Dell PP04S User Manual

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Dell™ Inspiron™ 300m

Owner’s Manual

Model PP04S

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

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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 problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for pr operty damage, p ersonal

injury, or death.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the "Dell™ Inspiron™ Help File" on page 17.

If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer , any references in this document to Microsoft Windows

operating systems are not applicable.

____________________

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, AccessDirect, Latitude, Inspiron, OptiPlex, Dimension, Dell

Precision, TrueMobile, ExpressCharge, and DellNet are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel, Celeron, and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell Inc. 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.

Model PP04S

August 2003 P/N P2373 Rev. A00

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Contents

CAUTION: Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

General Power

Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Air Travel EMC Instructions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

When Using Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Ergonomic Computing Habits When Working Inside Your Computer

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Battery Disposal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Finding Information for Your Computer

1 A Tour of Your Computer

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

Left Side View Right Side View Back View Bottom View

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

2 Setting Up Your Computer

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

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Contents 3

Page 4

Modem and Internet Connection Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

E-Mail Problems

Transferring Information to a New Computer . . . . . . . . . . 36

Setting Up a Printer

Printer Cable Connecting a USB Printer

Printer Problems Power Protection Devices

Surge Protectors Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies

Turning Off Your Computer

3 Using a Battery

Battery Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Checking the Battery Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter

Microsoft® Windows® Power Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Charge Gauge Low-Battery Warning

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

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

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

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

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

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4 Contents

Charging the Battery Removing a Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Installing a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Installing the Optional Extended Battery

Storing a Battery Power Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

. . . . . . . . . . . . 49

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4 Using the Dell™ D/Bay

About the Dell D/Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Removing and Installing Devices When the Computer Is Turned Off

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Running

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

5 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Keyboard Shortcuts

System Functions Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Display Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Radios (Including Wireless Networking and the Bluetooth™ Card)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Speaker Functions Microsoft

Touch Pad

Windows® Logo Key Functions . . . . . . . . . . . 58

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Customizing the Touch Pad

Touch Pad or Mouse Problems External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

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

6 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

Using CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Contents 5

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CD or DVD Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, or DVD If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive tray

. . . . . . . . . . . 64

. . . . . 65

If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound . . . . . . 65

If the CD-RW drive stops writing

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Sound and Speaker Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

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

Copying CDs and DVDs

How to Copy a CD or DVD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs Helpful Tips

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

. . . . . . . . . . 65

7 Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Network Setup Wizard

Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network

Determining Your Network Type Connecting to a Network in Microsoft® Windows® XP

Finalizing Your Network Connection (Security Settings) . . . . 76

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

. . . . . . . . . . 71

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

. . . . . . . . . 65

. . . . 72

8 Solving Problems

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Video and Display Problems

If the display is blank If the display is difficult to read

If only part of the display is readable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Scanner Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

6 Contents

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

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Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

If you cannot save a file to a floppy drive

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

PC Card Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

General Program Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

A program crashes

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

A program stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

A solid blue screen appears Error messages appear

Resolving Other Technical Problems If Your Computer Gets Wet

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

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

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

If You Drop or Damage Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Drivers

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

What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers

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

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

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities . . . . . . . 94

Using Microsoft

Windows® XP

System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Creating a Restore Point

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

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State . . . . . . 95

Undoing the Last System Restore

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Reinstalling Microsoft

Before You Begin Reinstalling Windows XP

Windows® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

9 Adding and Replacing Parts

Before You Add or Replace Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Adding Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Contents 7

Page 8

Adding a Mini PCI Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Adding a Modem

10 Appendix

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

Using the System Setup Program

Overview Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screens

Commonly Used Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Enabling the Infrared Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

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 (Mexico Only)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

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. . . . . . . . . . . . 126

. . . . . 126

. . . . . . 127

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Limited Warranties and Return Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Limited Warranty for Dell-Branded Hardware Products (U.S. Only)

"Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (U.S. Only)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

. . . . . . . . . . 149

Limited Warranty Terms for Dell-Branded Hardware Products (Canada Only)

"Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (Canada Only) Dell Software and Peripherals (Canada Only)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

. . . . . . . . 153

. . . . . . . . . . 153

1-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee (Latin America and the Caribbean Only)

Intel

Warranty Statement for Pentium® and

Celeron

Processors Only (U.S. and Canada Only) . . . . . . . 156

. . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

8 Contents

Page 9

CAUTION: Safety Instructions

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

General

• Do not attempt to service the computer yourself unless you are a trained service technician. Always follow installation instructions closely.

• If you use an extension power cable with your AC adapter, 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 computer or cause 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 ventilated ar e a, s uch as a desk top or on the floor, when you use it to run the computer or to charge the battery. Do not cover the AC adapter with papers or other items that will 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 stor m is approaching to avoid the remote risk of electric shock from lightning via the telephone line.

CAUTION: Safety Instructions 9

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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 wir e si ze of 26 A merican wir e gauge (AWG) and an FCCcompliant RJ-11 modular plug.

• Before you open the memory module/Mini PCI card/modem cover on the bottom of

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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.

Power

(continued)

• 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 instal led in the battery bay or module bay.

• To help preve nt electric shock, plug the A C adapter and device power cables into properly 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.

10 CAUTION: Safety Instructions

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CAUTION: Safety Instructions

• Be sure that nothing rests 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 e xplosion.

• Do not carry a battery pack in your pocket, purse, or other container where metal objects (such as car keys or paper clips) could short-circuit 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-gene rating 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: Safety Instructions 11

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CAUTION: Safety Instructions

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,

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EMC Instructions

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

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 critical phases of flight, for example, takeoff and landing. Some airlines may further define the critical flight phase as any time the aircraft is below 3050 m (10,000 ft). Please follow the airline’s specific instructions as to when the use of a PED is allowed.

(continued)

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 panel.

WARNING: Handling the cord on this product, or cords associated with accessories sold with this product, will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.

12 CAUTION: Safety Instructions

Wash your hands after handling the cord.

Page 13

When Using Your Computer

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 checked 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 computer from low-temperature conditions into a warmer environment

or from high-temperature conditions into a cooler environment, allow the computer to acclimate to room temperature 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, keep 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 components with care. Hold a component such as a memory module by its edges, not its pins.

• When preparing to remove a memory module from the system 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 module bay, and then wait 5 seconds before proceeding to help avoid possible damage to the system board.

When Using Your Computer 13

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When Using Your Computer

• 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 computer gets wet or is damaged, follow the procedures described in "If Your Computer Gets W e t" on page89 or "If You Drop or Damage Your Computer" on page 90. 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

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information).

Ergonomic Computing Habits

CAU TION: Improper or prolonge d keyboard use may result in injur y. CAUTION: Viewing the display or external monitor screen for extended periods of

time may result in eye strain.

For comfort and efficiency, observe the ergonomic guidelines in the Dell Inspiron Help file when setting up and using your computer. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

This portable computer is not designed for continuous operation as office equipment. For extended use in an office, it is recommended that you connect an external keyboard.

(continued)

When Working Inside Your Computer

Before removing or installing memory modules, Mini PCI cards, or modems, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated.

NOTICE: The only time you should ever access the inside of your computer is when you are

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

14 When Using Your Computer

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When Using Your Computer

NOTICE: Wait 5 seconds after turning off the computer before disconnecting a device or removing

a memory module, Mini PCI card, or modem to help prevent possible damage to the system board.

Shut down your computer and turn off any attached devices.

1 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.

4 Ground yourself by touching any unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer. 5 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.

When Using Your Computer 15

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When Using Your Computer

Battery Disposal

Your computer uses a lithium-ion battery and a reserve battery . For instructions about replacing the lithium-ion battery in your computer, refer to "Using a Battery" on page43. 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.

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Do not dispose of the battery along with household waste. Contact your local waste disposal agency for the address of the nearest battery deposit site.

(continued)

16 When Using Your Computer

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Finding Information for Your Computer

What are you looking for? Find It Here

• A diagnostic program for my computer

• Drivers for my computer

• My computer documentation

• My device documentation

• How to set up my computer Setup Diagram

Drivers and Utilities CD

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer when shipped from Dell. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers, run the Dell Diagnostics.

Readme files may be included on your CD to provide last-minute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technical-reference material for experienced users or technicians.

See the setup diagram that was shipped with your computer.

• Tips on using the Microsoft Windows® operating system

• How to clean my computer

• How to use my mouse and keyboard

Dell™ Inspiron™ Help File

1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support. 2 Click User and system guides and click User’s guides. 3 Click Dell Inspiron Help.

Finding Information for Your Computer 17

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What are you looking for? Find It Here

• Express Service Code and Service Tag

•Microsoft

Windows® License Label

Express Service Code and Product Key Label

These labels are located on your computer.

• Latest drivers for my computer

• Answers to technical service and support questions

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

• Online discussions with other users and technical support

• Documentation for my computer

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

The Dell Support website provides several online tools, including:

• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, and online courses

• 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, order status, warranty, and repair information

• Downloads — Drivers, patches, and software updates

• Reference — Computer documentation, product specifications, and white papers

• How to use Windows XP

• Documentation for my computer

• Documentation for devices (such as a modem)

Windows Help and Support Center

1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support. 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.

• How to reinstall my operating system Operating System CD

After you reinstall your operating system using the Operating System CD, use the Drivers and Utilities CD to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer.

The product key for your operating system is located on your computer.

18 Finding Information for Your Computer

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SECTION 1

A Tour of Your Computer

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

Page 20

Front View

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power button

display latch

display

keyboard

touch pad

DISPLAY LATCH — Keeps the display closed. DISPLAY — For more information on using your color display, see "Using the Display" in the Dell

Inspiron Help file. T o access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

KEYBOARD — The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as well as the Microsoft

key. For information on supported keyboard shortcuts, see "Keyboard Shortcuts" on page56.

20 A Tour of Your Computer

speaker (2)

keyboard status lights

touch pad button (2)

device status lights

Windows® logo

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DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS

Device Status Lights

Turns on when you turn on the computer or blinks steadily when the computer is in standby 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.

Indicates battery charge status.

Turns on only if the Bluetooth™ module is already installed and the wireless antenna is enabled. To enable or disable the antenna, press <Fn><F2>.

NOTE: The wireless features on your computer, including Bluetooth and Mini PCI card are optional. For more information, see the documentation that came with your wireless technology.

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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. – Off: The battery is 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.

EYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS

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Keyboard Status Lights

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.

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TOUCH PAD BUTTONS — Correspond to the left and right buttons on a standard mouse.

touch pad

touch pad button (2)

SPEAKER — The computer speakers are located inside the front center edge of the computer. Press

the volume control keyboard shortcuts to adjust the volume of the integrated speakers. For more information, see "Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad" on page55.

TOUCH PAD — Use the touch pad and touch pad buttons as you would use a mouse. See "Using the

Keyboard and Touch Pad" on page 55 for more information.

POWER BUTTON — Press the power button to turn on the computer or to enter standby mode.

NOTICE: Turn off your computer by performing a Windows shutdown rather than by pressing

the power button. Otherwise, you may lose data.

A Tour of Your Computer 23

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Left Side View

AC adapter connector 1394 connector

network connector

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MODEM CONNECTOR (OPTIONAL)

modem connector (optional)

PC Card slot

D/Bay connector

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

F or information on using the modem, see the online modem documentation supplied with your computer. See "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

audio connector

Secure Digital memory card slot

24 A Tour of Your Computer

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NETWORK CONNECTOR

NOTE: The network connector is slightly larger than the modem connector. Do not plug a

telephone line into the network connector.

RJ-45

NETWORK CONNECTOR — Connects the

computer to a network. The network connector has status lights on both sides. If the light on the right is off, the media base is not detecting

a network connection. Try replacing the network cable. The light on the right blinks yellow when the network is active.

The light on the left indicates the link speed:

SOLID GREEN —Connection speed is 10 Mbps. AMBER — Connection speed is 100 Mbps. YELLOW — Connection speed is 1 Gbps.

For information on using the network adapter, see the documentation that came with your computer.

NOTICE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector.

A Tour of Your Computer 25

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AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR — Attach an AC adapter to the computer and to AC power to convert AC power to the DC power required by the computer. You can connect the AC adapter with your computer either turned on or off.

The power cable manager can be removed from the AC adapter. For details, see the label that came with your AC adapter.

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CAUTION: 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.

NOTICE: When you disconnect the AC adapter from the computer, hold the adapter cable

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

26 A Tour of Your Computer

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D/BAY CONNECTOR

1394 CONNECTOR

AUDIO CONNECTORS

Connects powered USB devices such as a Dell™ D/Bay, which is an external media bay that accommodates an optical drive, floppy drive, or second hard drive; also connects standard USB devices.

Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high-speed transfer rates, such as some digital video cameras.

Attach a microphone to the connector.

Attach headphones or speakers to the connector. The connector is a stereo output connector.

A Tour of Your Computer 27

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PC CARD SLOT — The 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 Dell Inspiron Help file. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

ECURE DIGITAL MEMORY CARD SLOT — The Secure Digital memory card slot supports one

Secure D igital memor y card. Use Secu re Digital memory cards to save or back up data. For more information, see the Dell Inspiron Help file. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

Right Side View

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

device without 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 Windows Help and Support Center or the documentation that came with your IrDA-compatible device. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

AIR VENT — The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents, which pr events

the computer from overheating.

CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air

vents. Doing so can damage the computer or cause a fire.

NOTE: The computer turns on the fans when the computer gets hot. The fans may make noise,

which is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fans or the computer.

video connector

air vent

infrared sensor USB connector

28 A Tour of Your Computer

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USB CONNECTOR

VIDEO

CONNECTOR

Connects USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer.

Connects an external monitor or projector. See "Using the Display" in the Dell Inspiron Help file. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

A Tour of Your Computer 29

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Back View

SECURITY CABLE SLOT — Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the

computer. Instructions for installing antitheft devices are usually included with the device.

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security cable slot

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

cable slot.

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Bottom View

battery charge gauge

battery latch release

Service Tag

docking device connector

battery/battery bay

battery latch release

memory module/ Mini PCI card/modem cover

BATTERY LATCH RELEASE — Releases the battery. See "Removing a Battery" on page 47 for

instructions.

BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE — Provides information on the battery charge. See "Charging the

Battery" on page 47.

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DOCKING DEVICE CONNECTOR — Lets you attach your computer to the optional media base

docking device. See the documentation that came with your docking device for additional information.

Connects the optional media base. The media base allows you to easily use external devices with your computer, such as an external keyboard, mouse, monitor , CD drive, CD-R W drive, D VD/CD-RW drive, and floppy drive.

See the documentation that came with your media base for additional information.

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BATTERY/BATTERY BAY — When a battery is installed, you can use the computer without

connecting it to an electrical outlet. See "Using a Battery" on page 43.

MEMORY MODULE/MINI PCI CARD/MODEM COVER — Covers the compartment that contains

the memory module, Mini PCI card, and modem. See "Adding and Replacing P arts" on page101.

ERVICE TAG — Identifies your computer when you access Dell Support at support.dell.com or

when you call Dell for customer service or technical support.

32 A Tour of Your Computer

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SECTION 2

Setting Up Your Computer

Connecting to the Internet Modem and Internet Connection Problems E-Mail Problems Transferring Information to a New Computer Setting Up a Printer Printer Problems Power Protection Devices Turning Off Your Computer

Page 34

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), such as AOL or MSN. Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options:

• Dial-up connections that provide Internet access through a phone line. Dial-up connections are considerably slower than DSL and cable modem connections.

• DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing phone line. With a DSL connection, you can access the Internet and use your phone on the

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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 AOL or MSN connection:

1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs. 2 Double-click the MSN Explorer or AOL icon on the Microsoft

Windows® desktop.

3 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

If you do not have an MSN Explorer or AOL 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 Start button and click Interne t Explorer.

The New Connection Wizard appears.

3 Click Connect to the Internet. 4 In the next window, click the appropriate option:

• If you do not have an ISP and want to select one, click Choose from a list of

Internet service providers (ISPs).

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• 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 Use the CD I got from an ISP.

5 Click Next.

If you selected Set up my connection manually, continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the instructions 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 How do you want to connect to the Internet?, and

then click Next.

7 Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.

If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "Modem and Internet Connection Problems" on page 35 and "E-Mail Problems" on page36. If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfull y connected in the past, the ISP might have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the service status, or try connecting again later.

Modem and Internet Connection Problems

NOTICE: Connect the modem to an analog telephone wall jack only. Connecting the modem to

a digital telephone network damages the modem.

NOTICE: Modem and network connectors look similar. Do not plug a telephone line into the

network connector.

NOTE: If you can connect to your Internet service provider (ISP), your modem is functioning

properly. If you are sure t hat your modem is working p roperly and you st ill experience problems, contact your ISP.

HECK THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK — Disconnect the telephone line from the modem and

connect it to a telephone. Listen for a dial tone. Ensure that you have touchtone telephone service. Try connecting the modem to a different telephone wall jack.

Slow connection speeds can be caused by telephone noise as well as by telephone line or network conditions. Contact your telephone company or network administrator for more information.

ONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK — If you have other

telephone devices sharing the line, such as an answering machine, fax machine, surge protector, or line splitter, then bypass them and use the telephone line to connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack.

HECK THE CONNECTION — Verify that the telephone line is connected to the modem.

HECK THE TELEPHONE LINE — T ry using a differ ent telephone line. If you ar e using a line that

is 3 m (10 ft) or more in length, try a shorter one.

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IRREGULAR DIAL TONE —If you have voice mail service, you might hear an irregular dial tone

when you have messages. Contact your telephone company for instructions on restoring a dial tone.

URN OFF CALL WAITING (CATCH-PHONE)—See your telephone directory for instructions on

deactivating this feature. Then adjust the dial-up networking connection properties.

1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware, click Phone and Modem Options, click the Dialing Rules

tab, and then click Edit....

3 In the Edit Location window, ensure that To disable call waiting, dial: is checked, and then select

the proper code as listed in your telephone directory.

4 Click Apply and click OK. 5 Close the Phone and Modems Options window.

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6 Close the Control Panel window.

ERIFY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH WINDOWS

1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware and click Phone and Modem Options. 3 Click the Modems tab. 4 Click the COM port for your modem. 5 Click Properties, click the Diagnostics tab, and then click Query Modem to verify that the modem

is communicating with Windows.

If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.

E-Mail Problems

ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET — With the Outlook Express

e-mail program open, click File. If Work Offline has a check mark next to it, click the check mark to remove it and connect to the Internet.

Transferring Information to a New Computer

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Files a nd Settings Transfer wizard to move data from the source computer to the new computer. You can move data such as:

•E-mails

• Toolbar settings

• Window sizes

• Internet bookmarks

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You can transfer the data to the new computer over a network or serial connection, or you can store it on a removable medium, such as a writable CD or floppy disk.

To prepare the new computer for the file transfer:

1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories→ System Tools, and then

click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

2 When the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears, click Next. 3 On the Which computer is this? screen, click New Computer and click Next. 4 On the Do you have a Windows XP CD? screen, click I will use the wizard from the

Windows XP CD and click Next.

5 When the Now go to your old computer screen appears, go to your old or source

computer. Do not click Next at this time.

To copy data from the old computer:

1 On the old computer, insert the Windows XP Operating System CD. 2 On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen, click Perform additional tasks. 3 Under What do you want to do?, click Transfer files and settings. 4 On the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen, click Next. 5 On the Which computer is this? screen, click Old Computer and click Next. 6 On the Select a transfer method screen, click the transfer method you prefer. 7 On the What do you want to transfer? screen, select the items you want to transfer

and click Next. After the information has been copied, the Completing the Collection Phase

screen appears.

8 Click Finish.

To transfer data to the new computer:

1 On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer, click Next. 2 On the Where are the files and settings? screen, select the method you chose for

transferring your settings and files and click Next. The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your

new computer. When all of the settings and files have been applied, the Finished screen appears.

3 Click Finished and restart the new computer.

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Setting Up a Printer

NOTICE: Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the computer.

See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information, including how to:

• Obtain and install updated drivers.

• Connect the printer to the computer.

• Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge.

• Contact the printer manufacturer for technical assistance.

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Printer Cable

Your printer connects to your computer with either a USB cable or a parallel cable. Your printer may not come with a printer cable, so if you purchase a cable separately, ensure that it is compatible with your printer. If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer, the cable may arrive in the computer box.

Connecting a USB Printer

NOTE: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.

1 Complete the operating system setup if you have not already done so. 2 Install the printer driver if necessary. See the documentation that came with

your printer.

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3 Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer.

The USB connectors fit only one way.

USB connector on computer

USB connector

USB printer cable

on printer

Printer Problems

CHECK THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS — Ensure that the printer cable is properly

connected to the computer (see "Setting Up a Printer" on page 38).

EST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with

another device, such as a lamp.

NSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON — See the documentation supplied with

the printer.

ERIFY THAT WINDOWS

1 Click the Start button. 2 Click Control Panel. 3 Click Printers and Other Hardware. 4 Click View installed printers or fax printers. If the printer model is listed, right-click the

printer icon.

5 Click Properties, and then click the Ports tab. Ensure that the Print to the following port(s):

setting is LPT1 (Printer Port).

EINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER — See "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 92.

RECOGNIZES THE PRINTER

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Power Protection Devices

Several devices are available to protect against power fluctuations and failures:

•Surge protectors

• Line conditioners

• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)

Surge Protectors

Surge protectors and power strips equipped with surge protection help to prevent damage

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to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical storms or follo wi n g power interruptions. The level of protection is usually commensurate with the cost of the surge protector. Some surge protector manufacturers include warranty coverage for certain types of damage. Carefully read the device warranty when choosi ng a surge protector. A device with a higher joule rating offers more protection. Compare joule ratings to determine the relative effectiveness of different devices.

NOTICE: Most surge protectors do not protect against power fluctuations or power

interruptions caused by nearby lightning strikes. When lightning occurs in your area, disconnect the telephone line from the telephone wall jack and disconnect your computer from the electrical outlet.

Many surge protectors have a telephone jack for modem protection. See the surge protector documentation for modem connection instructions.

NOTICE: Not all surge protectors offer network adapter protection. Disconnect the network

cable from the network wall jack during electrical storms.

Line Conditioners

NOTICE: Line conditioners do not protect against power interruptions.

Line conditioners are designed to maintain AC voltage at a fairly constant level.

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

NOTICE: Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in data loss or

file damage.

NOTE: To ensure maximum battery operating time, connect only your computer to a UPS.

Connect other devices, such as a printer, to a separate power strip that provides surge protection.

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A UPS protects against power fluctuations and interruptions. UPS devices contain a battery that provides temporary power to connected devices when AC power is interrupted. The battery charges while AC power is available. See the UPS manufacturer documentation for information on battery operating time and to ensure that the device is approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Turning Off Your Computer

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, turn off your computer by performing a Microsoft® Windows

operating system shutdown, as described next, rather than by pressing the power button.

NOTE: As an alternative to turning off your computer, you can set your computer to enter

standby or hibernate mode. See the access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, click the Start button, and then

Dell Inspiron Help

file for information on standby mode. To

click Turn Off Computer.

2 In the Turn off computer window, click Turn off.

The computer turns off after the shutdown process finishes.

Setting Up Your Computer 41

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42 Setting Up Your Computer

Page 43

SECTION 3

Using a Battery

Battery Performance Charge Gauge Charging the Battery Removing a Battery Installing a Battery Storing a Battery Power Problems

Page 44

Battery Performance

NOTE: Batteries for portable computers are covered only during the initial one-year period of

the limited warranty for your computer. For more information about the Dell warranty for your computer, see "Limited Warranties and Return Policy" on page 146 or separate paper warranty document that shipped with your computer.

For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™ portable computer with the main battery installed at all times. Use a battery to run the computer when it is not connected to an electrical outlet. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay.

Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions. You can either use an

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optional 65-WHr extended battery or an optional second 28-WHr battery in the media base to significantly increase operating time. For more information about the second battery , see the documentation that came with your media base.

Operating time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not limited to, the following:

• Using optical drives, especially DVD and CD-RW drives

• Using wireless communications devices, PC Cards, or USB devices

• Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power-intensive programs such as 3D games

• Running the computer in maximum performance mode. See "Power Management" in the Dell Inspiron Help file. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

NOTE: It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing

to a CD.

You can check the battery charge before you insert the battery into the computer. You can also set power management options to alert you when the battery charge is low. See "Power Management" in the Dell Inspiron Help file. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or

explosion. Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The lithium-ion battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer.

44 Using a Battery

Page 45

CAUTION: Do not dispose of batteries with household waste. When your battery

no longer holds a charge, call your local waste disposal or environmental agency for advice on disposing of a lithium-ion battery. See "Battery Disposal" on page 16.

CAUTION: Misuse of the battery may increas e the risk of fire or chemical burn.

Do not puncture, incinerate, disassemble, or expose the battery to temperatures above 65°C (149°F). Keep the battery away from children. Handle damaged or leaking batteries with extreme care. Damaged batteries may leak and cause personal injury or equipment damage.

Checking the Battery Charge

The Dell QuickSet Battery Meter, the Microsoft® Windows® Power Meter window and

icon, the battery charge gauge, and the low-battery warning provide information on the

battery charge.

Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter

If Dell QuickSet is installed, press <Fn><F3> to display the QuickSet Battery Meter. The Battery Meter window displays status, charge level, and charge completion time for the

battery in your computer. In addition, when your computer is connected to a media base (docked), the Battery Meter

window includes a Dock Battery tab, which displays the charge level and current status of the media base battery.

The following icons appear in the Battery Meter wi ndow:

• The computer or media base is running on battery power.

• The battery is discharging or idle.

• The computer or media base is connected to an electrical outlet and running on AC power.

•The battery is charging.

• The computer or media base is connected to an electrical outlet and running on AC power.

• The battery is idle.

For more information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar, and click Help.

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Microsoft® Windows® Power Meter

The Windows Power Meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the Power Meter, double-click the icon on the taskbar. For more information about the Power Meter tab, see "Power Management" in the Dell Inspiron Help file. To access help, see

"Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17. If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, a icon appears.

Charge Gauge

Before you insert a battery, press the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate

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the charge-level lights. Each light represents approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge. For example, if the battery has 80 percent of its charge remaining, four of the five lights are on. If no lights appear, the battery has no charge.

Low-Battery Warning

NOTICE: To avoid losing or corrupting data, save your work immediately after a low-battery

warning. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet. If the battery runs completely out of power, hibernate mode begins automatically.

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A low-battery warning occurs when the battery charge is approximately 90percent depleted. The computer beeps once, indicating that minimal battery operating time remains. During that time, the speaker beeps periodicall y. If two batteries are installed, the low-battery warning means that the combined charge of both batteries is approximately 90 percent depleted. The computer enters hibernate mode when the battery char ge is at a critically low level. For more information about low-battery alarms, see "Power Management" in the Dell Inspiron Help file. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

Charging the Battery

NOTE: The AC adapter charges a completely discharged battery in approximately 1 hour with

the computer turned off. Charge time is longer with the computer turned on. You can leave the battery in the computer as long as you like. The battery’s internal circuitry prevents the battery from overcharging.

When you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery while the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the computer checks the battery charge and temperature. If necessary, the AC adapter then charges the battery and maintains the battery charge.

If the battery is hot from being used in your computer or being in a hot environment, the battery may not charge when you connect the computer to an electrical outlet.

The battery is too hot to start charging if the light flashes alternately green and orange. Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room temperature. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet to continue charging the battery.

For more information about resolving problems with a battery, see "Power Problems" on page 49.

Removing a Battery

CAUTION: Before performing these procedures, disconnect the modem from the

telephone wall jack.

NOTICE: If you choose to replace the battery with the computer in standby mode, you have up

to 1 minute to complete the battery replacement before the computer shuts down.

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Page 48

1 Ensure that the computer is turned off, suspended in a power management mode, or

connected to an electrical outlet.

2 If the computer is connected to a media base (docked), undock it. See the

documentation that came with your media base for instructions.

3 Slide the battery latch releases on the bottom of the computer and remove the battery

from the bay.

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battery latch release (2)

Installing a Battery

CAUTION: Before performing any of the procedures listed below, read the safety

instructions on page 9.

Slide the battery into the bay until the latch releases click.

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Page 49

Installing the Optional Extended Battery

Storing a Battery

Remove the battery when you store your computer for an extended period of time. A battery discharges during prolonged storage. After a long storage period, recharge the battery fully before you use it. See "Charging the Battery" on page47.

Power Problems

NOTE: See the

"Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

HECK THE POWER LIGHT — When the power light is lit or blinking, the computer has power. If

the power light is blinking, the computer is in standby mode—press the power button to exit standby mode. If the light is off, press the power button to turn on the computer.

Dell Inspiron Help

file for information on standby mode. To access help, see

Using a Battery 49

Page 50

CHARGE THE BATTERY — The battery charge may be depleted.

1 Reinstall the battery. 2 Use the AC adapter to connect the computer to an electrical outlet. 3 Turn on the computer.

CHECK THE BATTERY STATUS LIGHT — If the battery status light flashes orange or is a steady

orange the battery charge is low or depleted. Connect the computer to an electrical outlet. If the battery status light flashes green and orange, the battery is too hot to charge. Turn off the

computer (see "T urning Off Your Computer" on page 41), disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet, and then let the battery and computer cool to room temperature.

If the battery status light rapidly flashes orange, the battery may be defective. Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 127).

EST THE ELECT RICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with

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another device, such as a lamp.

HECK THE AC ADAPTER — Check the AC adapter cable connections. If the AC adapter has a

light, ensure that the light is on.

ONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Bypass power

protection devices, power strips, and the extension cable to verify that the computer turns on.

LIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, halogen

lamps, or other appliances.

DJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES — See the Dell Inspiron Help file or search for the keyword

standby in the Help and Support Center . To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

EINSTALL THE MEMOR Y MODULES — If the computer power light turns on but the display

remains blank, reinstall the memory modules. For instructions, see "Adding Memory" on page102.

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SECTION 4

Using the Dell™ D/Bay

About the Dell D/Bay Removing and Installing Devices When the Computer Is

Turned Off

Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is

Running

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About the Dell D/Bay

You can install Dell D-Family devices, such as a floppy drive or an optical drive, into the Dell D/Bay.

Removing and Installing Devices When the Computer Is Turned Off

NOTICE: To prevent damage to devices, place them in a safe, dry place when they are not

installed in the computer. Avoid pressing down on them or placing heavy objects on top of them.

Press the device latch release so that the latch release pops out.

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2 Pull the device by the latch release to remove the device from the D/Bay.

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3 Insert the new device into the bay, push the device until it clicks, and push the device

latch release in so that it is flush with the bay.

4 Connect the D/Bay cable to the Dell D/Bay connector on the computer.

Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Running

CAUTION: Before performing any of the procedures listed below, read the safety

instructions on page 9.

Double-click the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar.

1 2 Click the device you want to eject.

NOTICE: To prevent damage to devices, place them in a safe, dry place when they are not

installed in the computer. Avoid pressing down on them or placing heavy objects on top of them.

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3 Press the device latch release so that the latch release pops out.

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4 Pull the device by the latch release to remove the device from the D/Bay.

5 Insert the new device into the bay, push the device until it clicks, and push the device

latch release in so that it is flush with the bay. Windows XP automatically r ecognizes the new device.

6 If necessary, enter your password to unlock your drive.

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SECTION 5

Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Numeric Keypad Keyboard Shortcuts Touch Pad Touch Pad or Mouse Problems External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters

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Numeric Keypad

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The numeric keypad functions like the numeric keypad on an external keyboard. Each key on the keypad has multiple functions.

• To enable the num bers lock (Num Lk) keypad, hold down <Fn> and press <F4>. The light indicates that the Num Lk keypad function is active.

• To disable the keypad, press <Fn><F4> again.

Keyboard Shortcuts

System Functions

56 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Opens the Windows Task Manager window.

Enables and disables the numeric keypad.

Enables and disables the scroll lock.

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Battery

Displays the Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter.

Display Functions

Switches the video image to the next display option. The options include the integrated display, an external monitor, and both displays simultaneously.

Increases brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor).

Decreases brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor).

Radios (Including Wireless Networking and the Bluetooth™ Card)

Enables and disables radios, including wireless networking and the Bluetooth™ card.

Power Management

Activates a power management mode. You can reprogram this keyboard shortcut to activate a different power management mode using the Advanced tab in the Power Options Properties window. See "Power Management" in the Dell Inspiron Help file for instructions. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

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Speaker Functions

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Microsoft

Increases the volume of the integrated speakers and external speakers, if attached.

Decreases the volume of the integrated speakers and external speakers, if attached.

Enables and disables the integrated speakers and external speakers, if attached.

Windows® Logo Key Functions

Minimizes all open windows.

Maximizes all windows.

Runs Windows Explorer.

Opens the Run dialog box.

Opens the Search Results dialog box.

To adjust keyboard operation, such as the character repeat rate, open the Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and click Keyboard.

58 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Opens the Search Results-Computer dialog box (if the computer is connected to a network).

Opens the System Properties dial og box.

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Touch Pad

The touch pad detects the pressure and movement of your finger to allow you to move the cursor on the display. Use the touch pad and touch pad buttons as you would use a mouse.

touch pad

touch pad buttons (2)

• To move the cursor, lightly slide your finger over the touch pad.

• To select an object, lightly tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch-pad button.

• To select and move (or drag) an object, position the cursor on the object and tap down-up-down on the touch pad. On the second down motion, leave your finger on the touch pad and move the selected object by sliding your finger over the surface.

• To double-click an object, position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch-pad button twice.

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Customizing the Touch Pad

You can use the Mouse Properties window to disable the touch pad or adjust their settings.

1 Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and

then click Mouse.

2 In the Mouse Properties window:

•Click the Device Select tab to disable the touch pad.

•Click the Pointer tab to adjust touch pad.

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

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Touch Pad or Mouse Problems

CHECK THE TOUCH PAD SETTINGS

1 Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Printe rs and Other Hardware. 2 Click Mouse. 3 Try adjusting the settings.

HECK THE MOUSE CABLE — Shut down the computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on

page 41). Disconnect the mouse cable and check it for damage. Fo r PS/2 cables, check the cable connector for bent or broken pins. Firmly reconnect the cable.

If you are using a mouse extension cable, disconnect it and connect the mouse directly to the computer.

O VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MOUSE, CHECK THE TOUCH PAD

1 Turn off the computer. 2 Disconnect the mouse. 3 Turn on the computer. 4 At the Windows

If the touch pad operates correctly, the mouse may be defective.

EINSTALL THE TOUCH PAD DRIVER — See "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page92.

External Keyboard Problems

NOTE: When you attach an external keyboard, the integrated keyboard remains fully

functional.

desktop, use the touch pad to move the cursor around, select an icon, and open it.

HECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE — Shut down the computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer"

on page 41). Disconnect the keyboard cable and check it for damage. For PS/2 cables, check the cable connector for bent or broken pins. Firmly reconnect the cable.

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If you are using a keyboard extension cable, disconn ect it and conne ct the keyboard directly to the computer.

HECK THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD

1 Turn off the computer, wait 1 minute , and turn it on again. 2 Verify that the num bers, capitals, and scroll lock lights on the keyboard blink during the boot

routine.

3 From the Windows

desktop, click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and

click Notepad.

4 Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the display.

If you cannot verify these steps, you may have a defective external keyboard.

O VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EXTE RNAL KEYBOARD, CHECK THE

INTEGRATED KEYBOARD

1 Turn off the computer. 2 Disconnect the external keyboard. 3 Turn on the computer. 4 From the Windows desktop, click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and

click Notepad.

5 Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the display.

If the characters appear now but did not with the external k eyboard, you may have a defective ext ernal keyboard. Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page127).

Unexpected Characters

DISABLE THE NUMERIC KEYPAD — Press <Fn><F4> to disable the numeric keypad if

numbers are displayed instead of letters. Verify that the numbers lock light is not lit.

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62 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

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SECTION 6

Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

Using CDs and DVDs CD or DVD Problems Sound and Speaker Problems Copying CDs and DVDs

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Using CDs and DVDs

For information about using CDs and DVDs in your computer, see th e Dell Inspiron Help file. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

NOTE: The CD drive is only available with the optional media base or the optional Dell D/Bay.

For additional information, see the documentation provided with the media base or the Dell D/Bay.

CD or DVD Problems

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If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, or DVD

NOTE: Because of different worldwide file types, not all DVD titles work in all DVD drives.

High-speed CD drive vibration is normal and may cause noise. This noise does not indicate a defect with the drive or the CD.

ENSURE THAT AN EXTERNAL FLOPPY DRIVE IS CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER —

Install the floppy drive in the Dell D/Bay or use the optional USB cable to connect the floppy drive to the computer. See "Using the Dell™ D/Bay" on page 51.

ENSURE THAT WINDOWS® RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE — Click the Start button and click My Computer. If the drive is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and

remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent W indows from recognizing the drive. Insert a bootable disk and restart the computer. Verify that the light is blinking, indicating normal operation.

RY ANOTHER DISC — Insert another disc to eliminate the possibility that the original disc is

defective.

DJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right

corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.

EINSTALL THE DRIVE

1 Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and shut down the computer. 2 Remove the drive. See "Using the Dell™ D/Bay" on page51 for instructions. 3 Reinstall the drive. 4 Turn on the computer.

LEAN THE DRIVE OR DISC — See "Cleaning Your Computer" in the Dell Inspiron Help file for

instructions. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

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If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive tray

1 Ensure that the computer is turned off. 2 Straighten a paper clip and insert one end into the eject hole at the front of the drive; push firmly

until the tray is partially ejected.

3 Gently pull out the tray until it stops.

If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound

• Ensure that the sound is not caused by the program that is running.

• Ensure that the disk or disc is inserted properly.

If the CD-RW drive stops writing

DISABLE STAN DBY MODE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD-RW — Search for the

keyword standby in the Windows Help and Support Center. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

HANGE THE WRITE SPEED TO A SLOWER RATE — See the help files for your CD creation

software.

XIT ALL OTHER OPEN PROGRAMS — Exiting all other open programs before writing to the

CD-RW may alleviate the problem.

Sound and Speaker Problems

If you have a problem with integrated speakers

ADJUST THE WINDOWS® VOLUME CONTROL — Double-click the speaker icon in the lower-

right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted. Adjust the volume, bass, or treble controls to eliminate distortion.

DJUST THE VOLUME USING KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS — Press <Fn><End> to disable

(mute) or reenable the integrated speakers.

EINSTALL THE SOUND (AUDIO) DRIVER — See "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on

page 92.

If you have a problem with external speakers

NOTE: The volume control in some MP3 players overrides the Windows volume setting.

If you have been listening to MP3 songs, make sure that you did not turn the player volume down or off.

HECK THE SPEAKER CABLE CONNECTIONS — See the setup diagram supplied with

the speakers.

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TEST THE EL ECTRICAL OUTLE T — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with

another device, such as a lamp.

NSURE THAT THE S PEAKERS ARE TURNED ON — See the setup diagram supplied with

the speakers.

DJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right

corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted. Adjust the volume, bass, or treble controls to eliminate distortion.

EST THE SPEAKERS — Plug the speaker audio cable into the line-out connector on the

computer. Ensure that the headphone volume control is turned up. Play a music CD.

UN THE SPEAKER SELF-TEST — Some speaker systems have a self-test button on the

subwoofer. See the speaker documentation for self-test instructions.

LIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, or halogen

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lamps to check for interference.

EINSTALL THE SOUND (AUDIO) DRIVER

Copying CDs and DVDs

NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs.

This section applies only to computers that have a CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, or DVD/CD-RW combo drive.

The following instructions show how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD. You can also use Sonic RecordNow for other purposes, including creating CDs from audio files on your computer and creating MP3 CDs. For instructions, see the Sonic RecordNow documentation that came with your computer. Open Sonic RecordNow, click the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of the window, and click RecordNow Help or RecordNow Tutorial.

—

See "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 92

How to Copy a CD or DVD

NOTE: If you have a DVD/CD-RW combo drive and you experience recording problems, check

for available software patches at the Sonic support website at support.sonic.com.

NOTE: Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Sonic

RecordNow.

Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Sonic→ RecordNow!→ RecordNow!.

1 2 Click either the audio tab or the data tab, depending on the kind of CD you are

planning to copy.

3 Click Exact Copy.

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4 To copy the CD or DVD:

• If you have one CD or DVD drive, ensure that the settings are correct and click

Copy. The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies it to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive.

When prompted, insert a blank CD or DVD into the CD or DVD drive and click OK.

• If you have two CD or DVD drives, select the drive into which you have inserted

your source CD or DVD and click Copy. The computer copies the data on the CD or DVD to the blank CD or DVD.

Once you have finished copying the source CD or DVD, the CD or DVD that you have created automatically ejects.

Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs

Your CD-RW drive can write to two different types of recording media—CD-Rs and CDRWs. Use blank CD-Rs to record music or permanently store data files. After creating a CD-R, you cannot write to that CD-R again without changing your method of recording (see the Sonic documentation for more information). Use blank CD-RWs to write to CDs or to erase, rewrite, or update data on CDs.

Helpful Tips

• Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after you start Sonic RecordNow and open a RecordNow project.

• You must use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs do not play in most home or car stereos.

• You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic RecordNow.

• Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed.

• Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD-RW to its maximum capacity; for example, do not copy a 650-MB file to a 650-MB blank CD. The CD-RW drive needs 1 or 2 MB of the blank CD to finalize the recording.

• Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the CD-RW and try again. You can also use blank CD-RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD-R.

5 See the Sonic support website at support.sonic.com for additional information.

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SECTION 7

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard Network Problems Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network

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Connecting to a Network Adapter

Before you connect your computer to a network, the computer must have a network adapter installed and a network cable connected to it.

To connect a network cable:

1 Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your

computer.

NOTE: Insert the cable until it clicks into place, and then gently pull it to ensure that it

is secure.

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NOTE: Do not use a network cable with a telephone wall jack.

Connect the other end of the network cable to a network connection device, such as a

network wall jack.

network adapter connector on computer

70 Setting Up a Home and Office Network

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Network Setup Wizard

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office.

1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories→ Communications, and

then click Network Setup Wizard.

2 On the welcome screen, click Next. 3 Click Checklist for creating a network.

NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables

the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP.

Complete the checklist and required preparations.

4 5 Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen.

Network Problems

CHECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR — Ensure that the network cable connector is

firmly connected to the connector on the computer and the network wall jack.

HECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE NETWORK CONNECTOR — Left light indicates the

network connection speed. If the status light is off, the computer is not detecting network connection, try replacing the network cable. The status light is solid green, at 10-Mbps, amber at 100-Mbps, and yellow at 1-Gbps connection speed.

ESTART THE COMPUTER — Try to log on to the network again.

ONTACT YOUR NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR — Verify that your network settings are correct

and that the network is functioning.

Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network

NOTE: These networking instructions do not apply to Bluetooth™ or cellular products

Before you can connect to a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), you must have specific information about your network. Be sure to get the nam e of your wireless network along with any special security settings from your network administrator. The settings are unique to your network and cannot be provided by Dell.

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Determining Your Network Type

NOTE: Most wireless networks are of the infrastructure type. Consult your network

administrator if you are unsure of the type of network you are connecting to.

Wireless networks fall into two categories—infrastructure networks and ad-hoc networks. An infrastructure network uses routers or access points to connect several computers. An ad-hoc network does not use routers or access points and consists of computers that broadcast to one another.

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ad-hoc networkinfrastructure network

Connecting to a Network in Microsoft® Windows® XP

Your wireless network card requires proper software and drivers in order to connect to a network. The software is pre-installed in the factory. If the software is removed or corrupted, follow the instructions listed in the User's Guide for your wireless card. The User’s Guide is located on your Drivers and Utilities CD (that came with your computer) in the "User’s Guides-Network User’s Guides" category. The User’s Guide is also available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

1 Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Switch to Classic View. 2 Double-click Network Connections. 3 Click Wireless Network Connection.

The Wireless Network Connection icon is highlighted.

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4 Under Network Tasks in the left-hand pane, click Change settings of this connection.

The Wireless Network Connection Properties window appears.

5 Select the Wireless Networks tab.

NOTE: The names of wireless networks that your computer can detect are listed under Available

Networks.

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6 Click Add.

The Wireless network properties window appears.

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7 Enter the name of your network in the Network name (SSID) field. 8 If you are connecting to an ad-hoc network, which does not use any routers or access

points, click the check box labeled This is a computer-to-computer (ad h oc) network; wireless access points are not used.

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9 Click OK.

Your new network name appears in the Preferred networks area.

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Finalizing Your Network Connection (Security Settings)

To finalize your connection, you must change your wireless security settings to match the wireless network you are trying to connect to. Choose one of the following connection options based on the security settings for your network:

• Connecting to a Network without Security-Related Requirements (common for home and small office networks)

• Connecting to a Network with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) Security Requirements

• Connecting to a Network with Wired Equivalent Protocol (WEP) Security Requirements

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NOTE: Network security settings are only provided by your network administrator and are

unique to your network. Dell cannot provide this information.

Connecting to a Network Without Security-Related Requirements

1 In the Preferred networks area, click the name of your wireless network. 2 Click Properties. 3 From the Network Authentication drop-down menu, select Open.

Earlier versions of the Dell™ wireless software may not contain the drop-down menu. If you are using an earlier version, click to uncheck the Data encryption (WEP enabled) check box and go to step 5.

4 From the Data encryption drop-down menu, select Disabled.

NOTE: Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network.

5 Click OK.

Your network setup is complete.

Connecting to a Network With Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) Security Requirements

The following instructions are basic steps for connecting to a WP A network. If your network requires a user name, password, or domain settings, consult the setup instructions in the User’s Guide for your wireless network card.

NOTE: WPA protocols require that you know the Network Authentication and Data Encryption

settings for your wireless network. In addition, your WP A-prot ected network may require special settings such as a network key, user name, password, and domain name. Be sure to get all necessary WPA settings from your network administrator before continuing.

In the Preferred networks section, click the name of your wireless network.

1 2 Click Properties.

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3 From the Network Authentication drop-down menu, select your network

authentication type (as provided by the network administrator). If you do not see the drop-down menu, you must update your wireless software before

continuing. Download and install the latest version of your wireless driver software from the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

4 From the Data encryption drop-down menu, select your data encryption type (as

provided by the network administrator).

5 If your wireless network requires a key, enter it in the Network key field.

NOTE: Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network.

Click OK.

Your network setup is complete.

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Connecting to a Network With Wired Equivalent Protocol (WEP) Security Requirements

1 In the Preferred networks section, click the name of your wireless network. 2 Click Properties. 3 From the Network Authentication drop-down menu, select Open.

Earlier versions of Dell wireless software may not contain the drop-down menu. If you are using an earlier version, click to check the check box labeled Data encryption (WEP enabled) and go to step 5.

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4 From the Data encryption drop-down menu, select WEP. 5 If the wireless network does not require a network key (for example, a password),

go to step 8.

6 Click to uncheck the check box labeled The key is provided for me automatically. 7 Enter the WEP network key, provided by your network administrator, in the Network

key field.

8 Enter the WEP network key again in the Confirm network key field.

NOTE: Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network.

9 Click OK.

Your network setup is complete.

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80 Setting Up a Home and Office Network

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SECTION 8

Solving Problems

Error Messages Video and Display Problems Scanner Problems Drive Problems PC Card Problems General Program Problems Resolving Other Technical Problems If Your Computer Gets Wet If You Drop or Damage Your Computer Drivers Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Using Microsoft Reinstalling Microsoft

Windows® XP System Restore

Windows® XP

Page 82

Error Messages

If the message is not listed, see the documentation for the operating system or the program that was running at the time the message appeared.

THE FILE BEING COPIED IS TOO LARGE FOR THE DE STINATION

DRIVE — The file that you are trying to copy is too large to fit on the disk, or the

disk is too full. Try copying the file to a different disk or use a larger ca pacity disk.

A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING

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CHARACTERS: \ / : * ? “ < > | — Do not use these characters in

filenames.

INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA — The operating system is trying to boot to a nonbootable floppy disk or CD. Insert a bootable floppy disk or CD.

NON-SYSTEM DISK OR DISK ERROR — A floppy disk is in the floppy drive. Remove the floppy disk and restart the computer.

NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES. CLOSE SOME PROGRAMS AND

TRY AGAIN — You have too many programs open. Close all windows and open

the program that you want to use.

82 Solving Problems

OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND — Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell"

on page 127).

A REQUIRED .DLL FILE WAS NOT FOU ND — The program that you are trying to open is missing an essential file. Remove and then r einstall the program.

1 Click the Start button. 2 Click Control Panel. 3 Click Add or Remove Programs. 4 Select the program you want to remove. 5 Click the Remove or Change/Remove button. 6 See the program documentation for installation instructions.

X:\ IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE DEVICE IS NOT READY — Insert a disk

into the drive and try again.

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Video and Display Problems

If the display is blank

NOTE: If you are using a program that requires a higher resolution than your computer

supports, Dell recommends that you attach an external monitor to your computer.

CHECK THE LIGHT — When the light is on, the computer has power.

• If the light is off, press the power button.

• If the light is blinking, your power management settings may have caused the display to turn off. Press the power button to exit standby mode.

CHECK THE BATTERY — If you are using a battery to power your computer, the battery charge may be depleted. Connect the computer to an electrical outlet using the AC adapter, and turn on the computer.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

CHECK THE AC ADAPTER — Check the AC adapter cable connections. If the AC adapter has a light, ensure that it is on.

CONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET —

Bypass power protection devices, power strips, and the extension cable to verify that the computer turns on. See the Dell Inspiron Help file for instructions. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES — Search for the keyword standby in the Windows Help and Support Ce nter. To access help, see "F inding I nformation for Your Computer" on page 17.

SWITCH THE VIDEO IMAGE — If your computer is attached to an external monitor, press <Fn><F8> to switch the video image to the display.

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If the display is difficult to read

ADJUST THE BRIGHTNESS — See "Using the Display" in th e Dell Inspiron

Help file for instructions on adjusting the brightness. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

MOVE THE SUBWOOFER AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER OR MONITOR —

If your external speak er system includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm (2 ft) away from the computer or external monitor.

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lights, halogen lamps, or other appliances.

ROTAT E THE COMPUTER TO FACE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION —

Eliminate sunlight glare, which can cause poor picture quality.

ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS

ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent

1 Click the Start button and then click Control Panel. 2 Click Appearance and Themes. 3 Click the area you want to change or click the Display icon. 4 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution.

SEE "ERROR MESSAGES"—If an error message appears, see "Error

Messages" on page 82.

If only part of the display is readable

CONNECT AN EX TERNA L MONITOR

1 Turn off your computer and connect an external monitor to the computer. 2 Turn on the computer and the monitor and adjust the monitor brightness and

If the external monitor works, the computer display or video controller may be defective. Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 127).

contrast controls.

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Scanner Problems

CHECK THE POWER CABLE CONNECTION — Ensure that the scanner

power cable is firmly connected to a working electrical power source and that the scanner is turned on.

CHECK THE SCANNER CABLE CONNECTION — Ensure that the scanner cable is firmly connected to the computer and to the scanner.

UNLOCK THE SCANNER — Ensure that your scanner is unlocked if it has a locking tab or button.

REINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER — See the scanner documentation for instructions.

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Drive Problems

NOTE: For information on saving files to a floppy disk, see "Working With Files" in the

Inspiron Help

If you cannot save a file to a floppy drive

NOTE: The floppy drive is only available with the optional media base or D/Bay module.

ENSURE THAT AN EXTER NAL FLOPPY DRIVE IS CONNECTED TO THE

COMPUTER — Install the floppy drive in the Dell D/Bay or use the optional

USB cable to connect the floppy drive to the computer. See "Using the Dell™

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D/Bay" on page 51.

ENSURE THAT WINDOWS® RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE — Click the Start button and click My Computer. If the drive is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive. Insert a bootable disk and restart the computer. Verify that the light is blinking, indicating normal operation.

ENSURE THAT THE DISK IS NOT WRITE-PROTECTED — You cannot save data to a write-protected disk. See the following figure.

Dell

file. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

86 Solving Problems

back of floppy disk

write-protected

not writeprotected

Page 87

TRY ANOTHER FLOPPY DISK — Insert another disk to eliminate the possibility that the original disk is defective.

REINSTALL THE FLOPPY DRIVE

1 Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and shut down the

computer.

2 Remove the drive from the Dell D/Bay. See "Using the Dell™ D/Bay" on

page 51.

3 Reinstall the drive. 4 Turn on the computer.

CHECK THE D/BAY CABLE — Shut down the computer. Disconne ct the

D/Bay cable from the computer, and firmly reconnect the cable.

CLEAN THE DRIVE — See "Cleaning Your Computer" in the Dell Inspiron Help file for instructions. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your

Computer" on page 17.

PC Card Problems

CHECK THE PC CARD — Ensure that the PC Card is properly inserted into

the connector.

ENSURE THAT THE CARD IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS®— Doubleclick the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Windows taskbar. Ensure that the card is listed.

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A DELL-PROVIDED PC CARD —

Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 127).

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A PC CARD NOT PROVIDED BY DELL — Contact the PC Card manufacturer.

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General Program Problems

A program crashes

NOTE: Software usually includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy

disk or CD.

SEE THE SOFTW ARE DOCUMENTATION — Many software manufacturers maintain websites with information that may help you solve the problem. Ensure that you properly installed and configured the program. Reinstall the program if necessary.

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A program stops responding

END THE PROGRAM

1 Simultaneously press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc>. 2 Click the Applications tab, and then select the program that is no longer

3 Click End Task.

A solid blue screen appears

responding.

Error messages appear

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TURN THE COMPUTER OFF — If the computer does not respond to a

keystroke or a proper shutdown (see "Turning Off Y our Computer" on page41), press the power button until the computer turns off. Press the power button again to restart the computer. The solid blue screen appears because you wer e not able to perform a proper Windows automatically runs during the start-up process. Follow the instructions on the screen.

REVIEW "ERRO R MESSAGES"—Look up the message and take the appropriate action. See the software documentation.

shutdown. An error-checking utility

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Resolving Other Technical Problems

GO TO THE DELL SUPPORT WEBSITE — Go to support.dell.com for help

with general usage, installation, and troubleshooting questions. See "Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)" on page 126 for a description of the hardware and software support provided by Dell.

E-MAIL DELL — Go to support.dell.com and then click E-Mail Dell in the Communicate list. Send an e-mail message to Dell about your problem; you can

expect to receive an e-mail message from Dell within hours. See "Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S.Only)" on page 126 for a description of the hardware and software support provided by Dell.

CONTACT DELL — If you cannot solve your problem using the Dell™ support website or e-mail service, call Dell for technical assistance (see "Contacting Dell" on page 127). See "Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)" on page 126 for a description of the hardware and software support provided by Dell.

If Your Computer Gets Wet

CAUTION: Perform this procedure only after you are certain that it is safe to do

so. If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, Dell recommends that you turn off AC power at the circuit breaker before attempting to remove the power cables from the electrical outlet. Use the utmost caution when removing wet cables from a live power source.

Turn off the computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 41), disconnect the

AC adapter from the computer, and then disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet.

2 Turn off any attached external devices, and disconnect them from their power sources

and then from the computer.

3 Ground yourself by touching one of the metal connectors on the back of the computer. 4 Remove any installed PC Cards, and put them in a safe place to dry. 5 Remove the battery (see "Removing a Battery" on page 47). 6 Wipe off the battery and put it in a safe place to dry. 7 Remove the memory module. For instructions, see "Adding Memory" on page 102.

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8 Open the display and place the computer right-side up across two books or similar

props to let air circulate all around it. Let the computer dry for at least 24 hours in a dry area at room temperature.

CAUTION: To help prevent electrical shock, verify that the computer is

thoroughly dry before continuing with the rest of this procedure.

NOTICE: Do not use artificial means, such as a hair dryer or a fan, to speed the drying process.

Ground yourself by touching one of the metal connectors on the back of the computer.

10 Replace the memory module, the memory module cover, and the screw(s). Follow the

memory installation instructions listed in "Adding Memory" on page 102.

11 Replace any PC Cards you removed.

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12 Replace the battery . See "Installing a Battery" on page48. 13 Turn on the computer and verify that it is working properly.

If the computer does not start, or if yo u ca nnot identify the damaged components, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 127).

If You Drop or Damage Your Computer

1 Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and shut down the computer

(see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 41).

2 Disconnect the AC adapter from the computer and from the electrical outlet. 3 Turn off any attached external devices, and disconnect them from their power sources

and then from the computer.

4 Remove and reinstall the battery (see "Removing a Battery" on page 47 and "Installing

a Battery" on page 48).

5 Turn on the computer.

If the computer does not start, or if yo u ca nnot identify the damaged components, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 127).

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Drivers

What Is a Driver?

A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver program.

A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes.

Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed—no further installation or configuration is needed.

NOTICE: The

on your computer . Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system.

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft® Windows® operating system. You may need to install drivers if you:

• Upgrade your operating system.

• Reinstall your operating system.

• Connect or install a new device.

Drivers and Utilities

CD may contain drivers for operating systems that are not

Identifying Drivers

If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driv er is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver.

1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 2 Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance. 3 Click System. 4 In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab. 5 Click Device Manager. 6 Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a

[!]) on the device icon. If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver

or install a new driver (see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 92).

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Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

NOTICE: The Dell Support website at support.dell.com and your

provide approved drivers for Dell™ computers. If you install drivers obtained from other sources, your computer might not work correctly.

Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback

If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver, use Windows XP Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version.

1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 2 Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance.

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3 Click System. 4 In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab. 5 Click Device Manager. 6 Right-click the device for which t he new driver was installed and click Properties. 7 Click the Drivers tab. 8 Click Roll Back Driver.

If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore (see "Using Microsoft the operating state that existed before you installed the new driver.

Using the Drivers and Utilities CD

If using Device Driver Rollback or System Restore does not resolve the problem, then reinstall the driver from the Drivers and Utilities CD.

Drivers and Utilities

Windows® XP System Restore" on page 95) to return your computer to

1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs. 2 Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD.

In most cases, the CD starts running automatically. If it does not, start Windows Explorer, click your CD drive directory to display the CD contents, and then doubleclick the autorcd.exe file. The first time that you run the CD, it might prompt you to install setup files. Click OK, and follow the instructions on the screen to continue.

3 From the Language drop-down menu in the toolbar, select your preferr ed language for

the driver or utility (if available). A welcome screen appears.

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4 Click Next.

The CD automatically scans your hardware to detect drivers and utilities used by your computer.

5 After the CD completes the hardware scan, you can also detect other drivers and

utilities. Under Search Criteria, select the appropriate categories from the System Model, Operating System, and Topic drop-down menus.

A link or links appear(s) for the specific drivers and utilities used by your computer.

6 Click the link of a specific driver or utility to display information about the driver or

utility that you want to install.

7 Click the Install button (if present) to begin installing the driver or utility. At the

welcome screen, follow the screen prompts to complete the installation. If no Install button is present, automatic installation is not an option. For installation

instructions, either see the appropriate instructions in the following subsections, or click Extract, follow the extracting instructions, and then r e ad the readme file.

If instructed to navigate to the driver files, click the CD directory on the driver information window to display the files associated with that driver.

Manually Reinstalling Drivers

NOTE: If you are reinstalling an infrared sensor driver , you must first enable the infrared sensor

in the system setup program (see "Enabling the Infrared Sensor" on page 125) before continuing with the driver installation.

After extracting the driver files to your hard drive as described in the previous section,

click the Start button and right-click My Computer.

2 Click Properties. 3 Click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager. 4 Double-click the type of device for which you are installing the driver (for example,

Modems or Infrared devices).

5 Double-click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver. 6 Click the Driver tab and click Update Driver. 7 Click Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) and click Next. 8 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously extracted the

driver files.

9 When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click Next.

10 Click Finish and restart your computer.

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Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

IRQ conflicts occur if a device either is not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured. To check for IRQ conflicts on your computer:

1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click System. 3 Click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager. 4 In the Device Manager list, check for conflicts with the other devices.

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Conflicts are indicated by a yellow exclamation point (!) beside the conflicting device or a red X if the device has been disabled.

5 Double-click any conflicting device listed to bring up the Properties window

so that you can determine what needs to be reconfigured or removed from the Device Manager.

6 Resolve these conflicts before checking specific devices. 7 Double-click the malfunctioning device type in the Device Manager list. 8 Double-click the icon for the specific device in the expanded list.

The Properties window appears. If an IRQ conflict exists, the Device status area in the Properties window r eports what

other devices are sharing the device's IRQ.

9 Resolve any IRQ conflicts.

You can also use the Windows XP Hardware Troubleshooter. To use the troubleshooter, click the Start button and click Help and Support. Type Search field, and then click the arrow to start the search. Click Hardware Troubleshooter in the Search Results list. In the Hardware Troubleshooter list, click I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my computer, and then click Next.

hardware troubleshooter in the

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Using Microsoft® Windows® XP System Restore

The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides System Restore to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without affecting data files) if changes to the hardware, softwar e, or other system set tings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. See the Windows Help and Support Center for information on using System Restore. To access help, see "Finding Information for Your Computer" on page 17.

NOTICE: Make regular backups of your data files. System Restore does not monitor your data

files or recover them.

Creating a Restore Point

1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support. 2 Click System Restore. 3 Follow the instructions on the screen.

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State

If problems occur after you install a device driver, use Device Driver Rollback (see "Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback" on page 92) to resolve the problem. If that is unsuccessful, then use System Restore. See "Using Microsoft Restore" on page 95.

Windows® XP System

NOTICE: Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state, save and close any

open files and exit any open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories→ System Tools, and then

click System Restore.

2 Ensure that Restore my computer to an earlier time is selected and click Next. 3 Click a calendar date to which you want to restore your computer.

The Select a Restore P oint screen provides a calendar that allows you to see and select restore points. All calendar dates with available restore points appear in boldface type.

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4 Select a restore point and click Next.

If a calendar date has only one restore point, then that restore point is automatically selected. If two or more restore points are available, click the restore point that you prefer.

5 Click Next.

The Restoration Complete screen appears after System Restore finishes collecting data and then the computer restarts.

6 After the computer restarts, click OK.

To change the restore point, you can either repeat the steps using a different restore point,

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or you can undo the restoration.

Undoing the Last System Restore

NOTICE: Before you undo the last system restore, save and close all open files and exit

any open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories→ System Tools, and then

click System Restore.

2 Click Undo my last restoration and click Next. 3 Click Next.

The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.

4 After the computer restarts, click OK.

Enabling System Restore

If you reinstall Wi ndows XP with less th an 200 MB of free har d-disk space available, System Restore is automatically disabled. To see if System Restore is enabled:

1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 2 Click Performance and Maintenance. 3 Click System. 4 Click the System Restore tab. 5 Ensure that Turn off System Restore is unchecked.

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Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP

Before You Begin

If you are considering reinstalling the Windows XP operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver, first try using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback. If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore to return your operating system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver. See "Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback" on page 92 and "Using Microsoft Windows

XP System Restore" on page 95.

NOTICE: Before performing the installation, back up all data files on your primary hard drive.

For conventional hard drive configurations, the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer.

To reinstall Windows XP, you need the following items:

•Dell™ Operating System CD

•Dell Drivers and Utilities CD

NOTE: The

computer. Use the

Drivers and Utilities

CD contains drivers that were installed during assembly of the

CD to load any required drivers.

• Product Key (Product ID Number)

NOTE: The Product Key is the bar code number on the sticker that is located on the external

side cover of your computer. You may be prompted for the Product Key when you use the

Operating System

CD under certain conditions.

Reinstalling Windows XP

To reinstall Windows XP, perform all the steps in the following sections in the order in which they are listed.

The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you must also reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software.

NOTICE: The

can overwrite files and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows XP unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so.

NOTICE: To prevent conflicts with Windows XP, disable any virus protection software installed

on your computer before you reinstall Windows XP. See the documentation that came with the software for instructions.

Operating System

CD provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options

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Booting From the Operating System CD

1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs. 2 Insert the Operating System CD. If any program starts automatically, exit the program

before proceeding.

3 Restart the computer. 4 Press <F2> immediately after the DELL™ logo appears.

If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the Windows desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again.

5 Press the arrow ke ys to select CD-ROM, and press <Enter>.

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6 When the Press any key to boot from CD message appears, press any key.

Windows XP Setup

1 When the Windows XP Setup screen appears, press <Enter> to select To set up

Windows now.

2 Read the information on the Microsoft Windows Licensing Agreement screen, and

press <F8> to accept the license agreement.

3 If your computer already has Windows XP installed and you want to recover your

current Windows XP data, type

4 If you want to install a new copy of Windows XP, press <Esc> to select that option.

r to select the repair option, and remove the CD.

5 Press <Enter> to select the highlighted partition (recommended), and follow the

instructions on the screen. The Windows XP Setup screen appears, and the operating system begins to copy files

and install the devices. The computer automatically restarts multiple times.

NOTICE: Do not press any key when the following message appears: Press any key to

boot from the CD.

NOTE: The time required to complete the setup depends on the size of the hard drive and the

speed of your computer.

When the Regional and Language Options screen appears, select the settings for your

location and click Next.

7 Enter your name and organization (optional) in the Personalize Your Software screen,

and click Next.

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8 If you are reinstalling Windows XP Home Edition, at the What's your computer's name

window, enter a name for your computer (or accept the name provided) and click Next.

If you are reinstalling Windows XP Professional, at the Computer Name and Administrator Password window, enter a name for your computer (or accept the one provided) and a password, and click Next.

9 If the Modem Dialing Information screen appears, enter the requested information

and click Next.

10 Enter the date, time, and time zone in the Date and Time Settings window, and

click Next.

11 If the Networking Settings screen appears, click Typical and click Next. 12 If you are reinstalling Windows XP Professional and you are prompted to provide

further information regarding your network configuration, enter your selections. If y ou are unsure of your settings, accept the default selections.

Windows XP installs the operating system components and configures the computer. The computer automatically restarts.

NOTICE: Do not press any key when the following message appears: Press any key to

boot from the CD.

When the Welcome to Microsoft screen appears, click Next.

13 14 When the How will this computer connect to the Internet? message

appears, click Skip.

15 When the Ready to register with Microsoft? screen appears, select No, not at this

time and click Next.

16 When the Who will use this computer? screen appears, you can enter up to five users. 17 Click Next. 18 Click Finish to complete the setup, and remove the CD. 19 Reinstall the appropriate drivers with the Drivers and Utilities CD. 20 Reinstall your virus protection software.

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100 Solving Problems

Dell PP04S User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Finding Information for Your Computer

A Tour of Your Computer

Front View

Left Side View

Right Side View

Back View

Bottom View

Setting Up Your Computer

Connecting to the Internet

Modem and Internet Connection Problems

E-Mail Problems

Transferring Information to a New Computer

Setting Up a Printer

Printer Problems

Power Protection Devices

Turning Off Your Computer

Using a Battery

Battery Performance

Checking the Battery Charge

Charging the Battery

Removing a Battery

Installing a Battery

Storing a Battery

Power Problems

Using the Dell™ D/Bay

About the Dell D/Bay

Removing and Installing Devices When the Computer Is Turned Off

Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Running

Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Numeric Keypad

Keyboard Shortcuts

Touch Pad

Touch Pad or Mouse Problems

External Keyboard Problems

Unexpected Characters

Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

Using CDs and DVDs

CD or DVD Problems

Sound and Speaker Problems

Copying CDs and DVDs

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter

Network Setup Wizard

Network Problems

Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network

Solving Problems

Error Messages

Video and Display Problems

Scanner Problems

Drive Problems

PC Card Problems

General Program Problems

Resolving Other Technical Problems

If Your Computer Gets Wet

If You Drop or Damage Your Computer

Drivers

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Using Microsoft® Windows® XP System Restore

Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP