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Troubleshooting

79

The following tabs provide additional information for tests run from the

Custom Test

or

Symptom Tree

option:

Drive Problems

CAUTION:

Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

Fill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 131 as you complete these checks.

E

NSURE

THAT

M

ICROSOFT®

W

INDOWS®

RECOGNIZES

THE

DRIVE

—

Click

Start

→

My Computer

.

T

EST

THE

DRIVE

—

•

Insert another floppy disk, CD, or DVD to eliminate the possibility that
the original media is defective.

•

Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer.

C

LEAN

THE

DRIVE

OR

DISK

—

See "Cleaning Your Computer" on page 144.

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 any requirements for running the test.

Configuration

Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device.

The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for
all devices from system setup, memory, and various internal
tests, and it displays the information in the device list in the
left pane of the screen. The device list may not display the
names of all the components installed on your computer or
all devices attached to your computer.

Parameters

Allows you to customize the test by changing the test settings.

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Summary of Contents for PP29L

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 500 Owner s Manual Model PP29L ...

Page 2: ...ly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo and Wi Fi Catcher are trademarks of Dell Inc Intel is a registered trademark and Celeron is a trademark of Intel Corporation in United States and other countries Microsoft and Windows are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries Bluetooth is a registered trademark own...

Page 3: ... 28 2 Setting Up Your Computer 29 Connecting to the Internet 29 Setting Up Your Internet Connection 30 Transferring Information to a New Computer 31 Windows Easy Transfer 31 Setting Up a Printer 34 Printer Cable 35 Connecting a USB Printer 35 Power Protection Devices 36 Surge Protectors 36 Line Conditioners 37 Uninterruptible Power Supplies 37 ...

Page 4: ...1 Key Combinations 42 System Functions 42 Display Functions 42 Battery 42 Power Management 42 Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions 43 Dell QuickSet Key Combinations 43 Adjusting Keyboard Settings 43 Touch Pad 44 Customizing the Touch Pad 45 5 Using a Battery 47 Battery Performance 47 Checking the Battery Charge 48 Dell QuickSet Battery Meter 48 Microsoft Windows Battery Meter 49 Low Battery Warnin...

Page 5: ...attery 51 Replacing the Battery 52 Storing a Battery 53 6 Using Multimedia 55 Playing Media 55 Copying CD and DVD Media 57 How to Copy a CD or DVD 57 Using Blank CD and DVD Media 58 Helpful Tips 58 Adjusting the Volume 59 Adjusting the Picture 60 7 Using Cards 61 ExpressCards 61 ExpressCard Blanks 62 Installing an ExpressCard 62 Removing an ExpressCard or Blank 63 ...

Page 6: ...ng Up a Network 68 Wireless Local Area Network 68 What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection 68 Checking Your Wireless Network Card 68 Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem 69 Connecting to a WLAN 71 9 Securing Your Computer 73 Security Cable Lock 73 Passwords 73 If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen 74 10 Troubleshooting 75 Dell Technical Update Service 75 Dell Diagno...

Page 7: ...board problems 89 Unexpected characters 90 Lockups and Software Problems 90 The computer does not start 90 The computer stops responding 90 A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly 90 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operating system 91 A solid blue screen appears 91 Other software problems 91 Memory Problems 92 Network Problems 93 Power Problems 93 Printer Problems 9...

Page 8: ...is readable 99 Drivers 100 What Is a Driver 100 Identifying Drivers 100 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities 100 Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems in the Microsoft Windows XP Operating System 103 Restoring Your Operating System 103 Using Microsoft Windows System Restore 103 Starting System Restore 104 Using the Operating System Media 105 11 Adding and Replacing Parts 107 Before You Begi...

Page 9: ...al Drive 112 Hinge Cover 113 Removing the Hinge Cover 113 Replacing the Hinge Cover 114 Keyboard 114 Removing the Keyboard 114 Replacing the Keyboard 115 Memory 116 Removing Memory Module 116 Replacing Memory Module 118 Wireless Mini Cards 120 Removing Mini Card 120 Replacing Mini Card 122 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology 122 Removing the Card 122 Replacing the Card 123 ...

Page 10: ...3 Getting Help 127 Obtaining Assistance 127 Technical Support and Customer Service 128 DellConnect 128 Online Services 128 AutoTech Service 129 Automated Order Status Service 129 Problems With Your Order 129 Product Information 129 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit 130 Before You Call 130 Contacting Dell 132 14 Specifications 133 ...

Page 11: ...42 Cleaning Your Computer 144 Computer Keyboard and Display 144 Touch Pad 145 Mouse 145 Media 145 Dell Technical Support Policy U S Only 146 Definition of Dell Installed Software and Peripherals 146 Definition of Third Party Software and Peripherals 146 FCC Notice U S Only 147 FCC Class B 147 Macrovision Product Notice 148 Glossary 149 Index 165 ...

Page 12: ...12 Contents ...

Page 13: ...ftware NSS Drivers and Utilities Media Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer You can use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 100 or run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 75 Readme files may be included on your Drivers and Utilities media to provide last minute updates about technical changes ...

Page 14: ...and Express Service Code Microsoft Windows License Label Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License These labels are located on your computer Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support dell com or contact support Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support NOTE As an increased security measure the newly designed Microsoft Windows license label ...

Page 15: ...ould also reinstall the NSS utility NSS automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration providing critical updates for your operating system and support for Dell 3 5 inch USB floppy drives Intel processors optical drives and USB devices NSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer Dell Support Website support dell...

Page 16: ...rive Problems on page 79 How to use Windows XP How to work with programs and files How to personalize your desktop Microsoft Windows XP Help and Support Center 1 Click Start Help and Support 2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the arrow icon 3 Select the topic that describes your problem 4 Follow the instructions on the screen Information on network activity the Power Man...

Page 17: ...ng System Installation Media If you received operating system media with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system For more information see Restoring Your Operating System on page 103 After you reinstall your operating system use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer Your operating system product key label is located o...

Page 18: ...18 Finding Information ...

Page 19: ...About Your Computer 19 About Your Computer Front View 1 2 12 3 11 4 10 5 9 8 7 6 ...

Page 20: ...utton until the computer turns off completely may take several seconds MEDIA CONTROL BUTTONS Control CD DVD and Media Player playback KEYBOARD For more information about the keyboard see Using the Keyboard and Touchpad on page 41 TOUCH PAD Provides the functionality of a mouse see Touch Pad on page 43 1 display 2 power button 3 media control buttons 7 4 keyboard 5 touch pad 6 8 in 1 media card rea...

Page 21: ...dia memory cards Secure Digital SD memory card Secure Digital Input Output SDIO card MultiMediaCard MMC Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD ANALOG MICROPHONE Integrated single microphone for conferencing and chat AUDIO CONNECTORS TOUCH PAD BUTTONS Use these buttons like the buttons on a mouse when you use the touch pad to move the cursor on the display see Touch...

Page 22: ...ery status light Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status WLAN status light Turns on when wireless networking is enabled and hotspot is located Bluetooth status light Turns on when a card with Bluetooth wireless technology is enabled NOTE The card with Bluetooth wireless technology is an optional feature The light turns on only if you ordered the card with your computer For mo...

Page 23: ...g on a battery the light operates as follows Off The battery is adequately charged or the computer is turned off Flashing orange The battery charge is low Solid orange The battery charge is critically low KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS The blue lights located above the keyboard indicate the following Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled Turns on when the uppercase letter caps lock function is enabl...

Page 24: ...ER CONNECTOR Attaches an AC adapter to the computer The AC adapter converts AC power to the DC power required by the computer You can connect the AC adapter with your computer turned on or off 1 security cable slot 2 AC power adapter 3 USB connectors 2 4 video connector VGA 5 network connector RJ 45 6 modem connector RJ 11 7 IEEE 1394a connector 8 hard drive 1 2 8 3 4 5 7 6 ...

Page 25: ...re that the green light is on USB CONNECTORS VIDEO CONNECTOR NETWORK CONNECTOR RJ 45 MODEM CONNECTOR RJ 11 IEEE 1394 CONNECTOR Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394a high speed transfer rates such as some digital video cameras HARD DRIVE Stores software and data Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer Connects video devices such as a monitor Connects the computer to a network The t...

Page 26: ...ng for networks Solid blue Strong network found Solid yellow Weak network found Off No signal found EXPRESSCARD SLOT Supports one ExpressCard The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot For more information see Using Cards on page 85 OPTICAL DRIVE For more information about the optical drive see Using Multimedia on page 55 EJECT BUTTON Press the eject button to open the optical d...

Page 27: ...osed briefcase while it is running Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire AIR VENTS The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents which prevents the computer from overheating The computer turns the fan on when the computer gets hot Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fan or the computer 1 battery 2 air vents 2 1 ...

Page 28: ...eplacing the Battery on page 52 for instructions PROCESSOR MEMORY MODULE MINI CARD COMPARTMENT Compartment that contains the memory modules and WLAN see Wireless Mini Cards on page 120 HARD DRIVE Stores software and data OPTICAL DRIVE For more information about the optical drive see Using Multimedia on page 55 1 optical drive 2 battery 3 battery release latch 4 processor memory module mini card co...

Page 29: ... modem connections that provide high speed Internet access through a satellite television system Dial up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line Dial up connections are considerably slower than DSL cable and satellite modem connections Wireless Local Area Network WLAN connections use high frequency radio waves to communicate Typically a wireless router is connected to the...

Page 30: ...our desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Click Start Internet Explorer The New Connection Wizard appears 3 Click Connect to the Internet 4 In the next window click the appropriate option If you do not have an ISP and want to select one click Choose from a list of Internet service providers ISPs If ...

Page 31: ...an transfer the data to the new computer over a network or serial connection or you can store it on removable media such as a writable CD for transfer to the new computer NOTE You can transfer information from an old computer to a new computer by directly connecting a serial cable to the input output I O ports of the two computers To transfer data over a serial connection you must access the Netwo...

Page 32: ...me screen appears click Next 3 On the Which computer is this screen click New Computer Next 4 On the Do you have a Windows XP CD screen click I will use the wizard from the Windows XP CD Next 5 When the Now go to your old computer screen appears go to your old or source computer Do not click Next at this time To copy data from the old computer 1 On the old computer insert the Windows XP Operating ...

Page 33: ...up image file to removable media To create a wizard disk use your new computer with Windows XP and perform the following steps 1 Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 2 When the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears click Next 3 On the Which computer is this screen click New Computer Next...

Page 34: ...files and settings screen select the method you chose for transferring your settings and files and click Next Follow the instructions on the screen The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer When all of the settings and files have been applied the Finished screen appears 3 Click Finished and restart the new computer Setting Up a Printer NOTICE Complete ...

Page 35: ...ter cable at the same time you purchased your computer the cable may arrive in the computer s shipping box Connecting a USB Printer NOTE You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on 1 Complete the operating system setup if you have not already done so 2 Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer The USB connectors fit only one way 1 USB connec...

Page 36: ...e to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical storms or after power interruptions Some surge protector manufacturers include warranty coverage for certain types of damage Carefully read the device warranty 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 de...

Page 37: ...sure maximum battery 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 A 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 the UPS m...

Page 38: ...38 Setting Up Your Computer ...

Page 39: ...ress Fn and the down arrow key to decrease brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Switching the Video Image From Your Computer Display To a Projector When you start the computer with an external device attached such as an external monitor or projector and turned on the image may appear on either the computer display or the external device Press Fn F8 to switch the vid...

Page 40: ...lower resolution causes text and images to appear larger and can benefit people with vision impairments To display a program at a specific resolution both the video card and the display must support the program and the necessary video drivers must be installed NOTE Use only the Dell installed video drivers which are designed to offer the best performance with your Dell installed operating system I...

Page 41: ...n an external keyboard Each key on the keypad has multiple functions The keypad numbers and symbols are marked in blue on the right of the keypad keys To type a number or symbol press Fn the desired key To enable the keypad press Num Lk The light indicates that the keypad is active To disable the keypad press Num Lk again numeric keypad 9 ...

Page 42: ...isplay to that option Fn and up arrow key Increases brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Fn and down arrow key Decreases brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Fn F3 Displays the Dell QuickSet Battery Meter see Dell QuickSet Battery Meter on page 48 Fn Esc Activates a power management mode You can reprogram this keyboard shortcut to act...

Page 43: ...ter repeat rate 1 Click Start and then click Control Panel 2 Click Keyboard 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 use of the Windows logo key and m combination Windows logo key and e Starts Windows Explorer Windows logo key and r Opens the Ru...

Page 44: ...lightly tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button To select and move or drag an object position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad On the second tap leave your finger on the touch pad and move the selected object by sliding your finger over the surface To double click an object position the cursor on the object and tap twice ...

Page 45: ...disable the touch pad or adjust the touch pad settings 1 Click Start and then click Control Panel 2 Click Keyboard 3 In the Mouse Properties window Click the Device Select tab to disable the touch pad Click the Touch Pad tab to adjust touch pad settings 4 Click OK to save the settings and close the window ...

Page 46: ...46 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad ...

Page 47: ...attery operating time the time the battery can hold a charge decreases over time Depending on how often the battery is used and the conditions under which it is used you may need to purchase a new battery during the life of your computer NOTE It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to media Battery operating time varies depending on operating condition...

Page 48: ... battery may increase the risk of fire or chemical burn Do not puncture incinerate disassemble or expose the battery 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 Checking the Battery Charge You can check the battery charge on your computer using any...

Page 49: ...when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted The computer enters Sleep state when the battery charge is at a critically low level You can change the settings for the battery alarms in Dell QuickSet or the Power Options window see Configuring Power Management Settings on page 51 Conserving Battery Power To conserve battery power on your portable computer do any of the following Conn...

Page 50: ... Management Wizard you may also use one of the following methods Close the display Press Fn Esc To exit standby or sleep mode press the power button or open the display depending on how you set the power management options You cannot make the computer exit standby or sleep mode by pressing a key or touching the touch pad Hibernate Mode Hibernate mode conserves power by copying computer data to a r...

Page 51: ...he documentation that came with your operating system Configuring Power Management Settings You can use the QuickSet Power Management Wizard or Windows Power Options Properties to configure the power management settings on your computer For more information about QuickSet right click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and click Help Accessing Power Options Properties Click Start Control Panel Perfor...

Page 52: ... Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell The battery is designed to work with your Dell computer Do not use batteries from other computers with your computer CAUTION Before performing these procedures turn off the computer disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet and the computer dis...

Page 53: ... 4 Slide the battery out of the bay To replace the battery follow the removal procedure in reverse order 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 see Charging the Battery on page 51 before you use it 1 battery 2 battery release latch 2 1 ...

Page 54: ...54 Using a Battery ...

Page 55: ... you are not using the drive NOTICE Do not move the computer while playing media NOTE To prevent vibration and noise do not stick any additional labels or stickers on the media 1 Press the eject button on the front of the drive 2 Place the disc label side up in the center of the tray and snap the disc onto the spindle 3 Push the tray back into the drive ...

Page 56: ...ic buttons For more information on playing media click Help on the media player if available Play Move backward within the current track Pause Move forward within the current track Stop Go to the previous track Eject Go to the next track Stop Restart the current chapter Play Fast forward Pause Fast reverse Advance a single frame while in pause mode Go to the next title or chapter Continuously play...

Page 57: ... Media on page 58 How to Copy a CD or DVD NOTE Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Roxio Creator Plus 1 Click Start All Programs Roxio Creator Projects Copy 2 Under the Copy tab click Copy Disc 3 To copy the CD or DVD If you have one optical drive insert the source disc into the drive ensure that the settings are correct and then click the Copy Disc button to ...

Page 58: ...ia if you plan to erase rewrite or update information on that disc later DVD Writable and Combo Drives Helpful Tips Use Microsoft Windows Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD R or CD RW only after you start Roxio Creator and open a Creator project Do not burn a blank CD R or CD RW to its maximum capacity for example do not copy a 650 MB file to a blank 650 MB CD The CD RW drive needs 1 2 MB of ...

Page 59: ...entation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer See the Roxio website at www sonic com Adjusting the Volume NOTE When the speakers are muted you do not hear the media playing 1 Right click the volume icon in the notification area 2 Click Open Volume Mixer 3 Click and drag the bar to slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume For more information on volume control opt...

Page 60: ...r depth are using too much memory and preventing media playback adjust the display properties 1 Click Start Control Panel Display 2 Under Display click Settings 3 On Display Settings click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting 4 In the drop down menu under Color quality click Medium 16 bit 5 Click OK ...

Page 61: ...wo form factors ExpressCard 34 34 mm wide ExpressCard 54 54 mm wide in an L shape with a 34 mm connector The 34 mm card fits into both the 34 mm and 54 mm card slots The 54 mm card only fits into a 54 mm card slot See Specifications on page 133 for information on supported ExpressCards NOTE An ExpressCard is not a bootable device 1 ExpressCard 34 2 ExpressCard 54 1 2 ...

Page 62: ...e or an arrow or a label to indicate which end to insert into the slot The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion If card orientation is not clear see the documentation that came with the card CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide To install an ExpressCard 1 Hold the card with the top side of the card ...

Page 63: ...c and videos stored on a memory card NOTE A memory card is not a bootable device The 8 in 1 memory card reader reads the following memory cards Secure Digital SD SDIO MultiMediaCard MMC Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD Memory Card Blanks Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the memory card reader Blanks protect unused slots from dust and ot...

Page 64: ...he card CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide To install a memory card 1 Hold the card with the top side of the card facing up 2 Slide the card into the slot until the card is completely seated in its connector If you encounter too much resistance do not force the card Check the card orientation and try again ...

Page 65: ...structions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE Click the icon in the notification area to select a card and stop it from functioning before you remove it from the computer If you do not stop the card you could lose data Press the card into the slot to release it from the card reader When it is partially ejected remove the card ...

Page 66: ...66 Using Cards ...

Page 67: ...ou through the process of networking computers For more information about Networking see the Windows Help and Support Center see Microsoft Windows XP Help and Support Center on page 16 Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable Before you connect your computer to a network the computer must have a network adapter installed and a network cable connected to it 1 Connect the network cable to the n...

Page 68: ... point or wireless router connects network computers 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 Establish a WLAN Connection Before you can set up a WLAN you need High speed broadband Internet access such as cable or DSL A broadband ...

Page 69: ...tion for Your Computer The order confirmation that you received when you ordered your computer lists the hardware and software that shipped with your computer Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem 1 Contact your Internet service provider ISP to obtain specific information about the connection requirements for your broadband modem 2 Ensure that you have wired Internet ...

Page 70: ...scribed below to prevent a potential connection failure 11 Turn on only your broadband modem and wait for at least 2 minutes for the broadband modem to stabilize After 2 minutes proceed to step 12 12 Turn on your wireless router and wait for at least 2 minutes for the wireless router to stabilize After 2 minutes proceed to the step 13 13 Start your computer and wait until the boot process complete...

Page 71: ...r and then search for that name on the Dell Support website at support dell com For information on the type of wireless network card that is installed in your computer see Checking Your Wireless Network Card on page 68 When you turn on your computer and a network for which your computer is not configured is detected in the area a pop up appears near the network icon in the Windows notification are...

Page 72: ...em is managing the wireless network card For specific information about the wireless configuration utility installed on your computer see your wireless network documentation in the Windows Help and Support Center see Microsoft Windows XP Help and Support Center on page 16 Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet The wireless activity indicator provides you with an e...

Page 73: ...nauthorized access to your computer When you first start your computer you must assign a primary password at the prompt If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes the computer returns to its previous operating state When using passwords observe the following guidelines Choose a password that you can remember but not one that is easy to guess For example do not use the names of family members ...

Page 74: ...puter Include the Service Tag in your description of the computer Ask that a case number be assigned and write down the number along with the name address and phone number of the law enforcement agency If possible obtain the name of the investigating officer NOTE If you know where the computer was lost or stolen call a law enforcement agency in that area If you do not know call a law enforcement a...

Page 75: ... Product Information Guide When to Use the Dell Diagnostics If you experience a problem with your computer perform the checks in Lockups and Software Problems on page 90 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin NOTE The Dell Diagnostics only operate on Dell computers Enter system setup review yo...

Page 76: ...wn your computer and try again NOTE Before attempting option B the computer must be powered down completely b Press and hold the Fn key while powering the computer on NOTE If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found run the Dell Diagnostics from your Drivers and Utilities media The computer runs the Pre boot System Assessment a series of initial tests of your ...

Page 77: ...ly Upon restart the computer boots according to the boot sequence specified in system setup 5 Select the Boot from CD ROM option from the menu that appears and then press Enter 6 Type 1 to start the Drivers and Utilities menu and then press Enter 7 Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list If multiple versions are listed select the version appropriate for your computer 8 At the...

Page 78: ...act Dell see Contacting Dell on page 132 NOTE The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen When contacting Dell support have your Service Tag ready Option Function Test Memory Run the stand alone memory test Test System Run System Diagnostics Exit Exit Diagnostics Option Function Express Test Performs a quick test of computer devices The test typically takes 10 to 20...

Page 79: ...r CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK See Cleaning Your Computer on page 144 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 any requirements for running the test Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device The Dell Diagnosti...

Page 80: ...THER PROGRAMS CD RW and DVD RW drives must receive a steady stream of data when writing If the stream is interrupted an error occurs Try closing all programs before you write to the drive TURN OFF SLEEP STATE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD DVD DISC See Standby Mode on page 50 for information on Sleep state CHANGE THE WRITE SPEED TO A SLOWER RATE See the help files for your CD or DVD creation so...

Page 81: ...URITY SETTINGS If you cannot open your e mail attachments 1 In Outlook Express click Tools click Options and then click Security 2 Click Do not allow attachments to remove the checkmark CHECK THE TELEPHONE LINE CONNECTION CHECK THE TELEPHONE CONNECTOR CONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL CONNECTOR USE A DIFFERENT TELEPHONE LINE Verify that the telephone line is connected to the connect...

Page 82: ... e mail program open click File If Work Offline has a checkmark next to it click the checkmark to remove it and then connect to the Internet For help contact your Internet service provider SCAN THE COMPUTER FOR SPYWARE If you are experiencing slow computer performance you frequently receive pop up advertisements or you are having problems connecting to the Internet your computer might be infected ...

Page 83: ...hem see Memory on page 116 DISK C FAILED INITIALIZATION The hard drive failed initialization Run the hard drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 75 DRIVE NOT READY The operation requires a hard drive in the bay before it can continue Install a hard drive in the hard drive bay see Hard Drive on page 109 ERROR READING PCMCIA CARD The computer cannot identify the ExpressCard...

Page 84: ...move the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 109 and boot the computer from a CD Then shut down the computer reinstall the hard drive and restart the computer If the problem persists try another drive Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 75 HARD DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE The hard drive may be defective Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard ...

Page 85: ...he computer wait 30 seconds and then restart it Try to run the program again If the error message still appears see the software documentation MEMORY DATA LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 116 MEMORY DOUBLE WORD LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECT...

Page 86: ...am you want to remove 3 Click Uninstall 4 See the program documentation for installation instructions See the program documentation for installation instructions SECTOR NOT FOUND The operating system cannot locate a sector on the hard drive You may have a defective sector or corrupted FAT on the hard drive Run the Windows error checking utility to check the file structure on the hard drive See Win...

Page 87: ...e Dell Diagnostics on page 75 UNEXPECTED INTERRUPT IN PROTECTED MODE The keyboard controller may be malfunctioning or a memory module may be loose Run the System Memory tests and the Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 75 X IS NOT ACCESSIBLE THE DEVICE IS NOT READY Insert a disk into the drive and try again WARNING BATTERY IS CRITICALLY LOW The battery is ...

Page 88: ...H A DELL PROVIDED IEEE 1394 DEVICE Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394a device manufacturer see Contacting Dell on page 132 IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AN IEEE 1394 DEVICE NOT PROVIDED BY DELL Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394a device manufacturer see Contacting Dell on page 132 Ensure that the IEEE 1394a device is properly inserted into the connector Keyboard Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the proc...

Page 89: ...cters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the display If you cannot verify these steps you may have a defective external keyboard TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD CHECK THE INTEGRATED KEYBOARD 1 Shut down the computer 2 Disconnect the external keyboard 3 Turn on the computer 4 From the Windows desktop click Start All Programs Accessories Notepad 5 Type s...

Page 90: ...e unable to perform an operating system shutdown TURN THE COMPUTER OFF If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off then restart your computer A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly END THE PROGRAM 1 Press Crtl Shift Esc simultaneously 2 Click the Appli...

Page 91: ...solid blue screen appears TURN THE COMPUTER OFF If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off then restart your computer Other software problems CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION Ensure that the p...

Page 92: ...e 75 Memory Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 131 as you complete these checks CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide IF YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem See the software do...

Page 93: ...unctioning Power Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 131 as you complete these checks CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CHECK THE POWER LIGHT When the power light is lit or blinking the computer has power If the power light is blinking the computer is in Sleep state press the power button t...

Page 94: ...the AC adapter cable connections If the AC adapter has a light ensure that the light is on CONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET Bypass power protection devices power strips and extension cables to verify that the computer turns on ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE Turn off nearby fans fluorescent lights halogen lamps or other appliances ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES See Configuring Po...

Page 95: ...rint to the following port s setting is LPT1 Printer Port For a USB printer ensure that the Print to the following port s setting is USB REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER See the printer documentation for instructions Scanner Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTE If you need technical assistance for y...

Page 96: ...olume bass or treble controls to eliminate distortion ADJUST THE VOLUME USING KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS Press Fn End to disable mute or re enable the integrated speakers REINSTALL THE SOUND AUDIO DRIVER See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 100 No sound from external speakers ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON See the setup diagram supplied with the speakers If your speaker...

Page 97: ...DOWS 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 Touch Pad or Mouse Problems CHECK THE TOUCH PAD SETTINGS 1 Click Start Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware Mouse 2 Try adjusting the settings CHECK THE MOUSE CABLE Shut down the computer disconnect the mouse cable and check it...

Page 98: ...display is blank NOTE If you are using a program that requires a higher resolution than your computer supports it is recommended that you attach an external monitor to your computer CHECK THE BATTERY If you are using a battery to power your computer the battery charge may be depleted Connect the computer to an electrical outlet using the AC adapter and then turn on the computer TEST THE ELECTRICAL...

Page 99: ... the area you want to change or click the Display icon 3 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution RUN THE VIDEO DIAGNOSTICS TESTS If no error message appears and you still have a display problem but the display is not completely blank run the Video device group in the Dell Diagnostics on page 75 then contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 132 SEE ERROR MESSAGES If an error ...

Page 100: ...ystem You may need to install drivers if you Upgrade your operating system Reinstall your operating system Connect or install a new device Identifying Drivers If you experience a problem with any device identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and if necessary update the driver 1 Click Start Control Panel System 2 In the System Properties window click the Hardware tab and click De...

Page 101: ...Driver Rollback or System Restore see Restoring Your Operating System on page 103 does not resolve the problem reinstall the driver from your Drivers and Utilities media 1 With the Windows desktop displayed insert your Drivers and Utilities media 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 installat...

Page 102: ...ating system Manually Reinstalling Drivers NOTE If your computer has a Consumer IR port and you are reinstalling a Consumer IR driver you must first enable the Consumer IR port in the system setup program see Using the System Setup Program on page 141 before continuing with the driver installation see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 100 For information about components installed on your...

Page 103: ... steps Restoring Your Operating System If you received an Operating System CD with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system However using the Operating System CD also deletes all data on the hard drive Use the CD only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem For instructions see Using the Operating System Media on page 105 Using Microsoft Windows System ...

Page 104: ...m Tools System Restore 2 Click either Restore my computer to an earlier time or Create a restore point 3 Click Next and follow the remaining on screen prompts In the event that System Restore did not resolve the issue you may undo the last system restore Undoing the Last System Restore NOTICE Before you undo the last system restore save and close all open files and exit any open programs Do not al...

Page 105: ...ing System media Dell Drivers and Utilities media NOTE Your Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during assembly of the computer Use your Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers including the drivers required if your computer has a RAID controller Reinstalling Windows XP The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete After you reinstall th...

Page 106: ...ows 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 the screen to complete the instal...

Page 107: ... replaced or if purchased separately installed by performing the removal procedure in reverse order Recommended Tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools Small flat blade screwdriver Phillips screwdriver Small plastic scribe Flash BIOS update see the Dell Support website at support dell com Turning Off Your Computer NOTICE To avoid losing data save and close any open fi...

Page 108: ...you disconnect a cable pull on its connector or on its strain relief loop not on the cable itself Some cables have a connector with locking tabs if you are disconnecting this type of cable press in on the locking tabs before you disconnect the cable As you pull connectors apart keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins Also before you connect a cable ensure that both connectors ...

Page 109: ...7 Slide the battery out of the battery bay 8 Turn the computer top side up open the display and press the power button to ground the system board 9 Remove any installed cards from the ExpressCard slot see Removing an ExpressCard or Blank on page 63 and the 8 in 1 memory card reader see Removing a Memory Card or Blank on page 65 Hard Drive CAUTION If you remove the hard drive from the computer when...

Page 110: ...u are installing a hard drive from a source other than Dell you need to install an operating system drivers and utilities on the new hard drive see Restoring Your Operating System on page 103 and Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 100 Removing the Hard Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 107 2 Turn the computer over and remove the two hard drive screws NOTICE When the...

Page 111: ...rd drive into the bay until it is fully seated 3 Replace and tighten the two screws 4 Install the operating system for your computer as needed see Restoring Your Operating System on page 103 5 Install the drivers and utilities for your computer as needed see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 100 Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Return your old hard drive to Dell in its original or comparabl...

Page 112: ...ollow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 107 2 Turn the computer over 3 Remove the locking screw from the optical drive 4 Using a plastic scribe push the notch to release the optical drive from the bay 5 Slide the optical drive out of the bay Replacing the Optical Drive 1 Slide the optical drive into the bay 2 Replace and tighten the locking screw 1 optical drive 2 locking screw 3 notch 3 ...

Page 113: ... damage to the system board you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer Removing the Hinge Cover 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 107 2 Open the display as far as it will open NOTICE To avoid damage to the hinge cover do not lift the cover on both sides simultaneously 3 Insert a plastic scribe into the indent to lift the hinge co...

Page 114: ...nector on the back of the computer NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer Removing the Keyboard 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 107 2 Remove the hinge cover see Hinge Cover on page 113 3 Remove the two screws at the top of the keyboard NOTICE The key caps on the keyboard are...

Page 115: ...oard connector latch to secure the cable 3 Hook the tabs along the front edge of the keyboard into the palmrest 4 Press on the right edge near the top to snap the keyboard into place 5 Replace the two screws on the top of the keyboard 1 screws 2 2 keyboard 3 keyboard tabs 5 4 keyboard cable 5 keyboard connector latch 1 2 4 3 5 ...

Page 116: ... from Dell are covered under your computer warranty Your computer has two user accessible SODIMM sockets DIMM A and DIMM B accessed from the bottom of the computer NOTICE If you need to install memory modules in two connectors install a memory module in the connector labeled DIMMA before you install a module in the connector labeled DIMMB Removing Memory Module The memory modules are located under...

Page 117: ...tatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface such as a connector on the back of the computer 3 Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory module connector until the module pops up 4 Remove the module from the connector 1 cover 2 captive screws 8 2 1 ...

Page 118: ...of the computer 1 Align the notch in the module edge connector with the tab in the connector slot 2 Slide the module firmly into the slot at a 45 degree angle and rotate the module down until it clicks into place If you do not feel the click remove the module and reinstall it NOTE If the memory module is not installed properly the computer may not boot No error message indicates this failure 1 sec...

Page 119: ...nsert the battery into the battery bay or connect the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet 5 Turn on the computer As the computer boots it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information Confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer Right click the My Computer icon on your desktop then click Properties General 1 tab 2 notch 1 2 ...

Page 120: ...emove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer If you ordered a wireless Mini Card with your computer the card is already installed Your computer supports Wireless Local Area Network WLAN Mini Card Removing Mini Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 107 2 Turn the computer over 3 Loosen the eight captive screws securing the cover and remove t...

Page 121: ...e Mini card NOTE The Mini card may have two or three connectors depending on the type of card you ordered 5 Release the Mini card by removing the securing screw 6 Lift the card out of its system board connector 1 antenna cable connectors 2 securing screw 1 Mini Card 1 2 1 ...

Page 122: ...our Mini Card 5 Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve 6 Replace the cover and tighten the eight captive screws Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To avoid electrostatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or...

Page 123: ...d and slide it out from under the securing tabs 5 Disconnect the cable from the card Replacing the Card 1 Replace the screw securing the card and insert the card at an angle to slide it in the card compartment 2 Connect the cable to the card 1 securing screw 2 card 1 2 ...

Page 124: ...124 Adding and Replacing Parts ...

Page 125: ...Computer Remove any external devices attached to the computer and store them in a safe place Fully charge the main battery and any spare batteries that you plan to carry with you Shut down the computer Disconnect the AC adapter NOTICE When the display is closed extraneous items on the keyboard or palm rest could damage the display Remove any extraneous items such as paper clips pens and paper from...

Page 126: ...assage through customs Investigate the customs regulations of the countries you plan to visit and consider acquiring an international carnet also known as a merchandise passport from your government Find out what type of electrical outlets are used in the countries you will visit and have appropriate power adapters Check with your credit card company for information about the kinds of emergency tr...

Page 127: ...or help with installation and troubleshooting procedures See Online Services on page 128 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 132 NOTE Call Dell Support from a telephone near or at the computer so that the support staff can assist you with any necessary procedures NOTE Dell s Express Service Code system ...

Page 128: ...r it all under your supervision For more information go to support dell com and click DellConnect Online Services You can learn about Dell products and services on the following websites www dell com www dell com ap Asian Pacific countries only www dell com jp Japan only www euro dell com Europe only www dell com la Latin American and Caribbean countries www dell ca Canada only You can access Dell...

Page 129: ...n the status of any Dell products that you have ordered you can go to support dell com or you can call the automated order status service A recording prompts you for the information needed to locate and report on your order For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 132 Problems With Your Order If you have a problem with your order such as missing parts wrong part...

Page 130: ...g shipping expenses You are also responsible for insuring any product returned and you assume the risk of loss during shipment to Dell Collect On Delivery C O D packages are not accepted Returns that are missing any of the preceding requirements will be refused at Dell s receiving dock and returned to you Before You Call NOTE Have your Express Service Code ready when you call The code helps Dell s...

Page 131: ...ion 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 132: ...ephone based support and service options Availability varies by country and product and some services may not be available in your area To contact Dell for sales technical support or customer service issues 1 Visit 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 app...

Page 133: ...equency Front Side Bus 667 MHz System Information System chipset Mobile Intel Express GM 965 Data bus width 64 bits DRAM bus width dual channel 2 64 bit buses Processor address bus width 36 bits Flash EPROM 2 MB PCI bus 32 bits ExpressCard NOTE The ExpressCard slot is designed only for ExpressCards It does NOT support PC Cards ExpressCard controller Intel ICH8M ExpressCard connector one ExpressCar...

Page 134: ...Memory type 533 667 MHz SODIMM DDR2 Minimum memory 512 MB Maximum memory 2 GB NOTE In order to take advantage of the dual channel bandwidth capability both memory slots must be populated and must match in size NOTE The available memory displayed does not reflect the complete maximum memory installed because some memory is reserved for system files Ports and Connectors Audio microphone connector st...

Page 135: ...port VGA Audio Audio type two channel high definition audio codec Audio controller Sigmatel STAC9228 Codec Stereo conversion 24 bit analog to digital and digital to analog Interfaces Internal Intel High Definition Audio External microphone in connector stereo headphones speakers connector Speaker two 4 ohm speakers Internal speaker amplifier 1 Watt per channel into 4 ohms Volume controls program m...

Page 136: ...trols brightness can be controlled through keyboard shortcuts see Display Functions on page 42 Media Drive DVD combo DVD RW Interface Roxio Creator Plus Keyboard Number of keys 87 U S and Canada 88 Europe 91 Japan Layout QWERTY AZERTY Kanji Touch Pad X Y position resolution graphics table mode 240 cpi Size Width 73 7 mm 2 9 in sensor active area Height 34 0 mm 1 3 in rectangle Display continued ...

Page 137: ...ies depending on operating conditions and can be significantly reduced under certain power intensive conditions see Power Problems on page 93 See Using a Battery on page 47 for more information on battery life Life span approximate 300 discharge charge cycles Temperature range Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Coin cell battery CR 2032 AC Adapter Input voltage 100 240 V...

Page 138: ... to 37 5 mm 0 94 in to 1 47 in Width 357 mm 14 05 in Depth 256 mm 10 08 in Weight with 4 cell battery Configurable to less than 2 7 kg 5 9 lb Environmental Temperature range Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 20 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Relative humidity maximum Operating 10 to 90 noncondensing Storage 5 to 90 noncondensing Maximum vibration using a random vibration spectrum that simulates user env...

Page 139: ...d position and a 2 ms halfsine pulse for storage Operating X Y axes parallel to computer bottom 30G Z axis perpendicular to computer bottom 40G Storage 163 G Maximum bench handling height Measured with hard drive in idle mode lifting the computer by one edge placing the opposite edge on the table and then releasing the computer to impact against the table 10 cm Environmental continued ...

Page 140: ...140 Specifications ...

Page 141: ...our computer password To verify information about the computer s current configuration such as the amount of system memory After you set up the computer run system setup to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information and optional settings You may want to write down the information for future reference The system setup screens display the current setup information and settings f...

Page 142: ...er 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 Commonly Used Options Certain options require that you reboot the computer for new settings to take effect Changing the Boot Sequence The boot se...

Page 143: ... press u to move the device up the list or d to move a device down the list Boot sequence changes take effect as soon as you save the changes and exit the system setup program Performing a One Time Boot You can set a one time only boot sequence without entering the system setup program you can also use this procedure to boot the Dell Diagnostics on the diagnostics utility partition on your hard dr...

Page 144: ...nstructions that are included with the product Moisten a soft lint free cloth with either water or a display cleaner Do not use alcohol or an ammonia based cleaner Wipe the display gently working from the center to the edges until it is clean and any fingerprints are removed Do not use excessive pressure NOTICE To prevent damage to the antiglare coating do not wipe the display with soap or alcohol...

Page 145: ... cleaning solution Media NOTICE Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the optical drive and follow the instructions that come with the compressed air product Never touch the lens in the drive If you notice problems such as skipping with the playback quality of your media try cleaning the discs 1 Hold the disc by its outer edge You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole NOTICE T...

Page 146: ...rvice contract purchased with the computer 2 All Dell standard components included in a Custom Factory Integration CFI project are covered by the standard Dell limited warranty for your computer However Dell also extends a parts replacement program to cover all nonstandard third party hardware components integrated through CFI for the duration of the computer s service contract Definition of Dell ...

Page 147: ...r modifications not expressly approved by Dell Inc could void your authority to operate this equipment These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference with radio or television reception wh...

Page 148: ...U S patents and other intellectual property rights Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited Product name Dell 500 Model number PP29L Company name Dell Inc Worldwide Regulatory Compliance Environmental Affairs O...

Page 149: ...the computer memory AHCI Advanced Host 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 AMT Intel Active Management Technology Delivers more secure systems management capabilities whether or not the...

Page 150: ... hard drive is damaged or your computer has a virus ensure that you always have a bootable CD or floppy disk available bps bits per second The standard unit for measuring data transmission speed BTU British thermal unit A measurement of heat output bus A communication pathway between the components in your computer bus speed The speed given in MHz that indicates how fast a bus can transfer informa...

Page 151: ...ptions COA Certificate of Authenticity The Windows alpha numeric code located on a sticker on your computer Also referred to as the Product Key or Product ID Consumer IR Sensor for using Dell Travel remote control Control Panel A Windows utility that allows you to modify operating system and hardware settings such as display settings controller A chip that controls the transfer of data between the...

Page 152: ... DRAM dynamic random access memory Memory that stores information in integrated circuits containing capacitors driver Software that allows the operating system to control 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 analo...

Page 153: ...ricity ESD can damage integrated circuits found in computer and communications equipment expansion card A circuit board that installs in an expansion slot on the system board in some computers expanding the capabilities of the computer Examples include video modem and sound cards expansion slot A connector on the system board in some computers where you insert an expansion card connecting it to th...

Page 154: ...or disk for file storage When a drive or disk is formatted the existing information on it is lost FSB front side bus The data path and physical interface between the processor and RAM FTP file transfer protocol A standard Internet protocol used to exchange files between computers connected to the Internet G G gravity A measurement of weight and force GB gigabyte A measurement of data storage that ...

Page 155: ...ohertz kHz megahertz MHz gigahertz GHz or terahertz THz I IC integrated circuit A semiconductor wafer or chip on which thousands or millions of tiny electronic components are fabricated for use in computer audio and video equipment IDE integrated device electronics An interface for mass storage devices in which the controller is integrated into the hard drive or CD drive IEEE 1394 Institute of Ele...

Page 156: ...ommand requiring you to press multiple keys at the same time kHz kilohertz A measurement of frequency that equals 1000 Hz L LAN local area network A computer network covering a small area A LAN usually is confined to a building or a few nearby buildings A LAN can be connected to another LAN over any distance through telephone lines and radio waves to form a wide area network WAN LCD liquid crystal...

Page 157: ...taining memory chips which connects to the system board MHz megahertz A measure of frequency that equals 1 million cycles per second The speeds for computer processors buses and interfaces are often measured in MHz Mini PCI A standard for integrated peripheral devices with an emphasis on communications such as modems and NICs A Mini PCI card is a small external card that is functionally equivalent...

Page 158: ...that stores data when the computer is turned off or loses its external power source NVRAM is used for maintaining computer configuration information such as date time and other system setup options that you can set O optical drive A drive that uses optical technology to read or write data from CDs DVDs or DVD RWs Example of optical drives include CD drives DVD drives CD RW drives and CD RW DVD com...

Page 159: ...mpliant POST power on self test Diagnostics programs loaded automatically by the BIOS that perform basic tests on the major computer components such as memory hard drives and video If no problems are detected during POST the computer continues the start up processor A computer chip that interprets and executes program instructions Sometimes the processor is referred to as the CPU central processin...

Page 160: ...d programs that cannot be deleted or written to by the computer ROM unlike RAM retains its contents after you shut down your computer Some programs essential to the operation of your computer reside in ROM RPM revolutions per minute The number of rotations that occur per minute Hard drive speed is often measured in rpm RTC real time clock Battery powered clock on the system board that keeps the da...

Page 161: ...e A SIM card contains a microchip that encrypts voice and data transmissions SIM cards can be used in phones or portable computers smart card A card that is embedded with a processor and a memory chip Smart cards can be used to authenticate a user on computers equipped for smart cards S PDIF Sony Philips Digital Interface An audio transfer file format that allows the transfer of audio from one fil...

Page 162: ... TAPI telephony application programming interface Enables Windows programs to operate with a wide variety of telephony devices including voice data fax and video text editor A program used to create and edit files that contain only text for example Windows Notepad uses a text editor Text editors do not usually provide word wrap or formatting functionality the option to underline change fonts and s...

Page 163: ...m memory The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can display video mode A mode that describes how text and graphics are displayed on a monitor Graphics based software such as Windows operating systems displays in video modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors Character based software such as text editors...

Page 164: ...vices including telephones and personal digital assistants close to one person WWAN wireless wide area network A wireless high speed data network using cellular technology and covering a much larger geographic area than WLAN WXGA wide aspect extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1280 x 800 X XGA extended graphics array A video stan...

Page 165: ...e status light 22 installing 122 boot sequence 142 brightness adjusting 39 C carnet 126 CD blank 58 CD RW drive problems 80 drive problems 80 Check Disk 81 cleaning touch pad 145 computer crashes 90 91 slow performance 82 92 specifications 133 stops responding 90 connecting Mobile Broadband network 72 copying CDs helpful tips 58 copying DVDs helpful tips 58 D Dell Diagnostics about 75 starting fro...

Page 166: ...4 warranty 14 drivers about 100 identifying 100 reinstalling 100 Drivers and Utilities CD Dell Diagnostics 75 Drivers and Utilities media 13 about 101 drives problems 79 See also hard drive See also optical drive DVD blank 58 drive problems 80 E End User License Agreement 14 ergonomics information 14 error messages 82 ExpressCard slot description 26 ExpressCards 61 blanks 62 63 installing 62 remov...

Page 167: ...ad numeric 41 L labels Microsoft Windows 14 Service Tag 14 lost computer 74 M media playing 55 media control buttons description 20 media memory cards 63 installing 64 reader 21 types 63 memory installing 116 removing 117 memory card blanks 63 memory card reader 63 memory cards blanks 65 removing 65 messages error 82 modem connector description 28 monitor See display N network problems 93 network ...

Page 168: ...82 hard drive 81 IEEE 1394 connector 88 keyboard 88 lockups 90 network 93 power 93 power light conditions 93 printer 94 program crashes repeatedly 90 program stops responding 90 scanner 95 slow computer performance 82 92 software 90 91 sound and speakers 96 speakers 96 spyware 82 92 Product Information Guide 14 Q QuickSet Help 16 R RAM See memory regulatory information 14 resolution setting 40 S S...

Page 169: ...ve Hardware 87 wireless activity indicator 72 touch pad 44 cleaning 145 customizing 45 touch pad buttons description 21 track stick touch pad buttons description 20 traveling with the computer by air 126 identification tag 125 packing 125 tips 126 troubleshooting Dell Diagnostics 75 Hardware Troubleshooter 103 U uninterruptible power supply See UPS V video problems 98 video controller determining ...

Page 170: ...170 Index ...

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