Dell XPS 730 User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell™ XPS™ 730/730X
Quick Reference Guide
Model DCDO
book.book Page 1 Monday, November 10, 2008 1:26 PM

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
book.book Page 2 Monday, November 10, 2008 1:26 PM

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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Setting up Your Computer 11
9hard-drive
activity LED
The hard drive LED is on when the computer reads
data from or writes data to the hard drive. The LED
may also be on when a device such as your CD player
is operating.
10 computer stand Attach the computer stand to provide stability to the
system.
WARNING: The computer stand should be
installed and feet extended at all times to
ensure maximum system stability. Failure to
install the stand could result in the computer
tipping over, potentially resulting in bodily
injury or damage to the computer.
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12 Setting up Your Computer
Front I/O Connectors
1IEEE 1394
connector
Use the IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices
such as digital video cameras and external storage devices.
2microphone
connector
Use the microphone connector to attach a personal
computer microphone for voice or musical input into
a sound or telephony program.
3headphone
connector
Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.
NOTE: Plugging headphones into this connection may disable
rear audio output ports.
4USB 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.
It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors
for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers
and keyboards.
4213
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Setting up Your Computer 13
Back View
1power connector Insert the power cable. The appearance of this connector
may differ from the illustration.
2Built in Self Test
(BIST) LED
Indicates power availability for the power supply.
• Green light—Indicates power availability for the power
supply.
• No light—Indicates no power available for the power
supply or the power supply is not working.
3BIST switch Use to test the power supply.
4back panel LEDs Multi-colored LEDs provide illumination for the card slots
on the back of the computer.
1
5
6
4
7
2
3
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14 Setting up Your Computer
Back I/O Connectors
5card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI or PCI Express
(PCIe) cards.
NOTE: Some connector slots support full-length cards.
6back I/O
connectors
Plug USB and other devices into the appropriate connectors
(see "Back I/O Connectors" on page 14).
7rear I/O LED
board
Multi-colored LEDs provide illumination for the I/O panel
on the back of the computer.
mouse
connector
Plug a standard PS/2 mouse into the green mouse
connector. If you have a USB mouse, plug it into
a USB connector.
keyboard
connector
Plug a standard PS/2 keyboard into the purple keyboard
connector. If you have a USB keyboard, plug it into
a USB connector.
RCA S/PDIF
connector
Use the RCA S/PDIF connector to transmit digital
audio without going through an analog audio conversion
process.
optical
S/PDIF
connector
Use the optical S/PDIF connector to transmit digital
audio without going through an analog audio
conversion process.
IEEE 1394
connector
Use the IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices
such as digital video cameras and external storage
devices.
rear surround
out
Use the (black) surround sound connector to attach
multichannel-capable speakers.
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Setting up Your Computer 15
center/LFE
surround out
Use the (orange) subwoofer connector to attach a single
subwoofer.
NOTE: The LFE (Low Frequency Effects) audio channel,
found in digital surround sound audio schemes, carries only
low frequency information of 80 Hz and below. The LFE
channel drives a subwoofer to provide extremely low bass
extension. Systems not using subwoofers can shunt the
LFE information to the main speakers in the surround
sound setup.
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.
line-out
/headphone
connector
Use the (green) line-out connector to attach headphones
and speakers with integrated amplifiers.
On computers with a sound card, use the connector on
the card.
microphone
connector
Use the (pink) microphone connector to attach a
personal computer microphone for voice or musical input
into a sound or telephony program.
side surround
sound
connector
Use the (silver) side surround connector to attach
additional speakers.
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16 Setting up Your Computer
network
adapter
connectors
(2)
Use the network 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, and then
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: 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.
1 - network
activity LED
Flashes a yellow light when the computer is transmitting
or receiving network data. A high volume of network
traffic may make this LED appear to be in a steady
"on" state.
2 - link
integrity
LED
• 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 (1-Gbps) network and the computer.
• Off (no light) — The computer is not detecting a
physical connection to the network.
USB 2.0
connectors
(6)
Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically
remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.
NOTE: 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.
eSATA
connector
Use to connect additional storage devices.
1
2
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Setting up Your Computer 17
Setting up the Computer
Your computer ships with the computer stand already installed.
With the computer sitting in an upright position, carefully lift the rear of the
computer, and extend the stabilizing feet fully. The extended feet ensure
maximum system stability.
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18 Setting up Your Computer
Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure
Installing your computer in an enclosure can restrict the airflow and impact
your computer’s performance, causing it to overheat. It is not recommended
to install the computer in an enclosure. However, if you must install the
computer in an enclosure, refer to the following guidelines:
CAUTION: The operating temperature specifications reflect the maximum
ambient operating temperature. The room’s ambient temperature needs to be
a consideration when installing your computer in an enclosure. For example, if the
ambient room temperature is at 25° C (77° F), depending on your computer’s
specifications, you only have 5° to 10° C (9° to 18° F) temperature margin before
you reach your computer’s maximum operating temperature. For details about your
computer’s specifications, see "Specifications" on page 65.
• Leave a 10.2 centimeter (4 inch) minimum clearance on all vented sides of
the computer to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation.
• If your enclosure has doors, they need to be of a type that allows at least
30% airflow through the enclosure (front and back).
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Setting up Your Computer 19
• If your computer is installed in a corner on a desk or under a desk, leave at
least 5.1 centimeters (2 inches) of clearance from the back of the
computer to the wall to permit airflow required for proper ventilation.
• Do not install your computer in an enclosure that does not allow airflow.
Restricting the airflow impacts your computer’s performance, possibly
causing it to overheat.
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20 Setting up Your Computer
Connecting to a Network
To connect the system to a network:
1
Connect one end of a network cable to your network device (router,
network switch, cable modem/DSL).
2 Connect the other end of the network cable to one of the network adapter
connections on the back of your computer.
A click indicates that the network cable is securely attached.
NOTE: Your computer is configured with two integrated network adapter
connections. These connections support advanced configuration options.
See "Network Advanced Features" on page 21.
If you have an expansion network adapter (PCI, PCIe), plug your network
cable into that adapter.
NOTE: 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.
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