Dell XPS Gen 5 User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell™ Dimension™ XPS
A B C D
headphone
connector
microphone
connector
USB 2.0
connectors (2)
IEEE 1394
connector
PCI Express x16 card (1),
PCI Express x1 card (1),
PCI Express x4 card (1),
PCI card (3) slots
diagnostic
lights (4)
keyboard connector
USB 2.0
connectors (5)
VGA connector*
cover latch release
fans (2)
network adapter connector
security cable slot
fans (2)
modem connector*
padlock ring
sound card connectors*
power connector
DVI connector*
mouse connector
TV-OUT connector*
1394 connector
Model WHL
*Not present on certain computers.
D8659bk0.book Page 1 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
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.
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.
© 2005 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarksusedinthistext:Dell,theDELLlogo,Inspiron,DellPrecision,Dimension,OptiPlex,Latitude,PowerEdge,PowerVault,PowerApp,
DellNet, PowerConnect, and Axim are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft,
Windows, and Outlook 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 WHL
March 2005 P/N D8659 Rev. A00
D8659bk0.book Page 2 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM

Contents 3
Contents
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Opening the Drive Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Changing the Front-Panel Light Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Using a Media Card Reader (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Connecting Two Monitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Connecting One Monitor With a VGA Connector and One Monitor
With a DVI Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Connecting a TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Changing the Display Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
About Serial ATA Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
About Your RAID Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
RAID Level 0 Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
RAID Level 1 Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Configuring Your Computer for RAID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Configuring for RAID Using the Intel®RAID Option ROM Utility . . . . . . 21
Configuring for RAID Using the Intel®Application Accelerator . . . . . . 23
Transferring Information to a New Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Playing CDs and Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Playing a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Adjusting the Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Adjusting the Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Copying CDs and DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
How to Copy a CD or DVD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using Blank CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVD+Rs, and DVD+RWs . . . . . . . . . . 31
Helpful Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Network Setup Wizard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
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4Contents
Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Standby Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Hibernate Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Power Options Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2 Optimizing Performance
Hyper-Threading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Overclocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
PCI Express Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
3 Solving Problems
Troubleshooting Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Battery Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
CD and DVD drive problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Hard drive problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
IEEE 1394 Device Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Keyboard Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Lockups and Software Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
The computer does not start up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
The computer stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
A program stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
A program crashes repeatedly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system . . . . . 45
A solid blue screen appears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Other software problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Memory Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Mouse Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
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Contents 5
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Scanner Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
No sound from speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
No sound from headphones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Video and Monitor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
If the screen is blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
If the screen is difficult to read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
4 Advanced Troubleshooting
Diagnostic Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
What Is a Driver? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Identifying Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Reinstalling Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Using Microsoft®Windows®XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Creating a Restore Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Undoing the Last System Restore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Reinstalling Microsoft®Windows®XP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Reinstalling Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
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6Contents
5 Removing and Installing Parts
Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Recommended Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Turning Off Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Before Working Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Front and Back View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Front View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Front View (Doors Open) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Back View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Opening the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Inside View of Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
System Board Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Installing Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Removing Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
PCI Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
PCI Express Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Serial Port Adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Installing a Serial Port Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Removing a Serial Port Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
General Installation Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Connecting Drive Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Removing a Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Installing a Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Adding a Second Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Removing a Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Installing a Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Media Card Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Removing a Media Card Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Installing a Media Card Reader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
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Contents 7
CD/DVD Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Removing a CD/DVD Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Installing a CD/DVD Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Processor Airflow Shroud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Removing the Processor Airflow Shroud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Installing the Processor Airflow Shroud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Processor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Removing the Processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Installing the Processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Removing the Front Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Replacing the Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Drive Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Removing the Drive Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Replacing the Drive Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Replacing the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Closing the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
6 Appendix
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Entering System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
System Setup Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Boot Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Clearing Forgotten Passwords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Clearing CMOS Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Cleaning Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Mouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
CDs and DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
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8Contents
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals . . . . . . . . . 137
Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals. . . . . . . . . . . 137
FCC Notices (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
FCC Identification Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Contacting Dell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
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Finding Information 9
Finding Information
NOTE: Some features may not be available for your computer or 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
ResourceCD
Documentation and drivers are already installed on your
computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers (see
page 61), run the Dell Diagnostics (see page 58), 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.
• Additional information about setting up my computer
• How to troubleshoot and solve problems
• How to remove and install parts
• Technical specifications
• How to contact Dell
Dimension Owner’s Manual
NOTE: This document is available as a PDF at
support.dell.com.
D8659bk0.book Page 9 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM

10 Finding Information
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
• Warranty information
• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
• Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement
Dell™ Product Information Guide
• How to set up my computer Setup Diagram
• 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
D8659bk0.book Page 10 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM

Finding Information 11
• 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 rivers, patches, and software
updates
• 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 Dell™
3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel
®
Pentium
®
M
processors, 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 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.
• How to use Windows XP 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
D8659bk0.book Page 11 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM

12 Finding Information
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
• 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 "Reinstalling Microsoft®
Windows®XP" on page 64.
After you reinstall your
operating system, use the
ResourceCD to reinstall
drivers for the devices
that came with your
computer.
NOTE: The color of your
CD varies based on the
operating system you
ordered.
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here
D8659bk0.book Page 12 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 13
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Opening the Drive Door
Changing the Front-Panel Light Color
You can use this exclusive Dell™ Dimension™ XPS feature either to change the color of the
front-panel light that illuminates the Dell name and displays around the badge on the front of
your computer, or to turn off the front-panel light entirely.
D8659bk0.book Page 13 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM

14 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
You can choose from several color choices:
•Off
•Ruby
•Emerald
•Sapphire (default)
•Amber
•Amethyst
•Topaz
•Diamond
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions
located in the Product Information Guide.
NOTE: The front-panel light is not for diagnostic purposes.
1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 69.
2 Turn on (or restart) your computer.
3 Enter system setup by pressing <F2>. (See page 128 for details about entering system
setup).
4 Select the Onboard Devices option.
5 Select Front LED Color , and press <Enter>.
6 Press the left- and right- arrow keys to scroll through the color options. The front-panel light
color changes as you scroll through the options.
7 Select the color you want, and press <Enter>.
8 Press < Esc > , and press Save and Exit to save the new front-panel light color setting.
badge
front-panel
light
D8659bk0.book Page 14 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 15
Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)
Use the media card reader to transfer data directly to your computer.
The media card reader supports the following memory types:
•xD-Picturecard
• SmartMedia (SMC)
• CompactFlash Type I and II (CF I/II)
• MicroDrive card
• SecureDigital card (SD)
• MultiMediaCard (MMC)
• Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro)
For information on installing a media card reader, see "Installing a Media Card Reader" on
page 104.
xD-Picture card
and SmartMedia (SMC)
Memory Stick
(MS/MS Pro)
SecureDigital card (SD)/
MultiMediaCard (MMC)
CompactFlash Type I
and II (CF I/II) and
MicroDrive card
D8659bk0.book Page 15 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM

16 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
To use the media card reader:
1
Check the media or card to determine the proper orientation for insertion.
2 Slide the media or card into the appropriate slot until it is completely seated in the connector.
If you encounter resistance, do not force the media or card. Check the card orientation and
try again.
Connecting Two Monitors
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions
located in the Product Information Guide.
NOTE: If you are connecting two monitors that have VGA connectors, you must have the optional DVI
adapter. If you are connecting two flat-panel monitors, at least one of them must have a VGA connector.
If you are connecting a TV, you may connect only one monitor (VGA or DVI) in addition to the TV.
NOTE: See the documentation that came with your TV to ensure that you properly configure and connect
the TV.
If you purchased a graphics card that supports dual monitors, follow these instructions to
connect and enable your monitors. The instructions tell you how to connect either two monitors
(each with a VGA connector), one monitor with a VGA connector and one monitor with a DVI
connector, or a TV.
If you purchased a graphics card that has two DVI ports instead of a VGA port, use a DVI-to-
VGA adapter to use a VGA monitor.
Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors
1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 69.
2 Connect one of the monitors to the VGA (blue) connector on the back of the computer.
3 Connect the other monitor to the optional DVI adapter and connect the DVI adapter to the
DVI (white) connector on the back of the computer.
NOTE: Your graphics card must support a VGA monitor being connected to the DVI connector.
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Setting Up and Using Your Computer 17
Connecting One Monitor With a VGA Connector and One Monitor With a DVI Connector
1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 69.
2 Connect the VGA connector on the monitor to the VGA (blue) connector on the back of the
computer.
3 Connect the DVI connector on the other monitor to the DVI (white) connector on the back
of the computer.
Connecting a TV
NOTE: To connect a TV to your computer, you must purchase an S-video cable, which is available at
most consumer electronics stores. An S-video cable is not included with your computer.
1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 69.
2 Connect one end of the S-video cable to the TV-OUT connector on the back of the computer.
3 Connect the other end of the S-video cable to the S-video input connector on your TV.
4 Connect the VGA or DVI monitor as described in the preceding subsection, "Connecting
One Monitor With a VGA Connector and One Monitor With a DVI Connector."
VGA (blue) connector
DVI (white) connector
optional DVI adapter
TV-OUT connector
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18 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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Changing the Display Settings
1 After you connect the monitor(s) or TV, turn on the computer.
The Microsoft
®
Windows
®
desktop displays on the primary monitor.
2 Enable clone mode or extended desktop mode in the display settings.
• In clone mode, both monitors display the same image.
• In extended desktop mode, you can drag objects from one screen to the other, effectively
doubling the amount of viewable work space.
For information on changing the display settings for your graphics card, see the user’s guide in
the Help and Support Center (click the
Start button, click Help and Support , click User and
system guides
, click Device guides , and then click the guide for your graphics card).
About Serial ATA Drives
Your computer supports up to three serial ATA hard drives. Serial ATA drives provide the
following benefits by transferring data using serial technology and flexible cables that are
thinner and longer than IDE cables:
• Improved cable routing facilitates more efficient airflow inside the chassis.
• Compact cable connectors save space on the system board and on the hard drive. Combined
with the improved cable routing, this allows a more efficient utilization of space inside the
chassis.
See "Hard Drive" on page 94 for information on serial ATA drive connections.
About Your RAID Configuration
This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration that you might have selected when
you purchased your computer. Although several RAID configurations are available, Dell offers
either a RAID level 0 configuration or a RAID level 1 configuration for its Dimension™
computers. A RAID level 0 configuration is recommended for high-performance gaming, and a
RAID level 1 configuration is recommended for the data integrity requirements of digital
photography and audio.
The Intel®RAID controller on your computer can only create a RAID level 0 configuration
using two or three physical drives. If a third drive is present, then that drive can be made part of
a RAID level 0 configuration using the Intel RAID configuration program, or it can be used as a
spare drive in a RAID level 1 configuration (see "Creating a Spare Hard Drive" on page 26). The
drives should be the same size in order to ensure that the larger drive does not contain
unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.
NOTE: RAID levels do not represent a hierarchy. A RAID level 1 configuration is not inherently better or
worse than a RAID level 0 configuration.
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Setting Up and Using Your Computer 19
RAID Level 0 Configuration
A RAID level 0 configuration uses a storage technique known as "data striping" to provide a high
data access rate. Data striping is a method of writing consecutive segments, or stripes, of data
sequentially across the physical drives to create a large virtual drive. Data striping allows one of
the drives to read data while the other drive is searching for and reading the next block.
Another advantage of a RAID level 0 configuration is that it utilizes the full capacities of the
drives. For example, if you have two 120-GB drives installed, you have 240 GB on which to store
data.
NOTICE: Because RAID level 0 configurations provide no data redundancy, if one drive fails, then the
data on the other drive is also inaccessible. Therefore, ensure that you perform regular backups when
you use a RAID level 0 configuration.
RAID Level 1 Configuration
RAID level 1 uses a data-redundancy storage technique known as "mirroring." When data is
written to the primary drive, it is then duplicated, or mirrored, on the other drive. A RAID
level 1 configuration sacrifices high data-access rates for its data redundancy advantages.
hard drive 1
segment 1
segment 3
segment 5
hard drive 2
segment 2
segment 4
segment 6
serial ATA RAID
configured for
RAID level 0
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20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the surviving drive.
A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drive. Also, because
data is duplicated on both drives, a RAID level 1 configuration using two 120-GB hard drives
collectively has a maximum of 120 GB on which to store data.
Configuring Your Computer for RAID
At some point you may want to configure your computer for RAID if you did not select a RAID
configuration when you purchased your computer. You must have at least two hard drives
installed in your computer to set up a RAID configuration. For instructions on how to install a
hard drive, see page 95.
You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes. One method uses the
Intel®RAID Option ROM utility and is performed before you install the operating system onto
the hard drive. The second method uses the Intel Matrix Storage Manager, or Intel Matrix
Storage Console, and this method is performed after you have installed the operating system
and the Intel Matrix Storage Console. Both methods require that you set your computer to
RAID-enabled mode before starting any of the RAID configuration procedures in this
document.
Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode
1 Enter system setup (see page 128).
2 Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight Drives , and press <Enter>.
3 Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight SATA Operation , and press <Enter>.
hard drive 1
segment 1
segment 2
segment 3
hard drive 2
segment 4
segment 5
segment 6
segment 1 duplicated
segment 2 duplicated
segment 3 duplicated
segment 4 duplicated
segment 5 duplicated
segment 6 duplicated
serial ATA RAID
configured for
RAID level 1
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