DELL XPS User Guide
Dell™ Dimension™ XPS
A B C D
fans (2)
headphone
connector
microphone
connector
USB 2.0
connectors (2)
IEEE 1394
connector
diagnostic
lights (4)
1394 connector
keyboard connector
USB 2.0
connectors (5)
VGA connector*
PCI Express x16 card (1),
PCI Express x1 card (1),
PCI Express x4 card (1),
PCI card (3) slots
fans (2)
*Not present on certain computers.
Model WHL
mouse connector
cover latch release
network adapter connector
TV-OUT connector*
DVI connector*
modem connector*
security cable slot
padlock ring
sound card connectors*
power connector
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Notes, Notices, and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates 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.
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.
© 2005 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, PowerConnect, and Axim are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft,
Windows, and Outlook are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products.
Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Model WHL
March 2005 P/N D8659 Rev. A00
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Contents
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Opening the Drive Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Changing the Front-Panel Light Color
Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)
Connecting Two Monitors
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Connecting One Monitor With a VGA Connector and One Monitor
With a DVI Connector
Connecting a TV
Changing the Display Settings
About Serial ATA Drives
About Your RAID Configuration
RAID Level 0 Configuration
RAID Level 1 Configuration
Configuring Your Computer for RAID
Configuring for RAID Using the Intel
Configuring for RAID Using the Intel
Transferring Information to a New Computer
Playing CDs and Movies
Playing a CD or DVD
Adjusting the Volume
Adjusting the Picture
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
®
RAID Option ROM Utility . . . . . . 21
®
Application Accelerator . . . . . . 23
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Copying CDs and DVDs
How to Copy a CD or DVD
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using Blank CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVD+Rs, and DVD+RWs
Helpful Tips
Network Setup Wizard
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
. . . . . . . . . . 31
Contents 3
Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Overview
Standby Mode
Hibernate Mode
Power Options Properties
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2 Optimizing Performance
Hyper-Threading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Overclocking
PCI Express Cards
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
3 Solving Problems
Troubleshooting Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Battery Problems
Drive Problems
CD and DVD drive problems
Hard drive problems
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems
Error Messages
IEEE 1394 Device Problems
Keyboard Problems
Lockups and Software Problems
The computer does not start up
The computer stops responding
A program stops responding
A program crashes repeatedly
A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system
A solid blue screen appears
Other software problems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
. . . . . 45
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
4 Contents
Memory Problems
Mouse Problems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Power Problems
Printer Problems
Scanner Problems
Sound and Speaker Problems
No sound from speakers
No sound from headphones
Video and Monitor Problems
If the screen is blank
If the screen is difficult to read
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
4 Advanced Troubleshooting
Diagnostic Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Dell Diagnostics
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
Drivers
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
What Is a Driver?
Identifying Drivers
Reinstalling Drivers
Using Microsoft
Creating a Restore Point
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State
Undoing the Last System Restore
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
®
Windows® XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
. . . . . . . . . . . 63
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Reinstalling Microsoft
Before You Begin
Reinstalling Windows XP
®
Windows® XP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Contents 5
5 Removing and Installing Parts
Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Recommended Tools
Turning Off Your Computer
Before Working Inside Your Computer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Front and Back View of the Computer
Front View
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Front View (Doors Open)
Back View
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Opening the Computer Cover
Inside View of Your Computer
System Board Components
Memory
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Installing Memory
Removing Memory
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Cards
PCI Cards
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
PCI Express Cards
Serial Port Adapters
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Installing a Serial Port Adapter
Removing a Serial Port Adapter
Drives
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
General Installation Guidelines
Connecting Drive Cables
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
6 Contents
Hard Drive
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Removing a Hard Drive
Installing a Hard Drive
Adding a Second Hard Drive
Floppy Drive
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Removing a Floppy Drive
Installing a Floppy Drive
Media Card Reader
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Removing a Media Card Reader
Installing a Media Card Reader
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
CD/DVD Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Removing a CD/DVD Drive
Installing a CD/DVD Drive
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Processor Airflow Shroud
Removing the Processor Airflow Shroud
Installing the Processor Airflow Shroud
Processor
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Removing the Processor
Installing the Processor
Front Panel
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Removing the Front Panel
Replacing the Front Panel
Drive Door
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Removing the Drive Door
Replacing the Drive Door
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Battery
Replacing the Battery
Closing the Computer Cover
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
6 Appendix
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
System Setup
Overview
Entering System Setup
System Setup Options
Boot Sequence
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Clearing Forgotten Passwords
Clearing CMOS Settings
Cleaning Your Computer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor
Mouse
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Floppy Drive
CDs and DVDs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Contents 7
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals
Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals
. . . . . . . . . 137
. . . . . . . . . . . 137
FCC Notices (U.S. Only)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Class A
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Class B
FCC Identification Information
Contacting Dell
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
8 Contents
Finding Information
NOTE: Some features may not be available for your computer or in certain countries.
NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here
• A diagnostic program for my computer
• Drivers for my computer
• My computer documentation
• My device documentation
• Additional information about setting up my computer
• How to troubleshoot and solve problems
• How to remove and install parts
• Technical specifications
• How to contact Dell
ResourceCD
Documentation and drivers are already installed on your
computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers (see
page 61), run the Dell Diagnostics (see page 58), or
access your documentation.
NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be found at
support.dell.com.
Dimension Owner’s Manual
Readme files may be
included on your CD to
provide last-minute
updates about technical
changes to your
computer or advanced
technical-reference
material for technicians
or experienced users.
NOTE: This document is available as a PDF at
support.dell.com.
Finding Information 9
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here
• Warranty information
• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
• Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
• How to set up my computer
Dell™ Product Information Guide
Setup Diagram
• Service Tag and Express Service Code
• Microsoft Windows License Label
10 Finding Information
Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License
These labels are located on your computer.
• Use the Service Tag to
identify your computer
when you use
support.dell.com
contact technical
support.
• Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when
contacting technical support.
or
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here
• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles
from technicians, and online courses, frequently asked
questions
• Community — Online discussion with other Dell
customers
• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support
site.
NOTE: Corporate, government, and education customers
can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website
at premier.support. dell.com.
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 rivers, patches, and software
updates
• Desktop System Software (DSS) — If you reinstall the
operating system for your computer, you should also
reinstall the DSS utility. DSS provides critical updates
for your operating system and support for Dell™
3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel
®
Pentium® M
processors, optical drives, and USB devices. DSS is
necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer.
The software automatically detects your computer and
operating system and installs the updates appropriate
for your configuration.
• How to use Windows XP
Windows Help and Support Center
1
Click the
2
Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and
click the arrow icon.
3
Click the topic that describes your problem.
4
Follow the instructions on the screen.
Start
button and click
Help and Support
.
Finding Information 11
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here
• How to reinstall my operating system
Operating System CD
The operating system is already installed on your
computer. To reinstall your operating system, use the
Operating System CD. See "Reinstalling Microsoft
Windows
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
®
XP" on page 64.
®
After you reinstall your
operating system, use the
ResourceCD to reinstall
drivers for the devices
that came with your
computer.
NOTE: The color of your
CD varies based on the
operating system you
ordered.
12 Finding Information
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Opening the Drive Door
Changing the Front-Panel Light Color
You can use this exclusive Dell™ Dimension™ XPS feature either to change the color of the
front-panel light that illuminates the Dell name and displays around the badge on the front of
your computer, or to turn off the front-panel light entirely.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 13
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions
located in the Product Information Guide.
front-panel
light
badge
You can choose from several color choices:
•Off
•Ruby
•Emerald
•Sapphire (default)
•Amber
•Amethyst
•Topaz
•Diamond
NOTE: The front-panel light is not for diagnostic purposes.
1
Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 69.
2
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
3
Enter system setup by pressing <F2>. (See page 128 for details about entering system
setup).
4
Select the
5
Select
6
Press the left- and right- arrow keys to scroll through the color options. The front-panel light
Onboard Devices
Front LED Color
color changes as you scroll through the options.
7
Select the color you want, and press <Enter>.
8
Press <Esc>, and press
14 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
option.
, and press <Enter>.
Save and Exit
to save the new front-panel light color setting.
Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)
Use the media card reader to transfer data directly to your computer.
The media card reader supports the following memory types:
•xD-Picture card
• SmartMedia (SMC)
• CompactFlash Type I and II (CF I/II)
• MicroDrive card
• SecureDigital card (SD)
• MultiMediaCard (MMC)
• Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro)
For information on installing a media card reader, see "Installing a Media Card Reader" on
page 104.
xD-Picture card
and SmartMedia (SMC)
Memory Stick
(MS/MS Pro)
SecureDigital card (SD)/
MultiMediaCard (MMC)
CompactFlash Type I
and II (CF I/II) and
MicroDrive card
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 15
To use the media card reader:
1
Check the media or card to determine the proper orientation for insertion.
2
Slide the media or card into the appropriate slot until it is completely seated in the connector.
If you encounter resistance, do not force the media or card. Check the card orientation and
try again.
Connecting Two Monitors
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions
located in the Product Information Guide.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
NOTE: If you are connecting two monitors that have VGA connectors, you must have the optional DVI
adapter. 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.
NOTE: See the documentation that came with your TV to ensure that you properly configure and connect
the TV.
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.
If you purchased a graphics card that has two DVI ports instead of a VGA port, use a DVI-toVGA adapter to use a VGA monitor.
Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors
1
Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 69.
2
Connect one of the monitors to the VGA (blue) connector on the back of the computer.
3
Connect the other monitor to the optional DVI adapter and connect the DVI adapter to the
DVI (white) connector on the back of the computer.
NOTE: Your graphics card must support a VGA monitor being connected to the DVI connector.
16 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
optional DVI adapter
DVI (white) connector
TV-OUT connector
VGA (blue) connector
Connecting One Monitor With a VGA Connector and One Monitor With a DVI Connector
1
Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 69.
2
Connect the VGA connector on the monitor to the VGA (blue) connector on the back of the
computer.
3
Connect the DVI connector on the other monitor to the DVI (white) connector on the back
of the computer.
Connecting a TV
NOTE: To connect a TV to your computer, you must purchase an S-video cable, which is available at
most consumer electronics stores. An S-video cable is not included with your computer.
1
Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 69.
2
Connect one end of the S-video cable to the TV-OUT connector on the back of the computer.
3
Connect the other end of the S-video cable to the S-video input connector on your TV.
4
Connect the VGA or DVI monitor as described in the preceding subsection, "Connecting
One Monitor With a VGA Connector and One Monitor With a DVI Connector."
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 17
Changing the Display Settings
1
After you connect the monitor(s) or TV, turn on the computer.
The Microsoft
2
Enable 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
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
system guides
About Serial ATA Drives
Your computer supports up to three serial ATA hard drives. Serial ATA drives provide the
following benefits by transferring data using serial technology and flexible cables that are
thinner and longer than IDE cables:
• Improved cable routing facilitates more efficient airflow inside the chassis.
• Compact cable connectors save space on the system board and on the hard drive. Combined
with the improved cable routing, this allows a more efficient utilization of space inside the
chassis.
See "Hard Drive" on page 94 for information on serial ATA drive connections.
®
Windows® desktop displays on the primary monitor.
Start
, click
Device guides
button, click
, and then click the guide for your graphics card).
Help and Support
, click
User and
About Your RAID Configuration
This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration that you might have selected when
you purchased your computer. Although several RAID configurations are available, Dell offers
either a RAID level 0 configuration or a RAID level 1 configuration for its Dimension™
computers. A RAID level 0 configuration is recommended for high-performance gaming, and a
RAID level 1 configuration is recommended for the data integrity requirements of digital
photography and audio.
The Intel
using two or three physical drives. If a third drive is present, then that drive can be made part of
a RAID level 0 configuration using the Intel RAID configuration program, or it can be used as a
spare drive in a RAID level 1 configuration (see "Creating a Spare Hard Drive" on page 26). The
drives should be the same size in order to ensure that the larger drive does not contain
unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.
18 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
®
RAID controller on your computer can only create a RAID level 0 configuration
NOTE: RAID levels do not represent a hierarchy. A RAID level 1 configuration is not inherently better or
worse than a RAID level 0 configuration.
RAID Level 0 Configuration
A RAID level 0 configuration uses a storage technique known as "data striping" to provide a high
data access rate. Data striping is a method of writing consecutive segments, or stripes, of data
sequentially across the physical drives to create a large virtual drive. Data striping allows one of
the drives to read data while the other drive is searching for and reading the next block.
serial ATA RAID
configured for
RAID level 0
segment 1
segment 3
segment 5
hard drive 1
segment 2
segment 4
segment 6
hard drive 2
Another advantage of a RAID level 0 configuration is that it utilizes the full capacities of the
drives. For example, if you have two 120-GB drives installed, you have 240 GB on which to store
data.
NOTICE: Because RAID level 0 configurations provide no data redundancy, if one drive fails, then the
data on the other drive is also inaccessible. Therefore, ensure that you perform regular backups when
you use a RAID level 0 configuration.
RAID Level 1 Configuration
RAID level 1 uses a data-redundancy storage technique known as "mirroring." When data is
written to the primary drive, it is then duplicated, or mirrored, on the other drive. A RAID
level 1 configuration sacrifices high data-access rates for its data redundancy advantages.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 19
serial ATA RAID
configured for
RAID level 1
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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. Also, because
data is duplicated on both drives, a RAID level 1 configuration using two 120-GB hard drives
collectively has a maximum of 120 GB on which to store data.
Configuring Your Computer for RAID
At some point you may want to configure your computer for RAID if you did not select a RAID
configuration when you purchased your computer. You must have at least two hard drives
installed in your computer to set up a RAID configuration. For instructions on how to install a
hard drive, see page 95.
You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes. One method uses the
®
Intel
RAID Option ROM utility and is performed before you install the operating system onto
the hard drive. The second method uses the Intel Matrix Storage Manager, or Intel Matrix
Storage Console, and this method is performed after you have installed the operating system
and the Intel Matrix Storage Console. Both methods require that you set your computer to
RAID-enabled mode before starting any of the RAID configuration procedures in this
document.
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
Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode
1
Enter system setup (see page 128).
2
Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight
3
Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight
20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Drives
, and press <Enter>.
SATA Operation
, and press <Enter>.
4
Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight
RAID On
, press <Enter>, and then
press <Esc>.
NOTE: For more information about RAID options, see "System Setup Options" on page 129.
5
Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight
Save/Exit
, and press <Enter> to exit system
setup and resume the boot process.
Configuring for RAID Using the Intel® RAID Option ROM Utility
NOTE: Although any size drives may be used to create a RAID configuration using the Intel RAID Option
ROM utility, ideally the drives should be of equal size. In a RAID level 0 configuration, the size of the
configuration will be the size of the smallest drive multiplied by the number (two) of drives in the
configuration. In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configuration will be the smaller of the two
drives used.
Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration
NOTICE: You will lose any data on your hard drives when you create a RAID configuration using the
following procedure. Back up data you want to keep before continuing.
NOTE: Use the following procedure only if you are reinstalling your operating system. Do not use the
following procedure to migrate an existing storage configuration to RAID level 0 configuration.
1
Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see page 20).
2
Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel® RAID Option ROM utility.
3
Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight
4
Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default, and press <Enter>.
5
Press the up- and down-arrow keys to select
6
If there are more than two hard drives available, press the up- and down-arrow keys and
spacebar to select the two or three drives you want to use to make up your configuration, and
then press <Enter>.
Create RAID Volume
RAID0(Stripe)
, and press <Enter>.
, and press <Enter>.
NOTE: Select the strip size closest to the size of the average file you want to store on the RAID volume. If
you do not know the average file size, choose 128 KB as your strip size.
7
Press the up- and down-arrow keys to change the strip size, and press <Enter>.
8
Select the desired capacity for the volume, and press <Enter>. The default value is the
maximum available size.
9
Press <Enter> to create the volume.
10
Press <y> to confirm that you want to create the RAID volume.
11
Confirm that the correct volume configuration is displayed on the main Intel® RAID Option
ROM utility screen.
12
Press the up- and down-arrow keys to select
13
Install the operating system (see "Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP" on page 64).
Exit
, and press <Enter>.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 21
Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration
1
Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see page 20).
2
Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.
3
Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight
4
Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default, and press <Enter>.
5
Use the up- and down-arrow keys to select
6
If there are more than two hard drives available, press the up- and down-arrow keys and
spacebar to select the two drives you want to use to make up your volume, and then press
<Enter>.
7
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Select the desired capacity for the volume, and press <Enter>. The default value is the
maximum available size.
8
Press <Enter> to create the volume.
9
Press <y> to confirm that you want to create the RAID volume.
10
Confirm that the correct volume configuration is displayed on the main Intel RAID Option
ROM utility screen.
11
Use the up- and down-arrow keys to select
12
Install the operating system (see "Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP" on page 64).
Deleting a RAID Volume
NOTE: When you perform this operation, all data on the RAID drives will be lost.
Create RAID Volume
RAID1(Mirror)
Exit
, and press <Enter>.
, and press <Enter>.
, and press <Enter>.
NOTE: If your computer currently boots to RAID and you delete the RAID volume in the Intel RAID Option
ROM utility, your computer will become unbootable.
1
Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.
2
Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight
3
Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight the RAID volume you want to delete, and press
<Delete>.
4
Press <y> to confirm the deletion of the RAID volume.
5
Press <Esc> to exit the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.
22 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Delete RAID Volume
, and press <Enter>.
Configuring for RAID Using the Intel® Application Accelerator
If you already have one hard drive with the operating system installed on it, and you want to add
a second hard drive and reconfigure both drives into a RAID volume without losing the existing
operating system and any data, you need to use the migrating option (see "Migrating to a RAID
Level 0 Configuration" on page 24 or "Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration" on page 25).
Create a RAID level 0 volume or RAID level 1 volume only when:
• You are adding two new drives to an existing single-drive computer (and the operating system
is on the single drive), and you want to configure the two new drives into a RAID volume.
• You already have a two-hard drive computer configured into a volume, but you still have some
space left on the volume that you want to designate as a second RAID volume.
Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration
NOTE: When you perform this operation, all data on the RAID drives will be lost.
1
Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see page 20).
2
Click
Start
and point to
Storage Manager
NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to RAID-enabled
mode (see page 20).
3
On the
Actions
menu, select
Wizard, and then click
4
On the
Select Volume Location
RAID level 0 volume, and then click the right arrow.
5
Click a second hard drive. To add a third hard drive in your RAID level 0 volume, click the
right arrow and click on the third drive until three drives appear in the
then click
6
In the
7
Click
Next
.
Specify Volume Size
Finish
to create the volume, or click
Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel Matrix
to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.
Create RAID Volume
Next
.
to launch the Create RAID Volume
screen, click the first hard drive you want to include in your
window, click the
Volume Size
Back
to make changes.
desired, and then click
Selected
window, and
Next
.
Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration
NOTE: When you perform this operation, all data on the RAID drives will be lost.
1
Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see page 20).
2
Click the
Matrix Storage Manager
NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to RAID-enabled
mode (see page 20).
3
On the
Start
button and point to
Actions
menu, select
Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel
to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.
Create RAID Volume
to launch the Create RAID Volume
Wizard.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 23
4
Click
Next
5
Confirm the volume name, select
6
On the
your RAID level 0 volume, and then click the right arrow. Click a second hard drive until two
drives appear in the
7
In the
Specify Volume Size
8
Click
Finish
9
Follow Microsoft Windows procedures for creating a partition on the new RAID volume.
Deleting a RAID Volume
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NOTE: While this procedure deletes the RAID 1 volume, it also splits the RAID 1 volume into two non-
RAID hard drives with a partition, and leaves any existing data files intact. Deleting a RAID 0 volume,
however, destroys all data on the volume.
1
Click the
Matrix Storage Manager
2
Right-click the
3
On the
4
Highlight the RAID volume you want to delete in the
button to move the highlighted RAID volume into the
5
Click
Finish
at the first screen.
RAID 1
Select Volume Location
Selected
screen, click the first hard drive you want to use to create
window, and then click
window, select the
to create the volume, or click
Start
button and point to
to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.
Vol um e
icon of the RAID volume you want to delete, and select
Delete RAID Volume Wizard
to delete the volume.
as the RAID level, and then click
Next
.
Volume Size
Back
to make changes.
desired and click
Next
to continue.
Next
.
Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel
Delete Volume
screen, click
Next
Available
Selected
.
box, click the right-arrow
box, and then click
Next
.
.
Migrating to a RAID Level 0 Configuration
1
Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see page 20).
2
Click the
Start
button and point to
Matrix Storage Manager
NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to RAID-enabled
mode (see page 20).
3
On the
Actions
menu, select
Migration Wizard.
4
Click
Next
on the Migration Wizard screen.
5
Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default.
6
From the drop-down box, select
NOTE: Select the strip size closest to the size of the average file you want to store on the RAID volume. If
you do not know the average file size, choose 128 KB as your strip size.
7
Select the appropriate strip size from the drop-down box, and then click
24 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
All Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel
to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.
Create RAID Volume From Existing Hard Drive to
RAID 0
as the RAID level
.
Next
launch the
.
NOTE: Select the hard drive that you want to use as your source hard drive (it should be the hard drive
containing the data or operating system files that you want to keep on the RAID volume).
8
On the
migrate, and click
9
On the
member drive(s) to span the stripe array, and click
10
On the
NOTE: In the following step, you will lose all data contained on the member drive.
11
Click
Select Source Hard Drive
Next
.
Select Member Hard Drive
Specify Volume Size
Finish
to start migrating, or click
screen, select the
screen, double-click the hard drive from which you want to
screen, double-click the hard drive(s) to select the
Next
.
Volume Size
Back
to make changes. You can use your computer
you want, and click
Next
normally during the migration process.
Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration
1
Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see page 20).
2
Click the
Matrix Storage Manager
NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to RAID-enabled
mode (see page 20).
3
On the
Start
button and point to
Actions
menu, click
All Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel
to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.
Create RAID Volume From Existing Hard Drive
to launch the
Migration Wizard.
4
Click
Next
on the first Migration Wizard screen.
5
Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default.
6
From the drop-down box, select
RAID 1
as the RAID level
.
.
NOTE: Select the hard drive that you want to use as your source hard drive (it should be the hard drive
containing the data or operating system files that you want to keep on the RAID volume).
7
On the
migrate, and click
8
On the
drive that you want to act as the mirror in the configuration, and click
9
On the
NOTE: In the following step, you will lose all data contained on the member drive.
10
Click
Select Source Hard Drive
Next
.
Select Member Hard Drive
Specify Volume Size
Finish
to start migrating, or click
screen, select the volume size you want, and click
screen, double-click the hard drive from which you want to
screen, double-click the hard drive to select the member
Next
.
Next
Back
to make changes. You can use your computer
normally during migration process.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 25
.
Creating a Spare Hard Drive
A spare hard drive may be created with a RAID level 1 configuration. The spare hard drive will
not be recognized by the operating system, but you will be able to see the spare drive from
within Disk Manager or the Intel RAID Option ROM utility. When a member of the RAID
level 1 configuration is broken, the computer automatically rebuilds the mirror configuration
using the spare hard drive as the broken member’s replacement.
To Mark a Drive as a Spare Hard Drive:
1
Click the
Matrix Storage Manager
2
Right-click the hard drive you want to mark as a spare hard drive.
3
Click
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To Remove Spare Marking From a Spare Hard Drive:
1
2
Rebuilding a Degraded RAID Level 1 Configuration
If your computer does not have a spare hard drive, and the computer has reported a degraded
RAID level 1 volume, you can manually rebuild the computer’s redundancy mirror to a new hard
drive by performing the following steps:
1
2
3
Mark as Spare
Right-click the spare hard drive icon.
Click
Reset Hard Drive to Non-RAID
Click the
Matrix Storage Manager
Right-click the available hard drive to which you want to rebuild the RAID level 1 volume,
and click
You can use your computer while the computer is rebuilding the RAID level 1 volume.
Start
button and point to
to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.
.
Start
button and point to
to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.
Rebuild to this Disk
Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel
Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel
.
Transferring Information to a New Computer
The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Files and Settings Transfer wizard to
move data from the source computer to the new computer. You can move data such as:
• E-mails
• Toolbar settings
• Window sizes
• Internet bookmarks
You can transfer the data to the new computer over a network or serial connection, or you can
store it on a removable medium, such as a writable CD or floppy disk.
26 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
To prepare the new computer for the file transfer:
1
Click the
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
2
When the
3
On the
4
On the
Windows XP CD
5
When the
Do not
To copy data from the old computer:
1
On the old computer, insert the Windows XP
2
On the
3
Under
4
On the
5
On the
6
On the
7
On the
Next
After the information has been copied, the
Start
button, point to
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
Which computer is this?
Do you have a Windows XP CD?
and click
Now go to your old computer
click
Next
at this time.
Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP
What do you want to do?
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
Which computer is this?
Select a transfer method
What do you want to transfer?
.
All Programs→ Accessories→ System Tools
.
screen, click
Next
.
, click
screen, click
screen, click the transfer method you prefer.
screen, click
screen appears, go to your old or source computer.
Transfer files and settings
welcome screen, click
screen, select the items you want to transfer and click
Completing the Collection Phase
welcome screen appears, click
New Computer
Operating System
screen, click
Old Computer
and click
I will use the wizard from the
CD.
Perform additional tasks
.
Next
.
and click
, and then click
Next
Next
.
Next
.
screen appears.
.
.
8
Click
Finish
.
To transfer data to the new computer:
1
On the
2
On the
your settings and files and click
The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.
When all of the settings and files have been applied, the
3
Click
Now go to your old computer
Where are the files and settings?
Next
Finished
and restart the new computer.
screen on the new computer, click
screen, select the method you chose for transferring
.
Finished
Next
.
screen appears.
Playing CDs and Movies
Playing a CD or DVD
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.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 27
NOTICE: Do not move the computer when you are playing CDs or DVDs.
1
Press the eject button on the front of the drive.
2
Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray.
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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.
28 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).
Adjusting the Volume
NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing.
1
Click the
Volume Control
2
In the
Start
button, point to
.
Volume Control
All Programs→ Accessories→ Entertainment
window, click and drag the bar in the
Volume Control
, and then click
column and
slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume.
For more information on volume control options, click Help in the Volume Control window.
Adjusting the Picture
If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much
memory and preventing DVD playback, adjust the display properties.
1
Click the
2
Under
3
Under
Start
button and click
Pick a category
Pick a task...
, click
Control Panel
, click
Appearance and Themes
.
Change the screen resolution
.
.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 29
4
In the
Display Properties
setting to
5
Click the drop-down menu under
6
Click OK.
800 by 600 pixels
window, click and drag the bar in
.
Color quality
, and then click
Screen resolution
Medium (16 bit)
to change the
.
Copying CDs and DVDs
NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs or DVDs.
This section applies only to computers that have a CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, or
DVD/CD-RW combo drive.
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NOTE: The types of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by country.
The following instructions show how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD. You can also use
Sonic RecordNow for other purposes, including creating CDs from audio files on your computer
and creating MP3 CDs. For instructions, see the Sonic RecordNow documentation that came
with your computer. Open Sonic RecordNow, click the question mark icon in the upper-right
corner of the window, and then click RecordNow Help or RecordNow Tutorial.
How to Copy a CD or DVD
NOTE: If you have a DVD/CD-RW combo drive and you experience recording problems, check for
available software patches at the Sonic support website at support.sonic.com.
Currently, five DVD-writable disc formats available: DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW
and DVD-RAM. The DVD-writable drives installed in Dell
and DVD+RW media, and can read DVD-R and DVD-RW media. However, DVD-writable
drives do not write to and may not read DVD-RAM media. In addition, chimerically available
DVD players for home theater systems might not read all five formats.
NOTE: Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Sonic
RecordNow.
1
Click the
2
Click either the audio tab or the data tab, depending on the kind of CD or DVD you are
planning to copy.
3
Click
Exact Copy
4
To copy the CD or DVD:
If you have one CD or DVD drive
•
computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies it to a temporary folder on your
computer hard drive.
When prompted, insert a blank CD or DVD into the CD or DVD drive and click
Start
button, point to
.
™ computers will write to DVD+R
All Programs→
Sonic→ RecordNow!→ RecordNow!
, ensure that the settings are correct and click
Copy
OK
. The
.
30 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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