Dell Vostro 2421 Owner's Manual Regulatory Model: P37G Regulatory Type: P37G001
Contents Notes, Cautions, and Warnings.............................................................................................. 0 1 Working on Your Computer.......................................................................................................5 Before Working Inside Your Computer.....................................................................................................................5 Turning Off Your Computer...................................................................
Installing the Speakers...........................................................................................................................................27 Removing the Display Assembly.............................................................................................................................27 Installing the Display Assembly..............................................................................................................................28 Removing the Display Bezel....
Working on Your Computer 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 performed the steps in Working on Your Computer. You have read the safety information that shipped with your computer.
8. Turn the computer top-side up. 9. Open the display. 10. Press the power button to ground the system board. CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the display. CAUTION: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at the back of the computer.
1. Connect any external devices, such as a port replicator, battery slice, or media base, and replace any cards, such as an ExpressCard. 2. Connect any telephone or network cables to your computer. CAUTION: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer. 3. Replace the battery. 4. Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets. 5. Turn on your computer.
Removing and Installing Components This section provides detailed information on how to remove or install the components from your computer. Recommended Tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools: • Small flat-blade screwdriver • Phillips screwdriver • Small plastic scribe Removing the Secure Digital (SD) Card 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Press in on the SD memory card to release it from the computer.
Installing the Battery 1. Slide the battery into its slot until it clicks into place. 2. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the Access Panel 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Loosen the screw that secures the access panel and remove it from the computer. 4.
Installing the Access Panel 1. Slide the access panel into its slot. 2. Tighten the screw to secure the access panel to the computer. 3. Install the battery. 4. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the Memory Module 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove: a) battery b) access panel 3. Pry the securing clips away from the memory module until it pops up. Remove the memory module from its socket on the system board.
Installing the Memory Module 1. Insert the memory module into the memory socket and press until it clicks into place. 2. Install: a) access panel b) battery 3. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the Hard-Drive Assembly 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove: a) battery b) access panel 3. Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the computer. 4.
5. Remove the screw that secures the hard-drive caddy to the hard drive and remove it. Installing the Hard-Drive Assembly 1. Slide the hard-drive assembly in its slot in the computer. 2. Tighten the screw to secure the hard-drive assembly to the computer. 3. Install: a) memory module b) access panel c) battery 4. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing the Optical-Drive Assembly 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the screw that secures the optical drive and slide it out of the drive bay. 4. Remove the screws that secure the optical-drive bracket to the optical-drive assembly. 5. Remove the optical-drive bracket from the optical-drive assembly. 6. Pry the optical-drive bezel and remove it from the optical-drive assembly.
Installing the Optical-Drive Assembly 1. Place the optical-drive bezel on the optical drive and snap it in place. 2. Place the optical-drive bracket in to the optical drive. 3. Tighten the screws to secure the bracket to the optical-drive assembly. 4. Slide the optical-drive assembly into the drive bay in the computer. 5. Tighten the screw to secure the optical-drive assembly to the computer. 6. Install the battery. 7. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
5. 16 Disconnect the keyboard connector from the system board and lift it up to remove it from the computer.
Installing the Keyboard 1. Connect the keyboard cable to the connector on the system board. 2. Slide the keyboard in its place on the computer and snap it into place. 3. Flip the computer and connect the screws to secure the keyboard. 4. Install the battery. 5. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the Wireless Mini-Card 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove: a) b) c) d) e) 3.
c) access panel d) keyboard 3. Remove the screws that secure the palmrest to the computer. 4. Flip the computer and remove the screws that secure the palmrest to the system board.
5. Disconnect the touchpad and power-button cable from the system board. 6. Flip the computer and push the hooks inside the battery bay before releasing the plamrest. 7. Flip the computer and release the tabs on the sides to lift the palmrest from the computer.
Installing the Palmrest 1. Align and press the palmrest on the computer until it snaps into place on all the sides. 2. Connect the touchpad and power-button cables to the system board. 3. Tighten the screws to secure the palmrest to the system board. 4. Flip the computer and tighten the screws to secure the palmrest to the computer. 5. Install: a) b) c) d) e) 6. keyboard optical-drive assembly memory module access panel battery Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Installing the Input/Output (I/O) Board 1. Place the I/O board in its slot and snap it in place. 2. Tighten the screw to secure the I/O board to the computer. 3. Connect the I/O cable to the system board. 4. Install: a) b) c) d) 5. palmrest keyboard access panel battery Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the Coin-Cell Battery 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove: a) b) c) d) e) 3.
Installing the Coin-Cell Battery 1. Place the coin-cell battery in its slot. 2. Install: a) b) c) d) e) f) 3. system board wireless mini-card palmrest keyboard access panel battery Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the System Board 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) 3.
4.
5. Remove the screw that secures the system board to the computer and lift the system board from the computer. Installing the System Board 1. Align the system board in its place on the computer. 2. Tighten the screw to secure the system board to the computer. 3. Connect the following cables: a) b) c) d) display DC-In Port speaker I/O board 4. Affix the tape to secure the display cable to the system board. 5. Install: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) 6.
Removing the Heatsink 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) battery access panel memory module hard-drive assembly optical-drive assembly keyboard palmrest wireless mini-card system board 3. Flip the system board and place it on a flat surface. 4. Disconnect fan cable remove the screws that secure the heatsink to the system board. Lift the heatsink from the system board. Installing the Heatsink 1.
a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) 4. system board wireless mini-card palmrest keyboard optical-drive assembly hard-drive assembly memory module access panel battery Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the Speakers 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) 3.
Installing the Speakers 1. Place the speaker assembly in its slot and route the cables through the channels. 2. Install: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) 3. system board wireless mini-card palmrest keyboard optical-drive assembly hard-drive assembly memory model access panel battery Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the Display Assembly 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2.
5. Lift the display assembly off the computer. Installing the Display Assembly 1. Place the display assembly on the computer. 2. Route the display cable to its channels. 3. Install: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) 4. 28 system board palmrest keyboard optical-drive assembly hard-drive assembly memory module access panel battery Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing the Display Bezel 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) battery access panel memory module hard-drive assembly optical-drive assembly keyboard palmrest display assembly 3. Press the hinge cover on the side. Lift and remove it from the computer. 4. Pry the edges of the display bezel. Remove the display bezel from the computer.
Installing the Display Bezel 1. Align the display bezel in place and snap it in place. 2. Align the hinge covers on display assembly and snap it in place. 3. Install: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) 4. display assembly palmrest keyboard optical-drive assembly hard-drive assembly memory module access panel battery Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the Display Panel 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2.
g) plamrest h) display assembly i) display bezel 3. Remove the screws that secure the display panel to the computer. Lift the display panel and flip it. 4. Peel the tape that secures display cable and disconnect the cable from the connector. Remove the display panel from the display assembly.
Installing the Display Panel 1. Connect the display cable to display panel. 2. Affix the tape to secure the display cable. 3. Place the display panel on the computer. 4. Tighten the screws to secure the display panel to the computer. 5. Install: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) 6. display bezel display assembly palmrest keyboard optical-drive assembly hard-drive assembly memory module access panel battery Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the Display Hinges 1.
d) e) f) g) h) i) hard-drive assembly optical-drive assembly keyboard plamrest display assembly display bezel 3. Remove the screws that secure the display hinges to the display panel. 4. Lift the display hinges off the display panel. Installing the Display Hinges 1. Place the display hinge in its place on the display panel. 2. Tighten the screws to secure the display hinge to the display panel. 3. Install: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) 4.
Removing the Camera Module 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) 3. 34 battery access panel memory module hard-drive assembly optical-drive assembly keyboard palmrest display assembly display bezel Disconnect the camera cable from the connector on the camera module and lift the camera off the display assembly.
Installing the Camera Module 1. Connect the camera cable to the connector on the camera module. 2. Align the camera module in its position on the computer. 3. Install: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) 4. display bezel display assembly palmrest keyboard optical-drive assembly hard-drive assembly memory module access panel battery Follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer.
System Setup System Setup enables you to manage your computer hardware and specify BIOS‐level options.
Keys Navigation NOTE: For the standard graphics browser only. Moves to the previous page till you view the main screen. Pressing in the main screen displays a message that prompts you to save any unsaved changes and restarts the system. Displays the System Setup help file. System Setup Options NOTE: The system setup options may vary depending on the computer model. The Main tab lists out the primary hardware features of the computer.
Option Description Fixed HDD Displays the model number and capacity of the hard drive. SATA ODD Displays the model number and capacity of the optical drive. AC Adapter Type Displays the type of the AC adapter. Total Memory Displays the memory installed on the computer. System Memory Speed Displays the memory speed. The Advanced tab allows you to set various functions that affect the performance of the computer. The table below defines the function of each option and its default value. Table 3.
Option Description External USB Ports Enables or disables external Default: Enabled USB ports. Microphone Enables or disables microphone. Camera Enables or disables camera. Default: Enabled Internal Bluetooth Enables or disables internal Default: Enabled bluetooth. Internal WLAN Enables or disables WLAN. Default: Enabled Media Card Reader Enables or disables media card reader. Default: Enabled Optical Drive Enables or disables optical drive.
Option Description Boot List Option Allows you to view the boot options. Add Boot Option Allows you to add a boot option. Delete a Boot Option Allows you to delete a boot option. View Boot Option Properties Allows you to view the properties of the boot option. Exit — This section allows you to save, discard, and load default settings before exiting from System Setup. Updating the BIOS It is recommended to update your BIOS (system setup), on replacing the system board or if an update is available.
CAUTION: The password features provide a basic level of security for the data on your computer. CAUTION: Anyone can access the data stored on your computer if is not locked and left unattended. NOTE: Your computer is shipped with the system and setup password feature disabled. Assigning a System Password and Setup Password You can assign a new System Password and/or Setup Password or change an existing System Password and/or Setup Password only when Password Status is Unlocked.
NOTE: If you change the System and/or Setup password, re-enter the new password when promoted. If you delete the System and/or Setup password, confirm the deletion when promoted. 5. Press and a message prompts you to save the changes. 6. Press to save the changes and exit from the System Setup. The computer reboots.
Troubleshooting Enhanced Pre-Boot System Assessment (ePSA) Diagnostics The ePSA diagnostics (also known as system diagnostics) performs a complete check of your hardware. The ePSA is embedded with the BIOS and is launched by the BIOS internally.
Table 7. Battery Status Lights Alternately blinking amber light and blue light An unauthenticated or unsupported non-Dell AC adapter is attached to your laptop. Alternately blinking amber light with steady blue light Temporary battery failure with AC adapter present. Constantly blinking amber light Fatal battery failure with AC adapter present. Light off Battery in full charge mode with AC adapter present. Solid white light on Battery in charge mode with AC adapter present.
Code Cause and Troubleshooting Steps 6 Video BIOS test failure Video card failure 7 CPU - cache test failure Processor failure 8 Display Display failure LED Error Codes Diagnostic LED codes are communicated via the Power Button LED. The Power Button LED blinks the corresponding LED codes for the corresponding fault condition. Example: For No Memory detected (LED code 2) , The Power Button LED blinks two times followed by a pause, blinks two times, pause, etc.
Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. For more information regarding the configuration of your computer, click Start (Start icon) → Help and Support, and then select the option to view information about your computer. Table 9. System Information Feature Description Chipset Intel HM76 DRAM bus width 64 bits and 128 bits Flash EPROM 8 MB Table 10.
Feature Description Volume controls program menu and keyboard media-control keys Table 13. Video Feature Description Video type LVDS Video Controller: UMA Intel HD Graphics 3000/4000 (shared memory) Discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT625M (1GB DDR3) Data bus: 64 bits External display support HDMI Table 14. Camera Feature Description Camera Resolution 0.92 megapixels Video Resolution (maximum) 1280 x 720 (HD) at 30 fps (maximum) Diagonal viewing angle 66° Table 15.
Table 17. Display Feature vostro 2421 Type 14.0 inches HD WLED Dimensions: Height 320.90 mm (12.63 inches) Width 205.60 mm (8.09 inches) Diagonal 355.60 mm (14.00 inches) Active area (X/Y) 320.90 mm x 205.60 mm (12.63 inches x 8.09 inches) Maximum resolution 1366 x 768 pixels Maximum Brightness 200 nits Operating angle 0° (closed) to 135° Refresh rate 60 Hz Minimum Viewing angles: Horizontal 40°/40° Vertical 10°/30° Pixel pitch 0.2265 mm x 0.2265 mm Table 18.
Feature Description Depth 291.70 mm (11.48 inches) Weight 0.30 kg (0.66 lb) Life span Voltage 600 discharge/charge cycle • • 14.80 VDC (4 cells) 11.10 VDC (6 cells) Temperature range: Operating 0 °C to 35 °C (32 °F to 95 °F) Non-Operating –40 °C to 65 °C (–40 °F to 149 °F) Coin-cell battery 3 V CR2032 lithium ion Table 21.
Table 23. Environmental Feature Description Temperature: Operating 0 °C to 35 °C (32 °F to 95 °F) Storage –40 °C to 65 °C (–40 °F to 149 °F) Relative humidity (maximum): Operating 10 % to 90 % (non-condensing) Storage 10 % to 95 % (non-condensing) Altitude (maximum): Operating –15.2 m to 3048 m (–50 to 10,000 ft) 0° to 35°C Non-Operating –15.2 m to 10,668 m (–50 ft to 35,000 ft) Airborne contaminant level G1 as defined by ISA-S71.
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. Visit www.dell.com/support. 2. Select your support category. 3.
