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Mini Tower Computer

User's Guide

  About Your Mini Tower Computer

  Removing the Computer Cover

  Inside Your Computer

  Chassis Intrusion Switch

  System Board Components

About Your Mini Tower Computer

Front View

1	5.25-inch drive bay	Can contain an optical drive. Insert a CD or DVD (if supported) into this drive.
2	5.25-inch drive bay	Can contain an optical drive. Insert a CD or DVD (if supported) into this drive.
3	3.5-inch drive bay	Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional media card reader.
4	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 your online User's Guide for more information on booting to a USB device). It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.
5	LAN indicator light	This light indicates that a LAN (local area network) connection is established.
6	diagnostic lights	Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see Diagnostic Lights.
7	power button	Press this button to turn on the computer. NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not turn off the computer by pressing the power button. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown. See Before You Begin for more information. NOTICE: If your operating system has ACPI enabled, when you press the power button the computer will perform an operating system shutdown.
8	power light	The power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different operating modes: No light — The computer is turned off. Steady green — The computer is in a normal operating state. Blinking green — The computer is in a power-saving mode. Blinking or solid amber — The computer is receiving electrical power, but an internal power problem may exist (see Power Problems). To exit from a power-saving mode, press the power button or use the keyboard or the mouse if it is configured as a wake device in the Windows Device Manager. For more information about sleep modes and power-saving mode, see Advanced Features. See Diagnostic Lights for a description of light codes that can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer.
9	hard drive activity light	This light flickers when the hard drive is being accessed.
10	headphone connector	Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most kinds of speakers.
11	microphone connector	Use the microphone connector to attach a microphone.

Back View

1	cover-release latch	This latch allows you to open the computer cover.
2	padlock ring	Insert a padlock to lock the computer cover.
3	voltage selection switch	Your computer is equipped with a manual voltage-selection switch. To help avoid damaging a computer with a manual voltage-selection switch, set the switch for the voltage that most closely matches the AC power available in your location. NOTICE: In Japan, the voltage selection switch must be set to the 115-V position. Also, ensure that your monitor and attached devices are electrically rated to operate with the AC power available in your location.
4	power connector	Insert the power cable.
5	back panel connectors	Plug serial, USB, and other devices into the appropriate connectors. See Back Panel Connectors.
6	card slots (4)	Access connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express cards, PS/2 connector, eSATA connector, etc.

Back Panel Connectors

1	parallel connector	Connect a parallel device, such as a printer, to the parallel connector. If you have a USB printer, plug it into a USB connector. NOTE: The integrated parallel connector is automatically disabled if the computer detects an installed card containing a parallel connector configured to the same address. For more information, see System Setup Options.
2	link integrity light	Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps network and the computer. Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the computer. Yellow — A good connection exists between a 1-Gbps (or 1000-Mbps) network and the computer. Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.
3	network adapter connector	To attach your computer to a network or broadband device, connect one end of a network cable to either a network jack or your network or broadband device. Connect the other end 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. For VPro to work, the network cable must be connected to the onboard NIC. It is recommended that you use Category 5 wiring and connectors for your network. If you must use Category 3 wiring, force the network speed to 10 Mbps to ensure reliable operation.
4	network activity light	Flashes a yellow light when the computer is transmitting or receiving network data. A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady "on" state.
5	line-out connector	Use the green line-out connector to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers.
6	line-in/microphone connector	Use the blue and pink line-in/microphone connector to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR.; or a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.
7	USB 2.0 connectors (6)	Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.
8	video connector	Plug the cable from your VGA-compatible monitor into the blue connector. NOTE: If you purchased an optional graphics card, this connector will be covered by a cap. Connect your monitor to the connector on the graphics card. Do not remove the cap. NOTE: If you are using a graphics card that supports dual monitors, use the y-cable that came with your computer.
9	serial connector	Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. The default designations are COM1 for serial connector 1 and COM2 for serial connector 2. For more information, see System Setup Options.

Removing the Computer Cover

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.

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Lay the computer on its side as shown in the illustration.
   
   
3. Locate the cover release latch shown in the illustration. Then, slide the release latch back as you lift the cover.
   
   
4. Grip the sides of the computer cover and pivot the cover up using the hinge tabs as leverage points.
   
   
5. Remove the cover from the hinge tabs and set it aside on a soft nonabrasive surface.
   
   

CAUTION: Graphics card heat sinks can become very hot during normal operation. Ensure that a graphics card heat sink has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it.

1

security cable slot

2

cover release latch

3

padlock ring

Inside Your Computer

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To avoid electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover.

NOTICE: Be careful when opening the computer cover to ensure that you do not accidentally disconnect cables from the system board.

1	optical drive	2	disk drive	3	power supply
4	optional chassis-intrusion switch	5	system board	6	heat sink assembly
7	hard drive

Chassis Intrusion Switch

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide.

NOTE: The chassis intrusion switch is standard on the ultra small form factor computer but is optional on mini tower, desktop and small form factor computers; it may not be present on your computer.

Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
3. Disconnect the chassis intrusion switch cable from the system board by using two fingers to squeeze the release mechanism on one side of the connector as you pull to disconnect the cable connector.
   
   
4. Slide the chassis intrusion switch out of its slot in the metal bracket, and then push it down through the square hole in the bracket to remove the switch and its attached cable from the computer.
   
   

NOTE: You may feel a slight resistance as you slide the switch out of the slot.

Replacing the Chassis Intrusion Switch

1. Gently insert the switch from underneath the metal bracket into the square hole in the bracket, and then slide the chassis intrusion switch into its slot until you feel it snap securely into place.
   
   
2. Reconnect the cable to the system board.
   
   
3. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   

Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector

1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
   
   
2. When the blue DELL™ logo appears, press <F2> immediately.
   
   

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 and try again.

3. Select the Chassis Intrusion option and then press the left- or right-arrow key to select Reset. Change the setting to On, On-Silent, or Disabled.
   
   

NOTE: The default setting is On-Silent.

4. Save your BIOS settings and exit system setup.
   
   

System Board Components

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