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Internal Components: Dell OptiPlex GC System User's Guide
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Internal Components: Dell™ OptiPlex™ GC 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.
- 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.
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."
- Lift the computer out of its stand.
- Place the computer in a horizontal position.
The computer is in the correct horizontal position when the
screw that secures the computer cover to the chassis is on the top of the back side of the
computer (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Removing
the Computer Cover
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| 1 |
Screws (3) |
| 2 |
Computer cover |
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- If you have installed a padlock through the padlock ring on the back panel,
remove the padlock.
- Remove the screws that
secure the cover to the back panel.
- Slide the cover toward the back of the computer about
one-half inch.
- Lift off the 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.
- Remove the front bezel by slightly lifting the three bezel
tabs (see Figure 2) and gently pulling the bezel away from the front panel.
Figure 2. Removing the Front Bezel
- Place the cover on the computer and slide it toward the
front of the computer.
- Replace the screws that you removed in step 5 of the previous procedure.
- If you are using a padlock to secure your system, reinstall
the padlock.
- Replace the front bezel.
- Place the computer in its stand.
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 you proceed.
- Remove all
expansion cards.
- 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 optical 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 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 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 optical 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.
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 optical 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. 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 Information screen. 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 optical 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 as indicated in "Checking Connections and Switches."
- If problem is not resolved, insert the Dell ResourceCD
into the optical 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 optical drive,
and reboot the system. 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 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." 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.
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