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Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX620
User's Guide

  Drives

Drives

Your computer supports:

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

1	CD/DVD drive
2	floppy drive
3	hard drive

General Installation Guidelines

Connect CD/DVD drives to the connector labeled "IDE" on the system board. Serial ATA hard drives should be connected to the connectors labeled "SATA0" or "SATA2" 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

IDE Drive Connector	Serial ATA Connector

1	colored stripe on IDE cable
2	interface cable connector
3	interface connector

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 IDE cable—serial ATA cables do not use a colored stripe) 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 IDE 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.

Power Cable Connectors

IDE Drive Power Connector	Serial ATA Power Connector

1	power cable
2	power input 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.

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 removing the computer cover.

Removing a CD/DVD Drive

1. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin."
   
   

NOTICE: Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables. Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors.

2. Pull up on the drive release latch and slide the drive towards the back of the computer. Then, lift up to remove the drive from the computer.
   
   

1	drive release latch
2	CD/DVD drive

3. Disconnect the power and CD/DVD drive cables from the back of the drive.
   
   

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. If you are installing a new drive:
   
   
   1. Press the two snaps on the top of the drive-panel insert and rotate the insert toward the front of the computer.
      
      
   2. Remove the three shoulder screws from the drive-panel insert.
      
      
3. If you are replacing an existing drive:
   
   
   1. Press the two snaps on the top of the drive-panel insert and rotate the insert toward the front of the computer.
      
      
   2. Remove the three shoulder screws from the existing drive.
      
      
   3. Insert the three shoulder screws into the sides of the new drive and tighten them.
      
      

4. Connect the power and CD/DVD drive cables to the drive.
   
   
5. Align the shoulder screws with the screw guides, and slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place.
   
   

6. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
7. Replace the computer cover.
   
   
8. Update your configuration information by setting the appropriate Drive option (0 or 1) under Drives. See "System Setup" for more information.
   
   
9. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics.
   
   

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 removing the computer cover.

Removing a Floppy Drive

1. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin."
   
   

NOTE: Since the following steps do not require the complete removal of the CD/DVD drive, it is not necessary to disconnect the cables connecting the CD/DVD drive.

2. Remove the CD/DVD drive and carefully set it aside.
   
   

NOTICE: Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables. Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors.

3. Pull up on the drive release latch and slide the floppy drive towards the back of the computer. Then, lift up to remove the drive from the computer.
   
   

1	drive release latch
2	floppy drive

4. Disconnect the power and floppy-drive cables from the back of the floppy drive.
   
   

Installing a Floppy Drive

1. If you are installing a new drive:
   
   
   1. Use a small flat-edge screw driver on the back side of the drive-panel insert to gently pop off the insert.
      
      
   2. Remove the four shoulder screws from the drive-panel insert.
      
      
2. If you are replacing an existing drive:
   
   

Remove the four shoulder screws from the existing drive.

3. Insert the four shoulder screws into the sides of the new floppy drive and tighten them.
   
   

4. Attach the power and floppy-drive cables to the floppy drive.
   
   
5. Align the shoulder screws with the screw guides, and slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place.
   
   

1	power cable
2	slot verification number

6. Replace the CD/DVD drive.
   
   
7. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
8. Replace the computer cover.
   
   
9. Enter system setup and set the Diskette Drive option to enable your new floppy drive.
   
   
10. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics.
    
    

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 removing the computer 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.
   
   

Removing a Hard Drive

1. Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin."
   
   

NOTE: Since the following steps do not require the complete removal of the CD/DVD drive and the floppy drive, it is not necessary to disconnect the cables connecting the two drives.

2. Remove the CD/DVD drive from the bay and carefully set it aside.
   
   
3. Remove the floppy drive from the bay and carefully set it aside.
   
   
4. Press in on the two plastic securing clips on each side of the drive and slide the drive towards the back of the computer.
   
   

NOTICE: Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables. Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors.

5. Lift the drive out of the computer and disconnect the power and hard-drive cables from the drive.
   
   

1	securing clips (2)
2	hard drive

Installing a Hard Drive

1. Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.
   
   

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.

2. Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation.
   
   
3. If your replacement hard drive does not have the plastic hard-drive bracket attached, remove the bracket from the existing drive by unsnapping it from the drive.
   
   

1	hard drive
2	release tabs (2)
3	plastic hard-drive bracket

4. Attach the bracket to the new drive by snapping it onto the drive.
   
   

1	securing tabs (2)	3	release tabs (2)
2	drive	4	plastic hard-drive bracket

5. Connect the power and hard-drive cables to the drive.
   
   
6. Locate the correct slot for the drive, and slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place.
   
   

1	hard drive
2	slot verification number

7. Replace the floppy drive and CD/DVD drive.
   
   
8. Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.
   
   
9. Replace the computer cover.
   
   
10. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert a bootable medium into your boot drive.
    
    
11. Turn on the computer.
    
    
12. Enter system setup and update the appropriate Primary Drive option (0 or 2).
    
    
13. Exit system setup, and reboot the computer.
    
    
14. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step.
    
    

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

15. Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics.
    
    
16. Install your operating system on the hard drive.
    
    

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

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