Dell 2300C User Manual

Dell™ Dimension™ 2300C

front door
power button
hard-drive light CD or DVD drive light

* On computers with integrated IEEE 1394 connectors.
** On computers with integrated PC Card connectors.

parallel connector

serial connector

breakaway hinges
IEEE 1394 connector*

PC Card connectors (2)**

USB 2.0 connectors (2)
headphone connector

mouse connector

video connector

diagnostic lights (4)

keyboard connector

USB 2.0 connectors (4)

microphone connector

line-out connector

line-in connector

IEEE 1394 connector*

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network connector

modem connectors (2)
power connector

voltage selection switch (see page 9)

Hints, Notices, and Cautions

HINT: A HINT indicates important information that helps you make better

use of your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of

data and tells you how to avoid the problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage,

personal injury, or death.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

F or a co mplete list of abbr eviations and acronyms, see the Tell Me How help
file. To access help files, see page 36.

____________________

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2003 Dell Computer Corporation.All rights reserved.

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

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude, OptiPlex, and
Dell Precision are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Intel and Celeron are registered
trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.

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 Computer Corporation disclaims an y proprietary interest
in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of
certain U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and
other rights owners. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision
Corporation, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise
authorized by Macrovision Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.

June 2003 P/N 2W209 Rev. A02

Contents

CAUTION: Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

General

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

When Using Your Computer

When Working Inside Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
Ergonomic Computing Habits

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Battery Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Finding Information for Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Connecting the AC Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Attaching and Removing the Computer Stand

Setting Up a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Printer Cable

Connecting a Parallel Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Connecting a USB Printer

Connecting an IEEE 1394 Device (Optional)
Transferring Information to a New Computer

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . 11

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . 24

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter
Network Setup Wizard

Connecting to the Internet

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

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

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

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

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

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

Contents 3

Copying CDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Using Easy CD Creator Basic
Using Blank CD-R Discs or Blank CD-RW Discs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

. . . . . . . . 29

Helpful Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

How to Copy a CD

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

Turning Off the Computer

2 Solving Problems

Finding Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Finding Help Information
Battery Problems

Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

CD drive problems

Problems writing to a CD-RW drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

DVD drive problems
Hard drive problems

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems
Error Messages

General Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

A program stops responding
A program crashes repeatedly
A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system
A solid blue screen appears

Other software problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Other technical problems
General hardware problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

42

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

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

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

4 Contents

IEEE 1394 Problems
Keyboard Problems
Mouse Problems

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

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

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

Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

PC Card Problems

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

Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Printer Problems
Scanner Problems

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

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

Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Video and Monitor Problems

If the screen is blank

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

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

If the screen is difficult to read

3 Advanced Troubleshooting

Diagnostic Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Drivers

Using System Restore

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

What Is a Driver?
Identifying Drivers
Reinstalling Drivers

Creating a Restore Point

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

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

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

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State

Undoing the Last System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

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

. . . . . . 63

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Reinstalling Microsoft

Before You Reinstall
Reinstalling Windows XP

4 Adding Parts

Front and Back View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

. . . . . . . 64

®

Windows® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

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

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

Contents 5

Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Back View

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

Reattaching the Front Door
Opening the Computer Cover

Looking Inside Y our Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

System Board

Adding PC Cards (Optional)

PC Card Types
Installing a PC Card

Removing a PC Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Adding Other Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Adding Memory
Closing the Computer Cover

5 Appendix

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Standard Settings

Viewing Settings
System Setup Program Screens

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

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

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

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

Clearing For g ot ten Passwords
Replacing the Battery
Dell Technical Support Policy
Contacting Dell

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

Regulatory Information

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

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

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

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

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

6 Contents

CAUTION: Safety Instructions

Use the following safety guidelines to help ensur e your own personal safety and to help protect
your computer and working environment from potential damage.

General

• Do not attempt to service the computer yourself unless you are a trained service
technician. Always follow installation instructions closely.

• To help prevent electric shock, plug the computer and device power cables into properly
grounded electrical outlets. These cables are equipped with 3-prong plugs to help ensure
proper grounding. Do not use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a cable.
If you must use an extension cable, use a 3-wire cable with properly grounded plugs.

• To help avoid the potential hazard of electric shock, do not use your computer during an
electrical storm.

• To help avoid the potential hazard of electric shock, do not connect or disconnect any
cables or perform maintenance or reconfiguration of this product during an electrical
storm.

• If your computer includes a modem, the cable used with the modem should be
manufactured with a minimum wir e si ze of 26 A merican wir e gauge (AWG) and an FCC­compliant RJ-11 modular plug.

• Before you clean your computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet.
Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol
cleaners, which may contain flammable substances.

• To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off the
computer before disconnecting a device from the computer.

CAUTION: Safety Instructions 7

CAUTION: Safety Instructions

• To avoid shorting out your computer when disconnecting a network cable, first unplug
the cable from the network adapter on the back of your computer, and then from the
network jack. When reconnecting a network cable to your computer, first plug the cable
into the network jack, and then into the network adapter.

• To help protect your computer from sudden, transient increases and decreases in
electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner, or uninterruptible power supply
(UPS).

• Ensure that nothing rests on your computer’s cables and that the cables are not located
where they can be stepped on or tripped over.

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• Do not push any objects into the openings of your computer. Doing so can cause fire or
electric shock by shorting out interior components.

• Keep your computer away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling
vents. Avoid placing loose papers underneath your computer; do not place your computer
in a closed-in wall unit or on a bed, sofa, or rug.

• Do not use your computer during an electrical storm unless the AC adapter cable has
been disconnected from the electrical outlet.

• When you use the AC adapter to run the computer or to charge t he battery, place the AC
adapter in a ventilated area, such as a desk top or on the floor.

• The AC adapter may become hot during normal operation of your computer. Use care
when handling the adapter during or immediately after operation.

(continued)

8 CAUTION: Safety Instructions

When Using Your Computer

As you use your computer, observe the following safe-handling guidelines.

CAUTION: Do not operate your computer with any cover(s) (including computer

covers, bezels, filler brackets, front-panel inserts, and so on) removed.

• Your computer is equipped with one of the following:
– A fixed-voltage power supply — Computers with a fixed-voltage power supply do not

have a voltage selection switch on the back panel and operate at only one voltage (see
the regulatory label on the outside of the computer for its operating voltage).

– An auto-sensing voltage circuit — Computers with an auto-sensing voltage circuit do

not have a voltage selection switch on the back panel and automatically detect the
correct operating voltage.

– A manual voltage selection switch — Computers with a voltage selection switch on

the back panel must be manually set to operate at the correct operating voltage.

NOTICE: To help avoid damaging a computer with a manual voltage selection switch, set the

switch for the voltage that most closely matches the AC power available in your location. For Japan,
the voltage selection switch must be set to the 115- V position even though th e AC power available in
Japan is 100 V. Also, ensure that your monitor and attached devices are electrically rated to
operate with the AC power available in your location.

• Before working inside the computer, unplug the computer to help prevent electric shock
or system board damage. Certain system board components continue to receive power
any time the computer is connected to AC power.

When Using Your Computer 9

When Using Your Computer

(continued)

When Working Inside Your Computer

Before you open the computer cover, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to service the computer yourself, except as explained in

your online Dell™ documentation or in instructions otherwise provided to you by
Dell. Always follow installation and service instructions closely.

NOTICE: To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off the

computer before removing a component from the system board or disconnecting a device from the
computer.

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1 Perform an orderly computer shutdown using the operating system menu.
2 Turn off your computer and any devices connected to the computer.
3 Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the chassis, such as the metal

around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer, before touching anything
inside your computer.

While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis
to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

4 Disconnect your computer and devices, including the monitor, from their electrical

outlets. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or shock.

In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:

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

10 When Using Your Computer

When Using Your Computer

• Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a
card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such
as a microprocessor chip by its edges, not by its pins.

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed.

Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the
manufacturer. Do not dispose of the battery along with household waste. Contact
your local waste disposal agency for the address of the nearest batter y deposit site.

(continued)

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

Static electricity can harm delicate components inside your computer. To prevent static
damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer’s
electronic components, such as the microprocessor. You can do so by touching an unpainted
metal surface on the computer chassis.

As you continue to work inside the computer, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to
remove any static charge your body may have accumulated.

You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD):

• Do not remove components from their antistatic packing material until you ar e ready to
install the component in your computer . Just before unwrapping the antistatic packaging,
discharge static electricity from your body.

• When transporting an electrostatic sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic
container or packaging.

• Handle all electrostatic sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use
antistatic floor pads and workbench pads.

Ergonomic Computing Habits

CAU TION: Improper or prolonge d keyboard use may result in injur y.
CAUTION: Viewing the monitor screen for extended periods of time may result in

eye strain.

F or comfort a nd efficiency, observe the ergonomic guidelines in the Tell Me How help file when
setting up and using your computer.

When Using Your Computer 11

When Using Your Computer

Battery Disposal

Your computer uses a lithium coin-cell battery. The lithium coin-cell battery is a long-life
battery, and it is very possible that you will never need to replace it. However, should you need
to replace it, see page 93.

Do not dispose of the battery along with household waste. Contact your local waste disposal

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agency for the address of the nearest battery deposit site.

(continued)

12 When Using Your Computer

Finding Information for Your Computer

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• A diagnostic program for my computer

• Drivers for my computer

• My computer documentation

• My device documentation

• How to set up a printer

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

• How to add parts

• How to contact Dell

• Warranty information

Resou rceCD

You can use this CD to access documentation and reinstall drivers
(see page 61).

Owner’s Manual

Finding Information for Your Computer 13

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• Express Service Code and Service Tag

Express Service Code and Product Key

Number

®

•Microsoft

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Windows® License Label

Located on your computer.

• How to reinstall my operating system Operating System CD

If you reinstall your operating system, use the ResourceCD to
reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer.

• Latest drivers for my computer

• Answers to technical service and support
questions

• Online discussions with other users and
technical support

• Documentation for my computer

Dell Support website

The Dell Support website provides several online tools, including:

• Knowledge Base — hints, tips, and online courses

• Customer Forum — online discussion with other Dell customers

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

• Customer Care — contact information, order stat us, warranty, and
repair information

• Downloads — drivers, patches, and software updates

• Reference — computer documentation, product specifications,
and white papers

14 Finding Information for Your Computer

What Are You Looking For? Find it Here

• How to set up my computer Setup Diagram

• Tips on using Windows

• How to clean my computer

• How to use my mouse and keyboard

• How to use Windows XP

• Documentation for my computer and
devices

Tell Me How Help File

1 Click the Start button, and then click Help and Support.
2 Click User and system guides, and then click User’s guides.
3 Click Tell Me How.

Windows XP Help and Support Center

1 Click the Start button, and then click Help and Support.
2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem, and then click

the arrow icon.

3 Click the topic that describes your problem.
4 F ollow the instructions shown on the screen.

Finding Information for Your Computer 15

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16 Finding Information for Your Computer

SECTION 1

Setting Up and Using
Your Computer

Connecting the AC Adapter
Attaching and Removing the Computer Stand
Setting Up a Printer
Connecting an IEEE 1394 Device (Optional)
Transferring Information to a New Computer

1

Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Connecting to the Internet
Copying CDs
Turning Off the Computer

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Connecting the AC Adapter

1 Connect the AC adapter to the plug on the AC power cable.

CAUTION: If you decide to connect the green ground wire to an

electrical outlet,
wire and power leads because electrical shock, fire, or damage to
your computer can occur (see the following figure).

2 If you decide not to connect the green ground wire to the electrical

outlet, go to step 4.

3 Connect the metal ground connector to the grounding source on the

outlet (see the following figure):

a Loosen the grounding source.
b Slide the meta l ground connector behind the grounding source,

and tighten the grounding source.

do not permit

contact between the green ground

4 Connect the AC power cable to the outlet.

18 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

grounding source

metal ground connector

Attaching and Removing the Computer
Stand

To attach the stand:

1 Rotate the computer to an upside-down position.
2 Insert the screw into the bottom of the stand.
3 Align the two tabs and the screw on the stand with the tab holes and

screw hole in the bottom of the computer.

screw

tabs (2)

tab holes (2)

screw hole

HINT: Place your

computer on a soft
surface to prevent
scratching the top cover.

4 Tighten the screw.
5 Place the computer in the upright position.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 19

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To remove the stand:

1 Turn the computer over so that the stand is at the top.
2 Loosen the screw and lift the stand away.
3 Place the computer in a horizontal position until you reattach the

stand.

20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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

• Contact the printer manufacturer for technical assistance

Printer Cable

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

Connecting a Parallel Printer

1 Complete the operating system setup, if you have not already done so.
2 Turn off the computer (see page 31).

NOTICE: For best results, use a 3 m (10 ft) or shorter parallel cable.

Attach the parallel printer cable to the parallel connector on the

3

computer and tighten the two screws. Attach the cable to the
connector on the printer and snap the two clips into the two notches.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 21

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screws (2)

parallel printer
cable

4 Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer. If the Add New

parallel connector on computer

connector on
printer

clips (2)

notches (2)

Hardware Wizard window appears, click Cancel.

5 Install the printer driver if necessary. See the docum ent at ion that

came with your printer.

Connecting a USB Printer

HINT: You can connect

USB devices while the
computer is turned on.

22 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

1 Complete the operating system setup, if you have not already done so.
2 Install the printer driver if necessary. See the docum ent at ion that

came with your printer.

3 Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connector on the computer

and the printer. The USB connectors fit only one way.

USB connector on the
computer

USB connector
on printer

USB printer
cable

Connecting an IEEE 1394 Device
(Optional)

IEEE 1394 devices can move large amounts of data between computers and
devices and are ideal for use with multimedia devices, such as digital video
cameras.

Your computer provides an IEEE 1394 connector on both the front and
back panels. (See "Front and Back View of the Computer" on page 70 for
locations.)

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 23

HINT: The connector can

accept six-pin IEEE 1394
devices with the use of an
adapter.

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IEEE 1394
connector

IEEE 1394
cable

Transferring Information to a New
Computer

Windows XP provid es a Files and Settings Tran sfer Wizard to move data,
such as e-mails, window sizes, toolbar settings, and Internet bookmarks,
from one computer to another. First you collect the data from the sourc e
computer, and then you import the data to the new comput er.

If the source computer uses another Windows operati ng s yst em, the wiza rd
can be launched from the Windows XP operating system CD. You can
transfer the data to the new computer over a network or serial connection,
or you can store it on a removable medium, such as a writable CD.

To transfer information to a new computer:

HINT: The CD that you

need to place in your CD
or DVD drive is titled

Operating System

.

1

Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories→ System
Tools, and then click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

2 On the welcome screen, click Next.
3 On the Which computer is this? screen, select New Computer, and

then click Next.

4 Follow the instructions on the screen.

24 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter

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

To connect a network cable:

1 Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the

back of your computer.

2 Connect the other end of the network cable to a network connection

device.

network adapter
connector on computer

network cable

network
wall jack

Network Setup Wizard

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

HINT: Insert the cable

until it clicks into place,
and then gently pull it to
ensure that it is secure.

HINT: Do not use a

network cable with a
telephone wall jack.

1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories→

Communications, and then click Network Setup Wizard.

2 On the welcome screen, click Next.
3 Click checklist for creating a network.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 25

HINT: Selecting the

connection method This
computer connects
directly to the Internet

enables the integrated
firewall provided with
Windows XP.

Complete the checklist and required preparations, and then return to

4

the Network Setup Wizard.

5 Follow the instructions on the screen.

Connecting to the Internet

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

HINT: ISPs may vary by

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country.

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

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

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

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

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

To set up an AOL or MSN connection:

1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
2 Double-click the MSN Explorer or AOL icon on the Windows

desktop.

3 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

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

®

1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
2 Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
3 Click Network and Internet Connections.

26 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

4 Click Set up or change your Internet connection.
5 In the Internet Properties window, click Setup and then click Next.

The New Connection Wizard appears.

6 Click Connect to the Internet.
7 In the next window, click the appropriate option:

• If you do not have an ISP and want to select one, click Choose
from a list of Internet service providers (ISPs).

• If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but
you did not receive a setup CD, click Set up my connection
manually.

• If you have a CD, click Use the CD I got from an ISP.

8 Click Next.

If you selected Set up my connection manually, continue to step 9.
Otherwise, follow the instructions on the screen to complete the
setup.

9 Click the appropriate option under How do you want to connect to

the Internet?, and then click Next.

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

If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see page 39. 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.

Copying CDs

This section applies only to computers that have a CD- or DVD-record ing
device.

The information in this section is based on the Roxio Easy CD Creator
Basic documentation that came with your computer. See the following
section, "Using Easy CD Creator Basic," for instructions on how to locate
that documentation.

HINT: If you do not know

which type of connection
to select, contact
your ISP.

HINT: Ensure that you

follow all copyright laws
when you create CDs.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 27

HINT: The information in

this section also applies to
using Easy CD Creator
Basic with a DVD+RW or
a DVD+R drive.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

To burn CDs, you need to use CD-burner software. Roxio Easy CD Creator
Basic is your computer's CD-burner software. The software includes these
project programs that enable you to record specialty CDs for different types
of uses:

• DirectCD allows you to format a blank CD-R or CD-RW disc so that
you can use Microsoft

®

Windows® Explorer to drag and drop data
files to the CD-RW drive. You can use a DirectCD-formatted CD-R W
disc like another hard drive on your computer because CD-RW discs
are fully rewritable (CD-R discs can be used with DirectCD, but that
media type has overwriting limitations—see "Using Blank CD-R Discs
or Blank CD-RW Discs" for re cording media differences).

• MusicCD allows you to burn custom music CDs.

• DataCD allows you to copy a variety of your documents, such as
spreadsheet or accounting files, to a CD for permanent storage.

HINT: Some music and

game CDs are copy­protected. If you have a
CD that cannot be copied,
you must use the original
CD for everyday use.

• Disc Copier allows you to make a backup copy of almost any type of
CD. This program allows you to make a copy of a CD for everyday use
so that you can archive and save the original copy. (Disc Copier is
titled "CD Copier" in some versions of Roxio CD Creator Basic.)

All four project programs are available on the Easy CD Creator Basic Select

a Project menu screen. To view the Select a Project menu screen, click the
Start button, point to All Programs→ Roxi o Easy CD Creator, and then
click Project Selector.

Using Easy CD Creator Basic

See the Easy CD Creator Basic documentation for instructions on how to
use the program, information about different recording techniques, and CD
media limitations. The Easy CD Creator Basic documentation is located in
the Microsoft
documentation is also provided on the Dell Dimension ResourceCD, which
is included with your computer. Each Easy CD Creator Basic project
program also has thorough online help files.

®

Windows® XP Help and Support Center (see page 36). The

28 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Using Blank CD-R Discs or Blank CD-RW Discs

Your CD-RW drive writes to two different types of recor ding media—CD-R
and CD-RW discs. Use blank CD-R (CD-Recordable) disks to record music
or permanently store data files. After cr eating a CD-R disc, you cannot write
to that disc again without changing your method of recording (see the
Roxio documentation for more information). Use blank CD-RW
(CD-ReWritable) discs when you want to write, erase, rewrite, and update
your files onto CDs.

Helpful Tips

• You must use the Easy CD Creator Basic project programs to copy and
record all music and data CDs. You can use W indows Explorer to drag
and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW disc only after you first use
DirectCD to format the disc.

• You must use CD-R discs to burn music CDs that you want to play in
regular stereos. CD-RW discs do not play in most home or car stereos.

• If you want to copy files from the Internet or files from a floppy or Zip
drive, copy those files to your hard drive first, and then burn your CD.
Your CD-RW drive requires a steady stream of data to properly record.
Direct Internet downloads, floppy drives, and Zip drives may not be
able to provide a steady data stream to your CD-RW drive.

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

• Ensure that you set the sampling rate to at least 128 Kbps when you
burn MP3 files to a CD. Otherwise, recording errors may occur.

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

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

• See the Roxio support website at support.roxio.com for additional
helpful tips.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 29

How to Copy a CD

HINT: If you have a

DVD/CD-RW combo drive
and experience recording
problems, first check for
available software
patches at the Dell
Support website at
support.dell.com and if
necessary, the Roxio
support website at
support.roxio.com.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

This procedure assumes that your computer is equipped with a single
CD-RW drive (without an additional CD drive). If your computer is
equipped with both types of drives, see the Roxio documentation for
instructions on how to copy CDs from a CD drive to a CD-RW drive.

1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Roxio Easy CD

Creator, and then click Project Selector.
The Select a Project window appears.

2 Click Disc Copier. (Disc Copier is titled "CD Copier" in some versions

of Easy CD Creator Basic.)
The Disc Copier window appears and displays your CD-RW drive in

the Copy from and the Record to lists.

3 Insert the source CD that you want to copy into the CD-RW drive.

The Disc Copier project program briefly checks the source CD in the
CD-RW drive to ensure that it is a readable CD.

4 Click Copy.

Depending on the size of the files that are being copied, the copy
process may take a few minutes.

5 After the source CD is copied, remove the source CD from the

CD-RW drive tray.
The CD-RW drive tray opens automatically after the source CD is

copied.

HINT: You must use

CD-R discs to burn music
CDs that you want to
play in regular stereos.
CD-RW discs do not play
in most home or car
stereos.

30 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Insert a blank CD into the CD-RW drive and close the tray.

6

The recording starts automatically.

After the recording completes, click OK.

Turning Off the Computer

NOTICE: To prevent data loss, you must turn off your computer through the

Start menu rather than by pressing the power button.

1

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

2 Click the Start button and then click Turn off Computer.
3 Click Turn off.

The computer automatically turns off after the shutdown process
finishes.

4 Turn off your monitor and any other devices connected to power.

HINT: If you are having

difficulty turning off your
computer, see "General
Problems" on page 42.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 31

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

32 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

SECTION 2

Solving Problems

Finding Solutions
Finding Help Information
Battery Problems
Drive Problems
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems
Error Messages
General Problems

2

IEEE 1394 Problems
Keyboard Problems
Mouse Problems
Network Problems
PC Card Problems
Power Problems
Printer Problems
Scanner Problems
Sound and Speaker Problems
Video and Monitor Problems

www.jp.dell.com | support.jp.dell.com

Finding Solutions

Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out where to go for answers. Use this chart
to help you quickly find the answers to your questions.

See page 49.

Press a key or move the
mouse. See the
help file for information on
standby mode.

Get technical assistance from
Dell. See page 95.

See page 41.

Tell Me How

34 Solving Problems

See page 54.

See page 53.

See page 51.

See page 39.

See page 46.

See page 45.

See page 37.

See page 48.

See page 52.

See page 41.

See page 42.

See page 42.

See page 39.

See page 39.

Solving Problems 35

Finding Help Information

www.jp.dell.com | support.jp.dell.com

HINT: Check Windows

Explorer to see if your
device is listed as a drive.

TO ACCESS THE

1 Click the Start button, and then click Help and Support.
2 Click User and system guides, and then click User’s guides.
3 Click Tell Me How.

TO ACCESS WINDOWS HELP

1 Click the Start button, and then click Help and Support.
2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem, and then click the arrow

icon.

3 Click the topic that describes your problem.
4 F o llow the instructions shown on the screen.

TO LOCATE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR COMPUTER — See

page 13.

Tell Me How

HELP FILE

Battery Problems

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is

incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or
equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used
batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this se ction,

follow the safety instructions on page 7.

36 Solving Problems

REPLACE THE BATTERY — If you have to repeatedly reset time and date

information after turning on the computer, or if an incorrect time or date displays
during start-up, replace the battery (see page93). If the battery still does not
work properly, contact Dell (see page 95).

Drive Problems

CD drive problems

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Click the speaker icon in

the lower-right corner of your screen.

• Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slidebar and dragging
it up.

• Ensure that the sound is not muted by clicking any box es that are checked.

TEST THE DRIVE WITH ANOTHER CD — Insert another CD to eliminate
the possibility that the original CD is defective.

CHECK THE SPEAKERS AND SUBWOOFER — See "Sound and Speaker
Problems" on page 53.

ENSURE THAT WINDOWS RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE — Click the Start
button and click My Computer. If the CD drive is not listed, perform a full scan
with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses. Viruses can
sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive.

CLEAN THE DISC — See the Tell Me How help file for instructions on
cleaning your CDs. To access help files, see page 36.

HINT: High-speed CD

drive vibration is normal
and may cause noise. This
does not indicate a defect
in the drive or the CD.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

Problems writing to a CD-RW drive

TURN OFF STANDBY MODE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A
CD-RW DISC — For information on power conservation modes, see the Tell

Me How help file or search for the keyword standby in Windows Help. To access
help files, see page 36.

CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS — The CD-RW drive must receive a steady
stream of data when writing. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. Try
closing all programs before writing to the CD-RW.

HINT: If you disable

standby mode to write to a
CD-RW drive, remember
to reenable standby mode
when you finish writing to
the CD.

Solving Problems 37

HINT: Because of

different regions
worldwide and different
disc formats, not all DVD
titles work in all DVD
drives.

DVD drive problems

TEST THE DRIVE WITH ANOTHER DVD — Insert another DVD to

eliminate the possibility that the original DVD is defective.

ENSURE THAT WINDOWS RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE — Double-click My
Computer on the desktop. If the DVD drive is not listed, perform a fu ll scan with

your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes
prevent Windows from recognizing the drive.

CLEAN THE DISC — See the Tell Me How help file for instructions on
cleaning your DVDs. To access help files, see page 36.

www.jp.dell.com | support.jp.dell.com

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

Hard drive problems

RUN CHECK DISK

1 Double-click My Computer on the desktop.
2 Right-click the drive letter (local disk) that you want to scan for errors, and

then click Properties.

3 Click the Tools tab.
4 Under Error-checking, click Check Now.
5 Click Start.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

38 Solving Problems

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

CHECK THE TELEPHONE LINE CONNECTION — Verify that the telephone

line is connected to the jack on the modem. (The jack has either a green label or
a connector-shaped icon ne xt to it.) Ensure that you hear a click when you insert
the telephone line connector into the modem.

CHECK THE TELEPHONE JACK — Disconnect the telephone line from the
modem and connect it to a telephone. Listen for a dial tone.

CONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK —

If you have other telephone devices sharing the line, such as an answering
machine, fax machine, surge protector, or line splitter, then bypass them and use
the telephone to connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack.

USE A DIFFERENT TELEPHONE LINE — If you are using a line that is 3 m
(10 ft) or more in length, try a shorter one.

RUN THE MODEM HELPER DIAGNOSTICS — Click the Start button, point
to All Programs, and then click Modem Helper. Follow the instructions on the
screen to identify and resolve modem problems. (Modem Helper is not available
on all computers.)

HINT: Connect the

modem to an analog
telephone jack only. The
modem does not operate
while it is connected to a
digital telephone network.

VERIFY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH WINDOWS

1 Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2 Click Printers and Other Hardware.
3 Click Phone and Modem Options.
4 Click the Modems tab.
5 Click the COM port for your modem.
6 Click Properties, click the Diagnostics tab, and then click Query Modem to

verify that the modem is communicating with Windows.
If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.

®

Solving Problems 39

TURN OFF CALL WAITING (CATCH-PHONE)—See your telephone

directory for instructions on deactivating this feature. Then adjust the dial-up
networking connection properties.

1 Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2 Click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Phone and Modem

Options.

3 Click your connection type to highlight it.
4 Click the Dialing Rules tab, and then click Edit.
5 Click the To Disable Call Waiting box to place a checkmark in it.
6 Select the disable code from the drop-down menu (for example, *70).
7 Click Apply, and then click OK.

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ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET — With the
Outlook Express e-mail program open, click File. If Work Offline has a
checkmark next to it, click the checkmark to remove it and connect to the
Internet.

ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE SUBSCRIBED TO AN INTERNET SERVICE

PROVIDER — Contact an Internet service provider to subscribe.

CONTACT YOUR INTERNET SER VICE PROVIDER — Contact your Internet

service provider for assistance.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

40 Solving Problems

Error Messages

A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING

CHARACTERS: \ / : * ? “ < > | — Do not use these characters in

filenames.

A REQUIRED .DLL FILE WAS NOT FOUND — The program that you are
trying to open is missing an essential file. To remove and then reinstall the
program:

1 Click the Start button.
2 Click Control Panel.
3 Click Add or Remove Programs.
4 Select the program you want to remove.
5 Click the Change or Remove Program icon.
6 See the program documentation for installation instructions.

INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA — The operating system is trying to boot to a

nonbootable CD. Insert a bootable CD.

NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES. CLOSE SOME PROGRAMS AND

TRY AGAIN — You have too many programs open. Close all windows and open

the program that you want to use. In some cases, you might have to restart your
computer to restore computer resources. If so, try running the program that you
want to use first.

OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND — Contact Dell (see page 95).

THE FILE BEING COPIED IS TOO LARGE FOR THE DESTINATION

DRIVE — The file that you are trying to copy is too large to fit on the disc. Try

copying the file to a blank disk or using a larger-capacity disc.

x

:\ IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE DEVICE IS NOT READY — Insert a disc

into the drive and try again.

Solving Problems 41

www.jp.dell.com | support.jp.dell.com

HINT: Software usually

includes installation
instructions in its
documentation or on
aCD.

General Problems

A program stops responding

END THE PROGRAM

1 Press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously.
2 Click Applications.
3 Click the program that is no longer responding.
4 Click End Task.

TURN THE COMPUTER OFF — If your computer locks up and you are unable

to get a response by pressing a key on your k eyboard or moving your mouse, press
and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns
off. Then press the power button again to turn on the computer. You might lose
data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.

A program crashes repeatedly

CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION — Many software

manufacturers maintain websites with information that may help you solve the
problem. Ensure that you properly installed and configured the program. If
necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.

42 Solving Problems

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system

RUN THE P ROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD

Windows XP provides a Program Compatibility W izard that configures a
program so it runs in an environment similar to non-Windows XP operating
system environments.

1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories, and then click

Program Compatibility Wizard.

2 In the welcome screen, click Next.
3 Follow the instructions on the screen.

A solid blue screen appears

TURN THE COMPUTER OFF — If the computer does not respond to a

keystroke or a proper shutdown, press the power button for at least 8 to
10 seconds until the computer turns off. Press the power button again to restart
the computer. The chkdsk program automatically runs during the start-up
process. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Other software problems

CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE

MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION

BACK UP YOUR FILES IMMEDI ATELY — If your computer has a CD-RW

drive installed, see the drive’s documentation for instructions.

ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE NOT MADE AN ERROR WHILE ENTERING

DATA — See the program documentation to make sure that the values or

characters you are entering are valid.

CHECK FOR VI RUSES — Use a virus-scanning program to check the hard
drive or CDs.

RESTART THE COMPUTER — Save and close any open files, exit any open
programs, and then shut down your computer through the Start menu instead of
pressing the power button. Otherwise, you may lose data.

CHECK FOR COMPATIBILITY

• Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on
your computer and that your computer meets the minimum hardware
requirements needed to run the software. Se e the softwar e docume ntation for
information.

• If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.

ENSURE THAT YOU PROPERLY INSTALLED AND CONFIGURED THE

PROGRAM — See the software documentation for information. If necessary,

uninstall and then reinstall the program.

Solving Problems 43

www.jp.dell.com | support.jp.dell.com

Other technical problems

GO TO THE DELL SUPPORT WEBSITE — Go to support.dell.com for help

with general usage, installation, and troubleshooting questions.The support
website offers several different tools to help you, such as Dell Forum—a chat
room where you can communicate with other Dell customers about their
computers and gain access to technical support through e-mail. See "Dell
Support website" on page 14 for more information about the website. See the
Service and Support Guide that came with your computer for a description of the
hardware and software support provided by Dell.

CALL DELL — If you cannot solve your problem using the Dell Support
website or e-mail service, call Dell for technical assistance (see psge 93). See the
Service and Support Guide that came with your computer for a description of the
hardware and software support provided by Dell.

General hardware problems

If your computer exhibits one or more of the following symptoms, a device
conflict may exist:

• Your computer locks up, particularly while using a specific device.

• A recently added device does not work.

• A sound card emits noise or demonstrates other problems.

44 Solving Problems

• Unintelligible characters print from the printer.

• The mouse pointer does not move or "stutters" when it moves.

• Messages appear stating that the computer is not operating at
maximum performance.

• Errors occur and programs crash for no apparent reason.

• Nothing displays on the monitor.

REMOVE ANY RECENTLY ADDED HARDWARE TO SEE IF IT RESOLVES

THE CONFLICT — If removing the hardware resolves the conflict, se e the

hardware documentation for configuration and troubleshooting instructions. If
the problem persists, contact the hardware manufacturer for technical assistance.

CHECK YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION FOR ADDITIONAL

TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

IEEE 1394 Problems

CHECK THE IEEE 1394 DEVICE — Ensure that the IEEE 1394 device is

properly inserted into the connector.

ENSURE THAT THE IEEE 1394 DEVICE IS RECOGNIZED BY
W

INDOWS

1 Click the Start button.
2 Click Control Panel.
3 Click Printers and Other Hardware. If your IEEE 1394 device is listed,

Windows recognizes the device.

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A DELL-PROVIDED IEEE 1394

DEVICE — Contact Dell (see page 95).

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AN IEEE 1394 DEVICE NOT PROVIDED

BY DELL — Contact the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer.

®

Keyboard Problems

RESTART THE COMPUTER

• If the mouse is functioning, shut down the computer (see page 31). After the
computer shuts down, press the power button to restart the computer.

• If the computer does not respond to a keystroke or the mouse, pr ess the power
button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off. Press the
power button again to restart the computer.

Solving Problems 45

CHECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE

• Shut down the computer (see page 31), reconnect the keyboard cable as
shown on the setup diagram for your computer , and then r estart the computer.

• Ensure that the keyboard cable is firmly connected to the computer.

• Check the cable connector for bent or broken pins and for damaged or frayed
cables. Straighten bent pins.

• Remove keyboard extension cables and connect the keyboard directly to the
computer.

TEST THE KEYB OARD — Connect a keyboard that works properly to the
computer, and try using the keyboard. If the new keyboard works, the original
keyboard is faulty.

www.jp.dell.com | support.jp.dell.com

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

Mouse Problems

REST ART THE COMPUTER

1 Simultaneously press <Ctrl><Esc> to display the Start menu.
2 Type u, press the keyboard arrow keys to highlight Shut down or Turn Off, and

then press <Enter>.

3 After the computer turns off, press the power button to restart the computer.

IF YOU CONNECTED THE MOUSE BEFORE TURNING ON THE

COMPUTER, RECONNECT THE MOUSE CABLE

1 Simultaneously press <Ctrl><Esc> to display the Start menu.
2 Type u, press the keyboard arrow keys to highlight Shut down or Turn Off, and

then press <Enter>.

3 After the computer turns off, reconnect the mouse cable as shown on the

setup diagram for your computer.

4 Start the computer.

46 Solving Problems

IF YOU CONNECTED THE MOUSE AFTER TURNING ON THE COMP UTER,

REMOVE THE POWER CABLE, AND THEN RECONNECT THE MOUSE
CABLE — If the mouse is connected after the power is turned on, the mouse

appears to be nonfunctional. To make the mouse function properly:

1 While your computer is on, remove the power cable from the back of the

computer.

2 Connect the mouse to the computer.
3 Reconnect the power cable.
4 Turn on your computer.

Pressing the power button does not clear the computer’s settings and does not
restore mouse functionality.

CHECK THE MOUSE CABLE

• Check the cable connector for bent or broken pins and for damaged or frayed
cables. Straighten bent pins.

• Ensure that the cable is firmly connected to the computer.

TEST THE MOUSE — Connect a mouse that works properly to the computer,
and try using the mouse. If the new mouse works, the original mouse was faulty.

CHECK THE MOUSE SETTINGS

1 Click the Start button, click Control P anel, and then click Printers and Other

Hardware.

2 Click Mouse.
3 Try adjusting the settings.

REINSTALL THE MOUSE DRIVER — See page 61.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

Solving Problems 47

Network Problems

ligh

ligh

CHECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR — Ensure that the network
cable is connected as shown on page 25.

CHECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE BACK OF THE COMPUTER —

No light indicates that there is no network communication. Try replacing the
network cable.

www.jp.dell.com | support.jp.dell.com

t

REST ART THE COMPUTER AND TR Y TO LOG ON TO THE NETWORK

AGAIN

CHECK YOUR NETWORK SETTINGS — Contact your network administrator

or the person who set up your network to verify that your network settings are
correct and that the network is functioning.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

t

48 Solving Problems

PC Card Problems

CHECK THE PC CARD — Ensure that the PC Card is properly inserted into

the connector.

ENSURE THAT THE CARD IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS®— Double­click the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon in the Windows taskbar. Ensure that
the card is listed.

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A PC CARD NOT PROVIDED BY

ELL — Contact the PC card manufacturer.

D

Power Problems

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

follow the safety instructions on page 7.

ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES — Your computer may be in standby or

hibernate mode. For information on power conservation modes, see the Tell Me
How help file, or search for the keyword standby or hibernate in Windows

To access help files, see page 36.

®

Help.

HINT: Your computer is

designed for 16-bit
PCMCIA cards only. Do
not use a 32-bit CardBus.

HINT: If the power light

on the front of the
computer is steady green
(see page 70), the
computer is operating
normally.

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING GREEN — The computer is in standby
mode. Press a key on th e keyboard or move the mo use to resume normal
operation.

Solving Problems 49

www.jp.dell.com | support.jp.dell.com

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS OFF — The computer is either turned off or is not
receiving power.

• Ensure that the power cable is firmly inserted into both the power connector
on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.

• If the computer is plugged into a power strip, ensure that the power strip is
plugged into an electrical outlet and that the power strip is turned on.

• Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device,
such as a lamp.

• Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your
location (see page 9).

• Bypass power protection devices, power strips, and power extension cables to
verify that the computer turns on.

• Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable
is defective.

• Ensure that the microprocessor power cable is securely connecte d to the
system board (see page 77).

• Ensure that the power supply cables are securely connected to the system
board (see page 77).

• If the problem persists, contact Dell (see page 95).

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS STEADY AMBER — The computer is receiving
electrical power, but an internal power problem might exist.

• Ensure that the power cable is firmly inserted into both the power connector
on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.

• Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your
location (see page 9).

• Ensure that the microprocessor power cable is securely connecte d to the
system board (see page 77).

• Ensure that the power supply cables are securely connected to the system
board (see page 77).

• If the problem persists, contact Dell (see page 95).

50 Solving Problems

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING AMBER — A device might be

malfunctioning or incorrectly installed.

• Remove and then reinstall the memory modules (see page 82).

• Remove and then reinstall any cards (see page 80).

• Remove and then reinstall the video card, if applicable (see page 82).

• If the problem persists, contact Dell (see page 95).

ELIMINATE INTER FERENCE — Electrical appliances on the same circuit
or operating near the computer can cause interference. Other causes of
interference are:

• Power extension cables

• Keyboard and mouse extension cables

• Too many devices on a power strip

• Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet

Printer Problems

CHECK THE PRINTER DOCUMENTATION — See the printer documentation

for setup and troubleshooting information.

ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON — See the printer
documentation for power button information.

VERIFY THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS

• See the printer documentation for cable connection information.

• Ensure that the printer cable is connected as described on page 21.

• Ensure that the printer cables are securely connected to the printer and the
computer.

HINT: Dell does not

cover the printer’s
warranty. If you need
technical assistance for
your printer, call the
printer’s manufacturer.
See the printer
documentation for the
correct phone number.

TEST THE ELECTRI CAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is
working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

VERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS

1 Click the Start button.
2 Click Control Panel.
3 Click Printers and Other Hardware.
4 Click View installed printers or fax printers. If the printer is listed, right-click

the printer icon.

5 Click Properties, and then select the Ports tab. For a parallel printer, ensure

that the Print to the following port(s): setting is LPT1 (Printer Port). For a
USB printer, ensure that the Print to the following port(s): setting is USB.

REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER — See page 61.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

®

Solving Problems 51

HINT: Dell does not

cover the scanner’s
warranty. If you need
technical assistance for
your scanner, call the
scanner’s manufacturer.
See the scanner
documentation for the
correct phone number.

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Scanner Problems

CHECK THE SCANNER DOCUMENTATION — See the scanner

documentation for setup and troubleshooting information.

UNLOCK THE SCANNER — Ensure that your scanner is unlocked if it has a
locking tab or button.

REST ART THE COMPUTER AND TR Y THE SCANNER AGAIN

CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS

• If your scanner has a power cable, ensure that the power cable is firmly
connected to a working electrical outlet and that the scanner is turned on.

• Ensure that the scanner cable is firmly connected to the computer and to the
scanner.

VERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY MICROSOFT®

INDOWS

W

1 Click the Start button.
2 Click Control Panel.
3 Click Printers and Other Hardware.
4 Click Scanners and Cameras. If your scanner is listed, Windows recognizes

the scanner.

REINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER — See the scanner documentation for
instructions.

®

52 Solving Problems

Sound and Speaker Problems

CHECK THE SPEAKER CABLE CONNECTIONS — Ensure that the speakers

are connected as shown on the setup diagram supplied with the speakers.

ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED

ON — See the setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If your speakers have

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

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Cl ick or double-click the
speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is
turned up and that the sound is not muted.

DISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR —

Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are
connected to the computer’s front-panel headphone connector.

TEST THE ELECTRI CAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is
working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTER FERENCE — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent
lights, or halogen lamps to check for interference.

HINT: The volume

control in some MP3
players overrides the
Windows
setting. If you have been
listening to MP3 songs,
ensure that you did not
turn the player volume
down or off.

®

volume

RUN THE SPEAKER DIAGNOSTICS — Some speaker systems have self­diagnostics. See the speaker documentation for diagnostics instructions.

REINSTALL THE AUDIO (SOUND) DRIVER — See page 61.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

Solving Problems 53

HINT: See the monitor

documentation for
troubleshooting
procedures.

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Video and Monitor Problems

If the screen is blank

CHECK THE MONITOR POWER LIGHT — If the power light is lit or blinking,

the monitor has power. If the power light is blinking, press a key on the keyboard
or move the mouse.

PRESS THE MONITOR POWER BUTTON — Firmly press the button to
ensure that the monitor is turned on.

CHECK THE MONITOR CABLE CONNECTION — Check the connector for
bent or broken pins. (It is normal for monitor cable connectors to have missing
pins.) Ensure that the video cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for
your computer.

TEST THE EL ECTRICAL OUTLE T — Ensure that the electrical outlet is
working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

SWAP THE POWER CABLES — Swap the computer and monitor power
cables to determine if the power cable is defective.

54 Solving Problems

TEST THE VI DEO EXTE NSIO N CABLE (IF USED)—If you are using a

video extension cable and removing the cable solves the problem, the cable is
defective.

TEST ANOTHER MONITOR — If another monitor is available, connect it to
the computer.

CHECK THE DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS — See page 58.

If the screen is difficult to read

CHECK THE MONITOR SETTINGS — See the monitor documentation fo r

instructions on adjusting the contrast and brightness, demagnetizing
(degaussing) the monitor, and running the monitor self-test.

MOVE THE SUBWOOFER AWAY FROM THE MONITOR — If your speaker
system includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm (2 ft)
away from the monitor.

MOVE THE MONITOR AWAY FROM EXTER NAL POWER SOURCES —

Fans, fluor escent lights, halogen lamps, and other electrical devices can cause the
screen image to appear "shaky." Turn off nearby devices to check for interference.

ROTAT E THE MONITOR TO FACE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION — Eliminate
sunlight glare, which can cause poor picture quality.

ADJUST THE WINDOWS® DISPLAY SETTINGS

1 Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2 Click Appearance and Themes.
3 Click Display, and then click the Settings tab.
4 Try different settings for Screen resolution and Color quality.

RESTORE THE RECOMMENDED SETTINGS — Restore the original

resolution and refresh ra te settings. See the Tell Me How help file for instructions.
To access help files, see page 36.

CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 64.

Solving Problems 55

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56 Solving Problems

SECTION 3

Advanced
Troubleshooting

Diagnostic Lights
Drivers
Using System Restore
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP

3

Diagnostic Lights

To help you troubleshoot a problem, your computer is equipped with four
lights on the back panel labeled "A," "B," "C," and "D" (see page 72). These
lights can be yellow or green. When the computer starts normally, the lights
flash. After the computer starts, the lights remai n green. If the computer
malfunctions, the color and sequence of the lights identify the problem.

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

follow the safety instructions on page 9.

Diagnostic Code Definition Corrective Action

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YYGG

ABCD

GYGY

ABCD

Memory modules
are detected, but a
memory failure has
occurred.

Memory modules
are detected, but a
memory
configuration or
compatibility error
exists.

• If you have one memory module
installed, reinstall it (see page 82) and
restart the computer.

• If you have two or more memory
modules installed, remove the modules,
reinstall one module (see page 82), and
then restart the computer. If the
computer starts normally, reinstall an
additional module. Continue until you
have identified a faulty module or
reinstalled all modules without error.

• If available, install properly working
memory of the same type into your
computer (see page 87).

• If the problem persists, contact De ll
(see page 95).

• Ensure that there are no special me mory
module/memory connector placement
requirements (see page82).

• Verify that the memory modules that
you are installing are compatible with
your computer (see page 87).

• If the problem persists, contact De ll
(see page 95).

58 Advanced Troubleshooting

Diagnostic Code Definition Corrective Action

GYYY

ABCD

YGYY

ABCD

No memory
modules are
detected.

A PCI bus failure
has occurred.

• Reinstall all memory modules (see
page 82) and restart the computer.

• To eliminate the possibility of a faulty
memory connector, remove all memory
modules, install one memory module
(see page 82), and then restart the
computer. If the computer starts
normally, move the memory module to
a different connector and restart the
computer. Continue until you have
identified a faulty connector or
reinstalled all modules without error.

• If the problem persists, contact Dell
(see page 95).

1 Determine if a conflict exists by

removing a card and then restarting the
computer.

2 If the problem persists, reinstall the card

that you removed, remove a different
card (see page 80), and then restart the
computer.

3 Repeat this process for each card. If the

computer starts normally, troubleshoot
the last card removed from the
computer for resource conflicts (see
"Resolving Software and Hardware
Incompatibilities" on page 64).

4 If the problem persists, contact Dell

(see page 95).

GGGY

ABCD

Other failure has
occurred.

• Ensure that the cables are properly
connected from the hard drive, CD
drive, and DVD drive to the system
board (see page 77).

• If the problem persists, contact Dell
(see page 95).

Advanced Troubleshooting 59

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or
keybo ard. All devices require a dr iver program.

A driver acts like a translator between the device and the programs that use
the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only
its driver recognizes.

Many drivers such as the keyboard driver come with your Microsoft
Windows

®

operating system. You may need to install drivers if you:

®

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• Upgrade your operating system

• Reinstall your operating system

• Connect or install a new device

If you experience a problem with any device, perform the steps in the
following sections to identify whether the driver is the source of your
problem and if necessary, to update the driver.

Identifying Drivers

1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2 In the Control Panel window, under Pick a Category, click

Performance and Maintenance.

3 In the Performance and Maintenance window, click System.
4 In the System Properties screen, click the Hardware tab.
5 Click Device Manager.
6 In the Device Manager window , scroll down the list to see if any device

has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a [!]) on the device icon.
If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to

reinstall the driver or install a new driver.

60 Advanced Troubleshooting

Reinstalling Drivers

NOTICE: The Dell Support website and your

provide approved drivers for Dell™ computers. If you install drivers obtained
from other sources, your computer might not work correctly.

Dell Dimension ResourceCD

Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback

If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver,
use Windows XP Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the
previously installed version.

To use Device Driver Rollback:

1 Click the Start button and click Control Pane l.
2 In the Control Panel window, under Pick a Category, click

Performance and Maintenance.

3 In the Performance and Maintenance window, click System.
4 In the System Properties screen, click the Hardware tab.
5 Click Device Manager.
6 In the Device Manager window, right-click the device for which the

new driver was installed and click Properties.

7 Click the Drivers tab.
8 Click Roll B ack D river.

If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System
Restore (see page 62) to return your computer to the operating state that
existed before you installed the new driver.

Advanced Troubleshooting 61

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Using the Dell Dimension ResourceCD

If using Device Driver Rollback or System Restore (see page 62) does not
resolve the problem, then reinstall the driver from the Dell Dimension
ResourceCD:

1 With the W indows desktop displayed, insert the ResourceCD into the

CD or DVD drive.
If this is your first time to use the ResourceCD, go to step 2. If not, go

to step 5.

2 When the ResourceCD installation program starts, follow the prompts

on the screen.

3 When the InstallShield Wizard Complete window appears, remove

the ResourceCD and click Finish to restart the computer.

4 When you see the Windows desktop, reinsert the ResourceCD into

the CD or DVD drive.

5 At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen, click Next.

HINT: The ResourceCD

displays drivers only for
hardware that came on
your computer. If you
installed additional
hardware, those drivers
might not be displayed by
the ResourceCD. If those
drivers are not displayed,
exit the ResourceCD
program. For drivers
information, see the
documentation that came
with that product.

A message stating that the ResourceCD is detecting hardware in your
computer appears.

The drivers that are used by your computer are automatically displ ayed
in the My Drivers—The ResourceCD has identified these
components in your system window.

6 Click the driver that you want to reinstall and follow the instructions

on the screen.
If a particular driver is not listed, then that driver is not required by

your operating system.

Using System Restore

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides System Restore
to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without
affecting data files) if changes to the hardware , software, or other system
settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. See
Windows Help for information on using System Restore. To access
Windows Help, see page36.

NOTICE: Make regular backups of your data files. System Restore does not

monitor your data files or recover them.

62 Advanced Troubleshooting

Creating a Restore Point

1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support.
2 Click System Restore.
3 Follow the instructions on the screen.

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State

If problems occur after installing a device driver, first try using Device
Driver Rollback (see page 13) to resolve the problem. If that is unsuccessful,
then use System Restore.

NOTICE: Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state, save

and close all open files and close all open programs. Do not alter, open, or
delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

Click the Start button, point to All Programs—> Accessories—>

1

System Tools, and then click System Restore.

2 Ensure that Restore my computer to an earlier time is selected and

click Next.

3 Click a calendar date to which you want to restore your computer.

The Select a Restore Po int screen provides a calendar that allows you
to see and select restore points. All calendar dates with available
restore points appear in bold.

4 Select a restore point and click Next.

If a calendar date has only one restore point, then that restore point is
automatically selected. If two or more restore points are available, click
the restore point that you prefer.

5 Click Next.

The Restoration Complete screen appears after System Restore
finishes collecting data and then the computer restarts.

6 After the computer restarts, click OK.

To change the restore point, you can either repeat the steps using a
different restore point, or you can undo the restoration.

Advanced Troubleshooting 63

Undoing the Last System Restore

NOTICE: Before you undo the last system restore, save and close all open

files and close all open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or
programs until the system restoration is complete.

Click the Start button, point to All Programs—>

1

Accessories—> System Tools, and then click System Restore.

2 Select Undo my last restoration and click Next.
3 Click Next.

The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.

4 After the computer restarts, click OK.

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Enabling System Restore

If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free hard-disk space
available, System Restore i s automatically disable d. To see if System Restore
is enabled:

1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2 Click Performance and Maintenance.
3 Click System.
4 Click the System Restore tab.
5 Make sure that Turn off System Restore is unchecked.

If a particular driver is not listed, then that driver is not required by your
operating system.

Resolving Software and Hardware
Incompatibilities

Microsoft® Windows® XP IRQ conflicts occur if a device either is not
detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly
configured.

To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows XP:

1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click System.

64 Advanced Troubleshooting

3 Click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager.
4 In the Device Manager list, check for conflicts with the other devices.

Conflicts are indicated by a yellow exclamation point (
conflicting device or a red

5 Double-click any conflict to display the Properties window.

X if the device has been disabled.

!) beside the

If an IRQ conflict exists, the Device status area in the Properties
window reports the cards or devices that share the device's IRQ.

6 Resolve conflicts by reconfiguring the devices or removing the devices

from the Device Manager.

To use the Windows XP Hardware Troubleshooter:

1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support.
2 Type hardware troubleshooter in the Search field and click the

arrow to start the search.

3 Click Hardware Trou b lesho ot er in the Search Results list.
4 In the Hardware T roubleshooter list, click I need to resolve a hardware

conflict on my computer, and click Next.

Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP

Before You Reinstall

If you are reinstalling the Windows XP operating system to correct a
problem with a newly installed driver, use Windows XP Device Driver
Rollback (see page 61) to replace the device driver with the previously
installed version.

If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System
Restore (see page 62) to return your operating system to the operating state
it was in before you installed the new device driver.

Reinstalling Windows XP

To reinstall Windows XP, perform the steps in the following sections in the
order in which they are listed.

Advanced Troubleshooting 65

The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After the
reinstallation is complete, you need to reinstall the device drivers, virus
protection program, and other software.

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NOTICE: The

Windows XP. The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs
installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows XP unless
instructed to do so by a Dell technical support representative.

NOTICE: To prevent conflicts with Windows XP, disable any virus protection

software installed on your computer before you reinstall Windows XP. See the
documentation that came with the software for instructions.

Operating System

CD provides options for reinstalling

Preparing to Boot From the Operating System CD

1 Insert the Operating System CD into the CD or DVD drive.
2 Exit any program or utility that might run after you insert the CD.
3 Shut down (see page 31) and restart the computer.
4 Press <F12> immediately aft er the DELL™ logo appears.

If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the Windows
desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again.

5 Use the arrow keys to select CD-ROM, and then press <Enter>.
6 When the Press any key to boot from CD message appears on

the screen, press any key.

Starting Windows XP Setup

1 When the Windows XP Setup screen appears, press <Enter> to

select To set up Windows now.

2 Read the information in the Microsoft Windows Licensing

3 If your computer already has Windows XP installed and you want to

4 If you want to install a new copy of Windows XP, press <Esc> to

66 Advanced Troubleshooting

Agreement screen, and then press <F8> on your keyboard to accept
the license agreement.

recover your current Windows XP data, type

r to select the repair

option, and then remove the CD from the drive.

select the fresh copy option.

5 Press <Enter> to select the highlighted partition (recommended),

and then follow the instructions on the screen.
The Windows XP Setup screen appears, and the operating system

begins to copy files and install the devices. The computer restarts
multiple times.

Completing the GUI Setup

NOTICE: When the computer restarts, the following message appears:

Do not

Press any key to boot from the CD.
message appears.

When the Regional and Language Options screen appears, select the

1

press any key when this

settings for your location and click Next.

2 Enter your name and organization (optional) in the Personalize Your

Software screen and click Next.

3 If you are reinstalling Windows XP Home Edition, at the What's your

computer's name

window, enter a name for your computer (or accept

the name provided) and click Next.

If you are reinstalling Windows XP Professional, at the Computer
Name and Administrator Password window, enter a name for your

computer (or accept the one provided) and a password, and then click
Next.

4 If you have a modem installed, enter the requested information and

click Next when the Modem Dialing Information screen appears.

HINT: The time required

to complete the setup
depends on the size of the
hard drive and the speed
of your computer.

5 Enter the date, time, and time zone in the Date and Time Settings

window and click Next.

6 If your computer has a network adapter, click Typical in the Networking

Settings screen and click Next.

If your computer does not have a network adapter, this option does not
appear.

7 If you are reinstalling W indows XP Professional, you may be prompted

to provide further network information regarding your network
configuration, such as the domain name or workgroup name. If you are
unsure of your settings, accept the default selections.

Windows XP installs the operating system components , configur es the
computer, and then restarts the computer.

Advanced Troubleshooting 67

Completing the Operating System Setup

NOTICE: When the computer restarts, the following message appears:

Press any key to boot from the CD.
message appears.

When the Welcome to Microsoft screen appears, click Next.

1
2 When the How will this computer connect to the

Internet?

3 When the Ready to register with Microsoft? screen appears, select No,

message appears, click Skip.

Do not

press any key when this

not at this time and click Next.

4 When the Who will use this computer? screen appears, you can enter

up to five users.

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5 Click Next.
6 Click Finish to complete the setup and remove the CD from the drive.

Reinstalling Drivers and Software

1 Reinstall the appropriate drivers (see page 61).
2 Reinstall your virus protection software. See the documentation that

came with the software for instructions.

3 Reinstall your other software programs. See the documentation that

came with the software for instructions.

68 Advanced Troubleshooting

SECTION 4

Adding Parts

Front and Back View of the Computer
Reattaching the Front Door
Opening the Computer Cover
Looking Inside Your Computer
Adding PC Cards (Optional)
Adding Other Cards
Adding Memory

4

Closing the Computer Cover

Front and Back View of the Computer

Front View

HINT: The front door

does not close when you
are using certain PC
Cards or the IEEE 1394,
USB, or headphone
connector(s).

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1 breakaway hinges (2) To prevent damage to your computer, the front door is designed to "break away" if it is

opened too far. To reattach the front door, see page 73.

2 IEEE 1394 connector Use the IEEE 1394 connector (available on computers with an IEEE 1394 option) for

high-speed data transfer between your computer and a device, such as a digital camera.

3 CD or DVD drive light The drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the CD or

DVD drive.

4 PC Card connectors(2) Connect a PC Car d into any of the PC Card connectors (available on co mputers with a

PC Card option). Use the PC Card connectors for 16-bit PCMCIA cards only. Do not
use a 32-bit CardBus.

9
8

7

1

2
3

4

5

6

70 Adding Parts

5 USB 2.0 connectors (2) For quick connections, Dell recommends using the front USB connectors for USB

devices such as digital cameras, gaming controllers, and scanners. Use the back-panel
USB connectors for USB devices that are seldom disconnected, such as USB mouse
and keyboard devices.

NOTICE: This computer supports the use of a USB hub. However, do not

connect two or more USB hubs to a USB connector. Doing so may cause the
computer to unexpectedly restart.

HINT: If you attach a USB device that was not included in your original

computer order , you may need to install a spec ific driver to make the device work.
Check the documentation that came with the device or contact the USB device
manufacturer for more information.

6 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most speak e rs for listening to

all sounds from your computer , includin g your CD player and computer sounds such as
beeps.

7 hard-drive light The hard-drive light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the

hard drive. The light might also be on when devices such as your CD player are
operating.

8 power button Press this button to turn on the computer.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button to turn off the

computer. Instead, perform a Windows shutdown.

9 front door Open the door to use the front-panel connectors.

HINT: The front door is removable; if you remove it or accidentally knock it off

its hinges, it snaps back in place. For instructions on how to reattach the door, see
page 73.

Adding Parts 71

Back View

1

15

14

2

13

12

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11

10

9

8
7

1 parallel connector Connect a parallel device, such as a printer, to the parallel connector . If you have a USB

printer, plug it into a USB connector.

2 mouse connector Plug a standard mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off the computer and any

attached devices before you connect a mouse to the computer. If you have a USB
mouse, plug it into a USB connector .

3 network connector Connect your computer to a network using this connector.
4 modem connectors (2) Use the modem connector to connect your computer to the Internet.

3

4
5

6

72 Adding Parts

5 power connector The connection for the power cable.
6 voltage selection switch

(may not be available on
all computers)

7 IEEE 1394 connector Use the IEEE 1394 connector (available on computers with an IEEE 1394 option) for

8 line-in connector Use the blue line-in connector to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette

9 line-out connector Use the green line-out connector to attach headphones and most speakers with

10 microphone connector Use the pink microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for

11 USB 2.0 connectors (4) For quick connections, Dell recommends using the front USB connectors for USB

Your computer is equipped with either an auto-sensing voltage selector or a manual
voltage selection switch. See page9 for more information.

high-speed data transfer between your computer and a device, such as a digital camera.

player, CD player, or VCR.

integrated amplifiers.

voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.

devices such as digital cameras, gaming controllers, and scanners. Use the back-panel
USB connectors for USB devices that are seldom disconnected, such as USB mouse
and keyboard devices.

NOTICE: This computer supports the use of a USB hub. However, do not

connect two or more USB hubs to a USB connector. Doing so may cause the
computer to unexpectedly restart.

HINT: If you attach a USB device that was not included in your original

computer order , you may need to install a specific driver to make the device work.
Check the documentation that came with the device or contact the USB device
manufacturer for more information.

12 keyboard connector If you have a standard keyboard, plug it into the purple k eyboard connector. If you have

a USB keyboard, plug it into a USB connector .

13 diagnostic lights (4) Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem based on the diagnostic

code. For more information, see page 58.

14 video connector Plug the cable from your monitor into the blue connector.
15 serial connector Connect a serial device to the serial connector.

Reattaching the Front Door

To prevent damage to your computer, the front door is designed to "break
away" if it is opened too far. To reattach the front door:

1 Shut down the computer (see page 31).
2 Disconnect the computer’s power cable from the electrical outlet.

Adding Parts 73

HINT: The top hinge arm

clicks when it is moved to
the closed position—the
bottom hinge arm
does not.

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3 Move the hinge arms to the closed position.
4 Align the two clips on the inside of the front door with the two hinge

arms.

5 Press inward on the front door until it clips to both hinge arms.

hinge arms (2)
in closed position

front-door
clips (2)

74 Adding Parts

front door

Opening the Computer Cover

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

follow the safety instructions on page 7.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your

computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

Shut down the computer (see page 31).

1

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

3 Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Remove the computer stand (see page 19).

NOTICE: Ensure that there is sufficient space to support the open cover—at

least 30 cm (1 ft) of desk top space.

Press the two release buttons until the cover is free to swing up.

5

NOTICE: Open the cover slowly to ensure that you do not damage any cables.

6 Raise the back of the cover, and pivot it toward the front of the

computer.

cable security
tab

HINT: Make sure that

the computer is oriented
with the cable security tab
on top, as shown in the
illustration.

back of computer

release buttons
(one on each side)

Adding Parts 75

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Looking Inside Your Computer

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

follow the safety instructions on page 7.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your

computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

NOTICE: Be careful when opening the computer cover to ensure that you do

not inadvertently disconnect cables from the system board.

CD or DVD drive

hard drive

system board

heat sink and
blower assembly

76 Adding Parts

card slots

power supply

System Board

drive connector
(DSKT)

configuration jumper
(PSWD) page 92

main power connector
(POWER)

microprocessor fan
connector (FAN)

microprocessor
connector (CPU)

battery socket
(BATTERY) page 93

CD drive connector
(IDE2)

front panel switch connector
(FRONTPANEL)

hard drive
connector (IDE1)

standby power light
(AUX_PWR)

memory module
connectors
(DIMM A, DIMM B)
page 82

PCI2 card connector
(PCI2) page 80

PCI1 card connector
(PCI1) page 80

microprocessor
power connector
(12VPOWER)

CD audio connector
(CD IN)

front panel audio
cable connector
(FRONTAUDIO)

telephony voice modem
connector (MODEM)

back of computer

Adding Parts 77

Adding PC Cards (Optional)

You can add PC Cards to computers with integrated PC Card connectors.

PC Card Types

HINT: "Type" of card

refers to its thickness, not
its functionality.

HINT: Your computer is

designed for either 5-V or

3.3-V 16-bit PCMCIA
cards. Some cards are
keyed for 3.3 V only but

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will not fit into the PC
slot. Cards are keyed to
prevent incorrect insertion
into the slot. If card
orientation is not clear,
see the documentation
supplied with the card.

HINT: The length of

some PC Cards may
prevent the front-panel
door from closing.

HINT: A PC Card is not a

bootable device.

The PC Card slot has two connectors that support four combinations of
cards:

• A single Type I or Type II card (using either the upper or lower PC
Card connector)

• One Type I card and one Type II card (using either connector)

• Two Type I cards or two Type II cards

• One Type III card (using the lower connector)

Both PC Card connectors support extended PC Cards.

Installing a PC Card

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

1 Hold the card with its orientation symbol pointing into the slot and

the top side of the card facing up.

2 Insert the card into the slot, and press firmly until the card is

completely seated in the internal PC Card connector.

78 Adding Parts

3 If you encounter too much resistance when you insert the card, do not

force the card. Check the card's orientation, and try again.

4 Your computer recognizes most PC Cards and automatically loads the

appropriate device driver for use with the computer. If the
configuration program tells you to load the manufacturer's drivers,
install them with the CD that accompanied the PC Card.

Removing a PC Card

NOTICE: Use the PC Card configuration utility on the taskbar to select and

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

NOTICE: Do not attempt to eject a card by pulling its dongle, if one is

attached.

Press the eject button, and gently remove the card.

HINT: Press the button

with the upper dot to eject
the top card and the
button with the lower dot
to eject the bottom card.

Adding Parts 79

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Adding Other Cards

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

follow the safety instructions on page 7.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your

computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

NOTICE: You must use low-profile cards for your computer. A full-size card

can cause damage to the computer or the card.

The computer’s card connectors allow you to install different types of
devices such as modems and network adapters.

1 Shut down the computer (see page 31).

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

2

electrical outlets.

3 Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Remove the computer stand (see page 19).

80 Adding Parts

5 Open the computer cover (see page 74).
6 Press the lever on the retention arm and raise the r etention arm.

7 If you are installing a new card, remove the filler bracket to create an

empty card-slot opening.
If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer,

remove the card. If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the
card. Grasp the card by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector.

8 Prepare the card for installation.

See the documentation that came with the card for information on
configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise
customizing it for your computer.

CAUTION: Some network adapters automatically start the

computer when they are connected to a network. To guard against
electrical shock, be sure to unplug your computer from its
electrical outlet before installing any cards.

Insert the card into the card connector.

9

10 Lower the retention arm and press it into place, securing the car d(s) in

the computer.

11 Reconnect any cables that you previously removed.
12 Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.

See the documentation for the card for information about the card’s
cable connections.

NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or behind the cards. Cables routed

over the cards can prevent the computer cover from closing properly or cause
damage to the equipment.

Close the computer cover (see page 84).

13
14 Attach the computer stand (see page 19).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network

wall jack and then plug it into the computer.

Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn

15

them on.

16 Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card

documentation.

Adding Parts 81

Adding Memory

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

follow the safety instructions on page 7.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your

computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover.

You can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on
the system board. F or information on the type of memory supported by your
computer, look under "Memory" in "Technical Specifications" on page 86.

HINT: Memory

purchased from Dell is
covered under your
computer warranty.

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1 Shut down the computer (see page 31).

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

2

electrical outlets.

3 Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Remove the computer stand (see page 19).
5 Open the computer cover (see page 74).
6 If necessary, remove a memory module:

a Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module

connector.

b Grasp the module and pull up.

If the module is difficult to remove, gently ease the module back
and forth to remove it from the connector.

7 To insert a module, press out the securing clip at each end of the

memory module connector.

82 Adding Parts

memory connector closest
to microprocessor

securing clips (2)

connector

8 Align the notch on the bottom of the module with the crossbar in the

connector.

notch

memory module

cutouts (2)

crossbar

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the memory module, press the module straight

down into the connector while you apply equal force to each end of the module.

Insert the module into the connector until the module snaps into

9

position.
If you insert the module correctly, the securing clips snap into the

cutouts at each end of the module.

Adding Parts 83

10 Close the computer cover (see p ag e 84).
11 Attach the computer stand (see page 19).

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NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network

wall jack and then plug it into the computer .

Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn

12

them on.

13 Right-click the My Computer icon and then click Properties.
14 Click the General tab.
15 To verify that the memory is installed correctly, check the amount of

memory (RAM) listed.

Closing the Computer Cover

1 Ensure that all cables are connected, and fold cables out of the way.

Make sure that cables are not routed over the drive cage—they will
prevent the cover from closing properly.

2 Ensure that no tools or extra parts are left inside the computer.
3 Pivot the cover down and ensure that the release buttons click into

place.

4 Attach the computer stand (see page 19).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network

wall jack and then plug it into the computer .

84 Adding Parts

5 Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn

them on.

SECTION 5

Appendix

Specifications
Standard Settings
Clearing Forgotten Passwords
Repla cing the Battery
Dell Technical Support Policy
Contacting Dell
Regulatory Information

5

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Specifications

Microprocessor

Microprocessor type Intel® Celeron
L1 cache 8-KB
L2 cache 128-KB

System Information

System chip set Intel 845G
DMA channels four
Interrupt levels 24 APIC mode
System BIOS chip 4 Mb (512 KB)
System clock 400-MHz data rate

Expansion Bus

Bus types PCI
Bus speed 33 MHz
PCI connectors one low profile
PCI connector size 120 pins
PCI connector data width

(maximum)

32 bits

®

86 Appendix

Memory

Architecture DDR SDRAM
Memory connectors two
Memory capacities 128-, 256-, and 512-MB non-ECC DDR

SDRAM

Minimum memory 128 MB

NOTE: Between 32 and 64 MB of system
memory may be allocated to support
graphics, depending on system memory size
and other factors.

Maximum memory 512 MB
Memory type 266-MHz DDR SDRAM (non-ECC)

Drives

Externally accessible one slimline optical bay
Internally accessible one bay for 1-inch–high IDE hard drive
Available devices ATA-100 Ultra DMA hard drive, CD drive,

DVD drive, and CD-RW drive

Ports and Connectors

Externally accessible:

Serial One 9-pin connector; 16550C-compatible
Parallel 25-hole connector (bidirectional)
IEEE 1394 Two 4-hole, unpowered connectors
Video 15-hole connector
Keyboard 6-pin mini-DIN connector or USB connector
Mouse 6-pin mini-DIN connector or USB connector
USB two front-panel and four back-panel USB 2.0-

compliant connectors (compatible with 1.1)
Headphone front-panel miniature connector
Audio three miniature con nectors for line-in, line-

out, and microphone

Appendix 87

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Ports and Connectors

(continued)

Network one 10/100 Ethernet network connector

Internally accessible:

Primary IDE channel 40-pin connector on PCI local bus
Secondary IDE channel 40-pin connector on PCI local bus

Audio

Audio controller ADI 1981A

Controls and Lights

Power control push button
Power light green light on power button—blinking green

in sleep state; solid green for power-on state
Hard-drive access light green
Diagnostic code lights four bicolor (amber and green) located on

back panel

Power

DC power supply:

Wattage 160 W
Heat dissipation 500 BTU (fully-loaded computer without

monitor)

Voltage (see page 9 for
important voltage setting
information)

90 to 135 V at 50/60 Hz; 180 to 265 V at

50/60 Hz; 100 V at 50/60 Hz for Japanese

computers
Backup battery 3-V CR2032 coin cell

88 Appendix

Physical

Height x Width x Depth
(With stand)

Weight 7.43 kg (16.4 lbs)

Environmental

Temperature:

Operating 10° to 35°C ( 50° to 95°F)

Storage –40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F)
Relative humidity 20% to 80% (noncondensing)
Maximum vibration:

Operating 0.25 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 1/2 octave/min

Storage 0.5 G at 3 to 200 Hz at 1/2 octave/min
Maximum shock:

Operating bottom half-sine pulse with a change in

Storage 23-G faired-square wave with a velocity

Altitude:

Operating –15.2 to 3048 m (–50 to 10,000 ft)

Storage –15.2 to 10,670 m (–50 to 35 , 0 0 0 f t )

32.3 x 9.5 x 35.6 cm (12.7 x 3.8 x 14.0 inches)

33.8 x 18.0 x 35.6 cm (13.3 x 7.1 x 14.0
inches)

NOTE: At 35°C (95°F), the maximum
operating altitude is 914 m (3000 ft).

velocity of 50.8 cm/sec (20 inches/sec)

change of 508 cm/sec (200 inches/sec)

Appendix 89

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Standard Settings

The system setup program contains the standard settings for your
computer.

NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, don’t change the settings

for this program. Certain changes might make your computer work incorrectly.

See the following figure for an example of the main program screen.

90 Appendix

Viewing Settings

1 Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2 When the blue DELL™ logo appears, press <F2> immediately.

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

®

Windows® desktop. Then shut

down your computer and try again.

System Setup Program Screens

The system setup program screens display the current configuration
information for your computer. Information on the screen is divided into
five areas:

• Title – The area at the top of all system setup screens that displays
your computer’s model number.

• Computer data – Tw o boxes below the title that display the system
processor, L2 cache, service ta g, and the version number of the BIOS.

• Options – A scrollable box listing options that define the configuration
of your computer (including installed hardware, power conservation,
and security features).

Fields to the right of the listed options contain settings or values. The
settings and values that you can change are brighter on the screen. All
other settings and values are set by the computer and cannot be
changed. When <Enter> appears to the right of an option, press
<Enter> to access a pop-up menu of additional options.

• Key functions – A line of boxes across the bottom of all system setup
screens that lists keys and their functions within the system setup
program.

• Help – Press <F1> for information on the option that is selected
(highlighted).

Appendix 91

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

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

follow the safety instructions on page 7.

If you forget your user or setup password, you cannot operate your computer
or change settings in the system setup program until you clear the forgotten
password(s).

NOTICE: This process erases both the system and setup passwords.

1 Shut down the computer (see page 31).
2 Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

electrical outlets.

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NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

3

press the power button to ground the system board.

4 Remove the computer stand (see page 19).
5 Open the computer cover (see page 74).
6 Locate jumper PSWD on the system board (see page 77) and remove

the jumper plug.

7 Close the computer cover (see page 84), plug your computer into an

electrical outlet, and turn on the computer.
The existing password(s) will be erased.

8 Shut down the computer (see page 31).

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack.

Turn off any attached devices and disconnect them from their

9

electrical outlets.

10 Disconnect the computer power cable from the wall outlet, and then

press the power button to ground the system board.

11 Open the computer cover (see page 74).

92 Appendix

12 Reconnect the jumper plug to jumper PSWD (see page 77).
13 Close the computer cover (see p ag e 84).

14 Attach the computer stand (see page 19).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network

wall jack and then plug it into the computer.

Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn

15

them on.
Turning on your computer with the PSWD jumper installed reenables

the password feature.

Replacing the Battery

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

follow the safety instructions on page 7.

A coin-cell battery maintains computer configuration, date, and time
information. The battery can last several years.

If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on
the computer, replace the battery.

CAUTION: A new battery can explode if it is incorrectly installed.

Replace the 3-V CR2032 battery only with the same or equivalent
type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Record all the screens in the system setup program (see page 90) so

1

that you can restore the correct settings in step 9.

2 Remove the computer stand (see page 19).
3 Open the computer cover (see page 74).
4 Locate the battery socket BAT TERY (see page 77).
5 Remove the battery by carefully prying it out of its socket with your

fingers or with a blunt, nonconducting object such as a plastic
screwdriver.

Appendix 93

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NOTICE: To avoid damage to the system board while you pry the battery

loose, be sure to insert the plastic screwdriver between the battery and the
socket (not the system board).

battery

battery socket
(BATTERY)

Insert the new battery into the socket with the side labeled "+" facing

6

up and snap it into place.

7 Attach the computer stand (see page 19).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network

wall jack and then plug it into the computer .

Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn

8

them on.

94 Appendix

9 Access the system setup program (see page 90) and restore the settings

you recorded in step 1.

10 Properly dispose of the old battery (see page 12).

Dell Technical Support Policy

See the Service and Support Guide supplied with your computer.

Contacting Dell

When you need to contact Dell, use the telephone numbers, codes, and
electronic addresses provided in the following table. If you need assistance
in determining which codes to use, contact a local or an international
operator.

See the Service and Support Guide supplied with your computer for a
description of the hardware and software support provided by Dell.

HINT: Toll-free numbers

are for use within the
country for which they are
listed.

Country (City)
International Access Code
Country Code
City Code

Japan (Kawasaki)

International Access Code: 001
Country Code: 81
City Code: 44

Department Name or Service Area,

Website and E-Mail Address

Website: support.jp.dell.com
Technical Support (servers) toll-free: 0120-1984-98
Technical Support outside of Japan (servers) 81-44-556-4162
Technical Support (Dimension™ and Inspiron™) toll-free:0120-1982-26
T echnical Support outside of Japan (Dimension and

Inspiron)
Technical Support (Dell Precision™, OptiPlex™,

and Latitude™)
Technical Support outside of Japan (Dell Precision,

OptiPlex, and Latitude)
24-Hour Automated Order Service 044 556-3801
Customer Care 044 556-4240
Business Sales Division (up to 400 employees) 044 556-1465
Preferred Accounts Division Sales (over 400

employees)
Large Corporate Accounts Sales (over 3500

employees)
Public Sales (government agencies, educational

institutions, and medical institutions)
Global Segment Japan 044 556-3469
Individual User 044 556-1760
Faxbox Service 044 556-3490
Switchboard 044 556-4300

Local Numbers, and

toll-free: 0120-1984-33

Area Codes,

Toll-Free Numbers

81-44-520-1435

81-44-556-3894

044 556-3433

044 556-3430

044 556-1469

Appendix 95

Regulatory Information

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is any signal or emission, radiated in
free space or conducted along power or signal leads, that endangers the
functioning of a radio navigation or other safety service or seriously
degrades, obstructs, or repeated ly interrupts a licensed radio
communications service. Radio communications services include but are
not limited to AM/FM commercial broadcast, television, cellular services,
radar, air-traffic control, pager, and Personal Communication Services
(PCS). These licensed services, along with unintentional radiators such as
digital devices, including computer systems, contribute to the
electromagnetic environment.

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Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the ability of items of electronic
equipment to function properly together in the electronic environment.
While this computer system has been designed and determined to be
compliant with regulatory agency limits for EMI, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause interference with radio communications services, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, you are encouraged to try
to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient the receiving antenna.

• Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver.

• Move the computer away from the receiver.

• Plug the computer into a different outlet so that the computer and the
receiver are on different branch circuits.

If necessary, consult a Dell Technical Support representative or an
experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions.

Dell computer systems are designed, tested, and classified for their
intended electromagnetic environment. These electromagnetic
environment classifications generally refer to the following harmonized
definitions:

96 Appendix

• Class A is typically for business or industrial environments.

• Class B is typically for residential environments.

For additional regulatory information, see the Tell Me How help file that
accompanied your computer. To access the help file, see page36.

Index

A

audio. See sound

B

battery

replacing, 93

BIOS, 90

C

cards

adding, 80
connectors, 77

CD drive

fixing problems, 37

CD-RW drive

fixing problems, 37

CDs

copying, 27

Easy CD Creator Basic, 28
Check Disk, 38
computer

back view, 72

closing cover, 84

error messages, 41

front door, 70

front view, 70

internal parts, 76
opening cover, 74
specifications, 86
turning off, 31

conflicts

drivers, 60
resolving software and

hardware
incompatibilities, 64

cover

closing, 84
opening, 74

D

Device Driver Rollback, 61
diagnostic lights, 58
display. See monitor
drivers

definition, 60
reinstalling, 61
ResourceCD, 62
troubleshooting, 60

drives

fixing problems, 37

DVD d ri ve

fixing problems, 38

E

electrostatic discharge. See

ESD

e-mail

fixing problems, 39

error messages

diagnostic lights, 58
startup, 41

ESD

protecting computer from, 11

F

Files and Settings Transfer

Wizard, 24
finding solutions, 34
fixing problems

1394, 45
drive, 37
e-mail, 39
IEEE 1394, 45
Internet connection, 39
modem, 39
network, 48
PC Cards, 49
power, 49
printer, 51
scanner, 52
sound and speakers, 53

Index 97

98 Index

start-up error messages, 41
video and monitor, 54

front door

reattaching, 73

H

hard drive

fixing problems, 38

hardw a re

drivers, 60
Hardw are Troubl esh oot er, 64
help file

accessing, 36

I

IEEE 1394, 23, 45
Internet

fixing problems, 39
Internet connection

about, 26

options, 26

setting up, 26
IRQ conflicts, 64

L

lights

back of computer, 58

diagnostic, 58

M

memory

adding, 82
connectors, 77

messages

start-up, 41

modem

fixing problems, 39

monitor

fixing problems, 54

motherboard. See system

board

N

network

fixing problems, 48
setting up, 25

O

operating system

reinstallation

Windows XP, 65

P

password

clearing system setup, 92

PC Card

removing, 79
types, 78

PC Cards, 78

installing, 78

power

fixing problems, 49
turning off, 31

printer

cable, 21
connecting, 21
fixing problems, 51
parallel, 21
setting up, 21
troubleshooting, 51
USB, 22

R

RAM. See memory
reinstalling

drivers, 61
Windows XP, 65

ResourceCD, 61-62

S

safety instructions, 7
screen. See monitor
settings

system setup program, 90
shutdown, 31
software

reinstalling software, 61
sound

adjusting volume, 53

fixing problems, 53
speaker

adjusting volume, 53

fixing problems, 53

98 Index

specifications, 86
system board, 77
System Restore, 62
system setup program, 9 0

T

Tell Me How help file

accessing, 36

troubleshooting, 34

conflicts, 64
Device Driver Rollback, 61
diagnostic lights, 58
drivers, 60
Hardware Troubleshooter, 64
reinstalling Windows XP, 65
System Restore, 62

turning off the computer, 31

V

scanner, 52
shutdown, 31
System Restore, 62

video

fixing problems, 54

video memory

connector, 77

volume

adjusting, 53

W

Win d ow s X P

Device Driver Rollback, 61
Hardware Troubleshooter, 64
Help, 36
reinstalling, 65

Index 99

100 Index

100 Index