Dell OptiPlex GX1p - Manual (Page 8)

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Installing Drives : Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX1 and GX1p Midsize Managed PC Systems
Overview
Your Dell computer has five drive bays for installing the following types of drives (see Figure 1 ):
l The externally accessible drive bays at the front of the computer consist of one 3.5-inch drive bay (dedicated to a 3.5-inch diskette drive) and
two 5.25-inch bays that can hold up to three half-height, 5.25-inch devices
—typically tape drives or CD-ROM drives. Alternately, 3.5-inch
devices can be installed in the 5.25-inch bays using adapters available from Dell.
l The two vertically positioned hard-disk drive bays can each hold a 3.5-inch enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) or small computer
system interface (SCSI) hard-disk drive. The bay on the right (as you face the front of the computer) can hold one 1-inch-high (or smaller)
drive, whereas the bay on the left accommodates a 1.6-inch-high (or smaller) drive.
The next two sections contain information that you will need in several of the installation procedures described later in the chapter. The remaining
sections cover each type of drive installation.
Figure 1. Drive Locations
Removing and Replacing Front-Panel Inserts
Empty drive bays contain a front-panel insert to protect the inside of the computer from dust particles and to ensure proper airflow within the
computer. Before you install a drive in an empty drive bay, you must first remove the front-panel insert.
To remove the insert covering a 5.25-inch bay, follow these steps.
1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect all the AC power cables from their power sources.
2. Remove the computer cover as instructed in "
Removing the Computer Cover ."
3. Lay the computer cover upside down on a flat work surface, with the front of the cover facing toward you.
4. With your thumbs, press in each end of the insert until it snaps free of the cover (see Figure 2).
Figure 2. Removing the Front-Panel Insert for a 5.25-Inch Bay
Overview Installing a Drive in a 5.25-Inch Drive Bay
Removing and Replacing Front-Panel Inserts Installing an EIDE Hard-Disk Drive
Connecting Drives Installing SCSI Devices
NOTE: In all of the following procedures, left and right refer to your left and right as you face the front of the computer.
CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see " Safety First — For You and Your Computer ."