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Dell™ Dimension™ 8400 Service Manual
Before You Begin
Opening the Computer Cover
Technical Overview
Specifications
Advanced Troubleshooting
System Setup
Removing and Installing Parts
Closing the Computer Cover
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 pote
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Back to Contents Page Advanced Troubleshooting Dell™ Dimension™ 8400 Service Manual Power Lights Diagnostic Lights Beep Codes System Messages Power Lights CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. The power button light located on the front of the computer illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states: l If the power light is green and the computer is n
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Memory modules are detected, but l If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module, a memory failure has occurred. and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error. l If available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer. l If the problem persists, contact Dell. A possible graphi
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Code Cause 1-1-2 Microprocessor register failure 1-1-3 NVRAM 1-1-4 ROM BIOS checksum failure 1-2-1 Programmable interval timer 1-2-2 DMA initialization failure 1-2-3 DMA page register read/write failure 3-1-1 Slave DMA register failure 3-1-2 Master DMA register failure 3-1-3 Master interrupt mask register failure 3-1-4 Slave interrupt mask register failure 3-2-2 Interrupt vector loading failure 3-2-4 Keyboard Controller Test failure 3-3-1 NVRAM power loss 3-3-2 NVRAM configura
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CMOS Time and Date Not Set Diskette Boot Drive A or B is present but Ensure that the drive is installed has failed the BIOS POST. correctly in the computer and defined correctly in the system setup program. Check the interface cable at both ends. DMA Error Error in the DMA controller on The keyboard or system board may need the system board. to be replaced. DMA 1 Error DMA 2 Error FDD Controller The BIOS cannot communicate Ensure that the floppy drive or the hard with the floppy dr
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Back to Contents Page Before You Begin Dell™ Dimension™ 8400 Service Manual Getting Started Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer Getting Started This section provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist: l You have performed the steps in "Turning Off Your Computer" and "Before Working Inside Your Computer.
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NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network device. 2. Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer. 3. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets, and then press the power button to ground the system board. CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover. 4. Open t
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Back to Contents Page Opening the Computer Cover Dell™ Dimension™ 8400 Service Manual CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide. CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover. 1. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin." NOTICE: Ensure that sufficient space exists to support the open cover—at least
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Back to Contents Page Closing the Computer Cover Dell™ Dimension™ 8400 Service Manual CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide. 1. Ensure that all cables are connected, and fold cables out of the way. Gently pull the power cables toward you so that they do not get caught underneath the drives. 2. Ensure that no tools or extra parts are left inside the computer. 3. Close
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Back to Contents Page Removing and Installing Parts Dell™ Dimension™ 8400 Service Manual Memory Cards Drives Hard Drive Front-Panel Inserts Floppy Drive CD/DVD Drive Airflow Shroud Processor System Board Power Supply Battery Memory You can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on the system board. Your computer supports DDR2 memory. For additional information on the type of memory supported by your computer, see "M
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NOTE: Memory purchased from Dell is covered under your computer warranty. NOTICE: If you remove your original memory modules from the computer during a memory upgrade, keep them separate from any new modules that you may have, even if you purchased the new modules from Dell. If possible, do not pair an original memory module with a new memory module. Otherwise, your computer may not start properly. You should install your original memory modules in pairs either in DIMM connectors 1 and 2
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NOTICE: To avoid damage to the memory module, press the module straight down into the connector while you apply equal force to each end of the module. 5. Insert the module into the connector until the module snaps into position. If you insert the module correctly, the securing clips snap into the cutouts at each end of the module. 6. Close the computer cover. NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer.
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If you are installing or replacing a card, follow the procedures in the next section. If you are removing but not replacing a PCI card, see "Removing a PCI Card." If you are replacing a card, remove the current driver for the card from the operating system. If you are installing or replacing a PCI Express card, see "Installing a PCI Express Card." Installing a PCI Card 1. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin." 2. Press the lever on the card retention arm and raise the
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7. Before you lower the retention arm, ensure that: l The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar. l The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide. 8. Press the retention arm into place, securing the card(s) in the computer. NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or behind the cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent the computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment.
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Removing a PCI Card 1. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin." 2. Press the lever on the card retention arm and raise the retention arm. 3. If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card. 4. Grasp the card by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector. 5. If you are removing the card permanently, install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening. If you need a filler bracket, contact Dell. NOTE: Installing filler brackets ov
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2. Press the lever on the card retention arm and raise the retention arm. 3. If you are installing a new card, remove the filler bracket to create a card-slot opening. Then continue with step 5. 4. If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer, remove the card. If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card. If your card includes a retention mechanism, remove the top of the retention mechanism by pressing the tab and pulling up on the top
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8. If you replaced a card that was already installed in the computer and you removed the top of the retention mechanism, you may reinstall the top. 9. Before you lower the retention arm, ensure that: l The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar. l The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide. 10. Press the retention arm into place, securing the card(s) in the computer. NOTICE: Do not route
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b. Connect the network cable to the add-in network adapter's connectors. Do not connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel. 16. Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation. Removing a PCI Express Card 1. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin." 2. Press the lever on the card retention arm and raise the retention arm. 3. If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card. 4.
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When you install a drive, you connect two cables—a DC power cable and a data cable—to the back of the drive and to the system board. Some drives may also have an audio connector; one end of the audio cable attaches to the drive connector and the other end attaches to the system board. Drive Interface Connectors Serial ATA Connector Most interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion; that is, a notch or a missing pin on one connector matches a tab or a filled-in hole on the ot
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2. Press in on the tabs on each side of the drive and slide the drive up and out. Installing a Hard Drive 1. Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation. 2. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer. 3. If your replacement hard drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive. Attach the bracket
