DellTM DimensionTM 8300 Series CD or DVD activity light CD or DVD drive eject button floppy drive eject button* floppy drive light* USB 2.0 connectors (2) headphone connector Service Tag hard drive light power button *On computers with an optional floppy drive. power connector voltage selection switch serial connector parallel connector diagnostic lights mouse connector surround connector line-in connector keyboard connector center/LFE connector line-out connector microphone connector USB 2.0 connectors (6) network adapter video connector optional sound card connector (see the setup diagram) w w w. d e l l . c o m | s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m 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 Tell Me How help file. To access help files, see page 32. If you purchased a DellTM 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. © 2003­2004 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, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, PowerApp, PowerEdge, PowerConnect, PowerVault, DellNet, Axim, and Latitude are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel, Pentium, and Celeron are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows 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 Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own. Model DHM March 2004 P/N M2972 Rev. A02 Contents CAUTION: Safety Instructions SAFETY: General ................... 9 9 10 10 11 11 11 13 ........................ ............. ........ ..... SAFETY: When Using Your Computer SAFETY: When Working Inside Your Computer SAFETY: Ergonomic Computing Habits SAFETY: Battery Disposal SAFETY: Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge ............ ................... ............. Finding Information for Your Computer 1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer Setting Up a Printer Printer Cable ........................ 18 18 18 19 20 22 22 22 23 23 25 25 26 26 ......................... ................. Connecting a Parallel Printer Connecting a USB Printer ................... .......... Transferring Information to a New Computer Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard . Connecting to the Internet ............. ............... .................... .................... .............. Setting Up Your Internet Connection Copying CDs and DVDs ...................... ................... ............... How to Copy a CD or DVD Helpful Tips Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs . .......................... Contents 3 Hyper-Threading .......................... .................... 26 27 Turning Off Your Computer 2 Solving Problems Finding Solutions ......................... ..................... 30 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 35 37 38 38 38 39 39 39 39 40 40 41 42 42 Finding Help Information Battery Problems Drive Problems ......................... .......................... ..................... Floppy drive problems CD drive problems ....................... .............. Problems writing to a CD-RW drive DVD drive problems Hard drive problems ...................... ...................... ............. E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Error Messages .......................... ......................... ................. General Problems The computer stops responding A program stops responding A program crashes repeatedly .................. ................. ® ......... A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows® operating system . . . . . . . . . A solid blue screen appears Other software problems Other technical problems .................. .................... .................... .................. ................... General hardware problems IEEE 1394 Device Problems Keyboard Problems Mouse Problems ........................ .......................... 4 Contents Network Problems Power Problems . Printer Problems Scanner Problems ......................... 44 44 46 47 48 48 49 50 50 50 .......................... .......................... ......................... ................... Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from speakers No sound from headphones Video and Monitor Problems If the screen is blank ..................... ................... .................... ...................... ................. If the screen is difficult to read 3 Advanced Troubleshooting Diagnostic Lights Dell Diagnostics . .......................... .......................... ................ 54 58 58 58 61 61 61 62 63 63 64 64 65 66 66 66 When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Starting the Dell Diagnostics Drivers .................. ............................... ........................ ....................... ....................... ................. What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers Using Windows® System Restore Creating a Restore Point .................... ...... Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore ................ ....... Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP . Before You Begin Reinstalling Windows XP .............. ........................ .................... Contents 5 4 Adding Parts Front and Back View of the Computer Front View . Back View .............. 70 70 72 75 75 77 78 80 81 82 82 86 87 87 88 88 88 91 91 92 93 96 97 99 100 .......................... ........................... ........... Reattaching the Front Door and Hinge Arms Reattaching the Hinge Arms Reattaching the Front Door Opening the Computer Cover Looking Inside Your Computer System Board .................. .................. ................... .................. ......................... .................. Installing and Removing Cards Installing a Card Removing a Card . Adding Memory ........................ ....................... .......................... .................... ................ ......... DDR Memory Overview Memory Installation Guidelines Installing Memory Addressing Memory with 4-GB Configurations ....................... ................ Adding or Replacing the AGP Card Removing an AGP Card Installing an AGP Card Adding a Second Hard Drive Adding a Floppy Drive .................... .................... ................... ....................... ................ Removing the Front-Panel Insert Installing a Floppy Drive Closing the Computer Cover .................... ................... 6 Contents 5 Appendix Specifications . .......................... ........................ ....................... .................... 102 106 107 107 107 109 110 112 112 112 113 131 132 133 133 136 139 139 141 Standard Settings Viewing Settings Boot Sequence System Setup Screens . ........................ .................. Clearing Forgotten Passwords Replacing the Battery ...................... ............ .... Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals . Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals . Contacting Dell ..... .......................... ........................ ............... Regulatory Notices NOM Information (Mexico Only) Limited Warranties ....................... ........ ..... Limited Warranty for Dell-Branded Hardware Products (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Limited Warranty Terms for Dell-Branded Hardware Products (Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dell Software and Peripherals (Canada Only) 1-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee (Latin America and the Caribbean Only) . . ® ......... .......... ...... and Intel Warranty Statement for Celeron® Processors Only (U.S. and Canada Only) . Pentium® Index .................................. 143 Contents 7 8 Contents CAUTION: Safety Instructions Use the following safety guidelines to help ensure your own personal safety and to help protect your computer and working environment from potential damage. SAFETY: General · · Do not attempt to service the computer yourself unless you are a trained service technician. Always follow installation instructions closely. To help prevent electric shock, plug the computer and device power cables into properly grounded electrical outlets. These cables are equipped with 3-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a cable. If you must use an extension cable, use a 3-wire cable with properly grounded plugs. To help avoid the potential hazard of electric shock, do not use your computer during an electrical storm. To help avoid the potential hazard of electric shock, do not connect or disconnect any cables or perform maintenance or reconfiguration of this product during an electrical storm. If your computer includes a modem, the cable used with the modem should be manufactured with a minimum wire size of 26 American wire gauge (AWG) and an FCC-compliant RJ-11 modular plug. Before you clean your computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet. Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances. To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off the computer before disconnecting a device from the computer. To avoid shorting out your computer when disconnecting a network cable, first unplug the cable from the network adapter on the back of your computer, and then from the network jack. When reconnecting a network cable to your computer, first plug the cable into the network jack, and then into the network adapter. To help protect your computer from sudden, transient increases and decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner, or uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Ensure that nothing rests on your computer's cables and that the cables are not located where they can be stepped on or tripped over. Do not push any objects into the openings of your computer. Doing so can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components. Keep your computer away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling vents. Avoid placing loose papers underneath your computer; do not place your computer in a closed-in wall unit or on a bed, sofa, or rug. · · · · · · · · · · Safety Instructions 9 www.dell.com | support.dell.com SAFETY: When Using Your Computer As you use your computer, observe the following safe-handling guidelines. CAUTION: Do not operate your computer with any cover(s) (including computer covers, bezels, filler brackets, front-panel inserts, and so on) removed. · Your computer is equipped with one of the following: ­ A fixed-voltage power supply -- Computers with a fixed-voltage power supply do not have a voltage selection switch on the back panel and operate at only one voltage (see the regulatory label on the outside of the computer for its operating voltage). An auto-sensing voltage circuit -- Computers with an auto-sensing voltage circuit do not have a voltage selection switch on the back panel and automatically detect the correct operating voltage. A manual voltage selection switch -- Computers with a voltage selection switch on the back panel must be manually set to operate at the correct operating voltage. Set the switch to the position that most closely matches the voltage used in your location. ­ ­ NOTICE: To help avoid damaging a computer with a manual voltage selection switch, set the switch for the voltage that most closely matches the AC power available in your location. For Japan, the voltage selection switch must be set to the 115-V position even though the AC power available in Japan is 100 V. Also, ensure that your monitor and attached devices are electrically rated to operate with the AC power available in your location. · Before working inside the computer, unplug the computer to help prevent electric shock or system board damage. Certain system board components continue to receive power any time the computer is connected to AC power. SAFETY: When Working Inside Your Computer Before you open the computer cover, perform the following steps in the seque ...