Dell Precision Workstation 360 User manual

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Dell Precision™ Workstation 360
Setup and Quick Reference
Guide
Models: DHM and WHM

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.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2003 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 Computer Corporation;
Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT 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 Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names
other than its own.
Models: DHM and WHM
February 2003 P/N G0428 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
Finding Information for Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Monitor Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Completed Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Opening the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities . . . . . . 21
Using System Restore in Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Using the Last Known Good Configuration in Windows 2000 . . 24
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Starting the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
System Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Diagnostic Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

4Contents

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 5
Finding Information for Your Computer
Dell provides the following resource and 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
•MyUser’s Guide
• My device documentation
Drivers and Utilities CD
(also known as the ResourceCD)
Documentation and drivers are already
installed on your computer when shipped
from Dell. 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
experienced users or technicians.
• System board connectors
• Location of system board components
System Information Label
Located on the inside of your computer cover.
or

6Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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• Warranty Information
• Safety Information
Dell System Information Guide
• How to remove and replace parts
• Technical specifications
• How to configure system settings
• How to troubleshoot and solve problems
User’s Guide Icon (Microsoft®Windows® 2000)
Double-click the User’s Guides icon on your desktop.
Windows XP Help and Support Center
1Click the Start button and click Help and Support.
2Click User’s and system guides and click User’s guides.
• Express Service Code and Service Tag
• Windows License Label
Express Service Code and Product Key Label
These labels are located on your computer.
• 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 provides several online tools, including:
• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from
technicians, and online courses
• Community 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

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 7
• Service call status and support history
• Top technical issues for my computer
• Frequently asked questions
• File downloads
• Details on my computer 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.
• How to use Windows XP
• Documentation for my computer
• Documentation for devices
(such as a modem)
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 on the screen.
• How to reinstall my operating system Operating System CD
After you reinstall the operating system
using the Operating System
Reinstallation CD, use the Drivers and
Utilities CD to reinstall drivers for the
devices that came with your computer.
The product key for your operating
system is located on your computer.
What are you looking for? Find It Here
or

8Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Setting Up Your Computer
CAUTION: Before performing any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions in the System Information Guide.
NOTICE: If your computer has an expansion card installed (such as a network card), connect
the appropriate cable to the card, not to the connector on the computer back panel.
You must complete all steps to properly set up your computer. See the appropriate figures
that follow the instructions.
1Connect the keyboard and mouse.
NOTICE: Do not attempt to operate a PS/2 mouse and a USB mouse simultaneously.
2Connect the modem or network cable.
Insert the network cable, not the phone line, into the network connector. If you have
an optional modem, connect the phone line to the modem.
NOTICE: Do not connect a modem cable to the network adapter. Voltage from telephone
communications can cause damage to the network adapter.
3Connect the monitor.
Align and gently insert the monitor cable to avoid bending connector pins. Tighten
the thumbscrews on the cable connectors.
NOTE: Some flat-panel displays and graphic cards support Digital Visual Interface (DVI). If
your monitor and card have DVI connectors, Dell recommends that you use DVI instead of VGA.
A second monitor is optional and requires a multimonitor graphics adapter card. To
enable dual-monitor support, both monitors must be attached when the computer
starts. See “Monitor Connections” on page 14 for more information on attaching two
monitors.
4Connect the speakers.
5Connect power cables to the computer, monitor, and devices and insert the other ends
of the power cables to electrical outlets.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 9
6Verify that the voltage selection switch is set correctly for your location.
Your computer is equipped with one of the following:
• A fixed-voltage power supply — Computers with a fixed-voltage power supply
do not have a voltage selection switch on the back panel and operate at only
one voltage (see the regulatory label on the outside of the computer for its
operating voltage).
• An auto-sensing voltage circuit — Computers with an auto-sensing voltage circuit
do not have a voltage selection switch on the back panel and automatically detect
the correct operating voltage.
• A manual voltage selection switch — Computers with a voltage selection switch
on the back panel must be manually set to operate at the correct operating
voltage.
NOTICE: To help avoid damaging a computer with a manual voltage selection switch, set the
switch for the voltage that most closely matches the AC power available in your location. For
Japan, the voltage selection switch must be set to the 115-V position even though the AC power
available in Japan is 100 V. Also, ensure that your monitor and attached devices are electrically
rated to operate with the AC power available in your location.
7Press the power buttons to turn on the computer and monitors.
See “Completed Setup” on page 16.
NOTE: 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.

10 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Mini-Tower Setup — Without Expansion Cards
keyboard
mouse
speakers
headphones
network
USB

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 11
Mini-Tower Setup — With Expansion Card
NOTE: For more information on setting up monitors with your specific graphics card,
see “Monitor Connections” on page 14.
monitor
flat-panel
monitor
speakers
network

12 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Desktop Setup — Without Expansion Cards
keyboard
mouse
speakers
headphones
network
USB

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 13
Desktop Setup — With Expansion Cards
NOTE: For more information on setting up two monitors, see “Monitor Connections”
on page 14.
monitor
flat-panel
monitor
speakers
network

14 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Monitor Connections
For dual monitor capable cards with a single connector
Dual VGA Y Cable Adapter
• This adapter cable can support one or two VGA
monitors. The cable is color coded: blue for the
primary monitor and black for an optional secondary
monitor.
Dual DVI Y Cable Adapter
• This adapter cable can support one or two DVI
monitors. The cable is color coded: blue for the
primary monitor and black for an optional secondary
monitor.
NOTICE: The Y Cable Adapter provided with your computer is unique to the graphics card in your computer.
Adapter cables from other graphics cards should not be used.
VGA
VGA DVI
DVI

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 15
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

16 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Completed Setup
power
Microsoft Windows Product Key
Microsoft Windows Product Key

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 17
Opening the Computer Cover
CAUTION: Before performing 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 accommodate the open cover—at least 30 cm
(1 ft) of desktop space.
7Open the computer cover.
– For the mini-tower, push the buttons on both ends and lift the cover open.
– For the desktop, slide the cover release latch toward the power supply of the
computer. Raise the cover, and pivot it toward the front of the computer.

18 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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8Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer, such as the
metal at the back of the computer, before touching anything inside your computer.
While you work, periodically touch any unpainted metal surface on the computer to
dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components.

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 19
Inside Your Computer
Mini-Tower Computer
floppy drive
removable media drive
hard drive
power supply
system board
optional speaker
chassis intrusion
switch
AGP and PCI expansion-card slots
back-panel
connectors
power
connector
padlock ring
microprocessor airflow shroud

20 Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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Desktop Computer
floppy drive
removable media drive
hard drive
power supply
system board
chassis
intrusion switch
AGP and PCI expansion-card slots
back-panel
connectors
power
connector
padlock ring
microprocessor airflow shroud