Dell OptiPlex NX User manual

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Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
1997 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, OptiPlex,and the DELL logo are registered trademarks and DellWare is a registered service mark of Dell
ComputerCorporation; Intel,Pentium,andLANDeskareregisteredtrademarksandMMXisatrademarkofIntel Corporation; Microsoft,Windows,
and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. 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.
October 1997 P/N 88787

v
Safety Instructions
U
se the following safety guidelines to help protect
your computer system from potential damage and to
ensure your own personal safety.
W
hen Using Your Computer
System
As you use your computer system, observe the following
safety guidelines:
•To help avoid damaging your computer, only plug
your computer into a 115-volt (V)/60-hertz (Hz) or
230-V/50-Hz AC power source.
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
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.
•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, call your network administrator.
•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, and
do not place your computer in a closed-in wall unit
or on a bed, sofa, or rug.
E
rgonomic Computing Habits
For comfort and efficiency, observe the following ergo-
nomic 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.
CAUTION: Only authorized service technicians
and qualified network administrators should
remove the computer cover and access any of the
components inside the computer. Do not attempt to
service the computer system yourself.
WARNING: Improper or prolonged keyboard use
may result in injury.

vi
•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.
•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 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.
arms at desk level
feet flat on the floor
monitor screen at or below eye level
monitor and keyboard
positioned directly
in front of user
wrists relaxed and flat

vii
W
hen Working With Your
Computer
Take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:
•To help avoid possible damage to the system board,
wait 5 seconds after turning off the system before
disconnecting a peripheral device from the
computer.
•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 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 cor-
rectly oriented and aligned.

viii

ix
Preface
A
bout This Guide
This guide is intended for anyone who uses a Dell Opti-
Plex N or OptiPlex NX 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 sys-
tem or who want to upgrade their computers. The
chapters and appendixes are summarized as follows:
•Chapter 1, “Introduction,” presents an overview of
the system features.
•Chapter 2, “Maintaining the System,” describes the
proper methods of cleaning and maintaining the
system.
•Appendix A, “Regulatory Notices,” details which
regulatory agencies have tested and approved the
Dell OptiPlex N and OptiPlex NX systems.
•Appendix B, “Warranties and Return Policy,” covers
the warranty for your Dell system and the “Total Sat-
isfaction” 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 B, “Warranties
and Return Policy.”
O
ther Documents You May Need
The Getting Started sheet, which is included with your
system, provides step-by-step instructions for setting up
your computer system.
Your network administrator has other documentation and
information about your system and the network. If you
need additional information, contact your network
administrator.
W
arnings, 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.
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.

x

xi
Contents
Chapter 1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
System Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Turning On the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Responding to Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Turning Off the System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Using the Optional Stand for Vertical Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Security Cable Slot and Padlock Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Audio Connectors for the OptiPlex NX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Energy Star Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Chapter 2
Maintaining the System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Preserving Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Scheduling Backups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Cleaning System Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Recommended Tools and Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Cleaning the Computer, Monitor, and Keyboard Exteriors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Minimizing Environmental Hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Humidity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Altitude. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Dust and Particles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Corrosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
ESD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
EMI and RFI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

xii
Magnetism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Speakers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Shock and Vibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Power Source Interruptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Power Protection Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Surge Protectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Line Conditioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
UPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Appendix A
Regulatory Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
FCC Notices (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
IC Notice (Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
EN 55022 Compliance (Czech Republic Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
CE Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
VCCI Notices (Japan Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
Class A ITE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Class B ITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Korean Regulatory Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Class A Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Class B Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Polish Center for Testing and Certification Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
8ZNBHBOJB 1PMTLJFHP $FOUSVN #BEBË J $FSUZGJLBDKJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
1P[PTUBF JOTUSVLDKF CF[QJFD[FËTUXB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
NOM 024 Information (Mexico Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
Información para NOM 024 (únicamente para México) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Appendix B
Warranties and Return Policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Limited Three-Year Warranty (U.S. and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Coverage During Year One. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Coverage During Years Two and Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
“Total Satisfaction” Return Policy (U.S. and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Index