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Troubleshooting

141

Sound and Speaker Problems

 

CAUTION: 

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

safety instructions in the 

Product Information Guide

.

No sound from integrated speakers

A

D J U ST

 

T H E

 W

INDO WS

 

V O L U M E

 

C O N T R O L

—

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.

A

D J U ST

 

T H E

 

VO LUM E

 

U S I N G

 

K E Y B O A R D

 

S H O RT C U T S

—

Press <Fn><End> to 

disable (mute) or re-enable the integrated speakers.

R

E I N S T A L L

 

T H E

 

S O U N D

 (

A U D I O

) 

D R I V E R

—

See "Reinstalling Drivers and 

Utilities" on page 146.

No sound from external speakers

E

N SU R E

 

T H A T

 

T H E

 

S U B W O O F E R

 

A N D

 

T H E

 

S PE A K E R S

 

A RE

 

T U RN E D

 

O N

—

See the 

setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If your speakers have volume 

controls, adjust the volume, bass, or treble to eliminate distortion.

A

D J U ST

 

T H E

 W

INDO WS

 

V O L U M E

 

C O N T R O L

—

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.

D

I SC O N N E CT

 

H E A D P H O N E S

 

F R O M

 

T H E

 

H E A D P H O N E

 

C O N N E CT O R

—

Sound from 

the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the 

headphone connector.

T

ES T

 

T H E

 

EL E CT R I C A L

 

O U T L E T

—

Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by 

testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

E

L I M I N A T E

 

PO S S I B L E

 

I N T E RF E R E N CE

—

Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, 

or halogen lamps to check for interference.

R

E I N S T A L L

 

T H E

 

A U D I O

 

D RI V E R

—

See "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on 

page 146. 

R

U N

 

T H E

 D

E L L

 D

I A G N O S T I C S

—

See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 113.

 

NOTE: 

The volume control in some MP3 players overrides the Windows volume 

setting. If you have been listening to MP3 songs, ensure that you did not turn the 

player volume down or off.

Summary of Contents for Vostro 1500

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 1500 Owner s Manual Model PP22L ...

Page 2: ...demarks of Dell Inc Intel is a registered trademark and Core is a trademark of Intel Corporation Microsoft Windows Outlook Windows XP and Windows Vista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG Inc and is used by Dell under license ENERGY STAR is a registeredtrademar...

Page 3: ...w 27 Right Side View 30 Back View 31 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 43 Connecting a USB Printer 44 Power Protection Devices 45 ...

Page 4: ...sta 48 Using Both a Monitor and Your Computer Display 49 Microsoft Windows XP 49 Windows Vista 50 Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate 50 Microsoft Windows XP 51 Windows Vista 51 5 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 53 Numeric Keypad 53 Key Combinations 54 System Functions 54 Display Functions 54 Battery 54 Power Management 54 Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions 55 Dell QuickSet Key Combinat...

Page 5: ...ttery Meter 61 Charge Gauge 61 Low Battery Warning 62 Conserving Battery Power 62 Power Management Modes 63 Standby and Sleep Mode 63 Hibernate Mode 63 Configuring Power Management Settings 64 Accessing Power Options Properties 64 Charging the Battery 65 Replacing the Battery 65 Storing a Battery 66 7 Using Multimedia 67 Playing Media 67 Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote 69 ...

Page 6: ...rd Audio 77 S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 78 Composite Video and Standard Audio 80 Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 82 Component Video and Standard Audio 84 Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 87 Enabling the Display Settings for a TV 90 8 Using ExpressCards 91 ExpressCard Blanks 91 Installing an ExpressCard 92 Removing an ExpressCard or Blank 93 9 Using the Memory Card Reader 95 M...

Page 7: ...LAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem 100 Connecting to a WLAN 101 Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network 104 What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection 104 Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card 105 Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network 105 Enabling Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card 106 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator 107 11 Securing Your C...

Page 8: ...ve problems 122 E Mail Modem and Internet Problems 123 Error Messages 125 ExpressCard Problems 130 IEEE 1394 Device Problems 131 Keyboard Problems 131 External Keyboard problems 131 Unexpected characters 132 Lockups and Software Problems 133 The computer does not start 133 The computer stops responding 133 A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly 133 A program is designed for an earlier Mi...

Page 9: ...1 No sound from integrated speakers 141 No sound from external speakers 141 No sound from headphones 142 Remote Control Problems 142 Touch Pad or Mouse Problems 142 Video and Display Problems 143 If the display is blank 143 If the display is difficult to read 144 If only part of the display is readable 145 Drivers 145 What Is a Driver 145 Identifying Drivers 145 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities ...

Page 10: ...64 Removing the Hard Drive 164 Replacing the Hard Drive 166 Returning a Hard Drive to Dell 167 Optical Drive 167 Removing the Optical Drive 167 Hinge Cover 168 Removing the Hinge Cover 168 Replacing the Hinge Cover 169 Keyboard 169 Removing the Keyboard 170 Replacing the Keyboard 171 Memory 172 Removing the DIMM A Memory Module 172 Replacing the DIMM A Memory Module 173 Removing the DIMM B Memory ...

Page 11: ...6 Replacing a WPAN Card 187 Flash Cache Module 187 Removing the FCM 187 Replacing the FCM 188 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology 189 Removing the Card 189 Coin Cell Battery 190 Removing the Coin Cell Battery 190 14 Dell QuickSet Features 193 15 Traveling With Your Computer 195 Identifying Your Computer 195 Packing the Computer 195 Travel Tips 196 Traveling by Air 196 ...

Page 12: ...roblems With Your Order 199 Product Information 200 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit 200 Before You Call 201 Contacting Dell 203 17 Specifications 205 18 Appendix 215 Using the System Setup Program 215 Viewing the System Setup Screen 216 System Setup Screen 216 Commonly Used Options 216 Cleaning Your Computer 218 Computer Keyboard and Display 218 Touch Pad 219 Mouse 219 Media 220 ...

Page 13: ...port Policy U S Only 220 Definition of Dell Installed Software and Peripherals 221 Definition of Third Party Software and Peripherals 221 FCC Notice U S Only 221 FCC Class B 221 Macrovision Product Notice 223 Glossary 225 Index 243 ...

Page 14: ...14 Contents ...

Page 15: ...n your computer You can use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 or run the Dell Support 3 utility see Dell Support on page 118 Readme files may be included on your Drivers and Utilities media to provide last minute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technical reference material for technicians or experien...

Page 16: ...ervice Tag and Express Service Code Microsoft Windows Product Key Service Tag and Microsoft Windows Product Key These labels are located on your computer Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support dell com or contact support Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support NOTE As an increased security measure the newly designed Microsoft Windows l...

Page 17: ... NSS If you 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...

Page 18: ...n the screen Microsoft Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Help and Support 2 In Search Help type a word or phrase that describes your problem and then press Enter or click the magnifying glass 3 Click the topic that describes your problem 4 Follow the instructions on the screen Information on network activity the Power Management Wizard hotkeys and other items cont...

Page 19: ...te Dell PC Restore may not ship with your computer Operating System Installation Media If you received operating system media with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system For more information see Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating System on page 150 After you reinstall your operating system use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers for the devices that ...

Page 20: ...20 Finding Information ...

Page 21: ...oller configuration 1 Access the Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center For instructions see Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Help and Support Center on page 16 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...

Page 22: ...tional 3 display latch 4 display 5 power button 6 keyboard 7 device status lights 8 touch pad 9 consumer IR sensor 10 media control buttons 11 touch pad buttons 12 Dell MediaDirect button 13 keyboard status lights 14 digital array microphones 4 5 13 3 6 12 8 7 14 2 1 11 9 10 ...

Page 23: ...ed DISPLAY For more information about your display see Using the Display on page 47 POWER BUTTON Press the power button to turn on the computer or exit a power management mode see Power Management Modes on page 63 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 p...

Page 24: ...management mode Hard drive activity light Turns on when the computer reads or writes data NOTICE To avoid loss of data never turn off the computer while the light is flashing 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 networking use the wireless switch see wireless s...

Page 25: ... when you use the touch pad to move the cursor on the display see Touch Pad on page 55 MEDIA CONTROL BUTTONS Control CD DVD and Media Player playback Bluetooth status light Turns on when an internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology is enabled NOTE The internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology is an optional feature The light turns on only if you ordered the card with your computer Fo...

Page 26: ...D STATUS LIGHTS The blue lights located above the keyboard indicate the following DIGITAL ARRAY MICROPHONES Built in microphone for conferencing and chat Turn the volume up Stop Play or pause Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled Turns on when the uppercase letter caps lock function is enabled Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled 9 A ...

Page 27: ...Set this switch can scan for a wireless local area network 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 see Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator on page 107 1 security cable slot 2 wireless switch 3 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator light 4 air vents 5 audio connectors 6 ExpressCard ...

Page 28: ...computer gets hot Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fan or the computer 1 off Disables wireless devices 2 on Enables wireless devices 3 momentary Scans for WLAN networks see Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator on page 107 4 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator light Flashing green Searching for networks Solid green Strong network found Solid yellow Weak network found Flashi...

Page 29: ...CTORS EXPRESSCARD SLOT Supports one ExpressCard The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot For more information see Using ExpressCards on page 91 Attach headphones to the connector Attach a microphone to the connector ...

Page 30: ...alled in the slot The 8 in 1 memory card reader reads the following digital memory cards Secure Digital SD memory card SDIO card MultiMediaCard MMC Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD IEEE 1394 CONNECTOR Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high speed transfer rates such as some digital video cameras 1 battery status light 2 hard drive activity light 3 power li...

Page 31: ...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 Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer 1 S video TV out connector 2 USB connectors 2 3 AC adapter connector 4 battery 5 modem connector RJ 11 1 2 3 5 4 ...

Page 32: ...discrete video configuration you must use the 90 W AC adapter that is shipped with your computer Using the incorrect AC adapter will prevent optimal system performance and produce a BIOS warning NOTE Ensure the power cord is firmly attached to the AC adapter A green LED light on the AC adapter indicates a proper connection Connects your computer to a TV Also connects digital audio capable devices ...

Page 33: ...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 MODEM CONNECTOR RJ 11 Connect the telephone line to the modem connector For information on using the modem see the online modem documentation supplied with...

Page 34: ...L BATTERY COVER Covers the DIMM B memory module and the coin cell battery For additional information see Adding and Replacing Parts on page 161 1 left speaker 2 memory module coin cell battery cover 3 consumer IR sensor 4 right speaker 5 wireless Mini Card cover 6 battery 7 battery charge health gauge 8 battery release latches 2 9 fan 10 hard drive 2 3 4 10 7 1 6 8 9 5 ...

Page 35: ...hen a battery is installed you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an electrical outlet see Using a Battery on page 59 BATTERY CHARGE HEALTH GAUGE Provides information on the battery charge see Checking the Battery Charge on page 60 BATTERY RELEASE LATCHES Releases the battery see Replacing the Battery on page 65 for instructions FAN The computer uses a fan to create airflow th...

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

Page 37: ...et 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 connecti...

Page 38: ...t your ISP to check the service status or try connecting again later 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 window click the appropriate option If you do not have an ISP and want to select one click Choose from a list of Internet service providers ISPs If y...

Page 39: ...lp me choose or contact your ISP 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 files and other data from one computer to another for example from an old computer to a new computer For instructions see the following section that c...

Page 40: ...k with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System Media NOTE This procedure requires the Operating System media This media is optional and may not be included with certain computers To prepare a new computer for the file transfer 1 Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Files...

Page 41: ...n applied the Finished screen appears 3 Click Finished and restart the new computer Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System Media To run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard without the Operating System media you must create a wizard disk that will allow you to create a backup image file to removable media To create a wizard disk use your new computer with Win...

Page 42: ... transfer and click Next After the information has been copied the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears 8 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 Follow the instructions on...

Page 43: ...system setup before you connect a printer to the computer See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information including how to Obtain and install updated drivers Connect the printer to the computer Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge For technical assistance refer to the printer owner s manual or contact the printer manufacturer Printer Cable Your printer connects ...

Page 44: ...e USB connectors fit only one way 3 Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer If the Add New Hardware Wizard window appears click Cancel 4 Depending on your computer s operating system a printer wizard may be available to help you install the printer driver If your computer is running the Microsoft Windows XP operating system and the Add New Hardware Wizard window appears click Cancel 1 US...

Page 45: ...amage to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical storms or after power interruptions Some surge protector manufacturers include warranty coverage for certain types of damage Carefully read the device warranty when choosing a surge protector A device with a higher joule rating offers more protection Compare joule ratings to determine the relative effectiveness of differen...

Page 46: ...sure maximum battery operating time connect only your computer to a UPS Connect other devices such as a printer to a separate power strip that provides surge protection A UPS protects against power fluctuations and interruptions UPS devices contain a battery that provides temporary power to connected devices when AC power is interrupted The battery charges while AC power is available See the UPS m...

Page 47: ...ot change Using 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 display only the external device only or the display and the external device simultaneously Making Images and Text Look Bigger or S...

Page 48: ...k click the area you want to change or under or pick a Control Panel icon click Display 4 In the Display Properties window click the Settings tab 5 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution NOTE As the resolution increases icons and text appear smaller on the screen Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and click Control Panel 2 Under Appearance and Personalizat...

Page 49: ...xternal monitor TV or projector to the computer 2 Click Start Settings Control Panel 3 Under Pick a category click Appearance and Themes 4 Under Pick a task click the area you want to change or under or pick a Control Panel icon click Display 5 In the Display Properties window click the Settings tab NOTE If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports the setti...

Page 50: ...option and then click Apply Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate NOTE If you change the display resolution from the current settings the image may appear blurry or text may be hard to read if you change the resolution to one not supported by your computer and display Before you change any of the display settings make a note of the current settings so you can change back to the previous sett...

Page 51: ... Under Pick a task click the area you want to change or under or pick a Control Panel icon click Display 4 In the Display Properties window click the Settings tab 5 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution NOTE As the resolution increases icons and text appear smaller on the screen Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and click Control Panel 2 Under Appearance...

Page 52: ...52 Using the Display ...

Page 53: ...xternal 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 54: ...ch the display to that option Fn and up arrow key Increases brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Fn and down arrow key Decreases brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Fn F3 Displays the Dell QuickSet Battery Meter see Dell QuickSet Battery Meter on page 60 Fn Esc Activates a power management mode You can reprogram this keyboard shortcu...

Page 55: ...ch Pad The touch pad detects the pressure and movement of your finger to allow you to move the cursor on the display Use the touch pad and touch pad buttons as you would use a mouse Windows logo key and m Minimizes all open windows Windows logo key and Shift m Restores all minimized windows This key combination functions as a toggle to restore minimized windows following the use of the Windows log...

Page 56: ...h 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 or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button twice Customizing the Touch Pad You can use the Mouse Properties window to disable the touch pad or adjust the touch pad setting...

Page 57: ...nd Touch Pad 57 3 Click Mouse 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 ...

Page 58: ...58 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad ...

Page 59: ...ation 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 op...

Page 60: ...ION 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 battery charge on your c...

Page 61: ...To check the battery charge press and release the status button on the battery charge gauge to 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 h...

Page 62: ... Dell QuickSet or the Power Options window see Power Management Modes on page 63 Conserving Battery Power To conserve battery power on your portable computer do any of the following Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible battery life is largely determined by the number of times the battery is used and recharged Place the computer in standby mode or hibernate mode when you leave...

Page 63: ...gement 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 pressing a key or to...

Page 64: ...see Removing an ExpressCard or Blank on page 93 or simply restart reboot your computer To exit hibernate mode press the power button The computer may take a short time to exit hibernate mode 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 ...

Page 65: ...s too 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 137 Replacing the Battery C...

Page 66: ... device for instructions 2 Ensure that the computer is turned off 3 Turn the computer over 4 Slide and click the battery release latches to keep them open 5 Slide the battery out of the bay To replace the battery slide the battery into the bay until it latches into place Storing a Battery Remove the battery when you store your computer for an extended period of time A battery discharges during pro...

Page 67: ...ICE 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 To format media for storing or copying data see the media software that came with your computer NOTE Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when copying media ...

Page 68: ...f 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 the current title or chapter Go to the previous title or chapter Eject ...

Page 69: ... details go to the Dell Support website at support dell com To play media using Dell Travel Remote 1 Install the CR2106 coin cell battery in your remote control 2 Launch Windows Vista Media Center and then click Start Programs 3 Use the remote control buttons to play media 1 Infrared Transmitter 2 Page Up 3 Page Down 4 Arrow Up 5 OK Enter Select 6 Arrow Right 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16 15 14 13 12...

Page 70: ... up important data For help open Roxio Creator and then press F1 The DVD drives and BD drives installed in Dell computers do not support HD DVD media For a list of supported media formats see Using Blank CD DVD and BD Media on page 71 How to Copy a CD DVD or BD NOTE BD media can only be copied to other BD media NOTE Copying a BD R to BD RE will not produce an exact copy NOTE Most commercial DVDs a...

Page 71: ...jects Using Blank CD DVD and BD Media DVD writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media BD writable drives can write to CD DVD and BD recording media Use blank CD Rs to record music or permanently store data files After creating a CD R you cannot write to that CD R again see the Sonic documentation for more information Use a blank CD RW if you plan to erase rewrite or update informa...

Page 72: ... MB file to a blank 650 MB CD The CD RW drive needs 1 2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD R Yes Yes No CD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R Yes Yes No DVD R Yes Yes No DVD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R DL Yes Yes No DVD R DL Yes Yes No Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD R Yes Yes No CD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R Yes Yes No DVD R Yes Yes No DVD RW Yes Yes Y...

Page 73: ...e manufacturer Commercially available BD players used in home theater systems may not support all available BD formats For a list of formats supported by your BD player see the documentation provided with your BD player or contact the manufacturer See the Roxio website at www sonic com or the Blu ray Disc Association website at blu raydisc com for additional information Adjusting the Volume NOTE W...

Page 74: ...ay Settings click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting 4 In the drop down menu under Color quality click Medium 16 bit 5 Click OK Using Dell MediaDirect Dell MediaDirect is an instant on multimedia playback mode for digital media Press the Dell MediaDirect button located on the hinge cover to launch Dell MediaDirect When your computer is turned off or in Sleep state you can press the ...

Page 75: ...cluded with your computer Cables and TV digital audio adapter 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 conn...

Page 76: ...OTE See the diagrams at the beginning of each subsection to help you determine which method of connection you should use 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 3 S PDIF digital audio connector 4 composite video output connector 5 S video connector 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 3 S PDIF digital audio connector 4 Pr red component video output connector 5 Pb blue ...

Page 77: ...he TV See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 90 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 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 78: ... 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 if applicable and then turn on the computer 7...

Page 79: ... the S video cable into the S video output connector on the composite video adapter 4 Plug the other end of the S video cable into the S video input connector on the TV 5 Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the digital audio connector on the composite video adapter cable 1 composite video adapter 2 S video cable 3 S PDIF digital audio cable 1 composite video adapter 2 S video cable...

Page 80: ...evice that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Composite Video and Standard Audio 1 composite video adapter 2 S PDIF digital audio cable 1 audio input connector 2 S video TV out connector 3 composite video adapter 1 2 2 1 3 ...

Page 81: ...r on your computer 3 Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video output connector on the composite video adapter 4 Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector on the TV 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 1 2 3 2 1 ...

Page 82: ... 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 Display Settings for a TV on page 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video cable 1 2 ...

Page 83: ... cable into the composite video input connector on the composite video adapter 4 Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector 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 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 composite video adapter 2 composi...

Page 84: ...n 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 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Component Video and Standard Audio 1 composite video adapter 2 S PDIF digital audio cable 1 S video TV out connector 2 component video adapter 1 2 2 1 ...

Page 85: ...e S video TV out connector on your 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 adapter 3 standard audio cable 1 2 3 ...

Page 86: ...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 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 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes and wor...

Page 87: ...Using Multimedia 87 Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video cable 1 2 ...

Page 88: ...he 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 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 2 3 ...

Page 89: ...tor on the component 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 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV 1 component video ada...

Page 90: ... Appearance and Personalization 2 Under Personalization click Adjust Screen Resolution The Display Properties window appears 3 Click Advanced 4 Click the tab for your video card NOTE To determine the type of video card installed in your computer see Windows Help and Support To access Help and Support click Start Help and Support Under Pick a Task click Use Tools to view your computer information a...

Page 91: ...hape 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 205 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 p...

Page 92: ...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 93: ...ard or Blank CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Press the release latch and remove the card or blank For some release 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 unus...

Page 94: ...94 Using ExpressCards ...

Page 95: ... reader Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles Save the blank for use when no memory card is installed in the slot blanks from other computers may not fit your computer Remove the blank before installing a memory card To remove the blank see Removing a Memory Card or Blank on page 96 Installing a Memory Card You can install a memory card in the computer while the computer is run...

Page 96: ...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 97: ... through the process of networking computers For more information about Networking see the Windows Help and Support Center see Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Help and Support Center on page 16 Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable Before you connect your computer to a network the computer must have a network adapter installed and a network cable connected to it 1 Connect the networ...

Page 98: ...r connects 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 Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Connect To Set up a connection or network 2 Select an option under Choose a connection option 3 Click Next and then ...

Page 99: ...able or DSL A broadband modem that is connected and working A wireless router or access point A wireless network card for each computer that you want to connect to your WLAN A network cable with a network RJ 45 connector 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 ...

Page 100: ... Router and a Broadband Modem 1 Contact your Internet service provider ISP to obtain specific information about the connection requirements for your broadband modem 2 Ensure that you have wired Internet 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 97 3 Install any software required for your...

Page 101: ...r and wait for at least 2 minutes for the wireless router to stabilize After 2 minutes proceed to the step 13 13 Start your computer and wait until the boot process 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 ...

Page 102: ...puter and a network for which your computer is not configured is detected in the area a pop up appears near the network icon in the Windows notification area Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager 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 Wind...

Page 103: ...pear on your screen Once you have configured your computer for the wireless network that you selected another pop up notifies you that your computer is connected to that network Thereafter whenever you log on to your computer within the range of the wireless network that you selected the same pop up notifies you of the wireless network connection NOTE If you select a secure network you must enter ...

Page 104: ...aintain Mobile Broadband network access as long as the computer is within a cellular data coverage zone Contact your service provider for coverage of a high speed digital cellular network NOTE Even if you are able to make a call from your cellular phone in a specific geographical location that location may not necessarily be within a cellular data coverage zone What You Need to Establish a Mobile ...

Page 105: ...your computer the computer has a variety of configurations To determine your computer configuration see one of the following Your order confirmation Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center To check your Mobile Broadband card in the Windows Help and Support Center 1 Click Start Help and Support Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems 2 Under Tools click My Computer Infor...

Page 106: ...o manage the network connection with the utility or 1 Click Start All Programs Dell Wireless 2 Click Dell Wireless Broadband and follow the instructions on the screen Enabling Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card NOTE If you are unable to connect to a Mobile Broadband network ensure that you have all the components for establishing a Mobile Broadband connection see What You Need to Establish a...

Page 107: ... slide and hold the wireless switch see wireless switch on page 27 in the momentary position for a few seconds The Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator functions regardless of whether your computer is turned on or off in hibernate mode in standby mode or in Sleep state as long as the switch is configured through Dell QuickSet or the BIOS system setup program to control WiFi network connections Because th...

Page 108: ...108 Setting Up and Using Networks ...

Page 109: ...t 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...

Page 110: ...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 203 For your protection Dell technical support staff will ask you for proof of your ...

Page 111: ...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 112: ...112 Securing Your Computer ...

Page 113: ...blem with your computer perform the checks in Lockups and Software Problems on page 133 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin NOTE The Dell Diagnostics only operates on Dell computers Enter the system setup program review your computer s configuration information and ensure that the device yo...

Page 114: ...TE 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 and hard drive During the assessment answer any questions that appear If failures are detected the computer stops and beeps To st...

Page 115: ...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 116: ...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 117: ...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 118: ... 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 computer such as available memory disk space instal...

Page 119: ...Dell PC TuneUp The automated or monthly version of Dell PC TuneUp 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 and security The mont...

Page 120: ...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 121: ...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 the computer CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK See Cleaning Your Computer on page 218 ENSURE THAT THE CD OR DVD MEDIA IS SNAPPED ONTO THE SPINDLE CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTI...

Page 122: ... 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 scraping or grinding sound Ensure that the sound is not caused by the program that is running Ensure that the disc is inserted properly Hard drive problems ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO COOL BEFORE TURNING IT ON A hot hard drive may...

Page 123: ...tlook 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 DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK USE A DIFFERENT TELEPHONE LINE Verify that the telephone line is connected to the jack on the modem the jack has either a green label or a connector shaped icon next to it En...

Page 124: ...onses the modem is operating properly Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button Control Panel Hardware and Sound Phone and Modem Options Modems 2 Click the COM port for your modem Properties Diagnostics Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows If all commands receive responses the modem is operating properly ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET Ensure ...

Page 125: ...rrectly put spaces in the proper place and used the correct pathname CACHE DISABLED DUE TO FAILURE The primary cache internal to the microprocessor has failed Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 203 CD DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE The CD drive does not respond to commands from the computer see Drive Problems on page 121 DATA ERROR The hard drive cannot read the data see Drive Problems on page 121...

Page 126: ...stall the hard drive and restart the computer Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 HARD DISK DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE 0 The hard drive does not respond to commands from the computer Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 164 and boot the computer from a CD Then shut down the computer reinstall the hard drive and restart...

Page 127: ... test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 KEYBOARD STUCK KEY FAILURE For external keyboards or keypads check the cable connection Restart the computer and avoid touching the keyboard or keys during the boot routine Run the Stuck Key test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 LICENSED CONTENT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE IN MEDIADIRECT DellMediaDirect cannot verify the ...

Page 128: ...BOOT SECTOR ON HARD DRIVE The operating system may be corrupted Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 203 NO TIMER TICK INTERRUPT A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning Run the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES EXIT SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN You have too many programs open Close all windows and open the program t...

Page 129: ... Diagnostics on page 113 TIME OF DAY CLOCK LOST POWER System configuration settings are corrupted Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge the battery If the problem persists try to restore the data by entering the system setup program then immediately exit the program see Using the System Setup Program on page 215 If the message reappears contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 20...

Page 130: ...d 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 inserted into the connector CHECK THAT THE CARD IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS Double click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Windows taskbar Some cards do not support this feature If the card supports...

Page 131: ...OBLEMS WITH AN IEEE 1394 DEVICE NOT PROVIDED BY DELL Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer see Contacting Dell on page 203 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 NOTE Use the integrated keyboard when running t...

Page 132: ...ct 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 Contacting Dell on page 203 RUN THE KEYBOARD DIAGNOSTICS TEST...

Page 133: ...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 134: ... 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 135: ...t Dell for assistance see Contacting Dell on page 203 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 136: ... memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory see Memory on page 172 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory see Memory on page 172 Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines...

Page 137: ...MOBILE BROADBAND EXPRESSCARD You must activate the Mobile Broadband ExpressCard before you can connect to the network Position the mouse over the icon in the notification area to verify the status of the connection If the card is not activated follow the card activation instructions located within the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility To access the utility double click the icon located in the tas...

Page 138: ...mber or is a steady amber the battery charge is low or depleted Connect the computer to an electrical outlet If the battery status light flashes blue and amber the battery is too hot to charge Shut down the computer disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and then let the battery and computer cool to room temperature If the battery status light rapidly flashes amber the battery may be d...

Page 139: ...IONS See the printer documentation for cable connection information Ensure that the printer cables are securely connected to the printer and the computer TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp VERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware View inst...

Page 140: ...CANNER Ensure that your scanner is unlocked RESTART THE COMPUTER AND TRY THE SCANNER AGAIN CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS See the scanner documentation for cable connection information Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer VERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY MICROSOFT WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware Scanne...

Page 141: ...your speakers have volume controls adjust the volume bass or treble to eliminate distortion ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Click or double click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted DISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are conne...

Page 142: ... up Check that the battery is also not weak Point your remote control to the receiver The receiver is underneath the touch pad of your computer Move the remote control closer to your computer REMOTE CONTROL IS STUCK IN THE SLOT Check that you have not incorrectly stored the remote control into a non Express Card slot Contact Dell Technical Support for removing it Touch Pad or Mouse Problems CHECK ...

Page 143: ...ts pointer movement and the operation of the touch pad or mouse buttons run the Mouse test in the Pointing Devices test group in the Dell Diagnostics on page 113 REINSTALL THE TOUCH PAD DRIVER See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 Video and Display Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide If...

Page 144: ...rom the computer or external monitor ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE Turn off nearby fans fluorescent lights halogen lamps or other appliances ROTATE THE COMPUTER TO FACE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION Eliminate sunlight glare which can cause poor picture quality ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Appearance and Themes 2 Click the area you want to change or click the...

Page 145: ...rograms that use the device Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed no further installation or configuration is needed NOTICE Your Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer Ensure that you are installing software appropriate f...

Page 146: ...on point is next to the device name you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities NOTICE The Dell Support website at support dell com and your Drivers and Utilities media provide approved drivers for Dell computers If you install drivers obtained from other sources your computer might not work corr...

Page 147: ... Device Driver Rollback or System Restore see Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating System on page 150 does not resolve the problem reinstall the driver from your Drivers and Utilities media 1 With the Windows desktop displayed insert your Drivers and Utilities media If this is your first time to use your Drivers and Utilities media continue to step 2 If not proceed to step 5 2 When the Drive...

Page 148: ...r is not required by your operating system Manually Reinstalling Drivers NOTE If your computer has a Consumer IR port and you are reinstalling a Consumer IR driver you must first enable the Consumer IR port in the system setup program see Using the System Setup Program on page 215 before continuing with the driver installation see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 For information abou...

Page 149: ...river software 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 the name of the driver OK Next 8 Click Finish and restart your computer Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured you can u...

Page 150: ...Search Help field at the top of the window Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating System Restoring Windows Vista You can restore your Windows Vista operating system in the following ways Windows Vista includes the Backup and Restore Center to create backups of important files on your computer or to back up the entire hard drive You can then restore your operating system or files if needed Micr...

Page 151: ...state See the Windows Help and Support Center for information on using System Restore To access the Windows Help and Support Center click the Windows Vista Start button Help and Support NOTICE Make regular backups of your data files System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them NOTE The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view so they may not apply if...

Page 152: ... using System Restore 3 Click Continue in the User Account Control UAC dialog box asking for permission to run the application 4 Click Next in the System Restore window to view the most recent restore points in chronological order 5 Select the Show restore points older than 5 days check box to view the complete list of restore points 6 Select a restore point Try to restore from the most recent res...

Page 153: ...ion of the Windows operating systems NOTICE When you restore the computer to the default factory configuration all data on the hard drive is deleted Before performing this procedure back up personal files If you do not back up personal files the data is lost 1 Restart the computer To do this click the Windows Vista Start button Restart 2 As the computer restarts press F8 until the Advanced Boot Op...

Page 154: ...was in before you installed the new device driver see Using Microsoft Windows System Restore on page 156 NOTICE Before performing the installation back up all data files on your primary hard drive For conventional hard drive configurations the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer To reinstall Windows you need the following items Dell Operating System media Dell Drivers an...

Page 155: ...boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program 5 When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW Drive and then press Enter 6 Press any key to Boot from CD ROM 7 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation NOTE You cannot reinstall Dell MediaDirect if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive You need the installation software to reinstall Dell M...

Page 156: ...document were written for the Windows default view so they may not apply if you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view Starting System Restore NOTICE Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state save and close any 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 All Programs A...

Page 157: ...ries or on certain computers Use Dell PC Restore only as the last method to restore your operating system These options restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer Any programs or files added since you received your computer including data files are permanently deleted from the hard drive Data files include documents spreadsheets e mail messages digital...

Page 158: ...em Dell PC Restore enables you to restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased your computer It is recommended that you do not remove PC Restore from your computer even to gain additional hard drive space If you remove PC Restore from the hard drive you cannot ever recall it and you will never be able to use PC Restore to return your computer operating system to its ...

Page 159: ...oblem then use System Restore to return your operating system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver see Using Microsoft Windows System Restore on page 156 NOTICE Before performing the installation back up all data files on your primary hard drive For conventional hard drive configurations the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer To re...

Page 160: ...iately NOTE If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again NOTE The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only On the next start up the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program 5 When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW ...

Page 161: ...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 screwdriver Small plastic scribe Flash BIOS update see the Dell Support website at support dell com Turning Off Your Computer NOTICE To avoid lo...

Page 162: ...le components and cards with care Do not touch the components or contacts on a card Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket Hold a component such as a processor by its edges not by its pins NOTICE Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty NOTICE When you discon...

Page 163: ...ug it from the network connector 3 Disconnect any telephone or network cables from the computer 4 Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board remove the battery from the battery bay before you service the computer NOTE To avoid damage to the computer use only the battery designed for this particular Dell computer...

Page 164: ...revent data loss turn off your computer see Turning Off Your Computer on page 161 before removing the hard drive Do not remove the hard drive while the computer is on or in Standby or Sleep mode 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 ar...

Page 165: ...it in protective antistatic packaging see Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge in the Product Information Guide 3 Slide the hard drive out of the computer 4 Remove the two hard drive bezel screws and pull the hard drive bezel off the hard drive 1 hard drive 2 hard drive screws 4 2 1 ...

Page 166: ...you took off the old hard drive onto the new hard drive and fasten the two hard drive bezel screws 3 Slide the hard drive into the hard drive bay until it is fully seated 4 Replace and tighten the hard drive screws 5 Install the operating system for your computer as needed see Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating System on page 150 6 Install the drivers and utilities for your computer as nee...

Page 167: ...egin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Removing the Optical Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Turn the computer over 3 Remove the device security 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 fo...

Page 168: ... 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 remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer Removing the Hinge Cover 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Open the display as far as it will open 1 optical drive ...

Page 169: ...ent to lift the hinge cover on the right side 4 Ease the hinge cover up moving from right to left and remove it Replacing the Hinge Cover 1 Insert the left edge of the hinge cover 2 Press from left to right until the cover snaps into place Keyboard For more information about the keyboard see Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad on page 53 1 hinge cover 2 scribe 1 2 ...

Page 170: ...he computer Removing the Keyboard 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Remove the hinge cover see Hinge Cover on page 168 3 Remove the two keyboard 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 handling the keyboard 4 Lift the keyboard and hold it up and slightly for...

Page 171: ...2 Rotate the cable release lever to secure the cable 3 Hook the tabs along the front edge of the keyboard into the palm rest 4 Press on the right edge near the top to snap the keyboard into place 5 Replace the two keyboard screws at the top of the keyboard 1 keyboard screws 2 2 keyboard 3 tabs 5 4 keyboard cable 5 cable release lever 1 2 4 5 3 ...

Page 172: ...stall 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 DIMM A Memory Module 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 The DIMM A memory mod...

Page 173: ...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 174: ...outlet 6 Turn on the computer As the computer boots it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information Confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer Windows XP Right click the My Computer icon on your desktop then click Properties General Windows Vista Click the Windows Vista Start button right click Computer and then click Properties 1 tab 2 n...

Page 175: ...over NOTICE To prevent damage to the memory module connector do not use tools to spread the memory module securing clips 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 3 Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the m...

Page 176: ...back 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 ...

Page 177: ...t the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet 5 Turn on the computer As the computer boots it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information Confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer Windows XP Right click the My Computer icon on your desktop then click Properties General Windows Vista Click the Windows Vista Start button righ...

Page 178: ...begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTE Only GSM HSDPA type cards need a SIM EVDO cards do not use a SIM 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 In the battery bay slide the SIM into the SIM compartment with the cut off corner of the card facing away from the compartment 1 battery bay 2 SIM 1 2 ...

Page 179: ...side the computer If you ordered a wireless Mini Card with your computer the card is already installed Your computer supports three types of wireless Mini Cards Wireless Local Area Network WLAN Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN Wireless Personal Area Network WPAN Removing a WLAN Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Turn the computer over 3 Loosen the cap...

Page 180: ...enna cables from the WLAN card 5 Release the WLAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly 6 Lift the WLAN card out of its system board connector 1 antenna cable connectors 2 2 WLAN card 1 2 ...

Page 181: ...d 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 2 Press the other end of the WLAN card down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place 1 metal securing tabs 2 2 WLAN card 3 mylar sleeve 1 2 3 ...

Page 182: ...l white black and gray connect the white antenna cable to the white triangle connect the black antenna cable to the black triangle and connect the gray antenna cable to the gray triangle 4 Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve 5 Replace the Mini Card cover and tighten the captive screws Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card NOTE WWAN is also available on an ExpressCard see...

Page 183: ...Adding and Replacing Parts 183 1 captive screws 2 2 Mini Card cover 1 2 ...

Page 184: ...ntenna cables from the WWAN card 5 Release the WWAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly 6 Lift the WWAN card out of its system board connector 1 antenna cable connectors 2 2 WWAN card 1 2 ...

Page 185: ...d on the system board and realign the card NOTICE To avoid damage to the WWAN card never place cables under the card 1 Insert the WWAN card connector into the system board connector labeled WWAN at a 45 degree angle 2 Press the other end of the WWAN card down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place 1 metal securing tabs 2 2 WWAN card 3 mylar sleeve 1 2 3 ...

Page 186: ...e 5 Replace the cover and tighten the captive screws Removing a WPAN Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Turn the computer over 3 Loosen the captive screws on the Mini Card cover and remove the cover 4 Disconnect the blue antenna cable from the WPAN card 5 Release the WPAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slig...

Page 187: ...ver and tighten the captive screws Flash Cache Module The Flash Cache Module FCM is an internal flash drive that helps Microsoft Windows Vista improve the performance of your computer If you ordered an FCM with your computer the card is already installed NOTE Windows XP does not support an FCM You can have an FCM installed when running Windows XP but it will have no effect on your computer s perfo...

Page 188: ...t Do not install an FCM in the WLAN card slot Doing so may cause damage to your computer 1 Insert the FCM connector into the system board connector at a 45 degree angle 2 Press the other end of the FCM down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place 1 metal securing tabs 2 2 FCM 1 2 ...

Page 189: ...urface such as a connector on the back of the computer NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer If you ordered an internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology with your computer it is already installed Removing the Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Remove the hinge cover s...

Page 190: ... as a connector on the back of the computer NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board 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 161 2 Turn the computer over 3 Loosen the captive screw on the memory module coin cell battery cover see Bottom View on page 34 and remove...

Page 191: ...Adding and Replacing Parts 191 5 Slide the battery out of the mylar sleeve 1 coin cell battery 2 mylar sleeve 3 coin cell battery cable connector 2 1 3 ...

Page 192: ...192 Adding and Replacing Parts ...

Page 193: ...ettings 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 area The taskbar area is located in the lower right corner of your screen For more information about QuickSet right click the QuickSet icon and select Help ...

Page 194: ...194 Dell QuickSet Features ...

Page 195: ... 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 fro...

Page 196: ...hip or of 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 Chec...

Page 197: ...es See Online Services on page 198 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 203 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...

Page 198: ...nection 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 Caribbean countries www ...

Page 199: ... 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 203 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 200: ...f the invoice and a letter describing the reason for the return 3 Include a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 202 indicating the tests that you have run and any error messages reported by the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 4 Include any accessories that belong with the item s being returned power cables software floppy disks guides and so on if ...

Page 201: ...ics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 202 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 202: ...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 203: ...support and service options Availability varies by country and product and some services may not be available in your area To contact Dell for sales technical support or customer service issues 1 Visit support dell com 2 Verify your country or region in the Choose A Country Region drop down menu at the bottom of the page 3 Click Contact Us on the left side of the page 4 Select the appropriate serv...

Page 204: ...204 Getting Help ...

Page 205: ...ng on model Front side bus frequency 533 MHz 667 MHz and 800 MHz System Information System chipset Intel 965 Express Chipset Family 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 bus PCI Express used for video controllers 32 bits x16 ExpressCard NOTE The ExpressCard slot is designed only for ExpressC...

Page 206: ...y Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD Memory Memory module connector two user accessible 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 available memory dis...

Page 207: ...odem 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 E...

Page 208: ...es Video type discrete video card Data bus PCI Express X16 Video controller nVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS or nVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT Video memory 128 MB GeForce 8400M GS or 256 MB GeForce 8600M GT LCD interface LVDS TV support NTSC or PAL in S video composite and component modes Audio Audio type two channel high definition stereo Audio controller Sigmatel STAC9205 High Definition Audio codec Stereo conv...

Page 209: ...44 5 mm 13 6 inches Diagonal 391 2 mm 15 4 inches 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 262 K colors WSXGA with TrueLife 1680 x 1050 at 262 K colors Refresh rate 60 Hz Operating angle 0 closed to 155 Viewing angles Horizontal 40 WXGA 40 WXGA with TrueLife 55 WXGA with TrueLife 60 WSXGA with TrueLife Vertic...

Page 210: ...page 54 Keyboard Number of keys 87 U S and Canada 88 Europe 91 Japan Layout QWERTY AZERTY Kanji Touch Pad X Y position resolution graphics table mode 240 cpi Size Width 71 7 mm 2 8 in sensor active area Height 34 0 mm 1 3 in rectangle Battery Type 9 cell smart lithium ion 6 cell smart lithium ion Dimensions Depth 67 6 mm 2 66 in 9 cell 47 5 mm 1 87 in 6 cell Height 20 4 mm 0 8 in Width 209 9 mm 8 ...

Page 211: ...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 90 264 VAC Input current maximum 1 5 A Input frequency 47 63 Hz Output current 65 W 4 34 A maximum at 4 second pulse 3 34 A continuous Output current 90 W 5 62 A maximum at 4 second pulse 4 62 A continuous NOTE If your computer has the discrete video configuration you ...

Page 212: ...46 kg 1 01 lb Temperature range Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Physical Height 42 mm 1 65 in Width 358 7 mm 14 12 in Depth 269 mm 10 59 in Weight with 6 cell battery Configurable to less than 3 0 kg 6 61 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 noncondensing Storage 5...

Page 213: ...rating Also measured with hard drive in head parked position and a 2 ms halfsine pulse for storage Operating 142 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 C2 or lower as defined by ISA S71 04 1985 Camera Optional Still Resolution 2 Mega Pixel Video Resolution 640 x 480 at 30 fps Camera activation De...

Page 214: ...214 Specifications ...

Page 215: ...er 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 display the current ...

Page 216: ...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 217: ... 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 218: ...nstructions that are included with the product Moisten a soft lint free cloth with either water or a display cleaner Do not use alcohol or an ammonia based cleaner Wipe the display gently working from the center to the edges until it is clean and any fingerprints are removed Do not use excessive pressure NOTICE To prevent damage to the antiglare coating do not wipe the display with soap or alcohol...

Page 219: ...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 220: ...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 221: ...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 docking stations port replicators networking produ...

Page 222: ... 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 223: ...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 224: ...224 Appendix ...

Page 225: ...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 software A program designed to identify quarantine and or delete viruses from your computer ASF alert standards f...

Page 226: ... hard drive is damaged or your computer has a virus ensure that you always have a bootable CD or floppy disk available bps bits per second The standard unit for measuring data transmission speed BTU British thermal unit A measurement of heat output bus A communication pathway between the components in your computer bus speed The speed given in MHz that indicates how fast a bus can transfer informa...

Page 227: ...te time and system setup options COA Certificate of Authenticity The Windows alpha numeric code located on a sticker on your computer Also referred to as the Product Key or Product ID Consumer IR A port that allows you to transfer data between the computer and infrared compatible devices without using a cable connection Control Panel A Windows utility that allows you to modify operating system and...

Page 228: ... network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures for use by a specific group of users A user logs on to the domain to gain access to the resources DRAM dynamic random access memory Memory that stores information in integrated circuits containing capacitors driver Software that allows the operating system to control a device such as a printer Many devices do not work proper...

Page 229: ...t provides bidirectional data transmission ESD electrostatic discharge A rapid discharge of static electricity ESD can damage integrated circuits found in computer and communications equipment expansion card A circuit board that installs in an expansion slot on the system board in some computers expanding the capabilities of the computer Examples include video modem and sound cards expansion slot ...

Page 230: ...or disk for file storage When a drive or disk is formatted the existing information on it is lost FSB front side bus The data path and physical interface between the processor and RAM FTP file transfer protocol A standard Internet protocol used to exchange files between computers connected to the Internet G G gravity A measurement of weight and force GB gigabyte A measurement of data storage that ...

Page 231: ...hertz MHz gigahertz GHz or terahertz THz I IC integrated circuit A semiconductor wafer or chip on which thousands or millions of tiny electronic components are fabricated for use in computer audio and video equipment IDE integrated device electronics An interface for mass storage devices in which the controller is integrated into the hard drive or CD drive IEEE 1394 Institute of Electrical and Ele...

Page 232: ...ement of the capacity of memory integrated circuits KB kilobyte A unit of data that equals 1024 bytes but is often referred to as 1000 bytes key combination A command requiring you to press multiple keys at the same time kHz kilohertz A measurement of frequency that equals 1000 Hz L LAN local area network A computer network covering a small area A LAN usually is confined to a building or a few nea...

Page 233: ...d in RAM memory mapping The process by which the computer assigns memory addresses to physical locations at start up Devices and software can then identify information that the processor can access memory module A small circuit board containing memory chips which connects to the system board MHz megahertz A measure of frequency that equals 1 million cycles per second The speeds for computer proces...

Page 234: ...that contains icons for providing quick access to programs and computer functions such as the clock volume control and print status Also referred to as system tray ns nanosecond A measure of time that equals one billionth of a second NVRAM nonvolatile random access memory A type of memory that stores data when the computer is turned off or loses its external power source NVRAM is used for maintain...

Page 235: ...solution such as 800 x 600 is expressed as the number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down Plug and Play The ability of the computer to automatically configure devices Plug and Play provides automatic installation configuration and compatibility with existing hardware if the BIOS operating system and all devices are Plug and Play compliant POST power on self test Diagnostics progra...

Page 236: ...layed on a monitor The higher the resolution the sharper the image RFI radio frequency interference Interference that is generated at typical radio frequencies in the range of 10 kHz to 100 000 MHz Radio frequencies are at the lower end of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum and are more likely to have interference than the higher frequency radiations such as infrared and light ROM read only me...

Page 237: ...shortcut on your Windows desktop and double click the icon you can open its corresponding folder or file without having to find it first Shortcut icons do not change the location of files If you delete a shortcut the original file is not affected Also you can rename a shortcut icon SIM Subscriber Identity Module A SIM card contains a microchip that encrypts voice and data transmissions SIM cards c...

Page 238: ...Also known as the motherboard system setup A utility that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system System setup allows you to configure user selectable options in the BIOS such as date and time or system password Unless you understand what effect the settings have on the computer do not change the settings for this program T TAPI telephony application programmi...

Page 239: ...puter is turned on and they can also be daisy chained together UTP unshielded twisted pair Describes a type of cable used in most telephone networks and some computer networks Pairs of unshielded wires are twisted to protect against electromagnetic interference rather than relying on a metal sheath around each pair of wires to protect against interference UXGA ultra extended graphics array A video...

Page 240: ...g at 1 volt WHr watt hour A unit of measure commonly used to indicate the approximate capacity of a battery For example a 66 WHr battery can supply 66 W of power for 1 hour or 33 W for 2 hours wallpaper The background pattern or picture on the Windows desktop Change your wallpaper through the Windows Control Panel You can also scan in your favorite picture and make it wallpaper WLAN wireless local...

Page 241: ...a compression format Files that have been compressed with the Zip format are called Zip files and usually have a filename extension of zip A special kind of zipped file is a self extracting file which has a filename extension of exe You can unzip a self extracting file by double clicking it Zip drive A high capacity floppy drive developed by Iomega Corporation that uses 3 5 inch removable disks ca...

Page 242: ...242 Glossary ...

Page 243: ... 190 storing 66 BD See Blu ray Disc blank cards ExpressCards 91 removing 93 blanks ExpressCards 95 removing 96 Bluetooth wireless technology card device status light 25 installing 189 Blu ray Disc 70 71 73 boot sequence 216 brightness adjusting 47 C camera 23 carnet 196 CD about 70 CD RW drive problems 122 drive problems 121 Check Disk 122 cleaning display 218 keyboard 218 media 220 mouse 219 touc...

Page 244: ...ilities media 115 starting from your hard drive 113 Dell MediaDirect about 26 problems 134 Dell Network Assistant 120 Dell Support 3 118 Dell Support Center 118 Dell support site 17 DellConnect 120 198 device latch release description 35 device status lights description 24 diagnostics Dell 113 digital array microphones 26 display adjusting brightness 47 adjusting the size of icons 193 adjusting th...

Page 245: ...Agreement 15 ergonomics information 15 error messages 125 ExpressCard slot description 29 ExpressCards 91 blanks 91 93 95 installing 92 removing 93 F fan description 35 FCM See Flash Cache Module Flash Cache Module 187 H hard drive description 35 problems 122 replacing 164 returning to Dell 167 hardware Dell Diagnostics 113 Hardware Troubleshooter 149 hibernate mode 63 hinge cover removing 168 I i...

Page 246: ...g 67 media control buttons Dell MediaDirect button 74 description 25 memory DIMM A 173 DIMM B 175 installing 172 removing 172 175 memory card 95 blanks 96 installing 95 reader 30 removing 96 types 95 memory card reader 95 memory module cover description 35 messages error 125 Mini Card installing 179 WLAN 179 WPAN 179 WWAN 179 Mobile Broadband network connections 104 See also wireless switch Mobile...

Page 247: ...nagement adjusting settings 193 QuickSet 193 printer cable 43 connecting 43 problems 139 setting up 43 USB 44 problems blue screen 134 CD drive 121 CD RW drive 122 computer crashes 133 134 computer does not start up 133 computer stops responding 133 Dell Diagnostics 113 Dell MediaDirect 134 drives 121 DVD drive 121 error messages 125 hard drive 122 IEEE 1394 connector 131 keyboard 131 lockups 133 ...

Page 248: ...ng 90 Safely Remove Hardware icon 130 safety instructions 15 scanner problems 140 screen See display security cable slot description 27 Service Tag 16 SIM See Subscriber Identity Module software problems 134 135 software and hardware incompatibilities 149 sound problems 141 volume 141 speakers description 34 35 problems 141 volume 141 specifications 205 spyware 124 135 standby mode about 63 stolen...

Page 249: ...tick touch pad buttons description 25 transferring information to a new computer 39 traveling with the computer by air 196 identification tag 195 packing 195 tips 196 troubleshooting Dell Diagnostics 113 Hardware Troubleshooter 149 restore computer to previous operating state 156 TV connecting 75 U uninterruptible power supply See UPS UPS 45 USB connector description 32 User s Guide 16 V video pro...

Page 250: ...ndows Easy Transfer wizard 39 Windows XP Device Driver Rollback 147 hibernate mode 63 PC Restore 157 standby mode 63 wireless turning activity on and off 193 wizards Program Compatibility wizard 134 Windows Easy Transfer 39 WLAN 179 installing Mini Card 179 WPAN installing 186 WWAN installing 182 See also Mobile Broadband ...

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