Dell EC280 User Manual
Dell™ EC280
Owner’s Manual
Model EC280
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Notes, Notices, and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the
problem.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel, Pentium, 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 Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Model EC280
March 2007 P/N RW965 Rev. A00
Contents
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Front View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Back View of the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Installing Drivers for Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Setting Up a Printer (USB type) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Printer Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Connecting a USB Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Setting Up Your Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Playing CDs and DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Adjusting the Volume. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Adjusting the Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Setting Up a Home and Office Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Connecting to a Network Adapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Network Setup Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Standby Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Hibernate Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Power Options Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Power Schemes Tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Advanced Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Hibernate Tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2 Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Battery Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
CD and DVD Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Problems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Hard Drive Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Keyboard Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Lockups and Software Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
The computer does not start up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
The computer stops responding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
A program stops responding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
A program crashes repeatedly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
A solid blue screen appears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Other software problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Memory Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Mouse Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Sound and Speaker Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
No sound from speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
No sound from headphones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Video and Monitor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
The screen is blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
The screen is difficult to read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3 Removing and Installing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Recommended Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Turning Off Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Before Working Inside Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Removing the Computer Cover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Inside View of Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
System Board Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Removing Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Installing Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Replacing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Replacing the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4 Safety, Environmental, and Ergonomic Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Safety Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Power Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Battery Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Equipment Protection Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
5 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Entering System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
System Setup Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Boot Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Clearing Forgotten Passwords and CMOS Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Jumper Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Clearing CMOS and Password Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Cleaning Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Finding Information
NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or
media may not be available in certain countries.
NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• Drivers for my computer
• My device documentation
• Warranty information
•Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement
• How to set up my computer
Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as Resource CD)
NOTE: The
may not ship with your computer.
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.
NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be found at
support.dell.com.
NOTE: You may need to purchase Microsoft Windows
separately.
Dell™ Owner’s Manual
Setup Diagram
Drivers and Utilities
CD may be optional and
7
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• Service Tag and Express Service Code
• Microsoft Windows License Label (optional)
Service Tag and Microsoft® Windows® License
These labels are located on your computer.
•Use the Service Tag to
identify your computer when
you use
contact support.
• Enter the Express Service
Code to di rect your call when
contacting support.
• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips,
articles from technicians, online courses, and
frequently asked questions
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
NOTE: Select your region or business segment to view the
appropriate support site.
• Community — Online discussion with other Dell
customers
• Customer Care — Contact information, service
call and order status, warranty, and repair
information
• Service and Support — Service call status, support
history, service contract, and online discussions
with support
• Reference — Computer documentation, details on
my computer configuration, product
specifications, and white papers
• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and
software updates
• How to use Windows XP
• How to work with programs and files
•How to personalize my
NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface may vary
depending on your selections.
Windows Help and Support Center
1
Click
Start>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
Follow the instructions on the screen.
support.dell.com
or
.
8
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• How to reinstall my operating system
Operating System CD
NOTE: The
not ship with your computer.
After you reinstall your operating system, use the
and Utilities
the devices that came with your computer. Your
operating system product key label is located on your
computer.
NOTE: The color of your CD varies based on the operating
system you ordered.
NOTE: You may need to purchase Microsoft Windows
separately.
Operating System
CD (
Resource
CD may be optional and may
Drivers
CD) to reinstall drivers for
9
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
CAUTION: Your computer should only be mounted horizontally. Never mount it vertically.
CAUTION: To ensure adequate cooling, do not block any of the vents.
• Ensure that there is a minimum of 2 inches of space between all vents and any object near these vents.
• Keep the vent area clean and dust-free to ensure that the system is adequately ventilated. Use only a dry
cloth to clean the vent area to avoid water damage to the system.
1
10 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Front View of the Computer
123 5674
1 CD or DVD drive Type of drive depends on model
2 CD or DVD eject button Press to eject a disk from the CD or DVD drive.
3 power button Press to turn on the computer.
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button to
turn off the computer. Instead, perform an operating system
shutdown.
4 power light The power light indicates when the computer is powered on.
5 microphone connector Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer
microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or
telephony program.
6 line-out/headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most
kinds of speakers.
7 USB 2.0 connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect
occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras, or for bootable USB
devices (see "System Setup Options" on page 55 for more
information on booting to a USB device).
It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for
devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and
keyboards.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 11
Back View of the Computer
1
13 12 11 10 9 8 7
1 cable clip Use to hold DC-in or other cables.
2 line-out/headphone connector Use the (green) line-out connector to attach
3 line-in connector Use the (blue) line-in connector to attach a
4 link integrity light
45632
headphones and most speakers with integrated
amplifiers.
record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD
player, or VCR.
• Green — A good connection exists between a 10Mbps network and the computer.
• Orange — A good connection exists between a 100Mbps network and the computer.
• Off — The computer is not detecting a physical
connection to the network.
12 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
5 network adapter connector NOTICE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network
connector.
Use the network adapter connector to attach your
computer to a network or broadband device. Connect
one end of a network cable to either a network jack or
your network or broadband device, and then connect
the other end of the network cable to the network
adapter connector on your computer. A click indicates
that the network cable has been securely attached.
On computers with an additional network connector
card, use the connectors on the card and on the back of
the computer when setting up multiple network
connections (such as a separate intra- and extranet).
NOTE: It is recommended that you use Category 5 wiring
and connectors for your network. If you must use
Category 3 wiring, force the network speed to 10 Mbps to
ensure reliable operation.
6 network activity light Flashes a yellow light when the computer is
transmitting or receiving network data. A high volume
of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a
steady "on" state.
7 modem (optional) Connect to internet using a dial-up connection.
8 parallel port Connect compatible printers or scanners here.
9 USB 2.0 connectors (2)
(rear quad)
Use the back, rear-quad USB connectors for devices
that typically remain connected, such as printers and
keyboards.
NOTE: It is recommended that you use the front USB
connectors for devices that you connect occasionally,
such as joysticks, cameras, or bootable USB devices.
10 microphone connector Use the (pink) microphone connector to attach a
personal computer microphone for voice or musical
input into a sound or telephony program.
On computers with a sound card, use the connector on
the card.
11 VGA video connector If your monitor has a VGA connector, plug it into the
VGA connector on the computer.
12 PS-2 connectors Connect PS-2 keyboard and mouse
13 DC-in connector Connect the AC adapter.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 13
Installing Drivers for Your Computer
To install drivers:
Insert
1
2
3
4
5
6
Drivers and Utilities
installation screen appears.
Click on
Click on
Click on
If you have a modem, click on
Once all driver insallation is complete, click on
VGA Driver
Audio Driver
LAN Driver
CD into CD /DVD drive. The installation starts automatically and the
and follow the instructions to complete installation.
and follow the instructions to complete installation.
and follow the instructions to complete installation.
Modem Driver
and follow the instructions to complete installation.
EXIT
.
14 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Setting Up a Printer (USB type)
NOTICE: Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the computer.
See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information, including how to:
• Obtain and install updated drivers
• Connect the printer to the computer
• Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge
For technical assistance, refer to the printer owner's manual or contact the printer manufacturer.
Printer Cable
Your printer connects to your computer with a USB cable. Your printer may not come with a printer
cable, so if you purchase a cable separately, ensure that it is compatible with your printer. If you
purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer, the cable may arrive in the
computer box.
Connecting a USB Printer
NOTE: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.
1
Complete the operating system setup, if you have not already done so.
2
Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer. The USB
connectors only fit into the ports when correctly oriented.
1 USB connector on computer 2 USB printer cable 3 USB connector on printer
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 15
3
Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer. If the
appears, click
4
Install the printer driver, if necessary. See the documentation that came with your printer.
Cancel
.
Add New Hardware Wizard
window
Connecting to the Internet
NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country.
To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider
(ISP), such as AOL or MSN. Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection
options:
• Dial-up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line. Dial-up connections are
considerably slower than DSL and cable modem connections.
• DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing telephone line. With a
DSL connection, you can access the Internet and use your telephone on the same line simultaneously.
• Cable modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your local cable TV line.
If you are using a dial-up connection, connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your
computer and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection. If you are using a
DSL or cable modem connection, contact your ISP for setup instructions.
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut:
1
Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
2
Double-click the ISP icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop.
3
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.
If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a
different ISP:
1
Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
2
Click the
The
3
Click
4
In the next window, click the appropriate option:
• If you do not have an ISP and want to select one, click
• If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP, but you did not receive a setup CD,
• If you have a CD, click
Start
button, then click
New Connection Wizard
Connect to the Internet
providers (ISPs)
click
Set up my connection manually
.
Use the CD I got from an ISP
Internet Explorer
appears.
.
.
.
Choose from a list of Internet service
.
16 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
5
Click
Next
.
If you selected
on the screen to complete the setup.
NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, contact your ISP.
6
Click the appropriate option under
7
Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.
If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems" on
page 26. If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past, the ISP might
have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the service status, or try connecting again later.
Set up my connection manually
How do you want to connect to the Internet?
, continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the instructions
, and then click
Next
Playing CDs and DVDs
NOTICE: Do not press down on the CD or DVD tray when you open or close it. Keep the tray closed when you are
not using the drive.
NOTICE: Do not move the computer when you are playing CDs or DVDs.
1
Press the eject button on the front of the drive.
2
Place the disc, label side up in the center of the tray.
3
Press the disc into the center of the tray until it clicks into place.
.
4
Press the eject button or gently push in the tray
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 17
To format CDs for storing data, to create music CDs, or to copy CDs, see the CD software that came
with your computer.
NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs.
A CD player includes the following basic buttons:
Play
Move backward within the current track
Pau se
Move forward within the current track
Stop
Go to the previous track
Eject
Go to the next track
A DVD player includes the following basic buttons:
Stop
Restart the current chapter
Play
Fast forward
Pau se
Fast reverse
Advance a single frame while in pause mode
Go to the next title or chapter
Continuously play the current title or chapter
Go to the previous title or chapter
Eject
For more information on playing CDs or DVDs, click Help on the CD or DVD player (if available).
18 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Adjusting the Volume
NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing.
1
Click the
Control
2
In the
increase or decrease the volume.
For more information on volume control options, click Help in the Volume Control window.
Start
button, point to
.
Volum e Co nt ro l
All Programs>Accessories>Entertainment
window, click and drag the bar in the
Volu me Cont r ol
, and then click
column up or down to
Vo lu me
Adjusting the Picture
If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory
and preventing DVD playback, adjust the display properties:
1
Click the
2
Under
3
Under
4
In the
800 by 600 pixels
5
Click the drop-down menu under
6
Click OK.
Start
button, then click
Pick a category
Pick a task...
Display Properties
, click
, click
.
Control Panel
Appearance and Themes
Change the screen resolution
window, click and drag the bar in
Color quality
.
.
.
, then click
Screen resolution
Medium (16 bit)
to change the setting to
.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 19
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Connecting to a Network Adapter
NOTICE: Plug the network cable into the network adapter connector on the computer. Do not plug the network
cable into the modem connector on the computer.
NOTICE: Do not plug a network cable into a telephone wall jack.
1
Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your computer.
Insert the cable until it clicks into place, and then gently pull it to ensure that it is secure.
2
Connect the other end of the network cable to a network device.
1 network device 2 network cable
3 network adapter connector 4 network connector on the back of the computer
Network Setup Wizard
The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through
the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small
office.
1
Click the
Network Setup Wizard
2
On the welcome screen, click
3
Click
4
Complete the checklist and required preparations.
5
Return to the
20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Start
button, point to
.
Checklist
NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the
integrated firewall provided with Windows XP.
for creating a network.
Network Setup Wizard
All Programs>Accessories>Communications
Next
.
and follow the instructions on the screen.
, and then click
Power Management
The Microsoft® Windows® XP power management features can reduce the amount of electricity your
computer uses when it is on and you are not using it. You can reduce power to just the monitor or the
hard drive, or you can use standby mode or hibernate mode to reduce power to the entire computer.
When the computer exits from a power conservation mode, the Windows desktop is restored to the state
it was in before it entered the mode.
NOTE: Windows XP Professional includes security and networking features not available in Windows XP Home
Edition. When a Windows XP Professional computer is connected to a network, different options related to security
and networking appear in certain windows.
Standby Mode
Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a time-out. When the
computer exits from standby mode, it returns to the operating state it was in before it entered standby
mode.
To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity:
1
Click the
2
If
Switch to Category View
Category View
3
Under
4
Under
5
Under the
and then click
To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity, click the Start button, click Tu r n
Off Computer, and then click Stand by.
To exit from standby mode, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.
Start
button, then click
appears in the
.
Pick a category
or pick a Control Panel icon
Power Schemes
OK
.
, click
Performance and Maintenance
tab, change the settings in the drop-down boxes to those that you desire,
Control Panel
Control Panel
, click
Power Options
.
in the left of the window, click
.
.
Switch to
NOTICE: If your computer loses power while in standby mode, it may lose data.
Hibernate Mode
Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then
completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits from hibernate mode, the desktop is
restored to the state it was in before it entered hibernate mode.
To activate hibernate mode:
1
Click the
2
Under
3
Under
4
Define your hibernate settings on the
"Power Options Properties" on page 22).
Start
button, then click
Pick a category
or pick a Control Panel icon
, click
Performance and Maintenance
Control Panel
, click
Power Options
Power Schemes
.
.
.
tab,
Advanced
tab, and
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 21
Hibernate
tab (see
To exit from hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit from
hibernate mode. Pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring the computer out of
hibernation because the keyboard and the mouse do not function when the computer is in hibernate
mode.
Because hibernate mode requires a special file on your hard drive with enough disk space to store the
contents of the computer memory, Dell creates an appropriately sized hibernate mode file before
shipping the computer to you. If the computer’s hard drive becomes corrupted, Windows XP recreates
the hibernate file automatically.
Power Options Properties
Define your standby mode settings, hibernate mode settings, and other power settings in the Power
Options Properties window. To access the Power Options Properties window:
1
Click the
2
Under
3
Under
4
Define your power settings on the
Power Schemes Tab
Each standard power setting is called a scheme. If you want to select one of the standard Windows
schemes installed on your computer, choose a scheme from the Power schemes drop-down menu. The
settings for each scheme appear in the fields below the scheme name. Each scheme has different settings
for starting standby or hibernate mode and for turning off the monitor and hard drive.
The Power schemes drop-down menu displays the following schemes:
•
Always On (default)
•
Home/Office Desk
power conservation.
•
Portable/Laptop
•
Presentation
•
Minimal Power Management
•
Max Battery
extended periods of time.
If you want to change the default settings for a scheme, click the drop-down menu in the Turn off
monitor, Turn off hard disks, System standby, or System hibernates field, and then select a time-out
from the displayed list. Changing the time-out for a scheme field permanently changes the default
settings for that scheme, unless you click Save As and enter a new name for the changed scheme.
Start
button, then click
Pick a category
or pick a Control Panel icon
— If you want your computer to run without interruption (using no power conservation).
— If your computer is a portable computer and you run your computer from batteries for
, click
— If you want to use your computer with no power conservation.
— If you use your computer as a home or office computer and you require minimal
— If your computer is a portable computer that you use for traveling.
Control Panel
Performance and Maintenance
, click
Power Schemes
— If you want your computer to run with minimal power conservation.
.
Power Options
tab,
.
.
Advanced
tab, and
Hibernate
tab.
22 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
NOTICE: If you set the hard drive (hard disk) to time-out before the monitor does, your computer may appear to be
locked up. To recover, press any key on the keyboard or click the mouse. To avoid this problem, always set the
monitor to time-out before the hard drive.
Advanced Tab
The Advanced tab allows you to:
• Place the power options icon in the Windows taskbar for quick access.
• Set the computer to prompt you for your Windows password before the computer exits from standby
mode or hibernate mode.
• Program the power button to activate standby mode, activate hibernate mode, or turn off the
computer.
To program these functions, click an option from the corresponding drop-down menu, and then click
OK.
Hibernate Tab
The Hibernate tab allows you to enable hibernate mode. If you want to use the hibernate settings you
defined on the Power Schemes tab, click the Enable hibernate support check box on the Hibernate tab.
For more information on power management options:
1
Click the
2
In the
3
In the
Start
button, then click
Help and Support
window, click
Help and Support
Performance and maintenance
.
Performance and maintenance
window, click
Conserving power on your computer
.
.
Setting Up and Using Your Computer 23
2
Solving Problems
Troubleshooting Tips
Follow these tips when you troubleshoot your computer:
• If you added or removed a part before the problem started, review the installation procedures and
ensure that the part is correctly installed.
• If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly connected.
• If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message. This message may help
support personnel diagnose and fix the problem.
• If an error message occurs in a program, see the program’s documentation.
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 section, follow the safety instructions located in
"Safety, Environmental, and Ergonomic Instructions" on page 48.
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
"Battery" on page 45). If the battery still does not work properly, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on
page 63).
Drive Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in
"Safety, Environmental, and Ergonomic Instructions" on page 48.
24 Solving Problems
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