Dell PP10S User Manual

Dell™ Inspiron™ 1200 and 2200

Owner’s Manual

Model PP10S

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.

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, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude, PowerEdge, PowerVault, Pow er App , Axim, and DellNet are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel, Pentium, and Celeron are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, MS-DOS, and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model PP10S

January 2005 P/N D8833 Rev. A00

Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

1 About Your Computer

Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Left Side View

Right Side View

Back View

Bottom View

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

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

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

2 Setting Up Your Computer

Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

Transferring Information to a New Computer

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD

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

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

Setting Up a Printer

Printer Cable Connecting a USB Printer

Power Protection Devices

Surge Protectors Line Conditioners

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Contents 3

3 Using a Battery

Battery Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Checking the Battery Charge

Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Low-Battery Warning

Charging the Battery

Removing a Battery

Installing a Battery

Storing a Battery

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

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

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4 Power Management

Power Management Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Power Management Wizard

Setting Sleep Modes Selecting a Power Scheme Setting Battery Alarms and Actions Completing the Power Management Wizard

Power Management Modes

Standby Mode Hibernate Mode

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

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

5 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia

4 Contents

Power Options Properties

Power Schemes Tab Alarms Tab

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

Power Meter Tab Advanced Tab Hibernate Tab

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

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

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

Playing a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Adjusting the Volume

Adjusting the Picture

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

6 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad

Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Key Combinations

System Functions Battery CD or DVD Tray Display Functions Radios (Including Wireless Networking) Power Management Speaker Functions Microsoft

Touch Pad

Customizing the Touch Pad

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

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

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

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

Windows® Logo Key Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

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

7 Using PC Cards

PC Card Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Extended PC Cards

Installing a PC Card

Removing a PC Card or Blank

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

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

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8 Setting Up a Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Network Setup Wizard

Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network

Determining Your Network Type Connecting to a Wireless Network in Microsoft

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Windows® XP . . . . . 48

9 Solving Problems

Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

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

Contents 5

Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

CD and DVD drive problems If there is no audio

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

If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound Hard drive problems

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

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

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

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

Error Messages

Keyboard Problems

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

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

External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters

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

Lockups and Software Problems

The computer does not start up The computer stops responding

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

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

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

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Slow computer performance or problems connecting to the Internet

A program stops responding A program crashes repeatedly

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A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system A solid blue screen appears Other software problems

Memory Problems

Network Problems

PC Card Problems

Power Problems

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

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. . . . . 60

6 Contents

Printer Problems

Scanner Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

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

Sound and Speaker Problems

No sound from integrated speakers No sound from external speakers No sound from headphones

Touch Pad or Mouse Problems

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

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

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

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

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Video and Display Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

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

Drivers

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

What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

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

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

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

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

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Restoring Your Operating System

Using Microsoft

Windows XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

10 Adding and Replacing Parts

Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer

Memory

Hard Drive

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

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

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

11 Appendix

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Using the System Setup Program

Overview

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

Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screens Commonly Used Options

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

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

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

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Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . 89

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

Contents 7

Macrovision Product Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

FCC Notices (U.S. Only)

Contacting Dell

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

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

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

8 Contents

Finding Information

NOTE: Some features may not be available for your computer or in certain countries.

NOTE: Some additional information may ship with your computer.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Warranty information

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• How to set up my computer

Setup Diagram

Finding Information 9

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft Windows License Label

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License

These labels are located on the bottom of your computer.

• Use the Service Tag to

• Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when

identify your computer when you

support.dell.com

use or contact technical support.

contacting technical support.

10 Finding Information

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

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

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support

site.

NOTE: Corporate, government, and education customers

can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website at premier.support.dell.com. The website may not be available in all regions.

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

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

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

• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates

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

3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel

Pentium®M 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.

To download Notebook System Software:

Go to

support.dell.com

Enter your Service Tag or product model.

In the

Download Category

Select the operating system and operating system language for your computer, and click

Under

Select a Device Configuration Utilities System Software

and click

Downloads

drop-down menu, click

Submit

, scroll to

, and click

System and

Dell Notebook

All

Finding Information 11

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to use Windows XP

• Documentation for my computer

• Documentation for devices (such as a modem)

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Windows Help and Support Center

Click the

Start

button and click

Help and Support

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.

12 Finding Information

About Your Computer

Front View

hard drive and keyboard status lights

keyboard

touch pad

touch pad buttons

device status lights

display latch release

display

power button

hard drive

speakers

DISPLAY LATCH RELEASE — Press this button to release the display latch and open the display.

DISPLAY — For information on adjusting your display, see "Display Functions" on page 42.

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

management mode.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, use the Start menu to shut down your computer instead of pressing the

power button.

SPEAKERS — To adjust the volume of the integrated speakers, press the volume-control key

combinations. For more information, see page 43.

About Your Computer 13

DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS

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Turns on when you turn on the computer or pulses when the computer is in a power management mode.

Turns on steadily when the battery is being charged or flashes when the battery charge is low.

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

– Solid green: The battery is charging. – Off: The battery is adequately charged, the computer is turned off, or no battery is installed. – Rapidly flashing green: An error has occurred regarding the battery.

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

– Off: The battery is discharging normally with use. – Flashing amber: The battery charge is low.

TOUCH PAD AND TOUCH PAD BUTTONS — Touch pad and touch pad buttons provide the functionality of a

mouse. See page 44 for more information.

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

logo key. For information on supported key combinations, see page 42.

14 About Your Computer

Windows®

HARD DRIVE AND KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS

The green lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:

Turns on when the computer reads or writes data.

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

light is flashing.

Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled.

Turns on when the caps lock function is enabled.

Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled.

About Your Computer 15

Left Side View

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AUDIO CONNECTORS

audio connectors PC Card slot

PC CARD SLOT — Supports one PC Card, such as a modem, wireless card, or network adapter. For more information, see

16 About Your Computer

Attach headphones or speakers to the connector.

Attach record/playback devices, such as cassette players CD players, and microphones to the connector.

"Using PC Cards" on page 45.

Right Side View

battery CD or DVD drive

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

computer to an electrical outlet. See "Using a Battery" on page 27.

OR DVD DRIVE BAY — Accommodates a CD drive or DVD drive.

Back View

security cable slot

network connector (RJ-45)

modem connector (RJ-11)

USB connectors (3)

video connector

AC adapter connector

About Your Computer 17

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

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.

CONNECTORS

USB

Connects USB 2.0 compliant devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer.

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.

18 About Your Computer

Connects the computer to a network. The lights next to the connector indicate activity for both wired and wireless network communications.

For information on using the network adapter, see the online network-adapter documentation supplied with your computer.

MODEM CONNECTOR (RJ-11)

Connects the telephone line to the modem connector.

For information on using the modem, see the online modem documentation supplied with your computer.

VIDEO CONNECTOR

Connects an external monitor.

AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR — Connects the AC adapter so that you can run the computer on AC power instead of battery power.

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.

About Your Computer 19

Bottom View

memory module cover

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MEMORY MODULE COVER — Covers the compartment that contains the memory module(s).

HARD DRIVE — Stores software and data.

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

computer to an electrical outlet. See "Using a Battery" on page 27.

BATTERY-BAY LATCH RELEAS — Releases the battery.

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

computer from overheating.

hard drive

battery

battery-bay latch release

fan

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

indicate a problem with the fans or the computer.

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

Setting Up Your Computer

Connecting to the Internet

NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country.

To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP). Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options:

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

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

• Cable modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your local cable TV line.

If you are using a dial-up connection, connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your computer and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection. If you are using a DSL or cable modem connection, contact your ISP for setup instructions.

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut:

Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.

Double-click the ISP icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop.

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP:

Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.

Click the

The

Start

button and click

New Connection Wizard

Internet Explorer

appears.

Click

Connect to the Internet

In the next window, click the appropriate option:

• If you do not have an ISP and want to select one, click

service providers (ISPs)

Choose from a list of Internet

Setting Up Your Computer 21

• If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not receive a setup CD, click

• If you have a CD, click

Click

If you selected instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, contact your ISP.

Click the appropriate option under click

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

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

If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems" on page 55. If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past, the ISP might have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the service status, or try connecting again later.

Transferring Information to a New Computer

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Files and 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

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 floppy disk or CD, for transfer to the new computer.

Set up my connection manually

Use the CD I got from an ISP

Set up my connection manually

How do you want to connect to the Internet?

, continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the

, and then

NOTE: You can transfer information from the old computer to the 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.

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

22 Setting Up Your Computer

Operating System

Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD

To run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard without the 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:

Click the

Click

When the

On the

following drive: and click Next.

Insert the removable media, such as a floppy disk or CD, and click OK.

When the disk creation completes and the

not

Go to the old computer.

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the removable

Click the

In the

On the

After the information has been copied, the

Start

button.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

click

Start

button and click

Open

field on the

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

What do you want to transfer?

Run

screen, click

Run

window, type in

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you prefer.

screen, click

Now go to your old computer

Wizard Disk

welcome screen, click

screen, select the items you want to transfer and click

Completing the Collection Phase

Operating System

welcome screen appears, click

New Computer

a:\fastwiz

Old Computer

and click

I want to create a Wizard Disk in the

and click OK.

and click

CD, you must create a

message appears,

screen appears.

Click

Finish

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

On the your settings and files and click

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

Now go to your old computer

Where are the files and settings?

screen on the new computer, click

. Follow the instructions on the screen.

screen, select the method you chose for transferring

Finished

screen appears.

Setting Up Your Computer 23

Click

Finished

and restart the new computer.

NOTE: For more information about this procedure, search dell.support.com for document #PA1089586

(How Do I Transfer Files From My Old Computer to My New Dell Computer using the Microsoft

Windows

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

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

with all computers.

To prepare the new computer for the file transfer:

Start the

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When the

On the

Which computer is this?

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

Windows XP CD

When the Do

not

click

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?

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

What do you want to transfer?

After the information has been copied, the

XP Operating System?).

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

screen, click

and click

Now go to your old computer

at this time.

screen appears, go to your old or source computer.

, click

Transfer files and settings

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you prefer.

screen, select the items you want to transfer and click

welcome screen appears, click

New Computer

screen, click

Operating System

screen, click

I will use the wizard from the

and click

CD.

Perform additional tasks

welcome screen, click

Old Computer

and click

Completing the Collection Phase

screen appears.

Click

Finish

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

Now go to your old computer

Where are the files and settings?

your settings and files and click

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

Click

Finished

24 Setting Up Your Computer

screen on the new computer, click

screen, select the method you chose for transferring

and restart the new computer.

Finished

screen appears.

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.

• Consult the printer

Owner's Manual

Printer Cable

Your printer connects to your computer with a USB 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.

Complete the operating system setup if you have not already done so.

Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer. The USB connectors fit only one way.

for technical assistance, or call the printer manufacturer.

USB printer cable

USB connector on computer

USB connector on printer

Setting Up Your Computer 25

Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer. If the

Cancel

window appears, click

Install the printer driver if necessary. See the documentation that came with your printer.

Add New Hardware Wizard

Power Protection Devices

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

• Surge protectors

• Line conditioners

• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)

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Surge Protectors

Surge protectors and power strips equipped with surge protection help to prevent damage to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical storms or following 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 choosing 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.

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).

26 Setting Up Your Computer

Using a Battery

Battery Performance

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

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. 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.

NOTE: Battery capacity (the time it 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.

• Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions. Operating time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not limited to, the following:

• Using optical drives, such as DVD or CD 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

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

or DVD.

You can 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 lithium-ion battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer.

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 or Nickel metal-hydride battery. See "Battery Disposal" in the Product Information Guide.

Using a Battery 27

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.

Checking the Battery Charge

The Dell QuickSet Battery Meter and the low-battery warning provide information on the battery charge.

Dell QuickSet Battery Meter

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If Dell QuickSet is installed, press <Fn><F3> to display the QuickSet Battery Meter.

Battery Meter

The in your computer.

The following icons appear in the

• The computer is running on battery power.

• The battery is discharging or idle.

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

• The battery is charging.

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

• The battery is discharging, idle, or charging.

window displays status, charge level, and charge completion time for the battery

Battery Meter

window:

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

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.

A low-battery warning occurs when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. The computer beeps once, indicating that minimal battery operating time remains. During that time, the speaker beeps periodically. The computer enters hibernate mode when the battery charge is at a critically low level. For more information about low-battery alarms, see "Power Management" on page 31.

28 Using a Battery

Help

Charging the Battery

NOTE: The AC adapter charges a completely discharged battery in approximately 2 hours (for nickel-

metal hydride batteries [NiMH], and 2.5 hours for lithium-ion [Li-ion] batteries) 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 62.

Recalibrating a Battery

If your system is configured with a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, you can recalibrate the battery by running the Battery Recalibration software. Recalibrating the battery ensures that the Power Meter indicator is accurate.

Recalibrate your NiMh battery when one of the following occurs:

• A message appears, prompting you to recalibrate your battery.

• The typical battery operating time decreases.

When you recalibrate your NiMH battery, do not remove the battery. Allow several hours for the procedure to complete.

Recalibrating a Battery When the Recalibrating Message Appears

NOTE: A battery recalibration message will appear only during booting.

If your computer displays a message that prompts you to recalibrate your battery:

Turn off the computer by pressing and holding the power button until all device status-light activity ceases (approximately 5 seconds).

Connect the computer to an electrical outlet and turn it back on.

The battery recalibration message should appear on the screen immediately following the Dell logo.

To skip the battery recalibration process and continue the system boot, press <ESC>.

Using a Battery 29

To start the Battery Recalibration procedure, press <F1>.

The battery recalibration begins and the AC adapter charges the battery until the battery gauge on the battery information screen states 100% charged.

• The Battery Recalibration Process screen appears showing the functions (Charge or Discharge) on the left of the screen and the Battery Info charge status on the right of the screen.

• The AC adapter begins charging the battery. The highlighted on the left of the screen. The battery charge information is displayed on the right of the screen.

• The AC adapter charges the battery until the battery gauge states 100% charged. The

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battery status light turns off after the battery is fully charged.

NOTE: A message prompting you to remove the AC adapter appears when the battery is fully charged.

When prompted, disconnect the AC adapter.

The battery discharges until the battery gauge states 0% charged. The

Empty

option is highlighted on the left of the screen. When the battery is completely

discharged, the computer automatically turns off.

Connect the AC adapter to your computer.

Allow the AC adapter to charge the battery until the battery status light turns off.

NOTE: You can operate your computer while the battery is charging. However, do not operate your

computer using battery power until the battery is fully charged.

Charge Battery to Full

Discharge Battery to

option is

Recalibrating a Battery Through the System Setup Utility

Connect the computer to an electrical outlet.

Turn on (or restart) the computer.

When the Dell Logo appears, press <F2> immediately. If you wait too long and the logo for the Microsoft Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.

NOTE: For information about a specific item on a System Setup screen highlight the item and see the

Help area on the screen.

Using the down-arrow key, select

• The

• The AC adapter charges the battery until the battery gauge states 100% charged.

• The battery status light turns off after the battery is fully charged.

Ensure that the battery status light is off.

30 Using a Battery

Windows® operating system appears, continue to wait until you see the

Battery Info

charge status is displayed on the right side of the screen.

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