Dell Inspirion 3800 User Manual

Contents: Dell Inspiron 3800 System Reference

Dell™ Inspiron™ 3800 System Reference

Conventions Technical Overview Using the Computer Utilities and Drivers for Microsoft Windows 98 Utilities and Drivers for Microsoft Windows NT Utilities and Drivers for Microsoft Windows 2000 Technical Specifications System Setup Program System Error Messages Passwords and Security Ports and Connectors Power Sources Power Conservation Removing and Replacing Parts

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, DualPoint, ExpressCharge, and Inspiron are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, MS-DOS, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks, and Celeron and SpeedStep are trademarks of Intel Corporation; Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated, which may be registered in certain jurisdictions.

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 any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade

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Contents: Dell Inspiron 3800 System Reference

names other than its own.

Initial release: 20 Sep 1999 Last revised: 22 Feb 2000

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Conventions: Dell Inspiron 3800 System Reference

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Conventions: Dell™ Inspiron™ 3800 System Reference

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

Typographical Conventions

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

Throughout this guide, blocks of text may be accompanied by an icon and printed in bold type or in italic type. These blocks are notes, notices, and cautions, and they are used as follows:

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

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 potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.

Typographical Conventions

The following list defines (where appropriate) and illustrates typographical conventions used as visual cues for specific elements of text throughout this document:

● Interface components are window titles, button and icon names, menu names and

selections, and other options that appear on the monitor screen or display. They are presented in bold.

Example: Click OK.

● Keycaps are labels that appear on the keys on a keyboard. They are enclosed in angle

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Conventions: Dell Inspiron 3800 System Reference

brackets.

Example: <Enter>

● Key combinations are series of keys to be pressed simultaneously (unless otherwise

indicated) to perform a single function.

Example: <Ctrl><Alt><Enter>

● Commands presented in lowercase bold are for reference purposes only and are not

intended to be typed when referenced.

Example: “Use the format command to . . . .”

In contrast, commands presented in the Courier New font are part of an instruction and intended to be typed.

Example: “Type format a: to format the diskette in drive A.”

● Filenames and directory names are presented in lowercase bold.

Examples: autoexec.bat and c:\windows

● Screen text is a message or text that you are instructed to type as part of a command

(referred to as a command line). Screen text is presented in the Courier New font.

Example: The following message appears on your screen:

No boot device available

Example: “Type md c:\programs and press <Enter>.”

● Variables are placeholders for which you substitute a value. They are presented in italics.

Example: DIMM_x (where x represents the DIMM socket designation)

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Technical Overview: Dell Inspiron 3800 System Reference

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Technical Overview: Dell™ Inspiron™ 3800 System Reference

System Features IRQ Line Assignments

Video

Memory

System Features

This section describes the major hardware and software features of your computer. Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the front and back view of the computer, respectively.

Figure 1. Front View of the Computer

Display latch

DualPoint™ buttons

Air intake

Battery bay

Modem connector

Touch pad

TV-out S-video connector

Keyboard

Audio connectors (3)

Track stick

Integrated microphone

Power button

Speaker

Keyboard status indicators

Media bay

Display

Figure 2. Back View of the Computer

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Speaker

PS/2 connector

Security cable slot

USB connector

Hard-disk drive

Docking connector

PC Card slot

Device access/status indicators

Security cable slot

Parallel port connector

Infrared port

Video connector

AC adapter connector

Fan exhaust

Serial port connector

Hardware Features

● An Intel® mobile microprocessor incorporating the latest processor technology.

● An internal, Level 1 (L1) cache consisting of 64 kilobytes (KB) of high-speed memory that resides in the processor core. The

microprocessor has either a 128-KB or 256-KB (integrated) Level 2 (L2) cache or a 512-KB pipelined-burst static random-access memory (SRAM) (external) L2 cache.

● A minimum of 32 megabytes (MB) of synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) system memory, with support for a

maximum of 512 MB.

● A media bay in which you can install a variety of modules, including a diskette drive, CD-ROM drive, CD-RW drive, DVD-ROM

drive (on computers running Microsoft® Windows® 98 Second Edition or Windows 2000), Zip drive, SuperDisk LS-120 drive, second battery, or a second hard-disk drive.

NOTES: Your computer was shipped with a diskette drive in the media bay. For information on removing the diskette drive and installing a different device in the bay, see "Using the Media Bay" in Chapter 2 of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide.

Because the Microsoft Windows NT® operating system does not support DVD technology, the DVDROM drive is available only on computers that use the Windows 98 Second Edition or Windows 2000 operating system.

● A 64-bit hardware-accelerated ATI Mobility-M video controller with 8 MB of video memory, accelerated graphics port (AGP) 2X, 3D

assist, motion compensation, extended desktop, OpenGL support, and a flicker-free TV-out S-video connector.

● An active-matrix extended graphics array (XGA) or super extended graphics array (SXGA) thin-film transistor (TFT) color display.

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● ESS Maestro-3I audio controller with hardware wavetable support and 3D surround sound.

● Integrated stereo speakers and microphone.

● Connectors for connecting external speakers, headphones, or an external microphone to the computer.

● A TV-out S-video connector and composite TV-out adapter cable that allows you to connect a television to your computer. You can

obtain the latest video drivers on Dell's World Wide Web site at http://www.dell.com/filelib.

● Ultra direct memory access (DMA)/33 data transfer protocol for Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA)/integrated drive

electronics (IDE) hard-disk drive interface. Ultra DMA/33 allows data transfer rates of up to 33 MB/second.

● An integrated keyboard that includes two special keys that support the Windows operating systems.

● A Personal System/2 (PS/2)-compatible touch pad that provides full mouse functionality. A set of left and right buttons, located

below the touch pad, operate like the left and right buttons on a mouse. You can also perform many pointing functions by tapping the touch pad, which is positioned for both left- and right-handed users. Click-and-drag buttonless functions are also supported.

An optional Dell™ DualPoint™ integrated pointing device is available, which provides a track stick in addition to the PS/2compatible touch pad. The DualPoint options also includes a second set of left and right buttons, located above the touch pad. The track stick controls the cursor on the display screen and is positioned in the keyboard to allow you to move the cursor while keeping your fingers in a typing position. You can also perform many pointing functions by tapping the track stick. Click-and-drag buttonless functions are also supported.

● Universal Serial Bus (USB) capability, which simplifies connecting peripheral devices such as mice, printers, and computer

speakers. The USB port connector on your computer's back panel provides a single connection point for multiple USB-compliant devices such as keyboards, mice, printers, and computer speakers. Also, you can connect and disconnect USB-compliant devices while the computer is running.

NOTES: Microsoft Windows NT does not support USB functions.

If you attach a USB device that was not included in your original system configuration, you may need to install a specific driver for that device to obtain its full functionality. Contact the USB device manufacturer for more information.

● A lithium-ion battery or nickel-metal hydride battery in the battery bay, with support for a second battery in the media bay. The Dell

ExpressCharge™ technology charges a single lithium-ion battery in approximately 1 hour (when the computer is off or in save-todisk suspend [S2D] mode).

● An Infrared Data Association (IrDA) 1.1-compliant infrared port that permits you to transfer files without connecting cables.

NOTE: Windows NT does not support IrDA.

● A PC Card slot with connectors for two 3.3-volt (V) or 5-V cards. Both PC Card connectors support CardBus technology. In

addition, the lower PC Card connector (slot 0) supports the use of a zoomed video (ZV) port card.

NOTE: Windows NT does not support zoomed video functions.

● One high-performance serial port connector.

● One parallel port connector that can be set to AT, PS/2, or Extended Capabilities Port (ECP) mode.

● One PS/2 keyboard/mouse port connector.

● An integrated 56-kilobits per second (Kbps) v.90 modem with support for telephone hardware worldwide.

● One docking connector for the optional advanced port replicator (APR).

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● Two security cable connectors to which you can attach a commercially available security cable to prevent unauthorized removal of

the computer.

● Two power conservation modes—standby mode and save-to-disk suspend mode—that help you conserve battery power. If the

batteries run out of power, save-to-disk suspend mode prevents data loss by copying all system data to the hard-disk drive and turning off the computer.

● An automatic thermal management system that uses a variable-speed fan and microprocessor speed changes to keep the

computer running at the optimum temperature.

CAUTION: Do not allow your portable computer to operate with the base resting directly on exposed skin. With extended operation, heat can potentially build up in the base. Allowing sustained contact with the skin could cause discomfort, or eventually, a burn.

Software Features

● Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows 2000, or Windows NT operating system installed on your hard-disk drive.

● Virus-scanning software.

● A standard set of video drivers provided for supporting video resolutions greater than 640 x 480 pixels.

● Audio utilities for computers with integrated audio capabilities.

● Internal modem software capable of communicating up to a speed of 56K.

● DualPoint integrated pointing device software (for use with the optional Dell integrated pointing device), which allows you to set the

default for the type of cursor pointing device that you want to use, as well as sensitivity, motion, and drag-and-drop features of both the touch pad and track stick.

● Optional software DVD decoder driver on computers that use the Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition or Windows 2000

operating system.

NOTE: Windows NT does not support the DVD decoder driver.

● Two power conservation modes—standby mode and save-to-disk suspend mode—that help you conserve battery power. If the

batteries run out of power, save-to-disk suspend mode prevents data loss by copying all system data to the hard-disk drive and turning off the computer.

● The System Setup program for quickly viewing and changing system configuration information.

● Software support for the optional advanced port replicator (APR).

● Dell Diagnostics for evaluating the computer's components and devices. For information on using the diagnostics, refer to

"Running the Dell Diagnostics" in Chapter 3 of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide.

Customizing Your System Configuration

As the computer environment changes, you may want to use the System Setup program to customize the configuration of your computer. The

System Setup program lets you control the hardware and software features of the computer. It also helps you reduce power

consumption when the computer is running on battery power.

Available Options and Upgrades

● APRs

● Additional batteries

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● External keyboards and a numeric keypad

● External monitors

● External pointing devices

● External speakers, headphones, and microphones

● Printers

● Hard-disk drives

● Second hard-disk drive for the media bay

● DVD-ROM drive modules

● SuperDisk LS-120 drive modules

● AC adapter

● PC Cards

● 32-, 64-, 128-, 192-, and 256-MB memory modules

● Carrying case

Instructions for connecting or installing these options are included in the upgrade kit you receive from Dell.

Video

The Dell-installed video drivers work with the operating system to let you customize the video resolution and number of screen colors on your display.

NOTE: The Dell-installed video drivers are designed to offer the best performance on your computer. Dell recommends that you use only these drivers with your factory-installed operating system.

Table 1 lists the combinations of resolutions and colors that the computer supports.

Table 1. Display Resolution, Colors, and Refresh Rates

Resolution Color Depth

Computer Display Only— Available Refresh Rate

Television as Secondary Display— Available Refresh Rate

640 x 480 (video graphics array [VGA]) 256 (8-bit) 60, 75, 85 hertz (Hz) 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 640 x 480 (VGA) 65 k (16-bit) 60, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 640 x 480 (VGA) 16 M (24-bit) 60, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 640 x 480 (VGA) 4.2 B (32-bit) 60, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL

800 x 600 (super VGA [SVGA]) 256 (8-bit) 60, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 800 x 600 (SVGA) 65 k (16-bit) 60, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL

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800 x 600 (SVGA) 16 M (24-bit) 60, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 800 x 600 (SVGA) 4.2 B (32-bit) 60, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL

1024 x 768 (extended graphics array [XGA]) 256 (8-bit) 60, 70, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1024 x 768 (XGA) 65 k (16-bit) 60, 70, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1024 x 768 (XGA) 16 M (24-bit) 60, 70, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1024 x 768 (XGA) 4.2 B (32-bit) 60, 70, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL

1280 x 1024 (super XGA [SXGA])* 256 (8-bit) 60, 70, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1280 x 1024 (SXGA)* 65 k (16-bit) 60, 70, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1280 x 1024 (SXGA)* 16 M (24-bit) 60, 70, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1280 x 1024 (SXGA)* 4.2 B (32-bit) 60, 70, 75, 85 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL

1400 x 1050 (SXGA Plus)* 256 (8-bit) 60 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1400 x 1050 (SXGA Plus)* 65 k (16-bit) 60 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1400 x 1050 (SXGA Plus)* 16 M (24-bit) 60 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1400 x 1050 (SXGA Plus)* 4.2 B (32-bit) 60 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL

1600 x 1200 (UGA)* 256 (8-bit) 60 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1600 x 1200 (UGA)* 65 k (16-bit) 60 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1600 x 1200 (UGA)* 16 M (24-bit) 60 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL 1600 x 1200 (UGA)* 4.2 B (32-bit) 60 Hz 60-Hz NTSC, 50-Hz PAL

*Pan mode may be turned on for the 1280 x 1024 (SXGA), 1400 x 1050 (SXGA Plus), and 1600 x 1200 (ultra graphics array [UGA]) computer displays. In pan mode, the screen resolution is too high to be completely displayed on the computer display. For example, the taskbar that usually appears at the bottom of the desktop may no longer be visible. To view the rest of the screen, use the touch pad or track stick to pan up and down and left and right.

To display more colors, select a lower resolution. If you select a resolution and color combination that the system does not support, the system automatically selects the next supported combination.

NOTE: Color depth is based on 256 colors for 8-bit, 65,536 colors for 16-bit, 16,842,752 colors for 24-bit, and 4,294,967,296 colors for 32-bit displays.

To find the maximum color depth for various combinations of resolutions without DVD or 3D software, select the primary resolution in the first column in Table 2 and move across the row to the right under the corresponding second resolution.

Table 2. Display Resolution and Color Depth Without DVD and 3D Software Running (in Bits)

Secondary

640 x 480 800 x 600 1024 x 768 1280 x 1024

640 x 480 (8 bit) 32 32 32 32

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r i

800 x 600 (8 bit) 32

32 32 1024 x 768 (8 bit) 32 32 32 32 1280 x 1024 (8 bit) 32 32 32 32 1600 x 1200 (8 bit) 32 32 32 32 640 x 480 (16 bit) 32 32 32 32 800 x 600 (16 bit) 32 32 32 32 1024 x 768 (16 bit) 32 32 32 32 1280 x 1024 (16 bit) 32 32 32 32 1600 x 1200 (16 bit) 32 32 24 24 640 x 480 (24 bit) 32 32 32 32 800 x 600 (24 bit) 32 32 32 32 1024 x 768 (24 bit) 32 32 32 32 1280 x 1024 (24 bit) 32 32 32 24 1600 x 1200 (24 bit) 24 24 16 8 640 x 480 (32 bit) 32 32 32 32 800 x 600 (32 bit) 32 32 32 32 1024 x 768 (32 bit) 32 32 32 24 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) 32 32 24 16 1600 x 1200 (32 bit) 8 8 -- --

IRQ Line Assignments

Problems can arise if two devices attempt to use the same interrupt request (IRQ) line. To avoid this type of conflict, check the documentation for the default IRQ line setting for each installed device. Then consult Table 3 to configure the device for one of the

available IRQ lines.

NOTE: Installed devices cannot share the same COM port address. The default address of your computer's serial port is COM1.

To view IRQ line assignments in Windows 98, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon. Select the Device Manager tab, and then double-click Computer.

To view IRQ line assignments in Windows 2000, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon. Select the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager. Click View, and then click Resources by connection. Doubleclick Interrupt request (IRQ) to view the IRQ assignments.

Table 3. IRQ Line Assignments

IRQ Line Reserved/Available

IRQ0 Reserved; generated by the system timer IRQ1 Reserved; generated by the keyboard controller to signal that the keyboard output buffer is full IRQ2 Reserved; generated internally by the interrupt controller to enable IRQ8 through IRQ15

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IRQ3 Available for use by a PC Card unless the integrated serial port or infrared port is configured for COM2 or COM4 IRQ4 Available for use by a PC Card unless the integrated serial port or infrared port is configured for COM1 (the default) or

COM3 IRQ5 Available for use by the audio controller IRQ6 Generated by the diskette drive controller to indicate that the diskette drive requires the attention of the microprocessor IRQ7 Available for use by a PC Card or audio controller if the parallel port is disabled IRQ8 Reserved; generated by the system input/output (I/O) controller's real-time clock (RTC) IRQ9 Reserved; generated by the video controller IRQ10 Available for use by a PC Card or audio controller unless the APR is attached IRQ11 Generated by USB, PC Card, and audio controllers; available for use by a PC Card IRQ12 Reserved; generated by the keyboard controller to indicate that the output buffer of the DualPoint integrated pointing device

or the external PS/2 mouse is full IRQ13 Reserved; generated by the math coprocessor IRQ14 Reserved; generated by the hard-disk drive to indicate that the drive requires the attention of the microprocessor IRQ15 Reserved; generated by the CD-ROM drive in the media bay to indicate that the drive requires the attention of the

microprocessor

Memory

Memory Allocations

Table 4 provides a map of the conventional memory area. When the microprocessor or a program addresses a location within the

conventional memory range, it is physically addressing a location in main memory.

To view memory allocations in Windows 98, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon. Click the Device Manager tab, and then double-click Computer.

To view memory allocations in Windows NT, start the Windows NT Diagnostics in the Administrative Tools (Common) folder.

To view memory allocations in Windows 2000, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click the

System icon. Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.

Table 4. Conventional Memory Map

Address Range Use

0000h-003FFh Interrupt vector table 00400h-00FFFF BIOS data area 00500h-005FFh MS-DOS® and BASIC work area 00600h-9FBFFh User memory

Table 5 provides a map of the upper memory area. Some of these addresses are dedicated to various system devices, such as the

system/video basic input/output system (BIOS). Others are available for use by expansion cards and/or an expanded memory manager (EMM).

When the microprocessor or a program addresses a location within the upper memory area, it is physically addressing a location within one of these devices.

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Table 5. Upper Memory Map

Address Range Use

0009FC00-0009FFFF PS/2-mouse data area 000A0000-000BFFFF Video random-access memory (RAM) 000C0000-000CFFFF Video BIOS 000CC000-000CDFFF Reserved for PC Card 000F0000-000FFFFF System BIOS 00100000-03FFFFFF High memory area FD000000-FDFFFFFF Video RAM FF200000-FF2FFFFF Video RAM FFFE0000-FFFFFFFF BIOS ROM

I/O Memory Map

Table 6 provides a map of memory addresses reserved by the system for peripheral I/O devices. Use the information in Table 6 to

determine if the memory address of an external peripheral (such as a PC Card) conflicts with a memory address reserved by the computer.

Check the documentation of the external I/O device to determine its memory address. If there is a conflict with a memory address reserved by the computer, change the address of the device.

To view I/O addresses in Windows 98, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon. Click the Device Manager tab, and then double-click Computer.

To view I/O addresses in Windows NT, start the Windows NT Diagnostics in the Administrative Tools (Common) folder.

To view I/O addresses in Windows 2000, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon. Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.

Table 6. I/O Memory Map

Address Device

0000-001F DMA controller #1 0020-003F Interrupt controller #1 0040-005F System timers 0060-006F Keyboard controller 0070-007F RTC and nonmaskable interrupt (NMI) enable 0080-009F DMA page registers 00A0-00BF Interrupt controller #2 00C0-00DF DMA controller #2 00F0-00FF Math coprocessor 0170-0177 CD-ROM drive controller

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01F0-01F7 Hard-disk drive controller 0210-0217 Audio controller 0220-022F Audio controller 0270-0277 Fast IR 0376-0376 Integrated drive electronics (IDE) controller 0378-037F LPT1 0388-038B Audio controller 038B-03BB Video graphics array (VGA) 03C0-03DF VGA 03E0-03E1 PC Card controller 03E8-03EF Fast IR 03F0-03F7 Diskette controller 03F8-03FF COM1 0530-0537 Audio controller 0778-077B Extended Capabilities Port (ECP) registers ECE0-ECFF USB controller FFA0-FFAF Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)-IDE bus registers

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Using the Computer: Dell Inspiron 3800 System Reference

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Using the Computer: Dell™ Inspiron™ 3800 System Reference

Storage Devices Touch Pad and Track Stick

CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD-ROM Drives PC Cards

Audio Devices Display

Embedded Numeric Keypad Extended Desktop Mode

Key Combinations

Storage Devices

Using the Media Bay

Your computer comes with a diskette drive installed in the media bay. You can also install a battery, a CD drive, a DVD-ROM drive, a SuperDisk LS-120 drive module, a second hard-disk drive, or a Zip drive in the media bay. To make the computer as light as possible, use the travel module in the media bay in place the available drives. of any of

NOTICE: When the CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, LS-120, and diskette drives are not inside the computer, they are fragile and must be handled carefully to avoid damage. Do not press down on the drives or place heavy objects on top of them. Place the drives in a travel case to keep them free of dust and liquids. Store the drives in a safe place.

If your computer is running Microsoft® Windows NT® with Softex Docking Services or Microsoft Windows® 98 with Softex BayManager, see "Installing

Devices in the Media Bay With Softex Docking Services or Softex BayManager Software."

If your system does not have Softex Docking Services or Softex BayManager, see "Installing Devices in the Media Bay Without Softex Docking Services or

Softex BayManager Software."

Installing Devices in the Media Bay With Softex Docking Services or BayManager Software

Softex Docking Services for Windows NT and Softex BayManager for Windows 98 allow you to swap a device to and from the media bay while the computer is on. You do not have to shut down or restart the computer for the device to be recognized. You may swap diskette drives, hard-disk drives, SuperDisk LS120 drives, CD-ROM drives, DVD-ROM drives, and Zip drives.

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To install a device in the media bay, perform the following steps:

1. Verify that the Diskette Reconfig option in the System Setup program is set to Any Time.

2. Save your work and close all open files and application programs.

3. If the computer is docked, undock it.

NOTICE: When the CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, SuperDisk LS-120, diskette drives, and Zip drives are not inside the computer, they are fragile and must be handled carefully to avoid damage. Do not press down on the drives or place heavy objects on top of them. Place the drives in a travel case to keep them free of dust and liquids. Store the drives in a safe place.

4. Double-click the Docking Services or BayManager icon in the Windows system tray on the taskbar.

The Softex BayManager window appears for Windows 98, and the Docking Services window appears for Windows NT.

5. Click Remove/Swap.

6. If the media bay contains a device, remove the device as follows:

a. Verify that the Display Close option in the System Setup program is set to Active.

b. Close the computer display and turn the computer over.

c. Slide the media bay latch toward the Unlock icon.

d. Hold the media bay latch with one hand while pulling the device out of the bay your other hand.

e. Release the media bay latch after you remove the device.

f. Turn the computer over and open the computer display.

g. If you want the computer to activate save-to-disk suspend mode when you close the display while the computer is turned on, set the Display

Close option in the System Setup program to Suspend.

7. Slide the new device firmly into the media bay. You should hear a click when the device is fully seated.

NOTE: Softex BayManager and Softex Docking Services do not report a second battery installed in the media bay on the Storage Devices tab.

8. Click OK. Then click OK again to close the Softex BayManager window.

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Installing Devices in the Media Bay Without Softex Docking Services or Softex BayManager

To install a device in the media bay, perform the following steps:

1. Verify that the Diskette Reconfig option in the System Setup program is set to Any Time.

2. Save and close any open files, exit any open application programs, and shut down the computer.

3. If the computer is docked, undock it.

4. If the media bay contains a device, remove the device as follows:

a. Close the computer display and turn the computer over.

b. Slide the media bay latch toward the Unlock icon.

c. Hold the media bay latch with one hand while pulling the device out of the bay your other hand.

d. Release the media bay latch after you remove the device.

5. Slide the new device firmly into the media bay.

You should hear a click when the device is fully seated.

6. Dock the computer if necessary.

7. Turn on the computer.

Using the Diskette Drive

Your computer was shipped with a 3.5-inch diskette drive (see Figure 1) in the media bay. To use another device in the media bay, first remove the diskette drive. For detailed instructions on installing devices in the media bay, see "Using the Media Bay" in Chapter 2 of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide.

NOTE: If the computer is docked to the advanced port replicator (APR), turn off the computer and undock it before installing or removing a diskette drive.

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The diskette drive lets you install programs and transfer data using 3.5-inch diskettes.

Figure 1. Diskette Drive Installed in Computer

To use the diskette drive, insert a 3.5-inch diskette into the drive (label side up and metal end first). Push the diskette into the drive until the eject button extends outside the drive casing.

NOTICE: Do not travel with a diskette in the diskette drive. Doing so could break the eject button and damage the drive.

To remove a diskette from the drive, press the eject button to release the diskette, and then pull the diskette out of the drive.

When data is being accessed from the diskette drive in the media bay, the drive access indicator blinks.

NOTE: You can use the diskette drive externally by connecting it to the parallel port connector on the back of the computer. If you are running the Microsoft Windows 98 or Windows 2000 operating system on your computer and the Diskette Reconfig option is enabled in the System Setup program, you do not have to reboot the computer when you connect the diskette drive to the parallel port connector. If you are running the Microsoft Windows NT operating system on your computer, you do need to reboot the computer after you connect the diskette drive.

Setting Up a Second Hard-Disk Drive

The first time you install a second hard-disk drive in the media bay, you must format that drive. For instructions, see the documentation that came with the device.

Using the Diskette Drive as an External Device

If the external media bay in your computer is already occupied by another device, you can use the diskette drive as an external device.

NOTICE: Use this diskette drive cable with the diskette drive only.

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Use the diskette drive cable to connect the diskette drive to the parallel connector on the back of the computer.

Figure 2. External Diskette Drive Connected to Computer

CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD-ROM Drives

Using the CD-ROM and DVD-ROM Drives

CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives are read-only devices that let you play most commercially available 8- or 12-centimeter (cm) sound and video CDs on the computer. The DVD-ROM drive can also play DVDs. CD-RW drives are read-writable devices that let you play CDs, and allow you to write information to a CD-RW disc. Dell installed the appropriate CD-ROM drive device drivers on your hard-disk drive.

Use the CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD-ROM drive in the computer’s media bay. None of the drives can be used externally. You must turn the computer off before installing the drive in the media bay. For detailed instructions on installing devices in the media bay, see "Using the Media Bay" in Chapter 2 of the

Reference and Troubleshooting Guide.

Figure 3. CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD-ROM Drive Installed in Computer

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NOTICE: Protect the CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD-ROM drives when they are not in the media bay. Do not squeeze the drive or place objects on top of it; doing so could damage the drive motor. Keep the drive as clean as possible.

NOTICE: If the CD or DVD is not seated correctly, the drive can be damaged.

To play a CD, press the eject button on the face of the CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD-ROM drive or press <Fn><F10>. When the tray slides out, place the CD into the tray label side up. Make sure that the CD is seated correctly on the spindle by pressing down on the disc until it clicks in place. Then gently push in the tray.

To play a DVD, press the eject button on the face of the DVD-ROM drive or press <Fn><F10>. When the tray slides out, place the DVD into the tray label side up. Make sure that the DVD is seated correctly on the spindle by pressing down on the disc until it clicks in place. Then gently push in the tray.

NOTICE: Do not use the CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD-ROM drive while the computer is in motion. Doing so could interrupt the flow of data between the drive and the hard-disk drive or diskette drive.

When the CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD-ROM drive is in use, the drive access indicator blinks on the computer’s front panel.

Caring for CDs and DVDs

When handling and using CDs and DVDs, follow these precautions:

● Never use a damaged or warped CD or DVD.

● Always hold the CD or DVD by its edges. Do not touch the surface of the disc.

● Use a clean, dry cloth to remove dust, smudges, or fingerprints from the surface of the CD or DVD. When cleaning, wipe from the center of the CD or

DVD to the edge.

● Never use solvents, such as benzene, record cleaners, or antistatic sprays, to clean the CD or DVD.

● Do not write on the surface of the CD or DVD.

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● Store CD or DVDs in their containers, placing them in a cool, dry place. Extreme temperatures may damage CDs or DVDs.

● Do not bend or drop a CD or DVD.

● Do not place objects on top of a CD or DVD.

Types of Supported Discs

Your computer's CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD-ROM drives are able to play the following types of disc formats:

● CD-ROM red-book compact disc-digital audio (CD-DA)

● CD-ROM yellow-book mode-1 and mode-2 data discs

● CD-ROM Extended Architecture (CD-ROM/XA) (mode-2 form 1 and form 2; without Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation [ADPCM])

● CD-Interactive (CD-I) (mode-2 form 1 and form 2)

● CD-I Ready

● CD-Bridge

● Photo CD, CD-recordable (CD-R) (single and multisession)

● Video CD

● CD-rewritable (CD-RW) (The 24x CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives support reading CD-RW discs—this format is supported as read-only for CD-ROM

and DVD-ROM drives; only a CD-RW drive can write to this type of disc.)

● DVD-5 (The DVD-ROM drive supports the DVD-5 format.)

Audio Devices

You can connect speakers, a microphone, headphones, and record/playback devices such as cassette players, CD players, and VCRs to the audio connectors on the computer. The connectors are located on the right side of the computer. Dell recommends using amplified speakers for the best sound.

See your Microsoft Windows documentation for the location of sound application programs such as mixers and volume control.

You can control the sound coming from the external speakers and the computer's integrated speakers with the volume control dial. You can also use the keyboard to adjust the volumes. Press <Fn><Page Dn> to lower the volume. Press <Fn><Page Up> to increase the volume. Press <Fn><End> to enable or

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disable both the integrated and external speakers.

NOTE: If no sound comes from the speakers, make sure that the sound is not disabled. Press <Fn><End> and check the volume control dial.

See "Utilities and Drivers for Microsoft Windows 98," "Utilities and Drivers for Microsoft Windows NT® ," and "Utilities and Drivers for Microsoft Windows

2000" for information about reinstalling the audio drivers. The drivers are located on the System Software CD.

Embedded Numeric Keypad

As you work, you may want to use the embedded numeric keypad (see Figure 4) to enter numbers in spreadsheet or financial programs. The embedded numeric keypad shares some of the keys on your computer's keyboard. The number and symbol characters are marked to the right on these keys; the cursor-

control functions are marked on the front of these keys. To activate the embedded numeric keypad, press <Num Lk>. (The Num Lock indicator lights up).

Figure 4. Embedded Numeric Keypad

Some key combinations can be used whether the keypad is off or on.

NOTE: When using the integrated keyboard, you press <Fn> and the appropriate keys to perform certain functions (see Table 1). To perform such functions on an external keyboard, you press <Scroll Lock> and the appropriate keys. You must be sure that the

External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program.

Use the numeric keypad combinations in Table 1 to enable and disable several numeric keypad functions.

Table 1. Embedded Numeric Keypad Key Combinations

When Keypad Is On Function

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<Num Lk> Toggles the embedded numeric keypad off <Fn><key> Temporarily disables the embedded numeric keypad; enables the lowercase characters/functions of the keyboard <Fn><Shift><key> Temporarily disables the embedded numeric keypad; enables the uppercase characters/functions of the keyboard <Shift><cursor key> Temporarily enables a cursor-control key in the embedded numeric keypad

When Keypad Is Off Function

<Num Lk> Toggles the embedded numeric keypad on <Fn><cursor key> Temporarily enables a cursor-control key in the embedded numeric keypad

Key Combinations

Display Key Combinations

NOTE: When using the integrated keyboard, you press <Fn> and the appropriate keys to perform certain functions (see Table 2). To perform such functions on an external keyboard, you press <Scroll Lock> and the appropriate keys. You must be sure that the

External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program.

Use the key combinations in Table 2 to adjust the computer's display.

NOTE: The display key combinations function for super-twist nematic (STN) displays only.

Table 2. Display Key Combinations

Key Combinations Function

<Fn> + down arrow Incrementally decreases brightness. <Fn> + up arrow Incrementally increases brightness. <Fn> + right arrow Decreases contrast, which has no effect on an active-matrix display. <Fn> + left arrow Increases contrast, which has no effect on an active-matrix display. <Fn><F5> Toggles the computer's display between regular video mode and reverse video mode (white on black). This key combination works

only if the computer is in text mode; it has no effect if the computer is running a graphical operating system or application program.

<Fn><F7> Toggles the computer’s display between expanded mode and regular video mode.

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<Fn><F8> Switches the video image to the next display in the following sequence: the display, an external monitor, or both the display and the

monitor simultaneously. This key combination may not be supported under certain conditions.

<Fn><d>

Turns off the display. This key combination may not be supported under certain conditions.

The extended desktop feature (the ability to simultaneously display video of the same content and resolution on both the computer display screen and the external monitor) is not supported if the computer is booted to MS-DOS®, using a full-screen MS-DOS session under a Microsoft Windows operating system, or the ATI Mobility M1 video driver is not loaded. This limitation may also be noted in operating systems other than Microsoft Windows.

Certain key combinations may not function with the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) or may require configuration with the Power Management Properties window in the Control Panel. See

"Power Conservation."

Power Conservation Key Combinations

NOTE: When using the integrated keyboard, you press <Fn> and the appropriate keys to perform certain functions (see Table 3). To perform such functions on an external keyboard, you press <Scroll Lock> and the appropriate keys. You must be sure that the

External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program.

Use the key combinations in Table 3 to activate or turn off the computer's power conservation features.

Table 3. Power Conservation Key Combinations

Key Combinations Function

<Fn><d> Turns off the display* <Fn><h> Turns off the hard-disk drive* <Fn><Esc> Activates sleep or standby mode <Fn><a> or

<Fn><q> on French keyboards

Activates save-to-disk suspend (S2D) mode or hibernate mode(ACPI only)*

* This key combination does not function with ACPI if the settings have not been configured with the Power Management Properties window in the Control Panel. See "

Power Conservation."

Processing Speed Key Combinations

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NOTE: When using the integrated keyboard, you press <Fn> and the appropriate keys to perform certain functions (see Table 4). To perform such functions on an external keyboard, you press <Scroll Lock> and the appropriate keys. You must be sure that the

External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program.

Use the key combinations in Table 4 to change the computer's processing speed.

Table 4. Processing Speed Key Combinations

Key Combinations Function

<Fn><\> Switches between the microprocessor's maximum speed and a slower compatibility speed <Ctrl><\> In full MS-DOS mode or in a full-screen DOS box, switches between the microprocessor’s maximum speed and a slower compatibility

speed

Speaker Key Combinations

NOTE: When using the integrated keyboard, you press <Fn> and the appropriate keys to perform certain functions (see Table 5). To perform such functions on an external keyboard, you press <Scroll Lock> and the appropriate keys. You must be sure that the

External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program.

Use the key combinations in Table 5 to adjust the computer's speaker volume and to enable and disable the speakers.

Table 5. Speaker Key Combinations

Key Combinations Function

<Fn><Page Up> Increases the volume of the integrated speakers and the external speakers, if attached <Fn><Page Dn> Decreases the volume of the integrated speakers and the external speakers, if attached <Fn><End> Enables and disables the integrated speakers and the external speakers, if attached

System Function Key Combinations

NOTE: When using the integrated keyboard, you press <Fn> and the appropriate keys to perform certain functions (see Table 6). To perform such functions on an external keyboard, you press <Scroll Lock> and the appropriate keys. You must be sure that the

External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program.

Use the key combinations in Table 6 to access MS-DOS, open the System Setup program, and open the Battery Status screen of the System Setup program.

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Table 6. System Function Key Combinations

Key Combinations Function

<Ctrl><Alt><Del> Restarts (reboots) the computer in MS-DOS mode. In the Microsoft Windows 98 and Windows NT operating systems, click the Start

button and click Shut Down. <Fn><F1>* Opens the System Setup program. <Fn><F3>* Opens the Battery Status screen of the System Setup program.

* This key combination does not function with ACPI.

CD-ROM and DVD-ROM Drive Key Combinations

NOTE: When using the integrated keyboard, you press <Fn> and the appropriate keys to perform certain functions. To perform such functions on an external keyboard, you press <Scroll Lock> and the appropriate keys. You must be sure that the External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program.

To eject the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive tray, press <Fn><F10>.

Touch Pad and Track Stick

Cursor Pointing Devices

Your computer it equipped with a Personal System/2 (PS/2)-compatible touch pad that provides full mouse functionality. A set of left and right buttons, located below the touch pad, operate like the left and right buttons on a mouse. You can also perform many pointing functions by tapping the touch pad, which is positioned for both left- and right-handed users. Click-and-drag buttonless functions are also supported.

An optional Dell™ DualPoint™ integrated pointing device is available, which provides a track stick in addition to the PS/2-compatible touch pad. The DualPoint option also includes a second set of left and right buttons, located above the touch pad (see Figure 5 and Figure 6). The track stick controls the

cursor on the display screen and is positioned in the keyboard to allow you to move the cursor while keeping your fingers in a typing position. You can also perform many pointing functions by tapping the track stick. Click-and-drag buttonless functions are also supported.

DualPoint integrated pointing device software allows you to set the default for the type of cursor pointing device you want to use, as well as sensitivity, motion, and drag-and-drop features of both the touch pad and the track stick.

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NOTES: When enabled, the DualPoint integrated pointing device (whether touch pad only, track stick only, or both) uses interrupt request (IRQ) 12. No other device can use IRQ12 while the DualPoint integrated pointing device is enabled.

When you attach an external Personal System/2 (PS/2)-mouse to the computer, the DualPoint integrated pointing device is automatically disabled.

Using the Touch Pad

The PS/2 touch pad detects the position of your finger over a touch-sensitive area to position the cursor within the display screen. The touch pad provides the computer with full mouse functionality. The touch pad’s two buttons, located directly below the touch pad, correspond to the left and right buttons on a standard mouse.

Figure 5. PS/2 Touch Pad

To best use the touch pad, use the following techniques:

● To move the cursor, lightly slide your finger over the smooth sensor area.

● To select an object, gently tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button. The touch pad buttons

perform standard mouse functions.

● To select and move (or drag) an object, position the cursor on the object and double-tap on the touch pad. On the second tap, leave your finger on the

touch pad and move the selected object by sliding your finger across the surface.

● To double-click an object, position the cursor on the object and then tap the touch pad or the left touch pad button twice.

Using the Track Stick

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The track stick detects the pressure and direction that you move your finger when touching the track stick cap located near the center of the keyboard. The two buttons located between the touch pad and the space bar on the keyboard correspond to the left and right buttons on a standard mouse.

Figure 6. Track Stick

To best use the track stick, use the following techniques:

● To move the cursor, apply pressure to the track stick with your right or left index finger. Press up or down to move the cursor to the top or bottom of the

display screen. Press left or right to move the cursor to the left or right of the display screen.

● To select an object, tap once on the track stick or use your thumb to press the left track stick button. The track stick buttons perform standard mouse

functions.

● To select and move (or drag) an object, position the cursor on the object. Then press and hold the left track stick button. Leave your thumb on the

button and move the selected object by pressing the track stick in the desired direction.

● To double-click an object, position the cursor on the object and then tap the left track stick button twice or tap the track stick itself twice. The track stick

functions much like the touch pad in that it allows you to use buttons for mouse functions or the pointing device itself.

Customizing the Touch Pad and Track Stick

The DualPoint integrated pointing device software allows you to set the default for the type of cursor pointing device you want to use, as well as sensitivity, motion, and drag-and-drop features of both the touch pad and track stick. To customize the DualPoint integrated pointing device, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.

2. Double-click the Mouse icon to open the Mouse Properties window and click the Touch tab.

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3. Select the settings that work best for you and click Apply.

4. Click OK to save the settings and close the window.

You can also click the touch pad icon on the taskbar and click Touch Pad Properties to open the Mouse Properties control panel.

Changing the Track Stick Cap

Your computer came with four additional track stick caps in assorted colors. You may need to change the track stick cap if it wears down from prolonged use.

To change the track stick cap, perform the following steps:

1. Pull the cap off the track stick.

Figure 7. Removing the Track Stick Cap

2. Align a new cap over the square track stick post and gently press the cap down onto the post.

3. Test the track stick to ensure that the cap is seated properly.

PC Cards

About PC Cards

The computer has a slot into which you can install up to two PC Cards if the PC Cards comply with Release 2.01 of the Personal Computer Memory Card

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International Association (PCMCIA) standard and Release 4.2 of the Japanese Electronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA) standard.

The computer supports Type I, Type II, and Type III PC Cards (including memory cards) and advanced technology attachment (ATA) cards that emulate integrated drive electronics (IDE) hard-disk drives. Also supported are input/output (I/O) cards such as modems, local area network (LAN) cards, wireless LAN cards, and small computer system interface (SCSI) cards.

If you are using the Microsoft Windows 98 or Windows 2000 operating system, you can use a zoomed video (ZV) PC Card only in the lower PC Card connector. (The Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 operating system does not support ZV.)

NOTES: A PC Card is not a boot device. The "type" of a card refers to its thickness, not its functionality.

Your computer recognizes most I/O cards and automatically loads the device driver associated with that card.

NOTICE: Take extra precautions if you use extended PC Cards in your computer. Extended cards are longer versions of standard PC Cards. They fit into, and operate correctly with, your computer. However, they extend beyond the edge of the computer when installed. If something strikes the exposed end of an installed card, your system board can be damaged. Because of space considerations, you may have trouble using two PC Cards in your computer if one of them is an extended card. It may be easier to use an extended card if you install it in the upper PC Card connector. Always remove an extended PC Card before you pack the computer in its carrying case.

Installing PC Cards

You can use the following PC Card combinations in the PC Card slots:

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

● A single Type III card (using the lower PC Card connector only)

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

● Two Type I cards or two Type II cards

NOTE: Use a ZV PC Card in the lower connector only.

PC Cards are generally marked with a symbol, such as a triangle or an arrow, to indicate which end should be inserted into the slot. The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion. If card orientation is not clear, see the documentation that came with the card.

You do not need to turn off your computer or exit standby mode before you install a PC Card. To install a PC Card (see Figure 8), perform the following steps:

1. If necessary, remove the blank from the PC Card connector you intend to use by pressing the eject button and pulling the blank out.

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Dell Inspirion 3800 User Manual

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Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual