Dell Inspiron 500m User Manual

Dell™ Inspiron™ 500m

Owner’s Manual

Model PP05L

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better

use of your co m puter.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicat es ei ther potent ia l damag e to hard ware or loss of

data and tells you how to avoid the problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage,

personal injury, or death.

Abbrev iati o ns and Acronyms

For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the Glossary in the Tell Me How help file. To access the help file, click the Start button on the Microsoft

Windows User’s gui des, and then click T ell Me How .

XP desktop, click Help and Support, click User and system guides, click

___________________

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, Inspiron, Dell Tr a velL ite, Dell TrueMob ile, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, DellNet, and Latitude are trademarks of De ll Co mputer Corporation; Intel, Pentium, and Celeron are re gist ered t radema rks of Intel Corpor atio n; Microsoft and Wi ndows are registered t rademarks of Microsoft Cor poration; Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Bluetoot h SIG, Inc., and is used by D ell Computer C orporation und er license; EMC is a re gistered trademark of the EMC Corporation.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. D ell Computer Corporati on disclai ms any prop rietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model PP05L

February 20 03 P/N 3Y647 Rev. A00

Conten ts

CAUTION: Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

General Power Battery Air T ravel EMC Instructions

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When Using Your Computer

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Ergonomic Computing Habits When Working Inside Your Computer Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Battery Disp osal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

1 A Tour of You r Com put er

Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Left Side View

Right Side View

Back View Bottom View

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2 Setting Up Yo ur Co mpute r

Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

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Modem and Inter net Co nnection Problems

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Contents 3

E-Mail Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Transferring Information to a New Computer Setting Up a Pr inter

Printer Cable Connecting a Parallel Printer Connecting a USB Printer

Printer Problems

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

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Setting Up the Docki ng Device to Connect to a Network Power Prot ection Devices

Surge Pr otecto rs Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies

Turning Off Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

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3 Using Batteries and Module Bay Devices

Using a Batter y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Battery P erformance Checking the Battery Charge Charging the Battery Removing a B attery Installing a Battery Removing and Installing a Reserve Battery Storing a Battery

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4 Conten ts

Power Problems Abou t th e Modul e B a y

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Checking the Charge on the Second Battery

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Removing and Installing Devices Whi le the Computer Is Turned Off

If the Device Screw Is Not Installed If the Dev ice Screw Is Installed

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Removing and Installing Devices Whi le the Computer Is Running

If the Device Screw Is Not Installed If the Dev ice Screw Is Installed

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4 Using the Keyboa rd and Touch Pad

Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Keyboard Shortcuts

System Functions Battery

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CD or DVD T ray Display Functions

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Radios (Including Wireless Networking and the Bluetooth™ Card)

Power Management Speaker Functions Microsoft

Customizing the T ouch Pad

Touch Pad or Mouse Problems

External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Windows® Logo Key Functions . . . . . . . . . . . 62

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5 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

Using CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Contents 5

CD and DVD Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

If you ca n not play a CD or DVD If you ca n not ejec t th e CD, C D-RW, or DVD d rive tray If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound If the CD-RW drive stops writing

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

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Sound and Speaker Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

If you have a problem with integrated speakers If you have a problem with external speakers

Copying CDs

Using Easy CD Creator Basic

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Using Blank CD-R Discs o r Blank CD-RW Discs Helpful Tips How to Copy a CD

Connecting a Television to the Computer

S-Video Connection Composite Video Connection

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

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Enabling the Display Settings for a Television

6 Settin g Up a Home and O ffice Net work

Connecting to a Network Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Network Setup Wizard

Network Problems

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7 Solving Pr oblem s

Finding Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Accessing Hel p

Error Messa ges

6 Conten ts

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

Video and Display Probl ems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

If the display is blank If the display is difficult to read If only part of the display is readable

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Scanner Prob lems Drive Problems

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

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

If you ca n not save a f ile to a flo p p y drive If you have pro blems with a hard drive

PC Card Proble ms

General Program Problems

A program crashes A program st ops responding Err or m essages app e ar

If Your Computer Gets Wet

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

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If You Drop or Dama ge Your Comp uter

Resolvi ng Other T echnical Problems

Drivers

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

What Is a Driver? Identifyin g Drivers

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

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Reinstalli ng Dr ivers and Utilities

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

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Manually Reinstalling Driver s f or Windows XP

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

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Using System Resto re

Creating a Restore Point

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Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Resolving Software and H a rdware Incompat ibilities

. . . . . . 98

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Contents 7

Reinst alling Microsoft® Windows® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Before You Reinstall Re installing Windows XP

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Reinstalling Dr ivers and Software

8 Adding a nd Replacin g Parts

Adding Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Adding a Mini PCI Card

Replacing the Hard Drive

9 Appendix

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Standard Settings

Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screens Commonly Used Options

Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)

Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals

Contacting Dell

Regulatory Notices

NOM Information (Mexic o Only)

Limited Warranties and Return Policy

Limited Warranty for th e U.S. "Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (U.S. Only) Limited Warranty Terms for Canada "Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (Canada Only) Dell Software and Peripherals (Canada Only)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

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8 Conten ts

One-Year End-User Manufacture r Guarantee (Latin America and the Caribbean Only)

Warranty Statement for Pentium® and

Intel

Celeron

Proces so rs Only (U.S. and Canada Only) . . . . . . . 158

. . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Contents 9

10 Content s

CAUTION: Safety Instructions

Use the following safety guidelines to help ensur e y our own personal safety and to help protect your computer and working environment from potential damage.

General

• Do not attempt to service the compute r yours e lf unle ss you are a trained service technician. Always follow installation instructions closely.

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

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

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

• Keep your computer away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling vents. Avoid placing loose papers underneath your computer; do not place your computer in a closed-in wall unit or on a bed, sofa, or rug.

• Place the AC adapter in a ventilat ed area, such as a desk top or on the floor, when you use it to run the computer or to charge the batter y. Do not cover the AC adapte r with papers or other items that w ill reduce cooling; also, do not use the AC adapter inside a carrying case.

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

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

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

• If your computer includes an integrated or optional (PC Card) modem, disconnect the modem cable if an electrical storm is approaching to avoid the remote risk of electric shock from li gh tn ing via the tel eph o n e line.

CAUTION: S afety Instr u ction s 11

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CAUTION: Safety Instructions

• To help avoid the potential hazard of electric shock, do not connect or disconnect any cables or perform maintenance or reconfiguration of this product during an electrical storm. Do not use your computer during an electrical storm unless all cables have been disconnected and the computer is operating on battery power.

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

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

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

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

• Before you clean your computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet. Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances.

(continued)

Power

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

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

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

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

12 CAUTION: Safety Instructions

CAUTION: Safety Instructions

• Be sure that nothing res ts on your AC adapter’s power cable and that the cable is not located where it can be tripped over or stepped on.

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

(continued)

Battery

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

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

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

• Keep the battery away from children.

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

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

CAUTION: S afety Instr u ction s 13

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CAUTION: Safety Instructions

(continued)

Air Travel

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

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

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

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

aircraft during certain criti cal phases of f light, for example , tak eoff and landin g. Some airlines may further define the critical f light phase as any time the aircraft is below 3050 m (10,000 ft). Pl e ase follow the airline’s specific ins tr uctions as to when the use of a PED is allowed.

EMC Instructions

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

Static electricity can harm electronic components inside your computer. To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components, such as a memory module. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer’s input/output pane l .

WARNING: Handling the cord on this product, or cords associated with acce sso r ies sold with this product, will exp ose you to le ad, a chemical known to the St ate of Cali fornia to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.

14 CAUTION: Safety Instructions

Wash your hands after handling the cord.

When Using Your Comput e r

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOTICE: When taking the compu ter from low-tem perature conditions i nto a warmer environment

or from hig h -temperature conditio ns into a cool er environment, allow the computer to acclimate to room temp erature before turning on power.

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

• Handle compon e n ts with care. Hold a component such as a memory module b y its edges, not its pins.

• When preparing to r e move a memory module from the syste m board or disconnect a device from the computer, turn off the computer, disconnect the AC adapter cable, remove any battery installed in the battery bay or mo dule bay, and then wait 5 seconds before proceeding to help avoid possible damage to the system board.

When Usi ng Your Com puter 15

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When Using Your Comput e r

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

• If your co m pu t er get s we t or is dam a g e d, fo ll ow th e procedures descr ib e d in "I f Your Computer Gets Wet" on page 93 or "If You Drop or Damage Your Computer" on page94. If, after following these procedures, you confirm that your computer is not operating properly, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 127 for the appropriate contact information).

(continued)

Ergonomic Computing Habits

CAUTION: Improper or prolonged keyboard use may result in injury. CAUTION: Vi ewi ng t he d isp lay or ex tern al m oni tor scr een for exte nde d pe ri ods of

time may result in eye strain.

F or comfort and efficiency, observe the ergonomic guidelines in the Tell Me How help file when setting up and using your computer. To access the help file, see "Accessing Help" on page 86.

This portable computer is not designed for continuous operation as office equipment. For extended use in an office, it is rec ommend ed that you connect an external ke yboard.

When Working Inside Your Computer

Before r emoving or installing memory modules, Mini PCI cards, or modems, perform the following steps in th e sequenc e ind ic a te d.

NOTICE: The only time you shoul d ever access the inside o f your computer is wh en you are

installing memory modules, a Mini PCI card, or a modem.

NOTICE: W ai t 5 secon ds after turni ng off the compu te r before dis conne ct ing a devi ce or rem ovi ng

a memory module, Min i P C I card, or modem to help prevent possi ble damage to the system board.

Shut down your computer and turn off any attached devices.

2 Disconnect your computer and devices from electrical outlets to reduce the potential for

personal injury or shock. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

3 Remove the main battery from the battery bay and, if necessary, the second battery from

the module bay.

16 When Using Your Computer

When Using Your Comput e r

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

While you work, periodically touch the unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

(continued)

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

Static electricity can harm electronic components inside your computer. To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components, such as a memory module. You can do so by touching any unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer.

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

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

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

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

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

Battery Disposal

Your computer uses an lithium-ion battery and a reserve battery. For instructions about replacing the l ithium-ion battery in your computer, refer to "Using a Battery" on page 44. The reserve battery is a long-life battery, and it is very possible that you will never need to replace it. However, should you need to replace it, the procedure must be performed by an authorized service technician.

Do not dispose of the battery along with household waste. Contact your local waste disposal agency for the address of the nearest battery deposi t si te .

When Usi ng Your Com puter 17

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18 When Using Your Computer

SECTION 1

A Tour of Your Computer

Front View Left Side View Right Side View Back View Bottom View

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Front View

display

keyboard status lights

power butto n

device status lights

keyboard

touch pad buttons

speaker

display latch

DISPLAY — For more info rm a ti o n abo u t yo u r d is p l ay, see the Tel l Me Ho w help file. To access the

help file, see "Accessin g H elp" on page 86.

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

mode. For more information about p o w er managemen t, see the Tell Me How help file. To access the help file, see "Accessi n g Help" on page 86.

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

operating system shutdown (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 42) rather than by pressi ng the power button.

If the computer stops responding, press and hold the power button until the computer turn s o ff completely (which may take several seconds).

speaker

touch pad

Windows®

20 A Tour of Your Compute r

DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS

Turns on when you turn on the computer and blinks when the computer is in a power manag emen t mode.

Turns on when the computer reads or writes data.

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

the light is flashing.

Tur ns on steadil y or blinks to indic ate ba tter y charge status . Turns on when the Bluetooth™ card is enabled. To enable or disable the

Bluetooth card, press

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

– Solid green: The battery is charging. – Flashi n g green: Th e b a tt er y is a l mo s t f ul l y ch a rged.

A Tour of Your Com puter 21

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

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

KEYBOARD — The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as well as the Wi ndows logo key . F or

information on supported keyboard shortcuts, see "Us in g the Key b oard and Tou ch Pad" on page 59.

TOUCH PAD — Provides the functionality of a mouse. See "Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad" on

page 59 for more i n f o rm a t io n .

SPEAKERS — T o adjust the volume of the integrated speakers, use the volume-control keyboard

shortc uts. For more info rm a t io n , see "Us in g th e Ke ybo a rd and Touch Pad" on page 59.

DISPLAY LATCH — Keeps the display closed. TOUCH PAD BUTTONS — Provide the functionality of a mouse. See "Using the Keyboard and

Touch Pad" on page 59 for more in formation.

KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS

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The green lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:

Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled.

Turns on when the uppercase letter function is enabled.

Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled.

Left Side View

PC Card slot

security cable slot

infrared sensor

har d dr i v e

air vents (2 )

AIR VENTS — T he computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents, which

prevents the computer from overheating.

NOTE: The comput er tu rns on t he f an whe n the c omp uter g et s hot . Fa n no ise is normal a nd d oes

not indicate a proble m w ith the fa n o r th e co m p uter.

CAUTION: D o n o t b lo c k, push obj ec ts in to , o r a llo w d u st to accum ul at e in th e air

vents . Do no t s tor e yo ur D ell™ com pu ter in a low - air fl ow en vir on men t, su ch a s a closed b rief case, while it is ru nning . Restr ictin g th e ai rfl ow c an dama ge the computer or cause a fire.

audio conn ectors (2)

A Tour of Your Com puter 23

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PC CARD SLOT — Supports one PC Card, such as a modem or network adapter. The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot. For more information, see the Tell Me How help file. To access the help file, see"Accessing Help" on page 86.

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

device wi thout using cable connections. When you receive your computer, the sensor is disabled. You can use the system setup program to

enable the sensor. For information on transferring data, see the infrared device documentation and the Windows Help and Support Center. To access help, see "Accessing Help" on page 86.

AUDIO CONNECTORS

HARD

DR IVE — Stores software and data.

SECURITY CABLE SLOT — Lets you attac h a comm ercia lly a vailabl e an titheft dev ic e to the

compu ter. For more inf ormation, see the ins truct ions in c luded with the device.

NOTICE: Before you bu y an antitheft device , ensure that it will work wi th the security cable

slot.

24 A To ur of Your Compute r

Attach a microphone to the connector.

Attach headphones or speakers to the connector.

Righ t Side View

securit y cable slot module bay

device latch release

SECURITY CABLE SLOT — Lets you attac h a comm ercia lly a vailabl e an tith eft devic e to the

compu ter. For more inf ormation, see the ins truct ions in c luded with the device.

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

slot.

A Tour of Your Com puter 25

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MODULE BA Y — You can install devices such as an optical drive or a Dell Trave lLite™ module in

the module bay. For more information, see "About the Module Bay" on page 51.

DEVICE LATCH RELEASE — Releases the module bay device. See "About the Module Bay" on

page 51 for instruc tio ns.

Back View

NOTICE: To avoid damagin g the computer, wait 5 seconds after turnin g off the computer

before you disconnect an external device.

CAUTION: D o n o t b lo c k, push obj ec ts in to , o r a llo w d u st to accum ul at e in th e air

vents. Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

26 A To ur of Your Compute r

paralle l connect o r

netw ork conn ector (R J -45)

video co n necto r

serial connector

USB CONNECTORS

modem con n ector (RJ-11) (optional)

S-vide o TV-out connector

USB connectors (2)

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

air vents

AC adapter connector

A Tour of Your Com puter 27

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S-VIDEO TV-OUT CONNECTOR

Connects your com put er to a TV. F o r mor e in format ion, see "Connecting a Television to the Computer" on page 73.

MODEM CONNECTOR (RJ- 11) (OPTI ONAL)

If you ordered the optional internal modem, connect the telephone line to the modem connector.

For information on using the modem, see the online modem docu menta tion sup plied wi th your c omputer. See "Accessing Help" on page86.

NETWORK CONNECT OR (RJ-45)

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

damaging the computer, do not plug a telepho ne line into the network conne ctor.

Connects the computer to a netwo rk. The green and yellow lights next to the connect or in dica te activi ty fo r both wired and wireless network communications.

For information on usi ng the netw ork ada pter, see the device user’s guide supplied with your computer. See "Accessing Help" on page 86.

PARALLEL CONNECTOR

VIDEO

CONNECTOR

28 A To ur of Your Compute r

Connects a parallel device, such as a printer.

Connects an external mon itor. Fo r more info rma tion , see the Tell Me How help file. To access the help file, see "Acces s ing Help" on page86.

SERIAL CONNECTOR

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

AC AD APTER CONNECTOR — Attach an AC adapter to the computer.

The AC adapter converts AC power to the DC power required by the computer. You can con nect the AC adapter with your computer turned eith er on or off.

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

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

NOTICE: When you disconnect the AC adapter cable f rom the computer, grasp the co nnector,

not the cable itself, and pull firmly but gently to avoid damaging the cable.

AIR VENTS — T he computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents, which

prevents the computer from overheating.

NOTE: The comput er tu rns on t he f an whe n the c omp uter g et s hot . Fa n no ise is normal a nd d oes

not indicate a proble m w ith the fa n o r th e co m p uter.

CAUTION: D o n o t b lo c k, push obj ec ts in to , o r a llo w d u st to accum ul at e in th e air

vents. Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase , wh ile it is runni ng. Restric ting th e air flow ca n dam age t he c omp uter or cause a fire.

A Tour of Your Com puter 29

Bottom View

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hard drive

Mini PCI card cover

fan

memory module cover

battery-bay latch release

battery cha rge gauge

battery

docking device slot

MEMOR Y MODULE COVER — Covers the compartment that contains the memory module(s). See

"Adding Memory" o n page 106.

BATTERY-BAY LATCH REL EASE — Relea ses the battery. See "Using a Battery" on page 44 for

instructions.

BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE — Provides information on the battery charge. See "Using a Battery" on

page 44.

BATTERY — When a battery is instal led, you can use the computer withou t conn ec ting the

computer to an electrical outlet. See "Using a Battery" on page 44.

DOCKING DE VICE SLOT — Lets you attach your computer to a docking device. See the

documentation that came with your docking device for additional information.

30 A To ur of Your Compute r

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