Dell Dimension 3100C Owner'S Manual Download Page 32

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Solving Problems

www

.dell.com | support.dell.com

Keyboard Problems

CAUTION:

Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the

Product Information Guide

Lockups and Software Problems

CAUTION:

Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the

Product Information Guide

The computer does not start up

The computer stops responding

NOTICE:

You might lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.

HECK

THE

KEYBOARD

CABLE

—

• Ensure that the keyboard cable is firmly connected to the computer.
• Shut down the computer (see page 53), reconnect the keyboard cable as shown on the setup diagram for

your computer, and then restart the computer.

• Check the cable connector for bent or broken pins and for damaged or frayed cables. Straighten bent

pins.

• Remove keyboard extension cables and connect the keyboard directly to the computer.

EST

THE

KEYBOARD

—

Connect a properly working keyboard to the computer; then try using the

keyboard.

THE

ARDWARE

ROUBLESHOOTER

—

See "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities"

on page 49.

HECK

THE

IAGNOSTIC

IGHTS

—

See page 43.

NSURE

THAT

THE

OWER

ABLE

IRMLY

ONNECTED

OMPUTER

AND

LECTRICAL

UTLET

URN

THE

COMPUTER

OFF

—

If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or

moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer
turns off. Then restart your computer.

Summary of Contents for Dimension 3100C

Page 1: ...Reader hard drive activity light power button headphone connector CD or DVD activity light CD or DVD eject button diagnostic lights USB 2 0 connectors 2 Service Tag power connector USB 2 0 connectors 4 VGA video connector integrated network adapter audio connectors card slots for PCI 2 PCI Express x1 1 cover latch release Model DCNE ...

Page 2: ...e 2005 Dell Inc All rights reserved Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo Inspiron DellPrecision Dimension OptiPlex Latitude PowerEdge PowerVault PowerApp DellNet and PowerConnect are trademarks of Dell Inc Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation Microsoft Windo...

Page 3: ...djusting the Volume 17 Adjusting the Picture 18 Copying CDs and DVDs 18 How to Copy a CD or DVD 18 Using Blank CDs and DVDs 19 Helpful Tips 20 Using a Media Card Reader Optional 20 Setting Up a Home and Office Network 22 Connecting to a Network Adapter 22 Network Setup Wizard 22 Power Management 23 Standby Mode 23 Hibernate Mode 23 Power Options Properties 24 Hyper Threading 25 2 Solving Problems ...

Page 4: ...shes repeatedly 33 A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system 33 A solid blue screen appears 33 Other software problems 34 Memory Problems 34 Mouse Problems 35 Network Problems 36 Power Problems 36 Printer Problems 37 Scanner Problems 38 Sound and Speaker Problems 39 No sound from speakers 39 No sound from headphones 40 Video and Monitor Problems 40 If the screen is blank 40 If ...

Page 5: ...e You Begin 53 Recommended Tools 53 Turning Off Your Computer 53 Before Working Inside Your Computer 54 Front View of the Computer 55 Back View of the Computer 57 Removing the Computer Cover 58 Inside View of Your Computer 59 System Board Components 61 Memory 62 DDR2 Memory Overview 62 Installing Memory 64 Removing Memory 66 Cards 66 Drives 71 IDE Drive Addressing 71 Connecting Drive Cables 71 Dri...

Page 6: ...Setup Options 92 Boot Sequence 95 Clearing Forgotten Passwords and CMOS Settings 97 Jumper Locations 97 Clearing Password Settings 98 Clearing CMOS Settings 98 Cleaning Your Computer 99 Computer Keyboard and Monitor 99 Mouse 99 Floppy Drive 99 CDs and DVDs 100 Dell Technical Support Policy U S Only 100 Definition of Dell Installed Software and Peripherals 100 Definition of Third Party Software and...

Page 7: ...Contents 7 Glossary 121 Index 131 ...

Page 8: ...8 Contents ...

Page 9: ...y not be available in certain countries NOTE Additional information may ship with your computer What Are You Looking For Find It Here Warranty information Terms and Conditions U S only Safety instructions Regulatory information Ergonomics information End User License Agreement Dell Product Information Guide How to set up my computer Setup Diagram ...

Page 10: ...d white papers Downloads Certified rivers patches and software updates Dell Support Website support dell com NOTE Select your region to view the appropriate support site NOTE Corporate government and education customers can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website at premier dell com Desktop System Software DSS If you reinstall the operating system for your computer you should also rei...

Page 11: ...ze my desktop Windows Help and Support Center 1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support 2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the arrow icon 3 Click the topic that describes your problem 4 Follow the instructions on the screen What Are You Looking For Find It Here ...

Page 12: ...12 Finding Information w w w d e l l c o m s u p p o r t d e l l c o m ...

Page 13: ...o your computer with a USB cable Your printer may not come with a printer cable so if you purchase a cable separately ensure that it is compatible with your printer If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer the cable may arrive in the computer box Connecting a USB Printer NOTE You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on 1 Complete the operating s...

Page 14: ...ower than DSL and cable modem connections DSL connections that provide high speed Internet access through your existing telephone line With a DSL connection you can access the Internet and use your telephone on the same line simultaneously Cable modem connections that provide high speed Internet access through your local cable TV line If you are using a dial up connection connect a telephone line ...

Page 15: ...ose from a list of Internet service providers ISPs If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not receive a setup CD click Set up my connection manually If you have a CD click Use the CD I got from an ISP 5 Click Next If you selected Set up my connection manually continue to step 6 Otherwise follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup NOTE If you do no...

Page 16: ... the front of the drive 2 Place the disc label side up in the center of the tray 3 Press the disc into the center of the tray until it clicks into place 4 Press the eject button or gently push in the tray To format CDs for storing data to create music CDs or to copy CDs see the CD software that came with your computer NOTE Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs A CD player i...

Page 17: ... and then click Volume Control 2 In the Volume Control window click and drag the bar in the Volume Control column and slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume For more information on volume control options click Help in the Volume Control window Go to the previous track Eject Go to the next track Stop Restart the current chapter Play Fast forward Pause Fast reverse Advance a single f...

Page 18: ... CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by country The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD You can also use Sonic DigitalMedia for other purposes such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data For help open Sonic DigitalMedia and then click the question mark icon in the upper right corner of the window How to ...

Page 19: ...including high speed CD RW while DVD writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media Use blank CD Rs to record music or permanently store data files After creating a CD R you cannot write to that CD R again see the Sonic documentation for more information Use blank CD RWs to write to CDs or to erase rewrite or update data on CDs Blank DVD Rs can be used to permanently store large amou...

Page 20: ...e manufacturer Do not burn a blank CD R or CD RW to its maximum capacity for example do not copy a 650 MB file to a blank 650 MB CD The CD RW drive needs 1 2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording Use a blank CD RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques If you make a mistake you can erase the data on the CD RW and try again You can also use blank CD R...

Page 21: ...ermine the proper orientation for insertion 2 Slide the media or card into the appropriate slot until it is completely seated in the connector If you encounter resistance do not force the media or card Check the card orientation and try again xD Picture Card and SmartMedia SMC Memory Stick MS MS Pro SecureDigital Card SD MultiMediaCard MMC CompactFlash Type I and II CF I II and MicroDrive Card ...

Page 22: ...ble to a network device Network Setup Wizard The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files printers or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office 1 Click the Start button point to All Programs Accessories Communications and then click Network Setup Wizard 2 On the welcome screen click Next 3 Click...

Page 23: ...lick Control Panel 2 Under Pick a category click Performance and Maintenance 3 Under or pick a Control Panel icon click Power Options To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity click the Start button click Turn Off Computer and then click Stand by To exit from standby mode press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse NOTICE If your computer loses power while in standby mo...

Page 24: ... scheme has different settings for starting standby mode or hibernate mode turning off the monitor and turning off the hard drive The Power schemes drop down menu displays the following schemes Always On default If you want to use your computer with no power conservation Home Office Desk If you use your computer as a home or office computer and you require minimal power conservation Presentation I...

Page 25: ... Threading is an Intel technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing one physical processor to function as two logical processors capable of performing certain tasks simultaneously It is recommended that you use the Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 SP1 or later operating system because Windows XP is optimized to take advantage of Hyper Threading technology While many prog...

Page 26: ...26 Setting Up and Using Your Computer w w w d e l l c o m s u p p o r t d e l l c o m ...

Page 27: ...d by the manufacturer Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer s instructions CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide Drive Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide REPLACE THE BATTERY If yo...

Page 28: ...on page 99 CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER See Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities on page 49 RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS See page 46 ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slidebar and dragging it up Ensure that the sound is not muted by clicking an...

Page 29: ...k CHECK THE TELEPHONE LINE CONNECTION CHECK THE TELEPHONE JACK CONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK USE A DIFFERENT TELEPHONE LINE Verify that the telephone line is connected to the jack on the modem The jack has either a green label or a connector shaped icon next to it Ensure that you hear a click when you insert the telephone line connector into the modem Disconnect the telepho...

Page 30: ... the Outlook Express e mail program open click File If Work Offline has a checkmark next to it click the checkmark to remove it and connect to the Internet For help contact your Internet service provider A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS Do not use these characters in filenames A REQUIRED DLL FILE WAS NOT FOUND The program that you are trying to open is missing an essential...

Page 31: ...ard Reader To manually assign a drive for the Media Card Reader 1 Right click My Computer and select Manage 2 Select the Disk Management option 3 Right click the corresponding drive letter in the right pane that needs to be changed 4 Select Drive Letter and Paths 5 From the drop down list select the new drive letter assignment for the Media Card Reader 6 Click OK to confirm your selection NOTE Eac...

Page 32: ... 53 reconnect the keyboard cable as shown on the setup diagram for your computer and then restart the computer Check the cable connector for bent or broken pins and for damaged or frayed cables Straighten bent pins Remove keyboard extension cables and connect the keyboard directly to the computer TEST THE KEYBOARD Connect a properly working keyboard to the computer then try using the keyboard RUN ...

Page 33: ...ION If necessary uninstall and then reinstall the program RUN THE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so it runs in an environment similar to non Windows XP operating system environments 1 Click the Start button point to All Programs Accessories and then click Program Compatibility Wizard 2 In the welcome screen click Next 3 Follow the instructions on...

Page 34: ...at the program is installed and configured properly Verify that the device drivers do not conflict with the program If necessary uninstall and then reinstall the program BACK UP YOUR FILES IMMEDIATELY USE A VIRUS SCANNING PROGRAM TO CHECK THE HARD DRIVE FLOPPY DISKS OR CDS SAVE AND CLOSE ANY OPEN FILES OR PROGRAMS AND SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER THROUGH THE START MENU IF YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT ME...

Page 35: ...emove mouse extension cables if used and connect the mouse directly to the computer 2 Reconnect the mouse cable as shown in the setup diagram for your computer RESTART THE COMPUTER 1 Simultaneously press Ctrl Esc to display the Start menu 2 Type u press the keyboard arrow keys to highlight Shut down or Turn Off and then press Enter 3 After the computer turns off reconnect the mouse cable as shown ...

Page 36: ...HE COMPUTER If the link integrity light is off that indicates no network communication exists Replace the network cable For a description of network lights see Controls and Lights on page 89 RESTART THE COMPUTER AND LOG ON TO THE NETWORK AGAIN CHECK YOUR NETWORK SETTINGS Contact your network administrator or the person who set up your network to verify that your network settings are correct and th...

Page 37: ...nother device such as a lamp Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board see page 61 IF THE POWER LIGHT IS STEADY AMBER A device might be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed Remove and then reinstall the memory modules see page 64 Remove and then reinstall any cards see page 66 IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING AMBER The computer is receiving ...

Page 38: ...1 Click the Start button click Control Panel and then click Printers and Other Hardware 2 Click View installed printers or fax printers If the printer is listed right click the printer icon 3 Click Properties and click the Ports tab For a parallel printer ensure that the Print to the following port s setting is LPT1 Printer Port For a USB printer ensure that the Print to the following port s setti...

Page 39: ...rs are connected as shown on the setup diagram supplied with the speakers If you purchased a sound card ensure that the speakers are connected to the card ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON See the setup diagram supplied with the speakers If your speakers have volume controls adjust the volume bass or treble to eliminate distortion ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Click or d...

Page 40: ...r of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted CHECK THE MONITOR CABLE CONNECTION Ensure that the graphics cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for your computer If you are using a graphics extension cable and removing the cable solves the problem the cable is defective Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is d...

Page 41: ...is at least 60 cm 2 ft away from the monitor MOVE THE MONITOR AWAY FROM EXTERNAL POWER SOURCES Fans fluorescent lights halogen lamps and other electrical devices can cause the screen image to appear shaky Turn off nearby devices to check for interference ROTATE THE MONITOR TO ELIMINATE SUNLIGHT GLARE AND POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS 1 Click the Start button click Contr...

Page 42: ...42 Solving Problems w w w d e l l c o m s u p p o r t d e l l c o m ...

Page 43: ...e diagnostic lights turn off after the system successfully boots to the operating system NOTE If all of the diagnostic lights are off and the system does not start there may be a problem with the power supply or with the processor Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet Also see Power Problems on page 36 A processor failure was detected Contact Dell see page 102 Memory modules are detec...

Page 44: ...e page 64 and then restart the computer If the computer starts normally reinstall an additional module Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error If available install properly working memory of the same type into your computer see page 64 If the problem persists contact Dell see page 102 Memory modules are detected but a memory configuration or comp...

Page 45: ...ntifying a problem with a device such as the floppy drive or hard drive check the device to ensure that it is functioning properly The operating system is attempting to boot from a device such as the floppy drive or hard drive check system setup see page 91 to make sure the boot sequence is correct for the devices installed on your computer If the problem persists contact Dell see page 102 During ...

Page 46: ...enu 1 After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears click the button for the option you want 2 If a problem is encountered during a test a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem Write down the error code and problem description and follow the instructions on the screen If you cannot resolve the error condition contact Dell see page 102 NOTE The Serv...

Page 47: ...ny drivers such as the keyboard driver come with your Microsoft Windows operating system You may need to install drivers if you Upgrade your operating system Reinstall your operating system Connect or install a new device Tab Function Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered Errors Displays error conditions encountered error codes and the problem description He...

Page 48: ...e Dell Support website at support dell com provides approved drivers for Dell computers If you install drivers obtained from other sources your computer might not work correctly Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver use Windows XP Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version 1 Click th...

Page 49: ...cted during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured you can use the Hardware Troubleshooter to resolve the incompatibility To resolve incompatibilities using the Hardware Troubleshooter 1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support 2 Type hardware troubleshooter in the Search field and click the arrow to start the search 3 Click Hardware Troubleshooter in the Sea...

Page 50: ... 48 to resolve the problem If that is unsuccessful then use System Restore NOTICE Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state save and close any open files and exit any open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete 1 Click the Start button point to All Programs Accessories System Tools and then click System Restore 2 Ensu...

Page 51: ...last method to restore your operating system PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer Any programs or files added since you received your computer including data files are permanently deleted from the hard drive Data files include documents spreadsheets e mail messages digital photos music files and so on If possible back up all data befo...

Page 52: ...puter even to gain additional hard drive space If you remove PC Restore from the hard drive you cannot ever recall it and you will never be able to use PC Restore to return your computer s operating system to its original state To remove PC Restore 1 Log on to the computer as a local administrator 2 In Windows Explorer go to c dell utilities DSR 3 Double click the filename DSRIRRemv2 exe NOTE If y...

Page 53: ...ended Tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools Small flat blade screwdriver Phillips screwdriver Flash BIOS update program floppy disk or CD Turning Off Your Computer NOTICE To avoid losing data save and close any open files and exit any open programs before you turn off your computer 1 Shut down the operating system a Save and close any open files exit any open progra...

Page 54: ...efore you disconnect the cable As you pull connectors apart keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins Also before you connect a cable ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned NOTICE To avoid damaging the computer perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer 1 Turn off your computer see page 53 NOTICE To disconnect a network cable...

Page 55: ...Removing and Installing Parts 55 Front View of the Computer 2 3 4 5 9 10 8 6 7 1 11 ...

Page 56: ...diagnostic lights 4 Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic code For more information see Diagnostic Lights on page 43 7 vents For adequate cooling do not block any of the vents NOTICE Ensure that there is a minimum of two inches of space between all vents and any object near these vents NOTICE Keep the vent area clean and dust free to ensure that the sys...

Page 57: ...en line out connector to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers Microphone connector Use the pink microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input 3 USB 2 0 connectors 4 Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected such as printers and keyboards It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for dev...

Page 58: ...the hinge tabs as leverage points 6 Remove the cover from the hinge tabs and set it aside on a soft nonabrasive surface 4 network adapter connector To attach your computer to a network or broadband device connect one end of a network cable to either a network port or your network or broadband device Connect the other end of the network cable to the network adapter connector on your computer A clic...

Page 59: ...located in the Product Information Guide CAUTION To avoid electrical shock always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover NOTICE Be careful when opening the computer cover to ensure that you do not accidentally disconnect cables from the system board 1 security cable slot 2 cover release latch 3 padlock ring 2 1 3 ...

Page 60: ...60 Removing and Installing Parts 1 drives bay CD DVD floppy and hard drive 3 system board 5 heat sink assembly 2 power supply 4 card slots 6 front I O panel 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...

Page 61: ...Removing and Installing Parts 61 System Board Components 1 2 4 5 6 10 11 8 3 7 13 15 12 16 9 14 ...

Page 62: ... The recommended memory configuration consists of a pair of matched memory modules installed in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 NOTICE Do not install ECC or buffered memory modules Only unbuffered non ECC memory is supported If you install mixed pairs of DDR2 400 MHz PC2 3200 and DDR2 533 MHz PC2 4300 memory the modules function at the slower installed speed Be sure to install a single memory module in DI...

Page 63: ...mory modules from the computer during a memory upgrade keep them separate from any new modules that you may have even if you purchased the new modules from Dell If possible do not pair an original memory module with a new memory module Otherwise your computer may not start properly matched pair of memory modules in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 1 2 ...

Page 64: ...o components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 53 2 Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector 1 memory connector closer to processor 2 securing clips...

Page 65: ... end of the module 5 Replace the computer cover See Replacing the Computer Cover on page 84 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 6 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on 7 When a message appears stating that memory size has changed press F1 to continue 8 Log on to your computer 9 ...

Page 66: ...connector 3 Grasp the module and pull up If the module is difficult to remove gently ease the module back and forth to remove it from the connector Cards CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body ...

Page 67: ...ention door to pivot the door open Because the door is captive it will remain in the open position 3 If you are installing a new card remove the filler bracket to create a card slot opening Then continue with step 5 4 If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer remove the card If necessary disconnect any cables connected to the card Grasp the card by its top corners and e...

Page 68: ...ace the card in the connector and press down firmly Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot 7 Before you close the card retention door ensure that The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide 1 bracket within slot 3 alignment bar 5 fully seated card3 2 bracket caught outside of...

Page 69: ...onnect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 10 Replace the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 11 If you installed a sound card a Enter system setup select Audio Controller and then change the setting to Off see page 91 b Connect external audio devices to the sound card s co...

Page 70: ...certification of the computer The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer 4 Close the card retention door by snapping it into place to secure the cards NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 5 Replace the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 6 Re...

Page 71: ...DE devices to a single IDE interface cable and configure them for the cable select setting the device attached to the last connector on the interface cable is the master or boot device drive 0 and the device attached to the middle connector on the interface cable is the slave device drive 1 See the drive documentation in your upgrade kit for information on configuring devices for the cable select ...

Page 72: ... the pin 1 end of the connector The pin 1 end of a connector on a board or a card is usually indicated by a silk screened 1 printed directly on the board or card NOTICE When you connect an IDE interface cable do not place the colored stripe away from pin 1 of the connector Reversing the cable prevents the drive from operating and could damage the controller the drive or both Power Cable Connector ...

Page 73: ... electrical shock always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the cover NOTICE To avoid damage to the drive do not set it on a hard surface Instead set the drive on a surface such as a foam pad that will sufficiently cushion it NOTICE If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep back up your files before you begin this procedure Check the documen...

Page 74: ...ive cables from the drive Installing a Hard Drive 1 Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer NOTICE To avoid damage to the drive do not set it on a hard surface Instead set the drive on a surface such as a foam pad that will sufficiently cushion it 2 Unpack the replacement hard drive and prepare it for installation 3 If your replacement hard drive doe...

Page 75: ... Place the replacement hard drive in the bracket and press it in until it clicks into place 1 hard drive 2 release tabs 2 3 plastic hard drive bracket 1 securing tabs 2 3 release tabs 2 2 drive 4 plastic hard drive bracket 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 ...

Page 76: ...rimary drive insert a bootable medium into your boot drive 11 Turn on the computer 12 Enter system setup and update the appropriate Primary Drive option 0 or 2 13 Exit system setup and reboot the computer 14 Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step For instructions see the documentation that came with your operating system 15 Test the hard drive by running the ...

Page 77: ... on page 53 NOTE Since the following steps do not require the complete removal of the DVD drive it is not necessary to disconnect the cables connecting the DVD drive 2 Remove the DVD drive see Removing a DVD Drive on page 82 and carefully set it aside NOTICE Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors 3 Pull up on the d...

Page 78: ... the four shoulder screws from the drive panel insert 2 If you are replacing an existing drive Remove the four shoulder screws from the existing drive 3 Insert the four shoulder screws into the sides of the new floppy drive and tighten them 4 Attach the power and floppy drive cables to the floppy drive 5 Align the shoulder screws with the screw guides and slide the drive into the bay until it clic...

Page 79: ...n this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 53 NOTE Sin...

Page 80: ...o cables and the cable connectors 3 Disconnect the USB cable on the back of the Media Card Reader from the FlexBay USB connector on the system board see page 61 and route the cable through the clip on the shroud 4 Grasp the sliding plate lever and push it towards the base of the computer then hold it in place while you slide the drive from the computer 5 Replace the computer cover see page 84 1 Me...

Page 81: ...and bracket from its packaging 4 Insert three shoulder screws into the sides of the Media Card Reader and tighten them 5 Gently slide the drive which should not yet be connected to the FlexBay cable into place until you hear a click or feel the drive securely installed 6 Connect the USB cable on the back of the Media Card Reader to the front panel USB connector on the system board see page 61 7 Co...

Page 82: ...sconnect the power and DVD drive cables from the back of the drive Installing a DVD Drive 1 Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer If you are installing an IDE drive configure the drive for the cable select setting 2 If you are installing a new drive a Press the two snaps on the to...

Page 83: ...re you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis A coin cell battery maintains computer configuration date and time information The battery can last several years If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on the computer replace the battery CAUTION A new battery can explode if it is ...

Page 84: ...puter and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on 8 Enter system setup see page 91 and restore the settings you recorded in step 1 9 Properly dispose of the old battery See the Product Information Guide for battery disposal information Replacing the Computer Cover CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information...

Page 85: ...erly seated d Ensure that the cover is seated correctly before moving the computer NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the computer 4 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on 5 Ensure that the cover is seated correctly before setting the computer upright NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug ...

Page 86: ...86 Removing and Installing Parts ...

Page 87: ... associative write back SRAM Memory Type 400 and 533 MHz DDR2 unbuffered SDRAM Memory connectors two Memory capacities 256 MB 512 MB or 1 GB non ECC Minimum memory 256 MB Maximum memory 2 GB BIOS address F0000h Computer Information Chipset Intel 915GV DMA channels eight Interrupt levels 24 BIOS chip NVRAM 4 Mb NIC Integrated network interface capable of 10 100 communication System clock 800 MHz da...

Page 88: ...idth maximum 1 PCI Express lane Drives Externally accessible one 3 5 inch drive bay FlexBay one 5 25 inch drive bay Available devices Serial ATA drive 1 floppy drive USB memory devices DVD RW drive and media reader Internally accessible one bay for a single 1 inch high hard drive Connectors External connectors Video 15 hole connector Network adapter RJ45 connector USB two front panel and four back...

Page 89: ...r If the system cannot boot and there is a solid amber light this indicates a problem with the system board see Power Problems on page 36 Hard drive access light green Link integrity light on integrated network adapter green light A good connection exists between a 10 Mbps network and the computer orange light A good connection exists between a 100 Mbps network and the computer off no light The co...

Page 90: ...tal Temperature Operating 10 to 35 C 50 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Relative humidity Operating 20 to 80 noncondensing Storage 5 to 95 noncondensing Maximum vibration Operating 0 25 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 0 5 octave min Storage 0 5 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 1 octave min Maximum shock Operating bottom half sine pulse with a change in velocity of 20 inches sec 50 8 cm sec Storage 27 G faired squar...

Page 91: ... Setup 1 Turn on or restart your computer 2 When the blue DELL logo is displayed you must watch for the F2 prompt to appear 3 Once this F2 prompt appears press F2 immediately NOTE The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard has initialized This prompt can appear very quickly so you must watch for it to display and then press F2 If you press F2 before you are prompted this keystroke will be lost 4 If...

Page 92: ...u can toggle between a primary topic collapsed and subtopics expanded Option Field This field contains information about each option In this field you can view your current settings and make changes to your settings Use the right and left arrow keys to highlight an option Press Enter to make that selection active Key Functions This field appears below the Option Field and lists keys and their func...

Page 93: ...ss Ctrl Alt b Pressing this key combination causes a menu to display that allows you to select a method for booting from a network server If a boot routine is not available from the network server the computer attempts to boot from the next device in the boot sequence list Integrated Audio Controller Enables or disables the onboard audio controller USB Controller Set to On default so that USB devi...

Page 94: ...tem Password option System Password Displays the current status of the system s password security feature and allows a new system password to be assigned and verified Password Status This option locks the system password field with the setup password When the field is locked you can no longer disable password security by pressing Ctrl Enter when the computer starts Power Management AC Recovery Det...

Page 95: ...E To boot to a USB device the device must be bootable To make sure that your device is bootable check the device documentation Suspend Mode The options are S1 a suspend state where the computer is running in a low power mode and S3 a standby state where the power is reduced or turned off for most components however system memory remains active Maintenance CMOS Defaults This setting restores the co...

Page 96: ... page 53 and try again The Boot Device Menu appears listing all available boot devices Each device has a number next to it 4 At the bottom of the menu enter the number of the device that is to be used for the current boot only For example if you are booting to a USB memory key highlight USB Flash Device and press Enter NOTE To boot to a USB device the device must be bootable To ensure that a devic...

Page 97: ...cated in the Product Information Guide 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 53 Jumper Locations Jumper Setting Description PSWD Password features are enabled default Password features are disabled RTCRST The real time clock has not been reset The real time clock is being reset jumpered temporarily jumpered unjumpered RTCRST PSWD 1 2 3 3 2 1 ...

Page 98: ...tem board see page 61 and attach the jumper to pins 1 and 2 to reenable the password feature 10 Replace the computer cover see page 84 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 11 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on Clearing CMOS Settings CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedur...

Page 99: ...eaning cloth moistened with a solution of three parts water and one part dishwashing detergent Do not soak the cloth or let water drip inside your computer or keyboard Mouse If your screen cursor skips or moves abnormally clean the mouse To clean a non optical mouse 1 Turn the retainer ring on the underside of your mouse counterclockwise and then remove the ball 2 Wipe the ball with a clean lint f...

Page 100: ...ition to this technician assisted technical support online technical support is available at support dell com Additional technical support options may be available for purchase Dell provides limited technical support for the computer and any Dell installed software and peripherals1 Support for third party software and peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer including those purchased a...

Page 101: ...ion is subject to the following two conditions This device may not cause harmful interference This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation Class A This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protectio...

Page 102: ...t Dell electronically you can access the following websites www dell com support dell com technical support premiersupport dell com technical support for educational government healthcare and medium large business customers including Premier Platinum and Gold customers For specific web addresses for your country find the appropriate country section in the table below NOTE Toll free numbers are for...

Page 103: ... Care toll free 0 800 444 0730 Tech Support toll free 0 800 444 0733 Tech Support Services toll free 0 800 444 0724 Sales 0 810 444 3355 Aruba General Support toll free 800 1578 Australia Sydney International Access Code 0011 Country Code 61 City Code 2 E mail Australia au_tech_support dell com E mail New Zealand nz_tech_support dell com Home and Small Business 1 300 655 533 Government and Busines...

Page 104: ... 2 Website support euro dell com E mail for French speaking Customers support euro dell com be fr emaildell Technical Support for XPS portable computers only 02 481 92 96 Technical Support for all other Dell computers 02 481 92 88 Technical Support Fax 02 481 92 95 Customer Care 02 713 15 65 Corporate Sales 02 481 91 00 Fax 02 481 92 99 Switchboard 02 481 91 00 Bermuda General Support 1 800 342 06...

Page 105: ... Small Business toll free 1 800 847 4096 Technical Support med large bus government toll free 1 800 387 5757 Technical Support printers projectors televisions handhelds digital jukebox and wireless 1 877 335 5767 Sales Home Sales Small Business toll free 1 800 387 5752 Sales med large bus government toll free 1 800 387 5755 Spare Parts Sales Extended Service Sales 1 866 440 3355 Cayman Islands Gen...

Page 106: ...e 800 858 2222 Preferred Accounts Division toll free 800 858 2557 Large Corporate Accounts GCP toll free 800 858 2055 Large Corporate Accounts Key Accounts toll free 800 858 2628 Large Corporate Accounts North toll free 800 858 2999 Large Corporate Accounts North Government and Education toll free 800 858 2955 Large Corporate Accounts East toll free 800 858 2020 Large Corporate Accounts East Gover...

Page 107: ...3287 5505 Switchboard Relational 3287 1200 Switchboard Fax Relational 3287 1201 Switchboard Home Small Business 3287 5000 Switchboard Fax Home Small Business 3287 5001 Dominica General Support toll free 1 866 278 6821 Dominican Republic General Support 1 800 148 0530 Ecuador General Support toll free 999 119 El Salvador General Support 01 899 753 0777 Finland Helsinki International Access Code 990...

Page 108: ... 719 Customer Care 0825 338 339 Switchboard 01 55 94 71 00 Sales 01 55 94 71 00 Fax 01 55 94 71 01 Germany Langen International Access Code 00 Country Code 49 City Code 6103 Website support euro dell com E mail tech_support_central_europe dell com Technical Support for XPS portable computers only 06103 766 7222 Technical Support for all other Dell computers 06103 766 7200 Home Small Business Custo...

Page 109: ... support ap dell com Technical Support E mail apsupport dell com Technical Support Dimension and Inspiron 2969 3188 Technical Support OptiPlex Latitude and Dell Precision 2969 3191 Technical Support PowerApp PowerEdge PowerConnect and PowerVault 2969 3196 Customer Care 3416 0910 Large Corporate Accounts 3416 0907 Global Customer Programs 3416 0908 Medium Business Division 3416 0912 Home and Small ...

Page 110: ...dial within U K only 0870 907 4499 Ireland Sales 01 204 4444 U K Sales dial within U K only 0870 907 4000 Fax Sales Fax 01 204 0103 Switchboard 01 204 4444 Italy Milan International Access Code 00 Country Code 39 City Code 02 Website support euro dell com E mail support euro dell com it it emaildell Home and Small Business Technical Support 02 577 826 90 Customer Care 02 696 821 14 Fax 02 696 821 ...

Page 111: ...3490 24 Hour Automated Order Service 044 556 3801 Customer Care 044 556 4240 Business Sales Division up to 400 employees 044 556 1465 Preferred Accounts Division Sales over 400 employees 044 556 3433 Large Corporate Accounts Sales over 3500 employees 044 556 3430 Public Sales government agencies educational institutions and medical institutions 044 556 1469 Global Segment Japan 044 556 3469 Indivi...

Page 112: ...russels Belgium 02 481 92 99 Switchboard Brussels Belgium 02 481 91 00 Macao Country Code 853 Technical Support toll free 0800 105 Customer Service Xiamen China 34 160 910 Transaction Sales Xiamen China 29 693 115 Malaysia Penang International Access Code 00 Country Code 60 City Code 4 Website support ap dell com Technical Support Dell Precision OptiPlex and Latitude toll free 1 800 88 0193 Techni...

Page 113: ...siness Customer Care 020 674 42 00 Relational Customer Care 020 674 4325 Home Small Business Sales 020 674 55 00 Relational Sales 020 674 50 00 Home Small Business Sales Fax 020 674 47 75 Relational Sales Fax 020 674 47 50 Switchboard 020 674 50 00 Switchboard Fax 020 674 47 50 New Zealand International Access Code 00 Country Code 64 E mail New Zealand nz_tech_support dell com E mail Australia au_...

Page 114: ... Customer Service Phone 57 95 700 Customer Care 57 95 999 Sales 57 95 999 Customer Service Fax 57 95 806 Reception Desk Fax 57 95 998 Switchboard 57 95 999 Portugal International Access Code 00 Country Code 351 Website support euro dell com E mail support euro dell com pt en emaildell Technical Support 707200149 Customer Care 800 300 413 Sales 800 300 410 or 800 300 411 or 800 300 412 or 21 422 07...

Page 115: ...site support euro dell com E mail czech_dell dell com Technical Support 02 5441 5727 Customer Care 420 22537 2707 Fax 02 5441 8328 Tech Fax 02 5441 8328 Switchboard Sales 02 5441 7585 South Africa Johannesburg International Access Code 09 091 Country Code 27 City Code 11 Website support euro dell com E mail dell_za_support dell com Gold Queue 011 709 7713 Technical Support 011 709 7710 Customer Ca...

Page 116: ...199 Relational Customer Care 08 590 05 642 Home Small Business Customer Care 08 587 70 527 Employee Purchase Program EPP Support 20 140 14 44 Technical Support Fax 08 590 05 594 Sales 08 590 05 185 Switzerland Geneva International Access Code 00 Country Code 41 City Code 22 Website support euro dell com E mail Tech_support_central_Europe dell com E mail for French speaking HSB and Corporate Custom...

Page 117: ...cess Code 001 Country Code 66 Website support ap dell com Technical Support OptiPlex Latitude and Dell Precision toll free 1800 0060 07 Technical Support PowerApp PowerEdge PowerConnect and PowerVault toll free 1800 0600 09 Customer Service Penang Malaysia 604 633 4949 Corporate Sales toll free 1800 006 009 Transaction Sales toll free 1800 006 006 Trinidad Tobago General Support 1 800 805 8035 Tur...

Page 118: ...86 Home and Small Business Customer Care 0870 906 0010 Corporate Customer Care 01344 373 185 Preferred Accounts 500 5000 employees Customer Care 0870 906 0010 Central Government Customer Care 01344 373 193 Local Government Education Customer Care 01344 373 199 Health Customer Care 01344 373 194 Home and Small Business Sales 0870 907 4000 Corporate Public Sector Sales 01344 860 456 Home and Small B...

Page 119: ...s toll free 1 800 695 8133 Printers and Projectors Technical Support toll free 1 877 459 7298 Public government education and healthcare Customer Service and Technical Support toll free 1 800 456 3355 Employee Purchase Program EPP Customers toll free 1 800 234 1490 Dell Sales toll free 1 800 289 3355 or toll free 1 800 879 3355 Dell Outlet Store Dell refurbished computers toll free 1 888 798 7561 ...

Page 120: ...120 Appendix w w w d e l l c o m s u p p o r t d e l l c o m ...

Page 121: ...arly BATTERY An internal power source used to operate portable computers when not connected to an AC adapter and an electrical outlet BATTERY LIFE SPAN The length of time years during which a portable computer battery is able to be depleted and recharged BATTERY OPERATING TIME The length of time minutes or hours that a portable computer battery holds a charge while powering the computer BIOS basic...

Page 122: ...s and CD R recordable CDs discs You can write to CD RW discs multiple times but you can write to CD R discs only once CD RW DVD DRIVE A drive sometimes referred to as a combo drive that can read CDs and DVDs and write to CD RW rewritable CDs and CD R recordable CDs discs You can write to CD RW discs multiple times but you can write to CD R discs only once CLOCK SPEED The speed given in MHz that in...

Page 123: ...YER The software used to watch DVD movies The DVD player displays a window with buttons that you use to watch a movie DVD RW DVD rewritable A rewritable version of a DVD Data can be written to a DVD RW disc and then erased and written over rewritten DVD RW technology is different from DVD RW technology DVD RW DRIVE A drive that can read DVDs and most CD media and write to DVD RW rewritable DVDs di...

Page 124: ...ce GB gigabyte A measurement of data storage that equals 1024 MB 1 073 741 824 bytes When used to refer to hard drive storage the term is often rounded to 1 000 000 000 bytes GHZ gigahertz A measurement of frequency that equals one thousand million Hz or one thousand MHz The speeds for computer processors buses and interfaces are often measured in GHz GRAPHICS MODE A video mode that can be defined...

Page 125: ...ronic pathway assigned to a specific device so that the device can communicate with the processor Each device connection must be assigned an IRQ Although two devices can share the same IRQ assignment you cannot operate both devices simultaneously ISP Internet service provider A company that allows you to access its host server to connect directly to the Internet send and receive e mail and access ...

Page 126: ... include external PC Card and internal You typically use your modem to connect to the Internet and exchange e mail MODULE BAY A bay that supports devices such as optical drives a second battery or a Dell TravelLite module MONITOR The high resolution TV like device that displays computer output MOUSE A pointing device that controls the movement of the cursor on your screen Typically you roll the mo...

Page 127: ...tructions Sometimes the processor is referred to as the CPU central processing unit PROGRAM Any software that processes data for you including spreadsheet word processor database and game packages Programs require an operating system to run PS 2 personal system 2 A type of connector for attaching a PS 2 compatible keyboard mouse or keypad PXE pre boot execution environment A WfM Wired for Manageme...

Page 128: ...es When you place a shortcut on your Windows desktop and double click the icon you can open its corresponding folder or file without having to find it first Shortcut icons do not change the location of files If you delete a shortcut the original file is not affected Also you can rename a shortcut icon SHUTDOWN The process of closing windows and exiting programs exiting the operating system and tur...

Page 129: ...ttery power for a few minutes to enable you to shut down your computer USB universal serial bus A hardware interface for a low speed device such as a USB compatible keyboard mouse joystick scanner set of speakers printer broadband devices DSL and cable modems imaging devices or storage devices Devices are plugged directly in to a 4 pin socket on your computer or in to a multi port hub that plugs i...

Page 130: ... capacity of a battery For example a 66 WHr battery can supply 66 W of power for 1 hour or 33 W for 2 hours WALLPAPER The background pattern or picture on the Windows desktop Change your wallpaper through the Windows Control Panel You can also scan in your favorite picture and make it wallpaper WRITE PROTECTED Files or media that cannot be changed Use write protection when you want to protect data...

Page 131: ... 97 98 computer components inside 59 crashes 32 33 inside view 59 restore to previous state 50 stops responding 32 connectors audio 57 center LFE 57 headphone 56 line in 57 line out 57 microphone 57 network adapter 58 power 57 surround 57 USB 56 57 VGA 58 video 58 copying CDs general information 18 helpful tips 20 how to 18 copying DVDs general information 18 helpful tips 20 how to 18 cover removi...

Page 132: ...re Dell Diagnostics 46 Hardware Troubleshooter 49 headphone connector 56 Help and Support Center 11 help file Windows Help and Support Center 11 hibernate mode 23 25 Hyper Threading 25 I installing parts before you begin 53 recommended tools 53 turning off your computer 53 Internet connection about 14 connection options 14 connection setting up 15 problems 29 K keyboard problems 32 L labels Micros...

Page 133: ...SB 13 problems battery 27 blue screen 33 CD drive 28 CD RW drive 28 computer crashes 32 33 computer stops responding 32 Dell Diagnostics 46 diagnostic lights 43 drives 27 DVD drive 28 e mail 29 error messages 30 general 32 hard drive 29 Internet 29 problems continued keyboard 32 Media Card Reader 31 memory 34 modem 29 monitor is blank 40 monitor is hard to read 41 mouse 35 network 36 power 36 powe...

Page 134: ...1 entering 91 options 92 screens 91 T technical support policy 100 transferring information to a new computer 25 troubleshooting Dell Diagnostics 46 diagnostic lights 43 Hardware Troubleshooter 49 Help and Support Center 11 restore to previous state 49 50 tips 27 U USB booting to devices 96 connectors 56 57 V vents 56 front panel 56 VGA connector 58 video connector 58 volume adjusting 39 W warrant...

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Dell Dimension 3100C, Owner'S Manual

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