Lenovo ThinkCentre 1899, ThinkCentre 1928, ThinkCentre 1932, ThinkCentre 1934 User guide [en, ar, bg, cs, de, el, es, fr, he, hu, id, it, ko, pl, pt, ro, ru, sk, sl, sr, tr, uk, zc, zh]

ThinkCentre
UserGuide

MachineTypes:1899,1928,1932,and1934

Note:Beforeusingthisinformationandtheproductitsupports,besuretoreadandunderstandthe

“Importantsafetyinformation”onpagevandAppendixA“Notices”onpage95.

SecondEdition(November2011)

©CopyrightLenovo2011.

LIMITEDANDRESTRICTEDRIGHTSNOTICE:IfdataorsoftwareisdeliveredpursuantaGeneralServicesAdministration
“GSA”contract,use,reproduction,ordisclosureissubjecttorestrictionssetforthinContractNo.GS-35F-05925.

Contents

Importantsafetyinformation......v

Serviceandupgrades.............v

Staticelectricityprevention...........v

Powercordsandpoweradapters........vi

Extensioncordsandrelateddevices.......vi

Plugsandoutlets..............vii

Externaldevices..............vii

Heatandproductventilation.........vii

Operatingenvironment...........viii

Modemsafetyinformation..........viii

Lasercompliancestatement..........ix

Powersupplystatement............ix

Cleaningandmaintenance...........ix

Chapter1.Productoverview......1

Features..................1

Specications................4

Softwareoverview..............4

SoftwareprovidedbyLenovo........4

AdobeReader..............6

Antivirussoftware.............6

Locations..................6

Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicators

onthefrontofyourcomputer........7

Locatingconnectorsandpartsontherearof

yourcomputer..............8

Locatingcomponents..........10

Locatingpartsonthesystemboard....11

Locatinginternaldrives.........12

Machinetypeandmodellabel.......13

Chapter2.Usingyourcomputer...15

Frequentlyaskedquestions.........15

Usingthekeyboard.............15

UsingWindowsshortcutkeys.......15

Usingangerprintreader........16

Usingthewheelmouse...........16

Adjustingaudio..............16

Aboutyourcomputeraudio........16

Settingthevolumefromthedesktop....17

SettingthevolumefromControlPanel...17

UsingCDsandDVDs............17

HandlingandstoringCDandDVDmedia..18

PlayingaCDorDVD..........18

RecordingaCDorDVD.........18

Chapter3.Youandyourcomputer..19

Accessibilityandcomfort..........19

Arrangingyourworkspace........19

Comfort...............19

Glareandlighting............20

Aircirculation.............20

Electricaloutletsandcablelengths.....20

RegisteryourcomputerwithLenovo......21

Movingyourcomputertoanothercountryor

region..................21

Voltage-selectionswitch.........21

Replacementpowercords........22

Chapter4.Security..........23

Securityfeatures..............23

Lockingthecomputercover.........24

Attachingacablelock............25

Attachinganintegratedcablelock.......26

Usingpasswords..............26

BIOSpasswords............26

Windowspasswords..........27

Conguringthengerprintreader.......27

Usingandunderstandingrewalls.......27

Protectingdataagainstviruses........27

Chapter5.Installingorreplacing

hardware...............29

Handlingstatic-sensitivedevices.......29

Installingorreplacinghardware........29

Installingexternaloptions........29

Removingthecomputercover.......30

Removingandreinstallingthefrontbezel..30

InstallingorreplacingaPCIcard......32

Installingorreplacingamemorymodule...34

Installingorreplacingtheopticaldrive...36

Replacingthebattery..........38

Replacingtheheatsinkandfanassembly..39

Replacingthepowersupplyassembly...41

Replacingthemicroprocessor.......42

Replacingtheprimaryharddiskdrive....45

ReplacingthefrontaudioandUSB

assembly...............46

ReplacingtheUSBkeyboardormouse...48

Completingthepartsreplacement.....48

Chapter6.Recoveryinformation...51

Creatingandusingrecoverymedia......51

Creatingrecoverymedia.........51

©CopyrightLenovo2011

i

Usingrecoverymedia..........52

Performingbackupandrecoveryoperations...52

Performingabackupoperation......52

Performingarecoveryoperation......53

UsingtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace...53

Creatingandusingarescuemedium......54

Creatingarescuemedium........54

Usingarescuemedium.........54

Reinstallingpreinstalledapplicationsanddevice

drivers..................55

Reinstallingsoftwareprograms........56

Reinstallingdevicedrivers..........56

Solvingrecoveryproblems..........56

Chapter7.UsingtheSetupUtility

program................59

StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram.......59

Viewingandchangingsettings........59

Usingpasswords..............59

Passwordconsiderations.........59

Power-OnPassword..........60

AdministratorPassword.........60

Setting,changing,anddeletingapassword.60

Erasinglostorforgottenpasswords(clearing

CMOS)................60

Enablingordisablingadevice........61

Selectingastartupdevice..........61

Selectingatemporarystartupdevice....61

Selectingorchangingthestartupdevice

sequence...............61

ExitingtheSetupUtilityprogram.......62

Chapter8.Updatingsystem

programs...............63

Usingsystemprograms...........63

Updating(ashing)theBIOSfromadisc....63

Updating(ashing)theBIOSfromyouroperating

system..................64

RecoveringfromaPOST/BIOSupdatefailure..64

Chapter9.Preventingproblems...67

Keepingyourcomputercurrent........67

Gettingthelatestdevicedriversforyour

computer...............67

Updatingyouroperatingsystem......67

UsingSystemUpdate..........67

Cleaningandmaintenance..........68

Basics................68

Cleaningyourcomputer.........69

Goodmaintenancepractices.......70

Movingyourcomputer...........70

Chapter10.Troubleshootingand

diagnostics..............71

Basictroubleshooting............71

Troubleshootingprocedure..........72

Troubleshooting..............72

Audioproblems............73

CDproblems.............74

DVDproblems.............75

Intermittentproblems..........77

Keyboard,mouse,orpointingdevice

problems...............77

Monitorproblems............78

Networkingproblems..........80

Optionproblems............83

Performanceandlockupproblems.....84

Printerproblems............85

Serialportproblems...........86

Softwareproblems...........86

USBproblems.............87

Diagnosticprograms............87

LenovoSolutionCenter.........88

LenovoThinkVantageT oolbox.......88

PC-DoctorforDOS...........88

Chapter11.Gettinginformation,help,

andservice..............91

Informationresources............91

LenovoThinkVantageT ools........91

LenovoWelcome............91

HelpandSupport............91

SafetyandWarranty...........91

LenovoWebsite(http://www.lenovo.com)..91

LenovoSupportWebsite.........92

Helpandservice..............92

Usingthedocumentationanddiagnostic

programs...............92

Callingforservice............92

Usingotherservices..........93

Purchasingadditionalservices......93

AppendixA.Notices..........95

Trademarks................96

AppendixB.Regulatory

information..............97

Exportclassicationnotice..........97

Televisionoutputnotice...........97

Electronicemissionsnotices.........97

FederalCommunicationsCommission

DeclarationofConformity........97

Additionalregulatoryinformation.......99

iiThinkCentreUserGuide

AppendixC.WEEEandrecycling

statements.............101

ImportantinformationfortheEuropeanDirective

2002/96/EC................101

Recyclinginformation............101

RecyclinginformationforBrazil........102

BatteryrecyclinginformationforT aiwan.....102

BatteryrecyclinginformationfortheEuropean

Union..................103

Index.................105

©CopyrightLenovo2011

iii

ivThinkCentreUserGuide

Importantsafetyinformation

CAUTION:
Beforeusingthismanual,besuretoreadandunderstandalltherelatedsafetyinformationforthis
product.RefertotheinformationinthissectionandthesafetyinformationintheThinkCentreSafety
andWarrantyGuidethatyoureceivedwiththisproduct.Readingandunderstandingthissafety
informationreducestheriskofpersonalinjuryanddamagetoyourproduct.

IfyounolongerhaveacopyoftheThinkCentreSafetyandWarrantyGuide,youcanobtainaPortable
DocumentFormat(PDF)versionfromtheLenovo
LenovoSupportWebsitealsoprovidestheThinkCentreSafetyandWarrantyGuideandthisThinkCentre
UserGuideinadditionallanguages.

®

SupportWebsiteathttp://www.lenovo.com/support.The

Serviceandupgrades

DonotattempttoserviceaproductyourselfunlessinstructedtodosobytheCustomerSupportCenteror
yourdocumentation.OnlyuseaServiceProviderwhoisapprovedtorepairyourparticularproduct.

Note:Somecomputerpartscanbeupgradedorreplacedbythecustomer.Upgradestypicallyare
referredtoasoptions.ReplacementpartsapprovedforcustomerinstallationarereferredtoasCustomer
ReplaceableUnits,orCRUs.Lenovoprovidesdocumentationwithinstructionswhenitisappropriatefor
customerstoinstalloptionsorreplaceCRUs.Y oumustcloselyfollowallinstructionswheninstallingor
replacingparts.TheOffstateofapowerindicatordoesnotnecessarilymeanthatvoltagelevelsinsidea
productarezero.Beforeyouremovethecoversfromaproductequippedwithapowercord,alwaysmake
surethatthepoweristurnedoffandthattheproductisunpluggedfromanypowersource.Formore
informationonCRUs,refertoChapter5“Installingorreplacinghardware”onpage29
questionsorconcerns,contacttheCustomerSupportCenter.

Althoughtherearenomovingpartsinyourcomputerafterthepowercordhasbeendisconnected,the
followingwarningsarerequiredforyoursafety.

CAUTION:

.Ifyouhaveany

Hazardousmovingparts.Keepngersandotherbodypartsaway.

CAUTION:

BeforereplacinganyCRUs,turnoffthecomputerandwaitthreetoveminutestoletthecomputer
coolbeforeopeningthecover.

Staticelectricityprevention

Staticelectricity,althoughharmlesstoyou,canseriouslydamagecomputercomponentsandoptions.
Improperhandlingofstatic-sensitivepartscancausedamagetothepart.Whenyouunpackanoption

©CopyrightLenovo2011

v

orCRU,donotopenthestatic-protectivepackagecontainingthepartuntiltheinstructionsdirectyou
toinstallit.

WhenyouhandleoptionsorCRUs,orperformanyworkinsidethecomputer,takethefollowingprecautions
toavoidstatic-electricitydamage:

•Limityourmovement.Movementcancausestaticelectricitytobuilduparoundyou.

•Alwayshandlecomponentscarefully.Handleadapters,memorymodules,andothercircuitboardsbythe

edges.Nevertouchexposedcircuitry.

•Preventothersfromtouchingcomponents.

•Whenyouinstallastatic-sensitiveoptionorCRU,touchthestatic-protectivepackagecontainingthe

parttoametalexpansion-slotcoverorotherunpaintedmetalsurfaceonthecomputerforatleasttwo
seconds.Thisreducesstaticelectricityinthepackageandyourbody.

•Whenpossible,removethestatic-sensitivepartfromthestatic-protectivepackagingandinstallthepart

withoutsettingitdown.Whenthisisnotpossible,placethestatic-protectivepackagingonasmooth,
levelsurfaceandplacethepartonit.

•Donotplacethepartonthecomputercoverorothermetalsurface.

Powercordsandpoweradapters

Useonlythepowercordsandpoweradapterssuppliedbytheproductmanufacturer.

Thepowercordsshallbesafetyapproved.ForGermany,itshallbeH05VV-F ,3G,0.75mm
othercountries,thesuitabletypesshallbeusedaccordingly.

Neverwrapapowercordaroundapoweradapterorotherobject.Doingsocanstressthecordinwaysthat
cancausethecordtofray,crack,orcrimp.Thiscanpresentasafetyhazard.

Alwaysroutepowercordssothattheywillnotbewalkedon,trippedover,orpinchedbyobjects.

Protectpowercordandpoweradaptersfromliquids.Forinstance,donotleaveyourpowercordorpower
adapternearsinks,tubs,toilets,oronoorsthatarecleanedwithliquidcleansers.Liquidscancausea
shortcircuit,particularlyifthepowercordorpoweradapterhasbeenstressedbymisuse.Liquidsalsocan
causegradualcorrosionofpowercordterminalsand/ortheconnectorterminalsonapoweradapter,
whichcaneventuallyresultinoverheating.

Alwaysconnectpowercordsandsignalcablesinthecorrectorderandensurethatallpowercord
connectorsaresecurelyandcompletelypluggedintoreceptacles.

Donotuseanypoweradapterthatshowscorrosionattheacinputpinsorshowssignsofoverheating(such
asdeformedplastic)attheacinputoranywhereonthepoweradapter.

Donotuseanypowercordswheretheelectricalcontactsoneitherendshowsignsofcorrosionor
overheatingorwherethepowercordappearstohavebeendamagedinanyway.

2

,orbetter.For

Extensioncordsandrelateddevices

Ensurethatextensioncords,surgeprotectors,uninterruptiblepowersupplies,andpowerstripsthatyouuse
areratedtohandletheelectricalrequirementsoftheproduct.Neveroverloadthesedevices.Ifpowerstrips
areused,theloadshouldnotexceedthepowerstripinputrating.Consultanelectricianformoreinformation
ifyouhavequestionsaboutpowerloads,powerrequirements,andinputratings.

viThinkCentreUserGuide

Plugsandoutlets

Ifareceptacle(poweroutlet)thatyouintendtousewithyourcomputerequipmentappearstobedamaged
orcorroded,donotusetheoutletuntilitisreplacedbyaqualiedelectrician.

Donotbendormodifytheplug.Iftheplugisdamaged,contactthemanufacturertoobtainareplacement.

Donotshareanelectricaloutletwithotherhomeorcommercialappliancesthatdrawlargeamountsof
electricity;otherwise,unstablevoltagemightdamageyourcomputer,data,orattacheddevices.

Someproductsareequippedwithathree-prongedplug.Thisplugtsonlyintoagroundedelectricaloutlet.
Thisisasafetyfeature.Donotdefeatthissafetyfeaturebytryingtoinsertitintoanon-groundedoutlet.If
youcannotinserttheplugintotheoutlet,contactanelectricianforanapprovedoutletadapterortoreplace
theoutletwithonethatenablesthissafetyfeature.Neveroverloadanelectricaloutlet.Theoverallsystem
loadshouldnotexceed80percentofthebranchcircuitrating.Consultanelectricianformoreinformation
ifyouhavequestionsaboutpowerloadsandbranchcircuitratings.

Besurethatthepoweroutletyouareusingisproperlywired,easilyaccessible,andlocatedclosetothe
equipment.Donotfullyextendpowercordsinawaythatwillstressthecords.

Besurethatthepoweroutletprovidesthecorrectvoltageandcurrentfortheproductyouareinstalling.

Carefullyconnectanddisconnecttheequipmentfromtheelectricaloutlet.

Externaldevices

DonotconnectordisconnectanyexternaldevicecablesotherthanUniversalSerialBus(USB)and1394
cableswhilethecomputerpowerison;otherwise,youmightdamageyourcomputer.Toavoidpossible
damagetoattacheddevices,waitatleastvesecondsafterthecomputerisshutdowntodisconnect
externaldevices.

Heatandproductventilation

Computers,poweradapters,andmanyaccessoriescangenerateheatwhenturnedonandwhenbatteries
arecharging.Alwaysfollowthesebasicprecautions:

•Donotleaveyourcomputer,poweradapter,oraccessoriesincontactwithyourlaporanypartofyour
bodyforanextendedperiodwhentheproductsarefunctioningorwhenthebatteryischarging.Your
computer,poweradapter,andmanyaccessoriesproducesomeheatduringnormaloperation.Extended
contactwiththebodycouldcausediscomfortor,potentially,askinburn.

•Donotchargethebatteryoroperateyourcomputer,poweradapter,oraccessoriesnearammable
materialsorinexplosiveenvironments.

•Ventilationslots,fans,andheatsinksareprovidedwiththeproductforsafety,comfort,andreliable
operation.Thesefeaturesmightinadvertentlybecomeblockedbyplacingtheproductonabed,sofa,
carpet,orotherexiblesurface.Neverblock,cover,ordisablethesefeatures.

Inspectyourdesktopcomputerfordustaccumulationatleastonceeverythreemonths.Beforeinspecting
yourcomputer,turnoffthepowerandunplugthecomputer'spowercordfromtheelectricaloutlet;then
removeanydustfromventsandperforationsinthebezel.Ifyounoticeexternaldustaccumulation,then
examineandremovedustfromtheinsideofthecomputerincludingheatsinkinletns,powersupplyvents,
andfans.Alwaysturnoffandunplugthecomputerbeforeopeningthecover.Ifpossible,avoidoperating
yourcomputerwithintwofeetofhigh-trafcareas.Ifyoumustoperateyourcomputerinornearahigh-trafc
area,inspectand,ifnecessary,cleanyourcomputermorefrequently.

©CopyrightLenovo2011

vii

Foryoursafetyandtomaintainoptimumcomputerperformance,alwaysfollowthesebasicprecautions
withyourdesktopcomputer:

•Keepthecoverclosedwheneverthecomputerispluggedin.

•Regularlyinspecttheoutsideofthecomputerfordustaccumulation.

•Removedustfromventsandanyperforationsinthebezel.Morefrequentcleaningsmightberequiredfor
computersindustyorhigh-trafcareas.

•Donotrestrictorblockanyventilationopenings.

•Donotstoreoroperateyourcomputerinsidefurniture,asthismightincreasetheriskofoverheating.

•Airowtemperaturesintothecomputershouldnotexceed35°C(95°F).

•Donotinstallairltrationdevices.Theymayinterferewithpropercooling.

Operatingenvironment

Theoptimalenvironmentinwhichtouseyourcomputeris10°C-35°C(50°F-95°F)withhumidityranging
between35%and80%.Ifyourcomputerisstoredortransportedintemperatureslessthan10°C(50°F),
allowthecoldcomputertoriseslowlytoanoptimaloperatingtemperatureof10°C-35°C(50°F-95°F)before
use.Thisprocesscouldtaketwohoursinextremeconditions.Failuretoallowyourcomputertorisetoan
optimaloperatingtemperaturebeforeusecouldresultinirreparabledamagetoyourcomputer.

Ifpossible,placeyourcomputerinawell-ventilatedanddryareawithoutdirectexposuretosunshine.

Keepelectricalappliancessuchasanelectricfan,radio,high-poweredspeakers,airconditioner,and
microwaveovenawayfromyourcomputerbecausethestrongmagneticeldsgeneratedbythese
appliancescandamagethemonitoranddataontheharddiskdrive.

Donotplaceanybeveragesontopoforbesidethecomputerorotherattacheddevices.Ifliquidisspilledon
orinthecomputeroranattacheddevice,ashortcircuitorotherdamagemightoccur.

Donoteatorsmokeoveryourkeyboard.Particlesthatfallintoyourkeyboardcancausedamage.

Modemsafetyinformation

CAUTION:
Toreducetheriskofre,useonlyNo.26AWGorlarger(forexample,No.24AWG)telecommunication
linecordlistedbyUnderwritersLaboratories(UL)orcertiedbytheCanadianStandardsAssociation
(CSA).

Toreducetheriskofre,electricalshock,orinjurywhenusingtelephoneequipment,alwaysfollowbasic
safetyprecautions,suchas:

•Neverinstalltelephonewiringduringalightningstorm.

•Neverinstalltelephonejacksinwetlocationsunlessthejackisspecicallydesignedforwetlocations.

•Nevertouchuninsulatedtelephonewiresorterminalsunlessthetelephonelinehasbeendisconnectedat
thenetworkinterface.

•Usecautionwheninstallingormodifyingtelephonelines.

•Avoidusingatelephone(otherthanacordlesstype)duringanelectricalstorm.Theremaybearemote
riskofelectricshockfromlightning.

•Donotusethetelephonetoreportagasleakinthevicinityoftheleak.

viiiThinkCentreUserGuide

Lasercompliancestatement

CAUTION:
Whenlaserproducts(suchasCD-ROMs,DVDdrives,beropticdevices,ortransmitters)are
installed,notethefollowing:

•Donotremovethecovers.Removingthecoversofthelaserproductcouldresultinexposureto
hazardouslaserradiation.Therearenoserviceablepartsinsidethedevice.

•Useofcontrolsoradjustmentsorperformanceofproceduresotherthanthosespeciedherein
mightresultinhazardousradiationexposure.

DANGER

SomelaserproductscontainanembeddedClass3AorClass3Blaserdiode.Notethefollowing.

Laserradiationwhenopen.Donotstareintothebeam,donotviewdirectlywithoptical
instruments,andavoiddirectexposuretothebeam.

Powersupplystatement

Neverremovethecoveronapowersupplyoranypartthathasthefollowinglabelattached.

Hazardousvoltage,current,andenergylevelsarepresentinsideanycomponentthathasthislabelattached.
Therearenoserviceablepartsinsidethesecomponents.Ifyoususpectaproblemwithoneoftheseparts,
contactaservicetechnician.

Cleaningandmaintenance

Keepyourcomputerandworkspaceclean.Shutdownthecomputerandthendisconnectthepower
cordbeforecleaningthecomputer.Donotsprayanyliquiddetergentdirectlyonthecomputeroruse
anydetergentcontainingammablematerialtocleanthecomputer.Spraythedetergentonasoftcloth
andthenwipethecomputersurfaces.

©CopyrightLenovo2011

ix

xThinkCentreUserGuide

Chapter1.Productoverview

Thischapterprovidesinformationaboutthecomputerfeatures,specications,softwareprogramsprovided
byLenovo,andlocationsofconnectors,components,partsonthesystemboard,andinternaldrives.

Features

Thissectionintroducesthecomputerfeatures.Theinformationcoversavarietyofmodels.

Toviewtheinformationaboutyourspecicmodel,dooneofthefollowing:

•GointotheSetupUtilityprogrambyfollowingtheinstructionsinChapter7“UsingtheSetupUtility
program”onpage59.Then,selectMain➙SystemSummarytoviewtheinformation.

•IntheWindowsenvironment,clickStart,right-clickComputer,andselectPropertiestoviewthe
information.

Microprocessor

Yourcomputercomeswithoneofthefollowingmicroprocessors(internalcachesizevariesbymodeltype):

•Intel

®

Celeron

•IntelCelerondual-coremicroprocessor

•IntelCore™2Duomicroprocessor

•IntelPentium

®

microprocessor

®

dual-coremicroprocessor

Memory

Yourcomputersupportsupto2doubledatarate3dualinlinememorymodules(DDR3DIMMs).

Internaldrives

•Opticaldrive:DVD-ROMorDVD-R(availableinsomemodels)

•SerialAdvancedT echnologyAttachment(SATA)harddiskdrive

Videosubsystem

•IntegratedgraphicsforaVideoGraphicsArray(VGA)connector

•PeripheralComponentInterconnect(PCI)Expressx16graphicscardslotonthesystemboardfora
discretegraphicscard

Audiosubsystem

•Integratedhigh-denition(HD)audio

•Audioline-inconnector,audioline-outconnector,andmicrophoneconnectorontherearpanel

•Microphoneconnectorandheadphoneconnectoronthefrontpanel

Connectivity

•100/1000MbpsintegratedEthernetcontroller

Systemmanagementfeatures

•Abilitytostorepower-onself-test(POST)hardwaretestresults

©CopyrightLenovo2011

1

•AdvancedCongurationandPowerInterface(ACPI)
TheAdvancedCongurationandPowerInterfaceisanopenindustrystandardforcongurationand

powermanagement.

•DesktopManagementInterface(DMI)
DesktopManagementInterfaceprovidesacommonpathforuserstoaccessinformationaboutall

aspectsofacomputer,includingprocessortype,installationdate,attachedprintersandotherperipherals,
powersources,andmaintenancehistory.

•IntelTrustedExecutionTechnology(IntelTXT)
IntelTrustedExecutionTechnologyisahardwareextensiontosomeofIntel’smicroprocessorsand

respectivechipsets.Thistechnologyintendstoprovidecomputerusersorsystemproviderswithahigher
leveloftrustandcontrolovercomputersystems.

•PrebootExecutionEnvironment(PXE)
ThePrebootExecutionEnvironmentisanenvironmenttostartcomputersusinganetworkinterface

independentofdatastoragedevices(suchastheharddiskdrive)orinstalledoperatingsystems.

•SystemManagement(SM)BasicInput/OutputSystem(BIOS)andSMsoftware
TheSMBIOSspecicationdenesdatastructuresandaccessmethodsinaBIOSthatallowsauseror

applicationtostoreandretrieveinformationspecicaboutthecomputerinquestion.

•WakeonLAN
WakeonLANisanEthernetcomputernetworkingstandardthatallowsacomputertobeturnedon

orwokenupbyanetworkmessage.Themessageisusuallysentbyaprogramrunningonanother
computeronthesamelocalareanetwork.

•WindowsManagementInstrumentation(WMI)
WindowsManagementInstrumentationisasetofextensionstotheWindowsDriverModel.Itprovidesan

operatingsysteminterfacethroughwhichinstrumentedcomponentsprovideinformationandnotication.

Input/Output(I/O)features

•9-pinserialport(onestandardandoneoptional)

•SixUniversalSerialBus(USB)connectors(twoonthefrontpanelandfourontherearpanel)

•OneEthernetconnector

•OneVGAmonitorconnector

•Threeaudioconnectorsontherearpanel(audioline-inconnector,audioline-outconnector,and
microphoneconnector)

•Twoaudioconnectorsonthefrontpanel(microphoneconnectorandheadphoneconnector)

Formoreinformation,see“Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyourcomputer”on
page7

and“Locatingconnectorsandpartsontherearofyourcomputer”onpage8.

Expansion

•Twoharddiskdrivebays(onestandardandoneoptional)

•Oneopticaldrivebay

•Oneslimcardreaderdrivebay

•OnePCIExpressx1cardslot

•OnePCIExpressx16graphicscardslot

•TwoPCIcardslots

2ThinkCentreUserGuide

Powersupply

Yourcomputercomeswith180-wattpowersupplywithmanualvoltage-selectionswitch.

Securityfeatures

•ComputraceAgentsoftwareembeddedinrmware

•Coverpresenceswitch(alsocalledintrusionswitch)(availableinsomemodels)

•Abilitytoenableordisableadevice

•AbilitytoenableanddisableUSBconnectors

•Abilitytoenableordisabletheserialport

•Keyboardwithngerprintreader(shippedwithsomemodels)

•Power-onpassword(POP)andadministratorpasswordtodeterunauthorizeduseofyourcomputer

•Startupsequencecontrol

•Startupwithoutkeyboardormouse

•Supportforanintegratedcablelock(Kensingtonlock)

•Supportforapadlock

Formoreinformation,seeChapter4“Security”onpage23

.

Preinstalledsoftwareprograms

Yourcomputerispreinstalledwithsoftwareprogramstohelpyouworkmoreeasilyandsecurely.Formore
information,see“Softwareoverview”onpage4.

Preinstalledoperatingsystem

YourcomputerispreinstalledwiththeMicrosoft

Operatingsystem(s),certiedortestedforcompatibility

®

Windows

®

7operatingsystem.

1

(variesbymodeltype)

•Linux

1.Theoperatingsystem(s)listedherearebeingcertiedortestedforcompatibilityatthetimethispublicationgoesto
press.AdditionaloperatingsystemsmightbeidentiedbyLenovoascompatiblewithyourcomputerfollowingthe
publicationofthismanual.Thislistissubjecttochange.Todetermineifanoperatingsystemhasbeencertiedor
testedforcompatibility,checktheWebsiteoftheoperatingsystemvendor.

Chapter1.Productoverview3

Specications

Thissectionliststhephysicalspecicationsforyourcomputer.

Dimensions

Width:160mm(6.3inches)
Height:388mm(15.28inches)
Depth:422mm(16.61inches)

Weight

Maximumcongurationasshipped:9.4kg(20.72lb)

Environment

•Airtemperature:

Operating:10°Cto35°C(50°Fto95°F)
Non-operating:-40°Cto60°C(-40°Fto140°F)
Non-operating:-10°Cto60°C(14°Fto140°F)(withoutpackage)

•Humidity:

Operating:20%to80%(non-condensing)
Non-operating:20%to90%(non-condensing)

•Altitude:

Operating:-50to10000ft(-15.2to3048m)
Non-operating:-50to35000ft(-15.2to10668m)

Electricalinput

•Inputvoltage:

–Lowrange:

Minimum:100Vac
Maximum:127Vac
Inputfrequencyrange:50to60Hz

–Highrange:

Minimum:200Vac
Maximum:240Vac
Inputfrequencyrange:50to60Hz

Softwareoverview

Thecomputercomeswithapreinstalledoperatingsystemandseveralsoftwareprogramsprovidedby
Lenovo.

SoftwareprovidedbyLenovo

ThefollowingsoftwareprogramsareprovidedbyLenovotohelpyouimproveproductivityandreducethe
costassociatedwithmaintainingyourcomputer.Softwareprogramsprovidedwithyourcomputermight
varydependingonyourcomputermodeltypeandpreinstalledoperatingsystem.

4ThinkCentreUserGuide

LenovoThinkVantageT ools

TheLenovoThinkVantage
accesstovarioustoolstohelpyouworkmoreeasilyandsecurely.

ToaccesstheLenovoThinkVantageToolsprogram,clickStart➙AllPrograms➙LenovoThinkVantage
Tools.

ThefollowingtableliststheprogramsthatyoucanaccessfromtheLenovoThinkVantageT oolsprogram.To
accessaprogram,double-clickthecorrespondingicon.

Table1.ProgramiconnamesinLenovoThinkVantageT ools

CreateRecoveryMedia

FingerprintSoftware(availableonsomemodels)FingerprintReader(availableonsomemodels)

LenovoSolutionCenterorLenovoThinkVantageToolboxSystemHealthandDiagnostics

ThinkVantagePasswordManagerPasswordVault

ThinkVantagePowerManager

ThinkVantageRescueandRecovery

ThinkVantageSystemUpdate

®

Toolsprogramguidesyoutoahostofinformationsourcesandprovideseasy

ProgramnameIconnameinLenovoThinkVantageTools

FactoryRecoveryDisks

PowerControls

®

EnhancedBackupandRestore

UpdateandDrives

LenovoWelcome

TheLenovoWelcomeprogramintroducesyoutosomeinnovativebuilt-infeaturesofLenovoandguidesyou
throughafewimportantsetuptaskstohelpyoumakethemostofyourcomputer.

FingerprintSoftware

Theintegratedngerprintreaderprovidedonsomekeyboardsenablesyoutoenrollyourngerprintand
associateitwithyourpower-onpasswordandWindowspassword.Asaresult,ngerprintauthentication
canreplacepasswordsandenablesimpleandsecureuseraccess.Angerprintreaderkeyboardisavailable
withselectcomputersorcanbepurchasedforcomputersthatsupportthisoption.

LenovoSolutionCenter

Note:Dependingonthedatewhenyourcomputerwasmanufactured,yourcomputerispreinstalledwith

eithertheLenovoSolutionCenterprogramortheLenovoThinkVantageToolboxprogramfordiagnostic
purposes.ForadditionalinformationabouttheLenovoThinkVantageToolboxprogram,see“Lenovo
ThinkVantageToolbox”onpage88.

TheLenovoSolutionCenterprogramenablesyoutotroubleshootandresolvecomputerproblems.It
combinesdiagnostictests,systeminformationcollection,securitystatus,andsupportinformation,along
withhintsandtipsformaximumsystemperformance.See“LenovoSolutionCenter”onpage88fordetailed
information.

LenovoThinkVantageT oolbox

Note:Dependingonthedatewhenyourcomputerwasmanufactured,yourcomputerispreinstalledwith

eithertheLenovoSolutionCenterprogramortheLenovoThinkVantageToolboxprogramfordiagnostic
purposes.ForadditionalinformationabouttheLenovoSolutionCenterprogram,see“LenovoSolution
Center”onpage88.

TheLenovoThinkVantageToolboxprogramhelpsyoumaintainyourcomputer,improvecomputingsecurity,
diagnosecomputerproblems,getfamiliarwiththeinnovativetechnologiesprovidedbyLenovo,andgetmore
informationaboutyourcomputer.See“LenovoThinkVantageToolbox”onpage88

fordetailedinformation.

Chapter1.Productoverview5

ProductRecovery

TheProductRecoveryprogramenablesyoutorestorethecontentsoftheharddiskdrivetothefactory
defaultsettings.

ThinkVantagePasswordManager

TheThinkVantagePasswordManagerprogramautomaticallycapturesandllsinauthenticationinformation
forWindowsapplicationsandWebsites.

Notes:IfthePasswordVaulticonintheLenovoThinkVantageToolsprogramisdimmed,itindicatesthat
youneedtoinstalltheThinkVantagePasswordManagerprogrammanuallybeforeenablingitsfeatures.To
installtheThinkVantagePasswordManagerprogram,dothefollowing:

1.ClickStart➙AllPrograms➙LenovoThinkVantageT ools,anddouble-clickPasswordVault.

2.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

3.Whentheinstallationprocesscompletes,thePasswordVaulticonisactivated.

ThinkVantagePowerManager

TheThinkVantagePowerManagerprogramprovidesconvenient,exible,andcompletepowermanagement
foryourThinkCentre®computer.ByusingtheThinkVantagePowerManagerprogram,youcanadjustyour
powersettingstoachievethebestbalancebetweensystemperformanceandpowersaving.

ThinkVantageRescueandRecovery

TheThinkVantageRescueandRecoveryprogramisaonebuttonrecoveryandrestoresolutionthatincludes
asetofself-recoverytoolstohelpyoudiagnosecomputerproblems,gethelp,andrecoverfromsystem
crashes,evenifyoucannotstarttheWindowsoperatingsystem.

Note:IftheEnhancedBackupandRestoreiconintheLenovoThinkVantageToolsprogramisdimmed,it
indicatesthatyouneedtoinstalltheThinkVantageRescueandRecoveryprogrammanuallybeforeenabling
itsfeatures.T oinstalltheThinkVantageRescueandRecoveryprogram,dothefollowing:

1.ClickStart➙AllPrograms➙LenovoThinkVantageTools,anddouble-clickEnhancedBackup
andRestore.

2.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

3.Whentheinstallationprocesscompletes,theEnhancedBackupandRestoreiconisactivated.

ThinkVantageSystemUpdate

TheThinkVantageSystemUpdateprogramhelpsyoukeepthesoftwareonyourcomputerup-to-dateby
downloadingandinstallingsoftwarepackages(ThinkVantageapplications,devicedrivers,BIOSupdates,
andotherthirdpartyapplications).

AdobeReader

TheAdobeReaderprogramisatoolusedtoview,print,andsearchPDFdocuments.

Antivirussoftware

Yourcomputercomeswithantivirussoftwarethatyoucanusetodetectandeliminateviruses.Lenovo
providesafullversionofantivirussoftwareonyourharddiskdrivewithafree30-daysubscription.After30
days,youmustrenewthelicensetocontinuereceivingtheantivirusprogramupdates.

Locations

Thissectionprovidesinformationtohelpyoulocatetheconnectorsonthefrontandrearofyourcomputer,
partsonthesystemboard,andcomponentsandinternaldrivesinyourcomputer.

6ThinkCentreUserGuide

Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyour computer

Figure1“Frontconnector,control,andindicatorlocations”onpage7showsthelocationsoftheconnectors,
controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyourcomputer.

Figure1.Frontconnector,control,andindicatorlocations

1Harddiskdriveactivityindicator

2Powerindicator6Headphoneconnector

3Powerswitch7Microphoneconnector

4Opticaldriveeject/closebutton8USBconnector

5USBconnector

Chapter1.Productoverview7

Locatingconnectorsandpartsontherearofyourcomputer

Figure2“Rearconnectorandpartlocations”onpage8showsthelocationsoftheconnectorsandparts
ontherearofyourcomputer.Someconnectorsontherearofyourcomputerarecolor-codedtohelpyou
determinewheretoconnectthecablesonyourcomputer.

Figure2.Rearconnectorandpartlocations

1Voltage-selectionswitch(availableonsome

9PCIExpressx16graphicscardslot

models)

2Powercordconnector

3Serialport11PCIcardslots(2)

4VGAmonitorconnector12Optionalserialport

5USBconnectors(4)

6Microphoneconnector

7Audioline-outconnector15Ethernetconnector

8Audioline-inconnector

10PCIExpressx1cardslot

13Padlockloop

14Cablelockslots(2)

16PersonalSystem/2(PS/2)keyboardandmouseconnector

(availableonsomemodels)

ConnectorDescription

Audioline-inconnector

Usedtoreceiveaudiosignalsfromanexternalaudiodevice,suchasastereo
system.Whenyouattachanexternalaudiodevice,acableisconnectedbetween
theaudioline-outconnectorofthedeviceandtheaudioline-inconnectorof
thecomputer.

Audioline-outconnector

Usedtosendaudiosignalsfromthecomputertoexternaldevices,suchas
poweredstereospeakers(speakerswithbuilt-inampliers),headphones,
multimediakeyboards,theaudioline-inconnectoronastereosystem,orother
externalrecordingdevices.

8ThinkCentreUserGuide

ConnectorDescription

Ethernetconnector

UsedtoattachanEthernetcableforalocalareanetwork(LAN).
Note:TooperatethecomputerwithinFCCClassBlimits,useaCategory5
Ethernetcable.

MicrophoneconnectorUsedtoattachamicrophonetoyourcomputerwhenyouwanttorecordsoundor

ifyouusespeech-recognitionsoftware.

PS/2keyboardconnector

UsedtoattachakeyboardthatusesaPS/2keyboardconnector.

(availableonsomemodels)

PS/2mouseconnector(available
onsomemodels)

Serialport

Usedtoattachamouse,atrackball,orotherpointingdevicesthatuseaPS/2
mouseconnector.

Usedtoattachanexternalmodem,aserialprinter,orotherdevicesthatusea
9-pinserialport.

USBconnectorUsedtoattachadevicethatusesaUSBconnector,suchasaUSBkeyboard,

aUSBmouse,aUSBscanner,oraUSBprinter.IftheUSBconnectorsonyour
computerarenotenoughforyoutoconnectallyourUSBdevices,youcan
purchaseaUSBhub,whichyoucanusetoconnectadditionalUSBdevices.

VGAmonitorconnectorUsedtoattachaVGAmonitororotherdevicesthatuseaVGAmonitorconnector.

Chapter1.Productoverview9

Locatingcomponents

Figure3“Componentlocations”onpage10showsthelocationsofthevariouscomponentsinyour
computer.T oremovethecomputercoverandgainaccesstotheinsideofthecomputer,see“Removingthe
computercover”onpage30.

Figure3.Componentlocations

1Heatsinkandfanassembly

2Microprocessor7Harddiskdrive

3Memorymodules

4Frontbezel9Powersupplyassembly

5Opticaldrive

6Systemboard

8PCIcard

10ThinkCentreUserGuide

Locatingpartsonthesystemboard

Figure4“Systemboardpartlocations”onpage11showsthelocationsofthepartsonthesystemboard.

Figure4.Systemboardpartlocations

1Microprocessor

12Frontpanelconnector(forconnectingLEDindicators

andpowerswitch)

2Microprocessorfanconnector

3Memoryslots(2)14Serial(COM2)connector

4Thermalsensorconnector15Frontaudioconnector

524-pinpowerconnector16Internalspeakerconnector

6Parallelconnector

7Battery

8Coverpresenceswitchconnector(Intrusionswitch

13USBconnectors(2)

17PCIcardslots(2)

18PCIExpressx1cardslot

19PCIExpressx16graphicscardslot

connector)(availableonsomemodels)

9SATAconnectors(3)20Systemfanconnector

10ClearCMOS(ComplementaryMetalOxide

214-pinpowerconnector

Semiconductor)/Recoveryjumper

11Powerfanconnector

22PS/2keyboardandmouseconnector

Chapter1.Productoverview11

Locatinginternaldrives

Internaldrivesaredevicesthatyourcomputerusestoreadandstoredata.Youcanadddrivestoyour
computertoincreasestoragecapacityandenableyourcomputertoreadothertypesofmedia.Internal
drivesareinstalledinbays.Inthismanual,thebaysarereferredtoasbay1,bay2,andsoon.

Wheninstallingorreplacinganinternaldrive,itisimportanttonotethetypeandsizeofthedrivethatyou
caninstallorreplaceineachbayandcorrectlyconnectthecablestothedriveinstalled.Refertothe
appropriatesectionin“Installingorreplacinghardware”onpage29forinstructionsonhowtoinstallor
replaceinternaldrivesforyourcomputer.

Figure5“Drivebaylocations”onpage12

Figure5.Drivebaylocations

showsthelocationsofthedrivebays.

1Bay1-Opticaldrivebay(withanopticaldriveinstalled)

2Bay2-Slimcardreaderdrivebay

3Bay3-SecondarySATAharddiskdrivebay

4Bay4-PrimarySATAharddiskdrivebay(witha3.5-inchSATAharddiskdriveinstalled)

12ThinkCentreUserGuide

Machinetypeandmodellabel

Themachinetypeandmodellabelidentiesyourcomputer.WhenyoucontactLenovoforhelp,themachine
typeandmodelinformationhelpssupporttechnicianstoidentifyyourcomputerandprovidefasterservice.

Thefollowingisasampleofthemachinetypeandmodellabel.

Figure6.Machinetypeandmodellabel

Chapter1.Productoverview13

14ThinkCentreUserGuide

Chapter2.Usingyourcomputer

Thischapterprovidesinformationonusingsomeofthecomputercomponents.

Frequentlyaskedquestions

Thefollowingareafewtipsthatwillhelpyouoptimizetheuseofyourcomputer.

CanIgetmyuserguideinanotherlanguage?

TheuserguideisavailableinvariouslanguagesontheLenovoSupportWebsiteat:
http://www.lenovo.com/ThinkCentreUserGuides

Wherearemyrecoverydiscs?

Lenovoprovidesaprogramthatenablesyoutocreaterecoverydiscs.Fordetailsaboutcreatingrecovery
discs,see“Creatingrecoverymedia”onpage51.

Additionally,incaseofaharddiskfailure,youcanorderProductRecoverydiscsfromtheLenovo
CustomerSupportCenter.ForinformationaboutcontactingtheCustomerSupportCenter,seeChapter
11“Gettinginformation,help,andservice”onpage91.BeforeusingtheProductRecoverydiscs,refer
tothedocumentationthatcomeswiththediscs.

Attention:AProductRecoverydiscpackagemightcontainmultiplediscs.Makesureyouhaveallofthe
discsreadybeforestartingtherecoveryprocess.Duringtherecoveryprocess,youmightbeprompted
tochangediscs.

WherecanIndhelpabouttheWindowsoperatingsystem?

TheWindowsHelpandSupportinformationsystemprovidesyoudetailedinformationaboutusingthe
Windowsoperatingsystemtohelpyougetthemostofyourcomputer.ToaccesstheWindowsHelpand
Supportinformationsystem,clickStart➙HelpandSupport.

Usingthekeyboard

Dependingonyourmodel,yourcomputercomeswitheitherastandardkeyboardorangerprintreader
keyboard.TheMicrosoftWindowsshortcutkeysareprovidedonbothkeyboardtypes.

Thissectionprovidesinformationaboutthefollowingtopics:

•“UsingWindowsshortcutkeys”onpage15

•“Usingangerprintreader”onpage16

UsingWindowsshortcutkeys

Boththestandardkeyboardandthengerprintreaderkeyboardprovidethreekeysyoucanusewithyour
MicrosoftWindowsoperatingsystem.

•ThetwoStartmenukeysarelocatedbesidetheAltkeyoneithersideofthespacebar.Theyfeaturethe
Windowslogo.Whenyoupresseither,theWindowsStartmenuopens.ThestyleoftheWindowslogo
variesdependingonthekeyboardtype.

•Thecontext-menukeyislocatednexttotheCtrlkeyontherightsideoftheSpacebar.Pressingthe
context-menukeyopensthecontextmenufortheactiveprogram,icon,orobject.

©CopyrightLenovo2011

15

Note:YoucanusethemouseortheUpandDownarrowkeystohighlightmenuselections.Youcanclose
theStartmenuorthecontextmenubyclickingthemouseorpressingEsc.

Usingangerprintreader

Somecomputersmightcomewithakeyboardthathasangerprintreader.Formoreinformationaboutthe
ngerprintreader,see“FingerprintSoftware”onpage5.

ToopentheThinkVantageFingerprintSoftwareprogramandusethengerprintreader,clickStart➙All
Programs➙LenovoThinkVantageT ools➙FingerprintReader.

Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.Foradditionalinformation,refertotheThinkVantageFingerprint
Softwarehelpsystem.

Usingthewheelmouse

Thewheelmousehasthefollowingcontrols:

1Wheel

2PrimarymousebuttonUsethisbuttontoselectorstartaprogramormenuitem.

3Secondarymousebutton

Youcanswitchthefunctionoftheprimaryandsecondarymousebuttonsandchangeotherdefaultbehavior
throughthemousepropertiesfunctionintheWindowsControlPanel.

Usethewheeltocontrolthescrollingactionofthemouse.Thedirectioninwhichyou
rotatethewheelcontrolsthedirectionofthescrollingaction.

Usethisbuttontodisplayamenufortheactiveprogram,icon,orobject.

Adjustingaudio

Soundisanimportantpartofthecomputerexperience.Yourcomputerhasadigitalaudiocontrollerbuilt
intothesystemboard.Somemodelsalsohaveahigh-performanceaudioadapterinstalledinoneofthePCI
cardslots.

Aboutyourcomputeraudio

Ifafactory-installed,high-performanceaudioadapterisinstalledinyourcomputer,thesystem-board
audioconnectorsontherearofthecomputeraretypicallydisabled;usetheconnectorsprovidedonthe
audioadapter.

Eachaudiosolutionprovidesatleastthreeaudioconnectors:audioline-inconnector,audioline-out
connector,andMicrophoneconnector.Onsomemodels,afourthconnectorisprovidedfortheattachment
ofunpoweredstereospeakers(speakersthatdonotrequireanacpowersource).Theaudioadapter

16ThinkCentreUserGuide

providesyouwiththeabilitytorecordandplaybacksoundandmusic,aswellastoenjoysoundwith
multimediaapplicationsandworkwithspeech-recognitionsoftware.

Optionally,youcanconnectasetofpoweredstereospeakerstotheaudioline-outconnectortoenjoy
bettersoundwithmultimediaapplications.

Settingthevolumefromthedesktop

Thedesktopvolumecontrolisaccessiblethroughthevolumeiconinthetaskbar,whichislocatedatthe
bottom-rightcorneroftheWindowsdesktop.Clickthevolumeiconandmovethesliderupordownto
controlthevolume,orclicktheMuteicontoturntheaudiooff.Ifthevolumeiconisnotinthetaskbar,see
“Addingthevolumeicontothetaskbar”onpage17

Addingthevolumeicontothetaskbar

ToaddthevolumeicontothetaskbarontheWindows7operatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.FromtheWindowsdesktop,clickStart➙ControlPanel➙AppearanceandPersonalization.

2.IntheTaskbarandStartMenutopic,clickCustomizeiconsonthetaskbar.

3.ClickTurnsystemiconsonoroffandchangethevolumebehaviorsfromOfftoOn.

4.ClickOKtosavethenewsettings.

.

SettingthevolumefromControlPanel

YoucansetthecomputervolumefromControlPanel.TosetthecomputervolumefromControlPanel,
dothefollowing:

1.FromtheWindowsdesktop,clickStart➙ControlPanel➙HardwareandSound.

2.IntheSoundtopic,clickAdjustsystemvolume.

3.Movetheslidersupordowntoraiseorlowerthevolumeofyourcomputer.

UsingCDsandDVDs

YourcomputermighthaveaDVDROMdriveorrecordableDVDdriveinstalled.DVDdrivesuse
industry-standard,12cm(4.75-inch)CDmediaorDVDmedia.IfyourcomputercomeswithaDVDdrive,
thedrivecanreadDVD-ROMdiscs,DVD-Rdiscs,DVD-RAMdiscs,DVD-RWdiscs,andalltypesofCDs,
suchasCD-ROMdiscs,CD-RWdiscs,CD-Rdiscs,andaudioCDs.IfyouhavearecordableDVDdrive,
itcanalsorecordonDVD-Rdiscs,DVD-RWdiscs,typeIIDVD-RAMdiscs,CD-RWstandardandhigh
speeddiscs,andCD-Rdiscs.

FollowtheseguidelineswhenusingtheDVDdrive:

•Donotplacethecomputerinalocationwherethedriveisexposedtothefollowing:

–Hightemperature
–Highhumidity
–Excessivedust
–Excessivevibrationorsuddenshock
–Aninclinedsurface
–Directsunlight

•DonotinsertanyobjectotherthanaCDorDVDintothedrive.

•Beforemovingthecomputer,removetheCDorDVDfromthedrive.

Chapter2.Usingyourcomputer17

HandlingandstoringCDandDVDmedia

CDandDVDmediaaredurableandreliable,buttheydorequiresomecareandspecialhandling.When
handlingandstoringaCDorDVD,followtheseguidelines:

•Holdthediscbyitsedges.Donottouchthesurfaceofthesidethatisnotlabeled.

•Toremovedustorngerprints,wipethediscwithaclean,softclothfromthecentertotheoutside.Wiping
thediscinacirculardirectionmightcauselossofdata.

•Donotwriteorstickpaperonthedisc.

•Donotscratchormarkthedisc.

•Donotplaceorstorethediscindirectsunlight.

•Donotusebenzene,thinners,orothercleanerstocleanthedisc.

•Donotdroporbendthedisc.

•Donotinsertdamageddiscsintothedrive.Warped,scratched,ordirtydiscscandamagethedrive.

PlayingaCDorDVD

IfyourcomputercomeswithaDVDdrive,youcanlistentoaudioCDsorwatchDVDmovies.Toplaya
CDorDVD,dothefollowing:

1.PresstheEject/LoadbuttonontheDVDdrivetoopenthetray.

2.Withthetrayfullyextended,inserttheCDorDVDintothetray.SomeDVDdriveshaveasnaphubinthe
centerofthetray.Ifyourdrivehasasnaphub,supportthetraywithonehandandthenpushonthe
centeroftheCDorDVDuntilitsnapsintoplace.

3.PresstheEject/Loadbuttonagainorgentlypushthetrayforwardtoclosethetray.TheCDorDVD
playerprogramstartsautomatically.Foradditionalinformation,refertotheCDorDVDplayerprogram
helpsystem.

ToremoveaCDorDVDfromtheDVDdrive,dothefollowing:

1.Withthecomputeron,presstheEject/Loadbutton.Whenthetrayslidesoutautomatically,carefully
removethedisc.

2.ClosethetraybypressingtheEject/Loadbuttonorbygentlypushingthetrayforward.

Note:IfthetraydoesnotslideoutofthedrivewhenyoupresstheEject/Loadbutton,insertastraightened
paperclipintotheemergency-ejectholelocatedonthefrontoftheDVDdrive.Besurethedriveispowered
offwhenusingtheemergencyeject.UsetheEject/Loadbuttoninsteadoftheemergencyejectexcept
inanemergency.

RecordingaCDorDVD

IfyourcomputercomeswitharecordableDVDdrive,youcanusethedrivetorecordCDsorDVDs.To
recordaCDorDVD,dothefollowing:

1.ClickStart➙AllPrograms➙CorelDVDMovieFactoryLenovoEdition.

2.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

FordetailedinformationaboutusingtheCorelDVDMovieFactoryprogram,seethehelpsystemforthe
program.

YoucanalsouseWindowsMediaPlayertorecordCDsanddataDVDs.Formoreinformation,see“Helpand
Support”onpage91

.

18ThinkCentreUserGuide

Chapter3.Youandyourcomputer

Thischapterprovidesinformationaboutaccessibility,comfort,andrelocatingyourcomputertoother
countriesorregions.

Accessibilityandcomfort

Goodergonomicpracticeisimportanttogetthemostfromyourpersonalcomputerandtoavoiddiscomfort.
Arrangeyourworkplaceandtheequipmentyouusetosuityourindividualneedsandthekindofwork
thatyouperform.Inaddition,usehealthyworkhabitstomaximizeyourperformanceandcomfortwhile
usingyourcomputer.

Thefollowingtopicsprovideinformationaboutarrangingyourworkarea,settingupyourcomputer
equipment,andestablishinghealthyworkhabits.

Lenovoiscommittedtoprovidingpeoplewithdisabilitiesgreateraccesstoinformationandtechnology.
Asaresult,thefollowinginformationprovideswaystohelpusersthathavehearing,vision,andmobility
limitationsgetthemostoutoftheircomputerexperience.

Assistivetechnologiesenableuserstoaccessinformationinthemostappropriateway.Someofthese
technologiesarealreadyprovidedinyouroperatingsystem,otherscanbepurchasedthroughvendors,or
accessedthroughtheWorldWideWeb:
http://www.lenovo.com/healthycomputing

Arrangingyourworkspace

Togetthemostfromyourcomputer,arrangeboththeequipmentyouuseandyourworkareatosuityour
needsandthekindofworkyoudo.Yourcomfortisofforemostimportance,butlightsources,aircirculation,
andthelocationofelectricaloutletscanalsoaffectthewayyouarrangeyourworkspace.

Comfort

Althoughnosingleworkingpositionisidealforeveryone,hereareafewguidelinestohelpyounda
positionthatsuitsyoubest.

Sittinginthesamepositionforalongtimecancausefatigue.Thebackrestandseatofyourchairshould
adjustindependentlyandprovidegoodsupport.Theseatshouldhaveacurvedfronttorelievepressureon
thethighs.Adjusttheseatsothatyourthighsareparalleltotheoorandyourfeetareeitheratonthe
oororonafootrest.

Whenusingthekeyboard,keepyourforearmsparalleltotheoorandyourwristsinacomfortableposition.
Usealighttouchonthekeyboardandyourhandsandngersrelaxed.Changetheangleofthekeyboard
formaximumcomfortbyadjustingthepositionofthekeyboardfeet.

©CopyrightLenovo2011

19

Adjustthemonitorsothetopofthescreenisat,orslightlybelow,eyelevel.Placethemonitorata
comfortableviewingdistance,usually51to61cm(20to24inches),andpositionitsoyoucanviewit
withouthavingtotwistyourbody.Also,positionotherequipmentyouuseregularly,suchasthetelephoneor
amouse,withineasyreach.

Glareandlighting

Positionthemonitortominimizeglareandreectionsfromoverheadlights,windows,andotherlightsources.
Reectedlightfromshinysurfacescancauseannoyingreectionsonyourmonitorscreen.Placethe
monitoratrightanglestowindowsandotherlightsources,whenpossible.Reduceoverheadlighting,if
necessary,byturningofflightsorusinglowerwattagebulbs.Ifyouinstallthemonitornearawindow,use
curtainsorblindstoblockthesunlight.Y oucanadjustthebrightnessandcontrastcontrolsonthemonitor
astheroomlightingchangesthroughouttheday.

Whereitisimpossibletoavoidreectionsortoadjustthelighting,anantiglarelterplacedoverthescreen
mightbehelpful.However,theseltersmightaffecttheclarityoftheimageonthescreen;trythemonlyafter
youhaveexhaustedothermethodsofreducingglare.

Dustbuildupcompoundsproblemsassociatedwithglare.Remembertocleanyourmonitorscreen
periodicallyusingasoftclothasdirectedinyourmonitordocumentation.

Aircirculation

Yourcomputerandmonitorproduceheat.Thecomputerhasafanthatpullsinfreshairandforcesouthot
air.Themonitorletshotairescapethroughvents.Blockingtheairventscancauseoverheating,whichmight
resultinamalfunctionordamage.Placethecomputerandmonitorsothatnothingblockstheairvents;
usually,51mm(2inches)ofairspaceissufcient.Also,makesuretheventedairisnotblowingonpeople.

Electricaloutletsandcablelengths

Thelocationofelectricaloutlets,thelengthofpowercordsandcablesthatconnecttothemonitor,printer,
andotherdevicesmightdeterminethenalplacementofyourcomputer.

Whenarrangingyourworkspace:

•Avoidtheuseofextensioncords.Whenpossible,plugthecomputerpowercorddirectlyintoanelectrical
outlet.

•Keeppowercordsandcablesneatlyroutedawayfromwalkwaysandotherareaswheretheymight
getkickedaccidentally.

Formoreinformationaboutpowercords,see“Powercordsandpoweradapters”onpagevi

20ThinkCentreUserGuide

.

RegisteryourcomputerwithLenovo

Toregisteryourcomputer,gotohttp://www.lenovo.com/register.Then,followtheinstructionsonthescreen
tocompletetheregistration.Thiscanhelpauthoritiesreturnyourcomputertoyouifitislostorstolen.
RegisteringyourcomputeralsoenablesLenovotonotifyyouaboutpossibletechnicalinformationand
upgrades.

Whenyouregisteryourcomputer,informationisenteredintoadatabase,whichenablesLenovotocontact
youincaseofarecallorothersevereproblem.Inaddition,somelocationsofferextendedprivilegesand
servicestoregisteredusers.

Movingyourcomputertoanothercountryorregion

Whenyoumoveyourcomputertoanothercountryorregion,youmusttakelocalelectricalstandardsinto
consideration.Thissectionprovidesinformationonthefollowing:

•“Voltage-selectionswitch”onpage21

•“Replacementpowercords”onpage22

Voltage-selectionswitch

Somecomputersareequippedwithavoltage-selectionswitchlocatednearthepower-cordconnection
pointonthecomputerandsomecomputersdonothaveavoltage-selectionswitch.Beforeyouinstall
yourcomputerorrelocateyourcomputertoanothercountryorregion,youmustbecertainthatyouhave
matchedyourcomputertothevoltageavailableatyourelectricaloutlet.

CAUTION:
Youmustknowthevoltageoftheelectricalconnection(outlet)whereyourcomputerwillbe
connected.Ifyoudonotknowthevoltage,contactyourlocalelectriccompanyorrefertoofcial
Websitesorotherliteraturefortravelerstothecountryorregionwhereyouarelocated.

Ifyourcomputerhasavoltage-selectionswitch,youmustsettheswitchtomatchthevoltageavailableat
yourelectricaloutlet.Settingthevoltage-selectionswitchincorrectlywillcausethecomputertomalfunction
andmightcausepermanentdamagetothecomputer.Donotconnectthecomputertoanelectrical
outletuntilyouhaveveriedthatthevoltage-selectionswitchsettingmatchesthevoltageavailableatthe
electricaloutlets.

Ifyourcomputerdoesnothaveavoltage-selectionswitch,inspectthevoltage-ratinglabelonthebottomof
thecomputerandnotethefollowing:

•Ifthevoltage-ratinglabelshowsarangeofeither“100-127V”or“200-240V,”youmustensurethatthe
voltageprovidedattheelectricaloutletmatchesthevoltageratingonthecomputerlabel.Ifitdoes
notmatch,donotattempttoconnectthecomputertotheelectricaloutlet,unlessanexternaldevice
suchasavoltage-convertingtransformerisused.

•Ifthevoltage-ratinglabelshowsadualrangeof“100-127V”and“200-240V,”thissigniesthatthe
computerissuitableforworldwideoperationandthecomputerwillautomaticallyadjusttothevoltageat
theelectricaloutletregardlessofthecountryorregionwherethecomputerisbeingconnected.

Chapter3.Youandyourcomputer21

Replacementpowercords

Ifyourelocateyourcomputertoacountryorregionthatusesanelectricaloutletstyledifferentfromthe
typeyouarecurrentlyusing,youwillhavetopurchaseeitherelectricalplugadaptersornewpowercords.
YoucanorderpowercordsdirectlyfromLenovo.

Forpowercordinformationandpartnumbers,goto:
http://www.lenovo.com/powercordnotice

22ThinkCentreUserGuide

Chapter4.Security

Thischapterprovidesinformationabouthowtoprotectyourcomputerfromtheftandunauthorizeduse.

Securityfeatures

Thefollowingsecurityfeaturesareavailableonyourcomputer:

•ComputraceAgentsoftwareembeddedinrmware
TheComputraceAgentsoftwareisanITassetmanagementandcomputertheftrecoverysolution.

Thesoftwaredetectsifchangeshavebeenmadeonthecomputer,suchashardware,software,or
thecomputercall-inlocation.

Note:YoumighthavetopurchaseasubscriptiontoactivatetheComputraceAgentsoftware.

•Coverpresenceswitch(alsocalledintrusionswitch)
Thecoverpresenceswitchpreventsyourcomputerfromloggingintotheoperatingsystemwhenthe

computercoverisnotproperlyinstalledorclosed.Toenablethecoverpresenceswitchconnector
onthesystemboard,tothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage59.

2.SettheAdministratorPassword.See“Setting,changing,anddeletingapassword”onpage60.

3.FromtheSecuritysubmenu,selectChassisIntrusionDetection➙Enabled.Thecoverpresence
switchconnectoronthesystemboardisenabled.

Whenthecoverpresenceswitchdetectsthatyourcomputercoverisnotproperlyinstalledorclosed
whenyouturnonthecomputer,anerrormessagewillbedisplayed.Tobypasstheerrormessageand
logintotheoperatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.Properlyinstallorcloseyourcomputercover.See“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

2.PressF1toentertheSetupUtilityprogram.ThenpressF10tosaveandexittheSetupUtility
program.Theerrormessagewillnotbedisplayedagain.

•AbilitytoenableanddisabledevicesandUSBconnectors
Formoreinformation,see“Enablingordisablingadevice”onpage61

•Integratedngerprintreader(availableonsomemodels)
Dependingonthemodelsofyourcomputer,thekeyboardmayhaveanintegratedngerprintreader.By

enrollingyourngerprintandassociatingitwithaPower-onPassword,youcanstartthecomputer,logon
tothesystem,andentertheSetupUtilityprogrambyswipingyourngeroverthereader,withouttyping
apassword.Thusngerprintauthenticationcanreplacepasswordsandenablesimpleandsecure
useraccess.

•Startupsequencecontrol
Formoreinformation,see“Selectingorchangingthestartupdevicesequence”onpage61

•Startupwithoutkeyboardormouse
Yourcomputerisabletologintotheoperatingsystemwithoutkeyboardormouseconnected.

.

.

©CopyrightLenovo2011

23

Lockingthecomputercover

Lockingthecomputercoverhelpspreventunauthorizedpeoplefromgainingaccesstotheinsideofyour
computer.Yourcomputercomeswithapadlockloopsothatthecomputercovercannotberemoved
whenapadlockisinstalled.

Figure7.Installingapadlock

24ThinkCentreUserGuide

Attachingacablelock

Acablelockcanbeusedtosecuredevices,suchasthekeyboardandthemouse,bylockingthedevice
cablestoyourcomputer.Thecablelockattachestothecablelockslotsontherearofyourcomputer.See
“Locatingconnectorsandpartsontherearofyourcomputer”onpage8

Toinstallacablelock,dothefollowing:

1.Inserttheclip1intothecablelockslot4.

2.Pullthecablesyouwanttolockthroughthedentsinthecablelock.

3.Presstheclip2intothecablelockslot3untilitsnapsintoposition.

.

Figure8.Installingacablelock

Chapter4.Security25

Attachinganintegratedcablelock

Anintegratedcablelock,sometimesreferredtoastheKensingtonlock,canbeusedtosecureyour
computertoadesk,table,orothernon-permanentxture.Thecablelockattachestotheintegratedcable
lockslotattherearofyourcomputerandisoperatedwithakey.Thecablelockalsolocksthebuttonsused
toopenthecomputercover.Thisisthesametypeoflockusedwithmanynotebookcomputers.Youcan
orderanintegratedcablelockdirectlyfromLenovobysearchingforKensingtonat:
http://www.lenovo.com/support

Figure9.Integratedcablelock

Usingpasswords

YoucansetavarietyofpasswordsthroughtheMicrosoftWindowsoperatingsystemandthroughtheBIOS
ofyourcomputertohelpdeterunauthorizeduseofyourcomputer.

BIOSpasswords

YoucanusetheBIOSSetupUtilityprogramtosetpasswordstopreventunauthorizedaccesstoyour
computeranddata.Thefollowingtypesofpasswordsareavailable:

•Power-OnPassword:WhenaPower-OnPasswordisset,youarepromptedtotypeavalidpassword
eachtimethecomputeristurnedon.Thecomputercannotbeuseduntilthevalidpasswordistyped
in.Formoreinformation,see“Power-OnPassword”onpage60

•AdministratorPassword:SettinganAdministratorPassworddetersunauthorizedusersfromchanging
congurationsettings.Ifyouareresponsibleformaintainingthecongurationsettingsofseveral
computers,youmightwanttosetanAdministratorPassword.Formoreinformation,see“Administrator
Password”onpage60

26ThinkCentreUserGuide

.

.

Youdonothavetosetanypasswordstouseyourcomputer.However,usingpasswordsimproves
computingsecurity.

Windowspasswords

DependingonyourversionoftheWindowsoperatingsystem,youcanusepasswordsforavarietyof
features,includingcontrollingloginaccess,accesstosharedresources,networkaccess,andindividualuser
settings.Formoreinformation,see“HelpandSupport”onpage91.

Conguringthengerprintreader

Ifyourkeyboardhasangerprintreader,youcancongurethengerprintreaderintheSetupUtilityprogram.

TheFingerprintSetupsubmenuundertheSecuritymenuoftheSetupUtilityprogramprovidesthe
followingoptions:

•PrebootAuthentication:enablesordisablesthengerprintauthenticationforaccessingtheBIOS.

•ErasingFingerprintData:clearsthengerprintdatastoredinangerprintreader.

Tocongurethengerprintreader,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage59.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectSecurity➙FingerprintSetup,andpressEnter.
TheFingerprintSetupwindowopens.

3.SelectPrebootAuthenticationorErasingFingerprintDateasdesired,andpressEnter.

4.SelectthedesiredsettingsandpressEnter.

5.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.PressEnterwhenpromptedtoconrm
theexit.

Usingandunderstandingrewalls

Arewallcanbehardware,software,oracombinationofbothdependingonthelevelofsecurityrequired.
Firewallsworkonasetofrulestodeterminewhichinboundandoutboundconnectionsareauthorized.If
yourcomputerispreintalledwitharewallprogram,ithelpsprotectagainstcomputerInternetsecurity
threats,unauthorizedaccess,intrusions,andInternetattacks.Italsoprotectsyourprivacy.Formore
informationabouthowtousetherewallprogram,refertothehelpsystemofyourrewallprogram.

TheWindowsoperatingsystempreinstalledonyourcomputerprovidestheWindowsFirewall.Fordetailson
usingtheWindowsFirewall,referto“HelpandSupport”onpage91

.

Protectingdataagainstviruses

Yourcomputerispreinstalledwithanantivirusprogramtohelpyouguardagainst,detect,andeliminate
viruses.

Lenovoprovidesafullversionofantivirussoftwareonyourcomputerwithafree30-daysubscription.After
30days,youmustrenewthelicensetocontinuereceivingtheantivirussoftwareupdates.

Note:Virusdenitionlesmustbekeptup-to-datetoguardagainstnewviruses.

Formoreinformationabouthowtouseyourantivirussoftware,refertothehelpsystemofyourantivirus
software.

Chapter4.Security27

28ThinkCentreUserGuide

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware

Thischapterprovidesinstructionsonhowtoinstallorreplacehardwareforyourcomputer.

Handlingstatic-sensitivedevices

Donotopenthestatic-protectivepackagecontainingthenewpartuntilthedefectiveparthasbeenremoved
fromthecomputerandyouarereadytoinstallthenewpart.Staticelectricity,althoughharmlesstoyou,can
seriouslydamagecomputercomponentsandparts.

Whenyouhandlepartsandothercomputercomponents,taketheseprecautionstoavoidstatic-electricity
damage:

•Limityourmovement.Movementcancausestaticelectricitytobuilduparoundyou.

•Alwayshandlepartsandothercomputercomponentscarefully.HandlePCIcards,memorymodules,
systemboards,andmicroprocessorsbytheedges.Nevertouchanyexposedcircuitry.

•Preventothersfromtouchingthepartsandothercomputercomponents.

•Beforeyoureplaceanewpart,touchthestatic-protectivepackagecontainingtheparttoametal
expansion-slotcoverorotherunpaintedmetalsurfaceonthecomputerforatleasttwoseconds.This
reducesstaticelectricityinthepackageandyourbody.

•Whenpossible,removethenewpartfromthestatic-protectivepackaging,andinstallitdirectlyinthe
computerwithoutsettingthepartdown.Whenthisisnotpossible,placethestatic-protectivepackage
thatthepartcameinonasmooth,levelsurfaceandplacethepartonit.

•Donotplacethepartonthecomputercoverorothermetalsurface.

Installingorreplacinghardware

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoinstallorreplacehardwareforyourcomputer.Youcanexpand
thecapabilitiesofyourcomputerandmaintainyourcomputerbyinstallingorreplacinghardware.

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important
safetyinformation”onpagev.

Notes:

1.UseonlycomputerpartsprovidedbyLenovo.

2.Wheninstallingorreplacinganoption,usetheappropriateinstructionsinthissectionalongwiththe
instructionsthatcomewiththeoption.

Installingexternaloptions

Youcanconnectexternaloptionstoyourcomputer,suchasexternalspeakers,aprinter,orascanner.For
someexternaloptions,youmustinstalladditionalsoftwareinadditiontomakingthephysicalconnection.
Wheninstallinganexternaloption,see“Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyour
computer”onpage7and“Locatingconnectorsandpartsontherearofyourcomputer”onpage8to
identifytherequiredconnector.Then,usetheinstructionsthatcomewiththeoptiontohelpyoumakethe
connectionandinstallanysoftwareordevicedriversthatarerequiredfortheoption.

©CopyrightLenovo2011

29

Removingthecomputercover

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev.

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoremovethecomputercover.

CAUTION:

Turnoffthecomputerandwaitthreetoveminutestoletthecomputercoolbeforeremovingthe
computercover.

Toremovethecomputercover,dothefollowing:

1.Removeanymediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.

2.Disconnectallpowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

3.Disconnectthepowercords,Input/Outputcables,andanyothercablesthatareconnectedtothe
computer.See“Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyourcomputer”onpage7
and“Locatingconnectorsandpartsontherearofyourcomputer”onpage8.

4.Removeanylockingdevicethatsecuresthecomputercover,suchasapadlockoranintegratedcable
lock.See“Lockingthecomputercover”onpage24and“Attachinganintegratedcablelock”onpage26.

5.Removethetwoscrewsthatsecurethecomputercoverandslidethecomputercovertotherearto
removeit.

Figure10.Removingthecomputercover

Removingandreinstallingthefrontbezel

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoremoveandreinstallthefrontbezel.

30ThinkCentreUserGuide

.

Toremoveandreinstallthefrontbezel,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthecomputeranddisconnectallpowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.Removethefrontbezelbyreleasingthethreeplastictabsontheleftsideandpivotingthefrontbezel
outward.

Figure11.Removingthefrontbezel

4.T oreinstallthefrontbezel,alignthethreeplastictabsontherightsideofthefrontbezelwiththe
correspondingholesinthechassis,thenpivotthefrontbezelinwardsuntilitsnapsintopositionon
theleftside.

Figure12.Reinstallingthefrontbezel

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware31

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

InstallingorreplacingaPCIcard

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev.

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoinstallorreplaceaPCIcard.Yourcomputerhastwostandard
PCIcardslots,onePCIExpressx1cardslot,andonePCIExpressx16graphicscardslot.

ToinstallorreplaceaPCIcard,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthecomputeranddisconnectallpowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.Attherearofthecomputer,removethescrewthatsecuresthePCIcardlatch.

Figure13.RemovingthescrewthatsecuresthePCIcardlatch

4.DependingonwhetheryouareinstallingorreplacingaPCIcard,dooneofthefollowing:

•IfyouareinstallingaPCIcard,removetheappropriatemetalslotcover.

•IfyouarereplacinganoldPCIcard,grasptheoldcardthatiscurrentlyinstalledandgentlypullit
outoftheslot.

32ThinkCentreUserGuide

Figure14.RemovingthePCIcard

Notes:

a.Thecardtstightlyintothecardslot.Ifnecessary,alternatemovingeachsideofthecardasmall

amountuntilitisremovedfromthecardslot.

b.Ifthecardisheldinplacebyaretaininglatch,pressthecardretaininglatch1asshownto

disengagethelatch.Graspthecardandgentlypullitoutoftheslot.

5.RemovethenewPCIcardfromitsstatic-protectivepackage.

6.Installthenewcardintotheappropriateslotonthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartsonthesystem
board”onpage11

.

Note:IfyouareinstallingaPCIExpressx16graphicscard,makesurethememoryslotretainingclips
areclosedbeforeyouinstallthegraphicscard.

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware33

7.PivotthecardlatchtotheclosedpositiontosecurethePCIcard.

Figure15.InstallingaPCIcard

8.ReinstallthescrewtosecurethePCIcardlatchinplace.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

Installingorreplacingamemorymodule

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoinstallorreplaceamemorymodule.

YourcomputerhastwoslotsforinstallingorreplacingDDR3DIMMsthatprovideuptoamaximumof8GB
systemmemory.Wheninstallingorreplacingamemorymodule,use1GB,2GB,or4GBDDR3DIMMsin
anycombinationuptoamaximumof8GB.

Toinstallorreplaceamemorymodule,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthecomputeranddisconnectallpowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.Laythecomputeronitssideforeasieraccesstothesystemboard.

4.Locatethememoryslots.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage11.

5.Removeanypartsthatmightpreventyouraccesstothememoryslots.Dependingonyourcomputer
model,youmightneedtoremovethePCIExpressx16graphicscardforeasieraccesstothememory
slots.See“InstallingorreplacingaPCIcard”onpage32.

6.Dependingonwhetheryouareinstallingorreplacingamemorymodule,dooneofthefollowing:

.

34ThinkCentreUserGuide

•Ifyouarereplacinganoldmemorymodule,opentheretainingclipsandgentlypullthememory
moduleoutofthememoryslot.

Figure16.Removingamemorymodule

•Ifyouareinstallingamemorymodule,opentheretainingclipsofthememoryslotintowhichyou
wanttoinstallthememorymodule.

Figure17.Openingtheretainingclips

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware35

7.Positionthenewmemorymoduleoverthememoryslot.Makesurethatthenotch1onthememory
modulealignscorrectlywiththeslotkey2onthesystemboard.Pushthememorymodulestraight
downintotheslotuntiltheretainingclipsclose.

Figure18.Installingamemorymodule

8.ReinstallthePCIExpressx16graphicscardifyouhaveremovedit.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48

.

Installingorreplacingtheopticaldrive

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoinstallorreplacetheopticaldrive.

Toinstallorreplaceanopticaldrive,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthecomputeranddisconnectallpowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.Removethefrontbezel.See“Removingandreinstallingthefrontbezel”onpage30.

.

36ThinkCentreUserGuide

4.Removethethreescrewsthatsecuretheopticaldrive.Then,slidetheopticaldriveoutofthefront
ofthecomputer.

Figure19.Removingtheopticaldrive

5.Slidethenewopticaldriveintothedrivebayfromthefrontandalignthescrewholesinthenewoptical
drivewiththecorrespondingholesinthedrivebay.Then,installthethreescrewstosecurethenew
opticaldriveinplace.

Figure20.Installingtheopticaldrive

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware37

6.Connectoneendofthesignalcabletotherearofthenewopticaldriveandtheotherendtoanavailable
SATAconnectoronthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage11.Then,
locateanavailableve-wirepowerconnectorandconnectittotherearofthenewopticaldrive.

Figure21.ConnectingaSAT Aopticaldrive

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

Replacingthebattery

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev

.

Yourcomputerhasaspecialtypeofmemorythatmaintainsthedate,time,andsettingsforbuilt-infeatures,
suchasparallel-portassignments(conguration).Abatterykeepsthisinformationactivewhenyouturn
offthecomputer.

Thebatterynormallyrequiresnochargingormaintenancethroughoutitslife;however,nobatterylasts
forever.Ifthebatteryfails,thedate,time,andcongurationinformation(includingpasswords)arelost.An
errormessageisdisplayedwhenyouturnonthecomputer.

Refertothe“Lithiumbatterynotice”intheThinkCentreSafetyandWarrantyGuideforinformationabout
replacinganddisposingofthebattery.

Toreplacethebattery,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthecomputeranddisconnectallpowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.Locatethebattery.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage11.

4.Removetheoldbattery.

Figure22.Removingtheoldbattery

38ThinkCentreUserGuide

5.Installanewbattery.

Figure23.Installinganewbattery

6.Reinstallthecomputercoverandconnectthecables.See“Completingthepartsreplacement”on
page48.

Note:Whenthecomputeristurnedonforthersttimeafterreplacingthebattery,anerrormessage
mightbedisplayed.Thisisnormalafterreplacingthebattery.

7.T urnonthecomputerandallattacheddevices.

8.UsetheSetupUtilityprogramtosetthedate,time,andanypasswords.SeeChapter7“UsingtheSetup
Utilityprogram”onpage59.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

Replacingtheheatsinkandfanassembly

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev.

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoreplacetheheatsinkandfanassembly.

CAUTION:

Theheatsinkandfanassemblymightbeveryhot.T urnoffthecomputerandwaitthreetove
minutestoletthecomputercoolbeforeremovingthecomputercover.

Toreplacetheheatsinkandfanassembly,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthecomputeranddisconnectallpowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.Laythecomputeronitssideforeasieraccesstothesystemboard.

4.Locatetheheatsinkandfanassembly.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage11.

5.Disconnecttheheatsinkandfanassemblycablefromthemicroprocessorfanconnectoronthesystem
board.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage11

.

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware39

6.Followthissequencetoremovethefourscrewsthatsecuretheheatsinkandfanassemblytothe
systemboard:

a.Partiallyremovescrew1,thenfullyremovescrew2,andthenfullyremovescrew1.
b.Partiallyremovescrew3,thenfullyremovescrew4,andthenfullyremovescrew3.

Note:Carefullyremovethefourscrewsfromthesystemboardtoavoidanypossibledamagetothe
systemboard.Thefourscrewscannotberemovedfromtheheatsinkandfanassembly.

Figure24.Removingtheheatsinkandfanassembly

7.Liftthefailingheatsinkandfanassemblyoffthesystemboard.

Notes:

a.Youmighthavetogentlytwisttheheatsinkandfanassemblytofreeitfromthemicroprocessor.
b.Donottouchthethermalgreasewhilehandlingtheheatsinkandfanassembly.

8.Positionthenewheatsinkandfanassemblyonthesystemboardsothatthefourscrewsarealigned
withtheholesonthesystemboard.

Note:Positionthenewheatsinkandfanassemblysothattheheatsinkandfanassemblycableis
towardthemicroprocessorfanconnectoronthesystemboard.

9.Followthefollowingsequencetoinstallthefourscrewstosecurethenewheatsinkandfanassembly.
Donotover-tightenthescrews.

a.Partiallytightenscrew1,thenfullytightenscrew2,andthenfullytightenscrew1.
b.Partiallytightenscrew3,thenfullytightenscrew4,andthenfullytightenscrew3.

10.Connecttheheatsinkandfanassemblycabletothemicroprocessorfanconnectoronthesystem
board.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage11.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

40ThinkCentreUserGuide

Replacingthepowersupplyassembly

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev.

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoreplacethepowersupplyassembly.

Althoughtherearenomovingpartsinyourcomputerafterthepowercordhasbeendisconnected,the
followingwarningsarerequiredforyoursafetyandproperUnderwritersLaboratories(UL)certication.

CAUTION:

Hazardousmovingparts.Keepngersandotherbodypartsaway.

CAUTION:
Neverremovethecoveronapowersupplyoranypartthathasthefollowinglabelattached.

Hazardousvoltage,current,andenergylevelsarepresentinsideanycomponentthathasthislabel
attached.Therearenoserviceablepartsinsidethesecomponents.Ifyoususpectaproblemwith
oneoftheseparts,contactaservicetechnician.

Toreplacethepowersupplyassembly,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthecomputeranddisconnectallpowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.Disconnectthepowersupplyassemblycablesfromalldrivesandfromthe24-pinpowerconnectorand
4-pinpowerconnectoronthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage11.

Note:Youmightalsoneedtoreleasethepowersupplyassemblycablesfromsomecableclipsorties
thatsecurethecablestothechassis.

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware41

4.Laythecomputeronitssideandremovethefourscrewsattherearofthechassisthatsecurethe
powersupplyassembly.

Figure25.Removingthescrewsforthepowersupplyassembly

5.Slidethepowersupplyassemblytothefrontofthecomputerandthenliftitoutofthechassis.

6.Makesurethatthenewpowersupplyassemblyisthecorrectreplacement.Somepowersupply
assembliesautomaticallysensethevoltage,somepowersupplyassembliesarevoltagespecic,and
somepowersupplyassemblieshaveavoltage-selectionswitch.Ifyourpowersupplyassemblyhas
avoltage-selectionswitch,makesurethatyousetthevoltage-selectionswitchtomatchthevoltage
availableatyourelectricaloutlet.Ifnecessary,useaballpointpentoslidethevoltage-selectionswitch
tothecorrectposition.

•Ifthevoltagesupplyrangeinyourlocalcountryorregionis100–127Vac,setthevoltage-selection

switchto115V.

•Ifthevoltagesupplyrangeinyourlocalcountryorregionis200–240Vac,setthevoltage-selection

switchto230V.

7.Installthenewpowersupplyassemblyintothechassissothatthescrewholesinthepowersupply
assemblyalignwiththoseinthechassis.

8.Installandtightenthefourscrewstosecurethepowersupplyassembly.

Note:UseonlyscrewsprovidedbyLenovo.

9.Reconnectthepowersupplyassemblycablestothesystemboardandeachofthedrives.

10.Securethepowersupplyassemblycableswiththecableclipsandtiesinthechassis.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

Replacingthemicroprocessor

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev.

42ThinkCentreUserGuide

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoreplacethemicroprocessor.

CAUTION:

Theheatsinkandmicroprocessormightbeveryhot.T urnoffthecomputerandwaitthreetove
minutestoletthecomputercoolbeforeremovingthecomputercover.

Toreplacethemicroprocessor,dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.Laythecomputeronitssideforeasieraccesstothesystemboard.

4.Removetheheatsinkandfanassembly.See“Replacingtheheatsinkandfanassembly”onpage39.

Note:Placetheheatsinkandfanassemblyonitssidesothatthethermalgreaseonthebottomofit
doesnotgetincontactwithanything.

5.Liftthesmallhandle3andopentheretainer1toaccessthemicroprocessor2.

Figure26.Accessingthemicroprocessor

6.Liftthemicroprocessorstraightupandoutofthemicroprocessorsocket.

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware43

Figure27.Removingthemicroprocessor

Notes:

a.Yourmicroprocessorandsocketmightlookdifferentfromtheoneillustrated.
b.Notetheorientationofthemicroprocessorinthesocket.Youcaneitherlookforthesmalltriangle1

ononecornerofthemicroprocessorornotetheorientationofthenotches2onthemicroprocessor.
Thisisimportantwheninstallingthenewmicroprocessoronthesystemboard.

c.Touchonlytheedgesofthemicroprocessor.Donottouchthegoldcontactsonthebottom.
d.Donotdropanythingontothemicroprocessorsocketwhileitisexposed.Thesocketpinsmustbe

keptascleanaspossible.

7.Makesurethatthesmallhandleisintheraisedpositionandthemicroprocessorretainerisfullyopen.

8.Removetheprotectivecoverthatprotectsthegoldcontactsofthenewmicroprocessor.

9.Holdthenewmicroprocessorbyitssidesandalignthesmalltriangleononecornerofthenew
microprocessorwiththecorrespondingsmalltriangleononecornerofthemicroprocessorsocket.

10.Lowerthenewmicroprocessorstraightdownintothemicroprocessorsocketonthesystemboard.

11.Closethemicroprocessorretainerandlockitintopositionwiththesmallhandletosecurethenew
microprocessorinthesocket.

12.Reinstalltheheatsinkandfanassembly.See“Replacingtheheatsinkandfanassembly”onpage39.

13.Reconnectallcablesthatweredisconnectedfromthesystemboard.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

44ThinkCentreUserGuide

•Tocompletethereplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

Replacingtheprimaryharddiskdrive

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev.

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoreplacetheprimaryharddiskdrive.

Toreplacetheprimaryharddiskdrive,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthecomputeranddisconnectallpowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.Locatetheprimaryharddiskdrive.See“Locatinginternaldrives”onpage12.

Note:Thereisalsoasecondaryharddiskdrivebayforyoutopurchaseandinstallasecondaryhard
diskdrivebyyourself.Ifyouwanttoinstallasecondaryharddiskdrive,usethesamewayofinstalling
theprimaryharddiskdrive.

4.Disconnectthesignalcableandthepowercablefromtheharddiskdrive.

5.Removethefourscrewsthatsecuretheharddiskdrive.Then,slidetheharddiskdriveoutofthechassis.

Figure28.Removingtheharddiskdrive

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware45

6.Slidethenewharddiskdriveintotheharddiskdrivebayandalignthescrewholesinthenewhard
diskdrivewiththecorrespondingholesinthedrivebay.Then,installthefourscrewstosecurethe
newharddiskdriveinplace.

Figure29.Installingtheharddiskdrive

7.Connectoneendofthesignalcabletotherearofthenewharddiskdriveandtheotherendtoan
availableSATAconnectoronthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage11.
Then,locateanavailableve-wirepowerconnectorandconnectittotherearofthenewharddiskdrive.

Figure30.ConnectingaSATAharddiskdrive

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48

ReplacingthefrontaudioandUSBassembly

.

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important
safetyinformation”onpagev.

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoreplacethefrontaudioandUSBassembly.

46ThinkCentreUserGuide

ToreplacethefrontaudioandUSBassembly,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthecomputeranddisconnectallpowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.Removethefrontbezel.See“Removingandreinstallingthefrontbezel”onpage30.

4.LocatethefrontaudioandUSBassembly.See“Locatingcomponents”onpage10.

5.DisconnectthefrontaudioandUSBassemblycablesfromthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartson
thesystemboard”onpage11.

Note:Makesureyounotethelocationsofthecableswhenyoudisconnectthecablesfromthesystem
board.

6.RemovethescrewthatsecuresthefrontaudioandUSBassemblybrackettothechassistoremove
thebracketfromthechassis.

Figure31.RemovingthescrewthatsecuresthefrontaudioandUSBassemblytothechassis

7.RemovethetwoscrewsthatsecurethefrontaudioandUSBassemblytoitsbracketandremovethe
failingfrontaudioandUSBassemblyfromthebracket.

8.InstallanewfrontaudioandUSBassemblyintothebracketandinstallthetwoscrewstosecurethe
frontaudioandUSBassemblytothebracket.

9.InstallthefrontaudioandUSBassemblybracketintothechassisandalignthescrewholeinthe
bracketwiththecorrespondingholeinthechassis.

10.Installthescrewtosecurethebrackettothechassis.

11.ReconnectthefrontaudioandUSBassemblycablestothefrontaudioconnectorandthefrontUSB
connectoronthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage11

.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware47

ReplacingtheUSBkeyboardormouse

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Important

safetyinformation”onpagev

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoreplacetheUSBkeyboardormouse.

ToreplacetheUSBkeyboardormouse,dothefollowing:

1.DisconnectthecableoftheoldUSBkeyboardormousefromthecomputer.

2.ConnectthecableofthenewUSBkeyboardormousetooneoftheUSBconnectorsonthecomputer.
DependingonwhereyouwanttoconnectthenewUSBkeyboardormouse,see“Locatingconnectors,
controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyourcomputer”onpage7
therearofyourcomputer”onpage8

.

or“Locatingconnectorsandpartson

.

Figure32.ConnectingtheUSBkeyboardormouse

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletethereplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

Completingthepartsreplacement

Aftercompletingtheinstallationorreplacementforallparts,youneedtoreinstallthecomputercoverand
reconnectcables.Dependingonthepartsyouinstalledorreplaced,youmightneedtoconrmtheupdated
informationintheSetupUtilityprogram.RefertoChapter7“UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage59.

Toreinstallthecomputercoverandreconnectcablestoyourcomputer,dothefollowing:

1.Makesurethatallcomponentshavebeenreassembledcorrectlyandthatnotoolsorloosescrews
areleftinsideyourcomputer.See“Locatingcomponents”onpage10forthelocationsofvarious
componentsinyourcomputer.

2.Ifyouhaveremovedthefrontbezel,reinstallit.See“Removingandreinstallingthefrontbezel”on
page30.

3.Makesurethatthecablesareroutedcorrectlybeforereinstallingthecomputercover.Keepcablesclear
ofthehingesandsidesofthecomputerchassistoavoidinterferencewithreinstallingthecomputer
cover.

48ThinkCentreUserGuide

4.Positionthecomputercoveronthechassissothattherailguidesonthebottomofthecomputer
coverengagetherailsonthechassis.Then,pushthecovertothefrontofthecomputeruntilitsnaps
intoposition.

Figure33.Reinstallingthecomputercover

5.Installthescrewstosecurethecomputercover.

6.Ifthereisapadlockavailable,lockthecomputercover.See“Lockingthecomputercover”onpage24.

7.Ifthereisanintegratedcablelockavailable,lockthecomputer.See“Attachinganintegratedcable
lock”onpage26

.

8.Reconnecttheexternalcablesandpowercordstothecomputer.See“Locatingconnectorsandparts
ontherearofyourcomputer”onpage8.

9.T oupdateyourconguration,refertoChapter7“UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage59.

Note:Inmostareasoftheworld,LenovorequiresthereturnofthedefectiveCustomerReplaceableUnit
(CRU).InformationaboutthiswillcomewiththeCRUorwillcomeafewdaysaftertheCRUarrives.

Obtainingdevicedrivers

Youcanobtaindevicedriversforoperatingsystemsthatarenotpreinstalledat
http://www.lenovo.com/support.Installationinstructionsareprovidedinreadmeleswiththedevice-driver
les.

Chapter5.Installingorreplacinghardware49

50ThinkCentreUserGuide

Chapter6.Recoveryinformation

ThischapterprovidesinformationabouttherecoverysolutionsprovidedbyLenovo.

Thischaptercontainsthefollowingtopics:

•Creatingandusingrecoverymedia

•Performingbackupandrecoveryoperations

•UsingtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace

•Creatingandusingarescuemedium

•Installingorreinstallingdevicedrivers

•Solvingrecoveryproblems

Notes:

1.TherecoveryinformationinthischapteronlyappliestothecomputersthathavetheRescueand
RecoveryprogramortheProductRecoveryprograminstalled.IftheEnhancedBackupandRestore
iconintheLenovoThinkVantageToolsprogramisdimmed,itindicatesthatyouneedtoinstall
theRescueandRecoveryprogrammanuallybeforeenablingitsfeatures.T oinstalltheRescueand
Recoveryprogram,dothefollowing:

a.ClickStart➙AllPrograms➙LenovoThinkVantageT ools,anddouble-clickEnhancedBackup

andRestore.
b.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.
c.Whentheinstallationprocesscompletes,theEnhancedBackupandRestoreiconisactivated.

2.Thereareavarietyofmethodstochoosefromwhenconsideringhowtorecoverintheeventofa
software-orhardware-relatedproblem.Somemethodsvarydependingonthetypeofoperatingsystem
thatisinstalled.

3.Theproductontherecoverymediamaybeusedonlyforthefollowingpurposes:

•Restoretheproductpreinstalledonyourcomputer

•Reinstalltheproduct

•ModifytheproductusingtheAdditionalFiles

Creatingandusingrecoverymedia

Youcanuserecoverymediatorestoretheharddiskdrivetothefactorydefaultstate.Recoverymediaare
usefulifyoutransferthecomputertoanotherarea,sellthecomputer,recyclethecomputer,orputthe
computerinanoperationalstateafterallothermethodsofrecoveryhavefailed.Asaprecautionarymeasure,
itisimportanttocreaterecoverymediaasearlyaspossible.

Note:Therecoveryoperationsyoucanperformusingrecoverymediavarydependingontheoperating
systemfromwhichtherecoverymediawerecreated.Therecoverymediamightcontainabootmedium
andadatamedium.YourMicrosoftWindowslicensepermitsyoutocreateonlyonedatamedium,soitis
importantthatyoustoretherecoverymediainasafeplaceafteryouhavemadethem.

Creatingrecoverymedia

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtocreaterecoverymedia.

Note:OntheWindows7operatingsystem,youcancreaterecoverymediausingdiscsorexternalUSB
storagedevices.

©CopyrightLenovo2011

51

TocreaterecoverymediaontheWindows7operatingsystem,clickStart➙AllPrograms➙Lenovo
ThinkVantageTools➙FactoryRecoveryDisks.Then,followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

Usingrecoverymedia

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtouserecoverymedia.

OntheWindows7operatingsystem,youcanuserecoverymediatorestorethecontentsoftheharddisk
drivetothefactorydefaultstate.Also,youcanuserecoverymediatoputthecomputerinanoperational
stateafterallothermethodsofharddiskdriverecoveryhavefailed.

Attention:Whenyouuserecoverymediatorestorethecontentsoftheharddisktothefactorydefaultstate,
allthelescurrentlyontheharddiskdrivewillbedeletedandreplacedbythefactorydefaultles.

TouserecoverymediaontheWindows7operatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.Dependingonthetypeofyourrecoverymedia,connectthebootmedium(memorykeyorotherUSB
storagedevice)tothecomputer,orinsertthebootdiscintotheopticaldrive.

2.RepeatedlypressandreleasetheF12keywhenturningonthecomputer.WhenthePleaseselect
bootdevicewindowopens,releasetheF12key.

3.SelectthedesiredstartupdeviceandpressEnter.Therestoreprocessbegins.

4.Followtheinstructionsonthescreentocompletetheoperation.

Note:Afterrestoringyourcomputerharddiskdrivetothefactorydefaultstate,youmighthavetoreinstall
devicedriversforsomedevices.See“Reinstallingdevicedrivers”onpage56.

Performingbackupandrecoveryoperations

TheRescueandRecoveryprogramenablesyoutobackupallyourharddiskdrivecontentsincludingthe
operatingsystem,datales,softwareprograms,andpersonalsettings.Y oucandesignatewherethe
RescueandRecoveryprogramstoresthebackup:

•Inaprotectedareaofyourharddiskdrive

•Onthesecondaryharddiskdriveifasecondaryharddiskdriveisinstalledinyourcomputer

•OnanattachedexternalUSBharddiskdrive

•Onanetworkdrive

•Onrecordablediscs(arecordableopticaldriveisrequiredforthisoption)

Afteryouhavebackedupthecontentsoftheharddiskdrive,youcanrestorethecompletecontentsofthe
harddiskdrive,restoreselectedlesonly,orrestoretheWindowsoperatingsystemandapplicationsonly
whilekeepingtheotherdataonyourharddiskdrive.

Performingabackupoperation

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoperformabackupoperationusingtheRescueandRecovery
program.

ToperformabackupoperationusingtheRescueandRecoveryprogramontheWindows7operating
system,dothefollowing:

1.FromtheWindowsdesktop,clickStart➙AllPrograms➙LenovoThinkVantageT ools➙Enhanced
BackupandRestore.TheRescueandRecoveryprogramopens.

2.IntheRescueandRecoverymainwindow,clicktheLaunchadvancedRescueandRecoveryarrow.

52ThinkCentreUserGuide

3.ClickBackupyourharddriveandselectbackupoperationoptions.Then,followtheinstructionson
thescreentocompletethebackupoperation.

Performingarecoveryoperation

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoperformarecoveryoperationusingtheRescueandRecovery
program.

ToperformarecoveryoperationusingtheRescueandRecoveryprogramontheWindows7operating
system,dothefollowing:

1.FromtheWindowsdesktop,clickStart➙AllPrograms➙LenovoThinkVantageT ools➙Enhanced
BackupandRestore.TheRescueandRecoveryprogramopens.

2.IntheRescueandRecoverymainwindow,clicktheLaunchadvancedRescueandRecoveryarrow.

3.ClicktheRestoreyoursystemfromabackupicon.

4.Followtheinstructionsonthescreentocompletetherecoveryoperation.

FormoreinformationaboutperformingarecoveryoperationfromtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace,see
“UsingtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace”onpage53.

UsingtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace

TheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceresidesinaprotected,hiddenareaofyourharddiskdrivethat
operatesindependentlyfromtheWindowsoperatingsystem.Thisenablesyoutoperformrecovery
operationsevenifyoucannotstarttheWindowsoperatingsystem.Youcanperformthefollowingrecovery
operationsfromtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace:

•Rescuelesfromyourharddiskdriveorfromabackup:TheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceenables
youtolocatelesonyourharddiskdriveandtransferthemtoanetworkdriveorotherrecordablemedia,
suchasaUSBdeviceoradisc.Thissolutionisavailableevenifyoudidnotbackupyourlesorif
changesweremadetothelessinceyourlastbackupoperation.Y oucanalsorescueindividuallesfrom
aRescueandRecoverybackuplocatedonyourlocalharddiskdrive,aUSBdevice,oranetworkdrive.

•RestoreyourharddiskdrivefromaRescueandRecoverybackup:Ifyouhavebackedupyourharddisk
driveusingtheRescueandRecoveryprogram,youcanrestoretheharddiskdrivefromaRescueand
Recoverybackup,evenifyoucannotstarttheWindowsoperatingsystem.

•Restoreyourharddiskdrivetothefactorydefaultstate:TheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceenables
youtorestorethecompletecontentsofyourharddiskdrivetothefactorydefaultstate.Ifyouhave
multiplepartitionsonyourharddiskdrive,youhavetheoptiontorestoretheC:partitionandleavethe
otherpartitionsintact.BecausetheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceoperatesindependentlyfrom
theWindowsoperatingsystem,youcanrestoretheharddiskdrivetothefactorydefaultstateevenif
youcannotstarttheWindowsoperatingsystem.

Attention:IfyourestoretheharddiskdrivefromaRescueandRecoverybackuporrestoretheharddisk
drivetothefactorydefaultsettings,alllesontheprimaryharddiskdrivepartition(usuallydriveC:)willbe
deletedintherecoveryprocess.Ifpossible,makecopiesofimportantles.Ifyouareunabletostartthe
Windowsoperatingsystem,youcanusetherescuelesfeatureoftheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceto
copylesfromyourharddiskdrivetoothermedia.

TostarttheRescueandRecoveryworkspace,dothefollowing:

1.Makesurethecomputeristurnedoff.

2.T urnonyourcomputer.Whenyouseethelogoscreen,pressEnter,andthenpressF11toenterthe
RescueandRecoveryworkspace.

3.IfyouhavesetaRescueandRecoverypassword,typeyourpasswordwhenprompted.TheRescue
andRecoveryworkspaceopensafterashortdelay.

Chapter6.Recoveryinformation53

Note:IftheRescueandRecoveryworkspacefailstoopen,see“Solvingrecoveryproblems”onpage56.

4.Dooneofthefollowing:

•Torescuelesfromyourharddiskdrive,clickRescuelesandfollowtheinstructionsonthescreen.

•TorestoreyourharddiskdrivefromaRescueandRecoverybackuportorestoreyourharddiskdrive
tothefactorydefaultsettings,clickFullRestoreandfollowtheinstructionsonthescreen.

FormoreinformationaboutthefeaturesoftheRescueandRecoveryworkspace,clickHelp.

Note:Afterrestoringyourharddiskdrivetothefactorydefaultstate,youmighthavetoreinstalldevice
driversforsomedevices.See“Reinstallingdevicedrivers”onpage56.

Creatingandusingarescuemedium

Witharescuemedium,suchasadiscoraUSBharddiskdrive,youcanrecoverthecomputerfromfailures
thatpreventyoufromgainingaccesstotheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceonyourharddiskdrive.

Notes:

1.Therecoveryoperationsyoucanperformusingarescuemediumvarydependingontheoperating
system.

2.Therescuedisccanbestartedinalltypesofopticaldrives.

Creatingarescuemedium

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtocreatearescuemedium.

TocreatearescuemediumontheWindows7operatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.FromtheWindowsdesktop,clickStart➙AllPrograms➙LenovoThinkVantageT ools➙Enhanced
BackupandRestore.TheRescueandRecoveryprogramopens.

2.IntheRescueandRecoverymainwindow,clicktheLaunchadvancedRescueandRecoveryarrow.

3.ClicktheCreateRescueMediaicon.TheCreateRescueandRecoveryMediawindowopens.

4.IntheRescueMediaarea,selectthetypeoftherescuemediumyouwanttocreate.Youcancreatea
rescuemediumusingadisc,aUSBharddiskdrive,orasecondaryinternalharddiskdrive.

5.ClickOKandfollowtheinstructionsonthescreentocreatearescuemedium.

Usingarescuemedium

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtousetherescuemediumyouhavecreated.

•Ifyouhavecreatedarescuemediumusingadisc,usethefollowinginstructionstousetherescuemedium:

1.T urnoffyourcomputer.

2.RepeatedlypressandreleasetheF12keywhenturningonthecomputer.WhenthePleaseselect
bootdevicewindowopens,releasetheF12key.

3.InthePleaseselectbootdevicewindow,selectthedesiredopticaldriveastherstbootdevice.
Then,inserttherescuediscintotheopticaldriveandpressEnter.Therescuemediumstarts.

•IfyouhavecreatedarescuemediumusingaUSBharddiskdrive,usethefollowinginstructionsto
usetherescuemedium:

1.AttachtheUSBharddiskdrivetooneoftheUSBconnectorsonyourcomputer.

2.RepeatedlypressandreleasetheF12keywhenturningonthecomputer.WhenthePleaseselect
bootdevicewindowopens,releasetheF12key.

54ThinkCentreUserGuide

3.InthePleaseselectbootdevicewindow,selecttheUSBharddiskdriveastherstbootdeviceand
pressEnter.Therescuemediumstarts.

Whentherescuemediumstarts,theRescueandRecoveryworkspaceopens.Thehelpinformationfor
eachfeatureisavailablefromtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace.Followtheinstructionstocomplete
therecoveryprocess.

Reinstallingpreinstalledapplicationsanddevicedrivers

Yourcomputerhasprovisionsthatenableyoutoreinstallselectedfactory-installedapplicationsanddevice
drivers.

Reinstallingpreinstalledapplications

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoreinstallpreinstalledapplications.

ToreinstalltheselectedapplicationspreinstalledonyourLenovocomputer,dothefollowing:

1.T urnonthecomputer.

2.GototheC:\SWTOOL Sdirectory.

3.Opentheappsfolder.Withintheappsfolder,thereareseveralsubfoldersnamedforvariousapplications
installedinyourcomputer.

4.Opentheappropriateapplicationsubfolder.

5.Intheapplicationsubfolder,lookforaSETUP.EXEleorotherappropriateEXElesforsetup.
Double-clicktheleandfollowtheinstructionsonthescreentocompletetheinstallation.

Reinstallingpreinstalleddevicedrivers

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoreinstallpreinstalleddevicedrivers.

Attention:Whenyoureinstalldevicedrivers,youarechangingthecurrentcongurationofyourcomputer.
Reinstalldevicedriversonlywhenitisnecessarytocorrectaproblemwithyourcomputer.

Toreinstallthedevicedriverforafactory-installeddevice,dothefollowing:

1.T urnonthecomputer.

2.GototheC:\SWTOOL Sdirectory.

3.OpentheDRIVERSfolder.WithintheDRIVERSfolder,thereareseveralsubfoldersnamedforvarious
devicesinstalledinyourcomputer,suchasAUDIOorVIDEO.

4.Opentheappropriatedevicesubfolder.

5.Dooneofthefollowing:

•Inthedevicesubfolder,lookforaSETUP .exele.Double-clicktheleandfollowtheinstructionson

thescreentocompletetheinstallation.

•Inthedevicesubfolder,lookforaREADME.txtleoralewiththe.txtextension.Thislemightbe

namedaftertheoperatingsystem,suchasWIN98.txt.TheTXTlecontainsinformationabouthowto
installthedevicedriver.Followtheinstructionstocompletetheinstallation.

•Ifthedevicesubfoldercontainsalewiththe.infextensionandyouwanttoinstallthedevice

driverusingtheINFle,refertoyourWindowsHelpandSupportinformationsystemfordetailed
informationabouthowtoinstallthedevicedriver.

Note:Ifyouneedupdateddevicedrivers,see“Gettingthelatestdevicedriversforyourcomputer”on
page67

formoreinformation.

Chapter6.Recoveryinformation55

Reinstallingsoftwareprograms

Ifasoftwareprogramyouinstalledonyourcomputerisnotworkingcorrectly,youmightneedtoremove
andreinstallit.Reinstallingoverwritestheexistingprogramslesandusuallyxesanyproblemsthat
youmighthavehadwiththatprogram.

Toremoveaprograminyoursystem,seeMicrosoftWindowshelpsystemfordetailedinformation.

Toreinstalltheprogram,dooneofthefollowing:

Note:Themethodofreinstallingaprogramvariesfromprogramtoprogram.Refertothedocumentation
providedwiththeprogramtoseeifyourprogramhasspecialinstallationinstructions.

•Toreinstallmostcommerciallyavailableprogramsinyoursystem,seeMicrosoftWindowshelpsystem
formoreinformation.

•ToreinstallselectedapplicationprogramsthatcamepreinstalledfromLenovo,dothefollowing:

1.T urnonthecomputer.

2.GototheC:\SWTOOL Sdirectory.

3.OpentheAPPSfolder.WithintheAPPSfolder,thereareseveralsubfoldersnamedforvarious
applicationsinstalledinyourcomputer.

4.Opentheappropriateapplicationsubfolder.

5.Intheapplicationsubfolder,lookforaSETUP .EXEleorotherappropriateEXElesforsetup.
Double-clicktheleandfollowtheinstructionsonthescreentocompletetheinstallation.

Reinstallingdevicedrivers

Toreinstalladevicedriverforanoptionyouinstalled,refertothedocumentationthatcomeswiththeoption.

Whenyoureinstalldevicedrivers,youarechangingthecurrentcongurationofyourcomputer.Reinstall
devicedriversonlywhenitisnecessarytocorrectaproblemwithyourcomputer.

Formoreinformationaboutreinstallingdevicedriversthatcamewithyourcomputer,see“Reinstalling
preinstalledapplicationsanddevicedrivers”onpage55.

Solvingrecoveryproblems

IfyouareunabletoaccesstheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceortheWindowsenvironment,doone
ofthefollowing:

•UsearescuemediumtostarttheRescueandRecoveryworkspace.See“Creatingandusingarescue
medium”onpage54.

•Userecoverymediaifallothermethodsofrecoveryhavefailedandyouneedtorestoretheharddisk
drivetothefactorydefaultsettings.See“Creatingandusingrecoverymedia”onpage51.

Note:IfyouareunabletoaccesstheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceortheWindowsenvironmentfrom
arescuemediumorrecoverymedia,youmightnothavetherescuedevice(aninternalharddiskdrive,a
disc,aUSBharddiskdrive,orotherexternaldevices)setastherstbootdeviceinthestartupdevice
sequence.Y oumustrstmakesurethatyourrescuedeviceissetastherstbootdeviceinthestartup
devicesequenceintheSetupUtilityprogram.See“Selectingastartupdevice”onpage61fordetailed
informationabouttemporarilyorpermanentlychangingthestartupdevicesequence.Formoreinformation
abouttheSetupUtilityprogram,seeChapter7“UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage59.

56ThinkCentreUserGuide

Itisimportanttocreatearescuemediumandasetofrecoverymediaasearlyaspossibleandstorethem
inasafeplaceforfutureuse.

Chapter6.Recoveryinformation57

58ThinkCentreUserGuide

Chapter7.UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram

TheSetupUtilityprogramisusedtoviewandchangethecongurationsettingsofyourcomputer,regardless
ofwhichoperatingsystemyouareusing.However,theoperatingsystemsettingsmightoverrideanysimilar
settingsintheSetupUtilityprogram.

StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram

TostarttheSetupUtilityprogram,dothefollowing:

1.Makesureyourcomputeristurnedoff.

2.RepeatedlypressandreleasetheF1keywhenturningonthecomputer.Whenyouhearmultiple
beepsorseealogoscreen,releasetheF1key.

Note:IfaPower-OnPasswordoranAdministratorPasswordhasbeenset,theSetupUtilityprogram
menuwillnotbedisplayeduntilyoutypethecorrectpassword.Formoreinformation,see“Using
passwords”onpage59

WhenthePOSTdetectsthattheharddiskdrivehasbeenremovedfromyourcomputerorthememory
modulesizehasdecreased,anerrormessagewillbedisplayedwhenyoustartthecomputerandyouwillbe
promptedtodooneofthefollowing:

•PressF1toentertheSetupUtilityprogram.

Note:AfteryouentertheSetupUtilityprogram,selectSaveChangesandExitatthebottomofthe
screen.Theerrormessagewillnotbedisplayedagain.

•PressF2tobypasstheerrormessageandlogintotheoperatingsystem.

.

Viewingandchangingsettings

TheSetupUtilityprogrammenulistsvariousitemsaboutthesystemconguration.Tovieworchange
settings,starttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage59.Then,follow
theinstructionsonthescreen.

YoucanuseeitherthekeyboardorthemousetonavigatethroughBIOSmenuchoices.Thekeysusedto
performvarioustasksaredisplayedatthebottomofeachscreen.

Usingpasswords

ByusingtheSetupUtilityprogram,youcansetpasswordstopreventunauthorizedaccesstoyourcomputer
anddata.Thefollowingtypesofpasswordsareavailable:

•Power-OnPassword

•AdministratorPassword

Youdonothavetosetanypasswordstouseyourcomputer.However,usingpasswordsimproves
computingsecurity.Ifyoudecidetosetanypasswords,readthefollowingsections.

Passwordconsiderations

Apasswordcanbeanycombinationofupto64alphabeticandnumericcharacters.Forsecurityreasons,it
isrecommendedtouseastrongpasswordthatcannotbeeasilycompromised.T osetastrongpassword,
usethefollowingguidelines:

©CopyrightLenovo2011

59

•Haveatleasteightcharactersinlength

•Containatleastonealphabeticcharacterandonenumericcharacter

•SetupUtilityprogrampasswordisnotcasesensitive

•Notbeyournameoryourusername

•Notbeacommonwordoracommonname

•Besignicantlydifferentfromyourpreviouspasswords

Power-OnPassword

WhenaPower-OnPasswordisset,youarepromptedtotypeavalidpasswordeachtimethecomputeris
turnedon.Thecomputercannotbeuseduntilthevalidpasswordistypedin.

AdministratorPassword

SettinganAdministratorPassworddetersunauthorizedusersfromchangingcongurationsettings.Ifyou
areresponsibleformaintainingthecongurationsettingsofseveralcomputers,youmightwanttosetan
AdministratorPassword.

WhenanAdministratorPasswordisset,youarepromptedtotypeavalidpasswordeachtimeyoutryto
accesstheSetupUtilityprogram.TheSetupUtilityprogramcannotbeaccesseduntilavalidpassword
istypedin.

IfboththePower-OnPasswordandAdministratorPasswordareset,youcantypeeitherpassword.However,
youmustuseyourAdministratorPasswordtochangeanycongurationsettings.

Setting,changing,anddeletingapassword

Toset,change,ordeleteapassword,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage59.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectSecurity.

3.Dependingonthepasswordtype,selectSetPower-OnPasswordorSetAdministratorPassword.

4.Followtheinstructionsontherightsideofthescreentoset,change,ordeleteapassword.

Note:Apasswordcanbeanycombinationofupto64alphabeticandnumericcharacters.Formore
information,see“Passwordconsiderations”onpage59.

Erasinglostorforgottenpasswords(clearingCMOS)

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoeraselostorforgottenpasswords,suchasauserpassword.

Toerasealostorforgottenpassword,dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.LocatetheClearCMOS/Recoveryjumperonthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartsonthesystem
board”onpage11.

4.Movethejumperfromthestandardposition(pin1andpin2)tothemaintenanceposition(pin2and
pin3).

5.Reinstallthecomputercoverandconnectthepowercord.See“Completingthepartsreplacement”
onpage48.

60ThinkCentreUserGuide

6.T urnonthecomputerandleaveitonforapproximately10seconds.Then,turnoffthecomputerby
holdingthepowerswitchforapproximatelyveseconds.

7.Repeatstep1throughstep3.

8.MovetheClearCMOS/Recoveryjumperbacktothestandardposition(pin1andpin2).

9.Reinstallthecomputercoverandconnectthepowercord.See“Completingthepartsreplacement”
onpage48

.

Enablingordisablingadevice

Thissectionprovidesinformationonhowtoenableordisableuseraccesstothefollowingdevices:

USBSetupUsethisoptiontoenableordisableaUSBconnector.WhenaUSBconnectoris

disabled,thedeviceconnectedtotheUSBconnectorcannotbeused.

SATAControllerWhenthisfeatureissettoDisable,alldevicesconnectedtotheSATAconnectors

(suchasharddiskdrivesortheopticaldrive)aredisabledandcannotbeaccessed.

ExternalSATAPortWhenthisoptionissettoDisable,thedeviceconnectedtotheExternalSAT A

connectorcannotbeaccessed.

Toenableordisableadevice,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage59.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectDevices.

3.Dependingonthedeviceyouwanttoenableordisable,dooneofthefollowing:

•SelectUSBSetuptoenableordisableaUSBdevice.

•SelectATADriveSetuptoenableordisableaninternalorexternalSATAdevice.

4.SelectthedesiredsettingsandpressEnter.

5.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.See“ExitingtheSetupUtilityprogram”
onpage62.

Selectingastartupdevice

Ifyourcomputerdoesnotstartupfromadevicesuchasthediscorharddiskdriveasexpected,dooneof
thefollowingtoselectthestartupdeviceyouwant.

Selectingatemporarystartupdevice

Usethisproceduretoselectatemporarystartupdevice.

Note:Notalldiscsandharddiskdrivesarebootable.

1.T urnoffyourcomputer.

2.RepeatedlypressandreleasetheF12keywhenturningonthecomputer.WhenthePleaseselect
bootdevicewindowdisplays,releasetheF12key.

3.SelectthedesiredstartupdeviceandpressEnter.Thecomputerwillstartupfromthedeviceyou
selected.

Note:SelectingastartupdevicefromthePleaseselectbootdevicewindowdoesnotpermanentlychange
thestartupsequence.

Selectingorchangingthestartupdevicesequence

Tovieworpermanentlychangetheconguredstartupdevicesequence,dothefollowing:

Chapter7.UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram61

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage59.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectStartup.

3.SelectthedevicesforthePrimaryStartupSequence,theAutomaticStartupSequence,andtheError
StartupSequence.Readtheinformationdisplayedontherightsideofthescreen.

4.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.See“ExitingtheSetupUtilityprogram”
onpage62.

ExitingtheSetupUtilityprogram

Afteryounishviewingorchangingsettings,pressEsctoreturntotheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu.
YoumighthavetopressEscseveraltimes.Dooneofthefollowing:

•Ifyouwanttosavethenewsettings,pressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.

•Ifyoudonotwanttosavethesettings,selectExit➙DiscardChangesandExit,andthenpressEnter.
WhentheResetWithoutSavingwindowshows,selectYes,andthenpressEntertoexittheSetup
Utilityprogram.

•Ifyouwanttoreturntothedefaultsettings,pressF9toloadthedefaultsettings,andthenpressF10to
saveandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.

62ThinkCentreUserGuide

Chapter8.Updatingsystemprograms

ThischapterprovidesinformationaboutupdatingthePOSTandBIOS,andhowtorecoverfromaPOST
andBIOSupdatefailure.

Usingsystemprograms

Systemprogramsarethebasiclayerofsoftwarebuiltintoyourcomputer.Systemprogramsincludethe
POST,theBIOS,andtheSetupUtilityprogram.ThePOSTisasetoftestsandproceduresthatare
performedeachtimeyouturnonyourcomputer.TheBIOSisalayerofsoftwarethattranslatesinstructions
fromotherlayersofsoftwareintoelectricalsignalsthatthecomputerhardwarecanexecute.Youcanuse
theSetupUtilityprogramtovieworchangethecongurationsettingsofyourcomputer.SeeChapter7
“UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage59

Yourcomputersystemboardhasamodulecalledelectricallyerasableprogrammableread-onlymemory
(EEPROM,alsoreferredtoasashmemory).Y oucaneasilyupdatethePOST,theBIOS,andtheSetup
Utilityprogrambystartingyourcomputerwithasystem-program-updatediscorrunningaspecialupdate
programfromyouroperatingsystem.

LenovomightmakechangesandenhancementstothePOSTandBIOS.Whenupdatesarereleased,they
areavailableasdownloadablelesontheLenovoWebsiteathttp://www.lenovo.com.Instructionsforusing
thePOSTandBIOSupdatesareavailableinaTXTlethatisincludedwiththeupdateles.Formost
models,youcandownloadeitheranupdateprogramtocreateasystem-program-updatediscoranupdate
programthatcanberunfromtheoperatingsystem.

fordetailedinformation.

Updating(ashing)theBIOSfromadisc

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoupdate(ash)theBIOSfromadisc.

Note:Y oucandownloadaself-startingbootablediscimage(knownasanISOimage)withthesystem
programupdatestocreateasystem-program-updatedisc.Goto:
http://www.lenovo.com/support

Toupdate(ash)theBIOSfromadisc,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffyourcomputer.

2.RepeatedlypressandreleasetheF12keywhenturningonthecomputer.WhentheStartupDevice
Menuopens,releasetheF12key.

3.OntheStartupDeviceMenu,selectthedesiredopticaldriveasthestartupdevice.Then,insertthe
discintothisopticaldriveandpressEnter.Theupdatebegins.

4.Whenpromptedtochangetheserialnumber,itissuggestedthatyoudonotmakethischangeby
pressingN.However,ifyoudowanttochangetheserialnumber,pressY,thentypeintheserialnumber
andpressEnter.

5.Whenpromptedtochangethemachinetypeandmodel,itissuggestedthatyoudonotmakethis
changebypressingN.However,ifyoudowanttochangethemachinetypeandmodel,pressY,then
typeinthemachinetypeandmodelandpressEnter.

6.Followtheinstructionsonthescreentocompletetheupdate.Aftertheupdateiscompleted,removethe
discfromtheopticaldrive.

©CopyrightLenovo2011

63

Updating(ashing)theBIOSfromyouroperatingsystem

Note:BecauseLenovomakesconstantimprovementstoitsWebsites,theWebpagecontentsaresubject

tochangewithoutnotice,includingthecontentsreferencedinthefollowingprocedure.

Toupdate(ash)theBIOSfromyouroperatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.Gotohttp://www.lenovo.com/support.

2.Dothefollowingtolocatethedownloadablelesforyourmachinetype:
a.ClickDownload&Drivers.
b.Intheleftpane,clickDownloadsanddrivers.
c.FromtheBranddrop-downlistbox,selectDesktops.
d.FromtheFamilydrop-downlistbox,selectthefamilyname.
e.ClickContinue.
f.FromtheReneresultsdrop-downlistbox,selectBIOS.
g.ClicktheBIOSupdatelink.

3.ClicktheTXTlethatcontainstheinstructionsforupdating(ashing)theBIOSfromyouroperating
system.

4.Printtheseinstructions.Thisisveryimportantbecausetheseinstructionswillnotbedisplayedon
thescreenafterthedownloadbegins.

5.Followtheprintedinstructionstodownload,extract,andinstalltheupdate.

RecoveringfromaPOST/BIOSupdatefailure

IfthepowertoyourcomputerisinterruptedwhilethePOSTandBIOSisbeingupdated,yourcomputer
mightnotrestartcorrectly.Ifthishappens,performthefollowingproceduretorecoverfromthePOSTand
BIOSupdatefailure.ThisprocedureiscommonlycalledBoot-blockRecovery.

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage30.

3.LocatetheClearCMOS/Recoveryjumperonthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartsonthesystem
board”onpage11.

4.RemoveanycablesthatimpedeaccesstotheClearCMOS/Recoveryjumper.

5.Movethejumperfromthestandardposition(pin1andpin2)tothemaintenanceposition(pin2and
pin3).

6.ReconnectanycablesthatweredisconnectedandreinstallthePCIcardifremoved.

7.Reinstallthecomputercoverandreconnectthepowercordsforthecomputerandmonitortoelectrical
outlets.See“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage48.

8.T urnonthecomputerandtheninsertthePOSTandBIOSupdate(ashupdate)discintotheoptical
drive.Waitafewminutes.Then,therecoverysessionbegins.Therecoverysessionwilltaketwoto
threeminutes.Duringthistime,awarningmessagewillbedisplayedandnoactionisneededfromyou.

9.Aftertherecoverysessioniscompleted,therewillbenovideo,andyourcomputerwillautomatically
turnoff.

10.Repeatstep1throughstep4.

11.MovetheClearCMOS/Recoveryjumperbacktothestandardposition(pin1andpin2).

12.ReconnectanycablesthatweredisconnectedandreinstallthePCIcardifremoved.

13.Reinstallthecomputercoverandreconnectanycablesthatweredisconnected.

64ThinkCentreUserGuide

14.T urnonthecomputertorestarttheoperatingsystem.

Chapter8.Updatingsystemprograms65

66ThinkCentreUserGuide

Chapter9.Preventingproblems

Thischapterprovidesinformationthatcanhelpyouavoidcommonproblemsandkeepyourcomputer
runningsmoothly.

Keepingyourcomputercurrent

Insomesituationsyoumaynditnecessarytohavethemostcurrentsoftwareprograms,devicedrivers,or
operatingsystem.Thissectionexplainshowtogetthelatestupdatesforyourcomputer.

Selectanyofthefollowingtopics:

•“Gettingthelatestdevicedriversforyourcomputer”onpage67

•“Updatingyouroperatingsystem”onpage67

•“UsingSystemUpdate”onpage67

Gettingthelatestdevicedriversforyourcomputer

YoucandownloadandinstallupdateddevicedriversfromtheLenovoWebsitebydoingthefollowing:

Attention:DonotdownloadupdateddevicedriversfromtheWindowsUpdateWebsite.Thedevice
driversprovidedontheWindowsWebsitehavenotbeentestedbyLenovoandusingthemmightcause
unexpectedproblems.ObtainupdateddevicedriversfromLenovo.

1.Gotohttp://www.lenovo.com/support.

2.ClickDownload&drivers.

3.Selectthemachinetypeofyourcomputerfromthemachinetypelist.

4.Clickthecategoryofdeviceforwhichyouneedthedevicedriver.

5.Clicktheappropriatedevicedriver.

6.Downloadandinstallthedevicedriver.

Updatingyouroperatingsystem

MicrosoftmakesupdatesavailableforthevariousWindowsoperatingsystemsthroughtheMicrosoft
WindowsUpdateWebsite.TheWebsiteautomaticallydetermineswhatWindowsupdatesareavailablefor
yourspeciccomputerandliststhoseupdatesonly.Updatescouldincludesecurityxes,newversionsof
Windowscomponents(suchasMediaPlayer),xestootherportionsoftheWindowsoperatingsystem,
orenhancements.

Attention:DonotdownloadupdateddevicedriversfromtheWindowsWebsite.Thedevicedrivers
providedontheWindowsWebsitehavenotbeentestedbyLenovoandusingthemmightcauseunexpected
problems.ObtainupdateddevicedriversfromLenovo.See“Gettingthelatestdevicedriversforyour
computer”onpage67

ToaccesstheMicrosoftWindowsUpdatesite,dothefollowing:

1.Gotohttp://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/.

2.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

formoreinformation.

UsingSystemUpdate

TheSystemUpdateprogramhelpsyoukeepthesoftwareonyourcomputerup-to-date.Updatepackages
arestoredonLenovoserversandcanbedownloadedfromtheLenovoSupportWebsite.Updatepackages

©CopyrightLenovo2011

67

cancontainapplications,devicedrivers,BIOSashes,orsoftwareupdates.WhentheSystemUpdate
programconnectstotheLenovoSupportWebsite,theSystemUpdateprogramautomaticallyrecognizes
themachinetypeandmodelofyourcomputer,theinstalledoperatingsystem,andthelanguageofthe
operatingsystemtodeterminewhatupdatesareavailableforyourcomputer.TheSystemUpdateprogram
thendisplaysalistofupdatepackagesandcategorizeseachupdateascritical,recommended,and
optionaltohelpyouunderstandtheimportance.Y ouhavecompletecontrolofwhichupdatestodownload
andinstall.Afteryouselecttheupdatepackagesyouwant,theSystemUpdateprogramautomatically
downloadsandinstallstheupdateswithoutanyfurtherinterventionfromyou.

TheSystemUpdateprogramispreinstalledonmostLenovocomputersandisreadytorun.Theonly
prerequisiteisanactiveInternetconnection.Youcanstarttheprogrammanually,oryoucanusethe
schedulefeaturetoenabletheprogramtosearchforupdatesautomaticallyatspeciedintervals.Youalso
canpredenescheduledupdatestosearchbyseverity(criticalupdates,criticalandrecommendedupdates,
orallupdates)sothelistyouchoosefromcontainsonlythoseupdatetypesthatareofinteresttoyou.

IftheSystemUpdateprogramcamewithyourcomputer,youcanopenitbycompletingthefollowing
procedure:

1.ClickStart➙LenovoThinkVantageT ools.

2.Double-clickUpdateandDrivers.

IftheSystemUpdateprogramisnotcurrentlyinstalledonyourcomputer,youcandownloaditfromthe
LenovoSupportWebsiteathttp://www.lenovo.com/support.

Cleaningandmaintenance

Withappropriatecareandmaintenanceyourcomputerwillserveyoureliably.Thefollowingtopicsoffer
informationtohelpyoukeepyourcomputerintopworkingorder.

•“Basics”onpage68

•“Cleaningyourcomputer”onpage69

–“Computer”onpage69
–“Keyboard”onpage69
–“Opticalmouse”onpage69
–“Displayscreen”onpage69

•“Goodmaintenancepractices”onpage70

Basics

Herearesomebasicpointsaboutkeepingyourcomputerfunctioningproperly:

•Keepyourcomputerinaclean,dryenvironment.Makesureitrestsonaat,steadysurface.

•Donotplaceitemsontopofthemonitororcoveranyoftheventsinthemonitororcomputer.These
ventsprovideairowtokeepyourcomputerfromoverheating.

•Keepfoodanddrinksawayfromallpartsofyourcomputer.Foodparticlesandspillsmightmakethe
keyboardandmousestickandunusable.

•Donotgetthepowerswitchesorothercontrolswet.Moisturecandamagethesepartsandcausean
electricalhazard.

•Alwaysdisconnectapowercordbygraspingtheplug,butnotthecord.

68ThinkCentreUserGuide

Cleaningyourcomputer

Itisagoodpracticetocleanyourcomputerperiodicallytoprotectthesurfacesandensuretrouble-free
operation.

CAUTION:
Besuretoturnoffthecomputerandmonitorpowerswitchesbeforecleaningthecomputerand
monitorscreen.

Computer

Useonlymildcleaningsolutionsandadampclothtocleanthepaintedsurfacesofthecomputer.

Keyboard

Tocleanyourcomputerkeyboard,dothefollowing:

1.Applysomeisopropylrubbingalcoholtoasoft,dust-freecloth.

2.Wipeeachkeytopsurfacewiththecloth.Wipethekeysonebyone;ifyouwipeseveralkeysatatime,
theclothmayhookontoanadjacentkeyandpossiblydamageit.Makesurethatnoliquiddripsonto
orbetweenthekeys.

3.T oremoveanycrumbsordustfrombeneaththekeys,youcanuseacamerablowerwithabrush
orcoolairfromahairdryer.

Note:Avoidsprayingcleanerdirectlyontothedisplayorthekeyboard.

Opticalmouse

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtocleananopticalmouse.

Anopticalmouseusesalight-emittingdiode(LED)andanopticalsensortonavigatethepointer.Ifthe
pointeronthescreendoesnotmovesmoothlywiththeopticalmouse,youmightneedtocleanthemouse.

Tocleananopticalmouse,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffyourcomputer.

2.Disconnectthemousecablefromthecomputer.

3.T urnthemouseupsidedowntocheckthelens.
a.Ifthereisasmudgeonthelens,gentlycleantheareawithaplaincotton-tippedswab.
b.Ifthereisdebrisinthelens,gentlyblowthedebrisawayfromthearea.

4.Checkthesurfaceonwhichyouareusingthemouse.Ifyouhaveaveryintricatepictureorpattern
beneaththemouse,itmaybedifcultforthedigitalsignalprocessor(DSP)todeterminechanges
inthemouseposition.

5.Reconnectthemousecabletothecomputer.

6.T urnyourcomputerbackon.

Displayscreen

Dustbuildupcompoundsproblemsassociatedwithglare.Remembertocleanyourmonitorscreen
periodically.See“Cleaningaat-panelmonitorsurface”onpage69or“Cleaningaglass-screensurface”
onpage70.

Cleaningaat-panelmonitorsurface

Ifyouhaveaat-panelcomputerdisplaythathasaexiblelmsurface,dothefollowingtocleanthespecial
surface.Wipeitgentlywithasoft,drycloth,orblowonthescreentoremovegritandotherlooseparticles.
ThenmoistenaclothwithLCDcleanerandwipethescreensurface.

Chapter9.Preventingproblems69

Manycomputersupplystorescarrythespecialcleaninguidsfordisplays.Usecleaninguidsdevelopedfor
LCDdisplaysonly.Firstapplytheuidtoalint-free,softcloth,thencleantheLCDdisplay.Somecomputer
supplystorescarrypre-moistenedtowelettesforLCDmaintenance.

Cleaningaglass-screensurface

Tocleanaglass-screensurface,wipeitgentlywithasoft,drycloth,orblowonthescreentoremovegritand
otherlooseparticles.Thenuseasoftclothmoistenedwithanonabrasiveliquidglasscleaner.

Goodmaintenancepractices

Byperformingafewgoodmaintenancepractices,youcanmaintaingoodcomputerperformance,protect
yourdata,andbepreparedincaseofacomputerfailure.

•Emptyyourrecyclebinonaregularbasis.

•RuntheWindowsDiskDefragmenterprogramoccasionallytopreventperformanceproblemscausedby
anexcessivenumberoffragmentedles.

•CleanoutyourInbox,SentItems,andDeletedItemsfoldersinyoure-mailapplicationonaregularbasis.

•Makebackupcopiesofcriticaldataonremovablemediamemoryatregularintervalsandstorethe
removablemediainasafelocation.Thefrequencyofmakingbackupcopiesdependsonhowcriticalthe
dataistoyouoryourbusiness.Lenovomakesanumberofremovable-mediastoragedevicesavailable
asoptions,suchasCD-RWdrivesandrecordableDVDdrives.

•Backupyourentireharddiskdriveonaregularbasis.

•Keepyourcomputersoftwareup-to-date.See“Keepingyourcomputercurrent”onpage67
information.

•Keepalogbook.Entriesmightincludemajorsoftwareorhardwarechanges,device-driverupdates,
intermittentproblemsandwhatyoudidtoresolvethem,andanyminorissuesyoumighthave
experienced.AlogbookcanhelpyouoraLenovotechniciandetermineifaproblemisrelatedtochange
inhardware,changeinsoftware,orsomeotheractionthatmighthavetakenplace.

•CreateProductRecoverydiscs.See“Creatingandusingrecoverymedia”onpage51
aboutusingProductRecoverydiscstorestoretheharddiskdrivetothefactorydefaultsettings.

•Createrescuemedia.See“Creatingandusingarescuemedium”onpage54formoreinformationabout
usingaRescuemediumsuchasaCDorDVDtorecoverfromfailuresthatpreventyoufromgaining
accesstotheWindowsenvironmentortheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceonyourharddiskdrive.

formoreinformation

formore

Movingyourcomputer

Takethefollowingprecautionsbeforemovingyourcomputer.

1.Backupalllesanddatafromtheharddiskdrive.Thereareavarietyofbackupprogramsavailable
commercially.Youroperatingsystemalsomighthaveabackupprogramthatyoucanuse.Lenovo
providestheRescueandRecoveryprogramtohelpyoubackupandrestoredata.See“Performing
backupandrecoveryoperations”onpage52formoreinformation.

2.Removeallmedia(diskettes,compactdiscs,tapes,andsoon)fromthedrives.

3.T urnoffthecomputerandallattacheddevices.Y ourharddiskdriveautomaticallyparkstheread/write
headinanondataarea.Thispreventsdamagetotheharddiskdrive.

4.Unplugthepowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

5.Disconnectcommunicationcables,suchasmodemornetworkcables,fromtheoutletsrst,andthen
disconnecttheotherendsfromthecomputer.

6.Notewhereanyremainingcablesareattachedtothecomputer;then,removethem.

7.Ifyousavedtheoriginalshippingcartonsandpackingmaterials,usethemtopacktheunits.Ifyouare
usingdifferentcartons,cushiontheunitstoavoiddamage.

70ThinkCentreUserGuide

Chapter10.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics

Thischapterdescribessomebasictroubleshootinganddiagnosticprograms.Ifyourcomputerproblem
isnotdescribedhere,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,andservice”onpage91
troubleshootingresources.

Basictroubleshooting

Thefollowingtableprovidesinformationtohelpyoutroubleshootyourcomputerproblems.

Note:Ifyoucannotcorrecttheproblem,havethecomputerserviced.Foralistofserviceandsupport
telephonenumbers,refertotheThinkCentreSafetyandWarrantyGuidethatcomeswithyourcomputeror
gototheLenovoSupportWebsiteathttp://www.lenovo.com/support/phone.

SymptomAction

Thecomputerdoesnotstart
whenyoupressthepower
switch.

Themonitorscreenisblank.

Thekeyboarddoesnotwork.

Themousedoesnotwork.

Verifythat:

•Thepowercordiscorrectlyconnectedtotherearofthecomputerandtoa
workingelectricaloutlet.

•Ifyourcomputerhasasecondarypowerswitchontherearofthecomputer,
makesurethatitisswitchedon.

•Thepowerindicatoronthefrontofthecomputerison.

•Thecomputervoltagematchesthevoltageavailableattheelectricaloutletfor
yourcountryorregion.

Verifythat:

•Themonitorsignalcableiscorrectlyconnectedtothemonitorandtothe
appropriatemonitorconnectoronthecomputer.

•Themonitorpowercordiscorrectlyconnectedtothemonitorandtoaworking
electricaloutlet.

•Themonitoristurnedonandthebrightnessandcontrastcontrolsareset
correctly.

•Thecomputervoltagematchesthevoltageavailableattheelectricaloutletfor
yourcountryorregion.

•Ifyourcomputerhastwomonitorconnectors,besuretousetheconnector
onthegraphicscard.

Verifythat:

•Thecomputeristurnedon.

•ThekeyboardissecurelyconnectedtoaUSBconnectoronthecomputer.

•Nokeysarestuck.

Verifythat:

•Thecomputeristurnedon.

•ThemouseissecurelyconnectedtoaUSBconnectoronthecomputer.

•Themouseisclean.Referto“Opticalmouse”onpage69

foradditional

forfurtherinformation.

©CopyrightLenovo2011

71

SymptomAction

Theoperatingsystemdoesnot
start.

Thecomputerbeepsmultiple
timesbeforetheoperating
systemstarts.

Verifythat:

•Thestartupsequenceincludesthedevicewheretheoperatingsystemresides.
Usually,theoperatingsystemisontheharddiskdrive.Formoreinformation,
see“Selectingastartupdevice”onpage61

Verifythatnokeysarestuck.

.

Troubleshootingprocedure

Usethefollowingprocedureasastartingpointfordiagnosingproblemsyouareexperiencingwithyour
computer:

1.Verifythatthecablesforallattacheddevicesareconnectedcorrectlyandsecurely.

2.Verifythatallattacheddevicesthatrequireacpowerareconnectedtoproperlygrounded,functioning
electricaloutlets.

3.VerifythatallattacheddevicesareenabledintheBIOSsettingsofyourcomputer.Formoreinformation
aboutaccessingandchangingtheBIOSsettings,refertoyourChapter7“UsingtheSetupUtility
program”onpage59.

4.Gotothe“T roubleshooting”onpage72andfollowtheinstructionsforthetypeofproblemyouare
experiencing.IftheTroubleshootinginformationdoesnothelpyouresolveaproblem,continuewiththe
nextstep.

5.T ryusingapreviouslycapturedcongurationtoseeifarecentchangetohardwareorsoftwaresettings
hascausedaproblem.Beforerestoringapreviousconguration,captureyourcurrentcongurationin
casetheoldercongurationsettingsdonotsolvetheproblemorhaveadverseaffects.Torestorea
capturedconguration,clickStart➙ControlPanel➙SystemandSecurity➙System➙System
Protection➙SystemRestore.Ifthisdoesnotcorrecttheproblem,continuewiththenextstep.

6.Runthediagnosticprograms.See“Diagnosticprograms”onpage87formoreinformation.

•Ifthediagnosticprogramsdetectahardwarefailure,contacttheLenovoCustomerSupportCenter.

SeeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,andservice”onpage91

formoreinformation.

•Ifyouareunabletorunthediagnosticprograms,contacttheLenovoCustomerSupportCenter.See

Chapter11“Gettinginformation,help,andservice”onpage91formoreinformation.

•Ifthediagnosticprogramsdonotdetectahardwarefailure,continuewiththenextstep.

7.Useanantivirusprogramtoseeifyourcomputerhasbeeninfectedbyavirus.Iftheprogramdetectsa
virus,removethevirus.

8.Ifnoneoftheseactionssolvetheproblem,seektechnicalassistance.SeeChapter11“Getting
information,help,andservice”onpage91formoreinformation.

Troubleshooting

Usethetroubleshootinginformationtondsolutionstoproblemsthathavedenitesymptoms.

Ifthesymptomyourcomputerisexperiencingoccurredimmediatelyafteryouinstalledanewhardware
optionornewsoftware,dothefollowingbeforereferringtothetroubleshootinginformation:

1.Removethenewhardwareoptionorsoftware.Ifyoumustremovethecomputercovertoremovea
hardwareoption,makesureyoureviewandfollowtheelectricalsafetyinformationprovidedwithyour
computer.Foryoursafety,donotoperatethecomputerwiththecoverremoved.

2.Runthediagnosticprogramstoensureyourcomputerisoperatingcorrectly.

3.Reinstallthenewhardwareoptionorsoftwarefollowingthemanufacturer'sinstructions.

72ThinkCentreUserGuide

Selecttheproblemyourcomputerisexperiencingfromthefollowinglist:

•“Audioproblems”onpage73

•“CDproblems”onpage74

•“DVDproblems”onpage75

•“Intermittentproblems”onpage77

•“Keyboard,mouse,orpointingdeviceproblems”onpage77

•“Monitorproblems”onpage78

•“Networkingproblems”onpage80

•“Optionproblems”onpage83

•“Performanceandlockupproblems”onpage84

•“Printerproblems”onpage85

•“Serialportproblems”onpage86

•“Softwareproblems”onpage86

•“USBproblems”onpage87

Audioproblems

Selectyoursymptomfromthefollowinglist:

•“NoaudioinWindows”onpage73

•“AnaudiodiscorAutoPlay-enableddiscdoesnotautomaticallyplaywhenitisinsertedintoadrive”
onpage74

•“Soundcomesfromoneexternalspeakeronly”onpage74

•“NoaudioinDOSapplicationsorgames”onpage74

NoaudioinWindows

Symptom:NoaudioinWindows

Actions:

•IfyouareusingpoweredexternalspeakersthathaveanOn/Offcontrol,verifythattheOn/Offcontrolis
settotheOnpositionandthespeakerpowercableisconnectedtoaproperlygrounded,functionalac
electricaloutlet.

•Ifyourexternalspeakershaveavolumecontrol,verifythatthevolumecontrolisnotsettoolow.

•Double-clickthespeakericonintheWindowsnoticationarea.Amastervolume-controlwindowopens.
VerifythattheMutesettingsarenotcheckedandnoneofthevolumesettingsissettoolow.

•Somemodelshaveafrontaudiopanelyoucanusetoadjustvolume.Ifyouhaveafrontaudiopanel,
verifythatthevolumeisnotsettoolow.

•Verifythatyourexternalspeakers(andheadphones,ifused)areconnectedtothecorrectaudioconnector
onthecomputer.Mostspeakercablesarecolor-codedtomatchtheconnector.

Note:Whenexternal-speakerorheadphonecablesareattachedtotheaudioconnector,theinternal
speaker,ifpresent,isdisabled.Inmostcases,ifanaudioadapterisinstalledinoneoftheexpansionslots,
theaudiofunctionbuiltintothesystemboardisdisabled;usetheaudiojacksontheadapter.

•MakesurethattheprogramyouarerunningisdesignedforuseintheMicrosoftWindowsoperating
system.IftheprogramisdesignedtoruninDOS,theprogramdoesnotusetheWindowssoundfeature
andmustbeconguredtouseSoundBlasterProorSoundBlasteremulation.

Chapter10.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics73

•Verifythattheaudiodevicedriversarecorrectlyinstalled.SeeMicrosoftWindowshelpsystemformore
information.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91.

AnaudiodiscorAutoPlay-enableddiscdoesnotautomaticallyplaywhenitis
insertedintoadrive

Symptom:AnaudiodiscorAutoPlay-enableddiscdoesnotautomaticallyplaywhenitisinsertedintoadrive

Action:See“CDproblems”onpage74.

Soundcomesfromoneexternalspeakeronly

Symptom:Soundcomesfromoneexternalspeakeronly.

Actions:

•Ensurethatthespeakercableisinsertedcompletelyintotheconnectoronthecomputer.

•Makesurethecablethatattachestheleftspeakertotherightspeakerissecurelyconnected.

•Double-clickthespeakericonintheWindowsnoticationarea.Amastervolume-controlwindowopens.
VerifythattheBalancesettingsaresetcorrectly.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,youmighthaveafailingspeaker.Havethespeakerserviced.If
youneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,andservice”onpage91.

NoaudioinDOSapplicationsorgames

Symptom:NoaudioinDOSapplicationsorgames

Actions:

•MakesuretheDOSapplicationorgameisconguredtouseSoundBlasterProorSoundBlaster
emulation.Refertothedocumentationthatcomeswiththeapplicationorgameforinstructionson
settingsound-cardsettings.

•Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87
service”onpage91.

forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,and

CDproblems

Selectyoursymptomfromthefollowinglist:

•“AnaudiodiscorAutoPlay-enableddiscdoesnotautomaticallyplaywhenitisinsertedintoaCD
drive”onpage74

•“ACDorDVDdoesnotwork”onpage75

•“Unabletouseastartable(bootable)recoverymedium,suchastheProductRecoveryCD,tostart
yourcomputer”onpage75

AnaudiodiscorAutoPlay-enableddiscdoesnotautomaticallyplaywhenitis
insertedintoaCDdrive

Symptom:AnaudiodiscorAutoPlay-enableddiscdoesnotautomaticallyplaywhenitisinsertedinto
aCDdrive.

74ThinkCentreUserGuide

Actions:

•IfyouhavemultipleCDorDVDdrivesinstalled(oracombinationofCDandDVDdrives),tryinsertingthe
discintotheotherdrive.Insomecases,onlyoneofthedrivesisconnectedtotheaudiosubsystem.

•IfyouareusingtheWindows7operatingsystem,followtheactionfor“ACDorDVDdoesnotwork”
onpage75

.

Ifthisdoesnotcorrecttheproblem,followtheactionfor“ACDorDVDdoesnotwork”onpage75

.

ACDorDVDdoesnotwork

Symptom:ACDorDVDdoesnotwork.

Actions:

•Verifythatthediscisinsertedcorrectly,withitslabelup.

•Makesurethatthediscyouareusingisclean.T oremovedustorngerprints,wipethedisccleanwitha
softclothfromthecentertotheoutside.Wipingadiscinacircularmotionmightcauselossofdata.

•Verifythatthediscyouareusingisnotscratchedordamaged.Tryinsertinganotherdiscthatyouknow
isgood.Ifyoucannotreadfromaknown-gooddisc,youmighthaveaproblemwithyourCDorDVD
driveorthecablingtoyourCDorDVDdrive.Makesurethatthepowercableandsignalcableare
securelyconnectedtothedrive.

Unabletouseastartable(bootable)recoverymedium,suchastheProductRecovery
CD,tostartyourcomputer

Symptom:Unabletouseastartable(bootable)recoverymedium,suchastheProductRecoveryCD,
tostartyourcomputer.

Action:MakesurethattheCDorDVDdriveisinthestartupsequencebeforetheharddiskdrive.Refer
toyour“Selectingorchangingthestartupdevicesequence”onpage61
changingthestartupsequence.Notethatonsomemodelsthestartupsequenceispermanentlysetand
cannotbechanged.

forinformationonviewingand

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91.

DVDproblems

Selectyoursymptomfromthefollowinglist:

•“BlackscreeninsteadofDVDvideo”onpage75

•“DVDmoviewillnotplay”onpage76

•“NoaudioorintermittentaudiowhileplayingDVDmovie”onpage76

•“Playbackisverysloworchoppy”onpage76

•“Invaliddiscornodiscfoundmessage”onpage76

BlackscreeninsteadofDVDvideo

Symptom:BlackscreeninsteadofDVDvideo

Actions:

•RestarttheDVDplayerprogram.

•Closeanyopenles,turnoffthecomputer,andthenrestartthecomputer.

Chapter10.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics75

•Tryalowerscreenresolutionorcolordepth.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91.

DVDmoviewillnotplay

Symptom:DVDmoviewillnotplay.

Actions:

•Makesurethatthediscsurfaceiscleanandnotscratched.

•Checkthediscorpackageforregionalcoding.Youmightneedtopurchaseadiscwithcodingfor
theregionwhereyouareusingyourcomputer.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91.

NoaudioorintermittentaudiowhileplayingDVDmovie

Symptom:NoaudioorintermittentaudiowhileplayingDVDmovie.

Actions:

•Checkthevolumecontrolsettingsonyourcomputerandonyourspeakers.

•Makesurethatthediscsurfaceiscleanandnotscratched.

•Checkallcableconnectionstoandfromthespeakers.

•UsetheDVDmenuforthevideotoselectadifferentaudiotrack.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87
andservice”onpage91.

forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,

Playbackisverysloworchoppy

Symptom:Playbackisverysloworchoppy.

Actions:

•Disableanybackgroundprograms,suchasAntiVirusorDesktopThemes.

•Ensurethatvideoresolutionissettolessthan1152x864.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91.

Invaliddiscornodiscfoundmessage

Symptom:Invaliddiscornodiscfoundmessage

Actions:

•EnsurethataDVDdiscisinthedrivewiththeshinysideofthediscfacingdown.

•Ensurethatvideoresolutionissettolessthan1152x864.

76ThinkCentreUserGuide

•OncomputersthathaveaCD-ROMorCD-RWdriveinadditiontoaDVD-ROMdrive,makesurethatthe
DVDdiscisinthedrivelabeled“DVD”.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91.

Intermittentproblems

Symptom:Aproblemoccursonlyoccasionallyandisdifculttorepeat.

Actions:

•Verifythatallcablesandcordsaresecurelyconnectedtothecomputerandattacheddevices.

•Verifythatwhenthecomputerison,thefangrillisnotblocked(thereisairowaroundthegrill),andthe
fansareworking.Ifairowisblockedorthefansarenotworking,thecomputermightoverheat.

•IfSCSIdevicesareinstalled,verifythatthelastexternaldeviceineachSCSIchainisterminatedcorrectly.
(SeeyourSCSIdocumentation.)

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91

.

Keyboard,mouse,orpointingdeviceproblems

Selectyoursymptomfromthefollowinglist:

•“Allorsomekeysonthekeyboarddonotwork”onpage77

•“Themouseorpointingdevicedoesnotwork”onpage78

•“Thepointeronthescreendoesnotmovesmoothlywiththemouse”onpage78

•“Thengerprintreaderdoesnotwork”onpage78

•“Thewirelesskeyboarddoesnotwork”onpage78

Allorsomekeysonthekeyboarddonotwork

Symptom:Allorsomekeysonthekeyboarddonotwork.

Actions:

•Verifythatthekeyboardcableissecurelyconnectedtothecorrectconnectoronthecomputer.

•IfyouareusinganEnhancedPerformanceUSBkeyboardandoneormoreoftheRapidAccessbuttons
aretheonlykeysthatarenotworking,thesebuttonsmighthavebeendisabledorhavenotbeenassigned
toafunction.UsethehelpsystemintheEnhancedPerformanceCustomizationKeyboardprogramto
helpdiagnoseproblemswiththeRapidAccessbuttons.

•OntheWindows7operatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.ClickStart➙ControlPanel.

2.ClickHardwareandSound.

3.ClickDevicesandPrinters.

4.Double-clickUSBEnhancedPerformanceKeyboard.TheUSBEnhancedPerformanceKeyboard
Customizationprogramstarts.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,havethecomputerandkeyboardserviced.SeeChapter11
“Gettinginformation,help,andservice”onpage91fordetails.

Chapter10.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics77

Themouseorpointingdevicedoesnotwork

Symptom:Themouseorpointingdevicedoesnotwork.

Actions:

•Verifythatthemouseorpointing-devicecableissecurelyattachedtothecorrectconnectoronthe
computer.Dependingonthetypeofmouseyouhave,themousecablewillconnecttoeitherthe
mouse,serial,orUSBconnector.SomekeyboardshaveintegratedUSBconnectorsthatcanbeused
foraUSBmouseorpointingdevice.

•Verifythatthedevicedriversforthemouseorpointingdeviceareinstalledcorrectly.

•IfyouareusingaUSBkeyboardormouse,verifythattheUSBconnectorsareenabledintheBIOS
settings.See“Enablingordisablingadevice”onpage61

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91.

.

Thepointeronthescreendoesnotmovesmoothlywiththemouse

Symptom:Thepointeronthescreendoesnotmovesmoothlywiththemouse.

Action:Erraticmovementofthemousepointerisgenerallycausedbyabuildupofdirt,oils,andother
contaminantsontheballinsidethemouse.Cleanthemouse.See“Opticalmouse”onpage69for
instructions.

Thengerprintreaderdoesnotwork

Symptom:Thengerprintreaderdoesnotwork.

Action:Thefollowingcouldcausethengerprintreadernottooperateproperly:

•Notenrollingyourngerprintcorrectly.

•Scratchingthesurfaceofthereaderwithahard,pointedobject.

•Scrapingthesurfaceofthereaderwithyournailoranythinghard.

•Usingortouchingthereaderwithadirtynger.

•Thesurfaceofyourngerisverydifferentfromwhenyouenrolledyourngerprint.

Thewirelesskeyboarddoesnotwork

Symptom:Thewirelesskeyboarddoesnotwork.

Action:IftheT ransceiverCommunicationsLEDisonandthewirelessKeyboarddoesnotwork,restartyour
computer.Ifrestartingyourcomputerdoesnotsolvetheproblem,verifythatthefollowingconditionsaremet:

•Thebatteriesareproperlyinstalled.

•Thebatteriesstillretaintheircurrent.

•ThewirelessKeyboardislocatedlessthantenmetersawayfromthetransceiver.

•Thetransceiverisfullyinstalled.

Action:IftheT ransceiverCommunicationsLEDisnoton,reconnectthetransceiverandthekeyboard.

Monitorproblems

Note:Manymonitorshavestatus-indicatorlightsandbuilt-incontrolsforadjustingbrightness,contrast,

width,height,andotherpictureadjustments.However,thecontrolsvaryfrommonitortypetomonitortype.

78ThinkCentreUserGuide

Forinformationaboutthestatuslightsandusingthecontrols,refertothedocumentationthatcomes
withyourmonitor.

Selectyoursymptomfromthefollowinglist:

•“Wrongcharactersappearonthescreen”onpage79

•“Themonitorworkswhenyouturnonthecomputer,butgoesblankaftersomeperiodofcomputer
inactivity”onpage79

•“Themonitorworkswhenyouturnonthecomputer,butgoesblankwhenyoustartsomeapplication
programs”onpage79

•“Theimageappearstobeickering”onpage79

•“Theimageisdiscolored”onpage80

Wrongcharactersappearonthescreen

Symptom:Wrongcharactersappearonthescreen.

Action:Havethecomputerserviced.Fordetails,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,andservice”
onpage91

.

Themonitorworkswhenyouturnonthecomputer,butgoesblankaftersomeperiod
ofcomputerinactivity

Symptom:Themonitorworkswhenyouturnonthecomputer,butgoesblankaftersomeperiodofcomputer
inactivity.

Action:Thecomputerisprobablysetforenergysavingswiththepower-managementfeature.Ifthe
power-managementfeatureisenabled,disablingitorchangingthesettingsmightsolvetheproblem.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91.

Themonitorworkswhenyouturnonthecomputer,butgoesblankwhenyoustart
someapplicationprograms

Symptom:Themonitorworkswhenyouturnonthecomputer,butgoesblankwhenyoustartsome
applicationprograms.

Actions:

•Makesurethemonitorsignalcableissecurelyconnectedtothemonitorandthemonitorconnectoron
thecomputer.Aloosecablecancauseintermittentproblems.

•Verifythatthenecessarydevicedriversfortheapplicationprogramsareinstalled.Refertothe
documentationfortheaffectedapplicationprogramtoseeifdevicedriversarerequired.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87
andservice”onpage91

forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,

.

Theimageappearstobeickering

Symptom:Theimageappearstobeickering.

Actions:

Chapter10.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics79

•Themonitormightbeoperatinginalow-refreshratedisplaymode.Setthemonitortothehighest,
noninterlacedrefreshratesupportedbyyourmonitorandthevideocontrollerinyourcomputer.

Attention:Usingaresolutionorrefreshratethatisnotsupportedbyyourmonitormightdamageit.Check
thedocumentationthatcomeswithyourmonitortoverifythesupportedrefreshrates.

•Themonitormightbeaffectedbyinterferencefromnearbyequipment.Magneticeldsaroundother
devices,suchastransformers,appliances,uorescentlights,andothermonitorsmightbecausingthe
problem.Moveuorescentdesklightingoranyequipmentthatproducesmagneticeldsfartheraway
fromthemonitor.Ifthisdoesnotcorrecttheproblem,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthemonitor.(Movingacolormonitorwhileitisturnedonmightcausescreendiscoloration.)

2.Adjusttheplacementofthemonitorandotherdevicessothattheyareatleast305mm(12inches)
apart.

3.T urnonthemonitor.

•YoucanresettherefreshratethroughyouroperatingsystemControlPanel.
OntheWindows7operatingsystem,clickStart➙ControlPanel➙HardwareandSound➙Adjust

screenresolution➙AdvancedSettings.ThenclicktheMonitortabandselectanewrefreshrate.

•Seeyouroperatingsystemdocumentationorhelpforfurtherinformationonmonitorsettings.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,yourmonitormightneedservice.SeeChapter11“Getting
information,help,andservice”onpage91fordetails.

Theimageisdiscolored

Symptom:Theimageisdiscolored.

Action:Themonitormightbeaffectedbyinterferencefromnearbyequipment.Magneticeldsaroundother
devices,suchastransformers,appliances,uorescentlights,andothermonitorsmightbecausingthe
problem.Moveuorescentdesklightingoranyequipmentthatproducesmagneticeldsfurtherawayfrom
themonitor.Ifthisdoesnotcorrecttheproblem,dothefollowing:

1.T urnoffthemonitor.(Movingacolormonitorwhileitisturnedonmightcausescreendiscoloration.)

2.Adjusttheplacementofthemonitorandotherdevicessothattheyareatleast305mm(12inches)apart.

3.T urnonthemonitor.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,yourmonitormightneedservice.SeeChapter11“Getting
information,help,andservice”onpage91fordetails.

Networkingproblems

Thefollowingarethemostcommonnetworkingproblems.Selectyournetworkingproblemfromthe
followinglist:

•“Ethernetproblems”onpage80

•“AwirelessLANproblem”onpage82

•“AwirelessWANproblem”onpage82

•“Bluetoothproblems”onpage82

Formoreinformation,see“HelpandSupport”onpage91.

Ethernetproblems

ForEthernetproblems,selectyoursymptomfromthefollowinglist:

•“Yourcomputercannotconnecttothenetwork”onpage81

80ThinkCentreUserGuide

•“Theadapterstopsworkingfornoapparentreason”onpage81

•“IfyourcomputerisaGigabitEthernetmodelandyouuseaspeedof1000Mbps,theconnectionfails
orerrorsoccur”onpage82

•“IfyourcomputerisaGigabitEthernetmodel,itcannotconnecttothenetworkat1000Mbps.Instead,
itconnectsat100Mbps”onpage82

Yourcomputercannotconnecttothenetwork

Symptom:Y ourcomputercannotconnecttothenetwork.

Actions:Makesurethat:

•Thecableisinstalledproperly.
ThenetworkcablemustbesecurelyconnectedtoboththeEthernetconnectorofyourcomputerand

theRJ45connectorofthehub.Themaximumallowabledistancefromthecomputertohubis100
meters.Ifthecableisconnectedandthedistanceiswithinacceptablelimitsbuttheproblempersists,try
adifferentcable.

•Thecableisinstalledproperly.

•Youareusingthecorrectdevicedriver.
OntheWindows7operatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.ClickStart➙ControlPanel.

2.ClickHardwareandSound.

3.ClickDeviceManager.Ifyouarepromptedforanadministratorpasswordorconrmation,typethe
passwordorprovideconrmation.

4.IfanexclamationmarkisdisplayednexttoanadapternameunderNetworkadapters,youmightnot
usethecorrectdriverorthedriverisnotenabled.T oupdatethedriver,right-clickthehighlighted
adapter.

5.ClickUpdateDriverSoftware,andthenfollowtheinstructionsonthescreen.

•Theswitchportandtheadapterhavethesameduplexsetting.
Ifyouconguredtheadapterforfullduplex,makesuretheswitchportisalsoconguredforfullduplex.

Settingthewrongduplexmodecandegradeperformance,causedataloss,orresultinlostconnections.

•Youhaveinstalledallnetworkingsoftwarethatisnecessaryforyournetworkenvironment.
CheckwithyourLANadministratorforthenecessarynetworkingsoftware.

Theadapterstopsworkingfornoapparentreason

Symptom:Theadapterstopsworkingfornoapparentreason.

Action:Thenetworkdriverlesmaybecorruptormissing.Updatethedriverbyreferringtothe“Solution”
descriptionfortheproceduretomakesurethatthecorrectdevicedriverisinstalled.

TheWakeonLANfeatureisnotworking

Symptom:TheWakeonLAN(WOL)featureisnotworking.

Actions:

•MakesurethatWOLisenabledintheBIOSSetupUtilityprogram.

•Ifitis,checkwithyourLANadministratorforthenecessarysettings.

Chapter10.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics81

IfyourcomputerisaGigabitEthernetmodelandyouuseaspeedof1000Mbps,theconnection
failsorerrorsoccur

Symptom:IfyourcomputerisaGigabitEthernetmodelandyouuseaspeedof1000Mbps,theconnection
failsorerrorsoccur.

Actions:

•UseCategory5wiringandmakesurethatthenetworkcableissecurelyconnected.

•Connecttoa1000BASE-Thub/switch(not1000BASE-X).

IfyourcomputerisaGigabitEthernetmodel,itcannotconnecttothenetworkat1000Mbps.Instead,
itconnectsat100Mbps

Symptom:IfyourcomputerisaGigabitEthernetmodel,itcannotconnecttothenetworkat1000Mbps.
Instead,itconnectsat100Mbps.

Actions:

•Tryanothercable.

•Makesurethatthelinkpartnerissettoauto-negotiate.

•Makesurethattheswitchis802.3ab-compliant(gigabitovercopper).

AwirelessLANproblem

Symptom:Youcannotconnectusingthebuilt-inwirelessnetworkingcard.

Actions:

•MakesurethatyourwirelessLANdriveristhelatestversion.ChecktheWebsiteandverifythedriver
versionsupportedbyAccessConnectionsisthelatestdocumentedinthereadmele.

•Makesurethatyourcomputeriswithinrangeofawirelessaccesspoint.

•Makesurethatthewirelessradioisenabledbydouble-clickingtheAccessConnectionsiconinthe
Windowsnoticationarea.

Note:OntheWindows7operatingsystem,clickShowhiddeniconsintheWindowsnotication
area.TheAccessConnectionsiconisdisplayed.Formoreinformationabouttheicon,seetheHelpin
AccessConnections.

•CheckNetworkName(SSID),andyourencryptioninformation.UseAccessConnectionstoverifythis
case-sensitiveinformation.

AwirelessWANproblem

Message:UnauthorizedWANcardispluggedin-PoweroffandremovetheWANcard.

Action:TheWANcardisnotsupportedonthiscomputer.Removeit.

Note:SomecomputermodelsdonothaveawirelessWAN.

Bluetoothproblems

ForBluetoothproblems,selectyoursymptomfromthefollowinglist:

•“SounddoesnotcomefromtheBluetoothheadphone”onpage83

•“PIMitemssentfromtheWindows7operatingsystemcannotbereceivedcorrectly”onpage83

82ThinkCentreUserGuide

SounddoesnotcomefromtheBluetoothheadphone

Symptom:SounddoesnotcomefromtheBluetoothheadset/headphonebutcomesfromthelocalspeaker
eventhoughtheheadset/headphoneisconnectedusingHeadsetproleorAVprole.

Action:Dothefollowing:

1.Exittheapplicationthatusesthesounddevice(forexample,WindowsMediaPlayer).

2.OpentheControlPanelbyclickingStart➙ControlPanel.

3.ClickHardwareandSound➙Sound.

4.SelectthePlaybacktab.

5.IfyouareusingHeadsetprole,selectBluetoothHands-freeAudioandclicktheSetDefaultbutton.If
youareusingAVprole,selectStereoAudioandclicktheSetDefaultbutton.

6.ClickOKtoclosetheSoundwindow.

PIMitemssentfromtheWindows7operatingsystemcannotbereceivedcorrectly

Symptom:PersonalInformationManager(PIM)itemssentfromtheWindows7operatingsystemcannotbe
receivedcorrectlyintotheaddressbookofanyotherBluetooth-enableddevice.

Action:TheWindows7operatingsystemsendsPIMitemsinXMLformat,butmostBluetooth-enabled
deviceshandlePIMitemsinvCardformat.IfanotherBluetooth-enableddevicecanreceivealethrough
Bluetooth,aPIMitemsentfromtheWindows7operatingsystemmightbesavedasalewiththeextension
.contact.

Optionproblems

UsethisinformationtodiagnoseproblemswithLenovohardwareoptionsthatdonothavetheirown
troubleshootinginformation.

Selectyoursymptomfromthefollowinglist:

•“Anoptionthatwasjustinstalleddoesnotwork”onpage83

•“Anoptionthatpreviouslyworkeddoesnotworknow”onpage83

Anoptionthatwasjustinstalleddoesnotwork

Symptom:Anoptionthatwasjustinstalleddoesnotwork.

Action:Verifythat:

•Theoptionisdesignedforyourcomputer.

•Youfollowedtheinstallationinstructionssuppliedwiththeoptionandtheinstallationinstructionsprovided
withyourcomputer,andalloptionles(suchasdevicedrivers,ifrequired)areinstalledcorrectly.

•Youhavenotloosenedotherinstalledoptionsorcables.

•Iftheoptionisanadapter,youhaveprovidedenoughhardwareresourcesfortheadaptertofunction
correctly.Seethedocumentationsuppliedwiththeadapter(aswellasthedocumentationforanyother
installedadapters)todeterminetheresourcesrequiredforeachadapter.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87
andservice”onpage91

forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,

.

Anoptionthatpreviouslyworkeddoesnotworknow

Symptom:Anoptionthatpreviouslyworkeddoesnotworknow.

Chapter10.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics83

Actions:

•Verifythatalloptionhardwareandcableconnectionsaresecure.

•Iftheoptioncomeswithitsowntestinstructions,usethoseinstructionstotesttheoption.

•IfthefailingoptionisaSCSIoption,verifythat:

–ThecablesforallexternalSCSIoptionsareconnectedcorrectly.
–ThelastoptionineachSCSIchain,ortheendoftheSCSIcable,isterminatedcorrectly.
–AllexternalSCSIoptionsareturnedon.ExternalSCSIoptionsmustbeturnedonbeforethecomputer

isturnedon.Formoreinformation,seeyourSCSIdocumentation.

•Verifythattheoptionandanyrequireddevicedriversareinstalledcorrectly.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87
andservice”onpage91.

forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,

Performanceandlockupproblems

Poorperformanceandlockupproblemscanbearesultofanyofthefollowing:

•“Insufcientfreeharddiskdrivespace”onpage84

•“Excessivenumberoffragmentedles”onpage85

•“Insufcientmemory”onpage85

Makeaselectionfromtheabovelisttondoutmoreaboutthecorrectiveactionsyoucantake.

Insufcientfreeharddiskdrivespace

Symptom:Insufcientfreeharddiskdrivespace

TheWindowsoperatingsystemwillslowdownandmightproduceerrorsiftheharddiskdrivegetstoofull.

TochecktheamountoffreespaceontheWindows7operatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.ClickStart➙Computer.

2.Right-clickyourCdriveentryandthenclickProperties.Theamountoffreediskspaceisdisplayed.

Actionstofreeupdiskspace:

•

1.ClickStart➙Computer.

2.Right-clickyourCdriveentryandthenclickProperties.

3.ClickDiskCleanup.

4.Alistofunnecessarylecategoriesisdisplayed.Selecteachlecategoryyouwanttodelete,
andthenclickOK.

•

1.ClickStart➙ControlPanel.

2.ClickPrograms.

3.ClickTurnWindowsfeaturesonoroff.

4.AlistofoptionalWindowscomponentsisdisplayed.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

•

1.ClickStart➙Computer.

84ThinkCentreUserGuide

2.Right-clickyourCdriveentryandthenclickProperties.

3.ClickDiskCleanup.

4.ClickCleanupsystemles.

5.ClicktheMoreOptionstab.

6.IntheProgramsandFeaturesarea,clicktheCleanupbutton.

7.Alistofinstalledapplicationsisdisplayed.Selecttheapplicationyouwanttoremove.Click
Uninstall/Change.

•CleanoutyourInbox,SentItems,andDeletedItemsfoldersfromyoure-mailapplication.Thefolder
namesandproceduresvarydependingonyoure-mailapplication.Ifyouneedassistance,seethe
helpsystemforyoure-mailapplication.

Excessivenumberoffragmentedles

Symptom:Excessivenumberoffragmentedles

Action:RuntheWindowsDiskDefragmenterprogram.

Note:Dependingonthesizeoftheharddiskdriveandamountofdatacurrentlystoredontheharddisk
drive,thediskdefragmentationprocessmighttakeuptoseveralhourstocomplete.

OntheWindows7operatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.Closeanyprogramsthatarecurrentlyrunningandcloseanyopenwindows.

2.ClickStart➙Computer.

3.Right-clickyourCdriveentryandthenclickProperties.

4.ClicktheT oolstab.

5.ClickDefragmentNow,thenclickContinue.

6.ClickDefragmentNowagaintostartadisk-defragmentationprocess.

Insufcientmemory

Symptom:Insufcientmemory

Ingeneral,themorememorythatisinstalled,thebettertheWindowsoperatingsystemruns.

Action:Installadditionalmemory.Forinformationaboutpurchasingmemory,seeChapter11“Getting
information,help,andservice”onpage91.Forstep-by-stepinstructionsoninstallingmemory,see
“Installingorreplacingamemorymodule”onpage34.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91.

Printerproblems

Symptom:Theprinterdoesnotwork.

Actions:Verifythat:

1.Theprinteristurnedonandisonline.

2.Paperisloadedcorrectly.

3.Theprintersignalcableissecurelyconnectedtothecorrectparallel,serial,orUSBconnectoronthe
computer.

Chapter10.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics85

Note:Non-IEEE-approvedprintersignalcablesmightcauseunpredictableproblems.

1.Anydevicedriversandothersoftwarethatcamewiththeprinterarecorrectlyinstalled.

2.Y ouhaveassignedtheprinterportcorrectlyinyouroperatingsystem,applicationprogram,orBIOS
settings.FormoreinformationaboutBIOSsettings,seeChapter7“UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram”
onpage59.

Iftheproblempersists,runthetestsdescribedinthedocumentationthatcomeswithyourprinter.Ifyou
cannotcorrecttheproblem,havethecomputerserviced.SeeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,and
service”onpage91

.

Serialportproblems

Usethisinformationtotroubleshoottheserialportanddevicesattachedtotheserialport.

Symptom:Serialportcannotbeaccessed.

Actions:

•Makesuretheserialcableissecurelyconnectedtotheserialportonthecomputerandtotheserialdevice.
Iftheserialdevicehasitsownpowercord,makesureitisattachedtoaproperlygroundedelectricaloutlet.

•IftheserialdevicehasitsownOn/Offswitch,makesureitisintheOnposition.

•IftheserialdevicehasanOnlineswitch,makesureitisintheOnlineposition.

•Iftheserialdeviceisaprinter,makesurepaperisloadedcorrectly.

•Verifythatanysoftwaresuppliedwiththeserialdeviceiscorrectlyinstalled.Refertothedocumentation
fortheserial-deviceoption.

•Makesurethattheserial-portadapter,ifyouaddedone,isproperlyinstalledandrmlyseated.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprograms(see“Diagnosticprograms”on
page87forinstructions).Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage91.

Softwareproblems

Selectyoursymptomfromthefollowinglist:

•“Whenusingasortfeature,datesdonotsortinthecorrectorder”onpage86

•“Softwaredoesnotworkasexpected”onpage86

Whenusingasortfeature,datesdonotsortinthecorrectorder

Symptom:Whenusingasortfeature,datesdonotsortinthecorrectorder.

Action:Somesoftwaredevelopedbeforetheyear2000usedonlythelasttwodigitsofayeartosort
dates,alwaysassumingthersttwodigitswere19.Consequently,theseprogramssortdatesoutoforder.
Checkwithyoursoftwaremanufacturertoseeifanyupdatesareavailable.Manysoftwaremanufacturers
makeupdatesavailablefromtheWorldWideWeb.

Softwaredoesnotworkasexpected

Symptom:Softwaredoesnotworkasexpected.

Actions:

•Mostsoftwareprogramshavebuilt-inhelpsystemsthatprovideinstructionsformosttasks.Ifyouare
havingdifcultyperformingaspecictaskwithinasoftwareprogram,refertothehelpsystemforthat

86ThinkCentreUserGuide

program.Helpsystemsaretypicallyaccessiblefromamenuorbuttonintheprogram,andfrequently
fromtheF1key.

•IfyouarehavingdifcultywiththeWindowsoperatingsystemoroneofitscomponents,refertothe
Windowshelpsystem.ItisaccessiblefromtheWindowsStartmenu.

•Todetermineifproblemsarecausedbynewlyinstalledsoftware,verifythat:

–Yourcomputerhastheminimummemoryrequirementsneededtousethesoftware.Seethe

informationsuppliedwiththesoftwaretoverifymemoryrequirements.(Ifyoujustinstalledanadapter

ormemory,youmighthaveamemory-addressconict.)
–Thesoftwareisdesignedtooperateonyourcomputer.
–Othersoftwareworksonyourcomputer.
–Thesoftwareyouareusingworkscorrectlyonanothercomputer.

•Ifyoureceivedanyerrormessageswhileusingthesoftwareprogram,seetheprinteddocumentation
suppliedwiththesoftwareorthehelpsystemforthatsoftwareforadescriptionofthemessagesand
solutionstotheproblem.

•Checkwithyoursoftwaremanufacturertoseeifanyupdatesareavailable.Manysoftwaremanufacturers
makeupdatesavailablefromtheWorldWideWeb.

•Ifthesoftwareprogramusedtoworkcorrectly,butdoesnotworkcorrectlynow,clickStart➙Control
Panel➙SystemandSecurity➙System➙SystemProtection➙SystemRestore.

•Ifyouareunabletoresolvetheproblemthroughothermethods,uninstallthesoftwareprogramand
reinstallit.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,youmightneedtechnicalassistance.Contactyoursoftware
manufacturerorseeChapter11“Gettinginformation,help,andservice”onpage91

fordetails.

USBproblems

Symptom:TheUSBconnectorscannotbeaccessed.

Actions:

•MakesuretheUSBcableissecurelyconnectedtotheUSBconnectorandtotheUSBdevice.IftheUSB
devicehasitsownpowercord,makesureitisattachedtoaproperlygroundedelectricaloutlet.

•IftheUSBdevicehasitsownOn/Offswitch,makesureitisintheOnposition.

•IftheUSBdevicehasanOnlineswitch,makesureitisintheOnlineposition.

•IftheUSBdeviceisaprinter,makesurepaperisloadedcorrectly.

•MakesureanydevicedriversorothersoftwaresuppliedwiththeUSBdeviceiscorrectlyinstalled.
RefertothedocumentationfortheUSBdevice.

•ResetthedevicebydetachingandreattachingtheUSBconnector.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprogramstotesttheUSBconnector(see
“Diagnosticprograms”onpage87
thosediagnosticsagainsttheUSBdevice.Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter11“Getting
information,help,andservice”onpage91

forinstructions).IftheUSBdevicecamewithitsowndiagnostics,run

.

Diagnosticprograms

Diagnosticprogramsareusedtotesthardwarecomponentsofyourcomputer.Diagnosticprogramscan
alsoreportoperating-system-controlledsettingsthatinterferewiththecorrectoperationofyourcomputer.
Youcanusethepreinstalleddiagnosticprogramtodiagnosecomputerproblems,ifyourcomputeris
runningtheWindowsoperatingsystem.

Chapter10.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics87

Notes:

1.Dependingonthedatewhenyourcomputerwasmanufactured,yourcomputerispreinstalledwith
eithertheLenovoSolutionCenterprogramortheLenovoThinkVantageToolboxprogramfordiagnostic
purposes.FormoreinformationabouttheLenovoThinkVantageToolboxprogram,see“Lenovo
ThinkVantageToolbox”onpage88.FormoreinformationabouttheLenovoSolutionCenterprogram,
see“LenovoSolutionCenter”onpage88

2.Y oucanalsodownloadthePC-DoctorforDOSdiagnosticprogramfromhttp://www.lenovo.com/support.
See“PC-DoctorforDOS”onpage88fordetailedinformation.

3.Ifyouareunabletoisolateandrepairtheproblemyourselfafterrunningtheprograms,saveandprint
theloglescreatedbytheprograms.YouwillneedthelogleswhenyouspeaktoaLenovotechnical
supportrepresentative.

.

LenovoSolutionCenter

TheLenovoSolutionCenterprogramenablesyoutotroubleshootandresolvecomputerproblems.It
combinesdiagnostictests,systeminformationcollection,securitystatus,andsupportinformation,along
withhintsandtipsformaximumsystemperformance.

Notes:

•TheLenovoSolutionCenterprogramisavailableonlyonmodelspreinstalledwiththeWindows7
operatingsystem.IfyourWindows7modelisnotpreinstalledwiththeprogram,youcandownloadit
fromhttp://www.lenovo.com/diagnose.

•IfyouareusingtheWindowsVistaorWindowsXPoperatingsystem,goto
http://www.lenovo.com/diagnoseforthelatestinformationondiagnosticsforyour
computer.

ToruntheLenovoSolutionCenterprogramontheWindows7operatingsystem,clickStart➙AllPrograms
➙LenovoThinkVantageTools➙SystemHealthandDiagnostics.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

Foradditionalinformation,refertotheLenovoSolutionCenterhelpsystem.

Note:Ifyouareunabletoisolateandrepairtheproblemyourselfafterrunningtheprogram,saveandprint
theloglescreatedbytheprogram.YouwillneedthelogleswhenyouspeaktoaLenovotechnical
supportrepresentative.

LenovoThinkVantageT oolbox

TheLenovoThinkVantageToolboxprogramhelpsyoumaintainyourcomputer,improvecomputingsecurity,
diagnosecomputerproblems,getfamiliarwiththeinnovativetechnologiesprovidedbyLenovo,andget
moreinformationaboutyourcomputer.YoucanusethediagnosticsfeatureoftheLenovoThinkVantage
Toolboxprogramtotestdevices,diagnosecomputerproblems,createbootablediagnosticmedia,update
systemdrivers,andviewsysteminformation.

ToruntheLenovoThinkVantageT oolboxprogramontheWindows7operatingsystem,clickStart➙All
Programs➙LenovoThinkVantageTools➙SystemHealthandDiagnostics.Followtheinstructionson
thescreen.

Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.Foradditionalinformation,refertotheLenovoThinkVantageToolbox
helpsystem.

PC-DoctorforDOS

YoucanalsodownloadthelatestversionofthePC-DoctorforDOSdiagnosticprogramfrom
http://www.lenovo.com/support.ThePC-DoctorforDOSdiagnosticprogramrunsindependentlyofthe

88ThinkCentreUserGuide