Contents: Dell Precision WorkStations ResourceCD User's Guide
Dell Precision™ WorkStations ResourceCD User's Guide
The Dell Precision ResourceCD shipped with your computer contains the following
items:
- Drivers — Dell installed all the drivers for the devices included on your computer's
hard drive. Backup copies of these drivers are provided on the Dell Precision
ResourceCD. You can also obtain the latest versions of the drivers for your computer
from the Dell support website at http://support.dell.com.
- Utilities — Dell installed the system utilities on your computer's hard drive.
Backup copies of these utilities are provided on the Dell Precision ResourceCD.
- User's guides — Dell installed computer and peripheral documentation on your
computer's hard drive. Backup copies of these documents are provided on the Dell
Precision ResourceCD. You can also obtain documentation for your computer from the
Dell support website at http://support.dell.com.
- Dell™ Diagnostics — The Dell Diagnostics test various components on your
computer and help to identify the cause of computer problems. For more information, see
your User's Guide.
This guide describes how to perform the following tasks:
- Start the diagnostic, configuration, and reinstallation utilities
- Reinstall the drivers and utilities provided with your computer should they be erased
inadvertently or become corrupted
- Access the User's Guide on the ResourceCD
- Use the Dell Diagnostics
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NOTE: Drivers for the Linux operating system are included
with the Linux operating system and distribution media. They are not provided on the
ResourceCD. |
Some of the configuration, diagnostic, and reinstallation programs
on the ResourceCD require you to run them in MS-DOS® mode. To run these programs, you
must start your computer in MS-DOS mode using the ResourceCD. You can then choose
the tasks you want to perform from a menu of the configuration, diagnostic, and
reinstallation options.
To boot your computer to the configuration, diagnostic, and
reinstallation options menu, perform the following steps:
- While in the Microsoft® Windows® operating system, insert the
Dell Precision ResourceCD into the CD drive.
Windows automatically runs the ResourceCD, and the main menu
appears.
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NOTE: If this is the first time you have used the
ResourceCD, an installation utility automatically runs, and then the main menu appears. |
- Press <Alt><F4> to exit the main menu.
Make sure that your diskette drive is empty.
- Shut down your computer.
- Restart your computer.
If your computer boots to the CD, the Dell logo screen appears,
followed by a list of menu option descriptions and their available languages.
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NOTES: If your computer does not boot to the CD, verify
that the Boot Sequence option in system setup is set to CD Drive. See "Changing the Boot Sequence" for more
information.
If you have a small computer system interface (SCSI) controller installed in your
computer, make sure the controller is configured to boot after integrated drive
electronics (IDE) devices. For more information, see your SCSI controller documentation. |
- Select the appropriate language for menu options. If you have changed
a partition table and restarted your computer, select Option 2, Continue Windows NT
Reinstall.
A numbered list displays the available options. The
following list describes each option.
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NOTE: Once you select one of the following options, you cannot
return to the list to select another option. If you decide that you do not want to
continue with an option or wish to select another option, you must restart your computer. |
- Option 1 – Start/Continue Windows NT® Workstation
Install
NOTICE: This option has the potential to erase partial data or
the entire hard drive.
This option helps you reinstall Windows NT 4.0 on your computer. Use
this option if your computer has become unusable or if you require a clean installation of
this operating system. This option guides you through a basic reinstallation of Windows NT
4.0. You need your Windows NT 4.0 CD, your service pack CD, and your Windows NT
registration number to complete the reinstallation.
For more information on this option, refer to the Dell-Installed
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Installation Guide provided with your computer.
- Option 2 – Run Dell Diagnostics
This option loads the Dell Diagnostics that enable you to perform
tests and help you determine if your computer has possible hardware problems. These
diagnostics are useful in troubleshooting and isolating any type of problems you may be
experiencing. When the Diagnostics Menu appears, select one of the
options.
This option can help you to restore a corrupted hard drive by
reinstalling Windows NT, Windows 95, or Windows 98, and reconfiguring the computer to
factory defaults.
- Option 4 – Run SCSI Hard Drive Diagnostics
This option runs a diagnostic test on your SCSI hard drive. The
diagnostic test does not cause data loss. However, you should back up any important data
before you run the test.
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NOTE: The SCSI Hard-Disk Diagnostics are intended for computers
with SCSI hard drives only. Do not run the SCSI Hard-Disk Diagnostics if you have an
integrated drive electronics (IDE) hard drive. |
- Option 5 – Run 3Com® NIC Diagnostics/Configuration
This option enables you to configure the resources and settings for
the integrated and PCI card. It also enables you to run MS-DOS–based
diagnostics on the card to help troubleshoot network card issues.
For more information on this utility, refer to the 3Com
documentation provided with your computer.
- Option 6 – Start Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
NOTICE: This utility can cause data loss if used improperly.
The Adaptec redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller
card is an option that may or may not be installed on your computer. This card is designed
to enhance your hard drive subsystem. If an Adaptec RAID controller is installed on your
computer, this option enables you to configure the RAID subsystem. Use this utility to
configure the RAID controller card before you install Windows NT.
For more information on this utility, refer to the Adaptec RAID
documentation provided with your computer.
- Option 7 – Go to Video Diagnostics Menu
This option displays a list of video adapters that might be installed in your
computer.
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NOTE: To find out what video adapter you have, click the Start
button, click Settings, click Control Panel, and double-click
the Display icon. In the Display Properties
window, click the Settings tab, then click Advanced Properties
for Windows 95 and Windows 98 or Display Type for Windows NT. |
To troubleshoot a video problem, run the diagnostics by
selecting a video adapter from the list. After a test runs, it tells you whether the
test passed or failed. You can isolate the part of the video subsystem that is
experiencing a problem by seeing which tests pass or fail.
- Option 8 – Copy Hard Drive Controller Drivers to
Diskette
This option allows you to select and copy
to diskette the appropriate hard drive controller drivers for manual installation. These
drivers are not natively supported by the operating system.
- Option 9 – Exit to DOS
This option exits the main menu and returns you to an MS-DOS prompt, at which
point you can safely remove the ResourceCD and reboot back to your operating system.
The boot sequence allows you to specify the order of the devices from which the
computer attempts to boot.
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NOTE: For more information, see your User's Guide. |
- Turn on your computer (if your computer is already on, restart it).
- When
F2 = Setup appears in the
upper-right corner of the screen, press <F2>.
The System Setup menu appears.
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NOTE: If you wait too long and your operating system begins
to load into memory, let the computer complete the load operation; then restart the
computer and try again. |
- Use the arrow keys to highlight the Boot Sequence menu option
and press <Enter> to access the pop-up menu.
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NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want
to restore it later.
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- Use the arrow keys to highlight CD Drive in the pop-up menu
and press <+> to move it to the top of the list.
|
NOTE: If you have a SCSI controller installed in your
computer, make sure that the controller is configured to boot after the IDE device. For
more information, see your SCSI controller documentation.
|
- Press <Alt><b> to restart your computer.
To install a driver, perform the following steps.
NOTICE: The ResourceCD contains device drivers for many
Dell computers. Do not install device drivers unless you have identified the driver
intended for your computer's hardware. If you install an incorrect driver, your computer
may not operate correctly.
- Start your system.
- Insert the ResourceCD into the CD drive.
If you are starting the ResourceCD for the first time on this computer, the ResourceCD
Installation window opens to inform you that the ResourceCD is about to begin
installation. Click OK to continue. To complete the installation, respond to the
prompts offered by the installation program.
If the Welcome Dell System Owner screen opens, click Next to continue.
- Select the appropriate language, system model, operating system, and device type.
- Select Drivers in the Topic box.
A list of drivers appears.
- Click the appropriate driver.
- Respond to the prompts/instructions as they appear on the screen.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to install the driver.
Refer to the online help available on the ResourceCD if you need more information.
To access a utility, perform the following steps:
- Start your system.
- Insert the ResourceCD into the CD drive.
If you are starting the ResourceCD for the first time on this computer, the ResourceCD
Installation window opens to inform you that the ResourceCD is about to begin
installation. Click OK to continue. To complete the installation, respond to the
prompts offered by the installation program.
If the Welcome Dell System Owner screen opens, click Next to continue.
- Select the appropriate language, system model, operating system, and device type.
- Select Utilities in the Topic box.
A list of utilities appears.
- Click the appropriate utility.
- To access the utility you chose, respond to the prompts/instructions as they appear on
the screen.
Refer to the online help available on the ResourceCD if you need more information.
To access a user's guide for your system or hardware, perform the following steps:
- Start your system.
- Insert the ResourceCD into the CD drive.
If you are starting the ResourceCD for the first time on this computer, the ResourceCD
Installation window opens to inform you that the ResourceCD is about to begin
installation. Click OK to continue. To complete the installation, respond to the
prompts offered by the installation program.
If the Welcome Dell System Owner screen opens, click Next to continue.
- Select the appropriate language, system model, operating system, and device type.
- Select User's Guides in the Topic box.
A list of user's guides appears.
- Click the appropriate user's guide to view the document.
Refer to the online help available on the ResourceCD if you need more information.
To use the Dell Diagnostics, perform the following steps:
- Insert the ResourceCD into the CD drive.
- Restart your computer. It should boot to the CD. If it does not, see "Changing the Boot Sequence" for more
information.
- From the ResourceCD menu, select Option 2, Run Dell Diagnostics.
- Select the diagnostics that you want to run and follow the instructions on the screen.
Refer to the online help available on the ResourceCD if you need more information.
Information in this document is subject to change
without notice.
© 2000 Dell Computer
Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer
Corporation is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell Precision is a
trademark of Dell Computer Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, MS-DOS,
and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; 3Com
is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this
document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products.
Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names
other than its own.
Initial release: 06 Jan 2000
Last revised: 20 Nov 2000 |
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