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Dell Dimension 900 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide

Reinstalling Windows Me

NOTICE: The operating system CD provides options for reinstalling your 
Windows Me operating system. The options can potentially overwrite files 
installed by Dell and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive. 
Therefore, Dell does not recommend that you reinstall your operating sys-
tem unless instructed to do so by a Dell technical support representative.

NOTICE: To prevent conflicts with Windows Me, you must disable any virus 
protection software installed on your system before you reinstall 
Windows Me.

1.

Turn on the computer and enter the system setup program as directed by a Dell 
technical support representative.

2.

In the system setup program 

Boot

 menu, change the boot sequence so that 

the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive boots first, as directed by a Dell technical sup-
port representative. Then place the operating system CD in the CD-ROM or 
DVD-ROM drive and close the drive tray. 

3.

Exit the system setup program.

4.

Select 

Boot From CD-ROM

, and then press <Enter>.

If you wait too long to make this selection, the computer automatically boots 
from the hard drive. If this occurs, allow the computer to boot completely, and 
then restart it and try again.

5.

Select 

Start Windows Setup from CD-ROM

, and then press <Enter>

6.

Press <Enter> again. 

7.

Select 

Continue Setup and replace your current operating system

, and then 

press <Enter>. 

8.

Press <Enter> again.

ScanDisk

 automatically starts and checks your hard-disk drive.

9.

Click 

Next

 in the 

Welcome to Windows Me

 window. 

10. Select the directory in which Windows resides. 

If 

C:\WINDOWS (recommended)

 is displayed, select it, and then click 

Next

.

If 

C:\WINDOWS.000 (recommended)

 is displayed, click 

Other

, change 

C:\WINDOWS.000

 to 

C:\WINDOWS

, and then click 

Next

.

11. Ensure that 

Typical

 is selected, and then click 

Next

.

12. Specify a computer name, workgroup, and computer description, if desired, and 

then click 

Next

. 

13. Select a country in the 

Country/Region

 window, and then click 

Next

.

14. Specify a time zone in the 

Establish Time Zone

 window, and then click 

Next

. 

Summary of Contents for Dimension 900

Page 1: ...www dell com support dell com Dell Dimension 900 System REFERENCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE ...

Page 2: ...atitude OptiPlex and Dimension are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks and Celeron and MMX are trademarks of Intel Corporation MS DOS Microsoft Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their pr...

Page 3: ...lts V 50 hertz Hz in eastern Japan and 100 V 60 Hz in western Japan 115 V 60 Hz in most of North and South America and some Far Eastern coun tries such as South Korea and Taiwan 230 V 50 Hz in most of Europe the Middle East and the Far East Also be sure your monitor and attached devices are electrically rated to operate with the AC power available in your location Before working inside the compute...

Page 4: ... Viewing the monitor screen for extended periods of time may result in eye strain For comfort and efficiency observe the following ergonomic guidelines when setting up and using your computer system Position your system so that the monitor and keyboard are directly in front of you as you work Special shelves are available from Dell and other sources to help you correctly position your keyboard Set...

Page 5: ...dicated NOTICE Do not attempt to service the computer system yourself except as explained in this guide and elsewhere in Dell documentation Always follow installation and service instructions closely 1 Turn off your computer and all devices 2 Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface at the back of the com puter before touching anything inside your computer While you work periodically...

Page 6: ...turer Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer s instructions Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Static electricity can harm delicate components inside your computer To prevent static damage discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components such as the microprocessor You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on ...

Page 7: ...n on reinstalling software Chapter 5 Checking Inside Your Computer presents troubleshooting proce dures for system components such as expansion cards memory and drives Chapter 6 Getting Help provides information on obtaining technical assis tance Users who have been unable to resolve problems using the troubleshooting information provided in this guide can refer to this chapter Appendix A System S...

Page 8: ...ion Help Online documentation is included for your computer devices such as a video or modem card and for any options you purchase separately from your computer To access this supplemental documentation double click the Dell Documents icon on the Windows desktop click System Information and then click System Documentation Operating system documentation Technical information files sometimes called ...

Page 9: ...ds presented in lowercase bold are for reference purposes only and are not intended to be typed when referenced Example Use the format command to In contrast commands presented in the Courier New font are part of an instruc tion and intended to be typed Example Type format a to format the diskette in drive A Filenames and directory names are presented in lowercase bold Examples autoexec bat and c ...

Page 10: ...xii ...

Page 11: ...nes 2 2 Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover 2 2 Inside Your Computer 2 4 System Board 2 6 Jumpers 2 8 Password Jumper 2 8 Processor Mode Jumper 2 9 NVRAM Jumper 2 9 Boot Block Select Jumper 2 10 Removing and Replacing the Riser Board Bracket 2 10 PCI Expansion Card Upgrades 2 12 Installing Expansion Cards 2 13 Removing Expansion Cards 2 16 Adding Memory 2 16 Installing a DIMM 2 17 Removing a...

Page 12: ... Dell Diagnostics Main Screen 3 12 Using the Dell Diagnostics 3 13 Menu 3 13 Keys 3 14 Device Group 3 14 Device 3 14 Test 3 14 Versions 3 14 Chapter 4 Software Solutions 4 1 Using the Power Management Features in Windows 98 Windows Me and Windows 2000 4 1 Reinstalling Drivers 4 2 Your System s Drivers 4 3 Using the Dell Dimension ResourceCD to Reinstall Drivers 4 3 Temporarily Disabling the Virus ...

Page 13: ...r Credit 6 4 Before You Call 6 4 Dell Contact Numbers 6 6 Appendix A System Specifications A 1 Appendix B System Setup Program B 1 Entering the System Setup Program B 1 Using the System Setup Program B 1 System Setup Screens and Options B 3 Main Screen B 4 System Information Screen B 5 Product Information Screen B 6 Disk Drives Screen B 7 IDE Primary Channel Master Submenu B 8 Onboard Peripherals ...

Page 14: ...re 2 10 Installing an Expansion Card 2 15 Figure 2 11 Installing a DIMM 2 17 Figure 2 12 Removing a DIMM 2 18 Figure 2 13 Drive Shelf 2 20 Figure 2 14 System Battery and Battery Socket 2 21 Figure 3 1 Diagnostics Menu 3 12 Figure 3 2 Dell Diagnostics Main Screen 3 13 Figure 5 1 Expansion Card Installation 5 2 Figure 5 2 Incorrect Expansion Card Installations 5 2 Figure 6 1 Diagnostics Checklist 6 ...

Page 15: ... A 1 Table B 1 System Setup Navigation Keys B 2 Table B 2 Main Screen Menu Options B 4 Table B 3 System Information Screen Menu Options B 5 Table B 4 Product Information Screen Menu Options B 6 Table B 5 Disk Drives Screen Menu Options B 7 Table B 6 IDE Primary Channel Master Submenu Options B 8 Table B 7 Onboard Peripherals Screen Menu Options B 9 Table B 8 Boot Options Screen Menu Options B 11 T...

Page 16: ...xviii ...

Page 17: ...atures Your Dell computer offers the following hardware features An Intel Socket 370 Pentium III processor with Streaming SIMD Extensions or a Celeron processor with MMX technology The System Information screen in the system setup program lists the speed of your system s processor For information on accessing this application program see Appendix B System Setup Program Minimum memory configuration...

Page 18: ... others Such vibration and associated noise does not indicate a defect in the drive or the CD Full compliance with PCI specification 2 2 Full compliance with Advanced Configuration and Power Interface ACPI specifi cation 1 0A For systems running the Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition Windows Millennium Edition Me or Windows 2000 operating system the two high performance Universal Serial Bus USB p...

Page 19: ...th your computer You should review PCI Expansion Card Upgrades in Chapter 2 to be sure you have the necessary slots or resources available before purchasing such an upgrade Dell offers a variety of expansion cards to increase system functionality Fax modem card 10 100 megabit per second Mbps network card You can expand your system s memory up to 512 MB by installing additional 168 pin 100 megahert...

Page 20: ...adlock Ring The padlock ring allows you to secure the computer cover to the chassis with a pad lock to prevent unauthorized access to the inside of the computer To use the padlock ring insert a commercially available padlock through the ring and then lock the padlock padlock ring ...

Page 21: ...rn off your computer and all devices 2 Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface at the back of the computer before touching anything inside your computer While you work periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components 3 Disconnect any devices connected to the computer including the monitor from their...

Page 22: ...owing steps 1 Observe the Caution for Your Personal Safety and Protection of Your Equip ment found earlier in this chapter Also observe the safety instructions at the front of this guide NOTICE To avoid inadvertently damaging the system board be sure that you disconnect the computer s power cable from the electrical outlet and from the back of the chassis before removing the computer cover The sys...

Page 23: ...ll cable connections especially those that might have come loose during your work Fold cables and unused connectors out of the way so that they do not catch on the computer cover or interfere with airflow inside the computer 2 Check to see that no tools or extra parts including screws are left inside the computer 3 Remove the front bezel by slightly lifting the three bezel tabs see Figure 2 2 and ...

Page 24: ... do not set heavy objects such as a monitor on top of the computer Inside Your Computer Figure 2 3 shows the computer with its cover removed as an aid in locating internal features and components When you look inside your computer note the DC power cables coming from the power supply These cables supply power to the system board and to internal drives The flat ribbon cables are the interface cable...

Page 25: ...the Computer AC power receptacle expansion card slots riser board bracket diskette drive optical drive power supply system board voltage select switch USB connector mouse connector video connector parallel port connector serial port connector keyboard connector line out connector ...

Page 26: ...pper connectors CN1 secondary IDE interface connector CN7 battery socket BT1 parallel port video and serial port connectors CN3 primary IDE interface connector CN8 front audio USB board interface connector CN12 processor mode jumper JPX1 NVRAM jumper JPX2 line out connector PH1 microprocessor socket U9 riser board connector SL1 USB port connector CN5 headphone connector CN5 microphone connector CN...

Page 27: ...port connector CN7 Secondary IDE interface connector for optical drive CN8 Primary IDE interface connector CN12 Front audio USB board interface connector CN13 Audio signal cable connector CN16 Diskette drive interface connector DIMMn DIMM socket FN1 Processor fan connector JP1 Power button connector JP2 Power button indicator connector JP3 Hard disk drive activity indicator connector JP6 Password ...

Page 28: ...Make sure your system is turned off and unplugged from the elec trical outlet before you change a jumper setting Otherwise damage to your system or unpredictable results may occur Password Jumper Figure 2 4 shows the location of the password jumper JP6 in your computer Table 2 2 describes the settings and functions of the password jumper Table 2 2 Password Jumper Settings Jumper Settings Descripti...

Page 29: ...es the settings and functions of the NVRAM jumper settings Table 2 3 Processor Mode Jumper Settings Jumper Settings Description Enables processor normal mode default Change this setting only if instructed to by Dell Technical Support Enables processor safe mode NOTE The Glossary in the system Help defines abbreviations and acronyms Table 2 4 NVRAM Jumper Settings Jumper Settings Description Retain...

Page 30: ...d screw see Figure 2 5 3 Hold the back of the diskette drive with one hand to prevent it from moving as you perform step 4 4 Slip one finger into the oval opening on top of the riser board bracket see Figure 2 5 Then slightly lift the back end of the riser board bracket and gently pull the riser board bracket toward the back of the computer until its front tab is free from the front chassis slot a...

Page 31: ...te drive slots align with the diskette drive tabs see Figure 2 5 CAUTION When handling the riser board bracket always hold it by plac ing a finger through the oval opening in the bracket see Figure 2 5 Do not grasp the bracket by its edges which may be sharp 3 Gently push the riser board bracket toward the front of the computer until its three back tabs fit into the three slots on the back of the ...

Page 32: ...ell see Available Upgrades in Chapter 1 PCI expansion card connector 2 PCI2 is available for use with any one third length commercial PCI card Figure 2 6 shows a typical one third length PCI expansion card Figure 2 7 shows the two PCI expansion card connectors on the riser board Figure 2 6 PCI Expansion Card Figure 2 7 Riser Board PCI Expansion Card Connectors Make sure that you have a slot availa...

Page 33: ...NT Diagnostics in the Administrative Tools Common folder and view the Resources tab NOTE If an IRQ supported by your card is not available try reassigning resources used by other devices or disabling unused devices Installing Expansion Cards 1 Prepare the expansion card for installation as instructed in the documentation that came with the expansion card Check the documentation to make sure the ca...

Page 34: ...ack panel of the computer see Figure 2 8 and remove the filler bracket cap Figure 2 8 Removing the Filler Bracket Cap 6 Unscrew and remove the metal filler bracket that covers the card slot opening for the expansion slot you intend to use see Figure 2 9 Figure 2 9 Removing the Filler Bracket screw filler bracket cap filler bracket ...

Page 35: ...re the card mounting bracket see Figure 2 10 with the screw you removed in step 6 Make sure that the front of the card edge connector is completely seated in the expansion card connector The bottom of the card mounting bracket must be inside the card slot opening and the top of the bracket must be flush against the bracket mount with the notch aligned with the screw hole in the bracket mount Expan...

Page 36: ...rwise damage to the riser board connector or system board may occur 6 Grasp the card by its top corners and ease it out of its connector 7 If you are removing the card permanently install a metal filler bracket over the empty card slot opening in the bracket mount NOTE Installing filler brackets over empty card slot openings is necessary to maintain Federal Communications Commission FCC certificat...

Page 37: ...ards according to the instructions in Removing Expan sion Cards found earlier in this chapter 4 Press outward on the plastic securing clips at each end of the DIMM socket to release the clips as shown in step 1 of Figure 2 11 Figure 2 11 Installing a DIMM 5 Orient the DIMM so that the cutouts on its edge connector align with the cross bars in the central groove of the socket NOTICE Do not press ne...

Page 38: ...em memory the operating system may report 62 or 63 MB Removing a DIMM 1 Remove the computer cover according to the instructions in Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover found earlier in this chapter 2 Remove the riser board bracket according to the instructions in Removing and Replacing the Riser Board Bracket found earlier in this chapter 3 Remove the expansion cards according to the instruct...

Page 39: ...N There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer s instructions 1 Make a copy of the screens in the system setup program You will need a written or printed copy of the system configuration information to restore the correct sett...

Page 40: ...prying off the socket or by breaking circuit traces on the system board 6 Locate the battery on the system board see Figure 2 4 and pry it out of its socket with your fingers or with a blunt nonconductive object such as a plastic screwdriver NOTICE Inserting the battery upside down will damage the system board circuitry 7 Insert the battery into the socket with the side labeled facing up see Figur...

Page 41: ...you removed in step 5 9 Replace the bezel riser board bracket and computer cover and reconnect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets 10 Restart the system press Del when the blue Dell logo screen appears to enter the system setup program and restore the correct settings For instructions see Appendix B System Setup Program battery socket BT1 battery ...

Page 42: ...2 22 Dell Dimension 900 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide ...

Page 43: ...back up Dell installed driver files for Dell installed devices The driver files are preserved on the Dell Dimension ResourceCD NOTE In case of warranty replacement of your hard disk drive you will receive a blank formatted drive from Dell You must reinstall application programs and restore data files Installing Additional Hardware and Software If the problem you are experiencing began after you ma...

Page 44: ...likely sources of problems for your computer system A quick check of all the switches controls and cable connections can easily solve these problems Usually reseating disconnecting and then reconnecting the cables corrects these problems NOTE See the System Features section of the Dell Dimension 900 System Help for the location of your computer s external connectors and controls To check computer ...

Page 45: ... power strips and extension cables to verify that the system turns on Turn off the computer and any attached devices and disconnect them from their electrical outlets Disconnect any devices attached to the computer except for the mouse and the monitor Reseat the power cable at the back of the computer then reconnect the computer and monitor to an electrical outlet making sure that all connections ...

Page 46: ...play image Fluorescent lights or halogen lamps causing display flickering or distortion Electrical extension cords and keyboard and mouse extension cables Too many devices on a power strip or multiple power strips from one electrical outlet Electrical conduits in an adjoining wall or elevators on the other side of the wall Large metal beams inside the wall behind the system Dust accumulation near ...

Page 47: ...ged the resolution or refresh rate settings of the monitor return the monitor to its manufacturer s recommended settings see the monitor documentation Turn off the computer system and examine the video interface cable connector for bent pushed in broken or missing pins Check the documentation that came with your monitor for additional information NOTE Some missing pins may be normal for your monit...

Page 48: ...ce Turn up the volume knob on the speakers If the audio is distorted make sure that the volume is not turned to its maximum setting Adjust the treble and or bass if the sound is distorted Turn up the volume by clicking the yellow speaker icon in the Windows taskbar and adjusting the volume setting Turn off the monitor and such devices as fans fluorescent lights or halogen lamps to check for interf...

Page 49: ...ur telephone company to check for data noise and imbalanced lines See Modem in Chapter 5 for further troubleshooting information Network Cards In general network malfunctions may be caused by the following problems Wrong or incorrectly installed network interface controller NIC drivers Interrupt request IRQ conflicts Damaged RJ45 connector or patch cable Bad hub port connection Incorrectly install...

Page 50: ...cannot connect to the network ensure that the right drivers are being used If the network card is still not detected see Chapter 6 Getting Help for informa tion on obtaining technical assistance If the network card is detected repeat step 1 Diskette Drives If you have diskette drive problems perform the following checks Make sure the diskette is not write protected if you are trying to copy data t...

Page 51: ...e run the ScanDisk utility by clicking the Start button pointing to Programs Accessories System Tools and clicking ScanDisk For Windows NT run the error checking utility by opening the property sheet of the affected volume s and clicking Check Now in the Error checking section of the Tools tab For Windows 2000 perform the following steps 1 Double click the My Computer icon located on the Windows d...

Page 52: ... is reached A Devices menu category that briefly describes each test and its parameters A Config menu category that describes the configuration of the devices in the selected device group Status messages that inform you whether test groups or subtests were com pleted successfully Error messages that appear if any problems are detected As long as the microprocessor and the input and output componen...

Page 53: ...oard 8 Type dimcdiag and press Enter The DIAGNOSTICS MENU appears see Figure 3 1 The menu allows you to run all or specific diagnostic tests or to exit to the MS DOS prompt NOTE Before you read the rest of this section you may want to start the Dell Diagnostics so that you can see it on the screen of your monitor 9 After running the diagnostics repeat steps 1 through 3 to reset the first bootable ...

Page 54: ...presented in the following areas Two lines at the top of the screen identify the version number of the Dell Diagnostics On the left side of the screen the Device Groups area lists the diagnostic test groups in the order they will run if you select All from the Run Tests menu Press the up or down arrow key to highlight a device group On the right side of the screen the Devices for Highlighted Group...

Page 55: ...group Using the Dell Diagnostics The online Help in the Dell Diagnostics provides instructions on how to use the pro gram and explains each menu item test group subtest and test and error result To enter the Help menu perform the following steps 1 Highlight Select Devices to Test in the DIAGNOSTICS MENU 2 Press Enter 3 Press h The Help menu options are Menu Keys Device Group Device Test and Versio...

Page 56: ...tes data to and from diskettes Diskettes are flexible recording media sometimes contained in hard shells Diskette recording capacities are small and access times are slow relative to hard disk drives but they provide a convenient means of storing and transferring data Test Test provides a thorough explanation of the subtest highlighted for a selected device group For example the following descript...

Page 57: ... set through the Power Options Properties window If you press Del when the computer restarts your computer s power management features can be set through the system setup program To set the power management features in Windows 98 perform the following steps 1 Click the Start button point to Settings and click Control Panel 2 Double click the Power Management icon 3 Set the power management feature...

Page 58: ...r Options icon on the Windows 2000 and Win dows Me taskbar You may also select the option to have a password prompt appear when the system resumes from standby mode For Windows 2000 and Windows Me you may set the system to power off or to enter standby mode when you press the power button For Windows 2000 and Windows Me the following additional tabs are included in the Power Options Properties win...

Page 59: ...quired by that operating system If you reinstall Windows 98 you must reinstall the Intel Chip Set Update Utility before you reinstall any other drivers Using the Dell Dimension ResourceCD to Reinstall Drivers NOTICE The Dell Dimension ResourceCD contains drivers for devices that might not be installed in your computer Do not install device drivers unless you first identify the specific driver inte...

Page 60: ...program running on your computer For instructions on temporarily disabling virus protection see the online documentation provided with your virus scanning software NOTICE When virus scanning software is disabled viruses are not detected on your system After you install the software reenable the virus scanning program See the online documentation provided with your virus scanning software for instr...

Page 61: ...n Windows Me double click Troubleshooting in the What would you like help with list click Hardware system device problems click Hardware memory oth ers and then click Hardware Troubleshooter Windows 2000 To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows 2000 perform the following steps 1 Click the Start button point to Settings and click Control Panel 2 In the Control Panel double click the Sys...

Page 62: ...ons for reinstalling your Windows 98 Second Edition operating system The options can potentially overwrite files installed by Dell and possibly affect programs installed on your hard disk drive Therefore Dell does not recommend that you rein stall your operating system unless instructed to do so by a Dell technical support representative NOTICE To prevent conflicts with Windows 98 you must disable...

Page 63: ...ocated on the side of your system 15 In the Date Time Properties window adjust the date and time properties click Apply and then click OK Windows 98 updates the system settings and restarts your system 16 When the Start Wizard appears click Finish The Enter Windows Password window appears To continue without creating a Windows user name and password click OK Otherwise type your user name and passw...

Page 64: ...D ROM or DVD ROM drive and close the drive tray 3 Exit the system setup program 4 Select Boot From CD ROM and then press Enter If you wait too long to make this selection the computer automatically boots from the hard drive If this occurs allow the computer to boot completely and then restart it and try again 5 Select Start Windows Setup from CD ROM and then press Enter 6 Press Enter again 7 Selec...

Page 65: ...e and then press Enter Windows Setup installs additional files and then restarts the system 22 Select Boot From Hard Drive and then press Enter 23 Enter a password in the Enter Network Password window if desired and then click Next 24 Remove the Dell Product Recovery CD from the CD ROM or DVD ROM drive 25 Enter the system setup program as directed by a Dell technical support representative 26 In t...

Page 66: ... Windows 2000 Setup Wizard screen appears 11 When the Regional Settings screen appears select the settings for your locale and then click Next 12 Enter your name and organization in the Personalize Your Software screen and then click Next 13 When prompted enter the Windows product key which is printed on the Microsoft label on your computer Then click Next 14 When the Computer Name and Administrat...

Page 67: ...re or a faulty expansion card If software prob lems and conflicts have been eliminated perform the following general steps to troubleshoot expansion cards 1 Remove the computer cover as described in Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover in Chapter 2 2 Remove the riser board bracket as described in Removing and Replacing the Riser Board Bracket in Chapter 2 3 Remove all of the internal and exte...

Page 68: ...sion 900 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide Figure 5 1 Expansion Card Installation Figure 5 2 Incorrect Expansion Card Installations fully seated not fully seated front edge not seated bracket caught in slot ...

Page 69: ...l double click Modems for Windows 98 Windows Me and Windows NT or double click Phone and Modem Options for Windows 2000 c If there are multiple entries for the same modem remove those entries and restart the computer If there are modems listed that are not part of the system configuration remove them from the list If you are using Windows NT verify the modem properties and then proceed to step 3 d...

Page 70: ...ard perform the following steps 1 Run the diagnostics for your network card as described in the documentation that came with the card If the network card is not detected go to step 2 If the network card does not pass all the tests see Chapter 6 Getting Help for instructions on obtaining technical assistance 2 Remove the computer cover as described in Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover in Ch...

Page 71: ... setup pro gram restore the original values and restart the system 4 Enter the system setup program as described in Appendix B System Setup Program and verify 1st Bank 2nd Bank and Total Memory on the System Information screen If the memory amount displayed in megabytes MB does not match the com puter s configuration reseat the dual in line memory modules DIMMs as described in the next subsection ...

Page 72: ...tain ing technical assistance If Your Computer Gets Wet Liquids from spills splashes and excessive humidity can damage your computer If an external device such as a printer gets wet contact the manufacturer of that device for instructions If your computer gets wet perform the following steps 1 Immediately unplug the computer from the electrical outlet 2 Remove the computer cover as described in Re...

Page 73: ...he drive letter for the optical drive which is displayed on the line above the a prompt Press Enter 15 Type diags32 and press Enter The DIAGNOSTICS MENU appears 16 Type q to quickly test your computer system If the tests do not complete successfully see Chapter 6 Getting Help for instructions on obtaining technical assistance If Your Computer Is Damaged If your computer is dropped or damaged check...

Page 74: ...MS DOS bootable diskette into the diskette drive 5 Turn on the computer system If the system does not start see Chapter 6 Getting Help for instructions on obtaining technical assistance 6 When the boot screen appears select Start Computer with CD ROM Support 7 At the a prompt type x where x is the drive letter for the optical drive which is displayed on the line above the a prompt Press Enter 8 Ty...

Page 75: ...agnostics Checklist found later in this chapter and fill it out 4 Use Dell s extensive suite of online support services available at Dell s World Wide Web support site http support dell com for help with installation and troubleshooting procedures For more information refer to World Wide Web found later in this chapter 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem and you need to talk to ...

Page 76: ...ce tag sequence is listed on the system information label See the System Help for the loca tion of the system information label From this page you can access a number of tools and information such as system documentation drivers and basic input output BIOS updates and self diagnostic tools for resolving many computer related issues by following interactive flowcharts Online Knowledge Center This t...

Page 77: ...s than 10 minutes When you call our experts can refer to records kept on your Dell system to better understand your particular question Our technical support staff use computer based diagnostics to provide fast accurate answers to questions To contact Dell s technical support service first refer to the section titled Before You Call and then call the number listed in Dell Contact Numbers found lat...

Page 78: ...d 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 Computer Corporation 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 ...

Page 79: ...__________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you connected to a network yes no Network version and network card _______________________________________________________________ Programs and versions ___________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________...

Page 80: ...1 44 520 1435 Technical Support Dell Precision OptiPlex and Latitude toll free 0120 1984 33 Technical Support Outside of Japan Dell Precision OptiPlex and Latitude 81 44 556 3894 Customer Care 044 556 4240 24 Hour Automated Order Status Service 044 556 3801 Home and Small Business Group Sales 044 556 3344 Individual User 044 556 1760 Preferred Accounts Division Sales over 400 employees 044 556 343...

Page 81: ...e 32 KB 16 KB data cache 16 KB instruction cache L2 cache 128 KB SDRAM Math coprocessor internal to processor System Information System chip set Intel 810e chip set Data bus width 64 bits Address bus width 32 bits DMA channels eight Interrupt levels 15 Display cache 4 MB System BIOS chip Y2K DMI 2 0s and system management BIOS 2 3 compliant BIOS in 4 Mb flash chip Expansion Bus Bus type PCI versio...

Page 82: ...ystem clock 66 or 100 MHz matches external bus speed Memory Architecture non ECC SDRAM 168 pin modules DIMM sockets two gold contacts DIMM capacities 32 64 128 and 256 MB Minimum RAM 64 MB Maximum RAM 512 MB Frequency 100 MHz Clock cycle 10 ns supports 4 clocks only CAS latency three SPD revision 1 2 Buffering unbuffered Voltage 3 3 V Data bus width 64 bits BIOS address F0000h Table A 1 Technical ...

Page 83: ...nt connector on the front panel one on the back panel Audio two front panel miniature jacks for microphone and headphones and one back panel miniature line out jack for speakers Internally accessible Primary IDE channel 40 pin connector on PCI bus Secondary IDE channel 50 pin slimline connector on PCI bus Diskette drive 26 pin slimline connector Fan 2 pin connector Video Graphics architecture Inte...

Page 84: ...push button Power indicators green on system board green on front panel Hard disk drive access indicator green Power DC power supply Wattage 100 W Heat dissipation 808 BTU nominal Voltage switch selectable on back panel 100 V at 50 to 60 Hz for Japanese systems 90 to 135 V at 60 Hz 180 to 265 V at 50 Hz Backup battery 3 V CR2032 coin cell Physical Height 7 8 cm 3 0 inches Width 31 0 cm 12 2 inches...

Page 85: ... 5 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 1 2 octave min Maximum shock Operating bottom half sine pulse with a change in velocity of 50 8 cm sec 20 inches sec Storage 27 G faired square wave with a velocity change of 508 cm sec 200 inches sec Altitude Operating 15 2 to 3048 m 50 to 10 000 ft Storage 15 2 to 10 668 m 50 to 35 000 ft At 35 C 95 F the maximum operating altitude is 914 m 3000 ft Table A 1 Technical Spec...

Page 86: ...A 6 Dell Dimension 900 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide ...

Page 87: ...e system setup program as follows To change the system configuration information after you add change or remove any hardware in your system To set or change user selectable options for example the user password Dell recommends that you print the system setup program screens by pressing Print Screen or write down the information for future reference Entering the System Setup Program Enter the syste...

Page 88: ...rrent option Returns to selected screen from the Key Help Guide Switches to full screen mode Returns to the parent menu from the Main screen prompts you to exit with or without saving changes Moves the cursor to the previous or next menu option Moves the screen page up and down Moves the cursor to the beginning of the page Moves the cursor to the end of the page Displays the Key Help Guide or or o...

Page 89: ...ollowing screens System Information screen Displays a compilation of the present settings of the basic system configuration Product Information screen Displays system product version numbers and identification codes Disk Drives screen Provides settings for the system drives Onboard Peripherals screen Provides settings for the integrated system board ports and controllers Boot Options screen Provid...

Page 90: ...board Peripherals screen See Onboard Peripherals Screen found later in this appendix Boot Options Displays the Boot Options screen See Boot Options Screen found later in this appendix Date and Time Displays the Date and Time screen See Date and Times Screen found later in this appendix System Security Displays the System Security screen See System Security Screen found later in this appendix Advan...

Page 91: ...en Figure B 2 System Information Screen Menu Table B 3 System Information Screen Menu Options Option Function None Displays a compilation of the present settings of the basic system configuration NOTE The Glossary in the system Help defines abbreviations and acronyms ...

Page 92: ...ct Information Screen Figure B 3 Product Information Screen Menu Table B 4 Product Information Screen Menu Options Option Function None Displays system product version numbers and identification codes NOTE The Glossary in the system Help defines abbreviations and acronyms ...

Page 93: ... Primary Channel Slave Identifies the second drive attached to the primary EIDE interface if there is one The format of this submenu is the same as the one described in IDE Primary Channel Master Submenu found later in this appendix IDE Secondary Channel Master Identifies the first drive attached to the secondary EIDE interface usually a CD ROM drive The format of this sub menu is the same as the ...

Page 94: ...t Device Detection Mode to User you can enter the number of heads from 0 to 16 Sector If you set Device Detection Mode to User you can enter the number of sectors from 0 to 63 Size Displays the size of the drive Hard Disk 32 Bit Access Set to Enabled default to enhance the hard disk drive access rate performance Otherwise set to Disabled Advanced PIO Mode Sets the PIO mode to Auto default Mode 0 M...

Page 95: ...set the fol lowing additional options Base Address Available base I O addresses are 3F8h default 3E8h 2F8h and 2E8h IRQ Available interrupts are 4 default and 3 Parallel Port Configures the parallel port Set this option to Enabled default or Disabled Depending on the port setting you can set the following additional options Base Address If port is set to Enabled available base I O addresses are 37...

Page 96: ... Disabled PS 2 Mouse Controller Determines if the mouse controller is Enabled default or Disabled IDE Controller Determines the IDE controller mode Selections are Both default Primary or Disabled USB Host Controller Determines if the USB host controller is Enabled default or Disabled If set to Enabled you can set the following addi tional option USB Legacy Mode Set to Disabled default if legacy US...

Page 97: ...y display device Select Auto default to have the computer first check for a video PCI expansion card and if one is found initialize it as the primary display device Select Onboard to initialize the integrated video con troller as the primary display device regardless of the presence of a video card Fast Boot Configures POST speed Select Auto default to bypass some test procedures during POST Selec...

Page 98: ...Disabled boot memory testing can be Disabled default or Enabled Configuration Table Displays the system configuration table at boot Set to Enabled default or Disabled Update BIOS with Boot Block NOTICE Do not change this option from Disabled default If the option is set to Enabled you cannot restart your computer without technical assistance Table B 8 Boot Options Screen Menu Options continued Opt...

Page 99: ...B 8 Date and Time Screen Menu Table B 9 Date and Time Screen Menu Options Option Function Date Resets the date on the computer s internal calendar Time Resets the time on the computer s internal clock NOTE The Glossary in the system Help defines abbreviations and acronyms ...

Page 100: ...ls a supervisor password User Password Sets changes or cancels a user password Floppy Drive Provides security for the diskette drive Selections are Normal default Write Protect All Sectors and Write Protect Boot Sector Hard Disk Drive Provides security for the hard disk drive Selections are Normal default Write Protect All Sectors and Write Protect Boot Sector NOTE The Glossary in the system Help ...

Page 101: ...creen Menu Options Option Function Memory Cache Options Displays the Memory Cache Options screen See Memory Cache Options Submenu found later in this appendix PnP PCI Options Displays the PnP PCI Options screen See PnP PCI Options Submenu found later in this appendix NOTE The Glossary in the system Help defines abbreviations and acronyms ...

Page 102: ...Sets Level 1 cache to Enabled default or Disabled Level 2 Cache Sets Level 2 cache to Enabled default or Disabled Memory at 15MB 16MB Reserved for Reserves system memory at 15 MB to 16 MB for use by System default or Add on Card CPU Frequency Multiplier Sets the CPU frequency multiplier at 3X default 3 5X 4X 4 5X 5X 5 5X 6X 6 5X 7X 7 5X or 8X NOTE The Glossary in the system Help defines abbreviati...

Page 103: ...tting is set to Manual the expansion card in PCI slot 1 can be manually assigned to interrupt 03 05 09 10 or 11 PCI Slot 2 If PCI IRQ Setting is set to Manual the expansion card in PCI slot 2 can be manually assigned to interrupt 03 05 09 10 or 11 PCI IRQ Sharing Allows different PCI devices to use the same interrupt assignment The selections are Yes default and No VGA Palette Snoop Deactivates th...

Page 104: ...Size Sets the graphics aperture size to 4 8 16 32 64 128 or 256 MB Plug and Play OS Set to Yes default to allow the operating system to handle all Plug and Play operation Set to No to allow the BIOS to handle the Plug and Play operation Reset Resource Assignments Set to No default to retain ESCD data Set to Yes to clear ESCD data Restore On AC Power Loss Determines the system mode of operation aft...

Page 105: ...t and the computer cover 15 Attach the computer to the electrical outlet and turn it on Clearing NVRAM To clear NVRAM for all devices perform the following steps 1 Turn off the computer and unplug it from the electrical outlet 2 Remove the computer cover according to the instructions in Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover found in Chapter 2 3 Remove the riser board bracket according to the i...

Page 106: ...bleshooting Guide 10 Move the NVRAM jumper JPX2 to the retain setting described in NVRAM Jumper in Chapter 2 11 Replace all expansions cards the riser board bracket and the computer cover 12 Attach the computer to the electrical outlet and turn it on ...

Page 107: ...beeps or beep code that identifies the problem The beep codes are listed and explained in Table C 1 Table C 1 POST Beep Codes Beep Code Possible Cause Corrective Action 2 1 1 The Update BIOS with Boot Block option is set to Enabled in the system setup program Enter the system setup program set the Update BIOS with Boot Block option to Disabled and then restart the system See Appendix B Sys tem Set...

Page 108: ...stem battery See Replacing the System Battery in Chapter 2 CMOS Checksum Error A CMOS checksum error has occurred Run the System Board Devices tests as described in Running the Dell Diagnostics in Chapter 3 CPU Clock Mismatch The processor clock jumper may be set incorrectly Check the processor clock jumper settings See Jumpers in Chapter 2 Diskette Drive x Error Diskette Drive Controller Error Th...

Page 109: ...the System Board Devices tests as described in Running the Dell Diagnostics in Chapter 3 Insert system diskette and press Enter key to reboot The diskette in drive A or your hard disk drive does not have a bootable operating system installed on it Either replace the diskette with one that has a bootable operating system or remove the diskette from drive A and restart the computer IRQ Setting Error...

Page 110: ...alled Turn off the computer and discon nect your system and devices from their electrical outlets Remove both of the cards See Expansion Cards in Chapter 5 Reconnect the computer and devices and start the computer If the message reappears the expansion card may be malfunc tioning If the message does not appear turn off the computer and reinsert the other card Pointing Device Error Pointing Device ...

Page 111: ... Parity Error One or more DIMMs may be faulty or improp erly seated See System Memory and Reseating DIMMs in Chapter 5 Real Time Clock Error A real time clock error has occurred Run the System Board Devices tests as described in Running the Dell Diagnostics in Chapter 3 System Management Memory Bad System management memory may be faulty See System Memory in Chapter 5 System Resource Conflict Some ...

Page 112: ...C 6 Dell Dimension 900 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide ...

Page 113: ...occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause interference with radio communications services which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures Reorient the receiving antenna Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver Move the computer away from the receiver Plug the c...

Page 114: ... sections specific for each regulatory agency Each section provides country specific EMC EMI or product safety information VCCI Notice Japan Only Most Dell computer systems are classified by the Voluntary Control Council for Inter ference VCCI as Class B information technology equipment ITE However the inclusion of certain options can change the rating of some configurations to Class A ITE includi...

Page 115: ...ter ference Install and use the equipment according to the instruction manual Figure D 2 VCCI Class B ITE Regulatory Mark Battery Disposal Your computer system uses a lithium ion battery The lithium ion is a long life battery and it is very possible that you will never need to replace it However should you need to replace it see Replacing the System Battery in Chapter 2 for instructions Do not dis...

Page 116: ...D 4 Dell Dimension 900 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide ...

Page 117: ...er chip set update utility driver 4 3 clearing NVRAM B 19 computer technical specifications A 1 connections troubleshooting 3 2 connectors audio cable 2 6 DC main power input 2 6 DIMM socket 2 6 diskette drive interface 2 6 hard disk drive activity indicator 2 6 headphone 2 6 keyboard 2 6 line out 2 6 list of 2 7 microphone 2 6 microprocessor 2 6 mouse 2 6 parallel port 2 6 power button 2 6 power ...

Page 118: ...d on your system 4 3 other 4 3 reinstalling 4 2 reinstalling from Dell Dimension ResourceCD 4 3 security 4 3 video 4 3 drives bays A 3 cables 2 4 troubleshooting 3 8 types supported 1 2 dual in line memory modules See DIMMs E electrostatic discharge See ESD error messages invalid configuration information B 1 list C 2 ESD viii expansion cards about 2 12 connectors 2 12 installing 2 13 removing 2 1...

Page 119: ...ogram B 16 messages C 2 microprocessor type supported 1 1 A 1 modem troubleshooting 3 6 5 3 monitor troubleshooting 3 4 N nonvolatile random access memory See NVRAM notational conventions x Notes x Notices x NVRAM clearing B 19 NVRAM jumper settings 2 9 O Onboard Peripherals screen system setup program B 9 operating systems supported 1 2 optical drives troubleshooting 3 8 P padlock ring 1 3 passwo...

Page 120: ...ving and replacing 2 2 support technical 6 1 system See computer system board about 2 4 features 1 2 system configuration information See system setup program System Information screen system setup program B 5 system memory See DIMMs system messages C 2 System Security screen system setup program B 14 system setup program about B 1 Advanced Options screen B 15 Boot Options screen B 11 configuratio...

Page 121: ... 5 where to start 3 1 typographical conventions xi U upgrade options available 1 3 expansion cards 2 13 memory 2 16 unpacking 2 2 V video controller 1 2 video driver 4 3 virus scanning programs temporarily disabling 4 4 W warranty information ix warranty repair or credit 6 4 Windows power management features 4 1 Windows 2000 reinstalling 4 9 resolving software and hardware incompatibilities 4 5 Wi...

Page 122: ...6 Dell Dimension 900 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide ...

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