ Remote viewing, entering, and modifying of an asset tag for a remote system in a Dell DMI network ¡ Automated and manual mapping of one or more groups to a user-defined directory

For more information about the Dell OpenManage IT Assistant, see the online Dell OpenManage IT Assistant documentation that accompanied the software.

l Managed boot agent (MBA) — supports multiple preboot environments and allows network administrators to boot the system from a network

server.

l Remote Wake Up — allows remote turn-on of a Managed PC system that is either in a sleep state or turned off and remote computer setup,

software downloading and installation, file updates, and asset tracking at any time. Requirements for use: a network interface controller (NIC) that supports Remote Wake Up in each system; enablement of the Remote

Wake Up option in system setup.

l Remote system alert — sends predetermined messages from the system about its operating condition; for example, alert if computer cover

is opened Requirements for use: an integrated NIC that supports remote system alert in each Managed PC system.

Manageability

Additional System Setup Options

Security

Jumper Settings

Password Protection

Software Installation and Configuration

System Settings

NOTE: This feature does not work if the system is shut off using a power strip or surge protector.

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l Auto power on — enables automatic turn-on of the computer system either every day or every Monday through Friday at a preset time.

l Common Information Model (CIM) support — allows access to system management information for systems running Microsoft Windows 98

or any other Windows operating system that includes the Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) core components. For information about WBEM core components, see the Microsoft website at www.microsoft.com.

l Configuration change alerts — generate warning messages if a local or remote system has a change in hardware configuration. l Asset info with support for the cost of ownership (COO) MIF Standard — allows recording and tracking of system costs and stores the

information in the coo.mif file.

l Remote basic input/output system (BIOS) flash — allows remote BIOS upgrades to systems on a network. l Remote system configuration — allows changes to the system asset tag, boot sequence, property ownership tag, and system setup program

options.

l Prefailure alerts — generate warning messages about potential failures by SMART II hard drives.

Security

The computer provides the following methods of physically securing the chassis:

l Chassis intrusion detection l Security cable slot and padlock ring

Chassis Intrusion Detection

The chassis intrusion monitor can detect when the chassis is opened. The Chassis Intrusion option in system setup displays the status of the monitor.

1. Enter system setup.

2. Press the down-arrow keys to move to the System Security option.

3. Press <Enter> to access the System Security option's pop-up menu.

4. Press the down-arrow keys to move to the Chassis Intrusion option.

5. Press the spacebar to select an option setting.

Option settings:

l Enabled — When the computer cover is opened with this setting, a DMI event is generated, the setting changes to Detected, and the

following message appears during the boot routine at the next system start-up: Alert! Cover was previously removed. To reset the Detected setting, enter system setup during the system's power-on self-test (POST). In the Chassis Intrusion option,

press the left- or right-arrow key to select Reset, and then choose Enabled, Enabled-Silent, or Disabled.

l Enabled-Silent (default) — When the computer cover is opened with this setting, a DMI event is generated and the setting changes to

Detected, but the alert message does not appear during the boot sequence at the next system start-up.

l Disabled — No intrusion monitoring occurs and no messages appear.

Security Cable Slot and Padlock Ring

This ring is used to attach commercially available antitheft devices. To prevent unauthorized removal of your computer, loop the galvanized security cable around an immovable object, insert the attached locking device into the security cable slot on the back of your computer, and lock the device with the key provided.

NOTE: This feature does not work if the system is shut off using a power strip or surge protector.

NOTE: When the setup password is enabled, you must know the setup password before you can reset the Chassis Intrusion option.

NOTE: Before your purchase an antitheft device, make sure it works with the cable slot on your computer.

Page 26

Password Protection

The computer provides two types of password protection:

l System password l Setup password

System Password

System passwords allow only those who know the password to have full use of the system. Your Dell system does not have the system password feature enabled when you receive it.

NOTICE: Although passwords provide security for the data on your system, they are not foolproof. If your data requires more security, it is your responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of protection, such as data encryption programs.

NOTICE: If you leave your system running and unattended without having a system password assigned, or if you leave your computer unlocked so that someone can disable the password by changing a jumper setting, anyone can access the data stored on your hard drive.

System Password settings in system setup:

l Enabled — a system password is assigned l Disabled — system password feature is disabled by a jumper setting on the system board

l Not Enabled — no system password is assigned and the password jumper on the system board is in the enabled position (its default

setting)

Assigning a System Password

1. Verify that Password Status is set to Unlocked.

2. Highlight System Password and then press the left- or right-arrow key. The option heading changes to Enter Password, followed by an empty 32-character field in square brackets.

3. Type your new system password. You can use up to 32 characters. As you press each character key (or the spacebar for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field. The password assignment

operation recognizes keys by their location on the keyboard, without distinguishing between lowercase and uppercase characters. For example, if you have an M in your password, the system recognizes either M or m as correct.

Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter one of these combinations, the speaker emits a beep. To erase a character when entering your password, press <Backspace> or the left-arrow key.

4. Press <Enter>. If the new system password is less than 32 characters, the whole field fills with placeholders. Then the option heading changes to

Verify Password, followed by another empty 32-character field in square brackets.

5. To confirm your password, type it a second time and press <Enter>. The password setting changes to Enabled. Your system password is now set; you can exit system setup and begin using your system.

Password protection takes effect when you reboot the system by pressing the reset button or by turning the system off and then on again.

Using Your System Password

When you turn on your system or press the reset button, or when you reboot the system by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> combination, the

NOTE: You cannot change or enter a new system password if either of these options is displayed.

NOTE: You can only assign a system password when System Password is set to Not Enabled.

NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press <Tab> or the <Shift><Tab> combination to move to another field, or press <Esc> at any time prior to completing step 5.

Page 27

following prompt appears on the screen when Password Status is set to Unlocked:

Type in the password and

- press <ENTER> to leave password security enabled.

- press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password security. Enter password:

If Password Status is set to Locked, the following prompt appears:

Type the password and press <Enter>.

If you enter a wrong or incomplete system password, the following message appears on the screen:

** Incorrect password. ** Enter password:

If you again enter an incorrect or incomplete system password, the same message appears on the screen. The third and subsequent times you enter an incorrect or incomplete system password, the system displays the following message:

** Incorrect password. ** Number of unsuccessful password attempts: 3 System halted! Must power down.

Even after your system is turned off and on, the previous message is displayed each time an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered.

Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password

To delete or change an existing system password, perform the following steps:

1. Enter system setup program, and verify that Password Status is set to Unlocked.

2. Reboot your system to force it to prompt you for a system password.

3. When prompted, type the system password.

4. Press <Ctrl><Enter> to disable the existing system password, instead of pressing <Enter> to continue with the normal operation of your system.

5. Confirm that Not Enabled is displayed for the System Password option. If Not Enabled appears in the System Password option, the system password has been deleted. If you want to assign a new

password, continue to step 6. If Not Enabled is not displayed for the System Password option, press <Alt> to reboot the system, and then repeat steps 3 through 5.

6. To assign a new password, follow the procedure in "Assigning a System Password."

Setup Password

Setup passwords allow only those who know the password to have full use of system setup. Your Dell system does not have the setup password feature enabled when you receive it.

Setup Password options in system setup:

l Enabled — does not allow assignment of setup passwords; users must enter a setup password to make changes to system setup l Not Enabled — allows assignment of setup passwords; password feature is enabled but no password is assigned

Assigning a Setup Password

1. Enter system setup, and verify that Setup Password is set to Not Enabled.

2. Highlight Setup Password and press the left- or right-arrow key. The system prompts you to enter and verify the password. If a character is illegal for password use, the system emits a beep.

3. Type in and then verify the password. After you verify the password, the Setup Password setting changes to Enabled. The next time you attempt to enter system setup, the

system prompts you for the setup password.

NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password, the system accepts your setup password as an alternate system password.

NOTE: You can use Password Status in conjunction with System Password and Setup Password to further protect your system from unauthorized changes.

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A change to Setup Password becomes effective immediately (rebooting the system is not required).

Operating Your System With a Setup Password Enabled

When you start system setup, the Setup Password option is highlighted, prompting you to type the password. If you do not enter the correct password, the system lets you view, but not modify, system setup options.

Deleting or Changing an Existing Setup Password

To change an existing setup password, you must know the setup password.

1. Enter system setup.

2. If you have already assigned a setup password, type it at the prompt.

3. Highlight Setup Password and press the left- or right-arrow key to delete the existing setup password. The setting changes to Not Enabled.

4. If you want to assign a new setup password, perform the steps in "Assigning a Setup Password."

Disabling a Forgotten Password NOTICE: This process erases both the system and setup passwords.

1. Open the computer cover.

2. Remove the jumper plug from the PSWD jumper to disable the password feature. See "Jumper Settings" to locate the password jumper (labeled "PSWD") on the system board.

3. Close the computer cover.

4. Reconnect your computer and peripherals to an electrical outlet, and then turn them on. This erases the existing password(s).

5. Enter the system setup program and verify that the password is disabled. Proceed to step 6 if you want to assign a new password.

6. Open the computer cover.

7. Replace the PSWD jumper plug.

8. Close the computer cover and reconnect the computer and peripherals to an electrical outlet and turn them on. Booting your system with the PSWD jumper installed reenables the password feature. When you enter system setup, both password

options appear as Not Enabled, meaning that the password feature is enabled but that no password is assigned.

9. Assign a new system and/or setup password.

System Settings

NOTES: The setup password can be the same as the system password. If the two passwords are different, the setup password can be used as an alternate system

password. However, the system password cannot be used in place of the setup password.

NOTE: You can use Password Status in conjunction with Setup Password to protect the system password from unauthorized changes.

CAUTION: Before you open the computer cover, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

NOTE: Before you assign a new system and/or setup password, you must replace the PSWD jumper plug to reenable the password feature.

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

Page 29

Each time you start your computer, it compares the installed hardware with the system configuration information stored in nonvolatile randomaccess memory (NVRAM). If the system detects a discrepancy, it generates an error messages for each incorrect configuration setting.

You can use system settings as follows:

l To set user-selectable options such as date and time, or system password l To set the current configuration information such as the amount of memory or type of hard drive installed

You can view the current settings at any time. Dell recommends that you print the system setup screens (by pressing <Print Screen>) or record the information for future reference.

Before you use system setup, you need to know the kind of diskette drive(s) and hard drive(s) installed in your computer. If you are unsure of this information, see the Manufacturing Test Report that was shipped with your system and is located in the Dell Accessories folder.

Entering System Setup

1. Turn on your system.

2. If your system is already on, shut it down and then turn it on again.

3. When Press <F2> to Enter Setup appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press <F2>. If you wait too long and your operating system begins to load into memory, let the system complete the load operation; then shut down

the system and try again.

System Setup Screens

The system setup screens display the current configuration information for your computer. Information on the screen is organized into four areas:

l Title — the box at the top of all screens lists the computer system name. l Computer data — two boxes below the title box that display your system processor, level 2 (L2) cache, service tag, and the version number

of the basic input/output system (BIOS).

l Options — a scrollable box listing options that define the configuration of your computer, including installed hardware, power conservation,

and security features. Fields to the right of the option titles contain settings or values. Those you can change appear bright on the screen. Those you cannot

change (because they are set by the computer) appear less bright. When <Enter> appears to the right of an option title, press <Enter> to access a pop-up menu of additional options.

l Key functions — a line of boxes across the bottom of all screens that lists keys and their functions within system setup. l Help — press <F1> for information in the currently highlighted option.

System Setup Navigation Keys The following table lists the keys you use to view or change information on the system setup screen and to exit the program.

NOTE: To ensure an orderly system shutdown, consult the documentation that accompanied your operating system.

Keys

Action

or

Moves to the next field.



or

Moves to the previous field.

or

Cycles through the options in a field. In many fields, you can also type the appropriate value.

or

Scrolls through help information.

Enters the selected field's pop-up options menu.

spacebar or

or

In the selected field's pop-up options menu, cycles through the options in a field.



Exits system setup without rebooting the system and returns the system to its previous state—the boot

Page 30

Changing the Boot Sequence

The boot sequence allows you to specify the order of the devices from which the system will attempt to boot.

1. Press <Enter> to access the Boot Sequence option's pop-up menu.

2. Press the up- and down-arrow keys to move through the list of devices.

3. Pressthespacebartoenableordisableadevice(enableddevicesappearwithacheckmark).

4. Press plus (+) or minus (–) to move a selected device up or down the list.

Option settings:

l Diskette Drive A: — The system will attempt to boot from the diskette drive. If the system finds a diskette in the drive that is not bootable, an

error message will appear. If no diskette is in the drive, the system will attempt to boot from the next device in the list.

l Hard Drive — The system will attempt to boot from the primary hard drive. If the system does not find an operating system on the drive, it will

attempt to boot from the next device in the list.

l CD-ROM Device — The system will attempt to boot from the CD drive. If the system does not find a CD in the drive or if there is not an

operating system on the CD, the system will attempt to boot from the next device in the list.

l MBA (Onboard NIC) — Selecting MBA UNDI allows the system to boot from the network server. The MBA UNDI option appears under

Boot Sequence only if the Network Interface Controller option is set to On w/MBA. If the Network Interface Controller option is set to On or Off, set it to On w/MBA and then press <Alt> to save the change and reboot the system. MBA UNDI then appears under Boot Sequence.

When you select this option, the system prompts you to press <Ctrl><Alt> at the Dell logo screen during system boot. A menu then appears that allows you to select PXE, RPL, BootP, or NetWare as the active boot mode. If a boot routine is not available from the network server, the system tries to boot from the next device in the boot sequence list.

Additional System Setup Options

l AC Power Recovery determines what happens when AC power is restored to the system.

When Off is selected, the system remains off when AC power is restored. When On is selected, the system starts up when AC power is restored.

When Last is selected, the system returns to the AC power state existing at the time that AC power was lost. If the system is on when AC power is lost, the system starts up when AC power is restored. If the system is off when AC power is lost, the system remains off when AC power is restored.

l Asset Tag displays the customer-programmable asset tag number for the system if an asset tag number is assigned. You can use the Asset

Tag utility, which is included with your software support utilities, to enter an asset tag number up to ten characters long into nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM).

l Auto Power On allows you to set the time and days of the week to turn on the computer system automatically. You can set Auto Power On

to turn on the system either every day or every Monday through Friday.

Time is kept in a 24-hour format (hours:minutes). To change the start-up time, press the right-arrow key to increase the number in the highlighted field or press the left-arrow key to decrease the number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in both the date and time fields.

The default for Auto Power On is Disabled.

l CPU ID provides the manufacturer's identification code for the installed microprocessor.

routine.



Exits system setup and reboots the system, implementing any changes you have made.



Resets the selected option to its default setting.

*NOTE: For most of the options, any changes you make are recorded but do not take effect until the next time you boot the system. For a few options (as noted in the help area), the changes take effect immediately.

NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it. NOTE: This feature does not work if you turn off your system using a power strip or surge protector.

Page 31

l CPU Information

¡ CPU Speed indicates the processor speed at which your system boots.

Press the left- or right-arrow key to toggle the CPU Speed option between the resident microprocessor's rated speed (the default) and a lower compatibility speed, which lets you accommodate speed-sensitive application programs. A change to this option takes effect immediately (rebooting the system is not required).

To toggle between the rated processor speed and the compatibility speed while the system is running in real mode, press <Ctrl><Alt><\>. (For keyboards that do not use American English, press <Ctrl><Alt><#>.)

¡ Bus Speed indicates the speed of the microprocessor's system bus, or front-side bus (FSB). ¡ Processor ID provides the manufacturer's identification code(s) for the installed microprocessor. ¡ Clock Speed indicates the core speed at which the microprocessor(s) operates. ¡ Cache Size displays the size of the microprocessor's level 2 (L2) cache.

l Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B identify the type of diskette drives installed in your computer. With the standard cabling

configuration, Diskette Drive A (the boot diskette drive) is the diskette drive installed in the top externally accessible drive bay; Diskette Drive B is a second diskette drive installed in any of the lower externally accessible drive bays.

The Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B options have the following possible settings:

¡ Optical, 360 KB

¡ Optical, 1.2 MB

¡ Diskette, 720 KB

¡ Diskette, 1.44 MB ¡ Not Installed

l Fastboot allows your system to boot in 10 seconds or less. The default setting is On. If you do not want your computer to skip certain

configurations and tests during boot, you may set this option to Off.

l Integrated Devices. This option configures the following devices integrated with the system board:

Press <Enter> to configure these options as explained in the following subsections.

¡ Sound determines whether the integrated audio controller is On or Off. The default is On. ¡ Network Interface Controller determines whether the integrated NIC is On, Off, or On w/ MBA. The default is On. If you select

On w/ MBA, you are prompted to press <Ctrl><Alt> at the Dell logo screen during system boot. A menu then appears that allows you to select PXE, RPL, BootP, or NetWare as the active boot mode.

¡ Mouse Port enables or disables the system's integrated Personal System/2 (PS/2)-compatible mouse port. Disabling the

mouse allows an expansion card to use interrupt request (IRQ)12.

¡ Serial Port 1 and Serial Port 2 configure the system's integrated serial ports. You can set these options to Auto (the default) to

automatically configure a port, to a particular designation (COM1 or COM3 for Serial Port 1; COM2 or COM4 for Serial Port 2), or to Off to disable the port.

If you set a serial port to Auto and add an expansion card containing a port configured to the same designation, the system automatically remaps the integrated port to the next available port designation that shares the same IRQ setting as follows:

- COM1 (input/output [I/O] address 3F8h), which shares IRQ4 with COM3, is remapped to COM3 (I/O address 3E8h).

- COM2 (I/O address 2F8h), which shares IRQ3 with COM4, is remapped to COM4 (I/O address 2E8h).

¡ Parallel Port configures the system's integrated parallel port. Press <Enter> to configure the Parallel Port options explained in

the following subsections.

Mode: You can set this option to PS/2, EPP, ECP, AT, or Off to disable the port. Set this option according to the type of peripheral device connected to the parallel port. To determine the correct mode to use, see the

NOTE: When two COM ports share an IRQ setting, you can use either port as necessary, but you may not be able to use them both at

the same time. If you are running the Microsoft®Windows®95 or IBM®OS/2®

operating system, you cannot use both serial ports at

the same time. If the second port (COM3 or COM4) is also in use, the integrated port is turned off.

Page 32

documentation that came with the device. I/O Address: This option determines the I/O address used by the parallel port and appears except when Mode

is set to Off. You can set I/O Address to 378h (the default), 278h, or 3BCh.

DMA Channel: This option determines the direct memory access (DMA) channel used by the parallel port and appears only when Mode is set to ECP. The available options are DMA 1, DMA 3, and Off.

¡ IDE Drive Interface: enables or disables the system's integrated enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) hard drive

interface. With Auto (the default) selected, the system turns off the integrated EIDE interface when necessary to accommodate a controller card installed in an expansion slot. As part of the boot routine, the system first checks for a primary hard drive controller card installed in an expansion slot. If no card is found, the system enables the integrated EIDE interface to use IRQ14 and IRQ15. If a primary controller is detected on the expansion bus, the integrated EIDE interface is disabled. Selecting Off disables the integrated EIDE interface.

¡ Diskette Interface: controls the operation of the system's integrated diskette drive controller. With Auto (the default) selected,

the system turns off the integrated diskette drive controller when necessary to accommodate a controller card installed in an expansion slot.

With Read Only selected, nothing can be written to any diskette drive using the system's integrated diskette drive controller. (The system can still read from the drives.) When Read Only is selected, Auto is also in effect, meaning that the system turns off the integrated diskette drive controller as necessary.

Selecting Off turns off the integrated diskette drive controller; this setting is used primarily for troubleshooting purposes.

¡ USB Emulation: determines whether the system's basic input/output system (BIOS) controls Universal Serial Bus (USB)

keyboards and mice. When On is selected (the default), the BIOS controls USB keyboards and mice until a USB driver is loaded by the operating system. When Off is selected, the BIOS does not control USB keyboards and mice, although they function during the boot routine. Set USB Emulation to Off if you are using a PS/2-compatible keyboard and mouse.

¡ Primary Video Controller: determines which video controller to use when the system boots. When Auto is selected, the system

uses a video expansion card, if one is installed or the onboard video controller if a video expansion card is not installed. When Onboard is selected, the system uses the onboard video controller even if a video expansion card is installed.

¡ Video DAC Snoop: lets you correct video problems that may occur when you use certain video expansion cards. The default is

Off. If you are using a video expansion card and problems such as incorrect colors or blank windows occur, set Video DAC Snoop to On.

l Keyboard NumLock determines whether your system boots with the Num Lock mode activated on 101- or 102-key keyboards (it does not

apply to 84-key keyboards). When Num Lock mode is activated, the rightmost bank of keys on your keyboard provides the mathematical and numeric functions shown at the top of each key. When Num Lock mode is turned off, these keys provide cursor-control functions shown by the label on the bottom of each key.

l Memory Information indicates the amount of installed memory detected in your system, the system memory speed, the amount of video

memory, and the size of the display cache. After you add memory, check this option to confirm that the new memory is installed correctly and is recognized by the system.

l PCI IRQ Assignment specifies which IRQ lines are assigned to the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) devices installed in the

computer. Press <Enter> to configure these devices. Then select the device whose IRQ line you want to change, and press the plus (+) or minus (–) key to scroll through the available IRQ lines. Normally you do not need to change the IRQ lines assigned to PCI devices unless a particular device, device driver, or operating system requires a specific IRQ line already in use by a PCI device.

l Primary Drive n and Secondary Drive n

Primary Drive n identifies drives attached to the primary EIDE interface connector (labeled "IDE1") on the system board; Secondary Drive n identifies drives connected to the secondary EIDE interface connector (labeled "IDE2"). Use the secondary EIDE interface

connector for EIDE CD-ROM drives.

The following settings identify the type of EIDE devices installed in the computer:

¡ Auto (use this setting for all EIDE devices from Dell) ¡ Off ¡ User 1 or User 2

NOTE: You cannot set the parallel port to 3BCh if Mode is set to EPP.

NOTES: For all devices obtained from Dell that use the integrated EIDE controller, set the appropriate Drive option to Auto.

You must have an EIDE device connected to the primary EIDE interface if you have an EIDE device connected to the secondary EIDE

interface.

Page 33

¡ A specific drive-type number

To choose a setting for each option, press <Enter> to access the field's pop-up settings menu. Then type characters from the keyboard or press the left- or right-arrow key to cycle through the settings.

A drive-type number specifies the parameters of a hard drive, based on a table recorded in the system's basic input/output system (BIOS).

If You Have a Problem

If the system generates a drive error message the first time you boot your system after you install an EIDE drive, it may mean that your particular drive does not work with the automatic drive-type detect feature. If you suspect that your problem is related to drive type, try entering your drive-type information in one of the following ways:

¡ If you know the drive-type number

Use the drive-type number found in the documentation that came with the drive, or if the drive was installed by Dell when you purchased your system, access the Manufacturing Test Report from the Dell Accessories folder.

To set the drive-type number in system setup, highlight the appropriate drive option (Primary Drive 0 or Primary Drive 1) and type the correct drive-type number. If you prefer, you can press the right- or left-arrow key to increase or decrease, respectively, the drive-type number until the correct one is displayed.

¡ If you do not know the drive-type number

The Drive 0 and Drive 1 options display the following parameters for each drive:

- Drive Type is the drive-type number for the selected hard drive.

- Capacity (automatically calculated by the system) indicates the number of millions of bytes of storage

provided by the drive.

- Cylinders is the number of logical cylinders.

- Heads indicates the number of logical heads in the drive.

- Sectors indicates the number of logical sectors per track.

If none of the supported drive types match the parameters of your new drive, you can enter your own parameters. To do so, highlight the Drive 0 option and type u to display User 1. You can then press the right- or left-arrow key to switch between the User 1 and User 2 settings (only two user-defined drive types are allowed). Then press the <Tab> key to highlight each of the parameter fields in succession, and enter the appropriate number for each field.

l Remote Wake Up allows you to set the Remote Wake Up feature to On or Off. You must reboot your system before a change takes effect. l Report Keyboard Errors enables or disables reporting of keyboard errors during the power-on self-test (POST), which is a series of tests

that the system performs on the hardware each time you turn on the system or press the reset button. This option is useful when applied to self-starting servers or host systems that have no permanently attached keyboard. In these

situations, selecting Do Not Report suppresses all error messages relating to the keyboard or to the keyboard controller during POST. This setting does not affect the operation of the keyboard itself if a keyboard is attached to the computer.

l System Data The following information about the system is displayed in the system data area of the system setup screen:

l The microprocessor type and BIOS level. l The size of the integrated level 2 (L2) cache. l The system's five-character service tag number, which was programmed into NVRAM by Dell during the manufacturing process.

Refer to this number during technical assistance or service calls. The service tag number is also accessed by certain Dell support software, including the diagnostics software.

l System Date resets the date on the computer's internal calendar.

Your system automatically displays the day of the week corresponding to the settings in the month, day-of-month, and year fields. To change the date, press the left- or right-arrow key to select a field, and then press plus (+) or minus (–) to increase or decrease the

NOTE: Operating systems that bypass the system BIOS may not obtain optimum hard drive performance.

NOTE: You can use the User 1 and User 2 drive types for both the Primary and Secondary Drive 0 and Drive 1

options. However, if

you select the User 1 or User 2 drive type, you may not obtain optimum hard drive performance. Also, you cannot use the User 1

and

User 2 drive types for hard drives with a storage capacity that is greater than 528 megabytes (MB).

Page 34

number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in the month, day-of-month, and year fields.

l CPU Serial Number determines whether the microprocessor serial number (if any) is provided to programs that request it. When Enabled

is selected, the system provides the microprocessor serial number to programs that request it. When Disabled is selected, the system never provides the microprocessor serial number.

l System Time resets the time on the computer's internal clock.

Time is kept in a 24-hour format (hours:minutes:seconds). To change the time, press the left- or right-arrow key to select a field, and then press plus (+) or minus (–) to increase or decrease the number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in each of the fields.

l ZIP Floppy Support enables or disables the support of Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface (ATAPI) Zip devices by the

system BIOS. When Enabled is selected, ATAPI Zip devices are supported as diskette drives, and the first Zip device is listed as a bootable device under Boot Sequence. When Disabled is selected, the system BIOS ignores ATAPI Zip devices, although the operating system may still support them.

Jumper Settings

The following figure shows the jumper on the system board.

System Board Jumper

NOTICE: Make sure that your system is turned off and unplugged before you change the jumper setting. Otherwise, damage to your system or unpredictable results may occur.

To change the jumper setting to disabled, pull the plug off its pins. To reenable the setting, carefully fit the plug onto the pins indicated.

System-Board Jumper Settings

Software Installation and Configuration

When you obtain software, check it for viruses with virus-scanning software before installing it on your computer's hard drive. Viruses, which are pieces of code that can replicate themselves, can quickly use all available system memory, damage or destroy data stored on the hard drive, and permanently affect the performance of the programs they infect. Several commercial virus-scanning programs are available for purchase, and most bulletin board services (BBSs) archive freely distributed virus-scanning programs that you can download with a modem.

Before you install a program, read its documentation to learn how the program works, what hardware it requires, and what its defaults are. A program usually includes installation instructions in its accompanying documentation and a software installation routine on its program diskette(s) or CD(s).

The software installation routine assists you in transferring the appropriate program files to your computer's hard drive. Installation instructions may provide details about how to configure your operating system to successfully run the program. Always read the installation instructions before running a program's installation routine. You may be instructed to modify some operating system start-up files, such as config.sys and autoexec.bat, or the installation routine may modify start-up files automatically.

When you run the installation routine, be prepared to respond to prompts for information about how your computer's operating system is configured, what type of computer you have, and what peripherals are connected to your computer.

Back to Contents Page

Jumper

Setting

Description

PSWD

(default)

System password features are enabled. System password features are disabled.

jumpered unjumpered

Page 35

Back to Contents Page

ContactingDell:Dell™OptiPlex™GX150SystemUser'sGuide

Overview

When you need to contact Dell, use the telephone numbers, codes, and electronic addresses provided in the following sections. "International

Dialing Codes" provides the various codes required to make long-distance and international calls. "Americas Contact Numbers," "Europe Contact Numbers," and "Asia and Other Regions Contact Numbers" provide local telephone numbers, area codes, toll-free numbers, and e-mail

addresses, if applicable, for each department or service available in various countries around the world. If you are making a direct-dialed call to a location outside of your local telephone service area, determine which codes to use (if any) in

"International Dialing Codes," in addition to the local numbers provided in the other sections. For example, to place an international call from Paris, France, to Bracknell, England, dial the international access code for France followed by the

country code for the U.K., the city code for Bracknell, and then the local number as shown in the following illustration:

To place a long-distance call within your own country, use area codes instead of international access codes, country codes, and city codes. For example, to call Paris, France, from Montpellier, France, dial the area code plus the local number as shown in the following illustration:

The codes required depend on where you are calling from as well as the destination of your call; in addition, each country has a different dialing protocol. If you need assistance in determining which codes to use, contact a local or an international operator.

International Dialing Codes

Click a listed country to obtain the appropriate contact numbers.

Overview

Europe Contact Numbers

International Dialing Codes

Asia and Other Regions Contact Numbers

Americas Contact Numbers

NOTES: Toll-free numbers are for use only within the country for which they are listed. Area codes are most often used to call long distance within your own country (not internationally)—in other words, when your call originates in the same country you are calling.

Have your Express Service Code ready when you call. The code helps Dell's automated-support telephone system direct your call more efficiently.

Country (City)

International Access

Code

Country Code

City Code

Argentina (Buenos Aires)

Australia (Sydney)

0011

Austria (Vienna)

900

Belgium (Brussels)

Brazil

0021

Brunei — 673

—

Canada (North York, Ontario)

011

—

Not required

Chile (Santiago) — 56

China (Xiamen) — 86

592

Czech Republic (Prague)

420

Denmark (Horsholm)

Not required

Finland (Helsinki)

990

358

Page 36

Americas Contact Numbers

France (Paris) (Montpellier)

(1) (4)

Germany (Langen)

6103

Hong Kong

001

852

Not required

Ireland (Cherrywood)

353

Italy (Milan)

Japan (Kawasaki)

001

Korea (Seoul)

001

Luxembourg

352

—

Macau — 853

Not required

Malaysia (Penang)

Mexico (Colonia Granada)

Not required

Netherlands (Amsterdam)

New Zealand

—

Norway (Lysaker)

Not required

Poland (Warsaw)

011

Portugal

—

Singapore (Singapore)

005

Not required

South Africa (Johannesburg)

09/091

Spain (Madrid)

Sweden (Upplands Vasby)

Switzerland (Geneva)

Taiwan

002

886

—

Thailand

001

—

U.K. (Bracknell)

010

1344

U.S.A. (Austin, Texas)

011

Not required

Country (City)

Department Name or Service

Area Code

Local Number or

Toll-Free Number

Antigua and Barbuda

General Support



1-800-805-5924

Argentina

(Buenos Aires)

 



Technical Support, Customer Care



toll free: 0800 444 0733

Sales



toll free: 0810 444 3355

Tech Support Fax

4515-7139

Customer Care Fax

4515-7139

Website: www.dell.com.ar



Barbados

General Support



1-800-534-3066

Bermuda

General Support



1-800-342-0671

Brazil



Customer Support, Technical Support



toll free: 0800 90 3355

Technical Support Fax

481-5470

Customer Care Fax

481-5480

Page 37

Sales



toll free: 0800 90 3390

Website: www.dell.com/br



Canada (North York, Ontario)



Automated Order-Status System



toll free: 1-800-433-9014

AutoTech (Automated technical support)



toll free: 1-800-247-9362

Customer Care (From outside Toronto)



toll free: 1-800-387-5759

Customer Care (From within Toronto)

416

758-2400

Customer Technical Support



toll free: 1-800-847-4096

Sales (Direct sales—from outside Toronto)



toll free: 1-800-387-5752

Sales (Direct sales—from within Toronto)

416

758-2200

Sales (Federal government, education, and medical)



toll free: 1-800-567-7542

Sales (Major accounts)



toll free: 1-800-387-5755

TechFax



toll free: 1-800-950-1329

Cayman Islands

General Support



1-800-805-7541

Chile (Santiago)

NOTE: Customers in Chile call the U.S.A. for sales, customer, and technical assistance

Sales, Customer Support, and Technical Support



toll free: 1230-020-4823

Colombia

General Support



980-9-15-3978

Costa Rica

General Support



800-012-0435

Dominican Republic

General Support



1-800-148-0530

El Salvador

General Support



01-889-753-0777

Guatemala

General Support



1-800-999-0136

Jamaica

General Support (dial from within Jamaica only)



1-800-682-3639

Latin America

NOTE: Customers in Latin America call the U.S.A. for sales, customer, and technical assistance.

Customer Technical Support (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)

512

728-4093

Customer Service (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)

512

728-3619

Fax (Technical Support and Customer Service) (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)

512

728-3883

Sales (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)

512

728-4397

Page 38

SalesFax (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)

512

728-4600 728-3772

Mexico 

Customer Technical Support

001-877-384-8979 or 001-877-269-3383

Sales

50-81-8800 or

01-800-888-3355

Customer Service

001-877-384-8979 or 001-877-269-3383

Main

50-81-8800 or

01-800-888-3355

Netherlands Antilles

General Support 001-800-882-15194

Nicaragua

General Support 001-800-220-1006

Panama

General Support 001-800-507-0962

Peru

General Support



0800-50-669

Puerto Rico

General Support



800-805-7545

St. Lucia

General Support



1-800-882-1521

Trinidad and Tobago

General Support



1-800-805-8035

U.S.A. (Austin, Texas)

  

Automated Order-Status System



toll free: 1-800-433-9014

AutoTech (For portable and desktop computers)



toll free: 1-800-247-9362

Dell Home and Small Business Group (For portable and desktop computers):

Customer Technical Support (Return Material Authorization Numbers)



toll free: 1-800-624-9896

Customer Technical Support (Home sales purchased via www.dell.com)



toll free: 1-877-576-3355

Customer Service (Credit Return Authorization Numbers)



toll free: 1-800-624-9897

National Accounts (Systems purchased by established Dell national accounts [have your account number handy] or value-added resellers [VARs]):

Customer Service and Technical Support (Return Material Authorization Numbers)



toll free: 1-800-822-8965

Public Americas (Systems purchased by governmental agencies [local, state, or federal], medical institutions, or educational institutions):

Page 39

Europe Contact Numbers

Customer Service and Technical Support (Return Material Authorization Numbers)



toll free: 1-800-234-1490

Dell Sales  toll free: 1-800-289-3355

toll free: 1-800-879-3355

Spare Parts Sales  toll free: 1-800-357-3355

Desktop and Portable Fee-Based Technical Support



toll free: 1-800-433-9005

Sales (Catalogs)  toll free: 1-800-426-5150

Fax



toll free: 1-800-727-8320

TechFax

toll free: 1-800-950-1329

Dell Services for the Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, or Speech-

Impaired

 

toll free: 1-877-DELLTTY

(1-877-335-5889)

Switchboard

512

338-4400

DellNet™ 

1-877-dellnet

(1-877-335-5638)

U.S. Virgin Islands

General Support

 

1-877-673-3355

Venezuela

General Support



8001-3605



Country (City)

Department Name or Service

Area

Code

Local Number

Toll-Free

Number

Austria

(Vienna)

NOTE: Customers in Austria call Langen, Germany for Technical Support and Customer Care.

Switchboard

491 040

Home/Small Business Sales

795676-02

Home/Small Business Sales Fax

795676-05

Home/Small Business Customer Care

795676-03

Preferred Accounts/Corporate Customer Care



0660-8056

Home/Small Business Technical Support

795676-04

Preferred Accounts/Corporate Technical Support



0660-8779

Website: support.euro.dell.com





E-mail: tech_support_central_europe@dell.com





Belgium (Brussels)



Technical Support

481 92 88

Customer Care

481 91 19

Home/Small Business Sales



toll free: 0800

16884

Corporate Sales

481 91 00

Fax

481 92 99

Switchboard

481 91 00

Website: support.euro.dell.com

  E-mail: tech_be@dell.com



Page 40

E-mail for French Speaking Customers:

support.euro.dell.com/be/fr/emaildell/



Czech Republic (Prague)

Technical Support

22 83 27 27

Customer Care

22 83 27 11

Fax

22 83 27 14

TechFax

22 83 27 28

Switchboard

22 83 27 11

Website: support.euro.dell.com

  E-mail: czech_dell@dell.com



Denmark (Horsholm)

NOTE: Customers in Denmark call Sweden for fax technical support.

Technical Support



45170182

Relational Customer Care



45170184

Home/Small Business Customer Care



32875505

Switchboard



45170100

Fax Technical Support (Upplands Vasby, Sweden)

859005594

Fax Switchboard



45170117

Website: support.euro.dell.com



E-mail: den_support@dell.com E-mail Support for Servers:

Nordic_server_support@dell.com



Finland (Helsinki)



Technical Support

253 313 60

Technical Support Fax

253 313 81

Relational Customer Care

253 313 38

Home/Small Business Customer Care

693 791 94

Fax

253 313 99

Switchboard

253 313 00

Website: support.euro.dell.com

  E-mail:fin_support@dell.com



France (Paris) (Montpellier)

   

Home and Small Business



Technical Support

0825

387 270

CustomerCare

0825

823 833

Fax

0825

004701

Fax(Alternative)

99 75 40 01

Switchboard

0825

004 700

Switchboard (Alternative)

99 75 40 00

Sales

0825

004 700

Website: support.euro.dell.com



E-mail:

support.euro.dell.com/fr/fr/emaildell/



Corporate



Technical Support

0825

004 719

CustomerCare

0825

338 339

Fax

55 94 71 01

Switchboard

55 94 71 00

Sales

55 94 71 00

Website: support.euro.dell.com



E-mail:

support.euro.dell.com/fr/fr/emaildell/



Germany

Technical Support

06103

766-7200

Page 41

(Langen) 

Home/Small Business Customer Care



0180-5-224400

Global Segment Customer Care

06103

766-9570

Preferred Accounts Customer Care

06103

766-9420

Large Accounts Customer Care

06103

766-9560

Public Accounts Customer Care

06103

766-9555

Switchboard

06103

766-7000

Website: support.euro.dell.com





E-mail:

tech_support_central_europe@dell.com



Ireland (Cherrywood)





Ireland Technical Support

1850

543543

UK Technical Support

0870

908 0800

IrelandHomeUserCustomerCare

204 4095

Ireland Small Business Customer Care

204 4444

Ireland Corporate Customer Care

204 4003

UK Customer Care

0870

906 0010

Ireland Sales

01

204 4444

UK Sales

0870

907 4000

SalesFax 01204 0144

IrelandFax

2045960

Switchboard01204 4444

Website:

support.euro.dell.com



E-

mail:

dell_direct_support@dell.com



Italy (Milan)



Home and Small Business



Technical Support

577 826 90

CustomerCare

696 821 14

Fax

696 821 13

Switchboard

696 821 11

Website: support.euro.dell.com





E-mail:

support.euro.dell.com/it/it/emaildell/



Corporate



Technical Support

577 826 90

Customer Care

577 825 55

Fax

035 30

Switchboard

577 821

Website:

support.euro.dell.com



E-

mail: support.euro.dell.com/it/it/emaildell/



Luxembourg

NOTE: Customers in Luxembourg call Belgium for sales, customer, and technical assistance.

Technical Support (Brussels, Belgium)

481 92 88

Home/Small Business Sales (Brussels, Belgium)



toll free:

080016884

Corporate Sales (Brussels, Belgium)

481 91 00

Customer Care (Brussels, Belgium)

481 91 19

Page 42

Switchboard (Brussels, Belgium)

481 91 00

Fax (Brussels, Belgium)

481 92 99

Website: support.euro.dell.com

  E-mail: tech_be@dell.com





Netherlands (Amsterdam)

Technical Support

020

581 8838

Customer Care

020

581 8740

Home/Small Business Sales



toll free: 0800-

0663

Home/Small Business Sales Fax

020

682 7171

Corporate Sales

020

581 8818

Corporate Sales Fax

020

686 8003

Fax

020

686 8003

Switchboard

020

581 8818

Website: support.euro.dell.com

 E-mail: tech_nl@dell.com



Norway (Lysaker)

NOTE: Customers in Norway call Sweden for fax technical support.

Technical Support



671 16882

Relational Customer Care



671 17514

Home/Small Business Customer Care



231 62298

Switchboard



671 16800

Fax Technical Support (Upplands Vasby, Sweden)

46 08 590 05

594

Fax Switchboard



671 16865

Website: support.euro.dell.com





E-mail: nor_support@dell.com E-mail Support for Servers:

Nordic_server_support@dell.com





Poland (Warsaw)

 

Customer Service Phone

57 95 700

Customer Care

57 95 999

Sales

57 95 999

Switchboard

57 95 999

Customer Service Fax

57 95 806

Fax

57 95 998

Website: support.euro.dell.com



E-mail:pl_support@dell.com



Portugal

Technical Support

800 834 077

Customer Care

800 300 415

or 800 834 075

Sales800 300 410

or 800 300 411 or 800 300 412 or 351 214 220

710

Switchboard

917 229 200

Fax35121 424 01 12

E-mail:

support.euro.dell.com/es/es/emaildell/



Spain (Madrid)

 

Home and Small Business



Technical Support



902 100 130

Customer Care



902 118 540

Sales



902 118 541

Page 43

  

Fax



902 118 539

Website: support.euro.dell.com



E-mail:

support.euro.dell.com/es/es/emaildell/



Corporate



Technical Support



902 100 130

Customer Care



902 118 546

Switchboard

722 92 00

Fax

91

722 95 83

Website: support.euro.dell.com



E-mail:

support.euro.dell.com/es/es/emaildell/



Sweden (Upplands Vasby)



Technical Support

590 05 199

Relational Customer Care

590 05 642

Home/Small Business Customer Care

587 70 527

Fax Technical Support

590 05 594

Sales

590 05 185

Website: support.euro.dell.com



E-mail:swe_support@dell.com E-mailSupportforLatitude™and

Inspiron™:Swe-nbk_kats@dell.com E-mailSupportforOptiPlex™:

Swe_kats@dell.com E-mail Support for Servers:

Nordic_server_support@dell.com



Switzerland (Geneva)

 

Technical Support (Home and Small Business)



0844 811 411

Technical Support (Corporate)



0844 822 844

Customer Care (Home and Small Business)



0848 802 202

Customer Service (Corporate)



0848 821 721

Switchboard

022

799 01 01

Fax

022

799 01 90

Website: support.euro.dell.com





E-mail for French Speaking HSB and Corporate Customers:

support.euro.dell.com/ch/fr/emaildell/



U.K. (Bracknell)

 

Technical Support (Corporate/Preferred Accounts/PAD [1000+ employees])



0870

9080500

Technical Support (Direct/PAD and general)

0870

9080800

Global Accounts Customer Care

01344

373 186

Corporate Customer Care

0870

908 0500

Preferred Accounts (500–5000 employees) Customer Care

01344

373 196

Central Government Customer Care

01344

373 193

Local Government Customer Care

01344

373 199

Home/Small Business Sales

0870

9074000

Home/Small Business Customer Care

0870

906 0010

Corporate/Public Sector Sales

01344

860 456

Website: support.euro.dell.com



Page 44

Asia and Other Regions Contact Numbers

E-mail: dell_direct_support@dell.com



Country (City)

Department Name or Service

Area Code

Local Number or

Toll-Free Number

Australia

(Sydney)

Home and Small Business  1-300-65-55-33

Government and Business  toll free: 1-800-633-559

Preferred Accounts Division (PAD)



toll free: 1-800-060-889

Customer Care



toll free: 1-800-819-339

Corporate Sales  toll free: 1-800-808-385

Transaction Sales  toll free: 1-800-808-312

Fax



toll free: 1-800-818-341

Brunei

NOTE: Customers in Brunei call Malaysia for customer assistance.

Customer Technical Support (Penang, Malaysia)



633 4966

Customer Service (Penang, Malaysia)



633 4949

Transaction Sales (Penang, Malaysia)



633 4955

China (Xiamen)

   

Home and Small Business Technical Support



toll free: 800 858 2437

Corporate Accounts Technical Support



toll free: 800 858 2333

Customer Experience  toll free: 800 858 2060

Home and Small Business toll free: 800 858 2222

Preferred Accounts Division toll free: 800 858 2062

Large Corporate Accounts North



toll free: 800 858 2999

Large Corporate Accounts East



toll free: 800 858 2020

Large Corporate Accounts South



toll free: 800 858 2355

Large Corporate Accounts GCP



toll free: 800 858 2055

Large Corporate Accounts HKtoll free: 800 964108

Large Corporate Accounts GCP HK



toll free: 800 907308

Hong Kong

NOTE: Customers in Hong Kong call Malaysia for customer assistance.

Technical Support  toll free: 800 96 4107

Customer Service (Penang, Malaysia)  633 4949

Transaction Sales  toll free: 800 96 4109

Corporate Sales



toll free: 800 96 4108

India

Technical Support



1600-33-8045

Sales



1600-33-8044

Japan

(Kawasaki) 

Technical Support (Server) toll free: 0120-1984-35

Technical Support Outside of Japan (Server)

81-44

556-4152

TechnicalSupport(Dimension™andInspiron) Technical Support Outside of Japan (Dimension

and Inspiron)



81-44

toll free: 0120-1982-26

520-1435

TechnicalSupport(DellPrecision™,OptiPlex,and

Latitude) Technical Support Outside of Japan (Dell Precision,

OptiPlex, and Latitude)



81-44

toll free: 0120-1984-33

556-3894

Customer Care

044

556-4240

24-Hour Automated Order Status Service

044

556-3801

IndividualUser

044

556-1657

Business Sales Division (Up to 400 employees)

044

556-3494

PublicSales(Governmentagencies,education

044

556-3440

Page 45

institutions, and medical institutions)

Preferred Accounts Division Sales (Over 400 employees)

044

556-3433

Global Segment Japan

044

556-3469

Large Corporate Accounts Sales (Over 3500 employees)

044

556-3440

Faxbox Service

044

556-3490

Switchboard

044

556-4300

Web site: support.jp.dell.com



Korea (Seoul)

Technical Support  toll free: 080-200-3800

Sales



toll free: 080-200-3600

Customer Service (Penang, Malaysia)



toll free: 604-633-4949

Customer Service (Seoul, Korea)080-200-3800

Fax



2194-6202

Switchboard



2194-6000

Macau

NOTE: Customers in Macau call Malaysia for customer assistance.

Technical Support



toll free: 0800 582

Customer Service (Penang, Malaysia)  633 4949

Transaction Sales



toll free: 0800 581

Malaysia (Penang)

Technical Support  toll free: 1 800 888 298

Customer Service

633 4949

Transaction Sales  toll free: 1 800 888 202

Corporate Sales  toll free: 1 800 888 213

New Zealand

Home and Small Business 0800 446 255

Government and Business  0800 444 617

Sales



0800 441 567

Fax



0800 441 566

Singapore (Singapore)

NOTE: Customers in Singapore call Malaysia for customer assistance.

Technical Support  toll free: 800 6011 051

Customer Service (Penang, Malaysia)

633 4949

Transaction Sales  toll free: 800 6011 054

Corporate Sales  toll free: 800 6011 053

South Africa (Johannesburg)

Technical Support

011

709 7710

Customer Care

011

709 7707

Sales

011

709 7700

Fax

011

706 0495

Switchboard

011

709 7700

Website: support.euro.dell.com



E-mail: dell_za_support@dell.com



Southeast Asian/Pacific Countries

(excluding Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand—refer to individual listings for these countries)

Customer Technical Support, Customer Service, and Sales (Penang, Malaysia)



60 4 633-4810

Taiwan

Technical Support  toll free: 0080 60 1225

Technical Support (Servers)  toll free: 0080 60 1256

Customer Service (Penang, Malaysia)633 4949

Transaction Sales



toll free:

Page 46

Back to Contents Page



0080 651 228/0800 33 556

Corporate Sales



toll free:

0080 651 227/0800 33 555

Thailand

NOTE: Customers in Thailand call Malaysia for customer assistance.

Technical Support  toll free: 088 006 007

Customer Service (Penang, Malaysia)  633 4949

Sales



toll free: 088 006 009

Page 47

Hard Drives and Media

l General Information About Hard Drives l EIDE Drive Addressing l Connecting Drives

Hard Drives

l Small Form-Factor Desktop System l Small Desktop System l Small Mini-Tower System

Floppy, Tape, or CD-ROM Drives

l Small Form-Factor Desktop System l Small Desktop System l Small Mini-Tower System

General Information About Hard Drives

The small form-factor and small desktop systems support a single enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) hard drive in the hard drive bay; the small mini-tower system supports two EIDE hard drives.

EIDE Drive Addressing

All EIDE devices require that you configure the cable select setting, which assigns master and slave status to devices according to their position on the interface cable. You usually configure a drive for cable select by setting a jumper or switch, depending on the drive. Refer to the drive documentation in your upgrade kit for information on configuring devices for the cable select setting. When you connect two EIDE devices to a single EIDE interface cable and configure them for the cable select setting, the device attached to the last connector on the interface cable is the master or boot device (drive 0), and the device attached to the middle connector on the interface cable is the slave device (drive 1).

With the two EIDE interface connectors on the system board, your system supports up to two EIDE devices. EIDE hard drives should be connected to the EIDE interface connector labeled "IDE1." (Always connect EIDE tape drives and CD-ROM drives to the EIDE interface connector labeled "IDE2.")

Connecting Drives

When you install a drive, you connect two cables—a DC power cable and an interface cable—to the back of the drive. Your drive’s power input connector (to which you connect the DC power cable) resembles the following connector.

Power Cable Connector

The drive’s interface connector is a card-edge connector or a header connector, as shown in the following figure. Drive Interface Connectors

When you attach the interface cable to a drive, be sure to match the colored strip on the cable to pin 1 of the drive’s interface connector. For the location of pin 1 on the drive’s interface connector, see the documentation that came with the drive.

When you disconnect an interface cable from the system board, be sure to press in on the locking tabs on the cable connector before you disconnect the cable. When you attach an interface cable to the system board, be sure that the locking tabs snap into place so that the cable is

Power input connector

Power cable

Header connector

Interface cable

Colored strip on the cable

Page 48

firmly attached to the connector on the system board. Most interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion; that is, a notch or a missing pin on one connector matches a tab or a filled-in hole on the

other connector. Keyed connectors ensure that the pin-1 wire in the cable (indicated by the colored strip along one edge of the cable) goes to the pin-1 end of the connector. The pin-1 end of a connector on a board or a card is usually indicated by a silk-screened "1" printed directly on the board or card.

NOTICE: When you connect an interface cable, do not reverse the interface cable (do not place the colored strip away from pin 1 of the connector). Reversing the cable prevents the drive from operating and could damage the controller, the drive, or both.

Small Form-Factor Desktop System Hard Drives

To install an EIDE hard drive in a small form-factor desktop system, perform the following steps.

1. If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, be sure to make a backup of your files before you begin this procedure.

NOTICE: Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

NOTICE: When you unpack the drive, do not set it on a hard surface, which may damage the drive. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

2. Unpack the drive, and prepare it for installation. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer system.

3. Open the computer cover.

4. Remove the drive bracket from the chassis.

a. Disconnect the power and interface cables from the drive. b. Press in on the tabs on each side of the bracket, and slide it to the right and then out.

5. If your replacement hard drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the four screws holding the hard drive to the bracket rails,

Removing the Hard Drive in the Small Form-Factor Desktop System

6. If necessary, attach the bracket rails to the new hard drive by aligning the four screw holes of the drive and bracket and then inserting and tightening the screws that came with your upgrade kit.

7. Reinstall the hard drive bracket in the chassis by gently sliding the bracket into place until you hear it securely click.

Inserting a 1.6-Inch Hard Drive in the Small Form-Factor Desktop System

CAUTION: To avoid the possibility of electric shock, turn off the computer and any peripherals, disconnect them from electrical outlets, and then wait at least 5 seconds before you open the computer cover. Also, before you install a drive, see the other precautions in "Safety First — For You and Your Computer."

Page 49

NOTICE: You must match the colored strip on the EIDE cable with pin 1 on the drive's interface connector to avoid possible damage to your system.

8. Connect a power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive, and connect one of the device connectors on the EIDE cable to the 40-pin interface connector on the back of the hard drive.

Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.

Attaching Hard Drive Cables in the Small Form-Factor Desktop System

9. If it is not already connected, connect the other end of the EIDE cable to the IDE1 connector on the system board.

10. Close the computer cover, reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

11. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert a bootable floppy into drive A.

12. Turn on the computer system.

13. Enter system setup, and update the appropriate Primary Drive option (0 or 1).

14. Exit system setup, and reboot the system.

15. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step. See the documentation for your operating system for instructions.

16. Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics.

Small Desktop System Hard Drives

To install an EIDE hard drive in a small desktop system, perform the following steps.

1. If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, be sure to make a backup of your files before you begin this procedure.

NOTICE: Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

NOTICE: When you unpack the drive, do not set it on a hard surface, which may damage the drive. Instead, set the drive on a surface such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

Drive power connector

Power cable

Drive IDE1 connector

EIDE cable

System board IDE1 connector

Page 50

2. Unpack the drive, and prepare it for installation. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer system.

3. Open the computer cover.

4. Remove the plastic shroud covering the hard drive by pressing in on the indented tab at the top of the shroud and lifting the shroud away.

Removing the Hard Drive Shroud in the Small Desktop System

5. Remove the drive bracket from the chassis.

a. If a hard drive is already installed in the drive bracket, disconnect the power and interface cables from the drive. b. Press in on the tabs on each side of the bracket, and slide it up and out.

6. If your replacement hard drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the four screws holding the hard drive to the bracket rails,

Removing the Hard Drive in the Small Desktop System

7. Attach the bracket rails to the new hard drive by aligning the four screw holes of the drive and bracket and then inserting and tightening the screws that came with your upgrade kit.

8. Reinstall the hard drive bracket in the chassis by gently sliding the bracket into place until you hear it securely click.

Installing a 1.6-Inch Hard Drive in the Small Desktop System

NOTICE: You must match the colored strip on the EIDE cable with pin 1 on the drive's interface connector to avoid possible damage to your system.

9. Connect a power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive, and connect one of the device connectors on the EIDE cable to the 40-pin interface connector on the back of the hard drive.

Drive2Bracket rails (2)

Screws (4)

Page 51

Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.

Attaching Hard Drive Cables in the Small Desktop System

10. If it is not already connected, connect the other end of the EIDE cable to the IDE1 connector on the system board.

11. Replace the plastic shroud covering the drive by inserting the two tabs on the bottom into the holes in the chassis and snapping the top into place.

12. Close the computer cover, reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

13. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert a bootable floppy into drive A.

14. Turn on the computer system.

15. Enter system setup, and update the appropriate Primary Drive option (0 or 1).

16. Exit system setup, and reboot the system.

17. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step. See the documentation for your operating system for instructions.

18. Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics.

19. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, install your operating system on the hard drive. For instructions, refer to the documentation that came with your operating system.

Small Mini-Tower System Hard Drives To install an EIDE hard drive in a small mini-tower system, perform the following steps.

1. If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, be sure to make a backup of your files before you begin this procedure.

NOTICE: Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

NOTICE: When you unpack the drive, do not set it on a hard surface, which may damage the drive. Instead, set the drive on a surface such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

2. Unpack the drive, and prepare it for installation. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer system.

3. Open the computer cover.

4. If you are installing a new drive, skip to step 8.

5. Remove the drive bracket from the chassis.

a. Disconnect the power and interface cables from the drive. b. Press in on the tabs on each side of the bracket, and slide it up and then out.

6. If your replacement hard drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the four screws holding the hard drive to the bracket rails.

Power cable

EIDE cable

IDE1 connector

Page 52

Removing the Hard Drive in the Small Mini-Tower System

7. If necessary, attach the bracket rails to the new hard drive by aligning the four screw holes of the drive and bracket and then inserting and tightening the screws that came with your upgrade kit.

8. If you are installing a new drive, ensure that side bracket rails are attached. If they are not, install the extra set of bracket rails that are located inside the hard drive bay.

9. Install the hard drive bracket in the chassis by gently sliding the bracket into place until you hear it securely click.

Installing a Hard Drive in the Small Mini-Tower System

NOTICE: You must match the colored strip on the EIDE cable with pin 1 on the drive's interface connector to avoid possible damage to your system.

10. Connect a power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive, and connect one of the device connectors on the EIDE cable to the 40-pin interface connector on the back of the hard drive.

Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.

Attaching Hard Drive Cables in the Small Mini-Tower System

11. If it is not already connected, connect the other end of the EIDE cable to the IDE1 connector on the system board.

12. Close the computer cover, reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

13. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert a bootable floppy into drive A.

14. Turn on the computer system.

15. Enter system setup, and update the appropriate Primary Drive option (0 or 1).

16. Exit system setup, and reboot the system.

17. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step. See the documentation for your operating system for instructions.

18. Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics.

EIDE cable

Drive power connector

System board IDE1 connector

Page 53

 Small Form-Factor Desktop System Floppy, Tape, or CD-ROM Drives To install a floppy, tape, or CD-ROM drive in a small form-factor desktop system, perform the following steps.

NOTICE: To avoid possibly damaging the drive by electrostatic discharge (ESD), ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

1. Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation. Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer system. Change any

settings necessary for your configuration.

2. If you are installing an EIDE drive, configure the drive for the cable select setting. You usually configure a drive for cable select by setting a jumper or switch, depending on the drive. For instructions on configuring the cable

select setting, see the documentation that accompanied the drive.

3. Open the computer cover.

4. If a drive is already installed in the bay and you are replacing it, be sure to disconnect the power and interface cables from the back of the drive before you remove the drive and bracket assembly.

To remove and install the 3.5-inch floppy drive and bracket assembly, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect the power cable and the floppy drive cable from the back of the drive. On the small form-factor desktop system, also remove the other end of the floppy cable from the connector on the system board.

2. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive bay to disengage the bracket from the chassis.

3. Slide the bracket upward, and remove it from the chassis.

Removing the 3.5-Inch Floppy Drive in the Small Form-Factor Desktop System

4. If the replacement drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the old drive from the bracket by removing the four screws that secure the drive to the bracket rails.

5. Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and tightening all four screws.

6. Attach the floppy drive cable to the back of the drive.

7. Reinstall the 3.5-inch floppy drive and bracket assembly in the chassis by gently sliding the bracket into place until the tabs securely click into position.

Installing the 3.5 Inch Drive in the Small Form-Factor Desktop System

CAUTION:Toavoidthepossibilityofelectricshock,turnoffthecomputerandanyperipherals,disconnectthemfromtheir

electrical outlets, and then wait at least 5 seconds before you open the computer cover. Also, before you install a drive, see the other precautions in "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

Page 54

8. Connect the power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive.

9. Connect the floppy drive cable to the interface connector on the system board.

Attaching Floppy Drive Cables in the Small Form-Factor Desktop System

To remove and install a 5.25-inch drive in a small form-factor desktop system, perform the following steps:

1. If you are replacing a 5.25-inch drive and bracket assembly, follow these instructions. If you are installing a new drive, skip to step 4.

a. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive bay to disengage the bracket from the chassis. b. Slide the bracket upward, and remove it from the chassis.

Removing the 5.25-Inch Drive in the Small Form-Factor Desktop System

2. Ifthereplacementdrivedoesnothavethebracketrailsattached,removetheolddrivefromthebracketbyremovingthefourscrewsthat secure the drive to the bracket rails.

3. Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and tightening all four screws.

Installing a 5.25-Inch Drive in the Small Form-Factor Desktop System

Floppy cable

Drive floppy connector

System board floppy connector (DSKT)

Page 55



4. Reinstall the 5.25-inch floppy drive and bracket assembly in the chassis by gently sliding the bracket into place until the tabs securely click into position.

5. If you are installing a drive that has its own controller card, install the controller card in an expansion slot.

6. Connect a power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive.

7. Connect the appropriate interface cable to the interface connector on the back of the drive. If your system came with an EIDE CD-ROM or tape drive, use the spare connector on the existing interface cable. Otherwise, use the

EIDE interface cable provided in the drive kit.

Attaching Cables to the 5.25-Inch Drive in the Small Form-Factor Desktop System

8. Connect the interface cable to the system board or a controller card, depending on the type of drive.

l For an EIDE tape drive or CD-ROM drive, connect the other end of the interface cable to the interface connector labeled "IDE2"

on the system board.

l For a floppy drive or non-EIDE tape drive, connect the cable from the drive to the interface connector labeled "DSKT" on the

system board.

l For a drive that comes with its own controller card, connect the other end of the interface cable to the controller card.

9. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.

10. If the 5.25-inch drive bay was previously empty, remove the front-panel insert from the front panel. a. Remove the 5.25-inch front panel with your fingers or a plastic screwdriver. b. Remove the insert. c. Replace the front panel piece by snapping it into place.

11. Close the computer cover, reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

12. Update your system configuration information.

l If you installed a floppy drive, enter system setup and update the appropriate Diskette Drive A or Diskette Drive B option to

reflect the size and capacity of your new floppy drive.

l If you installed a non-EIDE tape drive as the second drive, set the Diskette Drive B option to Not Installed.

DC power cable

Power input connector

Audio cable

Audio connector

Floppy/tape drive interface connector

Interface cable

System board interface connector (IDE2)

Page 56

l If you installed an EIDE CD-ROM or tape drive, set the appropriate Drive option (0 or 1) under Drives: Secondary to Auto.

See "Primary Drive n and Secondary Drive n" for more information.

13. Verify that your system works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics.

Small Desktop System Floppy, Tape, or CD-ROM Drives

To install a floppy, tape, or CD-ROM drive in a small desktop system, perform the following steps.

NOTICE: To avoid possibly damaging the drive by ESD, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

1. Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation. Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer system. Change any

settings necessary for your configuration.

select setting, see the documentation that accompanied the drive.

3. Open the computer cover.

To remove and install the 3.5-inch floppy drive and bracket assembly, perform the following steps.

1. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive bay to disengage the bracket from the chassis.

2. Slide the bracket upward, and remove it from the chassis.

Removing the 3.5-Inch Floppy Drive in the Small Desktop System

3. If the replacement drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the old drive from the bracket by removing the four screws that secure the drive to the bracket rails.

4. Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and tightening all four screws.

5. Reinstall the 3.5-inch floppy drive and bracket assembly in the chassis by gently sliding the bracket into place until the tabs securely click into position.

Installing the 3.5 Inch Drive in the Small Desktop System

NOTE: Tape drives sold by Dell come with their own operating software and documentation. After you install a tape drive, refer to the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing and using the tape drive software.

CAUTION:Toavoidthepossibilityofelectricshock,turnoffthecomputerandanyperipherals,disconnectthemfromtheir

electrical outlets, and then wait at least 5 seconds before you open the computer cover. Also, before you install a drive, see the other precautions in "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

Drive2Bracket rails (2)

Screws (4)

Page 57

6. Connect the power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive.

7. Connect the appropriate interface cable to the interface connector on the back of the drive.

Attaching Floppy Drive Cables in the Small Desktop System

To remove and install a 5.25-inch drive in a small desktop system, perform the following steps.

1. If you are replacing a 5.25-inch drive and bracket assembly, follow these instructions. If you are installing a new drive, skip to step 4.

a. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive bay to disengage the bracket from the chassis. b. Slide the bracket upward, and remove it from the chassis.

Removing the 5.25-Inch Drive in the Small Desktop System

3. Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and tightening all four screws.

4. If you are installing a new drive, connect it to the set of rails that are attached to the inside of the cover.

Installing a 5.25-Inch Drive in the Small Desktop System

Power cable

Floppy cable

Floppy connector

Drive2Bracket rails (2)

Screws (4)

Page 58

5. Reinstall the 5.25-inch floppy drive and bracket assembly in the chassis by gently sliding the bracket into place until the tabs securely click into position.

6. If you are installing a drive that has its own controller card, install the controller card in an expansion slot.

7. Connect a power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive.

8. Connect the appropriate interface cable to the interface connector on the back of the drive. If your system came with an EIDE CD-ROM or tape drive, use the spare connector on the existing interface cable. Otherwise, use the

EIDE interface cable provided in the drive kit.

AttachingCablestothe5.25-Inch Drive in the Small Desktop System

9. Connect the interface cable to the system board or a controller card, depending on the type of drive.

l For an EIDE tape drive or CD-ROM drive, connect the other end of the interface cable to the interface connector labeled "IDE2"

on the system board.

l For a floppy drive or non-EIDE tape drive, connect the cable from the drive to the interface connector labeled "DSKT" on the

system board.

l For a drive that comes with its own controller card, connect the other end of the interface cable to the controller card.

10. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.

11. If the 5.25-inch drive bay was previously empty, remove the front-panel insert from the front panel. a. Remove the 5.25-inch front panel with your fingers or, carefully, with a screwdriver. b. Remove the insert. c. Replace the front panel piece by snapping it into place.

12. Close the computer cover, reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

13. Update your system configuration information.

l If you installed a floppy drive, enter system setup and update the appropriate Diskette Drive A or Diskette Drive B option to

reflect the size and capacity of your new floppy drive.

l If you installed a non-EIDE tape drive as the second drive, set the Diskette Drive B option to Not Installed. l If you installed an EIDE CD-ROM or tape drive, set the appropriate Drive option (0 or 1) under Drives: Secondary to Auto.

See "Primary Drive n and Secondary Drive n" for more information.

Floppy/tape drive interface cable

Interface connector

DC power cable

Power input connector

Audio connector

Audio cable

Page 59

14. Verify that your system works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics.

Small Mini-Tower System Floppy, Tape, or CD-ROM Drives To install a floppy, tape, or CD-ROM drive in a small mini-tower system, perform the following steps.

NOTICE: To avoid possibly damaging the drive by electrostatic discharge (ESD), ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

1. Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation. Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer system. Change any

settings necessary for your configuration.

select setting, see the documentation that accompanied the drive.

3. Open the computer cover.

To remove and install the 3.5-inch floppy drive and bracket assembly, perform the following steps. If you are installing a new floppy drive, skip to

step 5.

1. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive bay to disengage the bracket from the chassis.

2. Slide the bracket upward, and remove it from the chassis.

Removing the 3.5-Inch Floppy Drive in the Small Mini-Tower System

3. If the replacement drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the old drive from the rails by removing the four screws that secure them to the drive.

4. Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and tightening all four screws.

5. If the new floppy drive does not have the bracket rails attached, install the extra rail set that is located inside your computer, underneath the cover.

6. If the new drive is going into a previously empty bay, remove the front panel and remove the insert by pressing on the four tabs and pulling the insert away from the panel. Replace the front panel by snapping into place.

CAUTION:Toavoidthepossibilityofelectricshock,turnoffthecomputerandanyperipherals,disconnectthemfromtheir

electrical outlets, and then wait at least 5 seconds before you open the computer cover. Also, before you install a drive, see the other precautions in "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

Page 60

7. Install the 3.5-inch floppy drive and bracket assembly in the chassis by gently sliding the bracket into place until the tabs securely click into position.

Installing the 3.5 Inch Drive in the Small Mini-Tower System

8. Connect the power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive.

9. Connect the appropriate interface cable to the interface connector on the back of the drive.

Attaching Floppy Drive Cables in the Small Mini-Tower System

To remove and install a 5.25-inch drive in a small mini-tower system, perform the following steps:

1. If you are replacing a 5.25-inch drive and bracket assembly, follow these instructions. If you are installing a new drive, skip to step 4.

a. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive bay to disengage the bracket from the chassis. b. Slide the bracket upward, and remove it from the chassis.

Removing the 5.25-Inch Drive in the Small Mini-Tower System

DC power cable

Floppy drive connector

System board floppy connector (DSKT)

Page 61

2. Ifthereplacementdrivedoesnothavethebracketrailsattached,removetheolddrivefromthebracketbyremovingthefourscrewsthat secure the drive to the bracket rails.

3. Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and tightening all four screws.

Installinga5.25-Inch Drive in the Small Mini-Tower System

4. If the new drive does not have the bracket rails attached, install the extra rail set that is located inside your computer, underneath the cover.

5. If the new drive is going into a previously empty bay, remove the 5.25-inch front panel and remove the insert by pressing on the four tabs and pulling the insert away from the panel. Replace the front panel by snapping into place.

6. Install the 5.25-inch floppy drive and bracket assembly in the chassis by gently sliding the bracket into place until the tabs securely click into position.

7. If you are installing a drive that has its own controller card, install the controller card in an expansion slot.

8. Connect a power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive.

9. Connect the appropriate interface cable to the interface connector on the back of the drive. If your system came with an EIDE CD-ROM or tape drive, use the spare connector on the existing interface cable. Otherwise, use the

EIDE interface cable provided in the drive kit.

Attaching Cables to the 5.25-Inch Drive in the Small Mini-Tower System

Page 62

10. Connect the interface cable to the system board or a controller card, depending on the type of drive.

l For an EIDE tape drive or CD-ROM drive, connect the other end of the interface cable to the interface connector labeled "IDE2"

on the system board.

l For a floppy drive or non-EIDE tape drive, connect the cable from the drive to the interface connector labeled "DSKT" on the

system board.

l For a drive that comes with its own controller card, connect the other end of the interface cable to the controller card.

11. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.

12. Close the computer cover, reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

13. Update your system configuration information.

l If you installed a floppy drive, enter system setup and update the appropriate Diskette Drive A or Diskette Drive B option to

reflect the size and capacity of your new floppy drive.

See "Primary Drive n and Secondary Drive n" for more information.

14. Verify that your system works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics.

Back to Contents Page

DC power connector

Floppy/tape drive interface connector

Audio connector

System board interface connector (IDE2)

NOTE: If you install a second 5.25-inch device, do not route the cable through the plastic clips on the side of the 3.5-inch bay.

Page 63

Back to Contents Page

HelpOverview:Dell™OptiPlex™GX150SystemUser'sGuide

Technical Assistance

If you need assistance with a technical problem, perform the following steps:

1. Run the Dell Diagnostics.

2. Make a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist and fill it out.

3. Use Dell's extensive suite of online services available at the Dell website (www.dell.com) for help with installation and troubleshooting procedures.

4. If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem, call Dell for technical assistance. When prompted by Dell's automated telephone system, enter your Express Service Code to route the call directly to the proper support

personnel. If you do not have an Express Service Code, open the Dell Accessories folder, double-click the Express Service Code icon, and follow the directions.

For instructions on using the technical support service, see "Technical Support Service" and "Before You Call."

Help Tools

Dell provides a number of tools to assist you. These tools are described in the following sections.

World Wide Web

The Internet is your most powerful tool for obtaining information about your computer and other Dell products. Through the Internet, you can access most of the services described in this section, including AutoTech, TechFax, order status, technical support, and product information.

You can access Dell | Support at support.dell.com. Select your region on the WELCOME TO DELL SUPPORT page, and fill in the requested details to access help tools and information.

You can contact Dell electronically by using the following addresses:

l World Wide Web

www.dell.com/ www.dell.com/ap/ (for Asian/Pacific countries only) www.euro.dell.com (for Europe only) www.dell.com/la/ (for Latin American countries)

l Anonymous file transfer protocol (FTP)

ftp.dell.com/ Log in as user: anonymous, and use your e-mail address as your password.

l Electronic Support Service

support@us.dell.com

Technical Assistance

Product Information

Help Tools

Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit

Problems With Your Order

Before You Call

NOTE: Dell's Express Service Code system may not be available in all countries.

NOTE: Some of the following tools are not always available in all locations outside the continental U.S. Please call your local Dell representative for information on availability.

Page 64

apsupport@dell.com (for Asian/Pacific countries only) support.euro.dell.com (for Europe only)

l Electronic Quote Service

sales@dell.com apmarketing@dell.com (for Asian/Pacific countries only)

l Electronic Information Service

info@dell.com

AutoTech Service

Dell's automated technical support service—AutoTech—provides recorded answers to the questions most frequently asked by Dell customers about their portable and desktop computer systems.

When you call AutoTech, you use your touch-tonetelephonetoselectthesubjectsthatcorrespondtoyourquestions. The AutoTech service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also access this service through the technical support service. For

the telephone number to call, see the contact numbers for your region.

TechFax Service

Dell takes full advantage of fax technology to serve you better. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, you can call the Dell TechFax line tollfree for all kinds of technical information.

Using a touch-tone phone, you can select from a full directory of topics. The technical information you request is sent within minutes to the fax number you designate. For the TechFax telephone number to call, see the contact numbers for your region.

Automated Order-Status System

You can call this automated service to check on the status of any Dell products that you have ordered. A recording prompts you for the information needed to locate and report on your order. For the telephone number to call, see the contact numbers for your region.

Technical Support Service

Dell's industry-leading hardware technical support service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer your questions about Dell hardware.

Our technical support staff pride themselves on their track record: more than 90 percent of all problems and questions are taken care of in just one toll-free call, usually in less than 10 minutes. When you call, our experts can see records kept on your Dell system to better understand your particular question. Our technical support staff uses computer-based diagnostics to provide fast, accurate answers to questions.

To contact Dell's technical support service, see "Before You Call" and then call the number for your country as listed in "Contacting Dell."

Problems With Your Order

If you have a problem with your order, such as missing parts, wrong parts, or incorrect billing, contact Dell for customer assistance. Have your invoice or packing slip handy when you call. For the telephone number to call, see the contact numbers for your region.

Product Information

If you need information about additional products available from Dell, or if you would like to place an order, visit the Dell website at www.dell.com. For the telephone number to call to speak to a sales specialist, see "Contacting Dell."

Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit

Prepare all items being returned, whether for repair or credit, as follows:

1. Call Dell to obtain an authorization number, and write it clearly and prominently on the outside of the box. For the telephone number to call, see the contact numbers for your region.

2. Include a copy of the invoice and a letter describing the reason for the return.

3. Include a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist indicating the tests you have run and any error messages reported by the Dell Diagnostics.

Page 65

4. Include any accessories that belong with the item(s) being returned (power cables, software diskettes, guides, and so on) if the return is for credit.

5. Pack the equipment to be returned in the original (or equivalent) packing materials.

You are responsible for paying shipping expenses. You are also responsible for insuring any product returned, and you assume the risk of loss during shipment to Dell. Collect On Delivery (C.O.D.) packages are not accepted.

Returns that are missing any of the preceding requirements will be refused at our receiving dock and returned to you.

Before You Call

Remember to fill out the Diagnostics Checklist. If possible, turn on your system before you call Dell for technical assistance and call from a telephone at or near the computer. You may be asked to type some commands at the keyboard, relay detailed information during operations, or try other troubleshooting steps possible only at the computer system itself. Make sure the system documentation is available.

Diagnostics Checklist

Back to Contents Page

NOTE: Have your Express Service Code ready when you call. The code helps Dell's automated-support telephone system direct your call more efficiently.

CAUTION: If you need to remove the computer covers, be sure to first disconnect the computer system's power and modem cables from all electrical outlets.

Date:

Name:

Address:

Phone number:

Service tag (bar code on the back of the computer):

Express Service Code:

Return Material Authorization Number (if provided by Dell support technician): 

Operating system and version:

Peripherals:

 

Expansion cards:

Areyouconnectedtoanetwork?YesNo

Network, version, and network card:

Programs and versions:

 

See your operating system documentation to determine the contents of the system’s start-up files. If the computer is connected to a printer, print each file. Otherwise, record the contents of each file before calling Dell.

Error message, beep code, or diagnostic code:

Description of problem and troubleshooting procedures you performed:

 

Page 66

Temporary file. Delete before release.

About Your Computer: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide Additional Information: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide Advanced Features: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide Getting Help: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide Contents: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide Solving Problems: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide Safety Information: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide Technical Specifications: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide Stand: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide Installing Upgrades: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide

Page 67

Back to Contents Page

SolvingProblems:Dell™OptiPlex™GX150SystemUser'sGuide

Finding Solutions

This section describes system and software problems, offers corrective actions, describes the utility, and provides system messages and codes. Before you call Dell for technical assistance, complete the following tasks to help you resolve computer problems:

Read "About Your Computer" and "Safety Information." Take the problem-solving action listed in the following table for the component or equipment that is malfunctioning.

Power Problems

Basic Checks:

l Test the electrical outlet: ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp. l Connect the computer power cable directly to an electrical outlet: bypass power protection devices, power strips, and extension cords to

verify that the computer turns on.

l Check for interference: electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating in close proximity to the computer can cause interference.

If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the computer and peripherals, and disconnect them from their electrical outlets.

2. If you are using a surge protector, remove it.

3. Make sure the power cable is firmly connected to the computer, and then verify that the power cable is directly connected to the electrical

Finding Solutions

Software Problems

Dell Diagnostics

BIOS Recovery Utility

Messages and Codes

Power indicator does not light

See "Power Problems"

Monitor power indicator does not light

See "Video and Monitor Problems"

No sound

See "Sound and Speaker Problems"

Printer not working

See "Printer Problems"

Serial or other parallel devices not working

See "Serial or Parallel Device Problems"

Mouse not working

See "Mouse Problems"

Keyboard not working

See "Keyboard Problems"

Diskette drive or hard drive: indicators not lit, scraping or unusual noises, no noise

See "Drive Problems" System battery not working

See "Battery Problems"

Expansion card errors or malfunction

See "Expansion Card Problems"

A program locks up

See "Recover From a Program That Is Not Responding"

Computer locks up

See "Restart a Computer That Is Not Responding"

Computer gets wet

See "Repairing a Wet Computer"

Computer is dropped or damaged

See "Repairing a Dropped or Damaged Computer"

Hardware devices conflict

See "Hardware Conflicts"

System memory amount is not correct

See "System Memory Problems"

System board malfunctions

See "System Board Problems"

System board is damaged

See "Resetting a Damaged System Board"

An error message

See "Messages and Codes"

A series of beeps on system startup

See "Messages and Codes"

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outlet.

4. Turn on the computer. Does the power indicator LED on the front of the computer light up?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. The computer may be defective. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Video and Monitor Problems

Basic Checks:

l If the monitor power indicator does not light, check the power connection. l If the external monitor is blank, the computer may be in suspend or hibernate mode. To resume normal operation, press the power button. l Disconnect the monitor cable from the computer and check the cable connector for bent or broken pins. Check for damaged or frayed

cables.

l If the cable is not damaged, make sure that it is firmly connected to the computer. l Test the electrical outlet. Verify that the device is connected to a working electrical outlet. Verify that the device is turned on. l Check for interference: electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating in close proximity to the computer can cause interference. l Adjust brightness and contrast settings on the monitor. l Reinstall the video driver for your operating system. l Restart the computer.

If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the computer, wait at least 30 seconds, and then turn the computer back on.

2. Allow 1 minute for the computer to initialize its components, and then adjust the monitor's brightness and contrast controls. Is the monitor readable?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 3.

3. Turn off nearby fans, lights, lamps, or other electrical devices. Is the monitor readable?

Yes. One or more of those devices was causing interference. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 4.

4. Enter system setup and make sure that Primary Video Controller under the Integrated Devices option is set correctly. Then exit system setup properly to save the information, and reboot the system.

For an AGP expansion card, set Primary Video Controller to AGP; for an integrated video controller (a chip on the system board), set Primary Video Controller to Onboard; for a PCI expansion card, set Primary Video Controller to Auto.

Is the device working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 5.

5. Run the VESA/VGA Interface tests in the Dell Diagnostics. Did any of the tests fail?

Yes. The video controller on the system board may be defective. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Go to step 6.

6. Turn off the computer and the monitor, connect another monitor to the computer, and then turn them on.

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If you do not have another monitor, contact Dell for technical assistance.

7. Allow one minute for the computer to initialize its components, and then adjust the monitor's brightness and contrast controls. Is the monitor readable?

Yes. The original monitor is defective. The problem is resolved. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Sound and Speaker Problems

Basic Checks:

l If using external speakers:

¡ Make sure that the speaker cables are firmly connected to the computer. ¡ Test the electrical outlet: verify that the speakers are connected to a working electrical outlet. ¡ Ensure that the speakers are turned on.

l If using a sound card, make sure external audio devices are connected to the sound card’s connectors and not to the microphone, line-out, or

line-in connectors on the system's front or back panels.

l Adjust the volume. l Reinstall the audio driver for your operating system. l Check for interference: electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating in close proximity to the computer can cause interference.

If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:

1. Turn off nearby fans, lights, lamps, or other electrical devices. Are the external speakers functioning properly?

Yes. One or more of those electrical devices was causing interference. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 2.

2. Enter system setup and make sure that Sound under the Integrated Devices option is set to On. Then exit system setup properly to save the information, and reboot the system.

Is the device working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 3.

3. Run the Misc. PCI Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. Did the tests complete successfully?

Yes. The controller is functioning properly. If the problem persists, contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Printer Problems

Basic Checks:

l Disconnect the cable from the computer and check the cable connector for bent or broken pins. Check for damaged or frayed cables. l If the cable is not damaged, make sure that it is firmly connected to the computer. l Test the electrical outlet: verify that the printer is connected to a working electrical outlet. l Ensure that the printer is turned on. l Check for interference: electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating in close proximity to the computer can cause interference.

If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:

1. Perform the procedure in "Serial or Parallel Device Problems."

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Is the device working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 2.

2. Run the printer's self-test. Does the self-test complete successfully?

Yes. Go to step 3. No. The printer is probably defective. If you bought the printer from Dell, contact Dell for technical assistance. If you did not, take it to an

authorized service center for repair.

3. Try to print again. Does the print operation complete successfully?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Serial or Parallel Device Problems

If a system error message indicates a port problem or if equipment connected to a port seems to perform incorrectly or not at all, the source of the problem can be any of the following:

l A faulty connection between the I/O port and the device l Incorrect settings for system setup options l Incorrect settings in the operating system's configuration files l A faulty cable between the I/O port and the device l A faulty device l Faulty I/O port logic on the system board l Conflicting COM port settings l Lack of drivers

Basic Checks:

l Disconnect the cable from the computer and check the cable connector for bent or broken pins. Check for damaged or frayed cables. l If the cable is not damaged, make sure that it is firmly connected to the computer. l Test the electrical outlet. Verify that the device is connected to a working electrical outlet. l Verify that the device is turned on. l Check for interference: electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating in close proximity to the computer can cause interference.

If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:

1. Enter system setup and check the Integrated Devices option settings. Then exit system setup properly to save the information, and reboot the system.

For a serial device, check the Serial Port options; for a parallel device, check the Parallel Port options. See the device’s documentation for additional information on port settings and configuration requirements.

Is the device working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 2.

2. Run the Serial Ports device group and/or the Parallel Ports device group in the Dell Diagnostics.

NOTE: If you are having a problem with a printer, see "Printer Problems."

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These device groups check the basic functions of the system board's I/O port logic. If a printer is connected to the parallel port, the Parallel Ports device group tests the communication link between the system board's I/O port logic and the printer.

Do the tests complete successfully?

Yes. Go to step 3. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

3. If the problem is confined to a particular application program, see the application program's documentation for specific port configuration requirements.

Is the device working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 4.

4. Turn off the computer and the device, swap the device's cable with a known working cable, and then turn on the computer and the device. Is the device working properly?

Yes. You need a new device cable. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Go to step 5.

5. Turn off the computer and the device, swap the device with a comparable working device, and then turn on the computer and the device. Is the device working properly?

Yes. You need a new device. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Mouse Problems

Basic Checks:

If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:

1. If you are using a PS/2 mouse, enter system setup and make sure that Mouse Port under the Integrated Devices option is set to On. Then exit system setup properly to save the information, and reboot the system.

Is the device working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 2.

2. If you are using a PS/2 mouse, run the Mouse test in the Pointing Devices device group in the Dell Diagnostics. Did the tests complete successfully?

Yes. Go to step 3. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

3. Turn off the computer, connect another mouse to the computer, and then turn the computer on. If you do not have another mouse, contact Dell for technical assistance. Is the mouse functioning properly?

Yes. The original mouse is defective. The problem is resolved. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

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Keyboard Problems

Basic Checks:

If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostic Checklist as you perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the computer, and then disconnect the keyboard cable and check it for bent or broken pins. Do you see bent pins? Yes. If they can be straightened, straighten them and go to step 2. If they cannot be straightened or are broken, you must replace the

keyboard. No. Go to step 2.

2. Reconnect the keyboard to the computer. Make sure the keyboard cable is firmly connected to computer.

3. Turn on the computer.

4. If you are using a keyboard that can be configured with various switch settings, make sure the switch is set to PS/2, Enhanced XT/AT, or PC/AT.

The switch settings are usually on the bottom of the keyboard, sometimes behind a panel. Refer to the documentation that came with the keyboard for more information.

5. Turn off the computer, wait 30 seconds, and turn it on again. During the boot routine, do the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock lights on the keyboard blink momentarily?

Yes. Go to step 6. No. Go to step 7.

6. Use the keyboard to type some characters. Do the characters appear on the screen?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

7. Run the PC-AT Compatible Keyboards tests in the Dell Diagnostics. Did any of the diagnostics tests fail?

Yes. The original keyboard may be defective. Go to step 8. No. Go to step 8.

8. Turn off the computer, connect another keyboard to the computer, and then turn the computer on. If you do not have another keyboard, contact Dell for technical assistance. Is the keyboard functioning properly?

Yes. The original keyboard is defective. The problem is resolved. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Drive Problems

Diskette Drive Problems

During the power-on self-test (POST), the computer checks the diskette drive, comparing its characteristics with the system configuration information. The diskette-drive access light blinks as the computer performs this check.

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Basic Checks:

l If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound when a drive is accessed, there could be a hardware malfunction. Contact Dell for

technical assistance.

l When you turn on the computer, you can hear drive activity during the boot routine. If your computer does not boot, contact Dell for technical

assistance.

l If you are trying to copy data to the diskette, make sure that it is not write-protected. l Try a different diskette in the drive. If the new diskette works, the original one may be defective. l Test the diskette drive access indicator by using one of the following methods:

l Using MS-DOS®, insert a diskette into the drive, type dir a: at the DOS prompt, and press <Enter>. l Using Microsoft®Windows®or Windows NT®, insert a diskette into the drive, open My Computer from the desktop, and

double-click the diskette drive icon.

l Check the settings in system setup. l Clean the drive using a commercially available cleaning kit.

NOTICE: Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab. You may accidentally misalign the heads, rendering the drive inoperable. If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps.

1. Run the Diskette device group in the Dell Diagnostics. Did any of the tests fail?

Yes. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Go to step 2.

2. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

3. Remove and reinstall the diskette drive.

4. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on. Does the diskette-drive access light blink during the boot routine?

Yes. Go to the next question. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Does the computer display a drive error message?

Yes. See "System Messages" for an explanation of the message, and then go to step 5. No. The problem is resolved.

5. Insert a bootable diskette into the diskette drive and reboot the computer. Does the drive boot the operating system?

Yes. The problem is probably resolved. If you continue to experience trouble, contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Hard Drive Problems

Basic Checks:

l If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound when a drive is accessed, there could be a hardware malfunction. Contact Dell for

technical assistance.

l When you turn on the computer, you can hear drive activity during the boot routine. If your computer does not boot, contact Dell for technical

assistance.

l Test the hard drive by using one of the following methods:

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety Information."

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¡ For Windows XP and Windows 2000, run the chkdsk utility by clicking the Start button, selecting Run, and then typing cmd in the

dialog box. At the C: prompt, type chkdsk and press <Enter>. This utility creates and displays a status report, and lists and corrects errors on the disk.

¡ For Windows NT, run the error-checking utility by double-clicking My Computer and selecting the hard drive that you want to check.

Click the right mouse button, select Properties, then click Tools, and select Check Now in the Error Checking section.

¡ For Windows 98 SE and Windows 98, run the ScanDisk utility by clicking the Start button, pointing to Run, typing scandskw in the

dialog box, selecting the type of test to run, and then clicking Start.

¡ For MS-DOS, type scandisk x: at an MS-DOS prompt, where x is the hard drive letter, and press <Enter>.

If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostic Checklist as you perform the following steps:

1. Enter system setup and make sure the problem drive is configured correctly. Make any necessary changes, and reboot the system. Is the drive operating properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Proceed to step 2.

2. Test the hard drive by using one of the following methods:

l For Windows XP and Windows 2000, run the chkdsk utility by clicking the Start button, selecting Run, and then typing cmd in the

dialog box. At the C: prompt, type chkdsk and press <Enter>. This utility creates and displays a status report, and lists and corrects errors on the disk.

l For Windows NT, run the error-checking utility by double-clicking My Computer and selecting the hard drive that you want to

check. Click the right mouse button, select Properties, then click Tools, and select Check Now in the Error Checking section.

l For Windows 98 SE and Windows 98, run the ScanDisk utility by clicking the Start button, pointing to Run, typing scandskw in

the dialog box, selecting the type of test to run, and then clicking Start.

l For MS-DOS, type scandisk x: at an MS-DOS prompt, where x is the hard drive letter, and press <Enter>.

Is the drive operating properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Proceed to step 3.

3. Run the appropriate test group in the Dell Diagnostics:

l For an IDE hard drive, run the IDE Devices device group. l For a SCSI hard drive, run the SCSI Devices device group.

Did any of the diagnostics tests fail?

Yes. Go to the next question. No. Proceed to step 4.

Did any of the diagnostics tests indicate a faulty drive?

Yes. The hard drive may be faulty. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Go to the next question.

Did any of the diagnostics tests indicate a faulty drive controller?

Yes. The system board may be faulty. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Proceed to step 4.

l Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the

computer cover.

l Make sure the DC power cables from the power supply are firmly connected to the connectors on each drive. Also verify that the

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety Information."

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interface cable for each drive is firmly connected to the drive and to the system board.

l Make sure the control panel cable is firmly connected to the system board. The control panel contains the hard drive activity LED.

To locate the control panel system board connector, see the system board.

l Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

Does the hard drive activity light blink during the boot routine?

Yes. Go to the next question. No. The system board may be faulty. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Does the computer display a drive error message? Yes. See "System Messages" for an explanation of the message. If you cannot correct the problem by performing the

action described in the table, then contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Go to the next question. Is this the primary hard drive that contains the operating system?

Yes. Go to the next question. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Does the drive boot the operating system?

Yes. Go to the next question. No. Files in the operating system may be corrupt. See your operating system documentation.

Is the drive operating properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Battery Problems

If an error message indicates a problem with the battery or if configuration information is lost from system setup when the computer is turned off, the battery may be defective.

1. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

2. Reseat the battery in its socket with the side labeled "+" facing up.

3. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

4. Enter system setup and reenter the current time and date. Then exit system setup properly to save the information.

5. Turn off your computer and disconnect it from its electrical outlet. Leave the computer off for at least 10 minutes.

6. Reconnect the computer to its electrical outlet and turn it on.

7. Enter system setup, and check the date and time. Are the date and time correct?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. The battery may be defective. Proceed to step 8.

8. Replace the battery. Is the battery working properly?

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety Information."

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Yes. The problem is resolved. No. You may have a faulty system board. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Expansion Card Problems

If an error message indicates an expansion card problem or if an expansion card seems to perform incorrectly or not at all, the problem could be a faulty connection, a conflict with software or other hardware, or a faulty expansion card.

Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps.

1. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

2. If you have a mini tower chassis, remove the AGP card brace.

3. Make sure each expansion card is firmly seated in its connector. If any expansion cards are loose, reseat them.

4. Make sure all cables are firmly connected to their corresponding connectors on the expansion cards. If any cables appear loose, reconnect them.

For instructions on which cables should be attached to specific connectors on an expansion card, see the expansion card's documentation.

5. If you have a mini tower chassis, replace the AGP card brace.

6. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on. Is the system working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. You may have a faulty expansion card. Proceed to step 7.

7. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

8. Remove all expansion cards except the video card.

9. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

10. Run the RAM test group in the Dell Diagnostics. Did any of the diagnostics tests fail?

Yes. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Proceed to step 11.

11. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

12. Reinstall one of the expansion cards that you removed previously, and repeat steps 9 and 10. Did any of the diagnostics tests fail?

Yes. The expansion card you just reinstalled is faulty and needs to be replaced. No.Repeatsteps11and12withanotherexpansioncard.Proceedtostep13.

13. If you have replaced all the expansion cards and the problem is not resolved, contact Dell for technical assistance.

Recover From a Program That Is Not Responding

1. Press <Ctrl><Alt><Delete>.

2. The Close Program window appears.

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety Information."

NOTE: If your primary hard drive is connected to a drive controller card and not one of the system board EIDE connectors, leave the

drivecontrollercardinstalledinthecomputer.

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3. Click the program that no longer responds.

4. Click End Task.

Restart a Computer That Is Not Responding

1. Press and hold the power button until the computer turns off.

2. Press the power button to turn on the computer.

Repairing a Wet Computer

Spills, splashes, and excessive humidity can cause damage to the system. If an external device, such as a printer or modem, gets wet, contact the manufacturer of the device for instructions.

Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

2. Let the computer dry for at least 24 hours. Make sure that it is thoroughly dry before you proceed.

3. If you have a small mini-tower chassis, remove the AGP card brace.

4. Remove all expansion cards installed in the computer except a video expansion card.

5. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on. Does the system have power?

Yes. Proceed to step 6. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

6. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

7. Reinstall all expansion cards.

8. If you have a micro tower chassis, replace the AGP card brace.

9. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

10. Run the System Board Devices test group in the Dell Diagnostics. Did any of the diagnostics tests fail?

Yes. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. The problem is resolved.

Repairing a Dropped or Damaged Computer

Fill out the Diagnostic Checklist as you perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

2. Check all the expansion-card connections in the computer, and reseat any loose expansion cards.

3. Make sure that all cables are properly connected and that all components are properly seated in their connectors and sockets.

4. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

5. Run the System Board Devices test group in the Dell Diagnostics.

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety Information."

NOTE: If your primary hard drive is connected to a drive controller card and not one of the system board EIDE connectors, leave the

drivecontrollercardinstalledinthecomputer.

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety Information."

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Did any of the diagnostics tests fail?

Yes. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. The problem is resolved.

Hardware Conflicts

Hardware conflicts occur when the operating system detects multiple devices that are attempting to operate on the same system resources when those resources cannot be shared between the devices.

Symptoms:

l System hangs or locks up, particularly while using a specific device. l Memory parity errors occur on parity-enabled systems. l Noise or other problems from sound cards. l Unintelligible characters printed on the printer. l Mouse pointer hangs and will not move or moves in a stuttering fashion. l Messages stating that the computer is not operating at maximum performance. l Errors and crashes of applications for no apparent reason. l Nothing displays on the video monitor.

To resolve hardware conflicts, remove any newly added hardware and contact the hardware manufacturer. Also see your operating system documentation.

System Memory Problems

During POST, the computer checks the computer's memory, determines the amount of installed memory, and then writes to and reads from the number of available bytes to ensure proper operation.

Basic Checks:

l If an insufficient memory message appears, save and close any open files and exit any open application programs not in use. l Consider installing additional system memory. l Run the System Memory test in the Dell Diagnostics. l Reseat the memory modules. l Restart the computer.

If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostic Checklist as you perform the following steps.

1. Reboot the computer. Does the RAM count displayed correctly match the actual amount of memory installed in the computer?

Yes. The computer needed to update the memory count. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 2.

2. Run the System Memory test group in the Dell Diagnostics. Did any of the diagnostics tests fail?

Yes. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Go to step 3.

3. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

4. Rotate the power supply away from the system board.

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety Information."

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5. Replace the memory module(s).

6. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on. Does the RAM count displayed correctly match the actual amount of memory installed in the computer?

Yes. The memory module(s) were defective. The problem is resolved. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

System Board Problems

A system board problem can result from a defective system board component, a faulty power supply, or a defective component connected to the system board. If an error message indicates a system board problem, fill out the Diagnostic Checklist as you perform the following steps.

1. Reboot the system and run the System Board Devices test group in the Dell Diagnostics. Did any of the tests fail?

Yes. Contact Dell for technical assistance. No. Go to step 2.

2. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

3. Make sure the power cables from the power supply are firmly connected to the connectors on the system board.

4. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on. Is the computer working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 5.

5. Perform the procedure in "Expansion Card Problems." Is the computer working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 6.

6. Perform the procedure in "Keyboard Problems." Is the computer working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Go to step 7.

7. Perform the procedure in "Resetting a Damaged System Board." Is the computer working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Resetting a Damaged System Board

If the system cannot boot and you have exhausted all other troubleshooting options, perform the following steps.

1. Turn off the computer and peripherals, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait at least 5 seconds, and then open the computer cover.

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety Information."

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2. If you have a micro tower chassis, remove the AGP card brace.

3. Install a jumper plug on the RTCRST jumper pins and then remove it.

4. Replace the AGP card brace.

5. Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on. Is the computer working properly?

Yes. The problem is resolved. No. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Dell Diagnostics

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

If you experience a problem with your computer, run the Dell Diagnostics before you call Dell for technical assistance. The Dell Diagnostics tests check your computer's hardware without additional equipment and without the risk of destroying data. When the diagnostics tests complete without indicating any problems, you can have confidence in your computer's operation. If the tests indicate a problem you cannot solve by yourself, the test results provide important information you will need when talking to Dell's service and support personnel.

NOTICE: Only use the Dell Diagnostics to test your Dell computer. Using this program with other computers may cause incorrect computer responses or result in error messages.

Features

The diagnostic test groups features allow you to take the following actions:

l Perform quick checks or extensive tests on one or all devices l Choose the number of times a test group or subtest is repeated l Display or print test results or save them in a file l Suspend testing if an error is detected or terminate testing when an adjustable error limit is reached l Access online Help screens that describe the tests and tell how to run them l Read status messages that inform you whether test groups or subtests completed successfully l Receive error messages that appear if problems are detected

Before You Start Testing

l Read "Safety Information." l Turn on your printer if one is attached, and make sure it is online. l Enter system setup, confirm your computer's system configuration information, and enable all of its components and devices, such as ports.

Running the Dell Diagnostics

1. Shut down and restart the computer.

2. Enter system setup.

3. Change the Boot Sequence to use the CD drive as the first device in the boot sequence.

4. Insert the Dell OptiPlex ResourceCD into the CD drive.

5. Press <Alt> to exit system setup and save your changes. The computer reboots and the Dell logo screen appears followed by a list of the available languages.

NOTE: Dell recommends that you print these procedures before you begin. For additional information, refer to the Dell OptiPlex User's

Guide,locatedontheDellOptiPlexResourceCD.

NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it after running the Dell Diagnostics.

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6. Select Start computer to run Dell Diagnostics.

7. Select the number for the language that you want.

8. A numbered list displays the following options:

l Option 1 – Dell Diagnostics — Loads the Dell Diagnostics that run computer tests l Option 2 – Exit — Exits the main menu and returns to an MS-DOS prompt.

9. Select Option 1 — Dell Diagnostics. After the diagnostics initialize, the Dell Diagnostics main menu appears: Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

l Test All Devices: Performs quick or extensive tests on all devices. l Test One Device: Performs quick or extensive tests on a single device after you select it from a list of device groups. After you

select Test One Device, press <F1> for more information about a test.

l Advanced Testing: Allows you to modify the parameters of a test, select a group of tests to perform, and access additional

information about Advanced Testing.

l Information and Results: Provides test results, test errors, version numbers of subtests, and additional information on the Dell

Diagnostics.

l Program Options: Allows you to change the settings of the Dell Diagnostics. l Exit to MS-DOS: Exits to the MS-DOS prompt.

10. Select the type of tests to perform:

l To perform a quick check of your computer or a specific device, select Quick Tests from the Test All Devices or Test One

Device option. Quick Tests runs only the tests that run fast and do not require user interaction. Dell recommends that you choose Quick

Tests first to increase the odds of tracing the source of the problem quickly.

l For a thorough check of your computer or to check a particular area of your computer, select Extended Tests from the Test All

Devices or Test One Device option.

l To customize your test(s), select the Advanced Testing option.

11. Remove the ResourceCD from the CD drive when you have finished running the Dell Diagnostics.

12. Enter system setup and change the Boot Sequence to your original configuration.

Advanced Testing

When you select Advanced Testing from the Diagnostics Menu, the following screen appears:

NOTE: If you are starting the ResourceCD for the first time on this computer, the ResourceCD Installation window opens to inform you that the ResourceCD is about to begin installation. Click OK to continue. To complete the installation, respond to the prompts offered by the installation program. If the Welcome Dell System Owner screen opens, click Next to continue.

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Information in the Advanced Testing screen is presented as follows:

l Device Groups — lists the diagnostic test groups in the order they will run if you select All from the Run tests menu option.

To select a test device group, press the up- or down-arrow key to highlight the group.

l Devices for Highlighted Group — lists the computer's current hardware. l Device groups menu bar — contains the options Run tests, Devices, Select, Config, and Help.

To select a menu option, press the left- or right-arrow key to highlight the option and press <Enter>, or press the key that corresponds to the highlighted letter in the category title.

Advanced Testing Help Menu The Help options and a description of their functions are presented in the following table.

Messages and Codes

Your application programs, operating system, and the computer itself are capable of identifying problems and alerting you to them. When a problem occurs, a message may appear on your monitor screen or a beep code may sound. See "System Messages" or "System Beep Codes" for information about each message or beep code.

System Messages

If you receive a system message, see the table below for suggestions on resolving any problems indicated by the message. The system messages are listed alphabetically.

NOTE: The groups and devices listed in your screen can vary somewhat based on the components installed in your computer.

NOTE: The diagnostics may not list in the Device Groups area the names of all components or devices that are part of your computer system. For example, it may not list a printer even though it is connected to your computer. However, the parallel port to which the printer is connected appears in the Device Groups list. You can test your printer connection in the Parallel Ports tests.

NOTE: The options displayed on your screen should reflect the hardware configuration of your computer.

Help Option

Description

Describes the Advanced Testing screen, the Device Groups, and the diagnostic menus and commands and gives instructions on how to use them

Keys

Explains the functions of all keystrokes that can be used in the Dell Diagnostics

Device Group

Describes the highlighted group in the Device Groups list on the main menu and provides reasons for using certain tests

Device

Describes the highlighted device in the Device Groups list on the Advanced Testing screen

Test

Describes the test procedure for each highlighted test group subtest

Versions

Lists the version numbers of the subtests

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Table 1. System Messages

NOTE: If the system message you received is not listed in the table, check the documentation for the application program that you were running at the time the message appeared and/or the operating system documentation for an explanation of the message and a recommended action.

Message

Cause

Action

Address mark not found

The basic input/output system (BIOS) found a faulty disk sector or could not find a particular disk sector.

See "Drive Problems."

Alert! Previous attempts at booting this system have failed at checkpoint [nnnn].

For help in resolving this problem, please

note this checkpoint and contact Dell Technical Support.

The system has failed to complete the boot routine three consecutive times for the same error.

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance, and report the checkpoint code (nnnn) to the support technician.

Attachment failed to respond

The diskette drive or hard drive controller cannot send data to the associated drive.

See "Drive Problems."

Bad command or file name

The command for file name you entered does not exist or is not in the pathname you specified.

Make sure you have spelled the command correctly, placed spaces in the proper location, and used the correct pathname.

Bad error-correction code (ECC) on disk read

The diskette drive or hard drive controller detected an uncorrectable read error.

See "Drive Problems."

Controller has failed

The hard drive or the associated controller is defective.

See "Drive Problems."

Data error

The diskette or hard drive cannot read the data.

Run the chkdsk utility in the Microsoft Windows operating system to check the file structure of the diskette or hard drive. See your operating system documentation for more information.

If you are using another operating system, run the appropriate utility to check the file structure of the diskette or hard drive. See your operating system documentation.

Decreasing available memory

One or more dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) may be faulty or improperly seated.

See "System Memory Problems."

Diskette drive 0 seek failure

Diskette drive 1 seek failure

A cable may be loose, or the system configuration information may not match the hardware configuration.

See "Drive Problems."

Diskette read failure

A cable may be loose, or the diskette may be faulty.

See "Drive Problems."

Diskette subsystem reset failed

The diskette drive controller may be faulty.

Run the Diskette tests in the Dell

Diagnostics.

Drive not ready

No diskette is in the drive. The operation requires a diskette in the drive before it can continue.

Put a diskette in the drive or close the drive latch.

Diskette write protected

The diskette write-protect feature is activated.

Remove the diskette from drive A, and move the write-protect tab to the unlocked position.

Gate A20 failure

One or more DIMMs may be loose.

See "System Memory Problems."

General failure

The operating system is unable to carry out the command.

This message is usually followed by specific information—for example, PRINTER OUT OF PAPER. Respond by taking the appropriate action.

Hard disk configuration error

The hard drive failed initialization.

See "Drive Problems."

Hard disk controller failure

Hard disk failure

Hard-disk drive read failure

The hard drive failed initialization.

See "Drive Problems."

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Invalid configuration information -

please

run SETUP program

The system configuration information does not match the hardware configuration.

Enter system setup and correct the system configuration information.

Keyboard clock line failure

Keyboard controller failure

Keyboard data line failure

Keyboard failure

Keyboard stuck key failure

A cable or connector may be loose, or the keyboard or keyboard/mouse controller may be faulty.

See "Keyboard Problems."

Memory address line failure at address, read value expecting value

One or more DIMMs may be faulty or improperly seated.

See "System Memory Problems."

Memory allocation error

The software you are attempting to run is conflicting with the operating system or another application program or utility.

Turn off the computer, wait 30 seconds, and then turn it on. Try to run the program again. If the problem persists, contact the software company.

Memory data line failure at address, read value expecting value

Memory double word logic failure at address, read value expecting value

Memory odd/even logic failure at address, read value expecting value

Memory write/read failure at address

, read

value expecting value

One or more DIMMs may be faulty or improperly seated.

See "System Memory Problems."

Memory size in CMOS invalid

The amount of memory recorded in the system configuration information does not match the memory installed in the computer.

Reboot the computer. If the error appears again, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Memory tests terminated by keystroke

The memory test was not completed.

Rerun the memory test.

No boot device available

The computer cannot find the diskette or hard drive.

Enter system setup, check the system configuration information for the diskette and hard drive, and, if necessary, correct the information.

No boot sector on hard-disk drive

The system configuration information in system setup may be incorrect, or the operating system may be corrupted.

Enter system setup, check the system configuration information for the hard drive, and if necessary, correct the information.

If the problem persists, reinstall your operating system. See the documentation that came with your operating system.

No timer tick interrupt

A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning.

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics.

Non-system disk or disk error

The diskette in drive A or your hard drive does not have a bootable operating system installed on it.

A nonbootable diskette is in drive A. Either replace the diskette with one that has a bootable operating system, or remove the diskette from drive A and restart the computer.

Not a boot diskette

There is no operating system on the diskette.

Boot the computer with a diskette that contains an operating system.

Plug and Play Configuration Error

The system has encountered a problem in trying to configure one or more expansion cards.

Turn your system off and unplug it. Remove all but one of the cards. Plug in your system and reboot it. If the problem persists, the expansion card may be malfunctioning. If the message does not reappear, turn off the power and reinsert one of the other cards. Repeat this process until you identify the malfunctioning card.

Read fault

Requested sector not found

The operating system cannot read from the diskette or hard drive.

The system could not find a particular

See "Drive Problems."

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System Beep Codes

When errors occur during a boot routine that cannot be reported on the monitor, your computer may emit a series of beeps that identify the problem. The beep code is a pattern of sounds: for example, one beep, followed by a second beep, and then a burst of three beeps (code 1-1-3) means that the computer was unable to read the data in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM). This information is invaluable to the Dell support staff if you need to call for technical assistance.

When a beep code is emitted, write it down on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist found in "Getting Help," and then look it up in Table 2. If you are unable to resolve the problem by looking up the meaning of the beep code, use the Dell Diagnostics to identify a more serious cause. If you are still unable to resolve the problem, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Table 2. System Beep Codes

sector on the disk, or the requested sector is defective.

Reset failed

The disk reset operation failed.

See "Drive Problems."

Sector not found

The operating system is unable to locate a sector on the diskette or hard drive.

See "Drive Problems."

Seek error

The operating system is unable to find a specific track on the diskette or hard drive.

If the error is on the diskette drive, try another diskette in the drive.

Shutdown failure

A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning.

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics.

Time-of-day clock stopped

The battery may be dead.

Enter system setup and correct the date or time.

If the problem persists, see "Battery

Problems."

Time-of-day not set

The time or date displayed in the system configuration information does not match the system clock.

Enter system setup and correct the date or time.

Timer chip counter 2 failed

A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning.

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics.

Unexpected interrupt in protected mode

The keyboard controller may be malfunctioning, or one or more DIMMs may be loose.

Run the System Memory and the Keyboard tests in the Dell Diagnostics.

WARNING: Dell's Disk Monitoring System has detected that drive [0/1] on the [primary/secondary] EIDE controller is operating outside of normal specifications. It is advisable to

immediately back up your data and replace

your hard-disk drive by calling your support desk or Dell.

Power-on self-test (POST) has queried the enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) drive for status information. The drive has returned a parameter from the call that indicates it has detected possible error conditions for its operating specifications.

Once your computer finishes booting, immediately back up your data and replace your hard drive. Restore the data to the replaced drive.

If a replacement drive is not immediately available and the drive is not the only bootable drive, enter system setup and change the appropriate drive setting to None. Remove the drive from the system. This should be done only after you have backed up the data.

Write fault

Write fault on selected drive

The operating system cannot write to the diskette or hard drive.

See "Drive Problems."

Code

Cause

Action

1-1-2

Microprocessor register failure

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

1-1-3

NVRAM

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.

1-1-4

ROM BIOS checksum failure

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.

1-2-1

Programmable interval timer

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.

1-2-2

Direct memory access (DMA) initialization failure

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible. 1-2-3

DMA page register read/write failure

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.

1-3

Video Memory Test failure

Run the VESA/VGA Interface tests in the Dell Diagnostics.

1-3-1 through 2-4-4

DIMMs not being properly identified or used

See "System Memory Problems."

Page 86

Warning Messages

A warning message alerts you to a possible problem and asks you to do something before execution continues. For example, before you format a diskette, a message may warn you that you may lose all data on the diskette as a way to protect against inadvertently erasing or writing over the data. These warning messages usually interrupt the procedure and require you to respond by typing y (yes) or n (no).

Diagnostics Messages

When you run a test group or subtest in the Dell Diagnostics, an error message may result. These particular error messages are not covered in this section. Record the message on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist found in "Getting Help." Also see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Diagnostic LEDs

Should your system fail to operate, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the front panel and back panel of the chassis provide diagnostic codes that can help you troubleshoot a system problem. The following sections describe the meaning of the diagnostic codes.

Front Panel LED

Table 3 lists the codes for the front panel diagnostic LED, gives their probable causes, and offers suggested corrective actions.

Table 3. Power Switch Diagnostic LED Codes

3-1-1

Slave DMA register failure

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.

3-1-2

Master DMA register failure

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.

3-1-3

Master interrupt mask register failure

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

3-1-4

Slave interrupt mask register failure

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

3-2-2

Interrupt vector loading failure

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

3-2-4

Keyboard Controller Test failure

Run the Keyboard tests in the Dell Diagnostics. Otherwise, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

3-3-1

NVRAM power loss

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.

3-3-2

NVRAM configuration

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.

3-3-4

Video Memory Test failure

Run the VESA/VGA Interface tests in the Dell Diagnostics.

3-4-1

Screen initialization failure

Run the VESA/VGA Interface tests in the Dell Diagnostics.

3-4-2

Screen retrace failure

Run the VESA/VGA Interface tests in the Dell Diagnostics.

3-4-3

Search for video ROM failure

Run the VESA/VGA Interface tests in the Dell Diagnostics.

4-2-1

No time tick

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

4-2-2

Shutdown failure

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

4-2-3

Gate A20 failure

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

4-2-4

Unexpected interrupt in protected mode

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

4-3-1

Memory failure above address 0FFFFh

Run the System Memory tests in the Dell Diagnostics. 4-3-3

Timer-chip counter 2 failure

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

4-3-4

Time-of-day clock stopped

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

4-4-1

Serial or parallel port test failure

Run the Serial Ports and the Parallel Ports tests in the Dell Diagnostics.

4-4-2

Failure to decompress code to shadowed memory

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible. 4-4-3

Math-coprocessor test failure

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.

4-4-4

Cache test failure

Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.

NOTE: Warning messages are generated by either your application programs or your operating system. See "Software Problems" and the documentation that accompanied your operating system and application programs.

CAUTION: Before servicing any components inside your computer, see "Safety Information."

Power LED Code

Cause

Action

Page 87



Back Panel LEDs

When you turn on your system, it performs a power-on self-test (POST), which is a series of self-diagnostic checks. A successful POST ends with a single beep that signifies the start of normal operation. If the system fails to emit the single beep or appears to stop responding during POST, a series of LEDs located at the rear of the computer can help you understand which POST test failed or why the system stopped responding. These LEDs indicate problems encountered during POST only, not during normal operation.

The LED patterns described in Table 4 can help you determine what to do to resolve the problem. If a problem resolution requires you to open the computer chassis, refer to "Finding Solutions"forproceduresyouneedtocompletepriortoperformingthesuggestedresolution.Iftheproblem persists after you perform the suggested problem resolution(s), contact Dell Technical Assistance for further help.

Table 4 lists the codes for the back panel diagnostic LEDs, gives their probable causes, and offers suggested corrective actions. The LED patterns are shown as they appear on the back of the desktop chassis (vertical position).

Table 4. Back Panel Diagnostic LED Codes

Blinking yellow

The system power supply may have failed.

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Solid yellow

A device on the system board may be faulty or is incorrectly installed.

Be sure that each microprocessor is properly seated, remove all expansion cards, and then reboot. If the system does not boot, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Solid green and a beep code during POST

A problem was detected while the BIOS was executing.

See Table 2 for instructions on diagnosing the beep code.

Solid green power indicator with no beep code and no video during POST

The monitor or the graphics card may be faulty.

See "Video and Monitor Problems ." If the monitor is operating properly and is correctly connected, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Solid green power indicator and no beep

code but the system locks up during POST

An integrated system board device may be faulty.

See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

CAUTION: Before servicing any components inside your computer, see "Safety Information."

LED

pattern



Problem Description

Suggested Resolution

off off off off

Normal off condition or possible preBIOS failure

Verify that the system is plugged into a working outlet and that you have pressed the power button.

green yellow yellow yellow

Possible BIOS failure; the system is in the recovery mode

Run the BIOS Recovery Utility, wait for recovery

completion,andrestartthesystemtoretest.

yellow green yellow yellow

Possible processor failure

Reseat the processor(s) and the terminator card (if present), and restart the system to retest.

green green yellow yellow

Possible memory failure

Reseat all DIMMs and restart the system to retest.

yellow yellow green yellow

Possible expansion card failure

Remove each expansion card individually, and restart the system to retest.

Reinstall the expansion card(s) one at a time, and restart the system to retest.

Move each expansion card one at a time to another PCI slot, and restart the system to retest.

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Software Problems

This section provides general guidelines for analyzing software problems. For detailed troubleshooting information on a particular program, see the documentation that accompanied the software or consult the support service for the software.

If your system is behaving erratically, back up your files immediately, then see your operating system documentation for information on backing up data files.

Basic Checks:

l Ensure that the application program is compatible with the operating system installed in your computer and that your computer meets the

minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software.

l Ensure that you properly installed and configured the application program. Reinstall the program if necessary. l Consult the software documentation or contact the software manufacturer for detailed troubleshooting information on a particular application

program.

l Ensure that you have not made an error while entering data. l Make sure that problems are not caused by a virus — Use a virus-scanning application program to check the diskettes or CDs. l Verify that the program’s device drivers do not conflict with certain application programs. l Confirm that a problem is software-related by running the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. If all tests run successfully, the

error condition may be related to a software problem.

l Ensure that the use of terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs has not resulted in a memory conflict. l Remove or confirm the possibility of a program conflict by rebooting your computer system. l Make sure that a hardware conflict does not exist between devices.

Operating System Compatibility

Make sure the computer's operating environment is set up to accommodate the application programs you use. Whenever you change the operating environment parameters, you may also affect the successful operation of the application programs. Sometimes, after modifying the operating environment, you may need to reinstall a program that no longer runs properly.

Input Errors

If a specific key or set of keys is pressed at the wrong time, a program may give you unexpected results. See the documentation that came with your application program to make sure the values or characters you are entering are valid.

Error Messages

Error messages can be produced by an application program, the operating system, or the computer. "Messages and Codes" discusses the error messages that are generated by the system. If you receive an error message that is not listed in "Messages and Codes," check your operating system or application program documentation.

green yellow green yellow

Possible video card failure or bad onboard video

If you have a video card, reseat it and restart the system to retest. If you have video integrated, you must replace the system board.

yellow green green yellow

Possible diskette or hard drive failure

Reseat all power and data cables, and restart the system to retest.

green green green yellow

Possible USB failure

Reseat all USB devices and cables, and restart the system to retest.

yellow green green green

Other failure

Contact Dell for technical assistance.

green green green green

Normal operating condition after POST

None.

Page 89

Device Drivers

Programs that use specialized subroutines called device drivers can also cause problems with your system. For example, a variation in the way the data is sent to the monitor may require a special screen driver program that expects a certain kind of video mode or monitor. In such cases, you may have to develop an alternative method of running that particular program—the creation of a boot file made especially for that program, for example. Call the support service for the software you are using to help you with this problem.

Memory-Resident Programs

Many utilities and supplementary programs load either when the computer boots or from an operating system prompt. These programs are designed to stay resident in system memory and thus always be available for use. Because they remain in the computer's memory, memory conflicts and errors can result when other programs require use of all or part of the memory already occupied by these TSR programs.

Typically, your operating system's start-up files (such as config.sys and autoexec.bat) contain commands to start TSR programs when you boot your system. If you suspect that one of these TSR programs is causing a memory conflict, remove the commands that start them from the start-up files. If the problem you were experiencing does not recur, one of the TSR programs probably created the conflict. Add the TSR commands back into the start-up files one at a time until you identify which TSR program is creating the conflict.

Program Conflicts

Some programs may leave portions of their setup information behind, even though you have exited from them. As a result, other programs cannot run. Rebooting your system can confirm whether or not these programs are the cause of the problem.

Memory Address Conflicts

Memory address conflicts occur when two or more devices try to access the same address in the upper memory blocks (UMB). For example, if a network expansion card and an expanded-memory page frame are assigned an overlapping block of addresses, a memory address conflict arises. As a result, when you try to log in to the network, the operation fails.

To resolve this type of conflict, you can change the address of one of the devices. For example, in the case of the network expansion card and expanded-memory page frame address conflict, you can move the network card to an address block in the range of CC000h through D0000h. To reassign the expansion card's address block, refer to the documentation for the card.

Interrupt Assignment Conflicts

Problems can arise if two devices attempt to use the same interrupt request (IRQ) line. To avoid this type of conflict, check the documentation for the default IRQ-line setting for each installed expansion card. Then consult the following table to configure the card for one of the available IRQ lines.

Table 5. Default IRQ Line Assignments

BIOS Recovery Utility

NOTE: Table 1 lists default IRQ settings. In systems with Plug and Play capabilities, you can modify the default settings. If you install a Plug and Play card in a Plug and Play system, the system automatically selects an open IRQ line if any are available.

IRQ Line

Used/Available

IRQ0

Used by the system timer

IRQ1

Used by the keyboard to signal that the output buffer is full

IRQ2

Used by interrupt controller 1 to enable IRQ8 through IRQ15

IRQ3

Used by serial port 2

IRQ4

Used by serial port 1

IRQ5

Available

IRQ6

Used by the diskette controller

IRQ7

Used by the parallel port

IRQ8

Used by the real-time clock (RTC)

IRQ9

Used by the video graphics array (VGA) interface (optional)

IRQ10

Available

IRQ11

Available

IRQ12

Used by the mouse port

IRQ13

Used by the math coprocessor (if applicable)

IRQ14

Used by the primary integrated drive electronics (IDE) controller

IRQ15

Used by the secondary IDE controller

Page 90

If your system loses power and beeps constantly but does not boot when power is restored, the basic input/output system (BIOS) is probably corrupted. To restore the BIOS, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect the system from its power source.

2. Go to another working system, and download the BIOS flash executable utility for the system from the File Library located on Dell's support.dell.com website.

3. On the working system, go to an MS-DOS prompt and type the command xxxxx -writehdrfile (where xxxxx is the name of the BIOS flash executable utility you downloaded).

Running this utility generates a file with an .hdr extension.

4. Copy the .hdr file to a diskette.

5. Insert the diskette into the diskette drive of the corrupted system and turn it on. The system automatically flashes the BIOS from the diskette.

6. When the system begins to restart and the Dell logo screen appears, remove the diskette from the diskette drive so that the system does not boot from the diskette again.

Back to Contents Page

Page 91

Back to Contents Page

Regulatory Notices: Dell OptiPlex GX150 System User's Guide

Overview

Ifnecessary,consultaDellTechnicalSupportrepresentativeoranexperiencedradio/televisiontechnicianforadditionalsuggestions. Dell computer systems are designed, tested, and classified for their intended electromagnetic environment. These electromagnetic environment

classifications generally refer to the following harmonized definitions:

l Class A is typically for business or industrial environments. l Class B is typically for residential environments.

Most Dell computer systems are classified for Class B environments. However, the inclusion of certain options can change the rating of some configurations to Class A. To determine the electromagnetic classification for your system or device, refer to the following sections specific for each regulatory agency. Each section provides country-specific EMC/EMI or product safety information.

FCC Notices (U.S. Only)

Most Dell computer systems are classified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as Class B digital devices. To determine which classification applies to your computer system, examine all FCC registration labels located on the bottom or back panel of your computer, on cardmounting brackets, and on the cards themselves. If any one of the labels carries a Class A rating, your entire system is considered to be a Class A digital device. If all labels carry an FCC Class B rating as distinguished by either an FCC ID number or the FCC logo ( ), your system is considered to be a Class B digital device.

Overview

EN 55022 Compliance (Czech Republic Only)

FCC Notices (U.S. Only)

VCCI Notice (Japan Only)

IC Notice (Canada Only)

MIC Notice (Republic of Korea Only)

CE Notice (European Union)

Polish Center for Testing and Certification Notice

Battery Disposal

Wymagania Polskiego Centrum Badan i Certyfikacji

ENERGY STAR Compliance

Pozostale instrukcje bezpieczenstwa

ENERGY STAR Emblem

NOM Information (Mexico Only)

#ccib_notice_(china_only)

BSMI Notice (Taiwan Only)

Page 92

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

l This device may not cause harmful interference. l This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Class A

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction manual, may cause harmful interference with radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference, in which case you will be required to correct the interference at your own expense.

Class B

The following information is provided on the device or devices covered in this document in compliance with FCC regulations:

l Model number: DHS, DHP, and DHM l Company name:

Dell Computer Corporation One Dell Way Round Rock, Texas 78682 USA (512) 338-4400

IC Notice (Canada Only)

CE Notice (European Union)

current up to and including 16 A per phase)."

l EN 61000-3-3 — "Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part3:Limits- Section3:Limitationofvoltagefluctuationsandflickerinlow-

voltage supply systems for equipment with rated current up to and including 16 A."

This Class B (or Class A, if so indicated on the registration label) digital apparatus meets the requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

CetappareilnumériquedelaClasseB(ouClasseA,siainsiindiquésurl'étiquetted'enregistration)respectetouteslesexigencesduReglement

sur le Materiel Brouilleur du Canada.

Page 93

l EN 60950 — "Safety of Information Technology Equipment."

l Class A is for typical commercial areas. l Class B is for typical domestic areas.

Corporation Products Europe BV, Limerick, Ireland.

Battery Disposal

Do not dispose of the battery along with household waste. Contact your local waste disposal agency for the address of the nearest battery deposit site.

ENERGY STAR® Compliance

CertainconfigurationsofDell™computerscomplywiththerequirementssetforthbytheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)forenergyefficient computers. If the front panel of your computer bears the ENERGY STAR® Emblem, your original configuration complies with these requirements and all ENERGY STAR® power management features of the computer are enabled.

ENERGY STAR Emblem

The EPA's ENERGY STAR Computers program is a joint effort between the EPA and computer manufacturers to reduce air pollution by promoting energy-efficient computer products. The EPA estimates that use of ENERGY STAR computer products can save computer users up to two billion dollars annually in electricity costs. In turn, this reduction in electricity usage can reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the gas primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect, and sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, the primary causes of acid rain.

You can also help reduce electricity usage and its side effects by turning off your computer when it is not in use for extended periods of time, particularly at night and on weekends.



CCIB Notice (China Only)

On Class A systems, the following warning will appear near the regulatory label:

WARNING: This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interference, in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.

EN 55022 Compliance (Czech Republic Only)

This device belongs to Class B devices as described in EN 55022, unless it is specifically stated that it is a Class A device on the specification

NOTE: EN 55022 emissions requirements provide for two classifications:

NOTE: Any Dell computer bearing the ENERGY STAR Emblem is certified to comply with EPA ENERGY STAR requirements as configured when shipped by Dell. Any changes you make to this configuration (such as installing additional expansion cards or drives) may increase the computer’s power consumption beyond the limits set by the EPA's ENERGY STAR Computers program.

Page 94

steps necessary to remove sources of interference to telecommunication or other devices.

VCCI Notice (Japan Only)

Class A ITE

 This is a Class A product based on the standard of the Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) for information technology equipment. If

this equipment is used in a domestic environment, radio disturbance may arise. When such trouble occurs, the user may be required to take corrective actions.

Figure 1. VCCI Class A ITE Regulatory Mark

Class B ITE

 This is a Class B product based on the standard of the Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) for information technology equipment. If

this equipment is used near a radio or television receiver in a domestic environment, it may cause radio interference. Install and use the equipment according to the instruction manual.

Figure 2. VCCI Class B ITE Regulatory Mark

MIC Notice (Republic of Korea Only)

l Class A devices are for business purposes. l Class B devices are for nonbusiness purposes.

NOTE: MIC emissions requirements provide for two classifications:

Page 95

Class A Device

MIC Class A Regulatory Label

Class B Device

Please note that this device has been approved for nonbusiness purposes and may be used in any environment, including residential areas.

MIC Class B Regulatory Label

Polish Center for Testing and Certification Notice

The phasing conductor of the room's electrical installation should have a reserve short-circuit protection device in the form of a fuse with a nominal value no larger than 16 amperes (A).

To completely switch off the equipment, the power supply cable must be removed from the power supply socket, which should be located near the equipment and easily accessible.

A protection mark "B" confirms that the equipment is in compliance with the protection usage requirements of standards PN-93/T-42107 and PNEN 55022: 1996.



Page 96

NOM Information (Mexico Only)

The following information is provided on the device(s) described in this document in compliance with the requirements of the official Mexican standards (NOM):

BSMI Notice (Taiwan Only)

Exporter:

Dell One Dell Way Round Rock, TX 78682

Importer:

DellComputerdeMéxico, S.A.deC.V.

Paseo de la Reforma 2620 - 11°Piso Col. Lomas Altas

11950México,D.F.

Ship to:

DellComputerdeMéxico, S.A.deC.V.alCuidado deKuehne&Nagelde MéxicoS.deR.I.

Avenida Soles No. 55

Col.PeñondelosBaños15520 México,D.F.

Supply voltage:

115/230 VAC

Frequency:

60/50 Hz

Input current rating:

DHS — 2.0/1.0 A

DHP — 1.5/0.75 A

DHM — 3.0/1.5 A

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Page 98

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SafetyInformation:Dell™Optiplex™GX150SystemUser'sGuide

Overview

Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to ensure your own personal safety. These safety guidelines are also available in the Setup and Quick Reference Guide that came with your computer.

When Using Your Computer

As you use your computer, observe the following safe-handling guidelines.

l To help avoid damaging your computer, be sure the voltage selection switch on the power supply is set to match the AC power available at

your location.



¡ 115 volts (V)/60 hertz (Hz) in most of North and South America and some Far Eastern countries such as South Korea and Taiwan ¡ 100 V/50 Hz in eastern Japan and 100 V/60 Hz in western Japan



¡ 230 V/50 Hz in most of Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East

Also be sure your monitor and attached devices are electrically rated to operate with the AC power available in your location.

l Before working inside the computer, unplug the computer to help prevent electric shock or system board damage. Certain system board

components continue to receive power any time the computer is connected to AC power.

l To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off the computer before disconnecting a device from the

computer.

l To help prevent electric shock, plug the computer and device power cables into properly grounded power sources. These cables are

equipped with three-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a cable. If you must use an extension cable, use a three-wire cable with properly grounded plugs.

l To help protect your computer from sudden, transient increases and decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner,

or uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

l Be sure nothing rests on your computer’s cables and that the cables are not located where they can be stepped on or tripped over. l Do not spill food or liquids on your computer. If the computer gets wet, consult your User's Guide. l Do not push any objects into the openings of your computer. Doing so can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components. l Keep your computer away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling vents. Avoid placing loose papers underneath your

computer; do not place your computer in a closed-in wall unit or on a bed, sofa, or rug.

Ergonomic Computing Habits

Overview

When Working With Your Computer

When Using Your Computer

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

Ergonomic Computing Habits

CAUTION: Do not operate your computer with any cover(s) (including computer covers, bezels, filler brackets, front-panel inserts, and so on) removed.

NOTE: Auto-select power supplies do not require a voltage selection switch. Your power supply may not have this switch.

NOTE: The voltage selection switch must be set to the 115-V position even though the AC supply in Japan is 100 V.

CAUTION: Improper or prolonged keyboard use may result in injury.

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For comfort and efficiency, observe the following ergonomic guidelines when setting up and using your computer:

l Position your computer so that the monitor and keyboard are directly in front of you as you work. Special shelves are available (from Dell and

other sources) to help you correctly position your keyboard.

l Set the monitor at a comfortable viewing distance (usually 510 to 610 millimeters [20 to 24 inches] from your eyes). l Make sure the monitor screen is at eye level or slightly lower when you are sitting in front of the monitor. l Adjust the tilt of the monitor, its contrast and brightness settings, and the lighting around you (such as overhead lights, desk lamps, and the

curtains or blinds on nearby windows) to minimize reflections and glare on the monitor screen.

l Use a chair that provides good lower back support. l Keep your forearms horizontal with your wrists in a neutral, comfortable position while using the keyboard or mouse. l Always leave space to rest your hands while using the keyboard or mouse. l Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides. l Sit erect, with your feet resting on the floor and your thighs level. l When sitting, make sure the weight of your legs is on your feet and not on the front of your chair seat. Adjust your chair's height or use a

footrest, if necessary, to maintain proper posture.

l Vary your work activities. Try to organize your work so that you do not have to type for extended periods of time. When you stop typing, try to

do things that use both hands.

When Working With Your Computer

Before you remove the computer cover, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated.

NOTICE: To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off the computer before removing a component from the system board or disconnecting a device from the computer.

CAUTION: Viewing the monitor screen for extended periods of time may result in eye strain.

Monitor screen at or below eye level

Wrists relaxed and flat

Arms at desk level

Feet flat on the floor

Monitor and keyboard positioned directly in front of user

CAUTION: Do not attempt to service the computer yourself, except as explained in this guide and elsewhere in Dell documentation. Always follow installation and service instructions closely.

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1. Perform an orderly computer shutdown using the operating system menu.

2. Turnoffyourcomputerandanydevices.

3. Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the chassis, such as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer, before touching anything inside your computer.

While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

4. Disconnect your computer and devices from their power sources. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or shock.

In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:

l 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 disconnecting the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, make sure both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.

l 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 microprocessor chip by its edges, not by its pins.

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

Static electricity can harm delicate components inside your computer. To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer's electronic components, such as the microprocessor. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

As you continue to work inside the computer, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to remove any static charge your body may have accumulated.

You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD):

l When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not remove the component from the antistatic packing material

until you are ready to install the component in your computer. Just before unwrapping the antistatic packaging, be sure to discharge static electricity from your body.

l When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic container or packaging. l Handle all sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use antistatic floor pads and workbench pads.

The following notice may appear throughout this document to remind you of these precautions:

NOTICE: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge."

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Dell OptiPlex GX150 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual