Dell Dimension 8250 Series
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Hints, Notices, and Cautions
Contents
Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems
Solving Problems
If the screen is difficult to read
Advanced Troubleshooting
Adding or Replacing the AGP Card
Reinstalling Drivers and Software
Front and Back View of the Computer
Reattaching the Front Door and Hinge Arms
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103
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General
W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m
When Using Your Computer
When Working Inside Your Computer
Ergonomic Computing Habits
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
Battery Disposal
What Are You Looking For? Find it Here
Finding Information for Your Computer
E r a t i n g S y s t e m C D
How to reinstall my operating system
Click Tell Me How
How to set up my computer
Click User and system guides, and then click User’s guides
Finding Information for Your Computer
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Printer Cable
Setting Up a Printer
Connecting a Parallel Printer
Screws Clips Parallel printer cable Notches
Connecting a USB Printer
Parallel connector on computer
USB printer On printer Cable
Connecting Two Monitors
Connecting the Monitors to Your Computer
USB connector on computer
Optional VGA adapter
Enabling Clone Mode
Transferring Information to a New Computer
Enabling Extended Desktop Mode
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Network Setup Wizard
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Connecting to a Network Adapter
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
Connecting to the Internet
Click Connect to the Internet
Copying CDs
Helpful Tips
Using Easy CD Creator Basic
Using Blank CD-R Discs or Blank CD-RW Discs
How to Copy a CD
Click Hardware and click Device Manager
Hyper-Threading
Turn off computer window, click Turn off
Turning Off the Computer
Solving Problems
See
Finding Solutions
Solving Problems
Finding Help Information
Battery Problems
Back of floppy disk Write-protected
Drive Problems
Floppy drive problems
Problems writing to a CD-RW drive
CD drive problems
Under Error-checking, click Check Now Click Start
Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems
DVD drive problems
Hard drive problems
Click Phone and Modem Options
Click the Change or Remove Program icon
Error Messages
Click Control Panel Click Add or Remove Programs
Click Applications
General Problems
Computer stops responding
Program stops responding
Solid blue screen appears
Other software problems
Program crashes repeatedly
Program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system
Other technical problems
General hardware problems
Ieee 1394 Device Problems
Click Control Panel Click Printers and Other Hardware
Keyboard Problems
Mouse Problems
Connection speed light
Network Problems
Power Problems
Solving Problems
Printer Problems
Scanner Problems
Click Sounds and Audio Devices
Sound and Speaker Problems
No sound from speakers
If the screen is blank
Video and Monitor Problems
No sound from headphones
If the screen is difficult to read
Click Appearance and Themes
Advanced Troubleshooting
Diagnostic Code Definition Corrective Action
Diagnostic Lights
Diagnostic Code Definition Corrective Action
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
Dell Diagnostics
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the ResourceCD
Starting the Dell Diagnostics
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive
Option Function
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu
Tab Function
What Is a Driver?
Drivers
Identifying Drivers
Reinstalling drivers
Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback
Click Roll Back Driver
Using the Dell Dimension ResourceCD
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State
Using System Restore
Creating a Restore Point
Undoing the Last System Restore
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Enabling System Restore
Preparing to Boot From the Operating System CD
Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP
Before You Reinstall
Reinstalling Windows XP
Completing the GUI Setup
Starting Windows XP Setup
Completing the Operating System Setup
Reinstalling Drivers and Software
Adding Parts
Front View
Front and Back View of the Computer
Computer. Instead, perform a Windows shutdown
Back View
Adding Parts
Reattaching the Hinge Arms
Reattaching the Front Door and Hinge Arms
Use fingers to pull here
Pivot bar Hinge arms in horizontal position
View slots
Reattaching the Front Door
Opening the Computer Cover
Arrow Release button Back of computer
Looking Inside Your Computer
Adding Parts
RIMM1 RIMM2
System Board
Cards
Installing and Removing Cards
Installing a Card
Follow the steps in When Working Inside Your Computer on
Retention arm Lever
Card
Not fully seated card Fully seated card
Filler bracket
Retention arm
Removing a Card
Metal cover Memory module Continuity module
Adding Memory
Rdram Overview
Adding Parts
Removing a Memory Module
Continuity modules in connectors RIMM3 and RIMM4
Adding a Memory Module
Cutouts Step
Securing clips Notches
Removing an AGP Card
Adding or Replacing the AGP Card
Card clip Slot connector
Installing an AGP Card
Notch Lever Tab Card clip AGP connector
PCI connector
Adding a Second Hard Drive
101
Rail tabs
First hard drive in lower bay Hard drive bay
102
Power cable
Removing the Front-Panel Insert
Adding a Floppy Drive
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105
Installing a Floppy Drive
106
Closing the Computer Cover
W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m
P e n d i
Computer Information
Specifications
Microprocessor
Memory
Drives
Video
Audio1
Expansion Bus
112
Connectors
Controls and Lights
113
Power
Physical
Environmental
Altitude Operating 15.2 to 3048 m -50 to 10,000 ft Storage
Standard Settings
115
Viewing Settings
System Setup Screens
Clearing Forgotten Passwords
Replacing the Battery
118
Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only
Definition of Dell-Installed Software and Peripherals
Antigua and Barbuda
Contacting Dell
Definition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals
Anguilla
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Canada North York, Ontario
Cayman Islands
Chile Santiago
Czech Republic Prague Website support.euro.dell.com
China Xiamen
Colombia
Costa Rica
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Hong Kong
India
Ireland Cherrywood Website support.euro.dell.com
128
Italy Milan Website support.euro.dell.com
Jamaica
Area Codes Local Numbers, Toll-Free Numbers
129
Japan Kawasaki Website support.jp.dell.com
Korea Seoul
Malaysia Penang
Latin America
Luxembourg Website support.euro.dell.com
Macao
Netherlands Amsterdam Website support.euro.dell.com
Mexico
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
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Spain Madrid Website support.euro.dell.com
Sweden Upplands Vasby Website support.euro.dell.com
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Dell.co.uk/lca/customerservices
Bracknell Website support.euro.dell.com
Uruguay
Venezuela
A. Austin, Texas
Business
Virgin Islands
Regulatory Information
139
NOM Information Mexico Only
Appendix
Limited Warranties and Return Policy
Limited Warranty for the U.S
What is covered by this limited warranty?
What is not covered by this limited warranty?
142
How long does this limited warranty last?
What do I do if I need warranty service?
What will Dell do?
143
What if I purchased a service contract?
How will you fix my product?
What do I do if I am not satisfied?
144
May I transfer the limited warranty?
Total Satisfaction Return Policy U.S. Only
145
Limited Warranty Terms for Canada
146
Technical Support and Customer Service
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Total Satisfaction Return Policy Canada Only
Dell Software and Peripherals Canada Only
Third-Party Software and Peripherals Products
Exclusions
Guarantee
Dell-Branded Peripheral Products
Return Policy
150
Making a Claim
Limitation and Statutory Rights
151
Intel’s Three Year Limited Warranty
What are ’Errata’?
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153
D ex
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Printer parallel, 20 setting up, 20 troubleshooting, 53 USB
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