Lenovo ThinkStation P900 User Guide [en, sh, uk, zh]

ThinkStationP900
UserGuide

MachineTypes:30A4and30A5

Note:Beforeusingthisinformationandtheproductitsupports,besuretoreadandunderstandthe“Read

thisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation”onpagev

andAppendixE“Notices”onpage161.

FourthEdition(August2016)

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016.

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

Contents

Readthisfirst:Importantsafety

information...............v

Beforeusingthismanual............v

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

Staticelectricityprevention...........vi

Powercordsandpoweradapters........vi

Extensioncordsandrelateddevices......vii

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

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

Heatandproductventilation.........vii

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

Lasercompliancestatement.........viii

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

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

Chapter1.Productoverview......1

Locations..................1

Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicators

onthefrontofyourcomputer........2

Locatingconnectorsontherearofyour

computer................3

Locatingcomponents...........4

Locatingpartsonthesystemboard.....5

Locatinginternaldrives..........7

Locatingthemachinetypeandmodellabel..9

Features..................9

Specifications...............13

Lenovoprograms.............13

Accessingaprogramonyourcomputer...13

AnintroductiontoLenovoprograms....14

Chapter2.Usingyourcomputer...17

Registeringyourcomputer..........17

UsingWindowsshortcutkeys.........17

Usingthewheelmouse...........18

Managingpower..............18

Advancedconfigurationandpowerinterface

(ACPI)BIOS..............18

AutomaticPower-onfeatures.......18

Settingthecomputervolume.........19

Usingadisc................19

Usingtheopticaldrive..........19

Handlingandstoringadisc........19

Playingandremovingadisc.......20

Recordingadisc............20

NavigatingamongscreensontheWindows8.1

operatingsystem..............20

AccessingControlPanelontheWindows8.1

operatingsystem..............22

Frequentlyaskedquestions.........22

Chapter3.Y ouandyourcomputer..25

Accessibilityandcomfort..........25

Arrangingyourworkspace........25

Comfort...............25

Glareandlighting............26

Aircirculation.............26

Electricaloutletsandcablelengths.....26

Accessibilityinformation.........26

Movingyourcomputertoanothercountryor

region..................29

Chapter4.Security..........31

Securityfeatures..............31

Lockingthecomputercover.........31

AttachingaKensington-stylecablelock.....33

UsingpasswordsandWindowsaccounts....33

Usingfingerprintauthentication........34

Usingandunderstandingfirewalls.......34

Protectingdataagainstviruses........34

Chapter5.Advancedconfiguration..35

UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram........35

StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram.....35

Viewingandchangingsettings......35

UsingBIOSpasswords.........36

Enablingordisablingadevice.......37

Selectingastartupdevice........38

EnablingErPLPScompliancemode....38

ExitingtheSetupUtilityprogram......39

UpdatingorrecoveringtheBIOS.......39

BIOSlevels..............39

Usingsystemprograms.........40

ChangingtheBIOSsettingsbeforeinstallinga

newoperatingsystem..........40

UpdatingtheBIOS...........40

RecoveringfromaBIOSupdatefailure...41

ConfiguringRAID..............41

ConfiguringRAIDwithIntelRSTe......41

QuickRAIDsetupusingtheLSIMegaRAID

BIOSconfigurationutility........44

Chapter6.Preventingproblems...47

Keepingyourcomputercurrent........47

Gettingthelatestsystemupdates.....47

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

i

Cleaningandmaintenance..........47

Basics................47

Cleaningyourcomputer.........48

Goodmaintenancepractices.......49

Movingyourcomputer...........49

Chapter7.T roubleshootingand

diagnostics..............51

Basictroubleshooting............51

Troubleshootingprocedure..........52

Troubleshooting..............52

Audioproblems............53

CDproblems.............53

DVDproblems.............54

Intermittentproblems..........55

Harddiskdriveproblems.........55

Problemswiththekeyboardormouse...56

Monitorproblems............56

Networkingproblems..........57

Ihaveconnectedanoptiontomycomputer,

butitdoesnotwork...........59

Performanceandlockupproblems.....59

Theprinterdoesnotwork........60

Serialconnectorcannotbeaccessed....60

Softwareproblems...........61

MyUSBconnectorscannotbeaccessed..61

Diagnostics................62

LenovoSolutionCenter.........62

Hardwarediagnostics..........62

Chapter8.Recoveryinformation...65

RecoveryinformationfortheWindows7operating

system..................65

Creatingandusingrecoverymedia.....65

Performingbackupandrecoveryoperations.66

Creatingandusingarescuemedium....68

Reinstallingprogramsanddevicedrivers..68

Solvingrecoveryproblems........70

RecoveryinformationfortheWindows8.1

operatingsystem..............70

Refreshingyourcomputer........70

Resettingyourcomputertothefactory-default

settings................70

Usingtheadvancedstartupoptions....71

RecoveringyouroperatingsystemifWindows

8.1failstostart.............71

RecoveryinformationfortheWindows10operating

system..................71

Installingorreplacinghardware........73

Installingexternaloptions........73

Removingthecomputercover.......73

Installingorreplacinganinternalstorage

drive.................74

Replacingthecoverpresenceswitch(intrusion

switch)................88

Removingandreinstallingthedirectcooling

airbaffle...............90

Removingandinstallingadeviceinanoptical

drivebay...............92

Installingorreplacingadeviceinthe5.25-inch

flexmodule..............94

Removingandreinstallingthemulti-function

brackets...............101

Replacingthefrontfanassemblies.....103

Replacingthepowersupplyassembly...105

Replacingthebattery..........107

Installingorreplacingaflexadapter....108

InstallingorreplacingaPCIcard......111

Installingorreplacingafull-lengthPCIExpress

card.................119

Installingorreplacingthesupercapacitor

module................124

Installingorreplacingamemorymodule...127
Replacingtheheatsinkandfanassemblies..129

Replacingtherearfanassembly......131

ReplacingtheWi-Fiunits.........132

InstallingorremovingtheWi-Fiantenna...138

Replacingthekeyboardormouse.....139

Completingthepartsreplacement.....140

Chapter10.Gettinginformation,help,

andservice.............143

Informationresources............143

LenovoThinkVantageTools........143

Windowshelpsystem..........143

SafetyandWarranty...........143

LenovoWebsite............143

LenovoSupportWebsite.........144

Helpandservice..............144

Usingthedocumentationanddiagnostic

program...............144

Callingforservice............144

Usingotherservices..........145

Purchasingadditionalservices......145

Chapter11.Systemmemory

speed................147

Chapter9.Installingorreplacing

hardware...............73

Handlingstatic-sensitivedevices.......73

iiThinkStationP900UserGuide

AppendixA.Regulatory

information.............149

Exportclassificationnotice..........149

Electronicemissionsnotices.........149

FederalCommunicationsCommission

DeclarationofConformity........149

Eurasiancompliancemark..........151

Brazilaudionotice.............151

Mexicowireless-radiocomplianceinformation..151

Additionalregulatoryinformation.......151

AppendixB.WEEEandrecycling

information.............153

ImportantWEEEinformation.........153

RecyclinginformationforJapan........153

RecyclinginformationforBrazil........154

BatteryrecyclinginformationforTaiwan.....154

BatteryrecyclinginformationfortheEuropean

Union..................155

AppendixC.RestrictionofHazardous

SubstancesDirective(RoHS)....157

EuropeanUnionRoHS...........157

ChinaRoHS................157

TurkishRoHS...............157

UkraineRoHS...............158

IndiaRoHS................158

TaiwanRoHS...............158

AppendixD.ENERGYSTARmodel

information.............159

AppendixE.Notices.........161

Trademarks................162

Index.................163

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

iii

ivThinkStationP900UserGuide

Readthisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation

Thischaptercontainsthesafetyinformationthatyoumustbefamiliarwith.

Beforeusingthismanual

CAUTION:
Beforeusingthismanual,besuretoreadandunderstandalltherelatedsafetyinformationforthis
product.RefertotheinformationinthissectionandthesafetyinformationintheSafety,Warranty,and
SetupGuidethatyoureceivedwiththisproduct.Readingandunderstandingthissafetyinformation
reducestheriskofpersonalinjuryanddamagetoyourproduct.

IfyounolongerhaveacopyoftheSafety,Warranty,andSetupGuide,youcanobtainaPortableDocument
Format(PDF)versionfromtheLenovo
SupportWebsitealsoprovidestheSafety,Warranty,andSetupGuideandthisUserGuideinadditional
languages.

®

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

Serviceandupgrades

DonotattempttoserviceaproductyourselfunlessinstructedtodosobytheCustomerSupportCenteror
yourdocumentation.OnlyuseaServiceProviderwhoisapprovedtorepairyourparticularproduct.

Note:Somecomputerpartscanbeupgradedorreplacedbythecustomer.Upgradestypicallyare
referredtoasoptions.ReplacementpartsapprovedforcustomerinstallationarereferredtoasCustomer
ReplaceableUnits,orCRUs.Lenovoprovidesdocumentationwithinstructionswhenitisappropriatefor
customerstoinstalloptionsorreplaceCRUs.Youmustcloselyfollowallinstructionswheninstallingor
replacingparts.TheOffstateofapowerindicatordoesnotnecessarilymeanthatvoltagelevelsinsidea
productarezero.Beforeyouremovethecoversfromaproductequippedwithapowercord,alwaysensure
thatthepoweristurnedoffandthattheproductisunpluggedfromanypowersource.Formoreinformation
onCRUs,refertoChapter9“Installingorreplacinghardware”onpage73
concerns,contacttheCustomerSupportCenter.

Althoughtherearenomovingpartsinyourcomputerafterthepowercordhasbeendisconnected,the
followingwarningsarerequiredforyoursafety.

CAUTION:

.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsor

Hazardousmovingparts.Keepfingersandotherbodypartsaway.

CAUTION:

Beforeyouopenthecomputercover,turnoffthecomputerandwaitseveralminutesuntilthe
computeriscool.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

v

Staticelectricityprevention

Staticelectricity,althoughharmlesstoyou,canseriouslydamagecomputercomponentsandoptions.
Improperhandlingofstatic-sensitivepartscancausedamagetothepart.Whenyouunpackanoption
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.Donotusetheac
powercordforotherdevices.

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

Neverwrapapowercordaroundapoweradapterorotherobject.Doingsocanstressthecordinwaysthat
cancausethecordtofray,crack,orcrimp.Thiscanpresentasafetyhazard.

Alwaysroutepowercordssothattheywillnotbewalkedon,trippedover,orpinchedbyobjects.

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

Ensurethatallpowercordconnectorsaresecurelyandcompletelypluggedintoreceptacles.

Donotuseanypoweradapterthatshowscorrosionattheacinputpinsorshowssignsofoverheating(such
asdeformedplastic)attheacinputoranywhereonthepoweradapter.

Donotuseanypowercordswheretheelectricalcontactsoneitherendshowsignsofcorrosionor
overheatingorwherethepowercordappearstohavebeendamagedinanyway.

2

,orbetter.For

viThinkStationP900UserGuide

Extensioncordsandrelateddevices

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

Plugsandoutlets

Ifareceptacle(poweroutlet)thatyouintendtousewithyourcomputerequipmentappearstobedamaged
orcorroded,donotusetheoutletuntilitisreplacedbyaqualifiedelectrician.

Donotbendormodifytheplug.Iftheplugisdamaged,contactthemanufacturertoobtainareplacement.

Donotshareanelectricaloutletwithotherhomeorcommercialappliancesthatdrawlargeamountsof
electricity;otherwise,unstablevoltagemightdamageyourcomputer,data,orattacheddevices.

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

Besurethatthepoweroutletyouareusingisproperlywired,easilyaccessible,andlocatedclosetothe
equipment.Donotfullyextendpowercordsinawaythatwillstressthecords.

Besurethatthepoweroutletprovidesthecorrectvoltageandcurrentfortheproductyouareinstalling.

Carefullyconnectanddisconnecttheequipmentfromtheelectricaloutlet.

Externaldevices

DonotconnectordisconnectanyexternaldevicecablesotherthanUniversalSerialBus(USB)cableswhile
thecomputerpowerison;otherwise,youmightdamageyourcomputer.T oavoidpossibledamageto
attacheddevices,waitatleastfivesecondsafterthecomputerisshutdowntodisconnectexternaldevices.

Heatandproductventilation

Computers,poweradapters,andmanyaccessoriescangenerateheatwhenturnedonandwhenbatteries
arecharging.Alwaysfollowthesebasicprecautions:

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

•Donotchargethebatteryoroperateyourcomputer,poweradapter,oraccessoriesnearflammable
materialsorinexplosiveenvironments.

•Ventilationslots,fans,andheatsinksareprovidedwiththeproductforsafety,comfort,andreliable
operation.Thesefeaturesmightinadvertentlybecomeblockedbyplacingtheproductonabed,sofa,
carpet,orotherflexiblesurface.Neverblock,cover,ordisablethesefeatures.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

vii

Inspectyourdesktopcomputerfordustaccumulationatleastonceeverythreemonths.Beforeinspecting
yourcomputer,turnoffthepowerandunplugthecomputer'spowercordfromtheelectricaloutlet;then
removeanydustfromventsandperforationsinthebezel.Ifyounoticeexternaldustaccumulation,then
examineandremovedustfromtheinsideofthecomputerincludingheatsinkinletfins,powersupplyvents,
andfans.Alwaysturnoffandunplugthecomputerbeforeopeningthecover.Ifpossible,avoidoperating
yourcomputerwithintwofeetofhigh-trafficareas.Ifyoumustoperateyourcomputerinornearahigh-traffic
area,inspectand,ifnecessary,cleanyourcomputermorefrequently.

Foryoursafetyandtomaintainoptimumcomputerperformance,alwaysfollowthesebasicprecautions
withyourdesktopcomputer:

•Keepthecoverclosedwheneverthecomputerispluggedin.

•Regularlyinspecttheoutsideofthecomputerfordustaccumulation.

•Removedustfromventsandanyperforationsinthebezel.Morefrequentcleaningsmightberequiredfor
computersindustyorhigh-trafficareas.

•Donotrestrictorblockanyventilationopenings.

•Donotstoreoroperateyourcomputerinsidefurniture,asthismightincreasetheriskofoverheating.

•Airflowtemperaturesintothecomputershouldnotexceed35°C(95°F).

•Donotinstallairfiltrationdevices.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
microwaveovenawayfromyourcomputerbecausethestrongmagneticfieldsgeneratedbythese
appliancescandamagethemonitoranddataontheharddiskdrive.

Donotplaceanybeveragesontopoforbesidethecomputerorotherattacheddevices.Ifliquidisspilledon
orinthecomputeroranattacheddevice,ashortcircuitorotherdamagemightoccur.

Donoteatorsmokeoveryourkeyboard.Particlesthatfallintoyourkeyboardcancausedamage.

Lasercompliancestatement

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

•Donotremovethecovers.Removingthecoversofthelaserproductcouldresultinexposureto
hazardouslaserradiation.Therearenoserviceablepartsinsidethedevice.

•Useofcontrolsoradjustmentsorperformanceofproceduresotherthanthosespecifiedherein
mightresultinhazardousradiationexposure.

viiiThinkStationP900UserGuide

DANGER

SomelaserproductscontainanembeddedClass3AorClass3Blaserdiode.Notethefollowing:

Laserradiationwhenopen.Donotstareintothebeam,donotviewdirectlywithoptical
instruments,andavoiddirectexposuretothebeam.

Powersupplystatement

Neverremovethecoveronapowersupplyoranypartthathasthefollowinglabelattached.

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

Cleaningandmaintenance

Keepyourcomputerandworkspaceclean.Shutdownthecomputerandthendisconnectthepower
cordbeforecleaningthecomputer.Donotsprayanyliquiddetergentdirectlyonthecomputeroruse
anydetergentcontainingflammablematerialtocleanthecomputer.Spraythedetergentonasoftcloth
andthenwipethecomputersurfaces.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

ix

xThinkStationP900UserGuide

Chapter1.Productoverview

Thischapterprovidesthefollowinginformation:

•Locationsofconnectors

•Locationsofcomponents

•Locationsofpartsonthesystemboard

•Locationsofinternaldrives

•Computerfeatures

•SoftwareprogramsprovidedbyLenovo

Locations

Thissectionprovidesthefollowingtopics:

•“Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyourcomputer”onpage2

•“Locatingconnectorsontherearofyourcomputer”onpage3

•“Locatingcomponents”onpage4

•“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage5

•“Locatinginternaldrives”onpage7

•“Locatingthemachinetypeandmodellabel”onpage9

Note:Thecomponentsinyourcomputermightlookslightlydifferentfromtheillustrations.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

1

Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyour

7

6

8

9

10

computer

Thefollowingillustrationshowsthelocationsoftheconnectors,controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyour
computer.

Figure1.Frontconnector,control,andindicatorlocations

1Powerbutton2Four-digitdiagnosticdisplay

3SDcardreaderslot

5AlwaysOnUSB3.0connector6USB3.0connectors(2)

7DiagnosticUSB3.0connector8Opticaldriveeject/closebutton(somemodels)

9Harddiskdriveactivityindicator10Powerindicator

Note:TheorientationoftheThinkStation

®

logoplateonthefrontofyourcomputerisadjustable.When

4Headsetconnector

youlaythecomputeronitsside,youcanslightlypulloutthelogoplate,turnit90°counterclockwise,
andthenpushitbackin.

2ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Locatingconnectorsontherearofyourcomputer

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2

3

4

5

8

6

7

9

12

13

14

11

10

Thefollowingillustrationshowsthelocationsoftheconnectorsontherearofyourcomputer.Some
connectorsontherearofyourcomputerarecolor-codedtohelpyoudeterminewheretoconnectthe
cablesonyourcomputer.

Figure2.Rearconnectorlocations

1Powercordconnector2Audioline-outconnector

3Microphoneconnector

5Serialconnector6USB2.0connectors(4)

7USB3.0connectors(4)8PCIcardarea(PCIcardsavailablevarybycomputer

4PS/2keyboardconnector

model)

9Security-lockslot

11Ethernetconnectors(2)12PS/2mouseconnector

13Audioline-inconnector

10Keynest

14PCIcardarea(PCIcardsavailablevarybycomputer

model)

Notes:

•AdiscretegraphicscardoranetworkinterfacecardcanbeinstalledintheappropriatePeripheral
ComponentInterconnect(PCI)orPCIExpresscardslot.Ifsuchacardisinstalled,ensurethatyouuse
theconnectorsonthecardinsteadofthecorrespondingconnectorsonthecomputer.

•Dependingonyourcomputermodel,oneormoregraphicscardsmightbeinstalledtoprovidethe
followingconnectors:

–DisplayPort®connector
–DigitalVisualInterface(DVI)connector
–MiniDisplayPort®connector

Chapter1.Productoverview3

ConnectorDescription

Audioline-inconnector

Audioline-outconnector

DisplayPortconnector

DVIconnectorUsedtoattachaDVImonitororotherdevicesthatuseaDVIconnector.

Ethernetconnector

Microphoneconnector

MiniDisplayPortconnector

PS/2keyboardconnectorUsedtoattachakeyboardthatusesaPersonalSystem/2(PS/2)keyboard

PS/2mouseconnectorUsedtoattachamouse,atrackball,orotherpointingdevicesthatuseaPS/2

Serialconnector

USB2.0connectorUsethisconnectortoattachadevicethatrequiresaUSB2.0connection,suchasa

USB3.0connectorUsethisconnectortoattachadevicethatrequiresaUSB2.0orUSB3.0

Usedtoreceiveaudiosignalsfromanexternalaudiodevice,suchasastereo
system.Whenyouattachanexternalaudiodevice,acableisconnectedbetween
theaudioline-outconnectorofthedeviceandtheaudioline-inconnectorofthe
computer.

Usedtosendaudiosignalsfromthecomputertoexternaldevices,suchaspowered
stereospeakers(speakerswithbuilt-inamplifiers),headphones,multimedia
keyboards,ortheaudioline-inconnectoronastereosystemorotherexternal
recordingdevice.

Usedtoattachahigh-performancemonitor,adirect-drivemonitor,orotherdevices
thatuseaDisplayPortconnector.

UsedtoattachanEthernetcableforalocalareanetwork(LAN).
Note:T ooperatethecomputerwithinFederalCommunicationsCommission(FCC)
ClassBlimits,useaCategory5Ethernetcable.

Usedtoattachamicrophonetoyourcomputerwhenyouwanttorecordsoundorif
youusespeech-recognitionsoftware.

Usedtoattachahigh-performancemonitor,adirect-drivemonitor,orotherdevices
thatuseaMiniDisplayPortconnector.TheMiniDisplayPortconnectorisa
miniaturizedversionofaDisplayPortconnector.

connector.

mouseconnector.

Usedtoattachanexternalmodem,aserialprinter,orotherdevicesthatusea
9-pinserialconnector.

keyboard,amouse,ascanner,aprinter,orapersonaldigitalassistant(PDA).

connection,suchasakeyboard,amouse,ascanner,aprinter,oraPDA.

Locatingcomponents

Thefollowingillustrationshowsthelocationsofthevariouscomponentsinyourcomputer.Toremovethe
computercover,see“Removingthecomputercover”onpage73.

4ThinkStationP900UserGuide

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Figure3.Componentlocations

1Powersupplyassembly

3M.2solid-statedrive(somemodels)4Memorymodules(amountvariesbymodel)

5Multi-functionbracket6Frontfanassembly

7Opticaldrive,flexmodule,orfront-accessstorage

enclosure(amountandcombinationvarybymodel)

9Frontfanassembly10Multi-functionbracket

11Coverpresenceswitch(intrusionswitch)

13PCIcard(varybycomputermodel)14Heatsinkandfanassembly2(somemodels)

15Rearfanassembly16Directcoolingairbaffle

2Flexadapter(somemodels)

8Harddiskdrive,hybriddrive,orsolid-statedrive

(amountandcombinationvarybymodel)

12Heatsinkandfanassembly1

Locatingpartsonthesystemboard

Thefollowingillustrationshowsthelocationsofthepartsonthesystemboard.

Chapter1.Productoverview5

3

8 9

14 15

18

19

20

22

21

23

29

31

33

34

37 36 3538

3941 40

43 42

44

4546

47

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52

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57

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7654

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48

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Figure4.Systemboardpartlocations

1PCIExpress2.0x4cardslot2PCIExpress3.0x16graphicscardslot

3PCIExpress3.0x16graphicscardslot

5Memoryslot6Memoryslot

7Memoryslot8Powersupplyconnector

9Microprocessorfanconnector2

11Memoryslot12Memoryslot

13Memoryslot14Flexadapterslot2

15Optical-drivefanconnector

174-pinpowerconnector

19Thermalsensor20Battery

21Microprocessor1

23Thermalsensor24Memoryslot

25Memoryslot26Memoryslot

27Memoryslot28Flexadapterslot1

294-pinpowerconnector

31Front-accessstorageenclosurecontrolconnector32Front-accessstorageenclosurecontrolconnector

33Frontfanassemblyconnector

35SATA3.0connector36SATA3.0connector

6ThinkStationP900UserGuide

4Memoryslot

10Memoryslot

164-pinpowerconnector

18Frontfanassemblyconnector

22Microprocessorfanconnector1

30eSATAconnector

34Thermalsensor

3729-in-1cardreaderconnector

2

3

4

1

5

39Coverpresenceswitchconnector(intrusionswitch

38FrontUSB3.0connector

40Thunderbolt™adaptercontrolconnector

connector)

41Internal-storage-driveactivityindicatorconnector

42SA TA1/SATA2connector

(usedonlywitha9364RAIDcard)

43SA TA3/SATA4connector44ClearCMOS/Recoveryjumper

45Frontpanelconnector

47PCIExpress2.0x4cardslot48PCIExpress2.0x1cardslot

49PCIExpress3.0x16graphicscardslot50PCIExpress2.0x1cardslot

51PCIExpress3.0x16graphicscardslot

53Memoryslot54Memoryslot

55Memoryslot

57Microprocessor2(somemodels)

59Internalspeakerconnector

46Seven-segmentindicator

52Memoryslot

56Rearfanassemblyconnector

58Frontaudioconnector

Locatinginternaldrives

Internaldrivesaredevicesthatyourcomputerusestoreadandstoredata.Youcanadddrivestoyour
computertoincreasestoragecapacityandenableyourcomputertoreadothertypesofmedia.Internal
drivesareinstalledinbays.

Whenyouinstallorreplaceaninternaldrive,notethetypeandsizeofthedrivethateachbaysupportsand
correctlyconnecttherequiredcables.Refertotheappropriatesectionin“Installingorreplacinghardware”
onpage73

forinstructionsonhowtoinstallorreplaceinternaldrivesforyourcomputer.

Thefollowingillustrationshowsthelocationsofthedrivebays.

Figure5.Drivebaylocations

Chapter1.Productoverview7

1Flexadapterslots

Dependingonyourcomputermodel,thefollowingflexadaptersmightbeinstalledintheflexadapterslots:

•FlexadapterwithtwominiSerialAttachedSCSI(SAS)high-density(HD)connectors

•FlexadapterwithoneSerialAdvancedTechnologyAttachment(SATA)3.0connector,oneUSB2.0
connector,andtwomini-SASHDconnectors

•FlexadapterwithtwoM.2slots(withtheM.2solid-statedriveinstalledinsomemodels)

2Securedigital(SD)cardreaderslot(withanSDcardinstalledinsomemodels)

3Opticaldrivebays

Dependingonyourcomputermodel,thefollowingdevicesmightbeinstalledintheopticaldrivebays:

•Opticaldrive

•Front-accessstorageenclosure

•Flexmodule

Note:Theflexmodulemightbeinstalledwiththefollowing:

–IEEE1394connector
–eSATAconnector
–29-in-1cardreader
–Slimopticaldrive

4Storagedrivebays(withharddiskdrives,solid-statedrivesorhybriddrivesinstalledinsomebays)

5PCIExpressx16graphicscardslotsandPCIExpressx4cardslots(withPCIExpresssolid-statedrivesor

otherPCIcardsinstalledinsomemodels)

8ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Locatingthemachinetypeandmodellabel

Themachinetypeandmodellabelidentifiesyourcomputer.WhenyoucontactLenovoforhelp,themachine
typeandmodelinformationhelpssupporttechnicianstoidentifyyourcomputerandprovidefasterservice.

Themachinetypeandmodellabelisattachedonthefrontofyourcomputerasshown.

Figure6.Themachinetypeandmodellabellocation

Features

Thecomputerfeaturesintroducedinthissectioncovervariouscomputermodels.

Toviewtheinformationaboutyourspecificmodel,dothefollowing:

•OntheMicrosoft

®

Windows

toviewtheinformation.

•OntheMicrosoftWindows8.1operatingsystem,gotothedesktopandmoveyourpointertothe
top-rightorbottom-rightcornerofthescreentodisplaythecharms.ThenclickSettings➙PCinfoto
viewtheinformation.

•OntheMicrosoftWindows10operatingsystem,clicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu.Then,click

Settings➙System➙Abouttoviewtheinformation.

Microprocessor

Toviewthemicroprocessorinformationofyourcomputer,refertotheinstructionsonhowtoviewthe
informationaboutyourspecificmodelatthebeginningofthissection.

®

7operationsystem,clickStart,right-clickComputer,andselectProperties

Chapter1.Productoverview9

Memory

Yourcomputersupportsupto16doubledatarate4(DDR4)errorcorrectioncode(ECC)unbuffereddual
inlinememorymodules(UDIMMs),DDR4ECCregisteredDIMMs(RDIMMs),orDDR4ECCloadreduced
DIMMs(LRDIMMs).

Formoreinformation,see“Installingorreplacingamemorymodule”onpage127

.

Internaldrives

•Cardreader

•Harddiskdrive

•Hybriddrive(availableonsomemodels)

•Opticaldrive

•Solid-statedrive(availableonsomemodels)

Videofeatures

DiscretegraphicscardinstalledinoneofthePCIExpressx16graphicscardslots(availableonsomemodels)
(theconnectorsvarybygraphicscard)

Note:Yourcomputerisinstalledwithoneormoregraphicscardsthatvarybycomputermodel.Depending
onyourcomputermodel,thegraphicscardsmightprovidethefollowingconnectors:

•DisplayPortconnector

•DVIconnector

•MiniDisplayPortconnector

Audiofeatures

Integratedaudiocontrollersupportsthefollowingconnectorsanddevicesonyourcomputer:

•Audioline-inconnector

•Audioline-outconnector

•Headsetconnector

•Internalspeaker

•Microphoneconnectors

Input/Output(I/O)features

•100/1000MbpsEthernetconnector

•9-pinserialconnectors

•Audioconnectors(audioline-inconnector,audioline-outconnector,headsetconnector,andmicrophone
connector)

•Displayconnectors(DisplayPortconnector,DVIconnector,andMiniDisplayPortconnector)(varyby
graphicscard)

•PS/2keyboardconnector

•PS/2mouseconnector

•USBconnectors

Formoreinformation,see“Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyourcomputer”on
page2

and“Locatingconnectorsontherearofyourcomputer”onpage3.

10ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Expansion

•Harddiskdrivebays

•Flexadapterslots

•Opticaldrivebays

•PCIExpressx1cardslots

•PCIExpressx4cardslots

•PCIExpressx16graphicscardslots

•SDcardreaderslot

Formoreinformation,see“Locatinginternaldrives”onpage7and“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”
onpage5.

Powersupply

1300-wattautomaticvoltage-sensingpowersupply

Systemmanagementfeatures

•Abilitytostorepower-onself-test(POST)hardwaretestresults

•DesktopManagementInterface(DMI)
DesktopManagementInterfaceprovidesacommonpathforuserstoaccessinformationaboutall

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

•ErPLPScompliancemode
Theenergy-relatedproductsdirective(ErP)lowestpowerstate(LPS)compliancemodereducesthe

consumptionofelectricitywhenyourcomputerisinsleeporoffmode.Formoreinformation,see
“EnablingErPLPScompliancemode”onpage38.

•IntelStandardManageability(ISM)
IntelStandardManageabilityishardwareandfirmwaretechnologythatbuildscertainfunctionality

intocomputersinordertomakethemeasierandlessexpensiveforbusinessestomonitor,maintain,
update,upgrade,andrepair.

•IntelActiveManagementTechnology(AMT)
IntelActiveManagementTechnologyishardware-andfirmware-basedtechnologythatmakescomputers

easierandlessexpensiveforbusinessestomonitor,maintain,update,upgrade,andrepair.

•IntelRapidStorageT echnologyenterprise(RSTe)
IntelRSTeisadevicedriverthatprovidessupportforSATAorSASRedundantArrayofIndependent

Disks(RAID)0,1,5,and10arraysonspecificIntelchipsetsystemboardstoenhanceharddiskdrive
performance.

•PrebootExecutionEnvironment(PXE)
ThePrebootExecutionEnvironmentisanenvironmenttostartcomputersusinganetworkinterface

independentofdatastoragedrives(suchastheharddiskdrive)orinstalledoperatingsystems.

•SystemManagement(SM)BasicInput/OutputSystem(BIOS)andSMsoftware
TheSMBIOSspecificationdefinesdatastructuresandaccessmethodsinaBIOSthatallowsauseror

applicationtostoreandretrieveinformationspecificaboutthecomputerinquestion.

•WakeonLAN
WakeonLANisanEthernetcomputernetworkingstandardthatallowsacomputertobeturnedon

orwokenupbyanetworkmessage.Themessageisusuallysentbyaprogramrunningonanother
computeronthesamelocalareanetwork.

Chapter1.Productoverview11

•WindowsManagementInstrumentation(WMI)
WindowsManagementInstrumentationisasetofextensionstotheWindowsDriverModel.Itprovidesan

operatingsysteminterfacethroughwhichinstrumentedcomponentsprovideinformationandnotification.

Securityfeatures

•Abilitytoenableanddisableadevice

•AbilitytoenableanddisableUSBconnectorsindividually

•ComputraceAgentsoftwareembeddedinfirmware

•Coverpresenceswitch(alsocalledintrusionswitch)

•Keyboardwithfingerprintreader(availableonsomemodels)

•Power-onpassword(POP),administratorpassword,andharddiskpasswordtodeterunauthorized
useofyourcomputer

•Startupsequencecontrol

•Startupwithoutkeyboardormouse

•SupportforaKensington-stylecablelock

•Supportforakeylock

•TrustedPlatformModule(TPM)

Formoreinformation,seeChapter4“Security”onpage31

.

Preinstalledoperatingsystem

Yourcomputerispreinstalledwithoneofthefollowingoperatingsystems:

•Windows7

•Windows8.1

•Windows10

Operatingsystemscertifiedortestedforcompatibility(variesbymodeltype)

Theoperatingsystemslistedherearebeingcertifiedortestedforcompatibilityatthetimethispublication
goestopress.AdditionaloperatingsystemsmightbeidentifiedbyLenovoascompatiblewithyourcomputer
followingthepublicationofthismanual.Thislistissubjecttochange.Todetermineifanoperatingsystem
hasbeencertifiedortestedforcompatibility,checktheWebsiteoftheoperatingsystemprovider.

•Linux

®

12ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Specifications

Thissectionliststhephysicalspecificationsforyourcomputer.

Dimensions

Width:200mm(7.87inches)
Height:446mm(17.56inches)
Depth:620mm(24.41inches)

Weight

Maximumconfigurationasshipped:30kg(66.14lb)

Environment

•Airtemperature:

Operating:From10°C(50°F)to35°C(95°F)
Storageinoriginalshippingpackage:From-40°C(-40°F)to60°C(140°F)
Storagewithoutpackage:From-10°C(14°F)to60°C(140°F)

•Humidity:

Operating:20%–80%(non-condensing)
Storage:20%–90%(non-condensing)

•Altitude:

Operating:From-15.2m(-50ft)to3048m(10000ft)
Storage:From-15.2m(-50ft)to10668m(35000ft)

Electricalinput

Inputvoltage:From100Vacto240Vac
Inputfrequency:50/60Hz

Lenovoprograms

YourcomputercomeswithLenovoprogramstohelpyouworkmoreeasilyandsecurely.Dependingon
theWindowsoperatingsystempreinstalled,theprogramsmightvary.

Accessingaprogramonyourcomputer

Note:ForWindows7,someoftheLenovoprogramsmightbereadytobeinstalled,soyouneedto

installthemmanually.Then,youcanaccessandusetheseprograms.T oinstallsuchaprogram,open
theLenovoThinkVantage
instructionsundergreyed-outiconstolocatetheiconforthedesiredprogram.Double-clicktheiconto
installtheprogram.

Toaccessaprogramonyourcomputer,dothefollowing:

•ForWindows7orWindows10:

–FromWindowsSearch:

1.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

–ForWindows7:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthentypetheprogram

nameintothesearchbox.

–ForWindows10:TypetheprogramnameintothesearchboxnexttotheStartbutton.

®

Toolsprogram,andclickView➙Tilestoviewtheprogramicons.Followthe

Chapter1.Productoverview13

2.Inthesearchresults,clickthenameofthedesiredprogramtolaunchtheprogram.

–FromtheStartmenuorControlPanel:

1.ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu.Then,clickthenameofthedesiredprogramto
launchtheprogram.

2.Iftheprogramnameisnotdisplayed,clickAllProgramsforWindows7orAllappsforWindows
10todisplaytheprogramlist.Fromthelistorafolderinthelist,clickthenameofthedesired
programtolaunchtheprogram.

3.IftheprogramnameisnotdisplayedontheStartmenu,accesstheprogramfromControlPanel.
a.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

–ForWindows7:ClickControlPanelontheStartmenu.
–ForWindows10:Right-clicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartcontextmenu,andthen

clickControlPanel.

b.ViewControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickthenameofthedesired

programtolaunchtheprogram.

•ForWindows8.1:

1.PresstheWindowslogokeytogototheStartscreen.Clickthenameofthedesiredprogramto
launchtheprogram.

2.Ifyoucannotfindtheprogramyouneed,clickthearrowiconinthebottom-leftcornerofthe
screentogototheAppsscreen.Findthedesiredprogramintheappslistorsearchforitfromthe
searchboxinthetop-rightcornerofthescreen.

AnintroductiontoLenovoprograms

ThistopicprovidesabriefintroductiontosomeLenovoprograms.

Note:Dependingonyourcomputermodel,someoftheprogramsmightnotbeavailable.

•FingerprintManagerProorThinkVantageFingerprintSoftware(Windows7andWindows8.1)
Theintegratedfingerprintreaderprovidedonsomekeyboardsenablesyoutoenrollyourfingerprint

andassociateitwithyourpower-onpassword,harddiskpassword,andWindowspassword.Asa
result,fingerprintauthenticationcanreplacepasswordsandenablesimpleandsecureuseraccess.A
fingerprintreaderkeyboardisavailablewithselectcomputersorcanbepurchasedforcomputersthat
supportthisoption.

•LenovoCompanion(Windows8.1andWindows10)
Yourcomputer’sbestfeaturesandcapabilitiesshouldbeeasytoaccessandunderstand.WithLenovo

Companion,theyare.UseLenovoCompaniontodothefollowing:

–Optimizeyourcomputer’sperformance,monitoryourcomputer’shealth,andmanagesystemupdates.
–Accessyouruserguide,checkwarrantystatus,andviewaccessoriescustomizedforyourcomputer.
–Readhow-toarticles,exploreLenovoforums,andstayup-to-dateontechnologynewswitharticles

andblogsfromtrustedsources.

LenovoCompanionisfilledwithexclusiveLenovocontenttohelpyoulearnmoreaboutwhatyoucan
dowithyourcomputer.

•LenovoDeviceExperienceorLenovoPCExperience(Windows10)
TheLenovoDeviceExperienceorLenovoPCExperienceprogramhelpsyouworkmoreeasilyand

securely.TheprogramprovideseasyaccesstoLenovoThinkVantageToolsorLenovoTools,important
settingsandinformationaboutyourcomputer,theLenovoSupportWebsite,andsoon.

•LenovoID(Windows10)

14ThinkStationP900UserGuide

TheLenovoIDprogramenablesyoutocreateyourLenovoIDandaccessallsupportedLenovoprograms
andwebportalswithsinglesign-on.

•LenovoSolutionCenter(Windows7,Windows8.1,andWindows10)
TheLenovoSolutionCenterprogramenablesyoutotroubleshootandresolvecomputerproblems.It

combinesdiagnostictests,systeminformationcollection,securitystatus,andsupportinformation,along
withhintsandtipsformaximumsystemperformance.

•LenovoSupport(Windows8.1)
TheLenovoSupportprogramenablesyoutoregisteryourcomputerwithLenovoandcheckthecomputer

healthconditionandbatterystatus.Theprogramalsoenablesyoutodownloadandviewusermanuals
foryourcomputer,getthewarrantyinformation,andexplorehelpandsupportinformation.

•LenovoThinkVantageTools(Windows7)
TheLenovoThinkVantageToolsprogramprovideseasyaccesstovarioustoolstohelpyouworkmore

easilyandsecurely.

•LenovoTools(Windows8.1)
TheLenovoT oolsprogramguidesyoutoahostofinformationsourcesandprovideseasyaccessto

varioustoolstohelpyouworkmoreeasilyandsecurely.

•RecoveryMedia(Windows7)
TheRecoveryMediaprogramenablesyoutorestorethecontentsoftheharddiskdrivetothe

factory-defaultsettings.

•RescueandRecovery(Windows7)
TheRescueandRecoveryprogramisaone-buttonrecoveryandrestoresolution.Itincludesasetof

self-recoverytoolstohelpyoudiagnosecomputerproblems,gethelp,andrecoverfromsystemcrashes,
evenifyoucannotstarttheWindowsoperatingsystem.

•SystemUpdate(Windows7andWindows8.1)
TheSystemUpdateprogramhelpsyoukeepthesoftwareonyourcomputerup-to-datebydownloading

andinstallingsoftwareupdatepackages.ExamplesofthesesoftwareupdatepackagesincludeLenovo
programs,devicedrivers,UEFIBIOSupdates,andotherthird-partyprograms.

Chapter1.Productoverview15

16ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Chapter2.Usingyourcomputer

Thischapterprovidesinformationaboutthefollowingtopics:

•“Registeringyourcomputer”onpage17

•“UsingWindowsshortcutkeys”onpage17

•“Usingfingerprintauthentication”onpage34

•“Usingthewheelmouse”onpage18

•“Settingthecomputervolume”onpage19

•“Usingadisc”onpage19

•“NavigatingamongscreensontheWindows8.1operatingsystem”onpage20

•“AccessingControlPanelontheWindows8.1operatingsystem”onpage22

•“Frequentlyaskedquestions”onpage22

Registeringyourcomputer

WhenyouregisteryourcomputerwithLenovo,youenterrequiredinformationintoaLenovodatabase.The
informationenablesLenovotocontactyouwhenthereisarecallorothersevereproblemandprovide
quickerservicewhenyoucallLenovoforhelp.Inaddition,somelocationsofferextendedprivilegesand
servicestoregisteredusers.

ToregisteryourcomputerwithLenovo,gotohttp://www.lenovo.com/registerandfollowtheinstructionson
thescreen.

UsingWindowsshortcutkeys

Boththestandardkeyboardandthefingerprintreaderkeyboardprovidethreespecialshortcutkeysthatyou
canusewithyourMicrosoftWindowsoperatingsystem.

•ThetwoWindowslogokeysarelocatedbesidetheAltkeyonbothsidesofthespacebar.Onthe
Windows7orWindows10operatingsystem,presstheWindowslogokeytoopentheStartmenu.Onthe
Windows8.1operatingsystem,presstheWindowslogokeytoswitchbetweenthecurrentworkspace
andtheStartscreen.ThestyleoftheWindowslogovariesdependingonthekeyboardtype.

•Thecontext-menukey
context-menukeyopensthecontextmenufortheactiveprogram,icon,orobject.

Note:YoucanusethemouseortheUpandDownarrowkeystohighlightmenuselections.

islocatednexttotheCtrlkeyontherightsideoftheSpacebar.Pressingthe

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

17

Usingthewheelmouse

Thewheelmousehasthefollowingcontrols:

1Primarymousebutton:Usethisbuttontoselectorstartaprogramormenuitem.

2Wheel:Usethewheeltocontrolthescrollingactionofthemouse.Thedirectioninwhichyourotatethe

wheelcontrolsthedirectionofthescrollingaction.

3Secondarymousebutton:Usethisbuttontodisplayamenufortheactiveprogram,icon,orobject.

Youcanswitchthefunctionoftheprimaryandsecondarymousebuttonsandchangeotherdefaultbehavior
throughtheMousePropertieswindow.ToopentheMousePropertieswindow,gotoControlPanel,view
ControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickMouse.

Managingpower

Powermanagementreducesthepowerconsumptionofcertaincomponentsofthecomputersuchasthe
systempowersupply,processor,harddiskdrives,andsomemonitors.

Advancedconfigurationandpowerinterface(ACPI)BIOS

BeinganACPIBIOSsystem,theoperatingsystemisallowedtocontrolthepowermanagementfeatures
ofthecomputerandthesettingforAdvancedPowerManagement(APM)BIOSmodeisignored.Not
alloperatingsystemssupportACPIBIOSmode.

AutomaticPower-onfeatures

TheAutomaticPower-OnfeatureswithinthePowerManagementmenuallowyoutoenableanddisable
featuresthatturnonthecomputerautomatically.

•WakeUponAlarm:Youcanspecifyadateandtimeatwhichthecomputerwillbeturnedon
automatically.Thiscanbeeitherasingleeventoradailyevent.

•WakeonLAN:Ifthecomputerhasaproperlyconfiguredtoken-ringorEthernetLANadaptercardthatis
WakeonLAN-enabledandthereisremotenetworkmanagementsoftware,youcanusetheWakeonLAN
feature.WhenyousetWakeonLANtoEnabled,thecomputerwillturnonwhenitreceivesaspecific
signalfromanothercomputeronthelocalareanetwork(LAN).

ToenabletheWakeonLANfunctionortheWakeUponAlarmfunctionontheWindows8.1operating
system,dothefollowing:

1.OpenControlPanel.

2.ClickHardwareandSound➙PowerOptions.

18ThinkStationP900UserGuide

3.Intheleftpanel,clickChoosewhatthepowerbuttondoes.

4.IntheShutdownsettingsection,clearTurnonfaststartup.

Note:Ifthesettingsareunavailable,clickChangesettingsthatarecurrentlyunavailable.

5.ClickSavechanges.

Settingthecomputervolume

Tosetthecomputervolume,dothefollowing:

1.ClickthevolumeiconintheWindowsnotificationareaonthetaskbar.

Note:IfthevolumeiconisnotdisplayedintheWindowsnotificationarea,addtheicontothe
notificationarea.SeeWindowshelpsystemfordetailedinformation.

2.Followtheinstructionsonthescreenandthehovertexttoadjustthevolume,mutethespeaker,or
unmutethespeaker.

Usingadisc

Thissectionprovidesinformationaboutthefollowingtopics:

•“Usingtheopticaldrive”onpage19

•“Handlingandstoringadisc”onpage19

•“Playingandremovingadisc”onpage20

•“Recordingadisc”onpage20

Usingtheopticaldrive

Dependingonthemodel,yourcomputerisequippedwithoneofthefollowingopticaldrives:

•CD-ROMdrive:UsedtoreadCDsonly.

•DVD-ROMdrive:UsedtoreadDVDsandCDs.

•BD-ROMdrive:Usedtoreadblu-raydiscs(BDs),DVDs,andCDs.

•Recordableopticaldrive:Usedtoreadandrecordadisc.

Whenusingtheopticaldrive,followtheseguidelines:

•Donotplacethecomputerinalocationwherethedriveisexposedtoanyofthefollowingconditions:

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

•Donotinsertanyobjectotherthanadiscintothedrive.

•Donotinsertdamageddiscsintothedrive.Warped,scratched,ordirtydiscscandamagethedrive.

•Beforemovingthecomputer,removethediscfromthedrive.

Handlingandstoringadisc

Whenhandlingandstoringadisc,followtheseguidelines:

Chapter2.Usingyourcomputer19

•Holdthediscbyitsedges.Donottouchthesurfaceofthesidethatisnotlabeled.

•Toremovedustorfingerprints,wipethediscwithaclean,softclothfromthecentertotheoutside.Wiping
thediscinacirculardirectionmightcauselossofdata.

•Donotwriteorstickpaperonthedisc.

•Donotscratchormarkthedisc.

•Donotplaceorstorethediscindirectsunlight.

•Donotusebenzene,thinners,orothercleanerstocleanthedisc.

•Donotdroporbendthedisc.

Playingandremovingadisc

Toplayadisc,dothefollowing:

1.Withthecomputeron,presstheeject/closebuttononthefrontoftheopticaldrive.Thetrayslides
outofthedrive.

2.Insertadiscintothetray.Someopticaldrivehasasnaphubinthecenterofthetray.Ifyourdrivehasa
snaphub,supportthetraywithonehandandthenpushcenterofthediscuntilitsnapsintoplace.

3.Presstheeject/closebuttonagainorgentlypushthetrayforwardtoclosethetray.Thediscplayer
programstartsautomatically.Formoreinformation,refertothehelpsystemofthediscplayerprogram.

Toremoveadiscfromtheopticaldrive,dothefollowing:

1.Withthecomputeron,presstheeject/closebuttononthefrontoftheopticaldrive.Thetrayslides
outofthedrive.

2.Carefullyremovethediscfromthetray.

3.Presstheeject/closebuttonagainorgentlypushthetrayforwardtoclosethetray.

Note:Ifthetraydoesnotslideoutofthedrivewhenyoupresstheeject/closebutton,turnoffyourcomputer.
Then,insertastraightenedpaperclipintotheemergency-ejectholeadjacenttotheeject/closebutton.
Usetheemergencyejectonlyinanemergency.

Recordingadisc

Ifyouropticaldrivesupportsrecording,youcanrecordadiscbydoingthefollowing:

1.Insertarecordablediscintotheopticaldrivethatsupportsrecording.

2.OpenthePowerDVDCreate,PowerProducer,orPower2Goprogram.See“Accessingaprogramon
yourcomputer”onpage13.

3.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

NavigatingamongscreensontheWindows8.1operatingsystem

Tonavigateamongthedesktop,theStartscreen,andapplicationsopenedfromtheStartscreenonthe
Windows8.1operatingsystem,dooneofthefollowing:

•FromtheStartscreen,dooneofthefollowingtonavigatetothemostrecentlyaccessedworkspace
(application,setting,ordesktop):

–Usingapointingdevice:Movethepointertotheextremebottom-leftcornerofthescreenuntilthe

WindowsStart-screencontrolisdisplayed;thenclicktheicon.

–Usingatouchscreen:Swipeinandoutontheleftedgeofthescreen.Representationsofallavailable

workspacesaredisplayedalongtheleftedgeofthescreen.T aptheWindowsStart-screencontrol

atthebottom.

20ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Note:TheWindowsStart-screencontrolisdisplayedonlywhenyouhaveatleastoneactive

workspaceinthebackgroundofthesystem.

•FromthedesktoporanyotherworkspacethatisopenedfromtheStartscreen,dooneofthefollowingto
navigatetotheStartscreen:

–Usingapointingdevice:

–Fromthedesktop,clicktheWindowsStart-screencontrol

inthebottom-leftcornerofthescreen.

–Fromanyotherworkspace,movethepointertotheextremebottom-leftcornerofthescreenuntil

theWindowsStart-screencontrolisdisplayed;thenclicktheicon.

–Usingatouchscreen:Dooneofthefollowing:

–Fromthedesktop,taptheWindowsStart-screencontrol

inthebottom-leftcornerofthescreen.

–Fromanyotherworkspace,dooneofthefollowing:

•Swipeinandoutontheleftedgeofthescreen.Representationsofallavailableworkspaces
aredisplayedalongtheleftedgeofthescreen.TaptheWindowsStart-screencontrolat

thebottom.

•Swipeinfromtherightedgeofthescreentodisplaythecharms;thentapStart.

•Fromanyworkspace(Startscreen,desktop,PCsettings,orapplicationopenedfromtheStartscreen),go
toanotherpreviously-openedworkspaceusinganyofthefollowingprocedures:

–Tonavigatetoapreviouslyaccessedworkspace(application,setting,ordesktop),dooneofthe

following:

–Usingapointingdevice:

1.Dooneofthefollowing:

•Movethepointertotheextremetop-leftcornerofthescreenandthenmovethepointer
downwardalongtheleftedgeofthescreen.

•Movethepointertotheextremebottom-leftcornerofthescreenandthenmovethepointer
upwardalongtheleftedgeofthescreen.

Representationsofallavailableworkspacesaredisplayedalongtheleftedgeofthescreen.

Note:OnlyactiveworkspacesthatyouhaveaccessedduringthecurrentWindowssessionare
displayedalongtheleftedge.Ifyoucloseanactiveworkspace,itsrepresentationwillnotbe
displayedalongtheleftedgeofthescreen.

2.Clicktherepresentation.

–Usingatouchscreen:

•Method1

1.Swipeinandoutontheleftedgeofthescreen.Representationsofallavailableworkspaces
aredisplayedalongtheleftedgeofthescreen.

2.Tapthedesiredworkspace.

•Method2

1.Swipeinfromtheleftedgeofthescreentonavigatetothenextavailableworkspace.

2.Repeatstep1untilyounavigatetothedesiredworkspace.

–Tonavigatetothemostrecentlyaccessedworkspace(application,PCsettings,ordesktop),doone

ofthefollowing:

–Usingapointingdevice:Movethepointertotheextremetop-leftcornerofthescreenuntilthe

WindowsStart-screencontrol

isdisplayed;thenclicktheicon.

Chapter2.Usingyourcomputer21

–Usingatouchscreen:Swipeinfromtheleftedgeofthescreen.

ForinformationaboutusingotherfeaturesoftheWindows8.1operatingsystem,opentheHelp+Tips
applicationfromtheStartscreenorAppsscreen.Alternatively,refertotheWindowshelpsystem.Formore
information,see“Windowshelpsystem”onpage143

.

AccessingControlPanelontheWindows8.1operatingsystem

OntheWindowsoperatingsystem,youcanviewandchangecomputersettingsthroughControlPanel.To
accessControlPanelontheWindows8.1operatingsystem,dooneofthefollowing:

•Fromthedesktop

1.Movethepointertothetop-rightorbottom-rightcornerofthescreentodisplaythecharms.

2.ClickSettings.

3.ClickControlPanel.

•FromtheStartscreen

1.Clickthedownarrowinthebottom-leftcornerofthescreentogototheAppsscreen.

2.Scrolltotherightside,andclickControlPanelintheWindowsSystemsection.

Frequentlyaskedquestions

Thefollowingaresomeofthefrequentlyaskedquestionsandtheiranswers.Theanswerscanhelpyou
optimizetheuseofyourcomputer.

Fortheanswerstomorefrequentlyaskedquestionsaboutusingyourcomputer,goto:
http://www.lenovo.com/support/faq

HowcanIgetmyuserguideinanotherlanguage?

Theuserguideisavailableinvariouslanguagesat:
http://www.lenovo.com/support

WhereismyrecoverydiscsetorrecoveryUSBkey?

DependingonyourWindowsversion,yourcomputermightcomewitharecoverydiscsetorrecovery
USBkey.Ifyourcomputerdoesnotcomewithit,contacttheLenovoCustomerSupportCenterto
orderarecoverydiscsetorrecoveryUSBkey.ForalistofLenovoSupportphonenumbers,goto
http://www.lenovo.com/support/phone.Ifyoucannotfindthesupporttelephonenumberforyourcountry
orregion,contactyourLenovoreseller.

HowcanIrestoremycomputersettings?

Yourcomputerprovidesaprogramthatenablesyoutorestorethecomputersettings.Formoreinformation,
seeChapter8“Recoveryinformation”onpage65

Additionally,incaseofahard-disk-drivefailure,youcanorderarecoverydiscsetfromtheLenovoCustomer
SupportCenter.ForinformationaboutcontactingtheCustomerSupportCenter,seeChapter10“Getting
information,help,andservice”onpage143
thatcomeswiththediscset.

Note:Arecoverydiscsetmightcontainmultiplediscs.Ensurethatyouhaveallofthediscsreadybefore
startingtherecoveryprocess.Duringtherecoveryprocess,youmightbepromptedtochangediscs.

.

.Beforeusingtherecoverydiscset,refertothedocumentation

WherecanIfindhelpabouttheWindowsoperatingsystem?

See“Windowshelpsystem”onpage143.

22ThinkStationP900UserGuide

HowcanIchangetheWindows8.1startupbehaviortoopeneitherthedesktoportheStartscreen?

OntheWindows8.1operatingsystem,youcansetthecomputertoopeneitherthedesktoportheStart
screenbydefault.Tosetthedefaultstartupscreen,dothefollowing:

1.Onthedesktop,right-clickonthetaskbaratthebottomofthescreen.

2.ClickProperties.The“T askbarandNavigationproperties”windowisdisplayed.

3.OntheNavigationtab,locatetheStartscreensection,andthendooneofthefollowing:

•Tosetthedesktopasyourdefaultstartupscreen,selectWhenIsigninorcloseallappsona
screen,gotothedesktopinsteadofStart.

•TosettheStartscreenasyourdefaultstartupscreen,cleartheWhenIsigninorcloseallappson
ascreen,gotothedesktopinsteadofStartcheckbox.

4.ClickOKtosavethenewsetting.

Chapter2.Usingyourcomputer23

24ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Chapter3.Y ouandyourcomputer

Thischapterprovidesinformationaboutaccessibility,comfort,andrelocatingyourcomputertoother
countriesorregions.

Accessibilityandcomfort

Goodergonomicpracticeisimportanttogetthemostfromyourpersonalcomputerandtoavoiddiscomfort.
Arrangeyourworkplaceandtheequipmentyouusetosuityourindividualneedsandthekindofwork
thatyouperform.Inaddition,usehealthyworkhabitstomaximizeyourperformanceandcomfortwhile
usingyourcomputer.

Thefollowingtopicsprovideinformationaboutarrangingyourworkarea,settingupyourcomputer
equipment,andestablishinghealthyworkhabits.

Arrangingyourworkspace

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

Comfort

Althoughnosingleworkingpositionisidealforeveryone,hereareafewguidelinestohelpyoufinda
positionthatsuitsyoubest.

Sittinginthesamepositionforalongtimecancausefatigue.Thebackrestandseatofyourchairshould
adjustindependentlyandprovidegoodsupport.Theseatshouldhaveacurvedfronttorelievepressureon
thethighs.Adjusttheseatsothatyourthighsareparalleltothefloorandyourfeetareeitherflatonthe
floororonafootrest.

Whenusingthekeyboard,keepyourforearmsparalleltothefloorandyourwristsinacomfortableposition.
Usealighttouchonthekeyboardandyourhandsandfingersrelaxed.Changetheangleofthekeyboard
formaximumcomfortbyadjustingthepositionofthekeyboardfeet.

Adjustthemonitorsothetopofthescreenisat,orslightlybelow,eyelevel.Placethemonitorata
comfortableviewingdistance,usually51–61cm(20–24inches).Then,positionthemonitorsothatyoucan
viewitwithouttwistingyourbody.Also,positionotherequipmentyouuseregularly,suchasthetelephone
oramouse,withineasyreach.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

25

Glareandlighting

Positionthemonitortominimizeglareandreflectionsfromoverheadlights,windows,andotherlightsources.
Reflectedlightfromshinysurfacescancauseannoyingreflectionsonyourmonitorscreen.Placethe
monitoratrightanglestowindowsandotherlightsources,whenpossible.Reduceoverheadlighting,if
necessary,byturningofflightsorusinglowerwattagebulbs.Ifyouinstallthemonitornearawindow,use
curtainsorblindstoblockthesunlight.Youcanadjustthebrightnessandcontrastcontrolsonthemonitor
astheroomlightingchangesthroughouttheday.

Whereitisimpossibletoavoidreflectionsortoadjustthelighting,anantiglarefilterplacedoverthescreen
mightbehelpful.However,thesefiltersmightaffecttheclarityoftheimageonthescreen;trythemonlyafter
youhaveexhaustedothermethodsofreducingglare.

Dustbuildupcompoundsproblemsassociatedwithglare.Remembertocleanyourmonitorscreen
periodicallyusingasoftclothasdirectedinyourmonitordocumentation.

Aircirculation

Yourcomputerandmonitorproduceheat.Thecomputerhasafanthatpullsinfreshairandforcesouthot
air.Themonitorletshotairescapethroughvents.Blockingtheairventscancauseoverheating,whichmight
resultinamalfunctionordamage.Placethecomputerandmonitorsothatnothingblockstheairvents;
usually,51mm(2inches)ofairspaceissufficient.Also,ensurethattheventedairisnotblowingonpeople.

Electricaloutletsandcablelengths

Thefollowingfactorsmightdeterminethefinalplacementofyourcomputer:

•Locationofelectricaloutlets

•Lengthofpowercords

•Lengthofthecablesthatareconnectedtothemonitorandotherdevices

Whenarrangingyourworkspace:

•Avoidtheuseofextensioncords.Whenpossible,plugthecomputerpowercorddirectlyintoanelectrical
outlet.

•Keeppowercordsandcablesneatlyroutedawayfromwalkwaysandotherareaswheretheymight
getkickedaccidentally.

Formoreinformationaboutpowercords,see“Powercordsandpoweradapters”onpagevi

.

Accessibilityinformation

Lenovoiscommittedtoprovidinguserswhohavehearing,vision,andmobilitylimitationswithgreater
accesstoinformationandtechnology.Thissectionprovidesinformationaboutthewaystheseuserscanget
themostoutoftheircomputerexperience.Youalsocangetthemostup-to-dateaccessibilityinformation
fromthefollowingWebsite:
http://www.lenovo.com/accessibility

Keyboardshortcuts

Thefollowingtablecontainskeyboardshortcutsthatcanhelpmakeyourcomputereasiertouse.

Note:Dependingonyourkeyboard,someofthefollowingkeyboardshortcutsmightnotbeavailable.

26ThinkStationP900UserGuide

KeyboardshortcutFunction

Windowslogokey+U

RightShiftforeightseconds

ShiftfivetimesTurnonorturnoffStickyKeys

NumLockforfivesecondsTurnonorturnoffToggleKeys

LeftAlt+LeftShift+NumLock

LeftAlt+LeftShift+PrtScn(orPrtSc)TurnonorturnoffHighContrast

OpenEaseofAccessCenter

TurnonorturnoffFilterKeys

TurnonorturnoffMouseKeys

Formoreinformation,gotohttp://windows.microsoft.com/,andthenperformasearchusinganyofthe
followingkeywords:keyboardshortcuts,keycombinations,shortcutkeys.

EaseofAccessCenter

EaseofAccessCenterontheWindowsoperatingsystemenablesuserstoconfiguretheircomputersto
suittheirphysicalandcognitiveneeds.

TouseEaseofAccessCenter,dothefollowing:

1.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

•ForWindows7:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickControlPanel.View
ControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickEaseofAccessCenter.

•ForWindows8.1:Movethepointertothetop-rightorbottom-rightcornerofthescreentodisplaythe
charms.Then,clickSettings➙ChangePCsettings➙EaseofAccess.

•ForWindows10:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu.Then,clickSettings➙Easeof
Access.

2.Choosetheappropriatetoolbyfollowingtheinstructionsonthescreen.

EaseofAccessCentermainlyincludesthefollowingtools:

•Magnifier
Magnifierisausefulutilitythatenlargestheentirescreenorpartofthescreensothatyoucansee

theitemsbetter.

•Narrator
Narratorisascreenreaderthatreadsaloudwhatisdisplayedonthescreenanddescribeseventssuchas

errormessages.

•On-ScreenKeyboard
Ifyouprefertotypeorenterdataintoyourcomputerusingamouse,joystick,orotherpointingdevice

insteadofaphysicalkeyboard,youcanuseOn-ScreenKeyboard.On-ScreenKeyboarddisplaysavisual
keyboardwithallthestandardkeys.

•HighContrast
HighContrastisafeaturethatheightensthecolorcontrastofsometextandimagesonyourscreen.Asa

result,thoseitemsaremoredistinctandeasiertoidentify.

•Personalizedkeyboard
Adjustkeyboardsettingstomakeyourkeyboardeasiertouse.Forexample,youcanuseyourkeyboard

tocontrolthepointerandtypecertainkeycombinationseasier.

•Personalizedmouse
Adjustmousesettingstomakeyourmouseeasiertouse.Forexample,youcanchangethepointer

appearanceandmakeiteasiertomanagewindowswiththemouse.

Chapter3.Youandyourcomputer27

SpeechRecognition

SpeechRecognitionenablesyoutocontrolyourcomputerbyvoice.

Usingonlyyourvoice,youcanstartprograms,openmenus,clickobjectsonthescreen,dictatetextinto
documents,andwriteandsende-mails.Everythingyoudowiththekeyboardandmousecanbedonewith
onlyyourvoice.

TouseSpeechRecognition,dothefollowing:

1.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

•ForWindows7:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickControlPanel.

•ForWindows8.1:OpenControlPanel.See“AccessingControlPanelontheWindows8.1operating
system”onpage22.

•ForWindows10:Right-clicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartcontextmenu,andthenclickControl
Panel.

2.ViewControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickSpeechRecognition.

3.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

Screen-readertechnologies

Screen-readertechnologiesareprimarilyfocusedonsoftwareprograminterfaces,helpinformationsystems,
andvariousonlinedocuments.Foradditionalinformationaboutscreenreaders,seethefollowing:

•UsingPDFswithscreenreaders:
http://www.adobe.com/accessibility.html?promoid=DJGVE

•UsingtheJAWSscreenreader:
http://www.freedomscientific.com/jaws-hq.asp

•UsingtheNVDAscreenreader:
http://www.nvaccess.org/

Screenresolution

Youcanmakethetextandimagesonyourscreeneasiertoreadbyadjustingthescreenresolutionofyour
computer.

Toadjustthescreenresolution,dothefollowing:

1.Right-clickablankareaonthedesktop.

2.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

•ForWindows7orWindows8.1:ClickScreenresolution.

•ForWindows10:ClickDisplaysettings.OntheDisplaytab,clickAdvanceddisplaysettings.

3.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

Note:Settingtheresolutiontoolowmightpreventsomeitemsfromfittingonthescreen.

Customizableitemsize

Youcanmaketheitemsonyourscreeneasiertoreadbychangingtheitemsize.

•Tochangetheitemsizetemporarily,usetheMagnifiertoolinEaseofAccessCenter.See“Easeof
AccessCenter”onpage27

.

•Tochangetheitemsizepermanently,dothefollowing:

–Changethesizeofalltheitemsonyourscreen.

28ThinkStationP900UserGuide

1.Right-clickablankareaonthedesktop.

2.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

–ForWindows7orWindows8.1:ClickScreenresolution➙Maketextandotheritemslarger

orsmaller.

–ForWindows10:ClickDisplaysettings.

3.Changetheitemsizebyfollowingtheinstructionsonthescreen.

4.ClickApply.Thischangewilltakeeffectthenexttimeyoulogintotheoperatingsystem.

–ChangethesizeoftheitemsonaWebpage.

PressandholdCtrl,andthenpresstheplus-signkey(+)toenlargeortheminus-signkey(-)to
reducethetextsize.

–Changethesizeoftheitemsonthedesktoporawindow.

Note:Thisfunctionmightnotworkonsomewindows.
Ifyourmousehasawheel,pressandholdCtrl,andthenscrollthewheeltochangetheitemsize.

Industry-standardconnectors

Yourcomputerprovidesindustry-standardconnectorsthatenableyoutoconnectassistivedevices.

Formoreinformationaboutthelocationandfunctionofeachconnector,see“Locations”onpage1.

TTY/TDDconversionmodem

Yourcomputersupportstheuseofatexttelephone(TTY)orthetelecommunicationsdeviceforthedeaf
(TDD)conversionmodem.ThemodemmustbeconnectedbetweenyourcomputerandaTTY/TDD
telephone.Then,youcantypeamessageonyourcomputerandsendittothetelephone.

Documentationinaccessibleformats

Lenovoprovideselectronicdocumentationinaccessibleformats,suchasproperlytaggedPDFfilesor
HyperTextMarkupLanguage(HTML)files.Lenovoelectronicdocumentationisdevelopedtoensure
thatvisuallyimpaireduserscanreadthedocumentationthroughascreenreader.Eachimageinthe
documentationalsoincludesadequatealternativetextsothatvisuallyimpaireduserscanunderstandthe
imagewhentheyuseascreenreader.

Movingyourcomputertoanothercountryorregion

Whenyoumoveyourcomputertoanothercountryorregion,youmusttakelocalelectricalstandards
intoconsideration.

Ifyourelocateyourcomputertoacountryorregionthatusesanelectricaloutletstyledifferentfromthe
typeyouarecurrentlyusing,youwillhavetopurchaseeitherelectricalplugadaptersornewpowercords.
YoucanorderpowercordsdirectlyfromLenovo.

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

Chapter3.Youandyourcomputer29

30ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Chapter4.Security

Thischapterprovidesinformationabouthowtoprotectyourcomputerfromtheftandunauthorizeduse.

Securityfeatures

Thefollowingsecurityfeaturesareavailableonyourcomputer:

•ComputraceAgentsoftwareembeddedinfirmware
TheComputraceAgentsoftwareisanITassetmanagementandcomputertheftrecoverysolution.

Thesoftwaredetectsifchangeshavebeenmadeonthecomputer,suchashardware,software,or
thecomputercall-inlocation.

Note:YoumighthavetopurchaseasubscriptiontoactivatetheComputraceAgentsoftware.

•Coverpresenceswitch(alsocalledintrusionswitch)
Thecoverpresenceswitchpreventsyourcomputerfromloggingintotheoperatingsystemwhenthe

computercoverisnotproperlyinstalledorclosed.Toenablethecoverpresenceswitchconnector
onthesystemboard,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35.

2.Settheadministratorpassword.See“Setting,changing,anddeletingapassword”onpage36.

3.FromtheSecuritysubmenu,selectChassisIntrusionDetection➙Enabled.Thecoverpresence
switchconnectoronthesystemboardisenabled.

Whenyouturnonthecomputer,ifthecoverpresenceswitchdetectsthatyourcomputercoverisnot
correctlyinstalledorclosed,anerrormessagewillbedisplayed.Tobypasstheerrormessageand
logintotheoperatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.Properlyinstallorcloseyourcomputercover.See“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage140.

2.PressF1toentertheSetupUtilityprogram.ThenpressF10tosaveandexittheSetupUtility
program.Theerrormessagewillnotbedisplayedagain.

•AbilitytoenableanddisabledevicesandUSBconnectors
Formoreinformation,see“Enablingordisablingadevice”onpage37.

•Integratedfingerprintreader(availableonsomemodels)
Fingerprintauthenticationcanreplacepasswordsandenablesimpleandsecureuseraccess.Formore

information,see“Usingfingerprintauthentication”onpage34.

•TrustedPlatformModule(TPM)
TrustedPlatformModuleisasecurecryptoprocessorthatcanstorecryptographickeysthatprotect

informationstoredinyourcomputer.

Lockingthecomputercover

Lockingthecomputercoverhelpspreventunauthorizedpeoplefromgainingaccesstotheinsideofyour
computer.Yourcomputermightcomewithakeylock1thatisbuiltintothecomputercover.Thekeys
forthekeylockareattachedtotherearofthemachine.Forsecurity,storethekeysinasecureplace
whenyouarenotusingthem.

Note:Thekeylockandkeysareavailableonlyinsomemodels.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

31

Figure7.Lockingthecomputercover

32ThinkStationP900UserGuide

AttachingaKensington-stylecablelock

YoucanuseaKensington-stylecablelocktosecureyourcomputertoadesk,table,orothernon-permanent
fixture.Thecablelockattachestothesecurity-lockslotattherearofyourcomputer.Dependingonthetype
selected,thecablelockcanbeoperatedwithakeyorcombination.Thecablelockalsolocksthebuttons
usedtoopenthecomputercover.Thisisthesametypeoflockusedwithmanynotebookcomputers.You
canordersuchacablelockdirectlyfromLenovobysearchingforKensingtonat:
http://www.lenovo.com/support

Figure8.Kensington-stylecablelock

UsingpasswordsandWindowsaccounts

YoucanuseBIOSpasswordsandWindowsaccountstopreventunauthorizedaccesstoyourcomputerand
data.

•TouseBIOSpasswords,see“UsingBIOSpasswords”onpage36

•TouseWindowsaccounts,dothefollowing:

1.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

–ForWindows7:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickControlPanel➙

UserAccounts.

.

Chapter4.Security33

–ForWindows8.1:Movethepointertothetop-rightorbottom-rightcornerofthescreentodisplay

thecharms.Then,clickSettings➙ChangePCsettings➙Accounts.

–ForWindows10:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickSettings➙

Accounts.

2.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

Usingfingerprintauthentication

Ifyourkeyboardhasafingerprintreader,youcanusefingerprintauthenticationtoreplacepasswordsfor
simpleandsecureuseraccess.T ousefingerprintauthentication,firstenrollyourfingerprintsandassociate
themwithyourpasswords(suchasthepower-onpassword,harddiskpassword,andWindowspassword).
Usethefingerprintreaderandthefingerprintprogramtocompletethisprocedure.

Tousefingerprintauthentication,dothefollowing:

•ForWindows7orWindows8.1:UsetheFingerprintManagerProorThinkVantageFingerprintSoftware
programprovidedbyLenovo.T oopentheprogram,see“Accessingaprogramonyourcomputer”on
page13

•ForWindows10:UsethefingerprinttoolprovidedbyWindows.ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStart
menu,andthenclickSettings➙Accounts➙Sign-inoptions.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

Tousethefingerprintreader,refertothedocumentationshippedwiththefingerprintkeyboardorlocatedon
theLenovoSupportWebsiteathttp://www.lenovo.com/support/keyboards.

.Formoreinformationaboutusingtheprogram,refertothehelpsystemoftheprogram.

Usingandunderstandingfirewalls

Afirewallcanbehardware,software,oracombinationofbothdependingonthelevelofsecurityrequired.
Firewallsworkonasetofrulestodeterminewhichinboundandoutboundconnectionsareauthorized.If
yourcomputerispreinstalledwithafirewallprogram,ithelpsprotectagainstcomputerInternetsecurity
threats,unauthorizedaccess,intrusions,andInternetattacks.Italsoprotectsyourprivacy.Formore
informationabouthowtousethefirewallprogram,refertothehelpsystemofyourfirewallprogram.

TheWindowsoperatingsystempreinstalledonyourcomputerprovidestheWindowsFirewall.Fordetailson
usingtheWindowsFirewall,referto“Windowshelpsystem”onpage143

.

Protectingdataagainstviruses

Yourcomputerispreinstalledwithanantivirusprogramtohelpyouguardagainst,detect,andeliminate
viruses.

Lenovoprovidesafullversionofantivirussoftwareonyourcomputerwithafree30-daysubscription.After
30days,youmustrenewthelicensetocontinuereceivingtheantivirussoftwareupdates.

Note:Virusdefinitionfilesmustbekeptup-to-datetoguardagainstnewviruses.

Formoreinformationabouthowtouseyourantivirussoftware,refertothehelpsystemofyourantivirus
software.

34ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Chapter5.Advancedconfiguration

Thischapterprovidesthefollowinginformationtohelpyouconfigurethecomputer:

•“UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35

•“UpdatingorrecoveringtheBIOS”onpage39

•“ConfiguringRAID”onpage41

UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram

TheSetupUtilityprogramisusedtoviewandchangetheconfigurationsettingsofyourcomputer,regardless
ofwhichoperatingsystemyouareusing.However,theoperatingsystemsettingsmightoverrideanysimilar
settingsintheSetupUtilityprogram.

StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram

TostarttheSetupUtilityprogram,dothefollowing:

1.Ensurethatyourcomputeristurnedoff.

2.Turnonthecomputer.Inthestartupprocess,repeatedlypresstheF1keyuntilthemainpageofthe
SetupUtilityprogramisdisplayed.

Note:Ifapower-onpasswordoranadministratorpasswordhasbeenset,theSetupUtilityprogram
menuwillnotbedisplayeduntilyouenterthecorrectpassword.Formoreinformation,see“Using
BIOSpasswords”onpage36

.

WhenthePOSTdetectsthattheharddiskdrivehasbeenremovedfromyourcomputerorthememorysize
hasdecreased,anerrormessagewillbedisplayed.Y oumustdooneofthefollowing:

•PressF1toentertheSetupUtilityprogram.

Note:AfteryouentertheSetupUtilityprogram,pressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtility
program.PressEnterwhenpromptedtoconfirmtheexit.Theerrormessagewillnotbedisplayedagain.

•PressF2tobypasstheerrormessageandlogintotheoperatingsystem.

Note:YouhavetoenabletheconfigurationchangedetectionfeatureforthePOSTtodetecttheremovalof
theharddiskdrive.T oenabletheconfigurationchangedetectionfeature,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectSecurity➙ConfigurationChangeDetection,
andpressEnter.

3.SelectEnabledandpressEnter.

4.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.PressEnterwhenpromptedtoconfirm
theexit.

Viewingandchangingsettings

TheSetupUtilityprogrammenulistsvariousitemsaboutthesystemconfiguration.Tovieworchange
settings,starttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35
theinstructionsonthescreen.

.Then,follow

Youcanuseeitherthekeyboardorthemousetonavigatethroughmenuchoices.Thekeysusedtoperform
varioustasksaredisplayedatthebottomofeachscreen.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

35

UsingBIOSpasswords

ByusingtheSetupUtilityprogram,youcansetpasswordstopreventunauthorizedaccesstoyourcomputer
anddata.

Youdonothavetosetanypasswordstouseyourcomputer.However,usingpasswordsimprovescomputer
security.Ifyoudecidetosetanypasswords,readthefollowingtopics.

SetupUtilityprogrampasswordtypes

Thefollowingtypesofpasswordsareavailable:

•Power-onpassword
Whenapower-onpasswordisset,youarepromptedtoenteravalidpasswordeachtimethecomputeris
turnedon.Thecomputercannotbeuseduntilthevalidpasswordisentered.

•Administratorpassword
Settinganadministratorpassworddetersunauthorizedusersfromchangingconfigurationsettings.Ifyou
areresponsibleformaintainingtheconfigurationsettingsofseveralcomputers,youmightwanttoset
anAdministratorpassword.

Whenanadministratorpasswordisset,youarepromptedtoenteravalidpasswordeachtimeyou
trytoaccesstheSetupUtilityprogram.TheSetupUtilityprogramcannotbeaccesseduntilavalid
passwordisentered.

Ifboththepower-onpasswordandadministratorpasswordareset,youcanentereitherpassword.
However,youmustuseyourAdministratorpasswordtochangeanyconfigurationsettings.

•Harddiskpassword
Settingaharddiskpasswordpreventsunauthorizedaccesstothedataontheharddiskdrive.Whena
harddiskpasswordisset,youarepromptedtoenteravalidpasswordeachtimeyoutrytoaccessthe
harddiskdrive.

Notes:

–Afteryousetaharddiskpassword,yourdataontheharddiskdriveisprotectedeveniftheharddisk

driveisremovedfromonecomputerandinstalledinanother.

–Iftheharddiskpasswordisforgotten,thereisnowaytoresetthepasswordorrecoverdatafromthe

harddiskdrive.

Passwordconsiderations

Apasswordcanbeanycombinationofupto64alphabeticandnumericcharacters.Forsecurityreasons,it
isrecommendedtouseastrongpasswordthatcannotbeeasilycompromised.

Note:TheSetupUtilityprogrampasswordsarenotcasesensitive.

Tosetastrongpassword,considerthefollowingguidelines:

•Haveatleasteightcharactersinlength

•Containatleastonealphabeticcharacterandonenumericcharacter

•Notbeyournameoryourusername

•Notbeacommonwordoracommonname

•Besignificantlydifferentfromyourpreviouspasswords

Setting,changing,anddeletingapassword

Toset,change,ordeleteapassword,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectSecurity.

36ThinkStationP900UserGuide

3.Dependingonthepasswordtype,selectSetPower-OnPassword,SetAdministratorPassword,or
HardDiskPassword.

4.Followtheinstructionsontherightsideofthescreentoset,change,ordeleteapassword.

Note:Apasswordcanbeanycombinationofupto64alphabeticandnumericcharacters.Formore
information,see“Passwordconsiderations”onpage36

.

Erasinglostorforgottenpasswords(clearingCMOS)

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoeraselostorforgottenpasswords,suchasauserpassword.

Toerasealostorforgottenpassword,dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage73.

3.LocatetheClearCMOS/Recoveryjumperonthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartsonthesystem
board”onpage5.

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

5.Reinstallthecomputercoverandconnectthepowercord.See“Completingthepartsreplacement”on
page140.

6.Turnonthecomputerandleaveitonforapproximately10seconds.Then,turnoffthecomputerby
holdingthepowerbuttonforapproximatelyfiveseconds.

7.Repeatstep1throughstep2.

8.MovetheClearCMOS/Recoveryjumperbacktothestandardposition(pin1andpin2).

9.Reinstallthecomputercoverandconnectthepowercord.See“Completingthepartsreplacement”on
page140.

Enablingordisablingadevice

Thissectionprovidesinformationonhowtoenableordisableuseraccesstothefollowingdevices:

USBSetupUsethisoptiontoenableordisableaUSBconnector.WhenaUSBconnectoris

disabled,thedeviceconnectedtotheUSBconnectorcannotbeused.

SATAControllerWhenthisoptionissettoDisable,alldevicesconnectedtotheSATAconnectors

(suchasharddiskdrivesoropticaldrives)aredisabledandcannotbeaccessed.

Toenableordisableadevice,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectDevices.

3.Dependingonthedeviceyouwanttoenableordisable,dooneofthefollowing:

•SelectUSBSetuptoenableordisableaUSBdevice.

•SelectATADriveSetuptoenableordisableaninternalorexternalSATAdevice.

4.SelectthedesiredsettingsandpressEnter.

5.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.See“ExitingtheSetupUtilityprogram”
onpage39.

Chapter5.Advancedconfiguration37

Selectingastartupdevice

Ifyourcomputerdoesnotstartupfromadeviceasexpected,dooneofthefollowingtoselectthestartup
deviceyouwant.

Selectingatemporarystartupdevice

Usethisproceduretoselectatemporarystartupdevice.

Note:Notalldiscsandharddiskdrivesarebootable.

1.Turnonorrestartyourcomputer.

2.Whenyouseethelogoscreen,repeatedlypressandreleasetheF12key.TheStartupDeviceMenu
windowisdisplayed.

3.SelectthedesiredstartupdeviceandpressEnter.Thecomputerwillstartupfromthedeviceyou
selected.

Note:SelectingastartupdevicefromtheStartupDeviceMenuwindowdoesnotpermanentlychange
thestartupsequence.

Selectingorchangingthestartupdevicesequence

Tovieworpermanentlychangetheconfiguredstartupdevicesequence,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectStartup.

3.SelectthedevicesforthePrimaryStartupSequence,theAutomaticStartupSequence,andtheError
StartupSequence.Readtheinformationdisplayedontherightsideofthescreen.

4.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.See“ExitingtheSetupUtilityprogram”
onpage39.

EnablingErPLPScompliancemode

Lenovocomputersmeettheeco-designrequirementsoftheErPLot3regulation.Formoreinformation,go
to:
http://www.lenovo.com/ecodeclaration

YoucanenableErPLPScompliancemodeintheSetupUtilityprogramtoreducetheconsumptionof
electricitywhenyourcomputerisofforinsleepmode.

ToenableErPLPScompliancemodeintheSetupUtilityprogram,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectPower➙EnhancedPowerSavingMode,and
pressEnter.

3.SelectEnabledandpressEnter.

4.FromthePowermenu,selectAutomaticPowerOnandpressEnter.

5.SelectWakeonLanandpressEnter.

6.SelectDisabledandpressEnter.

7.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.PressEnterwhenpromptedtoconfirm
theexit.

WhenErPLPScompliancemodeisenabled,youcanwakeupyourcomputerbydoingoneofthefollowing:

•Pressthepowerbutton

•Enablethewakeuponalarmfeature

38ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Thewakeuponalarmfeatureenablesyourcomputertowakeupatasettime.Toenablethewake
uponalarmfeature,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectPower➙AutomaticPowerOn,andpressEnter.

3.SelectWakeUponAlarmandpressEnter.Thenfollowtheinstructionsonthescreen.

4.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.PressEnterwhenpromptedto
confirmtheexit.

•Enabletheafterpowerlossfeature
Theafterpowerlossfeatureenablesyourcomputertowakeupwhenthepowersupplyresumesaftera

suddenlossofelectricity.T oenabletheafterpowerlossfeature,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectPower➙AfterPowerLoss,andpressEnter.

3.SelectPowerOnandpressEnter.

4.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.PressEnterwhenpromptedto
confirmtheexit.

ExitingtheSetupUtilityprogram

Afteryoufinishviewingorchangingsettings,pressEsctoreturntotheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu.
YoumighthavetopressEscseveraltimes.Dooneofthefollowing:

•Ifyouwanttosavethenewsettings,pressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.

•Ifyoudonotwanttosavethesettings,selectExit➙DiscardChangesandExit,andthenpressEnter.
WhentheResetWithoutSavingwindowdisplays,selectY es,andthenpressEntertoexittheSetup
Utilityprogram.

•Ifyouwanttoreturntothedefaultsettings,pressF9toloadthedefaultsettings,andthenpressF10to
saveandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.

UpdatingorrecoveringtheBIOS

LenovomightmakechangesandenhancementstotheBIOS.Whenupdatesarereleased,theyareavailable
asdownloadablefilesontheLenovoWebsiteathttp://www.lenovo.com/support.Instructionsforusingthe
BIOSupdatesareavailableinaTXTfilethatisincludedwiththeupdatefiles.Formostmodels,youcan
downloadeitheranupdateprogramtocreateasystem-program-updatediscoranupdateprogramthat
canberunfromtheoperatingsystem.

ThischapterprovidesinformationaboutupdatingtheBIOS,andhowtorecoverfromaBIOSupdatefailure.

BIOSlevels

AnincorrectlevelofBIOScancausefalseerrorsandunnecessaryFRUreplacement.Usethefollowing
informationtodeterminethecurrentlevelofBIOSinstalledinthecomputer,thelatestBIOSavailableforthe
computer,andwheretoobtainthelatestlevelofBIOS.

•TodeterminethecurrentLevelofBIOS:

1.StarttheSetupUtility.

2.OntheMainpage,viewtheinformationinBIOSRevisionLevelontherightpane.

•SourcesforobtainingthelatestlevelBIOSavailable
–Lenovosupportwebsite:http://www.lenovo.com/support/
–lenovoCustomerSupportCenter
–Levels1and2Support

Chapter5.Advancedconfiguration39

ToupdatetheBIOS,see“UpdatingorrecoveringtheBIOS”onpage39.

Note:BIOSsettingsvarybyoperatingsystem.ChangetheBIOSsettingsbeforeinstallinganewoperating
system.See“ChangingtheBIOSsettingsbeforeinstallinganewoperatingsystem”onpage40.

Usingsystemprograms

Systemprogramsarethebasiclayerofsoftwarebuiltintoyourcomputer.Systemprogramsincludethe
POST,theBIOS,andtheSetupUtilityprogram.ThePOSTisasetoftestsandproceduresthatare
performedeachtimeyouturnonyourcomputer.TheBIOSisalayerofsoftwarethattranslatesinstructions
fromotherlayersofsoftwareintoelectricalsignalsthatthecomputerhardwarecanexecute.Youcanusethe
SetupUtilityprogramtovieworchangetheconfigurationsettingsofyourcomputer.See“UsingtheSetup
Utilityprogram”onpage35

Thesystemboardofyourcomputerhasamodulecalledelectricallyerasableprogrammableread-only
memory(EEPROM,alsoreferredtoasflashmemory).ItenablesyoutoupdatethePOST,theBIOS,and
theSetupUtilityprogrameasily.Toperformsuchanupdate,youcaneitherstartyourcomputerwitha
system-program-updatediscorrunaspecialupdateprogramfromyouroperatingsystem.

LenovomightmakechangesandenhancementstothePOSTandBIOS.Whenupdatesarereleased,they
areavailableasdownloadablefilesontheLenovoWebsiteathttp://www.lenovo.com.Instructionsforusing
thePOSTandBIOSupdatesareavailableinaTXTfilethatisincludedwiththeupdatefiles.Formost
models,youcandownloadanupdateprogramthatcanbeusedtocreateasystem-program-updatedisc
orberunfromtheoperatingsystem.

fordetailedinformation.

ChangingtheBIOSsettingsbeforeinstallinganewoperatingsystem

BIOSsettingsvarybyoperatingsystem.ChangetheBIOSsettingsbeforeinstallinganewoperatingsystem.

TochangetheBIOSsettings,dothefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectExit➙OSOptimizedDefault.

3.Dependingontheoperatingsystemtobeinstalled,dooneofthefollowing:

•ToinstalltheWindows8.1(64-bit)operatingsystem,selectEnabled.

•ToinstallanoperatingsystemotherthanWindows8.1(64-bit),selectDisabled.

4.SelectYesinthewindowdisplayedandpressEntertoconfirmyourselection.

5.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.See“ExitingtheSetupUtilityprogram”
onpage39.

UpdatingtheBIOS

Whenyouinstallanewprogram,hardwaredevice,ordevicedriver,youmightbeinformedtoupdate
theBIOS.Y oucanupdatetheBIOSfromyouroperatingsystemoraflashupdatedisc(supportedonly
onsomemodels).

ToupdatetheBIOS,dothefollowing:

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

2.ToupdatetheBIOSfromyouroperatingsystem,downloadtheflashBIOSupdatedriveraccordingto
youroperatingsystemversion.ToupdatetheBIOSfromaflashupdatedisc,downloadtheISOimage
version(usedtocreateaflashupdatedisc).Then,downloadtheinstallationinstructionsfortheflash
BIOSupdatedriver.

3.PrinttheinstallationinstructionsyoudownloadandfollowtheinstructionstoupdatetheBIOS.

40ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Note:IfyouwanttoupdatetheBIOSfromaflashupdatedisc,theinstallationinstructionsmightnotprovide

theinformationabouthowtorecordtheupdatedisc.See“Recordingadisc”onpage20.

RecoveringfromaBIOSupdatefailure

TorecoverfromaBIOSupdatefailure,dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage73.

3.LocatetheClearCMOS/Recoveryjumperonthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartsonthesystem
board”onpage5.

4.RemoveanycablesthatimpedeaccesstotheClearCMOS/Recoveryjumper.

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

6.ReconnectanycablesthatweredisconnectedandreinstallthePCIcardifremoved.

7.Reinstallthecomputercoverandreconnectthepowercordsforthecomputerandmonitortoelectrical
outlets.See“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage140.

8.PressthepowerbuttontoturnonthecomputerandinserttheBIOSupdatediscintotheopticaldrive.
Waitafewminutes.Therecoveryprocessbegins.Aftertherecoveryprocessiscompleted,your
computerwillbeturnedoffautomatically.

Note:Dependingonthecomputermodel,therecoveryprocesswilltaketwotothreeminutes.

9.Repeatstep1throughstep4.

10.MovetheClearCMOS/Recoveryjumperbacktothestandardposition(pin1andpin2).

11.ReconnectanycablesthatweredisconnectedandreinstallthePCIcardifremoved.

12.Reinstallthecomputercoverandreconnectanycablesthatweredisconnected.

13.Pressthepowerbuttontoturnonthecomputerandrestarttheoperatingsystem.

ConfiguringRAID

ThischapterprovidesinstructionsonhowtoinstallharddiskdrivesandconfigureRedundantArrayof
IndependentDisks(RAID)foryourcomputer.Dependingonyourcomputermodel,RAIDcanbeenabledby
IntelRapidStorageTechnologyenterprise(RSTe)ortheLSIMegaRAIDBIOS.

Note:TheRAIDconfigurationinformationdescribedinthischapterisonlyapplicableintheWindows
environment.ForinformationaboutconfiguringRAIDintheLinuxenvironment,contactyourLinuxsoftware
provider.

Thischapterprovidesinformationaboutthefollowingtopics:

•“ConfiguringRAIDwithIntelRST e”onpage41

•“QuickRAIDsetupusingtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility”onpage44

ConfiguringRAIDwithIntelRST e

IfyourcomputercomeswithIntelRST e,youcanfollowthesectionsbelowtoconfigureRAIDwithIntelRSTe.

Thissectionprovidesinformationaboutthefollowingtopics:

•“InstallingSATAorSASharddiskdrives”onpage42

•“ConfiguringSATAorSASRAIDfunctionalitywiththeIntelRST econfigurationutility”onpage42

Chapter5.Advancedconfiguration41

InstallingSATAorSASharddiskdrives

EnsurethatyourcomputerhastheminimumnumberofSATAorSASharddiskdrivesinstalledforthe
followingsupportedlevelsofRAID:

•RAIDLevel0-Stripeddiskarray

–ARAIDLevel0harddiskdrivegroupconsistingofatleasttwoharddiskdrives
–Supportedstripsize:4KB,8KB,16KB,32KB,64KB,or128KB
–Betterperformancewithoutfaulttolerance

•RAIDLevel1-Mirroreddiskarray

–ARAIDLevel1harddiskdrivegroupconsistingoftwoharddiskdrives
–Improvedreadingperformanceand100%redundancy

•RAIDLevel10-Stripedandmirroreddiskarray(acombinationofRAIDLevel0andRAIDLevel1)

–ARAIDLevel10harddiskdrivegroupconsistingoffourharddiskdrives
–Supportedstripsize:4KB,8KB,16KB,32KB,or64KB

•RAIDLevel5-Block-levelstripeddiskarraywithdistributedparity

–ARAIDLevel5harddiskdrivegroupconsistingofatleastthreeharddiskdrives
–Supportedstripsize:4KB,8KB,16KB,32KB,or64KB
–Betterperformanceandfaulttolerance

Ensurethatoneofthefollowingharddiskdriveenablementmodulesisinstalledinyourcomputer:

•IfzerotofourSATAharddiskdrivesorsolidstatedrivesareinstalled,noharddiskdriveenablement
moduleisneeded.

•IffiveSA TAharddiskdrivesorsolidstatedrivesareinstalled,theSATAharddiskdriveenablement
module(onetofiveharddiskdrives)isrequired.

•IfanySASharddiskdrivesareinstalled,theSASharddiskdriveenablementmodule(onetofivehard
diskdrives)isrequired.

ConfiguringSA TAorSASRAIDfunctionalitywiththeIntelRSTeconfigurationutility

ThissectiondescribestheinformationaboutconfiguringSATAorSASRAIDfunctionalitywiththeIntel
RSTeconfigurationutility.

Note:TheIntelRSTeconfigurationutilityassumesthatyourcomputerisinstalledwithmorethanonehard
diskdrive.Therefore,ifonlyoneharddiskdriveisinstalledinyourcomputer,thefollowinginformation
doesnotapply.

Thissectionprovidesinformationaboutthefollowingtopics:

•“EnteringtheIntelRSTeconfigurationutility”onpage42

•“CreatingRAIDvolumesusingtheIntelRSTeconfigurationutility”onpage43

•“DeletingRAIDvolumesusingtheIntelRSTeconfigurationutility”onpage43

•“Resettingharddiskdrivestonon-RAID”onpage43

EnteringtheIntelRSTeconfigurationutility

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoentertheIntelRST econfigurationutility.

Duringthecomputerstartup,followtheinstructionsonthescreen.PressCtrl+ItoentertheIntelRSTe
configurationutility.

42ThinkStationP900UserGuide

ThefollowingfouroptionsaredisplayedafteryouentertheIntelRST econfigurationutility:

1.CreateRAIDVolume

2.DeleteRAIDVolume

3.ResetDiskstoNon‐RAID

4.Exit

Presstheupanddownarrowkeystoselectanoption.PressEntertoenterthemenufortheselected
option.PressEsctoexittheIntelRST econfigurationutility,orselectExit,andthenpressEntertoexitthe
IntelRSTeconfigurationutility.

CreatingRAIDvolumesusingtheIntelRST econfigurationutility

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtousetheIntelRSTeconfigurationutilitytocreateRAIDvolumes.

TocreateaRAIDvolume,dothefollowing:

1.EntertheIntelRSTeconfigurationutility.See“EnteringtheIntelRSTeconfigurationutility”onpage42.

2.PresstheupanddownarrowkeystoselectCreateRAIDVolume,andthenpressEntertoviewthe
CREATEVOLUMEMENUwindow.

3.Thefollowingfiveoptionsaredisplayed.Presstheupanddownarrowkeystoselectanoption.After
youconfigureanoption,pressTaborEntertogotothenextoption.

a.Name:Volumename.Y oucanusethedefaultnameortypeapreferredname.
b.RAIDLevel:YoucanchangetheRAIDLeveltooneofthefollowing:

•RAIDLevel0

•RAIDLevel1

•RAIDLevel10

•RAIDLevel5

c.Disks:PressEntertoentertheSELECTDISKSMENUwindow.Followtheinstructionsatthebottom

ofthemenutoselectharddiskdrives,andthenpressEntertocompletetheconfiguration.
d.StripSize:Presstheupanddownarrowkeystoselectastripsize.
e.Capacity:CustomizethecapacityoftheRAIDvolume.ThedefaultRAIDvolumeisthelargestvalue.

4.PressEntertofinishconfiguringallthefiveoptions.Whenprompted,pressYtoconfirmthecreationof
thenewRAIDvolume.

5.AfterthenewRAIDvolumeiscreated,theinformationabouttheRAIDvolumewillbedisplayedunder
DISK/VOLUMEINFORMATION,suchasIDnumber,name,RAIDlevel,stripsize,volumesize,status,
andwhetheritisabootablevolume.

DeletingRAIDvolumesusingtheIntelRST econfigurationutility

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtousetheIntelRSTeconfigurationutilitytodeleteRAIDvolumes.

TodeleteaRAIDvolume,dothefollowing:

1.EntertheIntelRSTeconfigurationutility.See“EnteringtheIntelRSTeconfigurationutility”onpage42.

2.PresstheupanddownarrowkeystoselectDeleteRAIDVolume.PressEntertoentertheDELETE
VOLUMEMENUwindow.

3.PresstheupanddownarrowkeystoselecttheRAIDvolumethatisnotneeded.PressDeltodeleteit
fromtheRAIDVolumeslist.

4.Whenprompted,pressYtoconfirmthedeletionoftheselectedRAIDvolume.

Resettingharddiskdrivestonon-RAID

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoresetharddiskdrivestonon-RAID.

Chapter5.Advancedconfiguration43

Toresetharddiskdrivestonon-RAID,dothefollowing:

1.EntertheIntelRSTeconfigurationutility.See“EnteringtheIntelRSTeconfigurationutility”onpage42.

2.PresstheupanddownarrowkeystoselectResetDiskstoNon-RAID.PressEntertoenterthe
RESETRAIDDATAwindow.

3.Usetheupanddownarrowkeysandthespacekeytomarkindividualharddiskdrivetobereset,
andthenpressEntertocompletetheselection.

4.Whenprompted,pressYtoconfirmtheresetaction.

5.IftheharddiskdriveyouresetispartofaRAIDvolume,thecomputermightdetectthattheRAIDvolume
isdegraded.Inthiscase,youarepromptedtoselectaharddiskdrivetoinitiatearebuildprocess.

6.Selectanavailableharddiskdrive,andthenpressEntertoinitiatetherebuildprocess.

Note:PressEsctocancelarebuildprocessandkeeptheRAIDvolumeinthedegradedstatus.Inthe
MainMenuwindowunderDISK/VOLUMEINFORMA TION,youwillseethestatusoftheRAIDvolume
ischangedtoDegraded.

QuickRAIDsetupusingtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility

Notes:

•TheLSIMegaRAIDSASadapterandtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutilityareonlyavailable
onsomemodels.

•Thefollowingstepsinthissectionareintendedtoguideyouthroughaquicksetupofbasic
RAIDfunctionswiththeLSIMegaRAIDSASadapter.Foradvancedsetupandconfiguration
usingthisadapter,refertothecompleteMegaRAIDSASSoftwareUserGuidethatisavailableat
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/guides-and-manuals/detail.page?DocID=UM007543.

Thissectionprovidesinformationaboutthefollowingtopics:

•“InstallingSATAorSASharddiskdrives”onpage44

•“EnteringtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility”onpage45

•“CreatingRAIDvolumesusingtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility”onpage45

•“DeletingRAIDvolumesusingtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility”onpage46

•“Settingthehotspareharddiskdrive”onpage46

InstallingSATAorSASharddiskdrives

EnsurethatyourcomputerhastheminimumnumberofSATAorSASharddiskdrivesinstalledforthe
followingsupportedlevelsofRAID:

•RAIDLevel0-Stripeddiskarray

–ARAIDLevel0harddiskdrivegroupconsistingofatleastoneharddiskdrive
–Supportedstripsize:8KBto1MB
–Betterperformancewithoutfaulttolerance

•RAIDLevel00-SpannedharddiskdrivegroupwithaseriesofRAID0harddiskdrivegroups

–ARAIDLevel00harddiskdrivegroupconsistingoftwoorfourharddiskdrives
–Supportedstripsize:8KBto1MB
–Betterperformancewithoutfaulttolerance

•RAIDLevel1-Mirroreddiskarray

–ARAIDLevel1harddiskdrivegroupconsistingoftwoorfourharddiskdrives
–Improvedreadperformanceand100%redundancy

44ThinkStationP900UserGuide

•RAIDLevel10-AcombinationofRAIDLevel0andRAIDLevel1

–ARAIDLevel10harddiskdrivegroupconsistingoffourharddiskdrives
–Databeingstripedacrossharddiskdrivegroups
–Providesbothhighdatatransferratesandcompletedataredundancy

•RAIDLevel5-Block-levelstripeddiskarraywithdistributedparity

–ARAIDLevel5harddiskdrivegroupconsistingofatleastthreeharddiskdrives
–Supportedstripsize:8KBto1MB
–Betterperformanceandfaulttolerance
–RAIDLevel5mightnotbeavailableonallmodelsofLSIMegaRAIDadapter

•RAIDLevel6-Block-levelstripeddiskarraywithdualdistributedparity

–ARAIDLevel6harddiskdrivegroupconsistingofatleastfourharddiskdrives
–Supportedstripsize:8KBto1MB
–Betterperformanceandfaulttolerancethatcanstanduptolossoftwoharddiskdrives
–RAIDLevel6mightnotbeavailableonallmodelsofLSIMegaRAIDadapter

EnsurethattheLSIMegaRAIDSASadaptercardisinstalledinyourcomputer,andthattheharddiskdrives
areconnectedtothisadaptercardandnottotheconnectorsonthesystemboard.

EnteringtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoentertheLSIMegeRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility.

ToentertheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility,dothefollowing:

1.Duringthecomputerstartup,followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

2.PressCtrl+HtoentertheCONTROLLERSELECTIONwindow.

3.Selectthecontrolleryouwanttoconfigure,andthenclickStarttoentertheLSIMegaRAIDBIOS
configurationutility.

CreatingRAIDvolumesusingtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtocreateRAIDvolumesusingtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOS
configurationutility.

TocreateRAIDvolumesusingtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility,dothefollowing:

1.ClickConfigurationWizardontheWebBIOSmainscreentoentertheChoosingtheConfiguration
Typewindow.

2.Presstheupanddownarrowkeystoselectoneofthethreeconfigurationtypes:

•ClearConfiguration:Cleartheexistingconfiguration.

•NewConfiguration:Cleartheexistingconfigurationandcreatenewconfiguration.

•AddConfiguration:Retaintheexistingstorageconfigurationandaddnewharddiskdrives.The

newconfigurationwillnotcauseanydataloss.

3.SelectAddConfiguration,andthenclickNext.Thefollowingtwooptionsaredisplayedinthe
ConfigurationMethodwindow.

•ManualConfiguration:Manuallycreateharddiskdrivegroupsandvirtualharddiskdrives,and

setparameters.

•AutomaticConfiguration:AutomaticallycreateanoptimalRAIDconfiguration.

Chapter5.Advancedconfiguration45

4.SelectManualConfiguration,andthenclickNext.TheDriveGroupDefinitionwindowisdisplayed.To
createharddiskdrivegroups,dothefollowing:

a.Selectoneormoreharddiskdrivesforthegroup(keeppressingCtrlwhileselectingmorethan

oneharddiskdrive).
b.ClickAddToArraytomovetheselectedharddiskdrivestoDriveGroups.
c.ClickAcceptDGtocreatetheharddiskdrivegroup.
d.Repeattheabovestepsifyouwanttocreatemorethanoneharddiskdrivegroup.

5.ClickNext.TheSpanDefinitionwindowisdisplayed.Selecttheharddiskdrivegroupthatyouwant
toaddtoaspan,andthenclickAddtoSPAN.Repeatthisstepuntilyouhaveselectedallthehard
diskdrivegroupsyouwant.

6.ClickNext.TheVirtualDriveDefinitionwindowisdisplayed.Changethevirtualharddiskdriveoptions
fromthedefaultsettingslistedonthescreentothesettingsyouwant.ClickAccept,andthenfollow
theinstructionsonthescreentocustomizeyoursettings.

7.ClickNext,andthePreviewwindowisdisplayed.

8.Verifyyoursettings,andthenclickAccept.

9.ClickY estosavetheconfiguration.

DeletingRAIDvolumesusingtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility

ThissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtodeleteRAIDvolumesusingtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOS
configurationutility.

TodeleteRAIDvolumesusingtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility,dothefollowing:

1.EntertheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility.See“EnteringtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfiguration
utility”onpage45.

2.Clickthevirtualharddiskdrivesyouwanttodelete,andthentheVirtualDrivewindowisdisplayed.

3.ClickDelete,andthenclickGo.

4.ClickY estosaveyourchanges.

Settingthehotspareharddiskdrive

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtosetthehotspareharddiskdrive.

Tosetthehotspaceharddiskdrive,dothefollowing:

1.EntertheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutility.See“EnteringtheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfiguration
utility”onpage45.

2.Clicktheharddiskdriveyouwanttosetasthehotspareharddiskdrive.TheDrivewindowisdisplayed.

3.SelectMakeGlobalHSPorMakeDedicatedHSP,andthenclickGo.

4.ThemainscreenoftheLSIMegaRAIDBIOSconfigurationutilityisdisplayed,andtheharddiskdrive
youselectedislistedasahotspareharddiskdriveintherightpane.

46ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Chapter6.Preventingproblems

Thischapterprovidesinformationthatcanhelpyouavoidcommonproblemsandkeepyourcomputer
runningsmoothly.

Keepingyourcomputercurrent

Insomesituationsyoumightfinditnecessarytohavethemostcurrentsoftwareprograms,devicedrivers,or
operatingsystem.Thissectionexplainshowtogetthelatestupdatesforyourcomputer.

Gettingthelatestsystemupdates

Togetthelatestsystemupdatesforyourcomputer,ensurethatyourcomputerisconnectedtotheInternet
anddooneofthefollowing:

•UsethecorrespondingLenovoprogramtogetthesystemupdates,suchasdevicedriverupdates,
softwareupdates,andBIOSupdates.

–ForWindows7orWindows8.1:UsetheSystemUpdateprogram.
–ForWindows10:UsetheLenovoCompanionprogram.
ToopentheSystemUpdateorLenovoCompanionprogram,see“Accessingaprogramonyourcomputer”

onpage13

•UseWindowsUpdatetogetthesystemupdates,suchassecurityfixes,newversionsofWindows
components,anddevicedriverupdates.

1.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

.Formoreinformationaboutusingtheprogram,refertothehelpsystemoftheprogram.

–ForWindows7:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickControlPanel.View

ControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickWindowsUpdate.

–ForWindows8.1:Movethepointertothetop-rightorbottom-rightcornerofthescreento

displaythecharms.Then,clickSettings➙ChangePCsettings➙Updateandrecovery➙
WindowsUpdate.

–ForWindows10:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu.Then,clickSettings➙Update&

security➙WindowsUpdate.

2.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

Note:ThedevicedriversprovidedbyWindowsUpdatemightnotbetestedbyLenovo.Itis
recommendedthatyougetdevicedriversbyusingLenovoprogramsorfromtheLenovoWebsiteat
http://www.lenovo.com/support.

Cleaningandmaintenance

Withappropriatecareandmaintenanceyourcomputerwillserveyoureliably.Thefollowingtopicsoffer
informationtohelpyoukeepyourcomputerintopworkingorder.

Basics

Herearesomebasicpointsaboutkeepingyourcomputerfunctioningproperly:

•Keepyourcomputerinaclean,dryenvironment.Ensurethatthecomputerrestsonaflat,steadysurface.

•Donotcoveranyoftheventsinthecomputerormonitor.Theseventsprovideairflowtokeepyour
computerfromoverheating.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

47

•Keepfoodanddrinksawayfromallpartsofyourcomputer.Foodparticlesandspillsmightmakethe
keyboardandmousestickandunusable.

•Donotgetthepowerswitchesorothercontrolswet.Moisturecandamagethesepartsandcausean
electricalhazard.

•Alwaysdisconnectapowercordbygraspingthepluginsteadofthecord.

Cleaningyourcomputer

Itisagoodpracticetocleanyourcomputerperiodicallytoprotectthesurfacesandensuretrouble-free
operation.

CAUTION:
Besuretoturnoffthecomputerandmonitorbeforecleaningthecomputerandmonitorscreen.

Computer

Useonlymildcleaningsolutionsandadampclothtocleanthepaintedsurfacesofthecomputer.

Keyboard

Tocleanyourcomputerkeyboard,dothefollowing:

1.Applysomeisopropylrubbingalcoholtoasoft,dust-freecloth.

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

3.Toremoveanycrumbsordustfrombeneaththekeys,youcanuseacamerablowerwithabrush
orcoolairfromahairdryer.

Note:Avoidsprayingcleanerdirectlyontothekeyboard.

Opticalmouse

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

Tocleananopticalmouse,dothefollowing:

1.Turnoffyourcomputer.

2.Disconnectthemousecablefromthecomputer.

3.Turnthemouseupsidedowntocheckthelens.

•Ifthereisasmudgeonthelens,gentlycleantheareawithaplaincotton-tippedswab.

•Ifthereisdebrisinthelens,gentlyblowthedebrisawayfromthearea.

4.Checkthesurfaceonwhichyouareusingthemouse.Ifyouhaveaveryintricatepictureorpattern
beneaththemouse,itmightbedifficultforthedigitalsignalprocessortodeterminechangesinthe
mouseposition.

5.Reconnectthemousecabletothecomputer.

6.Turnyourcomputerbackon.

Displayscreen

Dustbuildupcompoundsproblemsassociatedwithglare.Remembertocleanyourmonitorscreen
periodically.

48ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Cleaningaflat-panelmonitorsurface

Tocleantheflexiblefilmsurfaceofaflat-panelcomputerdisplay,wipeitgentlywithasoft,drycloth,or
blowonthescreentoremovegritandotherlooseparticles.ThenmoistenaclothwithLCDcleanerand
wipethescreensurface.

Manycomputersupplystorescarrythespecialcleaningfluidsfordisplays.Usecleaningfluidsdevelopedfor
LCDdisplaysonly.Firstapplythefluidtoalint-free,softcloth,thencleantheLCDdisplay.Somecomputer
supplystorescarrypre-moistenedtowelettesforLCDmaintenance.

Cleaningaglass-screensurface

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

Goodmaintenancepractices

Byperformingafewgoodmaintenancepractices,youcanmaintaingoodcomputerperformance,protect
yourdata,andbepreparedincaseofacomputerfailure.

•Emptyyourrecyclebinonaregularbasis.

•Usethediskdefragmentationordiskoptimizationfeatureofyouroperatingsystemoccasionallyto
preventperformanceproblemscausedbyanexcessivenumberoffragmentedfiles.

•CleanoutyourInbox,SentItems,andDeletedItemsfoldersinyoure-mailapplicationonaregularbasis.

•Backupcriticaldataregularlyonremovablemediamemory,suchasdiscsandUSBstoragedrives,and
storetheremovablemediainasafelocation.Thefrequencyofmakingbackupcopiesdependson
howcriticalthedataistoyouoryourbusiness.

•Backupyourentireharddiskdriveonaregularbasis.SeeChapter8“Recoveryinformation”onpage65

•Keepyourcomputersoftware,devicedrivers,andoperatingsystemup-to-date.See“Keepingyour
computercurrent”onpage47.

•Keepalogbook.Entriesmightincludemajorsoftwareorhardwarechanges,device-driverupdates,
intermittentproblemsandwhatyoudidtoresolvethem,andotherissuesyoumighthaveexperienced.
Thecauseofaproblemmightbechangeinhardware,changeinsoftware,oranyotheractionsthatmight
havetakenplace.AlogbookcanhelpyouoraLenovotechniciandeterminesthecauseofaproblem.

•CreateProductRecoverydiscs.See“Creatingandusingrecoverymedia”onpage65
aboutusingProductRecoverydiscstorestoretheharddiskdrivetothefactory-defaultsettings.

•CreaterescuemediausingdiscsorUSBstoragedrivesasearlyaspossible.Youcanusearescue
mediumtorecoverfromfailuresthatpreventyoufromgainingaccesstotheWindowsenvironmentorthe
RescueandRecoveryworkspaceonyourharddiskdrive.

formoreinformation

.

Movingyourcomputer

Takethefollowingprecautionsbeforemovingyourcomputer:

1.Backupallfilesanddatafromtheharddiskdrive.Thereareavarietyofbackupprogramsavailable
commercially.IfyouusetheWindows7operatingsystem,LenovoprovidestheRescueandRecovery
programtohelpyoubackupandrestoredata.See“Performingbackupandrecoveryoperations”
onpage66.

2.Removeallmediafromyourcomputer,suchasdiscs,USBstoragedrives,memorycards,andsoon.

3.Turnoffthecomputerandallattacheddevices.Yourharddiskdriveautomaticallyparkstheread/write
headinanondataarea.Thispreventsdamagetotheharddiskdrive.

4.Unplugthepowercordsfromelectricaloutlets.

5.Disconnectcommunicationcables,suchasmodemornetworkcables,fromtheoutletsfirst,andthen
disconnecttheotherendsfromthecomputer.

Chapter6.Preventingproblems49

6.Notewhereanyremainingcablesareattachedtothecomputer;then,removethem.

7.Ifyousavedtheoriginalshippingcartonsandpackingmaterials,usethemtopacktheunits.Ifyouare
usingdifferentcartons,cushiontheunitstoavoiddamage.

50ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Chapter7.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics

Thischapterprovidesinformationaboutdiagnosingandtroubleshootingcomputerproblems.Ifyour
computerproblemisnotdescribedhere,seeChapter10“Gettinginformation,help,andservice”onpage
143foradditionaltroubleshootingresources.

Basictroubleshooting

Thefollowingtableprovidessomebasicinstructionstohelpyoutroubleshootyourcomputerproblems.

Note:Ifyoucannotcorrecttheproblem,havethecomputerserviced.Foralistofserviceandsupport
telephonenumbers,refertotheSafety,Warranty,andSetupGuidethatcomeswithyourcomputerorgoto
theLenovoSupportWebsiteat:
http://www.lenovo.com/support/phone

SymptomAction

Thecomputerdoesnotstart
whenyoupressthepower
button.

Themonitorscreenisblank.Ensurethat:

Thekeyboarddoesnotwork.Ensurethat:

Themousedoesnotwork.Ensurethat:

Ensurethat:

•Thepowercordiscorrectlyconnectedtotherearofthecomputerandtoa
workingelectricaloutlet.

•Ifyourcomputerhasasecondarypowerswitchontherearofthecomputer,
ensurethatitisswitchedon.

•Thepowerindicatoronthefrontofthecomputerison.

•Thecomputervoltagematchesthevoltageavailableattheelectricaloutletfor
yourcountryorregion.

•Themonitorsignalcableiscorrectlyconnectedtothemonitorandtothe
appropriatemonitorconnectoronthecomputer.

•Themonitorpowercordiscorrectlyconnectedtothemonitorandtoaworking
electricaloutlet.

•Themonitoristurnedonandthebrightnessandcontrastissetcorrectly.

•Thecomputervoltagematchesthevoltageavailableattheelectricaloutletfor
yourcountryorregion.

•Ifyourcomputerhasadiscretegraphicscardinstalled,besuretouseamonitor
connectoronthediscretegraphicscard.

•Thecomputeristurnedon.

•ThekeyboardissecurelyconnectedtoaPS/2keyboardconnectororaUSB
connectoronthecomputer.

•Nokeysarestuck.

•Thecomputeristurnedon.

•ThemouseissecurelyconnectedtoaPS/2mouseconnectororaUSB
connectoronthecomputer.

•Themouseisclean.Referto“Opticalmouse”onpage48forfurtherinformation.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

51

SymptomAction

Theoperatingsystemdoesnot
start.

Thecomputerbeepsmultiple
timesbeforetheoperating
systemstarts.

Ensurethatthestartupsequenceincludesthedevicewheretheoperatingsystem
resides.Usually,theoperatingsystemisontheharddiskdrive.Formore
information,see“Selectingastartupdevice”onpage38

Ensurethatnokeysarestuck.

.

Troubleshootingprocedure

Usethefollowingprocedureasastartingpointfordiagnosingproblemsyouareexperiencingwithyour
computer:

1.Ensurethatthecablesforallattacheddevicesareconnectedcorrectlyandsecurely.

2.Ensurethatallattacheddevicesthatrequireacpowerareconnectedtoproperlygrounded,functioning
electricaloutlets.

3.EnsurethatallattacheddevicesareenabledintheBIOSsettingsofyourcomputer.Formoreinformation
aboutaccessingandchangingtheBIOSsettings,referto“UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35.

4.Goto“Troubleshooting”onpage52andfollowtheinstructionsforthetypeofproblemyouare
experiencing.IftheTroubleshootinginformationdoesnothelpyouresolveaproblem,continuewiththe
nextstep.

5.Tryusingapreviouslycapturedconfigurationtoseeifarecentchangetohardwareorsoftwaresettings
hascausedaproblem.Beforerestoringapreviousconfiguration,captureyourcurrentconfigurationin
casetheolderconfigurationsettingsdonotsolvetheproblemorhaveadverseeffects.T orestorea
capturedconfiguration,dothefollowing:

a.OpenControlPanelbydoingoneofthefollowing:

•ForWindows7:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickControlPanel.

•ForWindows8.1:See“AccessingControlPanelontheWindows8.1operatingsystem”on
page22.

•ForWindows10:Right-clicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartcontextmenu,andthenclick
ControlPanel.

b.ViewControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickRecovery➙OpenSystemRestore.
c.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.
Ifthisdoesnotcorrecttheproblem,continuewiththenextstep.

6.Runthediagnosticprogram.See“LenovoSolutionCenter”onpage62formoreinformation.

•Ifthediagnosticprogramdetectsahardwarefailureorifyouareunabletorunthediagnostic
program,contacttheLenovoCustomerSupportCenter.SeeChapter10“Gettinginformation,help,
andservice”onpage143

formoreinformation.

•Ifthediagnosticprogramdoesnotdetectahardwarefailure,continuewiththenextstep.

7.Useanantivirusprogramtoseeifyourcomputerhasbeeninfectedbyavirus.Iftheprogramdetectsa
virus,removethevirus.

8.Ifnoneoftheseactionssolvetheproblem,seektechnicalassistance.SeeChapter10“Getting
information,help,andservice”onpage143formoreinformation.

Troubleshooting

Usethetroubleshootinginformationtofindsolutionstoproblemsthathavedefinitesymptoms.

Ifthesymptomoccurredimmediatelyafteryouinstallednewsoftwareoranewhardwareoption,dothe
followingbeforereferringtothetroubleshootinginformation:

52ThinkStationP900UserGuide

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

2.Runthediagnosticprogramtoensureyourcomputerisoperatingcorrectly.

3.Reinstallthenewhardwareoptionorsoftwarefollowingtheinstructionsprovidedbythemanufacturer.

Audioproblems

Thissectionprovidessolutionstoaudio-relatedproblems.

NoaudioinWindows

Solutions:

•IfyouareusingpoweredexternalspeakersthathaveanOn/Offcontrol,ensurethefollowing:

–TheOn/OffcontrolissettotheOnposition.
–Thespeakerpowercableisconnectedtoaproperlygrounded,functionalacelectricaloutlet.

•Ifyourexternalspeakershaveavolumecontrol,ensurethatthevolumeisnotsettoolow.

•OntheWindowsdesktop,clickthespeakericonintheWindowsnotificationarea.ThenclickMixer.
Ensurethatthemutespeakerssettingsarenotselectedandnoneofthevolumesettingsissettoolow.

•Somemodelshaveafrontaudiopanelyoucanusetoadjustvolume.Ifyouhaveafrontaudiopanel,
ensurethatthevolumeisnotsettoolow.

•Ensurethatyourexternalspeakers(andheadphones,ifused)areconnectedtothecorrectaudio
connectoronthecomputer.Mostspeakercablesarecolor-codedtomatchtheconnector.

Note:Whenexternal-speakerorheadphonecablesareattachedtotheaudioconnector,theinternal
speaker,ifpresent,isdisabled.Inmostcases,ifanaudioadapterisinstalledinoneoftheexpansion
slots,theaudiofunctionbuiltintothesystemboardisdisabled.Therefore,youmustusetheaudio
connectorsontheaudioadapter.

•EnsurethattheprogramyouarerunningisdesignedforuseintheMicrosoftWindowsoperatingsystem.
IftheprogramisdesignedtoruninDOS,theprogramdoesnotusetheWindowssoundfeature.The
programmustbeconfiguredtouseSoundBlasterProorSoundBlasteremulation.

•Ensurethattheaudiodevicedriversarecorrectlyinstalled.SeeMicrosoftWindowshelpsystemfor
moreinformation.

Soundcomesfromoneexternalspeakeronly

Solutions:

•Ensurethatthespeakercableisinsertedcompletelyintotheconnectoronthecomputer.

•Ensurethatthecablethatattachestheleftspeakertotherightspeakerissecurelyconnected.

•ClickthespeakericonintheWindowsnotificationarea.Thenclickthespeakericonontopofthevolume
control.ClicktheLevelstabandensurethattheBalancesettingsaresetcorrectly.

CDproblems

ThissectionprovidessolutionstoCD-relatedproblems.

ACDorDVDdoesnotwork

Solutions:

•Ensurethatthediscisinsertedcorrectly,withitslabelup.

Chapter7.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics53

•Ensurethatthediscyouareusingisclean.Toremovedustorfingerprints,wipethedisccleanwithasoft
clothfromthecentertotheoutside.Wipingadiscinacircularmotionmightcauselossofdata.

•Ensurethatthediscyouareusingisnotscratchedordamaged.Tryinsertinganotherdiscthatyou
knowisgood.Ifyoucannotreadfromaknown-gooddisc,youmighthaveaproblemwithyouroptical
driveorthecablingtoyouropticaldrive.Ensurethatthepowercableandsignalcablearesecurely
connectedtothedrive.

Unabletouseabootablerecoverymedium,suchastheProductRecoveryCD,to
startyourcomputer

Solution:EnsurethattheCDorDVDdriveisinthestartupsequencebeforetheharddiskdrive.Referto
“Selectingorchangingthestartupdevicesequence”onpage38
thestartupsequence.Notethatonsomemodelsthestartupsequenceispermanentlysetandcannot
bechanged.

forinformationonviewingandchanging

DVDproblems

ThissectionprovidessolutionstoDVD-relatedproblems.

BlackscreeninsteadofDVDvideo

Solutions:

•RestarttheDVDplayerprogram.

•Tryalowerscreenresolutionorcolordepth.

•Closeanyopenfiles,andthenrestartthecomputer.

DVDmoviedoesnotplay

Solutions:

•Ensurethatthediscsurfaceiscleanandnotscratched.

•Checkthediscorpackageforregionalcoding.Youmightneedtopurchaseadiscwithcodingfor
theregionwhereyouareusingyourcomputer.

NoaudioorintermittentaudiowhileplayingaDVDmovie

Solutions:

•Checkthevolumecontrolsettingsonyourcomputerandonyourspeakers.

•Ensurethatthediscsurfaceiscleanandnotscratched.

•Checkallcableconnectionstoandfromthespeakers.

•UsetheDVDmenuforthevideotoselectadifferentaudiotrack.

Playbackissloworchoppy

Solutions:

•Disableanybackgroundprograms,suchasAntiVirusorDesktopThemes.

•Ensurethatvideoresolutionissettolessthan1152x864pixels.

Invaliddiscornodiscfoundmessage

Solutions:

•EnsurethataDVDdiscisinthedrivewiththeshinysideofthediscfacingdown.

•Ensurethatvideoresolutionissettolessthan1152x864pixels.

54ThinkStationP900UserGuide

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

Intermittentproblems

Someproblemsoccuronlyoccasionallyandaredifficulttorepeat.

Solutions:

•Ensurethatallcablesandcordsaresecurelyconnectedtothecomputerandattacheddevices.

•Ensurethatwhenthecomputerison,thefangrillisnotblocked(thereisairflowaroundthegrill),andthe
fansareworking.Ifairflowisblockedorthefansarenotworking,thecomputermightoverheat.

•IfSmallComputerSystemInterface(SCSI)devicesareinstalled,ensurethatthelastexternaldevicein
eachSCSIchainisterminatedcorrectly.Formoreinformation,seeyourSCSIdocumentation.

Harddiskdriveproblems

Selectyoursymptomfromthefollowinglist:

•“SomeorallharddiskdrivesmissingfromtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage55

•“"NoOperatingSystemFound"messageorthesystemnotstartingfromthecorrectharddiskdrive”
onpage55

SomeorallharddiskdrivesmissingfromtheSetupUtilityprogram

Solutions:

•Ensurethatallharddiskdrivesignalcablesandpowercablesareconnectedcorrectly.

•Ensurethatyourcomputerisconfiguredcorrectlytosupporttheharddiskdrives.

–IfyourcomputerisinstalledwithfiveSAT Aharddiskdrives,ensurethattheSATAharddiskdrive

enablementmodule(onetofiveharddiskdrives)isinstalled.

–IfyourcomputerisinstalledwithSASharddiskdrives,ensurethattheSASharddiskdriveenablement

module(onetofiveharddiskdrives)ortheLSIMegaRAIDSASadapterisinstalled.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprogramLenovoSolutionCenter.See
“LenovoSolutionCenter”onpage62
help,andservice”onpage143.

.Ifyouneedtechnicalassistance,seeChapter10“Gettinginformation,

"NoOperatingSystemFound"messageorthesystemnotstartingfromthecorrect
harddiskdrive

Solutions:

•Ensurethatallharddiskdrivesignalcablesandpowercablesareconnectedcorrectly.Referto“Installing
orreplacinga3.5-inchstoragedrive”onpage75.

•EnsurethattheharddiskdriveyourcomputerstartsfromislistedasthefirststartupdeviceintheSetup
Utilityprogram.Referto“Selectingastartupdevice”onpage38.

Note:Inrarecases,theharddiskdrivewiththeoperatingsystemmightgetcorruptedordamaged.Insuch
cases,youmightneedtoreplacetheharddiskdrive.Referto“Installingorreplacinga3.5-inchstorage
drive”onpage75

.

Iftheseactionsdonotcorrecttheproblem,runthediagnosticprogramLenovoSolutionCenter.See
“LenovoSolutionCenter”onpage62.

Chapter7.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics55

Problemswiththekeyboardormouse

Thissectionprovidessolutionstokeyboard-relatedandmouse-relatedproblems.

Themousedoesnotwork

Solutions:

•ConnectthemousecabletoaUSBconnectororPS/2mouseconnector.

Note:Dependingonyourkeyboard,integratedUSBconnectorsmightbeavailabletobeusedto
connectaUSBmouse.

•Installthedevicedriversforthemouse.

•IfyouareusingaUSBmouse,enabletheUSBconnectorsintheBIOSsettings.Formoreinformation,
see“Enablingordisablingadevice”onpage37

Thepointeronthescreendoesnotmovesmoothlywiththemouse

Solution:Cleanthemouse.Formoreinformation,see“Opticalmouse”onpage48.

Thefingerprintreaderonthekeyboarddoesnotwork

Solutions:

•Enrollyourfingerprintcorrectly.

•Neverscratchthesurfaceofthereaderwithahard,pointedobject.

•Neverscrapthesurfaceofthereaderwithyournailoranythinghard.

•Useortouchthereaderwithacleanfinger.

•Ensurethatthesurfaceofyourfingeristhesamewiththeonewhenyoulastenrolled.

.

Thewirelesskeyboarddoesnotwork

Solutions:

•IfthetransceivercommunicationsLEDisnoton,reconnectthetransceiverandthekeyboard.

•IfthewirelesskeyboarddoesnotworkwhenthetransceivercommunicationsLEDison,restartyour
computer.

Iftheproblempersistsaftertherestart,ensurethat:

•Thebatteriesareinstalledcorrectly.

•Thebatteriesstillretaintheircurrent.

•Thedistancefromthewirelesskeyboardtothetransceiverislessthan10m(393.7inches).

•Thetransceiverisinstalledfully.

Monitorproblems

Thissectionprovidessolutionstomonitor-relatedproblems.

Myscreengoesblankwhilethecomputerison

Solutions:Yourscreensaverorpowermanagementmighthavebeenenabled.Dooneofthefollowing:

•Pressakeytoexitthescreensaver.

•Pressthepowerbuttontoresumethecomputerfromsleeporhibernationmode.

56ThinkStationP900UserGuide

ThemonitorworkswhenIturnonthecomputer,butgoesblankwhenIstartsome
applicationprograms

Solutions:

•Connectthemonitorsignalcablefromyourmonitortoanappropriateconnectoronthecomputer.A
loosecablemightcauseintermittentproblems.

•Installthedevicedriversfortheapplicationprograms.Refertothedocumentationfortheaffected
applicationprogramtocheckwhetheranydevicedriversarerequired.

Theimageappearstobeflickering

Solutions:

•Thescreenmightbeaffectedbyinterferencefromnearbyequipment.Magneticfieldsaroundother
devices,suchastransformers,appliances,fluorescentlights,andothermonitorsmightbecausingthe
problem.Movefluorescentdesklightingoranyequipmentthatproducesmagneticfieldsfartheraway
fromthescreen.Ifthisdoesnotcorrecttheproblem,turnoffthecomputer.Then,adjusttheplacementof
thecomputerandotherdevicessothattheyareatleast305mm(12inches)apart.Turnonthecomputer.

•Resettherefreshratesupportedbyyourcomputer.

1.Right-clickablankareaonthedesktop.

2.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

–ForWindows7orWindows8.1:ClickScreenresolution➙Advancedsettings.
–ForWindows10:ClickDisplaysettings.OntheDisplaytab,clickAdvanceddisplaysettings➙

Displayadapterproperties.

3.ClicktheMonitortab,andthenresettherefreshratetobethehighestandnoninterlaced.

Theimageisdiscolored

Solution:Themonitormightbeaffectedbyinterferencefromnearbyequipment.Movefluorescentdesk
lightingoranyequipmentthatproducesmagneticfieldsfurtherawayfromthemonitor.Iftheproblem
persists,dothefollowing:

1.Turnoffthemonitor.

2.Adjusttheplacementofthemonitorandotherdevicessothattheyareatleast305mm(12inches)apart.

3.Turnonthemonitor.

Networkingproblems

Thissectionprovidessolutionstonetworking-relatedproblems.

Ethernetproblems

Mycomputercannotconnecttothenetwork

Solutions:Ensurethat:

•Thecableisinstalledproperly.
ThenetworkcablemustbesecurelyconnectedtoboththeEthernetconnectorofyourcomputerand

theRJ45connectorofthehub.Themaximumallowabledistancefromthecomputertohubis100
meters.Ifthecableisconnectedandthedistanceiswithinacceptablelimitsbuttheproblempersists,try
adifferentcable.

•Thecableisinstalledproperly.

•UpdateorreinstalltheEthernetLANdriver.See“Keepingyourcomputercurrent”onpage47

•Theswitchportandtheadapterhavethesameduplexsetting.

.

Chapter7.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics57

Ifyouconfiguredtheadapterforfullduplex,ensurethattheswitchportisalsoconfiguredforfullduplex.
Settingthewrongduplexmodecandegradeperformance,causedataloss,orresultinlostconnections.

•Youhaveinstalledallnetworkingsoftwarethatisnecessaryforyournetworkenvironment.
CheckwithyourLANadministratorforthenecessarynetworkingsoftware.

Theadapterstopsworkingfornoreason

Solution:Thenetworkdriverfilesmightbecorruptormissing.Updatethedriverbyreferringtothe“Solution”
descriptionforthepreviousproblemtoensurethatthelatestdevicedriverisinstalled.

TheWakeOnLANfeatureisnotworking

Solution:EnabletheWakeOnLAN(WOL)featureintheBIOSprogram.

MycomputerisaGigabitEthernetmodelandIuseaspeedof1000Mbps,buttheconnectionfails
orerrorsoccur

Solution:ConnectthenetworkcabletotheEthernetconnectorusingCategory5wiringanda100BASE-T
hub/switch(not100BASE-X).

MycomputerisaGigabitEthernetmodel,butitcannotbeconnectedtothenetworkat1000Mbps,
butatonly100Mbps

Solutions:

•Tryanothercable.

•Setthelinkpartnertoauto-negotiate.

•Settheswitchtobe802.3ab-compliant(gigabitovercopper).

AwirelessLANproblem

Mycomputercannotestablishnetworkconnectionsusingthebuilt-inwirelessnetworkingcard.

Solutions:

•EnsurethatyourwirelessLANdriveristhelatestversion.ChecktheWebsiteandverifythedriverversion
supportedbyAccessConnectionsisthelatestdocumentedinthereadmefile.

•Ensurethatyourcomputeriswithintherangeofawirelessaccesspoint.

•ClicktheAccessConnectionsiconintheWindowsnotificationareatocheckifthewirelessradiois
enabled.Ifthewirelessradioisdisabled,followtheinstructionsonthescreentoenableit.

•ChecktheNetworkName(SSID)andyourencryptioninformation.UseAccessConnectionstoverify
thiscase-sensitiveinformation.

Bluetoothproblem

SounddoesnotcomefromtheBluetoothheadsetorheadphonebutcomesfromthelocalspeakereven
thoughtheheadsetorheadphoneisconnectedusingtheHeadsetprofileorAVprofile.

Solution:Dothefollowing:

1.Exittheapplicationthatusesthesounddevice(forexample,WindowsMediaPlayer).

2.OpenControlPanel.

Note:ForinformationabouthowtoopenControlPanelonWindows8.1,see“AccessingControlPanel
ontheWindows8.1operatingsystem”onpage22

3.ClickHardwareandSound➙Sound.

4.SelectthePlaybacktab.

.

58ThinkStationP900UserGuide

5.IfyouareusingtheHeadsetprofile,selectBluetoothHands-freeAudioandclicktheSetDefault
button.IfyouareusingtheAVprofile,selectStereoAudioandclicktheSetDefaultbutton.

6.ClickOKtoclosetheSoundwindow.

Note:TheBluetoothfeatureissupportedonlyonsomecomputermodels.

Ihaveconnectedanoptiontomycomputer,butitdoesnotwork

Solution:Refertothedocumentationthatcomeswiththeoptiontoensurethatyouhaveconnectedthe
optioncorrectly.

Performanceandlockupproblems

Thissectionprovidessolutionstoperformance-relatedproblemsofyourcomputer.

Insufficientfreeharddiskdrivespace

Solutions:Freeupharddiskdrivespace.

1.CleanoutyourInbox,SentItems,andDeletedItemsfoldersfromyoure-mailapplication.

2.CleanupyourCdrive.
a.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

•ForWindows7:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickComputer.

•ForWindows8.1:OpenFileExplorer.

•ForWindows10:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickFileExplorer➙
ThisPC.

b.Right-clickyourCdriveandthenclickProperties.
c.Checktheamountoffreespace,andthenclickDiskCleanup.
d.Alistofunnecessaryfilecategoriesisdisplayed.Selecteachfilecategoryyouwanttodelete,

andthenclickOK.

3.TurnsomeWindowsfeaturesofforremovesomeunnecessaryprograms.
a.OpenControlPanelbydoingoneofthefollowing:

•ForWindows7:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickControlPanel.

•ForWindows8.1:See“AccessingControlPanelontheWindows8.1operatingsystem”on
page22

•ForWindows10:Right-clicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartcontextmenu,andthenclick
ControlPanel.

b.ViewControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickProgramsandFeatures.
c.Dothefollowing:

•ToturnsomeWindowsfeaturesoff,clickT urnWindowsfeaturesonoroff.Followthe
instructionsonthescreen.

•Toremovesomeunnecessaryprograms,selecttheprogramyouwanttoremove,andthenclick
Uninstall/ChangeorUninstall.

.

Excessivenumberoffragmentedfiles

Solution:UsetheWindowsdiskdefragmentationordiskoptimizationfeaturetocleanupthefiles.

Note:Dependingonthevolumeofthestoragedrivesandamountofdatastoredonthestoragedrives,the
disk-defragmentationprocessmighttakeuptoseveralhours.

1.Closeanyopenprogramsandwindows.

Chapter7.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics59

2.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

•ForWindows7:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickComputer.

•ForWindows8.1:OpenFileExplorer.

•ForWindows10:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickFileExplorer➙
ThisPC.

3.Right-clickyourCdriveandthenclickProperties.

4.ClicktheToolstab.

5.DependingonyourWindowsversion,dothefollowing:

•ForWindows7:ClickDefragmentnow.

•ForWindows8.1orWindows10:ClickOptimize.SelectthedesireddriveandthenclickOptimize.

6.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

Insufficientmemory

Solution:Installadditionalmemorymodules.Forinstructionsoninstallingmemorymodules,see“Installing
orreplacingamemorymodule”onpage127.

Topurchasememorymodules,goto:
http://www.lenovo.com

Theprinterdoesnotwork

Solutions:

•IfyouareusingIEEE-approvedprintersignalcables,dothefollowing:

1.Connecttheprintersignalcablefirmlytothecorrectparallel,serial,orUSBconnectoronthe
computer.

2.Loadthepapercorrectly.

3.Turnontheprinterandkeeptheprinteronline.

•Ifyouareusingnon-IEEE-approvedprintersignalcables,dothefollowing:

1.Correctlyinstalldevicedriversandsoftwarethatcomewiththeprinter.

2.Assigntheprinterportcorrectlyinyouroperatingsystem,applicationprogram,orBIOSsettings.For
moreinformationaboutBIOSsettings,see“UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35.

Iftheproblempersists,runthetestsdescribedinthedocumentationthatcomeswithyourprinter.Ifyou
cannotcorrecttheproblem,havethecomputerserviced.SeeChapter10“Gettinginformation,help,and
service”onpage143.

Serialconnectorcannotbeaccessed

Solutions:

•Connecttheserialcabletotheserialconnectoronthecomputerandtotheserialdevice.Iftheserial
devicehasitsownpowercord,attachthepowercordtoagroundedelectricaloutlet.

•Turnontheserialdeviceandkeepthedeviceonline.

•Installanyapplicationprogramssuppliedwiththeserialdevice.Refertothedocumentationthatcomes
withtheserialdeviceformoreinformation.

•Ifyouaddedoneserial-connectoradapter,installtheadaptercorrectly.

60ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Softwareproblems

Thissectionprovidessolutionstosoftware-relatedproblems.

Whenusingasortfeature,datescannotbesortedinthecorrectorder

Solution:Someprogramsdevelopedbeforetheyear2000usedonlythelasttwodigitsofayeartosort
dates,assumingthefirsttwodigitswere19.Consequently,datescannotbesortedinthecorrectorder.
Checkwithyoursoftwaremanufacturertoseeifanyupdatesareavailable.Manysoftwaremanufacturers
makeupdatesavailablefromtheWorldWideWeb.

Someapplicationprogramsdonotworkasexpected

Solutions:

•Ifyouarehavingdifficultywithperformingaspecifictaskwithinanapplicationprogram,refertothe
helpsystemfortheprogram.

•IfyouarehavingdifficultywiththeWindowsoperatingsystemoroneofitscomponents,refertothe
Windowshelpsystem.

•Checkwhethertheproblemsarecausedbyanewly-installedapplicationprogram.

1.Ensurethatthesoftwareiscompatiblewithyourcomputer.Refertotheinformationsuppliedwiththe
softwareformoreinformation.

2.Verifythatothersoftwareworkscorrectlyonyourcomputer.

3.Verifythatthesoftwareyouareusingworksonanothercomputer.

•Ifyoureceivedanyerrormessageswhileusingtheprogram,seetheprinteddocumentationthatcomes
withtheprogramorthehelpsystemforsolutions.

•CheckifanyupdatesareavailablefromyourmanufacturerorWebsite.Manysoftwaremanufacturers
makeupdatesavailablefromtheWorldWideWeb.

•Ifthesoftwareprogramusedtoworkcorrectly,butdoesnotworkcorrectlynow,dothefollowing:

1.OpenControlPanelbydoingoneofthefollowing:

–ForWindows7:ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu,andthenclickControlPanel.
–ForWindows8.1:See“AccessingControlPanelontheWindows8.1operatingsystem”onpage

22.

–ForWindows10:Right-clicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartcontextmenu,andthenclick

ControlPanel.

2.ViewControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickRecovery➙OpenSystemRestore.

3.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

•Ifyouareunabletoresolvetheproblemthroughothermethods,uninstallthesoftwareprogramand
reinstallit.

MyUSBconnectorscannotbeaccessed

Solutions:

•ConnecttheUSBcablefromtheUSBconnectortotheUSBdevice.IftheUSBdevicehasitsownpower
cord,attachthepowercordtoagroundedelectricaloutlet.

•TurnontheUSBdeviceandkeepthedeviceonline.

•InstallanydevicedriversorapplicationprogramssuppliedwiththeUSBdevice.Refertothe
documentationthatcomeswiththeUSBdeviceformoreinformation.

•DetachandreattachtheUSBconnectortoresettheUSBdevice.

Chapter7.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics61

Diagnostics

Thediagnosticprogramisusedtotesthardwarecomponentsofyourcomputer.Thediagnosticprogramcan
alsoreportoperating-system-controlledsettingsthatinterferewiththecorrectoperationofyourcomputer.
Youcanusethepreinstalleddiagnosticprogramtodiagnosecomputerproblems,ifyourcomputeris
runningtheWindowsoperatingsystem.

Notes:

1.YourcomputerispreinstalledwiththeLenovoSolutionCenterprogramfordiagnosticpurposes.For
moreinformationabouttheLenovoSolutionCenterprogram,see“LenovoSolutionCenter”onpage62.

2.Ifyouareunabletoisolateandrepairtheproblemyourselfafterrunningthediagnosticprogram,save
andprintthelogfilescreatedbythediagnosticprogram.Y ouwillneedthelogfileswhenyouspeaktoa
Lenovotechnicalsupportrepresentative.

LenovoSolutionCenter

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

•YourcandownloadtheLenovoSolutionCenterprogramfromhttp://www.lenovo.com/diags.

•IfyouareusingaWindowsoperatingsystemotherthanWindows7,Windows8.1,orWindows10,goto
http://www.lenovo.com/diagsforthelatestinformationondiagnosticsforyourcomputer.

ToruntheLenovoSolutionCenterprogram,see“Lenovoprograms”onpage13

Note:Ifyoucannotisolateandrepairtheproblemyourselfafterrunningtheprogram,saveandprintthelog
files.YouwillneedthelogfileswhenyouspeaktoaLenovotechnicalsupportrepresentative.

Foradditionalinformation,refertotheLenovoSolutionCenterhelpsystem.

.

Hardwarediagnostics

Yourcomputersupportsthehardwarediagnosticsfunction.Thisfunctionenablesyourcomputertomonitor
somehardwarecomponentsinrealtimeforpotentialissuesthatmightnotbeeasilydetectableduring
normaluse.Whenthecomputerdetectsanissueorerror,thefour-digitdiagnosticdisplayonthefrontofthe
computerdisplaystextandanumericalerrorcode.See“Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicatorson
thefrontofyourcomputer”onpage2

Forinformationabouttheissueorerror,dothefollowing:

1.ConnecteitherofthefollowingdevicestothediagnosticUSBconnectoronthefrontofthecomputer:

•AUSBkey

•AnAndroid

See“Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyourcomputer”onpage2.

2.Waitabout10to15secondsforthediagnosticdatatotransferfromthecomputertotheUSBdevice.
Duringthedatatransfer,thefour-digitdiagnosticdisplaydisplays“FileCopy”.Whenthedatatransfer
finishes,thefour-digitdiagnosticdisplaydisplays“FileCopyDone”.

TM

devicewiththeLenovoWorkstationDiagnosticsappinstalled

.

Note:DiagnosticdataisavailablefortransferthroughthediagnosticUSBconnectoronlywhentext
andanumericalerrorcodeisdisplayedonthefour-digitdiagnosticdisplay.Innormalconditions,the
diagnosticUSBconnectorfunctionsasastandardUSB3.0connector.

62ThinkStationP900UserGuide

3.DependingonwhetheryouareusingaUSBkeyoranAndroiddevice(suchasasmartphone),do
oneofthefollowing:

•IfyouareusingaUSBkey,gotohttp://support.lenovo.com/workstation_diagnosticsforinformation

abouthowtoreadtheerrordataontheUSBkey.

•IfyouareusinganAndroiddevicewiththeLenovoWorkstationDiagnosticsappinstalled,openthe

applicationfordetailsabouttheerror.FormoreinformationontheLenovoWorkstationDiagnostics
app,gotohttp://www.thinkworkstationsoftware.com/diags.

FormoreinformationabouthowtousethediagnosticUSBconnectoronyourcomputer,
deciphertheerrorcodes,orusetheLenovoWorkstationDiagnosticsapp,goto
http://www.thinkworkstationsoftware.com/diags.

Thehardwarediagnosticfunctionisenabledonyourcomputerbydefault.Todisablethefunction,do
thefollowing:

1.StarttheSetupUtilityprogram.See“StartingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35.

2.FromtheSetupUtilityprogrammainmenu,selectAdvanced➙Diagnostics,andthenpressEnter.

3.SelectReal-timeDiagnosticsMonitoringandpressEnter.ThenselectDisabledandpressEnter.

4.PressF10tosavechangesandexittheSetupUtilityprogram.

Chapter7.Troubleshootinganddiagnostics63

64ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Chapter8.Recoveryinformation

Thischapterprovidesinformationabouttherecoverysolutions.Thereareavarietyofmethodstochoose
fromwhenconsideringhowtorecoverfromasoftware-orhardware-relatedproblem.Somemethods
varydependingonthetypeofoperatingsystemthatisinstalled.Youcanrestorethecomputersettings
usingaprogramortherecoverydiscset.Formoreinformationaboutusingtherecoverydiscset,see
thedocumentationthatcomeswiththediscset.

Thischaptercontainsthefollowingtopics:

•“RecoveryinformationfortheWindows7operatingsystem”onpage65

•“RecoveryinformationfortheWindows8.1operatingsystem”onpage70

•“RecoveryinformationfortheWindows10operatingsystem”onpage71

RecoveryinformationfortheWindows7operatingsystem

TherecoveryinformationinthissectiononlyappliestothecomputersthathavetheRescueandRecovery
programortheProductRecoveryprograminstalled.IftheEnhancedBackupandRestoreiconinthe
LenovoThinkVantageToolsprogramisdimmed,itindicatesthatyoumustinstalltheRescueandRecovery
programmanuallybeforeenablingitsfeatures.T oinstalltheRescueandRecoveryprogram,dothefollowing:

1.ClickStart➙AllPrograms➙LenovoThinkVantageT ools,anddouble-clickEnhancedBackup
andRestore.

2.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

3.Whentheinstallationprocessfinishes,theEnhancedBackupandRestoreiconisactivated.

Thissectioncontainsthefollowingtopics:

•“Creatingandusingrecoverymedia”onpage65

•“Performingbackupandrecoveryoperations”onpage66

•“Creatingandusingarescuemedium”onpage68

•“Reinstallingprogramsanddevicedrivers”onpage68

•“Solvingrecoveryproblems”onpage70

Creatingandusingrecoverymedia

Recoverymediaenableyoutorestoretheharddiskdrivetothefactory-defaultstateandputthecomputerin
anoperationalstateafterallotherrecoverymethodshavefailed.Recoverymediaareusefulifyoutransfer
thecomputertoanotherarea,sellthecomputer,orrecyclethecomputer.Asaprecautionarymeasure,itis
importanttocreaterecoverymediaasearlyaspossible.Thedataontherecoverymediacanbeusedfor
thefollowingpurposes:

•Reinstalltheprogramsanddevicedriversonyourcomputer

•Reinstalltheoperatingsystem

•ModifythedatafilesontheharddiskdriveusingtheAdditionalFiles

Note:Therecoveryoperationsyoucanperformusingrecoverymediavarydependingontheoperating
systemfromwhichtherecoverymediawerecreated.Therecoverymediamightcontainabootmedium
andadatamedium.YourMicrosoftWindowslicensepermitsyoutocreateonlyonedatamedium.Itis
recommendedthatyoustoretherecoverymediainasafeplaceafteryouhavemadethem.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

65

Creatingrecoverymedia

Note:OntheWindows7operatingsystem,youcancreaterecoverymediausingdiscsorexternalUSB

storagedrives.

TocreaterecoverymediaontheWindows7operatingsystem,clickStart➙AllPrograms➙Lenovo

ThinkVantageT ools➙FactoryRecoveryDisks.Then,followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

Usingrecoverymedia

Attention:Whenyouuserecoverymediatorestoretheharddiskdrivetothefactory-defaultstate,allthe

filescurrentlyontheharddiskdrivewillbedeleted.Thesefileswillbereplacedbythefactory-defaultfiles.

TouserecoverymediaontheWindows7operatingsystem,dothefollowing:

1.Dependingonthetypeofyourrecoverymedia,connectthebootUSBstoragedrivetothecomputer,or
insertthebootdiscintotheopticaldrive.

2.Turnonorrestartyourcomputer.

3.Whenyouseethelogoscreen,repeatedlypressandreleasetheF12key.TheStartupDeviceMenu
windowisdisplayed.

4.SelectthedesiredstartupdeviceandpressEnter.Therestoreprocessbegins.

5.Followtheinstructionsonthescreentocompletetheoperation.

Note:Afterrestoringyourcomputerharddiskdrivetothefactory-defaultstate,youmighthavetoreinstall
devicedriversforsomedevices.See“Reinstallingprogramsanddevicedrivers”onpage68.

Performingbackupandrecoveryoperations

TheRescueandRecoveryprogramenablesyoutobackupallyourharddiskdrivecontentsincluding
theoperatingsystem,datafiles,softwareprograms,andpersonalsettings.Youcanstorethebackupat
thefollowinglocations:

•TheRescueandRecoveryworkspace

•Thesecondaryharddiskdriveifasecondaryharddiskdriveisinstalledinyourcomputer

•AnexternalUSBharddiskdriveconnectedtoyourcomputer

•Anetworkdrive

•Recordablediscs(arecordableopticaldriveisrequiredforthisoption)

Afteryouhavecompletedthebackupoperation,youcanrestorepartsorwholeofthedataonthehard
diskdrive.

Performingabackupoperation

ToperformabackupoperationusingtheRescueandRecoveryprogramontheWindows7operating
system,dothefollowing:

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

2.IntheRescueandRecoverymainwindow,clicktheLaunchadvancedRescueandRecoveryarrow.

3.ClickBackupyourharddriveandselectbackupoperationoptions.Then,followtheinstructionson
thescreentocompletethebackupoperation.

Performingarecoveryoperation

Thissectionprovidesthefollowingtopics:

•“PerformingarecoveryoperationfromWindows7”onpage67

66ThinkStationP900UserGuide

•“PerformingarecoveryoperationfromtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace”onpage67

PerformingarecoveryoperationfromWindows7

ToperformarecoveryoperationusingtheRescueandRecoveryprogramontheWindows7operating
system,dothefollowing:

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

2.IntheRescueandRecoverymainwindow,clicktheLaunchadvancedRescueandRecoveryarrow.

3.ClicktheRestoreyoursystemfromabackupicon.

4.Followtheinstructionsonthescreentocompletetherecoveryoperation.

PerformingarecoveryoperationfromtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace

TheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceresidesinaprotectedandhiddenareaofyourharddiskdrivethat
operatesindependentlyfromtheWindowsoperatingsystem.TheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceenables
youtoperformrecoveryoperationsevenifyoucannotstarttheWindowsoperatingsystem.Y oucanperform
thefollowingrecoveryoperationsfromtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace:

•Rescuefilesfromyourharddiskdriveorfromabackup:
Youcanlocatefilesonyourharddiskdriveandtransferthemtoanetworkdriveorotherrecordable
media,suchasaUSBdeviceoradisc.Thissolutionisavailableevenifyoudidnotbackupyourfilesorif
changesweremadetothefilessinceyourlastbackupoperation.Y oualsocanrescueindividualfilesfrom
aRescueandRecoverybackuplocatedonyourlocalharddiskdrive,aUSBdevice,oranetworkdrive.

•RestoreyourharddiskdrivefromaRescueandRecoverybackup:
IfyouhavebackedupyourharddiskdriveusingtheRescueandRecoveryprogram,youcanrestorethe
harddiskdrivefromaRescueandRecoverybackup,evenifyoucannotstarttheWindowsoperating
system.

•Restoreyourharddiskdrivetothefactory-defaultstate:
Youcanrestorethecompletecontentsofyourharddiskdrivetothefactory-defaultstateevenifyou
cannotstarttheWindowsoperatingsystem.Ifyouhavemultiplepartitionsonyourharddiskdrive,you
havetheoptiontorestoretheC:partitionandleavetheotherpartitionsintact.

Attention:YoucanrestoretheharddiskdrivefromaRescueandRecoverybackuporrestoretheharddisk
drivetothefactory-defaultsettings.Duringeitherprocess,allfilesontheprimaryharddiskdrivepartition
(usuallydriveC:)willbedeleted.Ifpossible,makecopiesofimportantfiles.IfyoucannotstarttheWindows
operatingsystem,youcanusetherescuefilesfeatureoftheRescueandRecoveryworkspacetocopyfiles
fromyourharddiskdrivetoothermedia.

ToperformarecoveryoperationfromtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace,dothefollowing:

1.Turnonorrestartyourcomputer.

2.Whenyouseethelogoscreen,pressEnter,andthenpressF11toentertheRescueandRecovery
workspace.

3.IfyouhavesetaRescueandRecoverypassword,enteryourpasswordwhenprompted.TheRescue
andRecoveryworkspaceopensafterashortdelay.

Note:IftheRescueandRecoveryworkspacefailstoopen,see“Solvingrecoveryproblems”onpage70.

4.Dooneofthefollowing:

•Torescuefilesfromyourharddiskdrive,clickRescuefilesandfollowtheinstructionsonthescreen.

•TorestoreyourharddiskdrivefromaRescueandRecoverybackuportorestoreyourharddiskdrive

tothefactory-defaultstate,clickFullRestoreandfollowtheon-screeninstructions.

Note:Afterrestoringyourcomputerharddiskdrivetothefactory-defaultstate,youmighthaveto
reinstalldevicedriversforsomedevices.See“Reinstallingprogramsanddevicedrivers”onpage68

Chapter8.Recoveryinformation67

.

FormoreinformationaboutthefeaturesoftheRescueandRecoveryworkspace,clickHelp.

Creatingandusingarescuemedium

CreaterescuemediausingdiscsorUSBstoragedrivesasearlyaspossible.Youcanusearescuemedium
torecoverfromfailuresthatpreventyoufromgainingaccesstotheWindowsenvironmentortheRescue
andRecoveryworkspaceonyourharddiskdrive.

Notes:

•Therecoveryoperationsyoucanperformusingarescuemediumvarydependingontheoperatingsystem.

•Therescuedisccanbestartedinalltypesofopticaldrives.

Creatingarescuemedium

TocreatearescuemediumontheWindows7operatingsystem,dothefollowing:

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

2.IntheRescueandRecoverymainwindow,clicktheLaunchadvancedRescueandRecoveryarrow.

3.ClicktheCreateRescueMediaicon.The“CreateRescueandRecoveryMedia”windowopens.

4.IntheRescueMediaarea,selectthetypeoftherescuemediumyouwanttocreate.Youcancreate
arescuemediumusingadisc,aUSBstoragedrivewithsufficientcapacity,orasecondaryinternal
harddiskdrive.

5.ClickOKandfollowtheinstructionsonthescreentocreatearescuemedium.

Usingarescuemedium

DependingonwhetheryouhavecreatedarescuemediumusingadiscoraUSBharddiskdrive,doone
ofthefollowing:

•Ifyouhavecreatedarescuemediumusingadisc,dothefollowing:

1.Turnonorrestartyourcomputer.

2.Whenyouseethelogoscreen,repeatedlypressandreleasetheF12key.TheStartupDeviceMenu
windowisdisplayed.

3.Selectthedesiredopticaldriveasthefirstbootdevice.Then,inserttherescuediscintotheoptical
driveandpressEnter.Therescuemediumstarts.

•IfyouhavecreatedarescuemediumusingaUSBharddiskdrive,dothefollowing:

1.ConnecttheUSBharddiskdrivetooneoftheUSBconnectorsonyourcomputer.

2.Turnonorrestartyourcomputer.

3.Whenyouseethelogoscreen,repeatedlypressandreleasetheF12key.TheStartupDeviceMenu
windowisdisplayed.

4.SelecttheUSBharddiskdriveasthefirstbootdeviceandpressEnter.Therescuemediumstarts.

Whentherescuemediumstarts,theRescueandRecoveryworkspaceopens.Thehelpinformationfor
eachfeatureisavailablefromtheRescueandRecoveryworkspace.Followtheinstructionstocomplete
therecoveryprocess.

Reinstallingprogramsanddevicedrivers

Thissectionprovidesthefollowingitems:

•“Reinstallingpreinstalledprogramsanddevicedrivers”onpage69

•“Reinstallingprogramsanddevicedriversthatarenotpreinstalled”onpage69

68ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Reinstallingpreinstalledprogramsanddevicedrivers

Yourcomputerenablesyoutoreinstallpreinstalledprogramsanddevicedrivers.

Reinstallingpreinstalledprograms

ToreinstallprogramspreinstalledonyourLenovocomputer,dothefollowing:

1.Turnonthecomputer.

2.GotoC:\SWTOOLS.

3.Opentheappsfolderandlocatethesubfolderthatisnamedaftertheprogrampreinstalledonyour
computer.

4.OpenthesubfolderandlocatetheEXEfile.

5.Double-clicktheEXEfileandfollowtheinstructionsonthescreentocompletetheinstallation.

Reinstallingpreinstalleddevicedrivers
Attention:Reinstallingdevicedriverswillchangethecurrentconfigurationofyourcomputer.Reinstall

devicedriversonlywhenitisnecessarytocorrectaproblemwithyourcomputer.

Toreinstallthedevicedriverforafactory-installeddevice,dothefollowing:

1.Turnonthecomputer.

2.GotoC:\SWTOOLS.

3.OpentheDRIVERSfolderandlocatethesubfolderthatisnamedafterthefactory-installeddevicein
yourcomputer,suchasAUDIOorVIDEO.

4.Openthesubfolder.

5.Dooneofthefollowing:

•LocatetheEXEfile.Double-clicktheEXEfileandfollowtheinstructionsonthescreentocomplete

theinstallation.

•Locatethereadmefilewiththe.txtextension.Thedevicedriverinstallationinformationisincludedin

thereadmefile.Followtheinstructionstocompletetheinstallation.

•IfthedevicesubfoldercontainsanINFfileandyouwanttoinstallthedevicedriverusingtheINFfile,

seeWindowshelpsystemfordetailedinformation.

Note:Formoreinformationaboutthelatestdevicedrivers,see“Gettingthelatestsystemupdates”
onpage47.

Reinstallingprogramsanddevicedriversthatarenotpreinstalled

Yourcomputerenablesyoutoreinstallprogramsanddevicedriversthatarenotpreinstalled.

Reinstallingprogramsthatarenotpreinstalled

Ifasoftwareprogramyouinstalledonyourcomputerisnotworkingcorrectly,youmightneedtouninstall
andthenreinstallit.Reinstallingaprogramoverwritestheexistingprogramfilesandusuallyfixesany
problemsthatyoumighthavehadwiththeprogram.

Touninstallaprogramfromyoursystem,refertoMicrosoftWindowshelpsystemfordetailedinformation.

Toreinstallmostcommerciallyavailableprogramsonyoursystem,refertotheMicrosoftWindowshelp
systemtogetherwiththedocumentationprovidedwiththeprogram.

Reinstallingdevicedriversthatarenotpreinstalled

Toreinstalladevicedriverforanoptionyouinstalled,refertothedocumentationthatcomeswiththeoption.

Chapter8.Recoveryinformation69

Note:Reinstalldevicedriverswillchangethecurrentconfigurationofyourcomputer.Reinstalldevicedrivers
onlywhenitisnecessarytocorrectaproblemwithyourcomputer.

Solvingrecoveryproblems

Note:Ensurethatyourrescuedeviceissetasthefirstbootdeviceinthestartupdevicesequencein

theSetupUtilityprogram.See“Selectingastartupdevice”onpage38fordetailedinformationabout
temporarilyorpermanentlychangingthestartupdevicesequence.FormoreinformationabouttheSetup
Utilityprogram,see“UsingtheSetupUtilityprogram”onpage35.

IfyoucannotaccesstheRescueandRecoveryworkspaceortheWindowsenvironment,dooneofthe
following:

•UsearescuemediumtostarttheRescueandRecoveryworkspace.See“Creatingandusingarescue
medium”onpage68

•Userecoverymediaifallothermethodsofrecoveryhavefailedandyoumustrestoretheharddiskdrive
tothefactory-defaultsettings.See“Creatingandusingrecoverymedia”onpage65

Itisimportanttocreatearescuemediumandasetofrecoverymediaasearlyaspossibleandstorethem
inasafeplaceforfutureuse.

.

.

RecoveryinformationfortheWindows8.1operatingsystem

Thissectioncontainsthefollowingtopics:

•“Refreshingyourcomputer”onpage70

•“Resettingyourcomputertothefactory-defaultsettings”onpage70

•“Usingtheadvancedstartupoptions”onpage71

•“RecoveringyouroperatingsystemifWindows8.1failstostart”onpage71

Refreshingyourcomputer

Ifyourcomputerdoesnotperformwellandtheproblemmightbecausedbyarecentlyinstalledprogram,
youcanrefreshyourcomputer.

Attention:Ifyourefreshyourcomputer,theprogramspreinstalledonyourcomputerandtheprogramsthat
youinstalledfromWindowsStorewillbereinstalled.However,allotherprogramswillbeuninstalled.

Torefreshyourcomputer,dothefollowing:

1.Movethepointertothetop-rightorbottom-rightcornerofthescreentodisplaythecharms.Click
Settings➙ChangePCsettings➙Updateandrecovery➙Recovery.

2.IntheRefreshyourPCwithoutaffectingyourfilessection,clickGetstarted.

Resettingyourcomputertothefactory-defaultsettings

Youcanresetyourcomputertothefactory-defaultsettings.Resettingthecomputerwillreinstallthe
operatingsystemandalltheprogramsthatcomewithyourcomputer.

Attention:Ifyouresetyourcomputer,allyourpersonalfilesandsettingswillbedeleted.Toavoiddataloss,
makeabackupcopyofallthedatathatyouwanttokeep.

Toresetyourcomputer,dothefollowing:

1.Movethepointertothetop-rightorbottom-rightcornerofthescreentodisplaythecharms.Click

Settings➙ChangePCsettings➙Updateandrecovery➙Recovery.

70ThinkStationP900UserGuide

2.IntheRemoveeverythingandreinstallWindowssection,clickGetstarted.

Usingtheadvancedstartupoptions

AdvancedstartupoptionsenableyoutochangethestartupsettingsofyourWindowsoperatingsystem,
startthecomputerfromanexternaldevice,orrestoretheWindowsoperatingsystemfromasystemimage.

Tousetheadvancedstartupoptions,dothefollowing:

1.Movethepointertothetop-rightorbottom-rightcornerofthescreentodisplaythecharms.Click
Settings➙ChangePCsettings➙Updateandrecovery➙Recovery.

2.IntheAdvancedstartupsection,clickRestartnow➙Troubleshoot➙Advancedoptions.

3.Restartyourcomputerfollowingtheinstructionsonthescreen.

RecoveringyouroperatingsystemifWindows8.1failstostart

TheWindowsrecoveryenvironmentonyourcomputeriscapableofoperatingindependentlyfromthe
Windows8.1operatingsystem.ItenablesyoutorecoverorrepairtheoperatingsystemeveniftheWindows

8.1operatingsystemfailstostart.

Aftertwoconsecutivefailedbootattempts,theWindowsrecoveryenvironmentstartsautomatically.Then
youcanchooserepairandrecoveryoptionsbyfollowingtheinstructionsonthescreen.

Note:Ensurethatyourcomputerisconnectedtoacpowerduringtherecoveryprocess.

FormoredetailsabouttherecoverysolutionsprovidedoncomputerspreinstalledwiththeWindows8.1
operatingsystem,refertothehelpinformationsystemoftheWindows8.1operatingsystem.

RecoveryinformationfortheWindows10operatingsystem

TorecoveryourWindows10operatingsystem,usethefollowingsolutions:

•UseWindowsrecoverysolutions.

–UserecoverysolutionsinWindowsSettings.

1.ClicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartmenu.

2.ClickSettings➙Update&security➙Recovery.

3.Choosetheappropriaterecoverysolutionbyfollowingtheinstructionsonthescreen.

–UseSystemRestoretorestoresystemfilesandsettingstoanearlierpoint.

1.Right-clicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartcontextmenu.

2.ClickControlPanel.ViewControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickRecovery
➙OpenSystemRestore.

3.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

–UsetheFileHistorytooltorestoreyourfilesfromabackup.

Note:IfyouusetheFileHistorytooltorestoreyourfilesfromabackup,ensurethatyoubackedup
yourdataearlierwiththetool.

1.Right-clicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartcontextmenu.

2.ClickControlPanel.ViewControlPanelbyLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickFileHistory
➙Restorepersonalfiles.

3.Followtheinstructionsonthescreen.

–UsetheWindowsrecoveryenvironmentbydoingoneofthefollowing:

Chapter8.Recoveryinformation71

–Afterseveralconsecutivefailedbootattempts,theWindowsrecoveryenvironmentmightstart

automatically.Followtheinstructionsonthescreentochoosetheappropriaterecoverysolution.

–SelecttherecoverymediumyoucreatedearlierwiththeWindowstoolasthestartupdevice.See

“Selectingatemporarystartupdevice”onpage38

.Then,followtheinstructionsonthescreen

tochoosetheappropriaterecoverysolution.

Note:Tocreatearecoverymedium,see“Goodmaintenancepractices”onpage49.

•UsetherecoveryUSBkeyprovidedbyLenovotorestoretheentirestoragedrivetothefactory-default
settings.

–IfyourcomputercomeswiththerecoveryUSBkey,followtheinstructionsshippedwiththeUSBkey.
–IfyourcomputerdoesnotcomewiththerecoveryUSBkey,contacttheLenovoCustomer

SupportCentertoorderarecoveryUSBkey.ForalistofLenovoSupportphonenumbers,goto
http://www.lenovo.com/support/phone.Ifyoucannotfindthesupporttelephonenumberforyour
countryorregion,contactyourLenovoreseller.

72ThinkStationP900UserGuide

Chapter9.Installingorreplacinghardware

Thischapterprovidesinstructionsonhowtoinstallorreplacehardwareforyourcomputer.

Handlingstatic-sensitivedevices

Donotopenthestatic-protectivepackagecontainingthenewpartuntilthedefectiveparthasbeenremoved
andyouarereadytoinstallthenewpart.Staticelectricity,althoughharmlesstoyou,canseriouslydamage
computercomponentsandparts.

Whenyouhandlepartsandothercomputercomponents,taketheseprecautionstoavoidstatic-electricity
damage:

•Limityourmovement.Movementcancausestaticelectricitytobuilduparoundyou.

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

•Preventothersfromtouchingthepartsandothercomputercomponents.

•Touchthestatic-protectivepackagecontainingtheparttoametalexpansion-slotcoverorother
unpaintedmetalsurfaceonthecomputerforatleasttwoseconds.Thisreducesstaticelectricityfrom
thepackageandyourbodybeforeyouinstallorreplaceanewpart.

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

•Donotplacethepartonthecomputercoverorothermetalsurface.

Installingorreplacinghardware

Thissectionprovidesinstructionsonhowtoinstallorreplacehardwareforyourcomputer.Y oucanexpand
thecapabilitiesofyourcomputerandmaintainyourcomputerbyinstallingorreplacinghardware.

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Read
thisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation”onpagev.

Notes:

•UseonlycomputerpartsprovidedbyLenovo.

•Wheninstallingorreplacinganoption,usetheappropriateinstructionsinthissectionalongwiththe
instructionsthatcomewiththeoption.

Installingexternaloptions

Youcanconnectexternaloptionstoyourcomputer,suchasexternalspeakers,aprinter,orascanner.For
someexternaloptions,youmustinstalladditionalsoftwareinadditiontomakingthephysicalconnection.
Wheninstallinganexternaloption,see“Locatingconnectors,controls,andindicatorsonthefrontofyour
computer”onpage2
requiredconnector.Usetheinstructionsshippedwiththeoptiontohelpyoumaketheconnectionandinstall
anysoftwareordevicedriversthatarerequiredfortheoption.

and“Locatingconnectorsontherearofyourcomputer”onpage3toidentifythe

Removingthecomputercover

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Read

thisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation”onpagev

.

©CopyrightLenovo2014,2016

73

CAUTION:

1

2

Beforeyouopenthecomputercover,turnoffthecomputerandwaitseveralminutesuntilthe
computeriscool.

Toremovethecomputercover,dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removeanylockingdevicethatsecuresthecomputercover.SeeLockingthecomputercoverand
AttachingaKensington-stylecablelock.

3.Pressthepit1sothatthehandle2islifted.Then,pivotthehandletotheleftasshownandpull
thehandletoremovethecoverfromthechassis.

Figure9.Removingthecomputercover

Installingorreplacinganinternalstoragedrive

Dependingonyourcomputermodel,yourcomputermightcomewithoneormoreofthefollowinginternal
storagedrives:

•3.5-inchharddiskdrive

•3.5-inchhybriddrive

•2.5-inchharddiskdrive

•2.5-inchsolid-statedrive

•M.2solid-statedrive

74ThinkStationP900UserGuide

•PCIExpresssolid-statedrive

Toinstallorreplaceaninternalstoragedrive,refertooneofthefollowingtopics:

•“Installingorreplacinga3.5-inchstoragedrive”onpage75

•“Installingorreplacinga2.5-inchstoragedrive”onpage80

•“InstallingorreplacinganM.2solid-statedrive”onpage86

•“InstallingorreplacingaPCIcard”onpage111(appliestoaPCIExpresssolid-statedrive)

Installingorreplacinga3.5-inchstoragedrive

Note:Dependingonyourcomputermodel,a3.5-inchharddiskdriveora3.5-inchhybriddrivemight

comewithyourcomputer.

Toinstallorreplacea3.5-inchstoragedrive,refertooneofthefollowingtopics:

•“Installingorreplacinga3.5-inchstoragedriveinaharddiskdrivebay”onpage75

•“Installingorreplacinga3.5-inchstoragedriveinanopticaldrivebay”onpage78

Installingorreplacinga3.5-inchstoragedriveinaharddiskdrivebay
Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Read

thisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation”onpagev

Toinstallorreplacea3.5-inchstoragedriveinaharddiskdrivebay,dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage73.

3.Locatetheharddiskdrivebayinwhichyouwanttoinstallorreplaceastoragedrive.See“Locating
internaldrives”onpage7.

4.Pressthepitonthecoveroftheharddiskdrivebaysothatthecoverisopened.Then,pullthecover
edgeasshowntoremovetheharddiskdrivebracketfromtheharddiskdrivebay.

.

Figure10.Removingtheharddiskdrivebracket

5.Dependingonwhetheryouareinstallingorreplacingastoragedrive,dooneofthefollowing:

•Ifyouareinstallingastoragedrive,gotostep6.

Chapter9.Installingorreplacinghardware75

•Ifyouarereplacingastoragedrive,flexthesidesofthebrackettoreleasethefourpins1fromthe

1

storagedrive.Then,removethestoragedrivefromthebracket.

Figure11.Removingthestoragedrivefromthebracket

76ThinkStationP900UserGuide

6.Holdthestoragedrivesothattheconnectorsfacetowardstherearofthebracketandthecircuit

1

2

board2facesupward.Then,flexthesidesofthebracketandalignthefourpins1onthebracket
withthecorrespondingholesinthestoragedrive.

Note:Donottouchthecircuitboard2ofthestoragedrive.

Figure12.Installingthestoragedriveintothebracket

Chapter9.Installingorreplacinghardware77

7.Slidethebrackettogetherwiththeinstalledstoragedriveintotheharddiskdrivebayuntilthebracket
snapsintoposition.

Figure13.Installingtheharddiskdrivebracket

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage140.

Installingorreplacinga3.5-inchstoragedriveinanopticaldrivebay
Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Read

thisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation”onpagev.

Toinstallorreplacea3.5-inchstoragedriveinanopticaldrivebay,dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage73.

3.Removethedirectcoolingairbaffle.See“Removingandreinstallingthedirectcoolingairbaffle”
onpage90.

4.Locatetheopticaldrivebayinwhichyouwanttoinstallorreplaceastoragedrive.See“Locating
internaldrives”onpage7.

5.Dependingonwhetheryouareinstallingorreplacingastoragedrive,dooneofthefollowing:

•Ifyouareinstallingastoragedrive,dothefollowing:

a.Pressthecliponthebottomoftheopticaldrivebaysothattheplasticcoverisejectedoutofthe

bay.Then,removethemetalstaticshieldfromthebay.

78ThinkStationP900UserGuide

b.Pressthetab1asshowntoopenthecoverofthefront-accessstorageenclosure.

1

1

Figure14.Openingthecoverofthefront-accessstorageenclosure

c.Openthehandlesonbothsidesoftheharddiskdrivebracket.Then,pullthebracketoutof

thefront-accessstorageenclosure.

•Ifyouarereplacingastoragedrive,dothefollowing:
a.Removethefront-accessstorageenclosurefromtheopticaldrivebay.See“Removingand

installingadeviceinanopticaldrivebay”onpage92

.

b.Pressthetab1asshowntoopenthecoverofthefront-accessstorageenclosure.

Figure15.Openingthecoverofthefront-accessstorageenclosure

c.Openthehandlesonbothsidesoftheharddiskdrivebracket.Then,pullthebracketwiththe

storagedriveoutofthefront-accessstorageenclosure.

d.Removethestoragedrivefromthebracket.Seestep5onpage75.

6.Installthenewstoragedriveintothestoragedrivebracket.Seestep6onpage77.

7.Notetheorientationoftheconnectoronthestoragedriveandyoumightneedtoturnoverthebracket.
Then,slidethebracketwiththenewstoragedriveintothefront-accessstorageenclosureuntilitsnaps
intoposition.

Chapter9.Installingorreplacinghardware79

8.Closethehandlesonbothsidesoftheharddiskdrivebracket.Then,pivotthecoverofthefront-access
storageenclosureinwardasshownuntilitsnapsintoposition.

Figure16.Closingthecoverofthefront-accessstorageenclosure

9.Installthefront-accessstorageenclosureintotheopticaldrivebay.See“Removingandinstallinga
deviceinanopticaldrivebay”onpage92.

10.Reinstallthedirectcoolingairbaffle.See“Removingandreinstallingthedirectcoolingairbaffle”
onpage90.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage140.

Installingorreplacinga2.5-inchstoragedrive

Note:Dependingyourcomputermodel,a2.5-inchharddiskdriveora2.5-inchsolid-statedrivemight

comewithyourcomputer.

Toinstallorreplacea2.5-inchstoragedrive,refertooneofthefollowingtopics:

•“Installingorreplacinga2.5-inchstoragedriveinaharddiskdrivebay”onpage80

•“Installingorreplacinga2.5-inchstoragedrivewithaconverterinaharddiskdrivebay”onpage82

•“Installingorreplacinga2.5-inchstoragedriveinanopticaldrivebay”onpage85

Installingorreplacinga2.5-inchstoragedriveinaharddiskdrivebay
Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Read

thisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation”onpagev

Toinstallorreplacea2.5-inchstoragedriveinaharddiskdrivebay,dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage73.

3.Locatetheharddiskdrivebayinwhichyouwanttoinstallorreplaceastoragedrive.See“Locating
internaldrives”onpage7.

4.Removethestoragedrivebracketfromtheharddiskdrivebay.Seestep4onpage75.

.

80ThinkStationP900UserGuide

5.Dependingonwhetheryouareinstallingorreplacingastoragedrive,dooneofthefollowing:

1

•Ifyouareinstallingastoragedrive,gotostep6.

•Ifyouarereplacingastoragedrive,flexthesidesofthebrackettoreleasethefourpins
storagedrive.Then,removethestoragedrivefromthebracket.

1fromthe

Figure17.Removingthestoragedrivefromthebracket

Chapter9.Installingorreplacinghardware81

6.Keeptheconnectoronthestoragedriveontherightasshown.Then,flexthesidesofthebracketand

1

alignthefourpins1onthebottomofthebracketwiththecorrespondingholesinthestoragedrive.

Note:Donottouchthecircuitboard(ifaccessible)ofthe2.5-inchstoragedrive.

Figure18.Installingthestoragedriveintothebracket

7.Installthebracketwiththenewstoragedriveintotheharddiskdrivebay.Seestep7onpage78.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage140.

Installingorreplacinga2.5-inchstoragedrivewithaconverterinaharddiskdrivebay
Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Read

thisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation”onpagev.

Toinstallorreplacea2.5-inchstoragedrivewitha2.5-inchto3.5-inchconverterinaharddiskdrivebay,
dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage73.

3.Locatetheharddiskdrivebayinwhichyouwanttoinstallorreplaceastoragedrive.See“Locating
internaldrives”onpage7

.

4.Removethestoragedrivebracketfromtheharddiskdrivebay.Seestep4onpage75.

5.Dependingonwhetheryouareinstallingorreplacingastoragedrive,dooneofthefollowing:

82ThinkStationP900UserGuide

•Ifyouareinstallingastoragedrive,pivottab1onthemetaladapterupward.Then,pushtheadapter

1

2

1

2

totherearoftheconverterasshownuntilthefourtabsontheadapterareslideintothefournotches

2.Pivottheadapterasshowntoremoveitfromtheconverter.

Figure19.Removingtheadapterfromtheconverter

•Ifyouarereplacingastoragedrive,dothefollowing:
a.Removetheconverterfromthebracket.Seestep5onpage75.
b.Pivottab1onthemetaladapterupwardandpushtheadaptertotherearoftheconverteras

shownuntilthefourtabsontheadapterareslideintothenotches2.Then,pivottheadapteras
showntoremoveitwiththestoragedrivefromtheconverter.

Figure20.Removingtheadapterfromtheconverter

Chapter9.Installingorreplacinghardware83

c.Flexthesidesoftheadaptertoreleasethefourpins1fromthestoragedrive.Then,remove

1

1

thestoragedrivefromtheadapter.

Figure21.Removingthestoragedrivefromtheadapter

6.Notetheorientationoftheconnectoronthenewstoragedrive.Then,flexthesidesoftheadapterand
alignthefourpins1withthecorrespondingholesinthestoragedrive.

Note:Donottouchthecircuitboard(ifaccessible)ofthe2.5-inchstoragedrive.

Figure22.Installingthestoragedriveintotheadapter

84ThinkStationP900UserGuide

7.Alignthefourtabsontheadapterwiththecorrespondingnotches1intheconverter.Then,slide

1

2

thestoragedriveasshownuntilthetab2snapsintoposition.Theadapterwiththestoragedriveis
installedintotheconverter.

Figure23.Installingtheadapterintotheconverter

8.Installtheconverterwiththenewstoragedriveintothebracketandthebracketintotheharddiskdrive
bay.Seestep6onpage77andstep7onpage78.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage140.

Installingorreplacinga2.5-inchstoragedriveinanopticaldrivebay
Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Read

thisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation”onpagev.

Toinstallorreplacea2.5-inchstoragedriveinanopticaldrivebay,dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage73.

3.Removethedirectcoolingairbaffle.See“Removingandreinstallingthedirectcoolingairbaffle”
onpage90.

4.Locatetheopticaldrivebayinwhichyouwanttoinstallorreplaceastoragedrive.See“Locating
internaldrives”onpage7

.

5.Dependingonwhetheryouareinstallingorreplacingastoragedrive,dooneofthefollowing:

•Ifyouareinstallingastoragedrive,dothefollowing:

a.Pressthecliponthebottomoftheopticaldrivebaysothattheplasticcoverisejectedoutofthe

bay.Then,removethemetalstaticshieldinthebay.
b.Openthecoverofthefront-accessstorageenclosure.Seestepb.onpage79.
c.Openthehandlesonbothsidesoftheharddiskdrivebracket.Then,pullthebracketoutof

thefront-accessstorageenclosure.

Chapter9.Installingorreplacinghardware85

•Ifyouarereplacingastoragedrive,dothefollowing:
a.Removethefront-accessstorageenclosurefromtheopticaldrivebay.See“Removingand

installingadeviceinanopticaldrivebay”onpage92.
b.Openthecoverofthefront-accessstorageenclosure.Seestepb.onpage79.
c.Openthehandlesonbothsidesoftheharddiskdrivebracket.Then,pullthebracketwiththe

storagedriveoutofthefront-accessstorageenclosure.
d.Removethestoragedrivefromthebracket.Seestep5onpage81.

6.Installthenewstoragedriveintothestoragedrivebracket.Seestep6onpage82.

7.Notetheorientationoftheconnectoronthestoragedriveandyoumightneedtoturnoverthebracket.
Then,slidethebracketwiththenewstoragedriveintothefront-accessstorageenclosureuntilitsnaps
intoposition.

8.Closethehandlesonbothsidesoftheharddiskdrivebracket.Then,closethecoverofthefront-access
storageenclosure.Seestep8onpage80.

9.Installthefront-accessstorageenclosureintotheopticaldrivebay.See“Removingandinstallinga
deviceinanopticaldrivebay”onpage92.

10.Reinstallthedirectcoolingairbaffle.See“Removingandreinstallingthedirectcoolingairbaffle”
onpage90.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage140

.

InstallingorreplacinganM.2solid-statedrive

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Read

thisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation”onpagev.

ToinstallorreplaceanM.2solid-statedrive,dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage73.

3.Laythecomputeronitssideforeasieraccesstotheflexadapterslots.

4.Locatetheflexadapterslots.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage5.

Note:Ifyourcomputerisnotinstalledwithaflexadapter,ensureyouinstallflexadaptersintotheflex
adapterslot1first,andthentheflexadapterslot2.

5.Intheflexadapterslotsorthenewflexadapterpackage,locatetheflexadapterwithtwoM.2slots
onwhichyouwanttoinstallorreplaceanM.2solid-statedrive.

6.DependingonwhetheryouareinstallingorreplacinganM.2solid-statedrive,dooneofthefollowing:

•IfyouareinstallinganM.2solid-statedrive,dothefollowing:

a.Removetheflexadapterifitisinstalledinaflexadapterslot.See“Installingorreplacinga

flexadapter”onpage108.

b.LocatetheM.2slotintowhichyouwanttoinstallanM.2solid-statedriveontheflexadapter.

Note:Iftheflexadapterisnew,ensurethatyouinstallM.2solid-statedrivesinthenumerical
orderprintedontheflexadapter(SLOT1andSLOT2).

86ThinkStationP900UserGuide

c.RemovethescrewthatisalignedwiththeM.2slot.

1

2

3

Figure24.RemovingthescrewthatisalignedwiththeM.2slot

•IfyouarereplacinganM.2solid-statedrive,dothefollowing:
a.Removetheflexadapter.See“Installingorreplacingaflexadapter”onpage108.
b.LocatetheM.2solid-statedrivethatyouwanttoreplace.
c.RemovethescrewthatsecurestheM.2solid-statedrive.Then,gentlypullthesolid-statedrive

outoftheM.2slot.

Figure25.RemovingtheM.2solid-statedrive

7.ToinstallanewM.2solid-statedrive,alignthenotch1onthenewM.2solid-statedrivewiththeslot
key

2intheM.2slot.Then,insertthesolid-statedriveintoanM.2slotuntilitissecuredtightlysothat

thenotch3isalignedwiththecorrespondingscrewholeintheflexadapter.Installthescrewto
securethesolid-statedrive.

Note:Ensurethatthesidewiththecircuitboardisupward.Donottouchthecircuitboardofthe
M.2solid-statedrive.

Figure26.InstallingtheM.2solid-statedrive

8.Installtheflexadapterintotheflexadapterslot.See“Installingorreplacingaflexadapter”onpage108.

Whattodonext:

•Toworkwithanotherpieceofhardware,gototheappropriatesection.

Chapter9.Installingorreplacinghardware87

•Tocompletetheinstallationorreplacement,goto“Completingthepartsreplacement”onpage140.

1

Replacingthecoverpresenceswitch(intrusionswitch)

Attention:Donotopenyourcomputerorattemptanyrepairbeforereadingandunderstandingthe“Read

thisfirst:Importantsafetyinformation”onpagev

Toreplacethecoverpresenceswitch(alsoknownasintrusionswitch),dothefollowing:

1.Removeallmediafromthedrivesandturnoffallattacheddevicesandthecomputer.Then,disconnect
allpowercordsfromelectricaloutletsanddisconnectallcablesthatareconnectedtothecomputer.

2.Removethecomputercover.See“Removingthecomputercover”onpage73.

3.Laythecomputeronitssideforeasieraccesstothecoverpresenceswitchbracket.

4.Locatethecoverpresenceswitchbracket.See“Locatingcomponents”onpage4.

5.Notetheroutingofthecoverpresenceswitchcable,andthendisconnectthecoverpresenceswitch
cablefromthesystemboard.See“Locatingpartsonthesystemboard”onpage5.

6.Pivotthetab1onthecoverpresenceswitchbrackettotheleftasshown.Then,removethebracket
togetherwiththecoverpresenceswitchfromthechassis.

.

Figure27.Removingthecoverpresenceswitchbracket

88ThinkStationP900UserGuide