Dell T7400, YT583 User Manual

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Page 1

Dell Precision™ T7400 User’s Guide

Model DCDO

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.

____________________

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, and Dell OpenManage are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel and Xeon are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, and Windows V ista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

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 DCDO

August 2007 P/N YT583 Rev. A00

Page 3

Contents

1 Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2 About Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Front View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Back View of the Computer

Back Panel Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Inside View

System Board Components

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

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

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

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

3 Advanced Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

LegacySelect Technology Control . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Manageability

Alert Standard Format

Dell OpenManage™ IT Assistant

Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation . . . . . 37

Power Management

About RAID Configurations

RAID Level 0

RAID Level 1

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

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

. . . . . . . . . 37

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

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

Contents 3

Page 4

RAID Level 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

RAID Level 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Configuring Your Computer for RAID

. . . . . . . . 44

RAID Configuration Utility

Entering the RAID Configuration Utility

Navigating Within the Configuration Utility

RAID Configuration and Management

Exit Screen

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

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

. . . . . . 44

. . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . 44

Performing Configuration Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration

. . . . . . . 45

Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration . . . . . . . 46

Creating a Second RAID Volume

Viewing RAID Volume Properties

. . . . . . . . . . 47

. . . . . . . . . 47

Synchronizing a RAID Volume (Virtual Disk) . . . . 48

Activating a RAID Volume

Deleting a RAID Volume

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

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

Replacing and Rebuilding a Degraded RAID Volume 49

4 Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure . . . . . . . 51

Connecting to the Internet

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

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

. . . . . . . . 54

4 Contents

Transferring Information to a New Computer

Microsoft

Microsoft Windows Vista™

Power Protection Devices

Surge Protectors

Line Conditioners

Windows® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

. . . . . . 55

Page 5

Uninterruptible Power Supplies . . . . . . . . . . 60

5 Securing Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Chassis Intrusion Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch

Replacing the Chassis Intrusion Switch

Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector . . . . . 62

Security Cable Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

. . . . . . 61

. . . . . . 62

Passwords

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

About Passwords

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

Using a Primary (or System) Password

. . . . . . 65

Using an Administrator Password . . . . . . . . . 68

Disabling a Forgotten Password and Setting a New Password 70

Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

Enabling the TPM Feature

Security Management Software

Activating the Security Management Software

Using the Security Management Software

Computer Tracking Software

If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen

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

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

. . 72

. . . . 72

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

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

6 System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Entering System Setup

System Setup Options

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

Boot Menu

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

Contents 5

Page 6

Option Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Selecting the Boot Device for the Current Boot . . 84

Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots

Booting to a USB Device

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

. . . . 85

7 Clearing Forgotten Passwords . . . . . . . . 87

Clearing CMOS Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Flashing the BIOS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

8 Cleaning Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor . . . . . . . . . 91

Floppy Drive

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

CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

9 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Battery Problems

Drive Problems

E-Mail and Internet Problems

Keyboard Problems

Lockups and Software Problems

Memory Problems

Mouse Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Network Problems

Power Problems

Printer Problems

Scanner Problems

Sound Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

. . . . . . . . . . . 95

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

. . . . . . . . . . 96

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

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

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

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

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

6 Contents

Page 7

10 Troubleshooting Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Diagnostic Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Diagnostic Light Codes Before POST

Diagnostic Light Codes During POST

. . . . . . . 105

. . . . . . . 108

Power Lights

Beep Codes

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

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

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Dell Diagnostics

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

. . . . . . . . . 123

124

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media 124

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

. . . . . . . . . . . . 125

11 Reinstalling Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

What Is a Driver?

Identifying Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems in the Microsoft Windows® XP and Microsoft Windows Vista™ Operating Systems 131

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

. . . . . . . . . . 130

Restoring Your Operating System

Using Microsoft

Windows System Restore . . . . 132

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

Using Dell™ PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore

Using the Operating System Disc

. . . . . . . . . 137

Contents 7

134

Page 8

12 Adding and Replacing Parts . . . . . . . . . 139

Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Recommended Tools

Turning Off Your Computer

Before Working Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . 140

Removing the Computer Cover and Front Panel . . . . 141

Removing the Computer Cover

Removing the Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Replacing the Front Panel and Computer Cover . . . . 144

Replacing the Front Panel

Replacing the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . 145

I/O Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

I/O-Panel Components

Removing the I/O Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Replacing the I/O Panel

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

. . . . . . . . . . . 141

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

8 Contents

Processor

Power Supply

Battery

Memory

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Removing the Processor

Installing the Processor

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

DC Connector Pin Assignments

Replacing the Power Supply

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

About the Battery

Removing the Battery

Replacing the Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

. . . . . . . . . . 160

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Fully Buffered DIMM (FBD) Memory Overview

Memory Installation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

. . 173

Page 9

Addressing Memory With 4-GB or Greater Configurations (32-bit Operating Systems Only)

Removing Memory Without Memory Riser Cards

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

. 175

Memory Installation (With Optional Memory Riser Cards)

Installing Memory (With Optional Memory Riser Cards) 180

Removing Memory (With Optional Memory Riser Cards)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

Cards

Expansion Card Support

Installing an Expansion Card

Removing an Expansion Card

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

. . . . . . . . . . . . 195

. . . . . . . . . . . 202

Removing a PCI Express Graphics Card from an SLI Configuration 208

Installing PCI Express Graphics Cards in a Dual Configuration 215

Removing the Optional Graphics Riser Card

Replacing the Optional Graphics Riser Card

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

Drives

General Drive Installation Guidelines

. . . . 223

. . . . 225

. . . . . . . 227

Controller Card Data Cable Connectors . . . . . . 230

Hard Drive

Removing a Hard Drive (Hard Drive Bays 1-4)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

. . . 230

Installing a Hard Drive (Hard Drive Bays 1-4) . . . 235

Removing a Fifth SATA Hard Drive (Optional)

Installing a Fifth SATA Hard Drive (Optional)

. . . 239

. . . 242

Drive Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246

Removing a Drive-Panel Insert

Replacing a Drive-Panel Insert

. . . . . . . . . . 247

. . . . . . . . . . 249

Replacing the Drive Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

Floppy Drive

Installing a Floppy Drive

Media Card Reader

Installing a Media Card Reader

Optical Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258

. . . . . . . . . . 261

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265

179

187

Contents 9

Page 10

System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271

Removing the System Board

. . . . . . . . . . . . 271

Replacing the System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

13 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281

Obtaining Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281

Technical Support and Customer Service

Online Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282

AutoTech Service

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283

Automated Order-Status Service

. . . . . 282

. . . . . . . . . 283

Problems With Your Order

Product Information

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283

Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit . . . . . 284

Before You Call

Contacting Dell

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287

14 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289

FCC Notice (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289

FCC Class B

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289

Glossary 291

10 Contents

Page 11

Contents 11

Page 12

12 Contents

Page 13

Finding Information

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

computer. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries.

NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.

Finding Information 13

Page 14

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• A diagnostic program for my computer

• Drivers for my computer

• Desktop System Software (DSS)

Drivers and Utilities Disc

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the Drivers and Utilities disc to reinstall drivers (see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 130), or to run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 123).

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the Drivers and Utilities disc to reinstall drivers or to access your documentation.

Readme files may be included on your Drivers and Utilities disc to provide lastminute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technicalreference material for technicians or experienced users.

14 Finding Information

NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates

can be found at support.dell.com.

Page 15

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to set up my computer

• How to care for my computer

• Basic troubleshooting information

• How to run the Dell Diagnostics

• How to set up a printer

• How to open my computer

Quick Reference Guide

NOTE: This document may be optional and

may not ship with your computer.

NOTE: This document is available as a PDF

at support.dell.com.

• Warranty information

•Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

•Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

Dell™ Product Information Guide

Finding Information 15

Page 16

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft Windows License Label

Service Tag and Microsoft® Windows® License

These labels are located on your computer.

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

support.dell.com

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

NOTE: As an increased security measure,

the newly designed Microsoft Windows license label incorporates a missing portion or "hole" to discourage removal of the label.

or contact support.

16 Finding Information

Page 17

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, and online courses, 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 memory, the hard drive, and the operating system

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

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

• Dell Technical Update Service — Proactive e-mail notification of software and hardware updates for your computer

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

• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates

• Desktop System Software (DSS) — If you reinstall the operating system for your computer, you should also reinstall the DSS utility. DSS provides critical updates for your operating system and support for processors, optical drives, USB devices, and so on. DSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer. The software automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your

To download Desktop System Software:

Go to

support.dell.com

region or business segment, and enter your Service Tag.

Select

Click your operating system and search for the keyword

Software

NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface

may vary depending on your selections.

configuration.

, select your

Drivers & Downloads

Desktop System

and click

Finding Information 17

Page 18

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to use Microsoft Windows Vista™

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

Windows Help and Support

Click the Windows Vista Start button

, and then click

Search Help

that describes your problem, and then press <Enter> or click the magnifying glass.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

• How to reinstall my operating system

Operating System Disc

NOTE: The Operating System disc may be

optional and may not ship with your computer.

The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system, use the Operating System disc (see "Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista" on page 137).

Help and Support

, type a word or phrase

18 Finding Information

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

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

NOTE: The color of your disc varies based

on the operating system you ordered.

Page 19

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• 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/linuxprecision

Finding Information 19

Page 20

20 Finding Information

Page 21

About Your Computer

Front View of the Computer

9 10

11 12

About Your Computer 21

5 6 7

Page 22

1-3 5.25-inch drive

bays

4 5.25-inch drive

bay with special

3.5-inch drive panel plate

5 hard-drive

activity light

6 IEEE 1394

connector

7USB 2.0

connectors (2)

8 power button,

power light

9 network link light The network link light is on when a good connection exists

10 diagnostic lights

(4)

Can hold an optical drive, Media Card Reader, floppy drive, or SATA hard drive in a 5.25-inch drive bay carrier. The hard-drive carrier is only for use in the 5.25-inch drive bays. The floppy drive/Media Card Reader and hard drive carriers are not interchangeable.

Can hold an optical drive, Media Card Reader, floppy drive, or SATA hard drive in a 5.25-inch drive bay carrier. The drivepanel plate shown here is only for use with a floppy drive or Media Card Reader; it can be installed in front of any of the four 5.25-inch drive bays. For more information, see "Drive Panels" on page 246. The hard-drive carrier is only for use in the 5.25-inch drive bays. The floppy drive/Media Card Reader and hard drive carriers are not interchangeable.

The hard drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when a device, such as your optical drive, is operating.

Use the IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices such as digital video cameras and external storage devices.

Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys, cameras, or bootable USB devices. It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

Press the power button to turn on the computer. The light in the center of this button indicates power state. See "Controls and Lights" on page 32 for more information.

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

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

between a 10-Mbps, 100-Mbps, or 1000-Mbps (or 1-Gbps) network and the computer.

Use these lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 105.

22 About Your Computer

Page 23

11 microphone

connector

12 headphone

connector

Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.

Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.

Back View of the Computer

1 power connector Insert the power cable.

2 card slots Slots 2-6 support full-length cards. This includes one PCI, two

PCI Express 2.0 x16, and two PCI-X slots. Slots 1 and 7 support half-length cards. This includes one PCI Express x8 (wired as x4) and one PCI-X slot.

3 back panel

connectors

CAUTION: Ensure that none of the system air vents are blocked. Blocking them

would cause serious thermal problems.

Plug USB, audio, and other devices into the appropriate connector (see "Back Panel Connectors" on page 24 for more information.

About Your Computer 23

Page 24

Back Panel Connectors

1 2 345678

91011

1 parallel connector Connect a parallel device, such as a printer, to the parallel

connector. If you have a USB printer, plug it into a USB connector.

NOTE: The integrated parallel connector is automatically

disabled if the computer detects an installed card containing a parallel connector configured to the same address. For more information, see "System Setup Options" on page 75.

2 mouse connector Plug a standard PS/2 mouse into the green mouse connector.

Turn off the computer and any attached devices before you connect a mouse to the computer. If you have a USB mouse, plug it into a USB connector.

3 IEEE 1394

connector

4 line-in connector Use the blue line-in connector to attach a playback device

5 line-out connector Use the green line-out connector to attach most speakers with

Use the IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices such as digital video cameras and external storage devices.

such as an MP3 player, CD drive, or VCR. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

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

24 About Your Computer

Page 25

6 link integrity light 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 (or 1-Gbps) network and the computer Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network

7 network adapter

connector

8 network activity

light

9 serial connectors

(2)

10 keyboard

connector

11 USB 2.0

connectors (5)

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. 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. Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector. 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). 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.

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.

Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. If necessary, the address for this port can be modified through system setup (see "System Setup" on page 75).

If you have a standard PS/2 keyboard, plug it into the purple keyboard connector. If you have a USB keyboard, plug it into a USB connector.

It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys, cameras, or bootable USB devices. Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

About Your Computer 25

Page 26

Inside View

1 power supply

2 hard drive bay

3 memory shroud

4 5.25-inch drive bay

5 5.25-inch drive bay with 3.5-inch drive panel

plate

26 About Your Computer

NOTICE: The memory shroud holds

the (optional) memory riser cards in place; its thumbscrews must be sufficiently tight in order to secure the risers and to avoid damage.

Page 27

6 card fan

7front fan

System Board Components

367 98 10

}

22232425262728

About Your Computer 27

Page 28

1 primary processor connector

(CPU_0)

2 secondary processor connector

(CPU_1)

3 front fan connector (FAN_FRONT) 18 floppy drive (DSKT)

4 card cage fan (FAN_CCAG) 19 front panel connector (FRONTPANEL)

5 internal speaker connector

(INT_SPKR)

6 power connector (POWER2) 21 chassis intrusion header (INTRUDER)

7 USB (INT_USB) 22 PCI-X card slot (SLOT7_PCIX)

8 auxiliary hard drive LED (AUX_LED) 23 PCI-X card slot (SLOT6_PCIX)

9 password jumper (PSWD) 24 PCI-X card slot (SLOT5_PCIX)

10 auxiliary power LED (AUX_PWR) 25 PCI Express 2.0 x16 card slot

11 SATA connectors for hard drives or

optical drives (SATA_0, SATA_1, SATA_2)

12 main power connector (POWER1) 27 PCI Express 2.0 x16 card slot

13 battery socket (BATTERY) 28 PCI Express x8 card slot, wired as x4

14 RTC reset jumper (RTCRST) 29 memory fan connector (FAN_MEM)

16 hard drive fan (FAN_HDD)

17 secondary hard drive fan (FAN_HDD2)

20 front panel 1394 connector (FP1394)

(SLOT4_PCI e2x16)

26 PCI slot (SLOT3_PCI)

(SLOT2_PCI e2x16)

(SLOT1_PCIE)

15 hard drive connectors for SAS or

SATA hard drives (HDD_0, HDD_1, HDD_2), HDD_3

Cable Colors

Device Color

SATA hard drive blue cable

Floppy drive black pull tab

Optical drive orange cable

front panel yellow pull tab

28 About Your Computer

30 memory module connectors

DIMM_1-8)

Page 29

Specifications

NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. For more information regarding the

configuration of your computer, click Start→ Help and Support and select the option to view information about your computer.

Processor

Processor type Dual-Core Intel

series Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5400 series

Internal cache Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5200

series - 6 MB Quad-Core Intel series - 12 MB

External bus frequency 1333- or 1600-MHz data rate

Memory

Memory module connectors

Memory module capacities 512-MB or 1-, 2-, or 4-GB ECC

Memory type 667- or 800-MHz fully-buffered DDR2

Minimum memory 1 GB

Maximum memory 64 GB with optional memory riser cards

BIOS address F0000h

8 (16 with optional memory riser)

SDRAM fully-buffered DIMMs (FBDs)

NOTICE: Full-length heat spreaders

(FLHS) are required for all memory.

32 GB standard

Xeon® Processor 5200

Xeon® Processor 5400

System Information

System chipset

Data bus width 64 bits

DRAM bus width Quad-channel fully-buffered DIMM

Processor address bus width 38 Bits

Intel 5400

About Your Computer 29

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System Information

Flash EPROM 8 Mbit

Graphics bus Two PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots

Expansion

Card support Center five connector slots support full-

Cards supported PCI 2.3

PCI

connector

connector size

connector data width (maximum)

bus transfer rate 133 MB/s

PCI-X

connectors

connector size

connector data width (maximum)

bus transfer rate

PCI Express x8 (wired as x4)

connectors

connector size

connector data width (maximum)

bus transfer rate

PCI Express 2.0 x16

(continued)

length cards.

The connector slots on either side (one x8 PCI Express slot (wired as x4) and one PCIX card) support half-length cards.

PCI Express 1.0A PCI Express 2.0 x16 PCI-X 2.0A

one

120 pins

32 bits

three

188 pins

64 bits

800 MB/s

one x8 (support x8, x4, and x1 modes/cards; maximum x4 link width)

98 pins

4 PCI Express lanes

2.5 GB/s/lane/direction (raw bandwidth)

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Expansion

connector

connector size

connector data width (maximum)

bus transfer rate

Ports and Connectors

External connectors:

Serial

Parallel

IEEE 1394

Network adapter

PS/2 (keyboard and mouse)

USB

Audio

System board connectors:

Floppy drive

SAS/Serial ATA HDD

Serial ATA

Internal USB

two x16 slots (support x16, x8, x4 and x1 modes/cards)

164 pins

16 PCI Express lanes

5.0 GB/s/lane/direction (raw bandwidth)

two 9-pin connectors; 16550C-compatible

25-hole connector (bidirectional)

one front-panel, 6-pin connector and one rear panel, 6-pin connector

RJ45 connector

two 6-pin mini-DIN

two front-panel and five back-panel USB

2.0–compliant connectors

two front-panel connectors for microphone and headphones; two back-panel connectors for line-in and line-out

34-pin connector

four 7-pin connectors

three 7-pin connectors

one 10-pin connector for optional Media Card Reader (3.5-inch bay device or secure boot device)

Video

Video type PCI Express 2.0 x16 (two slots)

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Page 32

Audio

Audio type High Definition Audio CODEC and

Azalia/High Definition digital controller

Stereo conversion 24-bit analog-to-digital; 24-bit digital-to-

analog

Drives

Externally accessible four 5.25-inch universal drive bays (can

support 3.5-inch devices)

Internally accessible four 3.5-inch hard-drive bays

Key Combinations

<F2> starts embedded system setup (during start-up

only)

<Ctrl><Alt><F10> launches the utility partition (if installed)

<F5> runs onboard diagnostics

Controls and Lights

Power control Front panel: push button

Power light Front panel:

starts the only)

during start-up

green light—blinking green in sleep state; solid green for power-on state

amber light—blinking amber indicates that an internal power problem might exist; solid amber indicates that a device may be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed (see "Power Problems" on page 100)

Boot Device

(during start-up

32 About Your Computer

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Controls and Lights

Hard-drive access light Front panel:

green light—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 the optical drive is operating

Link integrity lights Back panel: green light for 10-Mb operation;

orange light for 100-Mb operation; yellow light for a 1000-Mb (1-Gb) operation Front panel: displays solid green when a network connection is present

Activity light Back panel: yellow blinking light when there

is network activity

Diagnostic lights Front panel: four lights (see "Diagnostic

Lights" on page 105)

Standby power light System AUX_PWR on the system board

Power

DC power supply

Wattage

Heat dissipation

1000 W

1250W or 4265 BTU/hour (system with power supply)

NOTE: Heat dissipation is calculated based

upon the power supply wattage rating.

Vo lt a ge

Backup battery 3-V CR2032 lithium coin cell

auto-sensing power supply—90 V to 265 V at 50/60 Hz

Physical

Height 22.3 in (56.6 cm)

Width

Depth 21.2 in (53.8 cm)

With stand: 12.8 in (32.5 cm)

Without stand: 8.5 in (21.6 cm)

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Physical

Approximate minimum weight

Environmental

Temperature range

Operating

Storage

Relative humidity (maximum)

Operating

Storage

Maximum vibration (using a random-vibration spectrum that simulates user environment)

Operating

Storage

Maximum shock

Operating

Storage

Altitude (maximum)

Operating

Storage

55 lb (24.9 kg)

CAUTION: Your computer is heavy and can be

difficult to maneuver. Seek assistance before attempting to lift, move, or tilt it; this computer requires a two-man lift. Always lift correctly to avoid injury; avoid bending over while lifting. See your important safety information.

Product Information Guide

10° to 35°C (50° to 95°F)

–40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F)

20% to 80% (noncondensing)

5% to 95% (noncondensing)

5 to 350 Hz at 0.0002 G2/Hz

5 to 500 Hz at 0.001 to 0.01 G2/Hz

40 G +/- 5% with pulse duration of 2 msec +/- 10% (equivalent to 20 in/sec [51 cm/sec])

105 G +/- 5% with pulse duration of 2 msec +/- 10% (equivalent to 50 in/sec [127 cm/sec])

–15.2 to 3048 m (–50 to 10,000 ft)

–15.2 to 10,668 m (–50 to 35,000 ft)

for other

34 About Your Computer

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Advanced Features

LegacySelect Technology Control

LegacySelect technology control offers legacy-full, legacy-reduced, or legacyfree solutions based on common platforms, hard-drive images, and help desk procedures. Control is provided to the administrator through system setup, Dell OpenManage™ IT Assistant, or Dell custom factory integration.

LegacySelect allows administrators to electronically activate or deactivate connectors and media devices that include serial and USB connectors, a parallel connector, a floppy drive, PCI slots, and a PS/2 mouse. Connectors and media devices that are deactivated make resources available. You must restart the computer to effect the changes.

Manageability

Alert Standard Format

Alert Standard Format (ASF) is a DMTF management standard that specifies "pre-operating system" or "operating system-absent" alerting techniques. The standard is designed to generate an alert on potential security and fault conditions when the operating system is in a sleep state or the computer is powered down. ASF is designed to supersede previous operating system-absent alerting technologies.

Your computer supports the following ASF alerts:

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Alert Description

Chassis: Chassis Intrusion

- Physical Security Violation/ Chassis Intrusion - Physical Security Violation Event Cleared

Boot: Failure to Boot to BIOS

Password: System Password Violation

CPU: CPU DOA Alert/CPU DOA Alert Cleared

Heartbeats: Entity Presence

Temperature: Generic Critical Temperature Problem

Voltage: Generic Critical Voltage Problem

Power Supply: Critical Power Supply Problem

Cooling Device: Generic Critical Fan Failure

Connectivity: Ethernet Connectivity Enabled/ Ethernet Connectivity Disabled

The computer chassis has been opened or the chassis intrusion alert has been cleared.

The BIOS did not complete loading upon initiation.

The system password is invalid (alert occurs after three failed attempts).

The processor is not functioning.

Periodic heartbeats have been transmitted to verify system presence.

The computer temperature is out of limits.

The voltage from integrated voltage regulators is out of limits.

The computer power supply voltage is out of limits.

The fan speed (rpm) is out of limits.

The Ethernet connectivity is enabled or the Ethernet connectivity is disabled.

For more information about Dell's ASF implementation, see the

Guide

and the

Support website at

ASF Administrator's Guide

support.dell.com

, which are available on the Dell

36 Advanced Features

ASF User's

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Dell OpenManage™ IT Assistant

IT Assistant configures, manages, and monitors computers and other devices on a corporate network. IT Assistant manages assets, configurations, events (alerts), and security for computers equipped with industry-standard management software. It supports instrumentation that conforms to SNMP and CIM industry standards.

Dell OpenManage Client instrumentation, which is based on CIM, is available for your computer. For information on IT Assistant, see the Dell OpenManage IT Assistant User’s Guide available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation

Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation is software that enables remote management programs, such as IT Assistant, to do the following:

• Access information about your computer, such as how many processors it has and what operating system it is running.

• Monitor the status of your computer, such as listening for thermal alerts from temperature probes or hard-drive failure alerts from storage devices.

• Change the state of your computer, such as updating its BIOS or shutting it down remotely.

A managed system is one that has Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation set up on a network that uses IT Assistant. For information about Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation, see the Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation User’s Guide available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

Power Management

Your computer can be set to use less power when you are not working. You control the power usage through the operating system installed on your computer and certain option settings in system setup (see "Power Management" on page 37). These periods of reduced power are called "sleep modes."

NOTE: All components installed in the computer must support the hibernate and/or

standby mode feature(s) and have the appropriate drivers loaded to enter either of these sleep modes. For more information, see the manufacturer’s documentation for each component.

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•

Standby

. In this sleep mode, power is reduced or turned off for many

components. However, system memory remains active.

NOTE: Hibernate mode is only supported on computers with 4-GB of RAM or

less.

•

Hibernate

. This sleep mode reduces power consumption to a minimum by writing all data in system memory to a hard drive and then removing system power. Waking up from this mode restarts the computer, and the memory contents are restored. Operation then resumes where the computer left off when it entered the hibernation mode.

•

Shutdown

. This sleep mode removes all power from the computer except a small auxiliary amount. As long as the computer remains connected to an electrical outlet, it can be automatically or remotely started. For example, the

Auto Power On

option in system setup (see "Power Management" on page 37) allows the computer to automatically start at a specified time. Also, your network administrator can remotely start your computer using a power management event such as Remote Wake Up.

The following table lists the sleep modes and the methods you can use to wake the computer from each mode.

Sleep Mode Wake-Up Methods (Windows XP)

Standby • Press the power button

•Auto power on

• Move or click the mouse

• Type on the keyboard

• USB device activity

• Power management event

Hibernate • Press the power button

•Auto power on

• Power management event

Shutdown • Press the power button

•Auto power on

• Power management event

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NOTE: For more information on power management, see your operating system

documentation.

Hyperthreading and Multi-Core Technology

Hyperthreading is an Intel technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing one physical processor to function as two logical processors that are capable of performing certain tasks simultaneously. Multicore processors contain two or more physical computational units inside a single CPU package, thereby increasing computing efficiency and multitasking ability. Intel has implemented this technology in its Dual-Core and Quad-Core processors. These processors have two and four computational units respectively. It is recommended that you use the Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or higher or Windows Vista operating systems which are optimized to take advantage of these technologies.

While many programs can benefit from hyperthreading and multi-core technology, some programs may have not been optimized for them and may require an update from the software manufacturer. Contact the software manufacturer for updates and information about using hyperthreading or multi-core technology with your software. To determine if your computer is using hyperthreading technology, check the system setup option for hyperthreading under the Performance tab (see "System Setup" on page 290).

About RAID Configurations

NOTE: RAID levels 5 and 10 are only available via an optional PCI Express RAID

controller card.

NOTE: RAID for SATA 1.0 is not supported.

This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration that you might have selected when you purchased your computer. Although there are several RAID configurations available in the computer industry for different types of uses, Dell offers RAID level 0, RAID level 1, or, with an optional PCI Express RAID controller, RAID level 5 or RAID level 10 on your Dell Precision computer. A RAID level 0 configuration is recommended for highperformance programs, and a RAID level 1 configuration is recommended for users that desire a high level of data integrity. A RAID level 5 or a RAID level 10 configuration provides for both data integrity and higher access speeds.

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NOTE: RAID levels do not represent a hierarchy. A RAID level 5 configuration is not

inherently better or worse than a RAID level 0 configuration.

The RAID controller on your computer can only create a RAID level 0 configuration using two to four physical drives. A RAID level 5 or 10 array (only available with the optional PCI Express RAID controller) must be made up of three or four drives.

All drives must be the same type of drive; SAS and SATA drives cannot be mixed in a RAID array. The drives should also be the same size to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.

NOTE: RAID levels do not represent a hierarchy. A RAID level 10 configuration is

not inherently better or worse than a RAID level 0 configuration.

RAID Level 0

RAID level 0 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.

SATA RAID configured for RAID level 0

segment 1

segment 3

segment 5

hard drive 1

segment 2

segment 4

segment 6

hard drive 2

Another advantage of a RAID level 0 configuration is that it utilizes the full capacities of the drives. If you have two 120-GB drives installed, you have 240 GB on which to store data.

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NOTICE: Because RAID level 0 provides no data redundancy, if one drive fails, then

the data on the other drive is also inaccessible. Therefore, ensure that you perform regular backups when you use a RAID level 0 configuration.

RAID Level 1

RAID level 1 uses a data-redundancy storage technique known as "mirroring." When data is written to the primary drive, the data is then duplicated—or mirrored—on the other drive. A RAID level 1 configuration sacrifices highdata access rates for its data redundancy advantages.

SATA 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. Also, because data is duplicated on both drives, two 120-GB RAID level 1 drives collectively have a maximum of 120-GB on which to store data.

RAID Level 5

NOTE: RAID levels 5 and 10 are only available via an optional PCI Express RAID

controller card.

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RAID level 5 uses a data-staging storage technique known as "parity checking." When a block of data is written to the RAID configuration, it is striped across all of the drives in the RAID array except for one drive, to which is written parity data. The parity data is information that allows for the entire block of striped data to be calculated if one of the drives fails.

Since parity data is fairly small when compared to the size of the actual stored data, the equivalent of one hard drive can serve as a parity drive for any number of data-storing hard drives. However, not all of the parity data is put on the same drive. Instead, with each new block of data written to the RAID configuration, the different drives alternately act as either data-storing or parity drives.

serial ATA RAID configured for RAID level 5

half of data block 1

half of data block 2

parity data for block 3

half of data block 4

half of data block 5

parity data for block 6

hard drive 1

half of data block 1

parity data for block 2

half of data block 3

parity data for block 4

half of data block 5

half of data block 6

hard drive 2

parity data for block 1

half of data block 2

half of data block 3

half of data block 4

parity data for block 5

half of data block 6

hard drive 3

Because data is striped across the RAID configuration, as it is in a RAID 0 configuration, it can be quickly accessed. Also, because of the parity data, if only a single drive fails, that drive can be rebuilt using the parity data on the other drives. The amount of storage space available to three 120-GB RAID level 5 drives is 240-GB on which to store data, since the equivalent of one drive is set aside for parity data. A minimum of three drives is required to create a RAID level 5 configuration.

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RAID Level 10

NOTE: RAID levels 5 and 10 are only available via an optional PCI Express RAID

controller card.

RAID level 10 uses a combination of striping and mirroring methods. It requires four drives. The drives are broken up into mirroring pairs and then the data that is written to the RAID configuration is striped across all four drives. Data can be accessed quickly, due to the striping of data, however each piece of data is duplicated on another drive, for redundancy purposes.

SATA RAID configured for RAID level 10

segment 1

segment 2

segment 3

segment 4

segment 5

segment 6

hard drive 1

segment 1 striped across 4 drives

segment 2 striped across 4 drives

segment 3 striped across 4 drives

segment 4 striped across 4 drives

segment 5 striped across 4 drives

segment 6 striped across 4 drives

hard drives 2, 3, and 4

If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the other surviving drives. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drives. Also, because data is duplicated on the primary and additional drives, four 120-GB RAID level 1 drives collectively have a maximum of 240-GB on which to store data.

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Configuring Your Computer for RAID

At some point you may want to configure your computer for RAID if you did not select a RAID configuration when you purchased your computer. You must have at least two hard drives installed in your computer to set up a RAID configuration. For instructions on how to install a hard drive, see "Installing a Hard Drive (Hard Drive Bays 1-4)" on page 235.

RAID Configuration Utility

Entering the RAID Configuration Utility

Boot the system.

Press <Ctrl><C> during POST when prompted. If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until the operating system completes bootup. Then restart your system and try again.

The Configuration Utility menu screen displays.

Navigating Within the Configuration Utility

Configuration screens are organized in a hierarchical fashion. Navigational hints are displayed at the bottom of each screen. Online help is also available in this utility.

RAID Configuration and Management

In order to access any of the integrated RAID (IR) configuration and management screens, select RAID Properties on the Adapter Properties screen. From here you can create a new RAID volume and view or manage existing RAID volumes.

• If no RAID volumes are currently configured, you are prompted to create a RAID virtual disk (a RAID volume).

• If at least one RAID volume is currently configured, any existing RAID volumes are displayed for management purposes.

NOTE: Dell recommends backing up your data prior to adding or updating

configurations.

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Exit Screen

It is important to exit the RAID Configuration Utility properly, because some changes take effect only when you exit. From the Adapter List, press <Esc> to exit. In addition, a similar exit screen appears when you exit most other screens, and it can be used to save settings.

Performing Configuration Tasks

NOTICE: You will lose any data on your hard drives when you create a RAID

configuration using the following procedures. Back up data that you want to keep before continuing.

NOTE: Your RAID array cannot exceed 2 Terabytes in size. Any space beyond the 2-

Terabyte limitation will not be usable.

The two options for creating a new RAID volume are Create IM Volume and Create IS Volume. IM stands for integrated mirroring. IS stands for integrated

striping. Additional information is available on the configuration screen.

Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration

NOTE: RAID 0 does not provide any data protection in the event of hard drive

failure. It is primarily used to increase performance.

NOTE: Once the number of hard drives in a RAID volume (virtual disk) is set, it

cannot be changed.

Follow these steps to create a RAID 0 volume on a SAS 6/iR controller that does not currently have a RAID volume configured.

Select a controller from the

Select the

Select

RAID Properties

Create IS Volume

(striped) RAID volume or an IM (mirrored) RAID volume.

The next screen shows a list of hard drives that can be added to a RAID volume.

Adapter List

in the Configuration Utility.

option.

when you are prompted to create either an IS

Move the cursor to the

RAID Disk

column. To add a hard drive to the RAID volume, change “No” to “Yes” by pressing the <+>, <->, or space bar. As hard drives are added, the

Virtual Disk Size

field changes to reflect

the new size of the RAID volume.

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NOTICE: All data will be lost upon creation of the RAID volume. Dell

recommends backing up your data before performing these steps.

When creating an IS (striped) RAID volume:

• All drives must be either Dell compliant SAS or SATA hard drives.

• SAS and SATA hard drives cannot be used in the same RAID volume.

• Drives must have 512 byte blocks and must not have removable media.

• There can be at minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 hard drives in a RAID volume.

Press <C> and then select

Save changes

when the RAID volume has been

fully configured.

Exit this menu to save the changes. The Configuration Utility will pause while the RAID volume is being created.

Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration

Follow these steps to create a RAID 1 volume on a SAS 6/iR controller that does not currently have a RAID volume configured.

Select a controller from the

Select the

Select

RAID Properties

Create IM Volume

(striped) RAID volume or an IM (mirrored) RAID volume.

The next screen shows a list of hard drives that can be added to a RAID volume.

Adapter List

in the Configuration Utility.

option.

when you are prompted to create either an IS

Move the cursor to the

RAID Disk

column. To add a hard drive to the RAID volume, change “No” to “Yes” by pressing the <+>, <->, or space bar. As hard drives are added, the

Virtual Disk Size

field changes to reflect

the new size of the RAID volume.

NOTICE: All data will be lost upon creation of the RAID volume. Dell

recommends backing up your data before performing these steps.

When creating an IM (mirrored) RAID volume:

• All drives must be either Dell compliant SAS or SATA hard drives.

• SAS and SATA hard drives cannot be used in the same RAID volume.

46 Advanced Features

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• Drives must have 512 byte blocks and must not have removable media.

• There can only be 2 hard drives per RAID volume.

Press <C> and then select

Save changes

when the RAID volume has been

fully configured.

Exit this menu to save the changes. The Configuration Utility will pause while the RAID volume is being created.

NOTE: RAID 1 provides protection against the failure of a single hard drive. When a

hard drive fails, it can be replaced and the data re-mirrored to another hard drive, maintaining data integrity.

Creating a Second RAID Volume

The SAS 6/iR controller supports two active RAID volumes. If one RAID volume is already configured, follow these steps to add a second RAID volume:

Select a controller from the

Select the

Press <C> to create a new RAID volume.

Continue to create a second RAID volume, either RAID level 0 or RAID

RAID Properties

Adapter List

in the Configuration Utility.

option to display the current RAID volume.

level 1.

Viewing RAID Volume Properties

Follow these steps to view the properties of RAID level 1 and RAID level 0 configurations:

Select a controller from the

Select the

Press <Alt><N> to view the next RAID volume if more than one RAID

RAID Properties

volume is configured.

Press <Enter> when the the current RAID volume.

Adapter List

in the Configuration Utility.

option to display the current RAID volume.

Manage Virtual Disk

item is selected to manage

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Synchronizing a RAID Volume (Virtual Disk)

When a RAID volume is synchronized, the firmware synchronizes the data on the secondary hard drive(s) with the data on the primary hard drive of the RAID level 1 volume. Follow these steps to start synchronization for a RAID level 1 volume:

Select

Synchronize Virtual Disk

Press Y to start the synchronization or N to cancel it.

Activating a RAID Volume

A RAID volume can become inactive if, for example, it is removed from one SAS 6/iR controller or computer and moved to another one. The Activate Virtual Disk option allows you to reactivate an inactive RAID volume that has been added to a system. This option is only available when the selected RAID volume is currently inactive.

Select

Activate Virtual Disk

Press Y to proceed with the activation or press N to abandon it.

After a pause, the RAID volume will become active.

NOTE: Activation of migrated RAID volume is only supported when the migrated

RAID volume is in an optimal state and contains all the installed hard drives.

Deleting a RAID Volume

NOTICE: Before deleting a RAID volume, be sure to back up all data on the RAID

volume that you want to keep.

Follow these steps to delete a selected RAID volume:

Select

Delete Virtual Disk

Press Y to delete the RAID volume or press N to cancel the deletion. After a pause, the RAID volume will be deleted.

NOTICE: If the hard drives of a RAID volume are removed and the RAID volume’s

configuration is subsequently deleted from the SAS 6/iR controller, the hard drives show up only as simple drives with no RAID association if they are placed back onto the same SAS 6/iR controller. Once the RAID volume is removed from a SAS 6/iR controller using the RAID Configuration Utility (regardless of whether the hard drives are present), the RAID volume cannot be restored.

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Replacing and Rebuilding a Degraded RAID Volume

In the event of a hard drive failure in a RAID level 1 volume, you will need to replace the hard drive and resynchronize the RAID volume.

Replace the failed drive with a new drive of the same type and capacity (or larger capacity).

Check your management application or the RAID Configuration Utility (Ctrl-C) to ensure synchronization started automatically.

NOTE: Proceed to step 3 only if synchronization does not begin automatically.

Enter the RAID Configuration Utility (Ctrl-C).

From the degraded RAID volume.

From the

Press <Alt+N> until the degraded RAID level 1 volume is in view, then select

The screen shows the RAID volume with a status of “

Select drives.

The new hard drive automatically begins to sync with the drive of the degraded RAID level 1 volume.

Adapter List

screen, select the controller that contains the

Adapter Properties

Manage Virtual Disk

Add Secondary Disk

screen, select

RAID Properties

Degraded

”.

and select a drive from the list of available

Advanced Features 49

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50 Advanced Features

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Setting Up Your Computer

Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure

Installing your computer in an enclosure can restrict the airflow and impact your computer’s performance, possibly causing it to overheat. Follow the guidelines below when installing your computer in an enclosure:

NOTICE: The operating temperature specifications indicated in this manual

reflects the maximum ambient operating temperature. The room ambient temperature needs to be a consideration when installing your computer in an enclosure. For example, if the ambient room temperature is at 25°C (77°F), depending on your computer’s specifications, you only have 5° to 10°C (9° to 18°F) temperature margin before you reach your computer’s maximum operating temperature. For details about your computer’s specifications, see "Specifications" on page 29.

• Leave a 10.2 cm (4 in) minimum clearance on all vented sides of the computer to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation.

• If your enclosure has doors, they need to be of a type that allows at least 30 percent airflow through the enclosure (front and back).

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• If your computer is installed in a corner on a desk or under a desk, leave at least 5.1 cm (2 in) clearance from the back of the computer to the wall to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation.

52 Setting Up Your Computer

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NOTICE: Do not install your computer in an enclosure that does not allow airflow.

Restricting the airflow impacts your computer’s performance, possibly causing it to overheat.

Connecting to the Internet

NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country.

To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP). Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options:

• DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing telephone line or cellular telephone service. 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.

• Satellite modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through a satellite television system.

Setting Up Your Computer 53

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• Dial-up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line. Dial-up connections are considerably slower than DSL and cable (or satellite) modem connections.

• Wireless LAN connections that provide Internet access using Bluetooth

wireless technology.

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/satellite modem connection, contact your ISP or cellular telephone service for setup instructions.

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

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

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

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

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP, perform the steps in the following section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is using.

NOTE: 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.

Windows XP

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

Click

Start→

The

New Connection Wizard

Click

Connect to the Internet

In the next window, click the appropriate option:

Internet Explorer

appears.

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

list of Internet service providers (ISPs)

• If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you

did not receive a setup CD, click

Set up my connection manually

54 Setting Up Your Computer

Choose from a

Page 55

• If you have a CD, click

Click

If you selected

Set up my connection manually

Use the CD I got from an ISP

, continue to step 6.

Otherwise, follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

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

Click the appropriate option under

Internet?

Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.

Windows Vista™

NOTE: Have your ISP information ready. If you do not have an ISP, the Connect to

the Internet wizard can help you get one.

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

Click the Windows Vista Start button , and click

Under

The

Click either

, and then click

Network and Internet,

Connect to the Internet

Broadband (PPPoE)

How do you want to connect to the

Control Panel

click

Connect to the Internet

window appears.

Dial-up

, depending on how you want

to connect:

•Choose

Broadband

if you will use a DSL, satellite modem, cable TV

modem, or Bluetooth wireless technology connection.

•Chose

Dial-up

if you will use a dial-up modem or ISDN.

NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, click Help me choose

or contact your ISP.

Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.

Transferring Information to a New Computer

You can use your operating system "wizards" to help you transfer files and other data from one computer to another—for example, from an old computer to a new computer. For instructions, see the following section that corresponds to the operating system that your computer is running.

Setting Up Your Computer 55

Page 56

Microsoft® Windows® XP

The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides the 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

You can transfer the data to the new computer over a network or serial connection, or you can store it on removable media, such as a writable CD, for transfer to the new computer.

NOTE: You can transfer information from an old computer to a new computer by

directly connecting a serial cable to the input/output (I/O) ports of the two computers. 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 certain countries.

For transferring information to a new computer, you must run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. You can use the optional Operating System disc 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 Disc

NOTE: This procedure requires the Operating System disc. This disc is optional and

may not be included with certain computers.

To prepare a new computer for the file transfer:

Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click

Accessories→ System Tools→

When the click

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Start→

All Programs→

welcome screen appears,

56 Setting Up Your Computer

Page 57

On the

from the Windows XP CD

When the source computer. Do

Which computer is this?

screen, click

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

→ Next

Now go to your old computer

not

click

at this time.

New Computer→

screen, click

I will use the wizard

screen appears, go to your old or

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the Windows XP

On the

additional tasks

Under

On the

Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP

What do you want to do?

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

, click

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you

Operating System

screen, click

Perform

Transfer files and settings→ Next

Old Computer→

prefer.

On the transfer and click

After the information has been copied, the

Phase

Click

What do you want to transfer?

screen appears.

Finish

screen, select the items you want to

Completing the Collection

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

On the chose for transferring your settings and files and click

Now go to your old computer

Where are the files and settings?

screen on the new computer, click

screen, select the method you

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

disc.

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

Click

Finished

and restart the new computer.

Setting Up Your Computer 57

Finished

screen

Page 58

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

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

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

Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click

Accessories→ System Tools→

When the click

On the

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

Wizard Disk in the following drive

Insert the removable disc, such as a writable CD, and click OK.

When the disk creation completes and the

computer

Go to the old computer.

message appears,

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

screen, click

→

Next.

do not

click

Start→

All Programs→

welcome screen appears,

New Computer→

I want to create a

Now go to your old

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the wizard disk.

Click

Start→

In the the appropriate removable media) and click

On the

Run

Open

field on the

Run

window, browse to the path for

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you

fastwiz

welcome screen, click

Old Computer→

(on

prefer.

On the transfer and click

After the information has been copied, the

Phase

What do you want to transfer?

screen appears.

screen, select the items you want to

Completing the Collection

Click

Finish

To transfer data to the new computer:

58 Setting Up Your Computer

Page 59

On the

On the chose for transferring your settings and files and click instructions on the screen.

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

Now go to your old computer

Where are the files and settings?

screen on the new computer, click

screen, select the method you

. Follow the

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

Click

Finished

NOTE: For more information about this procedure, search support.dell.com for

document #154781 (What Are The Different Methods To Transfer Files From My Old

Computer To My New Dell™ Computer Using the Microsoft® Windows® XP Operating System?).

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

certain countries.

and restart the new computer.

Finished

screen

Microsoft Windows Vista™

Click the Windows Vista Start button , and then click

and settings

In the

Click

Follow the instructions provided on the screen by the Windows Easy Transfer wizard.

→ Start Windows Easy Transfer.

User Account Control

Start a new transfer

dialog box, click

Continue a transfer in progress

Continue

Tran sf er f il es

Power Protection Devices

Several devices are available to protect against power fluctuations and failures:

•Surge protectors

• Line conditioners

• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)

Setting Up Your Computer 59

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Surge Protectors

Surge protectors and power strips equipped with surge protection help prevent damage to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical storms or after power interruptions. Some surge protector manufacturers include warranty coverage for certain types of damage. Carefully read the device warranty when choosing a surge protector. A device with a higher joule rating offers more protection. Compare joule ratings to determine the relative effectiveness of different devices.

NOTICE: Most surge protectors do not protect against power fluctuations or

power interruptions caused by nearby lightning strikes. When lightning occurs in your area, disconnect the telephone line from the telephone wall jack and disconnect your computer from the electrical outlet.

Many surge protectors have a telephone jack for modem protection. See the surge protector documentation for modem connection instructions.

NOTICE: Not all surge protectors offer network adapter protection. Disconnect the

network cable from the network wall jack during electrical storms.

Line Conditioners

NOTICE: Line conditioners do not protect against power interruptions.

Line conditioners are designed to maintain AC voltage at a fairly constant level.

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

NOTICE: Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in

data loss or file damage.

NOTE: To ensure maximum battery operating time, connect only your computer to a

UPS. Connect other devices, such as a printer, to a separate power strip that provides surge protection.

A UPS protects against power fluctuations and interruptions. UPS devices contain a battery that provides temporary power to connected devices when AC power is interrupted. The battery charges while AC power is available. See the UPS manufacturer documentation for information on battery operating time and to ensure that the device is approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

60 Setting Up Your Computer

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Securing Your Computer

Chassis Intrusion Detection

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

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

the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

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.

Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 139.

Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 141).

Disconnect the chassis intrusion switch cable from the system board.

Note the routing of the chassis intrusion switch cable as you remove it from the chassis. Chassis hooks may hold the cable in place inside the chassis.

Product Information Guide

Slide the chassis intrusion switch out of its slot, and remove the switch and its attached cable from the computer.

Securing Your Computer 61

Page 62

Replacing the Chassis Intrusion Switch

Gently slide the chassis intrusion switch into its slot and reconnect the cable to the system board.

Replace the computer cover (see "Replacing the Computer Cover" on page 145).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or

device and then plug it into the computer.

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

Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector

Turn on (or restart) your computer.

When the blue DELL™ logo appears, press <F2> immediately.

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

62 Securing Your Computer

Windows® desktop. Then shut down

Page 63

your computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 139) and try again.

Enter the system setup program (see "System Setup" on page 75).

Press the down-arrow key to move to the

Press <Enter> to access the menu.

Use the down-arrow key to select

Use the left- and right-arrow keys to select

On-Silent

NOTE: The default setting is On-Silent.

Restart the computer and implement your changes.

, or

Disabled

Intrusion Alert

Security

option.

Reset

, and then choose On,

Security Cable Lock

Use one of the following methods to secure your computer:

• Use a padlock alone or a padlock and looped security cable with the padlock ring.

A padlock alone prevents the computer from being opened.

A security cable looped around a stationary object is used in conjunction with a padlock to prevent unauthorized movement of the computer.

• Attach a commercially available antitheft device to the security cable slot on the back of the computer.

NOTE: Before you purchase an antitheft device, make sure that it works with the

security cable slot on your computer.

Antitheft devices usually include a segment of metal-stranded cable with an attached locking device and key. The documentation that comes with the device contains instructions for installing it.

Securing Your Computer 63

Page 64

222

1 security cable slot 2 padlock ring

Passwords

About Passwords

NOTE: Passwords are disabled when you receive your computer.

A primary (or system) password, an administrator password, and a hard drive password all prevent unauthorized access to your computer in different ways. The following table identifies types and features of passwords available on your computer.

64 Securing Your Computer

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Type of Password Features

Primary (or system)

Administrator

Hard drive

NOTE: Some hard drives do not support hard drive passwords.

NOTICE: Passwords provide a high level of security for data in your computer or

hard drive. However, they are not foolproof. If you require more security, obtain and use additional forms of protection, such as smart cards, data encryption programs, or PC Cards with encryption features.

• Protects the computer from unauthorized access

• Gives system administrators or service technicians access to computers for repair or reconfiguration

• Allows you to restrict access to system setup in the same way a primary password restricts access to the computer

• Can be used instead of the primary password

• Helps protect the data on your hard drive or external hard drive (if one is being used) from unauthorized access

When using passwords, observe the following guidelines:

• Choose passwords that you can remember, but not ones that are easy to guess. For example, do not use the names of family members or pets for passwords.

• It is recommended that you do not write down passwords. If you do write it down, however, ensure that the password is stored in a secure place.

• Do not share passwords with other people.

• Ensure that people are not watching you when you type your password(s).

If you forget any of your passwords, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 287). For your protection, Dell technical support staff will ask you for proof of your identity to ensure that only an authorized person can use the computer.

Using a Primary (or System) Password

NOTICE: If you leave your computer running and unattended without having a

system password assigned, or if you leave your computer unlocked so that someone can disable the password by changing a jumper setting, anyone can access the data stored on your hard drive.

Securing Your Computer 65

Page 66

Option Settings

You cannot change or enter a new system password if either of the following two options is displayed:

•

Set

— A system password is assigned.

•

Disabled —

The system password is disabled by a jumper setting on the

system board.

You can only assign a system password when the following option is displayed:

•

Not Set

— No system password is assigned and the password jumper on

the system board is in the enabled position (the default setting).

Assigning a System Password

To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press <Esc> at any time before you complete step 5.

Enter the system setup program (see "System Setup" on page 75) and verify whether an

If the

Unlock Setup

Use the arrow keys to navigate to the

Press <Enter> to access the field.

Type in the administrator password and press <Enter>.

Use the arrow keys to navigate to the

Unlock Setup

field is present:

field is present under

Unlock Setup

System Password

Security

field.

field, and then

press <Enter>.

Type your new password into the

New Password

field.

You can use up to 15 characters. To erase a character when entering your password, press <Backspace> or the left-arrow key. The password is not case sensitive.

Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter one of these combinations, the speaker emits a beep.

As you press each character key (or the spacebar for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.

Press <Enter>.

If the new system password is less than 15 characters, the whole field fills with placeholders.

66 Securing Your Computer

Page 67

To confirm your password, type it a second time in the

Pas sword

Press <Enter> at the prompt.

The system password setting changes to

Exit the system setup program.

field and press <Enter>.

Set

Confirm New

Password protection takes effect when you restart the computer.

Typing Your System Password

When you start or restart your computer, the following prompt appears on the screen:

Type the system password and press <Enter>. Enter password:

If you have assigned an administrator password, the computer accepts your administrator password as an alternate system password.

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

** Incorrect password. **

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

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

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

NOTE: You can use Password Changes in conjunction with System Password and

Admin Password to further protect your computer from unauthorized changes.

Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password

To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press <Esc> at any time before you complete step 5.

Enter the system setup program (see "System Setup" on page 75) and verify whether an

Unlock Setup

field is present under

Securing Your Computer 67

Security

Page 68

If the

Unlock Setup

Use the arrow keys to navigate to the

Press <Enter> to access the field.

Type in the administrator password and press <Enter>.

Use the arrow keys to navigate to the

field is present:

Unlock Setup

System Password

field.

field, and then

press <Enter>.

Type your password into the

If you are changing an existing password, follow the instructions in

Old Password

field.

"Assigning a System Password" on page 66, starting from step 4.

If you are deleting a password, press <Enter> in

New Password

field,

leaving the field blank.

Press <Enter> a second time, in the

Confirm New Password

field, leaving

the field blank.

Confirm that

Not Set

not

displayed, then repeat step 3 through step 8.

Exit the system setup program.

Not Set

is displayed for the

System Password

setting.

is displayed, the system password has been deleted. If

Not Set

Using an Administrator Password

Option Settings

You cannot change or enter a new administrator password if the following option is displayed:

•

Disabled —

the system board.

You can only assign an administrator password when one of the following options is displayed:

•

Set

— An administrator password is assigned.

•

Not Set

jumper on the system board is in the enabled position (the default setting).

The administrator password is disabled by a jumper setting on

— No administrator password is assigned and the password

68 Securing Your Computer

Page 69

Assigning an Administrator Password

The administrator password can be the same as the system password.

To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press <Esc> at any time before you complete step 5.

NOTE: If the two passwords are different, the administrator password can be used

as an alternate system password. However, the system password cannot be used in place of the administrator password.

Enter the system setup program (see "System Setup" on page 75) and verify whether an

If the

Unlock Setup

Use the arrow keys to navigate to the

Press <Enter> to access the field.

Type in the administrator password and press <Enter>.

Use the arrow keys to navigate to the

Unlock Setup

field is present:

field is present under

Unlock Setup

Admin Password

Security

field.

field, and then press

<Enter>.

Type your new password into the

New Password

field.

You can use up to 15 characters. To erase a character when entering your password, press <Backspace> or the left-arrow key. The password is not case sensitive.

Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter one of these combinations, the speaker emits a beep.

As you press each character key (or the spacebar for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.

Press <Enter>.

If the new administrator password is less than 15 characters, the whole field fills with placeholders.

To confirm your password, type it a second time in the

Pas sword

Press <Enter> at the prompt.

field and press <Enter>.

The administrator password setting changes to

Exit the system setup program.

Securing Your Computer 69

Set

Confirm New

Page 70

A change to

Admin Password

becomes effective immediately (no need to

restart the computer).

Operating Your Computer With an Administrator Password Enabled

When you enter the system setup program (see "System Setup" on page 75), the

Unlock Setup

If you do not type the correct administrator password into the

option is displayed.

Unlock Setup

field, the computer lets you view, but not modify, system setup options.

NOTE: You can use Password Changes in conjunction with Admin Password to

protect the system password from unauthorized changes.

Deleting or Changing an Existing Administrator Password

To change an existing administrator password, you must know the administrator password. To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press <Esc> at any time before you complete step 5.

Enter the system setup program (see "System Setup" on page 75).

Use the arrow keys to navigate to the

Admin Password

field, and then press

<Enter>.

Type your password into the

If you are changing an existing password, follow the instructions in

Old Password

field.

"Assigning an Administrator Password" on page 69, starting from step 4.

If you are deleting a password, press <Enter> in

New Password

field,

leaving the field blank.

Press <Enter> a second time, in the

Confirm New Password

field, leaving

the field blank.

Confirm that

Not Set

is displayed for the

Admin Password

setting.

is displayed, the administrator password has been deleted. If

not

displayed, then repeat step 3 through step 8.

Exit system setup.

Disabling a Forgotten Password and Setting a New Password

To reset system and/or administrator passwords, see "Trusted Platform Module (TPM)" on page 71.

70 Securing Your Computer

Page 71

Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

NOTE: The TPM feature supports encryption only if the operating system supports

TPM. For more information, see the TPM software documentation and the help files that came with the software.

TPM is a hardware-based security feature that can be used to create and manage computer-generated encryption keys. When combined with security software, the TPM enhances existing network and computer security by enabling features such as file protection capabilities and protected e-mail. The TPM feature is enabled through a system setup option.

NOTICE: To secure your TPM data and encryption keys, follow the backup

procedures documented in the Broadcom Secure Foundation Getting Started Guide. In the event of these backups being incomplete, lost, or damaged, Dell will be unable to assist in the recovery of encrypted data.

Enabling the TPM Feature

Enable the TPM software:

Restart the computer and press <F2> during the Power On Self Test to enter the system setup program.

Select

Security→

Under

TPM Security

Press <Esc> to exit the setup program.

If prompted, click

Activate the TPM setup program:

Restart the computer and press <F2> during the Power On Self Test to enter the system setup program.

Select

Security→

Under

TPM Activation

TPM Security

and press <Enter>.

, select On and press <Enter>.

Save/Exit

TPM Activation

, select

and press <Enter>.

Activate

and press <Enter>.

NOTE: You only need to activate the program once.

Once the process is complete, the computer either restarts automatically or prompts you to restart your computer.

Securing Your Computer 71

Page 72

Security Management Software

The security management software is designed to utilize four different features to help you secure your computer:

• Log-in management

• Pre-boot authentication (using a fingerprint reader, smart card, or password)

•Encryption

• Private information management

Activating the Security Management Software

NOTE: You must first enable the TPM in order for the security management

software to have full functionality.

Enable the TPM feature (see "Enabling the TPM Feature" on page 71).

Load the security management software.

Using the Security Management Software

For information about how to use the software and the different security features, see the Getting Started Guide for the software:

Click Start

Guide

→

All Programs→ Wave EMBASSY Trust Suite→ Getting Started

Computer Tracking Software

Computer tracking software may enable you to locate your computer if it is lost or stolen. The software is optional and may be purchased when you order your Dell™ computer, or you can contact your Dell sales representative for information about this security feature.

NOTE: Computer tracking software may not be available in certain countries.

NOTE: If you have computer tracking software and your computer is lost or stolen,

you must contact the company that provides the tracking service to report the missing computer.

72 Securing Your Computer

Page 73

If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen

• Call a law enforcement agency to report the lost or stolen computer. Include the Service Tag in your description of the computer. Ask that a case number be assigned and write down the number, along with the name, address, and phone number of the law enforcement agency. If possible, obtain the name of the investigating officer.

NOTE: If you know where the computer was lost or stolen, call a law enforcement

agency in that area. If you do not know, call a law enforcement agency where you live.

• If the computer belongs to a company, notify the security office of the company.

• Contact Dell customer service to report the missing computer. Provide the computer Service Tag, the case number, and the name, address, and phone number of the law enforcement agency to which you reported the missing computer. If possible, give the name of the investigating officer.

The Dell customer service representative will log your report under the computer Service Tag and record the computer as missing or stolen. If someone calls Dell for technical assistance and gives your Service Tag, the computer is identified automatically as missing or stolen. The representative will attempt to get the phone number and address of the caller. Dell will then contact the law enforcement agency to which you reported the missing computer.

Securing Your Computer 73

Page 74

74 Securing Your Computer

Page 75

System Setup

Overview

Use System Setup as follows:

• To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your computer

• To set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password

• To read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed

Before you use System Setup, it is recommended that you write down the System Setup screen information for future reference.

NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings for

this program. Certain changes can make your computer work incorrectly.

Entering System Setup

Turn on (or restart) your computer.

When the blue DELL™ logo is displayed, you must watch for the F2 prompt to appear.

Once this F2 prompt appears, press <F2> immediately.

NOTE: The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard has initialized. This prompt can

appear very quickly, so you must watch for it to display, and then press <F2>. If you press <F2> before you are prompted, this keystroke will be lost.

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft your computer and try again.

System Setup Options

NOTE: Depending on your computer and installed devices, the items listed in this

section may not be present or may not appear exactly as listed.

System

Windows® desktop. Then, shut down

System Setup 75

Page 76

System Info Displays the Computer name, BIOS Version number, BIOS

Date, Service Tag, Express Service Code, and Asset Tag.

Processor Info

Memory Info Displays the amount of Installed Memory, Memory Speed,

PCI Info Displays the contents of each PCI, PCI Express, and PCI-X

Date/Time Controls the system’s internal calendar and clock.

Boot Sequence

(Diskette drive default)

Displays the following information for the processor installed in the system:

•Processor Type

•Processor Clock Speed

• Processor Bus Speed

•

Processor L2 Cache

Processor ID

•

• Family, Model, and Stepping

• Microcode Version

• whether the processor is

Capable

• if the processor supports

Memory Channel Mode, and a description of the Memory Te ch n ol og y. This option also displays a table that describes

the memory size, whether the memory module is ECC capable, single or dual rank, type, and organization.

slot.

Determines the order in which the system searches for boot devices during system startup.

number

Size

Hyperthreading

64-bit Technology

Multi-core

NOTE: If you insert a boot device and restart the computer, this

option appears in the system setup menu. To boot from a USB memory device, select the USB device and move it so it becomes the first device in the list.

Drives

SAS Controller

76 System Setup

Enables (On) or disables (Off) a SAS drive.

Page 77

Diskette Drive

(Internal default)

SATA 0 through 2

(On default)

SATA

Operation

(AHCI default)

SMART Reporting

(Off default)

Onboard Devices

Integrated NIC

(On default)

Integrated Audio

(On default)

1394 Controller

Enables and disables the floppy drives and sets read permission for the internal floppy drive. Off disables all floppy drives. USB disables the internal diskette drive and enables a USB floppy drive, if the USB controller is enabled and a USB drive is connected. Internal enables the internal floppy drive. Read Only enables the internal drive controller and allows the internal floppy drive read-only permission.

NOTE: Operating systems with USB support will recognize USB

floppy drives regardless of this setting.

Enables (On) or disables (Off) a SATA drive.

Displays the Controller type (SATA), Port number the drive is using, Drive ID number, and Capacity.

Determines the integrated SATA controller's operating mode, which can be either AHCI or ATA.

Controls whether errors for integrated drives are reported during startup.

Enables or disables the integrated NIC controller. On, Off, On w/RPL, or On w/ PXE. When the On w/ PXE or the On w/RPL setting is active, if a boot routine is not available from the network server, the computer attempts to boot from the next device in the boot sequence list.

Enables ( audio controller. You can also select Auto to use the add-in Audio controller.

Enables (On) or disables (Off) a 1394 controller.

On) or disables (Off) the onboard

Settings are

System Setup 77

Page 78

USB Controller

(On default)

Front USB Ports

(On default)

LPT Port Mode

(PS/2 default)

LPT Port Address

Serial Port #1

(Auto default)

Serial Port #2

(Auto default)

PS/2 Mouse Port

(On default)

Enables or disables the internal USB controller. No Boot enables the controller but disables the ability to boot from a USB device.

NOTE: Operating systems with USB support will recognize USB

floppy drives regardless of the No Boot setting.

Enables or disables the front USB ports.

Determines the mode of operation of the internal parallel port.

Off

disables the port. AT configures the port for AT

compatibility.

EPP

configures the port for the EPP bidirectional protocol.

ECP

configures the port for the ECP bidirectional protocol.

PS/2

configures the port for PS/2 compatibility.

NOTE: If you set the LPT Port Mode to ECP, the LPT Port DMA

appears in the option menu.

Determines the address that the built-in parallel port uses.

Determines how the serial port operates.

Off disables the port. Auto, the default setting, automatically configures a connector to a particular designation (COM1 or COM3).

Determines how the serial port operates.

Off disables the port. configures a connector to a particular designation (

COM4

Enables or disables the integrated legacy PS/2-compatible mouse controller.

Auto

, the default setting, automatically

COM2

78 System Setup

Page 79

Video

Primary Video

(Option 1 default)

Performance

SpeedStep

(Off default)

VT for Direct I/O

(Off default)

Virtualization

(Off default)

Limit CPUID Value

(Off default)

This field allows the user to specify the order in which the system assigns the primary video controller when two or more controllers are available in the system. This selection is necessary only if there are two or more video controllers present.

Option 1

• PCI/PCI-X Slots

•PCIe Slot2

•PCIe Slot4

Option 2

•PCIe Slot4

•PCIe Slot2

• PCI/PCI-X Slots

The factory default setting is Option 1

Enables Intel® SpeedStep® for all supported processors in the computer. This setting changes the processor power consumption and frequency.

NOTE: This option may not be available on your computer.

Specifies whether a virtual monitor (VMM) can use additional hardware capabilities provided by Intel Virtualization Technology for direct I/O.

Specifies whether a virtual machine monitor (VMM) can utilize the additional hardware capabilities provided by Intel Virtualization technology.

Limits the max value the processor standard CPUID function will support. Some operating systems won’t complete installation when the max CPUID function supported is greater than 3.

System Setup 79

Page 80

HDD Acoustic Mode

Snoop Filter Enabling the snoop filter typically improves performance

ACL Prefetch When enabled, the Adjacent Cache Line Prefetcher

HW Prefetch Fetches an extra line of data into L2 from external

FSB Optimization

Security

Unlock Setup

Locked default)

Admin Password

(Not Set default)

System Password

(Not Set default)

Optimizes the drive’s performance and acoustic levels.

• Bypass - do nothing (needed for older drives)

• Quiet - slower, but quieter

• Suggested - allows the drive manufacturer to select mode

• Performance - faster, but noisier.

by reducing snoop traffic on the frontside bus in dual processor configurations.

fetches both cache lines that comprise a cache line pair when it determines required data is not currently in its cache. When disabled, the processor will only fetch the cache line required by the processor.

memory.

Allows users to turn on/off optimization for highbandwidth, Front-Side bus applications.

When an administrator password is being used, allows the user access to modify system setup settings. Enter the administrator password at the prompt to unlock system setup. If the correct password is not entered here, the user can view but not modify system setup fields.

Displays the current status of your system setup program’s password security feature and allows you to verify and assign a new admin password.

Displays the current status of the system's password security feature and allows a new system password to be assigned and verified.

80 System Setup

Page 81

Password Changes

(Unlocked default)

Chassis Intrusion

(On-Silent default)

Intrusion Alert

TPM Security

(Off default)

Execute Disable

(On default)

Computrace

Power Management

AC Recovery

(Off default)

Auto Power On

(Off default)

Determines the interaction between the System password and the Admin password. Locked prevents a user without a valid Admin password from being able to modify the System password. Unlocked allows a user with a valid System password to modify the system password.

When enabled, this option alerts the user, during the next computer start-up, that the computer cover has been opened. The settings are On,

On-Silent

(default setting), and

Off

Acknowledges and clears a chassis intrusion alert.

Enables or disables the Trusted Platform Module security device.

Enables or disables Execute Disable memory protection technology.

Activates or disables the BIOS module interface of the optional Computrace service from Absolute Software.

Determines how the system responds when AC power is reapplied after a power loss. Off commands the system to stay off when the power is re-applied. You must press the frontpanel power button before the system turns on. On commands the system to turn on when the power is reapplied. Last commands the system to return to the last power state the system was in just before it was turned off.

Sets the computer to automatically turn on. Off disables this feature. Everyday turns the computer on every day at the time set in Auto Power Time. We ek days turns the computer on every day from Monday through Friday at the time set in Auto Power Time.

NOTE: This feature does not work if you turn off your computer

using a power strip or surge protector.

System Setup 81

Page 82

Auto Power Time

Low Power Mode

(Off default)

Remote Wakeup

(Off default)

Sets time to automatically turn on the computer.

Time is kept in the standard 12-hour format (hours:minutes). Change the startup time by pressing the right- or left-arrow key to increase or decrease the numbers, or type numbers in both the date and time fields.

When

Low Power Mode

no longer power up the computer from onboard network controller.

This option allows the system to power up when a Network Interface Controller (NIC) or Remote Wakeup-capable modem receives a wake up signal.

is the default setting. computer to attempt to boot from a network prior to using the boot sequence.

is selected, remote wakeup events will

Hibernate

On w/ Boot to NIC

Off

via the

will allow the

NOTE: Normally, the system can be powered up remotely from

suspend mode, hibernate mode, or when powered off. When Low Power Mode (in the Power Management menu) is enabled, the system can only be powered up remotely from Suspend.

Suspend Mode Sets the computer’s suspend mode. The options are S1, a

suspend state in which the computer is running in a lowpower mode, and S3, a suspend state in which the power is reduced or turned off for many components, however, system memory remains active.

Maintenance

Service Tag Displays the service tag for your computer.

ASF Mode Controls ASF management.

• On = Full ASF 2.0 functionality (RMCP)

• Alert Only - send ASF messages on event or error

• Off - all ASF functionality disabled

SERR Message

(On default)

Some graphics cards require that the SERR message be disabled.

82 System Setup

Page 83

Load Defaults

Event Log Allows you to view the Event Log. Entries are marked R for

POST Behavior

Fast Boot

(On default)

Numlock Key

(On default)

OS Install

(Off default)

Restores system setup options to their factory defaults.

Read and U for Unread. Mark All Entries Read puts an R to the left of all the entries. Clear Log clears the Event Log.

When enabled, this feature reduces computer startup time by bypassing some compatibility steps. Off does not skip any steps during computer startup. On starts the system more quickly.

Determines the functionality of the numeric keys on the right side of your keyboard. Off commands the right keypad keys to function as arrows. On commands the right keypad keys to function as numbers.

Determines the maximum amount of system memory available to the operating system. When set to Off, all system memory is available to the operating system. When set to On, the maximum amount of memory available to the operating system is 256 MB.

NOTE: Some operating systems will not complete installation

with more than 2 GB of system memory.

POST Hotkeys Determines whether the sign-on screen displays a message

stating the keystroke sequence that is required to enter the

Setup program or the Quickboot feature. Setup & Boot Menu displays both messages

(F2=Setup and F12=Boot Menu). Setup displays the setup message only (F2=Setup). Boot Menu displays the Quickboot message only (F12=Boot Menu). None displays no message.

Keyboard Errors

When set to Report (enabled) and an error is detected during POST, the BIOS will display the error message and prompt you to press <F1> to continue or press <F2> to enter the system setup program.

When set to Do Not Report (disabled) and an error is detected during POST, the BIOS will display the error message and continue booting the system.

System Setup 83

Page 84

Boot Menu

This feature allows you to change the boot sequence for devices.

Option Settings

•

Onboard or USB Floppy Drive —

the floppy drive. If the floppy disk in the drive is not bootable, if no floppy disk is in the drive, or if there is no floppy drive installed in the computer, the computer generates an error message.

•

Hard Drive

computer attempts to boot from the selected hard drive.

NOTE: In AHCI mode, all bootable hard drives are listed, not just the boot drive.

•

Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive

from the CD-ROM drive. If no CD is in the drive, or if the CD has no operating system, the computer generates an error message.

•

USB Device —

computer. When the screen, press <F12>. The BIOS detects the device and adds the USB option to the boot menu.

NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure that

your device is bootable, check the device documentation.

(listed by serial number when in AHCI mode) — The

Insert the memory device into a USB port and restart the

F12 = Boot Menu

Selecting the Boot Device for the Current Boot

You can use this feature, for example, to restart your computer to a USB device such as a floppy drive, memory key, or CD-RW drive.

The computer attempts to boot from

— The computer attempts to boot

appears in the upper-right corner of

NOTE: If you are booting to a USB floppy drive, you must first set the Diskette Drive

to USB in system setup (see "System Setup Options" on page 75).

If you are booting to a USB device, connect the USB device to a USB connector (see "About Your Computer" on page 21).

Turn on (or restart) your computer.

When

F2 = Setup, F12 = Boot Menu

of the screen, press <F12>.

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.

84 System Setup

appears in the upper-right corner

Page 85

A menu appears.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to navigate to

Boot Device Menu

press <Enter> to select the option.

The

Boot Device Menu

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to navigate to the device (that is to be

appears, listing all available boot devices.

used for the current boot only).

Press <Enter> to select the device.

For example, if you are booting to a USB memory key, highlight

USB Device

and press <Enter>.

NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To make sure your

device is bootable, check the device documentation.

Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots

Enter the system setup program (see "System Setup" on page 75).

Use the arrow keys to highlight the <Enter> to access the menu.

NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it.

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

Press the spacebar to enable or disable a device.

Press <U> and <D> to move a selected device up or down the list.

Boot Sequence

menu option and press

, then

Booting to a USB Device

NOTE: To boot to a USB device, the device must be bootable. To ensure that your

device is bootable, check the device documentation.

Memory Key

Insert the memory key into a USB port and restart the computer.

When

F12 = Boot Menu

press <F12>.

The BIOS detects the device and adds the USB device option to the boot menu.

See "Selecting the Boot Device for the Current Boot" on page 84.

appears in the upper-right corner of the screen,

System Setup 85

Page 86

Floppy Drive

In system setup, set the

Save your changes and exit system setup.

Connect the USB floppy drive, insert bootable media, and re-boot the

Diskette Drive

option to

USB

system.

See "Selecting the Boot Device for the Current Boot" on page 84.

86 System Setup

Page 87

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

NOTICE: This process erases both the system and the administrator passwords.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 139.

Jumper Setting Description

PSWD Password features are enabled

Product Information Guide

(default setting).

Password features are disabled.

RTCRST The real-time clock has not been

reset (default setting).

The real-time clock is being reset.

jumpered unjumpered

Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 141).

Clearing Forgotten Passwords 87

Page 88

Locate the 2-pin password jumper (PSWD) on the system board, and remove the jumper plug; set the plug aside. For help locating the jumper, see "System Board Components" on page 27.

NOTE: When you receive your computer, the password jumper plug is on the

password jumper.

Replace the computer cover (see "Replacing the Computer Cover" on page 145).

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

After the Microsoft® Windows® desktop appears on your computer, shut down your computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 139).

Turn off the monitor and disconnect it from the electrical outlet.

Disconnect the computer power cable from the electrical outlet, and press the power button to ground the system board.

Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 141).

Locate the 2-pin password jumper on the system board and attach the jumper plug to its pins to re-enable the password feature. For more information see "System Board Components" on page 27.

Replace the computer cover (see "Replacing the Computer Cover" on page 145).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or

device and then plug it into the computer.

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

NOTE: This procedure enables the password feature. When you enter the

system setup program (see "System Setup" on page 75), both system and administrator password options appear as Not Set—meaning that the password feature is enabled but no password is assigned.

Assign a new system and/or setup password. See "Passwords" on page 64.

88 Clearing Forgotten Passwords

Page 89

Clearing CMOS Settings

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 139.

Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 141).

Reset the current CMOS settings:

Locate the password and CMOS jumpers (RTCRST) on the system board (see "System Board Components" on page 27.

Remove the password jumper plug from its pins.

Place the password jumper plug on the RTCRST pins and wait approximately 5 seconds.

Remove the jumper plug from the RTCRST pins and place it back upon the password pins.

Replace the computer cover (see "Replacing the Computer Cover" on page 145).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or

device and then plug it into the computer.

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

Product Information Guide

Flashing the BIOS

The BIOS may require flashing when an update is available or when replacing the system board.

Turn on the computer.

Locate the BIOS update file for your computer at the Dell Support website at

Click

If the

this Agreement

The

support.dell.com

Download Now

Export Compliance Disclaimer

File Download

window appears.

to download the file.

window appears, click

Clearing Forgotten Passwords 89

Yes, I Accept

Page 90

Click

Save this program to disk

The

Save In

Click the down arrow to view the click

Save

The file downloads to your desktop.

Click Close when the

The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file.

Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the on-screen instructions.

window appears.

Download Complete

, and then click OK.

Save In

menu, select

window appears.

Desktop

, and then

90 Clearing Forgotten Passwords

Page 91

Cleaning Your Computer

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in 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 can of compressed air to remove dust from between the keys on the keyboard.

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 floppy disks to remove contaminants that accumulate during normal operation.

CDs and DVDs

Product Information Guide

NOTICE: Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the optical drive, and

follow the instructions that come with the compressed-air product. 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 disks.

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

NOTICE: To avoid damaging the surface, do not wipe in a circular motion around

the disk.

Cleaning Your Computer 91

Page 92

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

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

92 Cleaning Your Computer

Page 93

Troubleshooting

Solving Problems

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.

NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default

view, so they may not apply if you set your Dell™ computer to the Windows Classic view.

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 begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

EPLACE 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. If the battery still does not work properly, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 287).

Drive Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

Troubleshooting 93

Page 94

ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE —

Windows XP:

•Click

Start

and click

My Computer

Windows Vista™:

•Click the Windows Vista Start button and click

Computer

If the 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.

EST THE DRIVE —

• Insert another disc to eliminate the possibility that the original drive is defective.

• Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer.

CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK — See "Cleaning Your Computer" on page 91.

HECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Troubleshooting Software and

Hardware Problems in the Microsoft® Windows® XP and Microsoft Windows Vista™ Operating Systems" on page 131.

UN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS — See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 123.

Optical drive problems

NOTE: High-speed optical drive vibration is normal and may cause noise, which

does not indicate a defect in the drive or the media.

NOTE: Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all

DVD titles work in all DVD drives.

DJUST 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.

Problems writing to an optical drive

CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS — The optical drive must receive a steady stream of data

during the writing process. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. Try closing all programs before you write to the optical.

URN OFF STANDBY MODE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A DISK — See

"Power Management" on page 37 or search for the keyword standby in Windows Help

94 Troubleshooting

Page 95

and Support for information on power management modes.

Hard drive problems

RUN CHECK DISK —

Windows XP:

Click

Start

and click

Right-click

Click

Local Disk C: Properties→ To ol s→ Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors and click Start

My Computer

Check Now

Windows Vista:

Click

Start

Right-click

Click

The

Local Disk C: Properties→ To ol s→

User Account Control

computer, click

and click

Continue

Computer

Check Now

window may appear. If you are an administrator on the

; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue the

desired action.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

E-Mail and Internet Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

CHECK THE MICROSOFT OUTLOOK® EXPRESS SECURITY SETTINGS — If you cannot

open your e-mail attachments:

In Outlook Express, click

Click

Do not allow attachments

CHECK THE TELEPHONE LINE CONNECTION CHECK THE TELEPHONE JACK CONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK USE 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 hear 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, then listen for a dial tone.

Product Information Guide

To ol s→

Options→

Security

to remove the checkmark, as needed.

Troubleshooting 95

Page 96

• 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 meters (10 feet) or more in length, try a shorter one.

Keyboard Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

HECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE —

Product Information Guide

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

• Shut down the computer, 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.

UN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Troubleshooting Software and

Hardware Problems in the Microsoft Operating Systems

" on page 131.

Windows® XP and Microsoft Windows Vista™

Lockups and Software Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin 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 105.

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

THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET

The computer stops responding

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

shutdown.

URN 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

96 Troubleshooting

Page 97

10 seconds (until the computer turns off), and then restart your computer.

A program stops responding

END THE PROGRAM —

Press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously to access the Task Manager.

Click the

Click to select the program that is no longer responding.

Click

Applications

End Task

tab.

A program crashes repeatedly

NOTE: Most software includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a

floppy disk, CD, or DVD.

HECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION — If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall

the program.

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system

RUN THE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD —

Windows XP:

The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-XP operating system environments.

Click

Start→

All Programs→ Accessories→ Program Compatibility Wizard→ Next

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Windows Vista:

The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-Windows Vista operating system environments.

Click

Start

→

Control Panel→ Programs→ Use an older program with this

version of Windows.

In the welcome screen, click

Follow the instructions on the screen.

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.

Troubleshooting 97

Page 98

Memory Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

F YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE —

Product Information Guide

• Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem.

• See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements. If necessary, install additional memory (see "Memory Installation" on page 173).

• Reseat the memory modules (see "Memory" on page 172) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.

• Run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 123).

IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS —

• Reseat the memory modules (see "Memory" on page 172) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.

• Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines (see "Memory Installation" on page 173).

• Ensure that the memory you are using is supported by your computer. For more information about the type of memory supported by your computer, see "Memory" on page 172.

98 Troubleshooting

Page 99

• Run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 123).

Mouse Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

HECK THE MOUSE CABLE —

Product Information Guide

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

• 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.

RESTART THE COMPUTER —

Simultaneously press <Ctrl><Esc> to display the

Press <u>,

Off

After the computer turns off, reconnect the mouse cable as shown on the setup

press the up- and down-arrow keys

, and then press <Enter>.

diagram.

Turn on the computer.

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

HECK THE MOUSE SETTINGS —

Windows XP:

Click

Start→ Control Panel→

Adjust the settings as needed.

Mouse

Windows Vista:

Click

Start

→ Control Panel→ Hardware and Sound→ Mouse

Adjust the settings as needed.

REINSTALL THE MOUSE DRIVER — See "Drivers" on page 1295.

UN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Troubleshooting Software and

Hardware Problems in the Microsoft

Windows® XP and Microsoft Windows Vista™

Operating Systems" on page 131.

Start

menu.

to highlight

Shut down

Tu r n

Network Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

Troubleshooting 99

Page 100

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.

HECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE BACK OF THE COMPUTER — If the link

integrity light is off (see "Controls and Lights" on page 32), no network communication is occurring. Replace the network cable.

ESTART 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.

UN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Troubleshooting Software and

Hardware Problems in the Microsoft

Windows® XP and Microsoft Windows Vista™

Operating Systems" on page 131.

Power Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

F THE POWER LIGHT IS GREEN AND THE COMPUTER IS NOT RESPONDING — See

"Diagnostic Lights" on page 105.

F 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.

F THE POWER LIGHT IS OFF — The computer is either turned off or is not receiving

power.

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

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

• Ensure that any power strips being used are plugged into an electrical outlet and are turned on.

• 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 27).

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

Product Information Guide

100 Troubleshooting

Dell T7400, YT583 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Finding Information

About Your Computer

Front View of the Computer

Back View of the Computer

Back Panel Connectors

Inside View

System Board Components

Specifications

Advanced Features

LegacySelect Technology Control

Manageability

Alert Standard Format

Dell OpenManage™ IT Assistant

Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation

Power Management

About RAID Configurations

RAID Level 0

RAID Level 1

RAID Level 5

RAID Level 10

Configuring Your Computer for RAID

RAID Configuration Utility

Entering the RAID Configuration Utility

Navigating Within the Configuration Utility

RAID Configuration and Management

Exit Screen

Performing Configuration Tasks

Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration

Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration

Creating a Second RAID Volume

Viewing RAID Volume Properties

Synchronizing a RAID Volume (Virtual Disk)

Activating a RAID Volume

Deleting a RAID Volume

Replacing and Rebuilding a Degraded RAID Volume

Setting Up Your Computer

Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure

Connecting to the Internet

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

Transferring Information to a New Computer

Microsoft® Windows® XP

Microsoft Windows Vista™

Power Protection Devices

Surge Protectors

Line Conditioners

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

Securing Your Computer

Chassis Intrusion Detection

Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch

Replacing the Chassis Intrusion Switch

Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector

Security Cable Lock

Passwords

About Passwords

Using a Primary (or System) Password

Using an Administrator Password

Disabling a Forgotten Password and Setting a New Password

Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

Enabling the TPM Feature

Security Management Software

Activating the Security Management Software

Using the Security Management Software

Computer Tracking Software

If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen

System Setup

Overview

Entering System Setup

System Setup Options

Boot Menu

Option Settings

Selecting the Boot Device for the Current Boot

Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots

Booting to a USB Device

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

Clearing CMOS Settings

Flashing the BIOS