Dell 900 Help Tools

6-2 Dell Dimension 900 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide

Help Tools

Dell provides a number of tools to assist you. These tools are described in the follow-

ing sections.

NOTE: Some of the following tools are not always available in all locations. Please call

your local Dell representative for information on availability.

World Wide Web

The Internet is your most powerful tool for obtaining information about your

computer and other Dell products. From Dell's World Wide Web home page

(http://www.dell.com), you can access product information, order status, and

technical support.

From Dell's technical support page (http://support.dell.com), click one of the

following:

Support Your Dell — Enter your service tag and then click Submit. The service tag

sequence is listed on the system information label. See the System Help for the loca-

tion of the system information label.

From this page you can access a number of tools and information such as system

documentation, drivers, and basic input/output (BIOS) updates, and self-diagnostic

tools for resolving many computer-related issues by following interactive flowcharts.

Online Knowledge Center — This tool searches the Dell Knowledge Base and Dell

Support for answers and related topics.

Dell can be accessed electronically using the following addresses:

•World Wide Web

http://www.dell.com/ap/ (for Asian/Pacific countries only)

http://www.dell.com/

http://www.euro.dell.com (for Europe only)

•Anonymous file transfer protocol (FTP)

ftp.dell.com/

Log in as user: anonymous, and use your e-mail address as your password.

•Electronic Support Service

apsupport@dell.com (for Asian/Pacific countries only)

support@us.dell.com

support.euro.dell.com (for Europe only)

Contents

Main ____________________ Safety Instructions When Using Your Computer System Ergonomic Computing Habits When Working Inside Your Computer Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Preface About This Guide Warranty and Return Policy Information Other Documents You May Need Notational Conventions Notes, Notices, and Cautions Page Page Contents Chapter 1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 Chapter 2 Installing Upgrades on the System Boar d . . . . . . . . . 2-1 Chapter 3 Basic Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3- 1 Chapter 4 Software Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Chapter 5 Checking Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 Chapter 6 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 Appendix C Beep Codes and System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C -1 Appendix D Regulatory Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1 Index Figures Tables Page CHAPTER 1 Introduction Hardware Features Software Features Available Upgrades Padlock Ring Page CHAPTER 2 Installing Upgrades on the System Board Safety FirstFor You and Your Computer Installation Guideline s Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover Figure 2-1. Removing the Computer Cover Figure 2-2. Removing the Bezel Inside Your Computer Figure 2-3. Inside the Computer System Board Figure 2-4 shows the system board connectors and sockets, and Table 2-1 describes their functions. Figure 2-4. System Boa rd Features Table 2-1. System Board Connectors and Sockets Jumpers Passwo rd Jump er Table 2-2. Password Jumper Settings Processor Mode Jumper NVRAM Jumper Table 2-3. Processor Mode Jumper Settings Table 2-4. NVRAM Jumper Settings Boot-Block Select Jumper Removing and Replacing the Riser-Board Bracket Table 2-5. Boot-Block Jumper Settings Figure 2-5. Removing the Riser-Board Bracket PCI Expansion Card Upgrades Figure 2-6. PCI Expansion Card Figure 2-7. Riser Board PCI Expansion-Card Connectors Installing Expansion Cards Page Figure 2-10. Installing an Expansion Card Removing Expansion Cards Adding Memory Installing a DIMM Figure 2-11. Installing a DIMM Removing a DI MM Figure 2-12. Removing a DIMM Replacing the System Battery Figure 2-13. Drive Shelf Figure 2-14. System Battery and Battery Socket Page CHAPTER 3 Basic Troubleshooting Backing Up Data Files Installing Additional Hardwar e and Software DellWare Support Checking the Basics External Connections Page Page Page Page Page Diskette Drives Optical Drives Running the Dell Diagnostics Starting the Dell Diagnostics Page Dell Diagnostics Main Screen Figure 3-2. Dell Diagnostics Main Screen Using the Dell Diagnostics Menu Keys Device Group Device Test Versi ons Software Solutions Using the Power Management Features in Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows 2000 Reinstalling Drivers Your Systems Drivers Using the Dell Dimension ResourceCD to Reinstall Drivers Temporarily Disabling the Virus-Scanning Program Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Windows 98 and Windows Me Windows 2000 Windows NT Reinstalling Windows 98 Page Reinstalling Windows Me Reinstalling Windows 2000 Page CHAPTER 5 Checking Inside Your Computer Expansion Cards Page Modem Network Cards System Memory Reseating DI MMs If Your Computer Gets Wet If Your Computer Is Damaged Page CHAPTER 6 Getting Help Technical Assistance Help Tools World Wide Web Automated Order-Status System Technical Support Service Problems With Your Order Product Informatio n Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Before You Call Figure 6-1. Diagnostics Checklist Dell Contact Numbers Table 6-1. Dell Contact Numbers APPENDIX A System Specifications Table A-1. Technical Specifications Page Page Page Page Page APPENDIX B System Setup Program Entering the System Setup Program Using the System Setup Program Page System Setup Screens and Options Main Screen Figure B-1. Main Screen Menu Table B-2. Main Screen Menu Options Page Page Disk Drives Screen Figure B-4. Disk Drives Screen Menu Table B-5. Disk Drives Screen Menu Options IDE Primary Channel Master Submenu Onboard Peripherals Screen Figure B-6. Onboard Peripherals Screen Menu Table B-7. Onboard Peripherals Screen Menu Options Table B-7. Onboard Peripherals Screen Menu Options (continued) Boot Options Screen Figure B-7. Boot Options Screen Menu Table B-8. Boot Options Screen Menu Options Table B-8. Boot Options Screen Menu Options (continued) Page System Security Screen Figure B-9. System Security Screen Menu Table B-10. System Security Screen Menu Options Advanced Options Screen Memory/Cache Options Submenu Figure B-11. Memory/Cache Options Submenu Table B-12. Memory/Cache Options Submenu Options PnP/PCI Options Submenu Figure B-12. PnP/PCI Options Submenu Table B-13. PnP/PCI Options Screen Submenu Options Disabling a Forgotten Password Table B-13. PnP/PCI Options Screen Submenu Options (continued) Clearing NVRAM Page APPENDIX C Beep Codes and System Messages POST Beep Codes Table C-1. POST Beep Codes System Messages Table C-2. System Messages Table C-1. POST Beep Codes (continued) Page Page Page Page APPENDIX D Regula tory No tices VCCI Notice (Japan Only) Class A ITE VCCI-A Figure D-1. VCCI Class A ITE Regu latory Mark Class B ITE Figure D-2. VCCI Class B ITE Regulatory Mark Battery Disposal Page Index A B C D E F G H J K M N O R S T U V W