Dell 140M, PP19L User Manual

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Page 1

Dell™ Portable Computers

Owner’s Manual

Model PP19L

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Page 2

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the

problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the "Glossary" on page 163.

If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft

Windows®

operating systems are not applicable.

____________________

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, DellNet, OptiPlex, Latitude, PowerEdge , PowerConn ect,

PowerVault, PowerApp, Dell T ravelLite, ExpressChar ge, and Strike Zone are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel, Celeron, and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Outlook, and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license; IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation; EMC is a registered trademark of EMC Corporation; ENERGY ST AR is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model PP19L

October 2005 Rev. A02

Page 3

Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

1 A Tour of Your Computer

Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Left Side View

Right Side View

Back View

Bottom View

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

2 Setting Up Your Computer

Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

Transferring Information to a New Computer

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the

Operating System CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD

Setting Up a Printer

Printer Cable Connecting a USB Printer

Power Protection Devices

Surge Protectors Line Conditioners

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Contents 3

Page 4

3 Using the Display

Adjusting Brightness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Switching the Video Image

Setting Display Resolution

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

4 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Key Combinations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

System Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

CD or DVD Tray Display Functions Radios (Including Wireless Networking and an Internal Card With

Bluetooth

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Wireless Technology) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Speaker Functions Microsoft

Touch Pad

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Windows® Logo Key Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Customizing the Touch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

5 Power Management

4 Contents

Power Management Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Power Management Wizard

Setting Sleep Modes Selecting a Power Scheme Setting Battery Alarms and Actions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Completing the Power Management Wizard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Power Management Modes

Standby Mode Hibernate Mode

Power Options Properties

Power Schemes Tab Alarms Tab

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

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Power Meter Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Advanced Tab

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Hibernate Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Dell™ QuickSet Features

Clicking the QuickSet Icon Double-Clicking the QuickSet Icon Right-Clicking the QuickSet Icon

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

6 Using a Battery

Battery Types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Battery Performance

Checking the Battery Charge

Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter Microsoft

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Windows® Power Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Charge Gauge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Health Gauge Low-Battery Warning

Charging the Battery

Storing a Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

7 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

Playing a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Adjusting the Volume

Adjusting the Picture

Copying CDs and DVDs

How to Copy a CD or DVD Using Blank CDs and DVDs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Helpful Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Using Dell MediaDirect

Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device

S-Video and Standard Audio S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Contents 5

Page 6

Composite Video and Standard Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Setting Up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones Enabling the Display Settings for a TV

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

8 Using ExpressCards

ExpressCard Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

ExpressCard Blanks

Installing an ExpressCard

Removing an ExpressCard or Blank

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

9 Using the 5-in-1 Media Memory Card Reader

Media Memory Card Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Media Memory Card Blanks

Installing a Media Memory Card

Removing a Media Memory Card or Blank

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

10 Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Network Setup Wizard

Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network

Determining Your Network Type Connecting to a Wireless Network in Microsoft

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Windows® XP . . . . . 74

11 Solving Problems

6 Contents

Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Drive Problems

CD and DVD drive problems If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW drive tray

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

. . . . . 81

Page 7

If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Hard drive problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

Error Messages

IEEE 1394 Device Problems

Keyboard Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

External Keyboard problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Unexpected characters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Lockups and Software Problems

The computer does not start up The computer stops responding A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

. . . . . . . . . . . . 88

A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft® Windows® operating system

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

A solid blue screen appears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Dell MediaDirect problems Other software problems

Memory Problems

Network Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

ExpressCard Problems

Power Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Printer Problems

Scanner Problems

Sound and Speaker Problems

No sound from integrated speakers No sound from external speakers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

No sound from headphones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Touch Pad or Mouse Problems

Video and Display Problems

If the display is blank If the display is difficult to read If only part of the display is readable

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Contents 7

Page 8

Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Restoring Your Operating System

Using Microsoft

Windows XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec Using the Operating System CD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

12 Adding and Replacing Parts

Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Recommended Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Turning Off Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Before Working Inside Your Computer

Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Removing a Battery Installing a Battery

Hard Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Returning a Hard Drive to Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Optical Drives

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

About the Device Security Screw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Removing and Installing Optical Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

8 Contents

Memory

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Installing a Memory Module in Connector DIMM B Installing a Memory Module in Connector DIMM A

Modem (Optional)

Wireless Mini PCI Card

Hinge Cover

Removing the Hinge Cover Replacing the Hinge Cover

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

. . . . . . . . . . . 113

. . . . . . . . . . . 115

Page 9

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Removing the Keyboard Replacing the Keyboard

Internal Card With Bluetooth

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Wireless Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Coin-Cell Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Removing the Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

13 Appendix

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Using the System Setup Program

Overview

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Viewing the System Setup Screen

System Setup Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Commonly Used Options

Computer Tracking Software

Traveling With Your Computer

Identifying Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Packing the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Travel Tips Traveling by Air

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Cleaning Your Computer

Computer, Keyboard, and Display Touch Pad Floppy Drive CDs and DVDs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

FCC Notices (U.S. Only)

Class A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Class B

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

FCC Identification Information

Macrovision Product Notice

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Contents 9

Page 10

Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals

. . . . . . . . . 144

. . . . . . . . . . . 145

Contacting Dell

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

10 Contents

Page 11

Finding Information

NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or

media may not be available in certain countries.

NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• A diagnostic program for my computer

• Drivers for my computer

• My device documentation

• Notebook System Software (NSS)

• How to set up my computer

• Basic troubleshooting information

• How to run the Dell Diagnostics

• How to set up a printer

• Additional information about setting up my computer

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

• How to remove and install parts

•Specifications

• How to contact Dell

Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as ResourceCD)

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD may be optional and may

not ship with your computer.

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers (see page 97) or to run the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

Readme files may be included on your CD to provide last-minute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technicalreference material for technicians or experienced users.

NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be found at

support.dell.com.

Owner’s Manual

NOTE: This document is available as a PDF at

support.dell.com.

Finding Information 11

Page 12

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Warranty information

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft Windows License Label

Service Tag and Microsoft® Windows® License

These labels are located on

•Use the Service Tag to

• Enter the Express

identify your computer when you use

support.dell.com

or contact technical support.

Service Code to direct your call when contacting technical support.

the bottom of

your computer.

12 Finding Information

Page 13

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, and online courses, frequently asked questions

• Community — Online discussion with other Dell customers

• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support

site.

NOTE: Corporate, government, and education customers

can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website at premier.support.dell.com.

as memory, the hard drive, and the operating system

• Customer Care — Contact information, service call and order status, warranty, and repair information

• Service and support — Service call status and support history, service contract, online discussions with technical support

• Reference — Computer documentation, details on my computer configuration, product specifications, and white papers

• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates

• Notebook System Software (NSS)— If you reinstall the operating system for your computer, you should also reinstall the NSS utility. NSS provides critical updates for your operating system and support for Dell™

3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel

Pentium® M processors, optical drives, and USB devices. NSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer. The software automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration.

• How to use Windows XP

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

To download Notebook System Software:

Go to

support.dell.com

Enter your Service Tag or product model.

In the

Select the operating system and operating system language for your computer, and click

Under

Configuration Utilities Software

Windows Help and Support Center

Click the

Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the arrow icon.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

and click

Download Category

Select a Device

, scroll to

, and click

Start

button and click

Downloads

drop-down menu, click

Submit.

System and

Dell Notebook System

Help and Support

All

Finding Information 13

Page 14

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to reinstall my operating system

Operating System CD

NOTE: The Operating System CD may be optional and may

not ship with your computer.

The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system, use the Operating System CD. See "Reinstalling Windows XP" on page 103.

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After you reinstall your operating system, use the Drivers and Utilities CD (ResourceCD) to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer.

NOTE: The color of your CD

varies based on the operating system you ordered.

14 Finding Information

Page 15

A Tour of Your Computer

Front View

1 display latch release 5 touch pad 9 keyboard

2 display 6 media control buttons 10 keyboard and wireless

status lights

3 power button 7 speakers 11 display latches (2)

4 device status lights 8 touch pad buttons

A Tour of Your Computer 15

Page 16

DISPLAY LATCH RELEASE — Press to release the display latches and open the display.

DISPLAY — For more information about your display, see "Using the Display" on page 33.

POWER BUTTON — Press the power button to turn on the computer or to enter or exit a power

management mode.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data when you turn off your computer, shut down your computer through the

Start menu instead of pressing the power button.

DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS

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Turns on when you turn on the computer, and blinks when the computer is in a power management mode.

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.

Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status.

If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the light operates as follows:

• Solid green: The battery is charging.

• Flashing green: The battery is almost fully charged.

If the computer is running on a battery, the light operates as follows:

• Off: The battery is adequately charged (or the computer is turned off).

• Flashing orange: The battery charge is low.

• Solid orange: The battery charge is critically low.

16 A Tour of Your Computer

Page 17

TOUCH PAD — Provides the functionality of a mouse.

MEDIA CONTROL BUTTONS — Control CD, DVD, and Media Player playback.

Mute the sound.

Tu r n t he vo l u me do wn.

Tu r n t he vo l u me up .

Play or pause.

Play the previous track.

Play the next track.

Stop.

Launch Dell MediaDirect or Microsoft

Windows® Media Center Edition. See

"Using Dell MediaDirect" on page 54.

SPEAKERS — To adjust the volume of the integrated speakers, press the media control buttons or speaker-

volume keyboard shortcuts. For more information, see "Speaker Functions" on page 37.

TOUCH PAD BUTTONS — Touch pad buttons provide the functionality of a mouse.

KEYBOARD — The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as well as the Microsoft Windows logo key. For

information on supported keyboard shortcuts, see "Key Combinations" on page 36.

A Tour of Your Computer 17

Page 18

KEYBOARD AND WIRELESS STATUS LIGHTS

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The green lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:

Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled.

Turns on when the uppercase letter function is enabled.

Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled.

Turns on when wireless networking is enabled. To enable or disable wireless networking, press <Fn><F2>.

Turns on when a card with Bluetooth

wireless

technology is enabled.

NOTE: The card with Bluetooth wireless technology is an

optional feature, so the light turns on only if you ordered the card with your computer. For more information, see the documentation that came with your card.

To turn off only the Bluetooth wireless technology functionality, right-click the icon in the notification area and click Disable Bluetooth Radio.

To quickly enable or disable all wireless devices, press <Fn><F2>.

DISPLAY LATCHES — Keeps the display closed.

18 A Tour of Your Computer

Page 19

Left Side View

345267 81

1 security cable slot 4 IEEE 1394 connector 7 5-in-1 media memory card

reader

2 air vent 5 microphone connector 8 ExpressCard slot

3 S-video TV-out connector 6 headphone connector

CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Do not store

your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

NOTICE: Before you buy an antitheft device, ensure that it will work with the security cable slot.

SECURITY CABLE SLOT — Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer.

For more information, see the instructions included with the device.

AIR VENT — The computer uses fans to create airflow through the vents, which prevents the computer

from overheating.

A Tour of Your Computer 19

Page 20

S-VIDEO TV-OUT CONNECTOR

Connects your computer to a TV. Also connects digital audio capable devices using the TV/digital audio adapter cable.

IEEE 1394 CONNECTOR — Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high-speed transfer rates, such as some digital video cameras.

AUDIO CONNECTORS

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Attach headphones or speakers to the connector.

Attach a microphone to the connector.

5-IN-1 MEDIA MEMORY CARD READER — Provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos, music, and videos stored on a memory card. The 5-in-1 media memory card reader reads the

following digital media memory cards:

• Secure Digital (SD) card/SDIO

• MultiMediaCard (MMC)

•Memory Stick

•Memory Stick PRO

•xD-Picture Card

EXPRESSCARD SLOT — Supports one ExpressCard. The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot. For more information, see "Using ExpressCards" on page 67.

20 A Tour of Your Computer

Page 21

Right Side View

345261

1 optical drive bay 3 USB connectors (2) 5 network connector (RJ-45)

2 optical drive-tray eject

button

OPTICAL DRIVE BAY — You can install devices such as a DVD drive or other optical drive in the optical

drive bay. For more information, see "Optical Drives" on page 111.

OPTICAL DRIVE-TRAY EJECT BUTTON — Press this button to eject a CD or DVD from the optical drive.

CONNECTORS

USB

4 modem connector (RJ-11) 6 video connector

Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer. You can also connect the optional floppy drive

cable.

drive

CONNECTOR (RJ-11)

MODEM

To use the internal modem, connect the telephone line to the modem connector.

For additional information on using the modem, see the online modem documentation supplied with your computer.

NOTICE: The network connector is slightly larger than the modem connector. To avoid damaging the

computer, do not plug a telephone line into the network connector.

directly to a USB connector using the optional floppy-

A Tour of Your Computer 21

Page 22

NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45)

Connects the computer to a network. The green and yellow lights next to the connector indicate activity for wired network communications.

For information on using the network adapter, see the online network adapter documentation supplied with your computer.

VIDEO CONNECTOR

Connects an external VGA-compatible monitor.

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Back View

1 USB connectors (2) 2 AC adapter connector

USB CONNECTORS

Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer. You can also connect the optional floppy drive

cable.

drive

AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR — Attaches an AC adapter to the computer. The AC adapter converts AC power to the DC power required by the computer. You can connect the AC adapter with your computer turned either on or off.

directly to a USB connector using the optional floppy-

22 A Tour of Your Computer

Page 23

CAUTION: The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However, power connectors and

power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible cable or improperly connecting the cable 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 avoid damaging the cable.

Bottom View

4132

1 battery 4 fan 7 optical-drive locking screw

2 memory module cover 5 processor and thermal

8 hard drive

module cover

3 battery-bay latch release 6 modem/Mini PCI/

9 battery charge gauge

wireless cover

BATTERY — When a battery is installed, you can use the computer without connecting the computer to

an electrical outlet. For more information, see "Using a Battery" on page 45.

MEMORY MODULE COVER — Covers the compartment that contains the memory modules. For more

information, see page 112.

BATTERY-BAY LATCH RELEASE — Releases the battery from the battery bay. See "Battery" on page 108.

FAN — The computer uses a fan to create airflow through the vents, which prevents the computer from

overheating.

PROCESSOR AND THERMAL MODULE COVER — Covers the processor and thermal module.

A Tour of Your Computer 23

Page 24

MODEM/MINI PCI/WIRELESS COVER — Covers the compartment that contains the modem, Mini PCI

card, and internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology. For more information, see page 119.

OPTICAL-DRIVE LOCKING SCREW — Secures the optical drive in the optical drive bay. For more

information, see "Optical Drives" on page 111.

HARD DRIVE — Stores software and data. For more information, see "Hard Drive" on page 108 and "Hard

drive problems" on page 81. The size displayed for your hard drive in Windows Explorer is the capacity of the drive before any operating system or programs are installed.

BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE — Provides information on the battery charge status. See "Using a Battery" on

page 45.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

24 A Tour of Your Computer

Page 25

Setting Up Your Computer

Connecting to the Internet

NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country.

To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP). Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options:

• Dial-up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line. Dial-up connections are considerably slower than DSL and cable modem connections.

• DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing telephone line. With a DSL connection, you can access the Internet and use your telephone on the same line simultaneously.

• Cable modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your local cable TV line.

If you are using a dial-up connection, connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your computer and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection. If you are using a DSL or cable modem connection, contact your ISP for setup instructions.

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut:

Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.

Double-click the ISP icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop.

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP:

Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.

Click the

The

Start

button and click

New Connection Wizard

Internet Explorer

appears.

Click

Connect to the Internet

In the next window, click the appropriate option:

• If you do not have an ISP and want to select one, click

service providers (ISPs)

Choose from a list of Internet

Setting Up Your Computer 25

Page 26

• If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not receive a setup CD, click

• If you have a CD, click

Click

If you selected instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, contact your ISP.

Click the appropriate option under click

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Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.

If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems" on page 82. If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past, the ISP might have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the service status, or try connecting again later.

Set up my connection manually

Use the CD I got from an ISP

Set up my connection manually

How do you want to connect to the Internet?

, continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the

, and then

Transferring Information to a New Computer

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to move data from a source computer to a new computer. You can transfer data, such as:

• E-mail messages

• Toolbar settings

•Window sizes

• Internet bookmarks

You can transfer the data to the new computer over a network connection, or you can store it on a removable medium, such as a writable CD or floppy, for transfer to the new computer.

NOTE: For instructions on setting up a direct cable connection between two computers, see Microsoft

Knowledge Base Article #305621, titled How to Set Up a Direct Cable Connection Between Two Computers in Windows XP. This information may not be available in some countries.

For transferring information to a new computer, you must run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. You can use the optional Operating System CD for this process or you can create a wizard disk with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard utility.

26 Setting Up Your Computer

Page 27

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD

NOTE: This procedure requires the Operating System CD. This CD is optional and may not be included

with all computers.

To prepare the new computer for the file transfer:

Start the

When the

On the

Windows XP CD

When the Do

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the Windows XP

On the

Under

On the

After the information has been copied, the

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

screen, click

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

and click

Now go to your old computer

not

click

at this time.

Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP

What do you want to do?

, click

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you prefer.

What do you want to transfer?

welcome screen appears, click

New Computer

screen, click

I will use the wizard from the

and click

screen appears, go to your old or source computer.

Operating System

screen, click

Transfer files and settings

welcome screen, click

Old Computer

CD.

Perform additional tasks

and click

screen, select the items you want to transfer and click

Completing the Collection Phase

screen appears.

Click

Finish

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

On the your settings and files and click

Now go to your old computer

screen on the new computer, click

Where are the files and settings?

screen, select the method you chose for transferring

The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.

When all of the settings and files have been applied, the

Click

Finished

and restart the new computer.

Finished

screen appears.

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD

To run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard without the optional Operating System CD, you must create a wizard disk that will allow you to create a backup image file to removable media.

Setting Up Your Computer 27

Page 28

To create a wizard disk, use your new computer with Windows XP and perform the following steps:

Click the

Click

When the

On the

following drive:

Insert the removable media, such as a floppy disk or CD, and click OK.

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When the disk creation completes and the

not

Go to the old computer.

Start

button.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

screen, click

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

click

and click

Next.

welcome screen appears, click

New Computer

screen, click

and click

I want to create a Wizard Disk in the

Now go to your old computer

message appears,

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the wizard disk.

Click the

In the removable media) and click

On the

After the information has been copied, the

Start

Open

button and click

field on the

Run

window, browse to the path for

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you prefer.

What do you want to transfer?

fastwiz

(on the appropriate

welcome screen, click

Old Computer

and click

screen, select the items you want to transfer and click

Completing the Collection Phase

screen appears.

Click

Finish

28 Setting Up Your Computer

Page 29

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

On the your settings and files and click

Now go to your old computer

screen on the new computer, click

Where are the files and settings?

. Follow the instructions on the screen.

screen, select the method you chose for transferring

The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.

When all of the settings and files have been applied, the

Click

Finished

NOTE: For more information about this procedure, search dell.support.com for document #PA1089586

(How Do I Transfer Files From My Old Computer to My New Dell Computer Using the Microsoft®

Windows

NOTE: Access to the Dell Knowledge Base document may not be available in some countries.

and restart the new computer.

XP Operating System?).

Finished

screen appears.

Setting Up a Printer

NOTICE: Complete the operating 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 to your computer with either a USB cable or a parallel cable. Your printer may not come with a printer cable, so if you purchase a cable separately, ensure that it is compatible with your printer and computer. If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer, the cable may arrive in the box in which your computer was shipped.

Setting Up Your Computer 29

Page 30

Connecting a USB Printer

NOTE: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.

Complete the operating system setup if you have not already done so.

Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer. The USB connectors fit only one way.

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1 USB connector on

computer

Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer. If the window appears, click

Install the printer driver if necessary. See the documentation that came with your printer.

Power Protection Devices

Several devices are available to protect against power fluctuations and failures:

•Surge protectors

• Line conditioners

• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)

30 Setting Up Your Computer

2 USB printer cable 3 connector on printer

Add New Hardware Wizard

Cancel

Page 31

Surge Protectors

Surge protectors and power strips equipped with surge protection help prevent damage to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical storms or after power interruptions. Some surge protector manufacturers include warranty coverage for certain types of damage. Carefully read the device warranty when choosing a surge protector. A device with a higher joule rating offers more protection. Compare joule ratings to determine the relative effectiveness of different devices.

NOTICE: Most surge protectors do not protect against power fluctuations or power interruptions

caused by nearby lightning strikes. When lightning occurs in your area, disconnect the telephone line from the telephone wall jack and disconnect your computer from the electrical outlet.

Many surge protectors have a telephone jack for modem protection. See the surge protector documentation for modem connection instructions.

NOTICE: Not all surge protectors offer network adapter protection. Disconnect the network cable from

the network wall jack during electrical storms.

Line Conditioners

NOTICE: Line conditioners do not protect against power interruptions.

Line conditioners are designed to maintain AC voltage at a fairly constant level.

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

NOTICE: Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in data loss or file damage.

NOTE: To ensure maximum battery operating time, connect only your computer to a UPS. Connect other

devices, such as a printer, to a 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 manufacturer documentation for information on battery operating time and to ensure that the device is approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Setting Up Your Computer 31

Page 32

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32 Setting Up Your Computer

Page 33

Using the Display

Adjusting Brightness

When a Dell™ computer is running on battery power, you can conserve power by setting the brightness to the lowest comfortable setting by pressing <Fn> and the up- or down-arrow key on the keyboard.

The Dell QuickSet Brightness Meter shows the current brightness setting for the display. Rightclick the icon in the taskbar to enable or disable the Brightness Meter on the screen.

NOTE: By default, the Brightness Meter appears in the lower-right

corner of the display. You can click and drag the meter to a preferred location.

NOTE: Brightness key combinations only affect the display on your

portable computer, not monitors that you attach to your portable computer. If your computer is connected to an external monitor and you try to change the brightness level, the Brightness Meter appears, but the brightness level on the monitor does not change.

You can enable or disable the Brightness Meter from the QuickSet taskbar menu. When the meter is enabled, press the following keys to adjust brightness:

• Press <Fn> and the up-arrow key to increase brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor).

• Press <Fn> and the down-arrow key to decrease brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor).

For more information on using QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar and click Help.

Switching the Video Image

When you start the computer with an external device (such as an external monitor or projector) attached and turned on, the image may appear on either the computer display or the external device.

Press <Fn><F8> to switch the video image between the display only, the external device only, or the display and the external device simultaneously.

Using the Display 33

Page 34

Setting Display Resolution

To display a program at a specific resolution, both the graphics card and the display must support the program, and the necessary video drivers must be installed.

Before you change any of the default display settings, make a note of the default settings for future reference.

If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports, the settings adjust automatically to the closest supported values.

Click the

Under

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Under click

Try different settings for

NOTE: As the resolution increases, icons and text appear smaller on the screen.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

Pick a task...

Display

Control Panel

, click

Appearance and Themes

, click the area you want to change, or under

Color quality

and

Screen resolution

or pick a Control Panel icon

34 Using the Display

Page 35

Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Numeric Keypad

1 numeric keypad

The numeric keypad functions like the numeric keypad on an external keyboard. Each key on the keypad has multiple functions. The keypad numbers and symbols are marked in blue on the right of the keypad keys. To type a number or symbol, press <Fn> and the desired key after enabling the keypad.

• To enable the keypad, press <Num Lk>. The light indicates that the keypad is active.

• To disable the keypad, press <Num Lk> again.

Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 35

Page 36

Key Combinations

System Functions

<Ctrl><Shift><Esc> Opens the Task Mana g e r window.

Battery

<Fn><F3> Displays the Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter. This feature

is not supported in Dell MediaDirect. For more information, see "Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter" on

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

CD or DVD Tray

<Fn><F10> Ejects the tray out of the drive (if Dell QuickSet is

Display Functions

<Fn><F8> Switches the video image to the next display option. The

<Fn> and up-arrow key Increases brightness on the integrated display only (not

<Fn> and down-arrow key

page 46.

installed). This feature is not supported in Dell MediaDirect. For more information on QuickSet, see "Dell™ QuickSet Features" on page 44.

options include the integrated display, an external monitor, and both displays simultaneously.

on an external monitor).

Decreases brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor).

Radios (Including Wireless Networking and an Internal Card With Bluetooth

<Fn><F2> Enables and disables radios, including wireless

36 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Wireless Technology)

networking and Bluetooth wireless technology.

Page 37

Power Management

<Fn><Esc> Activates a power management mode. You can

reprogram this keyboard shortcut to activate a different power management mode using the Advanced tab in the Power Options Properties window. See "Power Management Modes" on page 41.

Speaker Functions

<Fn><Page Up> Increases the volume of the integrated speakers and

external speakers, if attached.

<Fn><Page Dn> Decreases the volume of the integrated speakers and

external speakers, if attached.

<Fn><End> Enables and disables the integrated speakers and external

speakers, if attached.

Microsoft

Windows logo key and <m>

Windows logo key and <Shift><m>

Windows logo key and <e> Runs Windows Explorer. This opens the same

Windows logo key and <r> Opens the Run dialog box.

Windows logo key and <f> Opens the Search Results dialog box.

Windows logo key and <Ctrl><f>

Windows logo key and <Pause>

Windows® Logo Key Functions

Minimizes all open windows.

Maximizes all windows.

window as double-clicking "My Computer" on your desktop.

Opens the Search Results-Computer dialog box (if the computer is connected to a network).

Opens the System Properties dialog box.

To adjust keyboard operation, such as the character repeat rate, open the Control Panel, click

Printers and Other Hardware

, and click

Keyboard

. For information about the Control Panel, see

the Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center, see page 13.

Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 37

Page 38

Touch 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.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

1 touch pad

• To move the cursor, lightly slide your finger over the touch pad.

• To select an object, lightly tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch-pad button.

• To select and move (or drag) an object, position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad. On the second tap, leave your finger on the touch pad and move the selected object by sliding your finger over the surface.

• To double-click an object, position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch-pad button twice.

Customizing the Touch Pad

You can use the

Open the Control Panel, click information about the Control Panel, see the Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center, see page 13.

In the

Click OK to save the settings and close the window.

38 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Mouse Properties

window to disable the touch pad or adjust their settings.

Printers and Other Hardware

window, click the

Touch Pa d

, and then click

tab to adjust touch pad settings.

Mouse

. For

Page 39

Power Management

Power Management Tips

NOTE: See "Using a Battery" on page 45 for more information on conserving battery power.

• Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible because 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 the computer unattended for long periods of time.

• You can use the Power Management Wizard power usage. These options can also be set to change when you press the power button, close the display, or press <Fn><Esc>.

Power Management Wizard

NOTE: The Power Management Wizard is not available if you have restricted access rights.

Click or double-click the icon to open the Power Management Wizard.

The first two screens of the wizard—Wel co me and What is Power Management?—describe and define various power management options.

to select options to optimize your computer’s

NOTE: On the What is Power Management? screen, you can select Do not show this page again. When

you select this option, the Welcome screen also does not appear again.

Use the screens that follow the Wel co me and What is Power Management? screens to set various power management options, including sleep modes, power schemes, and low batterycharge alarms.

Setting Sleep Modes

This screen defines standby and hibernate modes. From the screen you can:

• Set the standby-mode password option.

• Enable or disable hibernate mode.

• Select how the computer will respond when you close the display:

– Choose no action.

– Enter standby mode.

– Enter hibernate mode.

Power Management 39

Page 40

• Select how the computer will respond when you press the power button:

– Choose no action.

– Enter standby mode.

– Enter hibernate mode.

– Shut down Microsoft Windows and turn off the computer.

– Prompt a user for an action (

Ask me what to do

• Select how the computer will respond when you press <Fn><Esc>:

– Choose no action.

– Enter standby mode.

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– Enter hibernate mode.

– Shut down Microsoft Windows and turn off the computer.

– Prompt a user for an action (

Ask me what to do

Selecting a Power Scheme

NOTE: The Network Disabled power scheme disables your internal network and wireless activity when

your computer is running on battery power. When your computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the Network Disabled power scheme disables only your wireless activity. You must select the power scheme through QuickSet (not Microsoft

The Selecting a Power Scheme screen allows you to create, edit, and switch between power schemes. In addition, you can delete power schemes that you create, but you cannot delete Dell™ QuickSet predefined power schemes (Maximum Battery, Maximum Performance, Presentation, and Network Disabled).

Windows®) for the Network Disabled power scheme to work.

NOTE: QuickSet automatically adds the word (QuickSet) after the names of power schemes created

using QuickSet.

All QuickSet power schemes are displayed in a drop-down menu near the center of the screen. The power settings for each scheme are below the name of the current selection. The power settings are listed separately for when the computer is running on battery or connected to an electrical outlet.

The Power Management Wizard also allows you to associate the display brightness level with a power scheme. You must enable brightness-level power schemes through QuickSet in order to set the brightness level.

The display brightness, internal network-card activity, and wireless activity features are not available through the Control Panel power schemes. In order to use these features, you must set them through QuickSet power schemes.

NOTE: Brightness key combinations only affect the display on your portable computer, not monitors that

you attach to your portable computer. If your computer is in CRT-only mode and you try to change the brightness level, the Brightness Meter appears, but the brightness level on the monitor does not change.

40 Power Management

Page 41

Setting Battery Alarms and Actions

This screen allows you to enable the low-battery and critical-battery alarms and to change settings for the alarms. For example, you can set the low-battery alarm to 20 percent to remind you to save work and switch to AC power, and you can set the critical-battery alarm to 10 percent to enter hibernate mode. From the screen, you can:

• Select whether the alarm will notify you by sound or text.

• Adjust the power level at which you want the alarm to notify you.

• Select how the computer will respond when the alarm notifies you:

– Choose no action.

– Enter standby mode.

– Enter hibernate mode.

– Shut down Windows and turn off the computer.

Completing the Power Management Wizard

This screen summarizes the QuickSet power scheme, sleep mode, and battery alarm settings for your computer. Review the settings you have selected and click Finish.

For more information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar and click Help.

Power Management Modes

Standby Mode

Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a predetermined period of inactivity (a time-out). When the computer exits standby mode, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering standby mode.

NOTICE: If your computer loses AC or battery power while in standby mode, it may lose data.

To enter standby mode, click the Start button, click Turn off computer, and then click Stand by. Depending on how you set the power management options on the Advanced Options Properties window, use one of the following methods:

• Press the power button.

• Close the display.

• Press <Fn><Esc>.

To exit standby mode, press the power button or open the display depending on how you set the options on the Advanced key or touching the touch pad.

tab

. You cannot make the computer exit standby mode by pressing a

tab

in the Power

Power Management 41

Page 42

Hibernate Mode

Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits hibernate mode, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering hibernate mode.

NOTICE: You cannot remove devices while your computer is in hibernate mode.

Your computer enters hibernate mode if the battery charge level becomes critically low.

To manually enter hibernate mode, click the Start button, click Turn off computer, press and hold <Shift>, and then click Hibernate. Depending on how you set the power management options on the Advanced methods to enter hibernate mode:

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• Press the power button.

• Close the display.

• Press <Fn><Esc>.

NOTE: Some ExpressCards may not operate correctly after the computer exits hibernate mode. Remove

and reinsert the card, or simply restart (reboot) your computer. See "Installing an ExpressCard" on page 67.

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.

tab

in the Power Options Properties window, use one of the following

Power Options Properties

The Power Options Properties window helps you to manage power consumption and monitor battery charge status. To access the Windows Power Options Properties window, click the Start button, point to Control Panel→ Performance and Maintenance, and click Power Options.

Power Schemes Tab

The Power schemes drop-down menu displays the selected preset power scheme. Keep the default Portable/Laptop power scheme to maximize battery power.

Windows XP controls the performance level of the processor depending on the power scheme you select. You do not need to make any further adjustments to set the performance level.

Each preset power scheme has different time-out settings for entering standby mode, turning off the display, and turning off the hard drive. For more information on power management options, see the Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center, see page 13.

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Alarms Tab

NOTE: To enable audible alarms, click each Alarm Action button and select Sound alarm.

The Low battery alarm and Critical battery alarm settings alert you with a message when the battery charge falls below a certain percentage. When you receive your computer, the Low battery alarm and Critical battery alarm check boxes are selected. It is recommended that you continue to use these settings. See "Using a Battery" on page 45 for more information on lowbattery warnings.

Power Meter Tab

The Power Meter tab displays the current power source and amount of battery charge remaining.

Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab allows you to:

• Set power icon and standby mode password options.

• Select how the computer will respond when you close the display:

– Choose no action.

– Enter standby mode.

– Enter hibernate mode.

• Select how the computer will respond when you press the power button:

– Choose no action.

– Enter standby mode.

– Enter hibernate mode.

– Shut down Microsoft Windows and turn off the computer.

– Prompt a user for an action (

• Select how the computer will respond when you press <Fn><Esc>:

– Choose no action.

– Enter standby mode.

– Enter hibernate mode.

– Shut down Microsoft Windows and turn off the computer.

– Prompt a user for an action (

To program these functions, click an option from the corresponding drop-down list and then click OK.

Ask me what to do

Power Management 43

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Hibernate Tab

The Hibernate tab lets you enable hibernate mode by clicking the Enable hibernation check box.

Dell™ QuickSet Features

NOTE: This feature may not be available on your computer.

Dell QuickSet is activated from the icon on the taskbar and functions differently when you click, double-click, or right-click the icon.

Clicking the QuickSet Icon

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Click the icon to perform the following tasks:

• Adjust power management settings using the Power Management Wizard (see page 39).

• Adjust the size of icons and toolbars.

• Select a power scheme that you set in the Power Management Wizard (see page 39).

• Turn presentation mode on or off.

Double-Clicking the QuickSet Icon

Double-click the icon to adjust power management settings using the Power Management Wizard (see page 39).

Right-Clicking the QuickSet Icon

Right-click the icon to perform the following tasks:

• Enable or disable the Brightness Meter on the screen (see page 33).

• Enable or disable the Volume Meter on the screen (see page 51).

• Turn the wireless activity indicator on or off (see page 40).

•View

• View the version and copyright date of the QuickSet program installed on your computer.

For more information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar and click

Dell QuickSet Help

Help

44 Power Management

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Using a Battery

Battery Types

See "Specifications" on page 131 for information on supported batteries.

Battery Performance

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

NOTE: For information about the Dell warranty for your computer, see the Product Information Guide or

separate paper warranty document that shipped with your computer.

For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™ portable computer with the main battery installed at all times. Use a battery to run the computer when it is not connected to an electrical outlet. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay.

NOTE: Because the battery may not be fully charged, use the AC adapter to connect your new computer

to an electrical outlet the first time you use the computer. For best results, operate the computer with the AC adapter until the battery is fully charged. To view battery charge status, access the Control Panel→ Power Options→ Power Meter tab.

Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions.

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.

Operating time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not limited to, the following:

•Using optical drives

• Using wireless communications devices, ExpressCards, or USB devices

• Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power-intensive programs such as 3D games

• Running the computer in maximum performance mode (see page 40)

NOTE: It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to a CD

or DVD.

Using a Battery 45

Page 46

You can power management options to alert you when the

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check the battery charge

CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the

battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer.

CAUTION: Do not dispose of batteries with household waste. When your battery no longer holds a

charge, call your local waste disposal or environmental agency for advice on disposing of a battery. See "Battery Disposal" in the

CAUTION: Misuse of the battery may increase the risk of fire or chemical burn. Do not puncture,

incinerate, disassemble, or expose the battery to temperatures above 60°C (140°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.

before you

insert the battery

battery charge is low

Product Information Guide

into the computer. You can also set

Checking the Battery Charge

The Dell QuickSet Battery Meter, the Microsoft Windows Power Meter window and icon, the battery charge gauge, and the low-battery warning provide information on the battery charge.

Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter

If Dell QuickSet is installed, press <Fn><F3> to display the QuickSet Battery Meter.

The Battery Meter window displays status, charge level, and charge completion time for the battery in your computer.

The following icons appear in the Battery Meter window:

The computer is running on battery power.

The computer is connected to AC power and the battery is charging.

The computer is connected to AC power and the battery is fully charged.

For more information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar, and click Help.

Microsoft® Windows® Power Meter

The Windows Power Meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the Power Meter, double-click the icon on the taskbar. For more information about the Power Meter tab, see "Power Management" on page 39.

If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, a icon appears.

46 Using a Battery

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Charge Gauge

Before you charge-level 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 appear, the battery has no charge.

insert a battery

, press the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate the

Health Gauge

The battery operating time is largely determined by the number of times it is charged. After hundreds of charge and discharge cycles, batteries lose some charge capacity, or battery health. To check the battery health, press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds. If no lights appear, the battery is in good condition, and more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. Each light represents incremental degradation. If five lights appear, less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery. See "Specifications" on page 131 for more information about the battery operating time.

Low-Battery Warning

NOTICE: To avoid losing or corrupting data, save your work immediately after a low-battery warning.

Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet. If the battery runs completely out of power, hibernate mode begins automatically.

A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. For more information about low-battery alarms, see "Power Management" on page 39.

Charging the Battery

NOTE: Without Dell™ ExpressCharge™, the AC adapter charges a completely discharged 6-cell battery

in approximately 2 hours and a 9-cell battery in approximately 3 hours with the computer turned off. Charge time is longer with the computer turned on. You can leave the battery in the computer as long as you like. The battery’s internal circuitry prevents the battery from overcharging.

When you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery while the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the computer checks the battery charge and temperature. If necessary, the AC adapter then charges the battery and maintains the battery charge.

If the battery is hot from being used in your computer or being in a hot environment, the battery may not charge when you connect the computer to an electrical outlet.

The battery is too hot to start charging if the light flashes alternately green and orange. 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 91.

Using a Battery 47

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Storing a Battery

Remove the battery when you store your computer for an extended period of time. A battery discharges during prolonged storage. After a long storage period, you use it.

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recharge the battery

fully before

48 Using a Battery

Page 49

Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

Playing a CD or DVD

NOTICE: Do not press down on the CD or DVD tray when you open or close it. Keep the tray closed when

you are not using the drive.

NOTICE: Do not move the computer when you are playing CDs or DVDs to prevent damage to your

CD/DVD drive or discs.

Press the eject button on the front of the drive.

Pull out the tray.

1 CD/DVD tray

Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray and snap the disc onto the spindle.

Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia 49

Page 50

NOTE: If you use a CD/DVD drive that shipped with another computer, you need to install the drivers and

software necessary to play CDs or DVDs or write data. For more information, see the Drivers and Utilities CD (the Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not be available for your computer or in certain countries).

Push the tray back into the drive.

To format CDs for storing data, to create music CDs, or to copy CDs, see the CD software that came with your computer.

NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs.

The CD player includes the following basic buttons:

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Play.

Move backward within the current track.

Move forward within the current track.

Go to the previous track.

Go to the next track.

Pau se.

Stop.

Eject.

The DVD player includes the following basic buttons:

Play.

Stop.

Restart the current chapter.

Fast forward.

Fast reverse.

Go to the next title or chapter.

Go to the previous title or chapter.

Continuously play the current title or chapter.

50 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

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Pau se.

Advance a single frame while in pause mode.

Eject.

For more information on playing CDs or DVDs, click Help in the CD or DVD player program window (if available).

Adjusting the Volume

NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing.

Click the

Volume Control

In the slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume.

For more information on volume control options, click Help in the Volume Control window.

The Volume Meter displays the current volume level, including mute, on your computer. Either right-click the icon in the taskbar or press the volume control buttons to enable or disable the Volume Meter on the screen.

Start

button, point to

Volume C o ntrol

All Programs→ Accessories→ Entertainment

window, click and drag the bar in the

Volume C o ntrol

, and then click

column and

1 volume icon 2 Volu m e Mete r 3 mute icon

When the Volume Meter is enabled, adjust the volume with the volume control buttons or by pressing the following key combinations:

•Press

<Fn><PageUp> to increase the volume.

<Fn><PageDn> to decrease the volume.

<Fn><End> to mute the volume.

For more information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar and click Help.

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Adjusting the Picture

If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing DVD playback, adjust the display properties.

Click the

Under

In the screen resolution setting.

Click the drop-down menu under

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Click OK to save the settings and close the window.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

Pick a task...

Display Properties

, click

Control Panel

Appearance and Themes

Change the screen resolution

window, click and drag the bar in

Color quality

, and then click

Screen resolution

Medium (16 bit)

to reduce the

Copying CDs and DVDs

NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when creating CDs or DVDs.

This section applies only to computers that have a CD-RW, DVD+/-RW, or CD-RW/DVD (combo) drive.

NOTE: The types of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by country.

The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD. You can also use Sonic DigitalMedia for other purposes, such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data. For help, open Sonic DigitalMedia and then click the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of the window.

How to Copy a CD or DVD

NOTE: CD-RW/DVD combo drives cannot write to DVD media. If you have a CD-RW/DVD combo drive

and you experience recording problems, check for available software patches on the Sonic support website at www.sonic.com.

The DVD-writable drives installed in Dell™ computers can write to and read DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW and DVD+R DL (dual layer) media, but they cannot write to and may not read DVD-RAM or DVD-R DL media.

NOTE: Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Sonic

DigitalMedia.

Click the click

Under the

52 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

Copy

Start

button, point to

Copy

tab, click

All Programs→

Disc Copy

Sonic→ DigitalMedia Projects

, and then

Page 53

To copy the CD or DVD:

•

If you have one CD or DVD drive

Copy

button. The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies the data to a

, ensure that the settings are correct and click the

Disc

temporary folder on your computer hard drive.

When prompted, insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive and click

•

If you have two CD or DVD drives

source CD or DVD and click the

, select the drive into which you have inserted your

Disc Copy

button. The computer copies the data from

the source CD or DVD to the blank CD or DVD.

Once you have finished copying the source CD or DVD, the CD or DVD that you have created automatically ejects.

Using Blank CDs and DVDs

CD-RW drives can write to CD recording media only (including high-speed CD-RW) while DVD-writable drives can write to both CD and DVD 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 blank CD-RWs to write to CDs or to erase, rewrite, or update data on CDs.

Blank DVD+/-Rs can be used to permanently store large amounts of information. After you create a DVD+/-R disc, you may not be able to write to that disc again if the disc is "finalized" or "closed" during the final stage of the disc creation process. Use blank DVD+/-RWs if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on that disc later.

CD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

CD-RW Yes Yes Yes

DVD-Writable Drives

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

DV D +RW Ye s Ye s Ye s

DV D -R W Ye s Ye s Yes

DVD+R DL Yes Yes No

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Media Type Read Write Rewritable

DVD-R DL Maybe No No

DVD-RAM Maybe No No

Helpful Tips

• Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after you start Sonic DigitalMedia and open a DigitalMedia project.

• Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs do not play in most home or car stereos.

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• You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic DigitalMedia.

• Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed.

• Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may not support all available DVD formats. For a list of formats supported by your DVD player, see the documentation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer.

• Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD-RW to its maximum capacity; for example, do not copy a 650-MB file to a blank 650-MB CD. The CD-RW drive needs 1–2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording.

• Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the CD-RW and try again. You can also use blank CD-RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD-R.

See the Sonic website at www.sonic.com for additional information.

Using Dell MediaDirect

NOTE: Dell QuickSet, which is automatically installed and enabled on your computer, is necessary for

Dell MediaDirect to function. Changing or disabling QuickSet default settings can limit Dell MediaDirect functionality. For more information about Dell QuickSet, see "Dell™ QuickSet Features" on page 44.

If you have Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition or another version of Windows XP with Dell Media Experience installed, you can press the Dell MediaDirect button to launch either media program.

• If you press the Dell MediaDirect button while you are logged in, either Windows XP Media Center Manager or Dell Media Experience launches, depending on your system setup. If both programs are present, Windows XP Media Center Manager will launch.

• When your computer is off, you can press the Dell MediaDirect button to start the computer and automatically launch the media application. The computer can either be on and running Windows or it can be in the hibernate, standby, or off mode.

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NOTICE: You cannot reinstall the Dell MediaDirect feature if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive.

Contact Dell for assistance. See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

1 Dell MediaDirect button

Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device

NOTE: Video and audio cables for connecting your computer to a TV or other audio device are not

included with your computer. Cables may be purchased at most consumer electronics stores. The TV/digital audio adapter cable is available for purchase from Dell.

Your computer has an S-video TV-out connector that, together with a standard S-video cable (available from Dell), enables you to connect the computer to a TV.

1 S-video TV-out connector 3 S/PDIF digital audio

connector

2 TV/digital audio adapter

cable

4 composite video-output

connector

5 S-video connector

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Your TV has either an S-video input connector or a composite video-input connector. Depending on what type of connector is available on your TV, you can use a commercially available S-video cable or composite video cable to connect your computer to your TV.

It is recommended that you connect video and audio cables to your computer in one of the following combinations.

NOTE: See the diagrams at the beginning of each subsection to help you determine which method of

connection you should use.

• S-video and standard audio

• Composite video and standard audio

When you finish connecting the video and audio cables between your computer and your TV,

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you must enable your computer to work with the TV. See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 66 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 64.

S-Video and Standard Audio

1 audio connector 2 S-video TV-out connector

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1 TV/digital audio adapter

cable

Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.

NOTE: You can connect an S-video cable directly to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer

(without the TV/digital audio adapter cable) if your TV or audio device supports S-video but not S/PDIF digital audio.

Plug one end of the S-video cable in to the S-video output connector on the computer.

2 standard S-video cable 3 standard audio cable

1 S-video TV-out connector 3 S/PDIF digital audio

connector

2 TV/digital audio adapter

cable

Plug the other end of the S-video cable in to the S-video input connector on your TV.

Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable in to the headphone connector on your

4 composite video-output

connector

computer.

Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable in to the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device.

5 S-video connector

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Turn on the TV and any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer.

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 66 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

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1 TV/digital audio adapter

cable

58 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

1 S-video TV-out connector

2 S-video cable 3 S/PDIF digital audio cable

Page 59

1 S-video cable 2 S/PDIF digital audio cable

Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.

Connect the TV/digital audio adapter cable to the S-video TV-out connector on your computer.

Plug one end of the S-video cable in to the S-video input connector on the TV/digital audio adapter cable.

1 TV/digital audio adapter

cable

Plug the other end of the S-video cable in to the S-video input connector on the TV.

Plug one end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable in to the digital audio connector on the

2 S-video cable

TV/digital audio adapter cable.

1 2

1 TV/digital audio adapter

cable

Plug the other end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable in to the audio input connector on your

2 S/PDIF digital audio cable

TV or other audio device.

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Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer.

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 66 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

Composite Video and Standard Audio

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1 audio input connector 2 composite video-input

connector

1 TV/digital audio adapter

cable

60 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable

Page 61

Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.

Connect the standard video to composite video adapter cable to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer.

Plug one end of the composite video cable in to the composite video-input connector on the standard video to composite video cable.

1 standard S-video to

composite video adapter

Plug the other end of the composite video cable in to the composite video-input connector on

2 composite video cable

the TV.

Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable in to the headphone connector on the computer.

Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable in to the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device.

Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer.

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 66 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

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Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

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1 composite video-input

connector

1 TV/digital audio adapter

cable

62 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable

Page 63

Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.

Connect the TV/digital audio adapter cable to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer.

Plug one end of the composite video cable in to the composite video-input connector on the TV/digital audio adapter cable.

1 TV/digital audio adapter

cable

Plug the other end of the composite video cable in to the composite video-input connector on

2 composite video-input

connector

the TV.

Plug one end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable in to the S/PDIF audio connector on the TV/digital audio adapter cable.

1 2

1 TV/digital audio adapter

cable

Plug the other end of the digital audio cable in to the S/PDIF input connector on your TV or

2 S/PDIF digital audio cable

other audio device.

Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer.

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 66 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

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Page 64

Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio

If your computer has a DVD drive, you can enable digital audio for DVD playback.

Click

Start→ Programs→ PowerDVD

Insert a DVD into the DVD drive.

If the DVD begins playing, click the stop button.

Click the

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Click the

Click the arrows beside the select the

Settings

DVD

option.

DVD Audio Setting

Speaker Configuration

SPDIF

option.

icon.

to launch the

Cyberlink PowerDVD

application.

setting to scroll through the options, and

Click the

Back

button once, and then click the

screen.

64 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

Back

button again to return to the main menu

Page 65

Enabling S/PDIF in the Windows Audio Driver

Double-click the speaker icon in the Windows notification area.

Click the

Click

Click OK.

Options

Advanced

menu and then click

S/PDIF Interface

Advanced Controls

Setting Up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones

NOTE: The CL headphone feature is available only if your computer has a DVD drive.

If your computer has a DVD drive, you can enable digital audio for DVD playback.

Click

Start→ Programs→ PowerDVD

Insert a DVD into the DVD drive.

If the DVD begins playing, click the stop button.

Click the

Settings

DVD

option.

to launch the

Cyberlink PowerDVD

program.

Click the

Click the arrows beside the select the

Click the arrows beside the

DVD Audio Setting

Headphones

CL Headphone

option.

icon.

Speaker Configuration

option.

Audio listening mode

option.

Dynamic range compression

setting to scroll through the options, and

option to select the most suitable

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Page 66

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Click the

Back

button once, and then click the

Back

button again to return to the main menu

screen.

Enabling the Display Settings for a TV

Video Controller

NOTE: To ensure that the display options appear correctly, connect the TV to the computer before you

enable the display settings.

Click the

Double-click

Click

Click the tab for your video card.

In the display devices section, select the appropriate option for using either a single display or multiple displays, ensuring that the display settings are correct for your selection.

Start

Display

Advanced

button, point to

and click the

Settings

, and then click

tab.

Control Panel

NOTE: To determine the type of video card installed in your computer, click the Start button and click

Help and Support. Under Pick a Task, click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems and click My Computer Information.

66 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

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Using ExpressCards

ExpressCard Types

See "Specifications" on page 131 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 particles. Save the blank for use when no ExpressCard is installed in the slot; blanks from other computers may not fit your computer.

To remove the blank, see "Removing an ExpressCard or Blank" on page 68.

Installing an ExpressCard

You can install an ExpressCard in the computer while the computer is running. The computer automatically detects the card.

ExpressCards are generally marked with a symbol (such as a triangle or an arrow) or a label to indicate which end to insert into the slot. The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion. If card orientation is not clear, see the documentation that came with the card.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

To install an ExpressCard:

Hold the card with the top side of the card facing up. The latch may need to be in the "in"

position before you insert the card.

Slide the card into the slot until the card is completely seated in its connector.

If you encounter too much resistance, do not force the card. Check the card orientation and try again.

Using ExpressCards 67

Page 68

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1 ExpressCard

The computer recognizes the ExpressCard and automatically loads the appropriate device driver. If the configuration program tells you to load the manufacturer's drivers, use the floppy disk or CD that came with the ExpressCard.

Removing an ExpressCard or Blank

NOTICE: Use the ExpressCard configuration utility (click the icon in the taskbar) to select a card

and stop it from functioning before you remove it from the computer. If you do not stop the card in the configuration utility, you could lose data.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

Press the latch and remove the card or blank. For some latches, you must press the latch twice: once to pop the latch out, and then a second time to pop the card out.

Save a blank to use when no ExpressCard is installed in a slot. Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles.

68 Using ExpressCards

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1 release button 2 ExpressCard

Using ExpressCards 69

Page 70

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70 Using ExpressCards

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Using the 5-in-1 Media Memory Card Reader

Media Memory Card Types

The 5-in-1 media memory card reader provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos, music, and videos stored on a memory card.

NOTE: A media memory card is not a bootable device.

The 5-in-1 media memory card reader reads the following media memory cards:

• Secure Digital (SD) card/SDIO

• MultiMediaCard (MMC)

•Memory Stick

•Memory Stick PRO

•xD-Picture Card

Media Memory Card Blanks

Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the 5-in-1 media memory card slot. Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles. Save the blank for use when no card is installed in the slot; blanks from other computers may not fit your computer.

To remove the blank, see "Removing a Media Memory Card or Blank" on page 72.

Installing a Media Memory Card

You can install a media memory card in the computer while the computer is running. The computer automatically detects the card.

Media memory cards are generally marked with a symbol (such as a triangle or an arrow) or a label to indicate which end to insert into the slot. The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion. If card orientation is not clear, see the documentation that came with the card.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

Using the 5-in-1 Media Memory Card Reader 71

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To install a media memory card:

Hold the card with the top side of the card facing up.

Slide the card into the slot until the card is completely seated in its connector.

If you encounter too much resistance, do not force the card. Check the card orientation and try again.

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1 5-in-1 media memory card

slot

2 media memory card

The computer recognizes the media memory card and automatically loads the appropriate device driver. If the configuration program tells you to load the manufacturer's drivers, use the CD that came with the media memory card, if applicable.

Removing a Media Memory Card or Blank

NOTICE: Use the media memory card configuration utility (click the icon in the taskbar) to select a

card and stop it from functioning before you remove it from the computer. If you do not stop the card in the configuration utility, you could lose data.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

Press the card in to release and remove the card or blank.

Save a blank to use when no media memory card is installed in the slot. Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles.

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Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter

Before you connect your computer to a network, the computer must have a network adapter installed and a network cable connected to it.

To connect a network cable:

Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your computer.

NOTE: Insert the cable until it clicks into place, and then gently pull it to ensure that it is secure.

Connect the other end of the network cable to a network connection device, such as a network wall connector.

NOTE: Do not use a network cable with a telephone wall connector.

Network Setup Wizard

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office.

Click the click

On the

Click

Start

button, point to

Network Setup Wizard

Checklist for creating a network

All Programs→ Accessories→ Communications

welcome screen, click

, and then

Setting Up a Home and Office Network 73

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NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the

integrated firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later.

Complete the checklist and required preparations.

Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen.

Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network

NOTE: These networking instructions do not apply to internal cards with Bluetooth® wireless

technology or cellular products.

Determining Your Network Type

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NOTE: Most wireless networks are of the infrastructure type.

Wireless networks fall into two categories—infrastructure networks and ad-hoc networks. An infrastructure network uses routers or access points to connect several computers. An ad-hoc network does not use routers or access points and consists of computers that broadcast to one another. For additional assistance with setting up your wireless connection, go to support.dell.com and search for the keyword wireless setup.

1 infrastructure network 2 ad-hoc network

Connecting to a Wireless Network in Microsoft® Windows® XP

Your wireless network card requires specific software and drivers in order to connect to a network. The software is already installed. If the software is removed or corrupted, follow the instructions included in the user's guide for your wireless network card.

The user’s guide is located on the optional Drivers and Utilities CD in the "User’s GuidesNetwork User’s Guides" category. The user’s guide is also available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com and may also be located on your computer desktop.

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not be available for your computer or in certain

countries.

74 Setting Up a Home and Office Network

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When you turn on your computer, a pop-up appears from the network icon in the notification area (located in the lower-right corner of the Windows desktop) when a network, for which your computer is not configured, is detected in the area.

NOTE: The following instructions apply if you use the Windows operating system to manage your

network devices. For information about other wireless configuration utilities, see your wireless network documentation.

Click either the pop-up or the network icon to configure your computer for one of the available wireless networks.

The

Wireless Network Connections

window lists the wireless networks available in your area.

Setting Up a Home and Office Network 75

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Click to select the network you want to configure, and then click

Connect

or double-click the network name in the list. If you select a secure network (identified by a icon), you must enter a password when prompted.

NOTE: Network security settings are unique to your network. Dell cannot provide this information.

NOTE: Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to a network.

After your computer is configured for the wireless network you selected, another pop-up notifies you that your computer is connected to the network you selected.

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Thereafter, whenever you log on to your computer in the area of the wireless network, the same pop-up notifies you of the wireless network connection.

76 Setting Up a Home and Office Network

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Solving Problems

Dell Diagnostics

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in "Lockups and Software Problems" on page 88 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance.

NOTICE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell computers.

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not ship with your computer.

Start the Dell Diagnostics from either your hard drive or from the Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as the ResourceCD).

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive

The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive.

NOTE: If your computer cannot display a screen image, contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

Shut down the computer.

Connect the computer to an electrical outlet.

Diagnostics can be invoked one of two ways:

Turn on the computer. When the DELL™ logo appears, press <F12> immediately. Select

Diagnostics

NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see

the Microsoft

Press and hold the <Fn> key while powering the system on.

NOTE: If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, run the Dell

Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities CD.

from the boot menu and press <Enter>.

Windows® desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.

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The computer runs the Pre-boot System Assessment, a series of initial tests of your system board, keyboard, hard drive, and display.

• During the assessment, answer any questions that appear.

• If a failure is detected, the computer stops and beeps. To stop the assessment and restart

the computer, press <n>; to continue to the next test, press <y>; to retest the component that failed, press <r>.

• If failures are detected during the Pre-boot System Assessment, write down the error

code(s) and contact Dell.

If the Pre-boot System Assessment completes successfully, you receive the message

Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition. Press any key to continue

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Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the diagnostics utility partition on your

Booting

hard drive.

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD may be optional and may not ship with your computer.

Insert the

Shut down and restart the computer.

Drivers and Utilities

CD.

When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

If you wait too long and the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the 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.

When the boot device list appears, highlight

Select the

Ty p e 1 to start the

Select select the version appropriate for your computer.

When the Dell Diagnostics

78 Solving Problems

Boot from CD-ROM

ResourceCD

option from the menu that appears and press <Enter>.

menu and press <Enter> to proceed.

Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics

Main Menu

CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive

and press <Enter>.

from the numbered list. If multiple versions are listed,

appears, select the test you want to run.

Page 79

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the

Main Menu

screen appears, click the button for the

option you want.

Option Function

Express Test Performs a quick test of devices. This 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 devices. This test typically

takes 1 hour or more and requires you to answer questions periodically.

Custom Test Tests a specific device. You can customize the tests you

want to run.

Symptom Tree Lists the most common symptoms encountered and

allows you to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having.

If a problem is encountered during a test, a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem. Write down the error code and problem description and follow the instructions on the screen.

If you cannot resolve the error condition, contact Dell.

NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen. If you contact Dell,

technical support will ask for your Service Tag.

If you run a test from the

Custom Test

Symptom Tree

option, click the applicable tab

described in the following table for more information.

Tab Function

Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions

encountered.

Errors Displays error conditions encountered, error codes, and

the problem description.

Help Describes the test and may indicate requirements for

running the test.

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Tab Function

Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected

device.

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

Parameters Allows you to customize the test by changing the test

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When the tests are completed, if you are running the Dell Diagnostics from the

Utilities

When the tests are complete, close the test screen to return to the

CD, remove the CD.

the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer, close the

settings.

Main Menu

Drivers and

screen. To exit

screen.

Drive Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

NSURE THAT MICROSOFT

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

TEST THE DRIVE —

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

• Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer.

CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK — See "Cleaning Your Computer" on page 141.

ENSURE THAT THE CD IS SNAPPED ONTO THE SPINDLE

CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS

CHECK FOR HARDWARE INCOMPATIBILITIES — (See "Resolving Software and Hardware

Incompatibilities" on page 99.

RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS — See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 77.

WINDOWS® RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE — Click the Start button and

80 Solving Problems

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CD and DVD drive problems

NOTE: High-speed CD or DVD drive vibration is normal and may cause noise, which does not indicate a

defect in the drive or the CD or DVD.

NOTE: Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all DVD titles work in all

DVD drives.

Problems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive

CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS —

The CD/DVD-RW drive must receive a steady stream of data when writing. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. Try closing all programs before you write to the CD/DVD-RW.

TURN OFF STANDBY MODE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD/DVD-RW DISC — See "Power

Management Modes" on page 41 for information on standby mode.

CHANGE THE WRITE SPEED TO A SLOWER RATE —

See the help files for your CD or DVD creation

software.

If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW drive tray

Ensure that the computer is shut down.

Straighten a paper clip and insert one end into the eject hole at the front of the drive; push firmly until the tray is partially ejected.

Gently pull out the tray until it stops.

If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound

• Ensure that the sound is not caused by the program that is running.

• Ensure that the disk or disc is inserted properly.

Hard drive problems

ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO COOL BEFORE TURNING IT ON —

operating system from starting. Try allowing the computer to return to room temperature before turning it on.

RUN CHECK DISK —

Click the

Right-click

Click

Click the

Under

Click

Start

button and click

Local Disk C:

Properties

Tools

tab.

Error-checking

, click

My Computer

Check Now

Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors

Start

A hot hard drive may prevent the

Solving Problems 81

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E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

NOTE: Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only. The modem does not operate while it is

connected to a digital telephone network.

HECK THE MICROSOFT OUTLOOK

mail attachments:

In Outlook Express, click

Click

Do not allow attachments

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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.)

• Ensure that you hear a click when you insert the telephone line connector into the modem.

• Disconnect the telephone line from the modem and connect it to a telephone. Listen for a dial tone.

• If you have other telephone devices sharing the line, such as an answering machine, fax machine, surge protector, or line splitter, then bypass them and connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack. If you are using a line that is 3 m (10 ft) or more in length, try a shorter one.

RUN THE MODEM HELPER DIAGNOSTICS —

click

Modem Helper

. Follow the instructions on the screen to identify and resolve modem

problems. (Modem Helper is not available on all computers.)

VERIFY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH WINDOWS —

Click the

Click

Click the

Click the COM port for your modem.

Click

Start

button and click

Printers and Other Hardware

Phone and Modem Options

Modems

Properties

, click the

modem is communicating with Windows.

If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.

tab.

EXPRESS SECURITY SETTINGS —

Tools

, click

Options

, and then click

to remove the checkmark.

Click the

Control Panel

Start

Diagnostics

tab, and then click

If you cannot open your e-

Security

button, point to

Query Modem

All Programs

to verify that the

and then

82 Solving Problems

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ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET —

Internet provider. With the Outlook Express e-mail program open, click

Ensure that you have subscribed to an

File

. If

Work Offline

has a checkmark next to it, click the checkmark to remove it and connect to the Internet. For help, contact your Internet service provider.

SCAN THE COMPUTER FOR SPYWARE —

If you are experiencing slow computer performance, you frequently receive pop-up advertisements, or you are having problems connecting to the Internet, your computer might be infected with spyware. Use an anti-virus program that includes antispyware protection (your program may require an upgrade) to scan the computer and remove spyware. For more information, go to

support.dell.com

and search for the keyword

spyware

Error Messages

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

If the message is not listed, see the documentation for the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared.

AUXILIARY DEVICE FAILURE — The touch pad, track stick, or external mouse may be faulty. For an

external mouse, check the cable connection. Enable the Pointing Device option in the system setup program. If the problem persists, contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME — Ensure that you have spelled the command correctly, 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 145.

CD DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE — The CD drive does not respond to commands from the

computer. See "Drive Problems" on page 80.

DATA ERROR — The hard drive cannot read the data. See "Drive Problems" on page 80.

DECREASING AVAILABLE MEMORY — One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly

seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them. See "Memory" on page 112.

DISK C: FAILED INITIALIZATION — The hard drive failed initialization. Run the hard drive tests in

the Dell Diagnostics. See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 77.

DRIVE NOT READY — The operation requires a hard drive in the bay before it can continue.

Install a hard drive in the hard drive bay. See "Hard Drive" on page 108.

ERROR READING PCMCIA CARD — The computer cannot identify the ExpressCard. Reinsert the

card or try another card. See "Using ExpressCards" on page 67.

EXTENDED MEMORY SIZE HAS CHANGED — The amount of memory recorded in NVRAM does not

match the memory installed in the computer. Restart the computer. If the error appears again, contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

Solving Problems 83

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THE FILE BEING COPIED IS TOO LARGE FOR THE DESTINATION DRIVE —

The file that you are trying to copy is too large to fit on the disk, or the disk is too full. Try copying the file to a different disk or use a larger capacity disk.

A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS: \ / : * ? “ < > | —

Do not use

these characters in filenames.

GATE A20 FAILURE — A memory module may be loose. Reinstall the memory modules and, if

necessary, replace them. See "Memory" on page 112.

GENERAL FAILURE — The operating system is unable to carry out the command. The message is

usually followed by specific information—for example, Printer out of paper. Take the appropriate action.

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HARD-DISK DRIVE CONFIGURATION ERROR — The computer cannot identify the drive type. Shut

down the computer, remove the hard drive (see page 108), and boot the computer from a CD. Then shut down the computer, reinstall the hard drive, and restart the computer. Run the HardDisk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

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 page 108), and boot the computer from a CD. Then shut down the computer, reinstall the hard drive, and restart the computer. If the problem persists, try another drive. Run the Hard-Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

HARD-DISK DRIVE FAILURE — The hard drive does not respond to commands from the computer.

Shut down the computer, remove the hard drive (see page 108), and boot the computer from a CD. Then shut down the computer, reinstall the hard drive, and restart the computer. If the problem persists, try another drive. Run the Hard-Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

HARD-DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE — The hard drive may be defective. Shut down the computer,

remove the hard drive (see page 108), and boot the computer from a CD. Then shut down the computer, reinstall the hard drive, and restart the computer. If the problem persists, try another drive. Run the Hard-Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA — The operating system is trying to boot to a nonbootable CD. Insert

a bootable CD.

INVALID CONFIGURATION INFORMATION-PLEASE RUN SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM — The system

configuration information does not match the hardware configuration. The message is most likely to occur after a memory module is installed. Correct the appropriate options in the system setup program (see "Using the System Setup Program" on page 137).

KEYBOARD CLOCK LINE FAILURE — For external keyboards, check the cable connection. Run the

Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

KEYBOARD CONTROLLER FAILURE — For external keyboards, check the cable connection. Restart

the computer, and avoid touching the keyboard or the mouse during the boot routine. Run the Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

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KEYBOARD DATA LINE FAILURE — For external keyboards, check the cable connection. Run the

Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostic (see page 77)s.

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 page 77).

LICENSED CONTENT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE IN MEDIADIRECT — Dell MediaDirect cannot verify the

Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions on the file, so the file cannot be played. See "Dell MediaDirect problems" on page 89.

MEMORY ADDRESS LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE — A memory module

may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them (see page 112).

MEMORY ALLOCATION ERROR — The software you are attempting to run is conflicting with the

operating system, another program, or a utility. Shut down the computer, wait 30 seconds, and then restart it. Try to run the program again. If the error message still appears, see the software documentation.

MEMORY DATA LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE — A memory module

may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them (see page 112).

MEMORY DOUBLE WORD LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE — A memory

module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them (see page 112).

MEMORY ODD/EVEN LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE — A memory

module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them (see page 112).

MEMORY WRITE/READ FAILURE AT ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE — A memory module

may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them (see page 112).

NO BOOT DEVICE AVAILABLE — The computer cannot find the hard drive. If the hard drive is your

boot device, ensure that the drive is installed, properly seated, and partitioned as a boot device.

NO BOOT SECTOR ON HARD DRIVE — The operating system may be corrupted. Contact Dell. See

"Contacting Dell" on page 145.

NO TIMER TICK INTERRUPT — A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning. Run the

System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES. EXIT SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN — Yo u h a ve t oo

many programs open. Close all windows and open the program that you want to use.

OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND — Reinstall the hard drive (see "Hard Drive" on page 108). If the

problem persists, contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

OPTIONAL ROM BAD CHECKSUM — The optional ROM apparently failed. Contact Dell. See

"Contacting Dell" on page 145.

Solving Problems 85

Page 86

A REQUIRED .DLL FILE WAS NOT FOUND — The program that you are trying to open is missing an

essential file. Remove and then reinstall the program.

Click the Start button and click

Click

Add or Remove Programs

Select the program you want to remove.

Click

Remove

See the program documentation for installation instructions.

SECTOR NOT FOUND — The operating system cannot locate a sector on the hard drive. You may

Change/Remove

Control Panel

and follow the prompts on the screen.

have a defective sector or corrupted FAT on the hard drive. Run the Windows error-checking utility to check the file structure on the hard drive. See the Windows Help and Support Center

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

for instructions. To access the Help and Support Center, see "Windows Help and Support Center" on page 13. If a large number of sectors are defective, back up the data (if possible), and then reformat the hard drive.

SEEK ERROR — The operating system cannot find a specific track on the hard drive.

SHUTDOWN FAILURE — A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning. Run the System Set

tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

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 137. If the message reappears, contact Dell.

See "Contacting Dell" on

page 145.

TIME- OF- DAY CLOCK STOPPED — The reserve battery that supports the system configuration

settings may require recharging. Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge the battery. If the problem persists, contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

TIME- OF- DAY NOT SET-PLEASE RUN THE SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM — The time or date stored in

the system setup program does not match the system clock. Correct the settings for the Date and Time options. See "Using the System Setup Program" on page 137.

TIMER CHIP COUNTER 2 FAILED — A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning. Run the

System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

UNEXPECTED INTERRUPT IN PROTECTED MODE — The keyboard controller may be malfunctioning,

or a memory module may be loose. Run the System Memory tests and the Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics (see page 77).

X :\ IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE DEVICE IS NOT READY — Insert a disk into the drive and try again.

WARNING: BATTERY IS CRITICALLY LOW — The battery is running out of charge. Replace the

battery, or connect the computer to an electrical outlet. Otherwise, activate hibernate mode or shut down the computer.

86 Solving Problems

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IEEE 1394 Device Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

NSURE THAT THE IEEE 1394 DEVICE IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS —

Click the

Click

Start

button and click

Printers and Other Hardware

Control Panel

If your IEEE 1394 device is listed, Windows recognizes the device.

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A DELL-PROVIDED IEEE 1394 DEVICE — Contact Dell or the

IEEE 1394 device manufacturer. See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AN IEEE 1394 DEVICE NOT PROVIDED BY DELL — Contact Dell or the

IEEE 1394 device manufacturer. See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

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 the Dell Diagnostics or the system setup program.

When you attach an external keyboard, the integrated keyboard remains fully functional.

External Keyboard problems

NOTE: When you attach an external keyboard, the integrated keyboard remains fully functional.

HECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE — Shut down the computer. Disconnect the keyboard cable and

check it for damage, and firmly reconnect the cable.

If you are using a keyboard extension cable, disconnect it and connect the keyboard directly to the computer.

CHECK THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD —

Shut down the computer, wait 1 minute, and turn it on again.

Verify that the numbers, capitals, and scroll lock lights on the keyboard blink during the boot routine.

From the Windows desktop, click the then click

Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the display.

Notepad

Start

button, point to

Programs→

Accessories

, and

If you cannot verify these steps, you may have a defective external keyboard.

Solving Problems 87

Page 88

TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD, CHECK THE INTEGRATED

KEYBOARD —

Shut down the computer.

Disconnect the external keyboard.

Turn on the computer.

From the Windows desktop, click the click

Notepad

Type some characters on the internal keyboard and verify that they appear on the display.

Start

button, point to

Programs→

Accessories

, and

If the characters appear now but did not with the external keyboard, you may have a defective external keyboard. Contact Dell.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

RUN THE KEYBOARD DIAGNOSTICS TESTS —

Dell Diagnostics

(see page 77)

. If the tests indicate a defective external keyboard, contact Dell.

See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

Run the PC-AT Compatible Keyboards tests in the

See

"Contacting Dell" on page 145.

Unexpected characters

DISABLE THE NUMERIC KEYPAD —

displayed instead of letters. Verify that the numbers lock light is not lit.

Press <Num Lk> to disable the numeric keypad if numbers are

Lockups and Software Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

The computer does not start up

ENSURE THAT THE AC ADAPTER IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER AND TO THE ELECTRICAL

OUTLET

The computer stops responding

NOTICE: You might lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.

URN 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 —

Press <Crtl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously.

Click the

Click

88 Solving Problems

Applications

End Task

tab and select the program that is no longer responding.

Page 89

NOTE: The chkdsk program may run when you restart the computer. Follow the instructions on the

screen.

HECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION — If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.

Software usually includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk or CD.

A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft® Windows® operating system

RUN THE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD —

program so it runs in an environment similar to non-Windows XP operating system environments.

Click the

Compatibility Wizard

In the welcome screen, click

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Start

button, point to

All Programs→ Accessories

The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a

, and then click

Program

A solid blue screen appears

TURN THE COMPUTER OFF —

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.

If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard

Dell MediaDirect problems

CHECK THE DELL MEDIADIRECT HELP FILE FOR INFORMATION — Click the ? icon at the bottom of

the Dell MediaDirect screen to access Help.

TO PLAY MOVIES WITH DELL MEDIAD IRECT, YOU MUST HAVE A DVD DRIVE AND THE DELL DVD PLAYER — If you purchased a DVD drive with your computer, this software should already be

installed.

VIDEO QUALITY PROBLEMS — Turn off the Use Hardware Acceleration option. This feature takes

advantage of the special processing in some graphics cards to reduce processor requirements when playing DVDs and certain types of video files.

CANNOT PLAY SOME MEDIA FILES — Because Dell MediaDirect provides access to media files

outside the Windows XP environment, access to licensed content is restricted. Licensed content is digital content that has Digital Rights Management (DRM) applied to it. The Dell MediaDirect environment cannot verify the DRM restrictions, so the licensed files cannot be played. Licensed music and video files have a lock icon next to them. You can access licensed files in the Windows XP environment.

ADJUSTING THE COLOR SETTINGS FOR MOVIES THAT CONTAIN SCENES THAT ARE TOO DARK OR TOO

BRIGHT — Click EagleVision to use a video enhancement technology that detects video content

and dynamically adjusts the brightness/contrast/saturation ratios.

NOTICE: You cannot reinstall the Dell MediaDirect feature if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive.

Contact Dell for assistance. See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

Solving Problems 89

Page 90

Memory Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

F YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE —

• Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem.

• See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements. If necessary, install additional memory

• Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory

• Run the Dell Diagnostics

IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS —

• Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory

90 Solving Problems

(see "Memory" on page 112)

(see page 77)

(see "Memory" on page 112)

Page 91

• Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines

• Run the Dell Diagnostics

(see page 77)

(see "Memory" on page 112)

Network Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

HECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR —

Ensure that the network cable is firmly inserted into

both the network connector on the back of the computer and the network jack.

CHECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE NETWORK CONNECTOR —

No light indicates that no network

communication exists. Replace the network cable.

RESTART THE COMPUTER AND LOG ON TO THE NETWORK AGAIN

CHECK YOUR NETWORK SETTINGS —

Contact your network administrator or the person who set up

your network to verify that your network settings are correct and that the network is functioning.

ExpressCard Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

HECK THE EXPRESSCARD —

ENSURE THAT THE CARD IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS —

Hardware

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A DELL-PROVIDED EXPRESSCARD —

icon in the Windows taskbar. Ensure that the card is listed.

Dell" on page 145.

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AN EXPRESSCARD NOT PROVIDED BY DELL —

ExpressCard manufacturer.

Ensure that the ExpressCard is properly inserted into the connector.

Double-click the

Contact Dell.

Safely Remove

See "Contacting

Contact the

Power Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

HECK THE POWER LIGHT —

power light is blinking, the computer is in standby mode—press the power button to exit standby mode. If the light is off, press the power button to turn on the computer.

NOTE: For information on standby mode, see "Power Management Modes" on page 41.

HARGE THE BATTERY —

Reinstall the battery.

Use the AC adapter to connect the computer to an electrical outlet.

Turn on the computer.

When the power light is lit or blinking, the computer has power. If the

The battery charge may be depleted.

Solving Problems 91

Page 92

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.

HECK THE BATTERY STATUS LIGHT — If the battery status light flashes orange or is a steady

orange the battery charge is low or depleted. Connect the computer to an electrical outlet.

If the battery status light flashes green and orange, 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 orange, the battery may be defective. Contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

CHECK THE BATTERY TEMPERATURE — If the battery temperature is below 0°C (32°F), the

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computer will not start up.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with

another device, such as a lamp.

CHECK THE AC ADAPTER — Check the AC adapter cable connections. If the AC adapter has a

light, ensure that the light is on.

CONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Bypass power protection devices,

power strips, and the extension cable to verify that the computer turns on.

ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, halogen lamps, or

other appliances.

ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES — See "Power Management Modes" on page 41.

RESEAT THE MEMORY MODULES —

blank, reinstall the memory modules

If the computer power light turns on but the display remains

(see "Memory" on page 112).

Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer

Your computer is designed to use the 90-W AC adapter; for optimum system performance, you should always use this adapter.

The 65-W AC adapters used in other Dell™ portable computers can be used with your computer, but they will decrease system performance. Using less-powerful AC adapters, including the 65-W AC adapter, will cause you to receive a

Printer Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your printer, contact the printer’s manufacturer.

92 Solving Problems

WARNING

message.

Page 93

ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON

CHECK THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS —

• 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 —

Click the

Click

Start

button, click

Control Panel

View installed printers or fax printers

, and then click

Printers and Other Hardware

If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.

Click

Properties following port(s): the following port(s):

REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER —

and click the

setting is

LPT1 (Printer Port)

setting is

Ports

tab. For a parallel printer, ensure that the

. For a USB printer, ensure that the

USB

See the printer documentation for instructions

Print to the

Print to

Scanner Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your scanner, contact the scanner’s manufacturer.

HECK THE PRINTER DOCUMENTATION —

troubleshooting information.

CHECK THE SCANNER DOCUMENTATION —

troubleshooting information.

UNLOCK THE SCANNER —

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 —

Click the

Click

Start

button, click

Scanners and Cameras

If your scanner is listed, Windows recognizes the scanner.

See the printer documentation for setup and

See the scanner documentation for setup and

Ensure that your scanner is unlocked if it has a locking tab or button.

Control Panel

, and then click

Printers and Other Hardware

REINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER —

See the scanner documentation for instructions.

Solving Problems 93

Page 94

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

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL —

corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted. Adjust the volume, bass, or treble controls to eliminate distortion.

ADJUST THE VOLUME USING KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS —

reenable the integrated speakers.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

REINSTALL THE SOUND (AUDIO) DRIVER —

No sound from external speakers

ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON —

supplied with the speakers. If your speakers have volume controls, adjust the volume, bass, or treble to eliminate distortion.

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL —

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 —

automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the computer’s front-panel headphone connector.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET —

another device, such as a lamp.

ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE —

check for interference.

REINSTALL THE AUDIO DRIVER — See "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 97.

RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS (see page 77)

Double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right

Press <Fn><End> to disable (mute) or

See "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 97.

See the setup diagram

Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-

Sound from the speakers is

Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with

Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, or halogen lamps to

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.

No sound from headphones

CHECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION — Ensure that the headphone cable is securely

inserted into the headphone connector (see "audio connectors" on page 20).

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL —

right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.

94 Solving Problems

Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-

Page 95

Touch Pad or Mouse Problems

CHECK THE TOUCH PAD SETTINGS —

Click the

Click

Try adjusting the settings.

CHECK THE MOUSE CABLE —

damage, and firmly reconnect the cable.

If you are using a mouse extension cable, disconnect it and connect the mouse directly to the computer.

TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MOUSE, CHECK THE TOUCH PAD —

Shut down the computer.

Disconnect the mouse.

Turn on the computer.

At the Windows desktop, use the touch pad to move the cursor around, select an icon, and open it.

If the touch pad operates correctly, the mouse may be defective.

Start

Mouse

button, click

Control Panel

, and then click

Printers and Other Hardware

Shut down the computer. Disconnect the mouse cable, check it for

REINSTALL THE TOUCH PAD DRIVER —

See "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 97.

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 the display is blank

NOTE: If you are using a program that requires a higher resolution than your computer supports, it is

recommended that you attach an external monitor to your computer.

HECK THE BATTERY —

be depleted. Connect the computer to an electrical outlet using the AC adapter, and turn on the computer.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET —

another device, such as a lamp.

CHECK THE AC ADAPTER —

ensure that the light is on.

CONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET —

power strips, and the extension cable to verify that the computer turns on.

ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES —

Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center, see page 13.

If you are using a battery to power your computer, the battery charge may

Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with

Check the AC adapter cable connections. If the AC adapter has a light,

Bypass power protection devices,

Search for the keyword

standby

in the Windows Help and

Solving Problems 95

Page 96

SWITCH THE VIDEO IMAGE —

If your computer is attached to an external monitor, press

<Fn><F8> to switch the video image to the display.

If the display is difficult to read

ADJUST THE BRIGHTNESS —

MOVE THE EXTERNAL SUBWOOFER AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER OR MONITOR —

speaker system includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm (2 ft) away from the computer or external monitor.

ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE —

other appliances.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

ROTATE THE COMPUTER TO FACE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION —

cause poor picture quality.

ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS —

Click the

Click

Click the area you want to change or click the

Try different settings for

SEE "ERROR MESSAGES"—If an error message appears, see page 83.

Start

button and then click

Appearance and Themes

Press <Fn> and the up- or down-arrow key

Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, halogen lamps, or

Eliminate sunlight glare, which can

Control Panel

Color quality

Display

and

Screen resolution

icon.

If your external

If only part of the display is readable

CONNECT AN EXTERNAL MONITOR —

Shut down your computer and connect an external monitor to the computer.

Turn on the computer and the monitor and adjust the monitor brightness and contrast controls.

If the external monitor works, the computer display or video controller may be defective. Contact Dell.

See "Contacting Dell" on page 145.

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver program.

A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs 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.

96 Solving Problems

Page 97

NOTICE: The Drivers and Utilities CD may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your

computer. Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system.

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft® Windows® operating system. You may need to install drivers if you:

• Upgrade your operating system.

• Reinstall your operating system.

• Connect or install a new device.

Identifying Drivers

If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver.

Click the

Under

Click

In the

Click

Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a [!]) on the device icon.

If an exclamation 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 97.

Start

button and click

Pick a Category

System

System Properties

Device Manager

Control Panel

, click

Performance and Maintenance

window, click the

Hardware

tab.

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

NOTICE: The Dell Support website at support.dell.com and your Drivers and Utilities CD provide

approved drivers for Dell™ computers. If you install drivers obtained from other sources, your computer might not work correctly.

Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback

If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver, use Windows XP Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version.

Click the

Under

Click

In the

Click

Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed and click

Start

button and click

Pick a Category

System

System Properties

Device Manager

Control Panel

, click

Performance and Maintenance

window, click the

Hardware

tab.

Properties

Solving Problems 97

Page 98

Click the

Click

Drivers

tab.

Roll Back Driver

If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore to return your computer to the operating state that existed before you installed the new driver.

Using the Drivers and Utilities CD

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not ship with your computer.

If using

Device Driver Rollback

or System Restore does not resolve the problem, then reinstall

the driver from the Drivers and Utilities CD.

Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Insert the

Drivers and Utilities

CD.

In most cases, the CD starts running automatically. If it does not, start Windows Explorer, click your CD drive directory to display the CD contents, and then double-click the

autorcd.exe

Click

From the

file. The first time that you run the CD, it might prompt you to install setup files.

, and follow the instructions on the screen to continue.

Language

drop-down menu in the toolbar, select your preferred language for the

driver or utility (if available). A welcome screen appears.

Click

The CD automatically scans your hardware to detect drivers and utilities used by your computer.

After the CD completes the hardware scan, you can also detect other drivers and utilities. Under

System

Search Criteria

, and

To pi c

, select the appropriate categories from the

drop-down menus.

System Model, Operating

A link or links appear(s) for the specific drivers and utilities used by your computer.

Click the link of a specific driver or utility to display information about the driver or utility that you want to install.

Click the screen, follow the screen prompts to complete the installation.

If no

Install

instructions, either see the appropriate instructions in the following subsections, or click

Extract

If instructed to navigate to the driver files, click the CD directory on the driver information window to display the files associated with that driver.

98 Solving Problems

Install

button (if present) to begin installing the driver or utility. At the welcome

button is present, automatic installation is not an option. For installation

, follow the extracting instructions, and then read the readme file.

Page 99

Manually Reinstalling Drivers

NOTE: If you are reinstalling an infrared sensor driver, you must first enable the infrared sensor in the

system setup program before continuing with the driver installation. See "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 97.

After extracting the driver files to your hard drive as described in the previous section, click the

Start

button and right-click

Click

Properties

Click the

Double-click the type of device for which you are installing the driver (for example, or

Infrared devices

Double-click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver.

Click the

Click

Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)

Click

Browse

When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click

Click

Finish

Hardware

Driver

tab and click

and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files.

and restart your computer.

My Computer

Device Manager

Update Driver

Modems

and click

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured, you can use the Hardware Troubleshooter to resolve the incompatibility.

To start the Hardware Troubleshooter:

Click the

Ty p e search.

Click

In the

computer

Start

button and click

hardware troubleshooter

Hardware Troubleshooter

, and click

Help and Support

in the

list, click

in the

field and click the arrow to start the

Search Results

I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my

list.

Restoring Your Operating System

You can restore your operating system in the following ways:

•Microsoft® Windows® XP System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files. Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files.

Solving Problems 99

Page 100

• Dell PC Restore by Symantec restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications installed after you received the computer. Use PC Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

• If you received an operating system. However, using the drive. Use the CD

Operating System

only

if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

CD with your computer, you can use it to restore your

Operating System

CD also deletes all data on the hard

Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore

The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides System Restore to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without affecting data files) if changes to the

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hardware, software, or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. See the Windows Help and Support Center for information on using System Restore. To access help, see page page 13.

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 you set your Dell™ computer to the Windows Classic view.

Creating a Restore Point

Click the

Click the task for

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Start

button and click

System Restore

Help and Support

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State

If problems occur after you install a device driver, use Device Driver Rollback (see page 97) to resolve the problem. If that is unsuccessful, then use 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.

Click the

System Restore

Ensure that

Click a calendar date to which you want to restore your computer.

Select a Restore Point

The points. All calendar dates with available restore points appear in boldface type.

100 Solving Problems

Start

button, point to

All Programs→

Restore my computer to an earlier time

screen provides a calendar that allows you to see and select restore

Accessories→

System Tools

is selected and click

, and then click