About Your RAID Configuration | Dell XPS 420 manual

book.book Page 30 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:29 AM

Changing the Display Settings

1After you connect the monitor(s) or TV, turn on the computer.

The Microsoft® Windows® desktop displays on the primary monitor.

2Enable extended desktop mode in the display settings. In extended desktop mode, you can drag objects from one screen to the other, effectively doubling the amount of viewable work space.

About Your RAID Configuration

This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration you may have selected when you purchased your computer. There are several RAID configurations available in the computer industry for different types of uses. Your computer supports RAID level 0 and RAID level 1. A RAID level 0 configuration is recommended for high-performance programs or gaming, and a RAID level 1 configuration is recommended for users who require a high level of data integrity. For example, those in the digital photography and audio industries.

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.

The drives in a RAID configuration should be the same size in order to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.

RAID Level 0 Configuration

NOTICE: Because RAID level 0 configurations provide no data redundancy, a failure of one drive results in the loss of all data (the data on the remaining drive is also inaccessible). Therefore, ensure that you perform regular backups when you use a 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.

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Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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Dell XPS 420 owner manual About Your RAID Configuration, Changing the Display Settings, RAID Level 0 Configuration

Contents

W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m November GX404 Rev. A01 Contents Connecting a USB Printer Setting Up Your Internet Connection Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Configuring Power Management SettingsCoin-Cell Battery Problems Ieee 1394a Device Problems Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Microsoft Windows Vista Operating 103 General Installation Guidelines 128Inside View of Your Computer 102 104 Installing the Processor Fan Cage Installing a CD/DVD DriveInstalling the Processor Airflow Shroud Installing the Processor Fan Replacing the Computer Cover Clearing Forgotten Passwords 188Technical Support and Customer Service 196 173 Automated Order-Status Service Desktop System Software DSS Finding InformationMy device documentation Finding Information What Are You Looking For? Find It Here Warranty information Microsoft Windows License Label Configuration, providing critical Reinstall the DSS utility. DSS Service Tag or product modelUpdates appropriate for your Tips, articles from technicians What Are You Looking For? Find It Here How to personalize my desktop Vista Start button ClickProblem Follow the instructions on the screen System Setting Up and Using Your Computer Front and Back View of the ComputerFront View To ensure that the system is adequately Automatically when the eject button is pressedObject near the vents Area to avoid water damage to the system Such as printers and keyboards Front I/O Connectors Back View Pdif RCA Back I/O Connectors Connector Gbps network and the computer Adapter connectorNetwork and the computer To the network Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure Main speakers in the surround sound setup Book.book Page 23 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Connecting Monitors Connecting a Monitor Without an Adapter Connecting a Monitor With an Adapter Book.book Page 27 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Connecting Two or More Monitors Connecting a TV About Your RAID Configuration Changing the Display SettingsRAID Level 0 Configuration RAID Level 1 Configuration Segment Hard drive Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using the Intel RAID Option ROM Utility Book.book Page 34 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Book.book Page 35 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Using the Intel Application Accelerator Book.book Page 37 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Book.book Page 38 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Book.book Page 39 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Book.book Page 40 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Using Intel Viiv Quick Resume Technology QRT Dell DataSafe OptionalIntel Viiv Technology Optional Enabling the QRT Feature in the Operating System Using MultimediaEnabling the QRT Feature in System Setup Playing CDs or DVDs DVD player includes the following basic buttons How to Copy a CD or DVD Copying Media How to Copy a Blu-ray Disc BD Media Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful Tips Media Type Read Write Rewritable Using a Media Card Reader MMC/RS-MMC Understanding the Media Xcelerator Optional Understanding Windows SideShow and the LCD display Configuring the LCD display Adding Gadgets To LCD Display Menu Setting Up a Printer Connecting a USB PrinterPrinter Cable USB connector on USB printer cable Computer Printer Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection Network Setup Wizard Transferring Information to a New Computer Power Management Options in Windows VistaSleep Mode Hybrid Sleep Hibernate Mode Configuring Power Management Settings Book.book Page 58 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Understanding Intel SpeedStep Technology Optimizing for Greater Performance Book.book Page 60 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Follow these tips when you troubleshoot your computer Solving ProblemsCoin-Cell Battery Problems Troubleshooting Problems writing to an optical drive Drive ProblemsOptical drive problems Click the Windows Vista Start button and click Computer Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Hard drive problems Error Messages Ieee 1394a Device Problems Keyboard Problems Computer stops responding Lockups and Software ProblemsComputer does not start up Program stops responding Program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system Other software problemsProgram crashes repeatedly Solid blue screen appears Memory Problems Mouse Problems Network Problems Power Problems T H E P O W E R L I G H T I S B L I N K I N G B L U E Printer Problems Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from speakers Video and Monitor Problems No sound from headphonesScreen is blank Screen is difficult to read 3D image quality is poor Power Lights Reseat the processor see Diagnostic LightsLight Pattern Problem Description Processor on Installing Memory on Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested ResolutionReinstall one module see Install additional memory Exist see Memory on Ensure that no specialRequirements for memory Ensure that the memory you Possible expansion card 1 Determine if a conflict exists See System Board Beep Codes CodeCauseCode Cause Keyboard Controller Test failure System Messages Message Possible Cause Corrective Action DMA FDD Controller Dell Diagnostics When to Use Dell Diagnostics Starting Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Option Function Extended Test Tab Function What Is a Driver?Drivers Attached to your computer Identifying Drivers Using the Drivers and Utilities Media Book.book Page 93 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM Using Microsoft Windows System Restore Restoring Your Operating System Using Dell Factory Image Restore Using the Operating System Media To reinstall Windows, you need the following items Troubleshooting LCD Display Problems Recommended Tools Removing and Installing PartsBefore You Begin Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer 100 Removing the Computer Cover 101 Inside View of Your Computer 102 System Board Components 103 Memory Memory Overview 105 Installing Memory Addressing Memory With 8-GB Configurations 107 Removing Memory Cards PCI Cards109 Installing a PCI Card 110 111 Book.book Page 112 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM 113 Book.book Page 114 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM PCI Express Cards 115 Book.book Page 116 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM 117 Book.book Page 118 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM 119 120 121 122 123 Drive Panels Removing the Drive Panel124 Removing the Drive-Panel Insert 125 Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert Replacing the Drive Panel Align the drive panel tabs with the side-door hinges127 General Installation Guidelines Drives Hard Drive Removing a Hard Drive129 Installing a Hard Drive Connect the power and hard drive cables to the hard drive 131 Adding a Second Hard Drive 133 Installing a Hard Drive in the FlexBay Removing a Hard Drive From the FlexBay 135 Floppy Drive Removing a Floppy Drive 137 Installing a Floppy Drive 138 139 Media Card Reader Removing a Media Card Reader140 141 Installing a Media Card Reader 142 143 CD/DVD Drive Removing a CD/DVD Drive144 145 Installing a CD/DVD Drive 147 Removing the Processor Airflow Shroud Assembly Processor Airflow Shroud148 Removing the Processor Fan Cage Installing the Processor Airflow Shroud AssemblyFans 149 Installing the Processor Fan Cage Ease the cage out of the housing Removing the Processor Fan 151 Installing the Processor Fan Removing the Card Fan 153 Installing the Card Fan ProcessorRemoving the Processor Installing the Processor 155 Align the pin-1 corner of the processor and socket 156 System Board Removing the System Board157 Installing the System Board 159 Power Supply Power Supply PSU DC Connector Pin AssignmentsDC Power Connector P1 160 Power Supply Pin Number Signal name AWG Wire Color 161 DC Power Connector P2 DC Power Connector P3 and P5162 Power Supply Pin Number DC Power Connector P7DC Power Connectors P8, P9, P13, and P14 AWG Wire Signal name Color AWG Wire Signal name DC Power Connectors P10DC Power Connectors P12 164 Pin Number Signal Name AWG Wire Color Removing the Power SupplyDC Power Connector P15 For 425-W PSU Only 165 Installing the Power Supply Front I/O Panel Front I/O-Panel Components167 Removing the Front I/O Panel Installing the Front I/O Panel 169 Coin-Cell Battery Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery170 171 Replacing the Computer Cover Specifications 173 174 175 176 177 System Setup Overview Entering System Setup Contains information about each179 Internal default System Setup OptionsSo that it becomes the first device in the boot sequence 180 181 182 183 184 185 Boot Sequence 187 Clearing Forgotten Passwords 189 Clearing Cmos Settings Mouse Cleaning Your ComputerComputer, Keyboard, and Monitor 191 Floppy Drive CDs and DVDs FCC Notices U.S. Only Class a193 Class B FCC Identification Information Getting Help Obtaining Assistance195 Technical Support and Customer Service DellConnect Online Services Automated Order-Status Service Problems With Your OrderAutoTech Service Product Information Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Before You Call198 Diagnostics Checklist 199 Contacting Dell 201 Glossary 202 203 Product ID 204 Device driver See driverDocking device See APR 205 206 207 208 209 210 Module bay See media bayNIC See network adapter 211 212 213 214 215 Video resolution See resolution 216 217 218 219 Inside view, 102 stops respondingIndex Book.book Page 220 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM 221 Book.book Page 222 Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1029 AM 223 Settings System setup Sleep mode about SLI 225 226