DellTM DimensionTM 9200 Owner's Manual Service Tag CD or DVD eject button CD or DVD activity light FlexBays (2) for optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader microphone connector headphone connector diagnostic lights hard drive activity light power button USB 2.0 connectors (2) power connector cover release latch audio connectors USB 2.0 connectors (4) (rear quad) USB 2.0 connectors (2) (rear dual) network adapter card slots for PCI Express x1 (1), PCI Express x16 (1), PCI Express x4 (1), PCI (3) Model DCTA 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. 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. © 2006 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, Latitude, PowerEdge, PowerVault, PowerApp, PowerConnect, XPS, DellNet, Dell TravelLite, Dell OpenManage, and StrikeZone are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Core is trademark of Intel Corporation; Intel, Pentium, Intel SpeedStep, Celeron, and Viiv are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, and Outlook are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; EMC is a registered trademark of EMC Corporation; the Bluetooth word mark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Dell Inc. is under license. 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 September 2006 P/N YH242 Rev. A01 Contents Finding Information ................................ 9 1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer . Front View of the Computer Back View of the Computer Back Panel Connectors Connecting Monitors. ............... 13 13 15 16 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 25 26 26 28 28 ........................... ........................... ............................. .............................. ........ ........ ........ ........ Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors . . . . . Connecting One Monitor With a VGA connector and One Monitor With a DVI Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting a Television (TV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changing the Display Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting Up a Printer ............................... ......................... ......................... Printer Cable . . . . . . . Connecting a USB Printer. Connecting to the Internet . ........................... .................... .................... Setting Up Your Internet Connection Setting Up a Home and Office Network . Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard . . . . . . ..................... ..................... ................. ....... ....... Transferring Information to a New Computer . Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Playing CDs and DVDs . ............................. ........................... ........................... ........................... Playing a CD or DVD . Adjusting the Volume . Adjusting the Picture . Contents 3 Copying CDs and DVDs. ............................. ........................ ........................ ........................ ..................... 28 29 29 30 31 32 32 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 35 How to Copy a CD or DVD. . Using Blank CDs and DVDs . Helpful Tips . . . . . . . . . Using a Media Card Reader (Optional) IEEE 1394 (Optional) Power Management ............................... ............................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... Overview . . . . . . . . . Standby Mode . . . . . . Hibernate Mode. . . . . . Power Options Properties Cleaning Your Computer . ............................ .............. .............. .............. .............. Cleaning the Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor Cleaning the Mouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleaning the Floppy Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . Cleaning CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Optimizing Performance . Hyper-Threading . About Your RAID Configuration ........................ 37 37 37 38 38 39 40 42 46 46 46 47 47 ................................ ......................... ................. ................. ................. ................. ................. RAID Level 0 Configuration . . . . . . . . RAID Level 1 Configuration . . . . . . . . Configuring Your Computer for RAID . . . Using the Intel® RAID Option ROM Utility Using the Intel® Application Accelerator Dell DataSafe (Optional) . ............................ ...................... ........... ........... ........... Intel® ViivTM Technology (Optional) . Using Intel® ViivTM Quick Resume Technology (QRT) Enabling the QRT Feature in System Setup . . . . . . Enabling the QRT Feature in the Operating system. . 4 Contents 3 Solving Problems. Troubleshooting Tips . Battery Problems. Drive Problems . ............................. 49 49 49 50 50 51 51 53 54 54 55 55 55 55 55 56 56 56 57 57 58 59 60 60 61 61 62 62 62 63 .............................. ................................ ................................. ........................ ........................ .................... CD and DVD drive problems Hard drive problems . . . . E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems . Error Messages ................................. .......................... Media Card Reader Problems Keyboard Problems ............................... ........................ .... .... .... .... .... .... .... Lockups and Software Problems The computer does not start up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The computer stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A program stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A program crashes repeatedly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system . A solid blue screen appears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other software problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Memory Problems Mouse Problems . ................................ ................................ ............................... Network Problems . Power Problems ................................. ................................ ................................ ......................... ........................ ........................ Printer Problems . Scanner Problems Sound and Speaker Problems . No sound from speakers . . No sound from headphones Video and Monitor Problems .......................... ....................... ....................... The screen is blank . . . . . . The screen is difficult to read. Contents 5 4 Troubleshooting Tools Diagnostic Lights. Dell Diagnostics .......................... 65 65 68 69 70 70 70 71 72 72 72 74 ................................ ................................. ........................ Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Drivers ...................................... ............................ ............................ ............................ ............. What Is a Driver? . . Identifying Drivers . Reinstalling Drivers . Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Restoring Your Operating System ........................ .............. .............. Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore . Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec . . . . . . 5 Removing and Installing Parts. Before You Begin. .................... 77 77 77 77 78 78 80 81 82 82 83 85 86 86 91 100 100 101 102 103 ................................ .................. .................. .................. Recommended Tools . . . . . . . . . . Turning Off Your Computer . . . . . . . Before Working Inside Your Computer . Removing the Computer Cover. Inside View of Your Computer . System Board Components. Memory. ......................... ......................... ........................... ..................................... ............................. ............................. ............................. Memory Overview Installing Memory. Removing Memory Cards ....................................... ............................. ............................. PCI Cards . . . . . PCI Express Cards Drive Panels .................................. .................... .................... .................... .................... Removing the Drive Panel . . . . Removing the Drive-Panel Insert . Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert . Replacing the Drive Panel . . . . 6 Contents Drives. ..................................... ..................... 103 104 104 105 106 107 109 109 111 112 112 115 116 117 118 120 120 121 General Installation Guidelines . Hard Drive ................................... ....................... ....................... ....................... Removing a Hard Drive . . . Installing a Hard Drive . . . Adding a Second Hard Drive Floppy Drive .................................. ......................... ......................... Removing a Floppy Drive Installing a Floppy Drive Media Card Reader .............................. ..................... ..................... Removing a Media Card Reader Installing a Media Card Reader. CD/DVD Drive. ................................. ........................ ........................ Removing a CD/DVD Drive Installing a CD/DVD Drive. Battery ..................................... .......................... ........................ Replacing the Battery. Replacing the Computer Cover 6 Appendix .................................. ................................. ................................. .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ........................ 123 123 127 127 127 129 132 134 135 135 135 136 Specifications System Setup . Overview . . . . . . . Entering System Setup System Setup Options. Boot Sequence . . . . Clearing Forgotten Passwords. Clearing CMOS Settings . ........................... .................. ......... ......... Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals. . Contents 7 FCC Notice (U.S. Only) FCC Class B Contacting Dell. ............................. 136 136 137 ................................ ................................ Glossary Index . ..................................... 159 171 ....................................... 8 Contents Finding Information NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries. NOTE: This Owner's Manual is available as a PDF at support.dell.com. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer. What Are You Looking For? · · · · A diagnostic program for my computer Drivers for my computer My device documentation Desktop System Software (DSS) Find It Here Drivers and Utilities CD (ResourceCD) NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers (see "Drivers" on page 70), run the Dell diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 68), 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. · · · · · · Warranty information Terms and Conditions (U.S. only) Safety instructions Regulatory information Ergonomics information End User License Agreement DellTM Product Information Guide Finding Information 9 What Are You Looking For? · Service Tag and Express Service Code · Microsoft® Windows® Product Key Label Find It Here Service Tag and Microsoft Windows Product Key These labels are located on your computer. · Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support.dell.com or contact support. · Enter the Express Service ...