Dell Dimension 9150 User manual

Dell Dimension 9150 Service Manual
file:///T|/htdocs/systems/dim9150/en/sm/index.htm[10/31/2012 7:58:39 AM]
Dell™ Dimension™ 9150 Service Manual
Before You Begin
About Your Computer
Removing the Computer Cover
Technical Overview
Specifications
Advanced Troubleshooting
System Setup
Removing and Installing Parts
Replacing the Computer Cover
Notes, Notices, and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE 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 potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft® Windows® operating systems are
not applicable.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2006 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and Dimension are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel, Pentium, and SpeedStep 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 Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Model DCTA
August 2006 &nbspRev. A01

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Before You Begin
Dell™ Dimension™ 9150 Service Manual
Getting Started
Recommended Tools
Turning Off Your Computer
Before Working Inside Your Computer
Getting Started
This chapter provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each
procedure assumes that the following conditions exist:
You have performed the steps in "Turning Off Your Computer" and "Before Working Inside Your Computer."
You have read the safety information in your Dell™ Product Information Guide.
A component can be replaced by performing the removal procedure in reverse order.
Recommended Tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
Small flat-blade screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Long Phillips screwdriver
Flash BIOS update program floppy disk or CD
Turning Off Your Computer
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, save and close any open files and exit any open programs before you turn off your
computer.
1. Shut down the operating system:
a. Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, click the Start button, and then click Turn Off
Computer.
b. In the Turn off computer window, click Turn off.
The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process finishes.
2. Ensure that the computer and any attached devices are turned off. If your computer and attached devices did not
automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system, press and hold the power button for 4 seconds.

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Before Working Inside Your Computer
Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own
personal safety.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the
Product Information Guide.
CAUTION: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card.
Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a processor by its
edges, not by its pins.
NOTICE: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to servicing that is
not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty.
NOTICE: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself. Some
cables have a connector with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs
before you disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any
connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
NOTICE: To avoid damaging the computer, perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer.
1. Turn off your computer.
NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the
network port or device.
2. Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
3. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets, and then press the power button to
ground the system board.
NOTICE: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface,
such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to
dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components.
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About Your Computer: Dell Dimension 9150 Service Manual
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About Your Computer
Dell™ Dimension™ 9150 Service Manual
Front View of the Computer
Back View of the Computer
Front View of the Computer
1cover latch
release Use this latch to remove the cover. See "Removing the Computer Cover."
2CD or DVD
activity
light
The drive light is on when the computer reads data from the CD or DVD drive.
3CD or DVD
eject
button
Press to eject a disc from the CD or DVD drive.
4 Floppy
drive bay Can contain an optional floppy drive.
5 FlexBay Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader.
6IEEE 1394 Use the optional IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices such as

About Your Computer: Dell Dimension 9150 Service Manual
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connector
(optional)
digital video cameras and external storage devices.
7 vents For adequate cooling, do not block any of the vents.
NOTICE: Do not use the vents as handles; doing so may result in damage to
your computer. Also, ensure that there is a minimum of two inches of space
between all vents and any object near these vents.
8USB 2.0
connectors
(2)
Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such
as joysticks or cameras. It is recommended that you use the back USB
connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers,
keyboards, and mice, or for bootable USB devices, which may not function
properly if attached to the front connectors.
9 power
button Press to turn on the computer.
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button to turn off the
computer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.
10 hard-drive
activity
light
The hard drive activity light is on when the computer reads data from or
writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when a device such
as a CD player is operating.
11 diagnostic
lights (4) Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights."
12 headphone
connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.
13 microphone
connector Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.
14 Service
Tag Used to identify your computer when you access the Dell Support website or call technical support.
Back View of the Computer

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1 power
connector Insert the power cable.
2 sound
card
connectors
(5)
Line-in connector — Use the blue line-in connector to attach a
record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR.
Line-out connector — Use the green line-out connector to attach
headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers.
Microphone connector — Use the pink microphone connector to attach a
personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or
telephony program.
Surround connector — Use the black surround connector to attach
multichannel-capable speakers.
Center/subwoofer (Center/LFE) connector — Use the yellow subwoofer
connector to attach multiple speakers.
3 network
connector To attach your computer to a network or broadband device, connect one end of a network cable to either a network port or your network or broadband device.
Connect the other end of the network cable to the network connector on your
computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached.
NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector.
On computers with a network connector card, use the connector on the card.
4USB 2.0
connectors
(5)
Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such
as printers, keyboards, and mice, or for bootable USB devices which may not
function properly if attached to the front connectors (see "System Setup" for
more information on booting to a USB device)
It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you
connect occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras.
5card slots
(6) Access connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express cards.
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Removing the Computer Cover: Dell Dimension 9150 Service Manual
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Removing the Computer Cover
Dell™ Dimension™ 9150 Service Manual
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the
Product Information Guide.
CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before
removing the cover.
NOTICE: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface,
such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to
dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components.
1. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin."
2. If you have installed a security cable, remove it from the security cable slot.
NOTICE: Ensure that sufficient space exists to support the removed cover—at least 30 cm (1 ft) of desk top space.
NOTICE: Ensure that you are working on a level, protected surface to avoid scratching either the computer or the
surface on which it is resting.
3. Lay your computer on its side with the computer cover facing up.
4. Pull back the cover latch release on the top panel.
5. Locate the three hinge tabs on the bottom edge of the computer.

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6. Grip the sides of the computer cover and pivot the cover up.
7. Lift the cover away and set it aside in a secure location.
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Technical Overview: Dell Dimension 9150 Service Manual
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Technical Overview
Dell™ Dimension™ 9150 Service Manual
Inside View of Your Computer
System Board Components
Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments
Inside View of Your Computer
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the
Product Information Guide.
System Board Components