User Guide

Overview

This section describes the inside of your computer and may be used as a reference before performing an upgrade procedure.

Safety First—For You and Your Computer

The procedures in this section require that you remove the cover and work inside your computer. While working inside your computer, do not attempt to service the computer except as explained in this guide and elsewhere in Dell documentation. Always follow the instructions closely.

Working inside your computer is safe—if you observe the following precautions.

CAUTION FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THE EQUIPMENT

Before you start to work on the computer, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated:

1. Turn off the computer and all peripherals.
   
   
2. Touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis, such as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of your computer, before touching anything inside your computer.
   
   
3. Disconnect the computer and peripherals from their electrical outlets. Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or shock. Also disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
   
   

   NOTE: Before disconnecting a peripheral from the system or removing a component from the system board, verify that the standby power light-emitting diode (LED) on the system board has turned off. For the location of this LED, see Figure 8."

   While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

In addition, Dell recommends that you periodically review the safety instructions in your System Information Guide.

Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover

To remove the computer cover, perform the following steps:

1. Turn off your computer and peripherals, and observe the Caution for Your Personal Safety and Protection of the Equipment described in "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."
   
   
2. If you have installed a padlock through the padlock ring on the back panel, remove the padlock.
   
   
3. Remove the computer cover.
   
   

   If your computer is a mini tower chassis, perform the following steps:
   
   

   1. Face the back of the computer and slide the upper half of the padlock ring to the left to unlock the cover release mechanism (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Mini Tower Chassis Cover Release Mechanism

Figure 2. Mini Tower Chassis Cover Removal

1 Release button

If your computer is a desktop chassis, perform the following steps:

1. Press in on the two securing buttons until the cover is free to swing up (see Figure 3).
   
   
2. Raise the back of the cover, pivot it toward the front of the computer, and lift the cover away.
   
   

Figure 3. Desktop Chassis Cover Removal

1 Securing buttons (2)

To replace the computer cover, perform the following steps:

1. Check all cable connections, especially those that might have come loose during your work. Fold cables out of the way so that they do not catch on the computer cover. Make sure cables are not routed over the drive cage—they will prevent the cover from closing properly.
   
   
2. Check to see that no tools or extra parts (including screws) are left inside the computer's chassis.
   
   
3. Replace the computer cover.
   
   

   If your computer is a mini tower chassis, perform the following steps:
   
   

   1. Face the left side of the computer and hold the cover at a slight angle as shown in Figure 4. While aligning the top of the cover with the top of the chassis, insert the three hooks on the cover into the three recessed slots on the computer chassis.
      
      
   2. Pivot the cover down toward the bottom of the chassis and into position. With both hands, press against the bottom edge of the cover to make sure that the securing hooks at the bottom of the cover click into place (see Figure 4).
      
      
   3. Slide the two halves of the padlock ring together to lock the cover release mechanism.

If your computer is a desktop chassis, perform the following steps:

1. Facing the left side of the computer, hold the cover at a slight angle as shown in Figure 5.
   
   
2. Fit the three cover hooks into the rectangular slots on the chassis. (It might be helpful to look down into the chassis to verify that the hooks are in place.)
   
   
3. Pivot the cover down toward the back and into position. Make sure that the two securing buttons click into place.
   
   

Figure 5. Replacing the Desktop Computer Cover

1 Securing buttons (2)

Internal Views

Figure 6  and Figure 7 show your computer with its cover removed.

Figure 6. Inside the Mini Tower Chassis

1 Externally accessible drive bays 2 Hard-disk drive cage 3 Chassis intrusion switch 4 DC power cable 5 Drive interface cable 6 AGP card brace 7 Security cable slot 8 Padlock ring 9 Expansion card slots 10 I/O panel connectors 11 AC power receptacle 12 Power supply

Figure 7. Inside the Desktop Chassis

1 Externally accessible drive bays 2 Hard-disk drive cage 3 System board 4 Expansion card slots 5 Padlock ring 6 I/O panel connectors 7 Security cable slot 8 AC power receptacle 9 Power supply 10 DC power cable 11 Drive interface cable

System Board Components

Figure 8. System Board Components

System Board Jumpers

Figure 9 shows the location of the jumpers on the system board. Table 1 lists the system board jumpers and their settings.

Figure 9. System Board Jumpers

Jumpers are small blocks on a circuit board with two or more pins emerging from them. Plastic plugs containing a wire fit down over the pins. The wire connects the pins and creates a circuit.

NOTICE: Make sure your system is turned off before you change a jumper setting. Otherwise, damage to your system or unpredictable results may occur.

To change a jumper setting, pull the plug off its pin(s) and carefully fit it down onto the pin(s) indicated.

Table 1. System-Board Jumper Settings

Jumper	Setting	Description
PSWD	(default)	Password features are enabled. Password features are disabled.
RTCRST		Real-time clock reset. Can be used for troubleshooting purposes.
jumpered   unjumpered

System Board Labels

Table 2 lists the labels for connectors and sockets on your system board, and it gives a brief description of their functions.

Table 2. System Board Connectors and Sockets

Removing and Replacing the AGP Card Brace (Mini Tower Chassis Only)

	NOTE: Your computer has either an AGP card or an AGP card clip.
	CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

Figure 10. Removing the AGP Card Brace

1 Expansion card guide 2 AGP card brace 3 Screw 4 AGP retension lever 5 Tab 6 Slot

To replace the brace, perform the following steps:

1. Insert the tabs on one end of the brace into the slots on the card guide at the front of the chassis (see Figure 10).
   
   
2. Lower the brace, ensuring that the AGP retension lever on the bottom of the brace is aligned with the top of the AGP card.
   
   
3. Replace the screw that secures the brace to the chassis.

Rotating the Power Supply Away From the System Board

To access some components on the system board, you may have to rotate the system power supply out of the way. To rotate the power supply, perform the following steps:

CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

1. Remove the computer cover as instructed in "Removing the Computer Cover."

Figure 11. Rotating the Power Supply in a Mini Tower Chassis

1 Power supply 2 Securing tab 3 AC power cable 4 Release latch

Figure 12. Rotating the Power Supply in a Desktop Chassis

1 Power supply 2 Securing tab 3 Release latch 4 AC power cable

3. Free the power supply from the securing tab by pressing the latch labeled "RELEASE - >. " Then rotate the power supply upward until it locks in its extended position.

When you have finished accessing components on the system board, rotate the power supply back to its original position until the release latch snaps into the securing tab.