About Your Computer

Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX260 Systems User's Guide

Front View

Small Mini-Tower Computer

1
CD-drive eject button
Press this button to eject your CD from the CD drive.

2
floppy-drive light button
The floppy-drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the floppy drive. Wait until this light turns off before you remove the floppy disk from the drive.

3
floppy-drive eject button
Press this button to eject a disk from the floppy drive.

4
hard-drive light
The hard-drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when devices such as your CD player are operating.

5
power button and power light
Press this button to turn on the computer.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button to turn off the computer. Instead, perform a Windows shutdown.

The power light illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states:
No light — The computer is in the off state (S4, S5, or mechanical OFF)
Steady green — The computer is in a normal operating state
Blinking green — The computer is in a power-saving state (S1 or S3)
To exit from a power-saving state, press the power button or click or move the mouse.
See "Diagnostic Lights" for a description of light codes that can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer.

6
front-panel door
Open the door to use the front-panel connectors. The front-panel door is removable; if you remove it or accidentally knock it off its hinges, it snaps back in place.

7
service tag
The tag is used to identify your computer when you access the Dell | Support website or call technical support.

8
USB connectors
Connect USB devices such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, joystick, and computer speakers into any of the USB connectors.

9
headphone connector
Attach headphones.

10
Microsoft® Windows® license label
The Windows license label provides the product key for your copy of the Windows operating system. You need this information if you reinstall Windows.

Back View

Small Mini-Tower Computer

1
power connector
The connection for the power cable.

2
voltage selection switch (may not be available on all computers)
Your computer is equipped with either an auto-sensing voltage selector or a manual voltage selection switch. Computers with an auto-sensing voltage selector do not have a voltage selection switch on the back panel and can automatically detect the correct operating voltage.
To help avoid damaging a computer with a manual voltage selection switch, set the switch for the voltage that most closely matches the AC power available in your location.

NOTICE: The voltage selection switch must be set to the 115-V position even though the AC power available in Japan is 100 V.

Also, ensure that your monitor and attached devices are electrically rated to operate with the AC power available in your location.

3
back-panel connectors
The connectors for your computer.

4
AGP/DVI Adapter card slot
The slot for AGP or DVI Adapter cards.

5
card slots
The slots for PCI cards or a second serial port card.

Back Panel

1
parallel connector
Connect a parallel device, such as a printer, to the parallel connector. If you have a USB printer, plug it into a USB connector.
NOTE: The integrated parallel connector is automatically disabled if the computer detects an installed card containing a parallel connector configured to the same address. For more information, see "System Setup Options."

2
keyboard connector
If you have a standard keyboard, plug it into the purple keyboard connector. If you have a USB keyboard, plug it into a USB connector.

3
mouse connector
Plug a standard mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off the computer and any attached devices before you connect a mouse to the computer. If you have a USB mouse, plug it into a USB connector.
If your computer is running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, Dell installed the necessary mouse drivers on your hard drive.

4
link integrity light
Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps network and the computer.

Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the computer.

Yellow — A good connection exists between a 1,000-Mbps (1-Gbps) network and the computer.

Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.

5
network adapter
Attach the UTP cable to an RJ45 jack wall plate or to an RJ45 port on a UTP concentrator or hub and press the other end of the UTP cable into the network adapter connector until the cable snaps securely into place.
Dell recommends the use of Category 5 wiring and connectors for our customers' networks.

6
network activity light
The yellow light flashes when the computer is transmitting or receiving network data. A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady "on" state.

7
line-in connector
Use the green line-out connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers.
On computers with a sound card, the line-out connector is on the card.

8
line-out connector
Use the blue line-in connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR.
On computers with a sound card, the line-in connector is on the card.

9
microphone connector
Use the pink microphone connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.
On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.

10
USB connectors
Connect USB devices such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, joystick, and computer speakers into any of the USB connectors.

11
diagnostic lights
Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights."

12
video connector
Plug the cable from your VGA-compatible monitor into the blue connector.

13
serial connector
Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. If you have a second serial connector card installed, you can connect a second device to that connector.
For more information, see "System Setup Options."

Inside Your Computer

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the steps in "CAUTION: Safety Instructions."

CAUTION: To avoid electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

NOTICE: Be careful when opening the computer cover to ensure that you do not accidently disconnect cables from the system board.

Small Mini-Tower Computer

1
hard drive
6
heat sink and blower assembly

2
internal speaker
7
power supply

3
chassis intrusion switch
8
floppy drive

4
system board
9
CD/DVD drive

5
padlock ring

Cable Colors

Hard drive
Blue pull tab

Floppy drive
Black pull tab

CD/DVD drive
Orange pull tab

Back to Contents Page

1	parallel connector	Connect a parallel device, such as a printer, to the parallel connector. If you have a USB printer, plug it into a USB connector. NOTE: The integrated parallel connector is automatically disabled if the computer detects an installed card containing a parallel connector configured to the same address. For more information, see "System Setup Options."
2	keyboard connector	If you have a standard keyboard, plug it into the purple keyboard connector. If you have a USB keyboard, plug it into a USB connector.
3	mouse connector	Plug a standard mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off the computer and any attached devices before you connect a mouse to the computer. If you have a USB mouse, plug it into a USB connector. If your computer is running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, Dell installed the necessary mouse drivers on your hard drive.
4	link integrity light	Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps network and the computer. Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps network and the computer. Yellow — A good connection exists between a 1,000-Mbps (1-Gbps) network and the computer. Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.
5	network adapter	Attach the UTP cable to an RJ45 jack wall plate or to an RJ45 port on a UTP concentrator or hub and press the other end of the UTP cable into the network adapter connector until the cable snaps securely into place. Dell recommends the use of Category 5 wiring and connectors for our customers' networks.
6	network activity light	The yellow light flashes when the computer is transmitting or receiving network data. A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady "on" state.
7	line-in connector	Use the green line-out connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers. On computers with a sound card, the line-out connector is on the card.
8	line-out connector	Use the blue line-in connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR. On computers with a sound card, the line-in connector is on the card.
9	microphone connector	Use the pink microphone connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program. On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.
10	USB connectors	Connect USB devices such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, joystick, and computer speakers into any of the USB connectors.
11	diagnostic lights	Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights."
12	video connector	Plug the cable from your VGA-compatible monitor into the blue connector.
13	serial connector	Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the serial port. If you have a second serial connector card installed, you can connect a second device to that connector. For more information, see "System Setup Options."

1	hard drive	6	heat sink and blower assembly
2	internal speaker	7	power supply
3	chassis intrusion switch	8	floppy drive
4	system board	9	CD/DVD drive
5	padlock ring

Hard drive	Blue pull tab
Floppy drive	Black pull tab
CD/DVD drive	Orange pull tab