Dell Precision 470: instruction

Dell Precision™ Workstation 470

and Workstation 670

Quick Reference Guide

Models WHM and WHL

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

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 the "Glossary" in the

User’s Guide

.

®

®

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

Windows

operating

systems are not applicable.

The

Quick Reference Guide

,

Drivers and Utilities

CD, and operating system media are optional and may not ship

with all computers.

____________________

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

© 2004 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and Dell Precision are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Microsoft and Windows are registered

trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel 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.

Models WHM and WHL

October 2004 P/N T3913 Rev. A01

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Contents

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

Setting Up Your Dell Precision 670 Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Setting Up Your Dell Precision 470 Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Opening the Computer Cover

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Caring for Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Solving Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

. . . . . . . . . . . 22

®

Microsoft Windows

XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Windows 2000

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Using System Restore in Windows XP

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Using Last Known Good Configuration

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Before You Start Testing

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Running the Dell Diagnostics

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

System Lights

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Beep Codes

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Error Messages

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Diagnostic Lights

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Memory Overview

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Frequently Asked Questions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Contents 3

4 Contents

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 and Utilities CD (also known as ResourceCD)

• Drivers for my computer

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your

• My computer documentation

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

• My device documentation

Dell Diagnostics (see page 26), or access your

documentation.

• Desktop System Software (DSS)

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.

• System board connectors

System Information Label

• Location of system board components

Located on the inside cover of your

computer.

Quick Reference Guide 5

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Warranty information

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

• How to remove and replace parts

Dell Precision™ Mobile Workstation User’s Guide

• Specifications

®

®

Microsoft

Windows

XP Help and Support Center

• How to configure system settings

1

Click the

Start

button and click

Help and Support

.

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

2

Click

User’s and system guides

and click

User’s guides

.

The User’s Guide is also available on the optional

Drivers

and Utilities

CD

.

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License

• Microsoft Windows License Label

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.

6 Quick Reference Guide

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

from technicians, online courses, frequently asked

NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support

questions

site.

• Community — Online discussion with other Dell

NOTE: Corporate, government, and education customers

customers

can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website

• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such

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

as memory, the hard drive, and the operating system

available in all regions.

• 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.

• How to use Windows XP

Windows Help and Support Center

• Documentation for my computer

1

Click the

Start

button and click

Help and Support

.

• Documentation for devices (such as a modem)

2

Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and

click the arrow icon.

3

Click the topic that describes your problem.

4

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Quick Reference Guide 7

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• 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 Dell Precision User’s

Guide for instructions.

After you reinstall your

operating system, use the

Drivers and Utilities CD

to reinstall drivers for the

devices that came with

your computer.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

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 the Red Hat

Linux operating system

Dell Supported Linux Sites

• E-mail discussions with other users of Dell Precision™

• http://linux.dell.com

computers and Linux

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

• Additional information regarding Linux and my Dell

precision

Precision computer

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

8 Quick Reference Guide

Setting Up Your Dell Precision 670 Computer

Connect the keyboard and the mouse.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of

1

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.

PS/2

or

USB

PS/2

or

USB

Connect the modem or the network cable.

NOTE: If your computer has a

2

network card installed, connect the

network cable to the card.

NOTE: A modem is not included as a

standard feature with Dell Precision

workstations, but you can order a

modem separately.

NOTICE: Do not connect a modem

cable to the network adapter. Voltage

Network

from telephone communications can

damage the network adapter.

Modem

Quick Reference Guide 9

Connect the monitor.

Depending on your

3

graphics card, you can

connect your monitor in

various ways.

For information on the

different options, see

page 11

and

page 12

.

NOTICE: You may need

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

to use the provided

adapter or cable to

connect your monitor

to the computer.

16 Quick Reference Guide

Connect the speakers.

4

LINE OUT

NOTE: If your computer has an audio card installed, connect the speakers to the card.

Connect the power cables and turn on the computer and monitor.

5

Install additional software or devices.

6

Quick Reference Guide 17

Before you install any devices or software that did not come with your computer, read the

documentation that came with the software or device or contact the vendor to verify that the

software or device is compatible with your computer and operating system.

Congratulations! You have completed the setup for your Dell Precision 470 computer.

To access the User’s Guide from your hard drive:

Click the

Start

button and click

Help and Support

.

To access your User’s Guide from the Dell Support website:

1

Go to

support.dell.com.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

2

Follow the prompts on the website that ask you for information specific to your computer.

3

At the Dell Support website home page, click the

User Guides

link under

Product Support

,

click

Systems

, and then select your Dell Precision computer.

Opening the Computer Cover

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

Product Information Guide.

1

Shut down the computer through the

Start

menu.

2

Ensure that your computer and attached devices are turned off. If your computer and

attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your computer, turn

them off now.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it

from the network wall jack.

3

Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

4

Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from electrical outlets, and then press the

power button to ground the system board.

5

If you have installed a padlock through the padlock ring on the back panel, remove

the padlock.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet

before opening the cover.

6

Lay the computer on its side as shown in the following illustrations.

NOTICE: Ensure that sufficient space exists to support the open cover—at least 30 cm (1 ft) of

desk top space.

18 Quick Reference Guide

7

Open the computer cover:

a

Slide the cover release latch toward the top of the computer.

b

Raise the cover, and pivot it toward the front of the computer.

8

Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer, such as the metal

at the back of computer, before touching anything inside your computer.

While you work, periodically touch any unpainted metal surface on the computer to dissipate

any static electricity that could harm internal components.

Dell Precision 670 Computer

cover release latch

security cable slot

padlock ring

Quick Reference Guide 19

Inside the Dell Precision 670 Computer

floppy drive (optional)

CD/DVD drive(s)

hard drive(s)

chassis intrusion switch

system board

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

processor

airflow shroud

power supply

20 Quick Reference Guide