Dell Dimension XPS 50 User manual



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____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 1999–2000 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, Be Direct, Dimension, Inspiron, OptiPlex, DellWare, and Latitude are trademarks of
Dell Computer Corporation; Intel, LANDesk, and Pentium are registered trademarks and Streaming is a trademark of Intel Corporation;
MS-DOS, Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; VESA is a registered trademark
of Video Electronics Standards Association.
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 2000 P/N 8868D Rev. A04

v

Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer system from poten-
tial damage and to ensure your own personal safety.

As you use your computer system, observe the following safety guidelines.

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&
To help avoid damaging your computer, be sure the voltage selection switch on
the power supply is set to match the AC power available at your location:
— 115 volts (V)/60 hertz (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 your monitor and attached peripherals are electrically rated to oper-
ate with the AC power available in your location.
Before working inside the computer, unplug the system to help prevent electric
shock or system board damage. Certain system board components continue to
receive power any time the computer is connected to AC power.
To help avoid possible damage to the system board, disconnect the power cable
to your computer and then press the power button to ground the system board
before disconnecting a device from the computer.
To help prevent electric shock, plug the computer and peripheral power cables
into properly grounded power sources. These cables are equipped with
three-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 three-wire cable with properly grounded plugs.

vi
To help protect your computer system from sudden, transient increases and
decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner, or un-
interruptible power supply (UPS).
Be sure nothing rests on your computer system’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, refer to
“If Your Computer Gets Wet”in Chapter 6.
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 computer away from radiators and heat 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.

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( $)$
&
For comfort and efficiency, observe the following ergonomic guidelines when setting
up and using your computer system:
Position your system so that the monitor and keyboard are directly in front of you
as you work. Special shelves are available (from Dell and other sources) to help
you correctly position your keyboard.
Set the monitor at a comfortable viewing distance (usually 510 to 610 millimeters
[20 to 24 inches] from your eyes).
Make sure the monitor screen is at eye level or slightly lower when you are sitting
in front of the monitor.
Adjust the tilt of the monitor, its contrast and brightness settings, and the lighting
around you (such as overhead lights, desk lamps, and the curtains or blinds on
nearby windows) to minimize reflections and glare on the monitor screen.
Use a chair that provides good lower back support.
Keep your forearms horizontal with your wrists in a neutral, comfortable position
while using the keyboard or mouse.
Always leave space to rest your hands while using the keyboard or mouse.
Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides.
Sit erect, with your feet resting on the floor and your thighs level.
When sitting, make sure the weight of your legs is on your feet and not on the
front of your chair seat. Adjust your chair’s height or use a footrest, if necessary,
to maintain proper posture.

vii
Vary your work activities. Try to organize your work so that you do not have to
type for extended periods of time. When you stop typing, try to do things that
use both hands.
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Before you remove the computer cover, perform the following steps in the sequence
indicated.
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1. Turn off your computer and all devices.
2. Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the
computer before touching anything inside your computer.
While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer
chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.
3. Disconnect the power cable to your computer, and then press the power button
to ground the system board.
monitor screen at or below eye level
wrists relaxed and flat
arms at desk level
monitor and
keyboard
positioned
directly
in front of user
feet flat on the floor

viii
4. Disconnect 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.
In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:
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 dis-
connecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before disconnecting
the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bend-
ing any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, make sure both
connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
Handle components and cards with care. Don’t touch the components or con-
tacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a
component such as a microprocessor chip by its edges, not by its pins.
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Static electricity can harm delicate components inside your computer. To prevent
static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of
your computer’s electronic components, such as the microprocessor. You can do so
by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.
As you continue to work inside the computer, periodically touch an unpainted metal
surface to remove any static charge your body may have accumulated.
You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge
(ESD):
When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not
remove the component from the antistatic packing material until you are ready to
install the component 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.
Handle all sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use antistatic
floor pads and workbench pads.
The following notice may appear throughout this document to remind you of these
precautions:
*./0  * 1$
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ix

 !
This guide is intended for anyone who uses a Dell Dimension XPS Txxx or Txxxr sys-
tem. It can be used by both first-time and experienced computer users who want to
learn about the features and operation of the systems or who want to upgrade their
computers. The chapters and appendixes are summarized as follows:
Chapter 1, “Introduction,”provides an overview of the system features and infor-
mation on preventive maintenance to protect the computer.
Chapter 2, “Installing Upgrades on the System Board,”provides information on
performing various upgrades, such as installing additional memory. The chapter
includes a basic orientation to internal features of the computer.
Chapter 3, “Installing Drives,”provides instructions on how to install and remove
drives.
Chapter 4, “Basic Troubleshooting,”contains checklists to use before calling Dell
for technical assistance and instructions for using the Dell Diagnostics.
Chapter 5, “Software Solutions,”has information on reinstalling drivers and the
operating system.
Chapter 6, “Checking Inside Your Computer,”presents troubleshooting proce-
dures for system components such as expansion cards, memory, and drives.
Chapter 7, “Getting Help,”provides information on obtaining technical assis-
tance. Users who have been unable to resolve problems using the
troubleshooting information provided in this guide can refer to this chapter.
Appendix A, “System Specifications,”is supplemental reference material.
Appendix B, “System Setup Program,”describes the system setup program
used for checking and changing system configuration data.
Appendix C, “Diagnostic Codes, Beep Codes, and System Messages,”docu-
ments status and error messages generated during system start-up. Included are
possible causes and corrective actions.
Appendix D, “Regulatory Notices,”provides regulatory information on the system.
Appendix E, “Warranty and Return Policy,”describes the warranty for your Dell
system and the “Total Satisfaction”Return Policy.

x
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Dell Computer Corporation (“Dell”) manufactures its hardware products from parts
and components that are new or equivalent to new in accordance with industry-
standard practices. For information about the Dell warranty for your system, see
Appendix E, “Warranty and Return Policy.”
$%&
NOTE: Documentation updates are sometimes included with your system to describe
changes to your system or software. Always read these updates before consulting
any other documentation because the updates often contain the latest information.
Besides this Reference and Troubleshooting Guide, the following documentation is
included with your system:
The Getting Started sheet provides step-by-step instructions for setting up your
computer system.
The Dell Dimension Systems Setup Guide describes how to properly set up your
operating system and connect a printer.
The Dell Dimension XPS Txxx or Txxxr Systems Help describes the features and
operation of your computer. It includes tips on using your computer hardware and
answers to commonly asked questions. To open the Help, click the Start button,
point to Programs—> Dell Documents, and then click Dell Dimension Help.
You may also double-click the Dell Documents icon on the Windows desktop,
click System Information, click System Documentation, and then click Dell
Dimension Help.
Online documentation is included for your computer devices (such as a video or
modem card) and for any options you purchase separately from your system. To
access this supplemental documentation, double-click the Dell Documents icon
on the Windows desktop, click System Information, and then click System
Documentation.
Operating system documentation.
Technical information files—sometimes called “readme”files—may be installed
on your hard-disk drive to provide last-minute updates about technical changes to
your system or reference material intended for experienced users.
&'&'
Throughout this guide, blocks of text may be accompanied by an icon and printed in
bold type or in italic type. These blocks are notes, notices, and cautions, and they are
used as follows:
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your computer system
** 
$"&

xi
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"&
(
The following list defines (where appropriate) and illustrates typographical conven-
tions used as visual cues for specific elements of text throughout this document:
Interface components are window titles, button and icon names, menu names
and selections, and other options that appear on the monitor screen or display.
They are presented in bold.
Example: Click OK.
Keycaps are labels that appear on the keys on a keyboard. They are enclosed in
angle brackets.
Example: <Enter>
Key combinations are series of keys to be pressed simultaneously (unless other-
wise indicated) to perform a single function.
Example: <Ctrl><Alt><Enter>
Commands presented in lowercase bold are for reference purposes only and are
not intended to be typed when referenced.
Example: “Use the format command to . . . .”
In contrast, commands presented in the Courier New font are part of an instruc-
tion and intended to be typed.
Example: “Ty p e format a: to format the diskette in drive A.”
Filenames and directory names are presented in lowercase bold.
Examples: autoexec.bat and c:\windows
Syntax lines consist of a command and all its possible parameters. Commands
are presented in lowercase bold; variable parameters (those for which you substi-
tute a value) are presented in lowercase italics; constant parameters are
presented in lowercase bold. The brackets indicate items that are optional.
Example: del [drive:] [path] filename [/p]
Command lines consist of a command and may include one or more of the com-
mand’s possible parameters. Command lines are presented in the Courier New
font.
Example: del c:\myfile.doc

xii
Screen text is a message or text that you are instructed to type as part of a com-
mand (referred to as a command line). Screen text is presented in the Courier
New font.
Example: The following message appears on your screen:
No boot device available
Example: “Ty p e md c:\programs and press <Enter>.”
Variables are placeholders for which you substitute a value. They are presented in
italics.
Example: DIMM_x (where xrepresents the DIMM socket designation)

xiii

  
Hardware Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Software Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Available Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Preventive Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Preserving Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Scheduling Backups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Backup Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Virus-Scanning Software and Data Transfers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Cleaning System Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Recommended Tools and Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Cleaning the Computer, Monitor, and Keyboard Exteriors . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Cleaning the Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Cleaning Diskette Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Power Protection Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Surge Protectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Line Conditioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Uninterruptible Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
   
Safety First—For You and Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Installation Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover and Support Beam. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Jumpers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Expansion Card Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Installing Expansion Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Removing Expansion Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15

xiv
Adding Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Installing a DIMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Removing a DIMM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Replacing the System Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
   
Removing and Replacing the Bezel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Removing and Replacing the Drive Cage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Removing the Drive Cage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Replacing the Drive Cage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Removing and Replacing a Front-Panel Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Removing a 3.5-Inch Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Replacing a 3.5-Inch Insert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Configuring Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Connecting Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Installing Externally Accessible Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
5.25-Inch Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
3.5-Inch Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Upper 3.5-Inch Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Lower 3.5-Inch Bay (Mini Tower Chassis Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Installing EIDE Hard-Disk Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Primary Hard-Disk Drive Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Secondary Hard-Disk Drive Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Partitioning and Logically Formatting an EIDE Hard-Disk Drive . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Installing SCSI Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
SCSI Configuration Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
SCSI ID Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
SCSI Cables and SCSI Termination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
General Procedure for Installing SCSI Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Partitioning and Formatting SCSI Hard-Disk Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
 !"  
Backing Up Data Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Checking the Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Environmental Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Boot Routine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8

xv
Running the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Starting the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Dell Diagnostics Main Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Using the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Device Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
# $%  #
Using Audio Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Enabling the YAMAHA DS-XG Audio Configuration Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
YAMAHA DS-XG Audio Configuration Program for Windows 98 . . . . . . . 5-1
YAMAHA DS-XG Audio Configuration Program for Windows NT. . . . . . . 5-3
Adjusting Volume Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Using Windows Power Management Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Reinstalling Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Your System’s Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Using the Dell Dimension ResourceCD to Reinstall Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Temporarily Disabling the Virus-Scanning Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Reinstalling Windows 98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
& '(  &
Expansion Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Modem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Sound Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Video Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Network Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
System Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Reseating DIMMs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
CD-ROM and DVD-ROM Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Hard-Disk Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Reseating the Microprocessor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
If Your Computer Gets Wet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11
If Your Computer Is Damaged. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12

xvi
) *+ )
Technical Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Help Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
AutoTech Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
TechFax Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
TechConnect BBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Automated Order-Status System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Technical Support Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Problems With Your Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Product Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Before You Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Dell Contact Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
,-, $ ,
,- . 
Entering the System Setup Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Using the System Setup Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
System Setup Screens and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Main Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4
Advanced Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6
Peripheral Configuration Submenu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8
IDE Configuration Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-10
Primary IDE Master Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-12
Diskette Options Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-13
DMI Event Logging Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-14
Video Configuration Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-15
Resource Configuration Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-16
Security Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-17
Power Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-18
Boot Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-20
Hard Drive Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-22
Removable Devices Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-23
Exit Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-24
Disabling a Forgotten Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-25
Enabling the Processor Serial Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-26
Clearing NVRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-26

xvii
,- //
0  
Diagnostic Codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1
POST Beep Codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-6
System Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-7
,- 12
FCC Notices (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2
Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2
Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3
IC Notice (Canada Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-4
CE Notice (European Union) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-4
Battery Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-5
EN 55022 Compliance (Czech Republic Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-5
VCCI Notice (Japan Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-5
Class A ITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-6
Class B ITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-6
NOM Information (Mexico Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-7
Información para NOM (únicamente para México) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-8
,-3 41. 3
Limited Three-Year Warranty (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1
Coverage During Year One. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1
Coverage During Years Two and Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-2
General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-2
Limited Three-Year Warranty (Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-3
Coverage During Year One. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-4
Coverage During Years Two and Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-4
General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-5
One-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee
(Latin America and the Caribbean Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-6
Guarantee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-6
Exclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-6
Making a Claim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-6
Limitation and Statutory Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-6
“Total Satisfaction”Return Policy (U.S. and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-7
Macrovision Product Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-8
-

xviii
5 Figure 2-1. Removing the Computer Cover (Mini Tower Chassis) . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Figure 2-2. Removing the Support Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Figure 2-3. Inside the Mini Tower Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Figure 2-4. Inside the Desktop Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Figure 2-5. System Board Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Figure 2-6. Expansion Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Figure 2-7. Removing the Filler Bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Figure 2-8. Installing an Expansion Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Figure 2-9. Correctly Installed Expansion Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Figure 2-10. Installing a DIMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Figure 2-11. Removing a DIMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Figure 2-12. System Battery and Battery Socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Figure 3-1. Removing the Bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Figure 3-2. Removing the Drive Cage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Figure 3-3. Removing a 3.5-Inch Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Figure 3-4. DC Power Cable Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Figure 3-5. Drive Interface Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Figure 3-6. Removing a 5.25-Inch Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Figure 3-7. Installing a 5.25-Inch Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Figure 3-8. Removing a 3.5-Inch Drive Bay Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Figure 3-9. Installing a Drive in the Upper 3.5-Inch Drive Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Figure 3-10. Installing a Drive in the Lower 3.5-Inch Drive Bay (Mini Tower
Chassis Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Figure 3-11. Installing a Drive in the Primary Hard-Disk Drive Bay . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Figure 3-12. Secondary Hard-Disk Drive Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Figure 3-13. Secondary Hard-Disk Drive Bracket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Figure 3-14. Internal SCSI Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Figure 4-1. Diagnostics Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Figure 4-2. Dell Diagnostics Main Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Figure 5-1. YAMAHA DS-XG Audio Config Window for Windows 98 . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Figure 5-2. YAMAHA DS-XG Audio Config Window for Windows NT . . . . . . . . 5-3
Figure 5-3. Sample Volume Control Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Figure 6-1. Expansion-Card Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Figure 6-2. Incorrect Expansion-Card Installations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Figure 6-3. Removing the SECC2 Package and Heat Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Figure 7-1. Diagnostics Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Figure B-1. Main Screen Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4
Figure B-2. Advanced Screen Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6
Figure B-3. Peripheral Configuration Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8
Figure B-4. IDE Configuration Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-10
Figure B-5. Primary IDE Master Submenu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-12
Figure B-6. Diskette Options Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-13
Figure B-7. DMI Event Logging Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-14

xix
Figure B-8. Video Configuration Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-15
Figure B-9. Resource Configuration Submenu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-16
Figure B-10. Security Screen Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-17
Figure B-11. Power Screen Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-18
Figure B-12. Boot Screen Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-20
Figure B-13. Hard Drive Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-22
Figure B-14. Removable Devices Submenu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-23
Figure B-15. Exit Screen Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-24
Figure D-1. VCCI Class A ITE Regulatory Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-6
Figure D-2. VCCI Class B ITE Regulatory Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-6
!" Table 2-1. System Board Connectors and Sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Table 2-2. Configuration Jumper Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Table 4-1. Boot Routine Indications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Table 7-1. International Dialing Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Table 7-2. Dell Contact Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Table A-1. Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Table B-1. System Setup Navigation Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Table B-2. Main Screen Menu Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4
Table B-3. Advanced Screen Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6
Table B-4. Peripheral Configuration Submenu Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8
Table B-5. IDE Configuration Submenu Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-10
Table B-6. Primary IDE Master Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-12
Table B-7. Diskette Options Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-13
Table B-8. DMI Event Logging Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-14
Table B-9. Video Configuration Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-15
Table B-10. Resource Configuration Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-16
Table B-11. Security Screen Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-17
Table B-12. Power Screen Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-18
Table B-13. Boot Screen Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-20
Table B-14. Hard Drive Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-22
Table B-15. Removable Devices Submenu Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-23
Table B-16. Exit Screen Menu Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-24
Table C-1. Diagnostic Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2
Table C-2. POST Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-6
Table C-3. System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-7

xx

support.dell.com Introduction 1-1


Dell™Dimension™XPS Txxx and Txxxr computer systems are high-speed personal
computers that include an Intel®Pentium®III microprocessor. These systems com-
bine high-performance Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) design with
accelerated graphics port (AGP) and Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) design,
allowing a wide range of initial configurations and upgrade possibilities.
This chapter provides information about the following:
Major hardware and software features of your computer
Available upgrades for your computer
Preventive maintenance procedures to protect your investment and extend the
life of your computer.
)*
Your Dell computer offers the following hardware features:
An Intel Pentium III microprocessor that runs at an external speed of 100 mega-
hertz (MHz).
The Intel Pentium III processor in your computer includes Streaming™Single
Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) Extensions. This technology improves the per-
formance of 3D graphics, 3D audio, and other advanced application programs,
such as speech recognition software.
The Main screen of the system setup program lists the speed of your system’s
processor. For information on accessing this program, see Appendix B, “System
Setup Program.”
A dedicated graphics bus that significantly enhances 3D graphics performance
and supports up to 2X AGP based on the video card.
Memory that can be increased up to 768 megabytes (MB) by installing 32-, 64-,
128-, or 256-MB synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM) dual in-line memory
modules (DIMMs) in the three DIMM sockets on the system board.

1-2 Dell Dimension XPS Txxx and Txxxr Systems Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
Full Plug and Play version 1.2a capability in the system basic input/output system
(BIOS) allows you to install both PCI and ISA Plug and Play expansion cards with-
out performing manual configuration tasks. The system BIOS is stored in flash
memory, so it can be updated to support future Plug and Play enhancements.
NOTE: The Microsoft ®Windows NT ®operating system does not provide ISA
Plug and Play support. Therefore, some ISA Plug and Play cards may not work
with Windows NT unless you configure them manually.
The system board includes the following integrated features:
Four full-length 32-bit PCI expansion slots for connecting high-speed PCI devices
to the PCI bus—greatly increasing their input/output (I/O) speeds over the speeds
attainable using the ISA bus.
One shared full-length PCI/ISA expansion slot containing both a PCI and an ISA
expansion-card connector, only one of which can be used at any given time.
One full-length AGP expansion slot.
An integrated diskette drive interface that supports a single diskette drive without
the need for a controller card.
Two enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) interfaces on the PCI bus that
support up to two EIDE devices each. Supported devices include Advanced Tech-
nology Attachment (ATA)-33 Ultra direct memory access (DMA) hard-disk drives,
CD-ROM drives, Zip drives, and tape drives.
NOTES: The ATA-66 controller card supports ATA-66 Ultra DMA hard-disk drives.
Inconsistencies in the manufacturing of CD-ROM media may cause some higher-
speed CD-ROM drives to vibrate more than others. Such vibration and associated
noise do not indicate a defect in the drive or the CD.
One serial port and one bidirectional parallel port for connecting external devices.
For systems running the Microsoft Windows®98 Second Edition or
Windows 2000 operating system, the two high-performance Universal Serial Bus
(USB) ports provide a single connection point for multiple USB-compliant devices.
These devices can be connected and disconnected while the system is running.
NOTE: If you attach a USB device that was not included in your original system
configuration, you may need to install a specific driver for that device to obtain its
full functionality. Contact the USB device manufacturer for more information.
A PS/2-style keyboard port and a PS/2-compatible mouse port.
Dell Dimension XPS Txxx and Txxxr systems are available with and without inte-
grated sound. For systems with integrated sound, a Yamaha 724 DS-1 PCI
advanced audio controller with 3D positioning and Direct Sound acceleration pro-
vides audio functions compatible with a Sound Blaster Pro expansion card. A
musical instrument digital interface (MIDI)/game port provides a connection for a
joystick, MIDI keypad, game pad, or other game input device.