CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow
the safety instructions.
CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.
NOTICE: 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.
Your Dell™ computer provides an expansion slot for one low-profile, 32-bit, 33-MHz PCI card or serial port adapter.
PCI Cards
NOTE: Your Dell computer uses only PCI slots. ISA cards are not supported.
If you are installing or replacing a PCI card, follow the procedures in the next section. If you are removing but not replacing a PCI card, skip to "Removing a PCI Card."
If you are replacing a card, remove the current driver for the card from the operating system.
If you are installing a new card, remove the filler bracket to create an empty card-slot opening,
then continue with step 5.
If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer, remove the card (see
"Removing a PCI Card").
If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card. Grasp the card by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector.
Prepare the card for installation.
See the documentation that came with the card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise customizing it for your computer.
CAUTION: Some network adapters automatically start the computer when they are connected to a network. To guard against electrical shock, be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before installing any cards. Verify that the standby power light on the system board is off. To locate this light, see "System Board Components."
Place the card on the connector and press down firmly. Ensure that the card is fully seated in
the slot.
If the card is full-length, insert the end of the card into the card guide bracket as you lower the card toward its connector on the system board. Insert the card firmly into the card connector on the system board.
Before you lower the retention arm, ensure that:
The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar.
The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide.
Press the arm into place, securing the card(s) in the computer.
1
alignment guide
2
filler bracket
3
alignment bar
4
retention arm
NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or behind the cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent
the computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment.
Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.
See the documentation for the card for information about the card's cable connections.
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack, and then plug it into
the computer.
Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and
turn them on.
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.
If you installed a sound card:
Enter system setup, select Integrated Devices, and change the setting for Sound to Off.
Connect external audio devices to the sound card's connectors. Do not connect external
audio devices to the microphone, speaker/headphone, or line-in connectors on the I/O
panel.
If you installed an add-in network adapter:
Enter system setup, select Integrated Devices, and change the setting for Network
Interface Card to Off.
Connect the network cable to the add-in network adapter's connectors. Do not connect
the network cable to the integrated connector on the I/O panel.
Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation.
NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC
certification of the computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.
Lower the retention arm and press it into place.
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack, and then plug it into
the computer.
Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and
turn them on.
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.
Remove the card's driver from the operating system.
NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC
certification of the computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.
Lower the retention arm and press it into place.
NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack, and then plug it into
the computer.
Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and
turn them on.
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:
