Dell Precision 8F764 User manual

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Dell Precision™ Workstations
Setup and Quick
Reference Guide

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.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2001–2002 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 Dell Precision are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation;
Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT 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 Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names
other than its own.
December 2002 P/N 8F764 Rev. A03

Contents 3
Contents
Finding Information and Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Setting Up Your Mini-Tower Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Dual Monitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Setting Up Your Small Desktop Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Dual Monitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Safety First—For You and Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Opening the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Opening the Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Removing and Installing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Adding Devices and Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Problems With Additional Devices and Software . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Using the Dell Precision ResourceCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Starting the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Messages and Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

4Contents

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 5
Finding Information and Assistance
The following table lists the resources that Dell provides as support tools.
Additional resources may be shipped with your computer.
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here
• A diagnostic program for my computer
• Drivers for my computer
• My computer documentation
• My device documentation
Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as the
ResourceCD)
You can use this CD to access documentation, reinstall drivers, or run
diagnostics tools.
• How to set up my computer
• Troubleshooting information
• Tools and utilities
Setup and Quick Reference Guide

6Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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• Express Service Code and Service Tag
Number
•Microsoft
®Windows®License Label
Express Service Code and Product Key
The labels are located on your computer under the front-panel door.
• How to reinstall my operating system Operating System CD and Installation Guide
If you reinstall your operating system, use the Drivers and Utilities CD
to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer.
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 7
• How to remove and replace parts
• Technical specifications
• How to configure system settings
• How to troubleshoot and solve problems
User’s Guide Icon
Depending on your operating system, double-click the User’s Guides
icon on your desktop or click the Start button and then click Help and
Support to access the electronic documentation stored on your hard
drive.
• Latest drivers for my computer
• Answers to technical service and support
questions
• Online discussions with other users and
technical support
• Documentation for my computer
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
The Dell Support website provides several online tools, including:
• Knowledge Base — Hints, tips, and online courses
• Customer Forum — 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, order status, warranty, and
repair information
• Downloads — Drivers, patches, and software updates
• Reference — Computer documentation, product specifications, and
white papers
• Service call status
• Top technical issues for my computer
• Frequently asked questions
• File downloads
• Details on my computer’s configuration
• Service contract for my computer
Dell Premier Support Website —
premiersupport.dell.com
The Dell Premier Support website is customized for corporate,
government, and education customers. This website may not be
available in all regions.
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here
8F764eb3.fm Page 7 Monday, December 2, 2002 10:00 AM

8Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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• System board connectors System Information Label
• Warranty Information Dell System Information Guide
• How to use Windows XP
• Documentation for my computer and
devices
Windows XP Help and Support Center
1Click the Start button and then click Help and Support.
2Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the
arrow icon.
3Click the topic that describes your problem.
4Follow the instructions shown on the screen.
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 9
Setting Up Your Mini-Tower Computer
You must complete all steps to properly set up your computer.
NOTE: The numbers in
the figures correspond to
the setup tasks.
Mini-Tower Computer Features
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

10 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Connect the keyboard and mouse as shown. Do not connect a Universal
Serial Bus (USB) mouse or keyboard to the USB connectors on the front of
the computer.
NOTE: Do not attempt to
operate a PS/2 mouse and
a USB mouse
simultaneously.
Keyboard and Mouse
1
headphones/speakers
connector
USB connectors (2)

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 11
Insert the network cable, not the phone line, into the network connector.
NOTE: If your computer
has a network expansion
card installed, connect the
network cable to the
network card, not to the
connector on the
computer back panel.
If you have an optional modem, connect the phone line to the modem.
NOTICE: Do not connect a modem cable to the network adapter. Voltage
from telephone communications can cause damage to the network adapter.
Network Adapter and Modem
2

12 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Align and gently insert the monitor cable to avoid bending connector pins.
Then tighten the thumbscrews on the cable connectors.
Use the primary port if you are using one monitor with an optional dual-
monitor card.
NOTE: Some flat-panel
displays and graphic
cards support Digital
Visual Interface (DVI). If
your monitor and card
have DVI connectors, Dell
recommends that you use
DVI instead of VGA.
For setting up dual monitors, see "Dual Monitors" on page 18.
Monitor
3

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 13
Connect the speakers to the computer as shown on the instructions
supplied with the speakers.
NOTE: If your computer
has an audio expansion
card installed, connect
external audio devices to
the sound card, not to the
connectors on the
computer back panel.
Speakers
4

14 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Plug in the computer and the monitor to their electrical outlets.
Power Connection
5

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 15
Press the power button on your computer and monitor to turn them on.
Power On
6
power light
hard-drive
access light

16 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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When you start the computer for the first time, a few system start-up
messages may appear, including one that shows your Service Tag and
Express Service Code.
Your computer is preconfigured with the operating system already installed.
Before turning on your computer for the first time, you must complete all
the previous setup steps, connecting all devices for your computer.
The initial setup of the operating system is automatic and may take several
minutes. Additional setup time may be required, depending on your
system’s internal and external devices.
Follow the operating system prompts to complete setup. You may be
prompted to enter the Windows Product Key (also called the Product ID or
COA) to complete the registration. You can find this above the service tag
on your computer.
NOTE: For more
information on setting up
the operating system, see
the operating system
installation guide.
For future reference, write the number below:
Product Key (ID or COA): ________________________________________
Operating System
7

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 17
Before you install any devices or software that did not ship with your
computer, read the documentation that came with the software or device or
contact the vendor to verify that the software or device is compatible with
your computer and operating system. See "Adding Devices and Software" on
page 34.
Congratulations! You have completed the setup for your computer.
Additional Devices and Software
8

18 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Dual Monitors
NOTICE: Do not use any other cables or attach the monitor cable directly to
the dual-monitor graphic card.
NOTE: Some flat-panel
displays and graphic
cards support Digital
Visual Interface (DVI). If
your monitor and card
have DVI connectors, Dell
recommends that you use
DVI instead of VGA.
The dual-monitor cable is color coded; the blue connector is for the primary
monitor, and the black connector is for the secondary monitor. Attach the
appropriate monitor cable to the dual-monitor cable. To enable dual-
monitor support, both monitors must be attached when the computer
starts. See "Frequently Asked Questions" on page 36 for more information.
NOTE: A second monitor
is optional and requires a
multimonitor graphics
adapter card.
OR

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 19
Setting Up Your Small Desktop
Computer
You must complete all steps to properly set up your computer.
NOTE: The numbers in
the figures correspond to
the setup tasks.
Small Desktop Computer Features
1
2
34 5
67

20 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Connect the keyboard and mouse as shown. Do not connect a USB mouse
or keyboard to the USB connectors on the front of the computer.
NOTE: Do not attempt to
operate a PS/2 mouse and
a USB mouse
simultaneously.
Keyboard and Mouse
1
headphone/speaker
connector
USB connectors (2)