Dell Precision 8F764 User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Dell Precision™ Workstations

Setup and Quick

Reference Guide

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.

____________________

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly

forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and Dell Precision are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation;

Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT 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 Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names

other than its own.

December 2002 P/N 8F764 Rev. A03

Contents 3

Contents

Finding Information and Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Setting Up Your Mini-Tower Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Dual Monitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Setting Up Your Small Desktop Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Dual Monitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Safety First—For You and Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Opening the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Opening the Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Removing and Installing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Adding Devices and Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Problems With Additional Devices and Software . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Using the Dell Precision ResourceCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Starting the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Messages and Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

4Contents

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 5

Finding Information and Assistance

The following table lists the resources that Dell provides as support tools.

Additional resources may be shipped 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

Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as the

ResourceCD)

You can use this CD to access documentation, reinstall drivers, or run

diagnostics tools.

• How to set up my computer

• Troubleshooting information

• Tools and utilities

Setup and Quick Reference Guide

6Setup and Quick Reference Guide

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

• Express Service Code and Service Tag

Number

•Microsoft

®Windows®License Label

Express Service Code and Product Key

The labels are located on your computer under the front-panel door.

• How to reinstall my operating system Operating System CD and Installation Guide

If you reinstall your operating system, use the Drivers and Utilities CD

to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer.

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 7

• How to remove and replace parts

• Technical specifications

• How to configure system settings

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

User’s Guide Icon

Depending on your operating system, double-click the User’s Guides

icon on your desktop or click the Start button and then click Help and

Support to access the electronic documentation stored on your hard

drive.

• Latest drivers for my computer

• Answers to technical service and support

questions

• Online discussions with other users and

technical support

• Documentation for my computer

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

The Dell Support website provides several online tools, including:

• Knowledge Base — Hints, tips, and online courses

• Customer Forum — 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, order status, warranty, and

repair information

• Downloads — Drivers, patches, and software updates

• Reference — Computer documentation, product specifications, and

white papers

• Service call status

• Top technical issues for my computer

• Frequently asked questions

• File downloads

• Details on my computer’s configuration

• Service contract for my computer

Dell Premier Support Website —

premiersupport.dell.com

The Dell Premier Support website is customized for corporate,

government, and education customers. This website may not be

available in all regions.

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

8F764eb3.fm Page 7 Monday, December 2, 2002 10:00 AM

8Setup and Quick Reference Guide

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

• System board connectors System Information Label

• Warranty Information Dell System Information Guide

• How to use Windows XP

• Documentation for my computer and

devices

Windows XP Help and Support Center

1Click the Start button and then click Help and Support.

2Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the

arrow icon.

3Click the topic that describes your problem.

4Follow the instructions shown on the screen.

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

Setup and Quick Reference Guide 9

Setting Up Your Mini-Tower Computer

You must complete all steps to properly set up your computer.

NOTE: The numbers in

the figures correspond to

the setup tasks.

Mini-Tower Computer Features

10 Setup and Quick Reference Guide

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Connect the keyboard and mouse as shown. Do not connect a Universal

Serial Bus (USB) mouse or keyboard to the USB connectors on the front of

the computer.

NOTE: Do not attempt to

operate a PS/2 mouse and

a USB mouse

simultaneously.

Keyboard and Mouse

headphones/speakers

connector

USB connectors (2)

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