Dell PP05XB, M1710 User Manual

Dell™ XPS™ M1710

Owner’s Manual

Model PP05XB
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Notes, Notices, and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see "Glossary" on page 173.
®
If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft operating systems are not applicable.
Windows®
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 2006 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude, PowerEdge, PowerConnect,
PowerVault, PowerApp, Dell TravelLite, ExpressChar g e , Dell MediaDirect, Strike Zone, Wi-Fi Catcher, and XPS are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel is a registered trademarks and Core is a trademark of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Outlook, and Windows are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation; Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license; EMC is a registered trademark of EMC Corporation; IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation; ENERGY STAR is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Model PP05XB
January 2006 P/N RD117 Rev. A00

Contents

Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1 A Tour of Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Determining Your Computer’s Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Front View
Left Side View
Right Side View
Back View
Bottom View
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
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2 Setting Up Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
Transferring Information to a New Computer
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD
Setting Up a Printer
Printer Cable Connecting a USB Printer
Power Protection Devices
Surge Protectors Line Conditioners
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Uninterruptible Power Supplies
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
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Contents 3
3 Using the Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Adjusting Brightness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Switching the Video Image
Setting Display Resolution
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4 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Key Combinations
System Functions Battery CD or DVD Tray Display Functions Wireless Networking and Bluetooth
Technology Function Power Management Speaker Functions Microsoft
Touch Pad
Customizing the Touch Pad
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
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®
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Windows® Logo Key Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
®
Wireless
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5 Using a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4 Contents
Battery Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Checking the Battery Charge
Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter Microsoft Charge Gauge
®
Windows® Power Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
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Low-Battery Warning
Conserving Battery Power
Power Management Modes
Standby Mode
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Configuring Power Management Settings
Charging the Battery
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Replacing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Storing a Battery
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
6 Dell™ QuickSet Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
Playing CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Adjusting the Volume
Adjusting the Picture
Copying CDs and DVDs
How to Copy a CD or DVD Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful Tips
Using Dell Media Experience and Dell MediaDirect™
If the Computer Is On or in Standby Mode If the Computer Is Off or in Hibernate Mode Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device
S-Video and Standard Audio S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Composite Video and Standard Audio Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Component Video and Standard Audio Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Setting Up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones Enabling the Display Settings for a TV in Microsoft
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
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®
Windows® XP . . . 70
8Using Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
ExpressCards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
ExpressCard Blanks Installing an ExpressCard Removing an ExpressCard or Blank
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
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Contents 5
Media Memory Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Installing a Media Memory Card Removing a Media Memory Card
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Smart Cards
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Installing a Smart Card
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
9 Setting Up a Home and Office Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband Modem . . . . . . . . . . 79
Network Setup Wizard
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection Checking Your Wireless Network Card Setting Up a New WLAN
Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network
Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Completing the Connection to the WLAN Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through
Dell™ QuickSet
Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network
What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection
Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
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10 Securing Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
6 Contents
Internet Connection Firewall
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Security Cable Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Passwords
Computer Tracking Software
If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
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11 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Dell Technical Update Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Dell Diagnostics
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
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Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD Dell Diagnostics Main Menu
Dell Support Utility
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Accessing the Dell Support Utility Clicking the Dell Support Icon Double-Clicking the Dell Support Icon
Drive Problems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
CD and DVD Drive Problems
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If You Cannot Eject the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW Drive Tray If You Hear an Unfamiliar Scraping or Grinding Sound Hard Drive Problems
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems
Error Messages
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
IEEE 1394 Device Problems
Keyboard Problems
External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters
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Lockups and Software Problems
The Computer Does Not Start Up The Computer Stops Responding
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A Program Stops Responding or Crashes Repeatedly A Program Is Designed for an Earlier Microsoft
Operating System A Solid Blue Screen Appears Dell MediaDirect Problems Other Software Problems
Memory Problems
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®
Windows®
Contents 7
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
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General Mobile Broadband Network
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ExpressCard Problems
Power Problems
Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer Docking Power Considerations
Printer Problems
Scanner Problems
Sound and Speaker Problems
No Sound From Integrated Speakers No Sound From External Speakers No Sound From Headphones
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems
Video and Display Problems
If the Display Is Blank If the Display Is Difficult to Read If Only Part of the Display is Readable
Drivers
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
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12 Adding and Replacing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
8 Contents
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Restoring Your Operating System
Using Microsoft
Windows XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Using the Operating System CD
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
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Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
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Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Memory
Modem
Mini-Card
Hinge Cover
Keyboard
Coin-Cell Battery
Optical Drive
Internal Card With Bluetooth
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
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®
Wireless Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
13 Traveling With Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Identifying Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Packing the Computer
Travel Tips
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Traveling by Air
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
14 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
15 Getting Help
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Obtaining Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Online Services AutoTech Service Automated Order-Status Service Support Service
Problems With Your Order
Product Information
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit
Before You Call
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Contents 9
16 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Using the System Setup Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screen Commonly Used Options
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
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Cleaning Your Computer
Computer, Keyboard, and Display Touch Pad
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
CDs and DVDs
FCC Notices (U.S. Only)
FCC Class B
Macrovision Product Notice
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)
Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
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17 Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Glossary
Index
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
10 Contents

Finding Information

NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or media may
not be available in certain countries.
NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• A diagnostic program for my computer
• Drivers for my computer
• My device documentation
• Notebook System Software (NSS)
• Warranty information
• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
• Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement
Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as ResourceCD)
Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the CD to install drivers (see "Manually Reinstalling Drivers" on page 112) or to run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 89).
Readme files may be included on your CD to provide last-minute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technical­reference material for technicians or experienced users.
NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be found at
support.dell.com.
Dell™ Product Information Guide
Finding Information 11
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• How to set up my computer
Setup Diagram
• Service Tag and Express Service Code
• Microsoft Windows License Label
Service Tag and Microsoft® Windows® License
These labels are located on the bottom of your computer.
• Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you
support.dell.com
use
• Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting technical support.
or contact technical support.
12 Finding Information
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, and online courses, frequently asked questions
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support
site.
• Community Forum — Online discussion with other Dell customers
• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as memory, the hard drive, and the operating system
• Customer Care — Contact information, service call and order status, warranty, and repair information
• Service and support — Service call status and support history, service contract, online discussions with technical support
• Reference — Computer documentation, details on my computer configuration, product specifications, and white papers
• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates
• Notebook System Software (NSS)— If you reinstall the operating system for your computer, you should also reinstall the NSS utility. NSS provides critical updates for your operating system and support for Intel
®
processors, Dell™ 3.5-inch USB floppy drives, optical drives, and USB devices. NSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer. The software automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration.
• Software upgrades and troubleshooting hints
• Frequently asked questions, hot topics, and general health of your computing environment
To download Notebook System Software:
1
Go to
support.dell.com
2
Enter your Service Tag or product model.
3
In the
4
Select the operating system and operating system language for your computer, and click
5
Under
Configuration Utilities Software
Dell Support Utility
The Dell Support Utility is an automated upgrade and notification system installed on your computer. This support provides real-time health scans of your computing environment, software updates, and relevant self-support information. Access the Dell Support Utility from the
icon in the taskbar. For more information, see "Dell Support Utility" on page 92.
• How to use Windows XP
• How to work with programs and files
• How to personalize my desktop
Windows Help and Support Center
1
Click the
2
Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the arrow icon.
3
Click the topic that describes your problem.
4
Follow the instructions on the screen.
and click
Download Category
Select a Device
, scroll to
, and click
.
Start
button and click
Downloads
.
drop-down menu, click
Submit.
System and
Dell Notebook System
Help and Support
.
All
.
Finding Information 13
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
• How to reinstall my operating system
Operating System CD
The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system, use one of the following methods:
• Microsoft Windows Windows earlier operating state without affecting data files.
Operating System System
your operating system.
For more information, see "Restoring Your Operating System" on page 113.
After you reinstall your operating system, use the Drivers and Utilities CD (ResourceCD) to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer.
System Restore
System Restore
CD with your computer, you can use it to restore
returns your computer to an
CD — If you received an
— Microsoft
Operating
NOTE: The color of your CD
varies based on the operating system you ordered.
14 Finding Information

A Tour of Your Computer

Determining Your Computer’s Configuration

Based on selections that you made when purchasing your computer, your computer has one of several different video controller configurations. To determine your computer’s video controller configuration:
1
Access the Windows Help and Support Center. For instructions, see "Windows Help and Support Center" on page 13.
2
Under
Pick a Task
3
Under
My Computer Information
From the My Computer Information - Hardware screen, you can view the type of video controller installed in your computer, as well as the other hardware components.
, click
Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems.
, select
Hardware
.
A Tour of Your Computer 15

Front View

1
12
11
10
9
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 display latches (2) 5 device status lights 9 touch pad buttons
2 display latch release 6 touch pad 10 keyboard
3 display 7 media control buttons 11 Dell MediaDirect button
4 power button 8 speakers 12 keyboard and wireless
status lights
DISPLAY LATCHES Keeps the display closed.
DISPLAY LATCH RELEASE — Slide to release the display latches and open the display.
DISPLAY For more information about your display, see "Using the Display" on page 37.
POWER BUTTON Press to turn on the computer or to enter or exit a power management mode. For more
information on power management modes, see "Power Management Modes" on page 45.
16 A Tour of Your Computer
DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS
Turns on when you turn on the computer, and blinks when the computer is in a power management 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.
Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status.
If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the light operates as follows:
Solid green: The battery is charging.
Flashing green: The battery is almost fully charged.
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.
A Tour of Your Computer 17
TOUCH PAD Provides the functionality of a mouse.
TOUCH PAD SCROLL ZONE — Provides the functionality of the scroll button on a mouse. A vertical scroll zone is
located on the right side of the touch pad. A horizontal scroll zone is located on the bottom of the touch pad.
MEDIA CONTROL BUTTONS — Control CD, DVD, and Media Player playback.
1
1 touch pad scroll zone
Mute the sound.
Turn the volume down.
Turn the volume up.
Play or pause.
Play the previous track.
Play the next track.
Stop.
SPEAKERS — To adjust the volume of the integrated speakers, press the media control buttons or speaker-volume
keyboard shortcuts. For more information, see "Speaker Functions" on page 41.
TOUCH PAD BUTTONS — Touch pad buttons provide the same functionality as mouse buttons.
KEYBOARD The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as well as the Microsoft Windows logo key. For information
on supported keyboard shortcuts, see "Key Combinations" on page 40.
18 A Tour of Your Computer
DELL MEDIADIRECTBUTTON Press the Dell MediaDirect button to launch Dell MediaDirect or Microsoft® Windows
KEYBOARD AND WIRELESS STATUS LIGHTS
®
Media Center Edition. See "Using Dell Media Experience and Dell MediaDirect™" on page 56.
The lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:
Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled.
9
Turns on when the uppercase letter function is enabled.
A
Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled.
Turns on when wireless networking is enabled. To quickly enable or disable wireless networking, press <Fn><F2>.
®
Turns on when a card with Bluetooth
wireless technology
is enabled.
NOTE: The card with Bluetooth wireless technology is an
optional feature, so the light turns on only if you ordered the card with your computer. For more information, see the documentation that came with your card.
To turn off only the Bluetooth wireless technology functionality, right-click the icon in the Windows taskbar (in the lower-right corner of your screen) and click Disable Bluetooth Radio.
To quickly enable or disable all wireless devices, press <Fn><F2>.
A Tour of Your Computer 19

Left Side View

1 2345
1 security cable slot 3 USB connectors (2) 5 optical-drive-tray eject
button
2 air vent 4 optical drive
SECURITY CABLE SLOT — Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer. For more
information, see the instructions included with the device.
NOTICE: Before you buy an antitheft device, ensure that it will work with the security cable slot.
AIR VENT — The computer uses fan(s) to create airflow through the vent(s), which prevents the computer from
overheating.
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the 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.
CONNECTORS Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer. You can also connect the
USB
optional floppy drive directly to a USB connector using the optional floppy-drive cable
OPTICAL DRIVE — You can install devices such as a DVD drive or other optical drive in the optical drive bay. For
more information, see "Optical Drive" on page 132.
OPTICAL-DRIVE-TRAY EJECT BUTTON Press this button to eject a CD or DVD from the optical drive. This
button only works when the computer is turned on.
20 A Tour of Your Computer

Right Side View

2 345671
1 smart card slot 4 IEEE 1394 connector 7 air vent
2 hard drive 5 5-in-1 media memory card
reader
3 ExpressCard slot 6 audio connectors (2)
SMART CARD SLOT — Supports one smart card. See "Smart Cards" on page 76.
NOTE: The smart card slot is optional and may not ship with your computer.
HARD DRIVE Stores software and data.
A Tour of Your Computer 21
EXPRESSC ARD SLOT Supports one ExpressCard, such as a modem or network adapter. The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot. For more information, see
"Using Cards" on page 71.
NOTE: The ExpressCard slot does NOT support PC Cards.
IEEE 1394
CONNECTOR — Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high-speed transfer rates, such as some digital
video cameras.
IN-1MEDIA MEMORY CARD READER — Provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos,
5-
music, and videos stored on a media memory card. The 5-in-1 media memory card reader reads the following digital media memory cards:
• Secure Digital (SD) card/SDIO
• MultiMediaCard (MMC)
•Memory Stick
• Memory Stick PRO
• xD-Picture Card
AUDIO CONNECTORS
Attach headphones or speakers to the connector.
Attach a microphone to the connector.
AIR
VENT The computer uses fan(s) to create airflow through the vent(s), which prevents the computer from
overheating.
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the 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.
22 A Tour of Your Computer

Back View

1 2345 6 7 8 9 10
1 air vent 5 USB connectors (2) 9 AC adapter connector
2 S-video TV-out connector 6 USB connectors (2) 10 air vent
3 network (RJ-45) connector 7 Digital-Video Interface
(DVI) connector
4 modem (RJ-11) connector 8 video (VGA) connector
AIR VENT — The computer uses fan(s) to create airflow through the vents, which prevents the computer from
overheating.
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the 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.
VIDEO TV-OUT CONNECTOR
S-
Connects your computer to a TV. Also connects digital audio capable devices using the TV/digital audio adapter cable.
A Tour of Your Computer 23
NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45)
NOTICE: The network connector is slightly larger than the modem connector. To avoid damaging the computer, do
not plug a telephone line into the network connector.
Connects the computer to a network. The two lights at the top of the connector indicate link status and activity for wired network connections. The solid light on the connector provides link status information. Off indicates no link, green indicates a 10-Mb/sec link, orange indicates a 100-Mb/sec link, and yellow indicates 1000-Mb/sec link. The blinking yellow light on the connector indicates wired network activity.
For information on using the network adapter, see the network adapter documentation supplied with your computer under the Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center, see "Windows Help and Support Center" on page 13.
MODEM CONNECTOR (RJ-11)
To use the internal modem, connect the telephone line to the modem connector.
For additional information on using the modem, see the modem documentation supplied with your computer under the Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center, see "Windows Help and Support Center" on page 13.
USB
CONNECTORS
Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer.
DIGITAL
-VIDEO INTERFACE (DVI) CONNECTOR
Connects an external DVI-compatible monitor, such as a flat-panel monitor. With an adapter cable, you can also connect an external VGA-compatible monitor to the DVI connector.
24 A Tour of Your Computer
VIDEO CONNECTOR
Connects an external VGA-compatible monitor.
AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR Attaches an AC adapter to the computer.
The AC adapter converts AC power to the DC power required by the computer. You can connect the AC adapter with your computer turned either 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 from the computer, grasp the connector, not the cable itself,
and pull firmly but gently to avoid damaging the cable.
NOTE: For optimum system performance, you should always use the 130-W AC adapter that came with your
computer. Using less-powerful AC adapters may cause you to receive a WARNING message and may also cause your computer to experience a degradation in performance.
A Tour of Your Computer 25

Bottom View

12
11
12 3 4
5
6
7
10
1 subwoofer 5 cover for optional internal
card with Bluetooth
89
®
9 docking connector
wireless technology
2 battery charge gauge 6 hard drive 10 memory module cover
3 battery-bay latch release 7 air vent 11 air vent
4 battery 8 Mini-Card/modem cover 12 optical-drive locking screw
SUBWOOFER Produces a broader bass output than is provided by the speakers.
BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE — Provides information on the battery charge status. For more information, see
"Checking the Battery Charge" on page 44.
BATTERY-BAY LATCH RELEASE — Releases the battery from the battery bay. For more information, see "Replacing
the Battery" on page 47.
BATTERY — When a battery is installed, you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an
electrical outlet. For more information, see "Using a Battery" on page 43.
COVER FOR OPTIONAL INTERNAL CARD WITH BLUETOOTH
®
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY — For more information, see
the documentation that came with your card. To quickly enable or disable all wireless devices, press <Fn><F2>.
HARD DRIVE — Stores software and data. For more information, see "Hard Drive" on page 119. The size displayed
for your hard drive in Windows Explorer is the capacity of the drive before any operating system or programs are installed.
26 A Tour of Your Computer
AIR VENT — The computer uses fan(s) to create airflow through the vent(s), which prevents the computer from
overheating.
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the 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.
MINI-CARD/ MODEM COVER Covers the compartment that contains the Mini-Card and the modem. For more
information, see "Mini-Card" on page 126 and "Modem" on page 124.
MEMORY MODULE COVER — Covers the compartment that contains the memory modules. For more information,
see "Memory" on page 121.
OPTICAL-DRIVE LOCKING SCREW — Secures the optical drive in the optical drive bay. For more information, see
"Optical Drive" on page 132.
DOCKING-DEVICE CONNECTOR — Lets you attach your computer to a docking device. See the documentation that
came with your docking device for more information.
A Tour of Your Computer 27
28 A Tour of Your Computer

Setting Up Your Computer

Connecting to the Internet

NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country.
To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP). Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options:
Dial-up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line. Dial-up connections are considerably slower than DSL and cable modem connections.
DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing telephone line. With a DSL connection, you can access the Internet and use your telephone on the same line simultaneously.
Cable modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your local cable TV line.
If you are using a dial-up connection, connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your computer and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection. If you are using a DSL or cable modem connection, contact your ISP for setup instructions.

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut:
1
Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
2
Double-click the ISP icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop.
3
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.
If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP:
1
Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
2
Click the
The
Start
button and click
New Connection Wizard
Internet Explorer
appears.
.
3
Click
Connect to the Internet
.
Setting Up Your Computer 29
4
In the next window, click the appropriate option:
If you do not have an ISP and want to select one, click
providers (ISPs)
If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not receive a setup CD,
click
Set up my connection manually
If you have a CD, click
5
Click
Next
.
If you selected on the screen to complete the setup.
NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, contact your ISP.
6
Click the appropriate option under
7
Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.
If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems" on page 94. 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.
.
.
Use the CD I got from an ISP
Set up my connection manually
How do you want to connect to the Internet?
, continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the instructions
Choose from a list of Internet service
.
, and then click
Next

Transferring Information to a New Computer

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to move data from a source computer to a new computer. You can transfer data, such as:
E-mail messages
Toolbar settings
Internet bookmarks
You can transfer the data to the new computer over a network connection, or you can store it on removable media, such as a writable CD, for transfer to the new computer.
For transferring information to a new computer, you must run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. You can use the optional Operating System CD for this process or you can create a wizard disk with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard utility.
.

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD

NOTE: This procedure requires the Operating System CD. This CD is optional and may not be included with all
computers.
30 Setting Up Your Computer
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