Back to Contents Page
Internal Components: Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX1
Small-Form-Factor 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.
 |
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.
- 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 the computer and peripherals from their
electrical outlets. Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or shock. Also
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.
 |
NOTE: If your small-form-factor chassis has an
optional stand for vertical orientation attached to it, remove the
optional 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 the 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.
- Remove the computer cover as follows:
- Press in on the two securing buttons until the cover is free
to swing up (see Figure 1).
- 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
 |
| 1 |
Securing buttons (2) |
Front of Computer |
|
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.
- Replace the computer cover as follows:
- Face the front of the computer and hold the cover at a slight angle
as shown in Figure 2.
- Align the bottom of the cover with the bottom of the chassis, and
insert the three hooks on the cover into the three recessed slots on the computer chassis
so that the tabs catch the hooks inside the slots.
|
NOTE: The three hooks on the cover are located in
the front at the bottom. The three recessed slots on the computer chassis are located in
the front at the bottom (see Figure 2).
|
- Pivot the cover down toward the back of the chassis and into
position. Press down on the back corners of the cover until the securing buttons click
into place.
Figure 2.
Replacing the Small-Form-Factor Computer Cover
 |
| 1 |
Securing buttons (2) |
| 2 |
Hooks (3) |
| 3 |
Recessed slots (3) |
Front of Computer |
|
- 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 the 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 proceeding.
- 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 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 Set 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 the 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.
Verify 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, reboot the system, and run the System Set 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.
|
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. |
If an error message indicates a problem with the battery or if the System Setup program 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 the 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 the 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 instructions 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 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 the System Setup
program 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. Follow these steps to troubleshoot system
memory:
- Turn on the system, including any attached peripherals.
- If an error message indicates invalid system configuration
information, enter the System Setup
program 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 or not the monitor is the source of the
problem.
If the monitor is not at fault, perform the following steps:
- Check the monitor
cable connections.
- If the problem is not resolved, insert the Dell ResourceCD into the appropriate drive, reboot
the system, and 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 Set 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 the 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."
- 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 the System
Setup program, 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 the 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 electrical outlet 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.
Back to Contents Page
