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Drives

Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX260 Systems User's Guide

  Hard Drive

  Front-Panel Inserts

  Floppy Drive

  CD/DVD Drive

Your computer supports:

• Two hard drives
  
  
• Two floppy or optional Zip drives
  
  
• Two CD or DVD drives.
  
  

Internal Drives

1	CD/DVD drive(s)
2	floppy drive(s)
3	hard drive(s)

IDE Drive Addressing

When you connect two IDE devices to a single IDE interface cable and configure them for the cable select setting, the device attached to the last connector on the interface cable is the master or boot device (drive 0), and the device attached to the middle connector on the interface cable is the slave device (drive 1). See the drive documentation in your upgrade kit for information on configuring devices for the cable select setting.

Your computer supports up to two IDE devices. Hard drives should be connected to the connector labeled IDE1, and CD/DVD drives should be connected to the connector labeled IDE2.

Connecting Drive Cables

When you install a drive, you connect two cables—a DC power cable and an interface cable—to the back of the drive.

Power Cable Connector

1	Power cable
2	Power input connector

Drive Interface Connector

1	Interface connector
2	Colored stripe on cable
3	Interface cable

Most interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion; that is, a notch or a missing pin on one connector matches a tab or a filled-in hole on the other connector. Keyed connectors ensure that the pin-1 wire in the cable (indicated by the colored stripe along one edge of the cable) goes to the pin-1 end of the connector. The pin-1 end of a connector on a board or a card is usually indicated by a silk-screened "1" printed directly on the board or card.

NOTICE: When you connect an interface cable, do not place the colored stripe away from pin 1 of the connector. Reversing the cable prevents the drive from operating and could damage the controller, the drive, or both.

Hard Drive

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

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

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

1. If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.
   
   
2. Perform an orderly computer shutdown using the operating system menu.
   
   
3. Turn off your computer and any devices.
   
   
4. Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the chassis, such as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer, before touching anything inside your computer.
   
   

While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer, and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

5. Disconnect your computer and devices from their power sources. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
   
   
6. Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   
7. Open the computer cover.
   
   

Removing a Hard Drive

1. Disconnect the power and hard-drive cables from the drive.
   
   

Removing Power and Drive Cables

1	power cable
2	hard-drive cable

2. Press in on the tabs on each side of the drive and slide the drive up and out.
   
   

Removing the Hard Drive

1	tabs (2)
2	hard drive

Installing a Hard Drive

1. Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation.
   
   
2. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.
   
   
3. If your replacement hard drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive. Attach the bracket rails to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and then inserting and tightening all four screws (two screws on each rail).
   
   

Hard Drive Bracket Rails

1	drive
2	bracket rails (2)
3	screws (4)

4. Install the hard drive into the computer by gently sliding the drive into place until you hear it securely click.
   
   

NOTICE: Match the colored strip on the cable with pin 1 on the drive (pin 1 is marked as "1").

5. Connect the power and hard-drive cables to the drive.
   
   

Attaching Power and Drive Cables

1	power cable
2	hard-drive cable

6. Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.
   
   
7. Close the computer cover.
   
   

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack, and then plug it into the computer.

8. Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
   
   

See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.

9. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert a bootable floppy disk into drive A.
   
   
10. Turn on the computer.
    
    
11. Enter system setup, and update the appropriate Primary Drive option (0 or 1).
    
    
12. Exit system setup, and reboot the computer.
    
    
13. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step.
    
    

See the documentation for your operating system for instructions.

14. Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics.
    
    
15. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, install your operating system on the hard drive.
    
    

After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following message to appear on the screen at the next computer start-up:

ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

16. Reset the chassis intrusion detector by changing Chassis Intrusion to Enabled or Enabled-Silent.
    
    

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

Adding a Second Hard Drive

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

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

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

1. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.
   
   
2. Perform an orderly computer shutdown using the operating system menu.
   
   
3. Turn off your computer and any devices.
   
   
4. Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the chassis, such as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer, before touching anything inside your computer.
   
   

While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer, and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

5. Disconnect your computer and devices from their power sources. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
   
   
6. Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   
7. Open the computer cover.
   
   
8. Remove the two green plastic rails from the inside of the hard-drive bay by gently pulling the rails up and out of the bay.
   
   
9. Attach the rails to the hard drive using the two screws attached to the rails.
   
   

Ensure that the rail tabs are positioned at the back of the hard drive.

NOTICE: Do not install any drive into the lower hard-drive bay until you have removed the green drive rails from the inside of the hard-drive bay.

10. Remove the first hard drive from the upper bay and install it in the lower bay:
    
    
    1. Disconnect the power and the hard-drive cables from the back of the first hard drive.
       
       
    2. Press in the two green rail tabs and pull the first hard drive out of the upper bay.
       
       
    3. Gently slide the first hard drive into the lower bay until you hear a click.
       
       
    4. Reconnect the power and hard-drive cables to the back of the first hard drive.
       
       
11. Gently slide the new hard drive into the upper bay until you hear a click.
    
    

Installing a Second Hard Drive

1	rail tabs (2)
2	second hard drive in upper bay
3	first hard drive in lower bay
4	hard-drive bay

12. Connect a power cable to the drive.
    
    

NOTICE: Match the colored strip on the cable with pin 1 on the drive.

13. Locate the extra connector on the drive cable that is attached to your first hard drive and attach the connector to the second hard drive.
    
    

Your computer uses cable-select drive cables. This means that the device connected to the end connector of the drive cable is the master device and the device connected to the middle connector is the slave device. Be sure that the jumper setting on the new device is set for "cable select" (see the documentation that came with the drive for information).

Attaching Cables

1	power cable
2	second hard-drive cable (secondary drive)
3	first hard-drive cable (primary boot drive)

14. Close the computer cover.
    
    

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack, and then plug it into the computer.

15. Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    
16. See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.
    
    

After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following message to appear on the screen at the next computer start-up:

ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

17. Reset the chassis intrusion detector by changing Chassis Intrusion to Enabled or Enabled-Silent.
    
    

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

Front-Panel Inserts

If you are installing a new floppy or CD/DVD drive rather than replacing a drive, remove the front-panel inserts.

1. Open the cover to a 90-degree angle and release the insert tabs from inside the computer.
   
   

Releasing the Insert Tabs

2. Press the insert until it pops free of the front-panel cover.
   
   

Removing the Front-Panel Inserts

Floppy Drive

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

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

1. Perform an orderly computer shutdown using the operating system menu.
   
   
2. Turn off your computer and any devices.
   
   
3. Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the chassis, such as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer, before touching anything inside your computer.
   
   

While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer, and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

4. Disconnect your computer and devices from their power sources. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
   
   
5. Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   
6. Open the computer cover.
   
   

Removing a Floppy Drive

1. Disconnect the power and floppy-drive cables from the back of the floppy drive.
   
   
2. Disconnect the other end of the floppy-drive cable from the system board (labeled DSKT).
   
   

Removing Power and Drive Cables

1	power cable
2	floppy-drive cable
3	floppy-drive connector (DSKT)

3. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive, slide the drive upward, and remove it from the floppy-drive bay.
   
   

Installing a Floppy Drive

1. If you are replacing a drive and the new drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive. Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and then inserting and tightening all four screws (two screws on each rail).
   
   

Floppy Drive Bracket Rails

1	drive
2	bracket rails (2)
3	screws (4)

2. Gently slide the drive into place until the tabs securely click into position.
   
   
3. Attach the power and floppy-drive cables to the floppy drive.
   
   
4. Connect the other end of the floppy-drive cable to the connector labeled DSKT on the system board.
   
   

Attaching Power and Drive Cables

1	power cable
2	floppy-drive cable
3	floppy-drive connector (DSKT)

5. If you are installing a new floppy drive rather than replacing a drive, remove the front-panel inserts.
   
   
6. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
7. Close the computer cover.
   
   

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack, and then plug it into the computer.

8. Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
   
   

See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.

9. Enter system setup and update the appropriate Diskette Drive A option to reflect the size and capacity of your new floppy drive.
   
   

After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following message to appear on the screen at the next computer start-up:

ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

10. Reset the chassis intrusion detector by changing Chassis Intrusion to Enabled or Enabled-Silent.
    
    

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

11. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics.
    
    

CD/DVD Drive

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

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

1. Perform an orderly computer shutdown using the operating system menu.
   
   
2. Turn off your computer and any devices.
   
   
3. Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the chassis, such as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer, before touching anything inside your computer.
   
   

While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer, and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

4. Disconnect your computer and devices from their power sources. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
   
   
5. Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then press the power button to ground the system board.
   
   
6. Open the computer cover.
   
   

Removing a CD/DVD Drive

1. Disconnect the power, audio, and CD/DVD drive cables from the back of the drive.
   
   

Removing Power, Audio, and Drive Cables

1	power cable
2	audio cable
3	CD/DVD drive cable

2. Press inward on the two tabs on the sides of the drive, and then slide the drive upward and remove it from the drive bay.
   
   

Installing a CD/DVD Drive

1. 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. If you are installing an IDE drive, configure the drive for the cable select setting.

2. Connect the new drive to the set of rails that are attached to the inside of the cover. If a set of rails is not attached inside the cover, contact Dell.
   
   
3. If you are installing a replacement drive and the new drive does not have the bracket rails attached, remove the rails from the old drive by removing the two screws that secure each rail to the drive. Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the screw holes on the drive with the screw holes on the bracket rails and then inserting and tightening all four screws (two screws on each rail).
   
   

CD/DVD Drive Bracket Rails

1	drive
2	bracket rails (2)
3	screws (4)

4. Gently slide the drive into place until the tabs securely click into position.
   
   
5. Connect the power, audio, and CD/DVD drive cables to the drive.
   
   

Connecting Power, Audio, and Drive Cables

1	power cable
2	audio cable
3	CD/DVD drive cable

6. If you are installing a new CD/DVD drive rather than replacing a drive, remove the front-panel inserts.
   
   
7. If you are installing a drive that has its own controller card, install the controller card in a card slot.
   
   
8. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
9. Close the computer cover.
   
   

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network wall jack, and then plug it into the computer.

10. Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    

See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.

11. Update your configuration information by setting the appropriate Drive option (0 or 1) under Drives: Secondary to Auto.
    
    

See "Primary Drive n and Secodary Drive n" for more information.

After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if enabled, causes the following message to appear on the screen at the next computer start-up:

ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

12. Reset the chassis intrusion detector by changing Chassis Intrusion to Enabled or Enabled-Silent.
    
    

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

13. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics.
    
    

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