Owner's Manual
Page 1
Dell™ Dimension™ 9100 Service Tag CD or DVD eject button CD or DVD activity light FlexBays (2) for optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader microphone connector headphone connector diagnostic lights hard-drive activity light power button USB 2.0 connectors (2) cover latch release power connector sound-card connectors (5) network adapter USB 2.0 connectors (5) card slots for PCI Express x1 (1), PCI Express x16 (1), PCI Express x4 (1), PCI (3) Model DCTA www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell™ Dimension™ 9100 Service Tag CD or DVD eject button CD or DVD activity light FlexBays (2) for optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader microphone connector headphone connector diagnostic lights hard-drive activity light power button USB 2.0 connectors (2) cover latch release power connector sound-card connectors (5) network adapter USB 2.0 connectors (5) card slots for PCI Express x1 (1), PCI Express x16 (1), PCI Express x4 (1), PCI (3) Model DCTA www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Owner's Manual
Page 3
... Printer 14 Connecting to the Internet 14 Setting Up Your Internet Connection 15 Playing CDs and DVDs 16 Adjusting the Volume 17 Adjusting the Picture 18 Copying CDs and DVDs 18 How to Copy a CD or DVD 18 Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs 19 Helpful Tips 19 Using a Media Card Reader...
... Printer 14 Connecting to the Internet 14 Setting Up Your Internet Connection 15 Playing CDs and DVDs 16 Adjusting the Volume 17 Adjusting the Picture 18 Copying CDs and DVDs 18 How to Copy a CD or DVD 18 Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs 19 Helpful Tips 19 Using a Media Card Reader...
Owner's Manual
Page 4
IEEE 1394 27 Hyper-Threading 28 2 Solving Problems Troubleshooting Tips 29 Battery Problems 29 Drive Problems 30 CD and DVD drive problems 30 Hard drive problems 31 E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems 31 Error Messages 33 Media Card Reader Problems 34 Keyboard Problems 34 Lockups ...
IEEE 1394 27 Hyper-Threading 28 2 Solving Problems Troubleshooting Tips 29 Battery Problems 29 Drive Problems 30 CD and DVD drive problems 30 Hard drive problems 31 E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems 31 Error Messages 33 Media Card Reader Problems 34 Keyboard Problems 34 Lockups ...
Owner's Manual
Page 6
... Drive 91 Installing a Floppy Drive 93 Media Card Reader 93 Removing a Media Card Reader 93 Installing a Media Card Reader 95 CD/DVD Drive 97 Removing a CD/DVD Drive 98 Installing a CD/DVD Drive 99 Battery 101 Replacing the Battery 101 Replacing the Computer Cover 102 5 Appendix Specifications 103 System Setup 107 Overview 107...
... Drive 91 Installing a Floppy Drive 93 Media Card Reader 93 Removing a Media Card Reader 93 Installing a Media Card Reader 95 CD/DVD Drive 97 Removing a CD/DVD Drive 98 Installing a CD/DVD Drive 99 Battery 101 Replacing the Battery 101 Replacing the Computer Cover 102 5 Appendix Specifications 103 System Setup 107 Overview 107...
Owner's Manual
Page 7
Only 118 Class A 118 Class B 118 FCC Identification Information 119 Contacting Dell 119 Index 137 Contents 7 Only 117 Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals 117 Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals 118 FCC Notices (U.S. Clearing Forgotten Passwords 114 Clearing CMOS Settings 115 Cleaning Your Computer 116 Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor 116 Mouse 116 Floppy Drive 116 CDs and DVDs 117 Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S.
Only 118 Class A 118 Class B 118 FCC Identification Information 119 Contacting Dell 119 Index 137 Contents 7 Only 117 Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals 117 Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals 118 FCC Notices (U.S. Clearing Forgotten Passwords 114 Clearing CMOS Settings 115 Cleaning Your Computer 116 Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor 116 Mouse 116 Floppy Drive 116 CDs and DVDs 117 Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S.
Owner's Manual
Page 16
NOTE: Ensure that came with your computer. www.dell.com | support.dell.com Playing CDs and DVDs NOTICE: Do not press down on the front of the drive. 2 ...Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray. 3 Press the eject button or gently push in the tray. Keep the tray closed when you are playing CDs or DVDs.... 1 Press the eject button on the CD or DVD tray when you open or close it. A CD player includes the following basic ...
NOTE: Ensure that came with your computer. www.dell.com | support.dell.com Playing CDs and DVDs NOTICE: Do not press down on the front of the drive. 2 ...Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray. 3 Press the eject button or gently push in the tray. Keep the tray closed when you are playing CDs or DVDs.... 1 Press the eject button on the CD or DVD tray when you open or close it. A CD player includes the following basic ...
Owner's Manual
Page 17
... control options, click Help in the Volume Control window. Adjusting the Volume NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing. 1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs → Accessories→ Entertainment, and then click Volume Control. 2 In the Volume Control window, ... and slide it up or down to the previous title or chapter Eject For more information on the CD or DVD player (if available). Eject Go to the next track A DVD player includes the following basic buttons: Stop Restart the current chapter Play Fast forward Pause Fast reverse Advance a single...
... control options, click Help in the Volume Control window. Adjusting the Volume NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing. 1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs → Accessories→ Entertainment, and then click Volume Control. 2 In the Volume Control window, ... and slide it up or down to the previous title or chapter Eject For more information on the CD or DVD player (if available). Eject Go to the next track A DVD player includes the following basic buttons: Stop Restart the current chapter Play Fast forward Pause Fast reverse Advance a single...
Owner's Manual
Page 18
The following instructions show how to computers that have a CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, or DVD/CD-RW combo drive. Open Sonic RecordNow, click the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by 600 pixels. 5 Click the drop-down menu under Color...CDs from audio files on the kind of a CD or DVD. NOTE: The types of the window, and then click RecordNow Help or RecordNow Tutorial. However, DVD-writable drives do not write to 800 by country. www.dell.com | support.dell.com Adjusting the Picture If an error message notifies you ...
The following instructions show how to computers that have a CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, or DVD/CD-RW combo drive. Open Sonic RecordNow, click the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by 600 pixels. 5 Click the drop-down menu under Color...CDs from audio files on the kind of a CD or DVD. NOTE: The types of the window, and then click RecordNow Help or RecordNow Tutorial. However, DVD-writable drives do not write to 800 by country. www.dell.com | support.dell.com Adjusting the Picture If an error message notifies you ...
Owner's Manual
Page 19
... you plan to erase, rewrite, or update data on the CD or DVD to a 650-MB blank CD. Use blank DVD+RWs if you have one CD or DVD drive, ensure that CD-R again (see the Sonic documentation for example, ...do not play in most home or car stereos. • You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic RecordNow. • Music MP3 files can write to four different types of recording media: CD-Rs and ...on CDs. CD-RWs do not copy a 650-MB file to the blank CD or DVD. Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs Your CD-RW drive can be used to permanently store large amounts...
... you plan to erase, rewrite, or update data on the CD or DVD to a 650-MB blank CD. Use blank DVD+RWs if you have one CD or DVD drive, ensure that CD-R again (see the Sonic documentation for example, ...do not play in most home or car stereos. • You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic RecordNow. • Music MP3 files can write to four different types of recording media: CD-Rs and ...on CDs. CD-RWs do not copy a 650-MB file to the blank CD or DVD. Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs Your CD-RW drive can be used to permanently store large amounts...
Owner's Manual
Page 30
...that are checked. C H E C K T H E S P E A K E R S A N D S U B W O O F E R - See "Sound and Speaker Problems" on page 41. 30 Solving Problems If the floppy, CD, or DVD drive, is not listed, perform a full scan with your screen. • Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slidebar and dragging it... speaker icon in the lower-right corner of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all DVD titles work in the drive or the CD or DVD. www.dell.com | support.dell.com Drive Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any boxes that the original one is defective. •...
...that are checked. C H E C K T H E S P E A K E R S A N D S U B W O O F E R - See "Sound and Speaker Problems" on page 41. 30 Solving Problems If the floppy, CD, or DVD drive, is not listed, perform a full scan with your screen. • Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slidebar and dragging it... speaker icon in the lower-right corner of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all DVD titles work in the drive or the CD or DVD. www.dell.com | support.dell.com Drive Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any boxes that the original one is defective. •...
Owner's Manual
Page 31
... you cannot open your e-mail attachments: 1 In Outlook Express, click Tools, click Options, and then click Security. 2 Click Do not allow attachments to the CD/DVD-RW. C H E C K T H E M I C R O S O F T O U T L O O K ® E X P R E S S S E C U R I T Y S E T T I N G T O A C D / D V D - Solving Problems... writing to an analog telephone jack only. The modem does not operate while it is interrupted, an error occurs. NOTE: Connect the modem to a CD/DVD-RW drive C L O S E O T H E R P R O G R A M S - TU R N O F F S T A N D B Y M O D E I N W I N D O W S B E F O R ...
... you cannot open your e-mail attachments: 1 In Outlook Express, click Tools, click Options, and then click Security. 2 Click Do not allow attachments to the CD/DVD-RW. C H E C K T H E M I C R O S O F T O U T L O O K ® E X P R E S S S E C U R I T Y S E T T I N G T O A C D / D V D - Solving Problems... writing to an analog telephone jack only. The modem does not operate while it is interrupted, an error occurs. NOTE: Connect the modem to a CD/DVD-RW drive C L O S E O T H E R P R O G R A M S - TU R N O F F S T A N D B Y M O D E I N W I N D O W S B E F O R ...
Owner's Manual
Page 47
.... 3 Repeat this process for resource conflicts (see page 51). 4 If the problem persists, contact Dell (see page 107) to make sure the boot sequence is attempting to boot from the hard drive, CD drive, and DVD drive (see page 63). • If there is an error message on your computer. •...; If the problem persists, contact Dell (see page 119). check system setup (see page 119). If the computer starts normally, ...
.... 3 Repeat this process for resource conflicts (see page 51). 4 If the problem persists, contact Dell (see page 107) to make sure the boot sequence is attempting to boot from the hard drive, CD drive, and DVD drive (see page 63). • If there is an error message on your computer. •...; If the problem persists, contact Dell (see page 119). check system setup (see page 119). If the computer starts normally, ...
Owner's Manual
Page 57
For information on using the Media Card Reader, see "Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)" on page 60. Press to remove the cover. Removing and Installing Parts 57 Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader. Front View of the Computer 1 13 2 12 3 11 10 9 8 4 7 5 6 1 cover latch release 2 CD or DVD activity light 3 CD or DVD eject button 4 FlexBay drives (2) Use this latch to eject a disc from the CD or DVD drive. See "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 20. The drive light is on when the computer reads data from the CD or DVD drive.
For information on using the Media Card Reader, see "Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)" on page 60. Press to remove the cover. Removing and Installing Parts 57 Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader. Front View of the Computer 1 13 2 12 3 11 10 9 8 4 7 5 6 1 cover latch release 2 CD or DVD activity light 3 CD or DVD eject button 4 FlexBay drives (2) Use this latch to eject a disc from the CD or DVD drive. See "Removing the Computer Cover" on page 20. The drive light is on when the computer reads data from the CD or DVD drive.
Owner's Manual
Page 62
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Inside View of Your Computer CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. power supply system board CD or DVD drive *floppy drive *may not be present on all computers hard drive 62 Removing and Installing Parts
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Inside View of Your Computer CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. power supply system board CD or DVD drive *floppy drive *may not be present on all computers hard drive 62 Removing and Installing Parts
Owner's Manual
Page 85
... FlexBay drives (can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader) • Two CD or DVD drives General Installation Guidelines Connect hard drives to the connector labeled "SATA" and connect CD/DVD drives to the connector labeled "IDE". sliding plate lever sliding plate drive panel 2 Align the drive panel tabs...
... FlexBay drives (can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader) • Two CD or DVD drives General Installation Guidelines Connect hard drives to the connector labeled "SATA" and connect CD/DVD drives to the connector labeled "IDE". sliding plate lever sliding plate drive panel 2 Align the drive panel tabs...
Owner's Manual
Page 86
... want to keep, back up your computer from the electrical outlet before you align the colored stripe with the pin 1 connector. IDE CD/DVD drives should be connected to the connector labeled IDE. When disconnecting an IDE cable, grasp the colored pull tab and pull until the connector...connector at each end. Instead, set it . 1 If you are replacing a hard drive that will sufficiently cushion it on a hard surface. www.dell.com | support.dell.com Serial ATA hard drives should be connected to the connector labeled SATA on page 55. 3 Remove the computer cover (see page 60). 86...
... want to keep, back up your computer from the electrical outlet before you align the colored stripe with the pin 1 connector. IDE CD/DVD drives should be connected to the connector labeled IDE. When disconnecting an IDE cable, grasp the colored pull tab and pull until the connector...connector at each end. Instead, set it . 1 If you are replacing a hard drive that will sufficiently cushion it on a hard surface. www.dell.com | support.dell.com Serial ATA hard drives should be connected to the connector labeled SATA on page 55. 3 Remove the computer cover (see page 60). 86...
Owner's Manual
Page 97
Removing and Installing Parts 97 CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover. CD/DVD Drive CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the computer. 9 Route the USB cable through the cable routing clip. 10 Replace the computer cover (see page 102). USB cable *Media Card Reader *Not present on all computers. 8 Insert the Media Card Reader into the bay and slide the drive in to seat it in the Product Information Guide.
Removing and Installing Parts 97 CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover. CD/DVD Drive CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the computer. 9 Route the USB cable through the cable routing clip. 10 Replace the computer cover (see page 102). USB cable *Media Card Reader *Not present on all computers. 8 Insert the Media Card Reader into the bay and slide the drive in to seat it in the Product Information Guide.
Owner's Manual
Page 98
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Removing a CD/DVD Drive 1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 55. 2 Remove the computer cover (see page 60). 3 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 power cable system board 98 Removing and Installing Parts
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Removing a CD/DVD Drive 1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 55. 2 Remove the computer cover (see page 60). 3 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 power cable system board 98 Removing and Installing Parts
Owner's Manual
Page 99
Installing a CD/DVD Drive 1 If you are installing a new drive, unpack the drive and prepare it from the inside of the drivepanel insert and attach the screws to ... the shoulder screw and slide the drive out to remove it for installation. Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to the new drive. CD/DVD drive shoulder screws (3) Removing and Installing Parts 99
Installing a CD/DVD Drive 1 If you are installing a new drive, unpack the drive and prepare it from the inside of the drivepanel insert and attach the screws to ... the shoulder screw and slide the drive out to remove it for installation. Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to the new drive. CD/DVD drive shoulder screws (3) Removing and Installing Parts 99
Owner's Manual
Page 100
... | support.dell.com 3 Slide the drive into the drive bay until the drive clicks into position. 4 Connect the power cable to the drive and the CD/DVD cable to provide airflow for drive operation. 9 Enter system setup (see page 108) and select the appropriate Drive option. 10 Verify that your... computer and devices to the computer. 8 Connect your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see page 48). 100...
... | support.dell.com 3 Slide the drive into the drive bay until the drive clicks into position. 4 Connect the power cable to the drive and the CD/DVD cable to provide airflow for drive operation. 9 Enter system setup (see page 108) and select the appropriate Drive option. 10 Verify that your... computer and devices to the computer. 8 Connect your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see page 48). 100...