Dell Dimension T8243 User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell™ Dimension™ 5100C
Model DHP
*Not present on certain computers.
front-panel
door (push to
open)
power button
hard-drive light
diagnostic lights
headphone connector
front-panel door (open)
microphone connector
optional floppy drive or
media card reader*
network connector
IEEE 1394 connector
voltage selection switch
USB 2.0 connectors (5)
center/LFE connector
modem connector
CD or DVD drive light
USB 2.0 connectors (2)
IEEE 1394 connector
power connector
integrated video connector
S/PDIF-out connector
microphone connector
PCI Express x16 card slot
PCI Express x1 card slot
line-out connector
line-in connector
surround sound
connector

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.
© 2005 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarksusedinthistext:Dell,theDELLlogo,Inspiron,DellPrecision,Dimension,OptiPlex,Latitude,PowerEdge,PowerVault,PowerApp,
DellNet, and PowerConnect are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel, Pentium, and Celeron are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft,
Windows, and Outlook 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 DHP
February 2005 P/N T8243 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Setting Up a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Printer Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Connecting a USB Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Using a Media Card Reader (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Connecting a TV (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Changing the Display Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Setting Up a Home and Office Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Connecting to a Network Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Network Setup Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Setting Up Your Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Playing a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Adjusting the Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Adjusting the Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Copying CDs and DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
How to Copy a CD or DVD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Using Blank CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVD+R, and DVD+RW. . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Helpful Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Standby Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Hibernate Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Power Options Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Hyper-Threading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

4Contents
2 Solving Problems
Troubleshooting Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Battery Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
CD and DVD drive problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Hard drive problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Media Card Reader Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
IEEE 1394 Device Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Keyboard Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Lockups and Software Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
The computer does not start up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
The computer stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
A program stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
A program crashes repeatedly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system . . . . . 33
A solid blue screen appears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Other software problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Memory Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Mouse Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Scanner Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
No sound from speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
No sound from headphones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Video and Monitor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
If the screen is blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
If the screen is difficult to read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Contents 5
3 Troubleshooting Tools
Diagnostic Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
What Is a Driver? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Reinstalling Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Restoring Your Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
4 Removing and Installing Parts
Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Recommended Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Turning Off Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Before Working Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Front and Back View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Front View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Back View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Removing the Computer Cover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Inside View of Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
System Board Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
DDR2 Memory Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Addressing Memory With 4-GB Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Installing Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Removing Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
PCI Express Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

6Contents
Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Connecting Drive Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Drive Interface Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Power Cable Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Removing a Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Installing a Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
CD/DVD Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Removing a CD/DVD Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Installing a CD/DVD Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Media Card Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Removing a Media Card Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Installing a Media Card Reader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Floppy Drive (Optional). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Removing a Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Installing a Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Replacing the External Modem Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Replacing the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Replacing the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
5 Appendix
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Entering System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
System Setup Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Boot Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Clearing Forgotten Passwords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Clearing CMOS Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Contents 7
Cleaning Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Mouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
CDs and DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals . . . . . . . . . 106
Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals. . . . . . . . . . . 107
FCC Notices (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
FCC Identification Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Contacting Dell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

8Contents

Finding Information 9
Finding Information
NOTE: Some features may not be available for your computer or in certain countries.
NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here
• Warranty information
• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
• Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement
Dell™ Product Information Guide
• How to set up my computer Setup Diagram

10 Finding Information
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
• Service Tag and Express Service Code
• Microsoft Windows License Label
Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License
These labels are located on your computer.
• Use the Service Tag to
identify your computer
when you use
support.dell.com or
contact technical
support.
• Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when
contacting technical support.
• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles
from technicians, online courses, frequently asked
questions
• Community — Online discussion with other Dell
customers
• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such
as memory, the hard drive, and the operating system
• Customer Care — Contact information, service call and
order status, warranty, and repair information
• Service and support — Service call status and support
history, service contract, online discussions with
technical support
• Reference — Computer documentation, details on my
computer configuration, product specifications, and
white papers
• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software
updates
1 Desktop System Software (DSS)— If you reinstall the
operating system for your computer, you should also
reinstall the DSS utility. DSS provides critical updates
for your operating system and support for Dell™ 3.5-
inch USB floppy drives, Intel
®
Pentium
®
M processors,
optical drives, and USB devices. DSS is necessary for
correct operation of your Dell computer. The software
automatically detects your computer and operating
system and installs the updates appropriate for your
configuration.
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support
site.
• Corporate, government, and education customers can
also use the customized Dell Premier Support website at
premier.support.dell.com.The website may not be
available in all regions.
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

Finding Information 11
• How to use Windows XP
• Documentation for my computer
• Documentation for devices (such as a modem)
Windows Help and Support Center
1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support .
2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and
click the arrow icon.
3 Click the topic that describes your problem.
4 Follow the instructions on the screen.
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

12 Finding Information
www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 13
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Setting Up a Printer
NOTICE: Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the computer.
See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information, including how to:
• Obtain and install updated drivers.
• Connect the printer to the computer.
• Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge.
• Contact the printer manufacturer for technical assistance.
Printer Cable
Your printer connects to your computer with a USB cable. Your printer may not come with a printer
cable, so if you purchase a cable separately, ensure that it is compatible with your printer. If you
purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer, the cable may arrive in
the computer box.

14 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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Connecting a USB Printer
NOTE: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.
1 Complete the operating system setup, if you have not already done so.
2 Install the printer driver if necessary. See the documentation that came with your printer.
3 Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer. The
USB connectors fit only one way.
Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)
Use the media card reader to transfer data directly to your computer.
The media card reader supports the following memory types:
•xD-PictureCard
• SmartMedia (SMC)
• CompactFlash Type I and II (CF I/II)
• MicroDrive Card
• SecureDigital Card (SD)
• MultiMediaCard (MMC)
• Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro)
USB printer cable
USB connector on computer
USB connector
on printer

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 15
For information on installing a Media Card Reader, see "Installing a Media Card Reader" on
page 81.
To use the media card reader:
1 Check the media or card to determine the proper orientation for insertion.
2 Slide the media or card into the appropriate slot until it is completely seated in the connector.
If you encounter resistance, do not force the media or card. Check the card orientation and try
again.
Connecting a TV (Optional)
NOTE: To connect a TV to your computer, you must have a video card that has TV-out functionality, and
purchase an S-video cable, which is available at most consumer electronics stores. An S-video cable is
not included with your computer.
1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 53.
2 Connect one end of the S-video cable to the TV-OUT connector on the back of the computer.
3 Connect the other end of the S-video cable to the S-video input connector on your TV.
xD-Picture Card
and SmartMedia (SMC)
Memory Stick
(MS/MS Pro)
SecureDigital Card (SD)/
MultiMediaCard (MMC)
CompactFlash Type I
and II (CF I/II) and
MicroDrive Card

16 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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Changing the Display Settings
1 After you connect the TV, turn on the computer.
The Microsoft
®
Windows
®
desktop displays on the monitor.
2 Enable clone mode or extended desktop mode in the display settings.
• In clone mode, the monitor and TV display the same image.
• In extended desktop mode, you can drag objects from one screen to the other, effectively
doubling the amount of viewable work space.
For information on changing the display settings for your graphics card, see the user’s guide in
the Help and Support Center (click the
Start button, click Help and Support , click User and
system guides
, click Device guides , and then click the guide for your graphics card).
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Connecting to a Network Adapter
NOTE: Plug the network cable into the network adapter connector on the computer. Do not plug the
network cable into the modem connector on the computer. Do not plug a network cable into a telephone
wall jack.
1 Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your computer.
Insert the cable until it clicks into place, and then gently pull it to ensure that it is secure.
2 Connect the other end of the network cable to a network device.
network device
network adapter connector on computer
network cable
network adapter
connector

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 17
Network Setup Wizard
The Microsoft
®
Windows
®
XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you
through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a
home or small office.
1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs → Accessories → Communications , and then
click
Network Setup Wizard .
2 On the welcome screen, click Next .
3 Click Checklist for creating a network .
NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the
integrated firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later operating systems.
4 Complete the checklist and required preparations.
5 Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen.
Connecting to the Internet
NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country.
To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service
provider (ISP), such as AOL or MSN. Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet
connection options:
• Dial-up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line. Dial-up
connections are considerably slower than DSL and cable modem connections.
• DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing telephone
line. With a DSL connection, you can access the Internet and use your telephone on the same
line simultaneously.
• Cable modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your local cable
TV line.
If you are using a dial-up connection, connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your
computer and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection. If you are
using a DSL or cable modem connection, contact your ISP for setup instructions.
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
To set up an AOL or MSN connection:
1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
2 Double-click the MSN Explorer or AOL icon on the Microsoft
®
Windows
®
desktop.
3 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

18 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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If you do not have an MSN Explorer or AOL icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an
Internet connection with a different ISP:
1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
2 Click the Start button and click Internet Explorer .
The
New Connection Wizard appears.
3 Click Connect to the Internet .
4 In the next window, click the appropriate option:
• If you do not have an ISP and want to select one, click
Choose from a list of Internet
service providers (ISPs)
.
• If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not receive a
setup CD, click
Set up my connection manually .
• If you have a CD, click
Use the CD I got from an ISP .
5 Click Next .
If you selected
Set up my connection manually , continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the
instructions on the screen to complete the setup.
NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, contact your ISP.
6 Click the appropriate option under How do you want to connect to the Internet? , and then
click
Next .
7 Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.
If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem, and Internet
Problems" on page 29. If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the
past, the ISP might have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the service status, or try
connecting again later.
Playing a CD or DVD
NOTICE: Do not press down on the CD or DVD tray when you open or close it. Keep the tray closed when
you are not using the drive.
NOTICE: Do not move the computer when you are playing CDs or DVDs.
1 Press the eject button on the front of the drive.
2 Place the disc, label side up in the center of the tray
3 Press the disc into the center of the tray until it clicks into place.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 19
4 Press the eject button or gently push in the tray.
To format CDs for storing data, to create music CDs, or to copy CDs, see the CD software that
came with your computer.
NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs.

20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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A CD player includes the following basic buttons:
A DVD player includes the following basic buttons:
For more information on playing CDs or DVDs, click
Help on the CD or DVD player (if available).
Play.
Move backward within the current track.
Pause.
Move forward within the current track.
Stop.
Go to the previous track.
Eject.
Go to the next track.
Stop.
Play.
Fast forward.
Pause.
Fast reverse.
Go to the next title or chapter.
Go to the previous title or chapter.