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. Some drives may also have an audio connector; one end of the audio cable will attach to the drive connector and the other will attach to the system board.
Drive Interface Connectors
IDE Drive Connector
Serial ATA Connector
NOTE: The serial ATA connector may have an attached cover or shroud.
NOTE: The serial ATA Connector may be straight or angled.
Power Cable Connector
1
power cable
2
power input connector
Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables
When removing an IDE drive data cable, grasp the colored pull tab and pull until the connector detaches.
When connecting and disconnecting a serial ATA data cable, hold the cable by the black connector at each end.
Like IDE connectors, the serial ATA interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion; that is, a notch or a missing pin on one connector matches a tab or a filled-in hole on the other connector.
IDE Drive Addressing
When you connect two IDE devices to a single IDE interface cable and configure them for the cable select setting, the device attached to the last connector on the interface cable is the master or boot device (drive 0), and the device attached to the middle connector on the interface cable is the slave device (drive 1). See the drive documentation in your upgrade kit for information on configuring devices for the cable select setting.
Your computer supports up to two IDE devices. Connect hard drives to the connector labeled "IDE1," and connect CD/DVD drives to the connector labeled "IDE2."
Most IDE interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion; that is, a notch or a missing pin on one connector matches a tab or a filled-in hole on the other connector. Keyed connectors ensure that the pin-1 wire in the cable (indicated by the colored stripe along one edge of the cable) goes to the pin-1 end of the connector. The pin-1 end of a connector on a board or a card is usually indicated by a silk-screened "1" printed directly on the board or card.
NOTICE: When you connect an interface cable, do not place the colored stripe away from pin 1
of the connector. Reversing the cable prevents the drive from operating and could damage the
controller, the drive, or both.
IDE Drive Interface Connector
1
interface connector
2
colored stripe on cable
3
interface cable
Hard Drive
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the steps in "Safety Instructions."
CAUTION: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer's electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.
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.
If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, back up your files
before you begin this procedure.
Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your
computer.
Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
Ensure that your computer and attached devices are turned off. If your computer and
attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your computer,
turn them off now.
NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then
unplug it from the network wall jack.
Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets, and
then press the power button to ground the system board.
Disconnect the power and hard-drive cables from the drive.
IDE
Serial ATA
1
hard-drive cable
2
power cable
Press in on the tabs on each side of the drive and slide the drive up and out.
1
tabs (2)
2
hard drive
Installing a Hard Drive
NOTICE: If you install a serial ATA hard drive, it is recommended that you have Dell-supplied
data and power cables.
Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your
computer.
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.
Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation.
If your replacement hard drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the
rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive.
Attach the bracket rails to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with
the screw holes on the bracket rails and then inserting and tightening all four screws
(two screws on each rail).
1
drive
2
bracket rails (2)
3
screws (4)
Install the hard drive into the computer by gently sliding the drive into place until you
hear it securely click.
NOTICE: If you are installing an IDE hard drive, match the colored strip on the cable with pin
1 on the drive (pin 1 is marked as "1").
Connect the power and hard-drive cables to the drive.
IDE
Serial ATA
1
hard-drive cable
2
power cable
Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.
Close the computer cover.
Attach the computer stand (optional).
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then
plug it into the computer.
Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.
See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.
Insert a bootable floppy disk into drive A.
Turn on the computer.
Enter system setup, and update the appropriate Primary Drive option (0 or 1).
Exit system setup, and reboot the computer.
Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step.
For instructions, see the documentation that came with your operating system.
For instructions, see the documentation that came with your operating system.
After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following message to appear on the screen at the next computer start-up:
NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network
administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.
Front-Panel Inserts
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the steps in "Safety Instructions."
If you are installing a new floppy or CD/DVD drive instead of replacing a drive, remove the front-panel inserts:
Facing the front of the computer, use your fingers to remove the front-panel cover.
Press on the inserts until they pop free of the front-panel cover.
Floppy Drive
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the steps in "Safety Instructions."
CAUTION: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer's electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.
Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
Ensure that your computer and attached devices are turned off. If your computer and
attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your computer,
turn them off now.
NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then
unplug it from the network wall jack.
Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets, and
then press the power button to ground the system board.
Disconnect the data cable from the CD/DVD drive bay located above the floppy drive.
Disconnect the power and floppy-drive cables from the back of the floppy drive.
Disconnect the floppy-drive cable from the system board connector (labeled DSKT).
1
power cable
2
floppy-drive cable
3
floppy-drive connector (DSKT)
Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive, slide the drive upward, and
remove it from the floppy-drive bay.
Installing a Floppy Drive
If the replacement drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the rails from
the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive. Attach the
bracket rails to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw
holes on the bracket rails and then inserting and tightening all four screws (two screws
on each rail).
1
drive
2
bracket rails (2)
3
screws (4)
Gently slide the drive into place until the tabs securely click into position.
Attach the power and floppy-drive cables to the floppy drive.
Connect the other end of the floppy-drive cable to the connector labeled DSKT on the
system board.
1
power cable
2
floppy-drive cable
3
floppy-drive connector (DSKT)
Reconnect the data cable to the back of the drive installed in the CD/DVD drive bay
located above the floppy drive.
Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the
fan and cooling vents.
Close the computer cover.
Attach the computer stand (optional).
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then
plug it into the computer.
Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.
Enter system setup and update the appropriate Diskette Drive A option to reflect the
size and capacity of your new floppy drive.
After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following message to appear on the screen at the next computer start-up:
NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network
administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.
Verify that your computer works correctly by running the "Dell Diagnostics."
CD/DVD Drive
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the steps in "Safety Instructions."
CAUTION: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer's electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.
Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
Ensure that your computer and attached devices are turned off. If your computer and
attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your computer,
turn them off now.
NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then
unplug it from the network wall jack.
Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets, and
then press the power button to ground the system board.
Disconnect the power, audio, and CD/DVD drive cables from the back of the drive.
Disconnect the other end of the CD/DVD drive cable from the system board
connector (IDE2).
1
power cable
2
audio cable
3
CD/DVD drive cable
4
IDE2 connector
Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive, and then slide the drive upward
and remove it from the drive bay.
Installing a CD/DVD Drive
Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation.
Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer. If you are installing an IDE drive, configure the drive for the cable select setting.
If the replacement drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the rails from
the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive. Attach the
bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes
on the bracket rails and then inserting and tightening all four screws (two screws on
each rail).
1
drive
2
bracket rails (2)
3
screws (4)
Gently slide the drive into place until the tabs securely click into position.
Connect the power, audio, and CD/DVD drive cables to the drive.
Connect the other end of the CD/DVD drive cable to the IDE2 system board
connector.
1
power cable
2
audio cable
3
CD/DVD drive cable
4
IDE2 connector
If you are installing a drive that has its own controller card, install the controller card in
a card slot.
Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the
fan and cooling vents.
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then
plug it into the computer.
Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.
Update your configuration information by setting the appropriate Drive option (0 or
1) under Drives: Secondary to Auto. See "Drive Configuration" for more information.
After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following message to appear on the screen at the next computer start-up:
NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network
administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.
Verify that your computer works correctly by running the "Dell Diagnostics."
Cable Routing
1
CD/DVD drive audio cable
6
hard drive power cable (route and secure the cable by using the tabs on the inside of the cover)
2
CD/DVD drive data cable
7
front input/output data cable
3
floppy drive data cable
8
front input/output audio cable
4
control panel cable
9
IDE drive data cable (used if an IDE hard drive is installed)
5
serial ATA drive data cable (used if a serial ATA hard drive is installed)
