Dell Precision T5400 User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell Precision™ T5400
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
September 2007 P/N GX738 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Changing Between Tower and Desktop
Orientations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure . . . . . 11
Transferring Information to a New Computer . . . . 13
Power Protection Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
About Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Front View (Tower Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . 18
Back View (Tower Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . 20
Back Panel Connectors (Tower Orientation) . . . . . 21
Front View (Desktop Orientation) . . . . . . . . . 23
Back View (Desktop Orientation) . . . . . . . . . 25
Cleaning Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor . . . . . . . . . 26
Mouse (Non-Optical) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Troubleshooting Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Power Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Diagnostic Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Hardware Troubleshooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

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 device documentation
• Desktop System Software (DSS)
Drivers and Utilities Disc
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) and to run
the Dell™ Diagnostics (see
"Dell Diagnostics"
on page 36
).
NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates
can be found at support.dell.com.
• 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.
This document is also available on
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
• 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 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

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
• 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.
• Desktop System Software (DSS) — If you
reinstall the operating system for your
computer, you should also reinstall the
DSS utility. DSS provides critical updates
for your operating system and support for
processors, optical drives, USB devices,
and so on. 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.
To download Desktop System Software:
1 Go to support.dell.com , select your
region or business segment, and enter
your Service Tag.
2 Select Drivers & Downloads and click Go .
3 Click your operating system and search for
the keyword
Notebook System Software .
NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface
may vary depending on your selections.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

8Quick Reference Guide
• How to use Microsoft Windows XP or
Vista™
• How to work with programs and files
• How to personalize my desktop
Windows Help and Support
Microsoft Windows XP:
1 Click the Start button and click Help
and Support
.
2 Either select one of the topics listed, or
type a word or phrase that describes your
problem into the
Search box, click the
arrow icon, and then click the topic that
describes your problem.
3 Follow the instructions on the screen.
Microsoft Windows Vista:
1 Click the Windows Vista Start button
, and then click
Help and Support .
2 In Search Help , type a word or phrase that
describes your problem, and then press
<Enter> or click the magnifying glass.
3 Click the topic that describes your problem.
4 Follow the instructions on the screen.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

Quick Reference Guide 9
• How to reinstall my operating system Operating System Disc
NOTE: The Operating System disc may be
optional and may not ship with your computer.
The operating system is already installed on
your computer. To reinstall your operating
system, use the Operating System disc (see
"Reintalling Windows XP or Windows Vista"
in your User’s Guide).
After you reinstall your operating system,
use the 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 disc varies based
on 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

10 Quick Reference Guide
Setting Up Your Computer
Changing Between Tower and Desktop Orientations
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety
instructions in the
Product Information Guide .
NOTE: To change your computer to either the tower or the desktop orientation,
you must use an optional kit available from Dell. See "Product Information" in your
User’s Guide for more details on ordering from Dell.
NOTE: The tower computer supports one more 3.5-inch drive in the front than does
the desktop computer.
1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" in your User’s Guide .
2 Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" in your
User’s Guide ).
3 Remove the front panel (see "Removing the Front Panel" in your User’s Guide ).
4 Remove the drive panel and prepare the drive panel by adding or removing
inserts, as needed (see "Drive Panel" in your
User’s Guide ).
Switching From Tower to Desktop Orientation
1 Remove all installed floppy drives or media card readers by following the steps
in "Removing a Floppy Drive or Media Card Reader (Tower Computer)" in
your
User’s Guide , and then reinstall a single floppy drive or media card reader
by following the steps in "Installing a Floppy Drive or Media Card Reader
(Desktop Computer)" in your
User’s Guide .
2 Remove all installed optical drives by following the steps in "Removing an
Optical Drive (Tower Computer)" in your
User’s Guide , and then reinstall
the drives by following the steps in "Installing an Optical Drive (Desktop
Computer)" in your
User’s Guide .
Switching From Desktop to Tower Orientation
1 Remove the floppy drive or media card reader (if installed) by following
the steps in "Removing a Floppy Drive or a Media Card Reader (Desktop
Computer)" in your
User’s Guide , and then reinstall the floppy drive or
media card reader by following the steps in "Installing a Floppy Drive or
Media Card Reader (Tower Computer)" in your
User’s Guide .

Quick Reference Guide 11
2 Remove all installed optical drives by following the steps in "Removing an
Optical Drive (Desktop Computer)" in your
User’s Guide , and reinstall the
drives by following the steps in "Installing an Optical Drive (Tower Computer)"
in your
User’s Guide .
Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure
Installing your computer in an enclosure can restrict airflow, can cause your
computer to overheat, and may impact your computer’s performance. Follow
the guidelines below when installing your computer in an enclosure:
NOTICE: The operating temperature specified in this manual reflects the maximum
ambient operating temperature. The ambient room temperature must be a consideration
when installing your computer in an enclosure. For details about your computer’s
specifications, see "Specifications" in your User’s Guide.
• Leave 10.2 cm (4 in) minimum clearance on all vented sides of the computer
to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation.
• If your computer is installed in a corner on or under a desk, leave 5.1 cm
(2 in) minimum clearance from the back of the computer to the wall to
permit the airflow required for proper ventilation.

12 Quick Reference Guide
• If your enclosure has doors, ensure that they allow at least thirty percent
airflow through the enclosure (front and back).
• Do not install your computer in an enclosure that does not allow airflow.
Restricting the airflow
can cause your computer to overheat, and may
impact your computer’s performance
.

Quick Reference Guide 13
Transferring Information to a New Computer
You can use your operating system wizards to help you transfer files and other
data from one computer to another computer.
Microsoft Windows XP
The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides the Files and Settings
Transfer Wizard to transfer data, such as:
• E-mail messages
• Toolbar settings
•Windowsizes
• Internet bookmarks
You can transfer data from one computer to another computer over a network or
serial connection, or by storing the data on removable media, such as a writable
CD or DVD.
NOTE: You can transfer information from one computer to another computer by
directly connecting a serial cable to the input/output (I/O) ports of the two computers.
To transfer data over a serial connection, you must use the Network Connections
utility in the Control Panel to perform additional configuration steps, such as setting
up an advanced connection and designating the host computer and the guest computer.
For instructions on setting up a direct cable connection between two computers,
see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article #305621, titled How to Set Up a Direct Cable
Connection Between Two Computers in Windows XP. This information may not be
available in certain countries.
Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard requires the Operating System
installation disc that came with your computer or a wizard disc, which the
wizard can create for you.
NOTE: For more information about transferring data, search support.dell.com for
document #154781 (What Are The Different Methods To Transfer Files From My Old
Computer To My New Dell™ Computer Using the Microsoft Windows XP Operating
System?).
NOTE: Access to the Dell Knowledge Base document may not be available in
certain countries.

14 Quick Reference Guide
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (With the Operating System Disc)
NOTE: The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard designates the source computer from
which data is to be transferred as the old computer, and designates the destination
computer to which the data is going to be transferred as the new computer.
PREPARE THE DESTINATION COMPUTER FOR THE FILE TRANSFER
1 Click Start → All Programs → Accessories → System Tools → Files and
Settings Transfer Wizard
.
2 Under Which computer is this? , click New computer , then click Next .
3 Under Do you have a Windows XP CD? , click I will use the wizard from
the Windows XP CD
, then click Next .
4 Review the information under Now go to your old computer , and then go
to the source computer. Do
not click Next .
COPY DATA FROM THE SOURCE COMPUTER
1 Insert the Windows XP Operating System installation disc into the source
computer.
The
Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen appears.
2 Click Perform additional tasks .
3 Under What do you want to do? , click Transfer files and settings .
The
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard window appears.
4 Click Next .
5 Under Which computer is this? , click Old Computer , then click Next .
6 Under Select a transfer method , click the transfer method of your choice,
then click
Next .
7 Under What do you want to transfer? , click to select the data you want to
transfer, then click
Next .
The selected data is copied and the
Completing the Collection Phase
screen appears.
8 Click Finish .

Quick Reference Guide 15
TRANSFER DATA TO THE DESTINATION COMPUTER
1 Go to the destination computer.
2 Under Now go to your old computer , click Next .
3 Under Where are the files and settings? , click to select the method you
chose for transferring your settings and files, then click
Next .
The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to the
destination computer. When the transfer is complete, the
Finished screen
appears.
4 Click Finished , and then restart the computer.
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (Without the Operating System Disc)
To run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard without the Operating System
installation disc, you must create a wizard disk. The wizard disk allows you to
create a backup image file on removable media.
NOTE: The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard designates the source computer from
which data is to be transferred as the old computer, and designates the destination
computer to which the data is going to be transferred as the new computer.
CREATE AWIZARD DISK
1 On the destination computer, click Start → All Programs → Accessories →
System Tools
→ Files and Settings Transfer Wizard .
2 Under Which computer is this? , click New computer , then click Next .
3 Under Do you have a Windows XP CD? , click I want to create a Wizard
Disk in the following drive
, then click Next .
4 Insert removable media, such as a writable CD or DVD, then click OK .
5 Review the information under Now go to your old computer , and then go
to the source computer. Do
not click Next .
COPY DATA FROM THE SOURCE COMPUTER
1 Insert the wizard disk into the source computer.
2 Click Start → Run .
3 Click Browse... and navigate to fastwiz on the wizard disk, then click OK .
4 Under Which computer is this? , click Old Computer , then click Next .
5 Under Select a transfer method , click the transfer method of your choice,
then click
Next .

16 Quick Reference Guide
6 Under What do you want to transfer? , click to select the data you want to
transfer, then click
Next .
The selected data is copied and the
Completing the Collection Phase
screen appears.
7 Click Finish .
TRANSFER DATA TO THE DESTINATION COMPUTER
1 Go to the destination computer.
2 Under Now go to your old computer , click Next .
3 Under Where are the files and settings? , click to select the method you
chose for transferring your settings and files, then click
Next .
The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to the
destination computer. When the transfer is complete, the
Finished screen
appears.
4 Click Finished , and then restart the computer.
Microsoft Windows Vista
1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Transfer files
and settings
→ Start Windows Easy Transfer .
2 In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue .
3 Click Start a new transfer or Continue a transfer in progress .
Follow the instructions provided on the screen by the Windows Easy Transfer
wizard.
Power Protection Devices
Several devices are available to protect against power fluctuations and failures:
• Surge protectors
• Line conditioners
• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)

Quick Reference Guide 17
Surge Protectors
Surge protectors and power strips equipped with surge protection help prevent
damage to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical
storms or after power interruptions. Some surge protector manufacturers include
warranty coverage for certain types of damage. Carefully read the device warranty
when choosing a surge protector and compare joule ratings to determine the
relative effectiveness of different devices. A device with a higher joule rating offers
more protection.
NOTICE: Most surge protectors do not protect against power fluctuations or power
interruptions caused by nearby lightning strikes. When lightning occurs in your area,
disconnect the telephone line from the telephone wall jack and disconnect your
computer from the electrical outlet.
Many surge protectors have a telephone jack for modem protection. See the
surge protector documentation for modem connection instructions.
NOTICE: Not all surge protectors offer network adapter protection. Disconnect the
network cable from the network wall jack during electrical storms.
Line Conditioners
NOTICE: Line conditioners do not protect against power interruptions.
Line conditioners are designed to maintain AC voltage at a fairly constant level.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
NOTICE: Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in
data loss or file damage.
NOTE: To ensure maximum battery operating time, connect only your computer to
a UPS. Connect other devices, such as a printer, to a separate power strip that
provides surge protection.
A UPS protects against power fluctuations and interruptions. UPS devices
contain a battery that provides temporary power to connected devices when
AC power is interrupted. The battery charges while AC power is available. See
the UPS manufacturer documentation for information on battery operating time
and to ensure that the device is approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

18 Quick Reference Guide
About Your Computer
Front View (Tower Orientation)
1 upper 5.25-inch
drive bay
Holds an Optical Drive.
2 lower 5.25-inch
drive bay
You can use this bay for an optional Optical Drive.
3 FlexBay You can use this bay for an optional third hard drive
(SATA or SAS), a floppy drive or a Media Card Reader.
4 hard-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 drive is operating.
5 IEEE 1394
connector (optional)
Use the optional IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed
data devices such as digital video cameras and external
storage devices.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Quick Reference Guide 19
6 USB 2.0 connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices that you
connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys or
cameras, or for bootable USB devices (see "System
Setup" in your User’s Guide for more information on
booting to a USB device).
Dell recommends that you use the back USB connectors for
devices that typically remain connected, such as printers
and keyboards.
7 Dell rotatable badge To rotate the Dell badge for tower-to-desktop conversion:
remove the
front panel ("Removing the Computer Cover"
in your User’s Guide ) , turn it over, and rotate the plastic
handle behind the badge.
8 power button,
power light
Press the power button to turn on the computer. The light in
the center of this button indicates power state. See "Controls
and Lights" in your User’s Guide for more information.
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power
button to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an
operating system shutdown.
9 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.
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 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.
12 diagnostic lights (4) Use these lights to help you troubleshoot a computer
problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information,
see "Power Lights" on page 27.

20 Quick Reference Guide
Back View (Tower Orientation)
CAUTION: Ensure that none of the system air vents are blocked. Blocking them
would cause serious thermal problems.
1 power connector Insert the power cable.
2 card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI and PCI Express cards.
The center four connector slots support full-length cards,
and the connector slots on either the top or bottom (one x8
PCI Express slot (wired as x4) and one PCI-X card) support
half-length cards.
3 back panel
connectors
Plug USB, audio, and other devices into the appropriate
connector. For more information, see "Back View (Desktop
Orientation)" on page 25.
1
2
3