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Dell 540 - USB Photo Printer 540, User Manual

The Dell 540 - USB Photo Printer 540 is a compact and efficient printer designed for high-quality photo printing. With its user-friendly interface and advanced features, it delivers exceptional printing results. Access the detailed specifications and user manual for free download at manualshive.com, ensuring you harness the full potential of this incredible product.

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Contents

Overview

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

34

Displaying the Taskbar

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

35

Customizing the Taskbar

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

35

Displaying Hidden Icons From the Notification 
Area

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

35

Adding Icons in the Notification Area

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

35

Desktop Icons and Shortcuts

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

36

Deleting an Icon From the Desktop

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

36

Creating and Deleting Program Shortcuts 
on the Desktop

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

37

Shortcut Menus

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

38

Changing the Desktop Appearance

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

39

Windows Vista

®

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

39

Windows

®

 XP

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

40

Setting up a Screen Saver

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

41

Windows Vista

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

41

Windows XP

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

41

Start Button (Menu)

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

42

Overview

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

42

Customizing the Start Menu

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

43

Control Panel

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

44

Accessing and Using the Control Panel

  .   .   .   .   .   .    

45

Customizing Your Computer Settings

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

45

Managing Your Computer Performance

  .   .   .   .   .   .    

45

3

Monitors and Displays

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

47

Cleaning Your Computer’s Display Screen

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

47

Adjusting the Resolution of Your Display 

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

48

Windows Vista

®

  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .    

49

Summary of Contents for 540 - USB Photo Printer 540

Page 1: ...w w w d e l l c o m s u p p o r t d e l l c o m Dell Technology Guide ...

Page 2: ...l Dell systems 2007 2008 Dell Inc All rights reserved Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo DellConnect StrikeZone Wi Fi Catcher ExpressCharge and Dell TravelLite are trademarks of Dell Inc Intel and iAMT are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U S and o...

Page 3: ...out Installed Hardware 26 Device Manager 26 Hardware Devices Installed on Your Computer 27 Programs Installed on Your Computer 28 Wireless Networking 28 Dell Support Website 29 Technical Support 29 Customer Service 30 Warranty Information 30 Dell Forums 31 Contact Us 31 BIOS System Setup Program Settings 31 2 Microsoft Windows Desktop 33 Overview 33 Taskbar 34 ...

Page 4: ...he Desktop 37 Shortcut Menus 38 Changing the Desktop Appearance 39 Windows Vista 39 Windows XP 40 Setting up a Screen Saver 41 Windows Vista 41 Windows XP 41 Start Button Menu 42 Overview 42 Customizing the Start Menu 43 Control Panel 44 Accessing and Using the Control Panel 45 Customizing Your Computer Settings 45 Managing Your Computer Performance 45 3 Monitors and Displays 47 Cleaning Your Comp...

Page 5: ...es and Connections 55 DisplayPort Features and Benefits 56 NVIDIA SLI and ATI Crossfire Technologies 56 4 Navigation Devices Mouse Keyboard Touch Pad 57 Mouse 58 Controlling the Speed of the Mouse Buttons 58 Controlling the Speed of the Scroll Wheel 59 Cleaning a Non Optical Mouse 59 Cleaning an Optical Mouse 60 Using a Bluetooth Enabled Wireless Mouse 60 Touch Pad 62 Circular Scrolling 62 Single ...

Page 6: ...oard 66 Changing the Input Language of Your Keyboard 67 Using the Numeric Keypad on a Laptop Computer 68 General Keyboard Shortcuts 69 5 Printers Settings and Drivers 71 Accessing Printer Information 71 Changing Printer Settings 72 For Windows Vista 72 For Windows XP 72 Setting up Printers 73 Adding a Printer 73 Setting the Default Printer 74 Sharing Printers on a Network 74 Installing a Printer D...

Page 7: ... 79 Using the Drivers and Utilities Media to Reinstall a Driver 80 Manually Reinstalling a Driver 80 Drive Problems 81 Optical Drive Problems 82 Hard Drive Problems 82 Working with RAID 83 RAID Level 0 83 RAID Level 1 84 RAID Level 0 1 Configuration 86 RAID Level 5 Configuration 87 Setting Your Computer to RAID Enabled Mode 87 Configuring RAID 88 7 Shutting Down Your Computer 99 Windows Vista 99 W...

Page 8: ... a Stalled or Frozen Computer 105 Shutting Down a Computer When it Stops Responding and Displays a Solid Blue Screen 106 Starting Your Computer in Safe Mode 107 Restarting Your Computer After a Power Loss 108 8 Files and Folders 109 Navigating to Files 110 Selecting and Opening Files 111 Selecting a Group of Files 111 Selecting Several Random Files 111 Opening and Saving a File 112 Opening a Graph...

Page 9: ...uters Running Windows XP 117 Backing up Files 117 Windows Vista 117 Windows XP 118 Running Backup When the Settings Have Been Preconfigured 118 Running Backup With Hidden Drives 119 Restoring Files 119 Windows Vista 119 Windows XP 119 9 Managing Applications Programs 121 Installing Applications on Your Computer 121 Installing Applications From a CD or DVD With Microsoft Windows 121 Installing Down...

Page 10: ... Cleaning Your Computer 126 Before You Start 126 Cleaning the Computer 126 Cleaning Optical Drives and Optical Drive Media 126 Managing Your Computer Performance 127 Windows Vista 127 Windows XP 128 Performance Tuning 129 System Setup Based Performance Tuning 129 Software Based Performance Tuning 129 NVIDIA Performance 129 NVIDIA Monitor 130 Cleaning Up Your Hard Drive 131 Defragmenting Your Hard ...

Page 11: ...ptop Computer for the First Time 142 Preserving the Life of a Battery 142 Replacing a Battery 143 Checking the Battery Charge 143 Conserving Battery Power 145 Charging the Battery 145 Storing a Battery 146 US Department of Transportation DOT Notebook Battery Restrictions 146 Dell ControlPoint Power Manager 146 12 Networks LAN Wireless Mobile Broadband 149 Overview 149 Local Area Networks LAN 150 W...

Page 12: ... Broadband Card 160 Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network 160 Activating Mobile Broadband Service 160 Managing the Network With the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility 161 WiMAX 161 WPAN 162 Managing Your Network 162 Securing Your Network 162 Securing Your Wireless Local Area Network WLAN 164 Ensuring Security When Using Public Wi Fi Networks Hotspots 165 Locating Networks With the Dell Wi Fi Ca...

Page 13: ... Page 175 Setting the Way the Browser Displays Web Pages 176 Saving Space by Setting the way the Browser Logs Viewing History 177 Increasing Computer Speed by Limiting the Number of Open Internet Windows 177 Using Accessibility Options for Visual Impairments 178 Internet Security and Privacy 178 Increasing Security for Your Computer While Accessing the Internet 178 Protecting Your Privacy While Ac...

Page 14: ...Web Page 187 Freeing up Space and Protecting Your Computer 188 Clearing Browser History 188 Deleting Temporary Internet Files 188 Decreasing the Size of the Temporary Files Folder 188 Maintaining Privacy by Blocking and Deleting Cookies 189 14 E mail 191 Setting up a new E mail Account 191 Windows Vista 192 Windows XP 192 Managing and Organizing E mail Messages 192 Windows Vista 192 Windows XP 194...

Page 15: ... CDs DVDs 5 1 Audio MP3s TVs Digital Cameras and Projectors 203 Overview 203 CDs DVDs and Blu ray Disc Media 204 Playing a CD DVD or Blu ray Disc Media 204 Copying CD DVD or Blu ray Disc Media 205 5 1 Audio 207 Setting up the 5 1 Audio Connections 207 Laptop Media Devices MP3 Players 208 Connecting a Laptop Media Device MP3 Player to Your Computer 208 Setting up the Laptop Media Device to Sync in ...

Page 16: ...era With Your Computer 212 Using Windows Media Player 212 16 Connecting Your Computer to a TV and Adjusting Display Settings 215 Accessing a TV With Your Computer Using a TV Tuner Card 215 Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device 215 Determining What you Have and What you Need 217 Identifying the Connectors on Your Computer 217 Identifying the Connectors on Your TV 219 Determining the Comb...

Page 17: ...nt Display Mode 241 Swapping Primary and Secondary Displays 242 Switching the Display Image 242 Configuring Display Settings 242 Setting Display Resolution With the Windows Display Properties Menu 243 Accessing the Settings tab of the Display Properties Menu 244 Accessing Additional Functions With the Advanced Button 245 Accessing the Video Card Control Features 245 Getting Help for Video Display ...

Page 18: ... Groups and Passwords 251 Administrator Rights 251 User Groups 252 Passwords 253 Smart Cards 254 Fingerprint Readers 254 Facial Recognition Software 255 Using a Firewall to Secure Your Computer 255 Turning On Windows Firewall 255 Encrypting Files and Folders 256 Using Antivirus Software 256 Maintaining Security When Using a Public Wireless Network 256 Reducing the Risk of Getting Computer Viruses ...

Page 19: ...stem Restore 267 Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore 267 Windows Vista Dell Factory Image Restore 268 Using the Operating System Media 269 Before you Begin 269 Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista 269 20 Troubleshooting 271 Troubleshooting Tools 272 Power Lights for Desktop Computers 273 Diagnostic Lights for Desktop Computers 274 Diagnostic Lights for Laptop Computers 275 Sys...

Page 20: ...294 Mouse Problems 295 Network Problems 296 Power Problems 296 Printer Problems 298 Scanner Problems 299 Sound and Speaker Problems 299 Touch Pad or Mouse Problems for Laptop Computers 301 Video and Monitor Problems 302 Power Lights 304 Dell Technical Update Service 305 21 System Setup 307 Viewing System Settings With the System Setup Program 307 Entering the System Setup Program 308 Working With ...

Page 21: ...OS Flashing the BIOS 311 22 Ports 313 USB Port 313 IEEE 1394 Port 314 RS232 Serial Port 315 Parallel Port 316 eSATA Port 317 Modem 318 Ethernet Port 319 Keyboard and Mouse Port PS2 320 VGA Port 321 DVI I Port 322 S Video TV Out Port 323 Component Video 324 Composite Video 325 HDMI Port 326 DisplayPort 327 S PDIF Port Coaxial RCA 328 ...

Page 22: ...ll Support Service 332 Technical Support and Customer Service 332 DellConnect 332 Online Services 333 AutoTech Service 334 Automated Order Status Service 334 Problems With Your Order 334 Product Information 334 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit 334 Before You Call 335 Contacting Dell 337 ...

Page 23: ...appears and functions on your computer The Start button may differ in appearance depending on the version of Windows but it is consistently located on the left side of the Windows taskbar From the Start button menu you can access Microsoft Windows Help and Support Control Panel Information About Installed Hardware Device Manager Programs Installed on Your Computer Wireless Networking Dell Support ...

Page 24: ...nd devices installed on your computer To access Windows Help and Support 1 Click Start or Help and Support 2 Click the topic or task you want to perform 3 If the specific task is not listed use the search option In the Start Search field or Search in Windows XP type a word or phrase that describes your question and then press Enter or click the arrow or the magnifying glass 4 Click the topic that ...

Page 25: ...view the user s guides available on your computer click Start Help and Support Dell User and System guides from the Pick a Topic options Basic Information Click Start Help and Support Tools from the Pick a Task options to view your computer information and to diagnose problems You can also view more details about your computer through the Control Panel see Control Panel on page 26 ...

Page 26: ...tart or Control Panel Information About Installed Hardware Device Manager Use the Device Manager to view a list of all devices installed on your computer and to learn more about how a specific device is configured FOR MORE INFORMATION See Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Support ...

Page 27: ... System Tools System Information 2 Double click Components to expand the Components category 3 Click the device category to view a table identifying the component or device name and related setting and configuration information Exporting System Information as a Text File 1 Click Start or All Programs Accessories System Tools System Information 2 On the File menu click Export 3 In File name type th...

Page 28: ...tion is available in the following sources Device guides See Microsoft Windows Help and Support to access device guide for the specific wireless card installed in your computer The device guide provides helpful information about connecting to a wireless network as well as managing a wireless network connection Windows Help and Support See Microsoft Windows Help and Support for general information ...

Page 29: ...uct Customer Service Explore options such as order status and pickup for Dell products Warranty Information Information relating to warranty for Dell products Dell Forums Information on forums for discussion and support of Dell products Contact Us Information on various options available for contacting Dell Technical Support Drivers and Downloads Enterprise Resource Center Find Express Service Cod...

Page 30: ... Wireless Center Customer Service Dell Financial Services FAQs Invoices Missing Wrong Damaged Order Status Ownership Transfer International Ownership Transfer Packing Slips Pickup Redelivery Dell Dollars Rebate Center Report a Stolen System Returns Update Billing Address Warranty Information Expired Warranty Service Extend Upgrade Warranty Ownership Transfer International Ownership Transfer ...

Page 31: ...and replace certain hardware components NOTE Although your computer s time date or password can be changed using the BIOS using options provided by the operating system is recommended Use the system setup program to Change the system configuration information after you add change or remove hardware in your computer Set or change user selectable options such as your password Verify information abou...

Page 32: ...32 Finding Information ...

Page 33: ...desktop is the display screen area that appears after the Windows operating system starts up The components of the desktop include a background icons shortcuts and a taskbar that is usually located at the bottom of the screen Start button taskbar icons desktop shortcut notification area ...

Page 34: ...nd Support click Start or Help and Support Start button Provides access to the Start menu which lists the programs and system utilities installed in your computer Use the Start menu to start software applications and to change computer settings If you move or resize your taskbar the Start button moves or resizes with it Quick Launch toolbar Contains icons for quick access to programs taskbar butto...

Page 35: ...Start menu Properties window appears 3 Customize the taskbar by checking the desired boxes on the Taskbar tab Displaying Hidden Icons From the Notification Area The Notification area includes icons for quick program access Click the arrow on the right side of the taskbar near the notification area to temporarily display the hidden icons Click the required icon to display it again Adding Icons in t...

Page 36: ...r to run a program Some icons are shortcuts and other icons are direct links Icons for shortcuts Identified by an arrow in the icon shortcuts are links to programs files or folders You can safely delete a shortcut without affecting the item it links to Icons for programs and files Icons for program files documents or folders do not include an arrow graphic Deleting an Icon From the Desktop 1 Right...

Page 37: ... Right click an open area of the desktop highlight New then click Shortcut 2 In the Create Shortcut window click Browse and navigate to the location of the item you want the shortcut to link to 3 Highlight the file or folder and click OK 4 Click Next 5 Name the shortcut and then click Finish HINT If you delete an icon with an arrow you are simply deleting the shortcut link If you delete an icon wi...

Page 38: ...he Windows desktop including files and folders These menus provide quick access to the most common commands for an item To access the shortcut menus position the cursor over the item and right click click the right mouse button or the right touch pad button Properties Rename Delete Create Shortcut ...

Page 39: ...p theme resolution screen saver icon size and appearance and monitor settings from the Display Properties Menu screen Use the tabs to select the items you want to adjust Windows Vista From the desktop 1 Right click an open area of the desktop 2 Click Personalize and the Personalize appearance and sounds window appears 3 Review the available options and follow the instructions provided From the Sta...

Page 40: ...n area of the desktop 2 Click Properties 3 Click Display The Display Properties window appears 4 Review the available options and follow the instructions provided From the Start menu 1 Click Start Control Panel Appearance and Themes 2 The Appearance and Themes window appears 3 Review the available options and follow the instructions provided FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about the Windows des...

Page 41: ...e appearance and sounds window appears 3 Click Screen Saver to select a new screen saver 4 Adjust the length of time for your computer to remain inactive before the screen saver appears 5 Click OK NOTE After the screen saver activates you may need to log in again to access your computer Windows XP 1 Right click an open area of the desktop 2 Click Properties The Display Properties window appears 3 ...

Page 42: ...ver appears 5 Click OK NOTE After the screen saver activates you may need to log in to access your computer Start Button Menu Overview The Start button opens the Start menu which provides access to Control Panel Programs Files Computer settings Tools that monitor your computer s performance Windows Help and Support ...

Page 43: ...Right click an open area of the taskbar 2 Select Properties The Taskbar and Start menu Properties window appears 3 Customize the Start menu by selecting the desired option on the Start menu tab FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about the Start button see Start Button on page 23 HINT You can add shortcuts to the Start menu by dragging an icon from a program folder or file onto the Start button FOR...

Page 44: ...itor hardware Add or remove programs Change hardware settings Set network and Internet preferences Customize the appearance of your desktop Set up printers and other devices Perform maintenance to enhance performance HINT A list of the items you can customize appears in the Control Panel screen Hold your cursor over each item to display the pop up text box that explains its function ...

Page 45: ...f your computer See Maintenance Tasks Enhance Performance and Ensure Security on page 125 for related information Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel System and Maintenance Performance Information and Tools 2 Select one of the available options in the Task area to monitor your computer s performance and make changes to enhance performance Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Performance an...

Page 46: ...ws Vista Click Start Control Panel System and Maintenance Administrative Tools Computer Management Windows XP Click Start Control Panel Performance and Maintenance Administrative Tools Computer Management OR Right click My Computer and select Properties Then click Device Manager ...

Page 47: ...ter s display screen with any soap or solution not designed for monitors These solutions can damage the monitor s anti glare coating Do not spray cleaners directly onto the screen FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about your computer s display screen see the documentation for your computer Also see the safety information that shipped with your computer for safety procedures to follow when working...

Page 48: ... you change any of the display settings make a note of the current settings so you can change back to them if needed NOTE Use only the Dell recommended video drivers which are designed to offer the best performance with your Dell installed operating system FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about display resolution see Adjusting Display Settings With the Vendor Video Card Control Panel on page 246...

Page 49: ...ght to decrease increase the screen resolution 5 Click Apply to check if the selected resolution is ok if not repeat step 4 6 Click OK Windows XP 1 Right click an open area of the desktop 2 Click Properties The Display Properties window appears 3 Select the Setting tab HINT To display a program at a specific resolution both the video card and the display must support the resolution and the necessa...

Page 50: ...play Settings Default display settings are set for your computer based on the monitor or display screen Access the Display Properties window from the Control Panel to determine the resolution of your monitor and make any changes Setting the Display Resolution for External LCD Monitors Set external LCD monitors to their native resolution the resolution at which the display performs the best See the...

Page 51: ... LCD monitor in the Display drop down menu 5 Under the Screen resolution section move the slide bar to the left or right to select a screen resolution that matches the native resolution of the external LCD monitor 6 Click OK Setting the Display for Multiple Monitors Multiple monitors can be setup with your computer to improve productivity by expanding the size of your desktop You can then work on ...

Page 52: ... your need This is my main Monitor allows you to set the main monitor Extend the desktop onto this monitor allows you to drag items across your screen onto alternate monitors 6 Click OK Windows XP 1 Right click an open area of the desktop 2 Click Properties and the Display Properties window appears 3 Select the Settings tab 4 Drag the monitor icons to match the physical arrangement of your monitor...

Page 53: ...light sensor is located on the front of the computer display The sensor detects available environmental light and automatically increases or decreases the display backlighting to compensate for low light and high light environments FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about accessing the Display Properties window to configure multiple monitors see Control Panel on page 44 For more detailed informati...

Page 54: ...when enabled automatically sets the display brightness to the minimum level NOTE The ambient light sensor is disabled when your computer is connected to an electrical outlet Using the display brightness key combinations disables the ambient light sensor and the display brightness increases or decreases accordingly NOTE Rebooting the computer returns the ambient light sensor to it s prior setting e...

Page 55: ...n page 313 Connector Signal Type Audio Support Connects to 1 VGA Analog No Monitor or Projector 2 DVI Digital No Monitor or Projector 3 Composite Analog No Home entertainment system 4 Component Analog No Home entertainment system 5 S Video Analog No Home entertainment system Monitor Projector 6 HDMI Digital Yes Home entertainment system Monitor Projector 7 DisplayPort Digital Yes Home entertainmen...

Page 56: ...ders and TVs Other features include Higher resolutions such as WQXGA 2048x1536 pixels Variable color depth up to 30 bits per pixel bpp Up to 120Hz refresh rate HDCP v1 3 support for viewing Blu ray disc content Support for cables up to 15m long A single interface and cable that accommodates two way audio and video for systems with built in or external speakers microphone and camera Better performa...

Page 57: ...se a keyboard a touch pad and a pointing stick track stick to navigate and make selections from the features available on your Microsoft Windows desktop FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about these devices see the documentation for your computer Also see Windows Help and Support click Start Help and Support ...

Page 58: ...l up roll the wheel forward away from you Controlling the Speed of the Mouse Buttons Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound Mouse 2 On the Button tab in the Mouse Properties window use the slide bar to select the speed that feels right for you 3 Click OK Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware Mouse 2 On the Buttons tab of the Mouse Properties windo...

Page 59: ...2 On the Wheel tab under Scrolling select the number of lines to scroll with each notch on the wheel or click One screen at a time 3 Click OK Cleaning a Non Optical Mouse If your screen cursor mouse pointer skips or moves abnormally clean the mouse NOTICE Disconnect the mouse from the computer before cleaning the mouse 1 Clean the outside casing of the mouse with a cloth moistened with a mild clea...

Page 60: ...you set up a Bluetooth enabled device you need to 1 Add a Bluetooth adapter to your computer if one is not already built in to your computer 2 Set up the device so that your computer can find or discover it Check the manufacturer s guide or website for instructions 3 Install the device using the instructions in the following section that corresponds to the operating system installed in your comput...

Page 61: ... your Bluetooth enabled adapter 2 Make your mouse discoverable by pressing a button on the bottom of the mouse See your mouse documentation for more information 3 Click Start Control Panel Bluetooth Devices 4 On the Devices tab click Add 5 Select the My device is set up and ready to be found check box and click Next 6 Click the icon that represents the Bluetooth enabled mouse and click Next 7 Clic...

Page 62: ...r finger or pen on the touch pad and move the selected object by sliding your finger or pen over the surface To double click an object position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button twice Circular Scrolling NOTE Your laptop computer may not support the circular scrolling feature To configure the circular scrolling double click ...

Page 63: ...nect any attached devices from the computer and from their electrical outlets 3 Remove any installed batteries 4 Moisten a soft lint free cloth with water and wipe it gently across the surface of the touch pad Do not allow water from the cloth to seep between the touch pad and the surrounding palm rest Using a Touch Pointer Track Stick or Tablet PC Pen Turning the Touch Pointer On or Off From the ...

Page 64: ...e USB port NOTE Certain mice may not be auto detected by your computer You then need to install the appropriate drivers manually Troubleshooting a USB Pointing Device You may need to reactivate a USB pointing device if any of the following problems occur The pointer moves erratically The pointer does not respond when you move the pointing device Nothing happens when you click a button on the point...

Page 65: ...go key Function keys labeled F1 F2 F3 and so on for performing specific tasks Navigation keys for moving the cursor around in documents or windows Home End Page Up Page Down Delete Insert and arrow keys Numeric keypad of numbers grouped together like those on an adding machine The numeric keypad on most laptop computers is integrated into the alphabetic keys HINT If you still have problems with th...

Page 66: ...the keyboard settings you want to change and click OK Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware Keyboard 2 On the Keyboard Properties window adjust the keyboard settings you want to change and click OK Backlit Keyboard NOTE Your computer may not support a backlit keyboard feature The backlit keyboard provides visibility in dark environments by illuminating all symbols on t...

Page 67: ...services click Add 5 Click the language you want to add select the text services you want to add and then click OK NOTE If the Language bar is not visible right click the taskbar point to Toolbars and then click Language bar 6 Click the Input language button on the language bar 7 Select the input language you want to use 8 Click the Keyboard layout button and then select a keyboard layout Windows ...

Page 68: ...umeric keypad integrated into the keyboard The keypad corresponds to the keypad of an extended keyboard To type a number or symbol press and hold Fn and press the desired key To enable the numeric keypad press Num Lk The light indicates that the keypad is active To disable the numeric keypad press Num Lk again numeric keypad 9 ...

Page 69: ...t mode You can reprogram this keyboard shortcut to activate a different power management mode using the Advanced tab in the Power Options Properties window F2 Renames the selected item F3 Searches for a file or folder F4 Displays the Address bar list in Windows Explorer F5 Refreshes the active window F6 Cycles through screen elements in a window or on the desktop F10 Activates the menu bar in the ...

Page 70: ...eginning of the previous paragraph Ctrl Shift with an arrow key Selects a block of text Shift with any arrow key Selects more than one item in a window or on the desktop or select text within a document Windows logo key and m Minimizes all open windows Windows logo key and Shift m Restores all minimized windows This key combination functions as a toggle to restore minimized windows following the u...

Page 71: ...ion You can find information about your printer s through the Start button From the Start menu click Control Panel to access the hardware on your computer including a list of printers connected to your computer See your printer manufacturer s documentation for hardware specific information ...

Page 72: ...ettings 3 Select either Properties or Printing Preferences The model of printer you have will determine the type of selections you can make Printing Preferences Use the tabs in this window to select image quality manage color or set up effects Properties Use the tabs in this window to view your current settings and make changes to the device itself HINT Add a shortcut to your printer on your Start...

Page 73: ...a 1 Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound Printers For Windows XP Click Start Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware Printers and Faxes 2 Click Add a Printer 3 Follow the instructions on the Add Printer Wizard screen EXAMPLE You have a laptop computer that you use at work and at home If you want to print at both locations you can install both the printers on your computer ...

Page 74: ...re than one computer A shared printer is also called a network printer Once you are connected to a shared printer on the network you can use it as if it were attached to your computer To share your printer on a network you must first add a network service to your computer For instructions on installing a network service see Networks LAN Wireless Mobile Broadband on page 149 Once your computer is c...

Page 75: ...edia If this is your first time to use your Drivers and Utilities media continue to step 2 If not proceed to step 5 2 When the Drivers and Utilities installation program starts follow the prompts on the screen NOTE In most cases the Drivers and Utilities program starts automatically If it does not start Windows Explorer click your media drive directory to display the media contents and then double...

Page 76: ...dware may not be displayed If those drivers are not displayed exit the Drivers and Utilities program shut down all programs and restart your computer For device driver information see the documentation that came with the device 6 Click the driver that you want to reinstall and follow the instructions on the screen If a particular driver is not listed then that driver is not required by your operat...

Page 77: ...ace is available for standard operations click Start Computer A list of drives and storage devices appears The free space on drive C the hard drive is displayed Shadow Storage Shadow Storage is space reserved on the hard drive for conducting a System Restore see Using Microsoft Windows System Restore on page 265 To determine the amount of hard drive space used by Shadow Storage 1 Click Start All P...

Page 78: ...Shadow Storage 6 Press Enter 7 Click Start Computer Local Disk C to confirm that less drive space has been allocated to Shadow Storage NOTE See Windows Help and Support for information on optimum and minimum sizes for this storage area Solid State Drive SSD A solid state drive SSD is a data storage device that uses solid state memory to store persistent data Solid state is an electrical term that ...

Page 79: ...clamation point is next to the device name you may need to reinstall or update the driver Replacing a Driver With a Previous Version of the Driver If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver use Windows Device Driver Rollback 1 Click Start and right click Computer 2 Click Properties Device Manager 3 Right click the device for which the new driver was installed and cli...

Page 80: ... A message appears stating that the Drivers and Utilities media is detecting hardware in your computer The drivers used by your computer are automatically displayed in the My Drivers The Drivers and Utilities media has identified these components in your system window 6 Click the driver that you want to reinstall and follow the instructions on the screen Manually Reinstalling a Driver 1 Download t...

Page 81: ... drive is not listed contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 337 TEST THE DRIVE Insert another CD DVD or Blu ray Disc BD to eliminate the possibility that the original media is defective Insert a bootable disc and restart the computer CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK See the user documentation that came with your computer FOR DRIVES WITH SPINDLES AND OR TRAYS ENSURE THAT THE MEDIA IS SNAPPED ONTO THE SPIN...

Page 82: ...D DVD or BD software The drive tray cannot eject for drives that are not slot loading 1 Ensure that the computer is shut down 2 Straighten a paper clip and insert one end into the eject hole at the front of the drive and then push firmly until the tray is partially ejected 3 Gently pull out the tray until it stops The drive makes a scraping or grinding sound Ensure that the sound is not caused by ...

Page 83: ...ere are four basic RAID levels discussed in this section NOTE RAID requires multiple hard drives The number of hard drives required varies depending on the RAID configuration RAID level 0 is recommended for higher performance faster throughput RAID level 1 is recommended for users who need a high level of data integrity RAID level 0 1 is recommended for higher performance and data integrity RAID l...

Page 84: ...storage capacities of both drives For example two 120 GB hard drives combine to provide 240 GB of hard drive space on which to store data NOTE In a RAID 0 configuration the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive multiplied by the number of drives in the configuration RAID Level 1 RAID level 1 uses data mirroring to enhance data integrity When data is written to the pr...

Page 85: ...write operations are directed to the remaining drive A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the remaining drive NOTE In a RAID 1 configuration the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the configuration ...

Page 86: ...rives and mirroring that striped data on a second set of two drives If a drive failure occurs subsequent read and write operations are directed to the other surviving drives A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drives Also because data is duplicated on the primary and additional drives four 120 GB RAID level 1 drives collectively have a maximum of 240 GB on whi...

Page 87: ... drives A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drives Also because data is duplicated on the primary and additional drives four 120 GB RAID level 1 drives collectively have a maximum of 360 GB on which to store data Setting Your Computer to RAID Enabled Mode Before creating a RAID configuration you must set your computer to RAID enabled mode 1 Enter the system se...

Page 88: ...es on page 88 or Intel see Using the Intel RAID Utilities on page 92 programs to create and manage RAID arrays Using the NVIDIA Utilities If installed on your system see the following sections for information about using the NVIDIA utilities Assigning Drives to a RAID Array Before Installing the Operating System on page 88 Assigning New Drives to a RAID Array With the Operating System Installed on...

Page 89: ...elected drive from the Free Disks field to the Array Disks field Repeat these steps for each disk you want to include in the RAID array NOTE The number of drives supported in each RAID array varies depending on what computer you have 7 After assigning the hard drives to an array press F9 The Clear disk data prompt appears NOTICE You lose all data on the selected drives in the next step Back up any...

Page 90: ...iguration 4 Click Next Custom Next 5 Use the drop down box to select Striping RAID 0 or Mirroring RAID 1 6 Click Next The Free Disk Selection window appears NOTE Only RAID enabled hard drives are listed as free disks 7 Click to select the drives that will make up the RAID configuration click Next and then click Next again NOTE The number of drives supported in each RAID array varies depending on w...

Page 91: ...ny other installed hard drives Converting From One RAID Configuration to Another RAID Configuration You can change the current state of a disk or array from striped to mirrored for example without losing any data Also you can add hard drives to an existing array The time to convert an array depends on several factors such as the speed of the processor the type and size of the hard drive being used...

Page 92: ...rray fails you can rebuild the array by restoring the data to a replacement drive 1 Launch Nvidia MediaShield 2 Click to select your RAID configuration Mirroring in the management utility window 3 Select Rebuild Array in the System Tasks pane The NVIDIA Rebuild Array Wizard screen appears 4 Click Next 5 Select the hard drive you want to rebuild by clicking the check box beside it 6 Click Next Fini...

Page 93: ...fore continuing NOTICE Use the following procedure only if you are reinstalling your operating system Do not use the following procedure to migrate an existing storage configuration to RAID level 0 configuration 1 Set your computer to RAID enabled mode see Setting Your Computer to RAID Enabled Mode on page 87 2 Press Ctrl i when you are prompted to enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility 3 Press t...

Page 94: ... mode see Setting Your Computer to RAID Enabled Mode on page 87 2 Click Start Programs Intel R Matrix Storage Manager Intel Matrix Storage Console NOTE If you do not see an Actions menu option you have not yet set your computer to RAID enabled mode 3 On the Actions menu select Create RAID Volume to launch the Create RAID Volume Wizard and then click Next 4 On the Select Volume Location screen sele...

Page 95: ...n screen click the first hard drive you want to use and then click the right arrow 7 Click a second hard drive until two drives appear in the Selected window and then click Next 8 In the Specify Volume Size window select the Volume Size desired and click Next 9 Click Finish to create the volume or click Back to make changes 10 Follow the Microsoft Windows procedures for creating a partition on the...

Page 96: ...From Existing Hard Drive to launch the Migration Wizard 4 Click Next on the Migration Wizard screen 5 Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default 6 From the drop down box select RAID 0 as the RAID level 7 Select the appropriate stripe size from the drop down box and then click Next The stripe size should be closest to the size of the average file you want to store on the RAID volume If you do n...

Page 97: ...me name or accept the default 6 From the drop down box select RAID 1 as the RAID level NOTE Select the hard drive that you want to use as your source hard drive it should be the hard drive containing the data or operating system files that you want to keep on the RAID volume 7 On the Select Source Hard Drive screen double click the hard drive from which you want to migrate and click Next This driv...

Page 98: ...98 Drives and Media ...

Page 99: ...osoft Windows operating system before you turn off the computer Windows Vista 1 Save and close all open files and close all programs 2 Click Start and move the mouse pointer to the arrow next to the lock button 3 Click Shut Down Windows XP 1 Save and close all open files and close all programs ...

Page 100: ... to shut down the computer NOTE Windows operating systems start automatically when you turn on the computer HINT If your computer is not operating properly restarting Windows often solves the problem FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about turning off your computer properly in Windows see Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Support ...

Page 101: ...ks turn off so that your computer uses less power When you want to use the computer again it comes out of standby quickly and your desktop is restored exactly as you left it Because standby does not save your desktop state to disk a power failure while on standby can cause a loss of unsaved information Hibernation Hibernation is a state in which your computer shuts down to save power but first sav...

Page 102: ...y using the Task Manager utility 1 Right click the taskbar and click Task Manager 2 The Task Manager window appears 3 In the Applications tab select the program that is not responding and then click End Task NOTE Any data entered or changes made in that program and not saved will be lost FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about Task Manager see Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Supp...

Page 103: ... the process that is not responding and then click End Process HINT Be careful when ending a process If you end a process associated with an open program the program will also close and you will lose any unsaved data If you end a process associated with a system service some part of the system may not function properly FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about what to do when a process does not res...

Page 104: ...intenance System Device Manager listed under Tasks 2 If a window appears asking for permission to continue click Continue 3 Look for the System devices If your computer is ACPI enabled ACPI will appear next to the device name Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Performance and Maintenance 2 Click Administrative Tools Computer Management Device Manager OR Click System System Properties Hardware ...

Page 105: ...Windows Vista When you attempt to shut down the screen may darken and show you which programs are preventing the computer from shutting down It may also indicate why those programs are preventing your computer from shutting down Click Shut down now to force all of the programs to end and complete the process of shutting down your computer If you click Shut down now you may lose data that you haven...

Page 106: ...ut down Click Cancel to return to Windows If any of the programs that are preventing shutdown have data that you want to save save it now Then proceed to shut down the computer Shutting Down a Computer When it Stops Responding and Displays a Solid Blue Screen When an operating system experiences an unrecoverable error the computer displays a blue screen containing error codes and all computer oper...

Page 107: ...e Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started You may want to start your computer in Safe Mode if you have shut down with a frozen blue screen The words Safe Mode appear in the corners of the display to identify which Windows mode you are using If an existing problem does not reappear when you start in Safe Mode you can eliminate the default settings and basic device driv...

Page 108: ... an application or program open a message may tell you that the program did not shut down properly You may need to shut the program down and restart your computer FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about Safe Mode see Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Support FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about how to manage power options on your computer see Windows Help and Support click Star...

Page 109: ...es are documents photos or graphics stored on your computer A folder is a group of multiple files FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about how to open copy and delete files and folders see Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Support ...

Page 110: ...on your computer In Windows Explorer use the Forward and Back buttons above the Address Bar to navigate to files you previously viewed FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about using the Windows Explorer utility see Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Support toolbar folders address bar Forward Back buttons ...

Page 111: ...ick the selected filename Selecting a Group of Files Click the first file you want included in the group Press and hold down the Shift key as you click the last file to include in the group All the files in the group are highlighted Selecting Several Random Files Click a file you want to select Press and hold down the Ctrl key as you click each file All the files you selected are highlighted SHIFT...

Page 112: ...ion Opening a Graphic Image Picture or Art When you double click on a graphic such as a photo to open it it appears in the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer window To make changes to the graphic you will need to open it within the program used to create it or in another graphic editing program Finding Files If you are unsure where a file is saved you can use the Search option Searching for a File Win...

Page 113: ...search for 3 Enter a name and click Search Renaming Files You should not rename files that the operating system or other programs require to operate 1 Right click the file you want to rename 2 Click Rename from the drop down menu 3 Type a new name for the file and press the Enter key Printing Files 1 Open the file you want to print and select File Print 2 Specify the print settings and click OK De...

Page 114: ...Everyone and click Add On a workgroup Click the arrow to the right of the text box click the person s name and click Add You may have to create a new user account to share files with some users 3 Under Permission Level click the arrow next to each person or group and select sharing permissions A Reader can view shared files but not add alter or delete them A Contributor can view or add shared file...

Page 115: ...that you want to share and drag it to Shared Documents in the Other Places box Sharing Files With Password Protection If your computer is part of a workgroup you have the option of turning password protection on or off If password protection is turned on the person you are sharing with must have a user account and password on your computer in order to access the files and folders you are sharing R...

Page 116: ...and click Remove Transferring Files and Settings to a New Computer Transferring Files From a Computer Running Windows XP to a Computer Running Windows Vista 1 Install Windows Easy Transfer from the Windows Vista DVD on the computer running Windows XP 2 After the installation is complete click Start Windows Easy Transfer FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about setting permissions see Administrator...

Page 117: ...er wizard Transferring Files Between Computers Running Windows XP To transfer files and folders from one computer to another using the Files and Settings Transfer wizard in Windows XP 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools 2 Select Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 3 Follow the instructions on the wizard Backing up Files You can back up your entire computer or just certain files and ...

Page 118: ... bkf file or click the Browse button to find a file If you are backing up files and folders to a tape click the tape you want to use 7 Specify any backup options you want such as the backup type and the log file type by clicking the Tools menu and then clicking Options 8 When you have finished specifying backup options click OK 9 Click Start Backup and then make any changes to the Backup Job Infor...

Page 119: ...ows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel System and Maintenance Backup and Restore Center 2 Click either Restore files or Restore computer 3 Click Continue on User Account Control dialog box and follow the instructions on the Restore Files wizard Windows XP 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Backup 2 Click Advanced Mode 3 On the Restore and Manage Media tab select the files and folde...

Page 120: ...120 Files and Folders ...

Page 121: ...tor password or confirmation type the password or provide confirmation If an application does not install look for the application s setup file usually called setup exe or install exe on the installation disk Installing Downloading Applications From the Internet 1 In your web browser click the link to the application If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation type the passwo...

Page 122: ...he application Installing Applications From a Network This topic only applies if your computer is connected to a network If your computer is not connected to a network you may see different options to select such as Get Programs Online for Windows Vista Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Programs and then click Get Programs Online 2 Select an application from the list and click Install 3 Fo...

Page 123: ...and click Add 5 Follow the instructions on your screen Removing Applications From Your Computer Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Programs Programs and Features 2 Select the application you want to remove and click Uninstall Type the administrator password or provide confirmation if prompted Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Add or Remove Programs 2 Click Remove a program and select t...

Page 124: ...askbar and select Task Manager 2 On the Applications tab of the Windows Task Manager screen click the application that is not responding and then click End Task HINT Simply deleting a program does not completely remove it from your computer By deleting a program from your computer any way other than by using the Add or Remove Programs utility you may accidentally delete drivers needed by other pro...

Page 125: ...ance can be caused by Disorganized files Unnecessary software Unused network drives Too many programs that run automatically at startup In addition viruses can cause serious damage and dramatically slow your computer s performance You can protect your computer increase its operational life and enhance its performance if you perform standard maintenance tasks such as Cleaning the computer and its c...

Page 126: ...with a soft cloth dampened with water Do not use aerosol cleaners flammable liquid or other spray cleaners Do not allow water to drip inside the computer or keyboard Cleaning Optical Drives and Optical Drive Media NOTICE Always use compressed air to clean the lens in an optical drive and follow the instructions that come with the compressed air product Never touch the lens in the drive If you noti...

Page 127: ...nlabeled side in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc For stubborn dirt try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap You can also purchase commercial products that clean discs and provide some protection from dust fingerprints and scratches Cleaning products for CDs are also safe to use on DVDs Managing Your Computer Performance The control panel provides t...

Page 128: ...ard disk to increase the storage space on your computer Advanced tools access advanced system tools such as Event Viewer and System Information Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Performance and Maintenance Administrative Tools 2 Select one of the available options to perform maintenance and improve performance on your computer Component Services system tools to monitor the status of system se...

Page 129: ... System Setup on page 307 Software Based Performance Tuning NVIDIA Enthusiast System Architecture ESA is a PC protocol for real time monitoring and control of computer s thermal electrical acoustic and operating characteristics If your computer includes components compatible with ESA Dell has pre installed applications for monitoring and tweaking the performance of the components For more informat...

Page 130: ...on of the NVIDIA Control Panel allows you to change available BIOS settings via a Windows user interface Changes to these options and settings take effect on the next reboot View System Information This section of the NVIDIA Control Panel allows you to view version information for the system and installed drivers This information can be saved to a file for further review as well as technical suppo...

Page 131: ...s of that component These characteristics may include voltages fan speeds usage temperatures and more You can customize the NVIDIA Monitor to Choose key performance characteristics to monitor graph and log Set reporting intervals and performance thresholds Configure and log user defined events Customize application key strokes Cleaning Up Your Hard Drive 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories Syst...

Page 132: ...larly the defragmenting process should take only 5 to 10 minutes 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Disk Defragmenter The Disk Defragmenter window opens This window lists the hard drives on your computer along with the storage capacity and the amount of free space HINT Why defragment a hard drive A fragmented hard drive stores fragments of files in many different locations on the ...

Page 133: ...ing Disk Errors 1 Click Start My Computer 2 On the File menu select Properties 3 On the Tools tab click Check Now 4 Select the actions you want to perform and click Start Scanning for Viruses and Spyware Computer viruses and spyware are hidden software that corrupts your files or gathers information from your computer without your knowledge or consent Computer viruses affect your computer s perfor...

Page 134: ...your hard disk for spyware Checks all currently running programs for spyware FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about protecting your computer from viruses see Viruses on page 179 FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about Windows Defender search for Using Windows Defender on the Microsoft website www microsoft com For more information about antivirus software search for antivirus software on the In...

Page 135: ... saving energy maximizing system performance or achieving a balance between the two The preconfigured power plans are Balanced offers full performance when necessary and saves power during periods of inactivity Power saver saves power by reducing system performance to maximize the life of the battery High performance provides the highest level of performance by adapting processor speed to your act...

Page 136: ...may also use one of the following methods to put your computer to sleep Press the power button Close the display for a laptop computer Press Fn Esc To wake your computer depending on how you set the power management options Press the power button OR Open the display for a notebook computer Hibernate Hibernate conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then comp...

Page 137: ...ter Press Fn Esc NOTE Some PC Cards or Express Cards may not operate correctly after the computer exits hibernate Remove and reinsert the card or simply restart reboot your computer To exit hibernate mode press the power button The computer may take a short time to exit hibernate mode Windows XP Configuring Your Power Settings 1 Click Start Control Panel Performance and Maintenance Power Options 2...

Page 138: ...ting state it was in before entering standby NOTICE If your computer loses AC and battery power while in standby it may lose data To enter standby Click Start Turn off computer Stand by OR Depending on how you set the power management options you may also use one of the following methods Press the power button Close the display for a notebook computer Press Fn Esc To exit standby depending on how ...

Page 139: ...ers hibernate if the battery charge level becomes critically low To manually enter hibernate Click Start Turn off computer Then press and hold the Shift key and click Hibernate OR Depending on how you set the power management options you may also use one of the following methods to enter hibernate Press the power button Close the display for a notebook computer Press Fn Esc NOTE Some PC Cards or E...

Page 140: ... when choosing a surge protector A device with a higher joule rating offers more protection Compare joule ratings to determine the relative effectiveness of different devices NOTICE Most surge protectors do not protect against power fluctuations or power interruptions caused by nearby lightning strikes When lightning occurs in your area disconnect the telephone line from the telephone wall jack an...

Page 141: ...operating time connect only your computer to a UPS Connect other devices such as a printer to a separate power strip that provides surge protection An uniterruptible power supply UPS protects against power fluctuations and interruptions UPS devices contain a battery that provides temporary power to connected devices when AC power is interrupted The battery charges while AC power is available See t...

Page 142: ...ries depending on how you use your laptop computer The following will significantly reduce the operating time of your battery Using optical drives Using wireless communications devices PC Cards Express Cards media memory cards or USB devices Using high brightness display settings 3D screen savers or other power intensive programs such as complex 3D graphics applications Running the computer in max...

Page 143: ...ttery to temperatures above 65 C 149 F Keep the battery away from children Handle damaged or leaking batteries with extreme care Damaged batteries may leak and cause personal injury or equipment damage CAUTION Before performing these procedures turn off the computer disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet and the computer disconnect the modem from the wall connector and computer and r...

Page 144: ... Battery To check the battery charge press and release the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate the charge level lights Each light represents approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge Checking the Health of the Battery To check the battery health using the charge gauge press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds If no lights app...

Page 145: ...Conserving Battery Power To conserve battery power on your laptop computer do any of the following Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible battery life is largely determined by the number of times the battery is used and recharged Configure the power management settings using Microsoft Windows Power Options to optimize your computer s power usage see Setting Power Options on pag...

Page 146: ...ttery NOTE You can operate your computer while the battery is charging However do not operate your computer using battery power until the battery is fully charged Storing a Battery Remove the battery when you store your computer for an extended period of time A battery discharges during prolonged storage After a long storage period recharge the battery fully before you use it US Department of Tran...

Page 147: ...optimize the battery life for your laptop computer using the options available under All Day Battery mode or Extended Battery Life mode FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about using the Dell ControlPoint application see the Help available from the main ControlPoint screen ...

Page 148: ...148 Power Power Settings Power Protection Devices and Batteries ...

Page 149: ...provides connectivity between your computer and the Internet another computer or a peripheral such as a printer For example with a network set up in a home or small office you can Print to a shared printer Access drives and files on another computer Share files Browse other networks Access the Internet LAN WLAN ...

Page 150: ...mputers This Intel AMT software is available on some Dell computers See Managing Networked Computers With Intel Active Management Technology on page 168 Local Area Networks LAN A local area network LAN connects two or more computers with each other through a network cable connected to each computer This type of computer network generally covers a small area A LAN can be connected to another LAN ov...

Page 151: ...music or viewing streaming videos What you Need for Broadband Access You can choose between two specific types of broadband access offered by ISPs cable and DSL DSL broadband access is marketed by telephone companies but it is not available at all locations If you have cable television access you can obtain cable broadband access through your cable provider You must connect your computer or comput...

Page 152: ...ooting information Install the required software according to the instructions provided by the router manufacturer Connecting to the Network From your computer s Control Panel click Network and Internet connections Network and Sharing Center The Network Connection Wizard may start automatically or you may have to click an option for setting up a connection or network Actual steps may vary based on...

Page 153: ...mputers and peripherals and provides Internet or network access The access point or wireless router and the wireless network card in the computer communicate by broadcasting data from their antennas over the air waves What you Need to set up a WLAN Broadband Internet access such as cable or DSL A broadband modem A wireless router 1 Router 2 Modem 3 Internet FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about...

Page 154: ...ick Start right click Computer and select Properties 2 Under Tasks click Device Manager 3 Click Network Adapters Windows XP 1 Click Start right click My Computer and select Properties 2 Click the Hardware tab 3 Click Device Manager Network Adapters Reinstalling Software and Drivers for Your Wireless Network Card If the software is removed or corrupted follow the instructions in the user documentat...

Page 155: ...instructions do not apply to internal cards with Bluetooth wireless technology or cellular products This section provides general procedures for connecting to a network using wireless technology Specific network names and configuration details vary Windows Vista 1 Click Start Network 2 Click Network and Sharing Center on the navigation bar at the top of the Network folder 3 Click Connect to a netw...

Page 156: ...he network s WEP or WPA key when prompted This value is unique to your network and is established when the wireless router is configured You may be able to obtain this information from your network administrator Connecting to a Public WLAN Hotspot If you want to connect to a public wireless network follow the procedure described in Connecting to a WLAN on page 155 Add this network to your lists of...

Page 157: ...ing your computer The wireless switch must be turned On to detect and connect to a wireless network On some computers you can also use the wireless switch to scan for a wireless network by sliding and holding the wireless switch in position for a few seconds Other computers may use a separate button or switch for scanning FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about how to find out if your computer ha...

Page 158: ... system provides an easy to use wizard to help you set up the network 1 From the Network and Sharing Center click Tasks Setup a connection or network 2 Click Set up a wireless ad hoc computer to computer network Next The Set up a wireless ad hoc network information screen appears This screen explains what an ad hoc network is and tells you that your computer must be within 30 feet of the other com...

Page 159: ...in a cellular data coverage zone Contact your service provider for coverage details NOTE Even if you are able to make a call from your cellular phone in a specific geographical location that location may not necessarily be within a cellular data coverage zone FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about Mobile Broadband networks Wireless Wide Area Networks see the following resources Windows Help and ...

Page 160: ...ed separately from your computer If the utility is corrupted or deleted from your computer see the Mobile Broadband Card Utility user s guide in Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Support or the media that accompanied your card if you purchased it separately Checking Your Mobile Broadband Card 1 Click Start or Help and Support 2 Search for Computer Information Use Tools or System Inf...

Page 161: ... is based on the IEEE 802 16 standard which is also called WirelessMAN and provides fixed and laptop connectivity without the need for direct line of sight with a base station Mobile wireless broadband support is expected in the near future FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about using the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility see The user s guide typically available through Windows Help and Support...

Page 162: ...l workspace WPAN technology supports communication over a short distance Bluetooth used as the basis for a new standard IEEE 802 15 is an example of WPAN Managing Your Network Securing Your Network To protect your network and computer from intrusions install some of the internet countermeasures that are available to help protect your network from hackers spyware and invasion of your privacy ...

Page 163: ...unauthorized access from outside the network Some firewalls also restrict unauthorized transmittal of information from within the network as in the case of spyware software sending information through the Internet to an unauthorized party The Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems incorporate a firewall Follow these steps to check that the Windows firewall is enabled 1 Click Start Control ...

Page 164: ...nd administrator password to unique values using the router configuration software and change the administrator password periodically Set up encryption When setting up your wireless router enable data encryption The most common types of encryption standards include Wired Equivalency Privacy WEP Wireless Protected Access WPA Wireless Protected Access 2 WPA2 WPA and WPA2 encryption are more secure t...

Page 165: ...ering the router will limit access to wireless adapters with MAC addresses that you specify 1 Open the Command Prompt window and type ipconfig all 2 Under the wireless network connection note the 12 character hexadecimal Physical Address value This value is the MAC address for the computer s wireless adapter 3 Repeat step 1 and step 2 on each computer in your network to obtain the MAC address of e...

Page 166: ... and print sharing Disable file and print sharing before using a public Wi Fi network connection 1 Click Start Control Panel 2 Double click the Security Center icon then click the Windows Firewall option 3 Select the Exceptions tab on the Windows Firewall Settings dialog box 4 Uncheck File and Printer Sharing and then click OK Configure your Windows network security settings for a Public Place Whe...

Page 167: ...r button The Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator functions regardless of whether your computer is turned on or off or in a sleep mode as long as the switch is enabled and configured to control Wi Fi network connections NOTE The light turns on only when the computer is turned off Enabling the Network Locator Because the Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator may be disabled and not configured for use when your co...

Page 168: ...dow is displayed 2 Click Connection Manager The Connection Manager Overview window appears 3 From the Connection Manager Overview window select Manage Connections and follow the instructions For help click the Connection Manager help question mark Managing Networked Computers With Intel Active Management Technology For some systems Dell uses the Intel Active Management Technology Intel AMT or iAMT...

Page 169: ...T can be used to access the computer remotely for repair purposes Protect networks from incoming threats while keeping software and virus protection up to date across the network See the Dell Systems Management Administrator s Guide for details on the use of the Intel Active Management Technology This guide is available on the Dell Support website at support dell com ...

Page 170: ...170 Networks LAN Wireless Mobile Broadband ...

Page 171: ... information pages called web pages that link to one another through a process called hypertext linking or hyperlinks These electronic documents that are stored on computers around the world and are accessible via the Internet make up the Web World Wide Web What you Need to Connect to the Internet NOTE ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country To connect to the Internet you need a modem or network co...

Page 172: ...ate Typically a wireless router is connected to the broadband cable or DSL modem that broadcasts the Internet signal to your computer If you are using a dial up connection connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your computer and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection If you are using a DSL cable or satellite modem connection contact your ISP or cellular t...

Page 173: ...ut 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Double click the ISP icon on the Microsoft Windows desktop 3 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup NOTE Have your ISP information ready If you do not have an ISP the Connect to the Internet wizard can help you obtain one If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connectio...

Page 174: ...pen programs 2 Click Start Control Panel Network and Internet Connections 3 Click Set up or change your Internet connection 4 Click Setup New Connection Wizard window appears 5 Click Next Choose Connect to the Internet and click Next 6 Click Set up my connection manually and click Next 7 Click either Broadband PPPoE Wireless or Dial up depending on how you want to connect Choose Broadband if you w...

Page 175: ...rowser for convenience and security For example to change settings for Internet Explorer Open Internet Explorer and click Tools Internet Options OR Click Start Control Panel Network and Internet Connections Internet Options The Internet Options window appears Use this window to establish settings for certain features such as Browser home page Web page appearance Browser history Accessibility optio...

Page 176: ... check box and the fields will no longer be greyed out 2 Click on the text color palette and a box of colors becomes available 3 Click OK NOTE Changing the text and the background colors to two similar colors makes text very difficult to read NOTE Some web pages have predefined color schemes that override your preferences Languages Language can be selected to display certain characters in the pref...

Page 177: ... store this information Increasing Computer Speed by Limiting the Number of Open Internet Windows Tabs allow you to open multiple web pages at the same time in the same browsing window It is not necessary to have multiple instances of Internet Explorer running simultaneously The tab feature speeds computer processing by limiting the number of programs that are open 1 Click Start Control Panel Netw...

Page 178: ...tted style sheet to be used for all web pages Internet Security and Privacy Increasing Security for Your Computer While Accessing the Internet Your Internet security can be increased but you lose the ability to see all the functions that are available However if you lower the Internet security settings to see everything you risk the security of your computer 1 Click Start Control Panel Network and...

Page 179: ...nsure security and privacy by Viruses Viruses are programs that attack your computer damaging data and system programs and compromising secure information These viruses can attach themselves to files that you download or receive in e mail attachments Using antivirus and antispyware protection programs See Using Antivirus Programs on page 180 and Preventing Spyware and Malware Infection on page 182...

Page 180: ...irus programs can update automatically when you are connected to the Internet Firewalls Firewalls are an added security feature in Windows operating systems A firewall is a software device that is configured to allow data to pass through a computer network which has different levels of trust The basic task of a firewall is to regulate the flow of traffic between computer networks of different trus...

Page 181: ...on t allow exceptions Exceptions tab The Exceptions tab allows certain program types to operate without Windows Firewall interfering or sending a message that a program was blocked Advanced tab The Advanced tab allows more specific settings The Network Connection Settings tab provides the option for Windows Firewall to be applied to any or all the connection types available Security Logging settin...

Page 182: ...dicators point to infection with spyware Watch for Computer performance slows Regular tasks take longer to complete Your Web browser home page changes Pop ups appear even when you are not connected to the Internet Preventing Spyware and Malware Infection Several options are available to prevent spyware and malware from infecting your computer For example you can use anti spyware programs to secure...

Page 183: ...by turning on the Phishing Filter NOTE You must have Internet Explorer version 7 to use this filter 1 Open Internet Explorer and click Tools Phishing Filter 2 Click to select Turn on the Automatic Website Check 3 Click Phishing Filter Settings The filter redirects you to the Internet Options Advanced tab to make more selective settings Shopping Securely Over the Internet It is important to do busi...

Page 184: ...ny quality seals on the website These seals represent an outside assessment of the security measures in place Controlling Pop ups 1 From the Internet Options window click the Privacy tab 2 If the box next to Pop up blocker is unchecked then the pop up blocker is not turned on If the box is checked then the pop up blocker is turned on and you can click Settings to access more features for the pop u...

Page 185: ...tal Controls Internet Explorer has the ability to block content from the Internet 1 Click Start Control Panel Network and Internet Connections Internet Options 2 Open the Content tab 3 Click Enable in the Content Advisory portion of the tab Certain types of content can be blocked by requiring a password to access the website Read the description under the option before selecting it Bookmarking Fav...

Page 186: ... Internet If you need to find information a web page on the Internet without actually knowing the web address you can use a search engine to search for information There are many search engines to choose from Each search engine may behave differently Read the Help sections for the specific search engine to learn how to use it 1 Access a common search engine and type the word or combination of word...

Page 187: ...and verify what will be printed Often the format of the page you are currently viewing is not what is printed Other features are available from the Print Preview screen Click the first drop down menu to allow multiple pages to be displayed simultaneously Click the second drop down menu to move from frame to frame Since many windows are divided into separate sections frames sometimes the section th...

Page 188: ... These files can become a drain on your computer s resources if too many are stored Deleting them regularly helps enhance your computer s performance and speed 1 Open your web browser and locate a tab for Internet Options 2 From the Temporary Internet Files section click the Delete Files button Decreasing the Size of the Temporary Files Folder Internet Explorer keeps a log of the websites that you...

Page 189: ...o delete cookies in Internet Explorer 1 Open Internet Explorer 2 Click the Tools tab Internet Options 3 Under the Temporary Internet Files section click the Delete Cookies button You can also limit the number of cookies placed in your computer by increasing the privacy settings 1 From the Internet Options window click the Privacy tab 2 Move the vertical slide bar up for more privacy and the reduct...

Page 190: ...190 Accessing the Internet ...

Page 191: ...oviders offers an Internet Connection Wizard to help you connect to the Internet and set up your e mail account You need the following information from your Internet service provider ISP or local area network LAN administrator Account name and password The names of your incoming and outgoing e mail servers NOTE Windows Mail and Outlook Express are the default e mail applications for Windows Vista ...

Page 192: ... or to open the Internet Connection Wizard and then follow the instructions to establish a connection with an e mail or news server Managing and Organizing E mail Messages Many options are available for managing and organizing your e mail messages For instance you can set up multiple e mail folders set up e mail rules and filters or delete unwanted e mails Windows Vista To add an e mail folder 1 C...

Page 193: ...ete and click Delete 2 To select multiple messages hold down the Ctrl key and click each message you want to delete Then click Delete FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about deleting or switching folders see Add delete or rename e mail folders in Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Support EXAMPLE You can use the Where the from line contains condition to set a rule so that all messag...

Page 194: ...o other information from the message however is entered into the rule To delete an e mail message 1 Click Start Programs Outlook Express 2 In the message list click to highlight the message 3 On the toolbar click Delete Securing Your E mail Several options are available for you to make sure that the e mail messages you receive are secure Set an appropriate security level through your e mail servic...

Page 195: ...ous junk e mail messages High Click this option if you receive a large volume of junk e mail messages and want to block as many as possible However you should periodically review the messages in your junk e mail folder to ensure that there are not any legitimate e mail messages that might have been moved there as well Safe List Only Click this option if you only want to receive messages from peopl...

Page 196: ...essages in plain text Verify that attachments are from a secure source Do not open attachments with an extension of exe FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about reducing spam in your e mail messages see Block spam and other unwanted e mail in Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Support FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about reducing spam in your e mail messages see Viewing e mail im...

Page 197: ...for example Windows Mail or Outlook Express 2 Click the mail folder such as Inbox that contains the messages you want to read 3 To view the message click the message in the message list Sending E mail After you compose an e mail message you are ready to send the e mail message to a recipient Windows Vista 1 Click Start All Programs Windows Mail 2 Click File New Mail Message to open a new message c...

Page 198: ...ge and then click Send on the toolbar Creating a Contact Group Mailing List Contact groups mailing lists are useful when composing e mails to multiple recipients A contact group is a list of e mail addresses By creating contact groups you can compose one e mail and send it to multiple recipients Windows Vista 1 Click Start All Programs Windows Contacts FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about send...

Page 199: ...l boxes and then click Create for Group Only 4 When you have finished creating your contact group click OK Windows XP 1 Click Start Programs Outlook Express 2 In the Address Book select the folder in which you want to create a group Click New on the toolbar and then click New Group 3 The Properties dialog box opens In the Group Name box type the name of the group 4 Add contacts to the contact grou...

Page 200: ...ing while increasing or freeing up your disk space Windows Vista 1 Click Start System and Maintenance Backup and Restore Center 2 Click Back up files and then follow the steps in the wizard If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation type the password or provide confirmation Windows XP 1 Click Start Programs Outlook Express 2 Select an e mail folder 3 Click File Folder Compac...

Page 201: ...E mail 201 FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about backing up e mail messages see To compact and back up e mail folders in Outlook Express Help ...

Page 202: ...202 E mail ...

Page 203: ...ia devices such as digital cameras projectors MP3 Players and TVs You can view and print digital photos play CDs and DVDs create your own CDs listen to radio stations and copy files to a laptop media device such as an MP3 player FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about connecting your computer to a TV and adjusting the display settings based on the type of connection see Connecting Your Computer t...

Page 204: ...ia For Drives With Spindles and or Trays 1 Press the eject button on the drive 2 Place the media label side up in the center of the tray and snap it onto the spindle or place it on the tray if there is no spindle 3 Push the tray back into the drive 4 For those computers equipped with multimedia buttons press the Play button Some computers launch an auto play selection window Select the function fo...

Page 205: ...c label side up in the drive slot 3 For those computers equipped with multimedia buttons press the Play button Some computers launch an auto play selection window Select the function for the task you are attempting to accomplish such as open for viewing or open for direct data transfer To format media for storing or copying data see the media software that came with your computer NOTE Ensure that ...

Page 206: ...second disk drive and follow the instructions to copy a disk The computer copies the data from the source disk to the blank disk When you have finished copying the source disk it automatically ejects HINT Use Microsoft Windows Explorer to drag and drop files to a disk only after you start your CD DVD creation software and open a create CD DVD project Use a blank disk to practice recording You may ...

Page 207: ...io Connections To set up the 5 1 audio connections Click Start Control Panel Additional Options Run IDT Audio Control Panel In the Jacks tab there are three connector icons Follow the instructions to finish the setup 1 Click the microphone icon select Device Rear Speakers and plug your rear speaker cable to the audio in microphone connector 2 Click the middle headphone icon select Device Center LF...

Page 208: ...indows Media Player to sync digital media files from your media library to the laptop media device If your laptop media device has sufficient capacity to hold the files you want to copy Media Player automatically syncs your media library Then when you connect the laptop media device to your computer in the future Media Player updates the device FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about connecting y...

Page 209: ...edia Player syncs your entire library to the laptop media device Then your laptop media device syncs automatically every time you connect it to your computer If Media Player has selected to sync your device manually click Finish Then in the Sync tab select the files and play lists you want to sync Copying Audio and Video Files to Your Laptop Media Device Use the Copy to CD or Device feature to cop...

Page 210: ...kbar 2 Click Open Volume Mixer 3 Click and drag the slide bar up or down to increase or decrease the volume Enabling S PDIF Digital Audio Through the Media Software If your computer has a DVD drive and supports digital audio S PDIF you can enable digital audio for DVD playback 1 Click Start All Programs and click the link for the DVD player 2 Insert a DVD into the DVD drive If the DVD begins playi...

Page 211: ...e Cyberlink CL Headphones NOTE The CL headphone feature is available only if your computer has a DVD drive If your computer has a DVD drive you can enable digital audio through headphones for DVD playback 1 Click Start All Programs and click the option for the DVD player for your computer 2 Insert a DVD into the DVD drive If the DVD begins playing click the stop button 3 Click Settings DVD DVD Aud...

Page 212: ...ollection Create slide shows Using Windows Media Player Windows Media Player is Microsoft s native software for playing recording and organizing your multimedia files You can use Windows Media Player for a variety of activities including Playing digital media files including audio and video files CDs and DVDs and other media files and formats FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about using a digita...

Page 213: ... Listening to radio stations Searching and organizing your digital media files Copying and syncing files to laptop devices Shopping for digital media online FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about using the Windows Media Player see Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Support ...

Page 214: ...214 Multimedia ...

Page 215: ...and record TV on your computer A TV tuner card may replace your current video card or it may work with your current video card For more information about watching and recording TV on your computer see the documentation that came with your TV tuner card Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device There are a variety of ways to connect computers to a TV Possible connections include VGA Coaxial ...

Page 216: ...e video connections vary from standard analog RCA jacks to S PDIF digital audio and multi channel digital audio through optical cable All of these video and audio connection options vary for each computer and TV Examine the back and sides of both your computer and your TV to determine what options are available S video Composite video Component video DVI digital video HDMI video audio DVI HDMI con...

Page 217: ...uter to a TV and speakers you need to determine Types of connectors available on the computer and TV Whether there are special adapters composite component Types of cables required for the connections The types of tasks you plan to perform Having this information can help ensure that you use the right connectors adapters and cables and that you connect them correctly Identifying the Connectors on ...

Page 218: ...nitor or TV HDMI transfers uncompressed video and multi channel audio over a single cable NOTE DVI and HDMI are compatible and there are converter cables available If your computer does not have an HDMI connector and your TV does not have a DVI connector use your computer s DVI connector with a DVI HDMI converter cable to connector to the HDMI port on the TV You will need to connect a separate cab...

Page 219: ...our TV for additional information Determining the Combination of Cables and Adapters you Need Once you have identified which ports are available on your computer and TV determine which combination of cables and adapters you will need Video adapter and cable An audio connector allows you to connect to standard audio S PDIF digital audio or multi channel analog audio A headphone line in connector al...

Page 220: ...adapter and cable Standard analog audio S PDIF digital audio Multi channel analog audio Depending on the connectors that are available on your computer and your TV you can connect your computer to your TV in a variety of configurations NOTE Video and audio cables for connecting your computer to a TV or other audio device may not be included with your computer Cables and TV digital audio adapter ar...

Page 221: ... Adjusting Display Settings 221 Multi Port Composite Adapter Single Port Composite Adapter Component Adapter composite adapter S video TV out connector S video TV out connector composite adapter S video TV out connector component adapter ...

Page 222: ...TV or Audio Device If you want to connect your computer to a TV or audio device it is recommended that you connect video and audio cables to your computer in one of the following combinations DVI cable HDMI video cable DVI HDMI converter cable component video cable S Video TV out connector cable standard audio cable ...

Page 223: ...Video Composite adapter with standard audio Composite adapter with S PDIF digital audio Composite adapter with multi channel analog audio adapter Okay Quality may be lower than component video or S video Component Video Component adapter with standard audio Component adapter with S PDIF digital audio Component adapter with multi channel analog audio adapter Recommended DVI Video Digital Video Inte...

Page 224: ...de should match the type of connection See Selecting the Correct Input Signal From the TV Menu on page 226 Also see the documentation that came with your television 8 Turn on your computer 9 When you finish connecting the video and audio cables between your computer and your TV you must enable your computer to work with the TV A variety of methods are available to set up the display arrangement Ve...

Page 225: ...isplay Properties menu to function as Clone show the same display as the computer monitor Extended screen expand the display area of the computer monitor Primary display cannot select this option for some situations 11 Access the TV menu and select the appropriate input signal for the physical connection that you have set up See Selecting the Correct Input Signal From the TV Menu on page 226 12 If...

Page 226: ... Then turn the TV on 4 Next turn on the computer to allow it to detect the connection to the TV The computer recognizes the TV as an available external display S PDIF Ensure that your computer supports it Before selecting S PDIF digital audio ensure that your computer supports S PDIF Multiple connectors Keep audio and video together If you are connecting to a TV that has multiple video and audio c...

Page 227: ...ows you to specify the input signal for the TV Select the source for the input signal that corresponds to the input that you have connected from your computer to the TV For example your TV menu may show a screen similar to the following example TV Menu Example FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about input settings see the documentation that came with your TV for available settings Input Select Ba...

Page 228: ...ect option 8 AV3 S Video 1 7 Access the Display Properties Menu on the computer 8 Select the tab for the vendor video card 9 Use the vendor video card control panel to select the appropriate display settings EXAMPLE If you are connecting an S Video cable from the computer to the TV and you have inserted it into the S Video connection labeled S Video 1 on the back of the TV then select option 8 for...

Page 229: ...ly to the S video TV out connector on the computer without the TV digital audio adapter cable if your TV or audio device supports S video but not S PDIF digital audio 1 Plug one end of the S video cable into the S video output connector on the computer 2 Plug the other end of the S video cable into the S video input connector on your TV S video TV out connector standard audio connector ...

Page 230: ...udio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device Composite Video and Standard Audio NOTE Depending on the computer the composite video adapter may be a single port or multi port dongle See the documentation shipped with your computer 1 Connect the composite video adapter to the S video TV out connector on your computer S video TV out connector standard audio connector co...

Page 231: ...n the composite video adapter 3 Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector on the TV 4 Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer 5 Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device ...

Page 232: ...ter may be a single port or multi port dongle For more information see the documentation shipped with your computer 1 Connect the composite S video adapter to the S video TV out connector on the computer 2 Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector on the composite video adapter S video TV out connector compositevideo adapter ...

Page 233: ...the TV 4 Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable in to the S PDIF audio connector on the composite video adapter 5 Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S PDIF input connector on your TV or other audio device Composite Video and Multi Channel Analog Audio S video TV out connector composite video adapter multi channel analog audio adapter ...

Page 234: ...r more information see the documentation shipped with your computer 1 Connect the composite video adapter to the S video TV out connector on the computer 2 Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector on the composite video adapter 3 Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector on the TV 4 Plug one end of the multi c...

Page 235: ...r to the S video TV out connector on your computer 2 Plug all three ends of the component video cable into the component video output connectors on the component video adapter Make sure that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports standard audio connector S video TV out connector componentvideo adapter ...

Page 236: ...re that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input connectors 4 Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer 5 Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or audio device Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio S video TV out connector component video ad...

Page 237: ...ue colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports 3 Plug all three connectors from the other end of the component video cable into the component video input connectors on the TV Make sure that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input connectors 4 Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the S PDIF audio connector on the component video adapt...

Page 238: ...r 2 Plug the other end of the DVI video cable into the DVI video input connector on the TV 3 Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer 4 Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or audio device DVI connector standard audio connector ...

Page 239: ... on physical connections see Physically Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device on page 222 Verify the Input Signal for the TV If the TV does not recognize the input signal from your computer access the TV menu to select the correct input signal configuration See Selecting the Correct Input Signal From the TV Menu on page 226 Set up the TV as a Display Device You can use a TV as a monitor...

Page 240: ...roperties Settings Video card display control menu TV or Projector display control wizards Use the Display Properties menu to enable the TV monitor as a display device for your computer 1 Click Start Control Panel 2 Click the category for appearance and themes The name of this option may vary for different versions of the operating systems 3 Double click Display The Display Properties menu appears...

Page 241: ...ther effectively doubling the amount of viewable work space 1 Connect the external monitor TV or projector to the computer 2 Access the Display Properties window through the Control Panel 3 In the Display Properties window click the Settings tab NOTE If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than that supported by the display the settings adjust automatically to the closest suppor...

Page 242: ...ing Display Settings With the Vendor Video Card Control Panel on page 246 Switching the Display Image When you start the computer with an external device such as an external monitor or projector attached and turned on the image may appear on either the computer display or the external device depending on your settings Press Fn F8 to switch the display image between the display only the external de...

Page 243: ... computer display NOTE You can also use the video card control panel available through the Display Properties menu From the Display Properties window click Settings Advanced Then select the tab for the video card vendor For more information see Adjusting Display Settings With the Vendor Video Card Control Panel on page 246 NOTE To display a program at a specific resolution both the video card and ...

Page 244: ...r to the left or right to decrease increase the screen resolution 5 Click OK Windows XP 1 From the Control Panel access the Display Properties menu 2 From the Display Properties menu select the Settings tab The Settings tab allows you to adjust screen resolution and color quality The Settings tab also provides a Troubleshoot button which takes you to Windows Help and Support 3 Try different settin...

Page 245: ...hat supported by the display the computer enters pan mode In pan mode the entire screen cannot be displayed at one time For example the taskbar that usually appears at the bottom of the desktop may no longer be visible To view the rest of the screen use the touch pad or track stick to pan up down left and right NOTICE You can damage an external monitor by using an unsupported refresh rate Before a...

Page 246: ...rred method for adjusting display settings such as screen resolution and color is through the video card control panel The control panel supplies the vendor s recommended settings NOTE If you use the Windows Display Properties menu for adjusting display settings these settings may conflict with the vendor default settings and cause unanticipated results Windows Vista 1 Right click an open area of ...

Page 247: ...rol panel to help you enable your TV as a display device and set the display options TV wizard Video card wizard Using a Video Card Wizard to Configure Display Settings Depending on the video card installed in your computer the video control panel may provide a special display wizard to enable the TV display option along with custom display settings For example to access a Multiple Displays Wizard...

Page 248: ...settings For information about the video card wizard see the help information that is available with the video card control panel Using a TV Wizard to Configure Display Settings The video card control panel may also offer a TV wizard to help you configure the settings for your TV Many televisions provide a wizard that runs automatically when the TV has been successfully detected as an additional d...

Page 249: ...de Television Menu Help Documentation shipped with your computer Microsoft Windows Help and Support for display properties Video card control panel troubleshooting Depending on the video card installed in your computer your computer may have a special video card control panel with extensive help information Resolving Common Problems Computer Does not Recognize the TV as a Display Device 1 Turn off...

Page 250: ...e shown as a display device on the Display Properties menu TV Resolution is Blurry Use the control panel for the video card vendor to set the display resolution This method provides the best coordination for video card and TV display resolution TV Colors are not True Use the control panel for the video card vendor to adjust color settings This method provides the best coordination for video card a...

Page 251: ...administrator passwords and user passwords that let you control access to your computer and the information stored on your computer Administrator Rights An administrator can make system wide changes to the computer change security settings install software and access all files on the computer A person with a computer administrator account has full access to other user accounts on the computer ...

Page 252: ...computer and save documents but cannot install programs or change system settings EXAMPLE If more than one person in your office uses the same computer administrator rights allow you to ensure that security and other computer settings remain the same and that confidential data is not accessed EXAMPLE If several family members including children share a home computer you can as administrator limit ...

Page 253: ...ter as an administrator you can create a password for any user account Passwords can be used to protect your computer in a variety of ways and levels of protection You can apply passwords to files as well as to your computer Passwords with at least a 10 character combination that includes alphabetic numeric and special characters adds a level of security to your computer Using Secure Passwords A s...

Page 254: ...th many gold plated connection pads When inserted into a card reader the information from the chip can be read and written Contactless Smart Cards These cards do not require any physical contact with the reader The chip communicates with the card reader through RFID induction technology These cards require only close proximity to an antenna of a card reader to complete transaction Fingerprint Read...

Page 255: ...puter Use a firewall to secure your computer from non authorized users hackers or from malicious programs such as viruses or worms Firewalls also help to prevent your computer from spreading malicious programs to other computers Turning On Windows Firewall For Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Security Windows Firewall For Windows XP Click Start Control Panel Security Center Windows Firewa...

Page 256: ...mage your files make your computer vulnerable to additional attacks and cause your computer to spread viruses to other computers Computer viruses can be sent through e mail or through downloaded programs For a list of compatible antivirus software programs visit the Microsoft Catalog at the Microsoft website microsoft com Maintaining Security When Using a Public Wireless Network Generally two type...

Page 257: ...provided by your system administrator the connection is made automatically If the network key is not automatically provided obtain the key and type it in the network key data box Reducing the Risk of Getting Computer Viruses Install an antivirus program Avoid opening suspicious e mails or e mail attachments Update Windows on a regular basis Use a firewall FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about u...

Page 258: ...e slide bar to the desired security setting and then click OK FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about viruses and how to protect against them see the following topics in Windows Help and Support click Start or Help and Support How do I remove a computer virus How can I tell if my computer has a virus FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about cookies see Maintaining Privacy by Blocking and Deleting...

Page 259: ...ware to secure check and or clean up your computer from these forms of malicious software For a list of compatible anti spyware and anti malware software programs visit the Microsoft Catalog at the Microsoft website microsoft com FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about spyware and malware see Spyware and Malware on page 182 Also see the following topics in Windows Help and Support click Start or ...

Page 260: ...260 Security and Privacy ...

Page 261: ...nywhere anytime Enabling Remote Desktop on the Host Computer Before using Remote Desktop you must enable the Remote Desktop feature on the host computer so that you can control it remotely from another computer You must be logged on as administrator to enable Remote Desktop To set up the host computer you need Microsoft Windows XP Professional must be installed on the computer containing the files...

Page 262: ...essional host to allow remote access If your client computer is not connected to the host computer through a VPN you need to use the actual IP address of the host computer instead of the computer name Installing Remote Desktop Client Software The Remote Desktop Client software is installed by default on computers running Windows XP Calling From a Remote Location 1 Use the public IP address as assi...

Page 263: ...vers then know what the IP address is and maps that address to a fully qualified domain name That information is then propagated over the public Internet Then the remote user calls the Remote Desktop host computer using the fully qualified domain name FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about using the Remote Desktop feature see Windows XP Pro Remote Desktop configuration use and troubleshooting ti...

Page 264: ...264 Microsoft Windows XP Pro Remote Desktop ...

Page 265: ... Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem If you received an Operating System disc with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system However using the Operating System disc also deletes all data on the hard drive Use the disc only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem Using Microsoft Windows System Restore...

Page 266: ... click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to continue the desired action 3 Click Next and follow the remaining prompts on the screen In the event that System Restore did not resolve the issue you may undo the last system restore Windows XP 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools System Restore 2 Click either Restore my computer to an earlier time or Create a restore point 3 ...

Page 267: ...disk is unchecked under Automatic restore points Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Performance and Maintenance System 2 Click the System Restore tab and ensure that Turn off System Restore is unchecked Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore NOTICE Using Dell PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or driver...

Page 268: ...rd layout and click Next 4 To access the recovery options log on as a local user To access the command prompt type administrator in the User name field then click OK 5 Click Dell Factory Image Restore NOTE Depending upon your configuration you may need to select Dell Factory Tools then Dell Factory Image Restore The Dell Factory Image Restore welcome screen appears 6 Click Next The Confirm Data De...

Page 269: ...stall Windows you need the following items Dell Operating System media Dell Drivers and Utilities media NOTE The Dell Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during the assembly of the computer Use the Dell Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers Depending on the region from which you ordered your computer or whether you requested the media the Dell Driver...

Page 270: ...t until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again NOTE The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only On the next start up the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program 5 When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW Drive and press Enter 6 Press any key to Boot from CD ROM 7 Follow the instructions on...

Page 271: ...your computer 1 If you added or removed a part before the problem started review the installation procedures and ensure that the part is correctly installed 2 If a peripheral device does not work ensure that the device is properly connected 3 If an error message appears on the screen write down the exact message This message may help support personnel diagnose and fix the problem s 4 If an error m...

Page 272: ... diagnostic lights Diagnostic lights for laptop computers Keyboard status lights indicate status and any problems See your Service Manual for information about diagnostic and status lights System messages Your desktop or laptop computer may display messages indicating errors or problems which need to be resolved Write down the information displayed on the screen and look for the message in the Sys...

Page 273: ...rtain systems the power light is green If the power light is blinking blue the computer is in standby mode Press a key on the keyboard move the mouse or press the power button to resume normal operation NOTE On certain systems the power light is green If the power light is off the computer is either turned off or is not receiving power Reseat the power cable into both the power connector on the ba...

Page 274: ... processor power cable is securely connected to the system board see the Service Manual for your computer If the power light is steady amber a device may be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed Remove and then reinstall the memory modules see the documentation shipped with your computer Remove and then reinstall any cards see the documentation shipped with your computer Eliminate interference S...

Page 275: ...L TECHNICAL SUPPORT The computer failed to complete the boot routine three consecutive times for the same error see Contacting Dell on page 337 for assistance CMOS CHECKSUM ERROR Possible motherboard failure or RTC battery low Replace the battery see the documentation shipped with your computer or see Contacting Dell on page 337 for assistance CPU FAN FAILURE CPU fan failure Replace the CPU fan se...

Page 276: ...T OF RANGE MAY OR MAY NOT INDICATE A POTENTIAL HARD DRIVE PROBLEM S M A R T error possible HDD failure This feature can be enabled or disabled in BIOS setup System Messages for Laptop Computers NOTE If the message you received is not listed in the table see the documentation for either the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared DECREASING AVAILABLE MEMORY See Lo...

Page 277: ...em setup program and ensure that the boot sequence information is correct see Entering the System Setup Program on page 308 NO BOOT SECTOR ON HARD DISK DRIVE Enter the system setup program and ensure that the configuration information for the hard drive is correct see Entering the System Setup Program on page 308 NO TIMER TICK INTERRUPT Run the Dell Diagnostics see Running the Dell Diagnostics on ...

Page 278: ...LL XXX W AC ADAPTER OR GREATER FOR BEST SYSTEM PERFORMANCE STRIKE THE F3 KEY BEFORE THE F1 OR F2 KEY IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE POWER WARNING MESSAGES AGAIN STRIKE THE F1 KEY TO CONTINUE F2 TO RUN THE SETUP UTILITY Connect the correct AC adapter to the computer or docking station THE COMPUTER IS DOCKED AND ONLY BATTERY POWER IS DETECTED THIS CAN HAPPEN IF THE POWER ADAPTER IS MISSING THE POWER CORD...

Page 279: ...IS BATTERY IS REMOVED For computers with two batteries installed one or more of the batteries may be installed incorrectly or the batteries or system board may be defective WARNING THE BATTERY CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED THIS SYSTEM WILL BE UNABLE TO CHARGE THIS BATTERY The battery may be installed incorrectly or the battery or system board may be defective WARNING THE BATTERY ATTACHED CANNOT POWER THE S...

Page 280: ...UNT IS SHOWN BELOW THE F3 KEY MESSAGE STRIKE THE F3 KEY TO CLEAR THE UL COUNTER ANY OTHER KEY TO CONTINUE Run the Dell Diagnostics see Running the Dell Diagnostics on page 281 PROCESSOR MICROCODE UPDATE FAILURE THE REVISION OF PROCESSOR IN THE SYSTEM IS NOT SUPPORTED Ensure that the processor you are using is supported by your computer see the documentation for your computer Windows Hardware Troub...

Page 281: ... device that you want to test displays in the system setup program and is active Start the Dell Diagnostics from your hard drive or from the Drivers and Utilities media NOTE The Drivers and Utilities media is optional and may not ship with your computer Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive Sta...

Page 282: ...Answer any questions that appear If failures are detected write down the error code s and see Contacting Dell on page 337 If the Pre boot System Assessment completes successfully the following message appears Booting Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition Press any key to continue 4 Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive 5 When the Dell Dia...

Page 283: ...ilities media 2 Shut down and restart the computer When the DELL logo appears press F12 immediately NOTE If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again NOTE The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only On the next start up the computer boots according to the devices spec...

Page 284: ...ge 337 NOTE The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen If you contact Dell technical support will ask for your Service Tag 4 If you run a test from the Custom Test or Symptom Tree option click the applicable tab described in the following table for more information Option Function Test Memory Run the stand alone memory test Test System Run System Diagnostics Exit E...

Page 285: ...e articles The application also provides you with options for contacting Dell Technical Support including live chat phone and E mail Tab Function Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered Errors Displays error conditions encountered error codes and the problem description Help Describes the test and may indicate requirements for running the test Configuration Di...

Page 286: ...enter User Settings Learn more about the Dell Support Center Double Clicking the Dell Support Center Icon Double click the icon to open the home page to access Self Help Click to identify and fix problems with your computer Assistance From Dell Click to contact Dell about your computer problems or order status Alerts Click to view alerts from Dell for your computer About Your System Click to acces...

Page 287: ...uctions that came with your computer If the battery still does not work properly contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 337 Drive Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer For additional safety best practices information see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www dell com regulatory_compliance ENSURE THAT ...

Page 288: ...k the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slide bar and dragging it up Ensure that the sound is not muted by clicking any boxes that are checked CHECK THE SPEAKERS AND SUBWOOFER See Sound and Speaker Problems on page 299 Problems Writing to an Optical Drive CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS The optical drive must receive a steady stream of d...

Page 289: ... modem to an analog telephone jack only The modem does not operate while it is connected to a digital telephone network NOTE Do not plug a telephone cable into the network adapter connector See the documentation shipped came with your computer CHECK THE MICROSOFT OUTLOOK EXPRESS SECURITY SETTINGS If you cannot open your e mail attachments 1 In Outlook Express click Tools Options Security 2 Click D...

Page 290: ...ol Panel Printers and Other Hardware Phone and Modem Options Modems 2 Click the COM port for your modem Properties Diagnostics Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows If all commands receive responses the modem is operating properly ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET Ensure that you have subscribed to an Internet provider With the Outlook Express e mail progra...

Page 291: ... the program that you want to use In some cases you may have to restart your computer to restore computer resources If so run the program that you want to use first OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 337 IEEE 1394 Device Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer For additional s...

Page 292: ...CHECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE Ensure that the keyboard cable is firmly connected to the computer Shut down the computer see the documentation shipped with your computer reconnect the keyboard cable as shown on the setup diagram for your computer and then restart the computer Ensure that the cable is not damaged or frayed and check cable connectors for bent or broken pins Straighten any bent pins Remove...

Page 293: ...omputer A Program Stops Responding END THE PROGRAM 1 Press Ctrl Shift Esc simultaneously to access the Task Manager 2 Click the Applications tab 3 Click to select the program that is no longer responding 4 Click End Task A Program Crashes Repeatedly NOTE Most software includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a CD or DVD CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION If necessary uninstall a...

Page 294: ...system installed on your computer Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software See the software documentation for information Ensure that the program is installed and configured properly Verify that the device drivers do not conflict with the program If necessary uninstall and then reinstall the program BACK UP YOUR FILES IMMEDIATELY USE A VIRUS SCAN...

Page 295: ...with your computer Run the Dell Diagnostics see Running the Dell Diagnostics on page 281 Mouse Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer For additional safety best practices information see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www dell com regulatory_compliance CHECK THE MOUSE CABLE Ensure that the cable is no...

Page 296: ...e network jack CHECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE BACK OF THE COMPUTER If the link integrity light is off see the Service Manual for your computer or see Diagnostic Lights for Laptop Computers on page 275 no network communication is occurring Replace the network cable RESTART THE COMPUTER AND LOG ON TO THE NETWORK AGAIN CHECK YOUR NETWORK SETTINGS Contact your network administrator or the person who ...

Page 297: ... and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board see the Service Manual for your computer IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING AMBER The computer is receiving electrical power but an internal power problem may exist Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location if applicable Ensure that all components and cables are properly installed and securel...

Page 298: ... cables are securely connected to the printer and the computer TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp VERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound Printers 2 If the printer is listed right click the printer icon 3 Click Properties and click Ports 4 Adju...

Page 299: ...NS See the scanner documentation for information on cable connections Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer VERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY MICROSOFT WINDOWS Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound Scanners and Cameras 2 If the scanner is listed Windows recognizes the scanner Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Printe...

Page 300: ...treble to eliminate distortion ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Click or double click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted DISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the computer s front panel headphone connector TEST T...

Page 301: ...irectly to the computer TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MOUSE CHECK THE TOUCH PAD 1 Shut down the computer 2 Disconnect the mouse 3 Turn on the computer 4 At the Windows desktop use the touch pad to move the cursor around select an icon and open it If the touch pad operates correctly the mouse may be defective CHECK THE SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM SETTINGS Verify that the system setup program list...

Page 302: ...r cable is connected to the correct graphics card for dual graphics card configurations If you are using the optional DVI to VGA adapter ensure that the adapter is correctly attached to the graphics card and monitor Ensure that the monitor cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for your computer Remove any video extension cables and connect the monitor directly to the computer Swap the c...

Page 303: ...dows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound Personalization Display Settings 2 Adjust Resolution and Colors settings as needed 3 3D image quality is poor Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Appearance and Themes 2 Select a task you wish to perform or click the Display icon 3 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution CHECK THE GRAPHICS CARD POWER CABLE CONNECTI...

Page 304: ...the power button to resume normal operation NOTE On certain systems the power light is green If the power light is off the computer is either turned off or is not receiving power Reseat the power cable into both the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet If the computer is plugged into a power strip ensure that the power strip is plugged into an electrical outlet and...

Page 305: ...move and then reinstall any cards see the Documentation for your computer Eliminate interference Some possible causes of interference are Power keyboard and mouse extension cables Too many devices on a power strip Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet Dell Technical Update Service The Dell Technical Update service provides proactive e mail notification of software and hardw...

Page 306: ...306 Troubleshooting ...

Page 307: ...on your computer Set or change user selectable options such as your password Verify information about your computer s current configuration such as the amount of system memory Run the system setup program to become familiar with your system configuration information and optional settings Write down the information for future reference NOTE Unless you are an expert computer user or are directed to ...

Page 308: ...n the screen Options or values that you cannot change because they are determined by the computer appear less bright The upper right corner of the screen displays help information for the currently highlighted option The lower right corner displays information about the computer System setup key functions are listed across the bottom of the screen The system setup screens display the current setup...

Page 309: ...e During the boot routine the computer starts at the top of the list and scans each enabled device for the operating system start up files When the computer finds the files it stops searching and starts the operating system To control the boot devices select highlight a device by pressing the down arrow or up arrow key and then enable or disable the device or change its order in the list 1 Enter t...

Page 310: ...Boot Sequence to a USB Device 1 Connect the USB device to a USB connector 2 Turn on or restart your computer 3 When F2 Setup F12 Boot Menu appears in the upper right corner of the screen press F12 If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again 4 The Boot Menu appears listing all available boot...

Page 311: ... BIOS Flashing the BIOS The BIOS may require flashing when an update is available or when replacing the system board NOTE It is recommended that you review specifics about the BIOS update to determine if it applies to your system Some updates contain changes that impact only certain configurations or provide new features that may may not apply to your environment 1 Turn on the computer 2 Locate th...

Page 312: ...lose when the Download Complete window appears The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file 8 Double click the file icon on the desktop and follow the instructions on the screen ...

Page 313: ...SB gives you a single standardized way to connect many devices to your computer USB also supports Plug and Play installation and hot swapping The USB standard uses A and B connectors to avoid confusion Connectors A head upstream toward the computer Connectors B head downstream and connect to individual devices Pin Signal 1 USB5V 2 USBP 3 USBP 4 GND ...

Page 314: ...d supports hot swapping While the USB 2 0 technology supports speed only upto 480 Mbps the IEEE 1394b supports speed upto 800 Mbps IEEE 1394 is preferred for high bandwidth applications such as connecting digital video cameras and external hard drives Pin Signal 1 TPB 2 TPB 3 TPA 4 TPA ...

Page 315: ...hrough which information transfers in or out one bit at a time Serial port is usually identified with RS 232 standard compliant hardware Some of the devices that commonly use serial port are dial up modems printers and serial mice Pin Signal 1 CD 2 RD 3 TD 4 DTR 5 SG 6 DSR 7 RTS 8 CTS 9 RI ...

Page 316: ... other as opposed to the same eight bits being transmitted serially all in a single row through a serial port A parallel port is also known as a printer port or Centronics port and is commonly used to connect to a printer Pin Signal Pin Signal 1 STROBE 14 AUTOFD 2 D0 15 ERROR 3 D1 16 INIT 4 D2 17 SELIN 5 D3 18 GND 6 D4 19 GND 7 D5 20 GND 8 D6 21 GND 9 D7 22 GND 10 ACK 23 GND 11 BUSY 24 GND 12 PE 2...

Page 317: ...ilize shielded cable lengths up to 2 meters outside the PC to take advantage of the benefits the SATA interface brings to storage eSATA provides more performance than existing solutions up to 6 times faster than existing external storage solutions USB 2 0 1394 and is hot pluggable eSATA is commonly used for External Direct Attached Storage for notebooks desktop consumer electronics and entry serve...

Page 318: ...The one marked line or with a line symbol is connected to the telephone line connector The one marked phone or with a phone symbol can optionally be connected to the telephone handset if you want to use a telephone on the same connector If your computer does not have an internal modem installed you will not see these ports You may also see an ethernet port see Ethernet Port on page 319 It looks si...

Page 319: ...pending on the speed supported by the network card in the computer When in use lights on these devices flicker The ACT light flickers when data moves through the network to or from the port The 10 or 100 light denote data speed 10 denotes data moving across the network at 10 Megabits per second while 100 denotes data moving at 100 Megbits per second Pin Ethernet 10 100 Base T Signal Pin Gigabit Et...

Page 320: ...e PS 2 standard introduced by IBM in 1987 stands for Personal System 2 PS 2 port is commonly used to plug in a keyboard or mouse Pin Signal 1 Keyboard mouse data 2 Reserved 3 Ground 4 Keyboard mouse power 5 V 5 Keyboard mouse clock 6 Reserved ...

Page 321: ...efore a device specific driver is loaded into the computer Pin Signal Pin Signal 1 RED Video 9 DDC 5V 2 GREEN Video 10 SYNC GND 3 BLUE Video 11 MONITOR_DETECT 4 NC 12 DDC_DATA SDA 5 GND 13 Horizontal SYNC 6 RED Video GND 14 Vertical SYNC 7 GREEN Video GND 15 DDC_CLK SCL 8 BLUE Video GND ...

Page 322: ...on your video card you can connect most DVI D Digital Video Interface Digital or DVI A Digital Video Interface Analogue devices without the need for a separate adapter Pin Signal Pin Signal 1 TMDS DATA2 13 TMDS DATA3 2 TMDS DATA2 14 5V 3 TMDS DATA2 4 SHLD 15 GND FOR 5V 4 TMDS DATA4 16 HOT PLUG DETECT 5 TMDS DATA4 17 TMDS DATA0 6 DDC CLK 18 TMDS DATA0 7 DDC DATA 19 TMDS DATA0 5 SHLD 8 ANALOG VERT S...

Page 323: ...tion video but does not carry audio on the same cable S Video provides sharp images when using a clean DVD source S Video commonly connects to consumer TVs DVD players high end video cassette recorders digital TV receivers DVRs and game consoles Composite video carries lower quality picture information as a single signal S Video Pin Signal 1 GND 2 GND 3 LUMA 4 CHROMA Composite Video Pin Signal 5 G...

Page 324: ... called color difference signals indicating the quantum of blue and red signals compared to luminance The blue component is Y B and the red component is Y R Green is not transmitted as a separate signal since it can be inferred from the Y Y B and Y R combination Component video inputs are available on modern high end television sets and DVD players providing a signal quality that is superior to ea...

Page 325: ...and SYNC together referred to as CVSB or Composite Video Blanking and Sync LUMA represents the brightness or luminance of the picture and includes synchronizing or SYNC pulses CHROMA carries the color information Composite video interface usually connects a VHS tape player DVD player or game console to a television Composite Video Pin Signal 1 GND 2 CVBS ...

Page 326: ...l television standards HDMI connects digital audio video sources such as Blu ray Disc players set top boxes personal computers and video game consoles to compatible digital audio devices computer monitors and digital televisions Pin Signal Pin Signal 1 TMDS Data2 11 TMDS Clock Shield 2 TMDS Data2 Shield 12 TMDS Clock 3 TMDS Data2 13 CEC 4 TMDS Data1 14 Reserved N C on device 5 TMDS Data1 Shield 15...

Page 327: ...d to be used primarily between a computer and its display monitor or a computer and a home theater system For more information see DisplayPort Features and Benefits on page 56 Pin Signal Pin Signal 1 ML_Lane 0 p 11 GND 2 GND 12 ML_Lane 3 n 3 ML_Lane 0 n 13 GND 4 ML_Lane 1 p 14 GND 5 GND 15 AUX_CH p 6 ML_Lane 1 n 16 GND 7 ML_Lane 2 p 17 AUX_CH n 8 GND 18 Hot Plug 9 ML_Lane 2 n 19 DP_PWR Return 10 M...

Page 328: ...a Toslink Toshiba link connector NOTE There are no differences in the signals transmitted over optical or coaxial S PDIF connectors both carry exactly the same information S PDIF is typically used to transmit PCM and Dolby Digital 5 1 but is not tied to any sampling rate or audio standard S PDIF Port Toslink Toslink usually refers to the optical version of S PDIF NOTE There are no differences in t...

Page 329: ...cassette player CD player or VCR On computers with a sound card use the connector on the card 2 lineout headphone connector Use the green line out connector to attach headphones and speakers with integrated amplifiers 3 microphone connector Use the pink microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program 4 side surround sound c...

Page 330: ...330 Ports ...

Page 331: ...nce If you experience a problem with your computer complete the following steps to troubleshoot and diagnose the problem 1 See Troubleshooting on page 271 for information and procedures that pertain to the problem your computer is experiencing 2 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Running the Dell Diagnostics on page 281 3 Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 336 This checklist helps you to organiz...

Page 332: ...ble click the Express Service Code icon and follow the directions For instructions on using Dell Support see Technical Support and Customer Service on page 332 Dell Support Service NOTE Some of the following services are not always available in all locations outside the continental U S Call your local Dell representative for information on availability Technical Support and Customer Service Dell s...

Page 333: ...nd e mail addresses Dell Support websites support dell com support jp dell com Japan only support euro dell com Europe only Dell Support e mail addresses mobile_support us dell com support us dell com la techsupport dell com Latin America and Caribbean countries only apsupport dell com Asian Pacific countries only Dell Marketing and Sales e mail addresses apmarketing dell com Asian Pacific countri...

Page 334: ...oblem with your order such as missing parts wrong parts or incorrect billing contact Dell for customer assistance Have your invoice or packing slip handy when you call For information on the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 337 Product Information If you need information about additional products available from Dell or if you would like to place an order visit t...

Page 335: ...ustomers Systems purchased from a retailer are subject to the retailer s return policy Before You Call NOTE Have your Express Service Code ready when you call The code helps Dell s automated support telephone system direct your call more efficiently You may also be asked for your Service Tag typically located on the bottom or back of your computer Remember to fill out the Diagnostics Checklist see...

Page 336: ...sion Devices Expansion cards Are you connected to a network Yes No Network version and network adapter Programs and versions See your operating system documentation to determine the contents of the system s start up files If the computer is connected to a printer print each file Otherwise record the contents of each file before calling Dell Error message beep code or diagnostic code Description of...

Page 337: ...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 support dell com 2 Verify your country or region in the Choose A Country Region drop down menu at the bottom of the page 3 Click Contact Us on the left side of the page 4 Select the appropriate serv...

Page 338: ...338 Getting Help ...

Page 339: ...st Controller Interface An interface for a SATA hard drive Host Controller which allows the storage driver to enable technologies such as Native Command Queuing NCQ and hot plug ALS ambient light sensor A feature that helps to control display brightness antivirus software A program designed to identify quarantine and or delete viruses from your computer ASF alert standards format A standard to def...

Page 340: ...bus speed The speed given in MHz that indicates how fast a bus can transfer information byte The basic data unit used by your computer A byte is usually equal to 8 bits C C Celsius A temperature measurement scale where 0 is the freezing point and 100 is the boiling point of water cache A special high speed storage mechanism which can be either a reserved section of main memory or an independent hi...

Page 341: ...RIMM continuity rambus in line memory module A special module that has no memory chips and is used to fill unused RIMM slots cursor The marker on a display or screen that shows where the next keyboard touch pad or mouse action will occur It often is a blinking solid line an underline character or a small arrow D DDR SDRAM double data rate SDRAM A type of SDRAM that doubles the data burst cycle imp...

Page 342: ...ol a device such as a printer Many devices do not work properly if the correct driver is not installed in the computer DSL Digital Subscriber Line A technology that provides a constant high speed Internet connection through an analog telephone line dual core A technology in which two physical computational units exist inside a single processor package thereby increasing computing efficiency and mu...

Page 343: ... system board in some computers where you insert an expansion card connecting it to the system bus ExpressCard A removable I O card adhering to the PCMCIA standard Modems and network adapters are common types of ExpressCards ExpressCards support both the PCI Express and USB 2 0 standard Express Service Code A numeric code located on a sticker on your Dell computer Use the Express Service Code when...

Page 344: ...hen used to refer to hard drive storage the term is often rounded to 1 000 000 000 bytes GHz gigahertz A measurement of frequency that equals one thousand million Hz or one thousand MHz The speeds for computer processors buses and interfaces are often measured in GHz graphics mode A video mode that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors Graphics modes can display an...

Page 345: ...ut using a cable connection integrated Usually refers to components that are physically located on the computer s system board Also referred to as built in I O input output An operation or device that enters and extracts data from your computer Keyboards and printers are I O devices I O address An address in RAM that is associated with a specific device such as a serial connector parallel connecto...

Page 346: ...omponent that emits light to indicate the status of the computer local bus A data bus that provides a fast throughput for devices to the processor LPT line print terminal The designation for a parallel connection to a printer or other parallel device M Mb megabit A measurement of memory chip capacity that equals 1024 Kb Mbps megabits per second One million bits per second This measurement is typic...

Page 347: ...rnal card that is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card Mini Card A small card designed for integrated peripherals such as communication NICs The Mini Card is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card modem A device that allows your computer to communicate with other computers over analog telephone lines Three types of modems include external PC Card and internal ...

Page 348: ...between the processor and devices such as video drives and networks PCI Express A modification to the PCI interface that boosts the data transfer rate between the processor and the devices attached to it PCI Express can transfer data at speeds from 250 MB sec to 4 GB sec If the PCI Express chip set and the device are capable of different speeds they will operate at the slower speed PCMCIA Personal...

Page 349: ...dme files provide installation information and describe new product enhancements or corrections that have not yet been documented read only Data and or files you can view but cannot edit or delete A file can have read only status if It resides on a physical CD or DVD It is located on a network in a directory and the system administrator has assigned rights only to specific individuals refresh rate...

Page 350: ...dual identification number on the SCSI controller bus SDRAM synchronous dynamic random access memory A type of DRAM that is synchronized with the optimal clock speed of the processor serial connector An I O port often used to connect devices such as a handheld digital device or digital camera to your computer Service Tag A bar code label on your computer that identifies your computer when you acce...

Page 351: ...able from the network connector during electrical storms SVGA super video graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers Typical SVGA resolutions are 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 The number of colors and resolution that a program displays depends on the capabilities of the monitor the video controller and its drivers and the amount of video memory installed in the computer S video TV ...

Page 352: ...tems provide battery power for a few minutes to enable you to shut down your computer USB universal serial bus A hardware interface for a low speed device such as a USB compatible keyboard mouse joystick scanner set of speakers printer broadband devices DSL and cable modems imaging devices or storage devices Devices are plugged directly in to a 4 pin socket on your computer or in to a multi port h...

Page 353: ...lectromotive force One V appears across a resistance of 1 ohm when a current of 1 ampere flows through that resistance W W watt The measurement of electrical power One W is 1 ampere of current flowing at 1 volt WHr watt hour A unit of measure commonly used to indicate the approximate capacity of a battery For example a 66 WHr battery can supply 66 W of power for 1 hour or 33 W for 2 hours wallpape...

Page 354: ...mpression format Files that have been compressed with the Zip format are called Zip files and usually have a filename extension of zip A special kind of zipped file is a self extracting file which has a filename extension of exe You can unzip a self extracting file by double clicking it Zip drive A high capacity floppy drive developed by Iomega Corporation that uses 3 5 inch removable disks called...

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