Dell Precision PD050 User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell Precision™ Workstation 690
Quick Reference Guide
Model DCD0

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 Glossary in your User’s Guide .
If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft
®
Windows
®
operating systems are not applicable.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2006 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.; Intel, Xeon, and Pentium are registered
trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows 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 Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Model DCD0
January 2006 P/N PD050 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
About Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Front View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Back View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Back Panel Connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Inside View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
System Board Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Locating Your User’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Removing the Computer Cover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Computer Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Attaching the Computer Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Removing the Computer Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Caring for Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using Microsoft®Windows®XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using the Last Known Good Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Dell Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Before you start testing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Beep Codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Diagnostic Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Diagnostic Light Codes Before POST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Diagnostic Light Codes During POST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

4Contents

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
• My computer documentation
• My device documentation
• Desktop System Software (DSS)
Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as Resource CD)
Documentation and
drivers are already
installed on your
computer. You can use
the CD to reinstall drivers,
run the Dell Diagnostics
or access your
documentation. Readme
files may be included on
your CD to provide last-
minute updates about
technical changes to your computer or advanced technical-
reference material for technicians or experienced users.
NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be found
at support.dell.com.
• How to set up my computer
• How to care for my computer
• Basic troubleshooting information
• How to run the Dell™ Diagnostics
• Error codes and diagnostic lights
• How to remove and install parts
• How to open my computer cover
Quick Reference Guide
NOTE: This document is available as a PDF 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
User’s Guide
Microsoft
®
Windows
®
XP Help and Support Center
1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support
2 Click User’s and system guides and click User’s Guide
The User’s Guide is also available on the Drivers and
Utilities CD.
• Service Tag and Express Service Code
• Microsoft Windows License Label
Service Tag and Microsoft
®
Windows
®
License
These labels are located on your computer.
• Use the Service Tag to
identify your computer
when you use
support.dell.com or
contact technical
support.
• Enter the Express
Service Code to direct your call when contacting technical
support.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

Quick Reference Guide 7
• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles
from technicians, and online courses, frequently asked
questions
• Community — 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, service call
and order status, warranty, and repair information
• Service and support — Service call status and support
history, service contract, online discussions with
technical support
• Reference — Computer documentation, details on my
computer configuration, product specifications, and
white papers
• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software
updates
• Desktop System Software (DSS)— If you reinstall the
operating system for your computer, you should reinstall
the DSS utility prior to installing any of the drivers. DSS
provides critical updates for your operating system and
support for Dell™ 3.5-inch USB floppy drives, optical
drives, and USB devices. DSS is necessary for correct
operation of your Dell computer. The software
automatically detects your computer and operating
system and installs the updates appropriate for your
configuration.
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
NOTE: Select your region or business segment to view
the appropriate support site.
NOTE: Corporate, government, and education customers
can also use the customized Dell Premier support website at
premier.support.dell.com. The website may not be available
in all regions.
• How to use Windows XP
• How to work with programs and files
• Documentation for devices (such as modem)
Windows Help and Support Center
1 Click the Start button and click 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

8Quick Reference Guide
• How to reinstall my operating system Operating System CD
The operating system is
already installed on your
computer. To reinstall your
operating system, use the
Operating System CD. See
your User’s Guide for
instructions. After you
reinstall your operating
system, use the Drivers and
Utilities CD (ResourceCD)
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 CD varies based on the operating
system you ordered.
NOTE: The Operating System CD may be optional and may
not ship with your computer.
• 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

Quick Reference Guide 9
Setting Up Your Computer
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions
in the Product Information Guide.
You must complete all steps to properly set up your computer.
1Connect the keyboard and the mouse.
2
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.

10 Quick Reference Guide
3
Depending on your graphics
card, you can connect your
monitor in various ways.
NOTE: You may need to use
the provided adapter or
cable to connect your
monitor to the computer.
Connect the monitor.

Quick Reference Guide 11
The dual-monitor cable is color-coded; the blue connector is for the primary monitor, and the black
connector is for the second monitor. To enable dual-monitor support, both monitors must be attached
to the computer when you start the computer.
For single- and dual-monitor capable cards with a single connector
One VGA adapter:
Use the VGA adapter when you have a single-monitor
graphics card and you want to connect your computer
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 your computer
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 your computer
to one or two DVI monitors.
VGA
VGA
VGA
DVI
DVI

12 Quick Reference Guide
For dual-monitor capable cards with one DVI connector and one VGA connector
One DVI connector and one VGA connector:
Use the appropriate connector(s) when you want
to connect your computer to one or two monitors.
Two VGA connectors with one VGA adapter:
Use the VGA adapter when you want to connect
your computer to two VGA monitors.
VGA
DVI
VGA
VGA
For dual-monitor capable cards with two DVI connectors
Two DVI connectors:
Use the DVI connectors to connect
your computer to one or two DVI
monitors.
Two DVI connectors with one VGA
adapter:
Use the VGA adapter to connect a
VGA monitor to one of the DVI
connectors on your computer
Two DVI connectors with two VGA
adapters:
Use two VGA adapters to connect
two VGA monitors to the DVI
connectors on your computer.
DVI
DVI
DVI
VGA
VGA
VGA

Quick Reference Guide 13
4
NOTE: If your
computer has a sound
card installed, connect
the speakers to the
card.
Connect the speakers.
5Connect the power
cables and turn on the
computer and monitor.

14 Quick Reference Guide
Before you install any devices or software that did not come 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.
You have now completed the setup for your computer.
About Your Computer
CAUTION: Your computer is heavy (it has an approximate minimum weight of 55 lbs) and can be difficult to
maneuver. Seek assistance before attempting to lift, move, or tilt it; this computer requires a two-man lift.
Always lift correctly to avoid injury; avoid bending over while lifting. See your Product Information Guide
for other important safety information.
CAUTION: Before setting your computer upright, install the computer stand. Failure to install the stand before
setting the computer upright could cause the computer to tip over, potentially resulting in bodily injury or damage
to the computer.
6Install additional software or devices.

Quick Reference Guide 15
Front View
1
2
3
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
4
7

16 Quick Reference Guide
1-3 5.25-inch drive bays Can hold a CD/DVD drive, or a Media Card Reader, floppy drive, or SATA hard
drive in a 5.25-inch drive bay carrier.
NOTE: The drive carriers are only for use in the 5.25-inch drive bays. The
floppy-drive/ Media Card Reader and hard-drive carriers are not interchangeable.
45.25-inch drive bay with
special 3.5-inch drive
panel plate
Can hold a CD/DVD drive, or a Media Card Reader, floppy drive, or SATA hard
drive in a 5.25-inch drive bay carrier. The drive-panel plate shown here is only for
use with a floppy drive or Media Card Reader; it can be installed in front of any of
the four 5.25-inch drive bays. For more information, see your User’s Guide.
NOTE: The drive carriers are only for use in the 5.25-inch drive bays. The floppy drive/
Media Card Reader and hard drive carriers are not interchangeable.
5hard-drive activity light The hard drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the
hard drive. The light might also be on when a device such as your CD player is
operating.
6IEEE 1394 connector Use the IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices such as digital video
cameras and external storage devices.

Quick Reference Guide 17
7USB 2.0 connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as
flash memory keys, cameras, or bootable USB devices (see your User’s Guide for
more information).
It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically
remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.
8power button Press to turn on the computer.
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button to turn off the
computer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.
NOTE: The power button can also be used to wake the system or to place it into
a power-saving state. See your User’s Guide for more information.
9power light The power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states:
• No light — The computer is turned off or in a hibernation mode.
• Steady green — The computer is in a normal operating state.
• Blinking green — The computer is in a power-saving state.
• Blinking or solid amber — See "Power Problems" in your
User’s Guide .
To exit from a power-saving state, press the power button or use the keyboard or
the mouse if it is configured as a wake device in the Windows Device Manager.
For more information about sleep states and exiting from a power-saving state,
see your User’s Guide.
See "Diagnostic Lights" on page 35 for a description of light codes that can help
you troubleshoot problems with your computer.
10 microphone connector Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone
for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.
11 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.
12 network link light The network link light is on when a good connection exists between a 10-Mbps,
100-Mbps, or 1000-Mbps (or 1-Gbps) network and the computer.
13 diagnostic lights (4) Use these lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the
diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 35.

18 Quick Reference Guide
Back View
1
2
3
1power connector Insert the power cable. The appearance of this connector may differ from what is
pictured here.
2card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI, PCI-X, or PCI Express cards.
NOTE: The center five connector slots support full-length cards: one PCI, one PCI
express x16, one PCI express x8 (wired as x4), and two PCI-X slots; the connector
slots at the top and at the bottom support half-length cards: two PCI express x8 slots
(wired as x4).
3back panel connectors Plug serial, USB, and other devices into the
appropriate connector
(see "Back Panel Connectors" on page 19).

Quick Reference Guide 19
Back Panel Connectors
1234 6
13 12 11 10 89
57
1parallel connector Connect a parallel device, such as a printer, to the parallel connector. If you have
a USB printer, plug it into a USB connector.
NOTE: The integrated parallel connector is automatically disabled if the computer
detects an installed card containing a parallel connector configured to the same
address. For more information, see your User’s Guide.
2line-out/ headphone
connector
Use the green line-out connector to attach headphones and most speakers with
integrated amplifiers.
On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.
3mouse connector Plug a standard mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off the computer
and any attached devices before you connect a mouse to the computer. If you have
a USB mouse, plug it into a USB connector.
If your computer is running the Microsoft®Windows®XP operating system,
the necessary mouse drivers have been installed on your hard drive.
4USB 2.0 connectors (3) It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you
connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys, cameras, or bootable USB
devices.
Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected,
such as printers and keyboards.

20 Quick Reference Guide
5link integrity light • Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps network and the
computer.
• Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the
computer.
• Yellow — A good connection exists between a 1000-Mbps (or 1-Gbps) network
and the computer.
• Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.
6network adapter
connector
To attach your computer to a network or broadband device, connect one end
of a network cable to either a network jack or your network or broadband device.
Connect the other end of the network cable to the network adapter connector
on your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely
attached.
NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector.
On computers with an additional network connector card, use the connectors
on the card and on the back of the computer when setting up multiple network
connections (such as a separate intra- and extranet).
It is recommended that you use Category 5 wiring and connectors for your
network. If you must use Category 3 wiring, force the network speed to 10 Mbps
to ensure reliable operation.
7network activity light Flashes a yellow light when the computer is transmitting or receiving network
data. A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady
"on" state.
8USB 2.0 connectors (2) It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you
connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys, cameras, or bootable USB
devices.
Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected,
such as printers and keyboards.
9IEEE 1394 connector Use the IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices such as digital video
cameras and external storage devices.
10 keyboard connector If you have a standard keyboard, plug it into the purple keyboard connector.
If you have a USB keyboard, plug it into a USB connector.
11 line-in connector Use the blue line-in connector to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette
player, CD player, or VCR.
On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.
12 serial connector Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. If necessary,
the address for this port can be modified through System Setup (see your User’s
Guide for more information).
13 serial connector Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. If necessary,
the address for this port can be modified through System Setup (see your User’s
Guide for more information).