What Are You Looking For? How to reinstall my operating system
Find It Here Operating System CD NOTE: The Operating System CD may be optional and may not ship with your computer. The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system see "Restoring Your Operating System" on page 56 After you reinstall your operating system, use the Drivers and Utilities CD (ResourceCD) to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer. Your operating system product key label is located on your computer.
NOTE: The color of your CD varies according to the
operating system you ordered. How to use Linux E-mail discussions with users of Dell Precision products and the Linux operating system Additional information regarding Linux and my Dell Precision computer Dell Supported Linux Sites linux.dell.com lists.us.dell.com/mailman/listinfo/linux-precision
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Front View of the Computer
cover release latch CD or DVD activity light CD or DVD eject button FlexBay drives (2)
Use this latch to remove the cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78). The CD or DVD drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the CD or DVD drive. Press the CD or DVD eject button to eject a disc from the CD or DVD drive. Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader. For information on using the Media Card Reader, see "Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)" on page 31. For adequate cooling, do not block any of the vents.
NOTICE: Ensure that there is a minimum of two inches of space between all vents and any object near the vents. NOTICE: Keep the vent area clean and dust-free to ensure that the system is adequately ventilated. Use only a dry cloth to clean the vent area to avoid water damage to the system.
6 USB 2.0 connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys, cameras, or bootable USB devices. For more information on booting to a USB device, see "System Setup Options" on page 129. NOTE: It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards. Press the power button to turn on the computer.

power button

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.
8 hard-drive activity light The hard-drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light may also be on when a device such as a CD player is operating. Use the sequence of the diagnostic lights to help you troubleshoot a problem with your computer (see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 49). Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most kinds of speakers. Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program. Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you access the Dell Support website or contact support.

Minimal Power Management If you want your computer to run with minimal power conservation. Max Battery If your computer is a portable computer and you run your computer from batteries for extended periods of time.
If you want to change the default settings for a scheme, click the drop-down menu in the Turn off monitor, Turn off hard disks, System stand by, or System hibernates field, and then select a time-out from the displayed list. Changing the time-out for a scheme field permanently changes the default settings for that scheme, unless you click Save As and enter a new name for the changed scheme.

Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab allows you to: Place the power options icon in the Windows taskbar for quick access. Set the computer to prompt you for your Windows password before the computer exits from standby mode or hibernate mode. Program the power button to activate standby mode, activate hibernate mode, or turn off the computer.
To program these functions, click an option from the corresponding drop-down menu and click OK.

Hibernate Tab

The Hibernate tab allows you to enable hibernate mode. If you want to use the hibernate settings as defined on the Power Schemes tab, click the Enable hibernate support check box on the Hibernate tab. For more information on power management options: 1 Click the Start button, then click Help and Support. 2 In the Help and Support window, click Performance and maintenance. 3 In the Performance and maintenance window, click Conserving power on your computer.

Cleaning Your Computer

CAUTION: Before you perform any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
Cleaning the Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor
CAUTION: Before you clean your computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet. Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances. Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove dust from the slots and holes on your computer and from between the keys on the keyboard.
NOTICE: Do not wipe the display screen with any soap or alcohol solution. Doing so may damage the antiglare

coating.

To clean your monitor screen, lightly dampen a soft, clean cloth with water. If possible, use a special screen-cleaning tissue or solution suitable for the monitors antistatic coating. Wipe the keyboard, computer, and plastic part of the monitor with a soft cleaning cloth moistened with a solution of three parts water and one part dishwashing detergent. Do not soak the cloth or let water drip inside your computer or keyboard.

Cleaning the Mouse

If your screen cursor skips or moves abnormally, clean the mouse. To clean a non-optical mouse: 1 Turn the retainer ring on the underside of your mouse counterclockwise, and then remove the ball. 2 Wipe the ball with a clean, lint-free cloth. 3 Blow carefully into the ball cage to dislodge dust and lint. 4 If the rollers inside the ball cage are dirty, clean the rollers with a cotton swab moistened lightly with isopropyl alcohol. 5 Recenter the rollers in their channels if they are misaligned. Ensure that fluff from the swab is not left on the rollers. 6 Replace the ball and retainer ring, and then turn the retainer ring clockwise until it clicks into place.
Cleaning the Floppy Drive
NOTICE: Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab. You might accidentally misalign the heads, which prevents the drive from operating. Clean your floppy drive using a commercially available cleaning kit. These kits contain pretreated floppies to remove contaminants that accumulate during normal operation.

Cleaning CDs and DVDs

NOTICE: Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the CD/DVD drive, and follow the instructions that come
with the compressed air. Never touch the lens in the drive.
If you notice problems, such as skipping, with the playback quality of your CDs or DVDs, try cleaning the discs. 1 Hold the disc by its outer edge. You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole. NOTICE: To prevent damaging the surface, do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc. 2 With a soft, lint-free cloth, gently wipe the bottom of the disc (the unlabeled side) in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc. For stubborn dirt, try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap. You can also purchase commercial products that clean discs and provide some protection from dust, fingerprints, and scratches. Cleaning products for CDs are safe to use on DVDs.

Optimizing Performance

Hyper-Threading
Hyper-Threading is an Intel technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing one physical processor to function as two logical processors, capable of performing certain tasks simultaneously. It is recommended that you use the Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later operating system because Windows XP is optimized to take advantage of HyperThreading technology. While many programs can benefit from Hyper-Threading, some programs have not been optimized for Hyper-Threading and may require an update from the software manufacturer. Contact the software manufacturer for updates and information about using Hyper-Threading with your software. To determine if your computer is using Hyper-Threading technology: 1 Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. 2 Click Hardware, then click Device Manager. 3 In the Device Manager window, click the plus (+) sign next to Processors. If Hyper-Threading is enabled, the processor is listed twice. You can enable or disable Hyper-Threading through system setup. For more information on accessing system setup, see "Entering System Setup" on page 127. For more information on Hyper-Threading, search the Knowledge Base on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

Deleting a RAID Volume

NOTICE: The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on the hard drives in your RAID configuration. Back up any data you want to keep before continuing. NOTICE: If your computer currently boots to RAID and you delete the RAID volume in the Intel RAID Option ROM utility, your computer will become unbootable. 1 Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility. 2 Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight Delete RAID Volume, then press <Enter>. 3 Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight the RAID volume you want to delete, then press <Delete>. 4 Press <y> to confirm the deletion of the RAID volume. 5 Press <Esc> to exit the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.
Using the Intel Application Accelerator
If you already have one hard drive with the operating system installed on it, and you want to add a second hard drive then reconfigure both drives into a RAID volume without losing the existing operating system or data, use the migrating option (see "Migrating to a RAID Level 0 Configuration" on page 44 or "Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration" on page 44). Create a RAID level 0 volume or RAID level 1 volume only when: You are adding two new drives to an existing single-drive computer (with the operating system installed on the single drive), and you want to configure the two new drives into a RAID volume. You already have a two-hard drive computer configured into a volume, but you still have some space left on the volume that you want to designate as a second RAID volume.
NOTICE: The following procedure will result in the loss of all data on the hard drives in your RAID configuration. Back up any data you want to keep before continuing. 1 Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39). 2 Click Start and point to Programs Intel(R) Application Accelerator Intel Matrix Storage Manager to launch the Intel Storage Utility. NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to RAID-enabled mode
(see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 39).
3 On the Actions menu, select Create RAID Volume to launch the Create RAID Volume Wizard, then click Next. 4 On the Select Volume Location screen, click the first hard drive you want to include in your RAID level 0 volume, then click the right arrow. 5 Click to add a second hard drive, then click Next. To add a third hard drive in your RAID level 0 volume, click the right arrow and click on the third drive until three drives appear in the Selected window, and then click Next. 6 In the Specify Volume Size window, click the Volume Size desired, then click Next. 7 Click Finish to create the volume, or click Back to make changes.

Creating a Spare Hard Drive
A spare hard drive may be created with a RAID level 1 configuration. The spare hard drive will not be recognized by the operating system, but you will be able to see the spare drive from within Disk Manager or the Intel RAID Option ROM utility. When a member of the RAID level 1 configuration fails, the computer automatically rebuilds the mirror configuration using the spare hard drive as the failed members replacement. To mark a drive as a spare hard drive: 1 Click the Start button and point to Programs Intel(R) Application Accelerator Intel Matrix Storage Manager to launch the Intel Storage Utility. 2 Right-click the hard drive you want to mark as a spare hard drive. 3 Click Mark as Spare. To remove a drive as a spare hard drive: 1 Right-click the spare hard drive icon. 2 Click Reset Hard Drive to Non-RAID.
Rebuilding a Degraded RAID Level 1 Configuration
If your computer does not have a spare hard drive, and the computer has reported a degraded RAID level 1 volume, you can manually rebuild the computers redundancy mirror to a new hard drive by performing the following steps: 1 Click the Start button and point to Programs Intel(R) Application Accelerator Intel Matrix Storage Manager to launch the Intel Storage Utility. 2 Right-click the available hard drive to which you want to rebuild the RAID level 1 volume, then click Rebuild to this Disk. You can use your computer while the computer is rebuilding the RAID level 1 volume.

Dell DataSafe (Optional)

Dell DataSafe is a solution to help you protect your data against unfortunate events such as data loss from system crashes, hard drive failures, software corruption, viruses, and other accidents. Using Intel technology, your computer has a robust level of data protection out of the factory. With Dell DataSafe, you will have a selected area on your system that automatically stores periodic copies of your computer's hard drive data. Not only does Dell DataSafe help you to store and protect your valuable data such as photos, music, videos, files, and more, it also helps restore your computer and your data in the event of a failure. The included software can give you the power to roll back your system to a healthy state after a system problem, easily retrieve deleted files, and recover individual files or an entire hard drive, and the Intel Matrix Storage Console (RAID) allows for continued functionality in the case of a single hard drive failure.
Intel Viiv Technology (Optional)
Intel Viiv technology is a technology aimed at the digital home enthusiast that includes: A BIOS that supports Intel Quick Resume Technology Device drivers

computer.

1 Turn off your computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 77). NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack. 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. NOTICE: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components.
Removing the Computer Cover
CAUTION: Before you perform 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 removing the cover.
NOTICE: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components. 1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77. 2 If you have installed a security cable, remove it from the security cable slot. NOTICE: Ensure that sufficient space exists to support the removed coverat least 30 cm (1 ft) of desk top space. NOTICE: Ensure that you are working on a level, protected surface to avoid scratching either the computer or the surface on which it is resting. 3 Lay your computer on its side with the computer cover facing up. 4 Pull back the cover release latch on the top panel.
cover release latch 2 computer cover 3 hinge tabs (3)
5 Locate the three hinge tabs on the bottom edge of the computer. 6 Grip the sides of the computer cover and pivot the cover up. 7 Lift the cover away and set it aside in a secure location.
Inside View of Your Computer
power supply card fan CD or DVD drive
system board media card reader (optional) processor fan
hard drive floppy drive (optional) processor shroud and processor

System Board Components

memory module connectors (1, 2, 3, 4) front panel I/O connector FlexBay USB connector 8
14 battery socket (BATTERY) main power connector clear CMOS jumper (CLRCMOS) 9
13 SATA Connectors SATA0, SATA1) SATA connectors (4) (SATA2, SATA3, SATA4, SATA5 password jumper (CLRPSWD)
10 PCI Express x1 card connector PCI card connectors 16 rear fan connector 19 processor and heat sink connector 20
PCI Express x16 card connector floppy drive connector (FLOPPY) thermal sensor connector processor power connector
PCI Express x4 card connector PS/2 and Serial connector CPU fan connector

Enter system setup, select Integrated Audio Controller, and then change the setting to Off. Connect external audio devices to the sound cards connectors. Do not connect external audio devices to the integrated microphone, speaker/headphone, or line-in connectors on the back panel. Enter system setup, select Integrated NIC Controller, and then change the setting to Off. Connect the network cable to the add-in network adapters connectors. Do not connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel.
15 If you installed an add-in network adapter and want to disable the integrated network adapter:
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" on page 77. 2 Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78).
3 If present on your computer, rotate the lever on the chassis wall upward.
4 Push the two release tabs on the card retention door toward each other and pivot the door open. Because the door is hinged, it will remain in the open position.
5 If your computer includes a card retention mechanism to secure the x16 card, press the release tab downward gently and then pivot the mechanism upward to access the card slots.
NOTICE: Ensure that you release the securing tab to unseat the card. If the card is not removed correctly, the system board may be damaged. 6 Release the securing tab on the card slot to unseat the card. 7 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 (see "Contacting Dell" on page 137). NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification of the computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer. 8 Reseat the card retention mechanism in the tabs and pivot downward to snap it into place. 9 Close the card retention door to snap it into place, securing the card(s). NOTE: For full-length PCI-E cards, if a "piano" bracket is present on your computer you need to rotate it down into

place.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device and then plug the cable into the
10 Replace the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on. 11 Remove the card driver from the operating system. 12 If you removed a sound card:
Enter system setup, select Integrated Audio Controller, and then change the setting to On. Connect external audio devices to the integrated audio connectors on the back panel of the computer. Enter system setup, select Integrated NIC Controller, and then change the setting to On. Connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel of the computer.

Media Card Reader

For information on using the Media Card Reader, see "Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)" on page 31.
Removing a Media Card Reader
CAUTION: Before you perform any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computers electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis. 1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77. 2 Lay the computer on its side so that the system board is on the bottom of the inside of the computer. 3 Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78). 4 Remove the drive panel (see "Removing the Drive Panel" on page 100).
Media Card Reader (not present on all computers)

USB cable

5 Disconnect the USB cable on the back of the Media Card Reader. Disconnect the other end of the cable from the USB connector on the system board (see "System Board Components" on page 81). Remove the cable from any clips and lift out of the computer.
6 Pull the sliding plate to the right and hold in place. Then, slide the drive out the front of the computer. 7 Replace the drive panel insert (see "Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert" on page 102). 8 Replace the drive panel (see "Replacing the Drive Panel" on page 103). 9 Replace the computer cover (see "Replacing the Computer Cover" on page 121). 10 Power up the system and enter system setup (see "System Setup" on page 127). Set the USB for FlexBay value to OFF.
Installing a Media Card Reader
CAUTION: Before you perform any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computers electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis. 1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77. 2 Lay the computer on its side so that the system board is on the bottom of the inside of the computer. 3 Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78). 4 Remove the drive panel (see "Removing the Drive Panel" on page 100). 5 Remove the drive panel insert (see "Removing the Drive-Panel Insert" on page 101). 6 Remove the Media Card Reader from its packaging. 7 Remove the shoulder screws from the inside of the drive-panel insert and attach the screws to the new drive.

Media Card Reader 2 screws (4)
8 Gently slide the drive into place until you feel a click or feel the drive securely installed. NOTE: Ensure that the Media Card Reader is installed before connecting the USB cable.
9 Connect the USB cable to the back of the Media Card Reader and to the USB connector on the system board (see "System Board Components" on page 81).
Media Card Reader (optional)
10 Route the USB cable through the cable routing clip. 11 Replace the computer cover (see "Replacing the Computer Cover" on page 121). 12 Power up the system and enter system setup (see "System Setup" on page 127). Set the USB for FlexBay value to ON.

CD/DVD Drive

CAUTION: Before you perform 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.

Removing a CD/DVD Drive

1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77. 2 Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78). 3 Remove the drive panel (see "Removing the Drive Panel" on page 100). 4 Disconnect the power cable from the back of the drive and the CD/DVD drive cable from the back of the drive and the system board.

CD/DVD drive cable

system board
5 Slide the drive release mechanism to the right to release the shoulder screw and slide the drive out to remove it from the drive bay.

CD drive

6 If you are not replacing the drive, replace the drive panel insert (see "Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert" on page 102. 7 Replace the drive panel (see "Replacing the Drive Panel" on page 103). 8 Replace the computer cover (see "Replacing the Computer Cover" on page 121). 9 If you are removing and not replacing this drive, then be sure to disable the drive in the BIOS. When you restart your computer, enter system setup (see "System Setup" on page 127). Then, go to the "Drives" section of the BIOS and under SATA 0 through 5, set the SATA ports to the correct configuration.
Installing a CD/DVD Drive
1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page Remove the computer cover (see "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 78). 3 If you are installing a new drive, unpack the drive and prepare it for installation. Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer. 4 If you are installing a new drive, remove the drive panel insert (see "Removing the Drive-Panel Insert" on page 101). 118

System Setup

Use system setup as follows: To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your computer To set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password To read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed To flash the BIOS with an update
Before you use system setup, it is recommended that you write down the system setup screen information for future reference. NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings for this program. Certain changes can cause your computer to work incorrectly.

Entering System Setup

1 Turn on (or restart) your computer. 2 When the blue DELL logo is displayed, watch for the F2 prompt to appear. 127
3 Once the F2 prompt appears, press <F2> immediately. NOTE: The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard has initialized. If you press <F2> before you are prompted,
the keystroke will be lost.
4 If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop, then shut down your computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 77) and try again.

System Setup Screens

The system setup screen displays current or changeable configuration information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into three areas: the options list, active options field, and key functions. Options List This field appears on the left side of the system setup window. The field is a scrollable list containing features that define the configuration of your computer, including installed hardware, power conservation, and security features. Scroll up and down the list with the up- and down-arrow keys. As an option is highlighted, the Option Field displays more information about that option and the options current and available settings. By pressing <Enter> or the leftand right-arrow keys, you can toggle between a primary topic (collapsed) and subtopics (expanded). Option Field This field contains information about each option. In this field you can view and make changes to your current settings. Use the right- and left-arrow keys to highlight an option. Press <Enter> to make that selection active.

11 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.

Clearing CMOS Settings

CAUTION: Before you perform any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. 1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 77. 2 Reset the current CMOS settings:
Locate the 2-pin CMOS jumper (CLRCMOS) on the system board (see "System Board Components" on page 81). NOTE: When you receive your computer, there is no jumper plug on the CMOS jumper. Remove the jumper plug from the password jumper (CLRPSWD) pins 1 and 2. Place the jumper plug on the CMOS jumper (CLRCMOS) pins 1 and 2 and wait approximately five seconds. Remove the jumper plug and replace it on the password jumper (CLRPSWD) pins 1 and 2.
3 Replace the computer cover (see "Replacing the Computer Cover" on page 121). NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack and then plug it into the
4 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)
Technician-assisted technical support requires the cooperation and participation of the customer in the troubleshooting process and provides for restoration of the operating system, software programs, and hardware drivers to the original default configuration as shipped from Dell, as well as the verification of appropriate functionality of the computer and all Dell-installed hardware. In addition to this technicianassisted technical support, online technical support is available at support.dell.com. Additional technical support options may be available for purchase. Dell provides limited technical support for the computer and any "Dell-installed" software and peripherals1. Support for third-party software and peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer, including those purchased and/or installed through Dell Software and Peripherals, Readyware, and Custom Factory Integration2.
Repair services are provided pursuant to the terms and conditions of your limited warranty and any optional support service contract purchased with the computer. All Dell-standard components included in a Custom Factory Integration (CFI) project are covered by the standard Dell limited warranty for your computer. However, Dell also extends a parts replacement program to cover all nonstandard, third-party hardware components integrated through CFI for the duration of the computers service contract.
Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals

DDR SDRAM double-data-rate SDRAM A type of SDRAM that doubles the data burst cycle, improving system performance. DDR2 SDRAM double-data-rate 2 SDRAM A type of DDR SDRAM that uses a 4-bit prefetch and other architectural changes to boost memory speed to over 400 MHz. device Hardware such as a disk drive, printer, or keyboard that is installed in or connected to your computer. device driver See driver. DIMM dual in-line memory module A circuit board with memory chips that connects to a memory module on the system board. DIN connector A round, six-pin connector that conforms to DIN (Deutsche Industrie-Norm) standards; it is typically used to connect PS/2 keyboard or mouse cable connectors. disk striping A technique for spreading data over multiple disk drives. Disk striping can speed up operations that retrieve data from disk storage. Computers that use disk striping generally allow the user to select the data unit size or stripe width. DMA direct memory access A channel that allows certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the processor.
docking device See APR. DMTF Distributed Management Task Force A consortium of hardware and software companies who develop management standards for distributed desktop, network, enterprise, and Internet environments. domain A group of computers, programs, and devices on a network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures for use by a specific group of users. A user logs on to the domain to gain access to the resources. DRAM dynamic random-access memory Memory that stores information in integrated circuits containing capacitors. driver Software that allows the operating system to control a device such as a printer. Many devices do not work properly if the correct driver is not installed in the computer. DSL Digital Subscriber Line A technology that provides a constant, high-speed Internet connection through an analog telephone line. dual-core An Intel technology in which two physical computational units exist inside a single processor package, thereby increasing computing efficiency and multi-tasking ability. dual display mode A display setting that allows you to use a second monitor as an extension of your display. Also referred to as extended display mode. DVD-R DVD recordable A recordable version of a DVD. Data can be recorded only once onto a DVD-R. Once recorded, the data cannot be erased or written over. DVD+RW DVD rewritable A rewritable version of a DVD. Data can be written to a DVD+RW disc, and then erased and written over (rewritten). (DVD+RW technology is different from DVD-RW technology.) DVD+RW drive drive that can read DVDs and most CD media and write to DVD+RW (rewritable DVDs) discs. DVI digital video interface A standard for digital transmission between a computer and a digital video display.

TAPI telephony application programming interface Enables Windows programs to operate with a wide variety of telephony devices, including voice, data, fax, and video. text editor A program used to create and edit files that contain only text; for example, Windows Notepad uses a text editor. Text editors do not usually provide word wrap or formatting functionality (the option to underline, change fonts, and so on). TPM trusted platform module A hardware-based security feature that when combined with security software enhances network and computer security by enabling features such as file and e-mail protection. travel module A plastic device designed to fit inside the module bay of a portable computer to reduce the weight of the computer.
video controller The circuitry on a video card or on the system board (in computers with an integrated video controller) that provides the video capabilitiesin combination with the monitorfor your computer. video memory Memory that consists of memory chips dedicated to video functions. Video memory is usually faster than system memory. The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can display.
UMA unified memory allocation System memory dynamically allocated to video.
video mode A mode that describes how text and graphics are displayed on a monitor. Graphics-based software, such as Windows operating systems, displays in video modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors. Character-based software, such as text editors, displays in video modes that can be defined as x columns by y rows of characters. video resolution See resolution. virus A program that is designed to inconvenience you or to destroy data stored on your computer. A virus program moves from one computer to another through an infected disk, software downloaded from the Internet, or e-mail attachments. When an infected program starts, its embedded virus also starts. A common type of virus is a boot virus, which is stored in the boot sectors of a floppy disk. If the floppy disk is left in the drive when the computer is shut down and then turned on, the computer is infected when it reads the boot sectors of the floppy disk expecting to find the operating system. If the computer is infected, the boot virus may replicate itself onto all the floppy disks that are read or written in that computer until the virus is eradicated. V volt The measurement of electric potential or electromotive force. One V appears across a resistance of 1 ohm when a current of 1 ampere flows through that resistance.

CPU Memory Hard Drive Video Card CD/DVD Monitor Sound Card Speakers Keyboard/Mouse UPS Battery Backup Total (with shipping)
Home Brewed Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 4GB 500GB nVidia GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 18x DVDR Samsung 22 LCD Creative SB Audigy 5.1 Creative I-Trigue 3300 2.1 Logitech Wireless Optical APC 750VA $1677
Dell XPS 410 HP Pavilion d4790y Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 4GB 4GB 320GB 400GB nVidia GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB nVidia GeForce 7500LE 256MB 16x DVDR 16x DVDR 20 LCD HP 22 LCD Creative SB Audigy (Integrated) Creative SB Audigy Dell A525 2.1 Logitech X-230 2.1 Dell Optical HP Optical APC 1000VA $2333 $2270