Dell Inspiron 11 User Manual

Me and My Dell

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

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if instructions are not followed.

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

Trademarks used in this text: Dell

™

, the DELL logo, and Inspiron™ are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel®, Centrino®, and Core™ are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries; Microsoft®, Windows®, and Windows start button logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries; Bluetooth® is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license; Blu-ray Disc™ is a trademark owned by the Blu-ray Disc Association(BDA) and licensed for use on discs and players.

2013 – 08 Rev. A01

Contents

Windows 8 Features 13

Signing in 13

Microsoft account 13

Local account 13

Locking and unlocking your computer 13

Accessing the desktop 14

Turning off your computer 14

Charms 14

Start screen and tiles 15

Apps 15

Closing an app 15

Snapping apps 15

More Information 15

About Your Computer 16

Power Adapter 16

Battery 17

Coin-Cell Battery 17

Touchpad 18

Display 18

Touchscreen 18

3D 18

Wireless Display 19

Contents  3

Keyboard 19

Physical Keyboard 20

Keyboard Backlight 20

On-Screen Keyboard 21

Keyboard Connection Types 21

Wired 21

Wireless 21

Service Tag and Express-Service Code 22

Locating the Label on Your Computer 22

Dell Support Website 22

System Setup 22

Storage Device 23

Internal Storage Devices 23

Removable Storage Devices 23

Optical Drives and Discs 23

Memory Cards 24

Memory Module 26

System Board 27

Chipset 28

Processor 28

Computer Fan 29

Thermal Grease 29

Video Card 30

TV Tuners 31

Internal 31

External 31

4  Contents

Speakers 32

2.1 Audio 32

5.1 Audio 32

7.1 Audio 32

Webcam 33

ExpressCards 33

Network 35

Modem 35

Network-Interface Controller (NIC) 35

Wireless Local-Area Network (WLAN) Adapter 36

Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) Adapter 36

Bluetooth 36

Near-Field Communication 36

Setting Up Your Computer 37

Connecting To The Internet 37

Connecting to the Internet Using LAN 37

Connecting to the Internet Using WLAN 37

Connecting to the Internet Using WWAN 38

Setting up Audio 39

Configuring 5.1/7.1 Audio 39

Connecting 5.1 Speakers 40

Connecting 7.1 Speakers 41

Setting Up Your Printer 42

Setting Up Your Webcam 43

Integrated Webcam 43

External Webcam 43

Setting up Bluetooth 43

Contents  5

Using Your Computer 44

Charging the Battery 44

Using your Keyboard 44

Keyboard Shortcuts 44

Keyboard Shortcuts — Windows 8/Windows RT 47

Customizing Your Keyboard 48

Changing Keyboard Input Language 49

Using Numeric Keypad on a Laptop 50

Using Your Touchpad 50

Touchpad Gestures 51

Scroll 51

Zoom 52

Rotate 53

Flick 53

Quick Launch 54

Using Your Touchscreen 54

Touchscreen Gestures 54

Zoom 55

Dwell 55

Flick 55

Rotate 56

Scroll 56

Using Bluetooth 57

Pairing a Bluetooth device with your computer 57

Using the Webcam 58

Capturing a Still Image 58

Recording a Video 58

Selecting the Camera and Microphone 58

6  Contents

Ports and Connectors 59

Audio 59

Types of Audio Ports 59

USB 60

USB Ports 60

USB Standards 61

eSATA 61

IEEE 1394 62

Key Features 62

Types of IEEE 1394 Connectors 62

Visual Graphics Array (VGA) 63

Digital Visual Interface (DVI) 63

DisplayPort 63

Mini-DisplayPort 63

Advantages of DisplayPort 64

HDMI 64

Advantages of HDMI 64

Mini HDMI 64

Micro HDMI 65

S/PDIF 65

Network 66

Local Area Network (LAN) 66

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) 67

Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) 67

Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) 67

Contents  7

Software and Applications 68

Computrace 68

Enabling Computrace 69

Getting Help on Computrace 69

My Dell Downloads 69

My Dell 70

Downloading or Upgrading My Dell 70

Accessing My Dell: 70

PC Checkup 70

Solution Station 71

Solution Station Offerings 72

Quickset 72

Installing Quickset 73

NVIDIA 3D Applications 73

Playing Games in 3D 73

Keyboard Shortcuts 74

DellConnect 75

Restoring Your Operating System 76

System Recovery Options 76

Dell Backup and Recovery 77

Dell Backup and Recovery Basic 77

Accessing Dell Backup and Recovery 77

Creating System Reinstall Discs 78

Restoring Your Computer 78

Dell Backup and Recovery Premium 78

Upgrading to Dell Backup and Recovery Premium 78

Restoring system data 78

8  Contents

Restoring specific files or folders from a Full System Backup 78

Restoring specific files or folders from a File & Folder Backup 79

Creating a Full System Backup 79

Dell DataSafe Local Backup 79

Dell DataSafe Local Backup 80

Dell DataSafe Local Backup Basic 80

Launching Dell DataSafe Local Backup 80

Creating system reinstall disks 80

Restoring your computer to a previous date or factory settings 80

Dell DataSafe Local Backup Premium 81

Upgrading to Dell DataSafe Local Backup Premium 81

Restoring system data 81

Restoring data using File and Folder Local Backup 81

Restoring specific files or folders from a Full System Backup 81

Restoring specific files or folders from a File & Folder Backup 81

Dell Factory Image Restore 82

Accessing Dell Factory Image Restore 82

Starting Dell Factory Image Restore 83

System Restore 84

Windows 8 84

Using System Restore 84

Undoing the Last System Restore 84

Windows 7 85

Using System Restore 85

Undoing the Last System Restore 85

Contents  9

Operating System Disc 86

Reinstalling the Operating System Using the Operating System Disc 86

System Reinstall Discs 86

Restoring Your Computer Using System Reinstall Disc 87

Troubleshooting 88

Basic Troubleshooting Steps 88

Diagnostics 88

Pre-Boot System Assessment 88

Invoking PSA 88

Enhanced PSA 89

LCD BIST 90

Starting LCD BIST 90

Invoking ePSA 91

Beep Codes 92

BIOS 93

Changing BIOS Settings 93

Entering System Setup 93

Resetting BIOS Password 94

Remove the CMOS Battery 94

Use System-Board Jumper 94

Changing the Boot Sequence 95

Using Boot Menu 95

Using System Setup 95

10  Contents

Getting Help and ContactingDell 96

Getting Help 96

Contacting Dell 96

References 97

Computer Maintenance 97

Power Management 97

Configuring Power Settings 98

Configuring the Power Button Behavior 98

Improving Battery Life 99

Dell Longevity Mode 100

Dell Desktop Mode 100

Migration Tips 101

Migrating from one Windows Operating System to a newer OperatingSystem 101

Ergonomic Instructions 101

Dell and the Environment 103

Regulatory Compliance Policy 104

Contact Details for Regulatory Compliance Web site 104

Additional Compliance Information 104

Contents  11

Windows 8 Features

Signing in

You can sign in to Windows 8 using either a Microsoft account or a localaccount.

Microsoft account

NOTE: To sign in using a Microsoft account for the first time,

yourcomputer must be connected to the Internet.

Using a Microsoft account synchronizes settings, customizations, and soon, with your Microsoft account and other Windows8 devices that you sign in to using the same email ID. It also associates the email, SkyDrive, and other linked accounts with your user profile on the computer. The settings of your computer are backed up in your Microsoft account so that you can restore them if needed.

To sign in using an existing Microsoft account, type the email ID andpassword.

To create a new Microsoft account, tap or click Sign up for a new email

address and follow the instructions on the screen.

Local account

Tap or click Sign in without a Microsoft account and follow the instructions on the screen.

Locking and unlocking your computer

Locking your computer:

1. Access the charms sidebar and tap or click Start.

2. Tap or click your account picture in the upper-right corner and then

select Lock.

Unlocking your computer:

1. Swipe-up from the bottom edge of the screen (or press any key if you

are using a keyboard) to dismiss the lock screen.

2. In the log on screen, login to your computer using the method of your

choice.

NOTE: To use a different sign-in method, tap or click Sign-in options to see the available options.

Signing in  13

Accessing the desktop

To access the desktop interface — like in the previous versions of Windows— tap or click the Desktop tile on the Start screen.

Turning off your computer

1. Access the charms sidebar and tap or click Settings.

2. Tap or click Power and then select Shut down. NOTE: You can access the sleep and hibernate options by following

the same steps.

Charms

Charms provides quick access to the most common tasks such as search, share, settings, and so on. The charms sidebar displays a list of charms available depending on the screen or app that is active. To open the charms sidebar, swipe-in from the right edge of the screen or point your mouse to the upper/lower-right corner of the screen. If you are using a multi-touch touchpad, swipe-in from the right edge of the touchpad.

The most common charms are Search, Share, Start, Devices, and Settings.

Search Allows you to find apps, settings,

and files on your computer and the internet.

Share Allows you to share photos, links,

and so on with your friends and social networks.

Start Toggles between the Start screen

Devices Allows you to send files to printers,

Settings Provides access to notifications,

14  Accessing the desktop

and last used app.

other computer, and so on. Also allows to send video and audio to supported devices, such as a TV.

volume controls, brightness controls, and other computer settings.

Start screen and tiles

Start Screen provides access to apps, friends, files and folders, and so on. You can customize the Start screen by adding, resizing, or removing tiles.

You can also move tiles around and group them together. Some of the tiles are automatically updated and lets you read the news

headlines, status updates, and so on. You can also search from the Start screen by typing the keyword and

tapping or pressing the <Enter> key.

Apps

Apps are programs created specifically to utilize the metro interface of Windows 8. Apps run in full-screen mode and are generally integrated with the Windows 8 user interface. Tap or click on the apptile to launch the app.

Closing an app

•If you are using a touchscreen, drag the app to the bottom of the screen and release the app.

•If you are using a mouse, click and drag the app from the top of the screen to the bottom of the screen and release the app.

Snapping apps

You can view two apps simultaneously by snapping them together. To snap apps:

1. Open the two apps.

2. Drag and release one of the apps to the right-side of the screen to dock

the app.

3. Drag and release the other app to the left-side of the screen to dock

theapp.

You may resize the apps by holding the resize button and dragging it.

More Information

You can get more information on Windows 8 and the new features using any of the following resources.

•Getting Started tile

•dell.com/support

•microsoft.com

Start screen and tiles  15

About Your Computer

Power Adapter

Power adapters are used to supply power to portable computers and certain desktop computers. The Dell power-adapter kit consists of the power adapter and the power cable. The power-adapter rating (65 W, 90 W, and soon) depends on the computer it is designed for, and the power cable varies based on the country where the power adapter is shipped.

CAUTION: To avoid damaging your computer, it is recommended touse only the power adapter that shipped with your computer or aDell‑approved replacement power adapter.

16  Power Adapter

Battery

Batteries are mainly classified by their power ratings, such as 45WHr, 65WHr, and soon. The battery allows you to use your device when it is not connected to a power outlet.

The life cycle of the battery is the number of time it can be discharged and recharged without affecting the operating time significantly. After the battery life-cycle reaches its end, you must replace the battery.

Depending on the computer model, the battery on your computer may be user replaceable or may require a Dell service technician to replace.

NOTE: High-capacity batteries generally have a longer life-cycle, since you need to charge high-capacity batteries less often compared to lowcapacity batteries.

NOTE: For tips on improving the battery life, see Improving Battery Life.

Coin‑Cell Battery

Coin-cell battery provides power to the Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) chip while the computer is turned off. The CMOS chip contains the time, date, and other configuration information about your computer.

Under normal usage conditions, the coin-cell battery can last for several years. The factors that affect coin-cell battery life are type of system board, temperature, the time for which the computer is powered off, and soon.

Battery  17

Touchpad

A touchpad is available on most laptops and provides the functionality of amouse. It has a touch-sensitive surface that senses the motion and position of your finger(s). You can use the touchpad to move the cursor, drag or move selected items, and click by tapping the surface. Gesture-enabled touchpads support gestures such as zoom, pinch, rotate, scroll, andso on. You can also purchase external touchpads.

NOTE: For information on using the touchpad, see Using Your

Touchpad.

Display

Displays are classified based on their screen size, resolution, color gamut, and so on. Generally, a screen with higher resolution and better color support provides better image quality. Some external displays also have USBports, media-card readers, and so on.

Displays may also support features such as, touchscreen, 3D, andwirelessconnection.

Touchscreen

Touchscreen is a display device that lets you interact with the objects on the screen by touching the display instead of using a mouse, touchpad, or a keyboard. You can operate a touchscreen with a finger, or another passive object, such as a stylus. Touchscreens are commonly used in phones, tablets, computers, and so on. Commonly used touchscreen technologies are capacitive touch and resistive touch.

NOTE: Touchscreen may not be supported on all computers. NOTE: For information on using the touchscreen, see Using Your

Touchscreen.

3D-capable displays can display 3D images and videos. 3D works by presenting separate 2D images to the left and right eye. These images are then combined and interpreted by the brain as one image with depth.

NOTE: You may need specially designed 3D glasses to be able to view 3D images.

18  Touchpad

Wireless Display

The wireless feature allows you to share your computer display with a compatible TV without the use of cables. To check if your TV supports this feature, see the documentation of the TV.

Minimum requirements for setting up wireless display are:

Processor Intel Core i3-3xx

Video Controller Intel HD Graphics

WLAN card Intel Centrino 6100/6200/6300 or

IntelCentrinoAdvanced-N + WiMAX 6250

Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium or

Windows 8

Driver Latest wireless-card drivers and Intel Wireless

Display Connection Manager available at

dell.com/support.

NOTE: Wireless display may not be supported on all computers.

Keyboard

Keyboards allow you to type characters and perform special functions using shortcut keys. The number of keys and the characters available may differ based on the country where the keyboard is shipped.

Laptops have built-in keyboards. Tablets generally have on-screen keyboards and some tablets also support external keyboards. Dell desktops have an external keyboard connected using USB or wireless signals.

The common keys available on the keyboard are:

•Alphanumeric keys for typing letters, numbers, punctuation, andsymbols

•Multimedia and application shortcut keys

•Control keys such as <Ctrl>, <Alt>, <Esc>, and the Windows key

•Shortcut keys to perform specific tasks or to launch specific features

•Function keys, <F1> through <F12>

•Navigation keys for moving the cursor around in documents or

windows: <Home>, <End>, <Page Up>, <Page Down>, <Delete>, <Insert>, and arrow keys

Keyboard  19

Physical Keyboard

Physical keyboards are used with laptop and desktop computers. Laptopsgenerally have a built-in keyboard. External keyboards are generally used with desktop computers. Some keyboards may have features such as keys for volume adjustment, application shortcuts, built-in touchpad, programmable shortcut keys, backlight, and so on.

Keyboard Backlight

The backlit present on some physical keyboards illuminates the symbols on the keys to allow for using the keyboard in dark environments. You can turn on the backlight manually or configure the backlight to turn on automatically when your computer is placed in a dark environment.

The backlit keyboard on Dell laptops have different lighting states. Press the <Fn> and the right-arrow key to toggle between the various lighting states.

NOTE: Backlit keyboard may not be available on all computers. See the

Specifications of your computer at dell.com/support.

20  Keyboard

On‑Screen Keyboard

On screen keyboard are available on almost all computers and tablets, however, they generally used in touchscreen devices such as tablets and all-in-one computers. You can select the keys using a mouse or by touching the keys on a touchscreen.

Keyboard Connection Types

Keyboards can be connected to your computer with a cable (wired) or using wireless signals (wireless).

Wired

Wired keyboards are connected to the computer using a cable (generally USB) and do not require additional power source, such as batteries.

Wireless

Wireless keyboards are may be use Radio Frequency (RF) or Bluetooth (BT) to connect to your computer. This reduces cable clutter and gives you the flexibility to use the keyboard from a more comfortable position within a few meters from the computer. Such keyboards require batteries to operate.

Keyboard that use RFtechnology usually ship with a receiver that you must connect to your computer. Bluetooth keyboards can pair with your computer’s built-in Bluetooth card or an external Bluetooth adapter.

Keyboard  21

Service Tag and Express‑Service Code

You can find the Service Tag and the Express-Service Code of your computer using one of the following:

•Label on the computer or tablet

•My Dell tile or My Dell software on your computer. For more

information, see My Dell.

•Dell support website at dell.com/support

•System Setup

Locating the Label on Your Computer

Laptops — Bottom of the laptop (under system badge or in battery bay) Desktops — Back or top of the computer chassis Tablets — Back of the tablet

NOTE: For the specific location of the label on your device, seetheQuick Start Guide that shipped with your computer or at

dell.com/support.

Dell Support Website

1. Go to dell.com/support.

2. Click Detect Service Tag and follow the instructions on the screen.

System Setup

1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.

2. When the DELL logo is displayed, watch for the F2 prompt to appear

andthen press <F2> immediately to enter System Setup.

NOTE: The F2 prompt stays active only for a short time. If you miss the prompt, wait for your computer to boot up to the desktop, then turn off your computer and try again.

3. Navigate to the Main tab and look for Service Tag.

For more information about System Setup, see the Owner’s Manual of your computer at dell.com/support.

22  Service Tag and Express‑Service Code

Storage Device

Storage devices allow you to store data for later use. Storage devices can be internal or external. Most storage devices store data till you manually delete the data. Examples of storage devices are hard-disk drives (HDD), solid-statedrives (SSD), optical-disc drives, flash drives, and so on.

Internal Storage Devices

Internal storage devices are installed within your computer and generally cannot be removed while the computer is turned on. The most common internal storage devices are HDDs and SSDs.

HDDs and SSDs use SATA interface to transfer information. SSDs are alsophysically similar to HDDs, which makes them compatible with existingcomputers.

HDDs have disk platters, whereas SSDs have flash memory. This makes SSDsfaster, quieter, energy efficient, and shock resistant.

Removable Storage Devices

Storage devices that you can remove from your computer without turning the computer off are called removable storage devices. Commonly used removable storage devices include:

•Optical discs

•Memory cards

•Flash drives

•External hard drives

Optical Drives and Discs

Your computer may support a DVD RW or a DVD RW and Blu-ray combo drive. Optical discs can be read-only, write-once, or re-writeable.

Some of the common types of drives are:

•Blu-ray writer — Reads and writes to Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CDs.

•Blu-ray reader + DVD RW combo — Reads Blu-ray Discs. Reads and

writes to DVDs and CDs.

•DVD RW — Reads and writes DVDs and CDs.

Storage Device  23

Memory Cards

Memory cards, also referred to as media or flash cards, use flash memory to store data. They are re-writeable, fast, and retain data even when power supply is cut off. They are commonly used in devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, media players, gaming consoles, and so on. Your computer may have a media-card reader to read and write to these cards.

Some common types of memory cards are:

Secure Digital (SD)/Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC)

Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) [card with Ultra High Speed (UHS)]

Secure Digital miniSD

Multimedia Card (MMC)

MultiMedia Card plus (MMC+)

Multi Media Card (MMC) Mobile

RS MMC

24  Storage Device

Extreme Digital (xD)

Memory Stick XC (MSXC)

Compact Flash I , II/Compact Flash MD

Memory Stick Duo

Memory Stick Pro Duo

Memory Stick Pro‑HG Duo

Memory Stick (MS)/Memory Stick Pro (MS Pro)

Smart Media/Smart Media XD

Storage Device  25

Memory Module

A memory module stores temporary data that your computer needs to perform tasks. Any file or application loads in the memory modules before you can open or use them. Memory modules are categorized based on their capacity (in GB) and speed (in MHz). Faster and higher amount of memory generally provides better performance. Common memory-module typesare:

•Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) — Used in desktop computers.

•Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module (SODIMM) — Smaller in size

than DIMMs. Generally used in notebook computers, however, may also be used in some compact desktops and all-in-one computers.

26  Memory Module

System Board

A system board forms the central part of computers. All other devices connect to the system board to be able to interact with each other. The system board holds various controllers and connectors that help in exchange of data among various components of the computer. A system board may also have integrated graphics, sound, and networkcapabilities.

Some important components of a system board are:

•Processor socket

•Memory-module connectors

•Expansion-card slots

•CMOS to store the BIOS

The figure below lists the basic components of a desktop system board.

NOTE: Size, shape, and location of components may vary based on the type of system board and the computer it is designed for.

1 processor socket 2 memory-module connector

3 power connector 4 battery socket

5 PCI-Express x1 connector 6 PCI-Express x16 connector

7 eSATA connector 8 processor

System Board  27

Chipset

The chipset provides controls the components on the system board and allows communication between various components. Generally, the chipset is part of the system board, however, with some new generation processors, the chipset may be integrated in the processor.

Processor

Processors receive data and instructions from applications and process the data as requested by the software.

Processors are designed specifically for desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and so on. Generally the processor designed for one type of device cannot be used on another type of device.

Processors designed for laptops and mobile devices consume less power compared to the processors designed for desktops or servers.

Processors are mainly classified based on:

•Number of processing cores

•Speed or frequency measured in GigaHertz (GHz) or MegaHertz (MHz)

•On-board memory, also referred to as cache

These aspects also determine the performance of the processor. Highervalues generally mean better performance. Some processors may beintegrated on the system board.

Some of the processor manufactures are Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and so on.

28  Chipset

Computer Fan

A computer fan cools the internal components of a computer by expelling hot air from the computer. Computer fans are commonly used to cool components that have high power consumption and thus generate a high amount of heat. Keeping the components cool helps in protecting them from overheating, malfunctioning, and damage.

Heat Sink

Heat sinks are used to dissipate heat generated by the processor, some high-end graphics cards and on-board chipsets. Heat sinks generally have afan mounted above or beside them to increase airflow.

A heat sink is made up of fins or blades instead of a single block of metal. This helps increase the surface area for increased heat dissipation. A layer of thermal grease is applied between the processor/graphics card and the heatsink for easy exchange of heat.

Thermal Grease

Thermal grease, also called thermal gel or thermal compound, is used to create a heat-inductive layer between a processor and heat sink. Applying thermal grease between the processor and heat sink increases the heat transfer from the processor to the heat sink, as the thermal grease has better conductivity than air.

Computer Fan  29

Video Card

Video cards process graphics data and sends video output to a display device such as a monitor or projector.

Video cards can be of two types:

•Integrated — Often referred to as on-board video card, it is integrated

on the system board. In some computers, the video card is integrated on the processor. Integrated video cards generally share the system memory (RAM) and the may also utilize the processor to perform videoprocessing.

An Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) is integrated on the same die as the processor and provides higher data transfer rates while reducing the power consumption.

•Discrete — Discrete video cards are installed separately on the system

board. Discrete video cards have dedicated memory on the cards and generally provide higher performance than integrated video cards. Thesecards are best suited for graphic intensive applications, high-definition video games, and so on.

NOTE: When a discrete video card is installed on a computer that alsohas an integrated video card, the integrated video card is disabled by default. Use the System Setup to select which card to use.

Switchable graphics allow computers equipped with both a low-power integrated graphics chip, and a high-power discrete graphics card to switch between either cards, depending on the load and requirements.

30  Video Card

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