905grbk0.book Page 1 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM CHAPTER 7 Checking Inside the Computer Your Dell PowerEdge 300 system supports a variety of internal options that expand system capabilities. This file prepares you to install options inside the computer. It describes how to remove and replace the computer cover and rotate the power supply away from the system board. It also familiarizes you with the internal components you may handle if you install Dell hardware options.
905grbk0.book Page 2 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM 4. To verify that all power has been removed from the system, make sure that the standby light-emitting diode (LED) on the system board has gone out. For the location of this LED, see Figure 8-1, in Chapter 8, “Installing System Board Options”. 5. Touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis, such as the power supply, before touching anything inside your computer. 6.
905grbk0.book Page 3 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM padlock ring security cable slot Figure 7-1. Padlock Installed support.dell.com 3. Remove the cover. 4. Facing the left side cover, press the release button (located at the bottom-left corner of the front bezel) and lift the bottom of the cover, allowing it to pivot up toward you (see Figure 7-2). 5. Disengage the tabs that secure the cover to the top of the chassis, and lift the cover away.
905grbk0.book Page 4 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM release button Figure 7-2. Removing the Computer Cover Replacing the Computer Cover Use the following procedure to replace the computer cover: 7-4 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.
905grbk0.book Page 5 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM the tabs on the cover into the recessed slots on the computer chassis so that the tabs catch the hooks inside the slots. Pivot the cover down toward the bottom of the chassis and into position. Make sure the securing hooks at the bottom of the cover click into place. tabs (3) recessed slot Figure 7-3. Replacing the Computer Cover 5. If you are using a padlock to secure your system, reinstall the padlock.
905grbk0.book Page 6 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM Inside Your Computer Figure 7-4 shows a side view of your computer to help you orient yourself when installing hardware options. Unless otherwise specified, locations or directions relative to the computer are as shown. back of computer left side right side front of computer Figure 7-4. Computer Orientation View Figure 7-5 shows your computer with its cover removed.
905grbk0.book Page 7 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM power supply AC power receptacle external drive bays input/output (I/O) panel internal drive bays expansion card slots drive interface cable drive power cable security cable lock system board padlock ring Figure 7-5. Inside the Chassis The system board holds the computer's control circuitry and other electronic components. Some hardware options are installed directly on the system board. Drive support is as follows: • • The three 5.
905grbk0.book Page 8 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM to an IDE connector on the system board. (For more information, see Chapter 9, “Installing Drives.”) During an installation or troubleshooting procedure, you may be required to change a jumper or switch setting. For information on the system board jumpers, see Appendix B, “Jumpers, Switches, and Connectors.
05grbk0.book Page 9 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM 4. The power supply bracket has detents to hold the power supply up in one of several extended positions, which are especially useful when the chassis is standing upright. Removing and Replacing the Front Bezel The bezel is secured to the front of the chassis by two tabs and two hooks. The tab release for the bezel is at the top of the computer chassis and can be accessed only with the computer cover removed (see “Replacing the Computer Cover”).
905grbk0.book Page 10 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM To replace the bezel, fit the two retaining hooks on the bezel into their corresponding slots at the bottom of the chassis. Then rotate the top of the bezel toward the chassis until the top tabs snap into their corresponding slots on the bezel. Removing and Replacing Front-Panel Inserts Empty 5.
905grbk0.book Page 11 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM bezel posts (2) ring tabs (2) Figure 7-8. Removing a Front-Panel Insert To replace a front-panel insert, work from inside the bezel. Insert the two ring-tabs (one on each end of the insert) over the posts on the inside of the bay opening, and firmly press both ends of the insert into place.
905grbk0.book Page 12 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM Troubleshooting a Wet Computer Liquid spills, splashes, and excessive humidity can cause damage to the system. If an external device (such as a printer or an external drive) gets wet, contact the device manufacturer for instructions. If the computer gets wet, complete the following steps. CAUTION: See “Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge” in the safety instructions at the front of this guide. 1.
905grbk0.book Page 13 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM obtaining technical assistance from Dell. Follow these steps to troubleshoot a damaged computer: 1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its electrical outlet. CAUTION: See “Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge” in the safety instructions at the front of this guide. 2. Remove the computer cover. See “Removing the Computer Cover,” earlier in this chapter. 3.
905grbk0.book Page 14 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM 4. Check the connection of the coin cell battery to the system board. Is the battery firmly installed in the battery socket on the system board? Yes. Go to step 6. No. Go to step 5. 5. Reseat the battery in its socket. Is the problem resolved? Yes. The battery was loose. You have fixed the problem. No. Continue with this procedure. WARNING There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed.
905grbk0.book Page 15 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM CAUTION: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions at the front of this guide. 3. Remove the computer cover. See “Replacing the Computer Cover,” found earlier in this chapter. 4. Check the power cable connection to the POWER_1 connector on the system board. Troubleshooting the Cooling Fan If you experience trouble with the cooling fan, make sure the fan cable is plugged into the FAN connector on the system board.
905grbk0.book Page 16 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM 4. Reseat the expansion cards in their connectors. See “Removing an Expansion Card” and “Installing an Expansion Card” in Chapter 8 for instructions on removing and replacing expansion cards. Is the problem resolved? Yes. The connection was loose. You have fixed the problem. No. Go to step 5. 5. Verify that any appropriate cables are firmly connected to their corresponding connectors on the expansion cards.
905grbk0.book Page 17 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM 8. Reconfigure the card according to the instructions in the card's documentation. Is the problem resolved? Yes. The memory configuration of the card was incorrect. You have fixed the problem. No. Go to step 9. 9. Remove all expansion cards. See “Removing an Expansion Card” in Chapter 8 for information on removing expansion cards. 10. Replace the computer cover, reconnect the system to the electrical outlet, and turn on the system. 11.
905grbk0.book Page 18 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM Troubleshooting System Memory A system memory problem can be a faulty dual in-line memory module (DIMM) or a faulty system board. If a random-access memory (RAM) error message appears, the system probably has a memory problem. When you turn on or reboot the system, the and indicators on the keyboard should flash momentarily and then turn off.
905grbk0.book Page 19 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM 7. Replace the support panel. Align the panel so that the two tabs are to the right. Fit the tabs into the two slots on the chassis back and swing the panel closed. Secure the panel with the two thumbscrews. 8. Replace the computer cover, reconnect the system to an electrical outlet, and turn on the system. 9. Enter the System Setup program and check the System Memory setting again.
905grbk0.book Page 20 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM Troubleshooting the Video Subsystem Troubleshooting video problems involves determining which of the following is the source of the problem: the monitor, the monitor interface cable, the video memory, or the video logic of the computer. You can also have a high-resolution video expansion card installed, which overrides the video logic of the computer. The following procedure troubleshoots problems with the video memory and video logic only.
905grbk0.book Page 21 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM 6. Replace the computer cover, reconnect the system to an electrical outlet, and turn on the system. Did the tests run successfully? Yes. The video expansion card is faulty. See Chapter 10, “Getting Help,” for instructions on obtaining technical assistance. No. See Chapter 10, “Getting Help,” for instructions on obtaining assistance.
905grbk0.book Page 22 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM 8. Enter the System Setup program and update the system information. See “Using the System Setup Program” in the User's Guide for instructions. 9. Run the System Set test group in the Dell Diagnostics. See Chapter 5, “Running the Dell Diagnostics.” Did the tests run successfully? Yes. Go to step 10. No. Go to step 15. 10. Repeat steps 1 and 2. 11.
905grbk0.book Page 23 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive Subsystem If the monitor displays a system error message indicating a diskette drive problem during execution of either the boot routine or the Dell Diagnostics, the problem may be caused by any of the following conditions: • • • • • • • The system configuration settings do not match the physical diskette subsystem configuration. The diskette drive cable is not properly connected or is faulty.
905grbk0.book Page 24 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM 6. Check the diskette drive cabling. Is the diskette drive securely connected to the diskette-drive interface cable connector? Is the diskette-drive interface cable securely connected to the interface connector (labeled “DISKETTE”) on the system board? Is the drive's DC power cable firmly connected to the drive? Yes. Go to step 8. No. Go to step 7. 7. Reconnect the DC power cable connector. 8.
905grbk0.book Page 25 Friday, September 1, 2000 9:30 AM 15. Run the Diskette Drives test group in the Dell Diagnostics to determine whether the diskette drive subsystem now works correctly. Did the tests run successfully? Yes. Go to step 16. No. Go to step 17. 16. Repeat steps 13 through 15 until all expansion cards have been reinstalled or until one of the expansion cards prevents the system from booting from the diagnostics diskette. 17. Repeat steps 4 and 5.
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