Dell POWEREDGE SC440 User Manual

Dell™ PowerEdge™ SC440 Systems  
Hardware Owner’s Manual  
w w w. d e l l . c o m | s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m  
Contents  
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Accessing System Features During Startup .  
10  
11  
Front-Panel Features and Indicators  
Back-Panel Features and Indicators  
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13  
13  
Connecting External Devices .  
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16  
System Messages  
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Using the System Setup Program  
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Entering the System Setup Program .  
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Exiting the System Setup Program.  
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Main Screen  
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Password Features.  
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35  
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37  
38  
Using the System Password  
Using the Admin Password .  
Disabling a Forgotten Password .  
Contents  
3
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41  
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Inside the System  
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Opening the System  
Closing the System .  
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43  
44  
Removing an Insert on the Front Drive Bezel.  
Replacing an Insert on the Front Drive Bezel.  
Diskette Drive  
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44  
45  
Removing the Diskette Drive .  
Installing a Diskette Drive.  
Optical and Tape Drives .  
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49  
Installing an Optical or Tape Drive .  
Hard Drives.  
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Installing a Hard Drive  
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57  
58  
SAS Controller Expansion Card.  
Memory.  
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59  
Memory Module Upgrade Kits .  
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System Only)  
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60  
60  
Removing a Memory Module .  
Installing a Memory Module .  
Microprocessor  
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62  
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65  
Removing the Processor .  
Replacing the Processor .  
4
Contents  
Cooling Fans .  
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65  
67  
Removing the Cooling Fans .  
Replacing the Cooling Fans.  
System Battery .  
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67  
68  
Removing the System Battery  
Installing the System Battery .  
Power Supply  
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70  
Removing the Power Supply .  
Installing the Power Supply.  
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71  
72  
Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch  
Installing the Chassis Intrusion Switch.  
Bezel .  
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73  
74  
Removing the Bezel .  
Replacing the Bezel.  
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75  
76  
Removing the I/O Panel Assembly .  
Replacing the I/O Panel Assembly .  
System Board.  
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76  
78  
Installing the System Board.  
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79  
Safety First—For You and Your System  
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Checking the Equipment .  
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79  
81  
81  
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Troubleshooting the Keyboard .  
Troubleshooting the Mouse.  
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Troubleshooting Basic I/O Problems  
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82  
82  
82  
Troubleshooting a Serial Port.  
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Troubleshooting a USB Device .  
Contents  
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91  
Troubleshooting a Hard Drive .  
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98  
98  
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Running the System Diagnostics  
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System Diagnostics Testing Options.  
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99  
99  
Selecting Devices for Testing.  
Viewing Information and Results .  
6
Jumpers and Connectors  
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101  
System Board Jumpers.  
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101  
6
Contents  
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107  
108  
Online Services .  
AutoTech Service .  
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109  
109  
110  
112  
Product Information .  
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Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit  
Before You Call.  
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Glossary  
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133  
141  
Index  
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.
Contents  
7
8
Contents  
About Your System  
This section describes the physical, firmware, and software interface features that provide and ensure  
the essential functioning of your system. The physical connectors on your system’s front and back  
panels provide convenient connectivity and system expansion capability. The system firmware,  
applications, and operating system monitor the system and component status and alert you when a  
problem arises. System conditions can be reported by any of the following:  
Front or back panel indicators  
System messages  
Warning messages  
Diagnostics messages  
Alert messages  
This section describes each type of message, lists the possible causes, and provides steps to resolve  
any problems indicated by a message. The system indicators and features are illustrated in this  
section.  
Other Information You May Need  
CAUTION: The Product Information Guide provides important safety and regulatory information. Warranty  
information may be included within this document or as a separate document.  
The Getting Started Guide provides an overview of system features, setting up your system, and  
technical specifications.  
CDs included with your system provide documentation and tools for configuring and managing  
your system.  
Systems management software documentation describes the features, requirements, installation,  
and basic operation of the software.  
Operating system documentation describes how to install (if necessary), configure, and use the  
operating system software.  
Documentation for any components you purchased separately provides information to configure  
and install these options.  
Updates are sometimes included with the system to describe changes to the system, software,  
and/or documentation.  
NOTE: Always check for updates on support.dell.com and read the updates first because they often  
supersede information in other documents.  
About Your System  
9
     
Release notes or readme files may be included to provide last-minute updates to the system or  
documentation or advanced technical reference material intended for experienced users or  
technicians.  
Accessing System Features During Startup  
Table 1-1 describes keystrokes that may be entered during startup to access system features. If your  
operating system begins to load before you enter the keystroke, allow the system to finish booting, and  
then restart your system and try again.  
Table 1-1. Keystrokes for Accessing System Features  
Keystroke  
<F2>  
Description  
Enters the System Setup program. See "Using the System Setup Program" on page 27.  
<F10>  
Opens the utility partition, allowing you to run the system diagnostics. See "Running the System  
Diagnostics" on page 98.  
<F11>  
Enters the boot menu selection screen, allowing you to choose a boot device.  
Initiates PXE boot.  
<F12>  
<Ctrl+C>  
Option is displayed for some SAS controller expansion cards. Enters the SAS Configuration Utility,  
which includes RAID configuration options. See your SAS adapter User’s Guide for more  
information.  
<Ctrl+S>  
Option is displayed only if you have PXE support enabled through the System Setup Program (see  
Table 2-1). This keystroke allows you to configure NIC settings for PXE boot. For more  
information, see the documentation for your integrated NIC.  
10  
About Your System  
     
Front-Panel Features and Indicators  
Figure 1-1 shows the controls, indicators, and connectors located on the system's front panel. Table 1-2  
provides component descriptions.  
Figure 1-1. Front-Panel Features and Indicators  
1
2
3
4
9
8
5
7
6
Table 1-2. Front-Panel Components  
Item  
Component  
Icon  
Description  
1
upper 5.25-inch drive  
bay  
Holds an optical drive.  
2
lower 5.25-inch drive  
bay  
Holds an optional optical or tape backup unit drive.  
3
4
flex bay  
Holds an optional diskette drive.  
Indicates hard drive activity.  
hard-drive activity  
indicator  
About Your System  
11  
       
Table 1-2. Front-Panel Components (continued)  
Item  
Component  
Icon  
Description  
5
USB connectors (2)  
Connects USB 2.0-compliant devices to the system.  
6
power button  
The power button controls the DC power supply output to the system.  
NOTE: If you turn off the system using the power button and the system is  
running an ACPI-compliant operating system, the system performs a  
graceful shutdown before the power is turned off. If the system is not  
running an ACPI-compliant operating system, the power is turned off  
immediately after the power button is pressed.  
7
power light  
No light — The system is off.  
Steady green — The system is powered on.  
Blinking green — The system is in a low power state.  
Blinking amber — The system is powering up.  
• If the hard drive indicator is off, the power supply may need to be  
replaced.  
• If the hard drive indicator is on, the system board is faulty. Check the  
diagnostic indicators to see if the specific problem is identified. See  
"Diagnostic Lights" on page 15.  
8
9
network link light  
Lights when the system is linked to a network.  
diagnostic lights (4)  
Display light-pattern codes to assist in troubleshooting system  
problems. See "Diagnostic Lights" on page 15  
.
12  
About Your System  
Back-Panel Features and Indicators  
Figure 1-2 shows the controls, indicators, and connectors located on the system's back panel.  
Figure 1-2. Back-Panel Features and Indicators  
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
4
7
voltage selection switch  
USB connectors (5)  
2
5
power connector  
serial connector  
3
6
NIC connector  
video connector  
I/O expansion-card slots (5)  
Connecting External Devices  
When connecting external devices to your system, follow these guidelines:  
Most devices must be connected to a specific connector and device drivers must be installed before the  
device operates properly. (Device drivers are normally included with your operating system software or  
with the device itself.) See the documentation that accompanied the device for specific installation  
and configuration instructions.  
About Your System  
13  
             
Always attach an external device while your system and the device are turned off. Next, turn on any  
external devices before turning on the system (unless the documentation for the device specifies  
otherwise).  
See "Using the System Setup Program" on page 27 for information about enabling, disabling, and  
configuring I/O ports and connectors.  
NIC Indicator Codes  
The NIC on the back panel has an indicator that provides information on network activity and link  
status. See Figure 1-3. Table 1-3 lists the NIC indicator codes.  
Figure 1-3. NIC Indicators  
1
2
1
link indicator  
2
activity indicator  
Table 1-3. NIC Indicator Codes  
Indicator Type  
Indicator Code  
Description  
Activity  
Off  
When off at the same time that the link indicator is off,  
the NIC is not connected to the network or the NIC is  
System Setup Program" on page 27.  
Blinking  
Off  
Indicates that network data is being sent or received.  
Link  
When off at the same time that the activity indicator is  
off, the NIC is not connected to the network or the NIC is  
disabled in the System Setup program. See "Using the  
System Setup Program" on page 27.  
Yellow  
Orange  
Green  
1000-Mbps connection  
100-Mbps connection  
10-Mbps connection  
14  
About Your System  
       
Power Supply Indicators  
The voltage selection switch on the back panel of the system allows you to select one of two primary  
voltage inputs. Ensure that the switch is set to the proper voltage according to Table 1-4.  
Table 1-4. Voltage Selection Switch  
If your power source is: The voltage selection switch should be set to:  
110 V  
220 V  
115  
230  
For information on system power requirements, see "Technical Specifications" in your Getting Started  
Guide.  
Diagnostic Lights  
The four diagnostic indicator lights on the system front panel display error codes during system startup.  
Table 1-5 lists the causes and possible corrective actions associated with these codes. A highlighted circle  
indicates the light is on; a non-highlighted circle indicates the light is off.  
NOTE: Once the system completes POST, all diagnostic lights will be OFF.  
Table 1-5. Diagnostic Indicator Codes  
Code  
Causes  
Corrective Action  
The computer is in a  
Plug the computer into a working electrical  
normal off condition or a outlet and press the power button.  
possible pre-BIOS failure  
has occurred.  
The diagnostic lights are  
not lit after the system  
successfully boots to the  
operating system.  
Possible processor failure. See "Troubleshooting the Microprocessor" on  
page 95.  
Memory failure.  
See "Troubleshooting System Memory" on  
page 87.  
Possible expansion card See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards" on  
failure. page 93.  
About Your System  
15  
           
Table 1-5. Diagnostic Indicator Codes (continued)  
Code  
Causes  
Possible video failure.  
See "Getting Help" on page 107.  
Diskette drive or hard  
drive failure.  
Ensure that the diskette drive and hard drive  
are properly connected. See "Hard Drives" on  
system.  
Possible USB failure.  
page 82.  
No memory modules  
detected.  
page 87.  
System board failure.  
Memory configuration  
error.  
page 87.  
Possible system board  
resource and/or system  
board hardware failure.  
See "Getting Help" on page 107.  
Possible system resource See "Troubleshooting IRQ Assignment  
configuration error.  
Conflicts" on page 80. If the problem persists,  
see "Getting Help" on page 107.  
Other failure.  
Ensure that the diskette drive, optical drive,  
and hard drives are properly connected. See  
"Troubleshooting Your System" on page 79 for  
the appropriate drive installed in your system.  
If the problem persists, see "Getting Help" on  
page 107.  
System Messages  
System messages appear on the screen to notify you of a possible problem with the system. Table 1-6 lists  
the system messages that can occur and the probable cause and corrective action for each message.  
NOTE: If you receive a system message that is not listed in Table 1-6, check the documentation for the application  
that is running when the message appears or the operating system's documentation for an explanation of the  
message and recommended action.  
16  
About Your System  
     
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
Table 1-6. System Messages  
Message  
Causes  
Corrective Actions  
A filename cannot contain  
any of the following  
characters:  
Do not use these characters in filenames.  
\ / : * ? “ < > |  
A required .DLL file was  
not found  
The application that you are trying to Remove and then reinstall the  
open is missing an essential file.  
application.  
See the application’s documentation for  
installation instructions.  
Alert! CPU fan not  
detected  
The processor cooling fan is faulty or Ensure that the processor cooling fan is  
the fan assembly is not installed  
correctly.  
System Cooling Problems" on page 86.  
Alert! Previous reboot was  
due to voltage regulator  
failure  
Alert! System battery  
voltage is low  
"Troubleshooting the System Battery" on  
page 85.  
One or more memory modules might See "Troubleshooting System Memory"  
Alert! Unable to initial-  
ize all installed memory  
be faulty or improperly seated.  
on page 87.  
If the problem persists, see "Getting  
Help" on page 107.  
Alert! Card-cage fan  
failure.  
A card-cage fan is not detected during See "Troubleshooting System Cooling  
POST. The system will halt at the  
<F1>/<F2> prompt even if  
Keyboard Errors Report option is  
disabled in the System Setup  
program.  
Problems" on page 86.  
Alert! Chipset heat sink  
not detected.  
Ensure heat sink and shroud assembly  
are properly attached. See Figure 3-15.  
Alert! Cover was  
previously removed.  
The system was opened.  
Information only. To reset the chassis  
intrusion switch, see "Using the System  
Setup Program" on page 27.  
About Your System  
17  
 
Table 1-6. System Messages (continued)  
Message  
Causes  
Alert! CPU fan failure.  
The processor cooling fan is faulty or Ensure that the processor cooling shroud  
the fan assembly is not installed  
correctly.  
is properly installed. See  
"Troubleshooting System Cooling  
Problems" on page 86 and  
"Microprocessor" on page 62.  
Alert! Error initializing The system encountered a problem  
See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards"  
on page 93.  
PCI Express slot n (or  
bridge).  
while trying to configure a PCIe  
expansion card.  
Alert! Incompatible  
processor detected.  
Use only Dell supported processors. See  
the Getting Started Guide for a list of  
supported processors.  
Alert! OS Install Mode  
enabled. Amount of  
available memory limited  
to 256MB.  
The OS Install Mode option in the  
System Setup program is set to On.  
This limits the amount of available  
memory to 256 MB because some  
After the operating system is installed,  
enter the System Setup program and set  
the OS Install Mode option to Off. See  
"Using the System Setup Program" on  
operating systems will not complete page 27.  
installation with more than 2 GB of  
system memory.  
Alert! Previous fan  
failure.  
The fan caused errors the last time the Ensure that nothing is blocking the  
system was used.  
airflow vents and that all fans are  
properly installed and operating  
correctly. See "Troubleshooting System  
Cooling Problems" on page 86.  
Alert! Previous attempts  
at booting this system  
The system failed to complete the  
boot routine three consecutive times  
See "Getting Help" on page 107.  
have failed at checkpoint for the same error.  
[nnnn]. For help in  
resolving this problem,  
please note this  
checkpoint and contact  
Dell Technical Support.  
Alert! Previous Processor The processor overheated the last  
Ensure that nothing is blocking the  
airflow vents and that all fans are  
properly installed and operating  
correctly. Also, ensure that the processor  
heat sink is properly installed. See  
"Microprocessor" on page 62.  
Thermal Failure  
time the system was used.  
18  
About Your System  
Table 1-6. System Messages (continued)  
Message  
Causes  
Alert! Previous Shutdown  
Due to Thermal Event  
The processor or hard drive  
overheated the last time the system  
was used.  
Ensure that nothing is blocking the  
airflow vents and that all fans are  
processor heat sink is properly installed.  
See "Microprocessor" on page 62.  
Alert! Uncorrectable  
Memory Error Previously  
Detected... Address  
One or more memory modules might See "Troubleshooting System Memory"  
be improperly seated or faulty, or the on page 87.  
system board may be faulty.  
If the problem persists, see "Getting  
XXXXXXXXH, Device DIMM_Y  
Help" on page 107.  
Attachment failed to  
respond  
The diskette or hard-drive controller See "Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive"  
cannot send data to the associated  
drive.  
Bad command or file name  
Ensure that you have spelled the  
command correctly, have put spaces in  
the proper place, and have used the  
Bad error-correction code The diskette or hard-drive controller See "Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive"  
(ECC) on disk read detected an uncorrectable read error. on page 89 or "Troubleshooting a Hard  
Drive" on page 91.  
bb/dd/f: Error allocating The system encountered a problem  
If the device number points to an  
IRQ for PCI Device  
while trying to configure an expansion expansion card, the card can be removed.  
card or integrated on-board devices.  
See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards"  
on page 93.  
bb/dd/f: Error allocating  
I/O BAR for PCI Device  
If the device number points to a an on-  
board device, disable the device. See  
"Using the System Setup Program" on  
page 27.  
bb/dd/f: Error allocating  
Mem BAR for PCI Device  
bb/dd/f: Error allocating  
PMem BAR for PCI Device  
bb/dd/f: Error allocating  
UMB for PCI Device  
NOTE: bbis the bus number, ddis the  
device number, and fis the function  
number. All numbers are hexadecimal.  
Controller has failed  
The hard drive or the associated  
controller is defective.  
See "Troubleshooting a Hard Drive" on  
page 91.  
About Your System  
19  
Table 1-6. System Messages (continued)  
Message  
Causes  
The diskette drive or hard drive  
cannot read the data.  
Corrective Actions  
Data error  
For the operating system, run the  
appropriate utility to check the file  
structure of the diskette drive or hard  
drive. See your operating system  
Decreasing available  
memory  
One or more memory modules might Reinstall the memory modules and, if  
be faulty or improperly seated.  
necessary, replace them. See  
page 87.  
Diskette drive 0 seek  
failure  
A cable might be loose or the system See "Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive"  
configuration information might not on page 89.  
match the hardware configuration.  
Diskette read failure  
The diskette might be defective, or a If the diskette-drive indicator turns on,  
cable might be loose.  
try a different disk. See "Troubleshooting  
a Diskette Drive" on page 89.  
Diskette subsystem reset  
failed  
The diskette drive controller might be Run the system diagnostics. See  
faulty.  
"Running the System Diagnostics" on  
page 98.  
Diskette write protected  
The diskette is write-protected.  
No diskette is in the drive.  
Slide the write-protect notch to the open  
position.  
Drive not ready  
Insert a diskette in the drive.  
Error auto-sensing primary  
master hard disk drive  
See "Troubleshooting a Hard Drive" on  
page 91.  
Error auto-sensing primary  
slave hard disk drive  
Error auto-sensing  
secondary master hard disk  
drive  
Error auto-sensing  
secondary slave hard disk  
drive  
Floppy diskette seek  
failure  
A diskette drive is not connected but See "Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive"  
is enabled in the BIOS setup menu.  
The diskette in the drive is faulty.  
on page 89.  
Gate A20 failure  
Faulty keyboard controller (faulty  
system board).  
See "Getting Help" on page 107.  
20  
About Your System  
Table 1-6. System Messages (continued)  
Message  
Causes  
General failure  
The operating system is unable to  
carry out the command.  
This message is usually followed by  
specific information. Take the  
appropriate action to resolve the  
problem.  
Hard-disk configuration  
error  
The hard drive failed initialization.  
Run the system diagnostics. See  
"Running the System Diagnostics" on  
page 97. Also, see "Troubleshooting a  
Hard Drive" on page 91.  
Hard-disk controller  
failure  
Hard-disk drive failure  
Drive x not found: Serial  
(or Parallel) ATA, SATA-  
(or PATA-)n  
Run the system diagnostics. See  
"Running the System Diagnostics" on  
page 97. Also, see "Troubleshooting a  
Hard Drive" on page 91.  
NOTE: xis the drive number (0-6)  
and nis SATA0-3 or PATA0-1.  
Insert bootable media  
The operating system is trying to boot Insert a bootable diskette or CD.  
from a nonbootable diskette or CD.  
Invalid configuration  
information - please run  
SETUP program  
The system configuration information Enter the System Setup program and  
does not match the hardware  
configuration.  
correct the system configuration  
information. See "Using the System  
Keyboard Controller  
Failure  
A cable or connector might be loose, See "Troubleshooting the Keyboard" on  
or the keyboard or keyboard/mouse  
controller might be faulty.  
page 81.  
Keyboard Stuck Key Failure  
Keyboard failure  
Keyboard fuse has failed.  
See "Troubleshooting the Keyboard" on  
page 81.  
Memory address line  
A memory module might be faulty or Reinstall the memory modules and, if  
failure at address, read  
value expecting value  
improperly seated.  
necessary, replace them. See  
"Troubleshooting System Memory" on  
page 87.  
Memory allocation error  
The software you are attempting to  
Turn off the system, wait 30 seconds,  
run is conflicting with the operating restart the system, and then try to run  
system, another program, or a utility. the program again. If the error message  
appears again, see the software  
documentation for additional  
troubleshooting suggestions.  
About Your System  
21  
Table 1-6. System Messages (continued)  
Message  
Causes  
Corrective Actions  
Memory data line failure  
at address, read value  
expecting value  
A memory module might be faulty or Reinstall the memory modules and, if  
improperly seated.  
necessary, replace them. See  
"Troubleshooting System Memory" on  
page 87.  
Memory double word logic  
failure at address, read  
value expecting value  
Memory odd/even logic  
failure at address, read  
value expecting value  
Memory write/read failure  
at address, read value  
expecting value  
Memory size in CMOS  
invalid  
The amount of memory recorded in Restart the system. If the error message  
the system configuration information appears again, see "Troubleshooting  
does not match the memory installed System Memory" on page 87. If the  
in the system.  
problem persists, see "Getting Help" on  
page 107.  
Memory type or speed is not  
supported on this system.  
Please refer to system  
documentation for support  
memory configurations.  
See "Troubleshooting System Memory"  
on page 87.  
NIC failure.  
See "Troubleshooting a NIC" on page 83.  
No boot device available  
The system cannot find the diskette or If the diskette drive is your boot device,  
hard drive.  
ensure that a bootable disk is in the  
drive.  
If the hard drive is your boot device,  
ensure that the hard drive is installed,  
the interface cable is properly connected,  
and the hard drive is partitioned as a  
boot device.  
Enter the System Setup program and  
verify the boot sequence information.  
See "Using the System Setup Program"  
on page 27.  
22  
About Your System  
Table 1-6. System Messages (continued)  
Message  
Causes  
Corrective Actions  
No boot sector on  
hard-disk drive  
The system configuration information Enter the System Setup program and  
in the System Setup program might verify the system configuration  
be incorrect.  
information for the hard drive. See  
"Using the System Setup Program" on  
page 27.  
If the message continues to appear after  
verifying the information in the System  
Setup program, the operating system  
might have been corrupted. Reinstall the  
operating system. See your operating  
system documentation for reinstallation  
information.  
No timer tick interrupt  
A chip on the system board might be Run the system diagnostics. See  
malfunctioning.  
page 97.  
Non-system disk or disk  
error  
The diskette in the diskette drive or  
your hard drive does not have a  
bootable operating system installed  
on it.  
Replace the diskette with one that has a  
bootable operating system or remove the  
If the problem persists, see  
"Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive" on  
page 89 or "Troubleshooting a Hard  
Drive" on page 91.  
If the problem persists, see "Getting  
Help" on page 107.  
Not a boot diskette  
The operating system is trying to boot Insert a diskette that has a bootable  
from a diskette that does not have a  
bootable operating system installed  
on it.  
operating system.  
Not enough memory or  
resources. Close some  
programs and try again.  
You have too many programs open.  
Close all windows and open the program  
that you want to use. In some cases, you  
might have to restart your system to  
restore system resources. If so, try  
opening the program that you want to  
use first  
See "Troubleshooting System Memory"  
on page 87. If the problem persists, see  
"Getting Help" on page 107.  
Mixing ECC and non-ECC  
DIMMs is not supported on  
this platform  
About Your System  
23  
Table 1-6. System Messages (continued)  
Message  
Causes  
Corrective Actions  
Operating system not found  
See "Troubleshooting a Hard Drive" on  
Please connect USB  
keyboard/mouse to USB  
ports on the back of the  
computer  
The keyboard and/or mouse is not  
properly connected.  
page 82.  
Plug and play  
configuration error  
An attached device is improperly  
configured.  
See "Troubleshooting Your System" on  
page 79.  
Read fault  
The operating system cannot read  
from the diskette or hard drive, the  
system could not find a particular  
sector on the disk, or the requested  
sector is defective.  
See "Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive"  
on page 89 or "Troubleshooting a Hard  
Drive" on page 91.  
Requested sector not found The operating system cannot read  
from the diskette or hard drive, the  
See "Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive"  
on page 89 or "Troubleshooting a Hard  
system could not find a particular  
sector on the disk, or the requested  
sector is defective.  
Reset failed  
The disk reset operation failed.  
See "Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive"  
Sector not found  
Seek error  
A faulty diskette drive or hard drive. See "Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive"  
on page 89 or "Troubleshooting a Hard  
Drive" on page 91.  
Shutdown failure  
A chip on the system board might be Run the system diagnostics. See  
malfunctioning.  
"Running the System Diagnostics" on  
page 97.  
The amount of system  
memory has changed  
Memory has been added or removed, If memory has been added or removed,  
or a memory module may be faulty.  
this message is informative and can be  
ignored. If memory has not been added  
or removed, check the SEL to determine  
if single-bit or multi-bit errors were  
detected and replace the faulty memory  
module. See "Troubleshooting System  
Memory" on page 87.  
The file being copied is  
too large for the  
destination drive.  
The file that you are trying to copy is Try increasing disk space on the  
too large to fit on the disk. destination drive by deleting  
unnecessary files.  
24  
About Your System  
Table 1-6. System Messages (continued)  
Message  
Causes  
Time-of-day clock stopped The battery might be faulty.  
See "Troubleshooting the System  
Battery" on page 85.  
Time-of-day not set  
The time or date stored in the System Enter the System Setup program and  
Setup program does not match the  
system clock.  
correct the Date and Time options. See  
"Using the System Setup Program" on  
page 27. If the problem persists, see  
page 85.  
Timer chip counter 2  
failed  
A chip on the system board might be Run the system diagnostics. See  
malfunctioning.  
page 97.  
Unexpected interrupt in  
protected mode  
Run the system diagnostics. See  
"Running the System Diagnostics" on  
page 97.  
Write fault  
The operating system cannot write to See "Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive"  
the diskette drive or hard drive.  
on page 89 or "Troubleshooting a Hard  
Drive" on page 91.  
Write fault on selected  
drive  
<drive letter>:\ is not  
accessible. The device is diskette.  
The diskette drive cannot read the  
Insert a diskette into the drive or replace  
the existing diskette, and try again.  
not ready.  
Warning Messages  
A warning message alerts you to a possible problem and prompts you to respond before the system  
continues a task. For example, before you format a diskette, a message will warn you that you may lose all  
data on the diskette. Warning messages usually interrupt the task and require you to respond by typing y  
(yes) or n(no).  
NOTE: Warning messages are generated by either the application or the operating system. For more information,  
see the documentation that accompanied the operating system or application.  
About Your System  
25  
   
Diagnostics Messages  
When you run system diagnostics, an error message may result. Diagnostic error messages are not  
covered in this section. Record the message on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist in "Getting Help" on  
page 107, and then follow the instructions in that section for obtaining technical assistance.  
Alert Messages  
Systems management software generates alert messages for your system. Alert messages include  
information, status, warning, and failure messages for drive, temperature, fan, and power conditions. For  
more information, see the systems management software documentation.  
26  
About Your System  
     
Using the System Setup Program  
After you set up your system, run the System Setup program to familiarize yourself with your system  
configuration and optional settings. Record the information for future reference.  
You can use the System Setup program to:  
Change the system configuration stored in NVRAM after you add, change, or remove hardware  
Set or change user-selectable options—for example, the time or date  
Enable or disable integrated devices  
Correct discrepancies between the installed hardware and configuration settings  
Entering the System Setup Program  
During System Setup  
1
2
Turn on or restart your system.  
Press <F2> immediately after you see the following message:  
<F2> = System Setup  
If your operating system begins to load before you press <F2>, allow the system to finish booting,  
and then restart your system and try again.  
NOTE: To ensure an orderly system shutdown, see the documentation that accompanied your operating  
system.  
Responding to Error Messages  
You can enter the System Setup program by responding to certain error messages. If an error message  
appears while the system is booting, make a note of the message. Before entering the System Setup  
program, see "System Messages" on page 16 for an explanation of the message and suggestions for  
NOTE: After installing a memory upgrade, it is normal for your system to send a message the first time you  
start your system.  
Navigating the System Setup Program  
Table 2-1 lists the keys that you use to view or change information on the System Setup screens, and to  
exit the program.  
Using the System Setup Program  
27  
                   
Table 2-1. System Setup Program Navigation Keys  
Keys  
Action  
Up arrow and down arrow  
Left arrow and right arrow  
<+> and <–> keys  
<Enter>  
Moves to the previous or next field  
Moves left or right in a field  
Opens and closes submenus  
Allows you to view the details for or modify an option,  
or allows you to confirm your setting change and moves  
the cursor back to the option menu  
<Esc>  
Either moves your cursor back to the option menu  
without modifying an option, or opens the System  
Setup Exit screen  
NOTE: For most of the options, any changes that you make are recorded but do not take effect until you restart the  
system.  
Exiting the System Setup Program  
If you have made no changes in the BIOS, the Exit screen displays the following options after you press  
<Esc> to exit the System Setup program:  
Remain in Setup  
Exit  
If you have made changes in the BIOS, the Exit screen displays the following options after you press <Esc>  
to exit the System Setup program:  
Remain in Setup  
Save/Exit  
System Setup Options  
Main Screen  
Figure 2-1 shows an example of the main screen.  
28  
Using the System Setup Program  
               
Figure 2-1. Main System Setup Program Screen  
Table 2-2 through Table 2-9 lists the options and descriptions for each group of information fields that  
appear on the main System Setup program screen.  
NOTE: The System Setup program defaults are listed under their respective options, where applicable.  
Table 2-2. System Options  
Option  
Description  
System Info  
Displays the System name, BIOS Version number, BIOS Date, Service Tag,  
Express Service Code, and Asset Tag  
.
Processor Info  
Displays the following information for the processor installed in the system:  
Processor Type Processor Clock Speed Processor Bus Speed Processor  
Cache Size, Processor ID number, whether the processor is Multiple Core  
Capable, or Hyperthreading Capable, and if the processor has 64-bit  
Technology  
,
,
,
.
Using the System Setup Program  
29  
   
Table 2-2. System Options (continued)  
Option  
Description  
Displays the amount of Installed Memory Memory Speed, Memory  
Memory Info  
,
Channel Mode, and a description of the Memory Technology. This option  
also displays a table that describes the memory size, whether the memory  
module is ECC capable, single or dual rank, type, and organization for each  
DIMM socket.  
PCI Info  
Displays the types of cards that are installed in the PCI slots, if applicable.  
Resets the system’s internal calendar and clock.  
Date/Time  
Boot Sequence  
(Diskette drive default)  
Determines the order in which the system searches for boot devices during  
system startup. Available options can include the diskette drive, CD drive,  
hard drives, and USB devices.  
Table 2-3. Drive Options  
Option  
Description  
Diskette Drive  
(Internal default)  
Enables and disables the diskette drives and sets read permission for the  
internal diskette drive. Off disables all diskette drives. USB disables the  
internal diskette drive and enables a USB drive if the USB controller is  
enabled and a USB drive is connected. Internal enables the internal  
diskette drive. Read Only enables the internal drive controller and allows  
the internal diskette drive read-only permission.  
NOTE: Diskette drives are optional and may not be part of your system.  
SATA0-3  
Enables or disables a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)  
device (such as hard drive, CD drive, or DVD drive). Off disables the  
interface so that the device cannot be used. On enables the interface so  
that the device can be used.  
Displays the Controller type, Port number the drive is using, Drive ID  
number, Capacity, whether the drive is controlled by the BIOS, and Link  
Speed.  
PATA0-1  
Enables or disables a Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment device  
(such as hard drive or IDE drive). Off disables the interface so that the  
device cannot be used. On enables the interface so that the device can be  
used.  
Displays the Controller type, Port number the drive is using, Drive ID  
number, Capacity, whether the drive is controlled by the BIOS, and Link  
Speed.  
SMART Reporting  
Determines whether hard-drive errors for internal drives are reported during  
system startup. Off does not report errors. On reports errors.  
(Off default)  
30  
Using the System Setup Program  
 
Table 2-4. Onboard Devices Options  
Option  
Description  
Integrated NIC  
(On default)  
Enables or disables the integrated Network Interface Controller (NIC). Off  
disables the controller. On enables the controller. On w/PXE enables the  
controller with PXE. On w/RPL enables the controller with RPL.  
NOTE: PXE or RPL is required only if you are booting to an operating system  
on another system, not if you are booting to an operating system on a hard  
drive in this system.  
USB Controller  
Enables or disables the internal USB controller. Off disables the  
controller. On enables the controller. No Boot enables the controller, but  
disables the ability to boot from a USB device.  
(On default)  
NOTE: Operating systems with USB support will recognize USB storage  
devices regardless of the No Boot setting.  
Front USB Ports  
Enables or disables the front USB ports independently of the rear ports. Off  
disables the controller. On enables the controller. No Boot enables the  
controller, but disables the ability to boot from a USB device.  
(On default)  
NOTE: Operating systems with USB support will recognize USB storage  
devices regardless of the No Boot setting.  
Serial Port #1  
Serial Port 1 options are COM1, COM3, Auto, and Off.  
(Auto default)  
When serial port 1 is set to Auto, the integrated port automatically maps  
to the next available port. Serial port 1 attempts to use COM1 first and  
then COM3. If both addresses are in use for a specific port, the port is  
disabled. When serial port is set to COM1, the integrated port is  
configured at 3F8h with IRQ4. When the serial port is set to COM3, the  
integrated port is configured at 3E8h with IRQ4.  
If you set the serial port to Auto and add an expansion card with a port  
configured to the same designation, the system automatically remaps the  
integrated port to the next available port designation that shares the  
same IRQ setting.  
Table 2-5. Performance Options  
Option  
Description  
Hyper-Threading  
(On default)  
Determines whether the physical processor appears as one or two logical  
processors. The performance of some applications improve with  
additional logical processors installed. On enables hyperthreading. Off  
disables hyperthreading.  
Multiple CPU Core  
If the processor has multiple cores, specifies whether the processor will  
have one or two cores enabled. The performance of some applications  
will improve with the additional core. Off disables Multiple CPU Core  
Technology. On enables Multiple CPU Core Technology.  
(On default)  
Using the System Setup Program  
31  
   
Table 2-5. Performance Options (continued)  
Option  
Description  
Limit CPUID  
Limits the maximum value the processor standard CPUID function will  
support. Some operating systems will not complete installation when the  
maximum CPUID is greater than 3.  
Speed Step  
If the processor supports Enhanced Speed Step Technology, specifies  
whether the option is Off or On.  
(Off default)  
NOTICE: Before enabling the Speed Step option, ensure that the  
operating system also supports Enhanced Speed Step Technology.  
Enabling the feature on operating systems that do not support it may  
cause unpredictable results. See the operating system’s  
documentation for its supported features.  
HDD Acoustic Mode  
Allows you to optimize IDE-drive performance and noise level based on  
personal preferences. Bypass is used for older drives. Quiet slows drive  
performance but reduces drive noise. Suggested adjusts performance to  
the manufacturers preferred mode. Performance increases drive  
performance but may increase drive noise.  
(Performance default)  
Table 2-6. Security Options  
Option  
Description  
Unlock Setup  
admin password has been set, this option displays the current status of  
your system password. Temporarily unlock setup by entering your admin  
password.  
Admin Password  
Displays the current status of your System Setup program’s password  
(Not Set default)  
NOTE: See "Using the Admin Password" on page 37 for instructions on  
assigning a setup password and using or changing an existing setup  
password.  
System Password  
Displays the current status of your system's password security feature and  
allows you to verify and assign a new system password.  
(Not Set default)  
NOTE: See "Using the System Password" on page 35 for instructions on  
assigning a system password and using or changing an existing system  
password.  
Password Changes  
Determines the interaction between the System password and the Admin  
password. Locked prevents a user with a valid System password from  
being able to modify the System password. Unlocked allows a user with a  
valid System password to modify the System password.  
(Unlocked default)  
32  
Using the System Setup Program  
 
Table 2-6. Security Options (continued)  
Option  
Description  
Chassis Intrusion  
(On-Silent default)  
Enables or disables the chassis-intrusion detection feature. When set to  
On-Silent, chassis intrusion is detected but no warning message is  
reported during start-up. When set to On, this field displays  
DETECTED when the chassis cover has been opened. Pressing any edit  
key acknowledges the intrusion and arms the system to look for further  
security breaches. Off disables the chassis-intrusion detection feature.  
Intrusion Alert  
If an intrusion has been detected, press the <Enter> key to acknowledge  
the intrusion and arm the system to look for further security breaches.  
Execute Disable  
Specifies whether or not Execute Disable Memory Protection Technology  
is On or Off.  
(On default)  
Table 2-7. Power Management Options  
Option  
Description  
AC Recovery  
(Last default)  
Determines how the system responds when AC power is re-applied after a  
power loss. Off commands the system to stay off when the power is re-  
applied. You must press the front-panel power button before the system  
turns on. On commands the system to turn on when the power is re-  
applied. Last commands the system to return to the last power state the  
system was in just before it was turned off.  
Auto Power On  
Determines when to use the Auto Power Time setting to turn on the  
system. Off commands the system to not use the Auto Power Time  
feature. Everyday turns on the system every day at the time set in Auto  
Power Time. Weekdays turns on the system every day from Monday  
through Friday at the time set in Auto Power Time.  
(Off default)  
Auto Power Time  
Low Power Mode  
(Off default)  
Determines the time that you want the system to turn on.  
On conserves more power by removing power from most hardware  
features. Off conserves less power and removes power from fewer  
hardware features.  
NOTE: With this option set to On, the integrated NIC will be disabled when  
the system is in the Hibernate or Off states. Only add-in NICs will be able to  
wake the system remotely.  
Remote Wake Up  
Determines how the system is turned on remotely from the Suspend,  
Hibernate, or Off states. Off disables the NIC from waking up the  
system. On enables the NIC to wake up the system. On w/ Boot to NIC  
enables the NIC to wake up the system and boot from the network.  
(Off default)  
NOTE: If you want the system to perform a Remote Wake Up, you must first  
set Low Power Mode to Off.  
Using the System Setup Program  
33  
 
Table 2-8. Maintenance Options  
Option  
Description  
Service Tag  
Displays the system service tag. If the service tag is corrupted, the system  
will prompt to enter the correct service tag upon entering the system  
setup program.  
SERR Message  
Controls the SERR message mechanism. By default, this feature is On.  
NOTE: Some graphics cards require that the SERR message mechanism be  
disabled.  
Load Defaults  
Event Log  
Allows you to restore all System Setup options to their factory defaults.  
Allows you to view the Event Log. Entries are marked R for Read and U  
for Unread. Mark All Entries Read puts an Rto the left of all the entries.  
Clear Log clears the Event Log.  
Table 2-9. POST Behavior Options  
Option  
Description  
Fast Boot  
(On default)  
When enabled, this feature reduces system startup time by bypassing  
some compatibility steps. Off does not skip any steps during system  
startup. On starts the system more quickly.  
Numlock Key  
Determines the functionality of the numeric keys on the right side of  
your keyboard. Off commands the right keypad keys to function as  
arrows. On commands the right keypad keys to function as numbers.  
(On default)  
POST Hotkeys  
Determines whether the sign-on screen displays a message stating the  
keystroke sequence that is required to enter the Setup program or the  
Quickboot feature. Setup & Boot Menu displays both messages  
(F2=Setupand F11=Boot Menu). Setup displays the setup  
message only (F2=Setup). Boot Menu displays the Quickboot  
message only (F11=Boot Menu). None displays no message.  
(Setup and Boot Menu  
default)  
Keyboard Errors  
When set to Report (enabled) and an error is detected during POST, the  
BIOS will display the error message and prompt you to press <F1> to  
continue or press <F2> to enter System Setup.  
(Report default)  
When set to Do Not Report (disabled) and an error is detected during  
POST, the BIOS will display the error message and continue booting the  
system.  
NOTE: When detected, some errors (such as CPU or PCI fan failure) will  
display an error message and prompt you to press <F1> to continue, or  
<F2> to enter the Setup Menu.  
34  
Using the System Setup Program  
   
Password Features  
NOTICE: The password features provide a basic level of security for the data on your system. If your data requires  
more security, use additional forms of protection, such as data encryption programs.  
NOTICE: Anyone can access the data stored on your system if you leave the system running and unattended  
without having a system password assigned or if you leave your system unlocked so that someone can disable the  
password by changing a jumper setting.  
Your system is shipped to you without the system password feature enabled. If system security is a concern,  
operate your system only with system password protection.  
To change or delete an existing password, you must know the password (see "Deleting an Existing System  
Password" on page 36). If you forget your password, you cannot operate your system or change settings in the  
System Setup program until a trained service technician changes the password jumper setting to disable the  
passwords, and erases the existing passwords. This procedure is described in "Disabling a Forgotten  
Password" on page 104  
.
Using the System Password  
After a system password is assigned, only those who know the password have full use of the system. When  
the System Password option is Set, the system prompts you for the system password after the system starts.  
NOTE: If you have assigned an admin password (see "Using the Admin Password" on page 37), the system accepts  
your admin password as an alternate system password.  
Assigning a System Password  
Before you assign a system password, enter the System Setup program and check the System Password  
option.  
When a system password is assigned, the setting shown for the System Password option is Set. If the setting  
shown for the Password Changes is Unlocked, you can change the system password. If the Password  
Changes option is Locked, you cannot change the system password. When the system password feature is  
disabled by a jumper setting, the system password is Disabled, and you cannot change or enter a new system  
password.  
When a system password is not assigned and the password jumper on the system board is in the enabled  
(default) position, the setting shown for the System Password option is Not Set and the Password Changes  
field is Unlocked. To assign a system password:  
1
2
3
Verify that the Password Changes option is set to Unlocked  
Highlight the System Password option and press <Enter>.  
Type your new system password.  
.
You can use up to 32 characters in your password.  
As you press each character key (or the spacebar for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.  
Using the System Setup Program  
35  
           
The password assignment is not case-sensitive. However, certain key combinations are not valid. If you  
enter one of these combinations, the system beeps. To erase a character when entering your password,  
press <Backspace> or the left-arrow key.  
NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press <Esc> at any time prior to  
completing step 5.  
4
5
6
Press <Enter>.  
To confirm your password, type it a second time and press <Enter>.  
Press <Enter> again to continue.  
The setting shown for the System Password changes to Set  
.
7
Save and exit the System Setup program and begin using your system.  
Using Your System Password to Secure Your System  
NOTE: If you have assigned an admin password (see "Using the Admin Password" on page 37), the system accepts  
your admin password as an alternate system password.  
When the Password Status option is set to Unlocked, you have the option to leave the password security  
enabled or to disable the password security.  
To leave the password security enabled:  
1
2
Turn on or reboot your system by pressing <Ctrl><Alt><Del>.  
Type your password and press <Enter>.  
When the Password Status option is set to Locked when you turn on or reboot your system, type your  
password and press <Enter> at the prompt.  
After you type the correct system password and press <Enter>, your system operates as usual.  
If an incorrect system password is entered, the system displays a message and prompts you to re-enter your  
password. You have three attempts to enter the correct password. After the third unsuccessful attempt, the  
system displays an error message showing the number of unsuccessful attempts and that the system has  
halted. You are prompted to shut down your system. This message can alert you to an unauthorized person  
attempting to use your system.  
Even after you shut down and restart the system, the error message continues to be displayed until the  
correct password is entered.  
NOTE: You can use the Password Changes option in conjunction with the System Password and Admin Password  
options to further protect your system from unauthorized changes.  
Deleting an Existing System Password  
1
2
3
Enter the System Setup program.  
Highlight the System Password option, and press <Enter> to access the system password window.  
Enter the old password, and press <Enter>.  
36  
Using the System Setup Program  
     
4
5
Press <Enter> twice to enter a new blank password and to confirm the new blank password.  
Press <Enter> again to continue.  
The setting changes to Not Set  
.
Changing an Existing System Password  
1
2
3
4
5
6
Enter the System Setup program.  
Highlight the System Password option, and press <Enter> to access the system password window.  
Enter the old password, and press <Enter>.  
Enter a new password, and press <Enter>.  
Enter the new password again to confirm the change, and press <Enter>.  
Press <Enter> to continue.  
The setting remains Set  
.
Using the Admin Password  
Assigning an Admin Password  
You can assign (or change) an admin password only when the Admin Password option selected is Not Set  
.
To assign an admin password:  
1
2
Highlight the Admin Password option and press <Enter>.  
Type your new admin password.  
You can use up to 32 characters in your password.  
As you press each character key (or the spacebar for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.  
The password assignment is not case-sensitive. However, certain key combinations are not valid. If you  
enter one of these combinations, the system beeps. To erase a character when entering your password,  
press <Backspace> or the left-arrow key.  
NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press <Enter> to move to another field,  
or press <Esc> at any time prior to completing step 5.  
3
4
Press <Enter>.  
To confirm your password, type it a second time and press <Enter>.  
The setting shown for the Admin Password changes to Set  
.
5
Save and exit the System Setup program and begin using your system.  
The next time you enter the System Setup program, the system prompts you for the admin password.  
Using the System Setup Program  
37  
       
A change to the Admin Password option becomes effective immediately (restarting the system is not  
required). By entering the System Password, you can scroll through and view all the screens, but you cannot  
make changes to the settings for which a lock graphic is displayed in the upper right corner of the option  
window.  
Operating With an Admin Password Set  
If Admin Password is Set, you must enter the correct admin password before you can modify most of the  
System Setup options. When you start the System Setup program, the program prompts you to enter a  
password.  
If you do not enter the correct password in three attempts, the system lets you view, but not modify, the  
System Setup screens—with the following exception: if System Password is not Set and is not locked  
through the Password Changes option, you can assign a system password (however, you cannot disable or  
change an existing system password).  
NOTE: You can use the Password Changes option in conjunction with the Admin Password option to protect the  
system password from unauthorized changes.  
Deleting an Existing Admin Password  
1
2
3
4
5
Enter the System Setup program.  
Highlight the Admin Password option, and press <Enter> to access the admin password window.  
Enter the old password, and press <Enter>.  
Press <Enter> twice to enter a new blank password and to confirm the new blank password.  
Press <Enter> again to continue.  
The setting changes to Not Set  
.
Changing an Existing Admin Password  
1
2
3
4
5
6
Enter the System Setup program.  
Highlight the Admin Password option, and press <Enter> to access the admin password window.  
Enter the old password, and press <Enter>.  
Enter a new password, and press <Enter>.  
Press <Enter> to continue.  
The setting remains Set  
.
Disabling a Forgotten Password  
See "Disabling a Forgotten Password" on page 104.  
38  
Using the System Setup Program  
       
Installing System Components  
This section describes how to install the following system components:  
Front drive bezel  
Diskette drive  
Optical and tape drives  
Hard drives  
Expansion cards  
SAS controller card  
Memory  
Microprocessor  
Cooling fans  
System battery  
Power supply  
Chassis intrusion switch  
Bezel  
I/O panel  
System board  
Recommended Tools  
You may need the following items to perform the procedures in this section:  
#2 Phillips screwdriver  
Wrist grounding stra  
p
Installing System Components  
39  
     
Inside the System  
In Figure 3-1, the system cover is opened to provide an interior view of the system.  
Figure 3-1. Inside the System  
3
2
1
4
9
5
8
6
7
1
4
7
5.25-inch drive bays (2)  
system board  
2
5
8
drive cage  
3
6
9
power supply  
hard drives (2)  
processor cooling fan  
card cage fan  
3.5-inch drive bay  
heatsink and shroud assembly  
The system board can accommodate one processor, five expansion cards, and four memory modules. The  
hard drive bays provide space for up to two SAS or SATA hard drives. Drive bays in the front of the  
system provide space for an optical drive, an optional tape drive or second optical drive, and an optional  
diskette drive. A controller expansion card is required for SAS hard drives. Power is supplied to the  
system board and internal peripherals through a single nonredundant power supply.  
40  
Installing System Components  
   
Opening the System  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
4
5
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Press the power button to ground the system board.  
If you have installed a padlock through the padlock ring on the back panel, remove the padlock.  
Lay the system on its side as shown in Figure 3-2.  
Open the system by sliding the cover release tab toward the rear of the system and lifting the cover off.  
See Figure 3-2.  
Closing the System  
1
2
3
Ensure that all internal cables are connected and folded out of the way.  
Ensure that no tools or extra parts are left inside the system.  
Reinstall the system cover:  
a
b
Insert the bottom edge of the cover into the bottom of the system chassis. See Figure 3-2.  
Press down on the cover until the cover release tab snaps into place.  
4
5
If applicable, install the padlock.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following  
message to appear on the screen at the next system start-up:  
ALERT! Cover was previously removed.  
6
To reset the chassis intrusion detector, press <F2> to enter the System Setup program. See "Using the  
System Setup Program" on page 27.  
NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network administrator for  
information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.  
Installing System Components  
41  
           
Figure 3-2. Opening and Closing the System  
1
1
release tab  
Front Drive Bezel  
The front drive bezel is the cover for the optional diskette and 5.25-inch drives. To remove or install a  
drive, you must first remove the front drive bezel.  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
Removing the Front Drive Bezel  
1
2
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
NOTE: The sliding plate secures and releases the front drive bezel and helps to secure the drives.  
42  
Installing System Components  
       
3
Slide the lever on the sliding plate in the direction of the arrow until it releases the front drive bezel  
from its side hinges. See Figure 3-3.  
4
5
Carefully tilt the front drive bezel away from the chassis and lift it out as shown in Figure 3-3.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Replacing the Front Drive Bezel  
1
2
Slide the lever on the sliding plate in the direction of the arrow and fit the bezel into the chassis.  
Snap the bezel into place and release the lever.  
Figure 3-3. Removing and Replacing the Front Drive Bezel  
2
3
1
1
front drive bezel  
2
sliding plate  
3
arrow on the sliding plate  
Removing an Insert on the Front Drive Bezel  
If you install a drive in the 3.5-inch or 5.25-inch drive bays, first remove the corresponding insert on the  
front drive bezel. From the back of the bezel, squeeze the tabs on the end of the insert and rotate the  
insert away from the bezel. See Figure 3-4.  
Installing System Components  
43  
         
Replacing an Insert on the Front Drive Bezel  
If you remove a drive in the 3.5-inch or 5.25-inch drive bays, replace the corresponding insert on the front  
drive bezel. From the back of the bezel, fit the tab on the end of the insert into the notch on the bezel and  
snap the other end of the insert into place. See Figure 3-4.  
Figure 3-4. Removing and Replacing the Front Drive Bezel Insert  
1
2
4
3
1
4
front drive bezel  
2
insert tabs  
3
drive bezel insert  
screws for an optional  
5.25-inch drive (3)  
Diskette Drive  
The 3.5-inch drive bay supports an optional standard diskette drive.  
Removing the Diskette Drive  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
4
5
6
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Remove the front drive bezel. See "Removing the Front Drive Bezel" on page 42.  
Disconnect the power and data cables from the diskette drive. See Figure 3-5.  
Slide the lever on the sliding plate in the direction of the arrow. See Figure 3-5.  
Hold the lever in position and slowly pull the drive out of the bay.  
44  
Installing System Components  
               
Figure 3-5. Removing or Installing a Diskette Drive  
4
3
5
2
1
6
1
4
arrow on the sliding plate  
2
5
sliding plate  
3
drive-stop tab  
power cable to diskette  
drive (P7)  
data cable to diskette drive  
6
data cable to system board  
7
If you are permanently removing the drive, replace the 3.5-inch insert on front drive bezel. See  
"Replacing an Insert on the Front Drive Bezel" on page 44.  
If you are replacing the diskette drive, see "Installing a Diskette Drive" on page 45.  
8
9
Replace the front drive bezel. See "Replacing the Front Drive Bezel" on page 43.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
10 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
Installing a Diskette Drive  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Installing System Components  
45  
     
3
4
5
6
Unpack the replacement diskette drive, and prepare it for installation.  
Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your system.  
Remove the front drive bezel. See "Removing the Front Drive Bezel" on page 42.  
Remove the 3.5-inch insert on the front drive bezel. See "Removing an Insert on the Front Drive Bezel"  
on page 43.  
7
8
Remove the four shoulder screws from the back of the insert. See Figure 3-4; the 3.5-inch insert holds  
four screws.  
Attach the four screws to the diskette drive as shown in Figure 3-6.  
Figure 3-6. Installing Diskette Drive Shoulder Screws  
1
1
screws (4)  
9
Verify that the drive-stop tab on the drive cage is in the proper position. It should be in its lowermost  
position so that the diskette icon on the drive cage is visible. See Figure 3-5.  
NOTE: Inserting a diskette drive into the drive bay with the drive-stop tab in the improper position will cause the  
into the sliding plate.  
11 Connect the P7 power cable to the drive. See Figure 3-5.  
12 Connect the data cable from the drive to the diskette drive connector (FLOPPY) on the system board.  
13 Replace the front drive bezel. See "Replacing the Front Drive Bezel" on page 43.  
14 Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
15 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
16 Enter the System Setup program and ensure that the drive’s controller is enabled. See "Using the  
System Setup Program" on page 27.  
46  
Installing System Components  
 
17 (Optional) Test the drive by running the system diagnostics. See "Running the System Diagnostics" on  
page 97.  
Optical and Tape Drives  
In the upper 5.25-inch drive bay, you can install only an optical drive. In the lower 5.25-inch drive bay,  
you can install either an optical or a tape backup unit.  
Removing an Optical or Tape Drive  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
4
5
6
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Remove the front drive bezel. See "Removing the Front Drive Bezel" on page 42.  
Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the drive. See Figure 3-7.  
Slide the lever on the sliding plate in the direction of the arrow to release the shoulder screw.  
Slide the drive out to remove it from the drive bay.  
Installing System Components  
47  
     
Figure 3-7. Removing and Installing an Optical or Tape Drive  
2
3
1
4
1
4
sliding plate  
2
IDE data cable to drive  
3
power cable to drive  
IDE connector on system  
board  
7
8
If you are installing another drive in the bay, see "Installing an Optical or Tape Drive" on page 49.  
If the drive is being permanently removed, install an insert on front drive bezel. See "Replacing an  
Insert on the Front Drive Bezel" on page 44.  
9
Replace the front drive bezel. See "Replacing the Front Drive Bezel" on page 43.  
10 Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
11 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
48  
Installing System Components  
 
Installing an Optical or Tape Drive  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation. For instructions, see the documentation that  
accompanied the drive.  
If you are installing a SCSI tape drive, you must have a SCSI controller card installed (see "Installing  
an Expansion Card" on page 57) and configure the tape drive according to the documentation that  
came with the tape drive, based on the following guidelines:  
a
Each device attached to a SCSI host adapter must have a unique SCSI ID number (narrow SCSI  
devices use IDs 0 to 7; wide SCSI devices use IDs from 0 to 15). Set the drive’s SCSI ID to avoid  
conflicts with other devices on the SCSI bus. For the default SCSI ID setting, see the  
documentation provided with the drive.  
NOTE: There is no requirement that SCSI ID numbers be assigned sequentially or that devices be attached to  
the cable in order by ID number.  
b
SCSI logic requires that the two devices at opposite ends of a SCSI chain be terminated and that  
the last device in a chain of devices (or sole device) connected to the SCSI controller.  
2
Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical  
outlet.  
3
4
5
Remove the front drive bezel. See "Removing the Front Drive Bezel" on page 42.  
If another drive is installed, remove it (see "Removing an Optical or Tape Drive" on page 47) and  
remove the three shoulder screws to attach to the new drive (see Figure 3-8).  
6
7
If the drive bay is empty, remove the insert on the front drive bezel. See "Removing an Insert on the  
Front Drive Bezel" on page 43.  
Remove the three shoulder screws from the insert, and attach them to the bottom row of holes on the  
drive. See Figure 3-8.  
Installing System Components  
49  
     
Figure 3-8. Installing Optical or Tape Drive Shoulder Screws  
1
1
screws (3)  
8
9
Gently slide the drive into place until you hear a click or feel the drive securely installed.  
Attach the power cable to the drive. See Figure 3-7.  
10 Attach the data cable:  
If you are installing an IDE drive, another drive may be attached to the same data cable by another  
SCSI controller card to the drive.  
11 Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to allow for airflow between the fan and  
cooling vents.  
12 Replace the front drive bezel. See "Replacing the Front Drive Bezel" on page 43.  
14 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
15 If you installed an IDE drive, enter the System Setup program and ensure that the drive’s IDE  
controller is enabled. See "Using the System Setup Program" on page 27.  
16 (Optional) Test the drive by running the system diagnostics. See "Running the System Diagnostics" on  
page 97.  
50  
Installing System Components  
 
Hard Drives  
NOTE: The system’s drive configuration must consist of all SATA hard drives or all SAS hard drives.  
Hard Drive Installation Guidelines  
Your system contains up to two SATA or SAS hard drives in internal drive bays. Both drives must be  
either SAS or SATA; mixed configurations are not supported. Up to two SATA drives may be connected  
to the system’s integrated SATA controller or to an optional SAS controller expansion card. Up to two  
SAS drives may be connected to an optional SAS controller expansion card. Table 3-1 describes the  
possible drive configurations.  
Table 3-1. Hard-Drive Configurations  
Drive  
Number  
Drive Type  
Location  
Controller  
Connector  
1
SATA  
HDD0  
integrated SATA controller  
SAS expansion card (slot 2)  
SAS expansion card (slot 2)  
integrated SATA  
SATA0  
HDD0  
HDD0  
SATA2  
HDD1  
HDD1  
1
2
SAS  
HDD0  
HDD1  
SATA  
SAS expansion card (slot 2)  
SAS expansion card (slot 2)  
2
SAS  
HDD1  
Removing a Hard Drive  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
4
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Disconnect the hard drive power cable from the hard drive that you are removing.  
Disconnect the blue data cable from the hard drive that you are removing by pulling up on the blue  
tab.  
5
Press the blue tabs on each side of the hard-drive bracket toward each other and slide the drive up and  
out of the bay. See Figure 3-9.  
Installing System Components  
51  
             
Figure 3-9. Removing and Installing a Hard Drive in the Drive Carrier  
1
2
3
1
blue tabs (2)  
drive bay  
3
secondary hard drive bay  
NOTE: If you do not intend to replace the drive, it is highly recommended that you remove the drive from the guide  
bracket (see Figure 3-10) and insert the empty guide bracket back into the drive bay. This eliminates the likelihood  
that the empty bracket will be misplaced or improperly stored while not in use.  
6
7
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
Installing a Hard Drive  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
4
5
Unpack the replacement hard drive and prepare it for installation.  
Check the documentation for the hard drive to verify that the drive is configured for your system.  
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
If you are replacing a hard drive, remove the drive that you are replacing (see "Removing a Hard Drive"  
on page 51).  
If there is a hard-drive bracket in the empty hard-drive bay, remove the bracket by pressing the two tabs  
toward each other and pulling it up and out of the drive bay.  
52  
Installing System Components  
     
If a replacement hard drive does not have the hard-drive bracket attached, remove the bracket from the  
old drive.  
6
7
Snap the new drive into the guide bracket. See Figure 3-10.  
Insert the guide bracket assembly into the drive bay until it snaps into place. See Figure 3-9.  
Figure 3-10. Installing a Hard Drive in a Drive Bracket  
1
2
1
hard drive  
2
hard drive bracket  
NOTICE: SAS drives and SATA drives cannot be mixed in the system. The drives must be either SATA or SAS hard  
drives.  
Connect the power cable to the hard drive.  
8
9
Connect the data cable to the hard drive:  
For connection to the integrated SATA controller (SATA hard drives only), connect the SATA data  
cable to the SATA0 (first drive) and SATA2 (second drive) connectors on the system board. See  
Figure 3-11. See Figure 6-2 for the location of the hard drive connectors on the system board.  
For connection to a SAS controller expansion card (SAS or SATA hard drives), connect the data  
cable from the SAS controller card and the power cable as shown in Figure 3-12. See "SAS  
Controller Expansion Card" on page 58 for instructions about installing the card and routing  
the cables.  
Installing System Components  
53  
 
Figure 3-11. Cabling a SATA Hard Drive to the Integrated SATA Controller  
1
2
3
4
1
4
SATA data cable to system  
board  
2
power cable to hard drive  
3
SATA hard drives (2)  
SATA data cable to hard drive  
54  
Installing System Components  
 
Figure 3-12. Cabling a SAS or SATA Hard Drive to a SAS Controller Expansion Card  
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
1
SAS controller card  
2
5
data cable to SAS controller  
card  
3
6
AUX_LED connector  
4
7
power cable to hard drive  
SAS or SATA hard drives (2)  
data cable to hard drive  
hard drive activity indicator  
cable to SAS controller card  
10 Ensure that all connectors are properly cabled and firmly seated.  
12 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for  
drive operation.  
13 Press <F2> to enter the System Setup program (see "Entering the System Setup Program" on  
page 27), and ensure that the drive’s controller is enabled.  
14 Exit the System Setup program and reboot the system.  
Installing System Components  
55  
 
15 Partition and logically format the drive.  
See the documentation for your operating system for instructions.  
16 (Optional) Test the hard drive by running the system diagnostics. See "Running the System  
Diagnostics" on page 97.  
17 If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, install your operating system on the hard drive.  
Expansion Cards  
The system board can accommodate up to five expansion cards:  
two 5-V, half-length 32-bit, 33-MHz PCI (slots 3 and 5)  
one 2.5-Gb/sec PCIe x1 (slot 1)  
one 2.5-Gb/sec PCIe x4 (slot 4)  
one 2.5-Gb/sec PCIe x8 (slot 2)  
See Figure 6-2 for the location of the expansion card slots.  
NOTE: The size of the expansion card connectors for the PCI x4 card is PCIx 8, and for the PCI x8 card is PCI x16.  
Removing an Expansion Card  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
4
5
6
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
To open the card retention door, press the two release tabs inward. See Figure 3-13.  
If necessary, disconnect any cables from the card.  
Grasp the card by its top corners and ease it out of its connector.  
If you are removing the card permanently, install a filler bracket in the empty card slot.  
NOTE: Filler brackets must be installed over empty expansion card slots to maintain Federal Communications  
Commission (FCC) certification of the system. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of the system and aid in  
proper cooling and airflow inside the system.  
56  
Installing System Components  
         
Figure 3-13. Removing and Installing an Expansion Card  
1
2
3
4
5
1
4
release tabs (2)  
alignment guide  
2
5
card retention door  
filler bracket  
3
alignment bar  
7
8
9
Close the card retention door to secure the remaining card(s) in the system. See Figure 3-13.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
10 Remove the card’s device driver from the operating system.  
Installing an Expansion Card  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Installing System Components  
57  
       
3
4
To open the card retention door, press the two release tabs inward. See Figure 3-13.  
If you are installing a new card, remove the filler bracket.  
NOTE: Keep this bracket in case you need to remove the expansion card. Filler brackets must be installed  
over empty expansion-card slots to maintain FCC certification of the system. The brackets also keep dust and  
dirt out of the system and aid in proper cooling and airflow inside the system.  
5
Prepare the card for installation.  
See the documentation that came with the card for information on configuring the card, making  
internal connections, or otherwise customizing it for your system.  
NOTE: Some NICs automatically start the system when they are connected to a network.  
6
7
Insert the card into the expansion card connector on the system board (SLOT1, SLOT2, SLOT3,  
SLOT4, or SLOT5) and press down firmly. Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot and all cards  
and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar. See Figure 6-2 for the location of the five  
expansion card connectors.  
Close the card retention door to secure the card(s) in the system.  
NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or behind the cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent the system  
cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment.  
8
9
Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.  
See the documentation for the card for information about the card’s cable connections.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
10 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
11 Install any device drivers required for the card as described in the documentation for the card.  
SAS Controller Expansion Card  
Read the installation instructions in the documentation for your SAS controller card. Install the card in  
expansion card connector SLOT2 (see "Installing an Expansion Card" on page 57), and connect the  
hard-drive activity indicator cable from the card to the AUX_LED connector on the system board (see  
Figure 6-2 for the connector location). See "Hard Drives" on page 51 for information about connecting  
hard drives.  
Memory  
The four memory module connectors on the system board can accommodate from 512 MB to 4 GB of  
533-MHz and 667-MHz unbuffered ECC DDR II single or dual-rank memory modules. See Figure 6-2  
for the location of the four memory module connectors.  
NOTE: As shown in Figure 6-2, memory slots are not in numeric order on the system board. When installing  
memory, take care to install it in the proper slots according to the configuration guidelines in Table 3-2. Installing  
memory in the wrong slots will significantly reduce system performance.  
58  
Installing System Components  
       
Memory Module Upgrade Kits  
The system is upgradable to 4 GB by installing combinations of 512-MB and 1-GB 533-MHz or 667-MHz  
unbuffered ECC DDR II single or dual-rank memory modules. You can purchase memory upgrade kits  
from Dell.  
Memory Module Installation Guidelines  
If only one memory module is installed, it must be installed in connector DIMM_1.  
If only one memory module is installed in connector DIMM_1, its capacity must be 512 MB.  
If more than one memory module is installed, the memory modules must be installed in pairs of  
matched memory size, speed, and technology.  
Memory modules must be installed in ordered pairs in connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM_2, and then  
DIMM_3 and DIMM_4.  
If a processor with a slower front-side bus rating than the memory is installed, the memory will operate  
at the processor’s slower front-side bus speed.  
NOTICE: If you remove your original memory modules from the system during a memory upgrade, keep them  
separate from any new memory modules that you may have, even if you purchased the new memory modules from  
Dell. Use only unregistered or unbuffered ECC DDR II memory modules.  
Table 3-2 illustrates memory configuration guidelines. It is important to follow the slot installation  
configurations shown here to achieve maximum memory performance.  
Table 3-2. Memory Configuration Guidelines  
Total Memory  
512 MB  
1 GB  
DIMM_1  
512 MB  
512 MB  
512 MB  
1 GB  
DIMM_2  
none  
DIMM_3  
none  
DIMM_4  
none  
512 MB  
512 MB  
1 GB  
none  
none  
2 GB  
512 MB  
none  
512 MB  
none  
2 GB  
3 GB  
1 GB  
1 GB  
512 MB  
1 GB  
512 MB  
1 GB  
4 GB  
1 GB  
1 GB  
Addressing Memory With 4-GB Configurations (Microsoft® Windows® Operating System Only)  
Your system supports a maximum of 4 GB of memory using four 1-GB memory modules. Current  
operating systems can use a maximum of 4 GB of address space; however, the amount of memory  
available to the operating system is slightly less than 4 GB.  
NOTE: Depending on the type of PCI/PCIe expansion cards that are installed in your system, your system may only  
support a maximum of 3.4 GB of memory or less.  
Installing System Components  
59  
             
The following components require address space:  
System ROM  
Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controllers (APIC)  
Integrated PCI devices (such as NICs) and SCSI controllers  
PCI expansion cards  
At start-up, the BIOS identifies the components that require address space. The BIOS dynamically  
calculates the amount of reserved address space required. The BIOS then subtracts the reserved address  
space from 4 GB to determine the amount of usable space.  
If the total installed system memory is less than the usable space, all installed system memory is  
available for use only by the operating system.  
If the total installed system memory is equal to or greater than the usable address space, a small  
portion of installed memory is available for use by the operating system.  
Removing a Memory Module  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
4
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Press out on the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector. See Figure 3-14.  
Grasp the memory module and pull it out of the connector.  
If the module is difficult to remove, gently move the module back and forth to remove it from the  
connector.  
Installing a Memory Module  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
4
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Press on the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector. See Figure 3-14.  
Align the memory module’s edge connector with the alignment key in the connector.  
The memory module connector has an alignment key that allows the memory module to be installed  
in the connector in only one way.  
60  
Installing System Components  
         
5
Applying even pressure to both ends of the module, insert the module into the connector and carefully  
press the module into place.  
Figure 3-14. Installing and Removing a Memory Module  
1
4
3
2
1
4
memory module  
2
alignment key  
3
socket  
memory module socket  
ejectors (2)  
6
Pull up on the securing clips to lock the module into place.  
If you insert the module correctly, the securing clips snap into the cutouts at each end of the module.  
When the memory module is properly seated in the connector, the securing clips on the memory  
module socket should align with the securing clips on the other connectors with memory modules  
installed.  
7
8
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
The system detects that the new memory does not match the existing configuration information and  
generates the following message:  
The amount of system memory has changed.  
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility  
9
Press <F2> to enter the System Setup program and check the value for Memory Info. See "System  
Setup Options" on page 28.  
The system should have changed the value for Memory Info to reflect the newly installed memory.  
Verify the new value. If it is correct, skip to step 13.  
10 If the memory value is incorrect, turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the  
system from the electrical outlet.  
Installing System Components  
61  
     
12 Ensure that the installed memory modules are seated properly in their connectors, and repeat step 7  
through step 9.  
13 When the Memory Info value is correct, press <Esc> to exit the System Setup program.  
14 Run the system diagnostics to verify that the memory modules are operating properly. See "Running  
the System Diagnostics" on page 98.  
Microprocessor  
You can upgrade the system processor to take advantage of future options in speed and functionality. The  
processor and its associated internal cache memory are contained in a land grid array (LGA) package.  
Removing the Processor  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
CAUTION: The processor and heat sink can get very hot during normal operation. Ensure that they have had  
sufficient time to cool before you touch them.  
1
2
3
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Using a #2 Phillips screwdriver, loosen the two captive screws holding the heat sink and shroud  
assembly in place.  
These captive screws are adjacent to the processor cooling fan housing. See Figure 3-15.  
Tilt the heat sink and shroud assembly away from the fan housing and lift it out.  
4
62  
Installing System Components  
         
Figure 3-15. Installing and Removing the Heat Sink  
1
2
3
4
1
4
heatsink and shroud assembly  
processor cooling fan  
2
assembly bracket  
3
captive screws (2)  
Installing System Components  
63  
   
5
Open the processor cover by sliding the release lever from under the release lever latch on the socket.  
Then, pull the lever back to release the processor. See Figure 3-16.  
Figure 3-16. Installing and Removing a Processor  
1
7
2
6
3
4
5
1
4
7
processor  
2
5
retention latch  
tab  
3
6
socket  
release lever latch  
release lever  
notched processor edge  
NOTICE: The retention latch is pressure-loaded. Ensure that the latch does not quickly open and strike the  
processor or system board.  
6
7
Carefully pivot the retention latch away from the processor.  
NOTICE: Do not pry the processor from the socket by a single edge. This could result in damage to the processor’s  
delicate connections.  
NOTICE: Be careful not to touch or drop any foreign materials on the socket connector pads.  
Lift the processor straight up and out of the socket.  
Leave the release lever and retention latch in the release position so that the socket is ready for the new  
processor.  
64  
Installing System Components  
 
1
2
Unpack the new processor.  
Ensure that the contacts on the bottom of the replacement processor are free from dirt or other foreign  
material.  
3
4
Align the notched edge of the replacement processor with the tab on the processor frame. See  
Figure 3-16.  
NOTICE: Use caution when removing and installing the processor. Damaging the processor socket connectors  
can damage the system board.  
Carefully set the processor in the processor frame. Ensure that the notched edge of the processor fits  
securely over the matching tab on the processor frame. Do not press down on the processor. If the  
processor is seated correctly, it should fit snugly in the socket frame. See Figure 3-16.  
5
6
Lower the retention latch onto the processor, and then rotate the release lever back toward the system  
board until it snaps into place.  
NOTICE: Ensure that you apply new thermal grease. Applying new thermal grease is critical to ensuring proper  
thermal bonding as well as optimal processor operation.  
7
8
Place the heat sink assembly back onto the heat sink assembly bracket and tilt the heat sink assembly  
down on the system board. See Figure 3-15.  
9
Align the two captive screws properly with the system board, then tighten them to secure the heat sink  
assembly to the system board.  
10 Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
11 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
Cooling Fans  
The system contains two cooling fans, one for the processor and one for the card cage. Each contains a  
shroud that is part of the cooling fan assembly. The fan and shroud are replaced as a unit.  
NOTE: If you are removing the larger processor cooling fan, you must first remove the heat sink and shroud  
assembly. See "Removing the Processor" on page 62 (however, do not remove the processor) and Figure 3-17.  
Removing the Cooling Fans  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Installing System Components  
65  
             
3
4
Disconnect the fan’s power cable from the system board by depressing the locking tab. See Figure 3-17.  
If you are removing the smaller card cage fan (see Figure 3-17):  
a
b
Pull up on the single release tab that attaches the fan to the chassis.  
Slide the fan toward the back panel and lift the fan out.  
5
If you are removing the larger processor cooling fan (see Figure 3-17):  
a
Remove the heat sink and shroud assembly. See "Removing the Processor" on page 62. Do not  
remove the processor, however.  
b
c
Press the release tab that attaches the processor cooling fan to the chassis.  
Slide the fan toward the back panel and lift the fan out.  
Figure 3-17. Removing and Installing the Cooling Fans  
2
1
3
4
6
5
1
4
processor cooling fan  
2
5
release tab for processor fan  
release tab for card cage fan  
3
connector for processor fan  
(CPU_CAGE)  
connector for card cage fan  
(FAN_CARD_CAGE)  
6
card cage fan  
66  
Installing System Components  
 
Replacing the Cooling Fans  
1
2
3
Slide the fan toward the front panel until it snaps into place.  
If you replaced the larger processor cooling fan, replace the heat sink and shroud assembly (see  
"Removing the Processor" on page 62).  
4
5
Reconnect the fan power cable to the system board.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
System Battery  
A coin-cell battery maintains system configuration, date, and time information. The battery can last  
several years.  
To determine whether you need to replace the battery, see "Troubleshooting the System Battery" on  
page 85.  
You can operate your system without a battery; however, without a battery, the configuration information  
is erased if the system is turned off or unplugged from the electrical outlet. In this case, you must enter  
the System Setup program and reset the configuration options.  
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.  
Removing the System Battery  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
1
2
Enter the System Setup program and record the option settings on the System Setup screens. See  
"Using the System Setup Program" on page 27  
.
Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical  
outlet.  
3
4
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
See Figure 6-2 for the location of the system battery and then remove any cables that block access to  
the battery.  
NOTICE: If you use a blunt, nonconductive object to depress the tab next to the battery, be careful not to touch the  
system board with the object. Ensure that the object is inserted between the battery and the tab before you attempt  
to depress the tab. Do not pry out the battery. You may damage the system board by prying off the socket or by  
breaking circuit traces on the system board.  
Installing System Components  
67  
             
5
Press the tab on the battery socket to release the battery, then lift the battery out of the socket. See  
Figure 3-18.  
Figure 3-18. Removing and Installing the System Battery  
2
3
1
1
battery socket  
3
tab  
Installing the System Battery  
1
Install the new battery with the "+" facing up, and press down until it snaps into place. See  
Figure 3-18  
.
2
3
4
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
Setup Program" on page 27  
.
5
6
From the main screen, select System Time to enter the correct time and date.  
Re-enter any system configuration information that is no longer displayed on the System Setup  
screens, and then exit the System Setup program.  
7
8
9
To test the newly installed battery, see "Troubleshooting the System Battery" on page 85.  
After an hour, reconnect the system to a power source and turn it on.  
Enter the System Setup program. If the time and date are still incorrect, see "Getting Help" on  
page 107.  
10 Properly dispose of the old battery. For more information, see your Product Information Guide.  
68  
Installing System Components  
   
Power Supply  
Removing the Power Supply  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Depending on your system configuration, disconnect the following power cables:  
P1 and P2 to the system board  
P3 and P5 to the SATA or SAS drives  
P7 to the diskette drive  
P8, P9, and P10 to the optical and tape drives  
NOTE: Note the routing of the DC power cables underneath the tabs in the system frame as you release the  
tabs and remove the cables from the system board and drives. You must route these cables properly when  
you replace them to prevent their being pinched or crimped.  
4
Remove the heat sink and shroud assembly. Loosen the two captive screws holding the heat sink and  
shroud assembly in place.  
These captive screws are adjacent to the processor cooling fan housing. See Figure 3-15.  
Tilt the heat sink and shroud assembly away from the fan housing and lift it out.  
5
6
Remove the IDE, I/O panel, and SATA cables (if present) attached to the routing clamps on the side of  
the power supply.  
7
8
9
Using a #2 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four Phillips screws that secure the power supply to the  
back panel.  
Press the power-supply release tab down and slide the power supply toward the front of the system,  
then lift it out of the system chassis. See Figure 3-19.  
Remove the cable clamp and set it aside to attach to the new power supply.  
Installing System Components  
69  
       
Figure 3-19. Removing the Power Supply  
2
1
3
4
1
4
power supply release tab  
cable clamp  
2
power supply  
3
screws (4)  
Installing the Power Supply  
1
2
3
Attach the cable clamp to the new power supply.  
Align the power supply mounting holes with the mounting holes on the back panel.  
Slide the power supply toward the back panel until it snaps into place over the power-supply release  
tab.  
4
5
Using a #2 Phillips screwdriver, install the four Phillips screws that secure the power supply to the back  
panel.  
Reattach the IDE, I/O panel, and SATA cables (if present) to the routing clamp on the side of the  
power supply. Reroute the SATA power cables along the bottom of the chassis. These cables must lie  
under the heat sink and shroud when the system is assembled.  
6
Clean off the bottom of the heat sink and apply new thermal grease.  
70  
Installing System Components  
         
7
8
9
Place the heat sink assembly onto the heat sink assembly bracket and tilt the heat sink assembly down  
on the system board. See Figure 3-15.  
Align the two captive screws with the system board and tighten them to secure the heat sink assembly  
to the system board.  
Depending on your system configuration, connect the following power cables:  
P1 and P2 to the system board  
P3 and P5 to the SATA or SAS drives  
P7 to the diskette drive  
P8, P9, and P10 to the optical and tape drives  
10 Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Chassis Intrusion Switch  
Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Disconnect the chassis intrusion switch cable from the INTRUDER connector on the system board.  
See Figure 3-20.  
4
5
Slide the chassis intrusion switch out of the securing bracket notch. See Figure 3-20.  
Remove the switch and its attached cable from the system.  
Installing System Components  
71  
     
Figure 3-20. Removing and Installing the Chassis Intrusion Switch  
1
2
3
1
chassis intrusion switch  
2
securing bracket notch  
3
INTRUDER connector  
Installing the Chassis Intrusion Switch  
1
2
3
4
5
Align the chassis intrusion switch with the securing bracket notch. See Figure 3-20.  
Slide the switch into the securing bracket notch.  
Connect the switch cable to the INTRUDER connector on the system board.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system.  
72  
Installing System Components  
     
Bezel  
Removing the Bezel  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Remove the heat sink and shroud assembly. See "Removing the Processor" on page 62. Do not remove  
the processor, however.  
4
5
6
Remove the large processor cooling fan. See "Removing the Cooling Fans" on page 65.  
Remove the three bezel release screws. See Figure 3-21.  
Slide the bezel toward the top of the system, then lift it outward.  
Installing System Components  
73  
     
Figure 3-21. Removing the Bezel  
1
2
1
bezel release screws (3)  
2
Replacing the Bezel  
1
2
3
4
5
6
Align the bezel with the chassis frame and slide it into position.  
Attach the three bezel release screws to secure the bezel to the system chassis. See Figure 3-21.  
Replace the processor fan. See "Replacing the Cooling Fans" on page 67.  
Reinstall the heat sink and shroud assembly. See "Replacing the Processor" on page 65.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system.  
I/O Panel Assembly  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
74  
Installing System Components  
         
Removing the I/O Panel Assembly  
1
2
3
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Remove the heat sink and shroud assembly. See "Removing the Processor" on page 62. Do not remove  
the processor, however.  
4
5
Remove the processor cooling fan. See "Removing the Cooling Fans" on page 65.  
Remove the front bezel. See "Removing the Bezel" on page 73.  
NOTICE: Carefully note the routing of each cable before you disconnect it, so that you are sure to re-route cables  
correctly.  
6
7
8
Disconnect the I/O panel ribbon cable from the I/O panel connector by pulling the yellow cable loop.  
Remove the mounting screw holding the I/O panel assembly to the front chassis. See Figure 3-22.  
Lift the I/O panel assembly out of the system.  
Figure 3-22. Removing and Installing the I/O Panel Assembly  
1
2
3
4
1
4
I/O panel assembly  
2
I/O panel ribbon cable  
3
holding tab on the chassis  
screw on the I/O panel  
Installing System Components  
75  
   
Replacing the I/O Panel Assembly  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
4
5
Fit the I/O panel assembly into the holding tab on the front of the chassis. See Figure 3-22.  
Secure the I/O panel assembly by replacing the screw. See Figure 3-22.  
Replace the large processor cooling fan. See "Replacing the Cooling Fans" on page 67.  
Replace the heat sink and shroud assembly. See "Replacing the Processor" on page 65.  
NOTE: To prevent damaging the processor, clean the heat sink to remove any thermal grease and then apply fresh  
thermal grease to the processor before installing the heat sink.  
6
7
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system.  
System Board  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
CAUTION: The heat sink can get hot during operation. To avoid burns, ensure that the system has sufficient time  
to cool before removing the system board.  
Removing the System Board  
1
2
3
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Depending on your configuration, disconnect the following cables from the system board. See  
Figure 6-2 for connector locations.  
Two power-supply cables from the POWER and 12VPOWER connectors  
Diskette data cable from the FLOPPY connector  
I/O panel cable from the FRONTPANEL connector  
5.25-inch device data cable from the IDE connector  
Processor cooling fan cable from the FAN_CPU connector  
Card cage cooling fan cable from the FAN_CARD_CAGE connector  
76  
Installing System Components  
         
SATA hard-drive data cable(s) from the SATA connector(s)  
Intrusion switch cable from the INTRUDER connector  
4
5
Remove all expansion cards and any attached cables. See "Removing an Expansion Card" on page 56.  
Remove all memory modules. See "Memory" on page 58.  
NOTE: Record the memory-module socket locations to ensure proper reinstallation of the memory modules.  
CAUTION: The processor and heat sink can become extremely hot. Allow sufficient time for the processor and  
heat sink to cool before handling.  
NOTICE: To prevent damaging the processor, do not pry the heat sink off of the processor.  
6
7
Remove the processor. See "Removing the Processor" on page 62.  
Using a #2 Phillips screwdriver, remove the eight system board mounting screws that secure the system  
board to the chassis. See Figure 3-23.  
8
Using a #2 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two processor heat sink pivot mount screws and remove  
the pivot mount from the system board. See Figure 3-23. The heat sink pivot mount screws are green  
and are longer than the system board mounting screws.  
Figure 3-23. System Board Mounting Points  
1
2
3
1
heat sink pivot mount  
screws (2)  
2
system board mounting  
screws (8)  
3
system board  
Installing System Components  
77  
 
9
Carefully route any loose cables away from the edges of the system board.  
10 Gently slide the system board toward the front of the system, then lift the system board up and out of  
the chassis.  
Installing the System Board  
1
2
3
After removing the old system board, lower the new system board into the chassis, aligning the I/O  
ports on the system board with the I/O connector openings on the back panel of the chassis.  
Using a #2 Phillips screwdriver, install the eight screws on the system board that secure it to the  
chassis. See Figure 3-23.  
Using a #2 Phillips screwdriver, attach the processor heat sink pivot mount to the system board. See  
Figure 3-23.  
NOTICE: To prevent damaging the processor, clean the heat sink to remove any thermal grease and then apply  
fresh thermal grease to the processor before installing the heat sink.  
4
5
Replace the processor, and the heat sink and shroud assembly. See "Replacing the Processor" on  
Install the memory modules in the same sockets from which they were removed. See "Installing a  
Memory Module" on page 60.  
6
7
Install the expansion cards and connect any cables. See "Installing an Expansion Card" on page 57.  
Depending on your configuration, connect the following cables that you removed in "Removing the  
System Board" on page 76. See Figure 6-2.  
Two power-supply cables to the POWER and 12VPOWER connectors  
If applicable, diskette data cable to the FLOPPY connector  
I/O panel cable to the FRONTPANEL connector  
5.25-inch device data cable to the IDE connector  
Processor cooling fan cable to the FAN_CPU connector  
Card cage cooling fan cable to the FAN_CARD_CAGE connector  
SATA hard-drive data cable(s) to the SATA connector(s)  
Intrusion switch cable from the INTRUDER connector  
8
9
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system.  
78  
Installing System Components  
   
Troubleshooting Your System  
Safety First—For You and Your System  
To perform certain procedures in this document, you must remove the system cover and work inside  
the system. While working inside the system, do not attempt to service the system except as  
explained in this guide and elsewhere in your system documentation.  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online  
or telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered  
by your warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
Start-Up Routine  
Look and listen during the system's start-up routine for the indications described in Table 4-1.  
Table 4-1. Start-Up Routine Indications  
Look/listen for:  
Action  
A code displayed on the system diagnostic indicators. See "Diagnostic Lights" on page 15.  
An error message displayed on the monitor.  
The monitor's power indicator.  
page 81.  
The keyboard indicators.  
See "Troubleshooting the Keyboard" on page 81.  
See "Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive" on page 89.  
See "Troubleshooting an Optical Drive" on page 90.  
See "Troubleshooting a Hard Drive" on page 91.  
See "Getting Help" on page 107.  
The diskette drive activity indicator.  
The CD drive activity indicator.  
The hard-drive activity indicator.  
An unfamiliar constant scraping or grinding sound  
Checking the Equipment  
This section provides troubleshooting procedures for external devices attached to the system, such  
as the monitor, keyboard, or mouse. Before you perform any of the procedures, see "Troubleshooting  
External Connections" on page 80.  
Troubleshooting Your System  
79  
                 
Troubleshooting IRQ Assignment Conflicts  
Most PCI devices can share an IRQ with another device, but they cannot use an IRQ simultaneously. To  
avoid this type of conflict, see the documentation for each PCI device for specific IRQ requirements.  
Table 4-2 lists the IRQ assignments.  
Table 4-2. IRQ Assignment Defaults  
IRQ Line  
IRQ0  
Assignment  
System timer  
IRQ1  
Keyboard controller  
IRQ2  
Interrupt controller 1 to enable IRQ8 through IRQ15  
Serial port 2 (COM2 and COM4)  
Serial port 1 (COM1 and COM3)  
Remote access controller  
Diskette drive (optional) controller  
Real-time clock  
IRQ3  
IRQ4  
IRQ5  
IRQ6  
IRQ8  
IRQ9  
ACPI functions (used for power management)  
Available  
IRQ10  
IRQ11  
IRQ13  
IRQ14  
IRQ15  
Available  
Math coprocessor  
IDE CD drive controller  
Available  
Troubleshooting External Connections  
Loose or improperly connected cables are the most likely source of problems for the system, monitor, and  
other peripherals (such as a printer, keyboard, mouse, or other external device). Ensure that all external  
cables are securely attached to the external connectors on your system. See Figure 1-2 for the back-panel  
connectors on your system.  
80  
Troubleshooting Your System  
             
Troubleshooting the Video Subsystem  
Problem  
Monitor is not working properly.  
Action  
1
2
Check the system and power connections to the monitor.  
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
If the tests run successfully, the problem is not related to video hardware.  
If the problem is not resolved, see "Getting Help" on page 107.  
Troubleshooting the Keyboard  
Problem  
System message indicates a problem with the keyboard.  
Keyboard is not functioning properly.  
Action  
1
Enter the System Setup program and ensure that the USB ports are enabled. See "Using the System  
Setup Program" on page 27.  
2
3
Examine the keyboard and its cable for signs of damage.  
Swap the faulty keyboard with a working keyboard.  
If the problem is resolved, replace the faulty keyboard. See "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
4
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
If the problem is not resolved, see "Getting Help" on page 107.  
Troubleshooting the Mouse  
Problem  
System message indicates a problem with the mouse.  
Mouse is not functioning properly.  
Action  
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
1
If the test fails, continue to the next step.  
Troubleshooting Your System  
81  
             
2
Examine the mouse and its cable for signs of damage.  
If the mouse is not damaged, go to step 4.  
If the mouse is damaged, continue to the next step.  
3
4
Swap the faulty mouse with a working mouse.  
If the problem is resolved, replace the faulty mouse. See "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Enter the System Setup program and ensure that the USB port is enabled. See "Using the System  
Setup Program" on page 27.  
If the problem is not resolved, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Troubleshooting Basic I/O Problems  
Troubleshooting a Serial Port  
Problem  
Error message indicates a problem with a serial port.  
Device connected to a serial port is not operating properly.  
Action  
1
2
3
Enter the System Setup program and ensure that the serial port is enabled and configured correctly for  
your application. See "Using the System Setup Program" on page 27.  
If the problem is confined to a particular application, see the application documentation for specific  
port configuration requirements that the program may require.  
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
If the tests run successfully but the problem persists, see "Getting Help" on page 107.  
Troubleshooting a USB Device  
Problem  
System message indicates a problem with a USB device.  
Device connected to a USB port is not operating properly.  
Action  
1
Enter the System Setup program and ensure that the USB ports are enabled. See "Using the System  
Setup Program" on page 27.  
2
3
Turn off the system and any USB devices.  
Disconnect the USB devices, and connect the malfunctioning device to the other USB connector.  
82  
Troubleshooting Your System  
             
4
5
Turn on the system and the reconnected device.  
If the problem is resolved, the USB connector might be defective. See "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
If possible, swap the interface cable with a working cable.  
If the problem is resolved, replace the interface cable. See "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
6
7
Turn off the system and the USB device, and swap the device with a comparable device.  
Turn on the system and the USB device.  
If the problem is resolved, replace the USB device. See "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
If the problem persists, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Troubleshooting a NIC  
Problem  
NIC cannot communicate with network.  
Action  
1
2
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
Check the appropriate indicator on the NIC connector.  
If the link indicator does not light, check all cable connections.  
If the activity indicator does not light, the network driver files might be damaged or missing.  
Remove and reinstall the drivers if applicable. See the NIC's documentation.  
Change the autonegotiation setting, if possible.  
If you are using a NIC card instead of an integrated NIC, see the documentation for the NIC card.  
3
4
5
6
Ensure that the appropriate drivers are installed and the protocols are bound. See the NIC's  
documentation.  
Program" on page 27.  
Ensure that the NICs, hubs, and switches on the network are all set to the same data transmission  
speed. See the network equipment documentation.  
Ensure that all network cables are of the proper type and do not exceed the maximum length.  
If the problem persists, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Troubleshooting Your System  
83  
     
Troubleshooting a Wet System  
Problem  
Liquid spilled on the system.  
Excessive humidity.  
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
4
5
6
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Remove all expansion cards installed in the system. See "Removing an Expansion Card" on page 56.  
Let the system dry thoroughly for at least 24 hours.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
If the system does not start properly, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
7
8
If the system starts properly, shut down the system and reinstall all of the expansion cards that you  
removed. See "Installing an Expansion Card" on page 57.  
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
If the tests fail, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Troubleshooting a Damaged System  
Problem  
System was dropped or damaged.  
84  
Troubleshooting Your System  
       
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Ensure that the following components are properly installed:  
Expansion cards  
Power supply  
Fans  
Processors and heat sinks  
Memory modules  
3
4
5
Ensure that all cables are properly connected.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Run the system board tests in the system diagnostics. See "Running the System Diagnostics" on  
page 97.  
If the tests fail, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Troubleshooting the System Battery  
Problem  
System message indicates a problem with the battery.  
System Setup program loses system configuration information.  
System date and time do not remain current.  
NOTE: If the system is turned off for long periods of time (for weeks or months), the NVRAM may lose its system  
configuration information. This situation is caused by a defective battery.  
Action  
1
Re-enter the time and date through the System Setup program. See "Using the System Setup Program"  
2
3
4
Turn off the system and disconnect it from the electrical outlet for at least one hour.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet and turn on the system.  
Enter the System Setup program. See "Using the System Setup Program" on page 27.  
If the date and time are not correct in the System Setup program, replace the battery. See "System  
Battery" on page 67.  
Troubleshooting Your System  
85  
     
If the problem is not resolved by replacing the battery, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
NOTE: Some software may cause the system time to speed up or slow down. If the system seems to operate  
normally except for the time kept in the System Setup program, the problem may be caused by software rather than  
by a defective battery.  
Troubleshooting Power Supply  
Problem  
Power-supply fault indicator is blinking amber.  
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
3
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Check that the voltage selection switch on the back panel of the system is set properly. See "Power  
Supply Indicators" on page 15.  
NOTICE: Setting the voltage selection switch to an improper setting can damage your system.  
4
Ensure that the power supply is properly installed by removing and reinstalling it. See "Installing the  
Power Supply" on page 70.  
NOTE: After installing a power supply, allow several seconds for the system to recognize the power supply  
and to determine if it is working properly. The power indicator turns green to signify that the power supply is  
functioning properly.  
5
6
If the problem is resolved, close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
If the problem persists, remove the faulty power supply. See "Removing the Power Supply" on page 69.  
Install a new power supply. See "Installing the Power Supply" on page 70.  
If the problem persists, see "Getting Help" on page 107.  
Troubleshooting System Cooling Problems  
Problem  
Systems management software issues a fan-related error message.  
Action  
Ensure that none of the following conditions exist:  
86  
Troubleshooting Your System  
         
System cover, drive blank, or front or back filler panel is removed.  
Ambient temperature is too high.  
External airflow is obstructed.  
Cables inside the system obstruct airflow.  
An individual cooling fan is removed or has failed. See "Troubleshooting a Fan" on page 87.  
Troubleshooting a Fan  
Problem  
System-status indicator is amber.  
System message indicates a fan-related error message.  
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
1
2
3
4
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Ensure that the faulty fan's power cable is firmly attached to the fan power connector. See "Cooling  
Fans" on page 65.  
5
6
7
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to its electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
If the problem is not resolved, install a new fan. See "Cooling Fans" on page 65.  
If the replacement fan is working properly, close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
If the replacement fan does not operate, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Troubleshooting System Memory  
Problem  
Faulty memory module.  
Faulty system board.  
Diagnostic indicator code indicates a problem with system memory.  
Troubleshooting Your System  
87  
         
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and then turn them on again.  
If an error message does not appear, continue to the next step.  
If an error message appears, go to step 11.  
3
Enter the System Setup program and check the system memory setting. See "Using the System Setup  
Program" on page 27.  
If the amount of memory installed matches the system memory setting, go to step 11.  
4
5
6
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Ensure that the memory banks are populated correctly. See "Memory Module Installation Guidelines"  
on page 59.  
If the memory modules are populated correctly, continue to the next step.  
7
8
9
Reseat the memory modules in their sockets. See "Installing a Memory Module" on page 60.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
10 Enter the System Setup program and check the system memory setting. See "Using the System Setup  
Program" on page 27. If the amount of memory installed still does not match the system memory  
setting, proceed to the next step.  
11 Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its electrical outlet.  
12 Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
NOTE: Several configurations for the memory modules exist; see "Memory Module Installation Guidelines" on  
page 59.  
13 If a diagnostic test or error message indicates a specific memory module as faulty, swap or replace the  
module. Otherwise, swap the memory module in socket 1 with a module of the same type and capacity  
that is known to be good. See "Installing a Memory Module" on page 60.  
14 Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
15 Reconnect the system to its electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
16 As the system boots, observe any error message that appears and the diagnostic indicators on the front  
of the system.  
88  
Troubleshooting Your System  
   
17 If the memory problem is still indicated, repeat step 11 through step 16 for each memory module  
installed.  
If the problem persists, see "Getting Help" on page 107.  
Troubleshooting a Diskette Drive  
Problem  
Error message indicates a diskette drive problem.  
Action  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
1
Enter the System Setup program and verify that the diskette drive is configured correctly. See "Using  
the System Setup Program" on page 27.  
2
3
4
5
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Ensure that the diskette drive interface cable is securely connected to the diskette drive and the system  
board.  
6
7
8
9
Ensure that a power cable is properly connected to the drive.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test to see whether the diskette drive works correctly.  
If the problem persists, continue with the following steps.  
10 Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its electrical outlet.  
11 Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
12 Remove all expansion cards installed in the system. See "Removing an Expansion Card" on page 56.  
13 Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
14 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
15 Run the appropriate online diagnostic test to see whether the diskette drive works correctly.  
If the tests run successfully, an expansion card may be conflicting with the diskette drive logic, or an  
expansion card may be faulty. Continue to the next step.  
If the tests fail, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Troubleshooting Your System  
89  
       
16 Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
17 Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
18 Reinstall one of the expansion cards you removed in step 12. See "Installing an Expansion Card" on  
page 57.  
20 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
21 Run the appropriate online diagnostic test to see whether the diskette drive works correctly.  
22 Repeat step 16 through step 21 until all expansion cards are reinstalled or one of the expansion cards  
causes the tests to fail.  
If the problem is not resolved, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Troubleshooting an Optical Drive  
Problem  
System cannot read data from a CD or DVD in an optical drive.  
Optical drive indicator does not blink during boot.  
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
Try using a different CD or DVD that you know works properly.  
Enter the System Setup program and ensure that the drive’s IDE controller is enabled. See "Using the  
System Setup Program" on page 27.  
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Ensure that the interface cable is securely connected to the optical drive and to the controller.  
Ensure that a power cable is properly connected to the drive.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
If the problem is not resolved, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
90  
Troubleshooting Your System  
       
Troubleshooting an IDE Tape Drive  
Problem  
System cannot read data from a tape in an IDE tape drive.  
Diagnostic indicators or system messages indicate a tape drive-related failure.  
Tape drive indicator (if applicable) does not blink during boot.  
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
Try using a different tape that you know works properly.  
If the problem persists, continue with the following steps.  
Enter the System Setup program and ensure that the drive’s IDE controller is enabled. See "Using the  
System Setup Program" on page 27.  
3
4
5
6
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
on the system board.  
7
8
9
Ensure that a power cable is properly connected to the drive.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
If the problem is not resolved, see "Getting Help" on page 107.  
Troubleshooting a Hard Drive  
Problem  
Device driver error.  
One or more hard drives not recognized by the system.  
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
Troubleshooting Your System  
91  
         
NOTICE: This troubleshooting procedure can destroy data stored on the hard drive. Before you proceed, back up  
all files on the hard drive.  
1
Run the appropriate online diagnostics test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
Depending on the results of the diagnostics test, proceed as needed through the following steps.  
2
3
If you are experiencing problems with multiple hard drives, skip to step 5. For a problem with a single  
hard drive, continue to the next step.  
If your system has a SAS RAID controller, perform the following steps.  
a
Restart the system and press <Ctrl><R> to enter the host adapter configuration utility program.  
See the documentation supplied with the host adapter for information about the configuration  
utility.  
b
c
Ensure that the hard drive has been configured correctly for the RAID.  
Exit the configuration utility and allow the system to boot to the operating system.  
4
5
Ensure that the required device drivers for your SAS controller card or SAS RAID controller are  
installed and are configured correctly. See the operating system documentation for more information.  
Check the cable connections inside the system:  
a
Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the  
electrical outlet.  
b
c
Verify that the cable connections between the hard drive(s) and the drive controller are correct,  
whether the connections are to the SATA connectors on the system board, a SAS expansion card,  
or a SAS RAID controller. See "Hard Drives" on page 51.  
d
e
f
Verify that the SAS or SATA cables are securely seated in their connectors.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
If the problem persists, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Troubleshooting a SAS RAID Controller  
NOTE: When troubleshooting a SAS RAID controller, also see the documentation for your operating system and  
the controller.  
Problem  
Error message indicates a problem with the SAS RAID controller.  
SAS RAID controller performs incorrectly or not at all.  
92  
Troubleshooting Your System  
     
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
Enter the System Setup program and ensure that the SAS RAID controller is enabled. See "Using the  
System Setup Program" on page 27.  
3
4
Restart the system and press <Ctrl><C> for the installed controller card to enter the configuration  
utility program.  
See the controller's documentation for information about configuration settings.  
Check the configuration settings, make any necessary corrections, and restart the system.  
If the problem is not resolved, continue to the next step.  
5
6
7
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Ensure that the controller card is firmly seated into the system board connector. See "Installing an  
Expansion Card" on page 57.  
8
Drives" on page 51.  
Ensure that the cables are firmly connected to the SAS controller and the hard drives.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
9
10 Reconnect the system to its electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals. If the  
problem persists, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
Troubleshooting Expansion Cards  
NOTE: When troubleshooting an expansion card, see the documentation for your operating system and the  
expansion card.  
Problem  
Error message indicates a problem with an expansion card.  
Expansion card performs incorrectly or not at all.  
Troubleshooting Your System  
93  
     
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
1
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test for the expansion card which is exhibiting issues. See "Using  
Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97. Follow any recommended actions provided by the  
2
3
4
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Ensure that each expansion card is firmly seated in its connector. See "Installing an Expansion Card"  
on page 57.  
5
6
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
If the problem persists, go to the next step.  
7
8
9
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Remove all expansion cards in the system. See "Removing an Expansion Card" on page 56.  
NOTE: If your operating system is running off a disk controller card (such as a SAS controller card), do not  
remove it.  
11 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
card.  
PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 97.  
a
b
c
d
e
f
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Remove an expansion card. See "Removing an Expansion Card" on page 56.  
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test.  
If the tests fail, repeat step 13 for each expansion card until you are able to single out the faulty  
expansion card.  
If the tests fail for all expansion cards, see "Getting Help" on page 107  
.
94  
Troubleshooting Your System  
 
Troubleshooting the Microprocessor  
Problem  
Error message indicates a processor problem.  
Diagnostic indicator code indicates a problem with the processor or system board.  
A heat sink is not installed for the processor.  
Action  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
If possible, run the appropriate online diagnostics test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on  
page 97.  
2
3
4
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
Ensure that the processor and heat sink are properly installed. See "Replacing the Processor" on  
page 65.  
5
6
7
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
If possible, run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Running the System Diagnostics" on  
page 97.  
If the tests fail or the problem persists, continue to the next step.  
8
9
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
10  
Replace the processor. See "Replacing the Processor" on page 65.  
11 Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
12 Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system and attached peripherals.  
13 Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Running the System Diagnostics" on page 97.  
If the problem persists, the system board is faulty. See "Getting Help" on page 107.  
Troubleshooting Your System  
95  
     
96  
Troubleshooting Your System  
Running the System Diagnostics  
If you experience a problem with your system, run the diagnostics before calling for technical assistance.  
The purpose of the diagnostics is to test your system's hardware without requiring additional equipment  
or risking data loss. If you are unable to fix the problem yourself, service and support personnel can use  
diagnostics test results to help you solve the problem.  
Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics  
®
®
To assess a system problem, first use the online Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics. Dell PowerEdge  
Diagnostics is a suite of diagnostic programs, or test modules, that include diagnostic tests on chassis  
and storage components such as hard drives, physical memory, communications and printer ports,  
NICs, CMOS, and more. If you are unable to identify the problem using the PowerEdge Diagnostics,  
then use the system diagnostics.  
®
®
The files required to run PowerEdge Diagnostics for systems running supported Microsoft Windows  
and Linux operating systems are available at support.dell.com and on the CDs that came with your  
system. For information about using diagnostics, see the Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics User's Guide.  
System Diagnostics Features  
The system diagnostics provides a series of menus and options for particular device groups or devices.  
The system diagnostics menus and options allow you to:  
Run tests individually or collectively.  
Control the sequence of tests.  
Repeat tests.  
Display, print, or save test results.  
Temporarily suspend testing if an error is detected or terminate testing when a user-defined error  
limit is reached.  
View help messages that briefly describe each test and its parameters.  
View status messages that inform you if tests are completed successfully.  
View error messages that inform you of problems encountered during testing.  
Running the System Diagnostics  
97  
         
When to Use the System Diagnostics  
If a major component or device in the system does not operate properly, component failure may be  
indicated. As long as the microprocessor and the system's input/output devices (monitor, keyboard, and  
diskette drive) are functioning, you can use the system diagnostics to help identify the problem.  
Running the System Diagnostics  
The system diagnostics is run from the utility partition on your hard drive.  
NOTICE: Use the system diagnostics to test only your system. Using this program with other systems may cause  
invalid results or error messages. In addition, use only the program that came with your system (or an updated  
version of that program).  
1
2
As the system boots, press <F10> during POST.  
From the utility partition main menu, select Run System Diagnostics, or select Run Memory  
Diagnostics if you are troubleshooting memory.  
When you start the system diagnostics, a message is displayed stating that the diagnostics are initializing.  
Next, the Diagnostics menu appears. The menu allows you to run all or specific diagnostics tests or to exit  
the system diagnostics.  
NOTE: Before you read the rest of this section, start the system diagnostics so that you can see the utility on your  
screen.  
System Diagnostics Testing Options  
Click the testing option in the Main Menu window. Table 5-1 provides a brief explanation of testing  
options.  
Table 5-1. System Diagnostics Testing Options  
Testing Option  
Function  
Express Test  
Performs a quick check of the system. This option runs device tests  
that do not require user interaction. Use this option to quickly identify  
the source of your problem.  
Extended Test  
Performs a more thorough check of the system. This test can take an  
hour or longer.  
Custom Test  
Information  
Tests a particular device.  
Displays test results.  
Using the Custom Test Options  
When you select Custom Test in the Main Menu window, the Customize window appears and allows you  
to select the device(s) to be tested, select specific options for testing, and view the test results.  
98  
Running the System Diagnostics  
                 
Selecting Devices for Testing  
The left side of the Customize window lists devices that can be tested. Devices are grouped by device type  
or by module, depending on the option you select. Click the (+) next to a device or module to view its  
components. Click (+) on any component to view the tests that are available. Clicking a device, rather than  
its components, selects all of the components of the device for testing.  
Selecting Diagnostics Options  
Use the Diagnostics Options area to select how you want to test a device. You can set the following options:  
Non-Interactive Tests Only — When checked, runs only tests that require no user intervention.  
Quick Tests Only — When checked, runs only the quick tests on the device. Extended tests will not  
run when you select this option.  
Show Ending Timestamp — When checked, time stamps the test log.  
Test Iterations — Selects the number of times the test is run.  
Log output file pathname — When checked, enables you to specify where the test log file is saved.  
Viewing Information and Results  
The tabs in the Customize window provide information about the test and the test results. The following  
tabs are available:  
Results — Displays the test that ran and the result.  
Errors — Displays any errors that occurred during the test.  
Help — Displays information about the currently selected device, component, or test.  
Configuration — Displays basic configuration information about the currently selected device.  
Parameters — If applicable, displays parameters that you can set for the test.  
Running the System Diagnostics  
99  
     
100  
Running the System Diagnostics  
Jumpers and Connectors  
This section provides specific information about the system jumpers and describes the connectors on  
the various boards in the system.  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online  
or telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered  
by your warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
Figure 6-1 shows the location of the configuration jumpers on the system board. Table 6-1 lists the  
jumper settings.  
Jumpers and Connectors  
101  
     
Figure 6-1. System Board Jumpers  
Table 6-1. System Board Jumper Settings  
Jumper  
Setting  
Description  
PSWD  
(default) The password feature is enabled.  
The password feature is disabled.  
RTCRST  
(default) The configuration settings in NVRAM are retained at system  
boot.  
The configuration settings in NVRAM are cleared at next  
system boot.  
102  
Jumpers and Connectors  
   
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
See Figure 6-2 and Table 6-2 for the location and description of the system board connectors.  
Figure 6-2. System Board Connectors  
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
20  
19  
8
9
10  
18  
17  
11  
12  
13  
16  
15  
14  
Jumpers and Connectors  
103  
       
Table 6-2. System Board Connectors  
Item  
1
Connector  
Description  
12VPOWER  
power  
2
DIMM_1, DIMM_2, DIMM_3, memory modules  
DIMM_4  
3
BATTERY  
FAN_MEM  
FRONTPANEL  
POWER  
battery socket  
memory fan  
front panel  
main power  
IDE drive  
4
5
6
7
IDE  
8
SATA0, SATA1, SATA2, SATA3 SATA drives  
9
RTCRST  
RTC reset jumper  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
INTRUDER  
SLOT1  
chassis intrusion header  
PCIe x1  
SLOT2  
PCIe x8  
SLOT4  
PCIe x4  
SLOT3, SLOT5  
AUX_LED  
FLOPPY  
PCI  
auxiliary hard-drive LED  
diskette drive  
card cage fan  
processor fan  
password jumper  
processor  
FAN_CARD_CAGE  
FAN_CPU  
PSWD  
CPU  
Disabling a Forgotten Password  
The password jumper on the system board enables the system password features or disables them and clears  
any password(s) currently in use.  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform  
troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or  
telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your  
warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.  
1
2
Turn off the system and attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical outlet.  
Open the system. See "Opening the System" on page 41.  
104  
Jumpers and Connectors  
       
3
Move the PSWD jumper to the disabled position.  
See Figure 6-1 to locate the password jumper on the system board.  
4
5
Close the system. See "Closing the System" on page 41.  
Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system.  
The existing passwords are not disabled (erased) until the system boots with the password jumper plug  
removed. However, before you assign a new system and/or setup password, you must install the jumper  
plug.  
NOTE: If you assign a new system and/or setup password with the jumper plug still removed, the system  
disables the new password(s) the next time it boots.  
6
Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the electrical  
outlet.  
7
8
9
Move the PSWD jumper from the disabled position to the enabled position.  
Close the system, reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system.  
10 Assign a new system and/or setup password.  
To assign a new password using the System Setup program, see "Using the System Password" on  
page 35.  
Jumpers and Connectors  
105  
106  
Jumpers and Connectors  
Getting Help  
Obtaining Assistance  
1
2
3
4
Complete the procedures in "Troubleshooting Your System."  
Run the system diagnostics and record any information provided.  
Make a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist (see "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 111), and fill it out.  
Use Dell's extensive suite of online services available at Dell Support at support.dell.com for help  
with installation and troubleshooting procedures.  
For more information, see "Online Services" on page 107.  
5
If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem, call Dell for technical assistance.  
NOTE: Call technical support from a phone near or at the system so that technical support can assist you with any  
necessary procedures.  
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 technical support service, see "Support Service" on page 108 and  
"Before You Call" on page 110.  
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.  
Online Services  
You can access Dell Support at support.dell.com. Select your region on the WELCOME TO DELL  
SUPPORT page, and fill in the requested details to access help tools and information.  
You can contact Dell electronically using the following addresses:  
World Wide Web  
www.dell.com/  
www.dell.com/ap/ (Asian/Pacific countries only)  
www.dell.com/jp (Japan only)  
www.euro.dell.com (Europe only)  
Getting Help  
107  
       
www.dell.com/la (Latin American countries)  
www.dell.ca (Canada only)  
Anonymous file transfer protocol (FTP)  
ftp.dell.com/  
Log in as user:anonymous, and use your e-mail address as your password.  
Electronic Support Service  
[email protected] (Asian/Pacific countries only)  
support.jp.dell.com (Japan only)  
support.euro.dell.com (Europe only)  
Electronic Quote Service  
[email protected] (Asian/Pacific countries only)  
[email protected] (Canada only)  
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 computer systems.  
When you call AutoTech, use your touch-tone telephone to select the subjects that correspond to your  
questions.  
The AutoTech service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also access this service through  
the support service. See the contact information for your region.  
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 information needed to  
locate and report on your order. See the contact information for your region.  
Support Service  
Dell's support service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to answer your questions about Dell  
hardware. Our support staff use computer-based diagnostics to provide fast, accurate answers.  
To contact Dell's support service, see "Before You Call" on page 110 and then see the contact information  
for your region.  
108  
Getting Help  
     
Dell Enterprise Training and Certification  
Dell Enterprise Training and Certification is available; see www.dell.com/training for more information.  
This service may not be offered in all locations.  
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 available when you call. See the contact  
information for your region.  
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 to speak to a sales  
specialist, see the contact information for your region.  
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, see the contact information for your region.  
Include a copy of the invoice and a letter describing the reason for the return.  
2
3
Include a copy of any diagnostic information, including the Diagnostics Checklist (see "Diagnostics  
Checklist" on page 111), indicating the tests you have run and any error messages reported by the  
system diagnostics.  
4
5
Include any accessories that belong with the item(s) being returned (such as power cables, media such  
as CDs and diskettes, and guides) if the return is for credit.  
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 our receiving dock and  
returned to you.  
Getting Help  
109  
       
Before You Call  
NOTE: Have your Express Service Code ready when you call. The code helps Dell's automated-support telephone system  
direct your call more efficiently.  
Remember to fill out the Diagnostics Checklist (see "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 111). If possible,  
turn on your system before you call Dell for technical 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 system itself. Ensure that the  
system documentation is available.  
CAUTION: Before servicing any components inside your computer, see your Product Information Guide for  
important safety information.  
110  
Getting Help  
 
Diagnostics Checklist  
Name:  
Date:  
Address:  
Phone number:  
Service Tag (bar code on the back of the computer):  
Express Service Code:  
Return Material Authorization Number (if provided by Dell support technician):  
Operating system and version:  
Peripherals:  
Expansion cards:  
Are you connected to a network? Yes No  
Network, version, and network card:  
Programs and versions:  
See your operating system documentation to determine the contents of the system’s start-up  
files. If possible, 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:  
Getting Help  
111  
 
Contacting Dell  
To contact Dell electronically, you can access the following websites:  
www.dell.com  
support.dell.com (support)  
For specific web addresses for your country, find the appropriate country section in the table below.  
NOTE: Toll-free numbers are for use within the country for which they are listed.  
NOTE: In certain countries, support specific to Dell™ XPS™ computers is available at a separate telephone  
number listed for participating countries. If you do not see a telephone number listed that is specific for XPS  
computers, you may contact Dell through the support number listed and your call will be routed appropriately.  
When you need to contact Dell, use the electronic addresses, telephone numbers, and codes provided in  
the following table. If you need assistance in determining which codes to use, contact a local or an  
international operator.  
NOTE: The contact information provided was deemed correct at the time that this document went to print and is  
subject to change.  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Anguilla  
Website: www.dell.com.ai  
General Support  
toll-free: 800-335-0031  
Antigua and Barbuda  
Website: www.dell.com.ag  
General Support  
1-800-805-5924  
Argentina (Buenos Aires)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 54  
Website: www.dell.com.ar  
E-mail for desktop and portable computers:  
City Code: 11  
®
E-mail for servers and EMC storage products:  
Customer Care  
toll-free: 0-800-444-0730  
toll-free: 0-800-444-0733  
toll-free: 0-800-444-0724  
0-810-444-3355  
Technical Support  
Technical Support Services  
Sales  
112  
Getting Help  
   
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Aruba  
Website: www.dell.com.aw  
General Support  
toll-free: 800-1578  
Australia (Sydney)  
Website: support.ap.dell.com  
International Access Code: 0011 E-mail: support.ap.dell.com/contactus  
Country Code: 61  
City Code: 2  
General Support  
13DELL-133355  
Austria (Vienna)  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
International Access Code: 900 E-mail: [email protected]  
Country Code: 43  
Home/Small Business Sales  
0820 240 530 00  
0820 240 530 49  
0820 240 530 14  
0820 240 530 16  
0820 240 530 81  
0820 240 530 17  
City Code: 1  
Home/Small Business Fax  
Home/Small Business Customer Care  
Preferred Accounts/Corporate Customer Care  
Support for XPS  
Home/Small Business Support for all other Dell  
computers  
Preferred Accounts/Corporate Support  
Switchboard  
0820 240 530 17  
0820 240 530 00  
Bahamas  
Website: www.dell.com.bs  
General Support  
toll-free: 1-866-278-6818  
Barbados  
Website: www.dell.com/bb  
General Support  
1-800-534-3142  
Getting Help  
113  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Belgium (Brussels)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 32  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Tech Support for XPS  
Tech Support for all other Dell computers  
Tech Support Fax  
02 481 92 96  
02 481 92 88  
02 481 92 95  
02 713 15 65  
02 481 91 00  
02 481 92 99  
02 481 91 00  
City Code: 2  
Customer Care  
Corporate Sales  
Fax  
Switchboard  
Bermuda  
Website: www.dell.com/bm  
General Support  
1-877-890-0751  
Bolivia  
Website: www.dell.com/bo  
General Support  
toll-free: 800-10-0238  
Brazil  
Website: www.dell.com/br  
Customer Support, Tech Support  
Technical Support Fax  
Customer Care Fax  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 55  
City Code: 51  
0800 90 3355  
51 3481 5470  
51 3481 5480  
Sales  
0800 90 3390  
British Virgin Islands  
Brunei  
General Support  
toll-free: 1-866-278-6820  
604 633 4966  
Technical Support (Penang, Malaysia)  
Customer Care (Penang, Malaysia)  
Transaction Sales (Penang, Malaysia)  
Country Code: 673  
604 633 4888  
604 633 4955  
114  
Getting Help  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Canada (North York, Ontario) Online Order Status: www.dell.ca/ostatus  
International Access Code: 011 AutoTech (automated Hardware and Warranty  
toll-free: 1-800-247-9362  
Support)  
Customer Service (Home Sales/Small Business)  
toll-free: 1-800-847-4096  
toll-free: 1-800-326-9463  
Customer Service (med./large business,  
government)  
Customer Service (printers, projectors, televisions,  
handhelds, digital jukebox, and wireless)  
toll-free: 1-800-847-4096  
toll-free: 1-800-906-3355  
toll-free: 1-800-387-5757  
1-877-335-5767  
Hardware Warranty Support (Home Sales/Small  
Business)  
Hardware Warranty Support (med./large bus.,  
government)  
Hardware Warranty Support (printers, projectors,  
televisions, handhelds, digital jukebox, and wireless)  
Sales (Home Sales/Small Business)  
Sales (med./large bus., government)  
Spare Parts Sales & Extended Service Sales  
toll-free: 1-800-387-5752  
toll-free: 1-800-387-5755  
1 866 440 3355  
Cayman Islands  
General Support  
1-877-262-5415  
Chile (Santiago)  
Country Code: 56  
City Code: 2  
Website: www.dell.com/cl  
Sales and Customer Support  
toll-free: 1230-020-4823  
Getting Help  
115  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
China (Xiamen)  
Country Code: 86  
City Code: 592  
Technical Support website: support.dell.com.cn  
Technical Support E-mail: [email protected]  
Customer Care E-mail: [email protected]  
Technical Support Fax  
592 818 1350  
Technical Support (Dell™ Dimension™ and  
Inspiron)  
toll-free: 800 858 2968  
Technical Support (OptiPlex™, Latitude™, and  
Dell Precision™)  
toll-free: 800 858 0950  
Technical Support (servers and storage)  
toll-free: 800 858 0960  
toll-free: 800 858 2920  
Technical Support (projectors, PDAs, switches,  
routers, and so on)  
Technical Support (printers)  
Customer Care  
toll-free: 800 858 2311  
toll-free: 800 858 2060  
592 818 1308  
Customer Care Fax  
Home and Small Business  
Preferred Accounts Division  
Large Corporate Accounts GCP  
Large Corporate Accounts Key Accounts  
Large Corporate Accounts North  
toll-free: 800 858 2222  
toll-free: 800 858 2557  
toll-free: 800 858 2055  
toll-free: 800 858 2628  
toll-free: 800 858 2999  
toll-free: 800 858 2955  
Large Corporate Accounts North Government and  
Education  
Large Corporate Accounts East  
toll-free: 800 858 2020  
toll-free: 800 858 2669  
Large Corporate Accounts East Government and  
Education  
Large Corporate Accounts Queue Team  
Large Corporate Accounts South  
Large Corporate Accounts West  
Large Corporate Accounts Spare Parts  
Website: www.dell.com/cl  
toll-free: 800 858 2572  
toll-free: 800 858 2355  
toll-free: 800 858 2811  
toll-free: 800 858 2621  
Colombia  
General Support  
01-800-915-4755  
116  
Getting Help  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Costa Rica  
Website: www.dell.com/cr  
General Support  
0800-012-0231  
Czech Republic (Prague)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 420  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Technical Support  
22537 2727  
22537 2707  
22537 2714  
22537 2728  
22537 2711  
Customer Care  
Fax  
Technical Fax  
Switchboard  
Denmark (Copenhagen)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 45  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Technical Support for XPS  
Technical Support for all other Dell computers  
Customer Care (Relational)  
Home/Small Business Customer Care  
Switchboard (Relational)  
Switchboard Fax (Relational)  
Switchboard (Home/Small Business)  
Switchboard Fax (Home/Small Business)  
Website: www.dell.com/dm  
General Support  
7010 0074  
7023 0182  
7023 0184  
3287 5505  
3287 1200  
3287 1201  
3287 5000  
3287 5001  
Dominica  
toll-free: 1-866-278-6821  
Dominican Republic  
Website: www.dell.com/do  
General Support  
1-800-156-1588  
Ecuador  
Website: www.dell.com/ec  
General Support (calling from Quito)  
General Support (calling from Guayaquil)  
toll-free: 999-119-877-655-3355  
toll-free: 1800-999-119-877-655-  
3355  
Getting Help  
117  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
El Salvador  
Website: www.dell.com/ec  
General Support  
800-6132  
Finland (Helsinki)  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
International Access Code: 990 E-mail: [email protected]  
Country Code: 358  
Technical Support  
0207 533 555  
0207 533 538  
0207 533 533  
0207 533 540  
0207 533 530  
0207 533 533  
0207 533 530  
City Code: 9  
Customer Care  
Switchboard  
Sales under 500 employees  
Fax  
Sales over 500 employees  
Fax  
France (Paris) (Montpellier)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 33  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Home and Small Business  
Technical Support for XPS  
0825 387 129  
0825 387 270  
0825 823 833  
0825 004 700  
04 99 75 40 00  
0825 004 700  
0825 004 701  
04 99 75 40 01  
City Codes: (1) (4)  
Technical Support for all other Dell computers  
Customer Care  
Switchboard  
Switchboard (calls from outside of France)  
Sales  
Fax  
Fax (calls from outside of France)  
Corporate  
Technical Support  
Customer Care  
Switchboard  
Sales  
0825 004 719  
0825 338 339  
01 55 94 71 00  
01 55 94 71 00  
01 55 94 71 01  
Fax  
118  
Getting Help  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Germany (Frankfurt)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 49  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Technical Support for XPS  
Technical Support for all other Dell computers  
Home/Small Business Customer Care  
Global Segment Customer Care  
Preferred Accounts Customer Care  
Large Accounts Customer Care  
Public Accounts Customer Care  
Switchboard  
069 9792 7222  
069 9792-7200  
0180-5-224400  
069 9792-7320  
069 9792-7320  
069 9792-7320  
069 9792-7320  
069 9792-7000  
City Code: 69  
Greece  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Technical Support  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 30  
00800-44 14 95 18  
00800-44 14 00 83  
2108129810  
Gold Service Technical Support  
Switchboard  
Gold Service Switchboard  
Sales  
2108129811  
2108129800  
Fax  
2108129812  
Grenada  
Guatemala  
Guyana  
General Support  
toll-free: 1-866-540-3355  
1-800-999-0136  
General Support  
General Support  
toll-free: 1-877-270-4609  
Getting Help  
119  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Hong Kong  
Website: support.ap.dell.com  
International Access Code: 001 Technical Support E-mail: [email protected]  
Country Code: 852  
Technical Support (Dimension and Inspiron)  
2969 3188  
2969 3191  
Technical Support (OptiPlex, Latitude, and Dell  
Precision)  
Technical Support (PowerApp™, PowerEdge™,  
PowerConnect™, and PowerVault™)  
2969 3196  
Customer Care  
3416 0910  
3416 0907  
3416 0908  
3416 0912  
2969 3105  
Large Corporate Accounts  
Global Customer Programs  
Medium Business Division  
Home and Small Business Division  
India  
Technical Support  
1600338045  
and 1600448046  
1600 33 8044  
Sales (Large Corporate Accounts)  
Sales (Home and Small Business)  
1600 33 8046  
120  
Getting Help  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Ireland (Cherrywood)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 353  
City Code: 1  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Sales  
Ireland Sales  
01 204 4444  
1850 200 778  
1850 200 778  
Dell Outlet  
Online Ordering HelpDesk  
Customer Care  
Home User Customer Care  
Small Business Customer Care  
Corporate Customer Care  
Technical Support  
01 204 4014  
01 204 4014  
1850 200 982  
Technical Support for XPS computers only  
Technical Support for all other Dell computers  
General  
1850 200 722  
1850 543 543  
Fax/Sales Fax  
01 204 0103  
01 204 4444  
Switchboard  
U.K. Customer Care (dial within U.K. only)  
Corporate Customer Care (dial within U.K. only)  
U.K. Sales (dial within U.K. only)  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Home and Small Business  
Technical Support  
0870 906 0010  
0870 907 4499  
0870 907 4000  
Italy (Milan)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 39  
City Code: 02  
02 577 826 90  
02 696 821 14  
02 696 821 13  
02 696 821 12  
Customer Care  
Fax  
Switchboard  
Corporate  
Technical Support  
02 577 826 90  
02 577 825 55  
02 575 035 30  
02 577 821  
Customer Care  
Fax  
Switchboard  
Getting Help  
121  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Jamaica  
General Support (dial from within Jamaica only)  
1-800-440-9205  
Japan (Kawasaki)  
Website: support.jp.dell.com  
International Access Code: 001 Technical Support (servers)  
toll-free: 0120-198-498  
81-44-556-4162  
Country Code: 81  
Technical Support outside of Japan (servers)  
City Code: 44  
Technical Support (Dimension and Inspiron)  
toll-free: 0120-198-226  
81-44-520-1435  
Technical Support outside of Japan (Dimension and  
Inspiron)  
Technical Support (Dell Precision, OptiPlex, and  
Latitude)  
toll-free:0120-198-433  
81-44-556-3894  
Technical Support outside of Japan (Dell Precision,  
OptiPlex, and Latitude)  
Technical Support (PDAs, projectors, printers,  
routers)  
toll-free: 0120-981-690  
81-44-556-3468  
Technical Support outside of Japan (PDAs,  
projectors, printers, routers)  
Faxbox Service  
044-556-3490  
044-556-3801  
044-556-4240  
044-556-1465  
044-556-3433  
24-Hour Automated Order Status Service  
Customer Care  
Business Sales Division (up to 400 employees)  
Preferred Accounts Division Sales (over 400  
employees)  
Public Sales (government agencies, educational  
institutions, and medical institutions)  
044-556-5963  
Global Segment Japan  
Individual User  
Switchboard  
044-556-3469  
044-556-1760  
044-556-4300  
122  
Getting Help  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Korea (Seoul)  
International Access Code: 001 Support  
toll-free: 080-200-3800  
toll-free: 080-200-3801  
Country Code: 82  
Support (Dimension, PDA, Electronics and  
Accessories)  
City Code: 2  
Sales  
toll-free: 080-200-3600  
2194-6202  
Fax  
Switchboard  
2194-6000  
Latin America  
Customer Technical Support (Austin, Texas,  
U.S.A.)  
512 728-4093  
Customer Service (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)  
512 728-3619  
512 728-3883  
Fax (Technical Support and Customer Service)  
(Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)  
Sales (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)  
512 728-4397  
512 728-4600  
SalesFax (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)  
or 512 728-3772  
Luxembourg  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Support  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 352  
342 08 08 075  
+32 (0)2 713 15 96  
26 25 77 81  
Home/Small Business Sales  
Corporate Sales  
Customer Care  
+32 (0)2 481 91 19  
26 25 77 82  
Fax  
Macao  
Technical Support  
toll-free: 0800 105  
34 160 910  
Country Code: 853  
Customer Service (Xiamen, China)  
Transaction Sales (Xiamen, China)  
29 693 115  
Getting Help  
123  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Malaysia (Penang)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 60  
Website: support.ap.dell.com  
Technical Support (Dell Precision, OptiPlex, and  
Latitude)  
toll-free: 1 800 880 193  
toll-free: 1 800 881 306  
toll-free: 1800 881 386  
Technical Support (Dimension, Inspiron, and  
Electronics and Accessories)  
City Code: 4  
Technical Support (PowerApp, PowerEdge,  
PowerConnect, and PowerVault)  
Customer Care  
toll-free: 1800 881 306  
(option 6)  
Transaction Sales  
toll-free: 1 800 888 202  
toll-free: 1 800 888 213  
Corporate Sales  
Mexico  
Customer Technical Support  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 52  
001-877-384-8979  
or 001-877-269-3383  
50-81-8800  
Sales  
or 01-800-888-3355  
001-877-384-8979  
or 001-877-269-3383  
50-81-8800  
Customer Service  
Main  
or 01-800-888-3355  
Montserrat  
General Support  
toll-free: 1-866-278-6822  
001-800-882-1519  
Netherlands Antilles  
General Support  
124  
Getting Help  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Netherlands (Amsterdam)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 31  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Technical Support for XPS  
Technical Support for all other Dell computers  
Technical Support Fax  
020 674 45 94  
020 674 45 00  
020 674 47 66  
020 674 42 00  
020 674 4325  
020 674 55 00  
020 674 50 00  
020 674 47 75  
020 674 47 50  
020 674 50 00  
020 674 47 50  
City Code: 20  
Home/Small Business Customer Care  
Relational Customer Care  
Home/Small Business Sales  
Relational Sales  
Home/Small Business Sales Fax  
Relational Sales Fax  
Switchboard  
Switchboard Fax  
New Zealand  
Website: support.ap.dell.com  
E-mail: support.ap.dell.com/contactus  
General Support  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 64  
Nicaragua  
0800 441 567  
General Support  
001-800-220-1377  
Norway (Lysaker)  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Technical Support for XPS  
Technical Support for all other Dell products  
Relational Customer Care  
Home/Small Business Customer Care  
Switchboard  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 47  
815 35 043  
671 16882  
671 17575  
23162298  
671 16800  
671 16865  
Fax Switchboard  
Panama  
Peru  
General Support  
011-800-507-1264  
0800-50-669  
General Support  
Getting Help  
125  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Poland (Warsaw)  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
International Access Code: 011 E-mail: [email protected]  
Country Code: 48  
Customer Service Phone  
Customer Care  
57 95 700  
57 95 999  
57 95 999  
57 95 806  
57 95 998  
57 95 999  
City Code: 22  
Sales  
Customer Service Fax  
Reception Desk Fax  
Switchboard  
Portugal  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Technical Support  
Customer Care  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 351  
707200149  
800 300 413  
Sales  
800 300 410 or 800 300 411 or  
800 300 412 or 21 422 07 10  
Fax  
21 424 01 12  
Puerto Rico  
General Support  
1-877-537-3355  
St. Kitts and Nevis  
Website: www.dell.com/kn  
General Support  
toll-free: 1-866-540-3355  
St. Lucia  
Website: www.dell.com/lc  
General Support  
1-800-882-1521  
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Website: www.dell.com/vc  
General Support  
toll-free: 1-877-441-4740  
126  
Getting Help  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Singapore (Singapore)  
International Access Code: 005  
Country Code: 65  
NOTE: The phone numbers in this section should be  
called from within Singapore or Malaysia only.  
Website: support.ap.dell.com  
Technical Support (Dimension, Inspiron, and  
Electronics and Accessories)  
toll-free: 1 800 394 7430  
toll-free: 1 800 394 7488  
toll-free: 1 800 394 7478  
Technical Support (OptiPlex, Latitude, and Dell  
Precision)  
Technical Support (PowerApp, PowerEdge,  
PowerConnect, and PowerVault)  
Customer Care  
toll-free: 1 800 394 7430  
(option 6)  
Transaction Sales  
Corporate Sales  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Technical Support  
Customer Care  
toll-free: 1 800 394 7412  
toll-free: 1 800 394 7419  
Slovakia (Prague)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 421  
02 5441 5727  
420 22537 2707  
02 5441 8328  
02 5441 8328  
02 5441 7585  
Fax  
Tech Fax  
Switchboard (Sales)  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Gold Queue  
South Africa (Johannesburg)  
International Access Code:  
09/091  
011 709 7713  
011 709 7710  
011 709 7707  
011 709 7700  
011 706 0495  
011 709 7700  
604 633 4810  
Country Code: 27  
City Code: 11  
Technical Support  
Customer Care  
Sales  
Fax  
Switchboard  
Southeast Asian and Pacific  
Countries  
Technical Support, Customer Service, and Sales  
(Penang, Malaysia)  
Getting Help  
127  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Spain (Madrid)  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 34  
City Code: 91  
Home and Small Business  
Technical Support  
902 100 130  
902 118 540  
902 118 541  
902 118 541  
902 118 539  
Customer Care  
Sales  
Switchboard  
Fax  
Corporate  
Technical Support  
902 100 130  
902 115 236  
91 722 92 00  
91 722 95 83  
Customer Care  
Switchboard  
Fax  
Sweden (Upplands Vasby)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 46  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
Technical Support for XPS  
Technical Support for all other Dell products  
Relational Customer Care  
Home/Small Business Customer Care  
Employee Purchase Program (EPP) Support  
Technical Support Fax  
Sales  
0771 340 340  
08 590 05 199  
08 590 05 642  
08 587 70 527  
020 140 14 44  
08 590 05 594  
08 590 05 185  
City Code: 8  
Switzerland (Geneva)  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 41  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
E-mail: Te[email protected]  
Technical Support for XPS  
0848 33 88 57  
0844 811 411  
City Code: 22  
Technical Support (Home and Small Business) for  
all other Dell products  
Technical Support (Corporate)  
Customer Care (Home and Small Business)  
Customer Care (Corporate)  
Fax  
0844 822 844  
0848 802 202  
0848 821 721  
022 799 01 90  
022 799 01 01  
Switchboard  
128  
Getting Help  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
Taiwan  
Website: support.ap.dell.com  
International Access Code: 002 E-mail: [email protected]  
Country Code: 886  
Technical Support (OptiPlex, Latitude, Inspiron,  
toll-free: 00801 86 1011  
toll-free: 00801 60 1256  
Dimension, and Electronics and Accessories)  
Technical Support (PowerApp, PowerEdge,  
PowerConnect, and PowerVault)  
Customer Care  
toll-free: 00801 60 1250  
(option 5)  
Transaction Sales  
toll-free: 00801 65 1228  
toll-free: 00801 651 227  
Corporate Sales  
Thailand  
Website: support.ap.dell.com  
International Access Code: 001 Technical Support (OptiPlex, Latitude, and Dell  
toll-free: 1800 0060 07  
toll-free: 1800 0600 09  
Precision)  
Country Code: 66  
Technical Support (PowerApp, PowerEdge,  
PowerConnect, and PowerVault)  
Customer Care  
toll-free: 1800 006 007  
(option 7)  
Corporate Sales  
Transaction Sales  
toll-free: 1800 006 009  
toll-free: 1800 006 006  
Trinidad/Tobago  
Website: www.dell.com/tt  
General Support  
1-800-805-8035  
Turks and Caicos Islands  
Website: www.dell.com/tc  
General Support  
toll-free: 1-877-441-4735  
Getting Help  
129  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
U.K. (Bracknell)  
Website: support.euro.dell.com  
International Access Code: 00  
Country Code: 44  
Customer Care website:  
support.euro.dell.com/uk/en/ECare/form/home.asp  
City Code: 1344  
Sales  
Home and Small Business Sales  
Corporate/Public Sector Sales  
Customer Care  
0870 907 4000  
01344 860 456  
Home and Small Business Customer Care  
Corporate Customer Care  
0870 906 0010  
01344 373 185  
0870 906 0010  
01344 373 186  
01344 373 193  
01344 373 199  
01344 373 194  
Preferred Accounts (500–5000 employees)  
Global Accounts Customer Care  
Central Government Customer Care  
Local Government & Education Customer Care  
Health Customer Care  
Technical Support  
Technical Support for XPS computers only  
0870 366 4180  
0870 908 0500  
Technical Support (Corporate/Preferred  
Accounts/PAD [1000+ employees])  
Technical Support for all other products  
General  
0870 353 0800  
0870 907 4006  
Home and Small Business Fax  
Website: www.dell.com/uy  
General Support  
Uruguay  
toll-free: 000-413-598-2521  
130  
Getting Help  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
Website and E-Mail Address  
Area Codes,  
Local Numbers, and  
Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
U.S.A. (Austin, Texas)  
Automated Order-Status Service  
toll-free: 1-800-433-9014  
toll-free: 1-800-247-9362  
toll-free: 1-877-459-7298  
International Access Code: 011 AutoTech (portable and desktop computers)  
Country Code: 1  
Hardware and Warranty Support (Dell TV,  
Printers, and Projectors) for Relationship  
customers  
Americas Consumer XPS Support  
toll-free: 1-800-232-8544  
toll-free: 1-800-624-9896  
Consumer (Home and Home Office) Support for  
all other Dell products  
Customer Service  
toll-free: 1-800-624-9897  
toll-free: 1-800-695-8133  
Employee Purchase Program (EPP) Customers  
Financial Services website:  
www.dellfinancialservices.com  
Financial Services (lease/loans)  
Financial Services (Dell Preferred Accounts [DPA])  
Business  
toll-free: 1-877-577-3355  
toll-free: 1-800-283-2210  
Customer Service and Support  
Employee Purchase Program (EPP) Customers  
toll-free: 1-800-456-3355  
toll-free: 1-800-695-8133  
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131  
Country (City)  
Department Name or Service Area,  
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Area Codes,  
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Toll-Free Numbers  
International Access Code  
Country Code  
City Code  
U.S. Virgin Islands  
General Support  
1-877-702-4288  
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0800-100-4752  
132  
Getting Help  
Glossary  
This section defines or identifies technical terms,  
abbreviations, and acronyms used in your system  
documents.  
BIOS — Basic input/output system. Your system’s BIOS  
contains programs stored on a flash memory chip. The  
BIOS controls the following:  
• Communications between the processor and  
peripheral devices  
• Miscellaneous functions, such as system messages  
A — Ampere(s).  
bit — The smallest unit of information interpreted by  
AC — Alternating current.  
your system.  
ACPI — Advanced Configuration and Power Interface. A  
standard interface for enabling the operating system to  
direct configuration and power management.  
blade — A module that contains a processor, memory, and  
a hard drive. The modules are mounted into a chassis that  
includes power supplies and fans.  
ambient temperature — The temperature of the area or  
BMC — Baseboard management controller.  
room where the system is located.  
boot routine — A program that clears all memory,  
initializes devices, and loads the operating system when  
you start your system. Unless the operating system fails to  
respond, you can reboot (also called warm boot) your  
system by pressing <Ctrl><Alt><Del>. Otherwise, you  
must restart the system by pressing the reset button or by  
turning the system off and then back on.  
ANSI — American National Standards Institute. The  
primary organization for developing technology standards  
in the U.S.  
application — Software designed to help you perform a  
specific task or series of tasks. Applications run from the  
operating system.  
ASCII — American Standard Code for Information  
bootable diskette — A diskette that is used to start your  
Interchange.  
system if the system will not boot from the hard drive.  
asset tag — An individual code assigned to a system,  
usually by an administrator, for security or tracking  
purposes.  
BTU — British thermal unit.  
bus — An information pathway between the components  
of a system. Your system contains an expansion bus that  
allows the processor to communicate with controllers for  
the peripheral devices connected to the system. Your  
system also contains an address bus and a data bus for  
communications between the processor and RAM.  
backup — A copy of a program or data file. As a  
precaution, back up your system’s hard drive on a regular  
basis. Before making a change to the configuration of your  
system, back up important start-up files from your  
operating system.  
C — Celsius.  
backup battery — A battery that maintains system  
configuration, date, and time information in a special  
section of memory when the system is turned off.  
cache — A fast storage area that keeps a copy of data or  
instructions for quick data retrieval. When a program  
makes a request to a disk drive for data that is in the  
cache, the disk-cache utility can retrieve the data from  
RAM faster than from the disk drive.  
beep code — A diagnostic message in the form of a  
pattern of beeps from your system’s speaker. For example,  
one beep, followed by a second beep, and then a burst of  
three beeps is beep code 1-1-3.  
CD — Compact disc. CD drives use optical technology to  
read data from CDs.  
Glossary  
133  
 
cm — Centimeter(s).  
DIN Deutsche Industrie Norm.  
cmos — Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor.  
directory — Directories help keep related files organized  
on a disk in a hierarchical, “inverted tree” structure. Each  
disk has a “root” directory. Additional directories that  
branch off the root directory are called subdirectories.  
Subdirectories may contain additional directories  
branching off them.  
component — As they relate to DMI, components  
include operating systems, computer systems, expansion  
cards, and peripherals that are compatible with DMI.  
Each component is made up of groups and attributes that  
are defined as relevant to that component.  
DMA — Direct memory access. A DMA channel allows  
certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device  
to bypass the processor.  
COMn The device names for the serial ports on your  
system.  
control panel — The part of the system that contains  
indicators and controls, such as the power button and  
power indicator.  
DMI — Desktop Management Interface. DMI enables  
the management of your system’s software and hardware  
by collecting information about the system’s components,  
such as the operating system, memory, peripherals,  
expansion cards, and asset tag.  
controller — A chip that controls the transfer of data  
between the processor and memory or between the  
processor and a peripheral.  
DNS — Domain Name System. A method of translating  
Internet domain names, such as www.dell.com, into IP  
addresses, such as 143.166.83.200.  
conventional memory — The first 640 KB of RAM.  
Conventional memory is found in all systems. Unless they  
®
are specially designed, MS-DOS programs are limited to  
DRAM — Dynamic random-access memory. A system’s  
running in conventional memory.  
RAM is usually made up entirely of DRAM chips.  
coprocessor — A chip that relieves the system’s processor  
of specific processing tasks. A math coprocessor, for  
example, handles numeric processing.  
DVD — Digital versatile disc.  
ECC — Error checking and correction.  
CPU — Central processing unit. See processor.  
EEPROM — Electronically erasable programmable read-  
only memory.  
DC — Direct current.  
EMC — Electromagnetic compatibility.  
DDR — Double-data rate. A technology in memory  
modules that potentially doubles the output.  
EMI — Electromagnetic interference.  
device driver — A program that allows the operating  
system or some other program to interface correctly with a  
peripheral. Some device drivers—such as network  
drivers—must be loaded from the config.sys file or as  
memory-resident programs (usually, from the  
ERA — Embedded remote access. ERA allows you to  
perform remote, or "out-of-band," server management on  
your network server using a remote access controller.  
ESD — Electrostatic discharge.  
ESM — Embedded server management.  
autoexec.bat file). Others must load when you start the  
program for which they were designed.  
expansion bus Your system contains an expansion bus  
that allows the processor to communicate with controllers  
for peripherals, such as NICs.  
DHCP — Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A  
method of automatically assigning an IP address to a  
client system.  
expansion card — An add-in card, such as a NIC or SCSI  
adapter, that plugs into an expansion-card connector on  
the system board. An expansion card adds some  
diagnostics — A comprehensive set of tests for your  
system.  
specialized function to the system by providing an  
interface between the expansion bus and a peripheral.  
DIMM — Dual in-line memory module. See also memory  
module.  
134  
Glossary  
expansion-card connector — A connector on the system  
headless system — A system or device that functions  
without having a keyboard, mouse, or monitor attached.  
Normally, headless systems are managed over a network  
using an Internet browser.  
board or riser board for plugging in an expansion card.  
F — Fahrenheit.  
FAT — File allocation table. The file system structure  
host adapter — A host adapter implements  
used by MS-DOS to organize and keep track of file  
communication between the system’s bus and the  
controller for a peripheral device. (Hard-drive controller  
subsystems include integrated host adapter circuitry.) To  
add a SCSI expansion bus to your system, you must install  
or connect the appropriate host adapter.  
®
®
storage. The Microsoft Windows operating systems can  
optionally use a FAT file system structure.  
flash memory — A type of EEPROM chip that can be  
reprogrammed from a utility on diskette while still  
installed in a system; most EEPROM chips can only be  
rewritten with special programming equipment.  
Hz — Hertz.  
I/O — Input/output. A keyboard is an input device, and a  
monitor is an output device. In general, I/O activity can be  
differentiated from computational activity.  
format To prepare a hard drive or diskette for storing  
files. An unconditional format deletes all data stored on  
the disk.  
ID — Identification.  
FSB — Front-side bus. The FSB is the data path and  
physical interface between the processor and the main  
memory (RAM).  
IDE — Integrated drive electronics. A standard interface  
between the system board and storage devices.  
ft — Feet.  
integrated mirroring — Provides simultaneous physical  
mirroring of two drives. Integrated mirroring functionality  
is provided by the system’s hardware. See also mirroring.  
FTP — File transfer protocol.  
g — Gram(s).  
internal processor cache — An instruction and data cache  
G — Gravities.  
built into the processor.  
Gb — Gigabit(s); 1024 megabits or 1,073,741,824 bits.  
IP — Internet Protocol.  
GB — Gigabyte(s); 1024 megabytes or 1,073,741,824  
bytes. However, when referring to hard-drive capacity, the  
term is usually rounded to 1,000,000,000 bytes.  
IPX — Internet package exchange.  
IRQ — Interrupt request. A signal that data is about to be  
sent to or received by a peripheral device travels by an IRQ  
line to the processor. Each peripheral connection must be  
assigned an IRQ number. Two devices can share the same  
IRQ assignment, but you cannot operate both devices  
simultaneously.  
graphics mode — A video mode that can be defined as x  
horizontal by y vertical pixels by z colors.  
group — As it relates to DMI, a group is a data structure  
that defines common information, or attributes, about a  
manageable component.  
jumper — Small blocks on a circuit board with two or  
more pins emerging from them. Plastic plugs containing a  
wire fit down over the pins. The wire connects the pins  
and creates a circuit, providing a simple and reversible  
method of changing the circuitry in a board.  
guarding — A type of data redundancy in which a set of  
physical drives stores data and an additional drive stores  
parity data. See also mirroring, striping, and RAID.  
h — Hexadecimal. A base-16 numbering system, often  
used in programming to identify addresses in the system’s  
RAM and I/O memory addresses for devices. In text,  
hexadecimal numbers are often followed by h.  
K — Kilo-; 1000.  
Kb — Kilobit(s); 1024 bits.  
KB — Kilobyte(s); 1024 bytes.  
Kbps — Kilobit(s) per second.  
Glossary  
135  
KBps — Kilobyte(s) per second.  
MB — Megabyte(s); 1,048,576 bytes. However, when  
referring to hard-drive capacity, the term is often rounded  
to mean 1,000,000 bytes.  
key combination — A command requiring you to press  
multiple keys at the same time (for example,  
<Ctrl><Alt><Del>).  
Mbps — Megabits per second.  
MBps — Megabytes per second.  
MBR — Master boot record.  
kg — Kilogram(s); 1000 grams.  
kHz — Kilohertz.  
KMM — Keyboard/monitor/mouse.  
memory address — A specific location, usually expressed  
as a hexadecimal number, in the system’s RAM.  
KVM — Keyboard/video/mouse. KVM refers to a switch  
that allows selection of the system from which the video  
is displayed and for which the keyboard and mouse are  
used.  
memory module — A small circuit board containing  
DRAM chips that connects to the system board.  
memory — An area in your system that stores basic system  
data. A system can contain several different forms of  
memory, such as integrated memory (ROM and RAM)  
and add-in memory modules (DIMMs).  
LAN — Local area network. A LAN is usually confined to  
the same building or a few nearby buildings, with all  
equipment linked by wiring dedicated specifically to the  
LAN.  
MHz — Megahertz.  
lb — Pound(s).  
mirroring — A type of data redundancy in which a set of  
physical drives stores data and one or more sets of  
additional drives stores duplicate copies of the data.  
Mirroring functionality is provided by software. See also  
guarding, integrated mirroring, striping, and RAID.  
LCD — Liquid crystal display.  
LED — Light-emitting diode. An electronic device that  
lights up when a current is passed through it.  
Linux — A UNIX-like operating system that runs on a  
variety of hardware systems. Linux is open source  
software, which is freely available; however, the full  
distribution of Linux along with technical support and  
training are available for a fee from vendors such as  
Red Hat Software.  
mm — Millimeter(s).  
ms — Millisecond(s).  
®
MS-DOS — Microsoft Disk Operating System.  
NAS — Network Attached Storage. NAS is one of the  
concepts used for implementing shared storage on a  
network. NAS systems have their own operating systems,  
integrated hardware, and software that are optimized to  
serve specific storage needs.  
local bus — On a system with local-bus expansion  
capability, certain peripheral devices (such as the video  
adapter circuitry) can be designed to run much faster than  
they would with a traditional expansion bus. See also bus.  
NIC — Network interface controller. A device that is  
installed or integrated in a system to allow connection to a  
network.  
LVD — Low voltage differential.  
m — Meter(s).  
mA — Milliampere(s).  
NMI — Nonmaskable interrupt. A device sends an NMI  
to signal the processor about hardware errors.  
MAC address — Media Access Control address. Your  
system’s unique hardware number on a network.  
ns — Nanosecond(s).  
mAh — Milliampere-hour(s).  
NTFS — The NT File System option in the  
Windows 2000 operating system.  
Mb — Megabit(s); 1,048,576 bits.  
136  
Glossary  
NVRAM — Nonvolatile random-access memory. Memory  
that does not lose its contents when you turn off your  
system. NVRAM is used for maintaining the date, time,  
and system configuration information.  
protected mode — An operating mode that allows  
operating systems to implement:  
• A memory address space of 16 MB to 4 GB  
• Multitasking  
parity — Redundant information that is associated with a  
• Virtual memory, a method for increasing addressable  
memory by using the hard drive  
block of data.  
partition You can divide a hard drive into multiple  
physical sections called partitions with the fdisk  
command. Each partition can contain multiple logical  
drives. You must format each logical drive with the format  
command.  
The Windows 2000 and UNIX 32-bit operating systems  
run in protected mode. MS-DOS cannot run in protected  
mode.  
PS/2 — Personal System/2.  
PXE — Preboot eXecution Environment. A way of  
booting a system via a LAN (without a hard drive or  
bootable diskette).  
PCI — Peripheral Component Interconnect. A standard  
for local-bus implementation.  
PDU — Power distribution unit. A power source with  
multiple power outlets that provides electrical power to  
servers and storage systems in a rack.  
RAC — Remote access controller.  
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. See also guarding,  
mirroring, and striping.  
peripheral — An internal or external device, such as a  
diskette drive or keyboard, connected to a system.  
PGA — Pin grid array. A type of processor socket that  
allows you to remove the processor chip.  
RAM — Random-access memory. The system’s primary  
temporary storage area for program instructions and data.  
Any information stored in RAM is lost when you turn off  
your system.  
pixel — A single point on a video display. Pixels are  
arranged in rows and columns to create an image. A video  
resolution, such as 640 x 480, is expressed as the number  
of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down.  
RAS — Remote Access Service. This service allows users  
running the Windows operating system to remotely access  
a network from their system using a modem.  
POST — Power-on self-test. Before the operating system  
loads when you turn on your system, the POST tests  
various system components such as RAM and hard drives.  
readme file — A text file, usually shipped with software or  
hardware, that contains information supplementing or  
updating the product’s documentation.  
processor — The primary computational chip inside the  
system that controls the interpretation and execution of  
arithmetic and logic functions. Software written for one  
processor must usually be revised to run on another  
processor. CPU is a synonym for processor.  
read-only file — A read-only file is one that you are  
prohibited from editing or deleting.  
ROM — Read-only memory. Your system contains some  
programs essential to its operation in ROM code. A ROM  
chip retains its contents even after you turn off your  
system. Examples of code in ROM include the program  
that initiates your system’s boot routine and the POST.  
Glossary  
137  
ROMB — RAID on motherboard.  
rpm — Revolutions per minute.  
RTC — Real-time clock.  
striping — Disk striping writes data across three or more  
disks in an array, but only uses a portion of the space on  
each disk. The amount of space used by a "stripe" is the  
same on each disk used. A virtual disk may use several  
stripes on the same set of disks in an array. See also  
guarding, mirroring, and RAID.  
SAS — Serial-attached SCSI.  
SATA — Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. A  
standard interface between the system board and storage  
devices.  
SVGA — Super video graphics array. VGA and SVGA are  
video standards for video adapters with greater resolution  
and color display capabilities than previous standards.  
SCSI — Small computer system interface. An I/O bus  
interface with faster data transmission rates than standard  
ports.  
system board — As the main circuit board, the system  
board usually contains most of your system’s integral  
components, such as the processor, RAM, controllers for  
peripherals, and various ROM chips.  
SDRAM — Synchronous dynamic random-access  
memory.  
system configuration information — Data stored in  
memory that tells a system what hardware is installed and  
how the system should be configured for operation.  
sec — Second(s).  
serial port — An I/O port used most often to connect a  
modem to your system. You can usually identify a serial  
port on your system by its 9-pin connector.  
system diskette — See bootable diskette.  
system memory — See RAM.  
service tag — A bar code label on the system used to  
System Setup program — A BIOS-based program that  
allows you to configure your system’s hardware and  
customize the system’s operation by setting features such  
as password protection. Because the System Setup  
program is stored in NVRAM, any settings remain in  
effect until you change them again.  
identify it when you call Dell for technical support.  
simple disk volume — The volume of free space on a  
single dynamic, physical disk.  
SMART — Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting  
Technology. Allows hard drives to report errors and failures  
to the system BIOS and then display an error message on  
the screen.  
system.ini file — A start-up file for the Windows  
operating system. When you start Windows, it consults  
the system.ini file to determine a variety of options for the  
Windows operating environment. Among other things,  
the system.ini file records which video, mouse, and  
keyboard drivers are installed for Windows.  
SMP — Symmetric multiprocessing. Used to describe a  
system that has two or more processors connected via a  
high-bandwidth link and managed by an operating  
system, where each processor has equal access to I/O  
devices.  
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet  
SNMP — Simple Network Management Protocol. A  
standard interface that allows a network manager to  
remotely monitor and manage workstations.  
Protocol.  
termination — Some devices (such as the last device at  
each end of a SCSI cable) must be terminated to prevent  
reflections and spurious signals in the cable. When such  
devices are connected in a series, you may need to enable  
or disable the termination on these devices by changing  
jumper or switch settings on the devices or by changing  
settings in the configuration software for the devices.  
spanning — Spanning, or concatenating, disk volumes  
combines unallocated space from multiple disks into one  
logical volume, allowing more efficient use of all the space  
and all drive letters on a multiple-disk system.  
138  
Glossary  
TOE — TCP/IP offload engine. A technology to improve  
data-transfer performance over IP networks by allowing  
the operating system to offload all TCP/IP traffic to  
specialized hardware on the network adapter, while  
leaving TCP/IP control decisions to the host server.  
video memory — Most VGA and SVGA video adapters  
include memory chips in addition to your system’s RAM.  
The amount of video memory installed primarily  
influences the number of colors that a program can  
display (with the appropriate video drivers and monitor  
capabilities).  
UNIX — Universal Internet Exchange. UNIX, the  
precursor to Linux, is an operating system written in the  
C programming language.  
video resolution — Video resolution (800 x 600, for  
example) is expressed as the number of pixels across by  
the number of pixels up and down. To display a program  
at a specific graphics resolution, you must install the  
appropriate video drivers and your monitor must support  
the resolution.  
uplink port — A port on a network hub or switch used to  
connect to other hubs or switches without requiring a  
crossover cable.  
UPS — Uninterruptible power supply. A battery-powered  
unit that automatically supplies power to your system in  
the event of an electrical failure.  
W Watt(s).  
WH Watt-hour(s).  
USB — Universal Serial Bus. A USB connector provides a  
single connection point for multiple USB-compliant  
devices, such as mice and keyboards. USB devices can be  
connected and disconnected while the system is running.  
win.ini file — A start-up file for the Windows operating  
system. When you start Windows, it consults the win.ini  
file to determine a variety of options for the Windows  
operating environment. The win.ini file also usually  
includes sections that contain optional settings for  
Windows application programs that are installed on the  
hard drive.  
utility — A program used to manage system resources—  
memory, disk drives, or printers, for example.  
UTP — Unshielded twisted pair. A type of wiring used to  
Windows 2000 — An integrated and complete Microsoft  
Windows operating system that does not require  
MS-DOS and that provides advanced operating system  
performance, improved ease of use, enhanced workgroup  
functionality, and simplified file management and  
browsing.  
connect systems in a business or home to a telephone line.  
V — Volt(s).  
VAC Volt(s) alternating current.  
VDC — Volt(s) direct current.  
VGA — Video graphics array. VGA and SVGA are video  
standards for video adapters with greater resolution and  
color display capabilities than previous standards.  
Windows Powered — A Windows operating system  
designed for use on NAS systems. For NAS systems, the  
Windows Powered operating system is dedicated to file  
service for network clients.  
video adapter — The logical circuitry that provides (in  
combination with the monitor) your system’s video  
capabilities. A video adapter may be integrated into the  
system board or may be an expansion card that plugs into  
an expansion slot.  
Windows Server 2003 — A set of Microsoft software  
technologies that enable software integration through the  
use of XML Web services. XML Web services are small  
reusable applications written in XML that allow data to be  
communicated between otherwise unconnected sources.  
video driver — A program that allows graphics-mode  
application programs and operating systems to display at a  
chosen resolution with the desired number of colors.  
Video drivers may need to match the video adapter  
installed in the system.  
XML — Extensible Markup Language. XML is a way to  
create common information formats and to share both the  
format and the data on the World Wide Web, intranets,  
and elsewhere.  
ZIF — Zero insertion force.  
Glossary  
139  
140  
Glossary  
contacting, 112  
Numerics  
C
3.5-inch drive  
removing, 44  
cable clamp, 70  
CD/DVD drive  
installing, 49  
5.25-inch drive  
removing, 47  
DIMM  
installing, 72  
sockets, 58  
A
diskette drive  
installing, 45  
removing, 71  
admin password  
assigning, 37  
changing, 38  
deleting, 38  
using, 37  
replacing, 72  
removing, 44  
replacing, 45  
troubleshooting, 89  
connecting external  
devices, 13  
DVD drive. See CD/DVD  
connectors, 103  
back-panel, 13  
front-panel, 11  
NICs, 13  
B
E
battery  
installing, 67  
removing, 67  
troubleshooting, 85  
serial port, 13  
USB, 11, 13  
video, 13  
expansion cards, 56  
installing, 57  
bezel  
cooling fans  
installing, 67  
removing, 56  
installing, 74  
removing, 73  
replacing, 74  
replacing, 57  
removing, 65  
replacing, 67  
troubleshooting, 93  
bezel (front drive)  
insert, 43  
removing, 42  
replacing, 43  
D
F
damaged systems  
troubleshooting, 84  
features  
back-panel, 13  
Index  
141  
 
N
IRQs  
line assignments, 80  
NICs  
connectors, 13  
troubleshooting, 83  
H
hard drive  
installing, 52  
removing, 51  
J
jumpers, 101  
opening the system, 41  
options  
I
K
I/O panel  
keyboard  
installing, 76  
removing, 74  
replacing, 76  
password  
indicators  
admin, 37  
back-panel, 13  
front-panel, 11  
NIC, 14  
disabling, 38, 104  
features, 35  
memory  
4-GB configurations, 59  
branches, 58  
insert on front drive bezel  
removing, 43  
channels, 58  
POST  
installing, 60  
accessing system features, 10  
replacing, 44  
removing, 60  
replacing, 60  
installing  
troubleshooting, 87  
upgrade kits, 59  
5.25-inch drive, 49  
bezel, 74  
removing, 69  
replacing, 70  
CD/DVD drive, 49  
chassis intrusion switch, 72  
cooling fans, 67  
diskette drive, 45  
expansion cards, 57  
hard drive, 52  
troubleshooting, 86  
alert, 26  
processor  
removing, 62  
troubleshooting, 95  
microprocessor  
removing, 62  
I/O panel, 76  
memory, 60  
replacing, 65  
power supply, 70  
processor, 65  
troubleshooting, 95  
R
mouse  
system battery, 67  
system board, 78  
recommended tools, 39  
troubleshooting, 81  
142  
Index  
removing  
SAS hard drive. See hard  
3.5-inch drive, 44  
bezel, 73  
drive.  
system password features, 35  
CD/DVD drive, 47  
chassis intrusion switch, 71  
cooling fans, 65  
diskette drive, 44  
expansion cards, 56  
front drive bezel, 42  
hard drive, 51  
system setup program  
entering, 27  
using, 27  
connector, 13  
troubleshooting, 82  
system setup screens  
drive options, 30  
setup password features, 35  
main, 28  
I/O panel, 74  
maintenance options, 34  
onboard devices options, 31  
performance options, 31  
POST behavior options, 34  
power management  
options, 33  
memory, 60  
accessing system features, 10  
power supply, 69  
processor, 62  
system battery, 67  
system board, 76  
tape drive, 47  
support  
security options, 32  
replacing  
system  
bezel, 74  
chassis intrusion switch, 72  
cooling fans, 67  
diskette drive, 45  
expansion cards, 57  
front drive bezel, 43  
I/O panel, 76  
removing, 67  
T
system board  
connectors, 103  
installing, 78  
jumpers, 101  
replacing, 78  
installing, 49  
removing, 47  
troubleshooting, 91  
memory, 60  
power supply, 70  
troubleshooting  
CD/DVD drive, 90  
cooling fans, 87  
damaged system, 84  
diskette drive, 89  
expansion cards, 93  
external connections, 80  
hard drive, 91  
system board, 78  
system cooling  
troubleshooting, 86  
S
accessing, 10  
safety, 79  
system messages, 16  
SAS controller card  
installing, 58  
keyboard, 81  
system password  
assigning, 35  
memory, 87  
troubleshooting, 92  
microprocessor, 95  
mouse, 81  
changing, 37  
Index  
143  
NIC, 83  
power supply, 86  
SAS controller card, 92  
serial port, 82  
start-up routine, 79  
system battery, 85  
system cooling, 86  
tape drive, 91  
USB device, 82  
video, 81  
U
upgrade kits  
memory, 59  
USB device  
connectors (back panel), 13  
connectors (front panel), 11  
V
video  
W
warning messages, 25  
warranty, 9  
wet system  
troubleshooting, 84  
144  
Index  

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