See the Setup and Quick Reference Guide for information on the following:
Setting up your computer
Finding and using support resources
Diagnosing a problem
Using tools and utilities
Registration and Service Labels
Product Key (also called the Product ID or Certificate of Authenticity [COA])
Express Service Code and Service Tag Number
The labels are located on the side of your Dell™ computer.
You will need the Product Key (or Product ID) number to complete the operating system setup.
The Express Service Code and Service Tag Number are unique identifiers for your Dell computer.
For more information, see the Setup and Quick Reference Guide.
DellPrecisionResourceCD
Dell Diagnostics
Drivers
Utilities
Computer and device documentation
See the main menu on the ResourceCD that was shipped with your computer. Use the pull-down menu to make selections appropriate for your computer. You can perform the following tasks:
Diagnose a problem
Install or reinstall drivers
Obtain information on your computer and devices
NOTE: User documentation and drivers are already
installed on your computer when shipped from Dell. You
can use this CD to access documentation, reinstall drivers,
or run diagnostics tools.
Operating system CD
To reinstall your operating system, use the operating system CD that was shipped with your computer.
NOTE: The operating system CD may not include all the
latest drivers for your computer. If you reinstall your
operating system, use the ResourceCD to reinstall drivers
for the devices shipped with your computer.
For more information about reinstalling your operating system, see the operating system installation documentation that was shipped with your computer.
Operating system installation guide
See the operating system installation guide for information on reinstalling and configuring your operating system.
User's guides for your computer and peripherals
Double-click the User's Guidesicon on your desktop to access the electronic documentation stored on your hard drive. Obtain information on the following:
Using your computer
Installing upgrades in your computer
Installing and configuring software on your computer
Diagnosing a system problem
Technical specifications
Peripheral documentation
Dell support website
Ask Dudley
Dell Knowledge Base
Dell Documents
DellTalk
File downloads
TechFax
Vendor links
Go to http://support.dell.com:
Get help with general usage, installation, and troubleshooting questions
Access documentation about your computer and devices
Get the latest versions of the drivers for your computer
Join online discussions with other Dell customers and Dell technical professionals
Explore a list of online links to Dell's primary vendors
Dell Premier Support website
Service call status
Top technical issues by product
Frequently asked questions by product number
Customized service tags
System configuration detail
Go to http://premiersupport.dell.com:
The Dell Premier Support website is customized for corporate, government, and education customers.
Interior service label
A service label affixed to the inside of your computer cover provides information about working inside your computer.
Operating system documentation
Click Start and select Help to obtain information on your operating system.
The following figures show the controls and indicators located on the front
panel of the mini tower and desktop systems.
Front View of the Mini Tower Chassis
NOTE: Before you remove the cover from the mini tower chassis, you must
first slide the outer padlock ring to the left to unlock the cover release
mechanism. See "Cover Release Mechanism (Mini Tower Chassis)."
Reset button — reboots (restarts) the system in a way that reduces
stress on system components. Before you push this button, save and
close all open files and application programs if possible to avoid losing
data. Then perform an orderly shutdown of the operating system.
NOTICE: If your computer is not responding, turning off power or unplugging
the power cord should be done only as a last resort. Doing so can cause
problems with system settings and configuration.
Power button — controls the system's AC input power. See the
following table for power button functions on systems running
Microsoft® Windows® or Windows NT®.
Press and hold for more than 6 seconds to immediately turn the computer off.
NOTE: Use this method only if the computer will not shut
down normally.
On (Windows NT)
Press and release to attempt an orderly shutdown.
NOTE: This works only if the Dell System Utilities are
loaded on the computer. Without the utilities, the computer
immediately turns off rather than performs an orderly shut
down.
On (Windows 2000)
Press and release to put the computer in the sleep state.
NOTE: This works depending on how Windows 2000 is
configured. For more information, see "Power
Management."
Sleep state (Windows 2000)
Press and release to bring the computer out of the sleep state. For more information, see "Power Management."
Power indicator — contains an indicator that illuminates in two colors
and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states.
Diskette-drive access indicator — lights when the drive is reading data
from, or writing data to, a diskette. Wait until this indicator turns off
before you remove a diskette from the drive.
Hard-drive access indicator — lights when a hard drive or CD drive is
reading data from, or writing data to, the drive.
Cover release button — releases the computer cover; located on back
of the mini tower chassis and on the sides of the desktop chassis.
When you connect external devices to your computer's back panel, follow
these guidelines:
Check the documentation that accompanied the device for specific
installation and configuration instructions.
For example, you must connect most devices to a particular input/output (I/O) port or connector to operate properly. Also, external devices like a printer usually require you to load device drivers before they will work.
When connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) mouse or keyboard,
ensure that you connect to one of the Port 1 USB connectors.
Always attach external devices while your computer is turned off. Then
turn on the computer before turning on any external devices, unless
the documentation for the device specifies otherwise.
NOTICE: When you disconnect external devices from the back of the
computer, wait 5 seconds after turning off the computer before you reconnect
any devices to avoid possible damage to the system board.
Default port designations: COM1 for serial port 1 and COM2 for serial port
2. You can reassign the serial port's designation in system setup if you add an
expansion card containing a serial port using this designation.
If you set the system's serial ports to Auto in system setup and add an
expansion card containing a serial port configured to a specific designation,
the computer automatically maps (assigns) the integrated ports to the
appropriate COM setting as necessary.
Before you add a card with a serial port, check the documentation that
accompanied your software to ensure that the software can be mapped to
the new COM port designation.
Used to connect printers. Default designation: LPT1.
NOTE: The integrated parallel port is automatically disabled if the system
detects an installed expansion card containing a parallel port configured to the
same address as specified in the Parallel Port option in system setup.
Used to attach computer speakers. This jack is amplified, so speakers with
integrated amplifiers are not required. Connect the audio cable from the
speakers to this jack.
Used to attach record/playback devices such as cassette players, CD players,
and VCRs. Connect the line-out cable from any of these devices to the line-
in jack.
Attach the Personal System/2 (PS/2) mouse cable to the 6-pin mouse
connector on the back panel. If your system uses Microsoft Windows, Dell
installed the necessary mouse drivers on your hard drive.
NOTE: This connector is similar to the keyboard connector. Ensure that you
correctly identify the mouse connector before you connect the device.
NOTE: Do not attempt to operate a PS/2 mouse and a USB mouse
simultaneously.
The network interface controller (NIC), which includes a Remote Wake Up
feature, has the following indicators:
A yellow network activity indicator flashes when the system is
transmitting or receiving network data. (A high volume of network
traffic may make this indicator appear to be in a steady "on" state.)
A dual-colored network link integrity and speed indicator, which is
green when a good connection exists between a 10-megabit per second
(Mbps) network and the NIC, or is orange when a good connection
exists between a 100-Mbps network and the NIC. When the orange or
green indicator is off, the computer is not detecting a physical
connection to the network.
NOTICE: Do not connect a modem cable to the network adapter. Voltage
from telephone communications can damage the network adapter.
The NIC connector attaches an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Ethernet
cable to your system. Press one end of the UTP cable into the NIC
connector until the cable snaps securely into place. Connect the other end
to an RJ45 jack wall plate or to an RJ45 port on a UTP concentrator or hub,
depending on your network configuration.
Dell recommends the use of Category 5 wiring and connectors for our
customers' networks.
The following figures show the mini tower and desktop chassis with their
covers removed.
Inside the Mini Tower Chassis
NOTE: Before you remove the cover from the mini tower chassis, you must
first slide the outer padlock ring to the left to unlock the cover release
mechanism. See "Cover Release Mechanism (Mini Tower Chassis)."
