Dell OptiPlex Gs User manual

®
Dell®OptiPlex®Gs and Gs+ Low-Profile Systems
REFERENCE AND INSTALLATION GUIDE
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Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
1991–1996 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, and OptiPlex are registered trademarks and DellWare is a registered service mark of Dell
Computer Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows, and Windows NT are
registered trademarks and Windows for Workgroups is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation; IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks of Inter-
national Business Machines Corporation; Novelland NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc.;3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com
Corporation; VESA is a registered trademark of Video Electronics Standards Association; UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System
Laboratories, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Novell, Inc. As an Energy Star Partner, Dell Computer Corporation has determined that this
product meets the Energy Star guidelines for energy efficiency.
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.
August 1996 P/N 93816
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Safety Instructions
When Using Your Computer System
As you use your computer system, observe the following
safety guidelines:
•To help avoid damaging your computer, be sure the
voltage selection switch on the power supply is set to
match the alternating current (AC) power available
at your location—115 volts (V)/60 hertz (Hz) in the
United States, Mexico, South America, and Canada,
and 230 V/50 Hz in mostofEurope, the Middle East,
and the Far East. Also be sure your monitor and
attached peripherals are electrically rated to operate
with the AC power available in your location.
•To help prevent electric shock, plug the computer
and peripheral power cables into properly grounded
power sources. These cables are equipped with
3-prong plugs to 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.
•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.
•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, consult your Diagnostics and
Troubleshooting Guide.
•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.
Ergonomic Computing Habits
For maximum comfort and efficiency, observe the fol-
lowing ergonomic guidelines when setting up and using
your computer system:
•Position your system so that the monitor and key-
board 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 bright-
ness 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.
WARNING: Improper or prolonged keyboard use
may result in injury.
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vi
•Keep your forearms horizontal with your wrists in a
neutral, comfortable position while using the key-
board 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 neces-
sary, to maintain proper posture.
•Vary your workactivities. Tryto organize your work
so that you do not have to type for more than a
minute or so at a time without stopping. When you
stop typing, try to do things that use both hands.
arms at desk level
feet flat on the floor
monitor screen at eye level
monitor and keyboard
positioned directly
in front of user
wrists relaxed and flat
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vii
When Working Inside Your Computer
Before you remove the computer cover, perform the fol-
lowing steps in the sequence indicated:
1. Turn off your computer and any peripherals.
2. Disconnect your computer and peripherals from
their power sources. Also, disconnect any
telephone or telecommunication lines from the
computer.
Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or
shock.
3. Touch an unpainted metal surface on the chassis,
such as the power supply at 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.
In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when
appropriate:
•Do not attempt to service the computer system your-
self, except as explained in this guide and elsewhere
in Dell documentation. Always follow installation
and servicing instructions closely.
•When removing a component from the system board
or disconnecting a peripheral device from the
computer, wait 5 seconds after turning offthe system
before removing the component or disconnecting the
device to avoid possible damage to the system board.
•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 disconnecting the cable. As
you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned
to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before
you connect a cable, make sure both connectors are
correctly oriented and aligned.
•Handle components and cardswith care. Don’t 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 microprocessor chip by its
edges, not by its pins.
Protecting Against Electrostatic
Discharge
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 micro-
processor. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal
surface on the computer chassis.
As you continue to work inside the computer, periodi-
cally touch an unpainted metal surface to remove any
static charge your body may have accumulated.
In addition to the preceding precautions, you can also
take the following steps to prevent damage from electro-
static discharge (ESD):
•When unpacking a static-sensitive component from
its shipping carton, do not remove the component’s
antistatic packing material until you are ready to
install the component in your computer. Just before
unwrapping the antistatic packaging, be sure to dis-
charge 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 caution appears throughout this document
to remind you of these precautions:
CAUTION: See “Protecting Against Electrostatic
Discharge” in the safety instructions at the front of
this guide.
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ix
Preface
A
bout This Guide
This guide is intended for anyone who uses a Dell Opti-
Plex Gs or Gs+ low-profile computer system. 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:
•Everyone should read Chapter 1, “Introduction,” for
an overview of the system features, instructions on
how to access the online System User’s Guide, and
information on where to get help if you need it.
•Everyone should read the first several sections of
Chapter 2, “Using the System Setup Program,” to
familiarize themselves with this important program.
Only users who want to make configuration changes
to their system or who want to use the password fea-
tures need to read the rest of Chapter 2.
•Users who add or remove an Industry-Standard
Architecture (ISA) expansion card should read
Chapter 3, “Using the ISA Configuration Utility.”
•Users who want to connect their system to a network
should read Chapter 4, “Using the Network Interface
Controller.” This chapter provides information on
connecting the system to a network, configuring the
optional network interface controller (NIC), install-
ing drivers for the NIC, and running the NIC
diagnostics.
•Chapter 5, “Working Inside Your Computer,”
Chapter 6, “Installing System Board Options,” and
Chapter 7, “Installing Drives,” are intended for users
who want to install or remove options inside the
computer, such as single in-line memory modules
(SIMMs), expansion cards, or drives.
•Appendix A, “ISA Configuration Utility Messages,”
describes error messages generated by the ISA Con-
figuration Utility (ICU), possible causes, and
corrective actions.
•Appendix B, “Regulatory Notices,” is for users who
are interested in which regulatory agencies have
tested and approved the Dell OptiPlex Gs and Gs+
low-profile systems.
•Appendix C, “Warranties and Return Policy,”
describes the warranty for your Dell system and the
“Total Satisfaction” Return Policy.
W
arranty and Return Policy
Information
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 C, “Warranties
and Return Policy.”
O
ther Documents You May Need
Besides this Reference and Installation Guide, the fol-
lowing documentation is included with your system:
•The Getting Started sheet provides step-by-step
instructions for setting up your computer system.
•The Windows-based online System User’s Guide
contains important information about your computer
system. This document includes descriptions of
system features, instructions on installing and con-
figuring drivers and utilities, information on the
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x
System Setup program and ISA Configuration Util-
ity, and instructions for attaching devices to the
connectors on your computer’s back panel.
•The Frequently Asked Questions cards provide
detailed answers to questions that are often asked by
Dell computer users. Be sure to read these cards
before calling Dell for technical assistance.
•The Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide
includes troubleshooting procedures and instructions
for using the diskette-based diagnostics to test your
computer system.
You may also have one or more of the following
documents.
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 con-
tain the latest information.
•Operating system documentation is included if you
ordered your operating system software from Dell.
This documentation describes how to install (if nec-
essary), configure, and use your operating system
software.
•Documentation is included with any options you
purchase separately from your system. This docu-
mentation includes information that you need to
configure and install these options in your Dell com-
puter. Installation instructions for the options are
included in this Reference and Installation Guide.
•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 advanced technical refer-
ence material intended for experienced users or
technicians.
N
otational Conventions
The following subsections list notational conventions
used in this document.
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
Throughout this guide, there may be blocks of text
printed in bold type within boxes or in italic type. These
blocks are warnings, cautions, and notes, and they are
used as follows:
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that
helps you make better use of your computer system.
Typographical Conventions
The following list defines (where appropriate) and illus-
trates typographical conventions used as visual cues for
specific elements of text throughout this document:
•Keycaps, the labeling that appears on the keys on a
keyboard,are presented in uppercase and enclosed in
angle brackets.
Example: <ENTER>
•Key combinations are series of keys to be pressed
simultaneously (unless otherwise indicated) to per-
form a single function.
Example: <CTRL><ALT><ENTER>
•All items on a menu screen are presented in the HEL-
VETICA font and in uppercase bold.
Example: SETUP PASSWORD category
•Commands presented in lowercase bold are for refer-
ence purposes only and are not intended to be typed
at that particular point in the discussion.
Example: “Use the format command to....”
In contrast, commands presented in the Courier
font are intended to be typed as part of an
instruction.
Example: “Type format a: to format the diskette
in drive A.”
WARNING: A WARNING indicates the potential
for bodily harm and tells you how to avoid the
problem.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either poten-
tial damage to hardware or loss of data and tells
you how to avoid the problem.
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xi
•Filenames and directory names are presented in low-
ercase bold.
Examples: autoexec.bat and c:\windows
•Syntax lines consist of a command and all its
possible parameters. Commands are displayed in
lowercase bold; variable parameters (those for which
you substitute a value) are displayed in lowercase
italics; constant parameters are displayed in lower-
case 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 command’s possible
parameters. Command lines are presented in the
Courier font.
Example: del c:\myfile.doc
•Screen text is text that appears on the screen of your
monitor or display. It can be a system message, for
example, or it can be text that you are instructed to
type as part of a command (referred to as a command
line). Screen text is presented in the Courier font.
Example: “Type md c:\dos,and then press
<ENTER>.”
Example: The following message appears on your
screen:
No boot device available
•Variables are placeholders for whichyou substitute a
value. They are presented in italics.
Example: SIMMn(where n represents the SIMM socket
designation)
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xii
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