Dell 510M Service Manual

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Dell™ Inspiron™ 510m

Owner’s Manual

Model PP10L

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

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

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

avoid the problem.

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

Abbreviations and Acronyms

For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the

Dell Inspiron Help

file. To access the help

file, see page 16. If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft

Windows® operating systems are not applicable.

____________________

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

and TrueMobile are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks Microsoft Corporation; Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell Inc. under license.

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

Model PP10L

October 2003 P/N J1526 Rev. A00

CAUTION: Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

SAFETY: General SAFETY: Power SAFETY: Battery

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

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

SAFETY: Air Travel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

SAFETY: EMC Instructions

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

When Using Your Computer

SAFETY: Ergonomic Computing Habits SAFETY: When Working Inside Your Computer

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

SAFETY: Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge . . . . . . . . . . 12

SAFETY: Battery Disposal

Finding Information for Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

1 A Tour of Your Computer

Left View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Right View Back View Bottom View

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

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

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

2 Setting Up Your Computer

Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

Modem and Internet Connection Problems

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

E-Mail Problems

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

Transferring Information to a New Computer

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

Contents 3

Setting Up a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Printer Cable Connecting a Parallel Printer Connecting a USB Printer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

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

Printer Problems Power Protection Devices

Surge Protectors Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies

Turning Off Your Computer

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

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

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

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

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

3 Using a Battery

Battery Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Checking the Battery Charge

Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter

Microsoft

Windows® Power Meter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Charge Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Low-Battery Warning

Charging the Battery Removing a Battery Installing a Battery

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

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

Removing and Installing a Reserve Battery

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

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

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

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

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

4 Using the Module Bay

4 Contents

Storing a Battery Power Problems

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

About the Module Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

About the Device Security Screw

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

Removing the Device Security Screw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Turned Off

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

Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Running

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

5 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Numeric Keypad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Keyboard Shortcuts

System Functions Battery

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

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

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

CD or DVD Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Display Functions Radios (Including Wireless Networking and Bluetooth™)

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

. . . . . . . . 54

Power Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Speaker Functions Microsoft

Touch Pad

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

Customizing the Touch Pad Touch Pad or Mouse Problems External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters

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

Windows® Logo Key Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

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

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

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

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

6 Using CDs, DVDs, and other Multimedia

Using CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Drive Problems

If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive tray If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound

If you have problems with a hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

. . . . . . . . . . 62

Sound and Speaker Problems

If you have a problem with integrated speakers

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

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

If you have a problem with external speakers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Contents 5

Copying CDs and DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

How to Copy a CD or DVD Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs Helpful Tips

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

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

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

Connecting a Television to the Computer

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

S-Video Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Composite Video Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Enabling the Display Settings for a Television

7 Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Network Setup Wizard

Network Problems

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

Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network Determining Your Network Type Connecting to a Wireless Network in

Microsoft

Windows® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Finalizing Your Wireless Network Connection (Security Settings)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Connecting to a Network Without Security-Related Requirements Connecting to a Network With Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

Security Requirements Connecting to a Network With Wired Equivalent Protocol (WEP)

Security Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

. . . . 77

8 Solving Problems

6 Contents

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Video and Display Problems

If the display is blank If the display is difficult to read

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

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

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

If only part of the display is readable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Modem and Internet Connection Problems

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

Scanner Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk drive If you have problems with a hard drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

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

PC Card Problems General Program Problems

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

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

A program crashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

A program stops responding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

A solid blue screen appears Error messages appear

Resolving Other Technical Problems If Your Dell™ Computer Gets Wet If You Drop or Damage Your Computer

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

Drivers

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

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

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

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

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

What Is a Driver? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Identifying Drivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Using Microsoft

Windows® XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

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

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

Creating a Restore Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State . . . . . . . . . . 94

Undoing the Last System Restore

Dell Diagnostics

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

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

Reinstalling Microsoft

Before You Begin

Windows® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

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

Reinstalling Windows XP

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

9 Adding and Replacing Parts

Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Recommended Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Shutting Down Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Contents 7

Adding Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Adding a Mini PCI Card Replacing the Hard Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

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

Keyboard Bluetooth™ Card

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

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

10 Appendix

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Using the System Setup Program

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screens Commonly Used Options

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

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

Changing the Boot Sequence Changing Printer Modes

Changing COM Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Enabling the Infrared Sensor

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

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

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

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

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

8 Contents

Contacting Dell Regulatory Notices

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

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

NOM Information (Mexico Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

CAUTION: Safety Instructions

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

SAFETY: General

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

• If you use an extension power cable with your AC adapter, ensure that the total ampere rating of the products plugged in to the extension power cable does not exceed the ampere rating of the extension cable.

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

• Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a carrying case or a closed briefcase, while the computer is turned on. Restricting airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

• 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.

• Place the AC adapter in a ventilated area, such as a desk top or on the floor, when you use it to run the computer or to charge the battery. Do not cover the AC adapter with papers or other items that will reduce cooling; also, do not use the AC adapter inside a carrying case.

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

• Do not allow your portable computer to operate with the base resting directly on exposed skin for extended periods of time. The surface temperature of the base will rise during normal operation (particularly when AC power is present). Allowing sustained contact with exposed skin can cause discomfort or, eventually, a burn.

• Do not use your computer in a wet environment, for example, near a bath tub, sink, or swimming pool or in a wet basement.

• If your computer includes an integrated or optional (PC Card) modem, disconnect the modem cable if an electrical storm is approaching to avoid the remote risk of electric shock from lightning via the telephone line.

• 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. Do not use your computer during an electrical storm unless all cables have been disconnected and the computer is operating on battery power.

• If your computer includes a modem, the cable used with the modem should be manufactured with a minimum wire size of 26 American wire gauge (AWG) and an FCC-compliant RJ-11 modular plug.

• Before you open the memory module cover on the bottom of your computer, disconnect all cables from their electrical outlets and disconnect the telephone cable.

• If your computer has both a modem RJ-11 connector and a network RJ-45 connector, which look alike, make sure you insert the telephone cable into the RJ-11 connector, not the RJ-45 connector.

• PC Cards may become very warm during normal operation. Use care when removing PC Cards after their continuous operation.

• Before you clea n y our co m pu ter, disconnect the comp ute r 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.

CAUTION: Safety Instructions 9

SAFETY: Power

• Use only the Dell-provided AC adapter approved for use with this computer. Use of another AC adapter may cause a fire or explosion.

• Before you connect the computer to an electrical outlet, check the AC adapter voltage rating to ensure that the required voltage and frequency match the available power source.

• To remove the computer from all power sources, turn the computer off, disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet, and remove any battery installed in the battery bay or module bay.

• To help prevent electric shock, plug the AC adapter and device power cables into properly grounded power sources. These power cables may be equipped with 3-prong plugs to provide an earth grounding connection. Do not use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from the power cable plug. If you use a power extension cable, use the appropriate type, 2-prong or 3-prong, to mate with the AC adapter power cable.

• Be sure that nothing rests on your AC adapter’s power cable and that the cable is not located where it can be

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tripped over or stepped on.

• If you are using a multiple-outlet power strip, use caution when plugging the AC adapter’s power cable into the power strip. Some power strips may allow you to insert the plug incorrectly. Incorrect insertion of the power plug could result in permanent damage to your computer, as well as risk of electric shock and/or fire. Ensure that the ground prong of the power plug is inserted into the mating ground contact of the power strip.

SAFETY: Battery

• Use only Dell™ battery modules that are approved for use with this computer. Use of other types may increase the risk of fire or explosion.

• Do not carry a battery pack in your pocket, purse, or other container where metal objects (such as car keys or paper clips) could short-circuit the battery terminals. The resulting excessive current flow can cause extremely high temperatures and may result in damage to the battery pack or cause fire or burns.

• The battery poses a burn hazard if you handle it improperly. Do not disassemble it. Handle a damaged or leaking battery pack with extreme care. If the battery is damaged, electrolyte may leak from the cells and may cause personal injury.

• Keep the battery away from children.

• Do not store or leave your computer or battery pack near a heat source such as a radiator, fireplace, stove, electric heater, or other heat-generating appliance or otherwise expose it to temperatures in excess of 60ºC (140ºF). When heated to excessive temperatures, battery cells could explode or vent, posing a risk of fire.

• Do not dispose of your computer’s battery in a fire or with normal household waste. Battery cells may explode. Discard a used battery according to the manufacturer’s instructions or contact your local waste disposal agency for disposal instructions. Dispose of a spent or damaged battery promptly.

SAFETY: Air Travel

• Certain F ederal A viation Administration regulations and/or airline-specific restrictions may apply to the operation of your Dell computer while you are on board an aircraft. For example, such regulations/restrictions may prohibit the use of any personal electronic device (PED) that has the capacity for intentional transmission of radio frequency or other electromagnetic signals while on an aircraft.

– In order to best comply with all such restrictions, if your Dell portable computer is equipped with Dell

TrueMobile™ or some other wireless communication device, please disable this device before you board the aircraft and follow all instructions provided by airline personnel with regard to such device.

10 CAUTION: Safety Instructions

– Additionally , the use of any PED, such as a portable computer, may be prohibited in aircraft during certain

critical phases of flight, for example, takeoff and landing. Some airlines may further define the critical flight phase as any time the aircraft is below 3050 m (10,000 ft). Please follow the airline’s specific instructions as to when the use of a PED is allowed.

SAFETY: EMC Instructions

Use shielded signal cables to ensure that you maintain the appropriate electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) classification for the intended environment. For parallel printers, a cable is available from Dell. If you prefer, you can order a cable from Dell at its worldwide website at www.dell.com.

Static electricity can harm electronic 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 a memory module. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer’s input/output panel.

WARNING: Handling the cord on this product, or cords associated with accessories sold with this product, will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash your hands after handling the cord.

When Using Your Computer

Observe the following safe-handling guidelines to prevent damage to your computer:

• When setting up the computer for work, place it on a level surface.

• When traveling, do not check the computer as baggage. You can put your computer through an X-ray security machine, but never put your computer through a metal detector. If you have the computer checked by hand, be sure to have a charged battery available in case you are asked to turn on the computer.

• When traveling with the hard drive removed from the computer, wrap the drive in a nonconducting material, such as cloth or paper. If you have the drive checked by hand, be ready to install the drive in the computer. You can put the hard drive through an X-ray security machine, but never put the drive through a metal detector.

• When traveling, do not place the computer in overhead storage compartments where it could slide around. Do not drop your computer or subject it to other mechanical shocks.

• Protect your computer, battery, and hard drive from environmental hazards such as dirt, dust, food, liquids, temperature extremes, and overexposure to sunlight.

• When you move your computer between environments with very different temperature and/or humidity ranges, condensation may form on or within the computer . To avoid damaging the computer, allow sufficient time for the moisture to evaporate before using the computer.

NOTICE: When taking the computer from low-temperature conditions into a warmer environment or from hig h-

temperature conditions into a cooler environment, allow the computer to acclimate to room temperature before turning on power.

• When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself. As you pull out the connector, keep it evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable make sure both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.

• Handle components with care. Hold a component such as a memory module by its edges, not its pins.

• When preparing to remove a memory module from the system board or disconnect a device from the computer, turn off the computer, disconnect the A C adapter cable, remove any battery installed in the battery bay or module bay, and then wait 5 seconds before proceeding to help avoid possible damage to the system board.

CAUTION: Safety Instructions 11

• Clean the display with a soft, clean cloth and water. Apply the water to the cloth; then stroke the cloth across the display in one direction, moving from the top of the display to the bottom. Remove moisture from the display quickly and keep the display dry. Long-term exposure to moisture can damage the display. Do not use a commercial window cleaner to clean your display.

• If your computer gets wet or is damaged, follow the procedures described in “If Your Computer Gets Wet” on page 89 or "If You Drop or Damage Your Computer" on page 90. If, after following these procedures, you confirm that your computer is not operating properly, contact Dell (see page 127 for the appropriate contact information).

SAFETY: Ergonomic Computing Habits

CAUTION: Improper or prolonged keyboard use may result in injury. CAUTION: Viewing the display or external monitor screen for extende d peri ods of time may result in eye strain.

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For comfort and efficiency, observe the ergonomic guidelines in the Dell Inspiron Help file when setting up and using your computer. To access the help file, see page 16.

This portable computer is not designed for continuous operation as office equipment. For extended use in an office, it is recommended that you connect an external keyboard.

SAFETY: When Working Inside Your Computer

Before removing or installing memory modules, Mini PCI cards, or modems, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated.

NOTICE: The only time you should ever access the inside of your computer is when you are installing memory

modules or a Mini PCI card, Bluetooth card, or reserve battery.

NOTICE: Wait 5 seconds after turning off the computer before disconnecting a device or removing a memory

module, Mini PCI card, Bluetooth card, or reserve battery to help prevent possible damage to the system board.

Shut down your computer and turn off any attached devices.

Disconnect your computer and devices from electrical outlets to reduce the potential for personal injury or shock. Also, disconnect any telep hone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

Remove the main battery from the battery bay and, if necessary, the second battery from the module bay.

Ground yourself by touching any unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

While you work, periodically touch the unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity tha t mi gh t harm internal components.

SAFETY: Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

Static electricity can harm electronic 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 a memory module. You can do so by touching any unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

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

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

• When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not remove the component from the antistatic packing material until you are ready to install the component. Just before unwrapping the antistatic packaging, be sure to discharge static electricity from your body.

12 CAUTION: Safety Instructions

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

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

SAFETY: Battery Disposal

Your computer uses an lithium-ion battery and a reserve battery. For instructions about replacing the lithium-ion battery in your computer, refer to "Replacing the Battery" on page 44. The reserve 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 41 for instructions.

Do not dispose of the battery along with household waste. Contact your local waste disposal agency for the address of the nearest battery deposit site.

CAUTION: Safety Instructions 13

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

14 CAUTION: Safety Instructions

Finding Information for Your Computer

What are you looking for? Find It Here

• How to access tutorials and other how to information

• How to get a copy of my invoice

• How to extend my warranty

• How to access Dell Support on my Window s de sktop (U.S. only)

• Additional documentation, tools, troubleshooting information, and links to online support resources

• A diagnostic program for my computer

• Drivers for my computer

• My computer documentation

• My device documentation

Dell Solution Center

On your Windows desktop

Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as the ResourceCD)

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers, run the Dell Diagnostics, or access your documentation.

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

• How to set up a printer

• Additional information abou t s et ting up my computer

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

• How to remove and install parts

• Technical specifications

• How to contact Dell

Owner’ s Manual

NOTE: This document is available as a PDF at support.dell.com.

Finding Information for Your Computer 15

What are you looking for? Find It Here

• How to set up my computer

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Setup Diagram

• Tips on using Microsoft® Windows

• How to play CDs and DVDs

• How to use standby mode and hibernate mode

• How to change my display resolution

• How to clean my computer

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft Windows Licens e L abe l

Dell Inspiron Help File

Click the

Click

Start

button and click

User and system guides Dell Inspiron Help

Help and Support

and click

User’s guides

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License

These labels are located on your computer .

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

support.dell.com

or contact

technical support.

• Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting technical support. The Express Service Code is not availa ble in all countries.

• Use the number on the Microsoft Windows License Label if you reinstall your operating system.

16 Finding Information for Your Computer

What are you looking for? Find It Here

• Latest drivers for my computer

• Answers to technical service and support questions

• Online discussions with othe r users and technical support

• Documentation for my computer

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

The Dell Support website provides several online tools, including:

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

• Community — 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 status, warranty, and repair information

• Downloads — Drivers, patches, and software updates

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

• How to use Windows XP

• Documentation for my computer

• Documentation for devices (such as a modem)

• How to reinstall my operating sy st em

Windows Help and Support Center

Click the

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

Click the topic that describ es yo u r p ro b lem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Operating System CD

The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system, use the Operating System CD. See your Owner’s Manual for operating system reinstallation instructions.

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

Start

button and click

Help and Support

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

Finding Information for Your Computer 17

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

18 Finding Information for Your Computer

A Tour of Your Computer

Front View

display

keyboard status light

touch pad

touch pad button

speakers

DISPLAY — F or more information about your display, see the Dell Inspiron Help file. To access the help file, see

page 16.

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

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

system shutdown rather than by pressing the power button.

power button

device status light

keyboard

display latch

Windows® operating

A Tour of Your Computer 19

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

DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS

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

Turns on when the computer reads or writes data.

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

Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status. Turns on when Bluetooth™ technology is enabled.

NOTE: Bluetooth is an optional feature, so the light turns on only if you

ordered Bluetooth with your computer. For more information, see the documentation that came with your Bluetooth technology.

T o tu rn off only the Bluetooth functionality, right-click the icon in the notification area and select Disable Bluetooth Radio.

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

20 A Tour of Your Computer

light is flashing.

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

– Solid green: The battery is charging. – Flashing green: The battery is almost fully charged.

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

– Off: The battery is adequately charged (or the computer is turned off). – Flashing orange: The battery charge is low. – Solid orange: The battery charge is critic ally low.

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

supported keyboard shortcuts, see page53.

DISPLAY LATCH — Keeps the display closed. SPEAKERS — To adjust the volume of the integrated speakers, press the volume control buttons, mute

button, or volume-control keyboard shortcuts. For more information, see page 53.

TOUCH PAD BUTTONS — Provide the functionality of a mouse. For more information, see page 53. TOUCH PAD — Provides the functionality of a mouse. For more information, see page 53.

KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS

A Tour of Your Computer 21

The green lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:

Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled.

Turns on when the uppercase letter function is enabled.

Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled.

Left View

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IEEE 1394 connector

NOTE: The computer turns on the fan when the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not

indicate a problem with the fan or the computer.

CAUTION: Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environme nt, such as a closed briefcase, while

it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

ARD SLOT — Supports one PC Card, such as a modem or network adapter. For more information, see

PC C

the Dell Inspiron

INFRARED SENSOR — Lets you transfer files from your computer to another infrared-compatible device

Help file. To access the help file, see page 16.

without using cable connections.

22 A Tour of Your Computer

PC Card slot

security cable slot

infrared sensor audio connectors (2)

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

When you receive your computer, the sensor is disabled. You can use the system setup program to enable the sensor. For information on transferring data, see the Help and Support Center or the documentation that came with your infrared-compatible device.

AUDIO CONNECTORS

Attach a microphone to the connector.

Attach headphones or speakers to the connector.

CABLE SLOT — Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer. F or more

SECURITY

information, see the instructions included with the device.

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

A Tour of Your Computer 23

Right View

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security cable slot

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

information, see the instructions included with the device.

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

MODULE BAY — You can install devices such as an optical drive or a Dell Tr avelL ite™ module in the module

bay. For more information, see page49.

DEVICE LATCH RELEASE — Releases the module bay device. See page49 for instructions.

module bay

device latch release

24 A Tour of Your Computer

Back View

CAUTION: Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while

it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

USB connectors (2)

S-video TV-out con nector

USB

CONNECTORS

modem connector (RJ-11)

network connector (RJ-45)

Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer. You can also connect the optional floppy drive directly to a USB connector using the optional floppy-drive cable.

parallel connector

video connector

serial connector

AC adapter connector

A Tour of Your Computer 25

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

S-VIDEO TV-OUT CONNECTOR

Connects your computer to a TV. F or more informat ion, see page 65.

MODEM

CONNECTOR (RJ-11)

26 A Tour of Your Computer

Connect the telephone line to the modem connector. For information on using the modem, see the online modem

documentation supplied with your computer. See page 15.

NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45)

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

computer, do not plug a telephone li ne in to the network connector.

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

F or information on using the network adapt er, see the device user’s guide supplied with your computer. See page 15.

PARALLEL CONNECTOR

Connects a parallel device, such as a printer.

VIDEO CONNECTOR

Connects an external monitor. For more information, see the

Dell Inspiron

Help file. To access the help file, see page 16.

SERIAL

CONNECTOR

Connects serial devices, such as a mouse or handheld device.

A Tour of Your Computer 27

AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR — Attach an AC adapter to the computer.

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

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

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

power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible cable or improperly connecting the cable to the power strip or electrical outlet may cause fire or equipment damage.

NOTICE: When you disconnect the AC adapter cable from the computer, grasp the connector, not the

cable itself, and pull firmly but gently to avoid damaging the cable.

NOTE: The computer turns on the fan when the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not

indicate a problem with the fan or the computer.

CAUTION: Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environme nt, such as a closed briefcase, while

it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

28 A Tour of Your Computer

Bottom View

memory module cover

battery-bay latch release

battery charge gauge

hard drive

battery

Mini PCI card cover

fan

docking device slot

MEMORY MODULE COVER — Covers the compartment that contains the memory module(s). See page 103. BATTERY-BAY LATCH RELEASE — Releases the battery. See page 44 for instructions. BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE — Provides information on the battery charge. See page 43. BATTERY — When a battery is installed, you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an

electrical outlet. See page 44.

DOCKING DEVICE SLOT — Lets you attach your computer to a docking device. See the documentation that

came with your docking device for additional information.

FAN — The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents, w hich prevents the compu ter

from overheating.

NOTE: The computer turns on the fan when the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not

indicate a problem with the fan or the computer.

CAUTION: Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while

it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

A Tour of Your Computer 29

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