Dell Dimension 4100 User manual

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Dell™ Dimension™ 4100 Systems
SOLUTIONS GUIDE

Hints, Notices, and Cautions
HINT: A HINT indicates important information that helps you make better
use of your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of
data and tells you how to avoid the problem.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
For a complete listing of abbreviations and acronyms, see the Glossary in
the Tell Me How help file (see “Accessing Help Files” on page 20 of this
guide for instructions on how to open the help file).
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2000–2001 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer
Corporation is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text:
Dell , the DELL logo, Dellnet , Inspiron , Dimension , Latitude ,
OptiPlex , Dell Precision , and DellWare are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Intel and
Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities
claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any
proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
March 2001 P/N 051VM Rev. A03

Contents 3
Contents
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1Setting Up
Setting Up Dellnet™ (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Accessing the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Accessing Your E-Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Viewing Your Account Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Sending and Receiving E-Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Resetting E-Mail Address Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Connecting a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Parallel Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
USB Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Installing the Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Turning Off the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) and
Windows Millennium Edition (Me) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2Solving Problems
Finding Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Accessing Help Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Start-Up Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

4Contents
Video and Monitor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
If the screen is blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
If the screen is difficult to read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
If you cannot print to a parallel port printer . . . . . . . . . . 25
If you cannot print to a USB printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Scanner Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Modem Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Mouse Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Keyboard Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
If you cannot play a music CD or install
a program from a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
If you cannot play a DVD movie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
If the CD-RW drive stops writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
If you have a hard drive problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Windows Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
General Program Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
A program crashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
A program stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
A solid blue screen appears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Internet Connection Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
If you have a problem with your Dellnet account . . . . . . . . 33
E-Mail Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Resolving Other Technical Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Contents 5
Reinstalling Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Reinstalling Windows 98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Reinstalling Windows Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Reinstalling Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3Adding Parts
Removing the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Looking Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Adding Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Removing Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Adding Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Adding a Second Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Adding Other Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
5.25-Inch Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
3.5-Inch Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Replacing the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
4Appendix
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Standard Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Viewing Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
System Setup Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Clearing Forgotten Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Replacing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

6Contents
Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Contact Numbers and Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit . . . . . . . . . 94
Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
FCC Notices (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Battery Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
NOM Information (Mexico Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Información para NOM (únicamente para México) . . . . . . . 100
Warranty and Return Policy Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Safety Instructions 7
Safety Instructions
Use the following safety guidelines to protect yourself and your computer.
For comfort and efficiency, observe the ergonomic guidelines provided in
the Tell Me How help file.
When Using Your Computer
CAUTION: Do not operate your computer with any cover(s)
(including the computer cover, filler brackets, front-panel inserts,
and so on) removed.
•To help avoid damaging your computer, be sure that the voltage
selection switch is set to match the AC power available at your
location:
– 115 V/60 Hz in most of North and South America and some Far
Eastern countries such as South Korea and Taiwan
– 100 V/50 Hz in eastern Japan and 100 V/60 Hz in western Japan
– 230 V/50 Hz in most of Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East
Also be sure that your monitor and attached devices are electrically
rated to operate with the AC power available in your location.
•To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds
after turning off the computer before disconnecting or connecting a
non-USB device from the computer.
•To help prevent electric shock, plug the computer and device power
cables into properly grounded power sources. These cables are
equipped with 3-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not
use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a cable. If you
must use an extension cable, use a 3-wire cable with properly grounded
plugs.

8Safety Instructions
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•To help protect your computer from sudden, transient increases and
decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner,
or uninterruptible power supply.
•Be sure that nothing rests on your computer’s cables and that the
cables are not located where they can be stepped on or tripped over.
•Do not spill food or liquids on your computer. If the computer gets
wet, contact Dell (see page 82).
•Do not push any objects into the openings of your computer. Doing so
can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components.
•Keep your computerawayfrom radiators andheat sources.Also, do not
block cooling vents. Avoid placing loose papers underneath your
computer; do not place your computer in a closed-in wall unit or on a
bed, sofa, or rug.
When Working Inside Your Computer
Before you remove the computer cover, perform the following steps in the
sequence indicated.
NOTICE: Do not attempt to service the computer yourself, except as
explained in this guide and elsewhere in Dell documentation. Always follow
installation and service instructions closely.
1Turn off your computer and all devices.
2Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface at the back of
the computer before touching anything inside your computer.
While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the
computer to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal
components.
3Disconnect any devices connected to the computer, including the
monitor, from their electrical outlets to reduce the potential for
personal injury or shock. Also, disconnect any telephone or
telecommunication lines from the computer.
4Disconnect the power cable to your computer, and then press the
power button to ground the system board.

Safety Instructions 9
In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:
•When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector, not on the cable
itself. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid
bending any pins. Also, before you connect a cable, make sure that
both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
•Handle components and cardswith care. Don’t touch the components
on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal bracket.
CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is
incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or
equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used
batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before
you touch anything inside your computer and periodically while you work
inside the computer. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface
on the back of the computer.
You can also take the following steps to prevent static damage:
•Do not remove items from their antistatic packing material until you
are ready to install them in your computer. Just before unwrapping the
antistatic packaging, be sure to discharge static electricity from your
body.
•When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic
container or packaging.

10 Safety Instructions
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SECTION 1
Setting Up
Setting Up Dellnet™ (U.S. Only)
Connecting a Printer
Turning Off the Computer

12 Setting Up
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HINT: Dellnet is not
available in all regions. Setting Up Dellnet™(U.S. Only)
To set up Dellnet Internet Access Service in the United States, double-click
the Dellnet Signup icon on the Microsoft®Windows®desktop and follow
the instructions that appear on the screen.
Accessing the Internet
To access the Internet after completing the Dellnet registration process,
double-click the Internet Explorer icon on your Windows desktop. Internet
Explorer automatically initiates the Internet connection through Dellnet.
Accessing Your E-Mail
To access your Dellnet e-mail, double-click the Outlook Express icon on
your Windows desktop. Click Send/Receive to download your messages
from the mail server. When you download your messages, they are stored on
your hard drive until you delete them.
Viewing Your Account Information
HINT: Dellnet allows you
to use case-sensitive
passwords. Be sure that
<Caps Lock> is not
turned on.
If you did not record your Dellnet user name or password, access the
Dellnet Administration tool to verify or change this information:
1Click the Start button, point to Programs—>Dellnet, and then click
Dellnet Administration.
2Click Next twice.
3Click Connect to connect to Dellnet.
4When the Dellnet Self-Administration page appears, click View My
Account Information.
5Click Next.
6Type your Challenge Question answer.
7Click Next.
Your account information appears on the screen.
8Click Print to print the information or click Main Menu to go to the
main menu.

Setting Up 13
Sending and Receiving E-Mail
•Double-click the Outlook Express icon to initiate a connection to the
Internet through Dellnet.
•Always check the address of each recipient when sending e-mail.
Otherwise, your e-mail is returned to you.
•Be sure that the person who is sending e-mail to you is typing your
e-mail address correctly.
•Do not send e-mail messages larger than 2 MB.
•If you are having difficulties sending e-mail, determine whether the
problem involves just one recipient or all recipients. Then contact the
Dellnet technical support staff (see page 82).
Resetting E-Mail Address Settings
If your e-mail software gets corrupted, reset your account:
1Click the Start button, point to Programs—>Dellnet, and then click
Dellnet Administration.
2Click Next twice.
3Click Connect to connect to Dellnet.
4When the Dellnet Self-Administration page appears, click Make My
Changes Take Effect.
5Click Next.
6Enter your Challenge Phrase answer.
7Click Next.
8Click the Click To Make Changes Take Effect button.
9Click OK.
Connecting a Printer
See the documentation that came with the printer for any recommended
preparation procedures, such as:
•Removing the packaging
•Installing the toner or ink cartridge
•Loading paper

14 Setting Up
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Then follow the instructions that came with the printer to connect it to the
computer. If no information is provided, see the following sections.
Parallel Printer
1Turn off the computer (see page 16).
NOTICE: Use only a standard IEEE parallel cable measuring 3 m (10 ft) or
less to connect the printer to the computer. Use of a nonstandard cable may
prevent the printer from working.
2Attach the parallel printer cable to the parallel connector on the
computer and tighten the two screws. Attach the cable to the parallel
connector on the printer and snap the two clips into the two notches.
3Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer. If the Add New
Hardware Wizard window appears, click Cancel.
4Install the printer driver if necessary (see page 15).
notches (2)
parallel printer
cable
screws (2)
parallel
connector on
printer
parallel connector on
computer
clips (2)

Setting Up 15
USB Printer
HINT: You can connect
USB devices while the
computer is turned on.
1Install the printer driver if necessary (see page 15).
2Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connector on the computer
and the printer. The USB connectors only fit one way.
Installing the Printer Driver
HINT: Dell installs
drivers for some new
printers. Click the Start
button, point to Settings,
and then click Printers. If
your printer is listed in the
Printers window, the
printer is ready to use.
If you need to install a printer driver, insert the installation CD into the CD
or DVD drive. Then follow the promptson the screen using the instructions
that came with the printer.
If your printer installation CD does not automatically run, click the Start
button on the Windows desktop, click Run, and type x:\setup.exe
(where xis the letter of your CD or DVD drive [usually drive D]). Then
click OK and follow the prompts on your screen.
If you connect an older printer and it doesn’t work after you install the
driver, access the system setup program (see page 78) and ensure that the
parallel port is set to operate in bidirectional mode.
USB printer
cable
USB connector on
computer
USB connector
on printer

16 Setting Up
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Turning Off the Computer
NOTICE: To prevent data loss, you must perform the Windows shutdown
procedure.
Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) and Windows Millennium
Edition (Me)
1Save and exit any programs and files you have open.
2Click the Start button, and then click Shut Down.
3In the Shut Down Windows window, click Shut down and then click
OK.
The computer automatically turns off after the shutdown process
finishes.
4Turn off your monitor and any other devices connected to power.
Windows 2000
1Save and exit any programs and files you have open.
2Click the Start button, and then click Shut Down.
3Click the pull-down menu under What do you want the computer to
do?.
4Click Shut down and then click OK.
The computer automatically turns off after the shutdown process
finishes.
5Turn off your monitor and any other devices connected to power.

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SECTION 2
Solving Problems
Finding Solutions
Accessing Help Files
Power Problems
Start-Up Error Messages
Video and Monitor Problems
Sound and Speaker Problems
Printer Problems
Scanner Problems
Modem Problems
Mouse Problems
Keyboard Problems
Drive Problems
Network Problems
Windows Error Messages
General Program Problems
Internet Connection Problems
E-Mail Problems
Resolving Other Technical Problems
Reinstalling Drivers
Reinstalling Windows 98
Reinstalling Windows Me
Reinstalling Windows 2000

18 Solving Problems
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Finding Solutions
Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out where to go for answers. Use this chart
to help you quickly find the answers to your questions.
See page 20.
See page 31.
Get technical assistance from
Dell. See page 82.

Solving Problems 19
See page 22.
See page 24.
See page 25.
See page 26.
See page 27.
See page 28.
See page 28.
See page 31.
See page 32.
See page 26.
See page 31.
See page 33.
See page 33.
See page 33.

20 Solving Problems
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Accessing Help Files
Power Problems
HINT: See the Tell Me
How
help file for
information on the
standby mode.
TOACCESS THE TELL MEHOW HELP FILE
1Click the Start button, point to Programs—> User’s Guides, and then click
Tell Me How.
TOACCESS MICROSOFT®WINDOWS®2000 HELP
1Click the Start button and then clickHelp.
2Click the Search tab.
3Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and then click List Topics.
4Click the topic that describes your problem and then click Display.
5Follow the instructions shown on the screen.
TOACCESS WINDOWS MEHELP
1Click the Start button and then clickHelp.
2Type a word or phrase that describes your problem in the Search box and then
click Go.
3Click the topic that describes your problem and then click Display.
4Follow the instructions shown on the screen.
CHECK THE POWER LIGHT—When the power light is lit or blinking, the
computer has power. If the power light is blinking, the computer is in standby
mode—press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.
TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET—Ensurethattheelectricaloutletisworking
by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
CHECK THE POWER CABLE CONNECTION—Be sure that the power cable is
firmly inserted into the electrical outlet and the computer power connector.