Dell™ Dimension™ L Series Reference Conventions Technical Overview Controls and Indicators Drivers System Codes and Messages System Setup Program Technical Specifications Removing and Replacing Parts Documentation Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 1999–2001 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden.
Back to Contents Page System Codes and Messages: Dell™ Dimension™ L Series Reference Diagnostic Codes POST Beep Codes System Messages Diagnostic Codes Your system is equipped with four diagnostic code indicators, which are labeled "A," "B," "C," and "D" on the back of the computer. Each of the four indicators can be yellow, green, or off, as shown in Table 1. When the computer is turned on or restarted and the system is functioning normally, the indicators flash during power-on self-test (POST).
and save the setting. Turn off the computer, reset the configuration jumper to Normal mode, and then restart the system. If the problem persists, see Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance. Microprocessor has failed a BIOS test. If the problem persists, see Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance. Memory failed to be sized or enabled.
If the system emits a beep code and then fails to start, write down the beep code and look it up in Table 2. Table 2. System Beep Codes Beep Code Possible Cause Corrective Action 1 Memory refresh failure Reseat the DIMMs. 2 Parity cannot be reset Reseat the DIMMs. 3 Memory failure within the first 64 KB of memory Reseat the DIMMs. 4 Timer not operational See Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
CMOS Time and Date Not Set Diskette Boot Failure Drive A or B is present but has failed the BIOS Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the chassis and POST. defined correctly in the system setup program. Check the interface cable at both ends. DMA Error Error in the DMA controller on the system board. The keyboard or system board may need to be replaced. BIOS cannot communicate with the diskette drive or hard-disk drive controller.
Back to Contents Page Controls and Indicators: Dell™ Dimension™ L Series Reference Front Panel Back Panel Front Panel 1 Diskette-drive access indicator — Lights up when a diskette drive is being accessed. 2 Power — Turns the computer on and off. Lights up when the computer is on. Press and hold for 4 seconds to shut down. 3 Hard-disk drive access indicator — Lights up when a hard-disk drive is being accessed. Back Panel 1 Voltage selection switch — Selects the operating voltage for the computer.
Back to Contents Page Conventions: Dell™ Dimension™ L Series Reference Notes, Notices, and Cautions Typographical Conventions The following subsections describe notational conventions used in this document. Notes, Notices, and Cautions Throughout this guide, blocks of text may be accompanied by an icon and printed in bold type or in italic type.
Back to Contents Page Documentation: Dell™ Dimension™ L Series Reference Printed Documentation Online Documentation Printed Documentation You must right-click the link for a portable document format (PDF) file and save the file to your hard-disk drive. Attempting to open large PDF files through your browser may cause your system to freeze. To save PDF files (files with an extension of .
Back to Contents Page Drivers: Dell™ Dimension™ L Series Reference Drivers For Systems Purchased After May 19, 2000 Drivers For Systems Purchased Before May 19, 2000 Drivers For Systems Purchased After May 19, 2000 All of your system’s drivers for Dell-installed devices are operative when you receive the system—no further installation or configuration is needed. However, if you ever need to reinstall any of these drivers, the driver files are provided on the Dell Dimension ResourceCD.
If a particular driver is not listed, then that driver is not required by your operating system. NOTE: The ResourceCD displays drivers only for hardware that Dell installed at the time of purchase. If you installed any additional hardware, those drivers may not be displayed by the ResourceCD. If those drivers are not displayed, exit the ResourceCD program and refer to the documentation and drivers that came with that product. To view other contents on the ResourceCD: 1.
8. In the Description list, click Dimension L Series: Intel 800 Series Chip Set Driver. 9. In the All Files list, double-click setup.exe. 10. Click Next to start the driver installation or click Quit to exit the installation process. 11. When prompted to restart your computer to complete the installation, remove the Dell Dimension ResourceCD from the CD-ROM or DVDROM drive and then click Finish. Intel Security Driver Dell installed the Intel Security driver on your hard-disk drive.
7. In the All Folders list, click the win2000 folder. 8. In the Description list, click Dimension L Series: Intel Security Driver. 9. Double-click the only file that appears in the All Files list. The file is named nnnnnnnn.exe, where nnnnnnnn is an eight-digit part number. 10. Follow the instructions on the screen, and accept all defaults. 11.
7. In the All Folders list, double-click the drivers folder. 8. An alert message appears, informing you that only knowledgeable users should install drivers. 9. Click OK to continue. 10. In the All Folders list, click the winnt folder. 11. In the Description list, click Dimension L Series: Intel 810 Video Driver. 12. Click the only file that appears in the All Files list. The file is named nnnnnnnn.exe, where nnnnnnnn is the driver part number. 13.
To reinstall the Creative Labs audio driver on systems running Windows NT, perform the following steps: 1. Start the Windows NT 4.0 operating system. 2. Insert the Dell Dimension ResourceCD into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. 3. The Dell Dimension ResourceCD screen appears. 4. Click the right-arrow button. 5. The first time that you use the Dell Dimension ResourceCD, you are prompted to select a language. 6. Select the language of your choice, and click OK. 7.
10. Select the recommended driver. 11. Click OK and Next to complete the driver installation. Follow the instructions on the screen. If prompted to restart the system, remove the Dell Dimension ResourceCD from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. Intel 82559 Fast Ethernet LAN on Motherboard NIC Driver for Windows NT To reinstall the Intel 82559 Fast Ethernet LAN on Motherboard NIC driver on systems running Windows NT, perform the following steps: 1. Start the Windows NT operating system. 2.
Back to Contents Page Removing and Replacing Parts: Dell™ Dimension™ L Series Reference Overview Hard-Disk Drive Precautionary Measures Power Supply and Fan Assembly Recommended Tools Control Panel Cover Expansion Cards Rotating the Power Supply DIMMs Bezel Heat Sink 3.5-Inch Front Panel Insert Microprocessor Upper 3.5-Inch Drive Battery Lower 3.5-Inch Diskette Drive System Board 5.
l Wide flat-blade screwdriver l #1 and #2 Phillips-head screwdrivers l 1/4-inch nut driver l Tweezers or long-nose pliers l Wrist grounding strap Cover 1 Release latch 2 Computer cover To remove the computer cover, perform the following steps. NOTICE: To avoid inadvertently damaging the system board, be sure you that disconnect the system from the electrical outlet, disconnect the power cable from the back of the chassis, and press the power button before removing the computer cover.
1 Release latch 2 Power supply 3 Cable retainer 1. Remove the computer cover. 2. Lay the computer on its side. 3. Press the release latch while lifting the power supply. Rotate the power supply out of the chassis while keeping the power cables clear. 4. When you rotate the power supply back into the chassis, gently lift the cable retainer and hold the drive cables out of the way. 5. Rotate the power supply into position until its release latch clicks. 6.
1 Bezel release tab 2 Retaining hooks To remove the bezel, perform the following steps: 1. Remove the computer cover. 2. While facing the front of the computer, press in the bezel release tab the top of the chassis. 3. Swing the bezel away from the chassis, disengage the two retaining hooks at the bottom of the bezel, and carefully pull it away from the chassis. 4. To replace the bezel, fit the two bezel retaining hooks into their corresponding slots on the chassis.
1 Drive bay plate To remove the upper 3.5-inch drive plate and install a new drive, perform the following steps: 1. Remove the bezel. 2. Remove the 3.5-inch front panel insert. 3. Rotate the power supply away from the system board. While holding the power supply, place the computer in the upright position. 4. Remove the metal plate covering the bay by using a screwdriver to pop out the metal plate from the left or right side of the chassis. 5. Remove the extra rails from the inside front of the chassis. 6.
1 Drive-release rail tabs (2) To remove the 5.25-inch drive, perform the following steps: 1. Remove the bezel. 2. Rotate the power supply away from the system board. 3. While holding the power supply, place the computer in the upright position. 4. Disconnect the power and interface cables from the back of the drive. 5. Press the two drive-release rail tabs, and slide the drive out of the drive bay (see Figure 8).
3. Secure the drive to the front of the chassis with the two screws you removed. 4. Connect the power supply cable and the hard-disk drive interface cable to the new drive. Power Supply and Fan Assembly 1 Power-supply retaining clips 2 Power supply and fan assembly To remove the power supply and fan assembly, perform the following steps: 1. Disconnect the AC power cable from the computer. 2. Remove the computer cover. 3. Rotate the power supply away from the system board. 4.
Expansion Cards 1 Card-edge connector 2 Expansion card 3 Expansion-card connector 4 Expansion-card mounting bracket and screw To install an expansion card, perform the following steps: 1. Remove the computer cover. 2. Rotate the power supply. 3. Choose an expansion-card connector for the card. 4. Unscrew and remove the metal filler bracket that covers the card-slot opening for the expansion slot you intend to use. 5. Insert the expansion card firmly into the expansion-card connector.
1 Securing clips (2) 2 Cutout To install a DIMM, perform the following steps: 1. Remove the computer cover. 2. Rotate the power supply. 3. Press outward on the securing clips at each end of the DIMM socket to release the clips (step 1 in the preceding figure). 4. Align the cutouts on the edge connector of the DIMM with the crossbars in the central groove of the socket (step 2 in the preceding figure). 5.
9. Replace the heat sink and fan assembly by performing the following steps: NOTICE: When you install the heat sink and fan assembly, make sure that the heat sink is flat against the surface of the processor while you are installing the clip. If the heat sink becomes tilted when you install the clip, excess heat can damage the processor. a. Place the heat sink and fan assembly on top of the microprocessor chip. b.
5. Install the microprocessor chip in the socket (as shown in the preceding figure) by performing the following steps. NOTICE: You must position the microprocessor chip correctly in the socket to avoid permanent damage to the chip and the computer when you turn on the system. a. If the release lever on the microprocessor socket is not all the way out, move it to that position now. b. With the pin-1 corners of the chip and socket aligned, align the pins on the chip with the holes in the socket. c.
1 System-board retaining clip 2 System board 3 Standoffs 1. If possible, enter the system setup program and print the system setup screens by pressing the key before you turn off the computer because you will have to restore the configuration information after the system board is replaced. 2. Remove the computer cover. 3. Remove the power supply. 4. Disconnect any cables connected to expansion cards, and remove these expansion cards. 5. Disconnect all internal cables from the system board.
7. Re-enter the system setup program, and reset the system configuration information.
Back to Contents Page Technical Specifications: Dell™ Dimension™ L Series Reference Microprocessor Network System Information Power Expansion Bus Physical Memory Environmental Drives Regulatory Notices Ports IRQ Assignments Video Default Dell-Installed Expansion Card Placement Audio Microprocessor Microprocessor type Dimension Lxxxr Intel® Pentium® III microprocessor that runs at 500, 550, or 600 MHz internally and 100 MHz externally, or a Pentium III processor that runs at 600, 667, 733, 8
Lxxxcxe Expansion Bus Bus type PCI (version 2.
Internally accessible 2 Primary EIDE 40-pin connector on PCI bus Secondary EIDE 40-pin connector on PCI bus Diskette drive 34-pin connector Present only on systems with integrated audio and network capabilities.
–40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F) Storage Relative humidity 20% to 80% (noncondensing) Maximum vibration Operating 0.25 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 1/2 octave/min Storage 0.5 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 1/2 octave/min Maximum shock Operating bottom half-sine pulse with a change in velocity of 50.8 cm/sec (20 inches/sec) Storage 27-G faired-square wave with a velocity change of 508 cm/sec (200 inches/sec) Altitude 3 Operating –15.2 to 3048 m (–50 to 10,000 ft)3 Storage –15.
Back to Contents Page System Setup Program: Dell™ Dimension™ L Series Reference Overview Security Screen Entering the System Setup Program Boot Screen Main Screen Exit Screen Advanced Screen Clearing NVRAM Overview Each time you turn on or restart your computer system, the system compares the hardware installed in the system to the hardware listed in the configuration information stored in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) on the system board.
Table 1. Main Screen Menu Options Option Function BIOS Version Displays the version of the BIOS being used. Processor Type Displays the type of microprocessor installed. Processor Speed Displays the internal speed of the microprocessor. Cache RAM Displays the cache random access memory. Service Tag Displays the service tag for the system. Total Memory Displays the total system memory. Memory Bank 0 Displays the memory installed in memory bank 0.
Peripheral Configuration Displays the Peripheral Configuration submenu. IDE Configuration Displays the IDE Configuration submenu. Diskette Configuration Displays the Diskette Configuration submenu. Event Log Configuration Displays the Event Log Configuration submenu. Video Configuration Displays the Video Configuration submenu. Boot Configuration Submenu Table 3.
the following additional options: Base I/O Address If port is set to Enabled, available I/O addresses are 3F8, 3E8, 2F8, and 2E8. Interrupt Parallel port If port is set to Enabled, available interrupts are IRQ3 and IRQ4. Configures the parallel port. Set this option to Auto (default), Enabled, or Disabled. Depending on the port setting, you can set the following additional options: Mode If port is set to Auto or Enabled, available modes are Output Only, Bi-directional, ECP (default), and EPP.
Secondary IDE Slave Identifies the second drive attached to the secondary EIDE interface, usually a CD-ROM or tape drive. The format of this submenu is the same as the one described in "Primary IDE Master Submenu" Primary IDE Master Submenu Table 6. Primary IDE Master Submenu Options Option Function Type Specifies the type of hard-disk drive. Settings for this option are User, Auto, CD-ROM, ATAPI Removable, Other ATAPI, IDE Removable, and None. LBA Mode Control Determines LBA mode control.
Diskette Write Protect Protects a diskette from being written to when set to Enabled. When this option is set to Disabled (default), the diskette is not protected unless the write-protect tab is in place. Event Log Configuration Submenu Table 8. Event Log Configuration Submenu Options Option Function Event Log Displays the space available for the event log. Event Log Validity Displays the validity of the event log. View Event Log Press to view the event log.
Table 10. Security Screen Options Option Function Supervisor Password Is Indicates whether a supervisor password has been assigned. User Password Is Indicates whether a user password has been assigned. Set Supervisor Password Sets and confirms a supervisor password. Set User Password Sets and confirms a user password. Clear User Password Clears the user password. Settings for this option are Yes or No (default). Boot Screen Table 11.
On PME This option controls how the system responds to a PCI power management enabled (PME) wakeup event. The settings for this option are Power On or Stays Off (default). 1st Boot Device Dell Dimension Lxxxcx, Lxxxcxe, and Lxxxr: Determines which device the system tries to boot from first. Use the up- or down-arrow key to to highlight a device.
Table 12. Exit Screen Options Option Function Exit Saving Changes Saves any changes you have made, exits the system setup program, and restarts the system. Exit Discarding Changes Discards any changes you have made, exits the system setup program, and restarts the system. Load Setup Defaults Discards any changes you have made and reverts all options to their defaults, but does not exit the system setup program. Load Custom Defaults Loads any settings saved using the Save Custom Defaults option.
Back to Contents Page Technical Overview: Dell™ Dimension™ L Series Reference Internal View Power Supply Back-Panel Features DC Power Cables System Board Connectors and Sockets DC Power Connector Pin Assignments System Board Configuration Jumper Internal View 1 Bezel release 2 5.25-inch drive bay 3 3.
1 Microprocessor connector (J5H1) 16 CD-ROM drive audio cable connector (for systems with integrated audio; black color) (CD ROM) 2 DIMM sockets (BANKn) 17 MIDI/game port connector (for systems with integrated audio) (GAME) 3 Fan connector (J3J1) 18 Microphone jack (for systems with integrated audio) (MIC) 4 3.
Normal mode. Clear All Passwords — Disables a forgotten password so that you can access the system and assign new passwords. For the complete password procedure, see "Disabling a Forgotten Password" in Appendix B of the Dell Dimension L Series Reference and Troubleshooting Guide. Power Supply The 145-watt (W) power supply can operate from an AC power source of 115 volts AC (VAC) at 60 hertz (Hz) or 230 VAC at 50 Hz.
1 +5 VDC (red) 11 PSON#2 (brown) 2 Common (black) 12 Common (black) 3 +5 VDC (red) 13 Common (black) 4 Common (black) 14 Common (black) 5 PWRGOOD1 (orange) 15 –5 VDC (white) 6 +5 VFP (purple) 16 +5 VDC (red) 7 +12 VDC (yellow) 17 +5 VDC (red) 8 –12 VDC (blue) 18 +5 VDC (red) 9 Common (black) 19 Not connected 10 Common (black) 20 +5 VDC (red) 1 Pin 5 — PWRGOOD is a status signal generated by the power supply to notify the system that the DC operating voltages are within the ranges require
