power supplies (2) | mouse connector | serial port 1 |
| USB connector | connector |
|
|
network interface controller connector
keyboard | parallel port | serial port 2 | video |
connector | connector | connector | connector |
The system BIOS detects the presence of external devices when you boot or reboot your system. When you connect external devices to your computer, follow these guidelines:
Check the documentation that accompanied the device for specific installation and configuration instructions.
For example, most devices must be connected to a particular I/O port or connec- tor to operate properly. Also, external devices such as a mouse or printer usually require that you load software files called device drivers into memory before they will work. These software drivers help the computer recognize an external device and direct its operation. Device drivers of this type are normally included with your operating system software.
Always attach external devices while your computer is turned off. Then turn on any external devices before turning on the computer unless the documentation for the device specifies otherwise. (If the computer does not seem to recognize the device, try turning on the computer before turning on the device.)
For information about enabling, disabling, or configuring I/O ports and connectors, see the software documentation that came with your system. For detailed descriptions and illustrations of each port and connector on the I/O panel, see Appendix B, “I/O Ports and Connectors.”
A keylock on the top of the system prevents unauthorized access to the system.
If at any time you do not understand a procedure described in this guide, or if your system does not perform as expected, Dell provides a number of tools to help you.