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Dell™ Optiplex™ 740 Systems
User's Guide

  Drives

Drives

Your computer supports:

• Two SATA (Serial ATA) hard drives
  
  
• One optional floppy drive or Media Card Reader
  
  
• Two optical drives
  
  

1

optical drive

2

floppy drive or media card reader

3

hard drive

General Installation Guidelines

NOTE: Connect the first SATA hard drive to the blue SATA0 connector.

Connect SATA hard drives to the connectors labeled "SATA0" or "SATA1." Connect SATA CD or DVD drives to the connectors labeled "SATA2" or "SATA3" on the system board (see System Board Components for information about mini tower system board connectors).

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 and to the system board.

Drive Interface Connectors

Serial ATA Connector

1

interface cable connector

2

interface connector

Interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion.

Power Cable Connectors

Serial ATA Power Connector

1

power cable

2

power input connector

Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables

When connecting and disconnecting a SATA data cable, hold the cable by the black connector at each end.

Hard Drive

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, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

Removing a Hard Drive

1. If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.
   
   
2. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
3. Disconnect the power and hard-drive cables from the drive.
   
   

1

hard-drive cable

2

hard-drive cable on system board

3

power cable

4. Press in on the blue release tabs on each side of the drive and slide the drive up and out of the computer.
   
   

1

hard drive

2

release tabs (2)

Installing a Hard Drive

1. Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation.
   
   
2. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
3. If your replacement hard drive does not have the plastic hard-drive bracket attached:
   
   
   1. Remove the bracket from the existing drive by gently spreading the plastic hard-bracket and removing the hard drive.
      
      
   2. Install the replacement drive into the bracket by inserting the drive into the bracket so that the bracket alignment tabs snaps into the mounting holes on the new drive.
      
      

1

hard drive

2

hard-drive bracket

1	hard drive	2	hard drive mounting holes	3	hard-drive bracket
4	bracket alignment tabs

4. Carefully slide the hard drive into the drive bay until it clicks into place.
   
   

5. Connect the power and hard-drive cables to the drive.
   
   
6. Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.
   
   
7. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
8. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert a bootable medium into your boot drive. See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.
   
   
9. Enter system setup and update the appropriate Primary Drive option (0 or 1) (see Entering System Setup).
   
   
10. Exit system setup, and reboot the computer.
    
    
11. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step.
    
    

See the documentation for your operating system for instructions.

12. Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
    
    
13. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, install your operating system on the hard drive.
    
    

Adding a Second Hard Drive

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, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

NOTICE: If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.

1. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.
   
   
2. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
3. Remove the plastic hard-drive bracket from the inside of the hard-drive bay by squeezing the release tabs and gently pulling the bracket up and out of the bay.
   
   
4. Install the new drive into the bracket by inserting the drive into the bracket so that the bracket alignment tabs snaps into the mounting holes on the new drive.
   
   

1	hard drive	2	hard drive mounting holes	3	hard-drive bracket
4	bracket alignment tabs

5. If necessary, disconnect the power and SATA cables from the hard drive that is currently installed.
   
   
6. Carefully slide the new hard drive into the unused bay until it clicks into place.
   
   
7. Connect the power and SATA cables to the drives.
   
   

8. Locate and connect a SATA cable to the SATA1 connector on the system board (see System Board Components for mini tower computers).
   
   

1

hard-drive data cable

2

hard-drivedata cable on system board

3

hard-drive power cable

9. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   

Drive-Panel Inserts

If you are installing a new floppy drive, media card reader, or optical drive instead of replacing a drive, remove the drive-panel inserts.

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the drive panel by sliding the drive release latch in the direction indicated on the latch to open the panel. Then remove it from the hinges.
   
   

1

drive panel

2

release tab

3

drive-panel insert

3. Select the drive-panel insert in front of the drive bay that you want to use.
   
   
4. Gently press the release tab of the insert to remove it from the drive panel.
   
   

1

optical-drive panel insert

2

floppy-drive/media card reader panel insert

3

holder for shoulder screws

5. Reattach the drive panel to the front of the computer.
   
   

The drive panel only fits one way.

Floppy 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, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover.

Removing the Floppy Drive

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the drive panel by sliding the drive release latch in the direction indicated on the latch to open the panel. Then remove it from the hinges.
   
   
3. Disconnect the power and floppy-drive cables from the back of the floppy drive.
   
   
4. Slide the drive release latch in the direction indicated on the latch until the floppy drive is released; while holding the latch open, slide the drive out of the computer.
   
   

1

floppy drive

2

drive release latch

Installing the Floppy Drive

1. If you are replacing a floppy drive, remove the shoulder screws from the existing drive and attach the screws to the replacement drive.
   
   
2. If you are installing a new floppy drive, remove the drive-panel insert (see Drive-Panel Inserts) for your new drive, remove the shoulder screws from the inside of the drive-panel insert and attach the screws to the new drive.
   
   

3. Align the shoulder screws on the floppy drive with the shoulder screw slots, and gently slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place.
   
   

1

floppy drive

2

shoulder screws (4)

3

shoulder screw slots (2)

4. Attach the power and floppy-drive data cables to the floppy drive.
   
   
5. Connect the flopp- drive data cable to the DSKT connector on the system board (see System Board Components for the connector location).
   
   
6. Install the drive panel to the front of the computer. The drive panel only fits one way (see Drive-Panel Inserts).
   
   

1

power cable

2

floppy-drive data cable

3

floppy-drive connector on system board (DSKT)

7. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
8. Enter system setup and use the Diskette Drive option to enable your new floppy drive (see Entering System Setup).
   
   
9. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
   
   

Media Card Reader

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, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover.

Removing the Media Card Reader

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the drive panel by sliding the drive release latch in the direction indicated on the latch to open the panel. Then remove it from the hinges.
   
   
3. Disconnect the media card reader cable from the back of the media card reader.
   
   
4. Slide the drive release latch in the direction indicated on the latch until the media card reader is released; while holding the latch open, slide the device out of the computer.
   
   

1

media card reader

2

media card reader cable

3

drive release latch

Installing the Media Card Reader

1. If you are replacing a media card reader, remove the shoulder screws from the existing device and attach the screws to the replacement device.
   
   
2. If you are installing a new media card reader, remove the drive-panel insert (see Drive-Panel Inserts) for your new device, remove the shoulder screws from the inside of the drive-panel insert and attach the screws to the new device.
   
   
3. Align the shoulder screws on the media card reader with the shoulder screw slots, and gently slide the device into the bay until it clicks into place.
   
   
4. Attach the media card reader cable to the media card reader.
   
   
5. Connect the media card reader cable to the USB1 connector on the system board (see System Board Components for the connector location).
   
   

1	media card reader	2	shoulder screws (4)	3	shoulder screw slots (2)
4	media card reader cable

6. Install the drive panel to the front of the computer. The drive panel only fits one way (see Drive-Panel Inserts).
   
   
7. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
8. Enter system setup and use the Diskette Drive option to enable your new media card reader (see Entering System Setup).
   
   
9. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
   
   

Optical 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, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before replacing the cover.

Removing an Optical Drive

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the drive panel by sliding the drive release latch in the direction indicated on the latch to open the panel. Then remove it from the hinges.
   
   
3. Disconnect the power and optical drive cables from the back of the drive.
   
   
4. Slide the drive release latch in the direction indicated on the latch until the optical drive is released; while holding the latch open, slide the drive out of the computer.
   
   

1

optical drive

2

drive release latch

Installing an Optical Drive

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. If you are replacing a optical drive, remove the shoulder screws from the existing drive and attach the screws to the replacement drive.
   
   
3. If you are installing a new optical drive, remove the drive-panel insert for your new drive (see Drive- Panel Inserts), remove the shoulder screws from the inside of the drive-panel insert, and attach the screws to the new drive.
   
   

4. Align the shoulder screws on the optical drive with the shoulder screw slots, and slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place.
   
   

1

optical drive

2

shoulder screws (3)

3

shoulder screw slots (2)

5. Connect the power and optical drive cables to the drive.
   
   
6. Connect the drive cable to SATA2 or SATA3 on the system board (see System Board Components for mini tower computers).
   
   

1

power cable

2

optical drive cable

3

optical drive connector (SATA)

See the documentation that accompanied the drive and controller card to verify that the configuration is correct for your computer. Change any settings necessary for correct configuration.

7. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
8. Install the drive panel to the front of the computer. The drive panel only fits one way (see Drive-Panel Inserts).
   
   
9. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
10. Update your configuration information in system setup (see System Setup) by setting the appropriate Drive option (0 or 1) under Drives.
    
    
11. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
    
    

2

1

3

4

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