Back to Contents Page

Drives

Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX280 Systems User's Guide

  General Installation Guidelines

  Hard Drive

  Front-Panel Inserts

  Floppy Drive

  CD/DVD Drive

  Cable Routing

Your computer supports:

• One serial ATA hard drive
  
  
• One optional floppy drive
  
  
• One optional CD or DVD drive
  
  

1	CD/DVD drive
2	floppy drive
3	hard drive

Connect CD/DVD drives to the connector labeled "IDE" on the system board. Serial ATA hard drives should be connected to the connector labeled "SATA0" on the system board.

Connecting Drive Cables

When you install a drive, you connect two cables—a DC power cable and a data cable—to the back of the drive and to the system board.

Drive Interface Connectors

1	interface connector
2	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 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.

Power Cable Connector

Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables

When removing an IDE drive data cable, grasp the colored pull tab and pull until the connector detaches.

When connecting and disconnecting a serial ATA data cable, hold the cable by the black connector at each end.

Like IDE connectors, the serial ATA 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.

Hard Drive

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.

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. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.
   
   
3. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin."
   
   

Removing a Hard Drive

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

2. Press in on the tabs on each side of the drive and slide the drive toward the I/O panel and remove it from the computer.

Installing a Hard Drive

1. Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation.
   
   
2. 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).
   
   

3. Gently slide the drive into place until you hear a click or feel the drive securely installed.
   
   
4. Connect the power and hard-drive cables to the drive.

5. Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.
   
   
6. Close the computer cover.
   
   
7. Attach the computer stand (optional).
   
   

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 electrical outlets.
   
   

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 medium into your boot drive.
   
   
10. Turn on the computer.
    
    
11. After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if installed and 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 On or On-Silent.
    
    

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

13. Enter system setup and update the appropriate primary Drive option (0 or 1).
    
    
14. Exit system setup, and reboot the computer.
    
    
15. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step.
    
    

For instructions, see the documentation that came with your operating system.

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

For instructions, see the documentation that came with your operating system.

Front-Panel Inserts

If you are installing a new floppy or CD/DVD drive instead of replacing a drive, remove the front-panel insert.

Floppy Drive

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.

1. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin."
   
   
2. If you are installing a new floppy drive rather than replacing a drive, remove the front-panel inserts.
   
   

Removing a Floppy Drive

1. Disconnect the floppy-drive cable from the system board connector (DSKT).
   
   
2. Remove the power cable from the interposer board.
   
   
3. Remove or raise the drive by pressing the green tabs on either side of the drive and lifting the drive up.
   
   
4. Remove the floppy-drive cable from the floppy drive:
   
   
   1. Remove the interposer board from the floppy drive by pressing on the tab and rotating the interposer board.
      
      
   2. To release the floppy-drive cable from the connector, slide the lever until it is fully extended, and then lift the cable away.

5. Remove the floppy drive from its sled by pulling the sled tab out while pushing the drive up and then sliding the drive out of the sled.
   
   

Installing a Floppy Drive

1. Snap the replacement drive into the sled and ensure that it is secure in the sled.
   
   
2. Connect the interposer board to the floppy drive:
   
   
   1. Slide the floppy-drive cable into the connector.
      
      
   2. Close the lever so that the cable is secure in the connector.
      
      
   3. Line up the hole on the bottom of the interposer board with the notch on the connector, and snap the interposer board onto the drive.
      
      
3. Gently slide the drive into place until you hear a click or feel the drive securely installed.

4. Attach the power cable to the interposer board on the floppy drive.
   
   
5. Connect the floppy-drive cable to the DSKT connector on the system board.
   
   
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.
   
   
8. Attach the computer stand (optional).
   
   

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

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

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

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

ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

11. Reset the chassis intrusion detector by changing Chassis Intrusion to On or On-Silent.
    
    

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

12. Enter system setup and use the Diskette Drive option to enable your new floppy drive.
    
    
13. 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 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.

1. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin."
   
   
2. If you are installing a new CD/DVD drive rather than replacing a drive, remove the front- panel inserts.
   
   

Removing a CD/DVD Drive

1. Disconnect the power cable from the interposer board.
   
   
2. Remove the interposer board from the drive.

3. 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. 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. Gently slide the drive into place until you hear a click or feel the drive securely installed.
   
   
3. Connect the interposer board to the CD drive:
   
   
   1. Ensure that the interposer board tab fits securely under the notch on the inside of the cover.
      
      
   2. Attach the power cable to the interposer board.

If your computer came with an IDE CD drive, use the spare connector on the existing interface cable. Otherwise, use the IDE interface cable provided in the drive kit.

4. If you are installing a drive that has its own controller card, install the controller card in an expansion slot.
   
   
5. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
6. Close the computer cover.
   
   
7. Attach the computer stand (optional).
   
   

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 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. After you open and close the cover, the chassis intrusion detector, if installed and 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 On or On-Silent.
    
    

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

11. Update your configuration information by setting the appropriate Drive option (0 or 1) under Drives. See "System Setup" for more information.
    
    
12. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics.
    
    

Cable Routing

Back to Contents Page