Dell Precision NT505 User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell Precision™ Workstation T3400
Quick Reference Guide
Model DCTA

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.
© 2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly
forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and Dell Precision are trademarks of Dell Inc.;
Microsoft, Windows,and Windows Vista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
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 Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and
trade names other than its own.
Model DCTA
August 2007 P/N NT505 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
About Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Front View (Tower Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . 11
Back View (Tower Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . 14
Front View (Desktop Orientation) . . . . . . . . . 15
Back View (Desktop Orientation) . . . . . . . . . 18
Back Panel Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Changing Between Tower and
Desktop Orientations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure . . . . . 22
Transferring Information to a New Computer . . . 25
Power Protection Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Cleaning Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor . . . . . . . . . 30
Mouse (Non-Optical) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Troubleshooting Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Power Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Diagnostic Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Hardware Troubleshooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

4Contents
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Battery Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems . . . . . . 48
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
IEEE 1394 Device Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Keyboard Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Lockups and Software Problems . . . . . . . . . . 51
Memory Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Mouse Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Scanner Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Video and Monitor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Quick Reference Guide 5
Finding Information
NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your
computer. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries.
NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• A diagnostic program for my computer
• Drivers for my computer
• Desktop System Software (DSS)
Drivers and Utilities Disc
NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities disc may
be optional and may not ship with your
computer.
Documentation and drivers are already
installed on your computer. You can use
the Drivers and Utilities disc to reinstall
drivers (see "Reinstalling Drivers and
Utilities" in your User’s Guide), or to run
the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics"
on page 41).
Readme files may be included on your
disc to provide last-minute updates about
technical changes to your computer or
advanced technical-reference material for
technicians or experienced users.
Drivers and documentation updates can be
found at support.dell.com.

6Quick Reference Guide
• Warranty information
• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
• Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement
Dell™ Product Information Guide
• How to remove and replace parts
• Specifications
• How to configure system settings
• How to troubleshoot and solve problems
Dell Precision™ User’s Guide
Microsoft®Windows®XP and Windows
Vista™Help and Support Center
1 Click Start → Help and Support →
Dell User and System Guides
→
System Guides .
2 Click the User’s Guide for your
computer.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

Quick Reference Guide 7
• Service Tag and Express Service Code
• Microsoft Windows Product Key
Service Tag and Microsoft Windows
Product Key
These labels are located on your
computer.
• Use the Service Tag to identify your
computer when you use
support.dell.com or contact support.
• Enter the Express Service Code to
direct your call when contacting
support.
NOTE: As an increased security measure,
the newly designed Microsoft Windows
license label incorporates a missing
portion, or hole, to discourage removal of
the label.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

8Quick Reference Guide
• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and
tips, articles from technicians, online
courses, and frequently asked questions
• Community — Online discussion with
other Dell customers
• Upgrades — Upgrade information for
components, such as the memory, hard
drive, and operating system
• Customer Care — Contact information,
service call and order status, and
warranty and repair information
• Service and support — Service call
status, support history, service contract,
and online discussions with support
• Dell Technical Update Service —
Proactive e-mail notification of software
and hardware updates for your computer
• Reference — Computer documentation,
details on my computer configuration,
product specifications, and white papers
• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches,
and software updates
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
NOTE: Select your region or business
segment to view the appropriate support
site.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

Quick Reference Guide 9
• Desktop System Software (DSS)— If
you reinstall the operating system for
your computer, you should also reinstall
the DSS utility. DSS automatically
detects your computer and operating
system and installs the updates
appropriate for your configuration,
providing critical updates for your
operating system and support for
processors, optical drives, USB devices,
etc. DSS is necessary for correct
operation of your Dell computer.
To download Desktop System Software:
1 Go to support.dell.com , select your
country/region, and then click
Drivers
& Downloads
.
2 Click Select Model or Enter a Tag ,
make the appropriate selections or enter
the appropriate information for your
computer, and then click
Confirm .
3 Scroll down to System and
Configuration Utilities
→ Desktop
System Software
, and then click
Download Now.
NOTE: The support.dell.com user
interface may vary depending on your
selections.
• How to use Windows XP
• How to use Windows Vista
• How to work with programs and files
• How to personalize my desktop
Windows Help and Support Center
1 Click Start → Help and Support .
2 Type a word or phrase that describes
your problem and click the arrow icon.
3 Click the topic that describes your
problem.
4 Follow the instructions on the screen.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

10 Quick Reference Guide
• How to reinstall my operating system Operating System Media
The operating system is already installed
on your computer. To reinstall your
operating system, use the Operating
System reinstallation media that came
with your computer (see "Restoring Your
Operating System" in your User’s Guide).
After you reinstall your operating system,
use the optional Drivers and Utilities disc
to reinstall drivers for the devices that
came with your computer
Your operating system product key label is
located on your computer.
NOTE: The color of your operating system
installation media varies according to the
operating system you ordered.
• How to use Linux
• E-mail discussions with users of Dell
Precision products and the Linux
operating system
• Additional information regarding Linux
and my Dell Precision computer
Dell Supported Linux Sites
• linux.dell.com
• lists.us.dell.com/mailman/listinfo/linux-
precision
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here