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Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX280
Quick Reference Guide
Models DHP, DHS, DCNE, DHM, DCSM
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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 potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. ® ® If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft Windows operating systems are not applicable. The Quick Reference Guide
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Contents Finding Information for Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Front and Back Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Small Form-Factor Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Small Desktop Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Desktop Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Small Mini-Tower Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mini-Tower Computer . . . . . . . . . . . .
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4 Contents
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Finding Information for Your Computer What Are You Looking For? Find It Here A diagnostic program for my computer Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as the ResourceCD) Drivers for my computer Documentation and drivers are already My computer documentation installed on your computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers, run the Dell My device documentation Diagnostics, or access your documentation. Desktop System Software (DSS) NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional a
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What Are You Looking For? Find It Here Latest drivers for my computer Dell Support Website — support.dell.com Answers to technical service and support NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support site. questions The Dell Support website provides several online tools, including: Online discussions with other users and technical support Troubleshooting — Hints and tips, articles from technicians, and online Documentation for my computer courses Upgrades — Upgrade inform
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Front and Back Views Small Form-Factor Computer CD/DVD-drive eject button floppy-drive eject button CD/DVD-drive activity light Microsoft USB 2.0 Windows connectors (2) Product Key headphone power button connector hard-drive activity light power light network activity light line-in connector network adapter connector line-out connector link integrity light card slots (2) power connector parallel connector microphone connector serial connector USB 2.0 connectors (6) video connector diagnostic
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Small Desktop Computer front panel door headphone connector USB 2.0 connectors (2) CD/DVD-drive eject button Microsoft Windows Product Key front panel door floppy-drive eject button power light floppy-drive activity light power button hard-drive activity light network activity light line-in connector network adapter connector line-out connector link integrity light card slots (2) parallel connector microphone power connector connector serial connector video connector USB 2.0 diagnostic light
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Desktop Computer USB 2.0 connectors (2) CD/DVD-drive eject button power button power light Microsoft Windows Product Key floppy-drive microphone diagnostic lights eject button connector headphone connector line-in connector network activity light line-out connector network adapter connector link integrity light voltage selection switch card slots (3) power connector parallel connector microphone connector serial connector USB 2.0 connectors (6) video connector Quick Reference Guide 9
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Small Mini-Tower Computer Microsoft Windows Product Key CD/DVD-drive eject button floppy-drive floppy-drive eject button activity light hard-drive activity light power light front panel door power button front-panel door NOTE: See "Small Mini- Tower Computer — Front-Panel Door and headphone Hinge Arms" on page 11 connector for more information. USB 2.0 connectors (2) power connector voltage selection switch parallel connector video connector serial connector diagnostic lights link integri
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Small Mini-Tower Computer — Front-Panel Door and Hinge Arms To prevent damage to your computer, the front-panel door is designed to "break away" if it is lifted up or pushed down too far. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. To reattach the front-panel door: 1. Lower the two hinge arms to the vertical. position 2. Align the two clips on the front-panel door with the hinge arms, and press inward.
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Mini-Tower Computer Microsoft Windows Product Key CD/DVD-drive eject button floppy-drive eject button microphone connector USB 2.0 connectors (2) headphone power button connector power light diagnostic lights voltage selection switch line-out connector power connector line-in connector microphone connector network activity light network adapter connector USB 2.0 connectors (6) link integrity light parallel connector video connector serial connector card slots (4) 12 Quick Reference Guide www
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Opening the Computer Cover CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover. Before opening the cover, remove the lock if a lock is installed on the back of the computer. Small Form-Factor, Small Desktop, and Small Mini-Tower Computers NOTICE: Ensure that there is sufficient space to supp
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Inside Your Computer Small Form-factor Computer CD/DVD drive floppy drive hard drive internal speaker heat sink and blower chassis intrusion assembly switch SATA connector padlock ring PCI-E x16 system board connector power supply Small Desktop Computer CD/DVD drive floppy drive hard drive system board internal speaker heat sink and blower assembly chassis intrusion switch PCI-E x16 SATA connector(s) (2) connector NOTE: Your computer may not have the SATA1 connector. PCI-E x1 power supp
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Desktop Computer power supply chassis intrusion switch CD/DVD, floppy, and hard drive SATA connectors (2) (stacked) system board PCI-E x16 connector heat sink shroud assembly Small Mini-Tower Computer CD/DVD drive floppy drive hard drive power supply heat sink shroud internal speaker assembly chassis intrusion switch padlock ring SATA connectors (4) PCI-E x16 NOTE: Your computer may not connector have the SATA1 or SATA3 connectors. PCI-E x1 system board connector Quick Reference Guide 1
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Mini-Tower Computer chassis intrusion switch power supply floppy drive SATA connectors (2) CD/DVD drive system board PCI-E x16 connector heat sink shroud assembly hard drive Setting Up Your Computer CAUTION: Before performing any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in Product Information Guide. NOTICE: If your computer has an expansion card installed (such as a modem card), connect the appropriate cable to the card, not to the connector on the back panel. You m
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3 Connect the monitor. Align and gently insert the monitor cable to avoid bending connector pins. Tighten the thumbscrews on the cable connectors. NOTE: Some monitors have the video connector underneath the back of the screen. See the documentation that came with your monitor for its connector locations. 4 Connect the speakers. 5 Connect power cables to the computer, monitor, and devices and insert the other ends of the power cables to electrical outlets. 6 Verify that the voltage selection
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Set Up Your Monitor Power Connections 18 Quick Reference Guide www.dell.com | support.dell.com
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Solving Problems Dell provides a number of tools to help you if your computer does not perform as expected. For the latest troubleshooting information available for your computer, see the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. If computer problems occur that require help from Dell, write a detailed description of the error, beep codes, or diagnostics light patterns; record your Express Service Code and Service Tag below; and then contact Dell from the same location as your computer. See
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Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD (ResourceCD) is optional and therefore may not ship with all computers. 1 Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD. 2 Shut down and restart the computer. When the DELL logo appears, press immediately. If you wait too long and the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again. NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence fo
