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Dell C521 User's Manual

1. NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 6 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 7 When a message appears stating that memory size has changed press lt F1 gt to continue 8 Log on to your computer 9 Right click the My Computer icon then click Properties 10 Click the General tab 11 To verify that the memory is installed correctly check the amount of memory RAM listed Removing Memory A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector 3 Grasp the module and pull up If the module is difficult to remove gently ease the module back and forth to remove it from the connector 4 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 5 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn
2. NOTICE To avoid losing data do not use the power button to turn off the computer Instead perform an operating system shutdown hard drive The hard drive activity light is on when the computer reads data from or activity light writes data to the hard drive The light might also be on when a device such as a CD player is operating 13 vents To ensure adequate cooling do not block any of the vents o NOTICE Ensure that there is a minimum of two inches of space between all vents and any object near these vents o NOTI CE Keep the vent area clean and dust free to ensure that the system is adequately ventilated Use only a dry cloth to clean the vent area to avoid water damage to the system Back View of the Computer 1 n t s ii x H 3 E p d i 4 voltage selection See the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide for more switch information power connector Insert the power cable back panel I O Plug VGA USB and other devices into the appropriate connectors connectors See Back Panel I O Connectors card slots 3 Access connector slots for expansion cards SLOTI PCI Express x16 SLOT2 PCI Express x1 SLOT3 PCI Back Panel I O Connectors Green A good connection exists between a 10 Mbps network and the computer Orange A good connection exists between a 100 Mbps network and the computer Off The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the netwo
3. Place the jumper plug on pins 1 and 2 and wait approximately five seconds d Replace the jumper plug on pin 1 3 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 4 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Flashing the BIOS The BIOS may require a new flash when an update is available or when replacing the system board 1 Turn on the computer 2 Locate the BIOS update file for your computer at support dell com 3 Click Download Now to download the file 4 Ifthe Export Compliance Disclaimer window appears click Yes Accept the Agreement The FI le Download window appears 5 Click Save this program to disk and then click OK The Save In window appears 6 Click the down arrow to view the Save In menu select Desktop and then click Save The file downloads to your desktop 7 Click Close when the Download Complete window appears The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the download BIOS update file 8 Double click the file icon on the desktop and follow the on screen instructions Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Technical Overview Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual Inside View of Your Computer System Board Components Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments Inside View of
4. Dell the DELL logo and Dimension are trademarks of Dell Inc AMD AMD Athlon and combinations thereof Sempron and Cool n Quiet are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices Inc Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products Dell Inc disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own September 2006 Rev A00 Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Troubleshooting Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual Dell Diagnostics System Lights Diagnostic Lights Beep Codes Dell Diagnostics A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide When to Use the Dell Diagnostics If you experience a problem with your computer perform the checks in this section and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance NOTICE The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell computers 1 Turn on or restart your computer 2 When the DELL logo appears press F12 immediately If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop Then shut down your computer and try again 3 When the boot device list appears highlight Boot to Utility Partition and
5. Panel I O Connectors Front View 1 cover release Use this latch to remove the cover See Removing the Computer Cover latch 2 Service Tag Use to identify your computer when you access the Dell Support website or call support FlexBay drive Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader CD or DVD The drive light is on when the computer reads data from the CD or DVD activity light drive 5 CD or DVD Press to eject a disk from the CD or DVD drive eject button A Ww 6 microphone Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer connector microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program 7 headphone Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most kinds of connector speakers LAN activity This light indicates that a LAN Local Area Network connection is co light established 9 diagnostic Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on lights 4 the diagnostic code For more information see Diagnostic Lights USB 2 0 Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally connectors 2 such as joysticks or cameras or for bootable USB devices See System Setup Options for more information on booting to a USB device It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected such as printers and keyboards power button Press to turn on the computer
6. When r2 Setup F12 Boot Menu appears in the upper right corner of the screen press lt F12 gt If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer See Turning Off Your Computer and try again 4 Press F1 to continue The Boot Menu appears listing all available boot devices 5 Use the arrow keys to select the appropriate device for the current boot only K NOTE To boot to a USB device the device must be bootable To ensure that a device is bootable check the device documentation Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots Enter system setup select Boot Sequence from the System group See System Setup Options Press Enter to access the menu Kd NOTE Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it Press the up and down arrow keys to highlight the appropriate Boot Sequence option Press the U or D key to move the option up or down in the boot sequence Press Enter to Save the changes or Esc to Cancel Clearing Forgotten Passwords and CMOS Settings A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide Jumper Locations J i RTCRST Clearing Password Settings 1 10 11 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin Locate the 2 pin password jumper PSWD on the
7. Your Computer A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover 1 drives bay CD DVD floppy media card reader 2 power supply 3 system and hard drive board card slots 5 heat sink assembly front I O panel System Board Components fan connector processor socket memory module connectors FAN CPUI1 CPU DIMM 1 DIMM 2 DIMM 3 DIMM 4 power connector power connector SATA drive connectors SATAO PW 12V A1 POWER1 SATA1 front panel connector CMOS reset battery socket BT1 FRONTPANEL RTCRST internal USB USB1 11 PCI Express x16 12 PCI Express x1 connector connector SLOT1 SLOT2 PCI connector SLOT3 password jumper floppy drive connector FLOPPY1 PSWD Jumper Settings The jumper locations are shown below RTCRST a Description Password features are enabled default setting Password features are disabled The real time clock has not been reset The real time clock is being reset jumpered temporarily jumpered unjumpered Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments DC Power Connector P1 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 E5 E E I E P I I I PT E5 5 65 Ca ES 5 65 5 6 E e e 1211109 87 6 54
8. a CD DVD Drive and carefully set it aside NOTI CE Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables Doing so may cause damage to the cables and the cable connectors 3 Disconnect the Media Card Reader USB cable from the USB connector USB1 on the system board and route the cable through the clip on the shroud 4 Pull up on the drive release latch and slide the Media Card Reader towards the back of the computer Then lift up to remove it from the computer 1 Media Card Reader 2 drive release latch 5 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 6 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Installing a Media Card Reader A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Remove the Media Card Reader and bracket from its packaging 3 f you are installing a new Media Card Reader a Remove the drive panel insert that blocks the FlexBay b
9. computer work incorrectly Entering System Setup 1 Turn on or restart your computer 2 When the blue DELL logo is displayed you must watch for the F2 prompt to appear 3 Once this F2 prompt appears press F2 immediately K NOTE The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard has initialized This prompt can appear very quickly so you must watch for it to display and then press lt F2 gt If you press lt F2 gt before you are prompted this keystroke will be lost 4 If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer see Turning Off Your Computer and try again System Setup Screen The system setup screen displays current or changeable configuration information for your computer Information on the screen is divided into four areas the menu at the top the main window the Item Help field on the right and key functions listed on the bottom Options List This field appears on the left side of the system setup window The field is a Option Field This field contains information about each scrollable list containing features that define the configuration of your computer including option In this field you can view your current settings and installed hardware power conservation and security features make changes to your settings Scroll up and down the list by using the up and down arrow keys As an option is
10. enables and disables the drives attached to the SATA connectors on the system board and lists the capacities for the hard drives On default SATA Operation The field configures the operating mode of the integrated hard drive controller Off default RAID Off No RAID support RAID On SATA is configured for RAID on every boot SMART Reporting This setting determines whether integrated drive errors are reported or not during system startup Off default Onboard Devices Integrated Enables or disables the integrated NIC controller Settings are Off On On w PXE or On w RPL When the On w PXE or the On w RPL NIC setting is active if a boot routine is not available from the network server the computer attempts to boot from the next device in the boot sequence list On default Integrated Enables or disables the onboard audio controller Audio On default USB Enables or disables the internal USB controller No Boot enables the controller but disables the ability to boot from a USB device Controller On default NOTE Operating systems with USB support will recognize USB floppy drives regardless of the No Boot setting Rear Dual Enables or disables the indicated group of USB ports on the back of the computer USBO On default Rear Dual Enables or disables the indicated group of USB ports on the back of the computer USB1 On defa Front USI Enables or disables the indicated group o
11. open files exit any open programs click the Start button and then click Shut Down b In the Shut Down Windows window select Shut Down The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process finishes Ensure that the computer and any attached devices are turned off If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system press and hold the power button for 4 seconds Before Working I nside Your Computer Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety AN AN I CAUTI ON Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CAUTI ON Handle components and cards with care Do not touch the components or contacts on a card Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket Hold a component such as a processor by its edges not by its pins NOTI CE Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty NOTI CE When you disconnect a cable pull on its connector or on its strain relief loop not on the cable itself Some cables have a connector with locking tabs if you are disconnecting this type of cable press in on the locking tabs before you disconnect the cable As you pull connectors apart k
12. some compatibility steps Off does not skip any steps during computer startup On starts the system more quickly On default Numlock Key Determines the functionality of the numeric keys on the right side of your keyboard Off commands the right keypad keys to function as arrows On commands the right keypad keys to function as numbers On default POST Hotkeys Determines whether the sign on screen displays a message stating the keystroke sequence that is required to enter the Setup program or the Quickboot feature Setup amp Boot Menu displays both messages F2 Setup and F12 Boot Menu Setup displays the setup message Setup amp Boot only F2 Setup Boot Menu displays the Quickboot message only F12 Boot Menu None displays no message Menu default Keyboard When set to Report enabled and an error is detected during POST the BIOS will display the error message and prompt you to press Errors F1 to continue or press F2 to enter system setup TODO When set to Do Not Report disabled and an error is detected during POST the BIOS will display the error message and continue booting default the system Boot Menu This feature allows you to change the boot sequence for devices Option Settings Bootable Hard Drive The computer attempts to boot from the primary hard drive If no operating system is on the drive the computer generates an error message Onboard Floppy Drive The computer attempts
13. system board see Jumper Locations and attach the jumper plug to pins 1 and 2 to clear the password K NOTE When you receive your computer the jumper plug is attached to pin 1 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover Connect your computer and monitor to electrical outlets and then turn them on After the Microsoft Windows desktop appears on your computer shut down the computer See Turning Off Your Computer Turn off the monitor and disconnect it from the electrical outlet Disconnect the computer power cable from the electrical outlet then press the power button to ground the system board Remove the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover Locate the 2 pin password jumper PSWD on the system board and attach the jumper to pin 1 to reenable the password feature Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover NOTI CE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Clearing CMOS Settings A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Reset the current CMOS settings a Locate the 2 pin CMOS jumper RTCRST on the system board See jumper Locations b Remove the jumper plug from pin 1 c
14. use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally such as joysticks cameras or bootable USB devices If your monitor has a VGA connector plug it into the VGA connector on the computer NOTE If your computer has an add in video card connect your monitor to the add in card s video connector Back to Contents Page Before You Begin Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual Getting Started Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer Getting Started This manual provides procedures for removing and replacing the components in your computer Unless otherwise noted each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist You have performed the steps in Turning Off Your Computer and Before Working Inside Your Computer You have read the safety information in your Dell Product Information Guide A component can be replaced by performing the removal procedure in reverse order Directional instructions are also performed on the reverse Recommended Tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools Small flat blade screwdriver Phillips 0 1 and 2 screwdrivers Flash BIOS update program download from support dell com Turning Off Your Computer NOTI CE To avoid losing data save and close any open files and exit any open programs before you turn off your computer Shut down the operating system a Save and close any
15. 32 1 Pin Number Signal name 3 3 VDC 3 3 VDC ND Black O O Oo oloje mi a xs i gt o D wv o 9v Qo D 3 5 3 3 p 2 Q o e rS is o 0 Oo o UJ O ololslioaluia jwin lt IO II lt Q Q OIoJTO 5 V N Black 5 V GND Black PS PWRGOOD Gray PS PWRGOOD Purple 10 White 11 White 12 E 14 Blue 15 GND Black r 17 Black 18 Black n Xe GND Black N C N eo Z O N m 5V 5V Red N N lt lt Qo OJo Use 22 AWG wire instead of 18 AWG wire DC Power Connector P2 COM DC Power Connector P3 432 1 Pin Number 18 AWG Wire svo frea DC Power Connector P5 and P6 54321 Pin Number Signal name 18 AWG Wire 2 COM Black a cow eae 12 VDC Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual Notes Notices and Cautions K NOTE A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer NOTI CE A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem A CAUTION A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage personal injury or death Information in this document is subject to change without notice 2006 Dell Inc All rights reserved Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text
16. CE If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep back up your files before you begin this procedure Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer Removing a Hard Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin NOTE In the following steps it is not necessary to disconnect the cables connecting the CD DVD or floppy drive or the Media Card Reader as long as it does not obstruct your working area once it is set aside 2 Remove the CD DVD drive if installed from the bay and carefully set it aside See Removing a CD DVD Drive 3 Remove the floppy drive or Media Card Reader if installed from the bay and carefully set it aside See Removing a Media Card Reader or Removing a Floppy Drive 4 Press in on the two plastic securing clips on each side of the drive and slide the drive towards the back of the computer NOTICE Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables Doing so may cause damage to the cables and the cable connectors 5 Lift the drive out of the computer and disconnect the power and data cables from the drive securing clips 2 I nstalling a Hard Drive 1 Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer o NOTI CE To avoid damage to the drive do not set it on a hard surface Instead set the drive on a surface such as a foam pad that will sufficiently cushion it 2 Unpack the r
17. D Athlon 64 AMD Sempron Internal L2 cache up to 1 MB per core up to 256 KB for Sempron Memory Type 533 MHz 667 MHz 800 MHz z when available DDR2 SDRAM Memory connectors four Memory modules supported 256 MB 512 MB or 1 GB non ECC Minimum memory 256 MB Computer I nformation NIC integrated network interface Capable of 10 100 communication nVidia integrated video DirectX 9 0c Shader Model 3 0 Graphics Processing Unit or PCI Express x16 graphics card Sigma Tel 9227 CODEC 7 1 Channel Audio Controllers Drives two SATA controllers supporting two devices Expansion Bus Bus type PCI 2 3 PCI Express 1 0A SATA 1 0A and 2 0 USB 2 0 Bus speed PCI 133 MB s PCI Express x16 80 Gbps bidirectional speed PCI Express x1 2 5 Gbps SATA 1 5 Gbps and 3 0 Gbps USB 480 Mbps high speed 12 Mbps full speed 1 2 Mbps low speed Cards PCI connectors one card size connector size connector data width maximum PCI Express connectors power connector size connector data width maximum Drives Externally accessible Available devices Internally accessible low profile 124 pins 32 bits one x1 and one x16 10 W x1 and 25 W x16 maximum 36 pins x1 and 164 pins x16 one PCI Express lane x1 and 16 PCI Express lanes X16 one 3 5 inch drive one 5 25 inch drive bay SATA hard drive CD drive DVD drive DVD RW drive and CD RW DVD Combo drive o
18. Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual Before You Begin About Your Computer Technical Overview Removing the Computer Cover Troubleshooting System Setup Removing and Installing Parts Replacing the Computer Cover Notes Notices and Cautions K NOTE A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer NOTI CE A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem N CAUTION A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage personal injury or death Information in this document is subject to change without notice 2006 Dell Inc All rights reserved Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo and Dimension are trademarks of Dell Inc AMD AMD Athlon and combinations thereof Sempron and Cool n Quiet are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices Inc Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products Dell Inc disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own September 2006 Rev A00 Back to Contents Page About Your Computer Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual Front View Back View of the Computer Back
19. MI If two or more DDR2 memory modules are installed they should be installed in pairs of matched memory size speed and technology If the DDR2 memory modules are not installed in matched pairs the computer will continue to operate but with a slight reduction in performance See the label on the module to determine the module s capacity Mii lini Kd NOTE Always install DDR2 memory modules in the order indicated on the system board P ai lilia 256MB 2R XX XXX NOTICE Do not install ECC or buffered memory modules Only unbuffered non ECC memory is supported The recommended memory configurations are Amemory module installed in connector DIMMI A pair of matched memory modules installed in connectors DIMM1 and DIMM2 A pair of matched memory modules installed in connectors DIMM1 and DIMM2 and another matched pair installed in connectors DIMM3 and DIMM4 If you install mixed pairs of DDR2 533 MHz PC2 4300 and DDR2 667 MHz PC2 5400 memory the modules function at the slower installed speed Be sure to populate the memory modules in order starting with DIMM1 the connector closest to the edge of the system board before you install modules in the other connectors 1 Channel A matched pair of memory 2 Channel B matched pair of memory modules in connectors DIMM 1 and modules in connectors DIMM 3 and DIMM 2 white securing clips DIMM 4 black securing clips K NOTE Memory purchased from Dell is covered under yo
20. Remove the four shoulder screws from the drive panel insert 4 f you are replacing an existing Media Card Reader a Remove the existing Media Card Reader b Remove the four shoulder screws from the existing Media Card Reader 5 Insert four shoulder screws into the sides of the Media Card Reader and tighten them s 6 Locate the correct guidance slot for the Media Card Reader slot 2 and align the shoulder screws with the screw guides 1 Media Card Reader 2 slot verification number 7 Slide the Media Card Reader into the bay until it clicks into place 8 Connect the power and data cables to the back of the Media Card Reader 9 Connect the data cable to the USB connector on the system board 10 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover o NOTI CE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 11 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Hard Drive A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the cover NOTICE To avoid damage to the drive do not set it on a hard surface Instead set the drive on a surface such as a foam pad that will sufficiently cushion it NOTI
21. Removing the Processor A CAUTION Despite having a plastic shield the heat sink assembly may be very hot during normal operation Be sure that it has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it NOTICE To avoid damaging the processor or processor socket slide the heat sink assembly forward and backwards to break the thermal grease seal between the processor and heat sink If you do not break the seal first the processor may stick to the heat sink assembly while rotating the assembly upward 4 Slide the heat sink assembly forward and backwards to break the thermal grease seal 5 Rotate the heat sink assembly upward 6 Disconnect the cable attached to the front I O panel 7 Remove the screw that secures the front I O panel to the chassis 8 Rotate the I O panel toward the back of the computer and remove and the I O panel from the computer O panel bracket 4 uo pane front panel openings Lco Installing the Front I O Panel 1 Align the I O panel connectors and lights with the openings in the front panel 2 Rotate the I O panel toward the front panel so that the I O panel bracket aligns with the securing tab 3 Install the screw that secures the I O panel to the chassis 4 Reconnect the cable to the I O panel 5 Rotate the heat sink assembly down towards the computer base and ensure that the two captive screws are properly aligned with the holes in the system board 6 Tighten the two captive screws to secu
22. as occurred D000 The computer is in recovery mode OO0 0 A possible processor failure was detected Contact Dell For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual 00099 Memory modules are detected but a memory If you have two or more memory modules installed remove the modules reinstall failure has occurred one module see Memory and then restart the computer If the computer starts normally reinstall an additional module Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error If available install properly working memory of the same type into your computer see Memory If the problem persists contact Dell For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual 00 999 A possible graphics failure has occurred If the problem persists contact Dell For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual 00990 A possible floppy drive or hard drive failure Reseat all power and data cables and restart the computer has occurred 009099 A possible USB failure has occurred Reinstall all USB devices check cable connections and then restart the computer OdO No memory modules are detected If you have two or more memory modules installed remove the modules reinstall one module see Memory and then restart the computer If the computer starts normally reinstall an additional module Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled a
23. ble See Removing the Fan Assembly 8 Disconnect all cables from the system board 9 Remove the eight screws from the system board Y 0 1 cc I 10 Slide the system board assembly toward the front of the computer and then lift the board up and away Place the system board assembly that you just removed next to the replacement system board to ensure it is identical Replacing the System Board l Gently align the system board into the chassis and slide it toward the back of the computer 2 Using the eight screws secure the system board to the chassis 3 Replace the fan assembly See Installing the Fan Assembly 4 Replace the processor See Installing the Processor 5 Replace the memory modules See Installing Memory Ensure that you install the memory modules in the same connectors as noted in step 5 of Removing the System Board 6 Replace any removed expansion cards See Installing an Expansion Card 7 Replace any other components and cables that you removed from the system board 8 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover 9 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on 10 Verify the computer is operational by running the Dell Diagnostics See Dell Diagnostics Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Specifications Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual Microprocessor Microprocessor type AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core processor AM
24. computer remove the card If necessary disconnect any cables connected to the card Grasp the card by its top corners and ease it out of its connector 5 Prepare the card for installation See the documentation that came with the card for information on configuring the card making internal connections or otherwise customizing it for your computer CAUTI ON Some network adapters automatically start the computer when they are connected to a network To guard against electrical shock be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before installing any cards 6 Place the card in the connector and press down firmly Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot 1 bracket within slot 2 bracket caught outside of slot 3 alignment bar 4 alignment guide fully seated card l6 not fully seated card 7 Before you close the card retention door ensure that The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide release tab card retention door filler bracket E alignment guide A alignment bar T 8 Close the card retention door by snapping it into place NOTI CE Do not route card cables over the cards Cables routed over the cards can prevent the computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment 9 Connect any cables that should be attached to the card See the do
25. connectors on the back panel of the computer See Back Panel I O Connectors 12 If you removed an add in network connector a Enter system setup select Integrated NIC from the Onboard Devices group and then change the setting to On See System Setup Options b Connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel of the computer Drives Your computer supports a combination of these devices One optional floppy drive or Media Card Reader One CD or DVD drive One serial ATA SATA hard drive 1 DVD drive 2 optional floppy drive or media card reader 3 hard drive General I nstallation Guidelines Connect the SATA hard drive to the connector labeled SATAO Connect the SATA CD or DVD drives to the connector labeled SATA1 on the system board Connecting Drive Cables When you install a drive you connect two cables a DC power cable and a data cable to the back of the drive and to the system board Drive I nterface Connectors SATA Connector ere mii S ex V eed egg oor 1 interface cable 2 interface connector Power Cable Connector 1 power cable 2 power input connector Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables When removing a SATA data cable grasp the colored pull tab and pull until the connector detaches When connecting a SATA data cable hold the cable by the black connector at each end CD DVD Drive A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in t
26. cumentation for the card for information about the card s cable connections NOTI CE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 10 Replace the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 11 If you installed a sound card a Enter system setup select Integrated Audio from the Onboard Devices group and change the setting to Off See System Setup Options b Connect external audio devices to the sound card s connectors Do not connect external audio devices to the line in connector on the back panel of the computer See Back Panel I O Connectors 12 If you installed an add in network adapter and want to disable the integrated network adapter a Enter system setup select Integrated NIC from the Onboard Devices group and change the setting to Off See System Setup Options b Connect the network cable to the network adapter card s connectors Do not connect the network cable to the integrated network connector on the back panel of the computer 13 Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation Removing an Expansion Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Gently push the release tab on the card retention door from the inside to pivot the door open Because the door is captive it will remain in the open position 3 If necessary disconnect any cables connec
27. e Everyday turns the computer on every day at the time set in Auto Power Time Weekdays turns the computer on every day from Monday through Friday at the time set in Auto Power Time NOTE This feature does not work if you turn off your computer using the switch on a power strip or surge protector Sets time to automatically turn on the computer Time is kept in the standard 12 hour format hours minutes Change the startup time by pressing the right or left arrow key to increase or decrease the numbers or type numbers in both the date and time fields When Low Power Mode is selected remote wakeup events will no longer power up the computer from Hibernate or Off via the onboard network controller This option enables or disables the Cool n Quiet technology for all supported processors Sets the computer s suspend mode The options are S1 a suspend state in which the computer is running in a low power mode and S3 a suspend state in which the power is reduced or turned off for many components however system memory remains active Displays the service tag for your computer Load Restores system setup options to their factory defaults Defaults Event Log Allows you to view the Event Log Entries are marked R for Read and U for Unread Mark All Entries Read puts an R to the left of all the entries Clear Log clears the Event Log POST Behavior Fast Boot When enabled this feature reduces computer startup time by bypassing
28. e drive release latch and slide the floppy drive towards the back of the computer Then lift up to remove the drive from the computer 1 drive release latch 2 floppy drive 4 Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the floppy drive 5 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover NOTI CE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 6 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on I nstalling a Floppy Drive A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Remove the floppy drive and bracket from its packaging 3 If you are installing a new drive a Remove the drive panel insert that blocks the FlexBay b Remove the four shoulder screws from the drive panel insert 4 f you are replacing an existing drive a Remove the existing drive b Remove the four shoulder screws from the existing drive 5 Insert the four shoulder screws into the sides of the new floppy drive and tighten them 6 Attach
29. e is critical for ensuring adequate thermal bonding which is a requirement for e optimal processor operation 8 Apply the new thermal grease to the top of the processor 9 Install the heat sink assembly a Place the heat sink assembly back onto the heat sink assembly bracket b Rotate the heat sink assembly down towards the computer base and ensure that the two captive screws are properly aligned with the holes in the system board c Tighten the two captive screws o NOTI CE Ensure that the heat sink assembly is correctly seated and secure 1 heat sink assembly 2 heat sink assembly bracket 3 captive screws 2 10 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 11 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on Power Supply Replacing the Power Supply A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product I nformation Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Disconnect the DC power cables from the system board a
30. e that green S3 has been configured as a wake up device to wake the computer Solid Amber A pre POST failure has occurred The system has received a See Diagnostic Lights for more information Power Good signal from the power supply If this does not resolve your problem contact Dell For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual Blinking A possible power supply failure has occurred The system has not Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet Amber received a Power Good signal from the power supply Hard Drive Problem Description Suggested Resolution Activity Light Solid green The hard drive activity light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive The light No corrective action is might also be on when a device such as a CD player is operating required Diagnostic Lights A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide To help you troubleshoot a problem your computer has four lights labeled 1 2 3 and 4 on the front panel When the computer starts normally the lights flash After the computer starts all four lights display solid green If the computer malfunctions the color and sequence of the lights identify the problem Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution DQO The computer is in a normal condition or a See System Lights possible pre POST failure h
31. ed in the following table for more information Tab e 5953 2 ll ll Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered Errors Displays error conditions encountered error codes and the problem description Help Describes the test and may indicate requirements for running the test Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for all devices from system setup memory and various internal tests and it displays the information in the device list in the left pane of the screen The device list may not display the names of all the components installed on your computer or all devices attached to your computer Allows you to customize the test by changing the test settings Close the test screen to return to the Main Menu screen To exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer close the Main Menu screen System Lights Your power button light and hard drive activity light may indicate a computer problem Power Light Problem Description Suggested Resolution The computer is in a normal off condition or in a power None Press the power button to wake the computer or to turn the conserving mode computer on Solid green The computer has successfully booted and is operating normally Blinking The computer is in a Windows standby power saving state S1 or None Move the mouse press the spacebar or use another devic
32. eep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins Also before you connect a cable ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned NOTI CE To avoid damaging the computer perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer Follow the steps in Turning Off Your Computer o NOTICE To disconnect a network cable first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network port or device 2 Disconnect any telephone or network cables from the computer 3 Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets and then press the power button to ground the system board A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover 4 Follow the steps in Removing the Computer Cover NOTICE Before touching anything inside your computer ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface such as the metal at the back of the computer While you work periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Replacing the Computer Cover Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide 1 Ensure that all cables are connected and fold cables out of
33. eplacement hard drive and prepare it for installation 3 If your replacement hard drive does not have the plastic hard drive bracket attached remove the bracket from the existing drive by unsnapping it from the drive pa gt 1 2 gt 3 1 hard drive 2 release tabs 2 3 plastic hard drive bracket 4 Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the two securing tabs with the mounting holes in the hard drive and then rotating the drive down snapping it onto the bracket securing tabs 2 release tabs 2 4 plastic hard drive bracket i 5 Connect the power and data cables to the drive 6 Locate the correct guidance slot for the drive slot 1 and align the release tabs with the alignment guides A Fass qe j XN JN P L7 sae S P 1 hard drive 2 slot verification number NOTICE To prevent damaging the hard drive gently slide the drive into the drive bay Excessive force could damage the hard drive 7 Gently slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place 8 Replace any drives or readers that you removed 9 Check all connectors to ensure that they are properly cabled and firmly seated 10 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 11 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 12 If the drive t
34. f USB ports on the front of the computer On def Video Primary Video This setting specifies which video controller is primary when there is two video controllers available This selection only matters when if there are two video controllers present When Auto is selected the add in video controller will be used Auto default Video Memory Size 64MB default NOTE A PCI Express graphics card will override the integrated video controller This setting configures the amount of system memory that is reserved for the integrated video controller The settings are Auto 16MB 32MB 64MB 128MB or Off Performance HDD Acoustic Mode default Bypass Bypass Your computer does not test or change the current acoustics mode setting Quiet The hard drive operates at its most quiet setting Suggested The hard drive operates at the level suggested by the drive manufacturer Performance The hard drive operates at its maximum speed NOTE Switching to performance mode may cause the drive to be noisier but its performance is not affected Changing the acoustics setting does not alter your hard drive image Security Unlock Setup Admin Password Not Set default System Password Not Set default Password Changes Unlocked default No Execute On default When an administrator password is being used allows the user access to modify system setup settings En
35. hat you installed is the primary drive insert bootable media into your boot drive 13 Enter system setup see Entering System Setup and update the appropriate Primary Drive option 0 or 2 14 Exit system setup and reboot the computer 15 Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step For instructions see the documentation that came with your operating system 16 Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics See Dell Diagnostics 17 Install your operating system on the hard drive For instructions see the documentation that came with your operating system Battery Replacing the Battery A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis A coin cell battery maintains computer configuration date and time information The battery can last several years If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on the computer replace the battery CAUTION A new battery can explode if it is incorrectly installed Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer Discard used batteries according to the man
36. he existing drive 5 Insert the three shoulder screws into the sides of the new drive and tighten them 6 Connect the power and data cables to the drive 7 Align the shoulder screws with the screw guides and slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place 8 Check all cable connections and fold cables out of the way to avoid blocking airflow between the fan and cooling vents 9 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover o NOTI CE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 10 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Floppy Drive A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the cover Removing a Floppy Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin NOTE It is not necessary to disconnect the cables connected to the CD DVD drive in the following step as long as the cables do not obstruct your working area once the drive is set aside 2 Remove the CD DVD drive see Removing a CD DVD Drive and carefully set it aside NOTICE Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables Doing so may cause damage to the cables and cable connectors 3 Pull up on th
37. highlighted Use the right and left arrow keys to highlight an option the Option Field displays more information about that option and the option s current and Press Enter to make that selection active available settings Key Functions This field appears below the Option Field and lists keys and their functions within the active system setup field System Setup Options K NOTE Depending on your computer and installed devices the items listed in this section may not appear or may not appear exactly as listed System System Inf Lists the computer name BIOS Version Service Tag Express Service Code if applicable and the Asset Tag None of these fields can be modified Processor Info Identifies the CPU type processor clock speed bus speed L2 cache size and processor ID States whether the processor supports 64 bit technology HDD Boot Lists the order that the BIOS will search the available hard drives in the system Sequence Drives Diskette Drive This option enables or disables the floppy drive The options are Off USB Internal and Read Only Internal default NOTE If USB is selected ensure that USB Controller setup option under Onboard Devices is set to On Drive 0 SATA 0 Identifies and enables and disables the drives attached to the SATA connectors on the system board and lists the capacities for the hard drives On default Drive 1 SATA 1 Identifies and
38. his section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the cover Removing a CD DVD Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin NOTICE Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables Doing so may cause damage to the cables and the cable connectors 2 Pull up on the drive release latch and slide the drive towards the back of the computer Then lift up to remove the drive from the computer 1 drive release latch 2 CD DVD drive 3 Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the drive 4 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 5 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Installing a CD DVD Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation 3 If you are installing a new drive a Press the two snaps on the top of the drive panel insert and rotate the insert toward the front of the computer Remove it from the computer b Remove the three shoulder screws from the drive panel insert 4 f you are replacing an existing drive a Remove the existing drive b Remove the three shoulder screws from t
39. ins can permanently damage the processor I nstalling the Processor NOTI CE Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer NOTI CE Be careful not to bend any of the pins when you replace the processor Bending the pins can permanently damage the processor 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin NOTI CE Be careful not to bend any of the pins when you unpack the processor Bending the pins can permanently damage the processor 2 Unpack the new processor being careful not to bend any of the processor pins NOTE You must position the processor correctly in the socket to avoid permanent damage to the processor and the computer when you turn on the computer 3 If the release lever on the socket is not fully extended move it to that position 4 Align the pin 1 corners of the processor and socket 3 pin 1 corner processor release lever socket A es NOTICE To avoid damage ensure that the processor aligns properly with the socket and do not use excessive force when you install the processor Set the processor lightly in the socket and ensure that the processor is positioned correctly While lightly pressing down on the processor rotate the release lever back toward the system board until it snaps into place securing the processor 7 Clean the thermal grease from the bottom of the heat sink NOTICE Ensure that you apply new thermal grease New thermal greas
40. ll modules without error If available install properly working memory of the same type into your computer see Memory If the problem persists contact Dell For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual Memory modules are detected but a memory Ensure that no special memory module memory connector placement requirements configuration or compatibility error exists exist see Memory Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your computer see Memory If the problem persists contact Dell For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual A possible expansion card failure has Determine whether a conflict exists by removing a card and restarting the computer occurred see Cards If the problem persists reinstall the card that you removed remove a different card and then restart the computer Repeat this process for each card If the computer starts normally troubleshoot the last card removed from the computer for resource conflicts If the problem persists contact Dell For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual Routine system activity subsequent to video Watch your monitor for on screen messages initialization System resource configuration in progress System board failure has occurred Contact Dell For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual During normal operation all of the diagnostic If the system does not start p
41. lug the computer into a working electrical outlet Also see lights turn on and then turn off before the System Lights system starts If there are no power problems and the system does not start contact Dell For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual NOTE If all of the diagnostic lights are on and the system does not start there may be a problem with the power supply or with the processor Beep Codes Your computer might emit a series of beeps during start up if the monitor cannot display errors or problems This series of beeps called a beep code identifies a problem One possible beep code consists of one long beep and then two short beeps This beep code tells you that the computer encountered a memory test failure If your computer beeps during start up 1 Write down the beep code on the Diagnostics Checklist The Diagnostics Checklist is located in your Owner s Manual 2 Run the Dell Diagnostics to identify a more serious cause See Dell Diagnostics 3 Contact Dell for technical assistance For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual Cause Back to Contents Page
42. nd the drives Note the routing of the DC power cables underneath the tabs in the computer chassis as you remove them from the system board and drives You must route these cables properly when you replace them to prevent their being pinched or crimped 3 Remove the two screws that attach the power supply to the back of the computer chassis 4 Press the release button located on the floor of the computer chassis 4 jACpowercomecto PE P 5 Slide the power supply toward the front of the computer and lift the power supply up and out of the computer 6 Lower the replacement power supply into the computer 7 Slide the replacement power supply toward the back of the computer until it snaps into place 8 Replace the screws that secure the power supply to the back of the computer chassis 9 Reconnect the DC power cables 10 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover 11 Connect the AC power cable to the AC power connector Front I O Panel A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in your Product I nformation Guide A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover Removing the Front I O Panel 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Remove the computer cover See Removing the Computer Cover 3 Loosen the captive screw on each side of the heat sink assembly See
43. ne bay for a 1 inch high hard drive Connectors External connectors Video Network adapter USB Audio System board connectors SATA Floppy drive Fan PCI 2 3 PCle x1 PCI e x16 Internal USB Speaker Memory modules Power 12V Power Battery Controls and Lights Power control Power light Hard drive access light LAN activity light front panel Link integrity light on integrated network adapter Network activity light on integrated network adapter Diagnostic lights Standby power light 15 hole VGA connector RJ45 connector two front panel and four back panel USB 2 0 compliant connectors six connectors for line in and line out two front panel connectors for headphones and microphone two 7 pin connectors 34 pin connector 5 pin connector 124 pin connector 36 pin connector 164 pin connector 10 pin connector supports two USB ports 6 pin connector four 240 pin connectors 4 pin connector 24 pin connector 2 pin socket push button green light Blinking green indicates a sleep mode solid green indicates a power on state amber light Blinking amber indicates a problem with an installed device solid amber indicates an internal power problem see System Lights green solid green light indicates network connection green light for 10 Mb operation orange light for 100 Mb operation yellow blinking light Four lights on the front panel See Diagnostic Lights AUX PWR on the
44. press Enter 4 When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears select the test you want to run see Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 1 After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears click the button for the option you want Function Express Test Performs a quick test of devices This test typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part Run Express Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly Extended Performs a thorough check of devices This test typically takes an hour or more and requires you to answer questions periodically Test Custom Test Tests a specific device You can customize the tests you want to run Symptom Lists the most common symptoms encountered and allows you to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having Tree 2 f a problem is encountered during a test a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem Write down the error code and problem description and follow the instructions on the screen If you cannot resolve the error condition contact Dell For information about contacting Dell see your Owner s Manual K NOTE The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen If you contact Dell technical support will ask for your Service Tag 3 If you run a test from the Custom Test or Symptom Tree option click the applicable tab describ
45. r on the card Use the blue line in connector to attach a record playback device SUch as a cassette player CD player or VCR On computers with a sound card use the connector on the card Use the green line out connector to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers On computers with a sound card use the connector on the card Use the pink microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program On computers with a sound card use the connector on the card Use the orange center subwoofer connector to attach a center speaker or a single subwoofer On computers with a sound card use the connector on the card NOTE The LFE Low Frequency Effects Audio channel found in digital surround sound audio schemes carries only low frequency information of 80 Hz and below The LFE channel drives a subwoofer to provide extremely low bass extension Systems not using subwoofers can shunt the LFE information to the main speakers in the surround sound setup Use the gray side surround sound connector to attach multichannel capable speakers The side surround output provides enhanced surround audio for computers with 7 1 speakers On computers with a sound card use the connector on the card Use the back rear quad USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected such as printers and keyboards NOTE It is recommended that you
46. re the heat sink assembly to the system board 7 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover 8 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on Fan Assembly A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Removing the Fan Assembly 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Remove the computer cover See Removing the Computer Cover 3 Remove the front I O panel See Removing the Front I O Panel A CAUTION The heat sink assembly can get very hot during normal operation Be sure that the assembly has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it 4 Disconnect the fan power cable from the FAN_CPU1 connector on the system board See System Board Components y M 1 fan tabs 2 fan release lever fan cable connector fan assembly Eoo poo LLL 5 While pressing the fan release lever rotate the fan assembly toward the back of the computer and up to release the two fan tabs from the vent holes in the chassis 6 Remove the fan assembly from the computer I nstalling the Fan Assembly When reinstalling the fan ensure that you do not pinch any wires that run near the fan o NOTI CE Ensure that the two fan tabs are fully inserted into the keyhole slots in the chassis so that the fan can slide back fully into position Ensure that the fan release lever is seated into its slot in the cha
47. rk 2 network adapter connector NOTICE Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector Use the network adapter connector to attach your computer to a network or broadband device Connect one end of a network cable to either a network jack or your network or broadband device and then connect the other end of the network cable to the network adapter connector on your computer A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached On computers with an additional network connector card use the connectors on the card and on the back of the computer when setting up multiple network connections such as a separate intra and extranet network activity light surround sound connector line in connector line out headphone connector microphone connector center subwoofer LFE connector side surround sound connector USB 2 0 connectors 4 rear quad VGA video connector Back to Contents Page NOTE It is recommended that you use Category 5 wiring and connectors for your network If you must use Category 3 wiring force the network speed to 10 Mbps to ensure reliable operation Flashes a yellow light when the computer is transmitting or receiving network data A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady on state Use the black surround sound connector to attach multichannel capable speakers On computers with a sound card use the connecto
48. ssis 1 Lower the fan assembly into the chassis and align the two fan tabs with the vent holes in the chassis 2 Rotate the fan assembly toward the front of the computer until the fan release lever snaps into place 3 Connect the fan assembly cable to the FAN CPUI1 connector on the system board See System Board Components 4 Install the front I O panel See Installing the Front I O Panel 5 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover 6 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on System Board Removing the System Board 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin NOTI CE Before touching anything inside your computer ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface such as the metal at the back of the computer While you work periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components 2 Remove the computer cover See Removing the Computer Cover 3 Remove any components that restrict access to the system board CD DVD drive s floppy drive hard drive power supply 4 Remove any expansion cards that are installed See Removing an Expansion Card 5 Remove the memory See Removing Memory Make a note of where each memory module s is installed so that you can reinstall the memory module s in the same connector 6 Remove the processor and heat sink assembly See Removing the Processor 7 Remove the fan assem
49. sufficient space exists to support the removed cover at least 30 cm 1 ft of desk top space o0 NOTI CE Ensure that you are working on a level protected surface to avoid scratching either the computer or the surface on which it is resting 2 If you have installed a padlock through the padlock ring on the back panel remove the padlock 3 Locate the cover release latch shown in the illustration Then slide the release latch back as you lift the cover computer cover cover release latch security cable slot 4 Grip the sides of the computer cover and pivot the cover up using the hinge tabs as leverage points 5 Remove the cover from the hinge tabs and set it aside on a soft nonabrasive surface Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Removing and Installing Parts Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual Memory Battery Cards Processor Drives Power Supply CD DVD Drive Front I O Panel Floppy Drive Fan Assembly Media Card Reader System Board Hard Drive Memory If your computer only has one memory module installed on the system board you can increase your computer memory by installing an additional memory module Your computer supports DDR2 memory For additional information on the type of memory supported by your computer see Specifications DDR2 Memory Overview Your computer has a minimum memory configuration of one DDR2 memory module This memory module must be installed in DIM
50. system board Power DC power supply Wattage Heat dissipation 955 39 BTU hr maximum NOTE Heat dissipation is calculated based upon the power supply wattage rating Voltage manual selection power supply 90 to 135 V at 50 60 Hz 180 to 265 V at 50 60 Hz Backup battery 3 V CR2032 lithium coin cell Physical Environmental Temperature Operating Maximum vibration Maximum shock Operating bottom half sine pulse with a change in velocity of 50 8 cm sec 20 inches sec Storage 27 G faired square wave with a velocity change of 508 cm sec 200 inches sec Altitude Operating 15 2 to 3048 m 50 to 10 000 ft Storage 15 2 to 10 668 m 50 to 35 000 ft Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page System Setup Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual Q Overview Clearing Forgotten Passwords and CMOS Settings Flashing the BIOS Overview Overview Use system setup as follows To change the system configuration information after you add change or remove any hardware in your computer To set or change a user selectable option such as the user password To read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed Before you use system setup it is recommended that you write down the system setup screen information for future reference NOTI CE Unless you are an expert computer user do not change the settings for this program Certain changes can make your
51. ted to the card 4 Remove the card If you are removing a PCI or PCI Express x1 card grasp the card by its top corners and ease it out of its connector Then go to step 6 If you are removing a PCI Express x16 card go to step 5 5 While pressing the lever pull the card up and out of the card connector a secunna tes 5 Pei eres t cracmet 6 If you are removing the card permanently install a filler bracket in the empty card slot opening NOTE Installing filler brackets over empty card slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer 7 Before you close the card retention door ensure that The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide 8 Close the card retention door by snapping it into place to secure the cards NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 9 Replace the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 10 Remove the card s driver from the operating system 11 If you removed a sound card a Enter system setup select Integrated Audio from the Onboard Devices group and change the setting to On See System Setup Options b Connect external audio devices to the audio
52. ter the administrator password at the prompt to unlock system setup If the correct password is not entered here the user can view but not modify system setup fields Displays the current status of your system setup program s password security feature and allows you to verify and assign a new admin password Displays the current status of the system s password security feature and allows a new system password to be assigned and verified Determines the interaction between the System password and the Admin password Locked prevents a user without a valid Admin password from being able to modify the System password Unlocked allows a user with a valid System password to modify the system password Enables or disables Execute Disable memory protection technology Power Management AC Recovery Off default Auto Power On Off default Auto Power Time Low Power Mode Off default Cool and Quiet On default Suspend Mode S3 default Maintenance Service Tag Determines how the system responds when AC power is re applied after a power loss Off commands the system to stay off when the power is re applied You must press the front panel power button before the system turns on On commands the system to turn on when the power is re applied Last commands the system to return to the last power state the system was in just before it was turned off Sets the computer to automatically turn on Off disables this featur
53. the power and data cables to the floppy drive 7 Locate the correct guidance slot for the drive slot 2 and align the shoulder screws with the screw guides 10 11 12 Slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place Connect the data cable to the connector labeled FLOPPY on the system board Replace the CD DVD drive Check all cable connections and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover o NOTI CE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 13 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Media Card Reader Removing a Media Card Reader A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide 1 2 NOTI CE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis Follow the procedures in Before You Begin NOTE It is not necessary to disconnect the cables connecting the CD DVD drive in the following step as long as the cables do not obstruct your working area once the drive is set aside Remove the CD DVD drive see Removing
54. the way Gently pull the power cables toward you so that they do not get caught underneath the drives 2 Ensure that no tools or extra parts are left inside the computer 3 To replace the cover a b Using the hinge tabs as leverage rotate the cover downward to close it Align the bottom of the cover with the hinge tabs located along the bottom edge of the computer C Press the cover down until it snaps into place d Ensure that the cover is seated correctly before moving the computer o NOTI CE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 4 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Removing the Computer Cover Dell Dimension C521 Service Manual A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover NOTICE Before touching anything inside your computer ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface such as the metal at the back of the computer While you work periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin NOTICE Ensure that
55. them on Cards A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis Your Dell computer provides the following slots for PCI and PCI Express cards One low profile PCI card slot One low profile PCI Express x1 and x16 card slot PCI Express x1 card PCI Express x16 card 4 PCI Express x1 card slot PCI Express x16 card slot 6 PCI card slot If you are installing or replacing an expansion card follow the procedures in the next section If you are removing and not replacing an expansion card see Removing an Expansion Card If you are replacing a card with a different type of card remove the current driver for the card from the operating system I nstalling an Expansion Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Gently push the release tab on the inside of the card retention door to pivot the door open Because the door is captive it will remain in the open position 3 If you are installing a new card remove the filler bracket to create a card slot opening then continue with step 5 card retention door 4 If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the
56. to boot from the floppy drive If the floppy disk in the drive is not bootable if no floppy disk is in the drive or if there is no floppy drive installed in the computer the computer generates an error message OnboardCD ROM Drive The computer attempts to boot from the CD drive If no CD is in the drive or if the CD has no operating system the computer generates an error message Integrated NIC The computer attempts to boot using the integrated NIC If integrated NIC is not connected the computer generates an error message USB Device USB Floppy USB CDROM Attach the device to a USB port and restart the computer before selecting the option from the Boot Menu The computer will attempt to boot from the appropriate USB device If no operating system is on the appropriate drive or disk the computer will generate an error message K NOTE To boot to a USB device the device must be bootable To ensure that a device is bootable check the device documentation Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot You can use this feature for example to restart your computer to a USB device such as a floppy drive memory key or CD RW drive K NOTE If you are booting to a USB floppy drive you must first set Diskette I nterface to Disabled in system setup see System Setup Options 1 If you are booting to a USB device connect the USB device to a USB connector See Front View 2 Turn on or restart your computer 3
57. ufacturer s instructions To replace the battery 1 Record all of the settings in system setup see System Setup Options so that you can restore the correct settings in step 8 2 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 3 Locate the battery socket 4 Remove the battery by carefully pressing the battery release lever away from the battery When the battery release lever is properly pressed the battery should spring out of the socket RN battery battery release lever battery socket 5 Insert the new battery into the socket with the side labeled facing up and snap the battery into place 6 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 7 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 8 Enter system setup see System Setup and restore the settings you recorded in step 1 The system will log a low battery event in the event log You can clear the log event from System Setup 9 Properly dispose of the old battery See the Product Information Guide for battery disposal information Processor A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide Removing the Processor 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Loosen the captive scre
58. ur computer warranty NOTI CE If you remove your original memory modules from the computer during a memory upgrade keep them separate from any new modules that you may have even if you purchased the new modules from Dell If possible do not pair an original memory module with a new memory module Otherwise your computer may not start properly I nstalling Memory A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector LI 1111 memory connector closer to edge of board securing clips 2 3 Align the notch on the bottom of the module with the crossbar in the connector NOTICE To avoid damage to the memory module press the module straight down into the connector while you apply equal force to each end of the module 4 Insert the module into the connector until the module snaps into position If you insert the module correctly the securing clips snap into the cutouts at each end of the module 5 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover
59. w on each side of the heat sink assembly gt CAUTION Despite having a plastic shield the heat sink assembly may be very hot during normal operation Be sure that it has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it NOTICE To avoid damaging the processor or processor socket slide the heat sink assembly forward and backwards to break the thermal grease seal between the processor and heat sink If you do not break the seal first the processor may stick to the heat sink assembly while rotating the assembly upward 3 Rotate the heat sink assembly upward and remove the assembly from the computer Lay the heat sink assembly down on its top with the thermal grease facing upward 1 heat sink assembly 2 captive screws 2 o NOTI CE Unless a new heatsink is required for the new processor reuse the original heat sink assembly when you replace the processor 4 Pull the release lever straight up until the processor is released 1 processor 2 release lever 3 socket NOTI CE Be careful not to bend any of the pins when you remove the processor from the socket Bending the pins can permanently damage the processor 5 Remove the processor from the socket Leave the release lever extended in the release position so that the socket is ready for the new processor and go to Installing the Processor NOTI CE After removing the processor be careful not to get any thermal grease on the processor pins Thermal grease on the p

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