Dell PP04X User Manual

Dell™ Latitude™ D531

User’s Guide

Model PP04X

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

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

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the

problem.

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

Abbreviations and Acronyms

For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see "Glossary" on page 151.

If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft operating systems are not applicable.

Windows®

____________________

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Latitude, ExpressCharge, Dell TravelLite, Undock & Go, Dell MediaDirect, Dell Media Experience, and Dell TrueLife are trademarks of Dell Inc.; AMD, AMD Sempron, AMD Turion, ATI Radeon, Catalyst, the AMD Arrow logo and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.; Microsoft, Outlook, Windows Vista and Windows are registered trademarks Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license; ENERGY STAR is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As an ENERGY STAR partner, Dell Inc. has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.

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 PP04X

May 2008 P/N TU945 Rev. A01

of Microsoft Corporation; EMC is the registered trademark of EMC Corporation; Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by

1 Finding Information

2 About Your Computer

Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Left Side View

Right Side View

Back View

Bottom View

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

3 Transferring Information to a New Computer

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

4 Using a Battery

Battery Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Checking the Battery Charge

Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Microsoft Charge Gauge

Windows® Power Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Low-Battery Warning

Conserving Battery Power

Power Management Modes

Standby Mode

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Hibernate Mode

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Configuring Power Management Settings

Charging the Battery

Replacing the Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Contents 3

Storing a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

5 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Key Combinations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

System Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Wireless Display Functions

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

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

Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Speaker Functions Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions

Touch Pad

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Customizing the Touch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

6 Using the Display

Display Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Adjusting Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Switching the Video Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Display Resolution and Refresh Rate

Using ATI Catalyst® Control Center

Launching Catalyst Control Center

Using an External Monitor or Projector

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

7 Using Multimedia

4 Contents

Using an External Monitor

Extending Your Computer Display Changing Your Primary Display

Saving Battery Power

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

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

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

Playing CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Copying CDs and DVDs

How to Copy a CD or DVD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Using Blank CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Helpful Tips

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

Adjusting the Volume

Adjusting the Picture

If the Computer Is Turned Off or in Hibernate Mode

Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device

S-Video and Standard Audio Setting Up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones Enabling the Display Settings for a TV

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . 54

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

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

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

8 Setting Up and Using Networks

Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Setting Up a Network

Wireless Local Area Network

What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection Checking Your Wireless Network Card

Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Connecting to a WLAN

Mobile Broadband (WWAN)

Establishing a Mobile Broadband Network Connection Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card

Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Managing Your Network Settings

Microsoft

Windows® Firewall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

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

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

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

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . 64

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

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

9 Using Cards

Card Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

PC Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

PC Card Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Extended PC Cards

Installing a PC Card or an ExpressCard

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

Removing a PC Card or Blank

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

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

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

Contents 5

10 Securing Your Computer

Security Cable Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Passwords

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

Using a Primary/System Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Using an Administrator Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Using a Hard Drive Password

Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

Enabling the TPM Feature

Computer Tracking Software

If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

11 Cleaning Your Computer

Computer, Keyboard, and Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Touch Pad

Mouse

Floppy Drive

CDs and DVDs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Cleaning a Non-Optical Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Cleaning an Optical Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

12 Troubleshooting

6 Contents

Dell Technical Update Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Dell Diagnostics

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

. . . . . . . . . . . . 79

. . . . 80

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Dell Support Utility

Accessing the Dell Support Utility Clicking the Dell Support Icon Double-Clicking the Dell Support Icon

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

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

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

Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

CD and DVD drive problems Hard drive problems

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

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

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

Error Messages

IEEE 1394 Device Problems

Keyboard Problems

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

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

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

External keyboard problems Unexpected characters

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

Lockups and Software Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

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

The computer does not start up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

The computer stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly A program uses an earlier operating system version

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

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

A solid blue screen appears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Finding Information

NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.Some features or media may be optional and may

not ship with your computer. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• A diagnostic program for my computer

• Drivers for my computer

• My device documentation

• Notebook System Software (NSS)

Drivers and Utilities Media (also known as the ResourceCD)

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the media to reinstall drivers (see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 104) and to run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 79).

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

NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates can be found at

support.dell.com.

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities media may be optional and

may not ship with your computer.

Finding Information 11

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to set up my computer

• How to care for my computer

• Basic troubleshooting information

• How to run the Dell Diagnostics

• Error codes and diagnostic lights

• Tools and utilities

• How to set up a printer

• Additional information about setting up my computer

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

• How to remove and install parts

• How to open my computer cover

•Specifications

• How to contact Dell

• Warranty information

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

Quick Reference Guide

NOTE: This document may be optional and may not ship with

your computer.

NOTE: This document is available as a PDF at

support.dell.com.

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• How to remove and replace parts

•Specifications

• How to configure system settings

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

12 Finding Information

User’s Guide

Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center

Click

Start

→

Help and Support→ Dell User

→

and System Guides

Click the online documentation.

User’s Guide

System Guides

for your computer in the list of

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft Windows License Label

Service Tag and Microsoft® Windows® License

These labels are located on your computer.

• Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use

support.dell.com

or contact support.

•Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support.

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

• Community — Online discussion with other Dell customers

• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as memory, the hard drive, and the operating system

• Customer Care — Contact information, service call and order status, warranty, and repair information

• Service and support — Service call status and support history, service contract, online discussions with support

• Reference — Computer documentation, details on my computer configuration, product specifications, and white papers

• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates

• Notebook System Software (NSS) — If you reinstall the operating system for your computer, you should also reinstall the NSS utility. NSS provides critical updates for your operating system and support for Dell™

3.5-inch USB floppy drives, AMD™ processors, optical drives, and USB devices. NSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer. The software automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration.

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region or business segment to view the

appropriate support site.

To download Notebook System Software:

Go to

support.dell.com

, select your region or business

segment, and enter your Service Tag.

Select Drivers & Downloads

Click your operating system and search for the keyword

Notebook System Software

and click Go.

NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface may vary

depending on your selections.

Finding Information 13

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Software upgrades and troubleshooting hints

• Frequently asked questions, hot topics, and general health of your computing environment

• How to use Windows operating systems

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

• Information on network activity, the Power Management Wizard, hot keys, and other items controlled by Dell QuickSet.

Dell Support Utility

The Dell Support Utility is an automated upgrade and notification system installed on your computer. This support provides real-time health scans of your computing environment, software updates, and relevant self-support information. Access the Dell Support Utility from the icon in the taskbar. For more information, see "Dell Support Utility" on page 82.

Windows Help and Support Center

Click the

Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the arrow icon.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Dell QuickSet Help

To view

Dell QuickSet Help, right-click the QuickSet

icon in the Microsoft

For more information on Dell QuickSet, see "Dell™ QuickSet" on page 131.

• How to reinstall my operating system

The operating system is already installed on your computer. See "Restoring Your Operating System" on page 106).

Start

button or

Windows® taskbar.

→

Help and Support.

14 Finding Information

About Your Computer

Front View

display latch

4 device status lights 5

touch pad

wireless enable/disable button

display

speakers

touch pad buttons

ambient light sensor

power button

(2) 6 keyboard

keyboard status lights

About Your Computer 15

DISPLAY LATCH — Keeps the display closed.

DISPLAY — For more information about your display, see "Using the Display" on page 41.

POWER BUTTON — Press the power button to turn on the computer or exit a power management mode (see "Power

Management Modes" on page 32).

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

Windows® operating system

shutdown rather than by pressing the power button.

If the computer stops responding, press and hold the power button until the computer turns off completely (which may take several seconds).

DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS

16 About Your Computer

Turns on when you turn on the computer and blinks when the computer is in standby mode.

Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status.

Turns on when Bluetooth disable Bluetooth

wireless technology or other wireless devices, press the

wireless technology is enabled. To enable or

wireless enable/disable button.

NOTE: Bluetooth wireless technology is an optional feature on your computer,

so the icon turns on only if Bluetooth wireless technology is installed on your computer.

For more information, see the documentation that came with your Bluetooth wireless technology.

Turns on when wireless devices are enabled.

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.

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

• Solid green: The battery is charging.

• Flashing green: The battery is almost fully charged.

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

• Off: The battery is adequately charged (or the computer is turned off).

• Flashing orange: The battery charge is low.

• Solid orange: The battery charge is critically low.

SPEAKERS — To adjust the volume of the integrated speakers, press the volume-control keyboard shortcuts. For

more information, see "Adjusting the Volume" on page 53.

KEYBOARD — The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as well as the Windows logo key. For information on

supported keyboard shortcuts, see "Key Combinations" on page 35.

TOUCH PAD — Provides the functionality of a mouse. See "Touch Pad" on page 37 for more information.

TOUCH PAD BUTTONS — Provide the functionality of a mouse. See "Touch Pad" on page 37 for more information.

WIRELESS ENABLE/DISABLE BUTTON — Toggles the Bluetooth or WLAN networking technology on and off.

AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR — Measures the intensity of light near the computer and adjusts the backlighting of the

LCD screen. This function provides optimal viewing and saves battery usage by reducing power to the LCD screen when a high level of backlighting is not needed. See "Saving Battery Power" on page 45 for more information.

About Your Computer 17

KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS

The green lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:

Left Side View

18 About Your Computer

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.

1 234

1 security cable slot 2 air vent 3 IEEE 1394 connector

4 audio connectors (2) 5 PC Card slot 6 hard drive

SECURITY CABLE SLOT —Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer. For more

information, see the instructions included with the device.

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

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

from overheating.

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

computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

NOTE: The computer turns on the fan when the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a

problem with the fan or the computer.

IEEE 1394

CONNECTOR — Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394a high-speed transfer rates, such as some digital

video cameras.

AUDIO CONNECTORS

About Your Computer 19

Attach headphones or speakers to the connector.

Attach a microphone to the connector.

PC CARD SLOT — Supports one PC Card, such as a modem or network adapter, or an ExpressCard in an adapter. The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot. For more information, see "Using Cards" on page 67.

HARD DRIVE — Stores software and data.

Right Side View

1 3

1 media bay 2 device latch release 3 USB connectors (2)

MEDIA BAY — You can install devices such as an optical drive, second battery, or a Dell TravelLite™ module in the

media bay. For more information, see "About the Media Bay" on page 127.

DEVICE LATCH RELEASE — Releases the media bay device. See "About the Media Bay" on page 127 for instructions.

CONNECTORS

USB

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

Back View

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

computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

20 About Your Computer

8123 4 5 6 7

1 network connector (RJ-45) 2 S-video TV-out connector 3 USB connectors (2)

4 modem connector (RJ-11) 5 serial connector 6 VGA connector

7 AC adapter connector 8 air vents

NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45)

NOTICE: The network connector is slightly larger than the modem connector. To avoid damaging the computer, do

not plug a telephone line into the network connector.

Connects the computer to a network. The two lights next to the connector indicate the status of both the connection and the transfer of information for wired network communications.

For information on using the network adapter, see the device user’s guide supplied with your computer. See "Finding Information" on page 11.

VIDEO TV-OUT CONNECTOR

S-

Connects your computer to a TV. For more information, see "Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device" on page 54.

USB CONNECTORS

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

About Your Computer 21

MODEM CONNECTOR (RJ-11)

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

For information on using the modem, see the online modem documentation supplied with your computer. See "Finding Information" on page 11 for information about accessing online user’s guides.

SERIAL CONNECTOR

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

VGA CONNECTOR

Connects an external VGA monitor. For more information, see "Using the Display" on page 41.

AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR — Attach an AC adapter to the computer.

The AC adapter converts AC power to the DC power required by the computer. You can connect the AC adapter with your computer turned either on or off.

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

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

NOTICE: When you disconnect the AC adapter cable from the computer, grasp the connector, not the cable itself,

and pull firmly but gently to avoid damaging the cable.

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

22 About Your Computer

from overheating.

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

computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

NOTE: The computer turns on the fan when the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a

problem with the fan or the computer.

Bottom View

1 3

1 battery charge gauge 2 battery-bay latch release 3 battery

4 memory module/coin-cell battery

cover

7 hard drive

BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE — Provides information on the battery charge. For more information, see "Using a

Battery" on page 29.

BATTERY-BAY LATCH RELEASE — Releases the battery. See "Using a Battery" on page 29 for instructions.

BATTERY — When a battery is installed, you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an

electrical outlet. For more information, see "Using a Battery" on page 29.

5 docking device slot 6 air vents

About Your Computer 23

MEMORY MODULE/COIN-CELL BATTERY COVER — Covers the compartment that contains one memory module and

the coin-cell battery. For additional information, see "Adding and Replacing Parts" on page 111.

DOCKING DEVICE SLOT — Lets you attach your computer to a docking device. See the documentation that came

with your docking device for additional information.

NOTICE: Your computer features Undock & Go™ technology that allows you to undock your computer without

going into standby mode. Because the computer will not go automatically into standby mode when it is undocked, be sure the settings in the Power Options control panel do not prohibit the computer from going into standby mode. If you change the Power Options control panel to prohibit the computer from going into standby mode, you greatly increase the chances of causing your battery to wear down quickly or causing your computer to overheat.

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

from overheating.

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

computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

NOTE: The computer turns on the fan when the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a

problem with the fan or the computer.

HARD DRIVE — Stores software and data.

24 About Your Computer

Transferring Information to a New Computer

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

• E-mail messages

• Toolbar settings

•Window sizes

• Internet bookmarks

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

NOTE: You can transfer information from an old computer to a new computer by directly connecting a serial

cable to the input/output (I/O) ports of the two computers. To transfer data over a serial connection, you must access the Network Connections utility from the Control Panel and perform additional configuration steps, such as setting up an advanced connection and designating the host computer and the guest computer.

For instructions on setting up a direct cable connection between two computers, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 305621, titled How to Set Up a Direct Cable Connection Between Two Computers in Windows XP. This information may not be available in some countries.

For transferring information to a new computer, you must run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. You can use the optional Operating System media this process or you can create a wizard disk with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Windows XP

Using the Wizard With Operating System Media

NOTE: This procedure requires the Operating System media. The media is optional and may not be included

with all computers.

To prepare a new computer for the file transfer:

Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click

Tools

→ Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

When the

On the

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

screen, click

Start→

welcome screen appears, click

New Computer→

All Programs→

Transferring Information to a New Computer 25

Accessories→ System

On the

When the click

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

→ Next

Now go to your old computer

at this time.

screen, click

I will use the wizard from the Windows XP

screen appears, go to your old or source computer. Do

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the Windows XP

On the

Under

On the

Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP

What do you want to do?

, click

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you prefer.

What do you want to transfer?

After the information has been copied, the

Click

Finish

Operating System

screen, click

Transfer files and settings

welcome screen, click

Old Computer→

media.

Perform additional tasks

screen, select the items you want to transfer and click

Completing the Collection Phase

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

On the settings and files and click

Now go to your old computer

screen on the new computer, click

Where are the files and settings?

screen, select the method you chose for transferring your

The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.

screen appears.

not

When all of the settings and files have been applied, the

Click

Finished

Using the Wizard Without the Operating System Media

and restart the new computer.

Finished

screen appears.

To run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard without the Operating System media, you must create a wizard disk that will allow you to create a backup image file to removable media.

To create a wizard disk, use your new computer with Windows XP and perform the following steps:

Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click

Tools

→ Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

When the

On the

drive

Insert the removable media, such as a writable CD, and click OK.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

screen, click

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

→

Next.

screen, click

Start→

All Programs→

welcome screen appears, click

New Computer→

I want to create a Wizard Disk in the following

Accessories→ System

26 Transferring Information to a New Computer

When the disk creation completes and the

do not

click

Go to the old computer.

Now go to your old computer

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the wizard disk.

Click the

In the media) and click

On the

After the information has been copied, the

Click

Start→

Open

Run

field on the

Run

window, browse to the path for

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you prefer.

What do you want to transfer?

Finish

fastwiz

(on the appropriate removable

welcome screen, click

Old Computer→

screen, select the items you want to transfer and click

Completing the Collection Phase

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

On the settings and files and click

Now go to your old computer

screen on the new computer, click

Where are the files and settings?

. Follow the instructions on the screen.

screen, select the method you chose for transferring your

The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.

message appears,

screen appears.

When all of the settings and files have been applied, the

Click

Finished

NOTE: For more information about this procedure, search support.dell.com for document #154781 (What Are The

Different Methods To Transfer Files From My Old Computer To My New Dell™ Computer Using the Microsoft Windows

NOTE: Access to the Dell™ Knowledge Base document may not be available in some countries.

Windows Vista

Click the Windows Vista Start button, , click

and restart the new computer.

XP Operating System?).

Finished

screen appears.

Transfer files and settings→

Start Windows Easy

Tr an sf e r.

In the

User Account Control

Click

Start a new transfer

dialog box, click

Continue a transfer in progress

Continue

Follow the instructions provided on the screen by the Windows Easy Transfer wizard.

Transferring Information to a New Computer 27

28 Transferring Information to a New Computer

Using a Battery

Battery Performance

NOTE: For information about the Dell warranty for your computer, see the Product Information Guide 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. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay.

NOTE: Because the battery may not be fully charged, use the AC adapter to connect your new computer to an

electrical outlet the first time you use the computer. For best results, operate the computer with the AC adapter until the battery is fully charged. To view battery charge status, click Start→ Settings→ Control Panel→ Power Options→ Power Meter.

Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions. You can install an optional second battery in the media bay to significantly increase operating time.

NOTE: Battery operating time (the time the battery can hold a charge) decreases over time. Depending on

how often the battery is used and the conditions under which it is used, you may need to purchase a new battery during the life of your computer.

NOTE: It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to a CD or DVD.

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

•Using optical drives.

• Using wireless communications devices, PC Cards, ExpressCards, media memory cards, or USB devices.

• Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power-intensive programs such as complex 3D graphics applications.

• Running the computer in maximum performance mode. See "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 33 for information about accessing Windows Power Options Properties or Dell QuickSet, which you can use to configure power management settings.

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.

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 battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer.

Using a Battery 29

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 lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. See "Battery Disposal" in the

CAUTION: Misuse of the battery may increase 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.

Product Information Guide

Checking the Battery Charge

The Dell QuickSet Battery Meter, the Microsoft Windows Power Meter window and the battery meter icon ( or ), the battery charge gauge and health 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 displays status, battery health, charge level, and charge completion time for the battery in your computer.

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

Microsoft® Windows® Power Meter

The Windows Power Meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the Power Meter, doubleclick the battery meter icon ( or ) on the taskbar.

If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, a icon appears.

Charge Gauge

By either pressing once or pressing and holding the status button on the charge gauge on the battery, you can check:

• Battery charge (check by pressing and

• Battery health (check by pressing and

The battery operating time is largely determined by the number of times it is charged. After hundreds of charge and discharge cycles, batteries lose some charge capacity—or battery health. That is, a battery can show a status of "charged" but maintain a reduced charge capacity (health).

Check the Battery Charge

To check the battery charge, press and release the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate 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 lights are on. If no lights appear, the battery has no charge.

30 Using a Battery

releasing

holding

the status button)

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