Dell Dimension 8250 User Manual

Dell™Dimension™8250Series Technical Overview Controls and Lights Solving Problems Advanced Troubleshooting Technical Specifications System Setup Pr

Printed Documentation To save PDF files (files with an extension of .pdf) to your hard drive, right-click the document title, click Save Target As in

2. Click Save Target As in Microsoft Internet Explorer or Save Link As in Netscape Navigator, and specify a location on your hard drive. Viewing th

Back to Contents Page Adding and Replacing Parts Dell™Dimension™8250Series Turning Off the Computer 1. Save and close any open files and exit a

1. Shut down the computer through the Start menu. 2. Disconnect the power cable from your computer. 3. Remove the front door, if it is attached

Opening the Computer Cover 1. Shut down the computer through the Start menu. 2. Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their elec

4. Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then press the power button to ground the system board. 5. Open the computer cov

12. Connect any cables that should be attached to the card. See the documentation for the card for information about the card's cable connec

RDRAM technology requires that all memory connectors have either a memory module or a continuity module installed. Memory modules and continuity modul

1. Shut down the computer through the Start menu. 2. Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their electrical outlets. 3. Discon

YourDell™computerprovidesaconnectorforanAGPcard. 1. Shut down the computer through the Start menu. 2. Turn off any attached devices and d

Back to Contents Page Advanced Troubleshooting Dell™Dimension™8250Series Diagnostic Lights Beep Codes System Messages Drivers Using Sys

Hard Drive 1. If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure. 2. Shut d

4. Install the hard drive into the computer by gently sliding the drive into place until you hear it securely click. 5. Connect the power and ha

8. Remove the two green plastic rails from the inside of the hard-drive bay by gently pulling the rails up and out of the bay. 9. Attach the rails

Front-Panel Inserts If you are installing a new floppy or CD/DVD drive instead of replacing a drive, remove the front-panel inserts. 1. Open the cove

Floppy Drive 1. Shut down the computer through the Start menu. 2. Turn off your computer and any devices. 3. Ground yourself by touching an unp

2. Gently slide the drive into place until the tabs securely click into position. 3. Attach the power and floppy-drive cables to the floppy driv

1. Disconnect the power, audio, and CD/DVD drive cables from the back of the drive. 2. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive, a

6. If you are installing a new CD/DVD drive rather than replacing a drive, remove the front-panel inserts. 7. If you are installing a drive that

8. For each of the metal securing clips that secure the heat sink to the microprocessor, press down on the clip's latch to release the clip from

3. Carefully set the microprocessor in the socket and press it down lightly to seat it. 4. Rotate the lever back toward the system board until i

Beep Codes Your computer might emit a series of beeps during start-up if the monitor cannot display errors or problems. This series of beeps, called a

6. Remove all cables that are connected to the front I/O panel. 7. From inside the computer cover, remove the mounting screw that secures the fr

Note the routing of the DC power cables underneath the tabs in the computer frame as you remove them from the system board and drives. It is importa

10. Place the system board assembly that you just removed next to the replacement system board. Replacing the System Board 1. Transfer componen

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Back to Contents Page Solving Problems Finding Help Information Battery Problems Drive Problems Floppy drive problems Dell™Dimension™8250Series

CD drive problems Problems writing to a CD-RW drive DVD drive problems Hard drive problems E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems NOTICE: Do not a

Error Messages If the message is not listed, see the documentation for the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared.

A program crashes repeatedly A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system A solid blue screen appears Other software problems Oth

IEEE 1394 Device Problems Keyboard Problems Mouse Problems documentation for configuration and troubleshooting instructions. If the problem persists,

Network Problems Power Problems 1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Printers and Other Hardware. 2. Click Mouse. 3. 

System Messages Drivers What Is a Driver? A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a d

Printer Problems Scanner Problems Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from speakers l Too many devices on a power strip l Multiple power strips conn

No sound from headphones Video and Monitor Problems If the screen is blank If the screen is difficult to read Back to Contents Page  Test the elec

Back to Contents Page Technical Specifications Dell™Dimension™8250Series Microprocessor Memory Computer Information Video Audio 

PCI  connectors four connector size 120 pins connector data width (maximum) 32 bits Drives Externally accessible two 3.5-inch bays two 5.25-inch bays

Back to Contents Page  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

Back to Contents Page System Setup Program Dell™Dimension™8250Series Standard Settings Hyper-Threading Viewing Settings Clearing Forgotte

3. In the Device Manager window, click the plus (+) sign next to the processor type. If Hyper-Threading is enabled, the processor is listed twice. For

The following table shows CPU Information option information. The following table shows Integrated Devices (Legacy Select Options) option information.

7. Shut down the computer. 8. Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their electrical outlets. 9. Disconnect the computer power

Back to Contents Page Technical Overview Dell™Dimension™8250Series Looking Inside Your Computer System Board Power Supply DC Power Connec

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft®Windows®operating system. You may need to install drivers if you: l Upgrade your

Power Supply The 250-W power supply can operate from an AC power source of 115 VAC at 60 Hz or 230 VAC at 50 Hz. The power supply provides the DC op

DC Power Connector P1 DC Power Connector P2 Pin Number Signal name 18-AWG Wire 1 +3.3 VDC Orange 2 +3.3 VDC Orange 3 COM Black 4 +5 VDC Red 5 CO

DC Power Connectors P3, P5, P6, P8, and P9 DC Power Connector P7 IDE Interface Cable Connections for Dell-Installed Drives Placement of Dell-I

Back to Contents Page  PCI4 connector 1394 FireWire

Back to Contents Page Controls and Lights Dell™Dimension™8250Series Front View Back View Front View Back View 1 CD or DVD headphone connec

Back to Contents Page  1 power connector The connection for the power cable. 2 voltage selection switch (may not be available on all computers) Set

Using System Restore The Microsoft®Windows®XP operating system provides System Restore to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating

1. Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 2. Click Performance and Maintenance and click System. 3. Click the Hardware tab and click D

1. When the Regional and Language Options screen appears, select the settings for your location and click Next. 2. Enter your name and organizatio

Back to Contents Page Documentation Dell™Dimension™8250Series Finding Information for Your Computer Printed Documentation Online Documentat