Dell Vostro 3901 Owner's Manual
Summary
Owner's manual for Dell Vostro 3901 desktop (Regulatory Model D17M). Covers working inside the computer: safety precautions, turning off, and post-work procedures. Details removal and installation of components: cover, front I/O panel, optical drive, card reader, hard drive, memory, expansion cards, power supply, coin cell battery, processor, heat sink, and system board. Includes system board diagrams, jumper settings, BIOS guidance, and troubleshooting for beep codes and diagnostic LEDs. For end-users and IT technicians maintaining the Vostro 3901.
Page 1 Text Content
Dell Vostro 3901 Owner's Manual
Regulatory Model: D17M Regulatory Type: D17M002
Page Summary Contents For Dell Vostro 3901 Owner's Manual
Page 1
Dell Vostro 3901 Owner's Manual Regulatory Model: D17M Regulatory Type: D17M002
Page 2
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of ...
Page 3
Contents 1 Working on Your Computer................................................................................5 Before Working Inside Your Computer...................................................
Page 4
Installing the System Fan.................................................................................................................... Removing the System Board....................................
Page 5
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 ...
Page 6
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. Disconnect y...
Page 7
After Working Inside Your Computer After you complete any replacement procedure, ensure you connect any external devices, cards, and cables before turning on your computer. 1. Replace the cover. CAUTI...
Page 8
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 requi...
Page 9
3. optical drive 4. card reader 5. I/O board 6. power-switch board 7. hard drive 8. coin-cell battery 9. VGA card 10. expansion card 11. heatsink 12. system fan Removing the Cover 1. Follow the proced...
Page 10
Installing the Bezel 1. Place the hooks on the notches in the computer. 2. Rotate the front bezel towards the computer. 3. Press the front bezel until the tabs snap in to place. 4. Install the cover. ...
Page 11
Installing the Coin-Cell Battery 1. Place the coin-cell battery on the system board until it snaps in place. 2. Install the cover. 3. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Remov...
Page 12
Installing the Hard Drive 1. Replace the hard drive into the hard-drive bracket. 2. Install the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket. 3. Install the hard drive into its slot in the computer. 4. I...
Page 13
bezel cover 5. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. Removing the Card Reader 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the: cover bezel 3. a. D...
Page 14
3. Press down on the memory-retaining tabs on each side of the memory modules and lift the memory module upwards to remove it from the computer. Installing the Memory 1. Align the notch on the memory-...
Page 15
Installing the Heatsink 1. Place the heatsink on the processor. 2. Tighten the captive screws that secure the heatsink to the system board. 3. Connect the heatsink cable to the system board. 4. Instal...
Page 16
Installing the Processor 1. Install the processor into the socket. 2. Press down the processor cover to secure it inside the socket. 3. Push the release lever down and then press it inward to hold the...
Page 17
Installing the Expansion Card(s) 1. Place the expansion card in its connector. 2. Secure the expansion card by pushing the card-retention latch until it snaps into place. 3. Repeat the steps to instal...
Page 18
4. Follow the steps below to remove the power supply unit: a. Remove the screws that secure the power supply to the computer. b. Push-in on the blue release tab beside the power supply [1]. c. Slide t...
Page 19
Installing the Power Switch 1. Insert the power-switch cable through the front of the computer. 2. Push the power button into its slot and press it in, until it snaps into place. 3. Route the power-sw...
Page 20
4. Follow the steps to remove the I/O panel: a. Remove the screw that secures the I/O panel to the computer. b. Slide the I/O panel outwards and remove it from the computer. Installing the Input/Outpu...
Page 21
Removing the Wireless Device 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Follow the procedures to remove the wireless device from the computer: a. Remove the screws that secure...
Page 22
Removing the System Fan 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working Inside Your Computer. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Follow the steps to remove the system fan: a. Disconnect the fan cable from the system ...
Page 23
I/O panel 3. Follow the steps to remove the system board: a. Disconnect and un-thread all the cables connected to the system board. b. Remove the screws that secure the system board to the computer. c...
Page 24
1. PCIe x1 connector 2. PCIe x16 connector 3. PCIe x1 connector 4. system fan connector 5. P2 power connector 6. processor socket 7. CPU fan connector 8. memory connectors 9. P1 power connector 10. fr...
Page 25
Troubleshooting Your Computer You can troubleshoot your computer using indicators like Diagnostic Lights, Beep Codes, and Error Messages during the operation of the computer. Diagnostic Power LED Code...
Page 26
Power LED Light Status Possible Cause Troubleshooting Steps If the display is connected and turned on, listen for a beep code. Diagnostic Error Messages Error Messages Description AUXILIARY DEVICE FAI...
Page 27
Error Messages Description GENERAL FAILURE The operating system is unable to carry out the command. The message is usually followed by specific information. For example, Printer out of paper. Take the...
Page 28
Error Messages Description KEYBOARD CONTROLLER FAILURE For external keyboards, check the cable connection. Restart the computer, and avoid touching the keyboard or the mouse during the boot routine. R...
Page 29
Error Messages Description NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES. EXIT You have too many programs open. Close all SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN windows and open the program that you want to OPERATING SYSTEM NO...
Page 30
System Error Messages System Message Description Alert! Previous attempts at booting this system The computer failed to complete the boot routine have failed at checkpoint [nnnn]. For help in three co...
Page 31
System Setup Options Main System Information BIOS Revision Displays the BIOS revision. BIOS Build Date Displays the date the system BIOS was built. System Name Displays the model name of the system. S...
Page 32
Advanced Processor Configuration AMD Cool ‘N’ Quiet Allows you to enable or disable Default: Enabled the AMD Cool ‘N’ Quiet mode in the installed processor in the system. Secure Virtual Machine Mode A...
Page 33
4th Boot Device Allows you to enable or disable the boot device. 5th Boot Device Allows you to enable or disable the boot device. Hard Disk Drivers Displays information about hard-disk drivers. CD/DVD...
Page 34
Before you use System Setup, it is recommended that you write down the System Setup screen information for future reference. CAUTION: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings...
Page 35
Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. The following specifications are only those required by law to ship with your computer. For more information about the configuration of your computer...
Page 36
System Information Chipset AMD A78 BIOS chip (NVRAM) 4 MB SPI Flash ROM Expansion Bus Bus speed: PCI Express PCIe 2.0 at speeds upto 5.0 GT/s SATA SATA Gen 3 at 6 Gb/s USB speed: USB 2.0 480 Mb/s USB ...
Page 37
Control Lights And Diagnostic Lights power button light white light — solid white light indicates power-on state. blinking white light — solid white light indicates sleep state of the computer; steady...
Page 38
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 on...
Manual Details
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Pages | 38 |
| File Size | 3.41 MB |
| Published | June 25, 2026 |
4 views
Enter the captcha to get the download link:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn off the computer safely?
Turn Off Your Computer from the 'Start' menu.
What is the operating temperature range?
Operating range is 10 °C to 35 °C (50 °F to 95 °F).
What are the power supply specifications?
Input voltage 180 VAC–264 VAC, Wattage 200 W, and 3.0 A input current.
Where can I find contact information if I have no internet?
Contact information is on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.