Dell Vostro 260/260s Mini-Tower Owner's Manual Regulatory Model D11M Regulatory Type D11M001
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if instructions are not followed. WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. Information in this publication is subject to change without notice. © 2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Contents Notes, Cautions, and Warnings..................................................................2 1 Working on Your Computer......................................................................7 Before Working Inside Your Computer.............................................................................7 Recommended Tools.........................................................................................................8 Turning Off Your Computer.............................................
Installing The Optical Drive.............................................................................................22 8 Hard Drive..................................................................................................23 Removing The Hard Drive................................................................................................23 Installing The Hard Drive.................................................................................................
16 System Board..........................................................................................41 Removing The System Board..........................................................................................41 Installing The System Board...........................................................................................43 17 Specifications.........................................................................................45 Specifications.........................................
Working on Your Computer 1 Before Working Inside Your Computer Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help to ensure your personal safety. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure included in this document assumes that the following conditions exist: • • You have read the safety information that shipped with your computer. A component can be replaced or--if purchased separately--installed by performing the removal procedure in reverse order.
To avoid damaging your computer, perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer. 1. Ensure that your work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover from being scratched. 2. Turn off your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer). CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug the cable from the network device. 3. Disconnect all network cables from the computer. 4.
Click Start , then click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu as shown below, and then click Shut Down. • 2. In Windows XP: Click Start → Turn Off Computer → Turn Off . The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process is complete. Ensure that the computer and all attached devices are turned off.
Cover 2 Removing The Cover 1. 2. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. Remove the screws that secure the cover to the computer. 3. Slide the computer cover towards the back of the computer. 4. Remove the computer cover.
Installing The Cover 1. Place the cover on the chassis. 2. 3. 4. Slide the computer cover towards the front of the computer. Replace the screws that secure the cover to the computer.
Front Bezel 3 Removing The Front Bezel 1. 2. 3. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. Remove the cover. Pry the front bezel-retention clips away from the chassis. 4. Rotate the bezel away from the computer to release the hooks on the opposite edge of the bezel from the chassis.
Installing The Front Bezel 1. Place the hooks on the notches in the computer. 2. 3. 4. 5. Rotate the front bezel towards the computer. Press the front bezel till the tabs snap into place. Replace the cover. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Expansion Card 4 Removing The Expansion Cards 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Press the release tab on the card-retention latch. 4. Press on the release-lever to release the securing tab from the notch in the card. 5. Ease the card up and out of its connector and remove it from the computer.
Installing The Expansion Card 1. Place the card into it's socket and press it in till it snaps into place. 2. Secure the expansion card by pushing-in the card-retention latch till it snaps into place. Replace the cover. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. 3. 4.
Fan 5 Removing The Fan 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Disconnect the fan cable from the system board. 4. Remove the screws that secure the fan to the computer. 5. Remove the fan from the computer.
Installing The Fan 1. Place the fan at it's location on the computer. 2. 3. 4. 5. Replace the screws that secure the fan to the computer. Connect the fan cable to the system board. Replace the cover. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Memory 6 Removing The Memory 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Press down on the memory-retention tabs on each side of the memory module. 4. Lift the memory module out of the connector on the system board.
Installing The Memory 1. 2. 3. 20 Press the memory module into it's connector on the system board till it snaps into place. Replace the cover. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Optical Drive 7 Removing The Optical Drive 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Disconnect the data cable and power cable from the optical drive. 4. Remove the screws that secure the optical drive to the computer. 5. Push the optical drive through the front of the computer.
Installing The Optical Drive 1. Push-in the optical drive through the front of the computer. 2. 3. 4. 5. Replace the screws that secure the optical drive to the computer. Connect the data cable and power cable to the optical drive. Replace the cover. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Hard Drive 8 Removing The Hard Drive 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Disconnect the SATA cable and power cable from the hard drive. 4. Remove the screws that secure the hard drive to the computer. 5. Remove the hard drive from the computer.
6. Remove the screws that secure the bracket to the hard drive. Installing The Hard Drive 1. Replace the screws that secure the bracket to the hard drive. 2. Replace the hard drive into the computer. 3. Replace the screws that secure the hard drive to the computer. 4. Connect the SATA cable and power cable to the hard drive. 5. Replace the cover. 6. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card 9 Removing The WLAN Card 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Remove the antennae. 4. Press the release tab on the card-retention latch. 5. Grasp the WLAN card by its top corners, and ease it out of it's connector.
Installing The WLAN Card 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 26 Place the WLAN card on its connector and push it in, to secure it to the connector. Lock the card-retention latch into it's place. Replace the antennae. Replace the cover. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Multimedia-Card Reader 10 Removing The Multimedia-Card Reader 1. 2. 3. 4. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. Remove the cover. Remove the front bezel. Disconnect the multimedia-card reader cable from the system board. Disengage the cable from the metal clip(s), if present, that secure(s) the cable along the inside of the computer. 5. Remove the screws that secure the multimedia-card reader into the drive cage.
6. Slide the multimedia-card reader out through the front of the computer. Installing The Multimedia-Card Reader 1. Slide the multimedia-card reader in through the front of the computer. 2. Replace the screws that secure the multimedia-card reader to the drive cage. 3. Route the cable thorough the metal clip(s), if present, that secure(s) the cable along the inside of the computer. 4. Connect the multimedia-card reader cable to the system board. 5. Replace the front panel. 6. Replace the cover.
Power Supply 11 Removing The Power Supply 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Disconnect all the power-supply cables connected to the hard drives, optical drives, and system board. 4. Remove the screws that secure the power-supply unit to the computer. 5. Press the release button located on the floor of the system chassis, and then slide the power-supply unit toward the front of the computer.
6. Lift the power-supply unit and remove it from the computer. Installing The Power Supply 1. Place the power-supply unit at it's location in the computer. 2. Slide the power-supply unit towards the back of the computer till it snaps into place. 3. Replace the screws that secure the power-supply unit to the computer. 4. Connect the power supply cables to the hard drives, optical drives, and system board. 5. Replace the cover. 6. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Power-Switch Cable 12 Removing The Power Switch Cable 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Disconnect and un-thread the power switch and hard drive LED cable from the system board. 4. Un-clip and remove the tabs holding the power switch/LEDs assembly from the computer.
Installing The Power Switch Cable 1. 2. 3. 4. 32 Push the power switch/LEDs assembly into the computer till it snaps into place. Connect the power switch and hard drive LED cable to the system board. Replace the cover. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Input/Output Panel 13 Removing The I/O Panel 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Disconnect the audio cable and USB cable from the system board. 4. Un-thread the cable routing from the metal clips. 5. Remove the screw that secures the I/O panel to the computer.
6. Remove the I/O panel from the computer. Installing The I/O Panel 1. 2. 3. 4. Place the I/O panel at it's location on the computer. Replace the screw to secure the I/O panel to the computer. Route the cables through the metal clips. Replace the cover. 5. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Processor 14 Removing The Processor 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Disconnect the heat sink and fan assembly cable from the system board. 4. Loosen the captive screws that secures the heat sink and fan assembly to the system board. 5. Lift the heat sink and fan assembly, and remove it from the computer.
NOTE: Place the assembly with the fan on a flat surface, facing downward and with the thermal grease facing up. 6. Press down on the release lever to move it outward to release it from the retention hook. 7. Lift the processor cover.
8. Lift the processor to remove it from it's socket and place it in an antistatic packaging. Installing The Processor 1. Align the two notches on the processor and insert it into the socket, the processor should slide in and fit into the socket without any force.
NOTE: The processor is notched at one end with a triangle marking. The same marking is also notched on the processor socket. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 38 Press down on the release lever to lock it with the retention hook. Close the processor cover. Place the heat sink and fan assembly on the processor. Tighten the captive screws securing the heat sink and fan assembly to the system board. Connect the heat sink and fan assembly cable to the system board. Replace the cover.
Coin-Cell Battery 15 Removing The Coin-Cell Battery 1. 2. 3. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. Remove the cover. Press the release latch to pop the coin-cell battery from it's socket. 4. Lift the coin-cell battery out of the computer.
Installing The Coin-Cell Battery 1. Place the coin-cell battery in it's socket on the system board. 2. 3. 4. Press the coin-cell battery into the socket till it snap's into place. Replace the cover. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
System Board 16 Removing The System Board 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. Remove the cover. Remove the memory. Remove the fan. Remove the processor. Remove the expansion card. Remove the WLAN card. Disconnect and un-thread all the cables connected to the system board. 9. Remove the screws that secure the system board to the computer.
10. Slide the system board towards the front of the computer, and then carefully tilt it to a 45–degrees angle.
11. Lift the system board out of the computer chassis and place it in an antistatic packaging. Installing The System Board 1. 2. 3. 4. Place the system board into the computer and then slide it towards the back of the computer. Replace the screws to secure the system board to the computer. Connect all the cables to the system board. Replace the memory. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Replace the fan. Replace the WLAN card. Replace the expansion card. Replace the processor. Replace the cover.
17 Specifications Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. The following specifications are only those required by law to ship with your computer. For more information regarding the configuration of your computer, click Start → Help and Support and select the option to view information about your computer.
Video • • Integrated video memory AMD Radeon HD 5450 1GB DDR3 (DVI, VGA, HDMI) AMD Radeon HD 6670 1GB DDR3 (DVI, VGA, HDMI) up to 1.7 GB shared video memory (Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7) Audio Integrated Integrated 5.1 high-definition audio Network Integrated Realtek 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet System Information Chipset Intel H61 BIOS chip (NVRAM) 32 Mb Expansion Bus Bus type • • • • • PCI Express 2.0 SATA 1.0 and 2.0 USB 2.
Expansion Bus USB 480 Mbps Cards PCIe x16 one full-height card PCIe x1 up to three full-height cards Drives Vostro 260 Vostro 260S two one two one Externally accessible: 5.25 inch drive bays Internally accessible: 3.5 inch drive bays External Connectors Audio: Back panel three connectors Front Panel two front-panel connectors for headphone and microphone Network one RJ45 connector USB: Front panel • • Back panel six USB 2.0 connectors Video • • one USB 2.
Control Lights And Diagnostic Lights amber light — solid amber light indicates sleep/stand by state of the computer; blinking amber light indicates a problem with the system board. drive activity light white light — blinking white light indicates that the computer is reading data from, or writing data to the hard drive.
Physical Width 175.00 mm (6.89 inches) Depth 436.30 mm (17.18 inches) Weight (Minimum) 8.20 Kg (18.08 lb) Vostro 260S: Height 360.00 mm (14.17 inches) Width 102.00 mm (4.02 inches) Depth 433.10 mm (17.05 inches) Weight (Minimum) 7.60 Kg (16.76 lb) Environmental Temperature: Operating 10 °C to 35 °C (50 °F to 95 °F) Storage –40 °C to 65 °C (–40 °F to 149 °F) Relative humidity 20 % to 80 % (noncondensing) Altitude: Operating –15.20 m to 3048 m (–50 ft to 10,000 ft) Storage –15.
18 Troubleshooting Diagnostic Power LED Codes Power LED Light Status Possible Cause Troubleshooting Steps Off The computer is either turned off or is not receiving power. • • • Blinking Amber Computer fails to complete POST or processor failure. • • • Steady Amber Computer is in standby or this is a computer fault error condition, including the power supply. Only the • • Re-seat the power cable in the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.
Power LED Light Status Possible Cause Troubleshooting Steps +5VSB rail on the power • supply is working correctly. Steady White The computer is fully functional and in the On state. Ensure the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board. If the computer is not responding, do the following: • • Ensure the display is connected and turned on. If the display is connected and turned on, listen for a beep code.
Beep Possible Cause Troubleshooting Steps 7 Processor Failure Processor Failure Diagnostic Error Messages Error Messages Description AUXILIARY DEVICE FAILURE The touch pad or external mouse may be faulty. For an external mouse, check the cable connection. Enable the Pointing Device option in the system setup program. BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME Ensure that you have spelled the command correctly, put spaces in the proper place, and used the correct pathname.
Error Messages Description Restart the computer. If the error appears again,contact Dell. THE FILE BEING COPIED IS TOO LARGE FOR THE DESTINATION DRIVE The file that you are trying to copy is too large to fit on the disk, or the disk is full. Try copying the file to a different disk or use a larger capacity disk. A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF Do not use these characters in filenames. THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS: \ / : * ? " < >|GATE A20 FAILURE A memory module may be loose.
Error Messages Description boot the computer from a optical drive. Then, shut down the computer, reinstall the hard drive, and restart the computer. If the problem persists, try another drive. Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics. HARD-DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE The hard drive may be defective. Shut down the computer, remove the hard drive, and boot the computer from a optical. Then, shut down the computer, reinstall the hard drive, and restart the computer.
Error Messages Description computer, and avoid touching the keyboard or keys during the boot routine. Run the Stuck Key test in the Dell Diagnostics. LICENSED CONTENT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE IN MEDIADIRECT Dell MediaDirect cannot verify the Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions on the file, so the file cannot be played. MEMORY ADDRESS LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them.
Error Messages Description NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES. EXIT SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN You have too many programs open. Close all windows and open the program that you want to use. OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND Reinstall the hard drive (see your Owner's Manual at support.dell.com). If the problem persists, contact Dell. OPTIONAL ROM BAD CHECKSUM The optional ROM has failed. Contact Dell. SECTOR NOT FOUND The operating system cannot locate a sector on the hard drive.
Error Messages Description TIME-OF-DAY NOT SET-PLEASE RUN THE SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM The time or date stored in the system setup program does not match the system clock. Correct the settings for the Date and Time options. TIMER CHIP COUNTER 2 FAILED A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning. Run the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics. UNEXPECTED INTERRUPT IN PROTECTED MODE The keyboard controller may be malfunctioning, or a memory module may be loose.
System Message Description Keyboard failure Keyboard failure or loose cable. If reseating the cable does not solve the problem, replace the keyboard. No boot device available No bootable partition on hard disk drive, the hard disk drive cable is loose, or no bootable device exists. • • If the hard drive is your boot device, ensure that the cables are connected and that the drive is installed properly and partitioned as a boot device.
System Setup 19 System Setup Overview System Setup allows you to: • • • change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your computer. set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password. read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed. Before you use System Setup, it is recommended that you write down the System Setup screen information for future reference.
Options List — Appears on the left side of the System Setup window. The field lists features that define the configuration of your computer, including installed hardware, power conservation, and security features. Scroll up and down the list with the upand down-arrow keys. As an option is highlighted, the Options Field displays the option's current and available settings. Options Field — Appears on the right side of Dell Diagnostics and contains information about each option listed in theDell Diagnostics.
System Setup Option Main System Information Displays the computer model number. BIOS Version Displays the BIOS revision. Build Date Displays the date the system BIOS was built. System Date Re-sets the date on the computer's internal calendar. System Time Re-sets the time on the computer's internal clock. Service Tag Displays the service tag of your computer. Asset Tag Displays the asset tag of your computer (if available). Processor Information Processor Type Displays the type of processor.
Advanced CPU Configuration Hyper-threading Enable or disable processor Default: Enabled hyper-threading. Limit CPUID Value Enable or disable the Limit CPUID Value feature. Default: Enabled CPU XD Support Enable or disable the CPU XD feature. Default: Enabled Intel Virtualization Technology Enable or disable the Intel Virtualization feature. Default: Enabled Intel SpeedStep Enable or disable the Intel SpeedStep feature.
CPU Configuration Auto Power On Enable or disable the Default: Disabled computer to power on automatically. You can further specify the date and time the computer power on. Post Behaviour NumLock Key Enable or disable the NumLock State light during POST. Default: On Keyboard Error Report Enable or disable the Default: Enabled Keyboard Error Report to be displayed during POST. Boot Set Boot Priority Specifies the order of different devices in which the computer will boot through at start up.
Contacting Dell 20 Contacting Dell NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog. Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your area. To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues: 1. 2. 3. 4. Visit support.dell.com.