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INSPIRON™
SETUP GUIDE
INSPIRON™
SETUP GUIDE
Model P04E Regulatory type P04E001
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft® Windows® operating systems are not applicable.
__________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 2009 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, YOURS IS HERE, Dell On Call, and DellConnect are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel, Celeron, and Pentium are registered trademarks and Core is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries; Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista, MS-DOS, and Windows Vista start button logo are either
trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries; ATI Radeon is a trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc; Blu-ray Disc is a trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association; Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
July 2009 P/N J5MFN Rev. A01
Contents
Setting Up Your Inspiron™ Laptop 5
Before Setting Up Your Computer |
5 |
Connect the AC Adapter |
6 |
Connect the Network Cable (Optional) |
7 |
Press the Power Button |
8 |
Set Up Windows Vista |
9 |
Enable or Disable Wireless (Optional) |
10 |
Connect to the Internet (Optional) |
12 |
Using Your Inspiron Laptop 14
Right Side Features 14 Left Side Features 16 Front Side Features 18 Computer Base Features 22 Touch Pad Gestures 24 Media Controls 26
Using the Optical Drive 28 Display Features 30 Removing and Replacing the Battery 32 Software Features 34
Solving Problems 37
Beep Codes 38 Network Problems 39 Power Problems 40 Memory Problems 42 Lockups and Software Problems 43
Using Support Tools 45
Dell Support Center 45 System Messages 46 Hardware Troubleshooter 47 Dell Diagnostics 47
3
Contents
Restoring Your Operating System 51
System Restore 52 Dell Factory Image Restore 53 Operating System Reinstallation 54
Getting Help 56
Technical Support and Customer
Service 57 DellConnect™ 57 Online Services 58 Automated Order-Status Service 59 Product Information 59
Returning Items for Repair Under
Warranty or for Credit 60 Before You Call 61 Contacting Dell 63
Finding More Information and
Resources 64 Specifications 66 Appendix 76
Macrovision Product Notice 76
Index 77
4
Setting Up Your Inspiron™ Laptop
This section provides information about setting up your Inspiron laptop.
Before Setting Up Your Computer
When positioning your computer, ensure that you allow easy access to a power source, adequate ventilation, and a level surface to place your computer.
Restricting airflow around your Inspiron laptop may cause it to overheat. To prevent overheating ensure that you leave at least 10.2 cm (4 inches) at the back of the computer and a minimum of 5.1 cm (2 inches) on all other
sides. You should never place your computer in an enclosed space, such as a cabinet or drawer when it is powered on.
WARNING: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Do not store your Dell™
computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is powered on. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire. The computer turns on the fan when the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fan or the computer.
CAUTION: Placing or stacking heavy or sharp objects on the computer may result in permanent damage to the computer.
INSPIRON
5
Setting Up Your Inspiron™ Laptop
Connect the AC Adapter
Connect the AC adapter to the computer and then plug it into an electrical outlet or surge protector.
WARNING: The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However, power connectors and power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible cable or improperly connecting the cable to a power strip or electrical outlet may cause fire or permanent damage to your computer.
6
Setting Up Your Inspiron™ Laptop
Connect the Network Cable (Optional)
To use a wired network connection, connect the network cable.
7
Setting Up Your Inspiron™ Laptop
Press the Power Button
8
Setting Up Your Inspiron™ Laptop
Set Up Windows Vista
Your Dell computer is preconfigured with Windows Vista®. To set up Windows Vista for the first time, follow the instructions on the screen. These steps are mandatory and may take up to 15 minutes to complete. The Windows Vista set up screens will take you through several procedures including accepting license agreements, setting preferences, and setting up an Internet connection.
CAUTION: Do not interrupt the operating system’s setup process. Doing so may render your computer unusable and you will need to reinstall the operating system.
9
Setting Up Your Inspiron™ Laptop
Enable or Disable Wireless (Optional)
10
Setting Up Your Inspiron™ Laptop
To enable wireless:
1.Ensure that your computer is turned on.
2.Press the wireless key 
on the keyboard.
A confirmation of your selection appears on the screen.
Wireless enabled
Wireless disabled
To disable wireless:
Press the wireless key 
on the keyboard again to turn off all radios.
NOTE: The wireless key allows you to quickly turn all of your wireless radios (Bluetooth and WiFi) off, such as when you are asked to disable all wireless radios on an airplane flight.
11
Setting Up Your Inspiron™ Laptop
Connect to the Internet (Optional)
To connect to the Internet, you need an external modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP).
If an external USB modem or WLAN adapter is not a part of your original order, you can purchase one from the Dell website at www.dell.com.
Setting Up a Wired Connection
•If you are using a dial-up connection, connect the telephone line to the external USB modem (optional) and to the telephone wall connector before you set up your Internet connection.
•If you are using a DSL or cable/satellite modem connection, contact your ISP or cellular telephone service for setup instructions.
12
Setting Up a Wireless Connection
Before you can use your wireless Internet connection, you need to connect to your wireless router.
1.Ensure that wireless is enabled on your computer (see “Enable or Disable Wireless” on page 10).
2.Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
3.Click Start 
→ Connect To.
4.Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and ISP offerings vary by country. Contact your ISP for offerings available in your country.
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.
Have your ISP information ready. If you do not have an ISP, the Connect to the Internet wizard can help you get one.
Setting Up Your Inspiron™ Laptop
1.Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
NOTE: The following instructions are applicable for the Windows default view, and may not apply if you set your computer to the Windows Classic view.
2.Click Start 
→ Control Panel.
3.Click Network and Internet→ Network and Sharing Center→ Set up a connection or network→ Connect to the Internet.
The Connect to the Internet window appears.
NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, click Help me choose or contact your ISP.
4.Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.
13
INSPIRON
Using Your Inspiron Laptop
This section provides information about the features available on your Inspiron laptop.
Right Side Features
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
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Using Your Inspiron Laptop
1ExpressCard slot – Supports 34/54 mm wide ExpressCard. The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot.
NOTE: Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles. Save the blank for use when no ExpressCard is installed in the slot; blanks from other computers may not fit your computer.
2Optical drive – Plays or records CDs and DVDs. Ensure that the side with print or writing is facing upward when placing discs on the optical drive tray.
3Eject button – Opens or closes the optical drive tray when pressed.
4
USB 2.0 connector – Connects to USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, external drive, or MP3 player.
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Using Your Inspiron Laptop
Left Side Features
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
16
Using Your Inspiron Laptop
1Security cable slot – Attaches a commercially available security cable to the computer.
NOTE: Before you buy a security cable, ensure that it works with the security cable slot on your computer.
2
AC adapter connector – Connects to an AC adapter to power the computer and charge the battery.
3
VGA connector – Connects to a monitor or projector.
4
Network connector – Connects your computer to a network or a broadband device if you are using a wired network.
5
USB 2.0 connectors (2) – Connects to USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, external drive, or MP3 player.
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Using Your Inspiron Laptop
Front Side Features
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
18
Using Your Inspiron Laptop
1
Power/Battery indicator light – The light indicates the following states when powered using an AC adapter or a battery.
|
Indicator light status |
Computer state(s) |
Battery charge level |
|
|
|
|
AC Adapter |
Solid white |
on |
n/a |
|
|
off/hibernate |
<90% |
|
|
|
|
|
Breathing white |
standby |
charging |
|
|
|
|
|
off |
off/hibernate |
>90% |
|
|
|
|
Battery |
Solid white |
on |
>10% |
|
|
|
|
|
Breathing white |
standby |
>10% |
|
|
|
|
|
Solid amber |
on/standby |
<10% |
|
|
|
|
|
off |
off/hibernate |
n/a |
NOTE: The battery is charging when the computer is powered using an AC adapter.
2Analog microphone – If you do not have the optional built-in camera with dual microphones, this single microphone is used for conferencing and chat.
19
Using Your Inspiron Laptop
3
Audio out/Headphone connector – Connects one pair of headphones, or sends audio to a powered speaker or sound system.
4
Audio in/Microphone connector – Connects to a microphone or input signal for use with audio programs.
5
7-in-1 Media Card Reader – Provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos, music, videos, and documents stored on the following digital memory cards:
•Secure Digital (SD) memory card
•Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) card
•Multi Media Card (MMC/MMC+)
•Memory Stick
•Memory Stick PRO
•xD-Picture Card (type - M and type - H)
NOTE: Your computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the media card slot. Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles. Save the blank for use when no media card is installed in the slot; blanks from other computers may not fit your computer.
20
Using Your Inspiron Laptop
21
Using Your Inspiron Laptop
Computer Base Features
1 |
2 |
3 |
22
Using Your Inspiron Laptop
1Keyboard – The media controls are located on the keyboard. These keys control media playback.
For more information on keyboard, see the Dell Technology Guide on your hard drive or on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com/manuals.
2Touch pad buttons – Provide leftand right-click functions like those on a mouse.
3Touch pad – Provides the functionality of a mouse to move the cursor, drag or move selected items, and left-click by tapping the surface. It supports the Scroll and Zoom features. For more information, see “Touch Pad Gestures” on page 24.
23
Using Your Inspiron Laptop
Touch Pad Gestures
Scroll
Allows you to scroll through content. The scroll feature includes:
Traditional Scroll – Allows you to scroll up and down, or right and left.
To scroll up and down:
Move a finger up or down in the vertical scroll zone (extreme right of the touch pad) to scroll up or down on the active window.
To scroll right and left:
Move a finger right or left in the horizontal scroll zone
(extreme bottom of the touch pad) to scroll right or left on the active window.
24
Circular Scroll – Allows you to scroll up and down, or right and left.
To scroll up and down:
Move a finger in the vertical scroll zone (extreme right of the touch pad), in a clockwise circular motion to scroll up or counterclockwise circular motion to scroll down.
To scroll right and left:
Move a finger in the horizontal scroll zone (extreme bottom of the touch pad), in a clockwise circular motion to scroll right or counterclockwise circular motion to scroll left.
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