Dell Precision 8T146 User manual

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Dell Precision™ 350 Workstation
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.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the “Glossary” in the
User’s Guide.
If you purchased a Dell™ nSeries computer, any references in this
document to Microsoft®Windows®operating systems are not applicable.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 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
ComputerCorporation;Microsoft and Windowsare registeredtrademarksofMicrosoftCorporation.
Othertrademarksandtradenamesmaybeusedinthisdocumenttorefertoeithertheentitiesclaiming
themarksandnamesortheirproducts.DellComputerCorporationdisclaimsanyproprietaryinterest
in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
December 2002 P/N 8T146 Rev. A01

Contents 3
Contents
Finding Information for Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Connect the keyboard and the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Connect the modem or the network cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Connect the monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Connect the speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Connect the power cables and turn on the computer
and monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Install additional software or devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Opening the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities . . . . . . . . . . .20
Using System Restore in Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Using the Last Known Good Configuration in
Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Starting the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Diagnostic Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

4Contents

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 5
Finding Information for Your Computer
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
•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
To access the electronic documentation stored on your hard drive:
If you are using Microsoft Windows 2000, double-click the User’s
Guides icon on your desktop. If you are using Windows XP, click the
Start button and click Help and Support.
• Location of connectors on the system board System Information Label
This label is located on the inside of your computer cover.
• Latest drivers for my computer
• Answers to technical service and support
questions
• Online discussions with other users and
technical support
• Documentation for my computer including
the Service Manual
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
The Dell Support website at support.dell.com 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
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

8Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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• 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.
• Warranty Information 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 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 Dell Precision™ 350
Computer
You must complete all steps to properly set up your computer.
Connect the keyboard and the mouse

10 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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NOTICE: Do not connect a modem cable to the network adapter. Voltage
from telephone communications can damage the network adapter.
NOTE: If your computer
has a network card
installed, connect the
network cable to the card.
Connect the modem or the network cable