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Internal Components: Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX300 System User's Guide

	Overview		Troubleshooting Expansion Cards
	Safety First—For You and Your Computer		Troubleshooting System Memory
	Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover		Troubleshooting the Video Subsystem
	Troubleshooting a Wet Computer		Troubleshooting the System Board
	Troubleshooting a Damaged Computer		Troubleshooting a Dead System Board With the RTCRST Jumper
	Troubleshooting the Battery		Troubleshooting Drives

Overview

This section provides troubleshooting procedures for components inside your computer. Before you start any of the procedures in this section, do the following:

• Perform the procedures described in "Checking Connections and Switches" and "System Setup."
  
  
• Read the safety instructions in "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

You need the following items to perform the procedures in this section:

• A copy of the Dell ResourceCD
  
  
• A small flat-blade screwdriver and a #1 Phillips-head screwdriver (or quarter-inch hex-nut driver)

Safety First—For You and Your Computer

The procedures in this section require that you remove the cover and work inside your computer. While working inside your computer, do not attempt to service the computer except as explained in this guide and elsewhere in Dell documentation. Always follow the instructions closely.

Working inside your computer is safe—if you observe the following precautions.

CAUTION FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THE EQUIPMENT

Before you start to work on the computer, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated:

1. Turn off the computer and all peripherals.
   
   
2. Touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis, such as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of your computer, before touching anything inside your computer.
   
   
3. Disconnect the computer and peripherals from their electrical outlets. Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or shock. Also disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

NOTE: Before disconnecting a peripheral from the system or removing a component from the system board, verify that the standby power light-emitting diode (LED) on the system board has turned off. For the location of this LED, see Figure 3 in "Inside Your Computer."

While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

In addition, Dell recommends that you periodically review the safety instructions in your System Information Guide.

Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover

To remove the computer cover, perform the following steps:

1. Turn off your computer and peripherals, and observe the Caution for Your Personal Safety and Protection of Your Equipment as described in "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."
   
   
2. If you have installed a padlock through the padlock ring on the back panel, remove the padlock.
   
   
3. Face the back of the computer and slide the upper half of the padlock ring to the left to unlock the cover release mechanism.
   
   
4. Remove the computer cover as follows:
   
   
   1. Face the left side cover and press the release button (located at the bottom-left corner of the front bezel), see Figure 1.
      
      
   2. Lift the bottom of the cover, allowing it to pivot up toward you.
      
      
   3. Disengage the tabs that secure the cover to the top of the chassis, and lift the cover away.

Figure 1. Removing the Computer Cover

1 Release button

To replace the computer cover, perform the following steps:

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. Check to see that no tools or extra parts (including screws) are left inside the computer's chassis.
   
   
3. Replace the computer cover as follows:
   
   
   1. Face the left side of the computer and hold the cover at a slight angle as shown in Figure 2.
      
      
   2. Align the top of the cover with the top of the chassis and insert the hooks on the cover into the recessed slots on the computer chassis so that the tabs catch the hooks inside the slots.
      
      
   3. Pivot the cover down toward the bottom of the chassis and into position. Make sure that the securing hooks at the bottom of the cover click into place.

Figure 2. Replacing the Computer Cover

1 Hook 2 Recessed slot

4. Slide the two halves of the padlock ring together to lock the cover release mechanism.
   
   
5. If you are using a padlock to secure your system, reinstall the padlock.

Troubleshooting a Wet Computer

Liquids can damage your computer. While you are not likely to submerge your computer, spills, splashes, and excessive humidity can also cause damage. If an external device (such as a printer or an external drive) gets wet, contact the manufacturer for instructions. If your computer gets wet, perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect all the AC power cables from their electrical outlets. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

2. Remove the computer cover.
   
   
3. Let the computer dry for at least 24 hours. Make sure that it is thoroughly dry before you proceed.
   
   
4. Remove the accelerated graphics port (AGP) card brace according to the instructions in "Removing and Replacing the AGP Card Brace."
   
   
5. Remove all expansion cards installed in the computer except a drive controller card and video expansion card.
   
   
6. Replace the computer cover, reconnect the system to an electrical outlet, and turn it on.

   If the system has power, proceed to step 6. If the system does not have power, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
   

7. Turn off the system, disconnect it from the electrical outlet, remove the computer cover, and reinstall all expansion cards that you removed in step 4.
   
   
8. Replace the AGP card brace.
   
   
9. Replace the computer cover, and reconnect the system to an electrical outlet. Also, reconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines to the computer.
   
   
10. Start the Dell Diagnostics by inserting the Dell ResourceCD and rebooting the system.
    
    
11. Run the System Board Devices test group.
    
    

If the tests complete successfully, your system is operating properly. If any of the tests fail, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Troubleshooting a Damaged Computer

If your computer was dropped or damaged, you should check your computer to see if it functions properly. If an external device attached to your computer is dropped or damaged, contact the manufacturer of the device for instructions or see "Getting Help" for information on obtaining technical assistance from Dell. To troubleshoot a damaged computer, perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect all the AC power cables from their electrical outlets. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First—For Your and Your Computer."

2. Remove the computer cover.
   
   
3. Check all the expansion-card connections in the computer.
   
   
4. Verify the diskette/tape drive, hard-disk drive, and all other internal connections.
   
   Make sure that all cables are properly connected and that all components are properly seated in their connectors and sockets.
   
   
5. Replace the computer cover, reconnect the system to an electrical outlet, and reconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines.
   
   
6. Start the Dell Diagnostics by inserting the Dell ResourceCD and rebooting the system.
   
   
7. Run the System Board Devices test group.
   
   

If the tests complete successfully, your system is operating properly. If any of the tests fail, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Troubleshooting the Battery

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

If an error message indicates a problem with the battery or if System Setup loses the system configuration information when the computer is turned off, the battery may be defective.

To troubleshoot the battery, perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect all the AC power cables from their electrical outlets. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

2. Remove the computer cover.
   
   
3. Remove the AGP card brace according to the instructions in "Removing and Replacing the AGP Card Brace."
   
   
4. Reseat the battery in its socket.
   
   The battery is a coin cell that snaps into a socket on the system board.
   
   
5. If the problem is not resolved, replace the battery.

   If the problem is still not resolved, you may have a faulty system board. See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Troubleshooting Expansion Cards

If an error message indicates an expansion-card problem or if an expansion card seems to perform incorrectly or not at all, the problem could be a faulty connection, a conflict with software or other hardware, or a faulty expansion card. To troubleshoot expansion cards, perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect all the AC power cables from their electrical outlets. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

2. Remove the computer cover.
   
   
3. Remove the AGP card brace according to the instructions in "Removing and Replacing the AGP Card Brace."
   
   
4. Verify that each expansion card is firmly seated in its connector. If any expansion cards are loose, reseat them.
   
   
5. Verify that any cables are firmly connected to their corresponding connectors on the expansion cards. If any cables appear loose, reconnect them.
   
   For instructions on which cables should be attached to specific connectors on an expansion card, see the expansion card's documentation.
   
   
6. Remove all expansion cards except the video card.
   
   
7. Replace the computer cover, reconnect the system to an electrical outlet, and turn it on.
   
   
8. Start the Dell Diagnostics by inserting the Dell ResourceCD and rebooting the system.
   
   
9. Run the RAM test group.

If the tests complete successfully, proceed to step 10. If any of the tests fail, see "Getting Help" for information on obtaining technical assistance.

10. Turn off the system, disconnect it from the electrical outlet, and remove the computer cover.
    
    
11. Reinstall one of the expansion cards that you removed previously, and repeat steps 6 and 7.
    
    If any of the tests fail, the expansion card you just reinstalled is faulty and needs to be replaced. If the tests complete successfully, repeat steps 8 and 9 with another expansion card.
    
    
12. If you have replaced all the expansion cards removed previously and the expansion card problem is not resolved, see "Getting Help" for information on obtaining technical assistance.

Troubleshooting System Memory

A computer memory problem can be a faulty Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) or a faulty system board. If a random-access memory (RAM) error message appears, the computer probably has a memory problem.

When you turn on or reboot the system, the Caps Lock and Scroll Lock indicators on the keyboard should flash momentarily and then turn off. If the Num Lock option in System Setup is set to On, the Num Lock indicator should flash momentarily and then remain on; otherwise, it should turn off. Abnormal operation of these indicators can result from a defective RIMM in socket A. To troubleshoot system memory, perform the following steps:

1. Turn on the system, including any attached peripherals.

CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

2. If an error message indicates invalid system configuration information, enter System Setup and check the System Memory option. If the amount of memory displayed does not match the amount of memory installed, turn off the computer, disconnect it from the electrical outlet, remove the computer cover, remove the AGP card brace, and reseat the RIMMs in their sockets.
   
   
3. Replace the AGP card brace, replace the computer cover, reconnect the system to an electrical outlet, and turn it on.
   
   
4. If the problem is not resolved, start the Dell Diagnostics by inserting the Dell ResourceCD and rebooting the system.
   
   
5. Run the RAM test group.