Dell 1700 User Manual

Dell™ Vostro™ 1700 Owner’s Manual

Model PP22X

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

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.

____________________

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly
forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Vostro, Wi-Fi Catcher, and Dell MediaDirect are
trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel is a registered trademark and Core is a trademark of Intel Corporation;
Microsoft, Windows, Outlook, and Windows Vista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries; Bluetooth is a registered trademark
owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license.

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 PP22X

November 2007 P/N TT565 Rev. A01

Contents

1 Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2 About Your Computer

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

Determining Your Computer’s Configuration . . . . . . 21

Front View

Left Side View

Right Side View

Back View

Bottom View

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

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

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

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

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

3 Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

Transferring Information to a New Computer

Microsoft Windows XP

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

Microsoft Windows Vista™

Setting Up a Printer

Printer Cable

Connecting a USB Printer

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . 36

. . . . . . 37

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

Contents 3

Power Protection Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Surge Protectors

Line Conditioners

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . 44

4 Using the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Adjusting Brightness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Switching the Video Image From Your Computer
Display to a Projector

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

Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate

®

Microsoft

Windows XP

Windows Vista

®

®

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

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

5 Using the Keyboard and Touch

Pad

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

Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Key Combinations

System Functions

Display Functions

Battery

Power Management

Microsoft

Dell™ QuickSet Key Combinations

Adjusting Keyboard Settings

Touch Pad

Customizing the Touch Pad

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

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

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

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

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

®

Windows® Logo Key Functions . . . . 48

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

. . . . . . 45

. . . . . . . . . 48

4 Contents

6 Using a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Battery Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Checking the Battery Charge

Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter

®

Microsoft

Charge Gauge

Windows® Battery Meter . . . . . . . 53

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

Low-Battery Warning

Conserving Battery Power

Configuring Power Management Settings

Using the Sleep Power State

Charging the Battery

Replacing the Battery

Storing a Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

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

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

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

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

. . . . . 54

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

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

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

7 Using Multimedia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Playing Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote

Copying CD and DVD Media

How to Copy a CD or DVD

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

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

Using Blank CD or DVD Media

Helpful Tips

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

. . . . . . . . 61

. . . . . . . . . . . 63

Adjusting the Volume

Adjusting the Picture

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

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

Using Dell MediaDirect™

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

Contents 5

Connecting Your Computer to a TV or
Audio Device

S-Video and Standard Audio

S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

Composite Video and Standard Audio

Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

Component Video and Standard Audio

Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

Enabling the Display Settings for a TV

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . 69

. . . . . . . . . . 70

. . . . . . . 72

. . . . . 74

. . . . . . . 76

. . . . 79

. . . . . . . 82

8 Using ExpressCards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

ExpressCard Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Installing an ExpressCard

Removing an ExpressCard or Blank

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

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

9 Using the Memory Card Reader . . . . . . 89

Memory Card Blanks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Installing a Memory Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Removing a Memory Card or Blank

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

10 Setting Up and Using Networks . . . . . . 91

Connecting a Network or Broadband
Modem Cable

Setting Up a Network

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

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

6 Contents

Wireless Local Area Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

What You Need to Establish a WLAN
Connection

Checking Your Wireless Network Card

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

. . . . . . . 93

Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless
Router and a Broadband Modem

Connecting to a WLAN

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

. . . . . . . . . . 94

Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area
Network)

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

What You Need to Establish a Mobile
Broadband Network Connection

Checking Your Dell™ Mobile Broadband Card

Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network

. . . . . . . . . . 97

. . . 97

. . . 98

Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile
Broadband Card

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

Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator

. . . . . . . . . 99

11 Securing Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Security Cable Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Passwords

If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . 102

12 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Dell Technical Update Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Dell Diagnostics

Dell Support Center

Dell Support

Dell PC TuneUp

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

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

Contents 7

Dell PC Checkup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Dell Network Assistant

DellConnect

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

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

Drive Problems

Optical drive problems

Hard drive problems

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

. . . . . . . . 115

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

ExpressCard Problems

IEEE 1394 Device Problems

Keyboard Problems

External Keyboard problems

Unexpected characters

Lockups and Software Problems

The computer does not start

The computer stops responding

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

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

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

. . . . . . . . . 125

A program stops responding or crashes
repeatedly

A program is designed for an earlier
Microsoft

A solid blue screen appears

Dell MediaDirect problems

Other software problems

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

®

Windows® operating system . . . . 126

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

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

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

8 Contents

Memory Problems

Network Problems

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

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

Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area
Network [WWAN])

Power Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Scanner Problems

Sound and Speaker Problems

No sound from integrated speakers

No sound from external speakers

No sound from headphones

Remote Control Problems

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

Drivers

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

What Is a Driver?

Identifying Drivers

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

. . . . . . . . 133

. . . . . . . . . 133

. . . . . . . . . . . . 134

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

. . . . . . . . . . . 136

. . . . . . . . 137

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . 138

Troubleshooting Software and Hardware
Problems

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

Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating

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

System

®

Restoring Windows Vista

Restoring Windows XP

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Contents 9

13 Adding and Replacing Parts . . . . . . . . . 153

Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Recommended Tools

Turning Off Your Computer

Before Working Inside Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

. . . . . . . . . . . . 153

. . . . . . 154

Hard Drive

Optical Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Removing the Hard Drive

Replacing the Hard Drive

Returning a Hard Drive to Dell

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Removing the Optical Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

. . . . . . . . . . 158

. . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Hinge Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Removing the Hinge Cover

Replacing the Hinge Cover

Keyboard

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Removing the Keyboard

Replacing the Keyboard

Memory

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Removing the DIMM A Memory Module

Replacing the DIMM A Memory Module

Removing the DIMM B Memory Module

Replacing the DIMM B Memory Module

Subscriber Identity Module

. . . . . . . . . . . . 160

. . . . . . . . . . . . 160

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

. . . . . 164

. . . . . 165

. . . . . 166

. . . . . 168

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

10 Contents

Wireless Mini-Cards

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Removing a WLAN Card

Replacing a WLAN Card

Removing a Mobile Broadband or
WWAN Card

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

Replacing a Mobile Broadband or
WWAN Card

Removing a WPAN Card

Replacing a WPAN Card

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

Flash Cache Module

Removing the FCM

Replacing the FCM

Internal Card With Bluetooth
Technology

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

Removing the Card

Coin-Cell Battery

Removing the Coin-Cell Battery

Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

®

Wireless

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

. . . . . . . . . . 182

. . . . . . . . . . 183

14 Dell™ QuickSet Features. . . . . . . . . . . . 185

15 Traveling With Your Computer

Identifying Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

Packing the Computer

Travel Tips

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Traveling by Air

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

. . . . . . . . 187

16 Getting Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Obtaining Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Technical Support and Customer Service

DellConnect

Online Services

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

. . . . . 190

Contents 11

AutoTech Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Automated Order-Status Service

. . . . . . . . . 191

Problems With Your Order

Product Information

Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit

Before You Call

Contacting Dell

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

. . . . 192

17 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

18 Appendix

Using the System Setup Program . . . . . . . . . . . 205

Cleaning Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

Viewing the System Setup Screen

System Setup Screen

Commonly Used Options

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

Computer, Keyboard, and Display

Touch Pad

Mouse

Media

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

. . . . . . . . 206

. . . . . . . . 208

12 Contents

Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)

Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and
Peripherals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Definition of "Third-Party" Software and
Peripherals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

. . . . . . . 210

FCC Notice (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

FCC Class B

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Macrovision Product Notice

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215

Index

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233

Contents 13

14 Contents

Finding Information

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

features 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

• Device documentation

• Notebook System Software (NSS)

• Warranty information

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

Drivers and Utilities Media

Documentation and drivers are already
installed on your computer. You can use
the Drivers and Utilities media to
reinstall drivers (see "Reinstalling Drivers
and Utilities" on page 138) or run the
Dell Support 3 utility (see "Dell Support"
on page 110).

Readme files may be included on your
Drivers and Utilities media to provide
last-minute updates about technical
changes to your computer or advanced
technical-reference material for
technicians or experienced users.

NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates

can be found at support.dell.com.

Dell™ Product Information Guide

Finding Information 15

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to set up my computer

Setup Diagram

• How to remove and replace parts

• Specifications

• How to configure system settings

• How to troubleshoot and solve
problems

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft

®

Windows® Product Key

Microsoft Windows XP and Windows
Vista™ Help and Support Center

1

Click

Start→

Help and Support→

→

Dell User and System Guides
System Guides

2

Click the

.

User’s Guide

for your

computer.

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows
Product Key

These labels are located on your
computer.

• Use the Service Tag to identify your
computer when you use

support.dell.com

or contact support.

• Enter the Express Service Code to
direct your call when contacting
support.

NOTE: As an increased security measure,

the newly designed Microsoft Windows
license label incorporates a "security
portal," which looks like a missing portion
of the label, to discourage removal of the
label.

16 Finding Information

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

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

• Community — Online discussion with

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region or business

segment to view the appropriate support
site.

other Dell customers

• Upgrades — Upgrade information for
components, such as the memory, hard
drive, and operating system

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

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

• Dell Technical Update Service —
Proactive e-mail notification of software
and hardware updates for your
computer

• 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 on
your computer, you should also reinstall
the NSS utility. NSS automatically
detects your computer and operating
system, and installs the updates
appropriate for your configuration,
providing critical updates for your
operating system and support for Dell

3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel

®

processors, optical drives, and USB
devices. NSS is necessary for correct
operation of your Dell computer.

To download Notebook System Software:

1

Go to

support.dell.com

country/region, and then click

& Downloads

2

Enter your Service Tag or product
model, and then click

3

Select your operating system and
language, and then click

Downloads
Search

Notebook System Software

NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface

may vary depending on your selections.

, select your

.

Go

.

Find

, or under

Downloads

, search for the keyword

.

Drivers

Finding Information 17

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to use Microsoft Windows XP or
Windows Vista™

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

Windows Help and Support

Microsoft Windows XP:

1

Click the

and Support

2

Either select one of the topics listed, or
type a word or phrase that describes
your problem into the
the arrow icon, and then click the topic
that describes your problem.

3

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Microsoft Windows Vista:

1

Click the Windows Vista Start button

, and then click

2

In

Search Help

that describes your problem, and then
press <Enter> or click the magnifying
glass.

3

Click the topic that describes your
problem.

4

Follow the instructions on the screen.

• Information on network activity, the
Power Management Wizard, hotkeys,
and other items controlled by Dell
QuickSet.

Dell QuickSet Help

To view Dell QuickSet Help, right-click
the Dell QuickSet icon in the Windows
notification area.

For more information on Dell QuickSet,
see "Dell™ QuickSet Features" on
page 185.

Start

button and click

.

Search

Help and Support

, type a word or phrase

Help

box, click

.

18 Finding Information

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to reinstall my operating system

Operating System Media

The operating system is already installed
on your computer. To reinstall your
operating system, use one of the
following methods:

• Microsoft Windows System Restore —
Microsoft Windows System Restore
returns your computer to an earlier
operating state without affecting data
files.

• Dell PC Restore — Dell PC Restore
returns your computer to its original
operating state. Dell PC Restore may
not ship with your computer.

• Operating System Installation Media —
If you received operating system media
with your computer, you can use it to
restore your operating system.

For more information, see "Restoring
your Microsoft Windows Operating
System" on page 142.

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

Your operating system product key label is
located on your computer.

NOTE: The color of your operating system

installation media varies according to the
operating system you ordered.

Finding Information 19

20 Finding Information

About Your Computer

Determining Your Computer’s Configuration

Based on selections that you made when purchasing your computer, your
computer has one of several different video controller configurations. To
determine your computer’s video controller configuration:

1

C

lick Start

2

Under

and diagnose problems.

3

Under

From the My Computer Information - Hardware screen, you can view the
type of video controller installed in your computer, as well as the other
hardware components.

, and then click

Pick a Task

My Computer Information

, click

Help and Support

Use Tools to view your computer information

, select

.

Hardware

.

About Your Computer 21

Front View

3

21

14

4

13

12

1 camera indicator (optional) 2 camera (optional)

3 display latch 4 display

5 power button 6 keyboard

7 device status lights 8 touch pad

11

10

9 8

5

6

7

22 About Your Computer

9 consumer IR sensor 10 media control buttons

11 touch pad buttons 12 Dell™ MediaDirect™ button

13 keyboard status lights 14 digital array microphones

CAMERA INDICATOR — Indicates that the camera is turned on. Based on

configuration selections you made when ordering your computer, your computer may
not include a camera.

CAMERA — Built-in camera for video capture, conferencing, and chat. Based on

configuration selections you made when ordering your computer, your computer may
not include a camera.

DISPLAY LATCH — Keeps the display closed.

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

page 45.

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

management mode (see "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 54).

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, turn off your computer by performing a Microsoft

®

Windows® operating system shutdown rather than by pressing the power button.

If the computer stops responding, press and hold the power button until the computer
turns off completely (may take several seconds).

KEYBOARD — For more information about the keyboard, see "Using the Keyboard and

Touch Pad" on page 47.

About Your Computer 23

DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS

The blue lights located to the right of the keyboard indicate the following:

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

Hard-drive activity light – Turns on when the computer reads or writes
data.

NOTICE: To avoid loss of data, never turn off the computer while the

light is flashing.

Battery status light – Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge
status.

WiFi status light – Turns on when wireless networking is enabled. To
enable or disable wireless networking, use the wireless switch (see "wireless
switch" on page 27).

24 About Your Computer

®

Bluetooth

status light – Turns on when an internal card with Bluetooth

wireless technology is enabled.

NOTE: The internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology is an optional

feature. The light turns on only if you ordered the card with your
computer. 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 then click Disable Bluetooth
Radio.

To quickly enable or disable all wireless devices, use the wireless switch
(see "wireless switch" on page 27).

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

– Solid blue: The battery is charging.
– Flashing blue: The battery is almost fully charged.
– Off: The battery is adequately 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 amber: The battery charge is low.

amber

– Solid

TOUCH PAD — Provides the functionality of a mouse (see "Touch Pad" on page 49).

TOUCH PAD BUTTONS — Use these buttons much like the buttons on a mouse when

you use the touch pad to move the cursor on the display (see "Touch Pad" on page 49).

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

: The battery charge is critically low.

Mute the sound. Play the previous track.

Turn the volume down. Play the next track.

About Your Computer 25

Turn the volume up. Stop.

Play or pause.

DELL™ MEDIADIRECT™ BUTTON — Press the Dell MediaDirect button to launch
Dell MediaDirect (see "Using Dell MediaDirect™" on page 65).

KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS

The blue lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:

Turns on when the numeric keypad (Num Lock) is enabled.

9

Turns on when the uppercase letter (Caps Lock) function is

A

enabled.

Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled.

DIGITAL ARRAY MICROPHONES — Built-in microphone for conferencing and chat.

26 About Your Computer

Left Side View

1 45632

1 security cable slot 2 air vents

3 hard drive 4 ExpressCard slot

5 wireless switch 6 Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network

Locator light

SECURITY CABLE SLOT — Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device

to the computer (see "Security Cable Lock" on page 101).

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.

AIR VENTS — The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents,

which prevents the computer from overheating. The computer turns the fan on when
the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the
fan or the computer.

HARD DRIVE — Stores software and data.

XPRESSCARD SLOT — Supports one ExpressCard. The computer ships with a

E

plastic blank installed in the slot. For more information see "Using ExpressCards" on
page 85.

WIRELESS SWITCH — When enabled through Dell QuickSet, this switch can scan for

a wireless local area network (WLAN) in your vicinity. You can also use it to rapidly
turn off or on any wireless devices such as WLAN cards and internal cards with
Bluetooth wireless technology (see "Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator" on
page 99).

About Your Computer 27

1 2 3 4

1 off position Disables wireless devices.

2 on position Enables wireless devices.

3 momentary position Scans for WLAN networks (see "Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™

Network Locator" on page 99).

4 Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™

Network Locator light

• Flashing green: Searching for networks

• Solid green: Strong network found

• Solid yellow: Weak network found

• Flashing yellow: Error

• Off: No signal found

NOTE: The Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator light

appears only when the computer is turned off and
the wireless switch is configured in the system
setup program (BIOS) to control WiFi network
connections.

28 About Your Computer

Right Side View

2

1

3

10 8 7 546911

1 battery status light 2 hard-drive activity light

3 power light 4 USB connectors (2)

5 network connector (RJ-45) 6 video connector

7 IEEE 1394 connector 8 8-in-1 memory card reader

9 eject button 10 optical drive

11 audio connectors

AUDIO CONNECTORS

Attach headphones to the connector.

Attach a microphone to the connector.

About Your Computer 29

OPTICAL DRIVE — For more information about the optical drive, see "Using

Multimedia" on page 59.

EJECT BUTTON — Press the eject button to open the optical drive.

8-

IN-1 MEMORY CARD READER — Provides a fast and convenient way to view and

share digital photos, music, and videos stored on a memory card. The computer ships
with a plastic blank installed in the slot. The 8-in-1 memory card reader reads the
following digital memory cards:

• Secure Digital (SD) memory card

• SDIO card

• MultiMediaCard (MMC)

•Memory Stick

• Memory Stick PRO

• xD-Picture Card

• Hi Speed-SD

• Hi Density-SD

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

VIDEO CONNECTOR

Connects video devices, such as a monitor.

NETWORK

CONNECTOR (RJ-45)

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.

Connects the computer to a network. The two lights next
to the connector indicate status and activity for wired
network connections.

For information on using the network adapter, see the
device user’s guide supplied with your computer.

30 About Your Computer

USB CONNECTORS

Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or
printer.

Back View

1 23 4 5

1 S-video TV-out connector 2 USB connectors (2)

3 AC adapter connector 4 modem connector (RJ-11)

5 USB connector

S-VIDEO TV-OUT CONNECTOR

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

USB CONNECTORS

Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or
printer.

About Your Computer 31

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 on or off.

NOTE: Ensure the power cord is firmly attached to the AC adapter. A green LED

light on the AC adapter indicates a proper connection.

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 help prevent damage to
the cable.

MODEM CONNECTOR (RJ-11)

Connect the telephone line to the modem connector.

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

32 About Your Computer

Bottom View

324

1

10

9

8

1 left speaker 2 consumer IR sensor

3 memory module/coin-cell battery

cover

5 Mini-Card cover 6 battery

7 battery charge/health gauge 8 battery release latches (2)

9 air vents 10 hard drive

LEFT SPEAKER — To adjust the volume of the integrated speaker, press the volume

control buttons or the mute button.

CONSUMER IR SENSOR — Receives the signal from the Dell travel remote controller

for basic multimedia navigation control.

7

6

4 right speaker

About Your Computer 33

5

MEMORY MODULE/COIN- CELL BATTERY COVER — Covers the DIMM B memory

module and the coin-cell battery. For additional information, see "Adding and
Replacing Parts" on page 153.

RIGHT SPEAKER — To adjust the volume of the integrated speaker, press the volume

control buttons or the mute button.

M

INI-CARD COVER — Covers Mini-Cards (WLAN, WWAN, or WPAN) or a Flash

Cache Module (FCM) (see "Wireless Mini-Cards" on page 170 and "Flash Cache
Module" on page 179).

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

connecting the computer to an electrical outlet (see "Using a Battery" on page 51).

BATTERY CHARGE/HEALTH GAUGE — Provides information on the battery charge (see

"Checking the Battery Charge" on page 52).

BATTERY RELEASE LATCHES — Releases the battery (see "Replacing the Battery" on

page 56

for instructions).

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.

AIR VENTS — The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents,

which prevents the computer from overheating. The computer turns the fan on when
the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the
fan or the computer.

HARD DRIVE — Stores software and data.

34 About Your Computer

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:

• DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your
existing telephone line or cellular telephone service. 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.

• Satellite modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access
through a satellite television system.

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

• Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) or Mobile Broadband technology
provides a connection to the Internet using cellular technology at
broadband rates.

• Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connections use high-frequency
radio waves to communicate. Typically, a wireless router is connected to
the broadband cable or DSL modem that broadcasts the Internet signal to
your computer.

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

Setting Up Your Computer 35

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

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

1

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

2

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

3

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

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, perform the steps in the following
section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is using.

NOTE: If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem,

and Internet Problems" on page 115. 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.

Windows XP

1

2

3

4

®

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

Click

Start→

The

New Connection Wizard

Click

Connect to the Internet

Internet Explorer

.

appears.

.

In the next window, click the appropriate option:

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

list of Internet service providers (ISPs)

.

Choose from a

• 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

5

Click

Next

.

If you selected

Set up my connection manually

Use the CD I got from an ISP

Set up my connection manually

.

, continue to step 6.

Otherwise, follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

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

6

Click the appropriate option under

Internet?

7

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

, and then click

Next

How do you want to connect to the

.

.

36 Setting Up Your Computer

Windows Vista

NOTE: Have your ISP information ready. If you do not have an ISP, the Connect to

the Internet wizard can help you get one.

1

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

2

Click the Windows Vista Start button , and click

3

Under

The

4

Click either

®

Network and Internet,

Connect to the Internet

Broadband (PPPoE)

click

Connect to the Internet

window appears.

or

Dial-up

, depending on how you want

Control Panel

.

to connect:

•Choose

Broadband

if you will use a DSL, satellite modem, cable TV

modem, or Bluetooth wireless technology connection.

• Chose

NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, click Help me choose

or contact your ISP. Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup
information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.

Dial-up

if you will use a dial-up modem or ISDN.

Transferring Information to a New Computer

You can use your operating system "wizards" to help you transfer files and
other data from one computer to another—for example, from an old
computer to a new computer. For instructions, see the following section that
corresponds to the operating system that your computer is running.

Microsoft Windows XP

The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides the 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 or serial
connection, or you can store it on removable media, such as a writable CD,
for transfer to the new computer.

Setting Up Your Computer 37

NOTE: You can transfer information from an old computer to a new computer by

directly connecting a serial cable to the input/output (I/O) ports of the two
computers. To transfer data over a serial connection, you must access the Network
Connections utility from the Control Panel and perform additional configuration
steps, such as setting up an advanced connection and designating the host
computer and the guest computer.

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 certain countries.

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

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

NOTE: This procedure requires the Operating System media. This media is optional

and may not be included with certain computers.

To prepare a new computer for the file transfer:

1

Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click

Accessories→ System Tools→

2

When the
click

3

On the

4

On the

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Next

.

Which computer is this?

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

from the Windows XP CD

5

When the
source computer. Do

Now go to your old computer

not

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

screen, click

screen, click

→ Next

.

screen appears, go to your old or

click

Next

at this time.

Start→

All Programs→

.

welcome screen appears,

New Computer→

Next

.

I will use the wizard

To copy data from the old computer:

1

On the old computer, insert the Windows XP

2

On the

additional tasks

3

Under

4

On the

Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP

.

What do you want to do?

Which computer is this?

, click

screen, click

Operating System

screen, click

media.

Perform

Transfer files and settings→ Next

Old Computer→

Next

.

.

38 Setting Up Your Computer

5

On the

Select a transfer method

screen, click the transfer method you

prefer.

6

On the
transfer and click

After the information has been copied, the

Phase

7

Click

What do you want to transfer?

Next

.

screen appears.

Finish

.

screen, select the items you want to

Completing the Collection

To transfer data to the new computer:

1

On the

Next

2

On the
chose for transferring your settings and files and click

Now go to your old computer

.

Where are the files and settings?

screen on the new computer, click

screen, select the method you

Next

.

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

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

Finished

screen

appears.

3

Click

Finished

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

and restart the new computer.

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

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

1

Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click

Accessories→ System Tools→

2

When the
click

3

On the

4

On the

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Next

.

Which computer is this?

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

Wizard Disk in the following drive

5

Insert the removable media, such as a writable CD, and click OK.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

screen, click

screen, click

→

Next.

Setting Up Your Computer 39

Start→

All Programs→

.

welcome screen appears,

New Computer→

Next

.

I want to create a

6

When the disk creation completes and the

computer

7

Go to the old computer.

message appears,

do not

Now go to your old

click

Next

.

To copy data from the old computer:

1

On the old computer, insert the wizard disk.

2

Click

Start→

3

In the
the appropriate removable media) and click

4

On the

5

On the

6

On the

Run

.

Open

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

fastwiz

OK

.

welcome screen, click

Old Computer→

prefer.

7

On the
transfer and click

After the information has been copied, the

Phase

8

Click

What do you want to transfer?

Next

.

screen appears.

Finish

.

screen, select the items you want to

Completing the Collection

To transfer data to the new computer:

1

On the

Next

2

On the
chose for transferring your settings and files and click

Now go to your old computer

.

Where are the files and settings?

screen on the new computer, click

screen, select the method you

Next

. Follow the

instructions on the screen.

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

Next

Next

(on

.

.

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

Finished

appears.

3

Click

Finished

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

document #154781 (What Are The Different Methods To Transfer Files From My Old

Computer To My New Dell™ Computer Using the Microsoft
Operating System?).

and restart the new computer.

®

Windows® XP

40 Setting Up Your Computer

screen

NOTE: Access to the Dell™ Knowledge Base document may not be available in

certain countries.

Microsoft Windows Vista™

1

Click the Windows Vista Start button , and then click

and settings

2

In the

3

Click

Follow the instructions provided on the screen by the Windows Easy Transfer
wizard.

→ Start Windows Easy Transfer.

User Account Control

Start a new transfer

dialog box, click

or

Continue a transfer in progress

Continue

Transfer files

.

.

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 a USB 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 computer’s shipping box.

Setting Up Your Computer 41

Connecting a USB Printer

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

1

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

2

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

1

2

3

1 USB connector on computer 2 USB connector on printer

3 USB printer cable

3

Turn on the printer, and then turn on the computer.

Add New Hardware Wizard

If the

4

Depending on your computer’s operating system, a printer wizard may be

window appears, click

Cancel

available to help you install the printer driver:

If your computer is running the Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system

and the

Add New Hardware Wizard

window appears, click

42 Setting Up Your Computer

.

Cancel

.

If your computer is running the Windows Vista™ operating system

Windows Vista Start button , and click
start the Add Printer Wizard.Click

Add a printer

Network→ Add a printer

to start the Add Printer

, click the

to

Wizard.

NOTE: To install the printer driver, see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on

page 138 and the documentation that came with your printer.

5

Click

Add a local printer

6

Follow the instructions in the Add Printer Wizard.

or

Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer

Power Protection Devices

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

• Surge protectors

• Line conditioners

• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)

Surge Protectors

Surge protectors and power strips equipped 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 connector 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 connector during electrical storms.

Setting Up Your Computer 43

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).

44 Setting Up Your Computer

Using the Display

Adjusting Brightness

When a Dell™ computer is running on battery power, you can conserve power
by setting the display brightness to the lowest comfortable level.

• 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).

NOTE: Brightness key combinations only affect the display on your portable

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

Switching the Video Image From Your Computer Display to a Projector

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

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

Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate

NOTE: If you change the display resolution from the current settings, the image

may appear blurry or text may be hard to read if you change the resolution to one
not supported by your computer and display. Before you change any of the display
settings, make a note of the current settings so you can change back to the
previous settings if needed.

Using the Display 45

You can enhance the legibility of text and change the appearance of images
on the screen by adjusting display resolution. As you increase resolution,
items appear smaller on the screen. In contrast, lower resolution causes text
and images to appear larger and can benefit people with vision impairments.
To display a program at a specific resolution, both the video card and the
display must support the program, and the necessary video drivers must be
installed.

NOTE: Use only the Dell-installed video drivers, which are designed to offer the

best performance with your Dell-installed operating system.

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

To set the display resolution and refresh rate for your display:

Microsoft® Windows XP

1

Click

Start→

2

Under

3

Under

Control Panel icon

4

In the

5

Try different settings for

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

Windows Vista

1

Click

Start

2

Under

3

In the

Settings→

Pick a category

Pick a task...

Display Properties

®

Appearance and Personalization

Display Settings

®

Control Panel

, click

Appearance and Themes

.

.

, click the area you want to change, or under

, click

Display

window, click the

Color quality

→ Control Panel

window, under

.

.

Settings

and

Screen resolution

, click

Resolution

tab.

Adjust screen resolution

, move the slide bar to

the left or right to decrease/increase the screen resolution.

NOTE: For additional instructions, click How do I get the best display?

or pick a

.

.

46 Using the Display

Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Numeric Keypad

The numeric keypad functions like the numeric keypad on an external
keyboard.

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

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

Key Combinations

System Functions

<Ctrl><Shift><Esc> Opens the Task Manager window.

Display Functions

<Fn><F8> Displays icons representing all currently available

display options (display only, external monitor or
projector only, both display and projector, etc).
Highlight the desired icon to switch the display
to that option.

<Fn> and up-arrow key Increases brightness on the integrated display

only (not on an external monitor).

<Fn> and down-arrow key Decreases brightness on the integrated display

only (not on an external monitor).

9

Battery

<Fn><F3> Displays the Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter (see

"Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter" on page 52).

Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 47

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 "Configuring Power

Management Settings" on page 54).

®

Microsoft

Windows logo key and <m> Minimizes all open windows.

Windows logo key and
<Shift><m>

Windows logo key and <e> Starts Windows Explorer.

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

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

Windows logo key and <Ctrl><f> Opens the Search Results-Computer dialog

Windows logo key and <Pause> Opens the System Properties dialog box.

Windows® Logo Key Functions

Restores all minimized windows. This key
combination functions as a toggle to restore
minimized windows following the use of the
Windows logo key and <m> combination.

box (if the computer is connected to a
network).

Dell™ QuickSet Key Combinations

If Dell QuickSet is installed, you can use other shortcut keys for functions
such as the Battery Meter or activating power management modes. For more
information about Dell QuickSet key combinations, right-click the QuickSet
icon in the notification area, and then click Help.

Adjusting Keyboard Settings

To adjust keyboard operation, such as the character repeat rate:

1

Click

Start

, and then click

2

Click

Hardware and Sound

3

Click

Keyboard.

48 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Control Pane l

.

.

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.

1

2

1 touch pad 2 silk-screen scroll zones

• 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.

Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 49

Customizing the Touch Pad

You can use the Mouse Properties window to disable the touch pad or adjust
the touch pad settings.

1

Click

Start

, and then click

2

Click

Hardware and Sound

3

Click

Mouse.

4

In the

Mouse Properties

•Click the

•Click the

5

Click OK to save the settings and close the window.

Device Select

Touc h Pad

Control Pane l

.

window:

tab to disable the touch pad.

tab to adjust touch pad settings.

.

50 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Using a Battery

Battery Performance

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. 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, place the mouse cursor over
the battery icon in the Windows

NOTE: Battery operating time (the time the battery can hold a charge) decreases

over time. Depending on how often the battery is used and the conditions under
which it is used, you may need to purchase a new battery during the life of your
computer.

NOTE: It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet

when writing to media.

Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions. Operating
time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not
limited to, the following:

• Using optical drives.

• Using wireless communications devices, ExpressCards, memory cards, or
USB devices.

• Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power­intensive programs such as complex 3D graphics applications.

• Running the computer in maximum performance mode (see "Configuring
Power Management Settings" on page 54 for information about accessing
Windows Power Options Properties or Dell QuickSet, which you can use
to configure power management settings).

notification area.

Using a Battery 51

You can check the battery charge before you insert the battery into the
computer. You can also set power management options to alert you when the
battery charge is low.

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 batteries
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 lithium-ion battery (see "Battery Disposal" in the
Product Information Guide).

CAUTION: Misuse of the battery may increase the risk of fire or chemical burn.

Do not puncture, incinerate, disassemble, or expose the battery to temperatures
above 65°C (149°F). Keep the battery away from children. Handle damaged or
leaking batteries with extreme care. Damaged batteries may leak and cause
personal injury or equipment damage.

Checking the Battery Charge

You can check the battery charge on your computer using any one of the
following methods:

• Dell QuickSet Battery Meter

• Microsoft
area

• Battery charge/health gauge located on the battery

• Low-battery warning pop-up window

®

Windows® battery meter icon located in the notification

Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter

To view the

• Double-click the Dell QuickSet icon in the taskbar, and then click

• Press <Fn><F3>

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

52 Using a Battery

Dell QuickSet Battery Meter:

Battery

Meter

or

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

Microsoft® Windows® Battery Meter

The battery meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the
battery meter, double-click the icon in the notification area.

Charge Gauge

By either pressing once or pressing and holding the status button on the
battery charge gauge, you can check:

• Battery charge (check by

• Battery health (check by

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. Therefore, a battery can show a status of
charged, but maintain a reduced charge capacity (health).

Check the Battery Charge

To check the battery charge, press and release the status button on the battery
charge gauge to illuminate the charge indicator lights. Each light represents
approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge. For example, if the
battery has 80 percent of its charge remaining, four of the lights are on. If no
lights are on, the battery has no charge.

pressing

pressing

and

and

releasing

holding

the status button)

the status button)

Check the Battery Health

NOTE: You can check battery health in one of two ways: by using the charge gauge

on the battery, as described below, and by using the Battery Meter in Dell QuickSet.
For information about QuickSet, right-click the QuickSet icon in the notification
area, and then click Help.

To check the battery health using the charge gauge, press and hold the status
button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds to illuminate the
health indicator lights. Each light represents incremental degradation. If no
lights appear, the battery is in good condition, and more than 80 percent of its
original charge capacity remains. If five lights appear, less than 60 percent of

Using a Battery 53

the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery
(see "Battery" on page 201 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, Sleep state begins automatically.

A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately
90 percent depleted. The computer enters Sleep state when the battery
charge is at a critically low level.

You can change the settings for the battery alarms in Dell QuickSet or the
Power Options window (see "Configuring Power Management Settings" on
page 54).

Conserving Battery Power

To conserve battery power on your portable computer, do any of the
following:

• Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible; battery life is
largely determined by the number of times the battery is used and
recharged.

• Configure the power management settings using either Dell QuickSet or
Microsoft Windows Power Options to optimize your computer’s power
usage (see "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 54).

• Use the Sleep power state when you leave the computer unattended for
long periods of time (see "Using the Sleep Power State" on page 55).

Configuring Power Management Settings

You can use Dell QuickSet or Windows Power Options to configure the power
management settings on your computer.

• For information on how to use the Dell QuickSet Power Management
wizard, right-click the QuickSet icon in the notification area, click
and then select

54 Using a Battery

Power Management

.

Help

,

• To use Windows Power Options, do one of the following:

• Click

•

Start

Options

window.

or

Click the icon in the notification area

then select a plan in the

→ Control Panel→

, and then select a power plan in the

Select a power plan

Hardware and Sound→

Select a power plan

, click

Power Options

window.

Power

, and

Using the Sleep Power State

Rather than shutting down your portable computer, use the Sleep power state
to conserve power. Sleep automatically saves your work to your hard drive, and
then returns you to your previous work session without restarting your
computer.

NOTICE: If your computer loses AC and battery power while in Sleep state, it may

lose data.

To enter Sleep state:

•

Click

Start

or

• Depending on how you set the power management options in the
Windows Power Options or Dell QuickSet, use one of the following
methods:

• Press the power button.

• Close the display.

• Press <Fn><Esc>.

To exit Sleep state, press the power button.

, click , and then click

Sleep

.

Charging the Battery

NOTE: Charge time is longer with the computer turned on. You can leave the

battery in the computer for as long as you like. The battery’s internal circuitry
prevents the battery from overcharging.

Using a Battery 55

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 battery light flashes
alternately blue and amber. Disconnect the computer from the electrical
outlet and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room temperature,
then connect the computer to an electrical outlet to continue charging the
battery.

For more information about resolving problems with a battery, see "Power
Problems" on page 129.

Replacing the Battery

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 batteries
from other computers with your computer.

CAUTION: Before performing these procedures, turn off the computer, disconnect

the AC adapter from the electrical outlet and the computer, disconnect the modem
from the wall connector and the computer, and remove any other external cables
from the computer.

NOTICE: You must remove all external cables from the computer to avoid possible

connector damage.

NOTICE: If you choose to replace the battery with the computer in Sleep state, you

have up to 1 minute to complete the battery replacement before the computer shuts
down and loses any unsaved data.

To remove the battery:

If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked), undock it. See

1

the documentation that came with your docking device for instructions.

2

Ensure that the computer is turned off.

3

Turn the computer over.

56 Using a Battery

4

Slide and click the battery release latches to keep them open.

5

Slide the battery out of the bay.

21

1 battery 2 battery release latches (2)

To replace the battery, slide the battery into the bay until it latches into place.

Storing a Battery

Remove the battery when you store your computer for an extended period of
time. A battery discharges during prolonged storage. After a long storage
period, recharge the battery fully (see "Charging the Battery" on page 55)
before you use it.

Using a Battery 57

58 Using a Battery

Using Multimedia

Playing Media

NOTICE: Do not press down on the optical drive tray when you open or close it.

Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive.

NOTICE: Do not move the computer while playing media.

1

Press the eject button on the front of the drive.

2

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

3

Push the tray back into the drive.

To format media for storing or copying data, see the media software that
came with your computer.

NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when copying media.

Using Multimedia 59

A CD player includes the following basic buttons:

Play.

Move backward within the current track.

Pause.

Move forward within the current track.

Stop.

Go to the previous track.

Eject.

Go to the next track.

A DVD player includes the following basic buttons:

Stop.

Restart the current chapter.

Play.

Fast forward.

Pause.

Fast reverse.

Advance a single frame while in pause mode.

Go to the next title or chapter.

Continuously play the current title or chapter.

Go to the previous title or chapter.

Eject.

For more information on playing media, click Help on the media player (if
available).

60 Using Multimedia

Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote

The Dell Travel Remote is designed to control Dell Media Direct and
Windows Vista

®

Media Center. It can work only with specified computers.

For more details, go to the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

To play media using Dell Travel Remote:

1

Install the CR2106 coin-cell battery in your remote control.

2

Launch Windows Vista Media Center, and then click

3

Use the remote control buttons to play media.

18

17

16

15

14

Start → Programs

.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

13

12

1 Infrared Transmitter 2 Page Up

3 Page Down 4 Arrow Up

5 OK/Enter/Select 6 Arrow Right

Using Multimedia 61

10

11

7 Arrow Down 8 Play/Pause

9 Forward 10 Skip Forward

11 Stop 12 Skip Back

13 Reverse 14 Back

15 Arrow Left 16 Mute

17 Volume Down 18 Volume Up

Copying CD and DVD Media

This section applies only to computers that have a DVD+/-RW drive.

NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when copying media.

NOTE: The types of optical drives offered by Dell may vary by country.

The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD or
DVD using Roxio Creator. You can also use Roxio Creator for other purposes,
such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or
backing up important data. For help, open Roxio Creator, and then
press <F1>.

The DVD drives installed in Dell computers do not support HD-DVD media.
For a list of supported media formats, see "Using Blank CD or DVD Media"
on page 63.

How to Copy a CD or DVD

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

using Roxio Creator.

1

Click

Start

2

Under the

3

To copy the CD or DVD:

If you have one optical drive

•

→ All Programs→ Roxio Creator→

Copy

tab, click

Copy Disc

.

, insert the source disc into the drive,

Projects→

ensure that the settings are correct, and then click the
button to continue. The computer reads your source disc and copies
the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive.

When prompted, insert a blank disc into the drive and click

62 Using Multimedia

Copy

.

Copy Disc

OK

.

•

If you have two optical drives

inserted your source disc and click the

, select the drive into which you have

Copy Disc

button to continue.

The computer copies the data from the source disc to the blank disc.

Once you have finished copying the source disc, the disc that you have
created automatically ejects.

Using Blank CD or DVD Media

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 a blank CD-RW if you plan to
erase, rewrite, or update information on that disc later.

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

CD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

C D- RW Ye s Yes Ye s

DVD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

C D- RW Ye s Yes Ye s

DVD+R Yes Yes No

DVD-R Yes Yes No

DV D +R W Ye s Yes Yes

DV D -R W Ye s Yes Ye s

Using Multimedia 63

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

DVD+R DL Yes Yes No

DVD-R DL Yes Yes No

Helpful Tips

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

• 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 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.

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

• 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.

• You cannot create audio DVDs with

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

• See the Roxio website at

Roxio Creator

Roxio Creator

www.sonic.com

and open a Creator project.

.

for additional information.

Adjusting the Volume

NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the media playing.

1

Right-click the volume icon in the notification area.

2

Click

Open Volume Mixer

3

Click and drag the bar to slide it up or down to increase or decrease the
volume.

64 Using Multimedia

.

For more information on volume control options, click Help in the Vo lum e
Mixer window.

The Volume Meter displays the current volume level, including mute, on your
computer. Either click the QuickSet icon in the notification area and select or
deselect Disable On Screen Volume Meter, or press the volume control
buttons to enable or disable the Volume Meter on the screen.

Adjusting the Picture

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

Windows XP:

Click

1

2

3

See the program documentation for installation instructions.

Microsoft Windows Vista® Operating System

1

2

3

4

5

Start→

Features

Select the program you want to remove.

Click

Uninstall

Click

Start

Under

On

Display Settings

setting.

In the drop-down menu under

Click OK.

Control Panel→ Add or Remove Programs→ Programs and

.

.

→ Control Panel→ Appearance and Personalization

Personalization

, click

Adjust screen resolution

, click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution

Color quality

, click

.

Medium (16 bit)

.

.

Using Dell MediaDirect™

Dell MediaDirect is an instant-on multimedia playback mode for digital
media. Press the Dell MediaDirect button, located on the hinge cover, to
launch Dell MediaDirect. When your computer is turned off or in Sleep
state, you can press the Dell MediaDirect button to start the computer and
automatically launch the Dell MediaDirect application.

Using Multimedia 65

1

1 Dell MediaDirect button

NOTE: You cannot reinstall Dell MediaDirect if you voluntarily reformat the hard

drive. You need the installation software to reinstall Dell MediaDirect. Contact Dell
for assistance (see "Contacting Dell" on page 195).

For more information on using Dell MediaDirect, use the Help menu in the
Dell MediaDirect application.

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 may not be included with your computer. Cables and TV/digital audio
adapter cables are available for purchase from Dell.

66 Using Multimedia

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

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

12

1 S-video TV-out connector 2 S-video cable

21

3

4

5

1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video adapter

3 S/PDIF digital audio connector 4 composite video-output connector

5 S-video connector

Using Multimedia 67

12

3

4

5

6

1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video adapter

3 S/PDIF digital audio connector 4 Pr (red) component video-output

connector

5 Pb (blue) component video-output

connector

6 Y (green) component video-output

connector

If you want to connect your computer to a TV or audio device, it is
recommended that you connect video and audio cables to your computer in
one of the following combinations:

• S-video and standard audio

• Composite video and standard audio

• Component-out video and standard audio

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

which method of connection you should use.

When you finish connecting the video and audio cables between your
computer and your TV, you must enable your computer to work with the TV.
See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 82 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 82.

68 Using Multimedia

S-Video and Standard Audio

1

2

1 audio connector 2 S-video TV-out connector

1

2

1 standard S-video cable 2 standard audio cable

1

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

NOTE: If your TV or audio device supports S-video but not S/PDIF digital audio, 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).

2

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

3

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

Using Multimedia 69

4

Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone
connector on your computer.

5

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

6

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

7

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 82 to ensure that the
computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

1 2

1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video adapter

70 Using Multimedia

1

2

3

1 composite video adapter 2 S-video cable

3 S/PDIF digital audio cable

1

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

2

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

3

Plug one end of the S-video cable into the S-video output connector on
the composite video adapter.

1 2

1 composite video adapter 2 S-video cable

4

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

5

Plug one end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable into the digital audio
connector on the composite video adapter cable.

Using Multimedia 71

1 2

1 composite video adapter 2 S/PDIF digital audio cable

6

Plug the other end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable into the audio input
connector on your TV or audio device.

7

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

8

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 82 to ensure that the
computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

Composite Video and Standard Audio

1

2

1 audio input connector 2 S-video TV-out connector

3 composite video adapter

3

72 Using Multimedia

1

2

3

1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable

3 standard audio cable

1

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

2

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

3

Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video­output connector on the composite video adapter.

1

2

1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable

4

Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video­input connector on the TV.

Using Multimedia 73

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 82 to ensure that the
computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

1 2

1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video cable

74 Using Multimedia

1

2

3

1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable

3 standard audio cable

1

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

2

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

3

Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video-input
connector on the composite video adapter.

1

2

1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable

4

Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video­input connector on the TV.

5

Plug one end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable into the S/PDIF audio
connector on the composite video adapter.

Using Multimedia 75

1 2

1 composite video adapter 2 S/PDIF digital audio cable

6

Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S/PDIF input
connector on your TV or other audio device.

7

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

8

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 82 to ensure that the
computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

Component Video and Standard Audio

21

1 S-video TV-out connector 2 component video adapter

76 Using Multimedia

1

2

3

1 component video adapter 2 component video adapter

3 standard audio cable

1

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

2

Connect the component video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on
your computer.

3

Plug all three ends of the component video cable into the component
video-output connectors on the component video adapter. Make sure that
the red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding
adapter ports.

Using Multimedia 77

21

1 component video adapter 2 component video adapter

4

Plug all three connectors from the other end of the component video cable
into the component video-input connectors on the TV. Make sure that the
red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input
connectors.

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 82 to ensure that the
computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

78 Using Multimedia

Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

1 2

1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video cable

Using Multimedia 79

1

2

3

1 component video adapter 2 composite video cable

3 standard audio cable

1

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

2

Connect the component video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on
the computer.

3

Plug all three ends of the component video cable into the component
video-output connectors on the component video adapter. Make sure that
the red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding
adapter ports.

80 Using Multimedia

2

1

1 component video adapter 2 component video-output connectors

3 component video cable

4

Plug all three connectors from the other end of the component video cable

3

into the component video-input connectors on the TV. Make sure that the
red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input
connectors.

5

Plug one end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable into the S/PDIF audio
connector on the component video adapter.

1

2

1 component video adapter 2 S/PDIF digital audio cable

6

Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S/PDIF input
connector on your TV or other audio device.

7

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

8

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 82 to ensure that the
computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

Using Multimedia 81

Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio

1

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

2

Click the

3

Click

4

Click

5

Click

6

Click OK.

Options

Advanced

menu and then click

.

S/PDIF Interface

Close

.

Advanced Controls

.

.

Enabling the Display Settings for a TV

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

computer before you enable the display settings.

Microsoft Windows XP

Click the

1

2

Double-click

3

Click

4

Click the tab for your video card.

NOTE: To determine the type of video card installed in your computer, see the

Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center, click

Start
information and diagnose problems. Then, under My Computer Information, select
Hardware.

5

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.

Microsoft Windows Vista

1

Click

Personalization

2

Under

The

Start

Display

Advanced

button, point to

and click the

.

Settings

Settings

, and then click

tab.

Control Panel

→ Help and Support. Under Pick a Task, click Use Tools to view your computer

Start

, click

Control Panel

, and then click

Appearance and

.

Personalization

Display Properties

, click

Adjust Screen Resolution

window appears.

.

.

3

Click

Advanced

.

82 Using Multimedia

4

Click the tab for your video card.

NOTE: To determine the type of video card installed in your computer, see

Windows Help and Support. To access Help and Support, click Start

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

5

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.

Help

Using Multimedia 83

84 Using Multimedia

Using ExpressCards

ExpressCards provide additional memory, wired and wireless
communications, multimedia and security features. For example, you can add
an ExpressCard to make wireless wide area network (WWAN) connectivity
available on your computer.

ExpressCards support two form factors:

• ExpressCard/34 (34 mm wide)

• ExpressCard/54 (54 mm wide in an L-shape with a 34-mm connector)

The 34-mm card fits into both the 34-mm and 54-mm card slots. The 54-mm
card only fits into a 54-mm card slot.

See "Specifications" on page 197 for information on supported ExpressCards.

NOTE: An ExpressCard is not a bootable device.

1 2

1 ExpressCard/34 2 ExpressCard/54

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.

Using ExpressCards 85

Remove the blank before installing an ExpressCard. To remove the blank, see
"Removing an ExpressCard or Blank" on page 87.

Installing an ExpressCard

You can install an ExpressCard 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:

1

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

2

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

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

1 2

1 slot 2 ExpressCard

86 Using ExpressCards

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 media that came with the ExpressCard.

Removing an ExpressCard or Blank

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

safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

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

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

1

1 release latch

Using ExpressCards 87

88 Using ExpressCards

Using the Memory Card Reader

The 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 memory card is not a bootable device.

The 8-in-1 memory card reader reads the following memory cards:

• Secure Digital (SD)

•SDIO

• MultiMediaCard (MMC)

• Memory Stick

• Memory Stick PRO

• xD-Picture Card

• Hi Speed-SD

• Hi Density-SD

Memory Card Blanks

Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the 8-in-1 memory
card reader. Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles. Save
the blank for use when no memory card is installed in the slot; blanks from
other computers may not fit your computer.

Remove the blank before installing a memory card. To remove the blank, see
"Removing a Memory Card or Blank" on page 90.

Installing a Memory Card

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

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.

Using the Memory Card Reader 89

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

safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

To install a memory card:

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

1

2

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

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

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

Removing a Memory Card or Blank

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

safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: Use the memory card configuration utility (click the icon in the

notification area) to select a card and stop it from functioning before you remove it
from the computer. If you do not stop the card in the configuration utility, you could
lose data.

Press the card into the slot to release it from the card reader. When it is
partially ejected, remove the card.

90 Using the Memory Card Reader

Setting Up and Using Networks

Setting up a computer network provides connectivity between your computer
and the Internet, another computer, or a network. For example, with a
network set up in a home or small office you can print to a shared printer,
access drives and files on another computer, browse other networks, or access
the Internet. You can set up a local area network (LAN) using a network or
broadband modem cable or set up a wireless LAN (WLAN).

Your operating system provides a wizard to help guide you through the
process of networking computers. For more information about Networking,
access Windows
Support).

Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable

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

1

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

NOTE: Insert the cable connector until it clicks into place, and then gently

2

Connect the other end of the network cable to a network connection
device or a network wall connector.

®

Help and Support (click

pull on the cable to ensure that it is securely attached.

Start

, and then click

Help and

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

Setting Up and Using Networks 91

Setting Up a Network

1

Click

Start

2

Click

Set up a connection or network

3

Select an option under

4

Click

Next

, and then click

Choose a connection option

, and then follow the instructions in the wizard.

Connect To

.

.

.

Wireless Local Area Network

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a series of interconnected computers
that communicate with each other over the air waves rather than through a
network cable connected to each computer. In a WLAN, a radio
communications device called an access point or wireless router connects
network computers and provides Internet, or network access. The access
point or wireless router and the wireless network card in the computer
communicate by broadcasting data from their antennas over the air waves.

What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection

Before you can set up a WLAN, you need:

• High-speed (broadband) Internet access (such as cable or DSL)

• A broadband modem that is connected and working

92 Setting Up and Using Networks

• A wireless router or access point

• A wireless network card for each computer that you want to connect to
your WLAN

• A network cable with a network (RJ-45) connector

Checking Your Wireless Network Card

Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer, the
computer has a variety of configurations. To confirm that your computer has
a wireless network card and to determine the type of card:

• Use the Device Manager

• Check the order confirmation for your computer

Device Manager

1

Click

Start

2

Click

Classic View

3

Double-click

NOTE: The User Account Control window may open.

4

Click

Continue

5

Click the plus sign (+) next to
manages your wireless network card.

If a network adapter is not listed, you may not have a wireless network card.

If a network adapter is listed, you have a wireless network card. To view
detailed information about the wireless network card:

1

Right-click the name of the network adapter.

2

Click

Properties

, and then click

Control Panel

on the menu on the left side of the

Device Manager

on the

.

User Account Control

Network adapters

.

.

Control Panel

window if it opens.

to list the utility that

.

The Order Confirmation for Your Computer

The order confirmation that you received when you ordered your computer
lists the hardware and software that shipped with your computer.

Setting Up and Using Networks 93

Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem

1

Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to obtain specific information
about the connection requirements for your broadband modem.

2

Ensure that you have wired Internet access through your broadband
modem before you attempt to set up a wireless Internet connection (see
"Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable" on page 91).

3

Install any software required for your wireless router. Your wireless router
may have been shipped with installation media. Installation media usually
contains installation and troubleshooting information. Install the required
software according to the instructions provided by the router
manufacturer.

4

Shut down your computer and any other wireless-enabled computers in
the vicinity through the Start button .

5

Disconnect your broadband modem power cable from the electrical outlet.

6

Disconnect the network cable from the computer and the modem.

7

Disconnect the AC adapter cable from your wireless router to ensure that
there is no power connected to the router.

NOTE: Wait for a minimum of 5 minutes after disconnecting your broadband

modem before continuing with the network setup.

8

Insert a network cable into the network (RJ-45) connector on the
unpowered broadband modem.

9

Connect the other end of the network cable into the Internet network
(RJ-45) connector on the unpowered wireless router.

10

Ensure that no network or USB cables, other than the network cable
connecting the modem and the wireless router, are connected to the
broadband modem.

NOTE: Restart your wireless equipment in the order described below to prevent a

potential connection failure.

11

Tu r n o n

only

your broadband modem and wait for at least 2 minutes for

the broadband modem to stabilize. After 2 minutes, proceed to step 12.

12

Turn on your wireless router and wait for at least 2 minutes for the wireless
router to stabilize. After 2 minutes, proceed to the step 13.

94 Setting Up and Using Networks

13

Start your computer and wait until the boot process completes.

14

See the documentation that came with your wireless router to do the
following in order to set up the wireless router:

• Establish communication between your computer and your wireless

router.

• Configure your wireless router to communicate with your broadband

router.

• Find out your wireless router’s broadcast name. The technical term for

the name of your router’s broadcast name is Service Set Identifier
(SSID) or network name.

15

If necessary, configure your wireless network card to connect to the wireless
network (see "Connecting to a WLAN" on page 95).

Connecting to a WLAN

NOTE: Before you connect to a WLAN, ensure that you have followed the

instructions in "Wireless Local Area Network" on page 92.

NOTE: The following networking instructions do not apply to internal cards with

Bluetooth

This section provides general procedures for connecting to a network using
wireless technology. Specific network names and configuration details vary.
See "Wireless Local Area Network" on page 92 for more information about
how to prepare for connecting your computer to a WLAN.

Your wireless network card requires specific software and drivers for
connecting to a network. The software is already installed.

®

wireless technology or cellular products.

NOTE: If the software is removed or corrupted, follow the instructions in the user

documentation for your wireless network card. Verify the type of wireless network
card installed in your computer and then search for that name on the Dell™ Support
website at support.dell.com. For information on the type of wireless network card
that is installed in your computer, see "Checking Your Wireless Network Card" on
page 93.

When you turn on your computer and a network (for which your computer is
not configured) is detected in the area, a pop-up appears near the network
icon in the Windows notification area.

Setting Up and Using Networks 95

To connect to the network:

1

Click

Start

2

Click

Network and Sharing

Network folder.

3

Click

Connect to a network

4

Select your network from the list and click

Once you have configured your computer for a wireless network, another pop­up notifies you that your computer is connected to that network.

Thereafter, whenever you log on to your computer within the range of the
wireless network that you selected, the same pop-up notifies you of the
wireless network connection.

NOTE: If you select a secure network, you must enter a WEP or WPA key when

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

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

Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet

The wireless activity indicator provides you with an easy way to monitor the
status of your computer’s wireless devices. To turn the wireless activity
indicator on or off, click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and select Hotkey
Popups. If Wireless Activity Indicator Off is not checked, the indicator is on.
If Wireless Activity Indicator Off is checked, the indicator is off.

The wireless activity indicator displays whether your computer’s integrated
wireless devices are enabled or disabled. When you turn the wireless
networking function on or off, the wireless activity indicator changes to
display the status.

For more information about the Dell QuickSet wireless activity indicator,
right-click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar, and then select Help.

, and then click

on the navigation bar at the top of the

under

Network

Ta s k s

.

.

Connect

.

Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network)

A Mobile Broadband network, also known as a Wireless Wide Area Network
(WWAN), is a high-speed digital cellular network that provides Internet
access over a much wider geographical area than a WLAN, which typically

96 Setting Up and Using Networks

covers only from 100 to 1000 feet. Your computer can maintain Mobile
Broadband network access as long as the computer is within a cellular-data
coverage zone. Contact your service provider for coverage of a high-speed
digital cellular network.

NOTE: Even if you are able to make a call from your cellular phone in a specific

geographical location, that location may not necessarily be within a cellular-data
coverage zone.

What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection

NOTE: Depending on your computer, you can use either a Mobile Broadband

ExpressCard or Mini-Card, but not both, to establish a Mobile Broadband network
connection.

To set up a Mobile Broadband network connection, you need:

• A Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini-Card (depending on your
computer’s configuration)

NOTE: For instructions on using ExpressCards, see "Using ExpressCards" on

page 85.

• An activated Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or activated Subscriber
Identity Module (SIM) for your service provider

• The Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility (already installed on your
computer if you purchased the card when you purchased your computer, or
on the media that accompanied your card if purchased separately from
your computer)

If the utility is corrupted or deleted from your computer, see the Dell
Mobile Broadband Card Utility user’s guide in Windows Help and
Support
media that accompanied your card if you purchased it separately from your
computer.

(click Start

, and then click

Help and Support)

or on the

Checking Your Dell™ Mobile Broadband Card

Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer, the
computer has a variety of configurations. To determine your computer
configuration, see one of the following:

• Your order confirmation

• Microsoft Windows Help and Support

Setting Up and Using Networks 97

To check your Mobile Broadband card in Windows Help and Support:

1

Click

Start →

information and diagnose problems

2

Under

Tools

Help and Support→

, click

My Computer Information→

Use Tools to view your computer

.

Find information about

the hardware installed on this computer.

On the My Computer Information - Hardware screen, you can view the type
of Mobile Broadband card installed in your computer as well as other
hardware components.

NOTE: The Mobile Broadband card is listed under Modems.

Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network

NOTE: These instructions only apply to Mobile Broadband ExpressCards or Mini-

Cards. They do not apply to internal cards with wireless technology.

NOTE: Before you connect to the Internet, you must activate Mobile Broadband

service through your cellular service provider. For instructions and for additional
information about using the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility, see the user's guide
available through Windows Help and Support (click Start , and then click Help

and Support). The user's guide is also available on the Dell Support website at
support.dell.com and on the media included with your Mobile Broadband card if

you purchased the card separately from your computer.

Use the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility to establish and manage a
Mobile Broadband network connection to the Internet:

1

Click the
notification area to run the utility.

2

Click

Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility icon

Connect

.

in the Windows

NOTE: The Connect button changes to the Disconnect button.

3

Follow the instructions on the screen to manage the network connection
with the utility.

or

1

Click

2

Start →

Click

Dell Wireless Broadband

All Programs→

and follow the instructions on the screen.

Dell Wireless

.

98 Setting Up and Using Networks

Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card

NOTE: If you are unable to connect to a Mobile Broadband network, ensure that

you have all the components for establishing a Mobile Broadband connection (see
"What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection" on page 97),
and then verify that your Mobile Broadband card is enabled by verifying the setting
of the wireless switch.

You can turn your Mobile Broadband card on and off using the wireless switch
on your computer.

You can turn your computer’s wireless devices on and off with the wireless
switch on the left side of the computer (see "Left Side View" on page 27).

If the switch is in the on position, move the switch to the off position to
disable the switch and the Mobile Broadband card. If the switch is in the off
position, move the switch to the on position to enable the switch and the Dell
Mobile Broadband card. For information about the wireless switch positions,
see "wireless switch" on page 27.

To monitor the status of your wireless device, see "Monitoring the Status of
the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet" on page 96.

Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator

The wireless switch on your Dell computer uses the Dell Wi-Fi Catcher
Network Locator to scan for wireless networks in your vicinity.

To scan for a wireless network, slide and hold the switch in the momentary
position (see "wireless switch" on page 27) for a few seconds. The Wi-Fi
Catcher Network Locator functions regardless of whether your computer is
turned on or off, or in Sleep state, as long as the switch is configured through
Dell QuickSet or the BIOS (system setup program) to control WiFi network
connections.

Because the Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator is disabled and not configured
for use when your computer is shipped to you, you must first use Dell
QuickSet to enable and configure the switch to control WiFi network
connections. For more information on the Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator
and to enable the feature through Dell QuickSet, right-click the QuickSet
icon in the notification area, and then select Help

Setting Up and Using Networks 99

NOTE: The Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator light appears only when the computer is

turned off and the wireless switch is configured in the system setup program (BIOS)
to control WiFi network connections.

100 Setting Up and Using Networks