Dell XPS 410 User Manual

Download

Page 1

Dell™ XPS™ 410

Owner’s Manual

CD or DVD eject button

CD or DVD activity light

FlexBays (2) for optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader

microphone connector

headphone connector

diagnostic lights

hard drive activity light

power button

USB 2.0 connectors (2)

Service Tag

cover release latch

power connector

audio connectors

USB 2.0 connectors (4) (rear quad)

Model DCTA

USB 2.0 connectors (2) (rear dual)

network adapter

card slots for PCI Express x1 (1), PCI Express x16 (1), PCI Express x4 (1), PCI (3)

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Page 2

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.

____________________

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude, PowerEdge, P owerV ault, P owerApp,

PowerConnect, XPS, DellNet, Dell TravelLite, Dell OpenManage, and StrikeZone are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Core is trademark of Intel Corporation; Intel, P entium, Intel SpeedStep, Celer on, and Viiv are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, and Outlook are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries; EMC is a registered trademark of EMC Corporation; the Bluetooth word mark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Dell Inc. is under license.

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 DCTA

October 2007 P/N YH251 Rev. A02

Page 3

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

1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Front View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Back View of the Computer

Back Panel Connectors

Connecting Monitors

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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

One Monitor With a DVI Connector Connecting a Television (TV) Changing the Display Settings

Setting Up a Printer

Printer Cable Connecting a USB Printer

Connecting to the Internet

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

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

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

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

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard

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

Transferring Information to a New Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

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

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

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

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

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

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD

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

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Playing CDs and DVDs

Playing a CD or DVD Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture

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

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

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

Contents 3

Page 4

Copying CDs and DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

How to Copy a CD or DVD Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful Tips

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

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

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

Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)

IEEE 1394 (Optional)

Power Management

Overview Standby Mode Hibernate Mode

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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

Power Options Properties

Cleaning Your Computer

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

Cleaning the Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor Cleaning the Mouse

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Cleaning the Floppy Drive Cleaning CDs and DVDs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

2 Optimizing Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Hyper-Threading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

About Your RAID Configuration

RAID Level 0 Configuration RAID Level 1 Configuration Configuring Your Computer for RAID

Using the Intel Using the Intel

RAID Option ROM Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Application Accelerator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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

4 Contents

Dell DataSafe (Optional)

Intel

Viiv™ Technology (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Using Intel

Enabling the QRT Feature in System Setup Enabling the QRT Feature in the Operating system

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

Viiv™ Quick Resume Technology (QRT) . . . . . . . . . . . 46

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Page 5

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

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

Dell Diagnostics

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

Drivers

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

What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Restoring Your Operating System

Using Microsoft Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec

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

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

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

4 Solving Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Troubleshooting Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Battery Problems

Drive Problems

CD and DVD drive problems Hard drive problems

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

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

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

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

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

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

Error Messages

Media Card Reader 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system A solid blue screen appears Other software problems

Memory Problems

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

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

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

. . . . . 68

Contents 5

Page 6

Mouse Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Network Problems

Power Problems

Printer Problems

Scanner Problems

Sound and Speaker Problems

No sound from speakers No sound from headphones

Video and Monitor Problems

The screen is blank The screen is difficult to read

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

5 Removing and Installing Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer

Removing the Computer Cover

Inside View of Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

6 Contents

System Board Components

Memory

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Memory Overview Installing Memory Removing Memory

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

Cards

PCI Cards

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

PCI Express Cards

Drive Panels

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

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

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Page 7

Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

General Installation Guidelines

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

Hard Drive

Floppy Drive

Media Card Reader

CD/DVD Drive

Battery

Replacing the Computer Cover

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Removing a Floppy Drive Installing a Floppy Drive

Removing a Media Card Reader Installing a Media Card Reader

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

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

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

Replacing the Battery

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

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

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

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

A Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

System Setup

Overview Entering System Setup System Setup Options Boot Sequence

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

Clearing CMOS Settings

Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

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

. . . . . . . . . 136

. . . . . . . . . . . 136

Contents 7

Page 8

FCC Notice (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

FCC Class B

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Contacting Dell

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Index

8 Contents

Page 9

Finding Information

NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or media

may not be available in certain countries.

NOTE: This Owner’s Manual is available as a PDF at support.dell.com.

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 device documentation

• Desktop System Software (DSS)

Drivers and Utilities CD (ResourceCD)

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD may be optional and may

not ship with your computer.

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers (see "Drivers" on page 54), run the Dell diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 52), or access your documentation.

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.

• Warranty information

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be found at

support.dell.com.

Dell™ Product Information Guide

Finding Information 9

Page 10

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to set up my computer

Setup Diagram

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft

Windows® Product Key Label

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows Product Key

These labels are located on your computer.

• Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use

support.dell.com

contact support.

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

10 Finding Information

Page 11

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

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

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region or business segment to view the

appropriate support site.

• Community — Online discussion with other Dell customers

• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as the memory, hard drive, and operating system

• Customer Care — Contact information, service call and order status, and warranty and repair information

• Service and support — Service call status, support history, service contract, and online discussions with support

• Reference — Computer documentation, details on my computer configuration, product specifications, and white papers

• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates

• Desktop System Software (DSS)— If you reinstall the operating system for your computer, you should also reinstall the DSS utility. DSS automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration, providing critical updates for your operating system and support for Dell™

3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel

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

To download Desktop System Software:

Go to

support.dell.com

segment, then enter your Service Tag or product model.

Select

Select your operating system and language, and then search for the keyword

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

depending on your selections.

• How to use Windows XP

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

Windows Help and Support Center

Click

Start→

Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the arrow icon.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

, select your region or business

Drivers & Downloads

Desktop System Software

Help and Support

, then click Go.

Finding Information 11

Page 12

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to reinstall my operating system

Operating System CD

NOTE: The Operating System CD may be optional and may

not ship with your computer.

The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system see "Restoring Your Operating System" on page 56

NOTE: The color of your CD varies according to the

operating system you ordered.

• How to use Linux

• E-mail discussions with users of Dell Precision™ products and the Linux operating system

• Additional information regarding Linux and my Dell Precision computer

Dell Supported Linux Sites

• linux.dell.com

• lists.us.dell.com/mailman/listinfo/linux-precision

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

Your operating system product key label is located on your computer.

12 Finding Information

Page 13

Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Front View of the Computer

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 13

Page 14

1 cover release latch Use this latch to remove the cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on

page 78).

2 CD or DVD activity

light

3 CD or DVD eject

button

4 FlexBay drives (2) Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader. For

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

6 USB 2.0 connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as

The CD or DVD drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the CD or DVD drive.

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

information on using the Media Card Reader, see "Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)" on page 31.

NOTICE: Ensure that there is a minimum of two inches of space between all

vents and any object near the vents.

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

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

flash memory keys, cameras, or bootable USB devices. For more information on booting to a USB device, see "System Setup Options" on page 129.

NOTE: It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that

typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

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

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

computer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.

8 hard-drive activity light The hard-drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to

the hard drive. The light may also be on when a device such as a CD player is operating.

9 diagnostic lights (4) Use the sequence of the diagnostic lights to help you troubleshoot a problem

with your computer (see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 49).

10 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most kinds of speakers.

11 microphone connector Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for

voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.

12 Service Tag Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you access the Dell Support

website or contact support.

14 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 15

Back View of the Computer

1 power connector Insert the power cable.

2 back I/O connectors Plug USB, network, S/PDIF, and audio devices into the appropriate connectors

(see "Back Panel Connectors" on page 16).

3 card slots (6) Access connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express cards.

4 power selection switch Manually select AC input power: 115 volts or 230 volts

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 15

Page 16

Back Panel Connectors

253

1 link integrity light

2 network adapter

connector

• Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps network and the computer.

• Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the computer.

• Yellow — A good connection exists between a 1000-Mbps (1-Gbps) network and the computer.

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

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

Use the network adapter connector to attach your computer to a network or broadband device. Connect one end of a network cable to either a network jack or your network or broadband device, and then connect the other end of the network cable to the network adapter connector on your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached.

On computers with an additional network connector card, use the connectors on the card and on the back of the computer when setting up multiple network connections (such as a separate intra- and extranet).

1112

NOTE: It is recommended that you use Category 5 wiring and connectors for your

network. If you must use Category 3 wiring, force the network speed to 10 Mbps to ensure reliable operation.

3 network activity light Flashes a yellow light when the computer is transmitting or receiving network

data. A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady "on" state.

4 USB 2.0 connectors (2)

(rear dual)

Use the back, rear-dual USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

NOTE: It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that

you connect occasionally, such as joysticks, cameras, or bootable USB devices.

16 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 17

5 USB 2.0 connectors (4)

(rear quad)

Use the back, rear-quad USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

NOTE: It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that

you connect occasionally, such as joysticks, cameras, or bootable USB devices.

6 surround sound

connector

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

8 line-out/headphone

connector

9 microphone connector Use the (pink) microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone

10 center/subwoofer LFE

connector

Use the (black) surround sound connector to attach multichannel-capable speakers.

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

cassette player, CD player, or VCR.

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

Use the (green) line-out connector to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers.

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

for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.

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

Use the (orange) center/subwoofer connector to attach a center speaker or a single subwoofer.

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

NOTE: The LFE (Low Frequency Effects) Audio channel, found in digital surround

sound audio schemes, carries only low frequency information of 80 Hz and below. The LFE channel drives a subwoofer to provide extremely low bass extension. Systems not using subwoofers can shunt the LFE information to the main speakers in the surround sound setup.

11 side surround sound

connector

12 S/PDIF connector Use the S/PDIF connector to transmit digital audio without going through an

Use the (gray) side surround sound connector to attach multichannel-capable speakers. The side-surround output provides enhanced surround audio for computers with 7.1 speakers.

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

analog audio conversion process.

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

Connecting Monitors

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

Information Guide.

NOTE: Your computer supports one VGA and one DVI connector. If you are connecting two monitors that have

VGA connectors, you must use the optional DVI-to-VGA adapter. If you are connecting two flat-panel monitors, at least one of them must have a VGA connector. If you are connecting a television, you can connect only one monitor (VGA or DVI) in addition to the television.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 17

Page 18

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 two monitors with VGA connectors, one monitor with a VGA connector and one monitor with a DVI connector, or a television.

Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

Connect one of the monitors to the (blue) VGA connector on the back of the computer.

Connect the other monitor to the optional DVI-to-VGA adapter, then connect the adapter to the (white) DVI connector on the back of the computer.

Two VGA Connectors

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

4 VGA connector (blue)

One VGA Connector and one DVI Connector

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

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

Connect the VGA connector of the first monitor to the (blue) VGA connector on the back of the computer.

Connect the DVI connector of the second monitor to the (white) DVI connector on the back of the computer.

18 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 19

Connecting a Television (TV)

NOTE: See the documentation that came with your TV to ensure that you properly configure and connect the TV.

NOTE: To connect a TV to your computer, an S-video cable is required. If you do not have an S-video cable, you

may purchase one at most consumer electronics stores. An S-video cable is not included with your computer.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

Connect one end of the S-video cable to the TV-OUT connector on the back of the computer.

Connect the other end of the S-video cable to the S-video input connector on your TV.

Connect a VGA or DVI monitor (see "Connecting Monitors" on page 17).

Changing the Display Settings

After you connect the monitor(s) or television, turn on the computer.

The Microsoft

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 Start button, click Help and Support, click User and system guides, click Device guides, and then click the guide for your graphics card).

Windows® desktop displays on the primary monitor.

For dual-monitor capable cards with one DVI connector and one VGA connector

One DVI connector and one VGA connector:

DVI

VGA

Use the appropriate connector(s) when you want to connect your computer to one or two monitors.

Two VGA connectors with one VGA adapter:

Use the DVI-to-VGA adapter when you want to connect your computer to two VGA monitors.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 19

VGA

Page 20

For dual-monitor capable cards with two DVI connectors

Two DVI connectors:

Two DVI connectors with a DVI-to-VGA adapter:

Two DVI connectors with two DVI-to-VGA adapters:

DVI

Use the DVI connectors to connect your computer to one or two DVI monitors.

Use the DVI-to-VGA adapter to connect a VGA monitor to one of the DVI connectors on your computer

DVI

VGA

Use two DVI-to-VGA adapters to connect two VGA monitors to the DVI connectors on your computer.

Setting Up a Printer

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

• Contact the printer manufacturer for technical assistance

Printer Cable

Your printer connects to your computer with a USB cable. Your printer may not come with a printer cable, so if you purchase a cable separately, ensure that it is compatible with your printer. If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer, the cable may arrive in the computer box.

Connecting a USB Printer

NOTE: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.

Complete the operating system setup, if you have not already done so.

Install the printer driver, if necessary (see the documentation that came with your printer).

Attach the USB printer cable to the appropriate USB connector on the computer and the printer. The connectors fit only one way.

20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 21

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

Connecting to the Internet

NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country.

To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP), such as AOL or MSN. 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.

NOTE: If you use a dial-up connection, you need an add-in PCI modem expansion card.

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.

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

To set up an AOL or MSN connection:

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

Double-click the

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

MSN Explorer

AOL

icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 21

Page 22

If you do not have an MSN Explorer or AOL icon on your desktop, or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP:

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

Click the

The

Click

In the next window, click the appropriate option:

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

• If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not receive a setup CD,

• If you have a CD, click

Click

If you selected on the screen to complete the setup.

Click the appropriate option under

Use 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 63. 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.

Start

button, then click

New Connection Wizard

Connect to the Internet

providers (ISPs)

click

Set up my connection manually

NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, contact your ISP.

Set up my connection manually

Internet Explorer

appears.

Use the CD I got from an ISP

How do you want to connect to the Internet?

, continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the instructions

Choose from a list of Internet service

, and then click

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter

NOTICE: Plug the network cable into the network adapter connector on the computer. Do not plug the network

cable into the modem connector on the computer. Do not plug a network cable into a telephone wall jack.

Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your computer.

Insert the cable until it clicks into place, and then gently pull it to ensure that it is secure.

Connect the other end of the network cable to a network device.

22 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 23

1 network adapter connector on

computer

4 network cable

2 network adapter connector 3 network device

Network Setup Wizard

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office.

Click the

Network Setup Wizard

On the welcome screen, click

Click

NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated

firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack.

Complete the checklist and required preparations.

Return to the

Start

button, point to

All Programs→ Accessories→ Communications

Checklist for creating a network

Network Setup Wizard

and follow the instructions on the screen.

, and then click

Transferring Information to a New Computer

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to move data from a source computer to a new computer. You can transfer data, such as:

• E-mail messages

• Toolbar settings

• Window sizes

• Internet bookmarks

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 23

Page 24

You can transfer the data to the new computer over a network, with an add in PS2/serial adapter (optional), or you can store it on a removable media, such as a writable CD or USB drive, for transfer to the new computer.

NOTE: You can transfer information from the old computer to the new computer by directly connecting a serial

cable to the input/output (I/O) ports of the two computers. However, this requires that you install a PS2/serial adapter (optional), which provides a serial connector (COM). Also, the old computer needs to have a serial connector. To transfer data over a serial connection, you must access the Network Connections utility from the Control Panel and perform additional configuration steps, such as setting up an advanced connection and designating the host computer and the guest computer.

For instructions on setting up a direct cable connection between two computers, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article #305621, titled How to Set Up a Direct Cable Connection Between Two Computers in Windows XP. This information may not be available in some countries.

For transferring information to a new computer, you must run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. You can use the optional Operating System CD for this process or you can create a wizard disk with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD

NOTE: This procedure requires the Operating System CD. This CD is optional and may not be included with all

computers.

To prepare the new computer for the file transfer:

Start the

When the

On the

When the click

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the Windows XP

On the

Under

On the

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

screen, click

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

, then click

Now go to your old computer

at this time.

Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP

What do you want to do?

, click

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you prefer.

welcome screen appears, click

New Computer

screen, click

, then click

I will use the wizard from the Windows XP

screen appears, go to your old or source computer. Do

Operating System

screen, click

Transfer files and settings

welcome screen, click

Old Computer

CD.

Perform additional tasks

, then click

not

24 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 25

On the

After the information has been copied, the

Click

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

On the settings and files, then click

The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.

What do you want to transfer?

Finish

Now go to your old computer

Where are the files and settings?

screen, select the items you want to transfer, then click

Completing the Collection Phase

screen on the new computer, click

screen, select the method you chose for transferring your

screen appears.

When all of the settings and files have been applied, the

Click

Finished

, and then restart the new computer.

Finished

screen appears.

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD

To run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard without the Operating System CD, you must create a wizard disk that will allow you to create a backup image file to removable media.

To create a wizard disk, use your new computer with Windows XP and perform the following steps:

Click the

Click

When the

On the

drive:

Insert the removable media, such as a writable CD, then click OK.

When the disk creation completes and the

Go to the old computer.

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the wizard disk.

Click the

In the media), then click

On the

Start

button.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

, then click

Open

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

Next.

Start

button, then click

field on the

screen, click

Run

window, browse to the path for

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you prefer.

welcome screen appears, click

New Computer

screen, click

Now go to your old computer

welcome screen, click

Old Computer

, then click

I want to create a Wizard Disk in the following

fastwiz

, then click

message appears,

(on the appropriate removable

do not

click

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 25

Page 26

On the

After the information has been copied, the

Click

What do you want to transfer?

Finish

screen, select the items you want to transfer, then click

Completing the Collection Phase

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

On the settings and files, then click

Now go to your old computer

screen on the new computer, click

Where are the files and settings?

. Follow the instructions on the screen.

screen, select the method you chose for transferring your

The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.

screen appears.

When all of the settings and files have been applied, the

Click

Finished

NOTE: For more information about this procedure, search support.dell.com for document #PA1089586 (How Do I

Transfer Files From My Old Computer to My New Dell Computer Using the Microsoft System?).

NOTE: Access to the Dell™ Knowledge Base document may not be available in some countries.

, and then restart the new computer.

Finished

screen appears.

Windows® XP Operating

Playing CDs and DVDs

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.

NOTICE: Do not move or tilt the computer when you are playing CDs or DVDs.

Press the eject button on the front of the drive.

Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray.

26 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 27

Press the eject button or gently push on the tray to close it.

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 observe all copyright laws when you create CDs or DVDs.

A CD player includes the following basic buttons:

Play

Move backward within the current track

Pau se

Move forward within the current track

Stop

Go to the previous track

Eject

Go to the next track

A DVD player includes the following basic buttons:

Stop

Restart the current chapter

Play

Fast forward

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 27

Page 28

Pau se

Fast reverse

Advance a single frame while in pause mode

Go to the next title or chapter

Continuously play the current title or chapter

Go to the previous title or chapter

Eject

For more information on playing CDs or DVDs, click Help on the CD or DVD player (if available).

Adjusting the Volume

NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing.

Click the

Control

In the

Start

button, point to

Master Volume

All Programs→ Accessories→ Entertainment

control window, click and drag the bar in the

, and then click

Master Volume

Volume

column and slide

it up or down to increase or decrease the volume.

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

Adjusting the Picture

If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing DVD playback, adjust the display properties.

Click the

Under

In the

800 by 600 pixels

Under

Click OK.

Start

button, and then click

Pick a category

Pick a task...

, click

Display Properties

Color quality

, click the drop-down menu, and then click

Control Panel

Appearance and Themes

Change the screen resolution

window, click and drag the bar in

Screen resolution

Medium (16 bit)

to change the setting to

Copying CDs and DVDs

NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when creating CDs or DVDs.

This section applies only to computers that have a DVD+/-RW, or CD-RW/DVD (combo) drive.

NOTE: The types of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by country.

28 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 29

The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD using Roxio Creator Plus

- Dell Edition. You can also use Roxio Creator Plus for other purposes, such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data. For help, open Roxio Creator Plus, and then click the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of the window.

How to Copy a CD or DVD

NOTE: CD-RW/DVD combo drives cannot write to DVD media. If you have a CD-RW/DVD combo drive and you

experience recording problems, check for available software patches on the Sonic support website at www.sonic.com.

The DVD-writable drives installed in Dell computers can write to and read DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW and DVD+R DL (dual layer) media, but cannot write to and may not read DVD-RAM or DVD-R DL media.

NOTE: Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Roxio Creator Plus.

Click the

Copy

Under the

To copy the CD or DVD:

•

Start

button, point to

All Programs→ Roxio→ Creator Projects

, and then click

RecordNow

Copy

tab, click

If you have one CD/DVD drive

Disc Copy

, ensure that the settings are correct and click the

Disc Copy

button. The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive.

When prompted, insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive and click

If you have two CD/DVD drives

• DVD and click the

Disc Copy

, select the drive into which you have inserted your source CD or

button. The computer copies the data from the source CD or DVD

to the blank CD or DVD.

Once you have finished copying the source CD or DVD, the CD or DVD that you have created automatically ejects.

Using Blank CDs and DVDs

CD-RW drives can write to CD recording media only (including high-speed CD-RW media) 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 the maximum storage capacity of a CD-R is reached, you cannot write to that CD-R again (see the Sonic documentation for more information). Use blank CD-RWs if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on the CD later.

Blank DVD+/-Rs can be used to permanently store large amounts of data. 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 the disc later.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 29

Page 30

CD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

C D- RW Ye s Ye s Ye s

DVD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

C D- RW Ye s Ye s Ye s

DVD+R Yes Yes No

DVD-R Yes Yes No

DV D +R W Yes Ye s Ye s

DV D -R W Ye s Ye s Ye s

DVD+R DL Yes Yes No

Helpful Tips

• Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after you start Roxio Creator Plus and open a Creator project.

• Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs may not play in many home or car stereos.

• You cannot create audio DVDs with Roxio Creator Plus.

• 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 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.

30 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 31

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 115.

1 xD-Picture Card and

SmartMedia (SMC)

4 CompactFlash Type I and II (CF

I/II) and MicroDrive Card

2 Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro) 3 SecureDigital Card (SD) and

MultiMediaCard (MMC)

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 31

Page 32

To use the Media Card Reader:

Check the media or card to determine the proper orientation for insertion.

Slide the media or card into the appropriate slot until it is completely seated in the connector.

If you encounter resistance, do not force the media or card. Check the card orientation and try again.

IEEE 1394 (Optional)

IEEE 1394 is a digital interface that can move large amounts of data between computers and peripheral devices. IEEE 1394 is ideal for use with multimedia devices because it speeds the transfer of data and large files, which enables a computer to connect directly to devices such as digital video cameras.

NOTE: The connector can accept 4-pin IEEE 1394 devices with the use of an adapter.

Your computer may have an optional front IEEE 1394 connector. This connector is only available if you purchased an add-in card that uses IEEE 1394. To purchase a card, contact Dell.

Power Management

Overview

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, it returns to the operating state it was in prior to entering 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.

NOTE: The procedures to activate the standby and hibernate modes may vary according to your operating system.

Standby Mode

Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a designated period of time, known as a time-out. When the computer exits from standby mode, it returns to the operating state it was in prior to entering standby mode.

NOTICE: If your computer loses power while in standby mode, it may lose data.

NOTICE: The graphics card in your computer is installed in the PCI Express x16 slot. When there is a card in this

slot and you add a peripheral that does not support s3 suspend, your computer will not enter standby mode.

To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity:

Click the

Define your standby settings on the

32 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Start

button, then click

Control Panel

Power Schemes Tab

and

Advanced Tab

Page 33

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.

Hibernate Mode

Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive, and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits from hibernate mode, the desktop is restored to the state it was in

To activate hibernate mode:

Click the

Define your hibernate settings on the

To exit from hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit from hibernate mode. Because the keyboard and the mouse do not function when the computer is in hibernate mode, pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring the computer out of hibernation.

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.

Start

button, then click

prior to entering hibernate mode.

Control Panel

Power Schemes Tab, Advanced Tab

and

Hibernate Tab

Power Options Properties

Define your standby mode settings, hibernate mode settings, and other power settings in the Power Options Properties window.

Click the

Define your power settings on the

Start

button, then click

To access the Power Options Properties window:

Control Panel

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, hibernate mode, turning off the monitor, and turning off the hard drive.

NOTICE: If you set the hard drive 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.

The Power schemes drop-down menu displays the following schemes:

•

Always On

•

Home/Office Desk

power conservation.

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

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

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 33

Page 34

•

Minimal Power Management

•

Max Battery

extended periods of time.

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.

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 as defined on the Power Schemes tab, click the Enable hibernate support check box on the Hibernate tab.

For more information on power management options:

Click the

In the

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

Start

button, then click

Help and Support

Performance and maintenance

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

Help and Support

window, click

Performance and maintenance

window, click

Conserving power on your computer

Cleaning Your Computer

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

Information Guide.

Cleaning the Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor

CAUTION: Before you clean your computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet. Clean your

computer with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances.

• Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove dust from the slots and holes on your computer and from between the keys on the keyboard.

34 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 35

NOTICE: Do not wipe the display screen with any soap or alcohol solution. Doing so may damage the antiglare

coating.

• To clean your monitor screen, lightly dampen a soft, clean cloth with water. If possible, use a special screen-cleaning tissue or solution suitable for the monitor’s antistatic coating.

• Wipe the keyboard, computer, and plastic part of the monitor with a soft cleaning cloth moistened with a solution of three parts water and one part dishwashing detergent.

Do not soak the cloth or let water drip inside your computer or keyboard.

Cleaning the Mouse

If your screen cursor skips or moves abnormally, clean the mouse. To clean a non-optical mouse:

Turn the retainer ring on the underside of your mouse counterclockwise, and then remove the ball.

Wipe the ball with a clean, lint-free cloth.

Blow carefully into the ball cage to dislodge dust and lint.

If the rollers inside the ball cage are dirty, clean the rollers with a cotton swab moistened lightly with isopropyl alcohol.

Recenter the rollers in their channels if they are misaligned. Ensure that fluff from the swab is not left on the rollers.

Replace the ball and retainer ring, and then turn the retainer ring clockwise until it clicks into place.

Cleaning the Floppy Drive

NOTICE: Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab. You might accidentally misalign the heads, which

prevents the drive from operating.

Clean your floppy drive using a commercially available cleaning kit. These kits contain pretreated floppies to remove contaminants that accumulate during normal operation.

Cleaning CDs and DVDs

NOTICE: Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the CD/DVD drive, and follow the instructions that come

with the compressed air. Never touch the lens in the drive.

If you notice problems, such as skipping, with the playback quality of your CDs or DVDs, try cleaning the discs.

Hold the disc by its outer edge. You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole.

NOTICE: To prevent damaging the surface, do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc.

With a soft, lint-free cloth, gently wipe the bottom of the disc (the unlabeled side) in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc.

For stubborn dirt, try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap. You can also purchase commercial products that clean discs and provide some protection from dust, fingerprints, and scratches. Cleaning products for CDs are safe to use on DVDs.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 35

Page 36

36 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Page 37

Optimizing Performance

Hyper-Threading

Hyper-Threading is an Intel® technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing one physical processor to function as two logical processors, capable of performing certain tasks simultaneously. It is recommended that you use the Microsoft (SP1) or later operating system because Windows XP is optimized to take advantage of HyperThreading technology. While many programs can benefit from Hyper-Threading, some programs have not been optimized for Hyper-Threading and may require an update from the software manufacturer. Contact the software manufacturer for updates and information about using Hyper-Threading with your software.

To determine if your computer is using Hyper-Threading technology:

Click the

Click

In the enabled, the processor is listed twice.

You can enable or disable Hyper-Threading through system setup. For more information on accessing system setup, see "Entering System Setup" on page 127. For more information on Hyper-Threading, search the Knowledge Base on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

Start

button, right-click

Hardware

Device Manager

, then click

My Computer

Device Manager

window, click the plus (+) sign next to

, and then click

About Your RAID Configuration

Windows® XP Service Pack 1

Properties

Processors

. If Hyper-Threading is

This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration you may have selected when you purchased your computer. There are several RAID configurations are available in the computer industry for different types of uses. Your Dell Dimension™ computer supports RAID level 0 and RAID level 1. A RAID level 0 configuration is recommended for high-performance programs or gaming, and a RAID level 1 configuration is recommended for users that desire a high level of data integrity, such as that required in digital photography and audio.

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.

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.

Optimizing Performance 37

Page 38

RAID Level 0 Configuration

NOTICE: Because RAID level 0 configurations provide no data redundancy, a failure of one drive results in the loss

of all data (the data on the remaining drive is also inaccessible). Therefore, ensure that you perform regular backups when you use a 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 storage capacities of the drives. For example, two 120-GB drives combine to provide 240 GB of hard drive space on which to store data.

NOTE: In a RAID level 0 configuration, the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive

multiplied by the number of drives in the configuration.

RAID Level 1 Configuration

A RAID level 1 configuration 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. RAID level 1 sacrifices high data-access rates for its data redundancy advantages.

38 Optimizing Performance

Page 39

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.

Configuring Your Computer for RAID

Your computer can be configured for RAID, even if you did not select a RAID configuration when the computer was purchased. You must have at least two hard drives installed in your computer to set up a RAID configuration. For an explanation of RAID levels, see "About Your RAID Configuration" on page 37. For instructions on how to install a hard drive, see "Installing a Hard Drive" on page 106.

You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes. The first 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 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 beginning any of the RAID configuration procedures in this document.

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode

Enter system setup (see "Entering System Setup" on page 127).

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight

Drives

SATA Operation

, then press <Enter>.

Optimizing Performance 39

Page 40

Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight

NOTE: For more information about RAID options, see "System Setup Options" on page 129.

Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight

RAID On

Save/Exit

, press <Enter>, and then press <Esc>.

, and then press <Enter> to exit system

setup and resume the boot process.

Using the Intel® RAID Option ROM Utility

NOTE: Hard drives of any size may be used to create a RAID configuration using the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.

Ideally, however, the drives should be of equal size to avoid unallocated or unused space. For an explanation of RAID levels, see "About Your RAID Configuration" on page 37.

Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration

NOTICE: The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on your hard drives. Back up any 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.

Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).

Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel® RAID Option ROM utility.

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight

Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default name, then press <Enter>.

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to select

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, then press <Enter>.

Create RAID Volume

RAID0 (Stripe)

, then 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.

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to change the strip size, then press <Enter>.

Select the desired capacity for the volume, then press <Enter>.

The default value is the maximum available size.

Press <Enter> to create the volume.

Press <y> to confirm that you want to create the RAID volume.

Confirm that the correct volume configuration is displayed on the main Intel® RAID Option ROM utility screen.

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to select

Install the operating system (see "Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore" on page 56).

Exit

, and then press <Enter>.

40 Optimizing Performance

Page 41

Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration

Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).

Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight

Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default name, then press <Enter>.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to select

If there are more than two hard drives available, press the up- and down-arrow keys and spacebar to

Create RAID Volume

RAID1 (Mirror)

, then press <Enter>.

select the two drives you want to use to make up your volume, then press <Enter>.

Select the desired capacity for the volume, then press <Enter>.

The default value is the maximum available size.

Press <Enter> to create the volume.

Press <y> to confirm that you want to create the RAID volume.

Confirm that the correct volume configuration is displayed on the main Intel RAID Option ROM utility screen.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to select

Install the operating system (see "Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore" on page 56).

Deleting a RAID Volume

NOTICE: The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on the hard drives in your RAID configuration.

Back up any data you want to keep before continuing.

Exit

, and then press <Enter>.

NOTICE: 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.

Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight the RAID volume you want to delete, then press

Delete RAID Volume

, then press <Enter>.

<Delete>.

Press <y> to confirm the deletion of the RAID volume.

Press <Esc> to exit the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.

Optimizing Performance 41

Page 42

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 then reconfigure both drives into a RAID volume without losing the existing operating system or data, use the migrating option (see "Migrating to a RAID Level 0 Configuration" on page 44 or "Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration" on page 44). 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 (with the operating system installed 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

NOTICE: The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on the hard drives in your RAID configuration.

Back up any data you want to keep before continuing.

Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).

Click

Start

and point to

Manager

On the click

On the

to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.

NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to RAID-enabled mode

(see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).

Actions

menu, select

Select Volume Location

level 0 volume, then click the right arrow.

Click to add a second hard drive, then click

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

Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel Matrix Storage

Create RAID Volume

to launch the Create RAID Volume Wizard, then

screen, click the first hard drive you want to include in your RAID

Selected

window, and then click

In the

Specify Volume Size

Click

Finish

to create the volume, or click

42 Optimizing Performance

window, click the

Back

Volume Size

desired, then click

to make changes.

Page 43

Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration

NOTICE: The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on the hard drives in your RAID configuration.

Back up any data you want to keep before continuing.

Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).

Click the

Storage Manager

On the

Click

Confirm the volume name, select

On the

Start

button and point to

Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel Matrix

to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.

NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to RAID-enabled mode

(see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).

Actions

Select Volume Location

menu, select

at the first screen.

Create RAID Volume

RAID 1

as the RAID level, and then click

to launch the Create RAID Volume Wizard.

to continue.

screen, click the first hard drive you want to use to create your RAID level 0 volume, then click the right arrow. Click to add a second hard drive until two drives appear in the

Selected

In the

Click

Follow Microsoft Windows procedures for creating a partition on the new RAID volume.

Deleting a RAID Volume

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.

Click the

Storage Manager

Right-click the

On the

Highlight the RAID volume you want to delete in the move the highlighted RAID volume into the

Click

window, and then click

Specify Volume Size

Finish

to create the volume, or click

Start

button and point to

window, select the

to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.

Volu me

icon of the RAID volume you want to delete, then select

Delete RAID Volume Wizard

Finish

to delete the volume.

Volume Size

Back

to make changes.

desired, then click

Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel Matrix

Delete Volume

screen, click

Selected

Available

box, click the right-arrow button to

box, and then click

Optimizing Performance 43

Page 44

Migrating to a RAID Level 0 Configuration

Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).

Click the

Storage Manager

On the

Start

button and point to

All Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel Matrix

to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.

NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to RAID-enabled mode

(see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).

Actions

menu, select

Create RAID Volume From Existing Hard Drive to

launch the

Migration Wizard.

Click

on the Migration Wizard screen.

Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default name.

From the drop-down box, select

Select the appropriate strip size from the drop-down box, and then click

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.

On the and click

On the

Select Source Hard Drive

NOTE: The source hard drive should be the hard drive containing the data or operating system files that you

want to keep on the RAID volume.

Select Member Hard Drive

drive(s) to span the stripe array, then click

On the

Specify Volume Size

RAID 0

as the RAID level

screen, double-click the hard drive from which you want to migrate,

screen, double-click the hard drive(s) to select the member

screen, select the

Volume Size

you want, then click

NOTICE: The next step will result in the loss of all data on the member drive.

Click

Finish

to start migrating, or click

Back

to make changes. You can use your computer normally

during the migration process.

Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration

Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).

Click the

Storage Manager

On the

Start

button and point to

All Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel Matrix

to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.

NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to RAID-enabled mode

(see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).

Actions

menu, click

Create RAID Volume From Existing Hard Drive

Wizard.

Click

on the first Migration Wizard screen.

44 Optimizing Performance

to launch the Migration

Page 45

Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default name.

From the drop-down box, select

On the and click

On the

Select Source Hard Drive

NOTE: The source hard drive should be the hard drive containing the data or operating system files that you

want to keep on the RAID volume.

Select Member Hard Drive

you want to act as the mirror in the configuration, then click

On the

NOTICE: The next step will result in the loss of all data on the member drive.

Click

Specify Volume Size

Finish

to start migrating, or click

RAID 1

as the RAID level

screen, double-click the hard drive from which you want to migrate,

screen, double-click the hard drive to select the member drive that

screen, select the volume size you want, then click

Back

to make changes. You can use your computer normally

during migration process.

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 fails, the computer automatically rebuilds the mirror configuration using the spare hard drive as the failed member’s replacement.

To mark a drive as a spare hard drive:

Click the

Storage Manager

Right-click the hard drive you want to mark as a spare hard drive.

Click

Start

button and point to

to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.

Mark as Spare

Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel Matrix

To remove a drive as a spare hard drive:

Right-click the spare hard drive icon.

Click

Reset Hard Drive to Non-RAID

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:

Click the

Storage Manager

Right-click the available hard drive to which you want to rebuild the RAID level 1 volume, then click

Rebuild to this Disk

Start

button and point to

to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.

Programs→ Intel(R) Application Accelerator→ Intel Matrix

You can use your computer while the computer is rebuilding the RAID level 1 volume.

Optimizing Performance 45

Page 46

Dell DataSafe (Optional)

Dell DataSafe is a solution to help you protect your data against unfortunate events such as data loss from system crashes, hard drive failures, software corruption, viruses, and other accidents. Using Intel technology, your computer has a robust level of data protection out of the factory. With Dell DataSafe, you will have a selected area on your system that automatically stores periodic copies of your computer's hard drive data. Not only does Dell DataSafe help you to store and protect your valuable data such as photos, music, videos, files, and more, it also helps restore your computer and your data in the event of a failure. The included software can give you the power to roll back your system to a healthy state after a system problem, easily retrieve deleted files, and recover individual files or an entire hard drive, and the Intel Matrix Storage Console (RAID) allows for continued functionality in the case of a single hard drive failure.

Intel® Viiv™ Technology (Optional)

Intel Viiv technology is a technology aimed at the digital home enthusiast that includes:

• A BIOS that supports Intel® Quick Resume Technology

• Device drivers

This technology allows the user’s system to quickly return to an active state after non-use.

Intel Viiv technology is an option for systems that are ordered with Microsoft Center Edition 2005 and dual core processors.

Using Intel® Viiv™ Quick Resume Technology (QRT)

When running in the Intel Viiv QRT mode, your power button is used as a quick on/off feature. Pressing the power button once causes the display to go blank and the audio to mute. In this mode, the computer is still operating as indicated by the power button indicator and diagnostic lights 1, 2, and 4 being lit. Also, you may notice that the hard drive indicator may blink when the hard drive is being accessed by an external device.

To resume normal computer operation, briefly press the power button, press any key on the keyboard, move the mouse, or press a button on the optional Microsoft Edition 2005 remote control.

Windows® XP Media Center

Windows® XP Media

46 Optimizing Performance

Page 47

Enabling the QRT Feature in System Setup

The QRT drivers must be installed before the Quick Resume feature becomes active. The QRT drivers are installed when this option is ordered. Also, Quick Resume is enabled in system setup when this feature is ordered.

Enter system setup (see "Entering System Setup" on page 127).

Press the arrow keys to highlight the the menu.

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight the access the menu.

Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight the On option, and then press <Enter> to enable the Quick Resume feature.

Power Management

Quick Resume

menu option, then press <Enter> to access

option, then press <Enter> to

Enabling the QRT Feature in the Operating system

Click the

Ensure that the check boxes for

Click the

From the

Start

button, then click

Away

tab.

Advanced

When I press the power button on my computer

When I press the sleep button on my computer

tab.

Control Panel

Enable away mode

and

Options

drop-down menu, select

are checked.

drop-down menu, select

Do Nothing

Optimizing Performance 47

Page 48

48 Optimizing Performance

Page 49

Troubleshooting Tools

Diagnostic Lights

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

Product Information Guide.

To help you troubleshoot a problem, your computer has four lights labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the front panel (see "Front View of the Computer" on page 13). When the computer starts normally, the lights flash before turning off. If the computer malfunctions, the sequence of the lights help to identify the problem.

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

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

All four diagnostic lights display solid green and then turn off after the system successfully boots to the operating system.

A possible processor failure has occurred. Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on

• Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet (see "Power Problems" on page 71).

• If the problem persists, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 137).

page 137).

Troubleshooting Tools 49

Page 50

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

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

A possible graphics card failure has occurred.

A possible floppy drive or hard drive failure has occurred.

• If two or more memory modules are installed, remove the modules (see "Removing Memory" on page 85), then reinstall one module (see "Installing Memory" on page 83) and restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, continue to install additional modules (one at a time) until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.

• If available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer (see "Installing Memory" on page 83).

• If the problem persists, contact Dell

"Contacting Dell" on page 137

(see

• Reseat any installed graphics card (see "Cards" on page 86).

• If available, install a working graphics card into your computer.

• If the problem persists, contact Dell

"Contacting Dell" on page 137

(see

Reseat all power and data cables.

A possible USB failure has occurred. Reinstall all USB devices and check all

50 Troubleshooting Tools

cable connections.

Page 51

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

No memory modules are detected.

• If available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer (see "Installing Memory" on page 83).

• If the problem persists, contact Dell

"Contacting Dell" on page 137

(see

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

• Ensure that no special requirements for memory module/connector placement exist (see "Memory" on page 82).

• Ensure that the memory you are using is supported by your computer (see "Memory" on page 123).

• If the problem persists, contact Dell

"Contacting Dell" on page 137).

(see

A possible expansion card failure has occurred.

Determine if a conflict exists by removing a card (not a graphics card) and restarting the computer (see "Cards" on page 86).

If the problem persists, reinstall the card that you removed, then remove a different card and restart the computer.

Repeat this process for each card installed. If the computer starts normally, troubleshoot the last card removed from the computer for resource conflicts (see "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities" on page 56).

If the problem persists, contact Dell

"Contacting Dell" on page 137

(see

Troubleshooting Tools 51

Page 52

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

The system is operating in quick resume mode. See "Using Intel Resume Technology (QRT)" on page 46 for additional information.

Another failure has occurred.

Viiv™ Quick

• Press the power button

• Move the mouse

• Press any key on the keyboard

• Press any key on the optional MCE remote control

• If the problem persists, contact Dell (see

"Contacting Dell" on page 137).

• Ensure that all hard drive and CD/DVD cables are properly connected to the system board (see "System Board Components" on page 81).

• If there is an error message on your screen identifying a problem with a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive), check the device to ensure that it is functioning properly.

• If the operating system is attempting to boot from a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive), check system setup (see "System Setup" on page 127) to ensure the boot sequence is correct for the devices installed on your computer.

• If the problem persists, contact Dell

"Contacting Dell" on page 137

(see

Dell Diagnostics

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

Product Information Guide.

If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in "Solving Problems" on page 61 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance.

NOTE: The Dell Diagnostics only operate on Dell computers.

Turn on (or restart) your computer.

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

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

When the boot device list appears, highlight

When the Dell Diagnostics

52 Troubleshooting Tools

Windows® desktop, then shut down your computer and try again.

Main Menu

Boot to Utility Partition

appears, select the test you want to run.

, then press <Enter>.

Page 53

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the you want.

Option Function

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

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

Extended Test Performs a thorough check of devices. This test typically takes 1 hour

or more and requires you to answer questions periodically.

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

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

select a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having.

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

If you cannot resolve the error condition, contact Dell (see

NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen. When contacting Dell

support, have your Service Tag ready.

If you run a test from the

Custom Test

the following table for more information.

Main Menu

Symptom Tree

screen appears, click the button for the option

"Contacting Dell" on page 137

option, click the applicable tab described in

Tab Function

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

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

description.

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

Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device.

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

Parameters Allows you to customize the test by changing the test settings.

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

Main Menu

screen.

screen. To exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the

Troubleshooting Tools 53

Page 54

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver program.

A driver acts like a translator between the device and any programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes.

Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed—no further installation or configuration is needed.

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft You may need to install drivers if you:

• Upgrade your operating system

• Reinstall your operating system

• Connect or install a new device

Identifying Drivers

If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver.

Windows XP

Click

Start

, then click

Click

System

In the

System Properties

Click

Device Manager

Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a [!]) on the device icon.

If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver.

Control Panel

window, click the

Hardware

tab.

Windows® operating system.

54 Troubleshooting Tools

Page 55

Reinstalling Drivers

NOTICE: The Dell Support website at support.dell.com provides approved drivers for Dell computers. If you install

drivers obtained from other sources, your computer might not work correctly.

Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback

If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver, use Windows XP Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version.

Click

Start

, then click

Click

System

In the

System Properties

Click

Device Manager

Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed, then click

Click the

Click

Drivers

Roll Back Driver

If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, use System Restore to return your computer to the operating state that existed before you installed the new driver.

Manually Reinstalling Drivers

After copying the required driver files to your hard drive, click

Computer

Click

Click the

Double-click the type of device for which you are installing the driver.

Double-click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver.

Click the

Click

When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click

Click

Properties

Hardware

Driver

Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)

Browse

and browse to the location to which you previously extracted the driver files.

Finish

, and then restart your computer.

Control Panel

window, click the

tab.

tab, then click

Hardware

Device Manager

Update Driver

tab.

Properties

Start

, and then right-click

, then click

Troubleshooting Tools 55

Page 56

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

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

To resolve incompatibilities using the Hardware Troubleshooter:

Click

Start

Ty p e

Click

In the then click

, then click

hardware troubleshooter

Hardware Troubleshooter

Help and Support

in the

Search Results

list, click

field, then click the arrow to start the search.

list.

I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my computer

, and

Restoring Your Operating System

You can restore your operating system in the following ways:

• Microsoft® Windows® XP System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files. Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files.

• Dell PC Restore by Symantec restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications installed after you received the computer. Use PC Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

• If you received an system. However, using the

only

if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

Operating System

CD with your computer, you can use it to restore your operating

CD also deletes all data on the hard drive. Use the CD

Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore

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

Click

Start→

Type a word or phrase that describes your problem, then click the arrow icon.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

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

NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view and may not apply if you set

your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view.

56 Troubleshooting Tools

Help and Support

Page 57

Creating a Restore Point

Click

Start

, then click

Click the task for

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State

Help and Support

System Restore

If problems occur after you install a device driver, use Device Driver Rollback (see "Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback" on page 55) to resolve the problem. If that is unsuccessful, use System Restore.

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

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

Click

Start

, point to

Ensure that

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

Select a Restore Point

The

Restore my computer to an earlier time

All Programs→

Accessories→

System Tools

, and then click

is selected, then click

System Restore

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

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

Select a restore point, then click

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

Click

Restoration Complete

The

screen appears after System Restore finishes collecting data, then the

computer restarts.

After the computer restarts, click OK.

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

Undoing the Last System Restore

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

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

Click

Start

, point to

Click

Undo my last restoration

Enabling System Restore

All Programs→ Accessories→ System Tools

, and then click

System Restore

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

Click

Start

, then click

Click

Performance and Maintenance

Control Pane l

.Click

System

Troubleshooting Tools 57

Page 58

Click the

Ensure that

System Restore

tab.

Turn off System Restore

is unchecked.

Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec

NOTICE: Using Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications or

drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using PC Restore. Use PC Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec is not available in all countries or on all computers.

Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system. PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Any programs or files added since you received your computer—including data files—are permanently deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos, music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore.

To use PC Restore:

Turn on the computer.

During the boot process, a blue bar with

Immediately, upon seeing the blue bar, press <Ctrl><F11>.

If you do not press <Ctrl><F11> in time, let the computer finish starting, then restart the computer again.

NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.

On the next screen that appears, click

On the next screen, click

Confirm

The restore process takes approximately 6–10 minutes to complete.

Restore

www.dell.com

appears at the top of the screen.

When prompted, click

NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot.

When prompted, click

The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the screens that appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that appeared the first time the computer was turned on.

Click

System Restore

The

After the computer restarts, click OK.

58 Troubleshooting Tools

Finish

to reboot the computer.

Yes

screen appears and the computer restarts.

Page 59

Removing Dell PC Restore

NOTICE: Removing Dell PC Restore from the hard drive permanently deletes the PC Restore utility from your

computer. After you have removed Dell PC Restore, you will not be able to use it to restore your computer’s operating system.

Dell PC Restore enables you to restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased your computer. It is recommended that you do not remove PC Restore from your computer, even to gain additional hard-drive space. If you remove PC Restore from the hard drive, you can never recall it, and you will not be able to use PC Restore to return your computer’s operating system to its original state.

Log on to the computer as a local administrator.

In Windows Explorer, go to

Double-click the filename

NOTE: If you do not log on as a local administrator, a message appears stating that you that you must log on

as administrator. Click Quit, and then log on as a local administrator.

NOTE: If the partition for PC Restore does not exist on your computer’s hard drive, a message appears

stating that the partition was not found. Click Quit; there is no partition to delete.

Click OK to remove the PC Restore partition on the hard drive.

Click

Yes

when a confirmation message appears.

c:\dell\utilities\DSR

DSRIRRemv2.exe

The PC Restore partition is deleted and the newly available disk space is added to the free space allocation on the hard drive.

Right-click space is available as indicated by the increased value for

Click

Restart the computer.

Local Disk (C)

Finish

to close the

in Windows Explorer, click

PC Restore Removal

window.

Properties

Free Space

and verify that the additional disk

Troubleshooting Tools 59

Page 60

60 Troubleshooting Tools

Page 61

Solving Problems

Troubleshooting Tips

Follow these tips when you troubleshoot your computer:

• If you added or removed a part before the problem started, review the installation procedures and ensure that the part is correctly installed.

• If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly connected.

• If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message. This message may help support personnel diagnose and fix the problem(s).

• If an error message occurs in a program, see the program’s documentation.

• If you cannot boot to your operating system after you have changed your SATA operation settings, restore your previous SATA operation settings and retry booting to the operating system.

Battery Problems

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery

only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

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

Product Information Guide.

REPLACE THE BATTERY — If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on

the computer, or if an incorrect time or date displays during start-up, replace the battery (see "Replacing the Battery" on page 120). If the battery still does not work properly, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 137).

Solving Problems 61

Page 62

Drive Problems

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

Product Information Guide.

ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE — Click Start, then click My

Computer. If the floppy, CD, or DVD drive, is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive.

TEST THE DRIVE —

• Insert another floppy, CD, or DVD to eliminate the possibility that the original is defective.

• Insert a bootable floppy and restart the computer.

CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK — See "Cleaning Your Computer" on page 34.

CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore" on

page 56.

RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS — See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 52.

CD and DVD drive problems

NOTE: High-speed CD or DVD drive vibration is normal and may cause noise. This does not indicate a defect in the

drive or the CD or DVD.

NOTE: Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all DVD titles work in all DVD drives.

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL —

• Click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen.

• Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slidebar and dragging it up.

• Ensure that the sound is not muted by clicking any boxes that are checked.

CHECK THE SPEAKERS AND SUBWOOFER — See "Sound and Speaker Problems" on page 73.

62 Solving Problems

Page 63

Problems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive

CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS — The CD/DVD-RW drive must receive a steady stream of data when writing. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. Try closing all programs before you write to the CD/DVD-RW.

TURN OFF STANDBY MODE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD/DVD-RW DISC — Search for the keyword standby in Windows Help.

Hard drive problems

RUN CHECK DISK —

Click

Start

, then click

Right-click

Click

Click the

Under

Click

Local Disk C:

Properties

Tools

Error-checking Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors Start

tab.

My Computer

, click

Check Now

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

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

Product Information Guide.

NOTE: Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only. The modem does not operate while it is connected to

a digital telephone network.

CHECK THE MICROSOFT OUTLOOK® EXPRESS SECURITY SETTINGS — If you cannot open your e-mail attachments:

In Outlook Express, click

Click

Do not allow attachments

To ol s

, click

Options

to remove the checkmark.

, and then click

Security

Solving Problems 63

Page 64

CHECK THE TELEPHONE LINE CONNECTION —

HECK THE TELEPHONE JACK —

C C

ONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK — SE A DIFFERENT TELEPHONE LINE —

• Verify that the telephone line is connected to the jack on the modem. (The jack has either a green label or a connector-shaped icon next to it.)

• Ensure that you feel a click when you insert the telephone line connector into the modem.

• Disconnect the telephone line from the modem and connect it to a telephone. Listen for a dial tone.

• If you have other telephone devices sharing the line, such as an answering machine, fax machine, surge protector, or line splitter, bypass them and use the telephone to connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack. If you are using a line that is 3 m (10 ft) or more in length, try a shorter one.

RUN THE MODEM HELPER DIAGNOSTICS — Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Modem Helper. Follow the instructions on the screen to identify and resolve modem problems. Modem Helper

is not available on all computers.

VERIFY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH WINDOWS —

Click

Start

, then click

Click

Printers and Other Hardware

Click

Phone and Modem Options

Click the

Click the COM port for your modem.

Click

Modems

Properties

Control Panel

tab.

, click the

Diagnostics

tab, and then click

Query Modem

to verify that the modem is

communicating with Windows. If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.

ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET — Ensure that you have subscribed to an Internet provider. With the Outlook Express e-mail program open, click File. If Work Offline has a checkmark next to it, click the checkmark to remove it, then connect to the Internet. For help, contact your Internet service provider.

64 Solving Problems

Page 65

Error Messages

If the error message is not listed, see the documentation for the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared.

A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS: \ / : * ? “ < > | — Do not use these characters in filenames.

A REQUIRED .DLL FILE WAS NOT FOUND — The program that you are trying to open is missing an essential file. To remove and then reinstall the program:

Click

Start

, click

Control Panel

Select the program you want to remove.

Click the

See the program documentation for installation instructions.

ALERT! AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR NOT DETECTED — The ambient thermal sensor is not detected. Press F1 to continue or F2 to enter system setup.

drive letter :\ IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE DEVICE IS NOT READY — The drive cannot read the disk. Insert a disk into the drive and try again.

INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA — Insert a bootable floppy or CD.

Change or Remove Program

, and then click

icon.

Add or Remove Programs

NON-SYSTEM DISK ERROR — Remove the floppy from the drive and restart your computer.

NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES. CLOSE SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN — Close all

windows and open the program that you want to use. In some cases, you may have to restart your computer to restore computer resources. If so, run the program that you want to use first.

OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND — Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 137).

Solving Problems 65

Page 66

Media Card Reader Problems

NO DRIVE LETTER IS ASSIGNED — When Microsoft Windows XP detects the Media Card Reader, the device is automatically assigned a drive letter as the next logical drive after all other physical drives in the system. If the next logical drive after the physical drives is mapped to a network drive, Windows XP does not automatically assign a drive letter to the Media Card Reader.

To manually assign a drive for the Media Card Reader:

Right-click My Computer and select

Select the

Right-click the corresponding drive letter in the right pane that needs to be changed.

Select

From the drop-down list, select the new drive letter assignment for the Media Card Reader.

Click OK to confirm your selection.

Disk Management

Drive Letter and Paths.

option.

Manage

NOTE: The Media Card Reader appears as a mapped drive only when it is connected. Each of the four

Media Card Reader slots are mapped to a drive even if no media is installed. If you attempt to access the Media Card Reader when no media is inserted, you are prompted to insert media.

FLEXBAY DEVICE IS DISABLED — There is a FlexBay disable option in the BIOS setup that appears only when the FlexBay device is installed. If the FlexBay device is physically installed, but it is not running, check to see if it is enabled in the BIOS setup.

Keyboard Problems

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

Product Information Guide.

CHECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE —

• Ensure that the keyboard cable is firmly connected to the computer.

• Shut down the computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 77), reconnect the keyboard cable as shown on the setup diagram for your computer, and then restart the computer.

• Ensure that the cable is not damaged or frayed, and check cable connectors for bent or broken pins. Straighten any bent pins.

• Remove any keyboard extension cables, and connect the keyboard directly to the computer.

TEST THE KEYBOARD — Connect a properly working keyboard to the computer, then try using the keyboard.

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities"

on page 56.

66 Solving Problems

Page 67

Lockups and Software Problems

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

the Product Information Guide.

The computer does not start up

CHECK THE DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS — See "Diagnostic Lights" on page 49.

ENSURE THAT THE POWER CABLE IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER AND TO THE

LECTRICAL OUTLET

The computer stops responding

NOTICE: You may lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.

TURN THE COMPUTER OFF — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or

moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off, and then restart your computer.

A program stops responding

END THE PROGRAM —

Press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously.

Click

Applications

Click the program that is no longer responding.

Click

End Task

A program crashes repeatedly

NOTE: Most software includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk or CD.

CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION — If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.

Solving Problems 67

Page 68

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system

RUN THE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD — The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-Windows XP operating system environments.

Click

Start

, point to

In the welcome screen, click

Follow the instructions on the screen.

All Programs→ Accessories

, and then click

Program Compatibility Wizard

A solid blue screen appears

TURN THE COMPUTER OFF — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off, and then restart your computer.

Memory Problems

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

Information Guide.

IF YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE —

• Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using.

• See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements. If necessary, install additional memory (see "Installing Memory" on page 83).

• Reseat the memory modules (see "Memory" on page 82) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.

• Run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 52).

IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS —

• Reseat the memory modules (see "Memory" on page 82) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.

• Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines (see "Installing Memory" on page 83).

• Your computer supports DDR2 memory. For more information about the type of memory supported by your computer, see "Memory" on page 123.

• Run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 52).

Mouse Problems

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

Information Guide.

CLEAN THE MOUSE — For instructions on cleaning the mouse, see "Cleaning the Mouse" on page 35.

CHECK THE MOUSE CABLE —

Remove any mouse extension cables, and connect the mouse directly to the computer.

Verify that the mouse cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for your computer.

Solving Problems 69

Page 70

RESTART THE COMPUTER —

Simultaneously press <Ctrl><Esc> to display the

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

After the computer turns off, reconnect the mouse cable as shown on the on the setup diagram for your computer.

Turn on the computer.

TEST THE MOUSE — Connect a properly working mouse to the computer, then try using the mouse.

CHECK THE MOUSE SETTINGS —

Click

Start

, click

Control Panel

Click

Mouse

Adjust the settings as needed.

REINSTALL THE MOUSE DRIVER — See "Reinstalling Drivers" on page 55.

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities"

on page 56.

, and then click

Start

menu.

Shut down

Printers and Other Hardware

Turn Off

, and then press

Network Problems

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

Information Guide.

CHECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR — Ensure that the network cable is firmly inserted into the network connector on the back of the computer and the network jack.

CHECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE BACK OF THE COMPUTER — If the link integrity light is off, no network communication exists. Replace the network cable. For a description of network lights, see "Controls and Lights" on page 126.

RESTART THE COMPUTER AND LOG ON TO THE NETWORK AGAIN

CHECK YOUR NETWORK SETTINGS — Contact your network administrator or the person who set up

your network to verify that your network settings are correct and that the network is functioning.

70 Solving Problems

Page 71

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities" on page 56.

Power Problems

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

Information Guide.

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS GREEN AND THE COMPUTER IS NOT RESPONDING — See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 52.

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING GREEN — The computer is in standby mode. Press a key on the keyboard, move the mouse, or press the power button to resume normal operation.

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS OFF — The computer is either turned off or is not receiving power.

• Reseat the power cable into the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.

• If the computer is plugged into a power strip, ensure that the power strip is plugged into an electrical outlet and that the power strip is turned on.

• Bypass power protection devices, power strips, and power extension cables to verify that the computer turns on properly.

• Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

• Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board (see "System Board Components" on page 81).

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS STEADY AMBER — A device may be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed.

• Remove and then reinstall the memory modules (see "Memory" on page 82).

• Remove and then reinstall any cards, including graphics cards (see "Cards" on page 86).

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING AMBER — The computer is receiving electrical power, but an internal power problem may exist.

• Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location, if applicable.

• Ensure that the processor power cable is securely connected to the system board (see "System Board Components" on page 81).

ELIMINATE INTERFERENCE — Some possible causes of interference are:

• Power, keyboard, and mouse extension cables

• Too many devices connected to the same power strip

• Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet

Solving Problems 71

Page 72

Printer Problems

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

Information Guide.

NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your printer, contact the printer’s manufacturer.

CHECK THE PRINTER DOCUMENTATION — See the printer documentation for setup and troubleshooting information.

ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON

CHECK THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS —

• See the printer documentation for cable connection information.

• Ensure that the printer cables are securely connected to the printer and the computer (see "Setting Up a Printer" on page 20).

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

VERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS —

Click

Start

, click

Control Panel

Click

View installed printers or fax printers

If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.

Click

Properties

is set to

USB

, then click the

, and then click

Ports

tab. For a USB printer, ensure that

Printers and Other Hardware

Print to the following port(s):

REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER — See the printer documentation for instructions.

Scanner Problems

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

Information Guide.

NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your scanner, contact the scanner’s manufacturer.

CHECK THE SCANNER DOCUMENTATION — See the scanner documentation for setup and troubleshooting information.

72 Solving Problems

Page 73

UNLOCK THE SCANNER — Ensure that your scanner is unlocked (if the scanner has a locking tab or button).

RESTART THE COMPUTER AND TRY THE SCANNER AGAIN

CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS —

• See the scanner documentation for cable connection information.

• Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer.

VERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY MICROSOFT WINDOWS —

Click

Start

, click

Control Panel

Click

Scanners and Cameras

If your scanner is listed, Windows recognizes the scanner.

REINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER — See the scanner documentation for instructions.

, and then click

Printers and Other Hardware

Sound and Speaker Problems

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

Information Guide.

No sound from speakers

NOTE: The volume control in MP3 and other media players may override the Windows volume setting. Always

check to ensure that the volume on the media player(s) has not been turned down or off.

CHECK THE SPEAKER CABLE CONNECTIONS — Ensure that the speakers are connected as shown on the setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If you purchased a sound card, ensure that the speakers are connected to the card.

ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON — See the setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If your speakers have volume controls, adjust the volume, bass, or treble to eliminate distortion.

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.

Solving Problems 73

Page 74

DISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR — Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the computer’s front-panel headphone connector.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, or halogen lamps to check for interference.

REINSTALL THE SOUND DRIVER — See "Reinstalling Drivers" on page 55.

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities"

on page 56.

No sound from headphones

CHECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION — Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector (see "Front View of the Computer" on page 13).

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.

Video and Monitor Problems

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

Information Guide.

NOTE: See the monitor documentation for troubleshooting procedures.

The screen is blank

CHECK THE MONITOR CABLE CONNECTION —

• Ensure that the monitor cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for your computer.

• Remove any video extension cables and connect the monitor directly to the computer.

• Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is defective.

• Check the connectors for bent or broken pins (it is normal for monitor cable connectors to have missing pins).

74 Solving Problems

Page 75

CHECK THE MONITOR POWER LIGHT —

• If the power light is off, firmly press the button to ensure that the monitor is turned on.

• If the power light is lit or blinking, the monitor has power.

• If the power light is blinking, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse to resume normal operation.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

CHECK THE DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS — See "Diagnostic Lights" on page 49.

The screen is difficult to read

CHECK THE MONITOR SETTINGS — See the monitor documentation for instructions on adjusting the contrast and brightness, demagnetizing (degaussing) the monitor, and running the monitor self-test.

MOVE THE SUBWOOFER AWAY FROM THE MONITOR — If your speaker system includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm (2 ft) away from the monitor.

MOVE THE MONITOR AWAY FROM EXTERNAL POWER SOURCES — Fans, fluorescent lights, halogen lamps, and other electrical devices can cause the screen image to appear "shaky." Turn off nearby devices to check for interference.

ROTATE THE MONITOR TO ELIMINATE SUNLIGHT GLARE AND POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE

ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS —

Click

Start

, click

Click

Adjust

Control Panel

Display

, then click the

Screen resolution

, and then click

Settings

and

Color quality

tab.

settings, as needed

Appearance and Themes

Solving Problems 75

Page 76

76 Solving Problems

Page 77

Removing and Installing Parts

Before You Begin

This chapter provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist:

• You have performed the steps in "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 77 and "Before Working Inside Your Computer" on page 78.

• You have read the safety information in your Dell™

• A component can be replaced by performing the removal procedure in reverse order.

Recommended Tools

The procedures in this document may require the following tools:

• Small flat-blade screwdriver

• Phillips screwdriver

• Flash BIOS update program (download from

Turning Off Your Computer

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

your computer.

Shut down the operating system:

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

Computer

In the

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

Turn off computer

window, click

Tur n of f

Product Information Guide.

support.dell.com

)

Start

, and then click

Turn Off

Ensure that the computer and any attached devices are turned off. If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system, press and hold the power button for 4 seconds.

Removing and Installing Parts 77

Page 78

Before Working Inside Your Computer

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

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

Information Guide.

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

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

CAUTION: When working inside the computer, be aware that the processor heat-sink assembly, power supply,

graphics card, and other components may be very hot during normal operation. Be sure that they have sufficient time to cool before you touch them.

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

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

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

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

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

computer.

Turn off your computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 77).

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

network wall jack.

Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

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

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

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

Removing the Computer Cover

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

Information Guide.

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

removing the cover.

78 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 79

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

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

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

If you have installed a security cable, remove it from the security cable slot.

NOTICE: Ensure that sufficient space exists to support the removed cover—at least 30 cm (1 ft) of desk top space.

NOTICE: Ensure that you are working on a level, protected surface to avoid scratching either the computer or the

surface on which it is resting.

Lay your computer on its side with the computer cover facing up.

Pull back the cover release latch on the top panel.

1 cover release latch 2 computer cover 3 hinge tabs (3)

Locate the three hinge tabs on the bottom edge of the computer.

Grip the sides of the computer cover and pivot the cover up.

Lift the cover away and set it aside in a secure location.

Removing and Installing Parts 79

Page 80

Inside View of Your Computer

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

Information Guide.

1 power supply 2 system board 3 hard drive

4 card fan 5 media card reader (optional) 6 floppy drive (optional)

7 CD or DVD drive 8 processor fan 9 processor shroud and

processor

80 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 81

System Board Components

1 memory module connectors

(1, 2, 3, 4)

4 front panel I/O connector 5 main power connector 6 SATA connectors (4) (SATA2,

7 FlexBay USB connector 8 clear CMOS jumper

2 battery socket (BATTERY) 3 SATA Connectors SATA0,

(CLRCMOS)

SATA1)

SATA3, SATA4, SATA5

9 password jumper (CLRPSWD)

Removing and Installing Parts 81

Page 82

10 PCI Express x1 card connector 11 PCI Express x16 card

connector

13 PCI card connectors 14 floppy drive connector

(FLOPPY)

16 rear fan connector 17 thermal sensor connector 18 CPU fan connector

19 processor and heat sink

connector

20 processor power connector

12 PCI Express x4 card connector

15 PS/2 and Serial connector

Memory

You can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on the system board. For information on the type of memory supported by your computer, see "Memory" on page 123.

Memory Overview

• Memory modules should be installed in memory modules are not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate, but with a slight reduction in performance. See the label in the upper-right corner of the module to determine the module’s capacity.

pairs of matched memory size, speed, and technology

. If the

NOTE: Always install memory modules in the order indicated on the system board.

The recommended memory configurations are:

– A pair of matched memory modules installed in connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM_2

– A pair of matched memory modules installed in connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM_2 and another

matched pair installed in connectors DIMM_3 and DIMM_4

• If you install mixed pairs of DDR2 533-MHz (PC2-4300), DDR2 667-MHz (PC2-5300), and DDR2 800-MHz (PC2-6400) memory, the modules function at the slowest speed installed.

• Be sure to install a single memory module in the DIMM_1 connector, the connector closest to the processor, before you install modules in the other connectors.

• While installing memory modules, ensure that you do not mix ECC and non-ECC memory.

82 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 83

Channel A: matched pair of memory modules in connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM_2 (white securing clips)

Channel B: matched pair of memory modules in connectors DIMM_3 and DIMM_4 (black securing clips)

NOTE: Memory purchased from Dell is covered under your computer warranty.

NOTICE: If you remove your original memory modules from the computer during a memory upgrade, keep them

separate from any new modules that you may have, even if you purchased the new modules from Dell. If possible, do not pair an original memory module with a new memory module. Otherwise, your computer may not start properly. You should install your original memory modules in pairs either in connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM_2 or connectors DIMM_3 and DIMM_4.

Addressing Memory With 4-GB Configurations

Your computer supports a maximum of 4 GB of memory when you use four 1-GB DIMMs. Current operating systems, such as Microsoft

Windows® XP, can only use a maximum of 4 GB of address space; however, the amount of memory available to the operating system is less than 4 GB. Certain components within the computer require address space in the 4-GB range. Any address space reserved for these components cannot be used by computer memory.

Installing Memory

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

Information Guide.

NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity from your

body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78).

Lay the computer on its side so that the system board is on the bottom of the inside of the computer.

Removing and Installing Parts 83

Page 84

Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector.

Align the notch on the bottom of the module with the crossbar in the connector.

1 cutouts (2) 2 memory module 3 notch

4 crossbar

84 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 85

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the memory module, press the module straight down into the connector while you

apply equal force to each end of the module.

Insert the module into the connector until the module snaps into position.

If you insert the module correctly, the securing clips snap into the cutouts at each end of the module.

Replace the computer cover.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the

computer.

Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.

Right-click the

Click the

To verify that the memory is installed correctly, check the amount of memory (RAM) listed.

My Computer

General

tab.

icon, then click

Properties

Removing Memory

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

Information Guide.

NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity from your

body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78).

Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector.

Grasp the module and pull up.

If the module is difficult to remove, gently ease the module back and forth to remove it from the connector.

Removing and Installing Parts 85

Page 86

Cards

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

Information Guide.

NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity from your

body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer.

Your Dell™ computer provides the following slots for PCI and PCI Express cards:

• Three PCI card slots

• One PCI Express x1 card slot

• One PCI Express x16 card slot

• One PCI Express x4 card slot

PCI Cards

• If you are installing or replacing a card, follow the procedures in the next section.

• If you are removing but not replacing a card, see "Removing a PCI Card" on page 90.

• If you are replacing a card, remove the current driver for the card from the operating system.

• If you are installing or replacing a PCI Express card, see "Installing a PCI Express Card" on page 92.

Installing a PCI Card

NOTE: Dell offers an optional customer kit for Audigy II and IEEE 1394 PCI add-in-cards that includes a front-

mounted IEEE 1394 connector.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78).

86 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 87

1 release tabs (2) 2 filler bracket 3 alignment guide

4 alignment bar 5 card retention door

Removing and Installing Parts 87

Page 88

Push the two release tabs on the card retention door from the inside to pivot the door open. Because the door is hinged, it will remain in the open position.

1 release tab 2 card retention mechanism 3 card retention door

If your computer includes a card retention mechanism to secure the x16 card, press the release tab

downward gently and then pivot the mechanism upward to access the card slots.

If you are installing a new card, remove the filler bracket to create a card-slot opening. Then continue with step 7.

If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer, remove the card.

If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card. Grasp the card by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector.

Prepare the card for installation.

See the documentation that came with the card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise customizing it for your computer.

CAUTION: Some network adapters automatically start the computer when they are connected to a network. To

guard against electrical shock, be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before installing any cards.

Place the card in the connector and press down firmly. Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot.

88 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 89

1 fully seated card 2 not fully seated card 3 bracket within slot

4 bracket caught outside of slot 5 alignment bar 6 alignment guide

Before you close the card retention door, ensure that:

• The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar.

• The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide.

1 card retention door 2 release tabs (2)

Removing and Installing Parts 89

Page 90

Close the card retention door by snapping it into place to secure the card(s).

NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or behind the cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent the

computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment.

Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.

See the documentation for the card for information about the card cable connections.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device and then plug the cable into the

computer.

If you replaced a card that was already installed in the computer and you removed the retention mechanism, reinstall the retention mechanism.

Before replacing the card retention mechanism, ensure that:

• The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar.

• The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide.

Snap the card retention mechanism into place, securing the PCI card.

Replace the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.

If you installed a sound card:

Enter system setup, select

Connect external audio devices to the sound card connectors. Do not connect external audio

Integrated Audio Controller

, and then change the setting to

Off

devices to the integrated microphone, speaker/headphone, or line-in connectors on the back panel.

If you installed an add-in network adapter and want to disable the integrated network adapter:

Enter system setup, select

Connect the network cable to the add-in network adapter connectors. Do not connect the network

Integrated NIC Controller,

and then change the setting to

Off

cable to the integrated connector on the back panel.

Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation.

Removing a PCI Card

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78).

If you are removing the card permanently, install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening.

If you need a filler bracket, contact Dell (see

NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the

computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device and then plug the cable into the

computer.

"Contacting Dell" on page 137

90 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 91

Replace the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.

Remove the card driver from the operating system.

If you removed a sound card:

Enter system setup, select

Connect external audio devices to the audio connectors on the back panel of the computer.

If you removed an add-in network connector:

Enter system setup, select

Connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel of the computer.

Integrated Audio Controller

Integrated NIC Controller

, and then change the setting toOn.

PCI Express Cards

Your computer supports:

• One PCI Express x1 card

• One PCI Express x16 card

• One PCI Express x4 card

If you are installing or replacing a PCI Express card, follow the procedures in the next section. If you are removing but not replacing a card, see "Removing a PCI Express Card" on page 97.

If you are replacing a card, remove the current driver for the card from the operating system.

If you are installing or replacing a PCI card, see "Installing a PCI Card" on page 86.

Removing and Installing Parts 91

Page 92

Installing a PCI Express Card

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

1 card retention door 2 release tabs (2) 3 lever on chassis wall (may not

4 filler bracket 5 alignment guide 6 alignment bar

If present on your computer, rotate the lever on the chassis wall upward.

Push the two release tabs on the card retention door toward each other and pivot the door open.

be present on all computers)

Because the door is captive, it will remain in the open position.

If your computer includes a card retention mechanism to secure the x16 card, press the release tab downward gently and then pivot the mechanism upward to access the card slots.

92 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 93

1 release tab 2 card retention mechanism 3 card retention door

If you are installing a new card, remove the filler bracket to create a card-slot opening. Then continue

with step 7.

If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer, remove the existing card.

If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card. If your card includes a retention mechanism, remove the top of the retention mechanism by pressing the tab and pulling up on the top.

Removing and Installing Parts 93

Page 94

Pull the securing tab, grasp the card by its top corners, and then ease it out of its connector.

1 PCI Express x16 card slot 2 PCI Express x16 card 3 securing tab

4 PCI Express x1 card 5 PCI Express x1 card slot

Prepare the card for installation.

See the documentation that came with the card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise customizing it for your computer.

CAUTION: Some network adapters automatically start the computer when they are connected to a network.

To guard against electrical shock, be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before installing any cards.

If you are installing the card into the x16 card connector, position the card so that the securing slot is aligned with the securing tab.

NOTICE: Ensure that you release the securing tab to seat the card. If the card is not installed correctly, you may

damage the system board.

Place the card in the connector and press down firmly. Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot.

94 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 95

1 fully seated card 2 not fully seated card 3 bracket within slot

4 bracket caught outside of slot 5 alignment bar 6 alignment guide

Ensure that:

• The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar.

• The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide.

If you removed a card retention mechanism, snap it into place, securing the PCI-E card.

Removing and Installing Parts 95

Page 96

1 release tab 2 card retention mechanism 3 card retention door

NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or behind the cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent the

computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device and then plug the cable into the

computer.

Replace the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn

them on.

If you installed a sound card:

Enter system setup, select

Connect external audio devices to the sound card’s connectors. Do not connect external audio

Integrated Audio Controller

, and then change the setting to

devices to the integrated microphone, speaker/headphone, or line-in connectors on the back panel.

If you installed an add-in network adapter and want to disable the integrated network adapter:

Enter system setup, select

Connect the network cable to the add-in network adapter’s connectors. Do not connect the

Integrated NIC Controller,

and then change the setting to

Off

network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel.

Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation.

Off

96 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 97

Removing a PCI Express Card

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78).

1 card retention door 2 release tabs (2) 3 lever on chassis wall (may not

be present on all computers)

4 filler bracket 5 alignment guide 6 alignment bar

If present on your computer, rotate the lever on the chassis wall upward.

Removing and Installing Parts 97

Page 98

Push the two release tabs on the card retention door toward each other and pivot the door open. Because the door is hinged, it will remain in the open position.

1 release tab 2 card retention mechanism 3 card retention door

If your computer includes a card retention mechanism to secure the x16 card, press the release tab

downward gently and then pivot the mechanism upward to access the card slots.

1 PCI Express x16 card slot 2 PCI Express x16 card 3 securing tab

4 PCI Express x1 card 5 PCI Express x1 card slot

98 Removing and Installing Parts

Page 99

NOTICE: Ensure that you release the securing tab to unseat the card. If the card is not removed correctly, the

system board may be damaged.

Release the securing tab on the card slot to unseat the card.

If you are removing the card permanently, install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening.

If you need a filler bracket, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 137).

NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the

computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.

Reseat the card retention mechanism in the tabs and pivot downward to snap it into place.

Close the card retention door to snap it into place, securing the card(s).

NOTE: For full-length PCI-E cards, if a "piano" bracket is present on your computer you need to rotate it down into

place.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device and then plug the cable into the

computer.

Replace the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.

Remove the card driver from the operating system.

If you removed a sound card:

Enter system setup, select

Connect external audio devices to the integrated audio connectors on the back panel of the

Integrated Audio Controller

, and then change the setting to On.

computer.

If you removed an add-in network connector:

Enter system setup, select

Connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel of the computer.

Integrated NIC Controller

, and then change the setting to On.

NOTE: Install

any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation.

Removing and Installing Parts 99

Page 100

Drive Panels

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

Information Guide.

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

removing the cover.

Removing the Drive Panel

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77.

Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78).

1 sliding plate 2 sliding plate lever 3 drive panel

100 Removing and Installing Parts

Dell XPS 410 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Owner’s Manual

Contents

Finding Information

Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Front View of the Computer

Back View of the Computer

Back Panel Connectors

Connecting Monitors

Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors

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

Connecting a Television (TV)

Changing the Display Settings

Setting Up a Printer

Printer Cable

Connecting a USB Printer

Connecting to the Internet

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter

Network Setup Wizard

Transferring Information to a New Computer

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD

Playing CDs and DVDs

Playing a CD or DVD

Adjusting the Volume

Adjusting the Picture

Copying CDs and DVDs

How to Copy a CD or DVD

Using Blank CDs and DVDs

Helpful Tips

Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)

IEEE 1394 (Optional)

Power Management

Overview

Standby Mode

Hibernate Mode

Power Options Properties

Cleaning Your Computer

Cleaning the Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor

Cleaning the Mouse

Cleaning the Floppy Drive

Cleaning CDs and DVDs

Optimizing Performance

Hyper-Threading

About Your RAID Configuration

RAID Level 0 Configuration

RAID Level 1 Configuration

Configuring Your Computer for RAID

Using the Intel® RAID Option ROM Utility

Using the Intel® Application Accelerator

Dell DataSafe (Optional)

Intel® Viiv™ Technology (Optional)

Using Intel® Viiv™ Quick Resume Technology (QRT)

Enabling the QRT Feature in System Setup

Enabling the QRT Feature in the Operating system

Troubleshooting Tools

Diagnostic Lights

Dell Diagnostics

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

Identifying Drivers

Reinstalling Drivers

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Restoring Your Operating System

Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore

Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec

Solving Problems

Troubleshooting Tips

Battery Problems

Drive Problems

CD and DVD drive problems

Hard drive problems

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

Error Messages