Dell XPS 730 User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell™ XPS™ 730/730X
Quick Reference Guide
Model DCDO
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Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if
instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal
injury, or death.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc.
is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, XPS, DellConnect, and YOURS IS HERE are
trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel and Core are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel
Corporation in the U.S. and other countries; Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista, and the Windows
Vista start button logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries; Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG,
Inc. and is used by Dell under license.
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 DCDO
October 2008 P/N C100J Rev. A00
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Contents 3
Contents
1 Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2 Setting up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Front and Back View of the Computer. . . . . . . . . . . 9
Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Front I/O Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Back View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Back I/O Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Setting up the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure. . . . . . . . 18
Connecting to a Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3 System Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Network Configuration (XPS 730 Only) . . . . . . . . . 21
Network Advanced Features . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Graphics Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Multiple Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
NVIDIA SLI and ATI Crossfire Technologies . . . . 23
4 Optimizing Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
System Setup Based Performance Tuning . . . . . . . 25
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4Contents
Software Based Performance Tuning
(XPS 730 Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
NVIDIA Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
NVIDIA Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Diagnostic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Dell™ Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
MP Memory Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Getting More Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Dell Support 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Dell PC Tune-Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Dell PC Checkup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Dell Network Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
DellConnect™. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Dell Technical Update Service . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Diagnostic Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Power Button LED States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Troubleshooting Software and Hardware
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Memory Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Restoring the Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Using Microsoft Windows System Restore. . . . . 42
Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image
Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
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Contents 5
Reinstalling the Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Before you Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Reinstalling Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Reinstalling Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Using the Drivers and Utilities Media . . . . . . . 50
Recommended Driver Installation Order . . . . . . 51
6 Configuring the BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
System Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Entering System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
System Setup Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
System Setup Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Boot Sequence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Option Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
A Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Macrovision Product Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
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6Contents
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Finding Information 7
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.
Document/Media/Label Contents
Service Tag/Express Service Code
The Service Tag/Express Service Code is
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.
Drivers and Utilities Media
The Drivers and Utilities media is a CD or
DVD that may have shipped with your
computer.
• A diagnostic program for your computer.
• Drivers for your computer.
NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates
can be found at support.dell.com.
• Desktop System Software (DSS).
• Readme files.
NOTE: Readme files may be included on
your media to provide last-minute updates
about technical changes to your computer
or advanced technical-reference material
for technicians or experienced users.
Operating System Media
The Operating System media is a CD or
DVD that may have shipped with your
computer.
• Reinstall your operating system.
Service Manual
The Service Manual for your computer
can be found at support.dell.com.
• How to remove and replace parts.
• How to configure system settings.
• How to troubleshoot and solve
problems.
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8Finding Information
Dell Technology Guide
The Dell Technology Guide is available at
support.dell.com.
• About your operating system.
• Using and maintaining peripherals.
• Understanding technologies such as
RAID, Internet, Bluetooth
®
, E-mail,
networking, and more.
Microsoft®Windows®License Label
Your Microsoft Windows License is
located on your computer.
• Provides your operating system product
key.
Product safety and warranty information
is available as a hardcopy with your
computer.
For additional regulatory and safety
information, see the Regulatory
Compliance Homepage at the following
location:
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
• Warranty information
• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
• Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement
Document/Media/Label (continued) Contents
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Setting up Your Computer 9
Setting up Your Computer
Front and Back View of the Computer
Front View
6
2
8
3
4
9
5
7
1
10
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10 Setting up Your Computer
1front panel
LEDs (3)
Multi-colored LEDs provide illumination for the
front of the computer.
2front I/O
connectors
Plug USB and other devices into the appropriate
connectors (see "Front I/O Connectors" on page 12).
33.5-inch drive
bays (2)
Can hold optional devices such as a Media Card
Reader.
NOTE: The Service Tag and Express Service Code are
located on a label inside this bay door.
45.25-inch drive
bays (4)
Can hold an optical or SATA hard drive in a
5.25-inch drive bay carrier.
NOTE: The hard drive carrier is only for use in the
5.25-inch drive bays. The floppy-drive/Media Card
Reader and hard drive carriers are not
interchangeable.
5front panel
LEDs (4)
Multi-colored LEDs provide illumination for the
front of the computer.
6optical drive
tray eject
buttons (4)
Use to eject the drive tray of an optical drive.
NOTE: The optical drive tray eject button is not a
handle. The self-tending doors open automatically
when the eject button is pressed and the drive tray is
ejected.
7front panel
LEDs (3)
Multi-colored LEDs provide illumination for the
front of the computer.
8power button Press to turn on the computer.
CAUTION: 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.
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