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Dell Vostro 1400, Owner'S Manual

The Dell Vostro 1400 is a versatile laptop designed for small business owners. With a lightweight build and powerful performance, this laptop is perfect for on-the-go professionals. At manualshive.com, you can easily access the free Quick Setup manual for the Dell Vostro 1400, providing step-by-step instructions for a hassle-free setup process. Download it now to get started!

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Troubleshooting

123

To begin a live session with a Dell associate:

1

Click the Dell Support Center icon 

 on your computer’s desktop.

2

Click 

Assistance From Dell

→

 

Technical Support

→

 

DellConnect

→

 

Phone

 and follow the instructions.

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 200 as you complete these 
checks.

E

NSURE

 

THAT

  M

ICROSOFT

®   W

INDOWS

®  

RECOGNIZES

 

THE

 

DRIVE

—

Windows XP:

•

Click 

Start

 and click 

My Computer

.

Windows Vista

™:

•

Click 

Start

  

and 

click 

Computer

.

If the drive is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus software to 
check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from 
recognizing the drive.

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 216.

E

NSURE

 

THAT

 

THE

  C D  

OR

  D V D  

MEDIA

 

IS

 

SNAPPED

 

ONTO

 

THE

 

SPINDLE

C

HECK

 

THE

 

CABLE

 

CONNECTIONS

C

HECK

 

FOR

 

HARDWARE

 

INCOMPATIBILITIES

—

See "Troubleshooting Software 

and Hardware Problems" on page 152.

R

UN

 

THE

  D

ELL

  D

IAGNOSTICS

—

See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 115.

book.book  Page 123  Wednesday, September 16, 2009  11:12 AM

Summary of Contents for Vostro 1400

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 Vostro 1400 Owner s Manual Model PP26L ...

Page 2: ...dden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo Vostro Wi Fi Catcher Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience are trademarks of Dell Inc Intel Celeron and Core are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation Microsoft Windows and Windows Vista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries Bluetooth is a registered trademar...

Page 3: ... Left Side View 30 Right Side View 31 Back View 32 Bottom View 34 3 Setting Up Your Computer 37 Connecting to the Internet 37 Setting Up Your Internet Connection 38 Transferring Information to a New Computer 39 Microsoft Windows XP 39 Microsoft Windows Vista 43 Setting Up a Printer 43 Printer Cable 44 Connecting a USB Printer 44 ...

Page 4: ...Display To a Projector 47 Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate 47 Microsoft Windows XP 48 Windows Vista 48 5 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 49 Numeric Keypad 49 Key Combinations 50 System Functions 50 Display Functions 50 Battery 50 Power Management 50 Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions 50 Dell QuickSet Key Combinations 51 Adjusting Keyboard Settings 51 Touch Pad 52 Customizing the Touc...

Page 5: ... Vista Battery Meter 58 Conserving Battery Power 58 Power Management Modes 59 Standby and Sleep Mode 59 Hibernate Mode 59 Configuring Power Management Settings 60 Accessing Power Options Properties 60 Charging the Battery 61 Replacing the Battery 61 Storing a Battery 62 7 Using the Optional Camera 63 Accessing the Camera s Help File 63 Manually Adjusting the Camera Settings 64 Creating a Picture o...

Page 6: ...iaDirect 74 If the computer is turned on or in standby or sleep mode 75 If the computer is turned off or in hibernate mode 75 Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help 76 Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device 76 S Video and Standard Audio 78 S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 80 Composite Video and Standard Audio 82 Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 84 Component Video and Sta...

Page 7: ...1 Setting Up and Using Networks 99 Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable 99 Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft Windows XP Operating System 100 Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System 100 Wireless Local Area Network 101 What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection 101 Checking Your Wireless Network Card 101 Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a ...

Page 8: ...ll Mobile Broadband Card 108 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator 108 12 Securing Your Computer 111 Security Cable Lock 111 Passwords 111 If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen 112 13 Troubleshooting 115 Dell Technical Update Service 115 Dell Diagnostics 115 Dell Support Center 120 Dell Support 3 120 Dell PC Tune Up 121 Dell PC Checkup 122 Dell Network Assistant 122 DellConnect 122 Drive Problems 123 Op...

Page 9: ...The computer does not start 135 The computer stops responding 135 A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly 135 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operating system 136 A solid blue screen appears 136 Dell MediaDirect problems 136 Other software problems 137 Memory Problems 138 Network Problems 139 Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN 139 Power Problems 140 Pr...

Page 10: ...7 Identifying Drivers 148 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities 149 Using the Drivers and Utilities Media 150 Manually Reinstalling Drivers 151 Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems 152 Restoring Your Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System 153 Using Windows Vista System Restore 153 Restoring the Computer to the Default Factory Configuration 155 Using the Operating System Media 156 Restorin...

Page 11: ... to Dell 168 Optical Drive 169 Removing the Optical Drive 169 Replacing the Optical Drive 170 Central Control Cover 170 Removing the Central Control Cover 171 Replacing the Central Control Cover 171 Keyboard 172 Removing the Keyboard 172 Replacing the Keyboard 173 Memory 174 Removing the Memory Module 174 Replacing the Memory Module 176 Modem 177 Subscriber Identity Module 179 Wireless Mini Cards ...

Page 12: ...tery 188 Removing the Coin Cell Battery 188 Replacing the Coin Cell Battery 189 15 Dell QuickSet Features 191 16 Traveling With Your Computer 193 Identifying Your Computer 193 Packing the Computer 193 Travel Tips 194 Traveling by Air 194 17 Getting Help 195 Obtaining Assistance 195 Technical Support and Customer Service 196 DellConnect 196 Online Services 196 AutoTech Service 197 Automated Order S...

Page 13: ...rogram 213 Viewing the System Setup Screen 214 System Setup Screen 214 Commonly Used Options 214 Cleaning Your Computer 216 Computer Keyboard and Display 216 Touch Pad 217 Mouse 217 Media 218 Dell Technical Support Policy U S Only 218 Definition of Dell Installed Software and Peripherals 219 Definition of Third Party Software and Peripherals 219 FCC Notice U S Only 219 FCC Class B 219 Macrovision ...

Page 14: ...14 Contents Glossary 223 Index 241 ...

Page 15: ...tware 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 149 or run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 115 Readme files may be included on your Drivers and Utilities media to provide last minute updates about technical changes ...

Page 16: ...U S only Safety instructions Regulatory information Ergonomics information End User License Agreement Dell Product Information Guide How to set up my computer Setup Diagram NOTE See the setup diagram that came with your computer What Are You Looking For Find It Here ...

Page 17: ...umber and an Express Service Code 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 Use the product key on the License Label if you need to reinstall your operating system NOTE As an increased security measure the newly designed Microsoft Windows license label incorporates a miss...

Page 18: ... reinstall the operating system on your computer you should 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 ...

Page 19: ... XP or Windows Vista How to work with programs and files How to personalize my desktop Windows Help and Support Microsoft Windows XP 1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support 2 Either select one of the topics listed or type a word or phrase that describes your problem into the Search box click the arrow icon and then click the topic that describes your problem 3 Follow the instructions o...

Page 20: ...by Dell QuickSet Dell QuickSet Help To view Dell QuickSet Help right click the QuickSet icon in the Microsoft Windows taskbar and select Help The taskbar is located in the lower right corner of your screen For more information on Dell QuickSet see Dell QuickSet Features on page 191 What Are You Looking For Find It Here ...

Page 21: ...stallation 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 Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System on page 153 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 ...

Page 22: ...22 Finding Information ...

Page 23: ...igurations To determine your computer s video controller configuration 1 Click Start and then click Help and Support 2 Under Pick a Task click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems 3 Under My Computer Information select Hardware From the My Computer Information Hardware screen you can view the type of video controller installed in your computer as well as the other hard...

Page 24: ...w 1 camera indicator 2 camera optional 3 digital microphones 2 4 display 5 media control buttons 6 touch pad 7 touch pad buttons 8 microphone connector 9 headphone connectors 2 10 wireless switch 4 5 13 16 1 11 8 9 2 10 6 14 12 7 15 3 ...

Page 25: ...HONES Digital directional microphones for conferencing and chat DISPLAY For more information about your display see Using the Display on page 47 MEDIA CONTROL BUTTONS Control CD DVD and Media Player playback 11 device status lights 12 8 in 1 memory card reader 13 keyboard 14 Dell MediaDirect button 15 keyboard status lights 16 power button Mute the sound Play the previous track Turn the volume dow...

Page 26: ...Touch Pad on page 52 AUDIO CONNECTORS WIRELESS SWITCH When enabled through Dell QuickSet this switch can scan for a wireless LAN WLAN in your vicinity You can also use it to rapidly turn off or on any wireless devices such as WLAN cards and internal cards with Bluetooth wireless technology Attach headphones to the connector Attach a microphone to the connector 1 off Disables wireless devices 2 on ...

Page 27: ... green Strong network found Solid yellow Weak network found Flashing yellow Error Off No signal found NOTE The Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator light appears only when the system is switched off and Wi Fi is activated in BIOS Power light Turns on when you turn on the computer and blinks when the computer is in a power management mode Hard drive activity light Turns on when the computer reads or write...

Page 28: ...Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD KEYBOARD The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as well as the Microsoft Windows logo key DELL MEDIADIRECT BUTTON Press the Dell MediaDirect button to launch Battery status light Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status WiFi status light Turns on when wireless networking is enabled To enable or disable wireless n...

Page 29: ...onfiguring Power Management Settings on page 60 NOTICE To avoid losing data turn off your computer by performing a Microsoft Windows operating system shutdown rather than by pressing the power button If the computer stops responding press and hold the power button until the computer turns off completely may take several seconds Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled Turns on when the uppercas...

Page 30: ... to the power strip or electrical outlet may cause fire or equipment damage NOTICE When you disconnect the AC adapter cable from the computer grasp the connector not the cable itself and pull firmly but gently to help prevent damage to the cable 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...

Page 31: ...ee Using ExpressCards on page 93 Right Side View OPTICAL DRIVE For more information about the optical drive see Using Multimedia on page 67 EJECT BUTTON Press the eject button to open the optical drive Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer 1 optical drive 2 eject button 3 S video TV out connector 4 USB connectors 2 5 video connector VGA 1 4 5 3 2 ...

Page 32: ...R Back View Connects your computer to a TV Also connects digital audio capable devices using the TV digital audio adapter cable Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer Connects video devices such as a monitor 1 modem connector RJ 11 2 network connector RJ 45 1 2 ...

Page 33: ...information on using the modem see the online modem documentation supplied with your computer Connects the computer to a network The two lights next to the connector indicate status and activity for wired network connections For information on using the network adapter see the device user s guide supplied with your computer ...

Page 34: ...an use the computer without connecting the computer to an electrical outlet see Using a Battery on page 55 BATTERY CHARGE HEALTH GAUGE Provides information on the battery charge see Checking the Battery Charge on page 56 1 battery bay latch releases 2 2 hard drive 3 battery 4 battery charge health gauge 5 processor and thermal module cover 6 memory module coin cell battery bluetooth modem compartm...

Page 35: ... module MEMORY MODULE COIN CELL BLUETOOTH MODEM BATTERY COMPARTMENT Compartment that contains the memory modules modem bluetooth and the coin cell battery For additional information see Adding and Replacing Parts on page 163 NOTE Bluetooth is optional and may not be included in your computer ...

Page 36: ...36 About Your Computer ...

Page 37: ...rnet 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 Wide Area Network WWAN or Mobile Broadband technology provides a connection to the Internet using cellular technology at broadband rates Wireless Local Area Network WLAN connec...

Page 38: ... a service outage Contact your ISP to check the service status or try connecting again later NOTE Have your ISP information ready If you do not have an ISP the Connect to the Internet wizard can help you obtain one Windows XP 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 win...

Page 39: ...n through a WLAN card Choose Dial up if you will use a dial up modem or ISDN NOTE If you do not know which type of connection to select click Help me choose or contact your ISP 5 Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup Transferring Information to a New Computer You can use your operating system wizards to help you transfer file...

Page 40: ...dows XP This information may not be available in certain countries For transferring information to a new computer you must run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard You can use the optional Operating System media for this process or you can create a wizard disk with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System Media NOTE This proc...

Page 41: ...the Collection Phase screen appears 7 Click Finish To transfer data to the new computer 1 On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer click Next 2 On the Where are the files and settings screen select the method you chose for transferring your settings and files and click Next The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer When all of the ...

Page 42: ... to your old computer message appears do not click Next 7 Go to the old computer To copy data from the old computer 1 On the old computer insert the wizard disk 2 Click Start Run 3 In the Open field on the Run window browse to the path for fastwiz on the appropriate removable media and click OK 4 On the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen click Next 5 On the Which computer is this sc...

Page 43: ...tem NOTE Access to the Dell Knowledge Base document may not be available in certain countries Microsoft Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Transfer files and settings Start Windows Easy Transfer 2 In the User Account Control dialog box click Continue 3 Click Start a new transfer or Continue a transfer in progress Follow the instructions provided on the screen by th...

Page 44: ...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 45: ...g system click the Windows Vista Start button and click Network Add a printer to start the Add Printer Wizard 6 Follow the instructions in the Add Printer Wizard Power Protection Devices Several devices are available to protect against power fluctuations and failures Surge protectors Line conditioners Uninterruptible power supplies UPS Surge Protectors Surge protectors and power strips equipped wi...

Page 46: ...onditioners do not protect against power interruptions Line conditioners are designed to maintain AC voltage at a fairly constant level Uninterruptible Power Supplies NOTICE Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in data loss or file damage NOTE To ensure maximum battery operating time connect only your computer to a UPS Connect other devices such as a printer to a se...

Page 47: ...ightness Meter may appear but the brightness level on the external device does not change 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 video image between the d...

Page 48: ...st supported values To set the display resolution and refresh rate for your display perform the steps in the following section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is using Microsoft Windows XP 1 Click Start Settings Control Panel 2 Under Pick a category click Appearance and Themes 3 Under Pick a task click the area you want to change or under or pick a Control Panel icon click D...

Page 49: ...ternal 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 hold down Fn and press 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 50: ... 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 56 Fn Esc Activates a power management mode See Configuring Power Management Settings on page 60 Windows logo key and m...

Page 51: ...sting Keyboard Settings To adjust keyboard operation such as the character repeat rate 1 Click Start and then click Control Panel 2 Click Hardware and Sound 3 Click Keyboard Windows logo key and e Starts Windows Explorer Windows logo key and r Opens the Run dialog box Windows logo key and f Opens the Search Results dialog box Windows logo key and Ctrl f Opens the Search Results Computer dialog box...

Page 52: ... 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 on the touch pad...

Page 53: ...d then click Control Panel 2 Click Hardware and Sound 3 Click Keyboard 4 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 5 Click OK to save the settings and close the window Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Mouse 2 In the Mouse Properties window Click the Device Select tab to disable the touch pad Click ...

Page 54: ...54 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad ...

Page 55: ...on area NOTE Battery 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 opera...

Page 56: ...t Information Guide CAUTION Misuse of the 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 ...

Page 57: ...illuminate the charge indicator lights Each light represents approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge For example if the battery has 80 percent of its charge remaining four of the lights are on If no lights are on the battery has no charge Check the Battery Health NOTE You can check battery health in one of two ways by using the charge gauge on the battery as described below and by usi...

Page 58: ...dicates the remaining battery charge To check the battery meter double click the icon in the notification area Microsoft Windows Vista Battery Meter The battery meter indicates the remaining battery charge To check the battery meter double click the icon in the notification area Conserving Battery Power To conserve battery power on your portable computer do any of the following Connect the compute...

Page 59: ...t the power management options in the Power Options Properties window or the QuickSet Power Management Wizard you may also use one of the following methods Press the power button 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 pres...

Page 60: ...r simply restart reboot your computer To exit hibernate mode press the power button The computer may take a short time to exit hibernate mode You cannot make the computer exit hibernate mode by pressing a key or touching the touch pad For more information on hibernate mode see the documentation that came with your operating system Configuring Power Management Settings You can use the QuickSet Powe...

Page 61: ... hot to start charging if the battery light flashes alternately blue and amber Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room temperature then connect the computer to an electrical outlet to continue charging the battery For more information about resolving problems with a battery see Power Problems on page 140 Replacing the Battery CAUTIO...

Page 62: ...rn the computer over 3 Slide and click the battery release latches to keep them open 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 ...

Page 63: ... The blue camera light appears when the camera is turned on For more information about camera features see Specifications on page 203 NOTE It is normal for the camera to feel warm to the touch when the computer is running and when the camera is in use Accessing the Camera s Help File To access the camera s Video Software Help file right click the icon in the notification area and click Launch Webc...

Page 64: ... Click the Effects tab to adjust audio settings such as the volume level For more information about camera settings and other camera related topics see the camera s Video Software Help file see Accessing the Camera s Help File on page 63 Creating a Picture or a Video 1 Click the icon in the notification area and click QuickCapture The QuickCapture window appears and the blue camera light turns on ...

Page 65: ...ck Record a Video Unless you designate a different location the picture or video is automatically saved to the My Pictures folder on your hard drive For more information about creating pictures or videos see the camera s Video Software Help file see Accessing the Camera s Help File on page 63 ...

Page 66: ...66 Using the Optional Camera ...

Page 67: ...n you open or close it Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive NOTICE Do not move the computer while playing 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 68: ...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 69: ...fied computers For more details refer to the Dell Support website at support dell com To play media using Dell Express Card remote control 1 Install a coin cell battery into your Express Card remote control 2 Launch Windows Vista Media Center from Start Programs 3 Use the remote control buttons to play media 1 Infrared Transmitter 2 Page Up 3 Page Down 4 Arrow Up 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16 15 14 1...

Page 70: ...70 Using Multimedia 5 OK Enter Select 6 Arrow Right 7 Arrow Down 8 Play Pause 9 Forward 10 Skip Forward 11 Stop 12 Skip Back 13 Reverse 14 Back 15 Arrow Left 16 Mute 17 Volume Down 18 Volume Up ...

Page 71: ...HD DVD media For a list of supported media formats see Using Blank CD and DVD Media on page 72 How to Copy a CD or DVD NOTE Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Roxio Creator Plus 1 Open Roxio Creator Plus 2 Under the Copy tab click Disc Copy 3 To copy the CD or DVD If you have one CD DVD drive ensure that the settings are correct and then click Disc Copy The c...

Page 72: ... DVD R you may not be able to write to that disc again if the disc is finalized or closed during the final stage of the disc creation process Use blank DVD RW media if you plan to erase rewrite or update information on that disc later CD Writable Drives DVD Writable 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 Plus ...

Page 73: ...o DVDs with Roxio Creator Plus Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may not support all available DVD formats For a list of formats supported by your DVD player see the documentation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer See the Sonic website at www sonic com for additional information Adjusting the Volume NOTE When the speakers are muted you do not h...

Page 74: ...er Personalization click Adjust Screen Resolution The Display Properties window appears 3 Under Resolution click and drag the bar reduce the resolution setting 4 In the drop down menu under Colors click Medium 16 bit 5 Click OK Using Dell Media Experience and Dell MediaDirect Based on configuration settings and selections you made when ordering your computer your computer provides support for Dell...

Page 75: ...Media Experience In Windows XP click Start All Programs or click the Media Experience icon on the desktop in Windows Vista click the Windows Vista Start button All Programs or click the Media Experience icon on the desktop If the computer is turned off or in hibernate mode When your computer is turned off or in hibernate mode you can press the Dell MediaDirect button to start the computer and auto...

Page 76: ...cables are available for purchase from Dell Your computer has an S video TV out connector that together with a standard S video cable a composite video adapter cable or a component video adapter cable available from Dell enable you to connect the computer to a TV Your TV has either an S video input connector a composite video input connector or a component video input connector Depending on what t...

Page 77: ... between your computer and your TV you must enable your computer to work with the TV See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 91 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Additionally if you are using S PDIF digital audio see Enabling S PDIF Digital Audio on page 90 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 3 S PDIF digital audio connector 4 composi...

Page 78: ...78 Using Multimedia S Video and Standard Audio 1 audio connector 2 S video TV out connector 1 standard S video cable 2 standard audio cable 1 2 1 2 ...

Page 79: ...ut connector on the computer 3 Plug the other end of the S video cable into the S video input connector on your TV 4 Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on your 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 6 Turn on the TV and any audio device that you connected ...

Page 80: ...80 Using Multimedia S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 S video cable 3 S PDIF digital audio cable 1 2 1 2 3 ...

Page 81: ...he TV 5 Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the digital audio connector on the composite video adapter cable 6 Plug the other end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the audio input connector on your TV or audio device 7 Turn on the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 91 t...

Page 82: ...g Multimedia Composite Video and Standard Audio 1 audio input connector 2 S video TV out connector 3 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 2 1 3 1 2 3 ...

Page 83: ...o the composite video input connector on the TV 5 Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer 6 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 7 Turn on the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the D...

Page 84: ...84 Using Multimedia Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 2 1 2 3 ...

Page 85: ...nnector on the TV 5 Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the S PDIF audio connector on the composite video adapter 6 Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S PDIF input connector on your TV or other audio device 7 Turn on the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page...

Page 86: ...86 Using Multimedia Component Video and Standard Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 component video adapter 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable 3 standard audio cable 2 1 1 2 3 ...

Page 87: ... 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 5 Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer 6 Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or audio device 7 Turn on th...

Page 88: ...88 Using Multimedia Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 component video adapter 1 2 ...

Page 89: ...S video TV out connector on the computer 3 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 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 2 3 3 1 2 ...

Page 90: ...nnector on your TV or other audio device 7 Turn on the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 91 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Enabling S PDIF Digital Audio 1 Double click the speaker icon in the Windows notification area 2 Click the Options menu and then...

Page 91: ...ion select the appropriate option for using either a single display or multiple displays ensuring that the display settings are correct for your selection Microsoft Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button click Control Panel and then click Appearance and Personalization 2 Under Personalization click Adjust Screen Resolution The Display Properties window appears 3 Click Advanced 4 Clic...

Page 92: ...92 Using Multimedia ...

Page 93: ...ape 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 203 for information on supported ExpressCards NOTE An ExpressCard is not a bootable device ExpressCard Blanks Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the ExpressCard slot Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other pa...

Page 94: ...ch 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 facing up 2 Slide the card into the slot...

Page 95: ...ExpressCard or Blank CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Press the latch and remove the card or blank For some latches you must press the latch twice once to pop the latch out and then a second time to pop the card out Save a blank to use when no ExpressCard is installed in a slot Blanks protect unused slots...

Page 96: ...96 Using ExpressCards ...

Page 97: ...d reader Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles Save the blank for use when no media memory card is installed in the slot blanks from other computers may not fit your computer Remove the blank before installing a media memory card To remove the blank see Removing a Memory Card or Blank on page 98 Installing a Memory Card You can install a media memory card in the computer while ...

Page 98: ...ads the appropriate device driver If the configuration program tells you to load the manufacturer s drivers use the media that came with the memory card if applicable Removing a Memory Card or Blank CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE Use the memory card configuration utility click the icon in the not...

Page 99: ... wizards to help guide you through the process of networking computers For more information about Networking see the Windows Help and Support Center see Windows Help and Support on page 19 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 t...

Page 100: ... directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack 2 SP2 2 Complete the checklist 3 Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions in the wizard Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Connect To Set up a connection or network 2 Select an option under Choo...

Page 101: ...s connected and working A wireless router or access point A wireless network card for each computer that you want to connect to your WLAN Checking Your Wireless Network Card Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer the computer has a variety of configurations To confirm that your computer has a wireless network card and to determine the type of card use one of the following ...

Page 102: ...ements for your broadband modem 2 Ensure that you have wired Internet access through your broadband modem before you attempt to set up a wireless Internet connection see Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable on page 99 3 Install any software required for your wireless router Your wireless router may have been shipped with installation media Installation media usually contains installation ...

Page 103: ... stabilize After 2 minutes proceed to the step 13 13 Start your computer and wait until the boot process completes 14 See the documentation that came with your wireless router to do the following in order to set up the wireless router Establish communication between your computer and your wireless router Configure your wireless router to communicate with your broadband router Find out your wireles...

Page 104: ...ager Depending on the software installed on your computer different wireless configuration utilities may manage your network devices Your wireless network card s client utility The Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless network card in Windows XP 1 Click Start Settings Control Panel Network Connections 2 Right click ...

Page 105: ... NOTE If you select a secure network you must enter a WEP or WPA key when prompted Network security settings are unique to your network Dell cannot provide this information NOTE Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet The wireless activity indicator provides you with an easy way to monitor the status o...

Page 106: ...can use either a Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini Card but not both to establish a Mobile Broadband network connection To set up a Mobile Broadband network connection you need A Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini Card depending on your computer s configuration NOTE For instructions on using ExpressCards see Using ExpressCards on page 93 An activated Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or activated ...

Page 107: ...ng to a Mobile Broadband Network NOTE These instructions only apply to Mobile Broadband ExpressCards or Mini Cards They do not apply to internal cards with wireless technology NOTE Before you connect to the Internet you must activate Mobile Broadband service through your cellular service provider For instructions and for additional information about using the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility see...

Page 108: ...eless devices on and off with the wireless switch on the front side of the computer see Front View on page 24 If the switch is in the on position move the switch to the off position to disable the switch and the Mobile Broadband card If the switch is in the off position move the switch to the on position to enable the switch and the Dell Mobile Broadband card For information about the wireless swi...

Page 109: ...ed through Dell QuickSet or the BIOS system setup program to control WiFi network connections Because the Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator is disabled and not configured for use when your computer is shipped to you you must first use Dell QuickSet to enable and configure the switch to control WiFi network connections For more information on the Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator and to enable the feature ...

Page 110: ...110 Setting Up and Using Networks ...

Page 111: ...on your Dell computer For more information see the instructions included with the device NOTICE Before you buy an antitheft device ensure that it will work with the security cable slot on your computer Passwords Passwords prevent unauthorized 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 t...

Page 112: ...reate a user password you must enter it each time you turn on or unlock your computer If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes the computer returns to its previous operating state For more information see your Windows documentation If you forget any of your passwords contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 201 For your protection Dell technical support staff will ask you for proof of your ...

Page 113: ...f the investigating officer The Dell customer service representative will log your report under the computer Service Tag and record the computer as missing or stolen If someone calls Dell for technical assistance and gives your Service Tag the computer is identified automatically as missing or stolen The representative will attempt to get the phone number and address of the caller Dell will then c...

Page 114: ...114 Securing Your Computer ...

Page 115: ...lem with your computer perform the checks in Lockups and Software Problems on page 135and 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 operates on Dell computers Enter the system setup program review your computer s configuration information and ensure that the device you ...

Page 116: ... If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found run the Dell Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities media The computer runs the Pre boot System Assessment PSA a series of initial tests of your system board keyboard display memory hard drive etc During the assessment answer any questions that appear If a failures are detected the computer stops and beeps To st...

Page 117: ...ice menu use the up and down arrow keys to highlight CD DVD CD RW and then press Enter NOTE The Quickboot feature changes the boot sequence for the current boot only Upon restart the computer boots according to the boot sequence specified in the system setup program 4 Select the Boot from CD ROM option from the menu that appears and then press Enter 5 Type 1 to start the Drivers and Utilities menu...

Page 118: ...one memory test Test System Run System Diagnostics Exit Exit the Diagnostics Option Function Express Test Performs a quick test of system devices The test typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part Run Express Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly Extended Test Performs a thorough check of system devices The test typically takes an hou...

Page 119: ...ptom Tree option 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 dev...

Page 120: ...esses as well as telephone numbers Resources specific to your computer are available under Drivers Downloads Upgrades and System Information The top of the Dell Support Center home page displays your computer s model number along with its Service Tag Express Service code and warranty expiration details When permissions are given to Dell to use your Service Tag additional details about your compute...

Page 121: ...load the software Dell PC Tune Up The automated or monthly version of Dell PC Tune Up allows you to choose the day and time of the month you want your computer tuned up A typical tune up includes hard drive defragmentation removal of unwanted and temporary files updated security settings verification of good restore points and other maintenance activities designed to improve computer performance a...

Page 122: ...ted setup alerting and device status Simplified tracking of networked devices through a visual display of network status Proactive troubleshooting and repair of network problems Tutorials setup wizards and frequently asked questions FAQs to enhance understanding of networking principles To access Dell Network Assistant 1 Click the Dell Support Center icon on your computer s desktop 2 Click Self He...

Page 123: ...d click My Computer Windows Vista Click Start and click Computer If the drive is not listed perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive TEST 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 th...

Page 124: ... sleep modes CHANGE THE WRITE SPEED TO A SLOWER RATE See the help files for your CD or DVD creation software The drive tray cannot eject 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 then push firmly until the tray is partially ejected 3 Gently pull out the tray until it stops The drive makes an unfamiliar scrapin...

Page 125: ...analog telephone jack only The modem does not operate while it is connected to a digital telephone network 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 Do not allow attachments to remove the check mark as needed CHECK THE TELEPHONE LINE CONNECTION CHECK THE TELEPHONE JACK CONNECT THE MODEM...

Page 126: ...M IS COMMUNICATING WITH WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control 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 Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound Phone and Modem O...

Page 127: ...pad or external mouse may be faulty For an external mouse check the cable connection Enable the Pointing Device option in the system setup program see Using the System Setup Program on page 213 If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 201 BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME Ensure that you have spelled the command correctly put spaces in the proper place and used the correct pathname ...

Page 128: ... them see Memory on page 174 GENERAL FAILURE The operating system is unable to carry out the command The message is usually followed by specific information for example Printer out of paper Take the appropriate action HARD DISK DRIVE CONFIGURATION ERROR The computer cannot identify the drive type Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 166 and boot the computer from a C...

Page 129: ...OARD CLOCK LINE FAILURE For external keyboards check the cable connection Run the Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 115 KEYBOARD CONTROLLER FAILURE For external keyboards check the cable connection Restart the computer and avoid touching the keyboard or the mouse during the boot routine Run the Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Di...

Page 130: ...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 174 NO BOOT DEVICE AVAILABLE The computer cannot find the hard drive If the hard drive is your boot device ensure that the drive is installed properly seated and partitioned as a boot device NO BOOT SECTOR ON HARD DRIVE The operating system may be c...

Page 131: ...f sectors are defective back up the data if possible and then reformat the hard drive SEEK ERROR The operating system cannot find a specific track on the hard drive SHUTDOWN FAILURE A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning Run the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 115 TIME OF DAY CLOCK LOST POWER System configuration settings are corrupted Connect your c...

Page 132: ...ATTERY IS CRITICALLY LOW The battery is running out of charge Replace the battery or connect the computer to an electrical outlet otherwise activate hibernate mode or shut down the computer ExpressCard Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CHECK THE EXPRESSCARD Ensure that the ExpressCard is properly ...

Page 133: ...IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AN IEEE 1394 DEVICE NOT PROVIDED BY DELL Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer see Contacting Dell on page 201 Ensure that the IEEE 1394 device is properly inserted into the connector Keyboard 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 Checklis...

Page 134: ...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 some characters on the internal keyboard and verify that they appear on the display If the characters appear now but did not with the external keyboard you may have a defective external keyboard Contact Dell see Contac...

Page 135: ...le 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 Ctrl Shift Esc simultaneously to access the Task Mana...

Page 136: ... screen click Next 3 Follow the instructions on the screen A 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 Dell MediaDirect problems CHECK THE DELL MEDIADIRECT HELP FILE FOR INFORMATION Use...

Page 137: ...t Dell for assistance see Contacting Dell on page 201 Other software problems CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on your computer Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software See the software documentation for i...

Page 138: ...ms you are not using to see if that resolves the problem See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements If necessary install additional memory see Memory on page 174 Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory see Memory on page 174 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 115 IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBL...

Page 139: ...Mobile Broadband ExpressCard user s guide are available through Windows Help and Support click Start Help and Support You can also download the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility user s guide from support dell com NOTE The icon appears in the notification area if the computer has a Dell WWAN device installed Double click the icon to launch the utility ACTIVATE THE MOBILE BROADBAND EXPRESSCARD You ...

Page 140: ... The battery charge may be depleted 1 Reinstall the battery 2 Use the AC adapter to connect the computer to an electrical outlet 3 Turn on the computer NOTE Battery 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 CHEC...

Page 141: ...light turns on but the display remains blank reinstall the memory modules see Memory on page 174 Printer Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 200 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 NOTE If you need technical assistance for your printer contact the printer s manufa...

Page 142: ...4 Adjust the settings as needed 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 your scanner contact the scanner s manufacturer CHECK THE SCANNER DOCUMENTATION See the scanner documentat...

Page 143: ...ST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL 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 Adjust the volume 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 Driver...

Page 144: ... volume down or off No sound from headphones CHECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector see ExpressCard slot on page 31 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 Remote Control Problem...

Page 145: ... 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 lists the correct device for the pointing device option the computer automatically recognizes a USB...

Page 146: ...ck 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 ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES Search for the keyword sleep in Windows Help and Support SWITCH THE VIDEO IMAGE If your computer is attached to an extern...

Page 147: ... see Contacting Dell on page 201 SEE ERROR MESSAGES If an error message appears see Error Messages on page 127 If only part of the display is readable CONNECT AN EXTERNAL MONITOR 1 Shut down your computer and connect an external monitor to the computer 2 Turn on the computer and the monitor and then adjust the monitor brightness and contrast controls If the external monitor works the computer disp...

Page 148: ...y device identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and if necessary update the driver Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel 2 Under Pick a Category click Performance and Maintenance and click System 3 In the System Properties window click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager Windows Vista 1 Click Start and right click Computer 2 Click Properties Device Manager NOTE The User A...

Page 149: ...ick the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties 3 Click the Drivers tab Roll Back Driver Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista start button and right click Computer 2 Click Properties Device Manager NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager ...

Page 150: ...window appears remove the Drivers and Utilities disc and click Finish to restart the computer 4 When you see the Windows desktop reinsert the Drivers and Utilities disc 5 At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen click Next NOTE The Drivers and Utilities program displays drivers only for hardware that came installed in your computer If you installed additional hardware the drivers for the new hardwa...

Page 151: ... device for which you are installing the driver 4 Click the Driver tab Update Driver 5 Click Install from a list or specific location Advanced Next 6 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files 7 When the name of the appropriate driver appears click Next 8 Click Finish and restart your computer Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista start button and rig...

Page 152: ...eshooter Windows XP 1 Click Start Help and Support 2 Type hardware troubleshooter in the search field and press Enter to start the search 3 In the Fix a Problem section click Hardware Troubleshooter 4 In the Hardware Troubleshooter list select the option that best describes the problem and click Next to follow the remaining troubleshooting steps Windows Vista 1 Click Start and click Help and Suppo...

Page 153: ...puter Use 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 Windows Vista System Re...

Page 154: ...ack does not resolve the problem then use System Restore NOTICE Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state save and close all open files and exit any open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete 1 Click Start Control Panel System and Maintenance Back Up and Restore Center 2 In the Tasks list click Repair Windows using S...

Page 155: ...lick Undo my last restoration and then click Next Restoring the Computer to the Default Factory Configuration The Dell Factory Image Restore option allows you to restore your hard drive back to its original factory configuration as when you first purchased it from Dell This option appears on Dell computers that were originally pre installed with the Windows Vista operating system and does not incl...

Page 156: ... box 9 Click Next The computer is restored to the default factory configuration 10 When the restore operation is completed click Finish to restart the computer Using the Operating System Media Before You Begin If you are considering reinstalling the Windows operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver first try using Windows Device Driver Rollback see Using Windows Device Dr...

Page 157: ...cts you to do so 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Insert the Operating System media 3 Click Exit if the Install Windows message appears 4 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 ag...

Page 158: ...store did not resolve your operating system problem Using Microsoft Windows System Restore The Windows operating system provides System Restore to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files if changes to the hardware software or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state See the Windows Help and Support Center fo...

Page 159: ...e is automatically disabled To see if System Restore is enabled 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 NOTICE Using Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or drivers installed after you received your computer If possible ...

Page 160: ...own the computer Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot 5 When prompted click Yes The computer restarts Because the computer is restored to its original operating state the screens that appear such as the End User License Agreement are the same ones that appeared the first time the computer was turned on 6 Click Next The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts 7 After ...

Page 161: ...tion is deleted and the newly available disk space is added to the free space allocation on the hard drive 6 Right click Local Disk C in Windows Explorer click Properties and verify that the additional disk space is available as indicated by the increased value for Free Space 7 Click Finish to close the PC Restore Removal window and restart the computer Using the Operating System Media Before You ...

Page 162: ... unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Insert the Operating System media 3 Click Exit if the Install Windows message appears 4 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 W...

Page 163: ...f Your Computer on page 164 and Before Working Inside Your Computer on page 164 You have read the safety information in your Dell Product Information Guide A component can be 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 screwd...

Page 164: ...stem press and hold the power button for about 4 seconds to turn them off Before Working Inside Your Computer Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CAUTION Handle components and c...

Page 165: ...f the computer 1 Ensure that the work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover from being scratched 2 Turn off your computer see Turning Off Your Computer on page 164 NOTICE To disconnect a network cable first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack 3 Disconnect any telephone or network cables from the computer 4 Disconnect your computer and...

Page 166: ... page 164 before removing the hard drive Do not remove the hard drive while the computer is on or in Sleep state NOTICE Hard drives are extremely fragile Exercise care when handling the hard drive NOTE Dell does not guarantee compatibility or provide support for hard drives from sources other than Dell NOTE If you are installing a hard drive from a source other than Dell you need to install an ope...

Page 167: ...by using the pull tab NOTICE When the hard drive is not in the computer store it in protective antistatic packaging see Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge in the Product Information Guide 1 hard drive cover 2 screws 2 1 hard drive assembly 2 pull tab 1 2 1 2 ...

Page 168: ...e bracket screws to secure the hard drive to the hard drive bracket 4 Place the hard drive assembly in the hard drive bay by aligning the tabs on the hard drive assembly with the slots in the bay and pressing the connector end down 5 Replace the hard drive door and tighten the screws 6 Install the operating system for your computer as needed see Restoring Your Microsoft Windows Vista Operating Sys...

Page 169: ...the Product Information Guide Removing the Optical Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 163 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 1 foam packaging 2 hard drive 2 1 ...

Page 170: ... safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To avoid electrostatic 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 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 1 optical ...

Page 171: ...cover do not lift the cover on both sides simultaneously 3 Insert a plastic scribe into the indent to lift the central control cover on the right side 4 Ease the central control cover up moving from right to left and remove it Replacing the Central Control Cover 1 Insert the left edge of the central control cover 2 Press from left to right until the cover snaps into place 1 central control cover 2...

Page 172: ...attery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer Removing the Keyboard 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 163 2 Remove the central control cover see Central Control Cover on page 170 3 Remove the two screws at the top of the keyboard NOTICE The key caps on the keyboard are fragile easily dislodged and time consuming to replace Be careful when removing and h...

Page 173: ...ver downward to fasten the cable in the cable connector 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 to secure the keyboard 1 screws 2 2 keyboard 3 tabs 5 4 keyboard cable 5 cable connector latch 6 palmrest 1 2 4 5 3 6 ...

Page 174: ... A and DIMM B accessed from the bottom of the computer NOTICE If your computer has only one memory module install the memory module in the connector labeled DIMMA 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 the Memory Module NOTICE To avoid electrostatic dis...

Page 175: ...onnector do not use tools to spread the memory module securing clips 5 Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory module connector until the module pops up 6 Remove the module from the connector 1 screws 3 2 memory module cover 2 1 ...

Page 176: ...k 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 m...

Page 177: ...rosoft Windows XP operating system right click the My Computer icon on your desktop Click Properties General In the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system click the Windows Vista Start button and right click Computer Properties Modem CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide 1 Follow the procedures in Before You...

Page 178: ...t modem by pressing the modem into the connector on the system board NOTICE The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion If you feel resistance check the connectors and realign the card 7 Connect the modem cable 8 Tighten the three screws and replace the modem cover 1 screw 2 pull tab 3 modem cable 4 modem 3 4 1 2 ...

Page 179: ... Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 163 2 In the battery bay locate the SIM compartment at the base 3 Slide in the SIM into the compartment with the cut off corner of the card aligning with the cut off corner in the SIM compartment Wireless Mini Cards CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE...

Page 180: ...work WWAN Internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology Removing a WLAN Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 163 2 Remove the central control cover see Removing the Central Control Cover on page 171 3 Remove the keyboard see Removing the Keyboard on page 172 4 Loosen the screw that secures the Mini Card to the system board 5 Disconnect the antenna cables from the WLAN card 1...

Page 181: ...s on the card and on the system board and realign the card NOTICE To avoid damage to the WLAN card never place cables under the card 1 Insert the WLAN card connector into the system board connector labeled WLAN at a 45 degree angle by aligning the notch on the WLAN card to the slot on the system board connector 2 Press down the other end of the WLAN card and tighten the screw securing the card to ...

Page 182: ...e unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve 5 Replace the keyboard see Replacing the Keyboard on page 173 6 Replace the central control cover see Replacing the Central Control Cover on page 171 Internal Card with Bluetooth Wireless Technology CAUTION Before performing the following procedures follow the safety instructions in your Product Information Guide NOTICE To avoid electrostatic ...

Page 183: ... card cable with one hand use a plastic scribe to gently pry and lift the Bluetooth card up and out of the communications card bay 5 Disconnect the card from the cable and remove the card from the computer To replace the card 1 Connect the Bluetooth card to the card cable 2 Slide the card under the metal clips into the communications card bay 3 Tighten the captive screw to secure the card in the c...

Page 184: ...a time 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 163 2 Remove the central control cover see Removing the Central Control Cover on page 171 3 Remove the keyboard see Removing the Keyboard on page 172 4 Loosen the screw that secures the Mini Card to the system board 5 Disconnect the antenna cables from the WWAN card 6 Lift the WWAN card from the computer at a 45 degree angle 1 antenna cabl...

Page 185: ...N card to the slot on the system board connector 2 Press down the other end of the WWAN card and tighten the screw securing the card to the system board 3 Connect the appropriate antenna cables to the WWAN card you are installing Connect the white striped cable to the connector on the card marked with a white triangle Connect the black striped cable to the connector on the card marked with a black...

Page 186: ... and FCM share the same slot You can install only one card at a time Removing the FCM 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 163 2 Remove the central control cover see Central Control Cover on page 170 3 Remove the keyboard see Keyboard on page 172 4 Ground yourself by touching one of the metal connectors on the back of the computer NOTE If you leave the area ground yourself again whe...

Page 187: ...antenna cables may cause damage to your computer NOTICE Install the FCM in the WWAN slot Do not install an FCM in the WLAN card slot Doing so may cause damage to your computer 1 Connect the FCM to the connector on the system board 2 Tighten the screw securing the FCM to the system board 3 Replace the keyboard see Replacing the Keyboard on page 173 4 Replace the central control cover see Replacing ...

Page 188: ...n 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 Coin Cell Battery 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 163 2 Turn the computer over 3 Loosen the captive screws on the coin cell battery cover see Bottom View on page 34 and remove the cover 4 Remove t...

Page 189: ...uring the coin cell battery to the system board 8 Disconnect and remove the coin cell battery cable from the power connector on the system board Replacing the Coin Cell Battery 1 Connect the coin cell battery cable to the system board 2 Place the coin cell battery on the system board in the location marked 3 Replace the modem see Modem on page 177 4 Replace the cover and tighten the screws ...

Page 190: ...190 Adding and Replacing Parts ...

Page 191: ...of settings Network connectivity Power management Display System information Depending on what you want to do in Dell QuickSet you can start it by either clicking double clicking or right clicking the QuickSet icon in the Microsoft Windows taskbar The taskbar is located in the lower right corner of your screen For more information about QuickSet right click the QuickSet icon and select Help ...

Page 192: ...192 Dell QuickSet Features ...

Page 193: ...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 194: ...f your right to use the computer if it is company owned to speed your passage 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 y...

Page 195: ...ices on page 196 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 201 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 may not be available in all countries When prompted by Dell s automated ...

Page 196: ...ugh a broadband connection diagnose your problem and repair 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 Carib...

Page 197: ... touch tone telephone to select the subjects that correspond to your questions For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 201 Automated Order Status Service To check on 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 ...

Page 198: ...y of the invoice and a letter describing the reason for the return 3 Include a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 200 indicating the tests that you have run and any error messages reported by the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 115 4 Include any accessories that belong with the item s being returned power cables software floppy disks guides and so on ...

Page 199: ...ics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 200 If possible turn on your computer before you call Dell for assistance and call from a telephone at or near the computer You may be asked to type some commands at the keyboard relay detailed information during operations or try other troubleshooting steps possible only at the computer itself Ensure that the computer documentation is available CAUT...

Page 200: ...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 201: ... availability varies by country and product some services may not be available in your area To contact Dell for sales technical support or customer service issues 1 Visit www support dell com 2 At the bottom of the page verify your country or region 3 Locate the Browse by Category section on the left side of the page and click Contact Us 4 Select the appropriate service or support link based on yo...

Page 202: ...202 Getting Help ...

Page 203: ...2 KB per instruction 32 KB data cache per core L2 cache 2 MB or 4 MB per core External bus frequency 667 and 800 MHz System Information System chipset Intel 965GM Express chipset for integrated graphics Intel 965PM Express chipset for discrete graphics Data bus width 64 bits DRAM bus width dual channel 2 64 bit buses Processor address bus width 32 bits Flash EPROM 1 MB Graphics bus PCI E X16 PCI b...

Page 204: ...MediaCard MMC Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD Memory Memory module connector two SODIMM connectors Memory module capacities 512 MB 1 GB 2 GB Memory type 667 MHz SODIMM DDR2 Minimum memory 512 MB Maximum memory 4 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 avai...

Page 205: ...em RJ 11 port Network adapter RJ 45 port S video TV out 7 pin mini DIN connector optional S video to composite video adapter cable USB four 4 pin USB 2 0 compliant connector Video 15 hole connector Communications Modem Type v 92 56K MDC Controller softmodem Interface Intel High Definition Audio Network adapter 10 100 Ethernet LAN on system board Wireless internal WLAN WWAN WPAN Mini Cards WWAN Exp...

Page 206: ...eo memory 128MB dedicated memory with shared memory up to 64 MB of shared memory with 512 MB system memory 256 MB of shared memory with 1 GB system memory 384 MB of shared memory with 2 GB system memory LCD interface LVDS TV support NTSC or PAL in S video composite and component modes Audio Audio type multi channel high definition audio codec Audio controller High Definition Audio HDA bus Stereo c...

Page 207: ... 7 mm 11 95 in Diagonal 358 2 mm 14 1 in Maximum resolutions WXGA 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors WXGA with TrueLife 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors WXGA with TrueLife 1440 x 900 at 262K colors Refresh rate 60 Hz Operating angle 0 closed to 145 Viewing angles Horizontal 40 WXGA 40 WXGA with TrueLife 40 WXGA with TrueLife Vertical 15 30 WXGA 15 30 WXGA with TrueLife 15 30 WXGA with TrueLife Pixel pitch WXGA ...

Page 208: ... at 30fps Diagonal Viewing Angle 60 Touch Pad X Y position resolution graphics table mode 240 cpi Size Width 71 7 mm 2 8 in sensor active area Height 34 08 mm 1 3 in rectangle Battery Type 9 cell smart lithium ion 6 cell smart lithium ion Dimensions Depth 69 25 mm 2 73 in 9 cell 49 76 mm 1 96 in 6 cell Height 21 0 mm 0 83 in 9 cell 20 4 mm 0 8 in 6 cell Width 209 4 mm 8 26 in 6 9 cells Weight 0 49...

Page 209: ...re 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 VAC Input current maximum 1 5 A Input frequency 50 60 Hz Output current 65 W 4 34 A maximum at 4 second pulse 3 34 A 65 W continuous Output current 90 W 5 62 A maximum at 4 second ...

Page 210: ...emperature range Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Physical Height 32 1 mm 1 26 in front 38 9 mm 1 53 in back Width 333 5 mm 13 13 in Depth 244 mm 9 61 in Weight with 6 cell battery Configurable to less than 2 497 kg 5 5 lb Environmental Temperature range Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Relative humidity maximum Operating 10 to 90 nonconden...

Page 211: ...ve in operating status and a 2 ms half sine pulse for operating Also measured with hard drive in head parked position and a 2 ms halfsine pulse for storage Operating 143 G Storage 163 G Altitude maximum Operating 15 2 to 3048 m 50 to 10 000 ft Storage 15 2 to 10 668 m 50 to 35 000 ft Airborne contaminant level G2 or lower as defined by ISA S71 04 1985 Environmental continued ...

Page 212: ...212 Specifications ...

Page 213: ... set or change user selectable features such as your 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 dis...

Page 214: ...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 215: ... 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 216: ...ructions 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 Mo...

Page 217: ...Optical Mouse 1 Clean the outside casing of the mouse with a cloth moistened with a mild cleaning solution 2 Turn the retainer ring on the underside of your mouse counterclockwise and then remove the ball 3 Wipe the ball with a clean lint free cloth 4 Blow carefully into the ball cage or use a can of compressed air to dislodge dust and lint 5 If the rollers inside the ball cage are dirty clean the...

Page 218: ...t 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 Dell Technical Support Policy U S Only Technician assisted technical support requires the cooperation and participation of the customer in the troubleshooting...

Page 219: ...ating system and some of the software programs that are installed on the computer during the manufacturing process Microsoft Office Norton Antivirus etc Dell installed peripherals include any internal expansion cards or Dell branded module bay or ExpressCard accessories In addition any Dell branded monitors keyboards mice speakers microphones for telephonic modems networking products and all assoc...

Page 220: ... harmful interference with radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures Reorient the receiving antenna Relocate the system with respect to the receiver Move the system away from the receiver Plug the system into a different outlet so that the system and the re...

Page 221: ...hat is protected by 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 ...

Page 222: ...222 Appendix ...

Page 223: ... smooth true color video image because of the faster interface between the video circuitry and 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 antivirus softw...

Page 224: ...g devices that allows for enabled devices to automatically recognize each other boot sequence Specifies the order of the devices from which the computer attempts to boot bootable CD A CD that you can use to start your computer In case your hard drive is damaged or your computer has a virus ensure that you always have a bootable CD or floppy disk available Your Drivers and Utilities media is a boot...

Page 225: ...s and DVDs and write to CD RW rewritable CDs and CD R recordable CDs discs You can write to CD RW discs multiple times but you can write to CD R discs only once clock speed The speed given in MHz that indicates how fast computer components that are connected to the system bus operate CMOS A type of electronic circuit Computers use a small amount of battery powered CMOS memory to hold date time and...

Page 226: ...e width DMA direct memory access A channel that allows certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the processor DMTF Distributed Management Task Force A consortium of hardware and software companies who develop management standards for distributed desktop network enterprise and Internet environments domain A group of computers programs and devices on a network that are admin...

Page 227: ... Similar to EPP ECP uses direct memory access to transfer data and often improves performance EIDE enhanced integrated device electronics An improved version of the IDE interface for hard drives and CD drives EMI electromagnetic interference Electrical interference caused by electromagnetic radiation ENERGY STAR Environmental Protection Agency requirements that decrease the overall consumption of ...

Page 228: ...ng communications related regulations that state how much radiation computers and other electronic equipment can emit fingerprint reader A strip sensor that uses your unique fingerprint to authenticate your user identity to help secure your computer folder A term used to describe space on a disk or drive where files are organized and grouped Files in a folder can be viewed and ordered in various w...

Page 229: ...memory information that was saved to the hard drive is automatically restored HTTP hypertext transfer protocol A protocol for exchanging files between computers connected to the Internet Hyper Threading Hyper Threading is an Intel technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing one physical processor to function as two logical processors capable of performing certain tasks sim...

Page 230: ...be assigned an IRQ Although two devices can share the same IRQ assignment you cannot operate both devices simultaneously ISP Internet service provider A company that allows you to access its host server to connect directly to the Internet send and receive e mail and access websites The ISP typically provides you with a software package user name and access phone numbers for a fee K Kb kilobit A un...

Page 231: ...emporary data storage area inside your computer Because the data in memory is not permanent it is recommended that you frequently save your files while you are working on them and always save your files before you shut down the computer Your computer can contain several different forms of memory such as RAM ROM and video memory Frequently the word memory is used as a synonym for RAM memory address...

Page 232: ...ge e mail module bay See media bay MP megapixel A measure of image resolution used for digital cameras ms millisecond A measure of time that equals one thousandth of a second Access times of storage devices are often measured in ms N network adapter A chip that provides network capabilities A computer may include a network adapter on its system board or it may contain a PC Card with an adapter on ...

Page 233: ...hed 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 Computer Memory Card International Association The organization that establishes standards for PC Cards PIO programmed input output A method of transferring data between two devices through the...

Page 234: ... or files you can view but cannot edit or delete A file can have read only status if It resides on a physically write protected floppy disk 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 The frequency measured in Hz at which your screen s horizontal lines are recharged sometimes also referred to as its ...

Page 235: ...e 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 access Dell Support at support dell ...

Page 236: ...connections cannot be protected by surge protectors Always disconnect the network cable 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 a...

Page 237: ...ated to video UPS uninterruptible power supply A backup power source used when the electrical power fails or drops to an unacceptable voltage level A UPS keeps a computer running for a limited amount of time when there is no electrical power UPS systems typically provide surge suppression and may also provide voltage regulation Small UPS systems provide battery power for a few minutes to enable yo...

Page 238: ... A program that is designed to inconvenience you or to destroy data stored on your computer A virus program moves from one computer to another through an infected disk software downloaded from the Internet or e mail attachments When an infected program starts its embedded virus also starts A common type of virus is a boot virus which is stored in the boot sectors of a floppy disk If the floppy dis...

Page 239: ...a 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 standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1024 x 768 Z ZIF zero insertion force A type of socket or connector...

Page 240: ...240 Glossary ...

Page 241: ...8 storing 62 blank cards ExpressCards 93 memory card 97 removing 95 98 Bluetooth wireless technology card device status light 28 installing 182 boot sequence 214 brightness adjusting 47 C camera 25 carnet 194 CD about 71 blank 72 CD RW drive problems 124 drive problems 124 Check Disk 124 cleaning touch pad 217 coin cell battery replacing 188 computer crashes 135 136 restore to previous operating s...

Page 242: ...Dell Support Center 120 Dell support site 18 DellConnect 122 196 device latch release description 34 device status lights description 27 diagnostics Dell 115 display adjusting brightness 47 adjusting the size of icons 191 adjusting the size of toolbars 191 description 25 resolution 47 switching the video image 47 documentation End User License Agreement 16 ergonomics 16 online 18 Product Informati...

Page 243: ...g 186 replacing 187 H hard drive description 34 problems 124 replacing 166 returning to Dell 168 hardware Dell Diagnostics 115 Hardware Troubleshooter 152 hibernate mode 59 I icons adjusting the size 191 IEEE 1394 connector description 30 problems 133 installing 180 installing parts turning off your computer 164 Internet connection about 37 options 37 setting up 38 K keyboard numeric keypad 49 pro...

Page 244: ...der 97 memory cards blanks 98 removing 98 messages error 127 microphone directional 63 Mini Card installing 179 WLAN 179 WPAN 179 WWAN 179 Mobile Broadband network connections 106 See also wireless switch Mobile Broadband WWAN problems 139 modem connector description 32 monitor See display N network installing WLAN Mini Card 179 Mobile Broadband WWAN 139 problems 139 QuickSet 191 network connector...

Page 245: ...s 135 136 computer does not start up 135 computer stops responding 135 Dell Diagnostics 115 Dell MediaDirect 136 drives 123 DVD drive 124 error messages 127 hard drive 124 IEEE 1394 connector 133 keyboard 133 lockups 135 network 139 power 140 power light conditions 140 printer 141 program crashes repeatedly 135 program stops responding 135 programs and Windows compatibility 136 restore computer to...

Page 246: ...nd hardware incompatibilities 152 sound problems 143 volume 143 speakers problems 143 volume 143 specifications 203 spyware 127 137 standby mode about 59 stolen computer 112 Subscriber Identity Module 179 support contacting Dell 201 support website 18 S video TV out connector description 32 System Restore 158 system setup program commonly used options 214 screens 214 viewing 214 T taskbar Dell Mob...

Page 247: ... 158 TV connecting 76 U uninterruptible power supply See UPS UPS 45 USB connector description 32 V video problems 146 video controller determining configuration 23 video controller configuration determining what controller is installed 23 volume adjusting 143 W warranty information 16 Windows Easy Transfer wizard 39 Windows Vista Device Driver Rollback 149 Program Compatibility wizard 136 reinstal...

Page 248: ...248 Index wizards Program Compatibility wizard 136 Windows Easy Transfer 39 WLAN 180 installing Mini Card 179 WWAN installing 184 See also Mobile Broadband ...

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