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Dell 531 Laptop User Manual
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1. Removing and Installing Parts 102 16 19 22 25 28 31 processor socket CPU memory module connectors DIMM_1 main power connector ATX_POWER serial ATA drive connectors SATA2 front panel connector F_PANEL front USB connector F_USB3 PCI connector PCI3 front audio F_AUDIO PCI Express x16 connector PCIE_x16 2 USB connectors power for cpu ATX_CPU 11 14 17 20 23 29 processor fan connector CPU _FAN memory module connectors DIMM 4 floppy drive connector FLOPPY password jumper CLEAR_PW serial ATA drive connectors SATA1 front USB connector F_USB2 PCI connector PCI2 battery socket audio connectors chassis fan connector CHASSIS_FAN Removing and Installing Parts 15 18 21 24 27 30 memory module connectors DIMM 2 memory module connectors DIMM 3 serial ATA drive connectors SATA3 CMOS jumper CLEAR CMOS serial ATA drive connectors SATAO FlexBay connector F_USB1 IEEE connector PCI Express x1 connector PCIE_X1 2 USB and 1 LAN connector video connector VGA 103 Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments DC Power Connector P1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 LLLI DIGI ES E5 E E CS CS LE E Cal Calla 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 104 Removing and Installing Parts Pin Number o ON DMN BW VN
2. 30 Setting Up and Using Your Computer 1 xD Picture Card and SmartMedia 2 CompactFlash Type I and I SMC CF MII and MicroDrive Card 3 Memory Stick MS MS Pro 4 SecureDigital Card SD MultiMediaCard MMC To use the Media Card Reader 1 Check the media or card to determine the proper orientation for insertion 2 Slide the media or card into the appropriate slot until it is completely seated in the connector If you encounter resistance do not force the media or card Check the card orientation and try again Connecting Two Monitors A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide If you purchased a graphics card that supports dual monitors follow these instructions to connect and enable your monitors The instructions tell you how to connect either two monitors each with a VGA connector one monitor with a VGA connector and one monitor with a DVI connector or a TV NOTICE If you are connecting two monitors that have VGA connectors you must have the optional DVI adapter to connect the cable If you are connecting two flat panel monitors at least one of them must have a VGA connector If you are connecting a TV you may connect only one monitor VGA or DVI in addition to the TV Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 K NOTE If your computer has integrated video
3. 59 A program stopsresponding 59 A program crashes repeatedly 59 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operating system 60 A solid bluescreenappears 60 Other software problems 61 Media Card Reader Problems 62 Memory Problems 63 Mouse Problems 64 Network Problems 65 PowerProblems 66 Printer Problems 67 Scanner Problems 69 Contents 4 Tro Contents Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from speakers No sound from headphones Video and Monitor Problems Ifthe screenisblank If the screen is difficulttoread ubleshooting Tools PowerLights 000 Beep Codes 2 5 cee eee ae System Messages DellDiagnostics 0 4 When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive 4 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and UtilitiesMedia Dell Diagnostics MainMenu Identifying Drivers 040 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Restoring Your Operating System Using Microsoft
4. 3 This will bring up the Network and Sharing Center dialog screen click Set up a connection or network from the list of tasks on the left hand side of this dialog screen 4 From a list of tasks to choose from such as Connect to the Internet Set Up a wireless router or access point and more Choose the task most appropriate for your network and follow the on screen prompts For more information access Help and Support use the search term Network Connecting to the Internet K NOTE ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country To connect to the Internet you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider ISP Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options DSL connections that provide high speed Internet access through your existing telephone line or cellular telephone service With a DSL connection you can access the Internet and use your telephone on the same line simultaneously e Cable modem connections that provide high speed Internet access through your local cable TV line e Satellite modem connections that provide high speed Internet access through a satellite television system 48 Setting Up and Using Your Computer e Dial up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line Dial up connections are considerably slower than DSL and cable or satellite modem connections Wireless LAN connections that provide Internet access using Bluetooth
5. CD RW DVD drive A drive sometimes referred to as a combo drive that can read CDs and DVDs and write to CD RW rewritable CDs and CD R recordable CDs discs You can write to CD RW discs multiple times but you can write to CD R discs only once clock speed The speed given in MHz that indicates how fast computer components that are connected to the system bus operate COA Certificate of Authenticity The Windows alpha numeric code located on a sticker on your computer Also referred to as the Product Key or Product ID Control Panel A Windows utility that allows you to modify operating system and hardware settings such as display settings controller A chip that controls the transfer of data between the processor and memory or between the processor and devices CRIMM continuity rambus in line memory module A special module that has no memory chips and is used to fill unused RIMM slots cursor The marker on a display or screen that shows where the next keyboard touch pad or mouse action will occur It often is a blinking solid line an underline character or a small arrow D DDR SDRAM double data rate SDRAM A type of SDRAM that doubles the data burst cycle improving system performance DDR2 SDRAM double data rate 2 SDRAM A type of DDR SDRAM that uses a 4 bit prefetch and other architectural changes to boost memory speed to over 400 MHz Glossary 191 device H
6. Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines see Memory Installation Guidelines on page 108 Your computer supports DDR2 memory For more information about the type of memory supported by your computer see Memory on page 167 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive on page 80 Solving Problems 63 Mouse Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CLEAN THE MOUSE See Mouse on page 179 for instructions on cleaning the mouse CHECK THE MOUSE CABLE 1 Remove mouse extension cables if used and connect the mouse directly to the computer 2 Reconnect the mouse cable as shown on the setup diagram for your computer RESTART THE COMPUTER 1 Simultaneously press lt Ctrl gt lt Esc gt to display the Start menu 2 Type u press the keyboard arrow keys to highlight Shut down or Turn Off and then press lt Enter gt 3 After the computer turns off reconnect the mouse cable as shown on the on the setup diagram for your computer 4 Start the computer ENSURE THAT THE USB PORTS ARE ENABLED IN THE SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM See System Setup on page 172 TEST THE MOUSE Connect a properly working mouse to the computer and try using the mouse 64 Solving Problems CHECK THE MOUSE SETTINGS Windows XP 1 Click Start click Control Panel and the
7. Symptom Tree This option allows you to select tests based on a symptom of the problem you are having This option lists the most common symptoms If 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 see Getting Help on page 183 K NOTE The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen lf you contact Dell technical support will ask for your Service Tag If you run a test from the Custom Test or Symptom Tree option click the applicable tab described in the following table for more information Tab Function 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 Troubleshooting Tools Tab Function 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 Parameters Allows you to customize the test by changing the test
8. 204 143 Replacing the Power Supply 143 Processor io ina 5 ahd seal we eae hee a 145 Removing the Processor 145 Installing the Processor 148 W O Panel z spe el setts Sto See eye we eS 151 Removing the I O Panel 151 Installing the 1 0 Panel 152 ProcessorFan 04 154 Removing the ProcessorFan 154 Installing the ProcessorFan 157 Chassis Fani oi foo Smee Yel 159 Removing the Chassis Fan 160 Replacing the ChassisFan 161 System Board 004 162 Removing the System Board 162 Installing the System Board 164 Replacing the Computer Cover 164 A Appendix ee Abba ee Ge eee de 167 Specifications 000 167 System Setup 00 0000s 172 OVENIEW o ound sme eet we a 172 Entering System Setup 172 System Setup Options 173 BootSequence 175 Clearing Forgotten Passwords 176 Clearing CMOS Settings 177 Flashing the BIOS 178 Cleaning Your Computer 179 Computer Keyboard and Monitor 179 Molise so feo eo oe dew tee Sie OS Sheek 179 Floppy Drive 200 180 CDs and DVDs 180 Dell Technical Support Policy U S Only 180 Definition of Dell Installed Software and Pe
9. A small circuit board containing memory chips which connects to the system board MHz megahertz A measure of frequency that equals 1 million cycles per second The speeds for computer processors buses and interfaces are often measured in MHz Mini PCI A standard for integrated peripheral devices with an emphasis on communications such as modems and NICs A Mini PCI card is a small external card that is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card Mini Card A small card designed for integrated peripherals such as communication NICs The Mini Card is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card modem A device that allows your computer to communicate with other computers over analog telephone lines Three types of modems include external PC Card and internal You typically use your modem to connect to the Internet and exchange e mail module bay See media bay MP megapixel A measure of image resolution used for digital cameras ms millisecond A measure of time that equals one thousandth of a second Access times of storage devices are often measured in ms Glossary 197 network adapter A chip that provides network capabilities A computer may include a network adapter on its system board or it may contain a PC Card with an adapter on it A network adapter is also referred to as a NIC network interface controller NIC See network adapter notification
10. Back View of the Computer 1 2 6 3 5 4 1 power connector 2 power supply LED Insert the power cable Indicates power availability for power supply 3 back panel connectors Plug USB audio and other devices into the appropriate connector See Back Panel Connectors on page 18 for more information 4 card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI and PCI Express cards 5 padlock rings Padlock rings are for attaching a commercially available theft deterrent device The padlock rings allows you to secure the computer cover to the chassis with a padlock to prevent unauthorized access to the inside of the computer To use the padlock rings insert a commercially available padlock through the rings and then lock the padlock 6 security cable slot Security cable slot lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer For more information see the instructions included with the device Setting Up and Using Your Computer 17 Back Panel Connectors 1 network activity Flashes a yellow light when the computer is transmitting or light receiving network data A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady on state 2 network adapter To attach your computer to a network or broadband device connector connect one end of a network cable to either a network port or your network or broadband devic
11. NN N NN me ee a a ea ea ei FW N KF DO ON DVN FW N YF D Signal name 3 3 V 3 3 V RTN 5V RTN 5 V RTN POK 5 V AUX t12 V t12 V 3 3 V 3 3 V 12 V RTN PS_ON RTN RTN RTN OPEN 5V 5V 5V RTN Wire Color Orange Orange Black Red Black Red Black Gray Purple Yellow Yellow Orange Orange Blue Black Green Black Black Black Red Red Red Black Wire Size 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 22 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 22 AWG 20 AWG 22 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG 20 AWG Removing and Installing Parts 105 DC Power Connector P2 3 E 4 1 E E 2 Pin Number Signal Name 18 AWG Wire l GND Black 2 GND Black 3 12 VADC Yellow 4 12 VADC Yellow DC Power Connectors P3 P5 P8 and P9 54321 Pin Number Signal name l 3 3 VDC 2 GND 3 5 VDC 4 GND 5 12 VBDC 18 AWG Wire Orange Black Red Black White 106 Removing and Installing Parts DC Power Connector P7 ESA 4 321 Pin Number Signal Name 22 AWG Wire l 5 VDC Red 2 GND Black 3 GND Black 4 12 VADC Yellow 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 on page 167 NOTICE Do not install ECC or buffered memory modules Only unbuffered n
12. 176 safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 EE m o i A TET FFF O a O mA coo CLEAR 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 Locate the 3 pin password connector CLEAR PW on the system board and remove the 2 pin jumper plug from pins 2 and 3 and fix it on pins and 2 and wait for approximately five seconds to clear the password Remove the 2 pin jumper plug from pins and 2 and replace it on pins 2 and 3 to enable the password feature Appendix 5 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 6 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and 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 on page 97 K NOTE The computer must be disconnected from the electrical outlet to clear the CMOS setting 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the
13. 108 Removing and Installing Parts Installing Memory A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide A CAUTION Before installing memory you must remove the PCI Express x16 card See Cards on page 111 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 on page 97 2 Press the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector A 1 memory connector farthest 2 securing clips 2 3 connector from processor DIMM_2 Removing and Installing Parts 109 3 Align the notch on the bottom of the module with the crossbar in the xs K Ze 4 1 cutouts 2 2 memory module 3 notch 4 crossbar 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 A ae 4 Pal 5 Replace the PCI Express x16 card see Cards on page 111 6 Replace the computer cover NOTICE To connect a network ca
14. Glossary 189 battery life span The length of time years during which a portable computer battery is able to be depleted and recharged battery operating time The length of time minutes or hours that a portable computer battery powers the computer BIOS basic input output system A program or utility that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system Unless you understand what effect these settings have on the computer do not change them Also referred to as system setup bit The smallest unit of data interpreted by your computer Bluetooth wireless technology A wireless technology standard for short range 9 m 29 feet networking devices that allows for enabled devices to automatically recognize each other boot sequence Specifies the order of the devices from which the computer attempts to boot bootable CD A CD that you can use to start your computer In case your hard drive is damaged or your computer has a virus ensure that you always have a bootable CD or floppy disk available Your Drivers and Utilities or ResourceCD is a bootable CD bootable disk A disk that you can use to start your computer In case your hard drive is damaged or your computer has a virus ensure that you always have a bootable CD or floppy disk available bps bits per second The standard unit for measuring data transmission speed BTU British thermal unit A me
15. PCI Express connector connector size connector data width maximum PCI Express connector connector size connector data width maximum Appendix PCI 2 3 PCI Express 1 0A SATA 1 0 and 2 0 USB 2 0 PCI 133 MB s PCI Express x1 slot bidirectional speed 500 MB s x16 slot bidirectional speed 8GB s SATA 1 5 Gbps and 3 0 Gbps USB 480 Mbps high speed 12 Mbps full speed 1 2 Mbps low speed two 124 pins 32 bits one xl 36 pins 1 PCI Express lane one xl6 164 pins 16 PCI Express lanes Drives Externally accessible Bays Available devices Internally accessible one 3 5 inch drive bay FlexBay two 5 25 inch drive bays Serial ATA drives 4 floppy drive USB memory devices CD or DVD drive and Media Card Reader two bays for l inch high serial ATA hard drives Connectors External connectors Video Network adapter USB Audio System board connectors Serial ATA Internal USB device Floppy drive Processor fan Chassis fan PCI 2 3 PCI Express x1 PCI Express x16 Front panel control Front panel USB Front panel audio HDA header Processor 15 hole connector RJ 45 connector four front panel and four back panel USB 2 0 compliant connectors six connectors for 7 1 support four 7 pin connectors one 10 pin connector supports two USB ports one 34 pin connector one 4 pin connector one 3 pin connector two 124 pin connectors one 36 pin connector one 164 pin conn
16. PXE pre boot execution environment A WfM Wired for Management standard that allows networked computers that do not have an operating system to be configured and started remotely RAID redundant array of independent disks A method of providing data redundancy Some common implementations of RAID include RAID 0 RAID 1 RAID 5 RAID 10 and RAID 50 RAM random access memory The primary temporary storage area for program instructions and data Any information stored in RAM is lost when you shut down your computer readme file A text file included with a software package or hardware product Typically readme files provide installation information and describe new product enhancements or corrections that have not yet been documented read only Data and or files you can view but cannot edit or delete A file can have read only status if e It resides on a physically write protected floppy disk CD or DVD e It is located on a network in a directory and the system administrator has assigned rights only to specific individuals Glossary 199 refresh rate The frequency measured in Hz at which your screen s horizontal lines are recharged sometimes also referred to as its vertical frequency The higher the refresh rate the less video flicker can be seen by the human eye resolution The sharpness and clarity of an image produced by a printer or displayed on a monitor The higher the resolution t
17. and repair information Service and support Service call status and support history service contract online discussions with technical support Reference Computer documentation details on my computer configuration product specifications and white papers Downloads Certified drivers patches and software updates Desktop System Software DSS To download Desktop System Software If you reinstall the operating system 1 Go to support dell com and click Drivers for your computer you should also and Downloads reinstall the DSS utility DSS 2 Enter your Service Tag or Product Type and provides critical updates for your Product Model and click Go f operating system and support for i Dell 3 5 inch USB floppy drives optical drives and USB devices DSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer The software automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration 3 Scroll to System and Configuration Utilities gt Dell Desktop System Software and click Download Now NOTE The support dell com user interface may vary depending on your selection Finding Information 13 What Are You Looking For Find it Here How to use your Windows Windows Help and Support Center operating system 1 To access Windows Help and Support j i to work with programs and e In Windows XP click Start and click iles Help and Suppor
18. printer Many devices do not work properly if the correct driver is not installed in the computer DSL Digital Subscriber Line A technology that provides a constant high speed Internet connection through an analog telephone line dual core A technology in which two physical computational units exist inside a single processor package thereby increasing computing efficiency and multi tasking ability dual display mode A display setting that allows you to use a second monitor as an extension of your display Also referred to as extended display mode DVD R DVD recordable A recordable version of a DVD Data can be recorded only once onto a DVD R Once recorded the data cannot be erased or written over DVD RW DVD rewritable A rewritable version of a DVD Data can be written to a DVD RW disc and then erased and written over rewritten DVD RW technology is different from DVD RW technology 192 Glossary DVD RW drive drive that can read DVDs and most CD media and write to DVD RW rewritable DVDs discs DVI digital video interface A standard for digital transmission between a computer and a digital video display E ECC error checking and correction A type of memory that includes special circuitry for testing the accuracy of data as it passes in and out of memory ECP extended capabilities port A parallel connector design that provides improved bidirectional data transmiss
19. safety instructions in the Product Information Guide IF THE POWER LIGHT IS OFF The computer is either turned off or is not receiving power e Reseat the power cable into both the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet e 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 e Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp IF THE POWER LIGHT IS STEADY BLUE AND THE COMPUTER IS NOT RESPONDING See Power Lights on page 75 IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING BLUE The computer is in standby mode Press a key on the keyboard move the mouse or press the power button to resume normal operation Solving Problems IF THE POWER LIGHT IS STEADY AMBER Power problem or internal device malfunction e Ensure that the 12 volt power connector 12V is securely connected to the system board see System Board Components on page 102 Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board see System Board Components on page 102 IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING AMBER The computer is receiving electrical power a device might be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed e Remove and then
20. 3 When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW and press lt Enter gt 4 Select the Boot from CD ROM option from the menu that appears and press lt Enter gt Type 1 to start the CD menu and press lt Enter gt to proceed 6 Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list If multiple versions are listed select the version appropriate for your computer 7 When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears select the test you want to run Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 1 After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears click the button for the option you want K NOTE It is recommended that you select Test System to run a complete test on your computer Option Function Test Memory Run the stand alone memory test Test System Run System Diagnostics Exit Exit the Diagnostics Troubleshooting Tools 81 82 After you have selected the Test System option from the main menu the following menu appears K NOTE It is recommended that you select Extended Test from the menu below to run a more thorough check of devices in the computer Option Function Express Test Performs a quick test of devices in the system This typically can take 10 to 20 minutes Extended Test Performs a thorough check of devices in the system This typically can take an hour or more Custom Test Use to test a specific device or customize the tests to be run
21. Appendix Glossary Terms in this Glossary are provided for informational purposes only and may or may not describe features included with your particular computer A AC alternating current The form of electricity that powers your computer when you plug the AC adapter power cable in to an electrical outlet ACPI advanced configuration and power interface A power management specification that enables Microsoft Windows operating systems to put a computer in standby or hibernate mode to conserve the amount of electrical power allocated to each device attached to the computer AGP accelerated graphics port A dedicated graphics port that allows system memory to be used for video related tasks AGP delivers a smooth true color video image because of the faster interface between the video circuitry and the computer memory AHCI Advanced Host Controller Interface An interface for a SATA hard drive Host Controller which allows the storage driver to enable technologies such as Native Command Queuing NCQ and hot plug ALS ambient light sensor A feature that helps to control display brightness antivirus software A program designed to identify quarantine and or delete viruses from your computer ASF alert standards format A standard to define a mechanism for reporting hardware and software alerts to a management console ASF is designed to be platform and operating system independent
22. Click Connect to the Internet In the next window click the appropriate option e Ifyou do not have an ISP and want to select one click Choose from a list of Internet service providers ISPs Setting Up and Using Your Computer 49 e If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not receive a setup CD click Set up my connection manually e Ifyou have a CD click Use the CD I got from an ISP K NOTE If you do not know which type of connection to select contact your ISP 5 Click Next If you selected Set up my connection manually continue to step 6 Otherwise follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup 6 Click the appropriate option under How do you want to connect to the Internet and then click Next 7 Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup Windows Vista 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Click Start and click Control Panel 3 Under Network and Internet click Connect to the Internet The Connect to the Internet window appears 4 Click either Broadband PPPoE or Dial up depending on how you want to connect e Choose Broadband if you will use a DSL satellite modem cable TV modem or Bluetooth wireless technology connection e Chose Dial up if you will use a dial up modem or ISDN K NOTE If you do not know which type of connection to select click Help me choose or contact your ISP 5 Follow the instru
23. NOTE Dell s Express Service Code system may not be available in all countries When prompted by Dell s automated telephone system enter your Express Service Code to route the call directly to the proper support personnel If you do not have an Express Service Code open the Dell Accessories folder double click the Express Service Code icon and follow the directions For instructions on using the Dell Support see Technical Support and Customer Service on page 183 K NOTE Some of the following services are not always available in all locations outside the continental U S Call your local Dell representative for information on availability Technical Support and Customer Service Dell s support service is available to answer your questions about Dell hardware Our support staff uses computer based diagnostics to provide fast accurate answers Appendix 183 To contact Dell s support service see Before You Call on page 186 and then see the contact information for your region or go to support dell com DellConnect DellConnect is a simple online access tool that allows a Dell service and support associate to access your computer through a broadband connection diagnose your problem and repair it all under your supervision For more information go to support dell com and click DellConnect Online Services You can learn about Dell products and services on the following websites www dell com www dell com ap Asian Pacifi
24. THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the computer s front panel headphone connector TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE Turn off nearby fans fluorescent lights or halogen lamps to check for interference 70 Solving Problems REINSTALL THE SOUND DRIVER See Manually Reinstalling Drivers on page 86 RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER See Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities on page 87 No sound from headphones CHECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector see Front View of the Computer on page 15 ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Click or double click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted ENSURE THAT THE CORRECT AUDIO SOLUTION IS ENABLED IN THE BIOS SETUP PROGRAM See System Setup on page 172 Video and Monitor Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide K NOTE See the monitor documentation for troubleshooting procedures Solving Problems 71 If the screen is blank CHECK THE MONITOR CABLE CONNECTION e Ensure that th
25. Windows System Restore Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore 00004 Using the Operating System CD 5 Removing and Installing Parts 97 Before You Begin 00 4 97 RecommendedTools 97 Turning Off YourComputer 98 Before Working Inside YourComputer 98 Removing the Computer Cover 99 Inside View of Your Computer 101 System Board Components 102 Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments 104 Memory 4 eb Be ae bE Sle ed 107 Memory Installation Guidelines 108 Installing Memory 109 RemovingMemory 00 111 Cards 2 02 2 card cAseiy Melee LA oe and eet Sa a 111 PCI and PCI ExpressCards 112 Bezeli o fev eee oe Bat wesley ae Ae 118 Removing the Bezel 118 Replacing the Bezel 119 DEV OS ae ecient Jia derd eee Mende ree aed 120 Recommended Drive Cable Connections 121 Connecting Drive Cables 121 Drive Interface Connectors 121 Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables 122 Hard DriveSis ioia wie oe ee RA aw A 122 Installing a Second Hard Drive 125 Floppy Drive 2 eee ee ee 127 Media Card Reader 133 CDorDVDDrive 136 Contents Contents Replacing the Battery 142 Power Supply
26. a click when you insert the telephone line connector into the modem Disconnect the telephone line from the modem and connect it to a telephone Listen for a dial tone If you have other telephone devices sharing the line such as an answering machine fax machine surge protector or line splitter then bypass them and use the telephone to connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack If you are using a line that is 3 m 10 ft or more in length try a shorter one RUN THE MODEM HELPER DIAGNOSTICS Windows XP Click Start All Programs Modem Helper Windows Vista Click Start point to All Programs and then click Modem Helper NOTE Follow the instructions on the screen to identify and resolve modem problems Modem Helper is not available on all computers Solving Problems 55 VERIFY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware Phone and Modem Options Modems 2 Click the COM port for your modem Properties Diagnostics Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows Windows Vista 1 Click Start 0 and click Control Panel 2 Click Hardware and Sound 3 Click Phone and Modem Options and click the Modems tab 4 Click the COM port for your modem 5 Click Properties click the Diagnostics tab and then click Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows If all commands receive responses the
27. and data transmissions SIM cards can be used in phones or portable computers smart card A card that is embedded with a processor and a memory chip Smart cards can be used to authenticate a user on computers equipped for smart cards S PDIF Sony Philips Digital Interface An audio transfer file format that allows the transfer of audio from one file to another without converting it to and from an analog format which could degrade the quality of the file standby mode A power management mode that shuts down all unnecessary computer operations to save energy Strike Zone Reinforced area of the platform base that protects the hard drive by acting as a dampening device when a computer experiences resonating shock or is dropped whether the computer is on or off surge protectors Prevent voltage spikes such as those that may occur during an electrical storm from entering the computer through the electrical outlet Surge protectors do not protect against lightning strikes or against brownouts which occur when the voltage drops more than 20 percent below the normal AC line voltage level Network connections cannot be protected by surge protectors Always disconnect the network cable from the network connector during electrical storms SVGA super video graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers Typical SVGA resolutions are 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 The number of colors and resolution tha
28. and select Minimal Power Management and then click OK Cool n Quiet technology is now enabled Windows Vista Windows Vista automatically sets AMD Cool n Quiet technology in the Dell Recommended Balanced and Power Saver power plans It is disabled in the High Performance power plan About RAID Configurations For Windows Vista only This section provides an overview of the redundant array of independent disks RAID configuration you may have selected when you purchased your computer Your computer supports RAID level 1 A RAID level 1 is recommended for users that desire a high level of data integrity 40 Setting Up and Using Your Computer The drives in a RAID configuration should be the same size in order to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated and therefore unusable space RAID Level 1 Configuration RAID level 1 uses a data redundancy storage technique known as mirroring to enhance data integrity When data is written to the primary drive the data is also duplicated or mirrored on the second drive in the configuration A RAID level 1 configuration sacrifices high data access rates for its data redundancy advantages serial ATA RAID configured for RAID level 1 i r segment 1 segment 1 duplicated segment 2 segment 2 duplicated segment 3 segment 3 duplicated segment 4 segment 4 duplicated segment 5 segment 5 duplicated segment 6 segment 6 duplic
29. area The section of the Windows taskbar that contains icons for providing quick access to programs and computer functions such as the clock volume control and print status Also referred to as system tray ns nanosecond A measure of time that equals one billionth of a second NVRAM nonvolatile random access memory A type of memory that stores data when the computer is turned off or loses its external power source NVRAM is used for maintaining computer configuration information such as date time and other system setup options that you can set 0 optical drive A drive that uses optical technology to read or write data from CDs DVDs or DVD RWs Example of optical drives include CD drives DVD drives CD RW drives and CD RW DVD combo drives P partition A physical storage area on a hard drive that is assigned to one or more logical storage areas known as logical drives Each partition can contain multiple logical drives PC Card A removable I O card adhering to the PCMCIA standard Modems and network adapters are common types of PC Cards PCI peripheral component interconnect PCI is a local bus that supports 32 and 64 bit data paths providing a high speed data path between the processor and devices such as video drives and networks PCI Express A modification to the PCI interface that boosts the data transfer rate between the processor and the devices attached to it PCI Express can tra
30. at the top of the screen 2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar press lt Ctrl gt lt F11 gt If you do not press lt Ctrl gt lt F11 gt in time let the computer finish starting and then restart the computer again NOTICE If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore click Reboot in the following step 3 On the next screen that appears click Restore On the next screen click Confirm The restore process takes approximately 6 10 minutes to complete 5 When prompted click Finish to reboot the computer K NOTE Do not manually shut down the computer Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot Troubleshooting Tools 91 6 When prompted click Yes The computer restarts Because the computer is restored to its original operating state the screens that appear such as the End User License Agreement are the same ones that appeared the first time the computer was turned on Click Next The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts After the computer restarts click OK Windows Vista Dell Factory Image Restore 92 1 Turn on the computer When the Dell logo appears press lt F8 gt several times to access the Vista Advanced Boot Options Window Select Repair Your Computer The System Recovery Options window appears Select a keyboard layout and click Next To access the recovery options log on as a local user To access the command prompt type administrator in the User
31. computer If the computer starts normally reinstall an additional module Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error 2 If available install good memory of the same type into your computer see Installing Memory on page 109 3 If the problem persists contact Dell 6 Video BIOS Test Contact Dell Failure Troubleshooting Tools 71 System Messages K NOTE If the message you received is not listed in the table see the documentation 78 for either the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared ALERT PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT BOOTING THIS SYSTEM HAVE FAILED AT CHECKPOINT NNNN FOR HELP IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM PLEASE NOTE THIS CHECKPOINT AND CONTACT DELL TECHNICAL SUPPORT The computer failed to complete the boot routine three consecutive times for the same error see Getting Help on page 183 for assistance CMOS CHECKSUM ERROR Possible motherboard failure or RTC battery low Replace battery see Replacing the Battery on page 142 or see Getting Help on page 183 for assistance CPU FAN FAILURE CPU fan failure Replace CPU fan see Removing the Processor Fan on page 154 DISKETTE DRIVE 0 SEEK FAILURE A cable may be loose or the computer configuration information may not match the hardware configuration Check cable connections see Getting Help on page 183 for assistance DISKETTE READ FAILURE The
32. do not connect either monitor to the integrated video connector If the integrated video connector is covered by a cap do not remove the cap to connect the monitor or the monitor will not function 2 Connect one of the monitors to the VGA blue connector on the back of the computer 3 Connect the other monitor to the optional DVI adapter and connect the DVI adapter to the DVI white connector on the back of the computer Setting Up and Using Your Computer 31 May not be present on your computer 1 optional DVI adapter 2 DVI white connector 3 TV OUT connector 4 VGA blue connector Connecting One Monitor With a VGA Connector and One Monitor With a DVI Connector 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Connect the VGA connector on the monitor to the VGA blue connector on the back of the computer 3 Connect the DVI connector on the other monitor to the DVI white connector on the back of the computer Connecting a TV K NOTE You must purchase an S video cable available at most consumer electronics stores to connect a TV to your computer It is not included with your computer 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Connect one end of the S video cable to the optional TV OUT connector on the back of the computer 32 Setting Up and Using Your Computer 3 Connect the other end of the S video cable to the S video input connector on your TV 4 Connect the VGA or DVI
33. 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 Clean the thermal grease from the bottom of the heat sink NOTICE Ensure that you apply new thermal grease New thermal grease is critical for ensuring adequate thermal bonding which is a requirement for optimal processor operation Apply the new thermal grease to the top of the processor NOTICE Ensure that the floppy drive and audio cables are not routed so that they are pinched when the heat sink assembly is installed Install the heat sink assembly a Place the heat sink and fan assembly back onto the heat sink assembly bracket b Ensure that the two clamp grips are aligned with the two bracket projections c Hold the heat sink fan assembly in place and rotate the clamp lever 180 degrees clockwise to secure the heat sink and fan assembly NOTICE Ensure that the heat sink assembly is correctly seated and secure Removing and Installing Parts 149 10 11 12 13 150 clamp lever 2 bracket projection 3 clamp grip bracket 5 heat sink 6 fan cover fan Connect any cables disconnected before removing the heat sink assembly Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 Connect your computer and devic
34. its original state To remove PC Restore 1 2 3 Log on to the computer as a local administrator In Windows Explorer go to c dell utilities DSR Double click the filename DSRIRRemv2 exe K NOTE If you do not log on as a local administrator a message appears stating that you must log on as administrator Click Quit and then log on as a local administrator K NOTE If the partition for PC Restore does not exist on your computer s hard drive a message appears stating that the partition was not found Click Quit there is no partition to delete Click OK to remove the PC Restore partition on the hard drive Click Yes when a confirmation message appears The PC Restore partition is deleted and the newly available disk space is added to the free space allocation on the hard drive Right click Local Disk C in Windows Explorer click Properties and verify that the additional disk space is available as indicated by the increased value for Free Space Click Finish to close the PC Restore Removal window Restart the computer Troubleshooting Tools 93 Using the Operating System CD Before You Begin If you are considering reinstalling the Windows operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver first try using Windows Device Driver Rollback see Using Windows Device Driver Rollback on page 84 If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem then use System Restore to return your operat
35. modem connector on the computer Do not plug a network cable into a telephone wall jack 1 Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your computer Insert the cable until it clicks into place and then gently pull it to ensure that it is secure 2 Connect the other end of the network cable to a network device 1 network adapter connector 2 network device 3 network cable 4 network adapter connector on computer Network Setup Wizard The Microsoft Windows operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files printers or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office Windows XP 1 Click Start point to All Programs Accessories Communications and then click Network Setup Wizard 2 On the welcome screen click Next Setting Up and Using Your Computer 4 3 Click Checklist for creating a network K NOTE Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP SP1 4 Complete the checklist and required preparations Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen Windows Vista 1 Click Start and then click Network 2 This brings up the Network dialog screen Click Network and Sharing Center K NOTE This screen also provides links to Add a Printer and to Add a Wireless Device if available
36. monitor Changing the Display Settings 1 After you connect the monitor s or TV turn on the computer The Microsoft Windows desktop displays on the primary monitor 2 Enable extended desktop mode in the display settings In extended desktop mode you can drag objects from one screen to the other effectively doubling the amount of viewable work space Power Management Power Management Options in Microsoft Windows XP The Microsoft Windows XP power management features can reduce the amount of electricity your computer uses when it is on and you are not using it You can reduce power to just the monitor or the hard drive or you can use standby mode or hibernate mode to reduce power to the entire computer When the computer exits from a power conservation mode it returns to the operating state it was in prior to entering the mode K NOTE Windows XP Professional includes security and networking features not available in Windows XP Home Edition When a Windows XP Professional computer is connected to a network different options related to security and networking appear in certain windows K NOTE The procedures to activate the standby and hibernate modes may vary according to your operating system Standby Mode Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a designated period of time known as a time out When the computer exits from standby mode it returns to the operating state it wa
37. settings 5 When the tests are complete 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 6 Remove the Drivers and Utilities media if applicable Drivers What is a Driver A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer mouse or keyboard All devices require a driver program A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed no further installation or configuration is needed NOTICE The Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system Many drivers such as the keyboard driver come with your Microsoft Windows operating system You may need to install drivers if you e Upgrade your operating system e Reinstall your operating system e Connect or install a new device Troubleshooting Tools 83 Identifying Drivers If you experience a problem with any device identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and if necessary update the driver K NOTE You must be logged in with Administrator privileges to perform this procedure Windows XP 1 Click Start then c
38. slot 114 Removing and Installing Parts 11 Replace the card retention bracket ensuring that e The guide clamp is aligned with the guide notch e The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar e The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide 1 alignment guide 2 filler bracket 3 alignment bar 4 card retention bracket 5 guide clamp 2 6 guide notch 2 12 Fix the card retention bracket by replacing and tightening the screw Removing and Installing Parts 115 13 15 16 17 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 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 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer Replace the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on If you installed a sound card a Enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 go to Onboard Devices and select Integrated Audio 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 conn
39. wireless technology If you are using a dial up connection connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your computer and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection If you are using a DSL or cable satellite modem connection contact your ISP or cellular telephone service for setup instructions Setting Up Your Internet Connection To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Double click the ISP icon on the Microsoft Windows desktop 3 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP perform the steps in the following section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is using K NOTE If you are having problems connecting to the Internet see E Mail Modem and Internet Problems on page 54 If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past the ISP might have a service outage Contact your ISP to check the service status or try connecting again later K NOTE Have your ISP information ready If you do not have an ISP the Connect to the Internet wizard can help you get one Windows XP 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Click the Start button then click Internet Explorer The New Connection Wizard appears
40. 3 Check the system setup for drive configuration changes see Entering System Setup on page 172 Floppy Drive 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 laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover K NOTE If you are adding a floppy drive see Installing a Floppy Drive on page 129 Removing a Floppy Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 118 Removing and Installing Parts 127 Not present on all computers 1 floppy drive 2 data cable 3 power cable 4 system board connector 5 screws 2 4 Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the floppy drive NOTE If you have installed a PCI Express x16 card this card may cover the floppy drive connectors Remove this card before disconnecting the floppy drive cables see Removing a PCI PCI Express Card on page 116 Disconnect the data cable from the system board 6 Remove the two screws securing the floppy drive Slide the floppy drive out through the front of the computer 128 Removing and Installing Parts 8 If you are not replacing the drive reinstall the
41. 3 If the printer is listed right click the printer icon 4 Click Properties then click the Ports tab For a USB printer ensure that Print to the following port s is set to USB Windows Vista 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Hardware and Sound 2 Click Printers If the printer is listed right click the printer icon 3 Click Properties and click the Ports tab Ensure that the Print to the following port s setting is USB REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER See the printer documentation for instructions Solving Problems Scanner Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide K NOTE If you need technical assistance for your scanner contact the scanner s manufacturer CHECK THE SCANNER DOCUMENTATION See the scanner documentation for setup and troubleshooting information UNLOCK THE SCANNER Ensure that your scanner is unlocked if it has a locking tab or button RESTART THE COMPUTER AND TRY THE SCANNER AGAIN CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS e See the scanner documentation for cable connection information e Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer VERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY MICROSOFT WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Printers and Other Hardware 2 Click Scanners and Cameras If your scanner is
42. 4 problems 52 removing CD DVD 136 removing floppy 127 removing hard drive 122 second hard drive 125 serial ATA 122 DVD drive problems 53 DVDs 27 playing 24 E e mail problems 54 End User License Agreement 11 ergonomics information 11 error messages beep codes 76 troubleshooting 56 F Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 44 Finding Information 11 Flex Bay drive Media Card Reader 16 floppy drive installing 129 removing 127 hard drive installing 124 installing second 125 problems 54 removing 122 hardware beep codes 76 conflicts 87 Dell Diagnostics 80 Help and Support Center 14 help file Windows Help and Support Center 14 hibernate mode 38 I O panel replacing 152 installing parts before you begin 97 recommended tools 97 Internet problems 54 Internet connection about 48 options 48 setting up 49 IRQ conflicts 87 K keyboard problems 58 L labels Microsoft Windows 12 Service Tag 12 15 Media Card Reader installing 133 134 problems 62 removing 133 using 30 Index 207 memory installing 109 problems 63 messages error 56 modem problems 54 monitor blank 72 clone mode 33 connect DVI 31 32 connect TV 31 32 connect two 31 32 connect VGA 31 32 display settings 33 extended desktop mode 33 hard to read 72 motherboard See system board mouse problems 64 network Network Setup Wizard 47
43. A Insert a bootable floppy disk or CD NON SYSTEM DISK ERROR Remove the floppy disk from the drive and restart your computer NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES CLOSE SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN Close all windows and open the program that you want to use In some cases you might have to restart your computer to restore computer resources If so run the program that you want to use first OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND Contact Dell see Getting Help on page 183 Solving Problems 57 Keyboard Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CHECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE Ensure that the keyboard cable is firmly connected to the computer e Shut down the computer see Turning Off Your Computer on page 98 reconnect the keyboard cable as shown on the setup diagram for your computer and then restart the computer e Check the cable connector for bent or broken pins and for damaged or frayed cables Straighten bent pins e Remove keyboard extension cables and connect the keyboard directly to the computer TEST THE KEYBOARD Connect a properly working keyboard to the computer and try using the keyboard ENSURE THAT THE USB PORTS ARE ENABLED IN THE SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM See System Setup on page 172 RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER See Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities on page 87 Lockups an
44. A high speed interface used to connect devices to a computer such as hard drives CD drives printers and scanners The SCSI can connect many devices using a single controller Each device is accessed by an individual identification number on the SCSI controller bus SDRAM synchronous dynamic random access memory A type of DRAM that is synchronized with the optimal clock speed of the processor serial connector An I O port often used to connect devices such as a handheld digital device or digital camera to your computer 200 Glossary Service Tag A bar code label on your computer that identifies your computer when you access Dell Support at support dell com or when you call Dell for customer service or technical support setup program A program that is used to install and configure hardware and software The setup exe or install exe program comes with most Windows software packages Setup program differs from system setup shortcut An icon that provides quick access to frequently used programs files folders and drives When you place a shortcut on your Windows desktop and double click the icon you can open its corresponding folder or file without having to find it first Shortcut icons do not change the location of files If you delete a shortcut the original file is not affected Also you can rename a shortcut icon SIM Subscriber Identity Module A SIM card contains a microchip that encrypts voice
45. Computer Cover on page 99 3 Reset the current CMOS settings a Locate the 3 pin CMOS jumper CLEAR CMOS on the system board see System Board Components on page 102 b Remove the jumper plug from the CMOS jumper CLEAR CMOS pins 2 and 3 c Place the jumper plug on the CMOS jumper CLEAR CMOS pins 1 and 2 and wait approximately five seconds d Remove the jumper plug and replace it on the CMOS jumper CLEAR CMOS pins 2 and 3 4 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 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 turn them on Appendix 177 Flashing the BIOS The BIOS may require flashing 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 the Dell Support website at support dell com 3 Click Download Now to download the file 4 Ifthe Export Compliance Disclaimer window appears click Yes I Accept this Agreement The File 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 deskto
46. DVD the CD or DVD that you have created automatically ejects Using Blank CDs and DVDs CD RW drives can write to CD recording media only including high speed CD RW while DVD writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media Use blank CD Rs to record music or permanently store data files After creating a CD R you cannot write to that CD R again see the Sonic documentation for more information Use blank CD RWs to write to CDs or to erase rewrite or update data on CDs Blank DVD Rs can be used to permanently store large amounts of information After you create a DVD R disc you may not be able to write to that disc again if the disc is finalized or closed during the final stage of the disc creation process Use blank DVD RWs if you plan to erase rewrite or update information on that disc later CD Writable Drives Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD R Yes Yes No CD RW Yes Yes Yes 28 Setting Up and Using Your Computer DVD Writable Drives Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD R Yes Yes No CD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R Yes Yes No DVD R Yes Yes No DVD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R DL Yes Yes No Helpful Tips Use Microsoft Windows Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD R or CD RW only after you start Sonic DigitalMedia and open a DigitalMedia project Use CD Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos CD RWs do not play in most home or car stereo
47. Dell Inspiron 531 Owner s Manual Model DCMA www dell com support dell com Notes Notices and Cautions K NOTE A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer NOTICE A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem A CAUTION A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage personal injury or death If you purchased a Dell n Series computer any references in this document to Microsoft Windows operating systems are not applicable Abbreviations and Acronyms For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms see the Glossary on page 189 Information in this document is subject to change without notice 2008 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 YOURS IS HERE Inspiron Dell TravelLite and Strike Zone are trademarks of Dell Inc Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG Inc and is used by Dell under license Microsoft Windows Windows Vista and Windows Vista start button logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries Intel and Intel SpeedStep are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation AMD AMD Athlon AMD Sempron and Cool n Quiet are trademarks o
48. Dell standard components included in a Custom Factory Integration CFI project are covered by the standard Dell limited warranty for your computer However Dell also extends a parts replacement program to cover all nonstandard third party hardware components integrated through CFI for the duration of the computer s service contract Definition of Dell Installed Software and Peripherals Dell installed software includes the operating system and some of the software programs that are installed on the computer during the manufacturing process Microsoft Office Norton Antivirus and so on Dell installed peripherals include any internal expansion cards or Dell branded module bay or PC Card accessories In addition any Dell branded monitors keyboards mice speakers microphones for telephonic modems docking stations port replicators networking products and all associated cabling are included Definition of Third Party Software and Peripherals Third party software and peripherals include any peripheral accessory or software program sold by Dell not under the Dell brand printers scanners cameras games and so on Support for all third party software and peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer of the product FCC Notice U S Only FCC Class B This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer s instruction manual may
49. Ds have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Sonic DigitalMedia Windows XP 1 Click the Start button point to All Programs gt Sonic gt DigitalMedia Projects Copy Disc Copy 2 To copy the CD or DVD e Ifyou have one CD or DVD drive ensure that the settings are correct and click the Disc Copy button The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive When prompted insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive and click OK e Ifyou have two CD or DVD drives select the drive into which you have inserted your source CD or DVD and click the Disc Copy button The computer copies the data from the source CD or DVD to the blank CD or DVD Setting Up and Using Your Computer 27 Windows Vista 1 Click Start point to All Programs Sonic DigitalMedia Projects Copy Disc Copy 2 To copy the CD or DVD e If you have one CD or DVD drive ensure that the settings are correct and click the Disc Copy button The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive When prompted insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive and click OK e Ifyou have two CD or DVD drives select the drive into which you have inserted your source CD or DVD and click the Disc Copy button The computer copies the data from the source CD or DVD to the blank CD or DVD Once you have finished copying the source CD or
50. FlexBay break away metal plate 131 Replacing the Drive Panel Insert 132 ResourceCD Dell Diagnostics 80 S S M A R T 79 safety instructions 11 SATA See serial ATA Scanner problems 69 serial ATA 122 Service Tag 12 15 settings system setup 172 Setup Diagram 11 Index 209 software conflicts 87 problems 59 61 sound problems 70 volume 70 speaker problems 70 volume 70 specifications audio 168 computer information 167 connectors 169 controls and lights 170 drives 169 environmental 171 expansion bus 168 memory 167 physical 171 power 170 processor 167 technical 167 video 167 standby mode 33 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD 81 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive 80 support contacting Dell 183 188 policy 180 support website 13 210 Index system board 102 System Restore 88 system setup about 172 entering 172 options 173 screens 173 T technical support policy 180 telephone numbers 188 transferring information to anew computer 44 troubleshooting conflicts 87 Dell Diagnostics 80 Hardware Troubleshooter 87 Help and Support Center 14 restore to previous state 88 tips 51 TV connect to computer 31 32 U USB booting to devices 175 Using Windows Device Driver Rollback 84 V volume adjusting 70 warranty information 11 Windows Vista Device Dr
51. NY OPEN FILES OR PROGRAMS AND SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER THROUGH THE START MENU Solving Problems 61 Media Card Reader Problems 62 No DRIVE LETTER IS ASSIGNED When Microsoft Windows Operating System detects the Media Card Reader the device is automatically assigned a drive letter as the next logical drive after all other physical drives in the system If the next logical drive after the physical drives is mapped to a network drive Windows Operating System does not automatically assign a drive letter to the Media Card Reader Windows XP 1 Right click My Computer and select Manage 2 Select the Disk Management option 3 Right click the corresponding drive letter in the right pane that needs to be changed 4 Select Drive Letter and Paths 5 From the drop down list select the new drive letter assignment for the Media Card Reader 6 Click OK to confirm your selection Windows Vista To manually assign a drive for the Media Card Reader 1 Click Start right click Computer and select Manage 2 Click Continue if prompted 3 Expand the Storage object and select Disk Management 4 Right click the corresponding drive letter in the right pane that needs to be changed 5 Select Change Drive Letter and Paths 6 Click Change 7 From the drop down list select the new drive letter assignment for the Media Card Reader 8 Click OK to confirm your selection NOTE You must be logged in with Administrator privileges to perform this
52. Rebuilding an array can only be performed on RAID 1 configurations 1 Launch Nvidia MediaShield 2 Click to select your RAID configuration Mirroring in the management utility window 3 Select Rebuild Array in the System Tasks pane The NVIDIA Rebuild Array Wizard appears Click Next Select the hard drive you want to rebuild by clicking the checkbox beside it Click Next Click Finish The MediaShield RAID management utility window appears and displays the status of the rebuild process u 00O 0 A K NOTE You can use your computer while the computer is rebuilding the array K NOTE You can use any available RAID enabled free disk to rebuild an array Transferring Information to a New Computer You can use your operating system wizards to help you transfer files and other data from one computer to another for example from an old computer to a new computer For instructions see the following section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is running Windows XP The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to move data from a source computer to a new computer 44 Setting Up and Using Your Computer You can transfer data such as E mail messages Toolbar settings Window sizes Internet bookmarks To prepare the new computer for the file transfer 1 Click Start point to All Programs Accessories System Tools and then click Files and Settings T
53. Start then click Help and Support Type hardware troubleshooter in the Search field then click the arrow to start the search Click Hardware Troubleshooter in the Search Results list In the Hardware Troubleshooter list click I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my computer and then click Next Windows Vista 1 2 Click Start and click Help and Support Under Find an answer click Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Tools 87 3 Select the option that best describes the problem and follow the troubleshooting steps K NOTE Windows Vista is a new operating system so many older devices may not have drivers or applications for Windows Vista Check with your hardware manufacturer for further information on their device K NOTE If you do not find the answer in the items categorized in Troubleshooting you can get Online Help type in your question in the Search Help Restoring Your Operating System You can restore your operating system in the following ways System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files Dell PC Restore by Symantec available in Windows XP and Dell Factory Image Restore available in Windows Vista restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer Both permanently delete all data on the hard dr
54. T ERROR Disconnect the USB device Use external power source for the USB device NOTICE HARD DRIVE SELF MONITORING SYSTEM HAS REPORTED THAT A PARAMETER HAS EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL OPERATING RANGE DELL RECOMMENDS THAT YOU BACK UP YOUR DATA REGULARLY A PARAMETER OUT OF RANGE MAY OR MAY NOT INDICATE A POTENTIAL HARD DRIVE PROBLEM S M A R T error possible HDD failure This feature can be enabled or disabled in BIOS setup Troubleshooting Tools 79 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 Lockups and Software Problems see Lockups and Software Problems on page 58 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin NOTICE The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell computers K NOTE The Drivers and Utilities media is optional and may not ship with your computer See System Setup on page 172 to review your computer s configuration information and ensure that the device that you want to test displays in the system setup program and is active Start the Dell Diagnostics from your hard drive or from the Drivers and Utilities media Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive The Dell Diagnostics is located on a h
55. Windows password before the computer exits from standby mode or hibernate mode e Program the power button to activate standby mode activate hibernate mode or turn off the computer To program these functions click an option from the corresponding drop down menu and click OK Hibernate Tab The Hibernate tab allows you to enable hibernate mode If you want to use the hibernate settings as defined on the Power Schemes tab click the Enable hibernate support check box on the Hibernate tab For more information on power management options 1 Click Start Help and Support Performance and maintenance 2 In the Performance and maintenance window click Conserving power on your computer Power Management Options in Windows Vista The Windows Vista power management features are designed to reduce the amount of electricity your computer uses when it is on and you are not using it You can reduce power to just the monitor or the hard drive and Windows operating system sets the default off state to standby mode or you can set hibernate mode to reduce power even further When the computer exits from a power conservation mode Standby or Hibernate the Windows desktop is restored to the state it was in before it entered the mode 36 Setting Up and Using Your Computer Windows Vista has three main default power management modes e Balanced e Power Saver e High Performance Dell has added a fourth Dell Recommended mode that sets powe
56. Y If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on the computer or if an incorrect time or date displays during start up replace the battery see Replacing the Battery on page 142 If the battery still does not work properly contact Dell see Getting Help on page 183 Solving Problems 51 Drive Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT Winpows RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE Windows XP Click Start and click My Computer Windows Vista Click Start 3 and click Computer If the floppy CD or DVD drive is not listed perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive ENSURE THAT THE DRIVE IS ENABLED IN THE SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM See System Setup on page 172 TEST THE DRIVE e Insert another floppy disk CD or DVD to eliminate the possibility that the original one is defective e Insert bootable media and restart the computer CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK See Cleaning Your Computer on page 179 CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER See Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities on page 87 RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS See Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive on page 80 52 Solving Problems CD and DVD dri
57. ables software floppy disks guides and so on if the return is for credit 5 Pack the equipment to be returned in the original or equivalent packing materials You are responsible for paying shipping expenses You are also responsible for insuring any product returned and you assume the risk of loss during shipment to Dell Collect On Delivery C O D packages are not accepted Returns that are missing any of the preceding requirements will be refused at Dell s receiving dock and returned to you Before You Call K NOTE Have your Express Service Code ready when you call The code helps Dell s automated support telephone system direct your call more efficiently You may also be asked for your Service Tag located on the back or bottom of your computer Remember to fill out the Diagnostics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 187 If possible turn on your computer before you call Dell for assistance and call from a telephone at or near the computer You may be asked to type some commands at the keyboard relay detailed information during operations or try other troubleshooting steps possible only at the computer itself Ensure that the computer documentation is available A CAUTION Before working inside your computer follow the safety instructions in your Product Information Guide 186 Appendix Diagnostics Checklist Name Date Address Phone number Service Tag bar code on the back or bottom of t
58. ables out of the way to avoid blocking airflow between the fan and cooling vents 11 Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 119 12 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device 130 and then plug it into the computer Removing and Installing Parts 13 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 14 Enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 and select the appropriate Diskette Drive option 15 Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 80 Removing the FlexBay Break Away Metal Plate Align the tip of a Phillips screwdriver with the slot on the break away metal plate and rotate the screwdriver outwards to break and remove the metal plate Removing and Installing Parts 131 Replacing the Drive Panel Insert 1 drive panel insert optional 2 back of the computer 1 Align the drive panel insert along the edges of the empty slot for the floppy drive 2 Push the panel insert Drive panel insert is locked in place K NOTE To comply with FCC regulations it is recommended that you replace the drive panel insert whenever the floppy drive is remo
59. ace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 10 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Installing a Media Card Reader 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 118 4 Ifyou are installing a new Media Card Reader rather than replacing a Media Card Reader remove the break away metal plate from the FlexBay see Removing the FlexBay Break Away Metal Plate on page 131 5 Remove the Media Card Reader from its packaging 6 Gently slide the Media Card Reader into place in the FlexBay slot 7 Align the screw slots in the Media Card Reader with the screw slots in the FlexBay 8 Tighten the two screws to secure the Media Card Reader K NOTE Ensure that the Media Card Reader is installed before the FlexBay cable is connected 9 Connect the FlexBay USB cable to the back of the Media Card Reader and to the internal USB connector on the system board see System Board Components on page 102 134 Removing and Installing Parts 1 Media Card Reader 2 data cable 3 power cable 4 system board connector 5 screws 2 6 screw slots 2 10 Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 119 11 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 12 Connect your computer and devices to el
60. al The designation for a parallel connection to a printer or other parallel device Mb megabit A measurement of memory chip capacity that equals 1024 Kb Mbps megabits per second One million bits per second This measurement is typically used for transmission speeds for networks and modems 196 Glossary MB megabyte A measurement of data storage that equals 1 048 576 bytes 1 MB equals 1024 KB When used to refer to hard drive storage the term is often rounded to 1 000 000 bytes MB sec megabytes per second One million bytes per second This measurement is typically used for data transfer ratings media bay A bay that supports devices such as optical drives a second battery or a Dell TravelLite module memory A temporary data storage area inside your computer Because the data in memory is not permanent it is recommended that you frequently save your files while you are working on them and always save your files before you shut down the computer Your computer can contain several different forms of memory such as RAM ROM and video memory Frequently the word memory is used as a synonym for RAM memory address A specific location where data is temporarily stored in RAM memory mapping The process by which the computer assigns memory addresses to physical locations at start up Devices and software can then identify information that the processor can access memory module
61. any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis Removing the Processor 1 2 A O Dea Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 Carefully disconnect and move any cables that are routed over the heat sink assembly Rotate the clamp lever 180 degrees counter clockwise to release the clamp grip from the bracket projection Release the clamp grip from the bracket projection on the opposite side 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 Strong thermal grease bond may exist between the processor and heat sink Do not use excessive force to separate the heat sink assembly from the processor to avoid damaging the processor Rotate the heat sink assembly upward gently and remove it from the computer Lay the heat sink assembly down on its top with the thermal grease facing upward Removing and Installing Parts 145 1 fan 2 fan cover 3 heat sink 4 bracket 5 clamp grip 6 bracket projection 7 clamp lever NOTICE Unless a new heat sink is required for the new processor reuse the original heat sink assembly when you replace the processor 7 Pull the release lever straight up until the processor is released 146 Rem
62. ard surface Instead set the drive on a surface such as a foam pad that will sufficiently cushion it NOTICE 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 on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Disconnect the power and data cables from the drive 4 Disconnect the data cable from the system board 122 Removing and Installing Parts 1 hard drive 2 power cable 3 serial ATA data cable 4 system board connector 5 screws 4 Remove the four screws securing the hard drive Slide the drive out away from the front of the computer If removing this drive changes the drive configuration then be sure to reflect these changes in system setup When you restart your computer enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 then go to the Drives section of the system setup and under Drive 0 through 3 set the Drive to the correct configuration Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 Connect computer and other devices to an electrical outlet Removing and Installing Parts 123 Installing a Hard Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removin
63. ardware such as a disk drive printer or keyboard that is installed in or connected to your computer device driver See driver DIMM dual in line memory module A circuit board with memory chips that connects to a memory module on the system board DIN connector A round six pin connector that conforms to DIN Deutsche Industrie Norm standards it is typically used to connect PS 2 keyboard or mouse cable connectors disk striping A technique for spreading data over multiple disk drives Disk striping can speed up operations that retrieve data from disk storage Computers that use disk striping generally allow the user to select the data unit size or stripe width DMA direct memory access A channel that allows certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the processor DMTF Distributed Management Task Force A consortium of hardware and software companies who develop management standards for distributed desktop network enterprise and Internet environments domain A group of computers programs and devices on a network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures for use by a specific group of users A user logs on to the domain to gain access to the resources DRAM dynamic random access memory Memory that stores information in integrated circuits containing capacitors driver Software that allows the operating system to control a device such as a
64. asurement of heat output bus A communication pathway between the components in your computer bus speed The speed given in MHz that indicates how fast a bus can transfer information byte The basic data unit used by your computer A byte is usually equal to bits C C Celsius A temperature measurement scale where 0 is the freezing point and 100 is the boiling point of water cache A special high speed storage mechanism which can be either a reserved section of main memory or an independent high speed storage device The cache enhances the efficiency of many processor operations L1 cache Primary cache stored inside the processor 190 Glossary L2 cache Secondary cache which can either be external to the processor or incorporated into the processor architecture carnet An international customs document that facilitates temporary imports into foreign countries Also known as a merchandise passport CD R CD recordable A recordable version of a CD Data can be recorded only once onto a CD R Once recorded the data cannot be erased or written over CD RW CD rewritable A rewritable version of a CD Data can be written to a CD RW disc and then erased and written over rewritten CD RW drive A drive that can read CDs and write to CD RW rewritable CDs and CD R recordable CDs discs You can write to CD RW discs multiple times but you can write to CD R discs only once
65. at the device can communicate with the processor Each device connection must be assigned an IRQ Although two devices can share the same IRQ assignment you cannot operate both devices simultaneously ISP Internet service provider A company that allows you to access its host server to connect directly to the Internet send and receive e mail and access websites The ISP typically provides you with a software package user name and access phone numbers for a fee K Kb kilobit A unit of data that equals 1024 bits A measurement of the capacity of memory integrated circuits KB kilobyte A unit of data that equals 1024 bytes but is often referred to as 1000 bytes key combination A command requiring you to press multiple keys at the same time kHz kilohertz A measurement of frequency that equals 1000 Hz L LAN local area network A computer network covering a small area A LAN usually is confined to a building or a few nearby buildings A LAN can be connected to another LAN over any distance through telephone lines and radio waves to form a wide area network WAN LCD liquid crystal display The technology used by portable computer and flat panel displays LED light emitting diode An electronic component that emits light to indicate the status of the computer local bus A data bus that provides a fast throughput for devices to the processor LPT line print termin
66. ated hard drive 1 hard drive 2 If a drive failure occurs subsequent read and write operations are directed to the surviving drive A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drive K NOTE In a RAID level 1 configuration the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the configuration Setting Up and Using Your Computer 41 Configuring Your Hard Drives for RAID Your computer can be configured for RAID even if you did not select a RAID configuration when the computer was purchased For an explanation of RAID levels and their requirements see About RAID Configurations For Windows Vista only on page 40 For information on how to install a hard drive see Hard Drives on page 122 To configure RAID hard drive volumes use the Nvidia MediaShield ROM utility before you install the operating system onto the hard drive Ensure that you set your computer to RAID enabled mode before you begin Setting Your Computer to RAID Enabled Mode 1 2 3 42 Enter the system setup see Entering System Setup on page 172 Press the left and right arrow keys to Advanced tab Press the up and down arrow keys to highlight the Integrated Peripherals then press lt Enter gt Press the up and down arrow keys to highlight the Serial ATA Configuration then press lt Enter gt Press the up and down arrow keys to highlight RAID Enabled and then press lt Enter gt Press t
67. ating state save and close any open files and exit any open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete K NOTE You must be logged in with Administrator privileges to perform this procedure Windows XP 1 Click Start point to All Programs Accessories System Tools and then click System Restore 2 Ensure that Restore my computer to an earlier time is selected then click Next 3 Click a calendar date to which you want to restore your computer The Select a Restore Point screen provides a calendar that allows you to see and select restore points All calendar dates with available restore points appear in boldface type 4 Select a restore point then click Next If a calendar date has only one restore point that restore point is automatically selected If two or more restore points are available click the restore point that you prefer 5 Click Next The Restoration Complete screen appears after System Restore finishes collecting data then the computer restarts 6 After the computer restarts click OK Windows Vista 1 Click Start point to All Programs Maintenance and then click Back Up and Restore Center 2 In the Tasks list click Repair Windows using System Restore You will see a UAC dialog box asking for permission to run the application click Continue 3 Follow the prompts on the screen to complete the restore After System Restore finishes collec
68. ation Guide for important voltage setting information Coin cell battery 115 230 Vac 50 60 Hz 7 A 4 A 3 V CR2032 lithium coin cell Physical Height 36 2 cm 14 2 inches Width 17 0 cm 6 7 inches Depth 43 5 cm 17 1 inches Weight 12 7 kg 28 0 Ib Environmental Temperature Operating 10 to 35 C 50 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Relative humidity Maximum vibration Operating Storage Maximum shock Operating Storage Altitude Operating Storage Airborne contaminant level 20 to 80 noncondensing 5 to 350 Hz at 0 0002 G2 Hz 5 to 500 Hz at 0 001 to 0 01 G2 Hz 40 G 5 with pulse duration of 2 msec 10 equivalent to 20 in sec 51 cm sec 105 G 5 with pulse duration of 2 msec 10 equivalent to 50 in sec 127 cm sec 15 2 to 3048 m 50 to 10 000 ft 15 2 to 10 668 m 50 to 35 000 ft G2 or lower as defined by ISA S71 04 1985 Appendix 171 System Setup Overview Use System Setup as follows To change the system configuration information after you add change or remove any hardware in your computer To set or change a user selectable option such as the user password To read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed Before you use system setup it is recommended that you write down the system setup screen information for future reference NOTICE Unless you are an expert computer user do no
69. ation on playing CDs or DVDs click Help on the CD or DVD player if available Adjusting the Volume K NOTE When the speakers are muted you do not hear the CD or DVD playing Windows XP 1 Click the Start button point to All Programs Accessories gt Entertainment and then click Volume Control 2 Inthe Master Volume control window click and drag the bar in the Master Volume column and slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume For more information on volume control options click Help in the Volume Control window Windows Vista 1 Click Start point to Control Panel Hardware and Sound Sound and then click Adjust System Volume 2 In the Volume Mixer window click and drag the bar in the Speakers column and slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume Setting Up and Using Your Computer 25 Adjusting the Picture If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing DVD playback adjust the display properties Windows XP 1 Click the Start button and then click Control Panel 2 Under Pick a category click Appearance and Themes 3 Under Pick a task click Change the screen resolution 4 Inthe Display Properties window click and drag the bar in Screen resolution to change the setting to 800 by 600 pixels 5 Under Color quality click the drop down menu and then click Medium 16 bit 6 Click OK Windows Vista 1 Clic
70. ble 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 110 Removing and Installing Parts 10 Right click the My Computer icon and click Properties Click the General tab 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 in the Product Information Guide A CAUTION Before removing memory you must remove the PCI Express x16 card Aa WwW N See Cards on page 111 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 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector Grasp the module at the end of the board and lift up Replace the PCI Express x16 card see Cards on page 111 Cards A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the See safety instructions 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 compute
71. c countries only www dell com jp Japan only www euro dell com Europe only www dell com la Latin American and Caribbean countries www dell ca Canada only You can access Dell Support through the following websites and e mail addresses e Dell Support websites support dell com support jp dell com Japan only support euro dell com Europe only e Dell Support e mail addresses mobile_support us dell com support us dell com la techsupport dell com Latin America and Caribbean countries only apsupport dell com Asian Pacific countries only 184 Appendix e Dell Marketing and Sales e mail addresses apmarketing dell com Asian Pacific countries only sales_canada dell com Canada only e Anonymous file transfer protocol FTP ftp dell com Log in as user anonymous and use your e mail address as your password AutoTech Service Dell s automated support service AutoTech provides recorded answers to the questions most frequently asked by Dell customers about their portable and desktop computers When you call AutoTech use your touch tone telephone to select the subjects that correspond to your questions For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 188 Automated Order Status Service To check on the status of any Dell products that you have ordered you can go to support dell com or you can call the automated order status service A recording prompts you for the informa
72. cause interference with radio and television reception This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules Appendix 181 This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions 1 This device may not cause harmful interference 2 This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation NOTICE The FCC regulations provide that changes or modifications not expressly approved by Dell Inc could void your authority to operate this equipment These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference with radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures e Reorient the receiving antenna e Relocate the system with respect to the receiver e Move the system away from the receiver e Plug the system into a different outlet so that the system and the receiver are on different branch circuits If necessary consult a representative of Dell Inc or an experienced radio television technician for additional suggestions Th
73. cover using a flat blade screwdriver 1 computer cover tab 2 slot 3 computer cover 4 front of the computer 7 Move the computer to the upright position NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer NOTICE Ensure that none of the air vents of the system are blocked Removing and Installing Parts 165 166 Removing and Installing Parts Appendix Specifications Processor Processor type Level 2 L2 cache AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core processor AMD Athlon 64 processor AMD Sempron processor Up to 2 MB for Athlon 64 X2 dual core processor Up to 512 KB for Athlon 64 processor Up to 256 KB for Sempron processors Memory Type 667 MHz 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM Memory connectors four Memory capacities 512 MB or 1 GB Minimum memory 512 MB Maximum memory 4 GB Computer Information Chipset Nvidia MCP 61 RAID Support RAID 1 Mirroring For Windows Vista only DMA channels seven Interrupt levels 24 BIOS chip NVRAM 4 Mb NIC Integrated network interface capable of 10 100 communication Video Type Nvidia integrated video DirectX 9 0 Shader Model 3 0 Graphics Processing Unit or optional PCI Express x16 graphics card Appendix 167 Expansion Bus Realtec ALC888 7 1 Channel audio 168 Bus type Bus speed PGI connectors connector size connector data width maximum
74. ctions on the screen and use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past the ISP might have a service outage Contact your ISP to check the service status or try connecting again later 50 Setting Up and Using Your Computer Solving Problems A CAUTION Some of the parts described in this chapter may be replaceable by a certified service technician only and are not custom replaceable Troubleshooting Tips Follow these tips when you troubleshoot your computer e If you added or removed a part before the problem started review the installation procedures and ensure that the part is correctly installed e Ifa peripheral device does not work ensure that the device is properly connected e fan error message appears on the screen write down the exact message This message may help technical support personnel diagnose and fix the problem e fan error message occurs in a program see the program s documentation Battery Problems A CAUTION There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer s instructions A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide REPLACE THE BATTER
75. d Software Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide The computer does not start up ENSURE THAT THE POWER CABLE IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER AND TO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET 58 Solving Problems The computer stops responding NOTICE You might lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown TURN THE COMPUTER OFF If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off Then restart your computer A program stops responding END THE PROGRAM 1 Press lt Ctrl gt lt Shift gt lt Esc gt simultaneously 2 Click Applications 3 Click the program that is no longer responding 4 Click End Task A program crashes repeatedly K NOTE Software usually includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk or CD CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION If necessary uninstall and then reinstall the program Solving Problems 59 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operating system RUN THE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD Windows XP The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non XP operating system environments 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories Program Compatib
76. drive panel insert see Media Card Reader on page 133 9 Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 119 10 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 11 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 12 Check the system setup for the appropriate diskette Drive Option changes see Entering System Setup on page 172 Installing a Floppy Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 118 4 Ifyou are installing a new floppy drive rather than replacing a drive remove the break away metal plate from the FlexBay see Removing the FlexBay Break Away Metal Plate on page 131 5 Gently slide the floppy drive into place in the FlexBay slot 6 Align the screw slots in the floppy drive with the screw slots in the FlexBay slot 7 Tighten the two screws to secure the floppy drive 8 Attach the power and data cables to the floppy drive 9 Connect the other end of the data cable to the connector labeled FLOPPY on the system board see System Board Components on page 102 and route the cable through the clip on the shroud Removing and Installing Parts 129 1 floppy drive 2 datacable 3 power cable 4 system board connector 5 screws 2 6 screw slots 2 10 Check all cable connections and fold c
77. e Connect the other end of the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back panel of your computer A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached NOTE Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector On computers with a network connector card use the connector on the card 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 3 link integrity light Green A good connection exists between the network and the computer Off The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network 18 Setting Up and Using Your Computer center subwoofer connector Use the orange connector to attach a speaker to a Low Frequency Effects LFE audio channel LFE audio channel is found in digital surround sound audio schemes that 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 set up line in connector 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 front L R line out connector Use the green line out connector available on comput
78. e memory key or CD RW drive 1 If you are booting to a USB device connect the USB device to a USB connector Turn on or restart your computer 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 see Turning Off Your Computer on page 98 and try again 4 The Boot Menu appears listing all available boot devices 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 1 Enter system setup see Entering System Setup on page 172 2 Press the left and night arrow keys to highlight the Boot tab 3 Press the up and down arrow keys to highlight the Boot Device Property then press lt Enter gt Appendix 175 Press the up and down arrow keys to highlight the item you want to change and then press lt Enter gt Press the up and down arrow keys to select the boot device you want to change and then press lt Enter gt Press lt F10 gt and then press lt Enter gt to exit system setup and resume the boot process Clearing Forgotten Passwords A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the
79. e following information is provided on the device or devices covered in this document in compliance with the FCC regulations Product name Dell Inspiron 531 Model number DCMA Company name Dell Inc Worldwide Regulatory Compliance amp Environmental Affairs One Dell Way Round Rock TX 78682 USA 512 338 4400 K NOTE For further regulatory information see your Product Information Guide 182 Appendix Getting Help Obtaining Assistance A CAUTION If you need to remove the computer cover first disconnect the computer power and modem cables from all electrical outlets If you experience a problem with your computer you can complete the following steps to diagnose and troubleshoot the problem 1 See Troubleshooting Tools on page 75 for information and procedures that pertain to the problem your computer is experiencing 2 See Dell Diagnostics on page 80 for procedures on how to run Dell Diagnostics Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 187 Use Dell s extensive suite of online services available at Dell Support support dell com for help with installation and troubleshooting procedures See Online Services on page 184 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 188 K NOTE Call Dell Support from a telephone near or at the computer so that the support staff can assist you with any necessary procedures A K
80. e graphics cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for your computer If an optional video card is installed check that the monitor cable is connected to the card rather than the video connector on the system board e If you are using a graphics extension cable and removing the cable solves the problem the cable is defective e Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine whether the power cable is defective e Check the connector for bent or broken pins It is normal for monitor cable connectors to have missing pins CHECK THE MONITOR POWER LIGHT If the power light is off firmly press the button to ensure that the monitor is turned on If the power light is lit or blinking the monitor has power If the power light is blinking press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp If the screen is difficult to read CHECK THE MONITOR SETTINGS See the monitor documentation for instructions on adjusting the contrast and brightness demagnetizing degaussing the monitor and running the monitor self test MOVE THE SUBWOOFER AWAY FROM THE MONITOR If your speaker system includes a subwoofer ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm 2 ft away from the monitor 72 Solving Problems MOVE THE MONITOR AWAY FROM EXTERNAL POWER SOURCES Fans fluorescent lights halogen lamps and oth
81. ect data from being changed or destroyed To write protect a 3 5 inch floppy disk slide its write protect tab to the open position WWAN wireless wide area network A wireless high speed data network using cellular technology and covering a much larger geographic area than WLAN WXGA wide aspect extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1280 x 800 X XGA extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1024 x 768 Z ZIF zero insertion force A type of socket or connector that allows a computer chip to be installed or removed with no stress applied to either the chip or its socket Zip A popular data compression format Files that have been compressed with the Zip format are called Zip files and usually have a filename extension of zip A special kind of zipped file is a self extracting file which has a filename extension of exe You can unzip a self extracting file by double clicking it Zip drive A high capacity floppy drive developed by Iomega Corporation that uses 3 5 inch removable disks called Zip disks Zip disks are slightly larger than regular floppy disks about twice as thick and hold up to 100 MB of data 204 Glossary Index A audio See sound battery problems 51 replacing 142 beep codes 76 bezel removing 118 replacing 119 BIOS 172 boot se
82. ectly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 80 Removing and Installing Parts Installing a Second CD or DVD Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 118 4 Align the tip of a Phillips screwdriver with the slot on the break away metal plate and rotate the screwdriver outwards to break the metal plate 5 Gently slide the drive into place 6 Align the screw slots in the CD or DVD drive with the screw slots in the CD or DVD drive bay 7 Replace and tighten the two screws securing the CD or DVD drive 8 Connect the power and data cables to the drive 9 Connect the data cable to the system board connector on the system board Removing and Installing Parts 139 11 12 13 14 140 CD or DVD drive 2 power cable 3 system board connector data cable 5 second CD or DVD drive 6 screws 2 screw slots 2 Check all cable connections and fold cables out of the way to avoid blocking airflow between the fan and cooling vents Replace and tighten the two screws securing the CD or DVD drive Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 119 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer C
83. ector one 10 pin connector two 10 pin connectors one 10 pin connector one 940 pin connector Appendix 169 Connectors continued Memory Power 12V Power Controls and Lights four 240 pin connectors one 4 pin connector one 24 pin connector Front of computer Power button Power light Drive activity light Rear of computer Link integrity light on integrated network adapter Network activity light on integrated network adapter push button blue light Blinking blue in sleep state solid blue for power on state amber light The blinking amber indicates a problem with the system board A solid amber light when the system does not boot indicates that the system board cannot start initialization This could be a system board or a power supply problem see Power Problems on page 66 blue light A blinking blue light indicates the computer is reading data from or writing data to the SATA hard drive CD DVD or HDD green light A good connection exists between the network and the computer off no light The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network yellow blinking light Power DC power supply Wattage Maximum heat dissipation 170 Appendix 300 W 162 W NOTE Heat dissipation is calculated by using the power supply wattage rating Power continued Voltage see the safety instructions located in the Product Inform
84. ectors on the back panel see Back Panel Connectors on page 18 If you installed an add in network adapter and want to disable the integrated network adapter a Enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 go to Onboard Devices and select Integrated NIC 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 see Back Panel Connectors on page 18 Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation Removing a PCI PCI Express Card 116 1 2 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 Remove the screw holding the card retention bracket Lift the card retention bracket and set it aside in a secure location Removing and Installing Parts 5 Ifyou are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer remove 10 11 12 the card If necessary disconnect any cables connected to the card e For PCI card grasp the card by its top corners and ease it out of its connector e For PCI Express card pull the securing tab grasp the card by its top corners and then ease it out of its connector If you are removing the card permanently install a filler bracket in the empty card slot opening K NOTE Installing filler brackets over empty card slot open
85. ectrical outlets and then turn them on Removing and Installing Parts 135 CD or 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 laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover Removing a CD or DVD Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 118 Disconnect the CD or DVD drive data cable from the system board connector a A Ww N Disconnect the power cable and the CD or DVD drive data cable from the back of the drive 1 CD or DVD drive 2 data cable 3 power cable 4 system board connector 5 screws 2 136 Removing and Installing Parts 6 Remove the two screws securing the CD or DVD drive 7 Slide the CD or DVD drive out through the front of the computer 8 Ifyou are not replacing the drive replace the drive panel insert see Media Card Reader on page 133 9 Replace the drive panel insert see Replacing the Drive Panel Insert on page 132 0 Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 119 ah Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 12 Connect your computer and d
86. ed side in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc For stubborn dirt try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap You can also purchase commercial products that clean discs and provide some protection from dust fingerprints and scratches Cleaning products for CDs are safe to use on DVDs Dell Technical Support Policy U S Only Technician assisted technical support requires the cooperation and participation of the customer in the troubleshooting process and provides for restoration of the operating system software programs and hardware drivers to the original default configuration as shipped from Dell as well as the verification of appropriate functionality of the computer and all Dell installed hardware In addition to this technician assisted technical support online technical support is available at support dell com Additional technical support options may be available for purchase 180 Appendix Dell provides limited technical support for the computer and any Dell installed software and peripherals Support for third party software and peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer including those purchased and or installed through Dell Software and Peripherals Readyware and Custom Factory Integration l Repair services are provided pursuant to the terms and conditions of your limited warranty and any optional support service contract purchased with the computer All
87. eeps Advanced Tab The Advanced tab allows you to set many different settings beyond the basic ones above If you do not know or are not sure what to set then leave settings at the default To access the advanced settings 1 Choose the Power Plan you want to change 2 Click Change Plan Settings from just below the plan name 3 Click Change Advanced Power Settings Setting Up and Using Your Computer 39 A CAUTION There are many different settings in the Power Options Advanced Settings dialog box Use care when making setting changes Click Start and then click Help and Support to explore the capabilities of the advanced settings Enabling Cool n Quiet Technology Cool n Quiet technology controls your computer s processor performance automatically dynamically adjusting the operating frequency and voltage according to the task at hand When an application does not require full performance significant amounts of power can be saved Performance is designed to still be responsive with maximum processor performance being delivered when required and automatic power savings when possible Windows XP 1 Enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 2 Select Cool and Quiet from the Power Management group and change the setting to On 3 Click on the Start Settings Control Panel Power Options to access the Power Options Properties window 4 From the Power Schemes tab click the Power Schemes drop down menu
88. er electrical devices can cause the screen image to appear shaky Turn off nearby devices to check for interference ROTATE THE MONITOR TO ELIMINATE SUNLIGHT GLARE AND POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS Windows XP 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Appearance and Themes 2 Click Display then click the Settings tab 3 Adjust Screen resolution and Color quality settings as needed Windows Vista 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Appearance and Personalization 2 Under Personalization click Adjust screen resolution 3 Try different settings for Screen resolution and Color quality Solving Problems 73 74 Solving Problems Troubleshooting Tools 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 bi color LED located on the front of the computer illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states If the power light is off the computer is either turned off or is not receiving power Reseat the power cable in the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet Ifthe 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 ve
89. ers with integrated sound to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers On computers with a sound card use the connector on the card microphone Use the pink connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program On computers with a sound card the microphone connector is on the card side L R surround connector Use the gray connector to provide enhanced surround audio for computers with 7 1 speakers On computers with a sound card the microphone connector is on the card rear L R surround connector Use the black surround connector to attach multichannel capable speakers 10 USB 2 0 connectors 4 Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected such as printers and keyboards It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally such as joysticks or cameras 11 VGA video connector Connect the monitor s VGA cable to the VGA connector on the computer On computers with a video card use the connector on the card Setting Up and Using Your Computer 19 Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure Installing your computer in an enclosure can restrict the airflow and impact your computer s performance possibly causing it to overheat Follow the guidelines below when installing your computer in an enclosure NOTICE The operating
90. ers and Utilities media Troubleshooting Tools 85 5 At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen click Next K NOTE The Drivers and Utilities media displays drivers only for hardware that came installed in your computer If you installed additional hardware the drivers for the new hardware might not be displayed by the Drivers and Utilities media If those drivers are not displayed exit the Drivers and Utilities media program For drivers information see the documentation that came with the device A message appears stating that the Drivers and Utilities media is detecting hardware in your computer The drivers that are used by your computer are automatically displayed in the My Drivers The Drivers and Utilities media has identified these components in your system window Click the driver that you want to reinstall and follow the instructions on the screen If a particular driver is not listed that driver is not required by your operating system Manually Reinstalling Drivers K NOTE You must be logged in with Administrator privileges to perform this procedure After extracting the driver files to your hard drive as described in the previous section Windows XP 1 Click Start and then right click My Computer gt Properties 2 Click the Hardware tab then click Device Manager 3 Double click the type of device for which you are installing the driver 4 Double click the name of the device for which you are instal
91. es Define your standby mode settings display mode settings hibernate mode settings if available and other power settings in the Power Plan Properties window To access the Power Plan Properties window 1 Click Start and click Control Panel 2 Click System and Maintenance 3 Under System and Maintenance click Power Options This takes you to the main Select a Power Plan window 4 Inthe Select A Power Plan window you can change or modify power settings 38 Setting Up and Using Your Computer Power Management Modes Windows Vista has three main default power management modes e Balanced e Power Saver e High Performance Dell has added a fourth Dell Recommended mode that sets power management to the most typical settings for the majority of our customers This is the active Power Plan for all Dell shipping configurations To change the default settings for a plan 1 Click Start and click Control Panel 2 Under Pick a category click System and Maintenance 3 Under System and Maintenance click Power Options A number of options are available on the left hand side of the Power Options dialog box Click Change Plan Settings just below any of the power plans to change settings such as e Require a password on wakeup e Choose what power buttons do e Create a power plan you can choose the settings you want and create a custom power plan here e Choose when to turn off the display e Change when the computer sl
92. es to an electrical outlet and turn them on Verify that the computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 80 Removing and Installing Parts 1 0 Panel A A A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CAUTION To guard against electrical shock laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover CAUTION The heat sink assembly power supply and other components may be very hot during normal operation Be sure that they have had sufficient time to cool before you touch them 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 Removing the 1 0 Panel Es NOTE Note the routing of all cables as you remove them so that you can re route them correctly when installing the new 1 0 panel Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 118 NOTICE When sliding the 1 0 panel out of the computer be extremely careful Carelessness may result in damage to the cable connect
93. evices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 13 Configure the drives in system setup see Entering System Setup on page 172 Installing a CD or DVD Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 118 4 Gently slide the CD or DVD drive into place 5 Align the screw slots in the CD or DVD drive with the screw slots in the CD or DVD drive bay 6 Replace and tighten the two screws securing the CD or DVD drive 7 Connect the power and data cables to the drive 8 Connect the data cable to the system board connector on the system board Removing and Installing Parts 137 10 11 138 12 13 1 CD or DVD drive 2 data cable 3 power cable 4 system board connector 5 screws 2 6 screw slots 2 Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 119 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 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 Enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 and select the appropriate Drive option Verify that your computer works corr
94. f Advanced MicroDevices Inc Nvidia is a registered trademark of Nvidia Corporation in the United States and or other countries Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products Dell Inc disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own Model DCMA April 2008 Contents 1 Finding Information 11 2 Setting Up and Using Your Computer 15 Front View ofthe Computer 15 Back View ofthe Computer 17 Back Panel Connectors 18 Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure 20 Setting UpaPrinter 22 Printer Gablen sn a a a i a A 22 Connecting a USB Printer 22 Playing CDs and DVDs 24 Adjusting the Volume 25 Adjusting the Picture 26 Copying CDs and DVDs 27 HowtoCopyaCDorDVD 27 Using Blank CDs and DVDs 28 Helpful Tips o oo 29 Using a Media Card Reader Optional 30 Connecting Two Monitors 31 Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors 0000000 31 Contents Connecting One Monitor With a VGA Connector and One Monitor With a DVI Connector Connectinga TV aaa aaa aaa Changing the Display Settings Power Management Power Management Options in Mic
95. floppy disk may be defective or a cable may be loose Replace floppy disk check for loose cable connection HARD DISK DRIVE FAILURE Possible hard disk drive failure during HDD POST check cables swap hard disks see Getting Help on page 183 for assistance HARD DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE Possible HDD failure during HDD boot test see Getting Help on page 183 for assistance KEYBOARD FAILURE Keyboard failure or keyboard cable loose see Keyboard Problems on page 58 Troubleshooting Tools NO BOOT DEVICE AVAILABLE No bootable partition on HDD or Not a bootable floppy in floppy driver or HDD Floppy cable loose or No bootable device exists e If the floppy drive is your boot device ensure that a bootable floppy disk is in the drive e If the hard drive is your boot device ensure that the cables are connected and that the drive is installed properly and partitioned as a boot device Enter system setup and ensure that the boot sequence information is correct see Entering System Setup on page 172 No TIMER TICK INTERRUPT Achip on the system board might be malfunctioning or motherboard failure see Getting Help on page 183 for assistance NON SYSTEM DISK OR DISK ERROR Replace the floppy disk with one that has a bootable operating system or remove the floppy disk from drive A and restart the computer NOT A BOOT DISKETTE Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart your computer USB OVER CURREN
96. from the system board see System Board Components on page 102 4 Remove the four screws securing the chassis fan 5 Slide the chassis fan towards the front of the computer and lift it up 160 Removing and Installing Parts Replacing the Chassis Fan 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 1 chassis fan 2 screws 4 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Slide the chassis fan in place towards the back of the computer 4 Connect the chassis fan cable to the system board see System Board Components on page 102 5 Tighten the four screws to secure the chassis fan 6 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 Removing and Installing Parts 161 System Board Removing the System Board A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover A CAUTION The heat sink assembly power supply and other components may be very hot during normal operation Be sure that they have had sufficient time to cool before you touch them 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 ha
97. ft it Go to Help and Support and search for Hybrid Sleep for further information Hybrid Sleep provides fast wake if the system is in standby and also keeps your data safe by storing it to the hard drive Setting Up and Using Your Computer 37 Hibernate Mode Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer When the computer exits from hibernate mode the desktop is restored to the state it was in before it entered hibernate mode Windows Vista may mask Hibernate from the user if Hybrid Sleep is enabled See Help and Support for further information search for Hibernate To activate hibernate mode immediately if available 1 Click Start and click the arrow s 2 Select Hibernate from the list To exit from hibernate mode press the power button The computer may take a short time to exit from hibernate mode Pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring the computer out of hibernation because the keyboard and the mouse do not function when the computer is in hibernate mode Because hibernate mode requires a special file on your hard drive with enough disk space to store the contents of the computer memory Dell creates an appropriately sized hibernate mode file before shipping the computer to you If the computer s hard drive becomes corrupted Windows Vista recreates the hibernate file automatically Power Plan Properti
98. g the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer 4 Slide the hard drive into the hard drive bay 5 Align the slots in the hard drive with the guides in the hard drive bay 1 hard drive 2 power cable 3 serial ATA data cable 4 system board connector 5 screws 4 6 Replace and tighten the four screws to secure the hard drive 7 Connect the power and data cables to the drive 124 Removing and Installing Parts Connect the data cable to the system board Check all cables to be certain that they are properly connected and firmly seated 10 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 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 See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation 13 Check the system setup for drive configuration changes see Entering System Setup on page 172 Installing a Second Hard Drive 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 laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer fr
99. g your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 NOTICE Ensure that sufficient space exists to support the removed cover NOTICE Ensure that you are working on a level protected surface to avoid scratching either the computer or the surface on which itis resting 2 Lay your computer on its side with the computer cover facing up Removing and Installing Parts 99 3 Remove the two thumbscrews securing the cover using a flat blade screwdriver 1 computer cover 2 front of computer 3 thumbscrew 2 4 Release the computer cover by pulling it away from the front of the computer and lifting it up 5 Set the cover aside in a secure location 100 Removing and Installing Parts Inside View of Your Computer A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide 1 CD or DVD drive 2 power supply 3 optional CD or DVD drive 4 floppy drive or Media 5 hard drive 6 optional hard drive Reader optional Removing and Installing Parts 101 System Board Components eerer errerereeeree coho AA EA A A A A A A A A A A 18 19 20 21
100. ght click the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties 6 Click the Drivers tab Roll Back Driver Windows Vista 1 Click Start and right click Computer 2 Click Properties Device Manager K NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager 3 Right click the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties 4 Click the Drivers tab Roll Back Driver If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem then use System Restore Restoring Your Operating System on page 88 to return your computer to the operating state that existed before you installed the new driver Using the Drivers and Utilities media If using Device Driver Rollback or System Restore Restoring Your Operating System on page 88 does not resolve the problem then reinstall the driver from the Drivers and Utilities media 1 With the Windows desktop displayed insert the Drivers and Utilities media If this is your first time to use the Drivers and Utilities media go to step 2 If not go to step 5 2 When the Drivers and Utilities media installation program starts follow the prompts on the screen 3 When the InstallShield Wizard Complete window appears remove the Drivers and Utilities media and click Finish to restart the computer 4 When you see the Windows desktop reinsert the Driv
101. hapter may be replaceable by a certified service technician only and are not custom replaceable Before You Begin This chapter provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer Unless otherwise noted each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist e You have performed the steps in Turning Off Your Computer on page 98 and Before Working Inside Your Computer on page 98 e You have read the safety information in the Dell Product Information Guide e Acomponent can be replaced or if purchased separately installed by performing the removal procedure in reverse order Recommended Tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools e Small flat blade screwdriver e Small Phillips screwdriver e Small plastic scribe e Flash BIOS executable update program on the Dell Support website at support dell com Removing and Installing Parts 97 Turning Off Your Computer NOTICE To avoid losing data save and close any open files and exit any open programs before you turn off your computer Windows XP 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Click Start Turn Off Computer Turn off 3 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 at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off Wind
102. have been removed from the routing clips on the top of the processor fan assembly 7 Clean the grease from the heat sink surface previously in contact with the processor 154 Removing and Installing Parts 1 fan 2 fan cover 3 heat sink 8 Hold the heat sink firmly in one hand and using moderate force pull up the fan cover to separate it from the heat sink Removing and Installing Parts 155 1 fan 2 fan cover guide 2 3 fan cover 4 fan cover grips 4 NOTICE Do not touch the fan blades to avoid damage to the fan blades 9 Pull outwards the two fan cover grips on one side and slightly lift the fan from the fan cover 10 Pull outwards the other two fan cover grips on the other side and lift the fan to release the fan from the fan cover 156 Removing and Installing Parts Installing the Processor Fan NOTICE When reinstalling the fan ensure that you do not pinch the wires that run between the system board and the fan 1 Align the holes in the fan with the guides on the fan cover 2 Press the fan and fan cover together till the fan cover grips snap in place 1 fan 2 fan cover guide 2 3 fan cover 4 fan cover grips 4 Removing and Installing Parts 157 3 Align and press the heat sink and fan assembly till both snap in place 1 fan 2 fan cover 3 heat sink 4 Replace the heat sink assembly see step 9 of Installing the Processor on page 148 5 Replace the cables that were removed fro
103. he computer Express Service Code Return Material Authorization Number if provided by Dell support technician Operating system and version Devices Expansion cards Are you connected to a network Yes No Network version and network adapter Programs and versions See your operating system documentation to determine the contents of the system s start up files If the computer is connected to a printer print each file Otherwise record the contents of each file before calling Dell Error message beep code or diagnostic code Description of problem and troubleshooting procedures you performed Appendix 187 Contacting Dell For customers in the United States call 800 WWW DELL 800 999 3355 K NOTE If you do not have an active Internet connection you can find contact information on your purchase invoice packing slip bill or Dell product catalog Dell provides several online and telephone based support and service options Availability varies by country and product and some services may not be available in your area To contact Dell for sales technical support or customer service issues Visit support dell com 2 Verify your country or region in the Choose A Country Region drop down menu at the bottom of the page 3 Click Contact Us on the left side of the page Select the appropriate service or support link based on your need Choose the method of contacting Dell that is convenient for you 188
104. he sharper the image RFI radio frequency interference Interference that is generated at typical radio frequencies in the range of 10 kHz to 100 000 MHz Radio frequencies are at the lower end of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum and are more likely to have interference than the higher frequency radiations such as infrared and light ROM read only memory Memory that stores data and programs that cannot be deleted or written to by the computer ROM unlike RAM retains its contents after you shut down your computer Some programs essential to the operation of your computer reside in ROM RPM revolutions per minute The number of rotations that occur per minute Hard drive speed is often measured in rpm RTC real time clock Battery powered clock on the system board that keeps the date and time after you shut down the computer RTCRST real time clock reset A jumper on the system board of some computers that can often be used for troubleshooting problems S SAS serial attached SCSI A faster serial version of the SCSI interface as opposed to the original SCSI parallel architecture SATA serial ATA A faster serial version of the ATA IDE interface ScanDisk A Microsoft utility that checks files folders and the hard disk s surface for errors ScanDisk often runs when you restart the computer after it has stopped responding SCSI small computer system interface
105. he up and down arrow keys to select Enabled and then press lt Enter gt K NOTE For more information about RAID options see System Setup Options on page 173 Enable the corresponding SATA in Primary or second RAID where your hard drives are connected Press the up and down arrow keys to select Enabled and then press lt Enter gt Press F10 key and then press lt Enter gt to exit system setup and resume the boot process Setting Up and Using Your Computer Using the Nvidia MediaShield ROM Utility NOTICE The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on your hard drive s Back up any data you want to keep before continuing Hard drives of any size may be used to create a RAID configuration Ideally however the drives should be of equal size to avoid unallocated or unused space For an explanation of RAID levels and their requirements see About RAID Configurations For Windows Vista only on page 40 For information on how to install a hard drive see Installing a Hard Drive on page 124 1 Enable RAID for each applicable hard drive on your computer see Setting Your Computer to RAID Enabled Mode on page 42 Restart the computer Press lt F10 gt when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS K NOTE If the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again The Define a New Array window appears Press
106. ick Next 3 The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer 4 When all of the settings and files have been applied the Finished screen appears 5 Click Finished and restart the computer Windows Vista The Windows Vista operating system provides the Windows Easy Transfer wizard to move data from a source computer to a new computer You can transfer data such as e User account e Files and folders e Program settings e Internet settings and favorites e E mail settings contacts and messages You can transfer the data to the new computer over a network or serial connection or you can store it on removable media such as a writable CD for transfer to the new computer There are two ways to access the Windows Easy Transfer wizard 1 When Windows Vista setup is completed you will see the Windows Vista Welcome Center In the Welcome Center click Transfer Files and Settings to start Windows easy Transfer 2 Ifthe Welcome Center dialog box has been closed you can access Easy Transfer by clicking the Start all Programs Accessories System Tools Windows Easy Transfer Double click the Windows Easy Transfer icon to begin the process 46 Setting Up and Using Your Computer Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting to a Network Adapter NOTICE Plug the network cable into the network adapter connector on the computer Do not plug the network cable into the
107. idden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive K NOTE If your computer cannot display a screen image see Getting Help on page 183 1 Ensure that the computer is connected to an electrical outlet that is known to be working properly 2 Turn on or restart your computer When the DELL logo appears press lt F12 gt immediately Select Utility Partition from the boot menu and press lt Enter gt K NOTE If you wait too long andthe operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again K NOTE If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found run the Dell Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities media 4 Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive 80 Troubleshooting Tools Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media 1 Insert the Drivers and Utilities media 2 Shut down and restart the computer When the DELL logo appears press lt F 12 gt immediately K NOTE If you wait too long and ie operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again K NOTE The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only On the next start up the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program
108. ility Wizard Next 2 Follow the instructions on the screen Windows Vista Use the Program Compatibility Wizard to configure an operating environment similar to earlier versions of Windows This may improve the performance of programs designed for earlier versions of Windows 1 Click Start point to Control Panel Programs Programs and features 2 Under Programs and features click Use an older program with this version of windows 3 Follow the instructions on the screen A solid blue screen appears TURN THE COMPUTER OFF If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off Then restart your computer 60 Solving Problems Other software problems CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION e Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on your computer Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software See the software documentation for information Ensure that the program is installed and configured properly Verify that the device drivers do not conflict with the program If necessary uninstall and then reinstall the program BACK UP YOUR FILES IMMEDIATELY USE A VIRUS SCANNING PROGRAM TO CHECK THE HARD DRIVE FLOPPY DISKS or CDs SAVE AND CLOSE A
109. ing system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver see Using Microsoft Windows System Restore on page 88 NOTICE Before performing the installation back up all data files on your primary hard drive For conventional hard drive configurations the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer To reinstall Windows you need the following items Dell Operating System CD e Drivers and Utilities media K NOTE The Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during assembly of the computer Use the Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers Depending on the region from where you ordered your computer or whether you requested the CDs or DVDs the Drivers and Utilities media and Operating System CD may not ship with your system Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete After you reinstall the operating system you must also reinstall the device drivers virus protection program and other software NOTICE The Operating System CD provides options for reinstalling Windows Vista The options will overwrite files and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive Therefore do not reinstall Windows Vista unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so K NOTE It is highly recommended that you attempt to perform a Windows system restore first and the
110. ings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer Replace the card retention bracket ensuring that e The guide clamp is aligned with the guide notch e The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar e The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide Fix the card retention bracket by replacing and tightening the screw NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer Replace the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Remove the card s driver from the operating system If you removed a sound card a Enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 go to Onboard Devices and select Integrated Audio and then change the setting to On b Connect external audio devices to the audio connectors on the back panel of the computer see Back Panel Connectors on page 18 If you removed an add in network connector a Enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 go to Onboard Devices and select Integrated NIC and then change the setting to On b Connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel of the computer see Back Panel Connectors on page 18 Removing and Installing Parts 117 Bezel A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedu
111. ion Similar to EPP ECP uses direct memory access to transfer data and often improves performance EIDE enhanced integrated device electronics An improved version of the IDE interface for hard drives and CD drives EMI electromagnetic interference Electrical interference caused by electromagnetic radiation EPP enhanced parallel port A parallel connector design that provides bidirectional data transmission ESD electrostatic discharge A rapid discharge of static electricity ESD can damage integrated circuits found in computer and communications equipment expansion card A circuit board that installs in an expansion slot on the system board in some computers expanding the capabilities of the computer Examples include video modem and sound cards expansion slot A connector on the system board in some computers where you insert an expansion card connecting it to the system bus ExpressCard A removable I O card adhering to the PCMCIA standard Modems and network adapters are common types of ExpressCards ExpressCards support both the PCI Express and USB 2 0 standard Express Service Code A numeric code located on a sticker on your Dell computer Use the Express Service Code when contacting Dell for assistance Express Service Code service may not be available in some countries extended display mode A display setting that allows you to use a second monitor as an extension of your d
112. isplay Also referred to as dual display mode extended PC Card A PC Card that extends beyond the edge of the PC Card slot when installed Glossary 193 F Fahrenheit A temperature measurement scale where 32 is the freezing point and 212 is the boiling point of water FBD fully buffered DIMM A DIMM with DDR2 DRAM chips and an Advanced Memory Buffer AMB that speeds communication between the DDR2 SDRAM chips and the system FCC Federal Communications Commission A U S agency responsible for enforcing communications related regulations that state how much radiation computers and other electronic equipment can emit fingerprint reader A strip sensor that uses your unique fingerprint to authenticate your user identity to help secure your computer folder A term used to describe space on a disk or drive where files are organized and grouped Files in a folder can be viewed and ordered in various ways such as alphabetically by date and by size format The process that prepares a drive or disk for file storage When a drive or disk is formatted the existing information on it is lost FSB front side bus The data path and physical interface between the processor and RAM FTP file transfer protocol A standard Internet protocol used to exchange files between computers connected to the Internet G G gravity A measurement of weight and force GB gigabyte A
113. ive and remove any programs installed after you received the computer Use Dell PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem If you received an Operating System CD with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system Use the CD only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem Using Microsoft Windows System Restore The Windows operating systems provide a System Restore option which allows you to return your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files if changes to the hardware software or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state Any changes that System Restore makes to your computer are completely reversible See the Windows Help and Support Center for information on using System Restore To access the Windows Help and Support Center see Windows Help and Support Center on page 14 NOTICE Make regular backups of your data files System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them K NOTE The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view so they may not apply if you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view Troubleshooting Tools Creating a Restore Point NOTICE Make regular backups of your data files System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them K NOTE You must be logged in with Ad
114. iver Rollback 84 Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 44 Hardware Troubleshooter 87 Help and Support Center 14 Network Setup Wizard 47 Program Compatibility Wizard 60 scanner 69 System Restore 88 wizards Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 44 Network Setup Wizard 47 Program Compatibility Wizard 60 Index 211 212 Index
115. k Start and click Control Panel 2 Click Appearance and Personalization 3 Under Personalization click Adjust screen resolution 4 Inthe Display Settings window click and drag the bar in Resolution to change the setting to 800 by 600 pixels 5 Click the drop down menu under Colors and then click Medium 16 bit 6 Click OK 26 Setting Up and Using Your Computer Copying CDs and DVDs K NOTE Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when creating CDs or DVDs This section applies only to computers that have a CD RW DVD RW or CD RW DVD combo drive K NOTE The types of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by country The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD You can also use Sonic DigitalMedia for other purposes such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data For help open Sonic DigitalMedia and then click the question mark icon in the upper right corner of the window How to Copy a CD or DVD K NOTE CD RW DVD combo drives cannot write to DVD media If you have a CD RW DVD combo drive and you experience recording problems check for available software patches on the Sonic support website at www sonic com The DVD writable drives installed in Dell computers can write to and read DVD R DVD RW and DVD R DL dual layer media but cannot write to and may not read DVD RAM or DVD R DL media K NOTE Most commercial DV
116. lick Control Panel 2 Click System 3 In the System Properties window click the Hardware tab 4 Click Device Manager Windows Vista 1 Click Start and right click Computer 2 Click Properties Device Manager K NOTE The User Account Control located to the left under Tasks window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to continue Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point a yellow circle with a on the device icon If an exclamation point is next to the device name you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 84 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities NOTICE The Dell Support website at support dell com and your Drivers and Utilities media provide approved drivers for Dell computers If you install drivers obtained from other sources your computer might not work correctly Using Windows Device Driver Rollback If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver use Windows Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version K NOTE You must be logged in with Administrator privileges to perform this procedure Windows XP 1 Click Start then click Control Panel 2 Click System 84 Troubleshooting Tools 3 In the System Properties window click the Hardware tab 4 Click Device Manager 5 Ri
117. ling the driver 5 Click the Driver tab then click Update Driver 6 Click Install from a list or specific location Advanced then click Next 7 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously extracted the driver files 8 When the name of the appropriate driver appears click Next 9 Click Finish and then restart your computer 86 Troubleshooting Tools Windows Vista 1 2 Click Start and right click Computer Click Properties Device Manager K NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager Double click the type of device for which you are installing the driver for example Audio or Video Double click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver Click the Driver tab Update Driver Browse my computer for driver software Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files When the name of the appropriate driver appears click the name of the driver gt OK gt Next Click Finish and restart your computer Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured you can use the Windows Operating systems Help And Support to assist you in resolving the incompatibility Windows XP 1 2 Click
118. listed Windows recognizes the scanner Windows Vista 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Hardware and Sound 2 Click Scanners and Cameras If your scanner is listed Windows recognizes the scanner REINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER See the scanner documentation for instructions Solving Problems 69 Sound and Speaker Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide No sound from speakers K NOTE The volume control in some MP3 players overrides the Windows volume setting If you have been listening to MP3 songs ensure that you did not turn the player volume down or off CHECK THE SPEAKER CABLE CONNECTIONS Ensure that the speakers are connected as shown on the setup diagram supplied with the speakers If you purchased a sound card ensure that the speakers are connected to the card ENSURE THAT THE CORRECT AUDIO SOLUTION IS ENABLED IN THE BIOS SETUP PROGRAM See System Setup on page 172 ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON See the setup diagram supplied with the speakers If your speakers have volume controls adjust the volume bass or treble to eliminate distortion ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Click or double click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted DISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM
119. lt Tab gt to navigate to the RAID Mode field To create a RAID 1 configuration use the arrow keys to select Mirroring Press lt Tab gt to navigate to the Free Disks field Use the up and down arrow keys to select a hard drive to include in the RAID array and then use the right arrow key to move the selected drive from the Free Disks field to the Array Disks field Repeat for each disk you want to include in the RAID array K NOTE Your computer supports a maximum of two drives per RAID 1 array After assigning the hard drives to an array press lt F9 gt The Clear disk data prompt appears NOTICE You will lose all data on the selected drives in the next step Press lt Y gt to clear all data from the selected drives The Array List window appears To review the details of the array that you set up use the arrow keys to highlight the array in the Array Detail window and press lt Enter gt The Array Detail window appears K NOTE To delete an array use the arrow keys to select the array and press lt D gt Setting Up and Using Your Computer 43 10 Press lt Enter gt to return to the previous screen 11 Press lt Ctrl gt lt X gt to exit the RAID BIOS Using Nvidia MediaShield Nvidia MediaShield allows you to view and manage RAID configurations Rebuilding a RAID Configuration If one of the hard drives in a RAID array fails you can rebuild the array by restoring the data to a replacement drive K NOTE
120. m NOTE The appearance of your setup diagram may vary Finding Information 11 What Are You Looking For Find it Here Service Tag and Express Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License Service Code These labels are located on your computer e Microsoft Windows License Label e Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support dell com or contact support Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support LANAI te Ea ea 1 MN erre SERVICE Tag eooeese DPrrSS SERVICE CODE Weedowe Weta hen Tba COE T E T q fi dmi NOTE As an increased security measure the newly designed Microsoft Windows license label incorporates a missing portion or hole to discourage removal of the label 12 Finding Information What Are You Looking For Find it Here Solutions Troubleshooting hints Dell Support Website support dell com and tips articles from technicians NOTE Select your region to view the and online courses frequently asked appropriate support site questions NOTE Corporate government and education Community Online discussion customers can also use the customized Dell with other Dell customers Premier Support website at Upgrades Upgrade information _ premier support dell com for components such as memory the hard drive and the operating system Customer Care Contact information service call and order status warranty
121. m the routing clips on top of the processor fan assembly 158 l Removing and Installing Parts 6 Connect the processor fan cable to the system board see System Board Components on page 102 NOTICE Ensure that the fan is correctly seated and secure 7 Replace the cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 8 Connect your computer and devices to an electrical outlet and turn them on Chassis Fan 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 laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover A CAUTION The heat sink assembly power supply and other components may be very hot during normal operation Be sure that they have had sufficient time to cool before you touch them 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 Removing and Installing Parts 159 Removing the Chassis Fan 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 1 chassis fan 2 screws 4 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Disconnect the chassis fan cable
122. measurement of data storage that equals 1024 MB 1 073 741 824 bytes When used to refer to hard drive storage the term is often rounded to 1 000 000 000 bytes GHz gigahertz A measurement of frequency that equals one thousand million Hz or one thousand MHz The speeds for computer processors buses and interfaces are often measured in GHz graphics mode A video mode that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors Graphics modes can display an unlimited variety of shapes and fonts GUI graphical user interface Software that interacts with the user by means of menus windows and icons Most programs that operate on the Windows operating systems are GUIs 194 Glossary hard drive A drive that reads and writes data on a hard disk The terms hard drive and hard disk are often used interchangeably heat sink A metal plate on some processors that helps dissipate heat hibernate mode A power management mode that saves everything in memory to a reserved space on the hard drive and then turns off the computer When you restart the computer the memory information that was saved to the hard drive is automatically restored HTTP hypertext transfer protocol A protocol for exchanging files between computers connected to the Internet Hz hertz A unit of frequency measurement that equals cycle per second Computers and electronic devices are often measured in kiloher
123. ministrator privileges to perform this procedure Windows XP 1 Click Start gt All Programs Accessories System Tools System Restore 2 Click Create a restore point 3 Click Next and follow the remaining on screen prompts Windows Vista 1 Click Start and click Control Panel Click System and Maintenance and click System Click Create Follow the instructions on the screen Windows Vista will automatically set restore points at important events driver and application installs 2 3 In the Tasks list click System Protection 4 5 You can also manually create a restore point from the Windows Vista Back Up and Restore Center There are two ways to get to the Windows Vista Backup and Restore Center 1 Click Show all 14 items below the Connect to the Internet icon in the Welcome Center Click Back Up and Restore Center icon 2 Click Start All Programs Maintenance Back Up and Restore Center In the Back Up and Restore Center under the tasks click create a restore point or change settings For more information use Help and Support and search for restore Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State If problems occur after you install a device driver use Device Driver Rollback see Using Windows Device Driver Rollback on page 84 to resolve the problem If that is unsuccessful then use System Restore Troubleshooting Tools 89 NOTICE Before you restore the computer to an earlier oper
124. modem is operating properly ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET Ensure that you have subscribed to an Internet provider With the Windows Mail e mail program open click File If Work Offline has a checkmark next to it click the checkmark to remove it and connect to the Internet For help contact your Internet service provider Error Messages If the message is not listed see the documentation for the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS lt gt Do not use these characters in filenames 56 Solving Problems A REQUIRED DLL FILE WAS NOT FOUND The program that you are trying to open is missing an essential file To remove and then reinstall the program Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Add or Remove Programs Programs and Features 2 Select the program you want to remove 3 Click Uninstall 4 See the program documentation for installation instructions Windows Vista 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Programs 2 Under Programs and Features click Uninstall a program 3 Select the program you want to remove 4 Click Uninstall Change or Repair 5 See the program documentation for installation instructions drive letter S NOT ACCESSIBLE THE DEVICE IS NOT READY The drive cannot read the disk Insert a disk into the drive and try again INSERT BOOTABLE MEDI
125. mponents on page 102 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 repetitive three short beeps This beep code tells you that the computer encountered a possible motherboard failure If your computer beeps during start up 1 Write down the beep code 2 Run the Dell Diagnostics to identify a more serious cause see Dell Diagnostics on page 80 76 Troubleshooting Tools Code Description Suggested Remedy repetitive short beeps 3 Possible motherboard Contact Dell failure 1 BIOS checksum Contact Dell failure Possible motherboard failure 5 Real time clock failure 1 Replace the battery see Replacing the Possible battery failure Battery on page 142 or motherboard failure 2 If the problem persists contact Dell 4 RAM Read Write 1 Ensure that no special memory failure module memory connector placement requirements exist see Memory Installation Guidelines on page 108 2 Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your computer see Memory Installation Guidelines on page 108 3 If the problem persists contact Dell 2 No memory modules 1 If you have two or more memory are detected modules installed remove the modules reinstall one module see Installing Memory on page 109 and then restart the
126. mputer 2 Right click Local Disk C 3 Click Properties Tools Check Now 4 Click Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors and click Start Windows Vista 1 Click Start 35 and click Computer 2 Right click Local Disk C 3 Click Properties 4 Click the Tools tab 5 Under Enror checking click Check Now 6 Click Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors 7 Click Start NOTE You must be logged in with Administrator privileges to perform this procedure E Mail Modem and Internet Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide K NOTE Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only The modem does not operate while itis connected to a digital telephone network CHECK THE WINDOWS MAIL EXPRESS SECURITY SETTINGS If you cannot open your e mail attachments 1 In Windows Mail click Tools click Options and then click Security 2 Click Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus to remove the checkmark 3 Click Apply and then OK 54 Solving Problems CHECK THE TELEPHONE LINE CONNECTION CHECK THE TELEPHONE JACK CONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK USE A DIFFERENT TELEPHONE LINE e Verify that the telephone line is connected to the jack on the modem The jack has either a green label or a connector shaped icon next to it Ensure that you feel
127. n including how to e Obtain and install updated drivers Connect the printer to the computer Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge For technical assistance refer to the printer owner s manual or contact the printer manufacturer Printer Cable Your printer connects to your computer with either a USB cable or a parallel cable Your printer may not come with a printer cable so if you purchase a cable separately ensure that it is compatible with your printer and computer If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer the cable may arrive in the computer s shipping box Connecting a USB Printer K NOTE You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on 1 Complete the operating system setup if you have not already done so 2 Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer The USB connectors fit only one way 22 Setting Up and Using Your Computer 1 USB connector on 2 USB connector on 3 USB printer computer printer cable 3 Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer 4 Depending on your computer s operating system a printer wizard may be available to help you install the printer driver If your computer is running the Microsoft Windows XP operating system and the Add New Hardware Wizard window appears click Cancel Windows XP Click Start Control Panel Printers and Faxes Add a printer to start the Add Prin
128. n if necessary a Dell operating system restore to take it back to as shipped condition before attempting a complete operating system reinstallation Complete reinstallation of the operating system is a complex task 94 Troubleshooting Tools Save and close any open files and exit any open programs Insert the Operating System CD Click Exit if the Install Windows Vista message appears Restart the computer Press lt F12 gt immediately after the DELL logo appears If the operating system logo appears wait until you see the Windows desktop and then shut down the computer and try again K NOTE The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only On the next start up the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW Drive and press lt Enter gt Press any key to Boot from CD ROM Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation Troubleshooting Tools 95 96 Troubleshooting Tools Removing and Installing Parts A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover A CAUTION Do not operate your computer with any cover s including computer covers bezels filler brackets front panel inserts and so on removed A CAUTION Some of the parts described in this c
129. n click Printers and Other Hardware 2 Click Mouse 3 Adjust the settings as needed Windows Vista 1 Click Start 6 click Control Panel and then click Hardware and Sound 2 Click Mouse 3 Try adjusting the settings REINSTALL THE MOUSE DRIVER See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 84 RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER See Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities on page 87 Network Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CHECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR Ensure that the network cable is firmly inserted into both the network connector on the back of the computer and the network port or device CHECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE BACK OF THE COMPUTER If the link integrity light is off that indicates no network communication exists Replace the network cable For a description of network lights see Controls and Lights on page 170 RESTART THE COMPUTER AND LOG ON TO THE NETWORK AGAIN Solving Problems 65 CHECK YOUR NETWORK SETTINGS Contact your network administrator or the person who set up your network to verify that your network settings are correct and that the network is functioning RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER See Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities on page 87 Power Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the 66
130. n the underside of your mouse counterclockwise and then remove the ball Wipe the ball with a clean lint free cloth Blow carefully into the ball cage to dislodge dust and lint If the rollers inside the ball cage are dirty clean the rollers with a cotton swab moistened lightly with isopropyl alcohol Recenter the rollers in their channels if they are misaligned Ensure that fluff from the swab is not left on the rollers Replace the ball and retainer ring and turn the retainer ring clockwise until it clicks into place Appendix 179 Floppy Drive NOTICE Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab You might accidentally misalign the heads which prevents the drive from operating Clean your floppy drive using a commercially available cleaning kit These kits contain pretreated floppy disks to remove contaminants that accumulate during normal operation CDs and DVDs NOTICE Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the CD or DVD drive and follow the instructions that come with the compressed air Never touch the lens in the drive If you notice problems such as skipping with the playback quality of your CDs or DVDs try cleaning the discs 1 Hold the disc by its outer edge You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole NOTICE To prevent damaging the surface do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc 2 With a soft lint free cloth gently wipe the bottom of the disc the unlabel
131. name field then click OK Click Dell Factory Image Restore K NOTE Depending upon your configuration you may need to select Dell Factory Tools then Dell Factory Image Restore The Dell Factory Image Restore welcome screen appears Click Next The Confirm Data Deletion screen appears NOTICE If you do not want to proceed with Factory Image Restore click Cancel Click the checkbox to confirm that you want to continue reformatting the hard drive and restoring the system software to the factory condition then click Next The restore process begins and may take five or more minutes to complete A message appears when the operating system and factory installed applications have been restored to factory condition Click Finish to reboot the system Troubleshooting Tools Removing Dell PC Restore NOTICE Removing Dell PC Restore from the hard drive permanently deletes the PC Restore utility from your computer After you have removed Dell PC Restore you will not be able to use it to restore your computer s operating system Dell PC Restore enables you to restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased your computer It is recommended that you do not remove PC Restore from your computer even to gain additional hard drive space If you remove PC Restore from the hard drive you cannot ever recall it and you will never be able to use PC Restore to return your computer s operating system to
132. ng Parts Recommended Drive Cable Connections e Connect serial ATA hard drives to connectors labeled SATA0 or SATA1 on the system board e Connect serial ATA CD or DVD drives to connectors labeled SATA2 or SATA3 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 Power Connector 1 power cable 2 power input connector Drive Interface Connectors The drive cable connectors are keyed for correct insertion Properly align the cable connector key on the cable and the drive before connecting Serial ATA Connector 1 p 2 i 1 interface cable 2 interface connector Removing and Installing Parts 121 Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables When connecting and disconnecting a serial ATA data cable disconnect the cable using the pull tab The serial ATA 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 Hard Drives 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 laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries 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 h
133. ngs Use the right and left arrow keys to highlight an option Press lt Enter gt to make that selection active Help Field This field provides context sensitive help based on the options selected 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 Mii n System Date Displays the system date System Time Displays the system time Floppy A Displays the currently installed drive HDD SMART This setting determines whether integrated drive errors are capability reported or not during system startup Disabled default System Info Displays BIOS Info and the Service Tag Memory Info Displays memory size speed channel mode and type Appendix 173 Advanced CPU Type Displays the Type of Processor installed in the system CPU Speed Displays CPU Speed Cache RAM Displays the amount of Cache RAM available Frame Buffer Displays the amount of Frame Buffer available Advanced Displays the Video Memory size Chipset Features Integrated Displays information about peripherals configuration such as peripherals Serial ATA HD Audio Onboard nVidia LAN and Onboard LAN boot ROM PnP PCI Displays information abo
134. nsfer data at speeds from 250 MB sec to 4 GB sec If the PCI Express chip set and the device are capable of different speeds they will operate at the slower speed PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card International Association The organization that establishes standards for PC Cards 198 Glossary PIO programmed input output A method of transferring data between two devices through the processor as part of the data path pixel A single point on a display screen Pixels are arranged in rows and columns to create an image A video resolution such as 800 x 600 is expressed as the number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down Plug and Play The ability of the computer to automatically configure devices Plug and Play provides automatic installation configuration and compatibility with existing hardware if the BIOS operating system and all devices are Plug and Play compliant POST power on self test Diagnostics programs loaded automatically by the BIOS that perform basic tests on the major computer components such as memory hard drives and video If no problems are detected during POST the computer continues the start up processor A computer chip that interprets and executes program instructions Sometimes the processor is referred to as the CPU central processing unit PS 2 personal system 2 A type of connector for attaching a PS 2 compatible keyboard mouse or keypad
135. oin 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 A 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 see System Setup on page 172 so that you can restore the correct settings in step 9 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 Locate the battery socket see System Board Components on page 102 a fF N Carefully press the battery release lever away from the battery and the battery will pop out 6 Insert the new battery into the socket with the side labeled facing up then snap the battery into place ae 1 battery release lever 2 battery positive side 142 Removing and Installing Parts 7 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 8 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 9 Enter system setup see System Setup
136. om 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 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer Slide the second hard drive into the second hard drive bay 5 Align the slots in the second hard drive with the guides in the second hard drive bay Removing and Installing Parts 125 126 oo N 0 second hard drive optional 2 serial ATA data cable 3 power cable system board connector 5 screws 4 Replace and tighten the four screws to secure the hard drive Connect the power and data cables to the drive Connect the data cable to the system board Check all cables to be certain that they are properly connected and firmly seated Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer Removing and Installing Parts 11 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 12 See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation 1
137. on ECC memory is supported 256MB 2R XX XXX Removing and Installing Parts 107 Memory Installation Guidelines 1 DIMM connectors must be populated in a numerical order beginning with connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM 2 then connectors DIMM_3 and DIMM 4 If a single DIMM is installed you must install it in connector DIMM_1 For best performance memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size speed and technology If the memory modules are not installed in matched pairs the computer will operate but with a slight reduction in performance See the label on the module to determine the module s capacity For example if you install a mixed pair of DDR2 667 MHz and DDR2 800 MHz memory the modules function at the slowest speed installed Pair A matched pair of memory 2 Pair B matched pair of memory modules in connectors DIMM_1 modules in connectors DIMM_3 and DIMM 2 and DIMM 4 NOTICE 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 K NOTE Memory purchased from Dell is covered under your computer warranty
138. on page 172 and restore the settings you recorded in step 1 Then go to the Maintenance section and clear the low battery and other errors associated with the battery replacement in the Event Log 10 Properly dispose of the old battery See the Product Information Guide for battery disposal information Power Supply 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 Replacing the Power Supply 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 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 chassis as you remove them from the system board and drives You must route these cables properly when you replace them to prevent them from being pinched or crimped 4 Remove the hard drive cable CD or DVD drive data cable front panel ribbon cable and any other cables from the securing clip on the side of the power supply Removing and Installing Parts 143 144 5 Remove the four screws that attach the power supply
139. onnect 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 Removing and Installing Parts 15 Enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 and select the appropriate Drive option 16 Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 80 Replacing the CD or DVD Panel Insert 1 CD or DVD panel insert optional 2 back of the computer 1 Align the CD or DVD panel insert along the edges of the empty slot for CD or DVD 2 Push the panel CD or DVD panel insert is locked in place K NOTE To comply with FCC regulations it is recommended that you replace the CD or DVD panel insert whenever the CD or DVD is removed from the computer Removing the CD or DVD Panel Insert Release the CD or DVD panel insert by pushing it out of the chassis CD or DVD panel insert is released Removing and Installing Parts 141 Battery Replacing the Battery A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions 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 c
140. or PCI card grasp the card by its top corners and ease it out of its connector e For PCI Express card pull the securing tab grasp the card by its top corners and then ease it out of its connector K NOTE The position of the card shown in the illustration is indicative and may vary from the original 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 laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before installing any cards Place the card in the connector and press down firmly Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot Removing and Installing Parts 113 1 alignment bar 2 fully seated card 3 not fully seated card 4 alignment guide 5 bracket within slot 6 bracket caught outside of slot 9 If you are installing the PCI Express card into the x16 card connector position the card so the securing slot is aligned with the securing tab 10 Place the card in the connector and press down firmly Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot 1 PCI Express x16 card 2 PCI Express xl6 card slot 3 securing tab 4 PCI Express xl card slot 5 PCI Express x1 card 6 securing
141. ors and the cable routing clips Disconnect all the cables that are connected to the I O panel from the system board Remove the screw that secures the I O panel Slide the I O panel down to release the I O panel clamp from the I O panel clamp slot Carefully remove the I O panel from the computer Removing and Installing Parts 151 amp RU R r 1 I O panel clamp 2 T O panel 3 screw 4 cables 5 I O panel clamp slot Installing the 1 0 Panel 1 Place the I O panel into the slot NOTICE Take care not to damage the cable connectors and the cable routing clips when sliding the 1 0 panel into the computer Align and slide the I O panel clamp in the I O panel clamp slot 2 3 Replace and tighten the screw that secures the I O panel 4 Reconnect the cables to the system board 5 Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 119 152 Removing and Installing Parts 6 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 7 Connect your computer and devices to an electrical outlet and turn them on 8 Verify that the computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 80 89 eee b ardea d e Awd oe wey Pe OB ISS ew Mer so Ses N 0 e e ate Sate ted a AENEA i PIOAK AJ nar st A WN 4 5 1 I O panel clamp 2 I O panel 3 screw 4 cables 5 I O panel clamp slot Remo
142. ou 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 disconnect a network cable first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug the cable from the network device 1 Disconnect all telephone or network cables from the computer NOTICE To avoid damaging the system board you must remove the main battery before you service the computer 2 Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets Press the power button to ground the system board 3 A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries 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 surface such as the metal at the back of the computer While you work periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate static electricity which could harm internal components Removing the Computer Cover 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 laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplu
143. oving and Installing Parts 1 processor 2 release lever 3 socket NOTICE Be careful not to bend any of the pins when you remove the processor Bending the pins can permanently damage the processor 8 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 NOTICE After removing the processor be careful not to get any thermal grease on the processor pins Thermal grease on the pins can permanently damage the processor Removing and Installing Parts 147 Installing the Processor NOTICE Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 NOTICE 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 3 Extend the release lever on the socket fully 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 4 Align the pin 1 corner of the processor and socket 3 1 processor pin l indicator 2 processor 3 release lever 4 socket 148 Removing and Installing Parts NOTICE To avoid damage ensure that the processor aligns properly with the socket and do not use excessive
144. ows Vista 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Click Start click the arrow B and then click Shut Down The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process finishes 3 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 at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off Before Working Inside Your Computer Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help to ensure your own personal safety A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE 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 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 98 Removing and Installing Parts NOTICE When you disconnect a cable pull on its connector or on its pull tab not on the cable itself Some cables have connectors with locking tabs if you are disconnecting this type of cable press in on the locking tabs before y
145. p and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file 8 Double click the file icon on the desktop and follow the on screen instructions 178 Appendix Cleaning Your Computer A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide Computer Keyboard and Monitor A CAUTION Before you clean your computer disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with water Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners which may contain flammable substances Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove dust from the slots and holes on your computer and from between the keys on the keyboard NOTICE Do not wipe the display screen with any soap or alcohol solution Doing so may damage the antiglare coating To clean your monitor screen lightly dampen a soft clean cloth with water If possible use a special screen cleaning tissue or solution suitable for the monitor s antistatic coating Wipe the keyboard computer and plastic part of the monitor with a soft cleaning cloth moistened with a solution of three parts water and one part dishwashing detergent NOTICE Do not soak the cloth or let water drip inside your computer or keyboard Mouse If your screen cursor skips or moves abnormally clean the mouse To clean a non optical mouse 1 Turn the retainer ring o
146. problems 65 setting up 7 Network Setup Wizard 47 208 Index P password clearing 176 jumper 176 PCI cards installing 112 removing 116 phone numbers 188 playing CDs and DVDs 24 power button 16 hibernate mode 38 options advanced 39 problems 66 standby mode 33 power light conditions 66 Power Plan in Vista 38 printer cable 22 connecting 22 problems 67 setting up 22 USB 22 problems battery 51 beep codes 76 blue screen 60 CD drive 53 CD RW drive 53 computer crashes 58 60 computer stops responding 58 59 problems continued conflicts 87 Dell Diagnostics 80 drives 52 DVD drive 53 e mail 54 error messages 56 general 58 hard drive 54 Internet 54 keyboard 58 Media Card Reader 62 memory 63 modem 54 monitor is blank 72 monitor is hard to read 72 mouse 64 network 65 power 66 power light conditions 66 printer 67 program crashes 59 program stops responding 59 programs and Windows compatibility 60 restore to previous state 88 scanner 69 screen is blank 72 screen is hard to read 72 software 59 61 sound and speakers 70 technical support policy 180 troubleshooting tips 51 volume adjusting 70 Product Information Guide 11 Program Compatibility Wizard 60 R RAID array creating 44 regulatory information 11 Removing Memory 111 Removing the FlexBay Break Away Metal Plate 131 Removing the
147. procedure NOTE The Media Card Reader only appears as a mapped drive when itis connected Each of the four Media Card Reader slots are mapped to a drive even if no media is installed If you attempt to access the Media Card Reader when no media is inserted you are prompted to insert media Solving Problems FLEXBAY DEVICE IS DISABLED There is a FlexBay disable option in the BIOS setup that appears only when the FlexBay device is installed If the FlexBay device is physically installed but it is not running check to see if it is enabled in the BIOS setup Memory Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide IF YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements If necessary install additional memory see Memory Installation Guidelines on page 108 Reseat the memory modules see Installing Memory on page 109 to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory Run the Dell Diagnostics see Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive on page 80 IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS Reseat the memory modules see Installing Memory on page 109 to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory
148. quence about 175 changing 175 option settings 175 booting to a USB device 175 c cards installing PCI 112 PCI 112 removing PCI 116 slots 111 types supported 111 CD DVD drive installing 137 139 problems 53 removing 136 CD RW drive problems 53 CDs 27 playing 24 Check Disk 54 CMOS settings clearing 177 computer beep codes 76 components inside 101 crashes 58 60 inside view 101 restore to previous state 88 stops responding 58 59 conflicts software and hardware incompatibilities 87 contacting Dell 188 copying CDs general information 27 helpful tips 29 how to 27 Index 205 copying DVDs general information 27 helpful tips 29 how to 27 cover removing 99 replacing 164 Dell contacting 183 188 support policy 180 support site 13 Dell Diagnostics 80 DellConnect 184 diagnostics beep codes 76 Dell 80 documentation End User License Agreement 11 ergonomics 11 Finding Information 11 online 13 Product Information Guide 11 regulatory 11 safety 11 Setup Diagram 11 warranty 11 drive panel 118 drive panel insert removing 132 141 replacing 132 141 206 Index Drivers manually reinstalling 86 drivers 83 about 83 identifying 84 reinstalling 84 Drivers and Utilities CD 85 Drivers and Utilities media 85 drives 120 hard drive 122 installing CD DVD 137 139 installing floppy 129 installing hard drive 12
149. r management to the most typical settings for the majority of our customers This is the active Power Plan Standby Mode Standby mode is the default off state for Windows Vista Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a time out When the computer exits from standby mode it returns to the operating state it was in before it entered standby mode To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity 1 Click Start and click Control Panel 2 Click System and Maintenance 3 Under System and Maintenance click Power Options The next dialog box will show three power plans the top option is Dell Recommended this is the currently active plan There is also a show additional plans arrow underneath the three power plans You can have many power plans but only three are displayed and the top one is the active plan To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity click Start then click the off button icon Windows Vista sets Standby as the default off state To exit from standby mode press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse NOTICE If your computer loses power while in standby mode it may lose data Windows Vista has a new feature called Hybrid Sleep mode this saves the data into a file and also puts the system into standby If you lose power the system retains your data on the hard drive and resumes to the same state you le
150. r computer may appear to be locked up To recover press any key on the keyboard or click the mouse To avoid this problem always set the monitor to timeout before the hard drive The Power schemes drop down menu displays the following schemes e Always On default If you want to use your computer with no power conservation e Home Office Desk If you want your home or office computer to run with little power conservation e Portable Laptop If your computer is a portable computer that you use for traveling e Presentation If you want your computer to run without interruption using no power conservation e Minimal Power Management If you want your computer to run with minimal power conservation e Max Battery If your computer is a portable computer and you run your computer from batteries for extended periods of time Setting Up and Using Your Computer 35 If you want to change the default settings for a scheme click the drop down menu in the Turn off monitor Turn off hard disks System stand by or System hibernates field and then select a time out from the displayed list Changing the time out for a scheme field permanently changes the default settings for that scheme unless you click Save As and enter a new name for the changed scheme Advanced Tab The Advanced tab allows you to e Place the power options icon in the Windows taskbar for quick access Set the computer to prompt you for your
151. r 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 PCI Express x16 card slot SLOT1 One PCI Express x1 card slot SLOT2 Two PCI card slots SLOT3 SLOT4 System Board Components on page 102 for card slot location Removing and Installing Parts 111 PCI and PCI Express Cards Your computer supports two PCI cards one PCI Express x16 card and one PCI Express x1 card im n e Ifyou are installing or replacing a card follow the procedures in the next section e If you are removing but not replacing a card see Removing a PCI PCI Express Card on page 116 e Ifyou are replacing a card remove the current driver for the card from the operating system Installing a PCI PCI Express Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 1 card retention bracket 112 Removing and Installing Parts Remove the screw holding the card retention bracket Lift the card retention bracket and set it aside in a secure location If you are installing a new card remove the filler bracket to create a card slot opening 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 e F
152. ransfer Wizard The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears Click Next On the Which computer is this screen click New Computer and then click Next On the Do you have a Windows XP CD screen click I will use the wizard from the Windows XP CD and then click Next When the Now go to your old computer screen appears go to the source old computer that contains the data to be transferred Do not click Next at this time To copy data from the source computer 1 2 On the source computer insert the Windows XP Operating System CD On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen click Perform additional tasks Under What do you want to do click Transfer files and settings On the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen click Next On the Which computer is this screen click Old Computer and then click Next On the Select a transfer method screen click the transfer method of your preference On the What do you want to transfer screen select the items you want to transfer then click Next After the information has been copied the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears Click Finish Setting Up and Using Your Computer 45 To transfer data to the new computer 1 On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer click Next 2 On the Where are the files and settings screen select the method you chose for transferring your files and settings and then cl
153. re based security feature that when combined with security software enhances network and computer security by enabling features such as file and e mail protection travel module A plastic device designed to fit inside the module bay of a portable computer to reduce the weight of the computer U UMA unified memory allocation System memory dynamically allocated to video UPS uninterruptible power supply A backup power source used when the electrical power fails or drops to an unacceptable voltage level A UPS keeps a computer running for a limited amount of time when there is no electrical power UPS systems typically provide surge suppression and may also provide voltage regulation Small UPS systems provide battery power for a few minutes to enable you to shut down your computer USB universal serial bus A hardware interface for a low speed device such as a USB compatible keyboard mouse joystick scanner set of speakers printer 202 Glossary broadband devices DSL and cable modems imaging devices or storage devices Devices are plugged directly in to a 4 pin socket on your computer or in to a multi port hub that plugs in to your computer USB devices can be connected and disconnected while the computer is turned on and they can also be daisy chained together UTP unshielded twisted pair Describes a type of cable used in most telephone networks and some computer networks Pairs of unshielded wi
154. reinstall the memory modules see System Board Components on page 102 e Remove and then reinstall any cards see Cards on page 111 e Remove and then reinstall the graphics card if applicable see Removing a PCI PCI Express Card on page 116 ELIMINATE INTERFERENCE Some possible causes of interference are e Power keyboard and mouse extension cables e Too many devices on a power strip e Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet Printer Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide K NOTE If you need technical assistance for your printer contact the printer s manufacturer CHECK THE PRINTER DOCUMENTATION See the printer documentation for setup and troubleshooting information ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON Solving Problems 67 68 CHECK THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS e See the printer documentation for cable connection information e Ensure that the printer cables are securely connected to the printer and the computer see Setting Up a Printer on page 22 TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp VERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Printers and Other Hardware 2 Click View installed printers or fax printers
155. res are twisted to protect against electromagnetic interference rather than relying on a metal sheath around each pair of wires to protect against interference UXGA ultra extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 V video controller The circuitry on a video card or on the system board in computers with an integrated video controller that provides the video capabilities in combination with the monitor for your computer video memory Memory that consists of memory chips dedicated to video functions Video memory is usually faster than system memory The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can display video mode A mode that describes how text and graphics are displayed on a monitor Graphics based software such as Windows operating systems displays in video modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors Character based software such as text editors displays in video modes that can be defined as x columns by y rows of characters video resolution See resolution virus A program that is designed to inconvenience you or to destroy data stored on your computer A virus program moves from one computer to another through an infected disk software downloaded from the Internet or e mail attachments When an infected program starts its embedded vir
156. res in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide A CAUTION To guard against electrical shock laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover Removing the Bezel 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 1 bezel grip 3 2 bezel 3 bezel clamp 3 4 bezel clamp slot 3 5 back of computer 118 Removing and Installing Parts 3 Grasp and lift the bezel grips one at a time to release it from the front panel 4 Rotate and pull the bezel away from the front of the computer to release bezel clamps from bezel clamp slot 5 Set aside the bezel in a secure location Replacing the Bezel 1 Align and insert the bezel clamps in the bezel clamp slots 1 bezel grip 3 2 bezel 3 bezel clamp 3 4 bezel clamp slot 3 5 back side of computer 2 Rotate the bezel toward the computer until it snaps into place on the front panel Removing and Installing Parts 119 Drives Your computer supports a combination of these devices Up to two serial ATA hard drives e One optional floppy drive or an optional Media Card Reader e Up to two CD or DVD drives 1 CDorDVDdrive 2 optional CDor DVD 3 floppy drive or Media drive Card Reader 4 optional hard drive 5 hard drive 120 Removing and Installi
157. rify that the computer turns on properly Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp If the power light is steady blue and the computer is not responding Ensure that the display is connected and powered on If the display is connected and powered on see Beep Codes on page 76 If the power light is blinking blue 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 blue and the computer is not responding Ensure the display is connected and powered on If the display is connected and powered on see Beep Codes on page 76 Troubleshooting Tools 75 Ifthe power light is blinking amber the computer is receiving electrical power a device might be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed Remove and then reinstall the memory modules see Memory on page 107 Remove and then reinstall any cards see Cards on page 111 Remove and then reinstall the graphics card if applicable see Cards on page 111 e Ifthe power light is steady amber there may be a power problem or an internal device malfunction Ensure that all power cables are securely connected to the system board see System Board Components on page 102 Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board see System Board Co
158. ripherals nnana uaaa aaa 181 Definition of Third Party Software and Peripherals nnana uaaa aaa 181 FCC Notice U S Only 181 FCC Class Biv vy ve ee a i 181 GettingHelp 0 4 183 Obtaining Assistance 183 Technical Support and Customer Service 183 DellConnect aa e0ae a 4 ba Soe S wee 184 Online Services 4 184 AutoTech Service 00 185 Automated Order Status Service 185 Contents Problems With Your Order 185 Product Information 185 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit 186 Before You Call 186 Contacting Dell 188 GOSS ANY aos Sf acestia a See lege Soe a Ree hl ye 189 VDE oresar Cele fet h Pate aig Baca ko dl a fae ide 205 10 Contents Finding Information K NOTE Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer Some features or media may not be available in certain countries K NOTE Additional information may ship with your computer What Are You Looking For Find it Here e Warranty information e Terms and Conditions U S only e Safety instructions e Regulatory information e Ergonomics information End User License Agreement Dell Product Information Guide e How to set up my computer Setup Diagram NOTE See the setup diagram that came with your syste
159. rm internal components 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Remove any add in cards on the system board see Cards on page 111 Remove the processor and heat sink assembly see Processor on page 145 5 Remove the memory modules see Removing Memory on page 111 and document which memory module is removed from each memory socket so that the memory modules can be installed in the same location after the board is replaced 6 Disconnect all cables from the system board Note the routing of all cables as you remove them so that you can re route them correctly after installing the new system board 7 Remove the eight screws from the system board 8 Lift the system board up and out 162 Removing and Installing Parts System Board Screws 1 2 1 screws 8 2 system board 9 Place the system board that you just removed next to the replacement system board to compare and ensure they are identical Removing and Installing Parts 163 Installing the System Board 1 Gently align the board into the chassis and slide it toward the back of the computer U
160. rosoft Windows XP Standby Mode aoaaa aaa Hibernate Mode Power Options Properties Power SchemesTab Advanced Tab Hibernate Tab annaa aaa Power Management Options in Windows Vista aaua a aaa aaa Standby Mode aoaaa aaa Hibernate Mode Power Plan Properties aoaaa aaa Enabling Cool n Quiet Technology About RAID Configurations For Windows Vista onl cii soi eepo EE a aaa RAID Level 1 Configuration Configuring Your Hard Drives for RAID Using the Nvidia MediaShield ROM Utility Using Nvidia MediaShield Transferring Information toa New Computer Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting toa Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard Connecting tothe Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection 3 Solving Problems 51 Troubleshooting Tips 51 Battery Problems 51 Drive Problems 52 CD and DVD drive problems 53 Harddrive problems 54 E Mail Modem and Internet Problems 54 Error Messages 008 56 Keyboard Problems 58 Lockups and Software Problems 58 The computer does notstartup 58 The computer stopsresponding
161. s You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic DigitalMedia Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may not support all available DVD formats For a list of formats supported by your DVD player see the documentation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer Do not burn a blank CD R or CD RW to its maximum capacity for example do not copy a 650 MB file to a blank 650 MB CD The CD RW drive needs 1 2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording Use a blank CD RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques If you make a mistake you can erase the data on the CD RW and try again You can also use blank CD RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD R See the Sonic website at www sonic com for additional information Setting Up and Using Your Computer 29 Using a Media Card Reader Optional Use the Media Card Reader to transfer data directly to your computer The Media Card Reader supports the following memory types e xD Picture Card e SmartMedia SMC CompactFlash Type I and I CF I D e MicroDrive Card SecureDigital Card SD e MultiMediaCard MMC e Memory Stick MS MS Pro For information on installing a Media Card Reader see Installing a Media Card Reader on page 134
162. s in prior to entering standby mode NOTICE If your computer loses power while in standby mode it may lose data Setting Up and Using Your Computer 33 NOTICE The graphics card in your computer is installed in the PCI Express x16 slot When there is a card in this slot and you add a peripheral that does not support s3 suspend your computer will not enter standby mode To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity 1 Click the Start button then click Control Panel 2 Define your standby settings on the Power Schemes Tab and Advanced Tab To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity click the Start button click Turn Off Computer and then click Stand by To exit from standby mode press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse Hibernate Mode Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer When the computer exits from hibernate mode the desktop is restored to the state it was in prior to entering hibernate mode To activate hibernate mode 1 Click Start Control Panel Pick a category Performance and Maintenance 2 Under or pick a Control Panel icon click Power Options Define your hibernate settings on the Power Schemes tab Advanced tab and Hibernate tab To exit from hibernate mode press the power button The computer may take a short time to exit from hiberna
163. sing the eight screws secure the system board to the chassis Replace the cables that you removed from the system board Replace the processor and the heat sink assembly see Installing the Processor on page 148 NOTICE Ensure that the heat sink assembly is correctly seated and secure Replace the memory modules into the memory sockets at the same locations from which you removed them see Installing Memory on page 109 Replace any add in cards on the system board Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 Connect your computer and devices to an electrical outlet and turn them on Verify that the computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 80 Replacing the Computer Cover A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the 164 safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide Ensure that all cables are connected and fold cables out of the way Ensure that no tools or extra parts are left inside the computer Align the tabs at the bottom of the computer cover with the slots located along the edge of the computer Press the computer cover down and slide it towards the front of the computer until you feel a click or feel the computer cover securely installed Ensure that the cover is seated correctly Removing and Installing Parts 6 Replace and tighten the two screws that secure the computer
164. t e In Windows Vista click the Windows Vista start button e and click Help and Support e How to personalize my desktop 2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and press lt Enter gt 3 Click the topic that describes your problem 4 Follow the instructions on the screen 14 Finding Information Setting Up and Using Your Computer Front View of the Computer 1 Service Tag located on top of the chassis towards the rear Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you access the Dell Support website or call technical support 2 CDorDVD drive Use the CD DVD drive for playing a CD DVD 3 CDor DVD drive panel This panel covers the CD DVD drive Shown in open position 4 CDor DVD eject button Press to eject a disk from the CD or DVD drive Setting Up and Using Your Computer 15 optional CD or DVD drive bay Can contain an optional CD DVD drive optional CD or DVD eject button Press to eject a disk from the optional CD or DVD drive FlexBay drive Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader For information on using the Media Card Reader see the Sonic website at www sonic com for additional information USB 2 0 connectors 4 Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally such as joysticks or cameras or for bootable USB devices see System Set
165. t a program displays depends on the capabilities of the monitor the video controller and its drivers and the amount of video memory installed in the computer S video TV out A connector used to attach a TV or digital audio device to the computer Glossary 201 SXGA super extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 SXGA super extended graphics array plus A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1400 x 1050 system board The main circuit board in your computer Also known as the motherboard system setup A utility that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system System setup allows you to configure user selectable options in the BIOS such as date and time or system password Unless you understand what effect the settings have on the computer do not change the settings for this program T TAPI telephony application programming interface Enables Windows programs to operate with a wide variety of telephony devices including voice data fax and video text editor A program used to create and edit files that contain only text for example Windows Notepad uses a text editor Text editors do not usually provide word wrap or formatting functionality the option to underline change fonts and so on TPM trusted platform module A hardwa
166. t 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 is displayed you must watch for the F2 prompt to appear 3 Once this F2 prompt appears press lt F2 gt 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 Ifyou wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to 172 wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop Then shut down your computer see Turning Off Your Computer on page 98 and try again Appendix 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 top side of the system setup window The tabbed options contain features that define the configuration of your computer including installed hardware power conservation and security features Option Field This field contains information about each option In this field you can view your current settings and make changes to your setti
167. te mode Because the keyboard and mouse do not function in hibernate mode pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring the computer out of hibernation Because hibernate mode requires a special file on your hard drive with enough disk space to store the contents of the computer memory Dell creates an appropriately sized hibernate mode file before shipping the computer to you If the computer s hard drive becomes corrupted Windows XP recreates the hibernate file automatically 34 Setting Up and Using Your Computer Power Options Properties Define your standby mode settings hibernate mode settings and other power settings in the Power Options Properties window To access the Power Options Properties window 1 Click Start Control Panel Pick a category Performance and Maintenance Under or pick a Control Panel icon click Power Options Define your power settings on the Power Schemes tab Advanced tab and Hibernate tab Power Schemes Tab Each standard power setting is called a scheme If you want to select one of the standard Windows schemes installed on your computer choose a scheme from the Power schemes drop down menu The settings for each scheme appear in the fields below the scheme name Each scheme has different settings for starting standby mode hibernate mode turning off the monitor and turning off the hard drive NOTICE If you set the hard drive to time out before the monitor does you
168. temperature specifications indicated in this manual reflects the maximum ambient operating temperature The room ambient temperature needs to be a consideration when installing your computer in an enclosure For example if the ambient room temperature is at 25 C 77 F depending on your computer s specifications you only have 5 to 10 C 9 to 18 F temperature margin before you reach your computer s maximum operating temperature For details about your computer s specifications see Specifications on page 167 e Leave a 10 2 cm 4 inches minimum clearance on all vented sides of the computer to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation e If your enclosure has doors they need to be of a type that allows at least 30 percent airflow through the enclosure front and back e If your computer is installed in a corner on a desk or under a desk leave at least 5 1 cm 2 inches clearance from the back of the computer to the wall to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation 20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer Do not install your computer in an enclosure that does not allow airflow Restricting the airflow impacts your computer s performance possibly causing it to overheat Setting Up and Using Your Computer 21 Setting Up a Printer NOTICE Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the computer See the documentation that came with the printer for setup informatio
169. ter Wizard Windows Vista Click Start and click Network Add a printer to start the Add Printer Wizard 5 Install the printer driver if necessary See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 84 and the documentation that came with your printer Setting Up and Using Your Computer 23 Playing CDs and DVDs NOTICE Do not press down on the CD or DVD tray when you open or close it Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive NOTICE Do not move the computer when you are playing CDs or DVDs 1 Press the eject button on the front of the drive 2 Place the disc label side up in the center of the tray 3 Gently push in the tray To format CDs for storing data to create music CDs or to copy CDs see the CD software that came with your computer K NOTE Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs A CD player includes the following basic buttons Play Move backward within the current track Pause Move forward within the current track Stop Go to the previous track Eject Go to the next track 24 Setting Up and Using Your Computer A DVD player includes the following basic buttons Stop Restart the current chapter Play Fast forward Pause Fast reverse Advance a single frame while in pause mode Go to the next title or chapter Continuously play the current title or chapter Go to the previous title or chapter DARE AAweawo Eject For more inform
170. ting data the computer restarts 4 After the computer restarts click OK To change the restore point you can either repeat the steps using a different restore point or you can undo the restoration 90 Troubleshooting Tools Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore NOTICE Using Dell PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or drivers installed after you received your computer If possible back up the data before using these options Use PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem K NOTE Dell PC Restore by Symantec and Dell Factory Image Restore may not be available in certain countries or on certain computers Use Dell PC Restore Windows XP or Dell Factory Image Restore Windows Vista only as the last method to restore your operating system These options restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer Any programs or files added since you received your computer including data files are permanently deleted from the hard drive Data files include documents spreadsheets e mail messages digital photos music files and so on If possible back up all data before using PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore Windows XP Dell PC Restore 1 Turn on the computer During the boot process a blue bar with www dell com appears
171. tion needed to locate and report on your order For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 188 Problems With Your Order If you have a problem with your order such as missing parts wrong parts or incorrect billing contact Dell for customer assistance Have your invoice or packing slip handy when you call For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 188 Product Information If you need information about additional products available from Dell or if you would like to place an order visit the Dell website at www dell com For the telephone number to call for your region or to speak to a sales specialist see Contacting Dell on page 188 Appendix 185 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Prepare all items being returned whether for repair or credit as follows 1 Call Dell to obtain a Return Material Authorization Number and write it clearly and prominently on the outside of the box For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 188 Include a copy of the invoice and a letter describing the reason for the return 3 Include a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 187 indicating the tests that you have run and any error messages reported by the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 80 4 Include any accessories that belong with the item s being returned power c
172. to the back of the computer chassis 1 power supply 2 screws 4 Slide the power supply towards the front of the computer and lift it out Place and slide the replacement power supply toward the back of the computer Replace and tighten all screws that secure the power supply to the back of the computer chassis CAUTION Failure to replace and tighten all screws may cause electrical shock as these screws are a key part of the system grounding NOTICE Route the DC power cables under the chassis tabs The cables must be properly routed to prevent the cables from being damaged Reconnect the DC power cables to the system board and drives Secure the hard drive cable CD or DVD drive data cable and the front panel ribbon cable to the securing clip on the side of the power supply K NOTE Double check all cable connections to make sure they are secure Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 164 Connect your computer and devices to an electrical outlet and turn them on Verify that the computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 80 Removing and Installing Parts Processor 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
173. tz kHz megahertz MHz gigahertz GHz or terahertz THz IC integrated circuit A semiconductor wafer or chip on which thousands or millions of tiny electronic components are fabricated for use in computer audio and video equipment IDE integrated device electronics An interface for mass storage devices in which the controller is integrated into the hard drive or CD drive IEEE 1394 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc A high performance serial bus used to connect IEEE 1394 compatible devices such as digital cameras and DVD players to the computer infrared sensor A port that allows you to transfer data between the computer and infrared compatible devices without using a cable connection integrated Usually refers to components that are physically located on the computer s system board Also referred to as built in T O input output An operation or device that enters and extracts data from your computer Keyboards and printers are I O devices T O address An address in RAM that is associated with a specific device such as a serial connector parallel connector or expansion slot and allows the processor to communicate with that device IrDA Infrared Data Association The organization that creates international standards for infrared communications Glossary 195 IRQ interrupt request An electronic pathway assigned to a specific device so th
174. up Options on page 173 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 IEEE 1394 connector optional Attach high speed serial multimedia devices such as digital video cameras 10 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most kinds of speakers 11 12 microphone connector front panel door grip Use the 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 the microphone connector is on the card Slide up the front panel door grip to cover the FlexBay drive four Universal Serial Bus USB connectors one headphone connector and one microphone connector 13 power button power light Press the power button to turn on the computer The light in the center of this button indicates power state See Controls and Lights on page 170 for more information NOTICE To avoid losing data do not use the power button to turn off the computer Instead perform an operating system shutdown 14 drive activity light The drive activity light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive The light might also be on when a device such as a CD player is operating 16 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
175. us also starts A common type of virus is a boot virus which is stored in the boot sectors of a floppy disk If the floppy disk is left in the drive when the computer is shut down and then turned on the computer is infected when it reads the boot sectors of the floppy disk expecting to find the operating system If the computer is infected the boot virus may replicate itself onto all the floppy disks that are read or written in that computer until the virus is eradicated V volt The measurement of electric potential or electromotive force One V appears across a resistance of 1 ohm when a current of 1 ampere flows through that resistance Glossary 203 W W watt The measurement of electrical power One W is 1 ampere of current flowing at 1 volt WHr watt hour A unit of measure commonly used to indicate the approximate capacity of a battery For example a 66 WHr battery can supply 66 W of power for 1 hour or 33 W for 2 hours wallpaper The background pattern or picture on the Windows desktop Change your wallpaper through the Windows Control Panel You can also scan in your favorite picture and make it wallpaper WLAN wireless local area network A series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves using access points or wireless routers to provide Internet access write protected Files or media that cannot be changed Use write protection when you want to prot
176. ut PnP PCI Configurations such as Configurations Init Display First CPU Displays information about the features of the CPU such as Configurations AMD Live AMD Cool n Quiet Function and AMD Virtualization USB Displays whether the USB controller is enabled or disabled Configurations Power Power Displays options for Power Management Setup options such Management as ACPI Suspend Type Remote Wake Up Wake Up by Setup Ring Auto Power On Auto Power On Date Auto Power On Time and AC Recovery BOOT Boot Device Displays boot device property for all the bootable devices Property present on the system It offers options for setting Hard Disk Boot Priority CD ROM Boot Priority Boot Setting Configurations and Security Exi t Exit options Provides options to Save amp Exit Setup Exit Without Saving Load Defaults or Discard Changes 174 Appendix Boot Sequence This feature allows you to change the Boot Device Property for devices Option Settings Bootable Hard Drive The computer attempts to boot from the hard drive Onboard Floppy Drive The computer attempts to boot from the floppy drive e Onboard CD ROM Drive The computer attempts to boot from the CD drive Integrated NIC The computer attempts to boot using the integrated NIC 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 driv
177. ve problems K NOTE High speed CD or DVD drive vibration is normal and may cause noise which does not indicate a defect in the drive or the CD or DVD K NOTE Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats not all DVD titles work in all DVD drives ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL e Click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen e Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slidebar and dragging it up e Ensure that the sound is not muted by clicking any boxes that are checked CHECK THE SPEAKERS AND SUBWOOFER See Sound and Speaker Problems on page 70 Problems writing to a CD DVD RW drive CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS The CD DVD RW drive must receive a steady stream of data when writing If the stream is interrupted an error occurs Try closing all programs before you write to the CD DVD RW TURN OFF STANDBY MODE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD DVD RW DISC Windows XP 1 Click the Start button then click Control Panel 2 Define your standby settings on the Power Schemes Tab and Advanced Tab Windows Vista 1 Click Start 3 and click Control Panel 2 Click System and Maintenance and click Power Options 3 Under Preferred plans click Change plan settings for the selected plan 4 Click the drop down menu for Turn off the display and select Never Solving Problems 53 Hard drive problems Run CHECK DISK Windows XP 1 Click Start and click My Co
178. ved from the computer Removing the Drive Panel Insert Release the drive panel insert by pushing it out of the chassis Drive panel insert is released 132 Removing and Installing Parts Media Card Reader 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 laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover Removing a Media Card Reader 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 118 Not present on all computers 1 Media Card Reader 2 data cable 3 power cable 4 system board connector 5 screws 2 Removing and Installing Parts 133 4 Disconnect the FlexBay USB cable and the power cable from the back of the Media Card Reader and from the internal USB connector on the system board see System Board Components on page 102 5 Remove the two screws securing the Media Card Reader 6 Slide the Media Card Reader out through the front of the computer 7 Ifyou are not reinstalling the Media Card Reader replace the drive panel insert see Replacing the Drive Panel Insert on page 132 8 Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 119 9 Repl
179. ving and Installing Parts 153 Processor Fan 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 laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover A CAUTION The heat sink assembly power supply and other components may be very hot during normal operation Be sure that they have had sufficient time to cool before you touch them 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 Removing the Processor Fan 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 97 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 99 3 Carefully disconnect and move any cables that are routed over the heat sink assembly 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 4 Remove the heat sink assembly see step 6 of Removing the Processor on page 145 5 Disconnect the processor fan cable from the system board see System Board Components on page 102 6 Ensure that all cables
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