User Guide

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Overview

This section provides procedures for removing and replacing the components, assemblies, and subassemblies in the Dell OptiPlex low-profile chassis GX100 system.

Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist:

Recommended Tools

Most of the procedures in this file require the use of one or more of the following tools:

• Small flat-blade screwdriver
  
  
• Wide flat-blade screwdriver
  
  
• #1 and #2 Phillips-head screwdrivers
  
  
• 1/4-inch nut driver
  

Precautionary Measures

Before you perform any procedure in this section, take a few moments to read the following caution for your personal safety and to prevent damage to the system from ESD.

Computer Cover

To remove the low-profile chassis computer cover, perform the following steps:

1. Press in on the two securing buttons until the cover is free to swing up (see Figure 3).
   
   
2. Raise the back  of the cover, and pivot it toward the front of the computer.
   
   
3. Lift the cover off the hooks at the front of the chassis.
   
   
4. Disengage the tabs that secure the cover to the top of the chassis, and lift the cover away.
   

Eject, Power, and Reset Buttons

1. Lay the computer cover on a flat work surface, with the inside of the top cover facing up.
   
   
2. To remove the 3.5-inch diskette-drive eject button, pull gently on the plastic part of the button until it comes free.
   
   
3. To remove the power button or the reset button, use a small screwdriver and push in the two or three plastic clips that hold the button to the bezel.  When these clips are released, the buttons come free from the bezel.

Figure 7. Control Panel Removal

1 Control panel 2 Chassis intrusion switch

1 5.25-inch  drive 2 3.5-inch diskette drive 3 Hard-disk drive 4 Chassis intrusion switch

NOTE: Computer configurations differ. Your computer may have an Iomega Zip drive installed instead of a 3.5-inch diskette drive, or your computer may have no externally accessible drives installed.

3.5-Inch Diskette Drive

To remove the 3.5-inch diskette drive assembly from the drive shelf, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect the DC power cable and the interface cable from the back of the drive.
   
   
2. Press both release latches on the left side of the 3.5-inch diskette drive.
   
   
3. Pivot the 3.5-inch diskette drive upward 1 inch (2.5 cm), and then pull the drive away from the notched tabs on the right chassis wall.
   
   
4. Remove the bracket from the diskette drive you just removed.

5.25-inch Drive

To remove the 5.25-inch drive/bracket assembly, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the diskette drive and bracket.
   
   
2. Disconnect the DC power cable and EIDE cable from the drive.
   
   
3. Lift the 5.25-inch drive/bracket straight up and out of the chassis.

Hard-Disk Drive Removal

Figure 10. Hard-Disk Drive/Bracket Assembly Removal

1 Captive screw 2 Hinge tabs on back of drive bracket (2) 3 Slots in floor divider (3)

To remove the hard-disk drive/bracket assembly, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect the DC power cable and EIDE cable from the drive.
   
   
2. Loosen the captive screw securing the hard-disk drive/bracket to the bottom of the chassis.
   
   
3. Grasp the drive/bracket, and pivot it upward from the chassis until the two hinge tabs (located on the side opposite the screw) clear the floor divider (see Figure 10). Then lift the bracket upward and out of the chassis.

4. To remove the hard-disk drive from the bracket, place the drive/bracket on a flat surface with the bracket facing up.
   
   
5. Remove the four screws that secure the bracket to the drive.

Figure 11. Hard-Disk Drive to Bracket Installation

1 Hard-disk drive 2 Bracket 3 Screws (4)

To install a replacement hard-disk drive, perform the following steps. 

CAUTION: To avoid the possibility of electric shock, turn off the computer and any peripherals, disconnect them from electrical outlets, and then wait at least 5 seconds before you remove the computer cover. Also, before you install a drive, see the other precautions in "Precautionary Measures."

NOTICE: To avoid damaging the drive by electrostatic discharge (ESD), ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

NOTICE: When you unpack the drive, do not set it on a hard surface, which may damage the drive. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

1. Prepare the drive for installation.
   
   Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer system.

2. If not already done, remove the computer cover.
   
   
3. To install the hard-disk drive to the bracket, place the drive top-down on a flat surface with the bracket mounting holes facing up.
   
   
4. Position the bracket over the holes and install four screws to secure the bracket to the drive.
   
   
5. Insert the bracket's hinge tabs into the chassis slots so that the tabs hook over the slots.
   
   
6. Rotate the bracket toward the chassis floor and secure the bracket with a screw.
   
   
7. Connect a power cable to the power input connector on the back of the drive (see Figure 12).
   
   
8. Check all connectors to ensure that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.
   
   
9. Connect one of the device connectors on the EIDE cable to the 40-pin interface connector on the back of the hard-disk drive.

NOTICE: You must match the red colored stripe on the EIDE cable with pin 1 on the drive's interface connector to avoid possible damage to your system.

Figure 12. Hard-Disk Drive Cable Attachment

1 Power cable 2 EIDE interface cable 3 IDE1 connector on system board

NOTICE: You must attach the blue connector on the EIDE interface cable to the IDE1 connector on the system board to avoid possible damage to your system.

NOTICE: You must match the red colored stripe on the EIDE interface cable with pin 1 on the IDE1 connector to avoid possible damage to your system.

10. If it is not already connected, connect the blue connector on the EIDE interface cable to the IDE1 connector on the system board.
    
    To locate the IDE1 connector on the system board, see "System Board Components."
    
    
11. Replace the computer cover. Then reconnect your computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    
12. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert a bootable diskette into drive A.
    
    
13. Turn on the computer system.
    
    
14. Enter System Setup and update the appropriate Primary Drive option, 0 or 1 (see the online System User's Guide for complete information).
    
    
15. After you update the System Setup settings, reboot the system.
    
    
16. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step.
    
    See the documentation for your operating system for instructions.
    
    

    NOTE: On systems with hard-disk drives larger than 2 GB, create a primary partition of 2 GB and divide the remaining capacity into partitions of 2 GB or less. For example, a system with a 2.5-GB hard-disk drive would have a primary partition of 2 GB (drive C) and a second partition of 500 MB (drive D). Hard-disk drives must be partitioned this way because MS-DOS®–based operating systems (including Microsoft®Windows NT®, when using a FAT16 file system) do not support drive partitions larger than 2 GB.

17. Test the hard-disk drive by running the Dell Diagnostics (see the online System User's Guide for complete information.
    
    
18. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, install your operating system on the hard-disk drive.

    For instructions, refer to the documentation that came with your operating system.

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System Power Supply

Figure 13. Power Supply Removal

1 AC power cord 2 AC power receptacle 3 Power supply 4 DC power cables 5 Securing screw

To remove the system power supply, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect the AC power cable from the back of the power supply.
   
   
2. Disconnect the DC power cables from the system board and the drives. 
   
   Note the routing of the DC power cables underneath the tabs in the chassis as you remove them from the system board and drives. It is important to route these cables properly when you replace them to prevent them from being pinched or crimped.
   
   
3. Remove the screw below the fan guard on the back of the chassis. 
   
   
4. Slide the power supply toward the front of the computer approximately 1 inch.
   
   
5. Lift the power supply up and out of the chassis. 

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Expansion-Card Cage

Figure 14. Expansion-Card Cage Removal

1 Securing lever 2 Expansion-card cage 3 Slots (2) 4 Tabs (2)

To remove the expansion-card cage, perform the following steps:

1. Examine any cables connected to expansion cards through the back-panel openings and disconnect any cables that will not reach to where the cage must be placed upon removal from the chassis.

NOTICE: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

2. Locate the securing lever (see Figure 14). Rotate the lever upward until it stops in an upright position.

3. Slide the expansion-card cage out of the chassis.
   
   
4. Lift the expansion-card cage up and away from the chassis.

To replace the expansion-card cage into the low-profile chassis, perform the following steps:

1. With the securing lever in the upright position, align the expansion-card cage slots with the tabs in the chassis opening for the expansion-card cage (see Figure 14). Slide the expansion-card cage into place.
   
   
2. Rotate the securing lever downward until it is flush with the top of the chassis. Make sure that the riser board is fully seated in the RISER connector on the system board.
   
   
3. Reconnect any cables you removed in step 1 of the previous procedure.

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Riser Boards

The low-profile chassis is available with either a PCI riser board (see Figure 15) or a PCI/ISA riser board (see Figure 16). The PCI riser board provides three PCI expansion card slots. The PCI/ISA riser board provides one PCI expansion slot, one ISA expansion slot, and one shared PCI/ISA expansion slot.

Figure 15. PCI Riser Board

1 Auxiliary power indicator LED (AUX_LED) 2 Wakeup On LAN (WOL) connector 3 PCI expansion slot 1 (PCI1) 4 PCI expansion slot 2 (PCI2) 5 PCI expansion slot 3 (PCI3)

Figure 16. Low-Profile Chassis PCI/ISA Riser Board

1 Standby power indicator (AUX_LED) 2 ISA expansion slot 1 (ISA1; shared with PCI2) 3 ISA expansion slot 2 (ISA2) 4 Remote Wakeup header (WOL) 5 PCI expansion slot 1 (PCI1) 6 PCI expansion slot 2 (PCI2; shared with ISA1)

To remove the riser board, perform the following steps.

CAUTION: Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

NOTICE: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

1. Remove the expansion-card cage.
   
   
2. Remove the expansion cards installed in the slots.
   
   
3. Remove the screws securing the riser board to the expansion-card cage.
   
   
4. Lift the riser board off the expansion-card cage.

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System Board Components

The subsections that follow contain procedures for removing system board components, which are shown in Figure 17.

Figure 17. System Board Components

1 NIC connector 2 Video connector 3 Fan power connector 4 Serial port 2 connector 5 USB connectors (2) 6 Mouse (upper) and keyboard (lower) connectors 7 Parallel port (upper) and serial port 1 (lower) connectors 8 System board jumpers 9 Riser board connector 10 EIDE1 connector 11 EIDE2 connector 12 Diskette/tape-drive connector 13 Auxiliary power indicator 14 DIMM connectors (2) 15 3.3 VDC power connector 16 Control panel connector 17 DC power connector

System Board Jumpers

Figure 18 shows the layout of jumpers on the system board.

Figure 18. Layout of System Board Jumpers

Jumper pins are small groups of two or more pins on a circuit board. Plastic jumpers containing a wire fit down over the pins. The wire connects the pins and creates a circuit.

NOTICE: Make sure your system is turned off before you change a jumper setting. Otherwise, damage to your system or unpredictable results may occur.

To change a jumper setting, pull the jumper off its pin(s) and either remove it entirely, or carefully fit it down onto the pin(s) indicated.

Dell shipped your computer with a PSWD jumper installed, meaning that password features for this computer are enabled. When you remove the jumper, or when you install the jumper on only one of the two pins, the password features are disabled.

System Board Labels

Table 1 lists the labels for connectors and sockets on your system board, and it gives a brief description of their functions.

Table 1. System Board Connectors and Sockets

Connector or Socket	Description
AUX_LED	Auxiliary power indicator
B1	Battery socket
DIMM_x	DIMM socket
DSKT	Diskette/tape drive interface connector
ENET	Integrated NIC connector
FAN	Microprocessor fan connector
IDEn	EIDE interface connector
KYBD	Keyboard connector
MICROPROCESSOR	Microprocessor connector
MONITOR	Video connector
MOUSE	Mouse connector
PANEL	Control panel connector
PARALLEL	Parallel port connector; sometimes referred to as LPT1
POWER_1	Main power input connector
POWER_2	3.3-V power input connector
RISER	Riser board connector
SERIALn	Serial port connectors
USB	USB connectors

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Expansion Cards

The low-profile GX100 chassis can accommodate three 32-bit PCI expansion cards. Figure 19 shows an example of a 32-bit PCI expansion card.

Figure 19. 32-Bit PCI Expansion Card Example

Expansion-Card Removal

CAUTION: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

To remove an expansion card, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the computer cover.
   

2. If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card.
   
   
3. Remove the screw on the mounting bracket of the card you want to remove.
   
   
4. Grasp the card by its outside corners, and ease it out of its connector.
   
   
5. If you are removing the card permanently, install a metal filler bracket over the empty card-slot opening.
   
   

NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification of the system. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.

6. Replace the computer cover, and reconnect your computer and peripherals to their power sources and turn them on.
   
   

NOTE: After you remove and replace the cover, the chassis intrusion detector will cause the following message to be displayed at the next system start-up: ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

7. To reset the chassis intrusion detector, enter System Setup and reset Chassis Intrusion to Enabled or Enabled-Silent.

   See the online System User's Guide for detailed information on the Intrusion detector.

NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.

Expansion-Card Installation

Figure 20. Expansion-Card Installation

1 Expansion card 2 Card-edge connector 3 Riser board 4 Expansion-card connector 5 Expansion-card cage

CAUTION: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

CAUTION: Some network cards automatically start the system when they are connected. To guard against electrical shock, be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before installing any expansion cards

To install an expansion card, perform the following steps:

1. Prepare the expansion card for installation, and remove the computer cover.
   
   See the documentation that came with the expansion card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise customizing it for your system.
   
   
2. Remove the screw and remove the metal filler bracket that covers the card-slot opening for the expansion-card slot you intend to use (see Figure 21).
   
   Save the screw to use when installing the expansion card later in this procedure.

Figure 21. Filler Bracket Removal

1 Filler bracket

3. Insert the expansion card into the expansion-card connector.
   
   If the expansion card is full-length, insert the front end of the card into the corresponding card guide on the inside front of the chassis as you insert the card into its connector. Insert the card's edge connector firmly into the expansion-card slot.

4. When the card is firmly seated in the connector, secure the card's mounting bracket to the chassis with the screw you removed in step 2.
   
   
5. Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.
   
   See the documentation for the card for information about the card's cable connections.
   
   
6. Replace the computer cover, and reconnect your computer and peripherals to their power sources and turn them on.
   

NOTE: After you remove and replace the cover, the chassis intrusion detector will cause the following message to be displayed at the next system start-up: ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

7. To reset the chassis intrusion detector, enter System Setup and reset Chassis Intrusion to Enabled or Enabled-Silent.

See the User's Guide for detailed information on the chassis intrusion detector.

NOTE: If a setup password has been assigned by someone else, contact your network administrator for information on resetting the chassis intrusion detector.

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DIMMs

Figure 22. DIMM Removal

1 Ejectors (2)

CAUTION: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

To remove a DIMM, perform the following steps:

1. Push outward on the two DIMM socket ejectors simultaneously until the DIMM is released from its socket.
   
   
2. Lift the DIMM away from the socket.

To install a DIMM, press the DIMM fully into the socket while closing the ejectors to lock the DIMM into the socket (see Figure 23).

Figure 23. DIMM Installation

1 Ejectors (2) 2 Notches (2)

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Microprocessor/Heat Sink Assembly

Figure 24. Microprocessor/Heat Sink Removal

1 Securing clip 2 Press here to release securing clip

	CAUTION: The microprocessor SEC cartridge/heat sink assembly can get extremely hot. Be sure that the assembly has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it.
	CAUTION: Use a wrist grounding strap as explained in "Precautionary Measures."

NOTE: Dell recommends that only a technically knowledgeable person perform this procedure.

To replace a microprocessor, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the computer cover.
   
   
2. Locate the microprocessor socket on the system board.
   
   
3. Unplug the fan power connector on the system board.
   
   
   
4. Remove the screws securing the fan to the top of the heat sink assembly. Then remove the fan.
   
   
   
5. Remove the metal clip that secures the heat sink to the microprocessor socket. Then remove the heat sink from the microprocessor chip.
   
   
6. Press down on the folded part of the clip with a small screwdriver to release the clip (see Figure 24). The securing clip hooks over tabs on the sides of the socket.

NOTICE: Be careful not to bend any of the pins when removing the microprocessor chip from its socket. Bending the pins can permanently damage the microprocessor chip.

7. Remove the microprocessor chip from the socket.
   

Your microprocessor socket is a zero insertion force (ZIF) socket with a lever-type handle that secures the chip in, or releases it from, the socket.

To remove the chip, pull the microprocessor-socket release lever straight out until the chip is released (see Figure 25). Then remove the chip from the socket. Leave the release lever extended so that the socket is ready for the new microprocessor.

Figure 25. Microprocessor Chip Removal

1 Microprocessor chip 2 Release lever 3 Microprocessor socket

CAUTION: Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

8. Unpack the new microprocessor.
   

NOTICE: Be careful not to bend any of the pins when unpacking the microprocessor. Bending the pins can permanently damage the microprocessor.

If any of the pins on the chip appear to be bent, see the online System User's Guide for information on obtaining technical assistance.

9. Align the pin-1 corner of the microprocessor chip with the pin-1 corner of the microprocessor socket (see Figure 26).
   
   

   NOTE: Identifying the pin-1 corners is critical to positioning the chip correctly.

   
   The pin-1 corner of the microprocessor is the squared off corner (see Figure 26).

NOTICE: When placing the microprocessor chip in the socket, be sure that all of the pins go into the corresponding holes on all sides of the socket. Be careful not to bend the pins.

NOTICE: Positioning the microprocessor chip incorrectly in the socket can permanently damage the chip and the computer when you turn on the system.

10. Install the microprocessor chip in the socket (see Figure 26).
    
    If the release lever on the microprocessor socket is not all the way out, move it to that position now.
    
    With the pin-1 corners of the chip and socket aligned, align the pins on the chip with the holes in the socket. Set the chip lightly in the socket and make sure that all pins are headed into the correct holes. Because your system uses a ZIF microprocessor socket, there is no need to use force (which could bend the pins if the chip is misaligned). When the chip is positioned correctly, it should seat itself in the socket with minimal pressure.
    
    When the chip is fully seated in the socket, pivot the microprocessor-socket release lever back toward the socket until it snaps into place, securing the chip.

Figure 26. Microprocessor Chip Installation

1 Pin-1 corners of chip and socket aligned

CAUTION: Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

11. Unpack the heat sink included in your upgrade kit.
    
    Peel the release liner from the adhesive tape that is attached to the bottom of the heat sink.
    
    
12. Place the heat sink on top of the microprocessor chip (see Figure 27).

Figure 27. Heat Sink Installation

1 Fan screws (2) 2 Fan 3 Securing clip 4 Heat sink 5 Celeron™ microprocessor 6 Microprocessor ZIF socket

13. Replace the heat sink securing clip.
    
    Orient the clip as shown in Figure 27, and hook the unfolded end of the clip over the tab on the top edge of the socket. Then press down on the folded end of the clip to snap the clip over the tab on the bottom edge of the socket.
    
    
14. Replace the fan assembly and secure it with two thumbscrews. Then connect the fan power cable to the FAN connector on the system board .
    
    
15. Replace the computer cover, and then reconnect your computer and peripherals to their power sources and turn them on.
    
    As the system boots, it detects the presence of the new microprocessor and automatically changes the system configuration information in System Setup.
    
    
16. Enter System Setup and confirm that the Microprocessor category correctly identifies the installed microprocessor.
    
    
17. Run the Dell Diagnostics to verify that the new microprocessor is operating correctly.

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System Battery

Figure 28. System Battery Removal

1 Battery 2 Socket

 

CAUTION: There is a danger of the 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.

To remove the system battery, perform the following steps:

1. If possible, enter System Setup and print the System Setup screens.
   
   
2. Remove the system battery by carefully prying it out of its socket with your fingers or with a blunt, nonconducting object such as a plastic screwdriver.

When you replace the system battery, orient the new battery with the "+" facing up. Insert the battery into its socket and snap it into place.

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System Board

Figure 29. System Board Removal

To remove the system board, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect all cables from their connectors at the back of the computer.
   
   
2. Remove the expansion-card cage.
   
   
3. Disconnect all cables from the system board.
   
   
4. Remove the screw that secures the system board to the bottom of the chassis.
   
   
5. Slide the system board toward the front of the chassis until it stops.
   
   
6. Carefully lift the system board out of the chassis (be sure to lift evenly and not twist the system board).

To replace the system board, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the DIMMs and the microprocessor/heat sink assembly, and install them on the replacement board.
   
   
2. Set the jumpers on the new system board so that they are identical to those on the old board, unless you are installing a microprocessor upgrade.
   
   
3. Push down near each slot to engage the grounding clip onto its corresponding tab.
   
   
4. Push evenly on both sides of the system board as you slide and lock it into position (do not twist the system board).

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