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

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 11
Depending on your graphics card, you can connect your monitor in various
ways.
NOTICE: Your computer may require the use of the provided adapter or cable
to connect to your monitor.
Connect the monitor
A B C D

12 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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The dual-monitor cable is color coded; the blue connector is for the primary
monitor, and the black connector is for the secondary monitor. To enable
dual-monitor support, both monitors must be attached when the computer
starts.
For single- and dual-monitor capable cards with a single connector
VGA Adapter
• Use the VGA adapter when you have a single
monitor graphics card and you want to connect to a
VGA monitor.
Dual VGA Y Cable Adapter
• Use the appropriate Y cable when your graphics card
has a single connector and you want to connect to
one or two VGA monitors.
Dual DVI Y Cable Adapter
• Use the appropriate Y cable when your graphics card
has a single connector and you want to connect to
one or two DVI monitors.
VGA
VGA
VGA DVI
DVI

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 13
For dual-monitor capable cards with 1 DVI and 1 VGA connector
Single DVI/Single VGA
• Use the appropriate connector when you connect to
one or two monitors.
Dual VGA With VGA Adapter
• Use the VGA adapter when you want to connect to
two VGA monitors.
For dual-monitor capable cards with 2 DVI connectors
Dual DVI
• Use the DVI connectors to
connect to one or two DVI
monitors.
Dual DVI With One VGA Adapter
• Use the VGA adapter to connect
a VGA monitor to one DVI
connector.
Dual DVI With Two VGA Adapters
• Use two VGA adapters to
connect two VGA monitors to
the DVI connectors.
DVI
VGA
VGA
VGA
DVI
DVI
DVI
VGA
VGA
VGA

14 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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NOTE: If your computer
has an audio card
installed, connect the
speakers to the card.
Connect the speakers

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 15
Connect the power cables and turn on the
computer and monitor

16 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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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.
Congratulations! You have completed the setup for your
computer.
For more information about your computer, including removing and
replacing parts, diagnostics and troubleshooting tools, access the User’s
Guide from your hard drive, the Drivers and Utilities CD, or the Dell
Support website.
To access the User’s Guide from your hard drive:
If you have Windows 2000, double-click the User’s Guides icon.
If you have Windows XP, click the Start button and click Help and
Support.
To access the User’s Guide from the CD:
1Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD into the drive.
If you are using the Drivers and Utilities CD for the first time, the
ResourceCD Installation window opens to inform you that the CD is
about to begin installation.
2Click OK to continue, and then respond to the prompts offered by the
installation program.
3Click Next at the Welcome Dell System Owner screen.
To access the User’s Guide from the Dell Support Site:
1Go to www.support.dell.com.
2Follow the prompts on the website that ask for information about your
computer.
Install additional software or devices

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 17
3At the Dell Support website home page, click Reference, click User’s
Guides, click Systems, and then select your Dell Precision computer.
Opening the Computer Cover
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions in the System Information Guide.
1Shut down the computer through the Start menu.
2Ensure that your computer and attached devices are turned off. If your
computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when
you shut down your computer, turn them off now.
NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your
computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.
3Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the
computer.
4Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from electrical
outlets, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
5If you have installed a padlock through the padlock ring on the back
panel, remove the padlock.
CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your
computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.
6Lay the computer on its side as shown in the illustration.
NOTICE: Ensure that sufficient space exists to support the open cover—at
least 30 cm (1 ft) of desktop space.
7Open the computer cover:
aFacing the back of the computer, press the release button on the
right side of the computer with one hand while pulling up on the
top of the cover with the other hand.
bPress the release button on the left side of the computer with one
hand while pulling up on the top of the cover with the other hand.
cHold the bottom of the computer with one hand, and then pull
open the cover with the other hand.

18 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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1release buttons (2)
2padlock ring
3security cable slot
1
2
3
1

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 19
Inside Your Computer
1
2
4
3
5
6
7
8
9
1hard drive 6heat sink and blower assembly
2internal speaker 7power supply
3chassis intrusion switch 8floppy drive
4system board 9CD/DVD drive
5padlock ring

20 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Solving Problems
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Microsoft®Windows®XP
Windows XP IRQ conflicts occur if a device either is not detected during
the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured.
To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows XP:
1Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2Click Performance and Maintenance and click System.
3Click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager.
4In the Device Manager list, check for conflicts with the other devices.
Conflicts are indicated by a yellow exclamation point (!) beside the
conflicting device or a red Xif the device has been disabled.
5Double-click any conflict to display the Properties window.
If an IRQ conflict exists, the Device status area in the Properties
window reports the cards or devices that share the device's IRQ.
6Resolve conflicts by reconfiguring the devices or removing the devices
from the Device Manager.
To use the Windows XP Hardware Troubleshooter:
1Click the Start button and click Help and Support.
2Ty p e hardware troubleshooter in the Search field, and click the
arrow to start the search.
3Click Hardware Troubleshooter in the Search Results list.
4In the Hardware Troubleshooter list, click I need to resolve a hardware
conflict on my computer, and then click Next.
Windows 2000
To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows 2000:
1Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control
Panel.
2In the Control Panel window, double-click System.