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Internal Components: Dell OptiPlex GX115 System User's Guide
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Internal Components: Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX115 System User's
Guide
This section provides troubleshooting procedures for components
inside your computer. Before you start any of the procedures in this section, do the
following:
You need the following items to perform the procedures in this
section:
- A copy of the Dell ResourceCD
- A small flat-blade screwdriver and a #1 Phillips-head screwdriver (or
quarter-inch hex-nut driver)
The procedures in this section require that you remove the cover and
work inside your computer. While working inside your computer, do not attempt to service
the computer except as explained in this guide and elsewhere in Dell documentation. Always
follow the instructions closely.
Working inside your computer is safe—if you observe the
following precautions.
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CAUTION FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND
PROTECTION OF THE EQUIPMENT |
Before you start to work on the computer, perform the following
steps in the sequence indicated:
- Turn off the computer and all peripherals. Because all power is not automatically
disconnected by turning off the power switch, unplug all power cords from their
electrical outlets to reduce the potential for personal injury or shock.
- Touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis, such
as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of your computer, before touching
anything inside your computer.
- Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the
computer.
- While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the
computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.
In addition, Dell recommends that you periodically review the safety
instructions in your System Information Guide.
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NOTE: If your computer has a small-form-factor or
low-profile chassis, remove the stand before you remove the
computer cover. |
To remove the computer cover, perform the following steps:
- Turn off your computer and peripherals, and observe the Caution
for Your Personal Safety and Protection of Your Equipment described in "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."
- If you have installed a padlock through the padlock ring on the back panel,
remove the padlock.
- If your computer has a mini tower chassis, skip to step 4. If your computer has a small form-factor or low-profile
chassis, remove the computer cover as follows:
- On the small form-factor chassis, press in the padlock ring to retract it into the cover
(this allows the cover to be opened).
- Press in on the two release buttons until the cover is free to swing up (see Figure 1 or Figure 2).
- Raise the back of the cover, and pivot it toward the front of the computer.
- Lift the cover off the hooks at the front of the chassis.
Figure 1. Removing the Small
Form-Factor Computer Cover
Figure 2. Removing the Low-Profile Computer
Cover
- If your computer has a mini tower chassis,
remove the computer cover as follows:
- Face the back of the computer and slide the upper half of the padlock
ring to the left to unlock the cover release mechanism (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. Mini Tower Chassis Cover Release
Mechanism
- Face the left side cover and press the release button (located at the bottom-left corner
of the front panel) (see Figure 4).
- Lift the bottom of the cover, allowing it to pivot up toward you.
- Disengage the tabs that secure the cover to the top of the chassis, and lift the cover
away.
Figure 4. Removing the Mini
Tower Computer Cover
To replace the computer cover, perform the following steps:
- Check all cable connections, especially those that might have come
loose during your work. Fold cables out of the way so that they do not catch on the
computer cover. Make sure cables are not routed over the drive cage—they will prevent
the cover from closing properly.
- Check to see that no tools or extra parts (including screws) are left
inside the computer's chassis.
- If your computer has a mini tower chassis, skip to step 4.
If your computer has a small form-factor or low-profile chassis, replace the computer
cover as follows:
- Face the front of the computer and hold the cover at a slight angle, as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6.
- Align the bottom of the cover with the bottom of the chassis, and insert the hooks on
the cover into the recessed slots on the computer chassis so that the tabs catch the hooks
inside the slots.
- Pivot the cover down toward the back of the chassis and into position. Make sure that
the release buttons click into place.
- On the small form-factor chassis, pull on the padlock ring to resecure the cover.
- If you are using a padlock to secure your system, reinstall the padlock.
Figure 5. Replacing the Small Form-Factor
Computer Cover
Figure 6. Replacing the Low-Profile Computer
Cover
- If your computer has a mini tower chassis, replace the
computer cover as follows:
- Face the left side of the computer and hold the cover at a slight angle, as shown in Figure 7.
- Align the top of the cover with the top of the chassis and insert the hooks on the cover
into the recessed slots on the computer chassis so that the tabs catch the hooks inside
the slots.
- Pivot the cover down toward the bottom of the chassis and into position. Make sure that
the securing hooks at the bottom of the cover click into place.
Figure 7. Replacing the Mini Tower Computer
Cover
- Slide the upper half of the padlock ring to the right to lock the cover release
mechanism.
If you are using a padlock to secure your system, reinstall the padlock.
Liquids can damage your computer. While you are not likely to
submerge your computer, spills, splashes, and excessive humidity can also cause damage. If
an external device (such as a printer or an external drive) gets wet, contact the
manufacturer for instructions. If your computer gets wet, perform the following steps:
- Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and
disconnect all AC power cables from their electrical outlets. Also disconnect any
telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
- Remove the computer cover.
- Let the computer dry for at least 24 hours. Make sure that it is
thoroughly dry before you proceed.
- Remove all
expansion cards installed in the computer except a drive controller card and video
expansion card.
- Replace the computer cover, reconnect the system to an electrical
outlet, and turn it on.
If the system has power, proceed to
step 6. If the system does not have power, see "Getting Help"
for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
- Turn off the system, disconnect it from the electrical outlet, remove
the computer cover, and reinstall all expansion cards that you removed in step 4.
- Replace the computer cover, and reconnect the system to an electrical
outlet. Also, reconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines to the computer.
- Insert the Dell ResourceCD into the appropriate drive,
reboot the system, and run the System Board Devices test group in the Dell Diagnostics.
If the tests complete
successfully, your system is operating properly. If any of the tests fail, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
If your computer was dropped or damaged, you should check your
computer to see if it functions properly. If an external device attached to your computer
is dropped or damaged, contact the manufacturer of the device for instructions or see
"Getting Help" for information on obtaining technical
assistance from Dell. To troubleshoot a damaged computer, perform the following steps:
- Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and
disconnect all AC power cables from their electrical outlets. Also disconnect any
telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
- Remove the computer cover.
- Check all the expansion-card connections in the computer.
- Check the diskette/tape drive, hard-disk drive, and all other
internal connections.
Make sure that all cables are properly connected and that all components are properly
seated in their connectors and sockets.
- Replace the computer cover, reconnect
the system to an electrical outlet, and reconnect any telephone or telecommunication
lines.
- Insert the Dell ResourceCD into the appropriate drive, and
reboot the system.
- Run the System Board Devices test group in the Dell Diagnostics.
If the tests complete
successfully, your system is operating properly. If any of the tests fail, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
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CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery
exploding if it is installed incorrectly. Replace the battery only with the same or
equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the
manufacturer's instructions. |
If an error message indicates a problem with the battery or if System Setup loses the system configuration information when the
computer is turned off, the battery may be defective.
To troubleshoot the battery, perform the following steps:
- Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and
disconnect all AC power cables from their electrical outlets. Also disconnect any
telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
- Remove the computer cover.
- Reseat the battery in its socket.
The battery is a coin cell that snaps into a socket on the system board.
- If the problem is not resolved, replace the battery.
If the problem is still not resolved, you may have a faulty system
board. See "Getting Help"
for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
If an error message indicates an expansion-card problem or if an
expansion card seems to perform incorrectly or not at all, the problem could be a faulty
connection, a conflict with software or other hardware, or a faulty expansion card. To
troubleshoot expansion cards, perform the following steps:
- Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and
disconnect all AC power cables from their electrical outlets. Also disconnect any
telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
- Remove the computer cover.
- Verify that each expansion card is firmly seated in its connector. If
any expansion cards are loose, reseat them.
- Verify that any cables are firmly connected to their corresponding
connectors on the expansion cards. If any cables appear loose, reconnect them.
For instructions on which cables should be attached to specific connectors on an expansion
card, see the expansion card's documentation.
- Remove all
expansion cards except the video card.
- Replace the computer cover, reconnect
the system to an electrical outlet, and turn it on.
- Insert the Dell ResourceCD into the appropriate drive,
reboot the system, and run the RAM test group in the Dell
Diagnostics.
If the tests complete successfully, proceed
to step 8. If any of the tests fail, see "Getting Help"
for information on obtaining technical assistance.
- Turn off the system, disconnect it from the electrical outlet, and
remove the computer cover.
- Reinstall one of the expansion cards that you removed previously, and
repeat steps 6 and 7.
If any of the tests fail, the expansion card you just reinstalled is faulty and needs to
be replaced. If the tests complete successfully, repeat steps 8 and 9 with another
expansion card.
- If you have replaced all the expansion cards removed previously and
the expansion card problem is not resolved, see "Getting Help"
for information on obtaining technical assistance.
A computer memory problem can be a faulty dual in-line memory module
(DIMM) or a faulty system board. If a random-access memory (RAM) error message appears,
the computer probably has a memory problem.
When you turn on or reboot the system, the Caps Lock and Scroll Lock
indicators on the keyboard should flash momentarily and then turn off. If the Num
Lock option in System Setup is set to On,
the Num Lock indicator should flash momentarily and then remain on; otherwise, it should
turn off. Abnormal operation of these indicators can result from a defective DIMM in
socket A. To troubleshoot system memory, perform the following steps:
- Turn on the system, including any attached peripherals.
- If an error message indicates invalid system configuration
information, enter System Setup and check
the System Memory option. If the amount of memory displayed does not
match the amount of memory installed, turn off the computer, disconnect it from the
electrical outlet, remove the computer cover, and reseat the
DIMMs in their sockets.
- Replace the computer cover, reconnect
the system to an electrical outlet, and turn it on.
- If the problem is not resolved, insert the Dell ResourceCD
into the appropriate drive, reboot the system, and run the RAM test group
in the Dell Diagnostics.
If the Dell
Diagnostics identifies a faulty DIMM, replace that
DIMM. If the Dell Diagnostics determines that the system board is faulty or if the
Dell Diagnostics does not identify the cause of the problem and the problem is still not
resolved, see "Getting Help" for instructions on
obtaining technical assistance.
Troubleshooting video problems involves determining which of the
following is the source of the problem: the monitor, the monitor interface cable, or the
integrated video subsystem.
Before attempting to troubleshoot the video subsystem, perform the
procedure found in "Troubleshooting
the Monitor" to determine whether the monitor is the source of the problem.
If the monitor is not at fault, perform the following steps:
- Check the monitor cable connections as indicated in "Checking Connections and Switches."
- If problem is not resolved, insert the Dell ResourceCD into
the appropriate drive, and reboot the system. Run the Video test
group in the Dell Diagnostics.
If any of the tests fail, see "Getting Help" for
instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
A system board problem can result from a defective system board
component, a faulty power supply, or a defective component connected to the system board.
If an error message indicates a system board problem, perform the following steps:
- Insert the Dell ResourceCD into the appropriate drive,
reboot the system, and run the System Board Devices test group in the Dell Diagnostics.
If any of the tests fail, see "Getting Help" for
instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
- Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and
disconnect all AC power cables from their electrical outlets. Also disconnect any
telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
- Remove the computer cover.
- Verify that the power cables from the power supply are firmly
connected to the connectors on the system board.
- Replace the computer cover, reconnect
the system to an electrical outlet, and turn it on. If the problem is not resolved,
proceed to step 6.
- Perform the procedure in "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards." If the
problem is not resolved, proceed to step 7.
- Perform the procedure in "Troubleshooting the Keyboard."
- If the problem is still not resolved, see "Getting
Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
If the monitor displays a system error message to indicate a drive
problem during execution of either the boot routine or the Dell
Diagnostics or if a drive is not operating correctly, perform the following steps:
- Enter System Setup, and verify that the
problem drive is configured correctly. Make any necessary changes, and reboot the system.
- If the problem is not resolved, turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect all AC power cables from their electrical outlets.
Also disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
- Remove the computer cover.
- Verify that the DC power cables from the power supply are firmly
connected to the connectors on each drive. Also verify that the interface cable for each
drive is firmly connected to the drive and to the system board.
- Replace the computer cover, reconnect
the system to an electrical outlet, and turn it on. If the problem is not resolved,
proceed to step 6.
- Insert the Dell ResourceCD into the appropriate drive,
reboot the system, and run the appropriate test group in the Dell
Diagnostics.
If the Dell Diagnostics identifies a faulty drive, replace the drive. If the Dell
Diagnostics identifies a faulty controller, the system board may be faulty. See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
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