Dell Precision Workstation 390 User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Dell Precision™ Workstation 390

Quick Reference Guide

Model DCTA

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.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see Glossary in your

User’s Guide

If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft

Windows

operating systems are not applicable.

____________________

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Red Hat is a registered trademark of Red Hat 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 Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model DCTA

May 2006 P/N GH459 Rev. A00

title.fm Page 2 Friday, June 2, 2006 4:24 PM

Contents 3

Contents

Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Setting Up Your Computer (Tower Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Setting Up Your Computer (Desktop Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

About Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Front View (Tower Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Back View (Tower Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Front View (Desktop Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Back View (Desktop Orientation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Back-Panel Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Inside View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

System Board Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Locating Your User’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Removing the Computer Cover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Caring for Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Using the Last Known Good Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Dell Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Before You Start Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Beep Codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Diagnostic Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

4Contents

Quick Reference Guide 5

Finding Information

NOTE: Some features may not be available for your computer or in certain countries.

NOTE: Additional information may ship 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

• Desktop System Software (DSS)

Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as ResourceCD)

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your

computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers, run

the "Dell Diagnostics" on page 34, or access your

documentation.

Readme files may be

included on your CD

to provide last-minute

updates about technical

changes to your

computer or advanced

technical-reference

material for technicians

or experienced users.

NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be found

at support.dell.com.

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may

not ship with your computer.

• How to set up my computer

• How to care for my computer

• Basic troubleshooting information

• How to run the Dell Diagnostics

• Error codes and diagnostic lights

• How to remove and install parts

• How to open my computer cover

Quick Reference Guide

NOTE: The Quick Reference Guide is optional and may

not ship with your computer.

NOTE: This document is available as a PDF at

support.dell.com.

6Quick Reference Guide

• Warranty information

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• How to remove and replace parts

• Specifications

• How to configure system settings

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

User’s Guide

Microsoft®Windows®XP Help and Support Center

Click the

Start

button and click

Help and Support

Click

User’s and system guides

and click

User’s guides

The User’s Guide is also available on the optional

Drivers

and Utilities

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft Windows License Label

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License

These labels are located on your computer.

• Use the Service Tag

to identify your

computer when you

use

support.dell.com

or contact technical

support.

• Enter the Express

Service Code to direct your call when contacting

technical support.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

Quick Reference Guide 7

• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles

from technicians, online courses, frequently asked

questions

• Community — 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, service call

and order status, warranty, and repair information

• Service and support — Service call status and support

history, service contract, online discussions with

technical support

• Reference — Computer documentation, details on

my computer configuration, product specifications,

and white papers

• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and

software updates

• Desktop System Software (DSS) — If you reinstall

the operating system for your computer, you should

also reinstall the DSS utility. DSS provides critical

updates for your operating system and support for

Dell™ 3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel

Pentium

M processors, optical drives, and USB

devices. DSS is necessary for correct operation of

your Dell computer. The software automatically

detects your computer and operating system and

installs the updates appropriate for your

configuration.

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support

site.

NOTE: Corporate, government, and education customers

can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website

at premier.support.dell.com.The website may not be

available in all regions.

• How to use Windows XP

• Documentation for my computer

• Documentation for devices (such as a modem)

Windows Help and Support Center

Click the

Start

button and click

Help and Support

Type a word or phrase that describes your problem

and click the arrow icon.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

8Quick Reference Guide

• How to reinstall my operating system

Operating System CD

The operating system is already installed on your

computer. To reinstall your operating system, use the

Operating System CD. See your User’s Guide for

instructions.

After you reinstall your

operating system, use

the optional Drivers and

Utilities CD to reinstall

drivers for the devices

that came with your

computer.

Your operating system

product key label is

located on your

computer.

NOTE: The color of your CD varies based on the operating

system you ordered.

NOTE: The Operating System CD is optional and may

not ship with your computer.

• How to use Linux

• E-mail discussions with users of Dell Precision™

products and the Linux operating system

• Additional information regarding Linux

and my Dell Precision computer

Dell Supported Linux Sites

• http://linux.dell.com

• http://lists.us.dell.com/mailman/listinfo/linux-precision

• http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/software/oslinux/

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

Quick Reference Guide 9

Setting Up Your Computer (Tower Orientation)

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located

in the Product Information Guide.

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

1Connect the keyboard and the mouse.

2Connect the modem or the network cable.

NOTICE: Do not connect a modem cable to the

network adapter. Voltage from telephone

communications can damage the network adapter.

NOTE: If your computer has a network card installed,

connect the network cable to the card.

10 Quick Reference Guide

3Connect the monitor.

Depending on your graphics

card, you can connect your

monitor in various ways.

NOTE: You may need to use

the provided adapter or

cable to connect your

monitor to the computer.

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