Dell™ Dimension™ E521
Owner’s Manual
Service Tag
CD or DVD eject button
CD or DVD activity light
FlexBay for optional floppy drive or Media Card Reader
cover latch release
microphone connector
headphone connector |
diagnostic lights
hard-drive activity light
power button/ power activity light
USB 2.0 connectors (2)
Model DCSM
w w w . d e l l . c o m | s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m
Notes, Notices, and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the "Glossary" on page 145.
If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft® Windows® operating systems are not applicable.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 2006–2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude, PowerEdge, PowerVault, PowerApp, DellNet, Dell TravelLite, Strike Zone, and PowerConnect are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license; Microsoft, Windows, and Outlook are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. ENERGY STAR is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Model DCSM
July 2007 |
P/N PY349 |
Rev. A03 |
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
11 |
Front View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
11 |
Back View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
13 |
Back Panel Connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
14 |
Setting Up a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
15 |
Printer Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
15 |
Connecting a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
15 |
Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
16 |
Setting Up Your Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
17 |
Playing CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
18 |
Adjusting the Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
19 |
Adjusting the Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
19 |
Copying CDs and DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
20 |
How to Copy a CD or DVD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
20 |
Using Blank CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
20 |
Helpful Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
21 |
Using a Media Card Reader (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
22 |
Connecting Two Monitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
23 |
Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
23 |
Connecting One Monitor With a VGA Connector and |
|
One Monitor With a DVI Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
24 |
Connecting a TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
24 |
Changing the Display Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
25 |
Setting Up a Home and Office Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
25 |
Connecting to a Network Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
25 |
Network Setup Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
26 |
Contents 3
Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
26 |
Standby Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
26 |
Hibernate Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
27 |
Power Options Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
27 |
Enabling Cool ’n’ Quiet™ Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
28 |
About RAID Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
29 |
RAID Level 1 Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
29 |
Configuring Your Hard Drives for RAID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
30 |
Using the Nvidia MediaShield ROM Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
30 |
Using Nvidia MediaShield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
31 |
2 Solving Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
33 |
Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
33 |
Battery Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
33 |
Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
34 |
CD and DVD drive problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
34 |
Hard drive problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
35 |
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
35 |
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
36 |
Keyboard Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
37 |
Lockups and Software Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
38 |
The computer does not start up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
38 |
The computer stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
38 |
A program stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
38 |
A program crashes repeatedly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
39 |
A program is designed for an earlier |
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Microsoft® Windows® operating system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
39 |
A solid blue screen appears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
39 |
Other software problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
39 |
Media Card Reader Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
40 |
Memory Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
41 |
Mouse Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
41 |
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
42 |
4 Contents
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
43 |
Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
44 |
Scanner Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
45 |
Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
46 |
No sound from speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
46 |
No sound from headphones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
47 |
Video and Monitor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
47 |
If the screen is blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
47 |
If the screen is difficult to read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
48 |
3 Troubleshooting Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
49 |
Diagnostic Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
49 |
Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
52 |
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
52 |
Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
53 |
What Is a Driver? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
53 |
Identifying Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
53 |
Reinstalling Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
54 |
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
55 |
Restoring Your Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
55 |
Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
56 |
Using Dell PC Restore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
57 |
Using the Operating System CD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
59 |
4 Removing and Installing Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
61 |
Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
61 |
Recommended Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
61 |
Turning Off Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
61 |
Before Working Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
62 |
Removing the Computer Cover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
63 |
Inside View of Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
64 |
System Board Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
65 |
Contents 5
Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
66 |
Memory Installation Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
66 |
Addressing Memory With 4-GB Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
67 |
Installing Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
68 |
Removing Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
69 |
Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
70 |
PCI Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
70 |
PCI Express Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
76 |
Drive Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
81 |
Removing the Drive Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
81 |
Removing the Drive-Panel Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
83 |
Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
83 |
Replacing the Drive Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
84 |
Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
85 |
Recommended Drive Cable Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
85 |
Connecting Drive Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
86 |
Drive Interface Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
86 |
Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
86 |
Hard Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
87 |
Removing a Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
87 |
Installing a Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
88 |
Adding a Second Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
91 |
Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
92 |
Removing a Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
92 |
Installing a Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
94 |
Media Card Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
96 |
Removing a Media Card Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
96 |
Installing a Media Card Reader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
98 |
CD/DVD Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
100 |
Removing a CD/DVD Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
100 |
Installing a CD/DVD Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
102 |
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
104 |
Replacing the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
104 |
Replacing the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
105 |
6 Contents
A Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
107 |
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
107 |
System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
111 |
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
111 |
Entering System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
111 |
System Setup Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
112 |
Boot Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
116 |
Clearing Forgotten Passwords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
118 |
Clearing CMOS Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
119 |
Cleaning Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
119 |
Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
119 |
Mouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
120 |
Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
120 |
CDs and DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
120 |
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
120 |
Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals . . . . . . . . . |
121 |
Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals. . . . . . . . . . . |
121 |
FCC Notice (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
121 |
FCC Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
121 |
Contacting Dell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
122 |
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
145 |
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
155 |
Contents 7
8 Contents
NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries.
NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.
What Are You Looking For? |
Find it Here |
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• Warranty information |
Dell™ Product Information Guide |
•Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
•Safety instructions
•Regulatory information
•Ergonomics information
•End User License Agreement
• How to set up my computer |
Setup Diagram |
•Service Tag and Express Service Code
•Microsoft Windows License Label
Service Tag and Microsoft® Windows® License
These labels are located on your computer.
•Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support.dell.com or contact support.
•Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support.
Finding Information |
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9 |
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What Are You Looking For? |
Find it Here |
|
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• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles |
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com |
from technicians, and online courses, frequently asked |
NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support site. |
questions |
NOTE: Corporate, government, and education customers |
|
|
• Community — Online discussion with other Dell |
can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website |
customers |
at premier.support.dell.com. |
•Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as memory, the hard drive, and the operating system
•Customer Care — Contact information, service call and order status, warranty, and repair information
•Service and support — Service call status and support history, service contract, online discussions with technical support
•Reference — Computer documentation, details on my computer configuration, product specifications, and white papers
•Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates
• Desktop System Software (DSS)— If you reinstall the |
To download Desktop System Software: |
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operating system for your computer, you should also |
1 |
Go to support.dell.com and click Downloads. |
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reinstall the DSS utility. DSS provides critical updates |
2 |
Enter your Service Tag or product model. |
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for your operating system and support for Dell™ |
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3 |
In the Download Category drop-down menu, click All. |
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3.5-inch USB floppy drives, optical drives, and USB |
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4 |
Select the operating system and operating system |
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devices. DSS is necessary for correct operation of your |
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language for your computer, and click Submit. |
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Dell computer. The software automatically detects your |
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computer and operating system and installs the updates |
5 |
Under Select a Device, scroll to System and |
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appropriate for your configuration. |
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Configuration Utilities, and click Dell Desktop System |
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Software. |
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• How to use Windows XP |
Windows Help and Support Center |
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• How to work with programs and files |
1 |
Click Start→ Help and Support. |
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• How to personalize my desktop |
2 |
Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and |
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click the arrow icon. |
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3 |
Click the topic that describes your problem. |
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4 |
Follow the instructions on the screen. |
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10 Finding Information
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 |
8
9
10
11
12
1 |
cover latch release |
Use this latch to remove the cover. See "Removing the |
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Computer Cover" on page 63. |
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2 |
location of Service Tag |
Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you access |
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the Dell Support website or call technical support. |
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3 |
CD or DVD eject button |
Press to eject a disk from the CD or DVD drive. |
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4 |
CD or DVD activity light |
The drive light is on when the computer reads data from the |
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CD or DVD drive. |
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Setting Up and Using Your Computer |
11 |
5 |
FlexBay drive |
Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card |
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Reader. For information on using the Media Card Reader, see |
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"Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)" on page 22. |
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6 |
microphone connector |
Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer |
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microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or |
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telephony program. |
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On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is |
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on the card. |
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7 |
headphone connector |
Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most |
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kinds of speakers. |
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8 |
diagnostic lights (4) |
Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem |
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based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see |
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"Diagnostic Lights" on page 49. |
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9 |
hard-drive activity light |
The hard drive activity light is on when the computer reads |
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data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also |
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be on when a device such as a CD player is operating. |
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10 |
power button, |
Press the power button to turn on the computer. The light in |
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power light |
the center of this button indicates power state. See "Controls |
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and Lights" on page 109 for more information. |
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NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button |
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to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an operating |
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system shutdown. |
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11 |
USB 2.0 connectors (2) |
Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect |
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occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras, or for bootable USB |
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devices (see "System Setup Options" on page 112 for more |
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information on booting to a USB device). |
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It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for |
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devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and |
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keyboards. |
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12 |
vents |
For adequate cooling, do not block any of the vents. |
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NOTICE: Ensure that there is a minimum of two inches of |
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space between all vents and any object near these vents. |
NOTICE: Keep the vent area clean and dust-free to ensure that the computer is adequately ventilated. Use only a dry cloth to clean the vent area to avoid water damage to the computer.
12 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
1
2
3
4
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1 |
voltage selection switch |
See the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide for more |
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information. |
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2 |
power connector |
Insert the power cable. |
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back panel connectors |
Plug USB, audio, and other devices into the appropriate connector. |
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card slots |
Access connectors for any installed PCI and PCI Express cards. |
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link integrity light |
• Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps network and the computer. |
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• Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the computer. |
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• Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network. |
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network adapter |
To attach your computer to a network or broadband device, connect one end of a |
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network cable to either a network port or your network or broadband device. |
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the back panel of your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been |
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securely attached. |
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NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector. |
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network. If you must use Category 3 wiring, force the network speed to 10 Mbps |
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to ensure reliable operation. |
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network activity light |
Flashes a yellow light when the computer is transmitting or receiving network |
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data. A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a |
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steady "on" state. |
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surround connector |
Use the black surround connector to attach multichannel-capable speakers. |
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line-in connector |
Use the blue line-in connector to attach a record/playback device such as a |
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cassette player, CD player, or VCR. |
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On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card. |
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line-out connector |
Use the green line-out connector (available on computers with integrated sound) |
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to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers. |
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On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card. |
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microphone |
Use the pink connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or |
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musical input into a sound or telephony program. |
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14 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
8 |
side surround connector |
Use the silver connector to provide enhanced surround audio for computers with |
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7.1 speakers. |
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On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card. |
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center/subwoofer |
Use the yellow connector to attach a speaker to a Low Frequency Effects (LFE) |
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connector |
audio channel. |
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10 |
USB 2.0 connectors (4) |
Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as |
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printers and keyboards. |
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It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you |
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connect occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras. |
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11 |
VGA video connector |
Connect the monitor’s VGA cable to the VGA connector on the computer. |
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On computers with a video card, use the connector on the card. |
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NOTICE: Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the computer.
See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information, including how to:
•Obtain and install updated drivers.
•Connect the printer to the computer.
•Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge.
For technical assistance, refer to the printer owner's manual or contact the printer manufacturer.
Your printer connects to your computer with a USB cable. Your printer may not come with a printer cable, so if you purchase a cable separately, ensure that it is compatible with your printer. If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer, the cable may arrive in the computer box.
NOTE: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.
1Complete the operating system setup if you have not already done so.
2Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer. The USB connectors fit only one way.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer |
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15 |
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1
2
3
1 USB connector on computer 2 USB printer cable |
3 USB connector on printer |
3Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer. If the Add New Hardware Wizard window appears, click Cancel.
4Install the printer driver if necessary. See the documentation that came with your printer.
NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country.
To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP). Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options:
•Dial-up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line. Dial-up connections are considerably slower than DSL and cable modem connections.
•DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing telephone line. With a DSL connection, you can access the Internet and use your telephone on the same line simultaneously.
•Cable modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your local cable TV line.
If you are using a dial-up connection, connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your computer and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection. If you are using a DSL or cable modem connection, contact your ISP for setup instructions.
16 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut:
1Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
2Double-click the ISP icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop.
3Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.
If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP:
1Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
2Click the Start button and click Internet Explorer. The New Connection Wizard appears.
3Click Connect to the Internet.
4In the next window, click the appropriate option:
•If you do not have an ISP and want to select one, click Choose from a list of Internet service providers (ISPs).
•If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not receive a setup CD, click Set up my connection manually.
•If you have a CD, click Use the CD I got from an ISP.
5Click Next.
If you selected Set up my connection manually, continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.
NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, contact your ISP.
6Click the appropriate option under How do you want to connect to the Internet?, and then click Next.
7Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.
If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems" on page 35. If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past, the ISP might have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the service status, or try connecting again later.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer |
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17 |
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NOTICE: Do not press down on the CD or DVD tray when you open or close it. Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive.
NOTICE: Do not move the computer when you are playing CDs or DVDs.
1Press the eject button on the front of the drive.
2Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray.
3 Press the eject button or gently push in the tray.
To format CDs for storing data, to create music CDs, or to copy CDs, see the CD software that came with your computer.
NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs.
A CD player includes the following basic buttons:
Play
Move backward within the current track
Pause
Move forward within the current track
Stop
Go to the previous track
Eject
Go to the next track
18 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
A DVD player includes the following basic buttons:
Stop
Restart the current chapter
Play
Fast forward
Pause
Fast reverse
Advance a single frame while in pause mode
Go to the next title or chapter
Continuously play the current title or chapter
Go to the previous title or chapter
Eject
For more information on playing CDs or DVDs, click Help on the CD or DVD player (if available).
NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing.
1Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories→ Entertainment, and then click Volume Control.
2In the Volume Control window, click and drag the bar in the Volume Control column and slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume.
For more information on volume control options, click Help in the Volume Control window.
If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing DVD playback, adjust the display properties:
1Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2Under Pick a category, click Appearance and Themes.
3Under Pick a task..., click Change the screen resolution.
4In the Display Properties window, click and drag the bar in Screen resolution to change the setting to
800 by 600 pixels.
5Click the drop-down menu under Color quality, and then click Medium (16 bit).
6Click OK.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer |
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19 |
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NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when creating CDs or DVDs.
This section applies only to computers that have a CD-RW, DVD+/-RW, or CD-RW/DVD (combo) drive.
NOTE: The types of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by country.
The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD. You can also use Sonic DigitalMedia for other purposes, such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data. For help, open Sonic DigitalMedia and then click the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of the window.
NOTE: CD-RW/DVD combo drives cannot write to DVD media. If you have a CD-RW/DVD combo drive and you experience recording problems, check for available software patches on the Sonic support website at www.sonic.com.
The DVD-writable drives installed in Dell™ computers can write to and read DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW and DVD+R DL (dual layer) media, but cannot write to and may not read DVD-RAM or DVD-R DL media.
NOTE: Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Sonic DigitalMedia.
1Click Start→ All Programs→ Sonic→ DigitalMedia Projects→ Copy→ Disc Copy.
2To copy the CD or DVD:
•If you have one CD or DVD drive, ensure that the settings are correct and click the Disc Copy button. The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive.
When prompted, insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive and click OK.
•If you have two CD or DVD drives, select the drive into which you have inserted your source CD or DVD and click the Disc Copy button. The computer copies the data from the source CD or DVD to the blank CD or DVD.
Once you have finished copying the source CD or DVD, the CD or DVD that you have created automatically ejects.
CD-RW drives can write to CD recording media only (including high-speed CD-RW) while DVD-writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media.
Use blank CD-Rs to record music or permanently store data files. After creating a CD-R, you cannot write to that CD-R again (see the Sonic documentation for more information). Use blank CD-RWs to write to CDs or to erase, rewrite, or update data on CDs.
20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Blank DVD+/-Rs can be used to permanently store large amounts of information. After you create a DVD+/-R disc, you may not be able to write to that disc again if the disc is "finalized" or "closed" during the final stage of the disc creation process. Use blank DVD+/-RWs if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on that disc later.
CD-Writable Drives
Media Type |
Read |
Write |
Rewritable |
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CD-R |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
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Yes |
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Read |
Write |
Rewritable |
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Yes |
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CD-RW |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Yes |
Yes |
No |
DVD-R |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
DVD+RW |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
DVD-RW |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
DVD+R DL |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
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•Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after you start Sonic DigitalMedia and open a DigitalMedia project.
•Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs do not play in most home or car stereos.
•You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic DigitalMedia.
•Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed.
•Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may not support all available DVD formats. For a list of formats supported by your DVD player, see the documentation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer.
•Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD-RW to its maximum capacity; for example, do not copy a 650-MB file to a blank 650-MB CD. The CD-RW drive needs 1–2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording.
•Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the CD-RW and try again. You can also use blank CD-RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD-R.
•See the Sonic website at www.sonic.com for additional information.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer |
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21 |
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Use the Media Card Reader to transfer data directly to your computer.
The Media Card Reader supports the following memory types:
•xD-Picture Card
•SmartMedia (SMC)
•CompactFlash Type I and II (CF I/II)
•MicroDrive Card
•SecureDigital Card (SD)
•MultiMediaCard (MMC)
•Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro)
For information on installing a Media Card Reader, see "Installing a Media Card Reader" on page 98.
1
2
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4
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xD-Picture Card and |
2 |
CompactFlash Type I and II |
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SmartMedia (SMC) |
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(CF I/II) and MicroDrive Card |
3 |
Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro) |
4 |
SecureDigital Card (SD)/ |
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MultiMediaCard (MMC) |
22 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
To use the Media Card Reader:
1Check the media or card to determine the proper orientation for insertion.
2Slide the media or card into the appropriate slot until it is completely seated in the connector.
If you encounter resistance, do not force the media or card. Check the card orientation and try again.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the
Product Information Guide.
If you purchased a graphics card that supports dual monitors, follow these instructions to connect and enable your monitors. The instructions tell you how to connect either two monitors (each with a VGA connector), one monitor with a VGA connector and one monitor with a DVI connector, or a TV.
NOTICE: If you are connecting two monitors that have VGA connectors, you must have the optional DVI adapter to connect the cable. If you are connecting two flat-panel monitors, at least one of them must have a VGA connector. If you are connecting a TV, you may connect only one monitor (VGA or DVI) in addition to the TV.
1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 61.
NOTE: If your computer has integrated video, do not connect either monitor to the integrated video connector.
If the integrated video connector is covered by a cap, do not remove the cap to connect the monitor or the monitor will not function.
2Connect one of the monitors to the VGA (blue) connector on the back of the computer.
3Connect the other monitor to the optional DVI adapter and connect the DVI adapter to the DVI (white) connector on the back of the computer.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer |
|
23 |
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1
2* |
3*
4
*May not be present on your computer
1 |
optional DVI adapter |
2 |
DVI (white) connector |
3 |
TV-OUT connector |
4 |
VGA (blue) connector |
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1Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 61.
2Connect the VGA connector on the monitor to the VGA (blue) connector on the back of the computer.
3Connect the DVI connector on the other monitor to the DVI (white) connector on the back of the computer.
NOTE: You must purchase an S-video cable, available at most consumer electronics stores, to connect a TV to your computer. It is not included with your computer.
1Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 61.
2Connect one end of the S-video cable to the optional TV-OUT connector on the back of the computer.
3Connect the other end of the S-video cable to the S-video input connector on your TV.
4Connect the VGA or DVI monitor.
24 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
1After you connect the monitor(s) or TV, turn on the computer.
The Microsoft® Windows® desktop displays on the primary monitor.
2Enable clone mode or extended desktop mode in the display settings.
•In clone mode, both monitors display the same image.
•In extended desktop mode, you can drag objects from one screen to the other, effectively doubling the amount of viewable work space.
For information on changing the display settings for your graphics card, see the user’s guide in the Help and Support Center (click the Start button, click Help and Support, click User and system guides, click Device guides, and then click the guide for your graphics card).
NOTICE: Plug the network cable into the network adapter connector on the computer. Do not plug the network cable into the modem connector on the computer. Do not plug a network cable into a telephone wall jack.
1Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your computer. Insert the cable until it clicks into place, and then gently pull it to ensure that it is secure.
2Connect the other end of the network cable to a network device.
1 |
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network adapter connector |
2 |
network device |
3 |
network adapter connector on computer |
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network cable |
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Setting Up and Using Your Computer |
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25 |
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The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office.
1Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories→ Communications, and then click Network Setup Wizard.
2On the welcome screen, click Next.
3Click Checklist for creating a network.
NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack.
4Complete the checklist and required preparations.
5Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen.
The Microsoft® Windows® XP power management features can reduce the amount of electricity your computer uses when it is on and you are not using it. You can reduce power to just the monitor or the hard drive, or you can use standby mode or hibernate mode to reduce power to the entire computer.
When the computer exits from a power conservation mode, the Windows desktop is restored to the state it was in before it entered the mode.
NOTE: Windows XP Professional includes security and networking features not available in Windows XP Home Edition. When a Windows XP Professional computer is connected to a network, different options related to security and networking appear in certain windows.
Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a time-out. When the computer exits from standby mode, it returns to the operating state it was in before it entered standby mode.
To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity:
1Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.
3Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Power Options.
To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity, click the Start button, click
Turn Off Computer, and then click Stand by.
To exit from standby mode, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.
NOTICE: If your computer loses power while in standby mode, it may lose data.
26 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits from hibernate mode, the desktop is restored to the state it was in before it entered hibernate mode.
To activate hibernate mode:
1Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.
3Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Power Options.
4Define your hibernate settings on the Power Schemes tab, Advanced tab, and Hibernate tab.
To exit from hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit from hibernate mode. Pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring the computer out of hibernation, because the keyboard and the mouse do not function when the computer is in hibernate mode.
Because hibernate mode requires a special file on your hard drive with enough disk space to store the contents of the computer memory, Dell creates an appropriately sized hibernate mode file before shipping the computer to you. If the computer’s hard drive becomes corrupted, Windows XP recreates the hibernate file automatically.
Define your standby mode settings, hibernate mode settings, and other power settings in the
Power Options Properties window. To access the Power Options Properties window:
1Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.
3Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Power Options.
4Define your power settings on the Power Schemes tab, Advanced tab, and Hibernate tab.
Power Schemes Tab
Each standard power setting is called a scheme. If you want to select one of the standard Windows schemes installed on your computer, choose a scheme from the Power schemes drop-down menu. The settings for each scheme appear in the fields below the scheme name. Each scheme has different settings for starting standby mode or hibernate mode, turning off the monitor, and turning off the hard drive.
The Power schemes drop-down menu displays the following schemes:
•Always On (default) — If you want to use your computer with no power conservation.
•Home/Office Desk — If you use your computer as a home or office computer and you require minimal power conservation.
•Presentation — If you want your computer to run without interruption (using no power conservation).
•Minimal Power Management — If you want your computer to run with minimal power conservation.
•Max Battery — If your computer is a portable computer and you run your computer from batteries for extended periods of time.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer |
|
27 |
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If you want to change the default settings for a scheme, click the drop-down menu in the Turn off monitor,
Turn off hard disks, System stand by, or System hibernates field, and then select a time-out from the displayed list. Changing the time-out for a scheme field permanently changes the default settings for that scheme, unless you click Save As and enter a new name for the changed scheme.
NOTICE: If you set the hard drive (hard disk) to time-out before the monitor does, your computer may appear to be locked up. To recover, press any key on the keyboard or click the mouse. To avoid this problem, always set the monitor to time-out before the hard drive.
Advanced Tab |
|
The Advanced tab allows you to: |
|
• Place the power options icon |
in the Windows taskbar for quick access. |
•Set the computer to prompt you for your Windows password before the computer exits from standby mode or hibernate mode.
•Program the power button to activate standby mode, activate hibernate mode, or turn off the computer.
To program these functions, click an option from the corresponding drop-down menu and click OK.
Hibernate Tab
The Hibernate tab allows you to enable hibernate mode. If you want to use the hibernate settings you defined on the Power Schemes tab, click the Enable hibernate support check box on the Hibernate tab.
For more information on power management options:
1Click the Start button and click Help and Support.
2In the Help and Support window, click Performance and maintenance.
3In the Performance and maintenance window, click Conserving power on your computer.
Cool ’n’ Quiet technology controls your computer’s processor performance automatically, dynamically adjusting the operating frequency and voltage, according to the task at hand. When an application does not require full performance, significant amounts of power can be saved. Performance is designed to still be responsive, with maximum processor performance being delivered when required, and automatic power savings when possible.
1Run the system setup program and enable Cool ’n’ Quiet technology using the Power Management options (see "System Setup" on page 111).
2Click on the Start→ Settings→ Control Panel→ Power Options to access the Power Options Properties window.
3From the Power Schemes tab, click the Power Schemes drop-down menu and select Minimal Power Management and then click OK.
28 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration you may have selected when you purchased your computer. Your computer supports RAID level 1. A RAID level 1 is recommended for users that desire a high level of data integrity.
The drives in a RAID configuration should be the same size in order to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.
RAID level 1 uses a data-redundancy storage technique known as mirroring to enhance data integrity. When data is written to the primary drive, the data is also duplicated, or mirrored, on the second drive in the configuration. A RAID level 1 configuration sacrifices high data-access rates for its data redundancy advantages.
serial ATA RAID configured for RAID level 1
segment 1
segment 2
segment 3
segment 4
segment 5
segment 6
hard drive 1
segment 1 duplicated
segment 2 duplicated
segment 3 duplicated
segment 4 duplicated
segment 5 duplicated
segment 6 duplicated
hard drive 2
If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the surviving drive. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drive.
NOTE: In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the configuration.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer |
|
29 |
|
Your computer can be configured for RAID, even if you did not select a RAID configuration when the computer was purchased. For an explanation of RAID levels and their requirements, see "About RAID Configurations" on page 29. For information on how to install a hard drive, see "Hard Drives" on page 87.
To configure RAID hard drive volumes use the Nvidia MediaShield ROM utility before you install the operating system onto the hard drive.
Ensure that you set your computer to RAID-enabled mode before you begin.
Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode
1Enter the system setup (see "Entering System Setup" on page 111).
2Press the upand down-arrow keys to highlight Drives, then press <Enter>.
3Press the upand down-arrow keys to highlight the SATA operation, then press <Enter>.
4Press the leftand right-arrow keys to highlight RAID On, and then press <Enter>.
NOTE: For more information about RAID options, see "System Setup Options" on page 112.
5Press <Esc>, press the leftand right-arrow keys to highlight Save/Exit, and then press <Enter> to exit system setup and resume the boot process.
NOTICE: The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on your hard drive(s). Back up any data you want to keep before continuing.
Hard drives of any size may be used to create a RAID configuration. Ideally, however, the drives should be of equal size to avoid unallocated or unused space. For an explanation of RAID levels and their requirements, see "About RAID Configurations" on page 29. For information on how to install a hard drive, see "Installing a Hard Drive" on page 88.
1Enable RAID for each applicable hard drive on your computer (see "Setting Your Computer to RAIDEnabled Mode" on page 30).
2Restart the computer.
3Press <Ctrl><N> when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.
NOTE: If the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop, then shut down your computer and try again.
The Define a New Array window appears.
4Press <Tab> to navigate to the RAID Mode field.
To create a RAID 1 configuration, use the arrow keys to select Mirroring.
5Press <Tab> to navigate to the Free Disks field.
30 Setting Up and Using Your Computer