Dell INSPIRON 531s Series Owner'S Manual Download

Page: 49 / 212

Setting Up and Using Your Computer

There are two ways to access the Windows Easy Transfer wizard:

When Vista setup is completed, you will see the Vista Welcome Center.
One icon in the Welcome Center is

Transfer Files and Settings

. Click this

icon to start Windows Easy Transfer.

If the Welcome Center dialog box has been closed, you can access
Windows Easy Transfer by clicking

Start

→

All Programs

→

Accessories

→

System Tools

→

Windows

Easy Transfer.

Double-click the

Windows

Easy Transfer

icon to begin the process.

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter

NOTICE:

Plug the network cable into the network adapter connector on the

computer. Do not plug the network cable into the modem connector on the
computer. Do not plug a network cable into a telephone wall jack.

Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back
of your computer.

Insert the cable until it clicks into place, and then gently pull it to ensure
that it is secure.

Connect the other end of the network cable to a network device.

network adapter connector

network device

network adapter connector on computer

network cable

book.book Page 49 Wednesday, April 16, 2008 3:33 PM

Summary of Contents for INSPIRON 531s Series

Page 1: ...w w w d e l l c o m s u p p o r t d e l l c o m Dell Inspiron 531s Owner s Manual Model DCSLA ...

Page 2: ...nc is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo YOURS IS HERE Inspiron Dell TravelLite and Strike Zone are trademarks of Dell Inc Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG Inc and is used by Dell under license Microsoft Windows Windows Vista and Windows Vista start button are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United...

Page 3: ...Back Panel Connectors 19 Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure 21 Setting Up a Printer 23 Printer Cable 23 Connecting a USB Printer 23 Playing CDs and DVDs 25 Adjusting the Volume 27 Adjusting the Picture 27 Copying CDs and DVDs 28 How to Copy a CD or DVD 28 Using Blank CDs and DVDs 29 Helpful Tips 30 Using a Media Card Reader Optional 31 ...

Page 4: ...s XP 35 Power Options Properties 37 Power Schemes Tab 37 Advanced Tab 38 Hibernate Tab 38 Power Management Options in Windows Vista 38 Standby Mode 39 Hibernate Mode 40 Power Plan Properties 40 Enabling Cool n Quiet Technology 42 About RAID Configurations For Windows Vista only 43 RAID Level 1 Configuration 43 Configuring Your Hard Drives for RAID 44 Using the Nvidia MediaShield ROM Utility 45 Usi...

Page 5: ...nd DVD drive problems 57 Hard drive problems 58 E Mail Modem and Internet Problems 58 Error Messages 60 Keyboard Problems 62 Lockups and Software Problems 62 The computer does not start up 62 The computer stops responding 63 A program stops responding 63 A program crashes repeatedly 63 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operating system 64 A solid blue screen appears 64 Other s...

Page 6: ...reen is blank 76 If the screen is difficult to read 77 3 Troubleshooting Tools 79 Power Lights 79 Beep Codes 80 System Messages 82 Dell Diagnostics 84 When to Use the Dell Diagnostics 84 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive 84 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media 85 Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 85 Drivers 87 What Is a Driver 87 Identifying Drivers 87 Reins...

Page 7: ... 101 Recommended Tools 101 Turning Off Your Computer 102 Before Working Inside Your Computer 102 Removing the Computer Cover 103 Removing the Support Bracket 104 Inside View of Your Computer 106 System Board Components 107 Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments 109 Memory 112 Memory Installation Guidelines 112 Installing Memory 113 Removing Memory 115 Cards 116 PCI and PCI Express Cards 116 Bez...

Page 8: ...VD Drive 141 Battery 144 Replacing the Battery 144 Power Supply 146 Replacing the Power Supply 146 Processor 148 Removing the Processor 148 Installing the Processor 150 I O Panel 153 Removing the I O Panel 153 Installing the I O Panel 154 Processor Fan 155 Removing the Processor Fan 155 Installing the Processor Fan 158 Chassis Fan 160 Removing the Chassis Fan 160 Replacing the Chassis Fan 161 Syst...

Page 9: ...quence for the Current Boot 175 Clearing Forgotten Passwords 176 Clearing CMOS Settings 177 Flashing the BIOS 178 Cleaning Your Computer 179 Computer Keyboard and Monitor 179 Mouse 179 Floppy Drive 180 CDs and DVDs 180 Dell Technical Support Policy U S Only 180 Definition of Dell Installed Software and Peripherals 181 Definition of Third Party Software and Peripherals 181 FCC Notice U S Only 181 F...

Page 10: ...Customer Service 183 DellConnect 184 Online Services 184 AutoTech Service 185 Automated Order Status Service 185 Problems With Your Order 185 Product Information 185 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit 186 Before You Call 186 Contacting Dell 188 Glossary 189 Index 205 ...

Page 11: ...nal 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 NOTE See the setup diagram that came with your system NOTE The appearance of your setup diagram may var...

Page 12: ...ter Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support dell com or contact support Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support NOTE As an increased security measure the newly designed Microsoft Windows license label incorporates a missing portion or hole to discourage removal of the label What Are You Looking For Find it Here ...

Page 13: ...te NOTE Corporate government and education customers can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website at premier support dell com Desktop System Software DSS If you reinstall the operating system for your computer you should also reinstall the DSS utility DSS provides critical updates for your operating system and support for Dell 3 5 inch USB floppy drives optical drives and USB devices D...

Page 14: ...nter 1 To access Windows Help and Support In Windows XP click Start and click Help and Support In Windows Vista click the Windows Vista Start button and click Help and Support 2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and press Enter 3 Click the topic that describes your problem Follow the instructions on the screen What Are You Looking For Find it Here ...

Page 15: ...Setting Up and Using Your Computer 15 Setting Up and Using Your Computer Front View of the Computer 2 4 5 7 3 6 8 1 9 10 ...

Page 16: ...NOTICE To avoid losing data do not use the power button to turn off the computer Instead perform an operating system shutdown 7 USB 2 0 connectors 2 Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally such as joysticks or cameras or for bootable USB devices see System Setup Options on page 173 for more information on booting to a USB device It is recommended that you use the bac...

Page 17: ...Setting Up and Using Your Computer 17 Back View of the Computer 1 2 7 5 6 4 3 ...

Page 18: ...r selecting voltage rating 5 power connector Insert the power cable 6 padlock rings Padlock rings are for attaching a commercially available theft deterrent device The padlock rings allows you to secure the computer cover to the chassis with a padlock to prevent unauthorized access to the inside of the computer To use the padlock rings insert a commercially available padlock through the rings and ...

Page 19: ...d of the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back panel of your computer A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached NOTE Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector On computers with a network connector card use the connector on the card It is recommended that you use Category 5 wiring and connectors for your network If you must use Category ...

Page 20: ...eakers with integrated amplifiers On computers with a sound card use the connector on the card 7 microphone Use the pink connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program On computers with a sound card the microphone connector is on the card 8 side L R surround connector Use the gray connector to provide enhanced surround audio for comp...

Page 21: ...t room temperature is at 25 C 77 F depending on your computer s specifications you only have 5 to 10 C 9 to 18 F temperature margin before you reach your computer s maximum operating temperature For details about your computer s specifications see Specifications on page 167 Leave a 10 2 cm 4 inches minimum clearance on all vented sides of the computer to permit the airflow required for proper vent...

Page 22: ...etting Up and Using Your Computer NOTICE Do not install your computer in an enclosure that does not allow airflow Restricting the airflow impacts your computer s performance possibly causing it to overheat ...

Page 23: ... Printer Cable Your printer connects to your computer with either a USB cable or a parallel cable Your printer may not come with a printer cable so if you purchase a cable separately ensure that it is compatible with your printer and computer If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer the cable may arrive in the computer s shipping box Connecting a USB Printer NO...

Page 24: ...indows XP Click Start Control Panel Printers and Faxes Add a printer to start the Add Printer Wizard Windows Vista Click Start and click Network Add a printer to start the Add Printer Wizard 5 Install the printer driver if necessary see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 88 and the documentation that came with your printer 1 USB connector on computer 2 USB connector on printer 3 USB printe...

Page 25: ...are playing CDs or DVDs 1 Press the eject button on the front of the drive 2 Place the disc label side out in the center of the tray 3 Ensure that the lower edge of the CD or DVD is seated inside the lower lip of the tray 4 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 copyr...

Page 26: ...r DVD player if available Play Move backward within the current track Pause Move forward within the current track Stop Go to the previous track Eject Go to the next track Stop Restart the current chapter Play Fast forward Pause Fast reverse Advance a single frame while in pause mode Go to the next title or chapter Continuously play the current title or chapter Go to the previous title or chapter E...

Page 27: ...e 2 In the Volume Mixer window click and drag the bar in the Speakers column and slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume Adjusting the Picture If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing DVD playback adjust the display properties Windows XP 1 Click the Start button and then click Control Panel 2 Under Pick a c...

Page 28: ... Media for other purposes such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data For help open Sonic Digital Media and then click the question mark icon in the upper right corner of the window How to Copy a CD or DVD NOTE CD RW DVD combo drives cannot write to DVD media If you have a CD RW DVD combo drive and you experience recording problems check for ava...

Page 29: ...the Disc Copy button The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive When prompted insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive and click OK If you have two CD or DVD drives select the drive into which you have inserted your source CD or DVD and click the Disc Copy button The computer copies the data from the source CD or DVD to the blank C...

Page 30: ...oft Windows Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD R or CD RW only after you start Sonic DigitalMedia and open a DigitalMedia project Use CD Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos CD RWs do not play in most home or car stereos You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic Digital Media Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software instal...

Page 31: ...until you are familiar with CD recording techniques If you make a mistake you can erase the data on the CD RW and try again You can also use blank CD RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD R See the Sonic website at www sonic com for additional information Using a Media Card Reader Optional Use the Media Card Reader to transfer data directly to your...

Page 32: ...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 1 xD Picture Card and SmartMedia SMC 2 CompactFlash Type I and II CF I II and MicroDrive Card 3 Memory Stick MS MS Pro 4 SecureDigital Card SD MultiMediaCard MMC 1 3 4 2 ...

Page 33: ...al DVI adapter to connect the cable If you are connecting two flat panel monitors at least one of them must have a VGA connector If you are connecting a TV you may connect only one monitor VGA or DVI in addition to the TV Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 NOTE The integrated video card is disabled when an add on graphics card is ins...

Page 34: ...Connecting a TV NOTE You must purchase an S video cable available at most consumer electronics stores to connect a TV to your computer It is not included with your computer 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Connect one end of the S video cable to the optional TV OUT connector on the back of the computer 3 Connect the other end of the S video cable to the S video input conne...

Page 35: ...g it You can reduce power to just the monitor or the hard drive or you can use standby mode or hibernate mode to reduce power to the entire computer When the computer exits from a power conservation mode it returns to the operating state it was in prior to entering the mode NOTE Windows XP Professional includes security and networking features not available in Windows XP Home Edition When a Window...

Page 36: ... turning off the computer When the computer exits from hibernate mode the desktop is restored to the state it was in prior to entering hibernate mode To activate hibernate mode 1 Click Start Control Panel Pick a category Performance and Maintenance 2 Under or pick a Control Panel icon click Power Options 3 Define your hibernate settings on the Power Schemes tab Advanced tab and Hibernate tab To ex...

Page 37: ...rting standby mode hibernate mode turning off the monitor and turning off the hard drive NOTICE If you set the hard drive to time out before the monitor does your computer may appear to be locked up To recover press any key on the keyboard or click the mouse To avoid this problem always set the monitor to timeout before the hard drive The Power schemes drop down menu displays the following schemes...

Page 38: ...vate hibernate mode or turn off the computer To program these functions click an option from the corresponding drop down menu and click OK Hibernate Tab The Hibernate tab allows you to enable hibernate mode If you want to use the hibernate settings as defined on the Power Schemes tab click the Enable hibernate support check box on the Hibernate tab For more information on power management options ...

Page 39: ...after a time out When the computer exits from standby mode it returns to the operating state it was in before it entered standby mode To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity 1 Click Start and click Control Panel 2 Under Pick a category click System and Maintenance 3 Under System and Maintenance click Power Options The next dialog box shows three power pla...

Page 40: ...ee Help and Support for further information search for Hibernate To activate hibernate mode immediately if available 1 Click Start and click the arrow pointing to the right beside the lock icon 2 Select Hibernate from the list To exit from hibernate mode press the power button The computer may take a short time to exit from hibernate mode Pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not...

Page 41: ...f our customers This is the active Power Plan for all Dell shipping configurations To change the default settings for a plan 1 Click Start and click Control Panel 2 Under Pick a category click System and Maintenance 3 Under System and Maintenance click Power Options A number of options are available on the left hand side of the Power Options dialog box Click Change Plan Settings just below any of ...

Page 42: ...y dynamically adjusting the operating frequency and voltage according to the task at hand When an application does not require full performance significant amounts of power can be saved Performance is designed to still be responsive with maximum processor performance being delivered when required and automatic power savings when possible Windows XP 1 Enter system setup see System Setup on page 172...

Page 43: ...integrity When data is written to the primary drive the data is also duplicated or mirrored on the second drive in the configuration A RAID level 1 configuration sacrifices high data access rates for its data redundancy advantages If a drive failure occurs subsequent read and write operations are directed to the surviving drive A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviv...

Page 44: ...uter to RAID Enabled Mode 1 Enter the system setup see Entering System Setup on page 172 2 Press the left and right arrow keys to Advanced tab 3 Press the up and down arrow keys to highlight the Integrated Peripherals then press Enter 4 Press the up and down arrow keys to highlight the Serial ATA Configuration then press Enter 5 Press the up and down arrow keys to highlight RAID Enabled and then p...

Page 45: ...mpted to enter the RAID BIOS NOTE If the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again The Define a New Array window appears 4 Press Tab to navigate to the RAID Mode field To create a RAID 1 configuration use the arrow keys to select Mirroring 5 Press Tab to navigate to the Free Disks field 6 Use the up and dow...

Page 46: ...AID array fails you can rebuild the array by restoring the data to a replacement drive NOTE Rebuilding an array can only be performed on RAID 1 configurations 1 Launch Nvidia MediaShield 2 Click to select your RAID configuration Mirroring in the management utility window 3 Select Rebuild Array in the System Tasks pane The NVIDIA Rebuild Array Wizard appears 4 Click Next 5 Select the hard drive you...

Page 47: ... 1 Click Start point to All Programs Accessories System Tools and then click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears 2 Click Next 3 On the Which computer is this screen click New Computer and then click Next 4 On the Do you have a Windows XP CD screen click I will use the wizard from the Windows XP CD and then click Next 5 When the Now go to...

Page 48: ...elect the method you chose for transferring your files and settings and then click Next 3 The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer 4 When all of the settings and files have been applied the Finished screen appears 5 Click Finished and restart the computer Windows Vista The Windows Vista operating system provides the Windows Easy Transfer wizard to mov...

Page 49: ...sy Transfer icon to begin the process Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting to a Network Adapter NOTICE Plug the network cable into the network adapter connector on the computer Do not plug the network cable into the modem connector on the computer Do not plug a network cable into a telephone wall jack 1 Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your compu...

Page 50: ...omplete the checklist and required preparations 5 Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen Windows Vista 1 Click Start and then click Network 2 This brings up the Network dialog screen Click Network and Sharing Center NOTE This screen also provides links to Add a Printer and to Add a Wireless Device if available 3 This will bring up the Network and Sharing Cente...

Page 51: ...ough a satellite television system Dial up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line Dial up connections are considerably slower than DSL and cable or satellite modem connections Wireless LAN connections that provide Internet access using Bluetooth wireless technology If you are using a dial up connection connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your computer and ...

Page 52: ... the Start button then click Internet Explorer The New Connection Wizard appears 3 Click Connect to the Internet 4 In the next window click the appropriate option If you do not have an ISP and want to select one click Choose 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 manua...

Page 53: ...you want to connect Choose Broadband if you will use a DSL satellite modem cable TV modem or Bluetooth wireless technology connection Chose Dial up if you will use a dial up modem or ISDN NOTE If you do not know which type of connection to select click Help me choose or contact your ISP 5 Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup...

Page 54: ...54 Setting Up and Using Your Computer ...

Page 55: ...l diagnose and fix the problem If an error message occurs in a program see the program s documentation Battery Problems CAUTION There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer s instructions CAUTION Before you begin any of the pr...

Page 56: ...d remove viruses Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive ENSURE THAT THE DRIVE IS ENABLED IN THE SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM See System Setup on page 172 TEST THE DRIVE Insert another floppy disk CD or DVD to eliminate the possibility that the original one is defective Insert bootable media and restart the computer CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK See Cleaning Your Computer on page 179 CH...

Page 57: ...cking any boxes that are checked CHECK THE SPEAKERS AND SUBWOOFER See Sound and Speaker Problems on page 74 CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS The CD DVD RW drive must receive a steady stream of data when writing If the stream is interrupted an error occurs Try closing all programs before you write to the CD DVD RW TURN OFF STANDBY MODE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD DVD RW DISC Windows XP 1 Click the Start ...

Page 58: ...ick Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors and click Start Windows Vista 1 Click Start and click Computer 2 Right click Local Disk C 3 Click Properties 4 Click the Tools tab 5 Under Error checking click Check Now 6 Click Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors 7 Click Start NOTE You must be logged in with Administrator privileges to perform this procedure CHECK THE WINDOWS MAIL EXPRESS ...

Page 59: ...dem and connect it to a telephone Listen for a dial tone If you have other telephone devices sharing the line such as an answering machine fax machine surge protector or line splitter then bypass them and use the telephone to connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack If you are using a line that is 3 m 10 ft or more in length try a shorter one RUN THE MODEM HELPER DIAGNOSTICS Windows X...

Page 60: ...a 1 Click Start and click Control Panel 2 Click Hardware and Sound 3 Click Phone and Modem Options and click the Modems tab 4 Click the COM port for your modem 5 Click Properties click the Diagnostics tab and then click Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows If all commands receive responses the modem is operating properly ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET E...

Page 61: ...res click Uninstall a program 3 Select the program you want to remove 4 Click Uninstall Change or Repair 5 See the program documentation for installation instructions drive letter IS NOT ACCESSIBLE THE DEVICE IS NOT READY The drive cannot read the disk Insert a disk into the drive and try again INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA Insert a bootable floppy disk or CD NON SYSTEM DISK ERROR Remove the floppy disk f...

Page 62: ...puter on page 102 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 and try using the ...

Page 63: ... floppy disk or CD TURN THE COMPUTER OFF If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off Then restart your computer END THE PROGRAM 1 Press Ctrl Shift Esc simultaneously 2 Click Applications 3 Click the program that is no longer responding 4 Click End Task CHECK THE...

Page 64: ...a Use the Program Compatibility Wizard to configure an operating environment similar to earlier versions of Windows This may improve the performance of programs designed for earlier versions of Windows 1 Click Start point to Control Panel Programs Programs and features 2 Under Programs and features click Use an older program with this version of windows 3 Follow the instructions on the screen TURN...

Page 65: ...nimum hardware requirements needed to run the software See the software documentation for information Ensure that the program is installed and configured properly Verify that the device drivers do not conflict with the program If necessary uninstall and then reinstall the program BACK UP YOUR FILES IMMEDIATELY USE A VIRUS SCANNING PROGRAM TO CHECK THE HARD DRIVE FLOPPY DISKS OR CDS SAVE AND CLOSE ...

Page 66: ...select the new drive letter assignment for the Media Card Reader 6 Click OK to confirm your selection Windows Vista 1 Click Start right click Computer and select Manage 2 Click Continue if prompted 3 Expand the Storage object and select Disk Management 4 Right click the corresponding drive letter in the right pane that needs to be changed 5 Select Change Drive Letter and Paths 6 Click Change 7 Fro...

Page 67: ...ements If necessary install additional memory see Memory Installation Guidelines on page 112 Reseat the memory modules see Installing Memory on page 113 to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory Run the Dell Diagnostics see Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive on page 84 IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS Reseat the memory modules see Installing ...

Page 68: ...ect the mouse cable as shown on 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 on the on the setup diagram for your computer 4 Start the computer ENSURE THAT THE USB PORTS...

Page 69: ...ettings REINSTALL THE MOUSE DRIVER See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 88 RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER See Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities on page 91 CHECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR Ensure that the network cable is firmly inserted into both the network connector on the back of the computer and the network port or device CHECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE BACK OF THE ...

Page 70: ...Reseat the power cable into both the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet If the computer is plugged into a power strip ensure that the power strip is plugged into an electrical outlet and that the power strip is turned on Also bypass power protection devices power strips and power extension cables to verify that the computer turns on properly Ensure that the elect...

Page 71: ...ystem Board Components on page 107 IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING AMBER The computer is receiving electrical power a device might be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed Remove and then reinstall the memory modules see System Board Components on page 107 Remove and then reinstall any cards see Cards on page 116 Remove and then reinstall the graphics card if applicable see Removing a PCI PCI Exp...

Page 72: ...ick Start click Control Panel and then click Printers and Other Hardware 2 Click View installed printers or fax printers 3 If the printer is listed right click the printer icon 4 Click Properties then click the Ports tab For a USB printer ensure that Print to the following port s is set to USB Windows Vista 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Hardware and Sound 2 Click Printers If the...

Page 73: ...TRY THE SCANNER AGAIN CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS See the scanner documentation for cable connection information Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer VERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY MICROSOFT WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Printers and Other Hardware 2 Click Scanners and Cameras If your scanner is listed...

Page 74: ... BIOS SETUP PROGRAM See System Setup on page 172 ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON See the setup diagram supplied with the speakers If your speakers have volume controls adjust the volume bass or treble to eliminate distortion ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Click or double click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up ...

Page 75: ...ONE CABLE CONNECTION Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector see Front View of the Computer on page 15 ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Click or double click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted ENSURE THAT THE CORRECT AUDIO SOLUTION IS ENABLED IN THE BIOS SETUP PROGR...

Page 76: ...ctor on the system board 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 whether the power cable is defective Check the connector for bent or broken pins It is normal for monitor cable connectors to have missing pins CHECK THE MONITOR POWER LIGHT If the power light is off firmly pre...

Page 77: ...cent 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 Windows XP 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Appearance and Themes 2 Click Display then click the Settings tab 3 Adjust Screen r...

Page 78: ...78 Solving Problems ...

Page 79: ...an electrical outlet and that the power strip is turned on Also bypass power protection devices power strips and power extension cables to verify that the computer turns on properly Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp If the power light is steady blue and the computer is not responding Ensure that the display is connected and powered on If ...

Page 80: ... that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board see System Board Components on page 107 Beep Codes Your computer might emit a series of beeps during start up if the monitor cannot display errors or problems This series of beeps called a beep code identifies a problem One possible beep code consists of repetitive three short beeps This beep code tells you...

Page 81: ... Installation Guidelines on page 112 3 If the problem persists contact Dell 2 No memory modules are detected 1 If you have two or more memory modules installed remove the modules reinstall one module see Installing Memory on page 113 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 mod...

Page 82: ... on page 144 or see Getting Help on page 183 for assistance CPU FAN FAILURE CPU fan failure Replace CPU fan see Removing the Processor Fan on page 155 DISKETTE DRIVE 0 SEEK FAILURE A cable may be loose or the computer configuration information may not match the hardware configuration Check cable connections see Getting Help on page 183 for assistance DISKETTE READ FAILURE The floppy disk may be de...

Page 83: ...ystem board might be malfunctioning or motherboard failure see Getting Help on page 183 for assistance NON SYSTEM DISK OR DISK ERROR Replace the floppy disk with one that has a bootable operating system or remove the floppy disk from drive A and restart the computer NOT A BOOT DISKETTE Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart your computer USB OVER CURRENT ERROR Disconnect the USB device Use exte...

Page 84: ...ram and is active Start the Dell Diagnostics from your hard drive or from the Drivers and Utilities media Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive NOTE If your computer cannot display a screen image see Getting Help on page 183 1 Ensure that the computer is connected to an electrical outlet that i...

Page 85: ...that appears and press Enter 5 Type 1 to start the CD menu and press Enter to proceed 6 Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list If multiple versions are listed select the version appropriate for your computer 7 When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears select the test you want to run Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 1 After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appe...

Page 86: ...st Use to test a specific device or customize the tests to be run Symptom Tree This option allows you to select tests based on a symptom of the problem you are having This option lists the most common symptoms Tab Function Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered Errors Displays error conditions encountered error codes and the problem description Help Describes...

Page 87: ...further installation or configuration is needed NOTICE The Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system Many drivers such as the keyboard driver come with your Microsoft Windows operating system You may need to install drivers if you Upgrade your operating system Rei...

Page 88: ...nd Utilities NOTICE The Dell Support website at support dell com and your Drivers and Utilities media provide approved drivers for Dell computers If you install drivers obtained from other sources your computer might not work correctly Using Windows Device Driver Rollback If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver use Windows Device Driver Rollback to replace the dri...

Page 89: ...ting state that existed before you installed the new driver Using the Drivers and Utilities media If using Device Driver Rollback or System Restore Restoring Your Operating System on page 92 does not resolve the problem then reinstall the driver from the Drivers and Utilities media 1 With the Windows desktop displayed insert the Drivers and Utilities media If this is your first time to use the Dri...

Page 90: ...iver that you want to reinstall and follow the instructions on the screen If a particular driver is not listed that driver is not required by your operating system Manually Reinstalling Drivers NOTE You must be logged in with Administrator privileges to perform this procedure After extracting the driver files to your hard drive as described in the previous section Windows XP 1 Click Start and then...

Page 91: ... location to which you previously copied the driver files 7 When the name of the appropriate driver appears click the name of the driver OK Next 8 Click Finish and restart your computer Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured you can use the Windows Operating systems Help And Su...

Page 92: ...thout affecting data files Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files Dell PC Restore by Symantec available in Windows XP and Dell Factory Image Restore available in Windows Vista restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer Both permanently delete all data on the hard drive and remove any progr...

Page 93: ...so they may not apply if you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view Creating a Restore Point NOTE You must be logged in with Administrator privileges to perform this procedure Windows XP 1 ClickStart AllPrograms Accessories SystemTools SystemRestore 2 Click Create a restore point 3 Click Next and follow the remaining on screen prompts You can also manually create a restore point from t...

Page 94: ...essful 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 NOTE You must be logged in with Administrator privileges to perform this procedure Windows XP 1 Click Start point to All Programs Accessories System Too...

Page 95: ...Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or drivers installed after you received your computer If possible back up the data before using these options Use PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem NOTE Dell PC Restore by Symantec and Dell Factory Image Restore may not be av...

Page 96: ...d click Finish to reboot the computer NOTE Do not manually shut down the computer Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot 6 When prompted click Yes The computer restarts Because the computer is restored to its original operating state the screens that appear such as the End User License Agreement are the same ones that appeared the first time the computer was turned on 7 Click Next The...

Page 97: ...essage appears when the operating system and factory installed applications have been restored to factory condition 8 Click Finish to reboot the system Removing Dell PC Restore NOTICE Removing Dell PC Restore from the hard drive permanently deletes the PC Restore utility from your computer After you have removed Dell PC Restore you will not be able to use it to restore your computer s operating sy...

Page 98: ... click Properties and verify that the additional disk space is available as indicated by the increased value for Free Space 7 Click Finish to close the PC Restore Removal window 8 Restart the computer Using the Operating System CD Before You Begin If you are considering reinstalling the Windows operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver first try using Windows Device Drive...

Page 99: ...drive Therefore do not reinstall Windows unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so NOTE It is highly recommended that you attempt to perform a Windows Vista system restore first and then if necessary a Dell OS restore to take it back to as shipped condition before attempting a complete OS reinstallation Complete reinstallation of the operating system is a complex task 1...

Page 100: ...100 Troubleshooting Tools ...

Page 101: ... Begin This chapter provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer Unless otherwise noted each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist You have performed the steps in Turning Off Your Computer on page 102 and Before Working Inside Your Computer on page 102 You have read the safety information in the Dell Product Information Guide A component can be re...

Page 102: ...shes 3 Ensure that the computer and any attached devices are turned off If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off Before Working Inside Your Computer Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and ...

Page 103: ...rical shock laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover 4 Open the computer cover NOTICE Before touching anything inside your computer ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface such as the metal at the back of the computer While you work periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dis...

Page 104: ...ide in a secure location Removing the Support Bracket CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Release the card retention bracket by lifting the card retention release lever up 1 compu...

Page 105: ...105 4 Remove any cable s attached to the support bracket 5 Pivot the support bracket and lift it off the hinge tabs 6 Set it aside in a secure location 1 support bracket 2 card retention bracket 3 card retention release lever 1 2 3 ...

Page 106: ...r CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide 1 power supply 2 hard drive 3 front I O panel 4 floppy drive or Media Card Reader optional 5 CD or DVD drive 6 chassis fan 1 2 6 5 4 3 ...

Page 107: ...Removing and Installing Parts 107 System Board Components 2 4 20 13 19 21 10 12 3 15 22 18 16 24 26 30 5 8 9 11 17 25 27 28 29 6 7 14 23 31 1 ...

Page 108: ...nnectors SATA2 12 password jumper CLEAR_PW 13 CMOS jumper CLEAR CMOS 14 front panel connector F_PANEL 15 serial ATA drive connectors SATA1 16 serial ATA drive connectors SATA0 17 front USB connector F_USB3 18 front USB connector F_USB2 19 FlexBay connector F_USB1 20 PCI connector PCI3 21 PCI connector PCI2 22 IEEE connector 23 front audio F_AUDIO 24 battery socket 25 PCI Express x1 connector PCIE_...

Page 109: ...Removing and Installing Parts 109 Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments DC Power Connector P1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ...

Page 110: ...AWG 6 5 V Red 20 AWG 7 RTN Black 20 AWG 8 POK Gray 22 AWG 9 5 V AUX Purple 20 AWG 10 12 V Yellow 20 AWG 11 12 V Yellow 20 AWG 12 3 3 V Orange 20 AWG 13 3 3 V Orange 20 AWG 14 12 V Blue 22 AWG 15 RTN Black 20 AWG 16 PS_ON Green 22 AWG 17 RTN Black 20 AWG 18 RTN Black 20 AWG 19 RTN Black 20 AWG 20 OPEN 21 5 V Red 20 AWG 22 5 V Red 20 AWG 23 5 V Red 20 AWG 24 RTN Black 20 AWG ...

Page 111: ...C Power Connectors P3 P5 and P6 DC Power Connectors P4 Pin Number Signal Name 18 AWG Wire 1 GND Black 2 GND Black 3 12 VADC Yellow 4 12 VADC Yellow Pin Number Signal name 18 AWG Wire 1 3 3 VDC Orange 2 GND Black 3 5 VDC Red 4 GND Black 5 12 VBDC White 3 1 4 2 ...

Page 112: ... with connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM_2 then connectors DIMM_3 and DIMM_4 If a single DIMM is installed you must install it in connector DIMM_1 For best performance memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size speed and technology If the memory modules are not installed in matched pairs the computer will operate but with a slight reduction in performance See the label on the modul...

Page 113: ...sed from Dell is covered under your computer warranty Installing Memory CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CAUTION Before installing memory you must remove the PCI Express x16 card See Cards on page 116 NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your...

Page 114: ...2 Press the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector 3 Align the notch on the bottom of the module with the crossbar in the connector 1 memory connector farthest from processor DIMM_2 2 securing clips 2 3 connector 1 cutouts 2 2 memory module 3 notch 4 crossbar 2 3 1 3 2 1 4 ...

Page 115: ...to the computer 7 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and turn them on 8 Right click the My Computer icon and click Properties 9 Click the General tab 10 To verify that the memory is installed correctly check the amount of memory RAM listed Removing Memory CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Gu...

Page 116: ... your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis Your Dell computer provides the following slots for PCI and PCI Express cards One PCI Express x16 card slot SLOT1 One PCI Express x1 card slot SLOT2 Two PCI card slots SLOT3 SLOT4 See System Board Components on page 107 for card slot location PCI and PCI Express Cards Your computer s...

Page 117: ...If you are installing a new card remove the filler panel 6 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 For PCI card grasp the card by its top corners and ease it out of its connector For PCI Express card pull the securing tab grasp the card by its top corners and then ease it out of its connector NOT...

Page 118: ...ctrical shock laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before installing any cards 8 Place the card in the connector and press down firmly Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot 9 If you are installing the PCI Express card into the x16 card connector position the card so the securing slot is aligned with the secur...

Page 119: ... card retention bracket to seat it on its slot ensuring that The guide clamp is aligned with the guide notch 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 PCI Express x16 card 2 securing tab 3 PCI Express x1 card 4 PCI Express x1 card slot 5 PCI Express x16 card slot 1 5 3 4 2 ...

Page 120: ...rds Cables routed over the cards can prevent the computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 13 Replace the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 1 PCI card slot 2 PCI card 3 card retention bracket 4 card...

Page 121: ...etwork cable to the add in network adapter s connectors Do not connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel see Back Panel Connectors on page 19 16 Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation Removing a PCI PCI Express Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Co...

Page 122: ...t bar The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide 9 Replace the computer cover reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 10 Remove the card s driver from the operating system 11 If you removed a sound card a Enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 go to Onboard Devices and select Integrated Audio and then change th...

Page 123: ...des or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover Removing the Bezel 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Grasp and lift the bezel tabs one at a time to release it from the front panel 4 Set aside the bezel in a secure location 1 bezel bottom t...

Page 124: ...hinges 2 Rotate the bezel toward the computer until it snaps into place on the front panel Drives Your computer supports a combination of these devices Up to two serial ATA hard drives One optional floppy drive or an optional Media Card Reader One CD or DVD drive 1 bezel bottom tabs 3 2 bezel top tabs 3 3 bezel 1 3 2 ...

Page 125: ... drives to connectors labeled SATA2 or SATA3 on the system board Connecting Drive Cables When you install a drive you connect two cables a DC power cable and a data cable to the back of the drive 1 power supply 2 hard drive 3 front I O panel 4 floppy drive or Media Card Reader optional 5 CD or DVD drive 6 chassis fan 1 power cable 2 power input connector 1 2 6 5 4 3 1 2 Power Connector ...

Page 126: ... Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CAUTION To guard against electrical shock laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover NOTICE To avoid damage to the drive do not set it on a hard surface Instead set the drive on a su...

Page 127: ...he system board 6 Press in on the tab on the side of the drive and slide the drive out and up to remove the drive from the chassis 7 If removing this drive changes the drive configuration then be sure to reflect these changes in system setup When you restart your computer enter system setup see System Setup on page 172 then go to the Drives section of the system setup and under Drive 0 through 3 s...

Page 128: ...s in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Remove the support bracket see Removing the Support Bracket on page 104 4 Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer 5 Attach the shoulder screws to the hard drive 6 Connect the power and data cables to the drive 7 Connect the data cable to the sy...

Page 129: ...al CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CAUTION To guard against electrical shock laceration by moving fan blades or other unexpected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover NOTICE To avoid damage to the drive do not set it on a hard surface Instead set the dri...

Page 130: ... Bracket on page 164 13 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 165 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network port or device and then plug it into the computer 14 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on 15 See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software require...

Page 131: ...ures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 123 4 Remove the CD or DVD drive see Removing a CD or DVD Drive on page 142 5 Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the floppy drive NOTE If you have installed a PCI Express x16 card this card may cover the floppy drive conne...

Page 132: ...132 Removing and Installing Parts 1 floppy drive 2 spring clamp 2 3 CD or DVD drive 1 screws 2 2 spring clamp 2 3 floppy drive 4 FlexBay drive cage Not present on all computers 2 3 1 2 3 1 4 ...

Page 133: ...al outlets and then turn them on 16 Check the system setup for the appropriate diskette Drive Option changes see Entering System Setup on page 172 Installing a Floppy Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 123 4 Remove the CD or DVD drive see Removing a C...

Page 134: ...y drive cage 9 Tighten the two screws to secure the floppy drive in the FlexBay drive cage 10 Slide the FlexBay drive cage along with the floppy drive in the FlexBay slot till it snaps in place 1 floppy drive 2 screws 2 3 spring clamp 2 4 notch hole 2 5 cage notch 2 6 floppy drive cage 2 3 1 4 5 6 ...

Page 135: ...ll cable connections and fold cables out of the way to avoid blocking airflow between the fan and cooling vents 14 Replace the CD or DVD drive see Installing a CD or DVD Drive on page 143 15 Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 124 16 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 165 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device a...

Page 136: ... option 19 Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 84 Removing the FlexBay Drive Insert 1 Gently press on the insert lever outward to release the lock 2 Slide the FlexBay drive insert in the direction of the insert lever 3 Pull the FlexBay drive insert away from the bezel Replacing the FlexBay Drive Insert 1 Align the FlexBay drive ins...

Page 137: ...l outlet before opening the cover Removing a Media Card Reader 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 123 4 Remove the CD or DVD drive see Removing a CD or DVD Drive on page 142 5 Disconnect the FlexBay USB cable and the power cable from the back of the Media C...

Page 138: ...loppy drive in the floppy drive cage 8 Lift the Media Card Reader to separate it from the FlexBay drive cage 1 Media Card Reader 2 spring clamp 3 CD or DVD drive 1 screws 2 2 spring clamp 2 3 Media Card Reader 4 FlexBay drive cage 2 3 1 Not present on all computers 3 1 4 2 ...

Page 139: ...e 165 14 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on Installing a Media Card Reader 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 123 4 Remove the CD or DVD drive see Removing a CD or DVD Drive on page 142 5 Remove the Media Card Read...

Page 140: ...floppy drive 9 Align the two screw holes on the floppy drive with the FlexBay drive cage 10 Tighten the two screws to secure the floppy drive in the FlexBay drive cage 11 Slide the FlexBay drive cage along with the floppy drive in the FlexBay slot till it snaps in place 1 Media Card Reader 2 screws 2 3 spring clamp 2 4 notch hole 2 5 cage notch 2 6 floppy drive cage 2 3 1 4 5 6 ...

Page 141: ... see Replacing the Bezel on page 124 15 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 165 16 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn them on CD or DVD Drive CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide CAUTION To guard against electrical shock laceration by ...

Page 142: ...connect the power cable and the CD or DVD drive data cable from the back of the drive 6 Pull the lever gently to release the CD or DVD drive 7 Slide the CD or DVD drive out through the front of the computer 8 Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 124 9 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 165 10 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and ...

Page 143: ...oving the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Remove the bezel see Removing the Bezel on page 123 4 Fix the two shoulder screws on the CD or DVD drive 5 Align the shoulder screw of the CD or DVD drive with the slots in the CD or DVD drive bay 6 Gently slide the CD or DVD drive till it snaps in place 1 shoulder screws 2 2 CD or DVD drive 1 CD or DVD drive 1 2 1 ...

Page 144: ...rks correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 84 Battery Replacing the Battery CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic com...

Page 145: ...the side labeled facing up then snap the battery into place 8 Replace the support bracket see Replacing the Support Bracket on page 164 9 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 165 NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer 10 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets and then turn the...

Page 146: ...e Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Remove the support bracket see Removing the Support Bracket on page 104 4 Disconnect the DC power cables from the system board and the drives Note the routing of the DC power cables underneath the tabs in the computer chassis as you remove them from the system board and drives You must route these cables properly when you replace them to prevent them fro...

Page 147: ...at secure the power supply to the back of the computer chassis CAUTION Failure to replace and tighten all screws may cause electrical shock as these screws are a key part of the system grounding NOTICE Route the DC power cables under the chassis tabs The cables must be properly routed to prevent the cables from being damaged 1 power supply 2 screws 3 1 power supply 2 screws 3 1 2 1 2 ...

Page 148: ...on 16 Verify that the computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 84 Processor CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your comp...

Page 149: ...use excessive force to separate the heat sink assembly from the processor to avoid damaging the processor 6 Rotate the heat sink assembly upward gently and remove it from the computer Lay the heat sink assembly down on its top with the thermal grease facing upward NOTICE Unless a new heat sink is required for the new processor reuse the original heat sink assembly when you replace the processor 7 ...

Page 150: ...e careful not to get any thermal grease on the processor pins Thermal grease on the pins can permanently damage the processor Installing the Processor NOTICE Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 NOTICE Be careful not to bend any of the pins when you unpack the processor Bending the pins can perman...

Page 151: ...t the processor is positioned correctly 6 While lightly pressing down on the processor rotate the release lever back toward the system board until it snaps into place securing the processor 7 Clean the thermal grease from the bottom of the heat sink NOTICE Ensure that you apply new thermal grease New thermal grease is critical for ensuring adequate thermal bonding which is a requirement for optima...

Page 152: ...eat sink and fan assembly NOTICE Ensure that the heat sink assembly is correctly seated and secure 10 Connect any cables disconnected before removing the heat sink assembly 11 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 165 12 Connect your computer and devices to an electrical outlet and turn them on 13 Verify that the computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostic...

Page 153: ...omputer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis Removing the I O Panel NOTE Note the routing of all cables as you remove them so that you can re route them correctly when installing the new I O panel 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Remove th...

Page 154: ...he I O panel clamp slot 3 Replace and tighten the screw that secures the I O panel 4 Reconnect the cables to the system board 5 Replace the bezel see Replacing the Bezel on page 124 6 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 165 7 Connect your computer and devices to an electrical outlet and turn them on 8 Verify that the computer works correctly by running the Dell Diag...

Page 155: ...ly and other components may be very hot during normal operation Be sure that they have had sufficient time to cool before you touch them NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis Removing the ...

Page 156: ... had sufficient time to cool before you touch it 4 Remove heat sink see step 6 of Removing the Processor on page 148 5 Disconnect the processor fan cable from the system board see System Board Components on page 107 6 Ensure that all cables have been removed from the routing clips on the top of the processor fan assembly 7 Clean the grease from the heat sink surface previously in contact with the ...

Page 157: ...nk NOTICE Do not touch the fan blades to avoid damage to the fan blades 9 Pull outwards the two fan cover grips on one side and slightly lift the fan from the fan cover 10 Pull outwards the other two fan cover grips on the other side and lift the fan to release the fan from the fan cover 1 fan 2 fan cover guide 2 3 fan cover 4 fan cover grips 4 1 2 3 4 ...

Page 158: ...fan ensure that you do not pinch the wires that run between the system board and the fan 1 Align the holes in the fan with the guides on the fan cover 2 Press the fan and fan cover together till the fan cover grips snap in place 1 fan 2 fan cover guide 2 3 fan cover 4 fan cover grips 4 1 2 3 4 ...

Page 159: ...hat were removed from the routing clips on top of the processor fan assembly 6 Connect the processor fan cable to the system board see System Board Components on page 107 NOTICE Ensure that the fan is correctly seated and secure 7 Replace the computer cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 165 8 Connect your computer and devices to an electrical outlet and turn them on 1 fan 2 fan cover 3 ...

Page 160: ...The heat sink assembly power supply and other components may be very hot during normal operation Be sure that they have had sufficient time to cool before you touch them NOTICE To prevent static damage to components inside your computer discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer s electronic components You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on t...

Page 161: ...hassis 5 Slide and pull the chassis fan away from the chassis Replacing the Chassis Fan 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Align the fan top notch with the chassis fan guide and push the chassis fan towards the chassis 4 Slide the chassis fan in place 5 Tighten the screw to secure the chassis fan to chas...

Page 162: ... of the computer While you work periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Remove any add in cards on the system board see Removing a PCI PCI Express Card on page 121 4 Remove the processor and t...

Page 163: ...oving and Installing Parts 163 System Board Screws 9 Place the system board that you just removed next to the replacement system board to compare and ensure they are identical 1 screws 8 2 system board 1 2 ...

Page 164: ... cover see Replacing the Computer Cover on page 165 8 Connect your computer and devices to an electrical outlet and turn them on 9 Verify that the computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 84 Replacing the Support Bracket CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide...

Page 165: ... are left inside the computer 3 Align the tabs at the bottom of the computer cover with the slots located along the edge of the computer 4 Press the computer cover down and slide it towards the front of the computer until you feel a click or feel the computer cover securely installed 5 Ensure that the cover is seated correctly 6 Replace and tighten the two screws that secure the computer cover usi...

Page 166: ... upright position NOTICE To connect a network cable first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer NOTICE Ensure that none of the air vents of the system are blocked 1 computer cover tab 2 slot 3 computer cover 4 screws 2 3 1 2 4 ...

Page 167: ...Memory Type 667 MHz 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM Memory connectors four Memory capacities 512 MB or 1 GB Minimum memory 512 MB Maximum memory 4 GB Computer Information Chipset Nvidia MCP 61 RAID Support RAID 1 Mirroring Windows Vista Only DMA channels seven Interrupt levels 24 BIOS chip NVRAM 4 Mb NIC Integrated network interface capable of 10 100 communication Video Type Nvidia integrated video DirectX 9 0...

Page 168: ...6 slot bidirectional speed 8GB s SATA 1 5 Gbps and 3 0 Gbps USB 480 Mbps high speed 12 Mbps full speed 1 2 Mbps low speed PCI connectors two connector size 124 pins connector data width maximum 32 bits PCI Express connector one x1 connector size 36 pins connector data width maximum 1 PCI Express lane PCI Express connector one x16 connector size 164 pins connector data width maximum 16 PCI Express ...

Page 169: ...ors External connectors Video 15 hole connector Network adapter RJ 45 connector USB two front panel and four back panel USB 2 0 compliant connectors Audio six connectors for 7 1 support System board connectors Serial ATA four 7 pin connectors Internal USB device one 10 pin connector supports two USB ports Floppy drive one 34 pin connector Processor fan one 4 pin connector Chassis fan one 3 pin con...

Page 170: ...ystem does not boot indicates that the system board cannot start initialization This could be a system board or a power supply problem see Power Problems on page 70 Drive activity light blue light A blinking blue light indicates the computer is reading data from or writing data to the SATA hard drive CD DVD or HDD Rear of computer Link integrity light on integrated network adapter green light A go...

Page 171: ...ithium coin cell Physical Height 36 2 cm 14 2 inches Width 10 0 cm 3 9 inches Depth 43 5 cm 17 1 inches Weight 9 0 kg 19 8 lb Environmental Temperature Operating 10 to 35 C 50 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Relative humidity 20 to 80 noncondensing Maximum vibration Operating 5 to 350 Hz at 0 0002 G2 Hz Storage 5 to 500 Hz at 0 001 to 0 01 G2 Hz Maximum shock Operating 40 G 5 with pulse dur...

Page 172: ...g System Setup 1 Turn on or restart your computer 2 When the blue DELL logo is displayed you must watch for the F2 prompt to appear 3 Once this F2 prompt appears press 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 l...

Page 173: ...on and security features Option Field This field contains information about each option In this field you can view your current settings and make changes to your settings Use the right and left arrow keys to highlight an option Press Enter to make that selection active Help Field This field provides context sensitive help based on the options selected Key Functions This field appears below the Opt...

Page 174: ...igurations Displays information about the features of the CPU such as AMD Live AMD Cool n Quiet Function and AMD Virtualization USB Configurations Displays whether the USB controller is enabled or disabled Power Power Management Setup Displays options for Power Management Setup options such as ACPI Suspend Type Remote Wake Up Wake Up by Ring Auto Power On Auto Power On Date Auto Power On Time and ...

Page 175: ...r 2 Turn on or restart your computer 3 When F2 Setup F12 Boot Menu appears in the upper right corner of the screen press F12 If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer see Turning Off Your Computer on page 102 and try again 4 The Boot Menu appears listing all available boot devices 5 Use the a...

Page 176: ...nd then press Enter 6 Press F10 and then press Enter to exit system setup and resume the boot process Clearing Forgotten Passwords CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 ...

Page 177: ...ed in the Product Information Guide 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 101 NOTE The computer must be disconnected from the electrical outlet to clear the CMOS setting 2 Remove the computer cover see Removing the Computer Cover on page 103 3 Reset the current CMOS settings a Locate the 3 pin CMOS jumper CLEAR CMOS on the system board see System Board Components on page 107 b Remove...

Page 178: ...ppears click Yes I Accept this Agreement The File Download window appears 5 Click Save this program to disk and then click OK The Save In window appears 6 Click the down arrow to view the Save In menu select Desktop and then click Save The file downloads to your desktop 7 Click Close when the Download Complete window appears The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downl...

Page 179: ...cial screen cleaning tissue or solution suitable for the monitor s antistatic coating Wipe the keyboard computer and plastic part of the monitor with a soft cleaning cloth moistened with a solution of three parts water and one part dishwashing detergent NOTICE Do not soak the cloth or let water drip inside your computer or keyboard Mouse If your screen cursor skips or moves abnormally clean the mo...

Page 180: ...2 With a soft lint free cloth gently wipe the bottom of the disc the unlabeled side in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc For stubborn dirt try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap You can also purchase commercial products that clean discs and provide some protection from dust fingerprints and scratches Cleaning products for CDs are safe to use on DVD...

Page 181: ... of the software programs that are installed on the computer during the manufacturing process Microsoft Office Norton Antivirus and so on Dell installed peripherals include any internal expansion cards or Dell branded module bay or PC Card accessories In addition any Dell branded monitors keyboards mice speakers microphones for telephonic modems docking stations port replicators networking product...

Page 182: ...elevision reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures Reorient the receiving antenna Relocate the system with respect to the receiver Move the system away from the receiver Plug the system into a different outlet so that the system and the receiver are on different branch circui...

Page 183: ...esolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 188 NOTE Call Dell Support from a telephone near or at the computer so that the support staff can assist you with any necessary procedures NOTE Dell s Express Service Code system may not be available in all countries When prompted by Dell s automated telephone system enter your Express Service Code to route the call directly to the proper support per...

Page 184: ...e Services You can learn about Dell products and services on the following websites www dell com www dell com ap Asian Pacific countries only www dell com jp Japan only www euro dell com Europe only www dell com la Latin American and Caribbean countries www dell ca Canada only You can access Dell Support through the following websites and e mail addresses Dell Support websites support dell com sup...

Page 185: ...n the status of any Dell products that you have ordered you can go to support dell com or you can call the automated order status service A recording prompts you for the information needed to locate and report on your order For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 188 Problems With Your Order If you have a problem with your order such as missing parts wrong part...

Page 186: ...shipping expenses You are also responsible for insuring any product returned and you assume the risk of loss during shipment to Dell Collect On Delivery C O D packages are not accepted Returns that are missing any of the preceding requirements will be refused at Dell s receiving dock and returned to you Before You Call NOTE Have your Express Service Code ready when you call The code helps Dell s a...

Page 187: ...n Devices Expansion cards Are you connected to a network Yes No Network version and network adapter Programs and versions See your operating system documentation to determine the contents of the system s start up files If the computer is connected to a printer print each file Otherwise record the contents of each file before calling Dell Error message beep code or diagnostic code Description of pr...

Page 188: ...pport and service options Availability varies by country and product and some services may not be available in your area To contact Dell for sales technical support or customer service issues 1 Visit support dell com 2 Verify your country or region in the Choose A Country Region drop down menu at the bottom of the page 3 Click Contact Us on the left side of the page 4 Select the appropriate servic...

Page 189: ...d graphics port A dedicated graphics port that allows system memory to be used for video related tasks AGP delivers a smooth true color video image because of the faster interface between the video circuitry and the computer memory AHCI Advanced Host Controller Interface An interface for a SATA hard drive Host Controller which allows the storage driver to enable technologies such as Native Command...

Page 190: ...hard drive is damaged or your computer has a virus ensure that you always have a bootable CD or floppy disk available Your Drivers and Utilities or ResourceCD is a bootable CD bootable disk A disk that you can use to start your computer In case your hard drive is damaged or your computer has a virus ensure that you always have a bootable CD or floppy disk available bps bits per second The standard...

Page 191: ...ou can write to CD R discs only once clock speed The speed given in MHz that indicates how fast computer components that are connected to the system bus operate COA Certificate of Authenticity The Windows alpha numeric code located on a sticker on your computer Also referred to as the Product Key or Product ID Control Panel A Windows utility that allows you to modify operating system and hardware ...

Page 192: ...n a network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures for use by a specific group of users A user logs on to the domain to gain access to the resources DRAM dynamic random access memory Memory that stores information in integrated circuits containing capacitors driver Software that allows the operating system to control a device such as a printer Many devices do not work pro...

Page 193: ...tatic discharge A rapid discharge of static electricity ESD can damage integrated circuits found in computer and communications equipment expansion card A circuit board that installs in an expansion slot on the system board in some computers expanding the capabilities of the computer Examples include video modem and sound cards expansion slot A connector on the system board in some computers where...

Page 194: ...or disk for file storage When a drive or disk is formatted the existing information on it is lost FSB front side bus The data path and physical interface between the processor and RAM FTP file transfer protocol A standard Internet protocol used to exchange files between computers connected to the Internet G G gravity A measurement of weight and force GB gigabyte A measurement of data storage that ...

Page 195: ...d for use in computer audio and video equipment IDE integrated device electronics An interface for mass storage devices in which the controller is integrated into the hard drive or CD drive IEEE 1394 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc A high performance serial bus used to connect IEEE 1394 compatible devices such as digital cameras and DVD players to the computer infrared sensor...

Page 196: ...ommand requiring you to press multiple keys at the same time kHz kilohertz A measurement of frequency that equals 1000 Hz L LAN local area network A computer network covering a small area A LAN usually is confined to a building or a few nearby buildings A LAN can be connected to another LAN over any distance through telephone lines and radio waves to form a wide area network WAN LCD liquid crystal...

Page 197: ...start up Devices and software can then identify information that the processor can access memory module A small circuit board containing memory chips which connects to the system board MHz megahertz A measure of frequency that equals 1 million cycles per second The speeds for computer processors buses and interfaces are often measured in MHz Mini PCI A standard for integrated peripheral devices wi...

Page 198: ...technology to read or write data from CDs DVDs or DVD RWs Example of optical drives include CD drives DVD drives CD RW drives and CD RW DVD combo drives P partition A physical storage area on a hard drive that is assigned to one or more logical storage areas known as logical drives Each partition can contain multiple logical drives PC Card A removable I O card adhering to the PCMCIA standard Modem...

Page 199: ...ferred to as the CPU central processing unit PS 2 personal system 2 A type of connector for attaching a PS 2 compatible keyboard mouse or keypad PXE pre boot execution environment A WfM Wired for Management standard that allows networked computers that do not have an operating system to be configured and started remotely R RAID redundant array of independent disks A method of providing data redund...

Page 200: ...minute Hard drive speed is often measured in rpm RTC real time clock Battery powered clock on the system board that keeps the date and time after you shut down the computer RTCRST real time clock reset A jumper on the system board of some computers that can often be used for troubleshooting problems S SAS serial attached SCSI A faster serial version of the SCSI interface as opposed to the original...

Page 201: ...fer file format that allows the transfer of audio from one file to another without converting it to and from an analog format which could degrade the quality of the file standby mode A power management mode that shuts down all unnecessary computer operations to save energy Strike Zone Reinforced area of the platform base that protects the hard drive by acting as a dampening device when a computer ...

Page 202: ... editor A program used to create and edit files that contain only text for example Windows Notepad uses a text editor Text editors do not usually provide word wrap or formatting functionality the option to underline change fonts and so on TPM trusted platform module A hardware based security feature that when combined with security software enhances network and computer security by enabling featur...

Page 203: ...m memory The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can display video mode A mode that describes how text and graphics are displayed on a monitor Graphics based software such as Windows operating systems displays in video modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors Character based software such as text editors...

Page 204: ...eless wide area network A wireless high speed data network using cellular technology and covering a much larger geographic area than WLAN WXGA wide aspect extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1280 x 800 X XGA extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1024 x 768 Z ZIF z...

Page 205: ...I 116 removing PCI 121 slots 116 types supported 116 CD DVD drive installing 143 problems 57 removing 142 CD RW drive problems 57 CDs 28 playing 25 Check Disk 58 CMOS settings clearing 177 computer beep codes 80 components inside 106 crashes 62 64 inside view 106 restore to previous state 92 93 stops responding 62 63 conflicts software and hardware incompatibilities 91 contacting Dell 188 copying ...

Page 206: ... Guide 11 regulatory 11 safety 11 Setup Diagram 11 warranty 11 Drivers manually reinstalling 90 drivers 87 about 87 identifying 87 reinstalling 88 Drivers and Utilities media 89 drives 124 hard drive 126 installing CD DVD 143 installing floppy 133 installing hard drive 128 problems 56 removing CD DVD 142 removing floppy 131 removing hard drive 127 second hard drive 129 serial ATA 126 DVD drive pro...

Page 207: ...iagnostics 84 Help and Support Center 14 help file Windows Help and Support Center 14 hibernate mode 40 I I O panel replacing 154 installing parts before you begin 101 recommended tools 101 Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure 21 Internet problems 58 Internet connection about 51 options 51 setting up 51 IRQ conflicts 91 K keyboard problems 62 L labels Microsoft Windows 12 Service Tag 12 16 M M...

Page 208: ...ing up 49 Network Setup Wizard 50 P password clearing 176 jumper 176 PCI cards installing 117 removing 121 phone numbers 188 playing CDs and DVDs 25 power button 16 conserving 35 hibernate mode 40 managing 35 options advanced 42 plans 40 problems 70 standby mode 39 power light conditions 70 Power Plan in Vista 40 printer cable 23 connecting 23 problems 71 setting up 23 USB 23 problems battery 55 b...

Page 209: ...er 73 screen is blank 76 screen is hard to read 77 software 63 65 sound and speakers 74 technical support policy 180 troubleshooting tips 55 volume adjusting 74 Product Information Guide 11 Program Compatibility Wizard 64 R regulatory information 11 Removing Memory 115 Replacing the Drive Panel Insert 136 ResourceCD Dell Diagnostics 84 S S M A R T 83 safety instructions 11 SATA See serial ATA scan...

Page 210: ...our Hard Drive 84 support contacting Dell 183 188 policy 180 support website 13 system board 107 System Restore 92 93 system setup about 172 entering 172 options 173 screens 173 T technical support policy 180 telephone numbers 188 transferring information to a new computer 47 troubleshooting conflicts 91 Dell Diagnostics 84 Hardware Troubleshooter 91 Help and Support Center 14 restore to previous ...

Page 211: ...les and Settings Transfer Wizard 47 Hardware Troubleshooter 91 Help and Support Center 14 Network Setup Wizard 50 Program Compatibility Wizard 64 scanner 73 System Restore 92 93 wizards Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 47 Network Setup Wizard 50 Program Compatibility Wizard 64 ...

Page 212: ...212 Index ...

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Dell INSPIRON 531s Series, Owner'S Manual

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