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Dell 8400 User's Manual

1. Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Closing the Computer Cover Dell Dimension 8400 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 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 Close the cover a Pivot the cover down b Press down on the right side of the cover until it closes c Press down on the left side of the cover until it closes d Ensure that both sides of the cover are locked If not repeat all of step 3 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 4 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Removing and Installing Parts Dell Dimension 8400 Service Manual Memory Cards Drives Hard Drive Front Panel Inserts Floppy Drive CD DVD Drive Airflow Shroud Processor System Board Power Supply Battery Memory You can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on the system board Your computer supports DDR2 memory For additional information on the type of memory supported by your computer see Memory DDR2 Mem
2. Failure CMOS System Options Not Set CMOS Display Type Mismatch CMOS Memory Size Mismatch The keyboard controller failed Corrective Action If you receive this message after you make changes in the system setup program enter the system setup program and restore the original value s Reseat the memory modules Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the computer and defined correctly in the system setup program See Contacting Dell in your Owner s Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance See Contacting Dell in your Owner s Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance Enter the system setup program verify the system configuration and then restart the computer CMOS Time and Date Not Set Diskette Drive A or B is present but Failure has failed the BIOS POST DMA Error Error in the DMA controller on the system board DMA 1 Error DMA 2 Error FDD Controller The BIOS cannot communicate Failure with the floppy drive or hard drive controller DD Controller Failure An interrupt channel on the system board failed to POST The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C Keyboard Error The BIOS has detected a stuck key An error occurred with the keyboard connector Basic The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C Back to Contents Page
3. NOTICE If you are not installing a processor upgrade kit from Dell reuse the original heat sink assembly when you replace the processor If you installed a processor replacement kit from Dell return the original heat sink assembly and processor to Dell in the same package in which your replacement kit was sent 7 Install the heat sink a Slide one end of the heat sink under the retention tab b Pull out the other retention tab and lower the heat sink until it fits securely in the base NOTICE Ensure the heat sink is correctly seated and secure 8 Reinstall the retention module clips 9 Lower the airflow shroud over the heat sink 10 Reconnect the cooling fan power cable to the fan connector on the system board 11 Reconnect the power cable to the power connector on the system board 12 Close the computer cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer 13 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on System Board A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product I nformation Guide CAUTION 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
4. NOTICE The system board and metal tray are connected and are removed as one piece Removing the System Board 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Open the computer cover 3 Remove any components that restrict access to the system board 4 Disconnect all cables from the system board 5 Before you remove the existing system board assembly visually compare the replacement system board to the existing system board to make sure that you have the correct part 6 Remove the system board screw system board screw 7 Pull up on the two tabs slide the system board assembly toward the front of the computer and then lift the asembly up and away 8 Place the system board assembly that you just removed next to the replacement system board Replacing the System Board 1 Transfer components from the existing system board to the replacement system board a Remove the memory modules and install them on the replacement board b Install them on the replacement board A CAUTION The processor package and heat sink assembly can get hot To avoid burns ensure that the package and assembly have had sufficient time to cool before you touch them c Remove the heat sink assembly and processor from the existing system board and transfer them to the replacement system board 2 Configure the settings of the replacement system board 3 Set the jumpers on the replacement system board so they are identical to the ones on th
5. arm edge connector card connector 3 If you are installing a new card remove the filler bracket to create a card slot opening Then continue with step 5 4 If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer remove the card If necessary disconnect any cables connected to the card Grasp the card by its top corners and ease it out of its connector 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 CAUTION Some network adapters automatically start the computer when they are connected to a network To guard against electrical shock be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before installing any cards 6 Place the card in the connector and press down firmly Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot not fully kon am seated card i fully seated card SS bracket within slot bracketcaught outside of slot 7 Before you lower the retention arm 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 Press the retention arm into place securing the card s in the computer retention arm alignment bar alignment guide filler bracket OA AR EEES NOTICE Do n
6. PCI Express connectors connector size connector data width maximum Drives Externally accessible Available devices Internally accessible Connectors External connectors Serial Parallel Video Network adapter PS 2 keyboard and mouse USB Audio System board connectors Primary IDE drive Serial ATA Floppy drive Fan PCI 2 3 PCI Express x1 PCI Express x16 Telephony TAPI x16 slot bidirectional speed 8 GB s three 120 pins 32 bits one x1 36 pins 1 PCI Express lane one x16 164 pins 16 PCI Express lanes two 3 5 inch drive bays two 5 25 inch drive bays Serial ATA drive floppy drive Zip drive USB memory devices CD drive CD RW drive DVD drive DVD RW drive and DVD and CD RW combo drive two bays for 1 inch high hard drives 9 pin connector 16550C compatible 25 hole connector bidirectional 15 hole connector RJ 45 connector two 6 pin mini DIN connectors two front panel and six back panel USB 2 0 compliant connectors five connectors for line in line out microphone surround and center Low Frequency Effects LFE channel one front panel connector for headphones 40 pin connector on PCI local bus four 7 pin connectors 34 pin connector two 5 pin connectors 120 pin connector 36 pin connector 164 pin connector 4 pin connector Controls and Lights Power control Power light Hard drive access light Link integrity light on integrated network adap
7. 1 Disconnect the power and data cable from the drive and from the system board 2 Press in on the tabs on each side of the drive and slide the drive up and out tabs 2 hard drive Installing a Hard Drive 1 Unpack the replacement hard drive and prepare it for installation 2 Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer 3 If your replacement hard drive does not have the bracket rails attached remove the rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive Attach the bracket rails to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and then inserting and tightening all four screws two screws on each rail drive bracket rails 2 e O i screws 4 gt 4 Install the hard drive into the computer by gently sliding the drive into place until you hear it securely click 5 Connect the power and data cable to the drive and to the system board Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated Close the computer cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 10 11 12 13 14 15 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software re
8. If the computer starts normally reinstall an additional module Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error A sb G dy If available install properly working memory of the same type into your computer If the problem persists contact Dell i 9090 Memory modules are detected but Ensure that no special memory module memory connector placement requirements exist see a memory configuration or Memory compatibility error exists Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your computer see A BC D Memory If the problem persists contact Dell eooo A possible expansion card failure Determine if a conflict exists by removing a card not a graphics card see Cards and has occurred restarting the computer Ifthe problem persists reinstall the card that you removed remove a different card and then ABCD 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 Another failure has occurred Ensure that the cables are properly connected to the system board from the hard drive CD drive and DVD drive If there is an error message on your screen identifying a problem with a device such as the A BC D floppy drive or hard drive check the device to make sure it is functioning properly Th
9. Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the computer and defined correctly in the system setup program Check the interface cable at both ends The keyboard or system board may need to be replaced Ensure that the floppy drive or the hard drive is installed correctly in the computer and defined correctly in the system setup program Check the interface cable at both ends The keyboard or system board may need to be replaced Enter the system setup program and confirm that drive A or drive C is properly identified Ensure that nothing is resting on the keyboard if a key appears to be stuck carefully pry it up If the problem persists you may need to replace the keyboard Ensure that nothing is resting on the keyboard if a key appears to be stuck carefully pry it up If the problem persists you may need to replace the keyboard Enter the system setup program and confirm that drive A or drive C is properly identified Back to Contents Page Before You Begin Dell Dimension 8400 Service Manual Getting Started Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer Getting Started This section provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer Unless otherwise noted each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist You have performed the steps in Turning Off Your Computer and Before Working Inside Your Computer
10. 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 Recommended Tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools Small flat blade screwdriver Phillips screwdriver Flash BIOS update program floppy or CD 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 open files exit any open programs click the Start button and then click Turn Off Computer b In the Turn off computer window click Turn off 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 Inside Your Computer Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety A A q CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide CAUTION Handle components and cards with care Do not touch the components or contacts on a card Hold a card by its edges or by its meta
11. connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel 16 Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation Removing a PCI Express Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Press the lever on the card retention arm and raise the retention arm 3 If necessary disconnect any cables connected to the card 4 If your card includes a retention mechanism remove the top of the retention mechanism by pressing the tab and pulling up on the top 5 Gently pull back the securing tab grasp the card by its top corners and then ease it out of its connector 6 If you are removing the card permanently install a filler bracket in the empty card slot opening If you need a filler bracket contact Dell K 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 Lower the retention arm and press it into place securing the card s in the computer NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 8 Close the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 9 Remove the card s driver from the operating system 10 If you removed a sound card a Enter system setup select Audio Controller and then change the setting to On b Connect ex
12. connector and the other end attaches to the system board Drive I nterface Connectors Serial ATA Connector e my Ne interface cable ma a ar interface a O ja a f Most interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion that is a notch or a missing pin on one connector matches a tab or a filled in hole on the other connector When you connect an IDE cable ensure that you align the colored stripe with the pin 1 connector When you disconnect an IDE cable grasp the colored pull tab and pull until the connector detaches When you connect and disconnect a serial ATA cable hold the cable by the connector at each end K NOTE The system board serial ATA connector may have an attached cover or shroud Power Cable Connector D poe cable power input connector 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 opening 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 1 If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep back up your files before you begin to remove the hard drive 2 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin Removing a Hard Drive
13. damage your computer If a card fan is not present in your computer and you are installing a graphics card that runs at 75 W or higher contact Dell to find out how to purchase a card fan A ra Express il PCI E gt a e r xpress y Y Fa A XI card gt h gt PCI Express 3 PCI Express A if x1 card slot Lr x16 card slot t J C If you are installing or replacing a PCI Express card follow the procedures in the next section If you are removing but not replacing a card see Removing a PCI Express Card If you are replacing a card remove the current driver for the card from the operating system If you are installing or replacing a PCI card see Installing a PCI Card I nstalling a PCI Express Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Press the lever on the card retention arm and raise the retention arm tab lever retention arm RB top of retention mechanism x16 card securing slot securing tab edge connector filler bracket card connector x1 card T edge connector card connector 3 If you are installing a new card remove the filler bracket to create a card slot opening Then continue with step 5 4 If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer remove the card If necessary disconnect any cables connected to the card If your card includes a retention mechanism remove the top of the retention mechanism by pressing the tab and pulling up on t
14. to 149 F Maximum vibration Maximum shock Operating bottom half sine pulse with a change in velocity of 20 inches sec 50 8 cm sec Storage 27 G faired square wave with a velocity change of 200 inches sec 508 cm 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 8400 Service Manual Overview Entering System Setup System Setup Screens System Setup Options Boot Sequence Clearing Forgotten Passwords Clearing CMOS Settings Overview Use system setup as follows To change the system configuration information after you add change or remove any hardware in your computer To set or change a user selectable option such as the user password To read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed Before you use system setup it is recommended that you write down the system setup screen information for future reference NOTICE Unless you are an expert computer user do not change the settings for this program Certain changes can make your computer work incorrectly Entering System Setup 1 Turn on or restart your computer 2 When the blue DELL logo appears press lt F2 gt immediately 3 If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop Turn off your computer and
15. 18 AWG Wire K NOTE The P10 connector is intended for use with PCI Express graphics cards that have power requirements exceeding 75 watts Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Dell Dimension 8400 Systems 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 Ax CAUTION A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage personal injury or death Abbreviations and Acronyms For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms see the Dell Dimension Owner s Manual If you purchased a Dell n Series computer any references in this document to Microsoft Windows operating systems are not applicable Information in this document is subject to change without notice 2004 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 Inspiron Dell Precision Dimension OptiPlex Latitude PowerEdge PowerVault PowerApp and Dell OpenManage are trademarks of Dell Inc Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation Microsoft Windows and MS DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to r
16. DMA initialization failure DMA page register read write failure Slave DMA register failure Master DMA register failure Master interrupt mask register failure Slave interrupt mask register failure Interrupt vector loading failure Keyboard Controller Test failure NVRAM power loss NVRAM configuration Video Memory Test failure Screen initialization failure Screen retrace failure Search for video ROM failure No time tick 4 2 2 4 2 3 4 2 4 4 3 3 4 3 4 4 4 1 Shutdown failure Gate A20 failure Unexpected interrupt in protected mode Timer chip counter 2 failure Time of day clock stopped Serial or parallel port test failure 4 4 4 Cache test failure System Messages NOTE If the message you received is not listed in the table see the documentation for either the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared Message Possible Cause 8042 Gate A20 error its test Address Line An error in the address Short decoding circuitry in the memory has occurred C Drive Error The hard drive is not working or is not configured correctly C Drive Failure The cache memory is not operating Cache Memory Bad Do Not Enable Cache CH 2 Timer An error is occurring on the timer on the system board Error CMOS Battery State Low The system configuration information in the system setup program is incorrect or the battery charge may be M heck CMOS Checksum low
17. Dell Dimension 8400 Service Manual Before You Begin Opening the Computer Cover Technical Overview Advanced Troubleshooting System Setup Removing and Installing Parts Closing 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 Ax CAUTION A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage personal injury or death Abbreviations and Acronyms For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms see the Dell Dimension Owner s Manual If you purchased a Dell n Series computer any references in this document to Microsoft Windows operating systems are not applicable K NOTE Some features or services may not be available for your computer or in certain countries Information in this document is subject to change without notice 2004 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 Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation 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
18. To remove the processor from the socket lift the processor vertically in one motion Leave the release lever extended in the release position so that the socket is ready for the new processor Installing the Processor NOTICE Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer 1 Unpack the new processor NOTICE 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 2 If the release lever on the socket is not fully extended move it to that position 3 Align the pin 1 corners of the processor and socket NOTICE To avoid damage ensure that the processor aligns properly with the socket and do not use excessive force when you install the processor processor cover N processor processor socket release lever processor pin 1 indicator NOTICE Be careful not to touch or bend the pins on the system board 4 Set the processor lightly in the socket and ensure that the processor is level in the socket When the processor is positioned correctly press it with minimal pressure to seat it 5 When the processor is fully seated in the socket close the processor cover Ensure that the tab on the processor cover is positioned underneath the center cover latch on the socket 6 Pivot the socket release lever back toward the socket and snap it into place to secure the processor
19. ace 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 Opening the Computer Cover Dell Dimension 8400 Service Manual 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 opening the cover 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin NOTICE Ensure that sufficient space exists to support the open cover at least 30 cm 1 ft of desk top space 2 Lay the computer on its side so that the arrow on the bottom of the computer points up 3 Open the cover a Facing the back of the computer press the release button on the right side of the computer with one hand while pulling up on the top of the cover with the other hand b Press the release button on the left side of the computer with one hand while pulling up on the top of the cover with the other hand C Hold the bottom of the computer with one hand and then pull open the cover with the other hand release button arrow RERS a ae VIFTVIIGG Ta A JA AT g TATA J VIII TITTY p viperiprsee e TISPISPTIST d rrr A IAS 77 OP back of computer release button
20. arranty 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 You should install your original memory modules in pairs either in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 or DIMM connectors 3 and 4 Addressing Memory With 4 GB Configurations Your computer supports a maximum of 4 GB of memory when you use four 1 GB DIMMs Current operating systems such as Microsoft Windows XP can only use a maximum of 4 GB of address space however the amount of memory available to the operating system is less than 4 GB Certain components within the computer require address space in the 4 GB range Any address space reserved for these components cannot be used by computer memory I nstalling Memory CAUTI ON Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product I nformation Guide 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 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Lay the computer on its side so that the system board is on th
21. computer using a power strip or surge protector When Low Power Mode is selected remote wakeup events no longer power up from Hibernate or Off This option allows the computer to power up when a NIC or Remote Wakeup capable modem receives a wake up signal On is the default setting On w Boot to NIC allows the computer to attempt to boot from a network prior to using the boot sequence NOTE Normally the system can be powered up remotely from suspend mode hibernate mode or when powered off When Low Power Mode in the Power Management menu is enabled the computer can only be powered up remotely from Suspend The options are S1 a suspend state where the computer is running in a low power mode and S3 a standby state where the power is reduced or turned off for most components however system memory remains active This setting restores the computer s factory installed default settings Event Log Displays the system event log After downloading a new version of the BIOS use this option to identify and define the location of the BIOS update file The options are BIOS Updat A h P e Diskette or Disk POST Behavior Fastboot When set to On default your computer starts more quickly because it skips certain configurations and tests This option involves the rightmost bank of keys on your keyboard When set to On default this option activates the numeric and Numlock Key mathematical features shown at the top of each key When se
22. dy 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 manufacturer s instructions To replace the battery 1 Record all the screens in system setup so that you can restore the correct settings in step 8 2 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 3 Locate the battery socket on the system board 4 Remove the battery by pressing on the tab which will release the battery from the battery socket 5 Insert the new battery into the socket with the side labeled facing up and snap the battery into place battery battery socket tab 6 Close the computer cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 7 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on 8 Enter system setup and restore the settings you recorded in step 1 9 Properly dispose of the old battery See the Product Information Guide for battery disposal i
23. e bottom of the inside of the computer 3 Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector memory connector closest to processor securing clips 2 connector 4 Align the notch on the bottom of the module with the crossbar in the connector notch memory module cutouts 2 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 5 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 f a sa d Ha a A A gt jj f a ao a 6 Close the computer cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 7 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on 8 Right click the My Computer icon and click Properties 9 Click the General tab 10 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 Y
24. e existing board K NOTE Some components and connectors on the replacement system board may be in different locations than the corresponding connectors on the existing system board gt Orient the replacement board by aligning the notches on the bottom of the board with the tabs on the computer 5 Slide the system board assembly toward the back of the computer until the assembly clicks into position 6 Replace any components and cables that you removed from the system board 7 Reconnect all cables to their connectors at the back of the computer 8 Close the computer cover NOTI CE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer 9 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on Power Supply Removing the Power Supply 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 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 Disconnect the DC power cables from the system board and the drives Note the routing of the DC power cables underneath the tabs in the computer frame as you remove them from the sys
25. e operating system is attempting to boot from a device such as the floppy drive or hard drive check system setup see Boot Sequence to make sure the boot sequence is correct for the devices installed on your computer If the problem persists contact Dell i The computer is in a normal operating condition after POST i A BC D y ellow green off 000 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 code 1 3 1 consists of one beep a burst of three beeps and then one beep This beep code tells you that the computer encountered a memory problem Reseating the memory modules may fix the beep code errors in the following table If the problem persists see Contacting Dell in your Owner s Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance Cause 1 3 1 through 2 4 4 Memory not being properly identified or used Memory failure above address OFFFFh If you hear one of the following beep codes see Contacting Dell in your Owner s Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance Code Cause 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 4 Microprocessor register failure NVRAM ROM BIOS checksum failure 1 2 1 Programmable interval timer 1 2 2 1 2 3 3 1 1 3 1 2 3 1 3 3 1 4 3 2 2 3 2 4 3 3 1 3 3 2 3 3 4 3 4 1 3 4 2 3 4 3 4 2 1
26. efer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products Dell Inc disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own Model DHM October 2004 Rev AOO Back to Contents Page
27. er and devices to their electrical outlets and turn them on See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation 9 Enter system setup and select the appropriate Diskette Drive option 10 Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics CD DVD 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 opening the cover Removing a CD DVD Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the drive data cable 3 Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive and then slide the drive upward and remove it from the drive bay Installing a CD DVD Drive 1 If you are installing a new drive unpack the drive and prepare it for installation Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer If you are installing an IDE drive configure the drive for the cable select setting 2 Connect the new drive to the set of rails that are attached to the inside of the cover If a set of rails is not attached inside the cover contact Dell 3 If you are installing a replacement drive and the new drive does not have
28. er into a working electrical outlet and press the power button O O O O condition or a possible pre BIOS failure has occurred A DG D A possible processor failure has Contact Dell occurred ABCD Memory modules are detected but If you have two or more memory modules installed remove the modules reinstall one module a memory failure has occurred 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 ABCD If available install properly working memory of the same type into your computer Ifthe problem persists contact Dell A possible graphics card failure has If the computer has a graphics card remove the card reinstall it see PCI Express Cards occurred and then restart the computer If the problem still exists install a graphics card that you know works and restart the ABC D computer If the problem persists or the computer has integrated graphics contact Dell A possible floppy or hard drive Reseat all power and data cables and restart the computer failure has occurred i A BC OD A possible USB failure has Reinstall all USB devices check cable connections and then restart the computer occurred i ABCD No memory modules are detected If you have two or more memory modules installed remove the modules reinstall one module and then restart the computer
29. he card 4 Grasp the card by its top corners and ease it out of its connector 5 If you are removing the card permanently install a filler bracket in the empty card slot opening If you need a filler bracket contact Dell K 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 6 Lower the retention arm and press it into place securing the card s in the computer NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 7 Close the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 8 Remove the card s driver from the operating system 9 If you removed a sound card a Enter system setup select Audio Controller and then change the setting to On b Connect external audio devices to the audio connectors on the back panel of the computer 10 If you removed an add in network connector a Enter system setup select Network Controller and then change the setting to On b Connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel of the computer PCI Express Cards Your computer supports one PCI Express x16 card and one PCI Express x1 card NOTICE PCI Express graphics cards that run higher than 75 W may require an additional cooling fan Otherwise your card could overheat and
30. he top Gently pull the securing tab grasp the card by its top corners and then 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 A CAUTION Some network adapters automatically start the computer when they are connected to a network To guard against electrical shock be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before installing any cards 6 securing tab If you are installing the card into the x16 card connector position the card so the securing slot is aligned with the securing tab and gently pull the 7 Place the card in the connector and press down firmly Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot not fully seated card bracket fully seated within slot card I bracketcaught outside of slot 8 If you replaced a card that was already installed in the computer and you removed the top of the retention mechanism you may reinstall the top 9 Before you lower the retention arm 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 10 Press the retention arm into place securing the card s in the computer retention arm S alignment bar alignment guide filler brac
31. ket NOTICE Do not route card cables over or behind the cards Cables routed over the cards can prevent the computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment If a card fan is not present in your computer and you are installing a graphics card that runs higher than 75 W contact Dell to find out how to purchase a card fan 11 If you installed a PCI Express graphics card that runs at 75 W or higher install the card fan Contact Dell to find out how to purchase a card fan 12 Connect any cables that should be attached to the card See the documentation that came with the card for information about the card s cable connections NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 13 Close the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 14 If you installed a sound card a Enter system setup select Audio Controller and then change the setting to Off Connect external audio devices to the sound card s connectors Do not connect external audio devices to the microphone speaker headphone or line in connectors on the back panel b 15 If you installed an add in network adapter and want to disable the integrated network adapter a Enter system setup select Network Controller and then change the setting to Off b Connect the network cable to the add in network adapter s connectors Do not
32. l mounting bracket Hold a component such as a processor by its edges not by its pins NOTICE Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty NOTICE When you disconnect a cable pull on its connector or on its strain relief loop not on the cable itself Some cables have a connector with locking tabs if you are disconnecting this type of cable press in on the locking tabs before you disconnect the cable As you pull connectors apart keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins Also before you connect a cable ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned NOTICE To avoid damaging the computer perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer Turn off your computer NOTICE To disconnect a network cable first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network device 2 Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines 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 Open the computer cover NOTICE Before touching anything inside your computer ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surf
33. l any drive into the lower hard drive bay until you have removed the green drive rails from the inside of the hard drive bay Remove the first hard drive from the upper bay and install it in the lower bay a Disconnect the power and the data cable from the back of the first hard drive b Press in the two rail tabs and pull the first hard drive out of the upper bay c Gently slide the first hard drive into the lower bay until you hear a click d Reconnect the power and data cable to the back of the first hard drive 6 Gently slide the new hard drive into the upper bay until you hear a click 4 railtabs 2 a second hard drivein IF upper bay yr a firsthard drive in lower bay E Ll hard drive bay 7 Connect a power cable to the drive 8 Connect the data cable to the drive and to the system board 9 Close the computer cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 10 Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets and turn them on See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation Front Panel I nserts If you are installing a new floppy or CD DVD drive instead of replacing a drive remove the front panel inserts 1 Open the cover to a 90 degree angle 2 Locate the insert that is in front of the drive bay that you want to use 3 From inside the c
34. main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board If the power light is blinking the computer is receiving electrical power but an internal power problem might exist o Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location if applicable o Ensure that the processor power cable is securely connected to the system board If the power light is steady amber a device might be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed o Remove and then reinstall the memory modules o Remove and then reinstall any cards o Remove and then reinstall the graphics card if applicable Eliminate interference Some possible causes of interference are o Power keyboard and mouse extension cables o Too many devices on a power strip o Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet Diagnostic Lights A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide To help you troubleshoot a problem your computer has four lights labeled A B C and D on the back panel The lights can be yellow or green 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 The computer is in a normal off Plug the comput
35. marks and names or their products Dell Inc disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own Model DHM November 2004 Rev AOO Back to Contents Page Advanced Troubleshooting Dell Dimension 8400 Service Manual Power Lights Diagnostic Lights Beep Codes System Messages Power Lights A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide The power button light located on the front of the computer illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states If the power light is green and the computer is not responding see Diagnostic Lights If the power light is blinking green the computer is in standby mode Press a key on the keyboard move the mouse or press the power button to resume normal operation If the power light is off the computer is either turned off or is not receiving power o Reseat the power cable into both the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet o If the computer is plugged into a power strip ensure that the power strip is plugged into an electrical outlet and that the power strip is turned on Also bypass power protection devices power strips and power extension cables to verify that the computer turns on properly o Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp o Ensure that the
36. menu to display that allows you to select a method for booting from a network server If a boot routine is not available from the network server the computer attempts to boot from the next device in the boot sequence list Enables or disables the onboard audio controller Set to On default so that USB devices will be detected and supported in the operating system Enables or disables the onboard PS 2 compatible mouse controller Identifies and defines the parallel port settings You can set the parallel port to Off AT PS 2 EPP or ECP Identifies the address for the parallel port Identifies and defines the parallel port DMA settings You can set the parallel port DMA to Off DMA1 or DMA3 Identifies and defines the serial port settings Auto the default setting automatically configures a connector to a particular designation COM1 or COM3 This setting specifies which video controller is primary when two video controllers are present on the computer If your computer s processor supports Hyper Threading this option appears in the Options List Bypass Your computer does not test or change the current acoustics mode setting Quiet default 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 bu
37. n Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot You can use this feature for example to tell the computer 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 the floppy drive to OFF in system setup 1 If you are booting to a USB device connect the USB device to a USB connector 2 Turn on or restart your computer 3 When F2 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 and try again The Boot Device Menu appears listing all available boot devices Each device has a number next to it 4 At the bottom of the menu enter the number of the device that is to be used for the current boot only For example if you are booting to a USB memory key highlight USB Flash Device and press lt Enter gt K NOTE To boot to a USB device the device must be bootable To make sure your device is bootable check the device documentation Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots 1 Enter system setup 2 Use the arrow keys to highlight the Boot Sequence menu option and press lt Enter gt to access the menu K NOTE Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to restore it 3 Press the up and down arrow keys to move thr
38. nect the cooling fan power cable from the fan connector on the system board 3 Disconnect the power cable from the power connector on the system board 4 Lift up the airflow shroud Processor A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin A CAUTION The heat sink can get very hot during normal operation Be sure that the heat sink has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it 2 Remove the heat sink a Remove the retention module clips Press the tabs toward the center of the clip and lift up b On the retention base locate the tab opposite the power supply Press on the retention base tab until the heat sink pops up slightly c Press out on the second retention tab while lifting the heat sink up and out of the retention base NOTICE Lay the heat sink down on its side Do not touch or remove the thermal grease on the bottom of the heat sink NOTICE If you are installing a processor upgrade kit from Dell discard the original heat sink If you are not installing a processor upgrade kit from Dell reuse the original heat sink and blower when you install your new processor 3 Push down and out on the socket release lever 4 Open the processor cover processor cover processor A socket DS SS 2 release lever a A E aid j a j f 5 5
39. nformation Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Specifications Dell Dimension 8400 Service Manual Processor Processor type Level 1 L1 cache Level 2 L2 or L3 cache Memory Type Memory connectors Memory capacities Maximum memory BIOS address Intel Pentium 4 with HT Technology NOTE Not all Pentium 4 processors support Hyper Threading technology 512 KB 1 MB or 2 MB depending on your computer configuration pipelined burst eight way set associative write back SRAM 400 and 533 MHz DDR2 unbuffered SDRAM 128 256 512 or 1 GB non ECC NOTE See Addressing Memory With 4 GB Configurations to verify the amount of memory available to the operating system FOOOOh Computer Information Chipset DMA channels Interrupt levels BIOS chip NVRAM NIC System clock Intel 925X Express or Intel 925XE Express eight 24 4 Mb Integrated network interface capable of 10 100 1000 communication 800 or 1066 MHz data rate depending on your processor Expansion Bus Bus type Bus speed PCI Express ADI 1980 AC 97 Codec NOTE This audio type is present only on computers with integrated sound capabilities PCI 2 3 PCI Express x1 and x16 PCI 33 MHz PCI Express x1 slot bidirectional speed 500 MB s connector connector size connector data width maximum PCI Express connector connector size connector data width maximum
40. odule connectors 1 2 3 4 processor fan connector CPU FAN processor and heat sink connector processor power connector 12V PWR back of computer hard drive activity light for add in cards SCSI LED front panel connector FRONT PANEL internal speaker SPKR card fan connector PCI FAN clear CMOS jumper T CLR CMOS battery socket BATTERY PCI Express x16 card connector front panel audio FP AUD PCI Express x1 card connector PCI card connectors PCI SLOT 1 PCI SLOT 2 PCI SLOT 3 telephony connector TELEPHONY Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments EN a 4 po we DC Power Connector P1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 aa e 0 0 al le LE e e fe e 0 e fe e e De lr LIES NIM Pin Number swe rea fisme sec frea fisme sve o frea fisme ECTS COI fisme svoe frea fuso COM OLTO IN iIia JU AIV NJE Nini ni nin TR PRP Pe e pe fede de de de plwulninlolololsalolulslwlninIio DC Power Connector P2 Pin Number Signal Name 18 AWG Wire Pin Number Signal Name 18 AWG Wire 2 COM Black a icom Ci CS DC Power Connector P4 Signal Name 18 AWG Wire N C N C ETS COTA Signal Name 18 AWG Wire fasvoe ua DC Power Connector P7 BARR La 34 Pin Number Signal Name 18 AWG Wire swe ua DC Power Connectors P8 and P9 E e a 4 Signal Name 18 AWG Wire Pin Number Signal Name
41. omputer press in the release tab of the insert AR E al q insert release tab a e y Og S NX 4 From the outside of the computer pull the insert away from the computer s front panel 5 Remove the insert from the insert frame by pressing on the four tabs insert frame for floppy drive bay insertframe for CD DVD drive bay 6 Reattach the empty insert frame over the front of the drive bay The insert frame fits only one way a Face the front of the computer and slip the left side of the insert in to the left side of the drive bay opening b Slightly press the right side insert release tab and gently push in the insert If you are adding a floppy drive and you purchased the drive from Dell you received a front panel insert in your floppy drive kit Attach this insert over the front of the drive bay front panel floppy drive insert included in the floppy drive kit floppy drive light floppy drive eject button If you are adding a floppy drive that was not purchased from Dell reattach the empty insert frame over the front of the drive bay 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 opening the cover Follow the procedures in Before You Begin K NOTE If you are adding a floppy d
42. ory Overview DDR2 memory modules 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 upper right corner of the module to determine the module s capacity A 256MB 2R XX XXX j GD Elba Eq NOTE Always install DDR2 memory modules in the order indicated on the system board The recommended memory configurations are o A pair of matched memory modules installed in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 or o A pair of matched memory modules installed in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 and another matched pair installed in DIMM connectors 3 and 4 NOTICE Do not install ECC memory modules If you install mixed pairs of DDR2 400 MHz PC2 3200 and DDR2 533 MHz PC2 4200 memory the modules function at the slowest speed installed Similarly if you install memory modules with mixed CAS Latency CL rates the modules function at the speed and CAS latency capabilities of the slowest DIMM Be sure to install a single memory module in DIMM connector 1 the connector closest to the processor before you install modules in the other connectors matched pair of memory modules in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 white securing clips matched pair of memory modules inDIMM connectors 3 and 4 black securing clips K NOTE Memory purchased from Dell is covered under your computer w
43. ot route card cables over or behind the cards Cables routed over the cards can prevent the computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment 9 Connect any cables that should be attached to the card See the documentation for the card for information about the card s cable connections NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 10 Close 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 Audio Controller and then change the setting to Off b Connect external audio devices to the sound card s connectors Do not connect external audio devices to the microphone speaker headphone or line in connectors on the back panel 12 If you installed an add in network adapter and want to disable the integrated network adapter a Enter system setup select Network Controller and then change the setting to Off b Connect the network cable to the add in network adapter s connectors Do not connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel 13 Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation Removing a PCI Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Press the lever on the card retention arm and raise the retention arm 3 If necessary disconnect any cables connected to t
44. ou 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 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 Three PCI card slots One PCI Express x16 card slot One PCI Express x1 card slot PCI Cards If you are installing or replacing a card follow the procedures in the next section If you are removing but not replacing a PCI card see Removing a PCI Card If you are replacing a card remove the current driver for the card from the operating system If you are installing or replacing a PCI Express card see Installing a PCI Express Card Installing a PCI Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Press the lever on the card retention arm and raise the retention arm lever PCI card retention
45. ough the list of devices 4 Press the spacebar to enable or disable a device enabled devices have a checkmark 5 Press plus or minus to move a selected device up or down the list Clearing Forgotten Passwords 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 CLR CMOS 2 Locate the 3 pin password jumper PASS on the system board and attach the jumper plug to pins 2 and 3 to clear the password K NOTE When you receive your computer the jumper plug is attached to pins 1 and 2 3 Close the computer cover 4 Connect your computer and monitor to electrical outlets and turn them on 5 After the Microsoft Windows desktop appears on your computer shut down the computer 6 Turn off the monitor and disconnect it from the electrical outlet 7 Disconnect the computer power cable from the electrical outlet and press the power button to ground the system board 8 Open the computer cover 9 Locate the 3 pin password jumper PASS on the system board and attach the jumper to pins 1 and 2 to re enable the password feature 10 Close the computer cover NOTI CE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 11 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on Clearing CMOS Set
46. quired for drive operation If the drive you just installed is the primary drive insert a bootable floppy disk into drive A Turn on the computer Enter system setup and update the appropriate Drive option Exit system setup and restart the computer Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step See the documentation for your operating system for instructions Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics If the drive you just installed is the primary drive install your operating system on the hard drive Adding a Second Hard Drive 5 CAUTI ON Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product I nformation Guide CAUTI ON To guard against electrical shock always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover 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 Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer Follow the procedures in Before You Begin Remove the two plastic rails from the inside of the hard drive bay by gently pulling the rails up and out of the bay Attach the rails to the hard drive using the two screws attached to the rails Ensure that the rail tabs are positioned at the back of the hard drive NOTI CE Do not instal
47. rive see Installing a Floppy Drive Removing a Floppy Drive 1 Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the floppy drive 2 Disconnect the other end of the data cable from the system board 3 power cable data cable Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive slide the drive upward and then remove it from the floppy drive bay Installing a Floppy Drive I 7 If you are replacing a drive and the new drive does not have the bracket rails attached remove the rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and then inserting and tightening all four screws two screws on each rail drive bracketrails 2 e E ig screws 4 Gently slide the drive into place until the tabs securely click into position Attach the power and data cables to the floppy drive Connect the other end of the data cable to the connector labeled FLOPPY on the system board If you are installing a new floppy drive rather than replacing a drive remove the front panel inserts Check all cable connections and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents Close the computer cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable in to the network device and then plug it in to the computer 8 Connect your comput
48. t its performance is not affected NOTE Changing the acoustics setting does not alter your hard drive image This section displays available system security options This option provides restricted access to the computer s system setup program in the same way that access to the system can be restricted with the System Password option System Password Displays the current status of the system s password security feature and allows a new system password to be assigned and verified Power Management AC Recovery Auto Power On Auto Power Time Low Power Mode Remote Wake Up Suspend Mode Maintenance CMOS Defaults p This option locks the system password field with the setup password When the field is locked you can no longer disable password assword Status security by pressing lt Ctrl gt lt Enter gt when the computer starts Determines what happens when AC power is restored to the computer Sets the computer to automatically turn on Choices are every day or every Monday through Friday The default setting is Off This feature does not work if you turn off your computer using a power strip or surge protector Sets time to automatically turn on the computer Time is kept in a 24 hour format hours minutes Change the start up 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 This feature does not work if you turn off your
49. t to Off this option activates the cursor control functions labeled on the bottom of each key OS Install This setting turns the OS Install Mode either On or Off default POST Hotkeys This option allows you to specify the function keys to display on the screen when the computer starts Keyboard Errors This option disables or enables keyboard error reporting when the computer starts Boot Sequence This feature allows you to change the boot sequence for devices Option Settings Diskette Drive The computer attempts 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 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 CD 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 USB Flash Device Insert the memory device into a USB port and restart the computer When F12 Boot Menu appears in the upper right corner of the screen press lt F12 gt The BIOS detects the device and adds the USB flash option to the boot menu K NOTE To boot to a USB device the device must be bootable To make sure that your device is bootable check the device documentatio
50. tem 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 frame 4 Press the release button located on the floor of the computer frame push button DC power cables connector 5 Slide the power supply toward the front of the computer approximately 1 inch 6 Lift the power supply up and out of the computer Replacing the Power Supply A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide 1 Slide the power supply into place 2 Replace the two screws that secure the power supply to the back of the computer frame 3 Reconnect the DC power cables 4 Connect the AC power cable to the connector 5 Run the cables underneath the clips and press the clips to close them over the cables 6 Close the computer cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer 7 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on 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 bo
51. ter push button green light Blinking green in sleep state solid green for power on state amber light Blinking amber indicates a problem with an installed device solid amber indicates an internal power problem see Power Lights green green light A good connection exists between a 10 Mbps network and the computer orange light A good connection exists between a 100 Mbps network and the computer yellow light A good connection exists between a 1 Gb or 1000 Mbps network and the computer off no light The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network Activity light on integrated network adapter yellow blinking light Diagnostic lights four lights on the back panel See Diagnostic Lights Standby power light AUX_PWR on the system board Power DC power supply Wattage 350 W Heat dissipation 460 7 BTU hr Voltage see the safety instructions located in fixed voltage power supply 110 V at 50 60 Hz the Product Information Guide for important voltage setting information manual selection and auto sensing power supplies 90 to 135 V at 50 60 Hz 180 to 265 V at 50 60 Hz 100 V at 50 60 Hz for Japanese computers Backup battery 3 V CR2032 lithium coin cell Physical Environmental Temperature Operating 10 to 35 C 50 to 95 F NOTE At 35 C 95 F the maximum operating altitude is 914 m 3000 ft Storage 40 to 65 C 40
52. ternal audio devices to the audio connectors on the back panel of the computer 11 If you removed an add in network connector a Enter system setup select Network Controller and then change the setting to On b Connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel of the computer 12 Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation Drives Your computer supports a combination of these devices Up to two hard drives One optional floppy drive Up to two CD or DVD drives General Installation Guidelines Connect serial ATA hard drives and serial CD DVD drives to the system board connectors labeled SATA 0 SATA 1 SATA 2 or SATA 3 Connect IDE CD DVD drives to the connector labeled PRI IDE When you connect two IDE devices to a single IDE interface cable and configure them for the cable select setting the device attached to the last connector on the interface cable is the primary or the boot device drive 0 and the device attached to the middle connector on the interface cable is the secondary device drive 1 See the drive documentation in your upgrade kit for information on configuring devices for the cable select setting 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 Some drives may also have an audio connector one end of the audio cable attaches to the drive
53. the bracket rails attached remove the rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and then inserting and tightening all four screws two screws on each rail 4 Gently slide the drive into place until the tabs securely click into position 5 Connect the power and data cables to the drive power ae 2 y data cable 6 If you are installing a new CD DVD drive rather than replacing a drive remove the front panel inserts 7 Check all cable connections and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents 8 Close the computer cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable in to the network device and then plug it in to the computer 9 Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets and turn them on See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation 10 Enter system setup and select the appropriate Drive option 11 Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics Airflow Shroud Removing the Airflow Shroud A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin 2 Discon
54. tings 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 3 pin CMOS jumper CLR CMOS on the system board b Remove the jumper plug from pins 2 and 3 c Place the jumper plug on pins 1 and 2 and wait approximately 5 seconds d Replace the jumper plug on pins 2 and 3 3 Close the computer cover NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer 4 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on Back to Contents Page Back to Contents Page Technical Overview Dell Dimension 8400 Service Manual O Inside Your Computer System Board Components Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments Inside Your Computer A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide Follow the procedures in Before You Begin CD DVD drive Mn EN S Si m R with a floppy drive heatsink and blower assembly System Board Components SATA connectors SATA 0 SATA password 1 SATA 2 SATA 3 jumper PASS IDE drive connector PRI IDE floppy drive connector FLOPPY standby power light AUX_PWR Y 4 main power 3 connector POWER memory m
55. try again System Setup Screens The system setup screen displays current or changeable configuration information for your computer Information on the screen is divided into three areas the options list active options field and key functions Option Field This field contains information about each option In this field you can view your current settings and make changes to your settings Options List This field appears on the left side of the system setup window The field is a scrollable list containing features that define the configuration of your computer including installed hardware power conservation and security features Use the right and left arrow keys to highlight an option Scroll up and down the list with the up and down arrow keys As an option is highlighted the Press lt Enter gt to make that selection active Option Field displays more information about that option and the option s current and Key Functions This field appears below the Option Field available settings y pp p 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 CPU Taf Identifies whether the computer s processor supports Hyper Threading and lists the processor bus speed processor ID clock speed and L2 cache Memor
56. y Info Indicates amount of installed memory memory speed channel mode dual or single and type of memory installed Date Time Displays current date and time settings The computer attempts to boot from the sequence of devices specified in this list Boot Sequence Drives Diskette Drive Drives 0 through 5 Drive Controller Onboard Devices NIC Controller Audio Controller USB Mouse Port LPT Port Mode LPT Port Address LPT Port DMA Serial Port 1 Video Primary Video Performance HyperThreading Performance Security Admin Password NOTE If you insert a boot device and restart the computer this option appears in the system setup menu To boot from a USB memory device select the USB device and move it so it becomes the first device in the list Identifies and defines the floppy drive attached to the FLOPPY connector on the system board as Off USB Internal or Read Only Identifies the drives attached to the SATA or PRI IDE connectors on the system board and lists the capacity for hard drives Identifies and defines the SATA controller settings for RAID You can set the SATA controller to RAID Autodetect AHCI RAID Autodetect ATA or RAID On You can set the NIC to On default Off or On w PXE When the On w PXE setting is active available only for the future boot process the computer prompts the user to press lt Ctrl gt lt Alt gt lt b gt Pressing this key combination causes a

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