Dell PT052 User Manual

Dell™ Latitude™ D530

Quick Reference Guide

Model PP17L

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.

____________________

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, and Undock & Go are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Microsoft, Windows, Outlook, and Windows Vista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries; Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell 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 PP17L

September 2007 P/N PT052 Rev. A00

Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Setting Up Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Transferring Information to a New Computer

Turning Off Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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

About Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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

Using a Battery

Battery Performance Checking the Battery Charge Power Management Modes Configuring Power Management Settings Accessing Power Options Properties Charging the Battery Replacing the Battery Storing a Battery

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

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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

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

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

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

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

. . . . . 26

. . . . . . . 26

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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

Troubleshooting

Lockups and Software Problems Dell Diagnostics

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

. . . . . . . . . 29

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

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Contents 3

4 Contents

Finding Information

NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your

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

NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• A diagnostic program for my computer

• Drivers for my computer

• My device documentation

• Notebook System Software (NSS)

Drivers and Utilities Disc

Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You can use the disc to reinstall drivers (see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" in your User’s Guide) or to run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Optional Drivers and Utilities Disc" on page 32).

Readme files may be included on your disc 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 disc may

be optional and may not ship with your computer.

Quick Reference Guide 5

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Warranty information

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

• Specifications

• How to configure system settings

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

Dell Latitude™ User’s Guide

Microsoft

Windows® XP and Windows

Vista™ Help and Support Center

Click

Start→

Help and Support→ Dell User and System Guides System Guides

Click the

User’s Guide

for your

computer.

→

6 Quick Reference Guide

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft Windows License Label

Service Tag and Microsoft® Windows® License

NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag and

Microsoft Windows License labels are located on your computer.

Your computer’s Service Tag contains both a Service Tag number and an Express Service Code.

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

support.dell.com

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

• Use the product key on the License Label if you need to reinstall your operating system.

NOTE: As an increased security measure,

the newly designed Microsoft Windows license label incorporates a missing portion or "hole" to discourage removal of the label.

or contact support.

Quick Reference Guide 7

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• 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 technical support

• Dell Technical Update Service — Proactive e-mail notification of software and hardware updates for your computer

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

• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software updates

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region or business

segment to view the appropriate support site.

8 Quick Reference Guide

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• 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 processors, optical drives, USB devices, and so on. 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

Drivers & Downloads

Enter your Service Tag and click Go, or select your Product Type and Product Model and click

Click the plus sign (

Utilities Software

Click

Run

NOTE: The support.dell.com user

interface may vary depending on your selections.

• Software upgrades and troubleshooting hints — Frequently asked questions, hot topics, and general health of your computing environment

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 selfsupport information. Access the Dell Support Utility from the

taskbar.

• How to find information about my computer and its components

• How to connect to the Internet

• How to add user accounts for different people

• How to transfer files and settings from another computer

Windows Welcome Center

The Windows Welcome Center automatically appears when you use the computer for the first tme. You can choose to have it appear every time you start your PC by placing a check in the Run at startup checkbox. Another method of accessing the Welcome Center is to click the Windows Vista Start button , and then click

Welcome Center

Confirm

, click

Notebook System

, and click

Download Now

to run the utility.

and click

System

icon in the

Quick Reference Guide 9

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to use Microsoft Windows XP

• How to use Microsoft Windows Vista

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

Windows Help and Support

Microsoft Windows XP:

Click the

and Support

Either select one of the topics listed, or type a word or phrase that describes your problem into the click the arrow icon, and then click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Microsoft Windows Vista:

Click the Windows Vista Start button

, and then click

Search Help

that describes your problem, and then press <Enter> or click the magnifying glass.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

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

Dell QuickSet Help

To view

Dell QuickSet Help, right-click

the QuickSet icon in the Microsoft Windows taskbar, and select Help. The taskbar is located in the lower-right corner of your screen.

• How to reinstall my operating system

Operating System Disc

NOTE: The Operating System disc may be

optional and may not ship with your computer.

NOTE: Pre-installed operating systems

include a recover partition to restore your PC operating system.

Start

button and click

Help and Support

, type a word or phrase

Help

box,

10 Quick Reference Guide

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system, use the Operating System disc.

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

Your operating system product key label is located on your computer.

NOTE: The color of your disc varies

based on the operating system you ordered.

Setting Up Your Computer

Transferring Information to a New Computer

You can use your operating system "wizards" to help you transfer files and other data from one computer to another—for example, from an old computer to a new computer. For instructions, see the following section that corresponds to the operating system that your computer is running.

Quick Reference Guide 11

Microsoft Windows XP

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 certain countries.

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

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

NOTE: This procedure requires the Operating System disc. This disc is optional and

may not be included with certain computers.

To prepare a new computer for the file transfer:

Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click

Accessories→ System Tools→

When the click

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Start→

All Programs→

welcome screen appears,

12 Quick Reference Guide

On the

from the Windows XP CD

When the source computer. Do

Which computer is this?

screen, click

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

→ Next

Now go to your old computer

not

click

at this time.

New Computer→

screen, click

I will use the wizard

screen appears, go to your old or

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the Windows XP

On the

additional tasks

Under

On the

Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP

What do you want to do?

Which computer is this?

Select a transfer method

, click

screen, click

screen, click the transfer method you

Operating System

screen, click

Perform

Transfer files and settings→ Next

Old Computer→

prefer.

On the transfer and click

After the information has been copied, the

Phase

Click

What do you want to transfer?

screen appears.

Finish

screen, select the items you want to

Completing the Collection

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

On the chose for transferring your settings and files and click

Now go to your old computer

Where are the files and settings?

screen on the new computer, click

screen, select the method you

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

disc.

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

Click

Finished

and restart the new computer.

Quick Reference Guide 13

Finished

screen

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

To run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard without the Operating System disc, you must create a wizard disc 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

Accessories→ System Tools→

When the click

On the

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Which computer is this?

Do you have a Windows XP CD?

Wizard Disk in the following drive

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

When the disk creation completes and the

computer

Go to the old computer.

message appears,

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

screen, click

→

Next.

do not

click

Start→

All Programs→

welcome screen appears,

New Computer→

I want to create a

Now go to your old

To copy data from the old computer:

On the old computer, insert the wizard disk.

Click

Start→

In the the appropriate removable media) and click

On the

Run

Open

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

fastwiz

welcome screen, click

Old Computer→

(on

prefer.

On the transfer and click

After the information has been copied, the

Phase

What do you want to transfer?

screen appears.

screen, select the items you want to

Completing the Collection

Click

Finish

14 Quick Reference Guide

To transfer data to the new computer:

On the

On the chose for transferring your settings and files and click

Now go to your old computer

Where are the files and settings?

screen on the new computer, click

screen, select the method you

. Follow the

instructions on the screen.

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.

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 Operating System?).

NOTE: Access to the Dell Knowledge Base document may not be available in

certain countries.

Microsoft Windows Vista

Click the Windows Vista Start button , and then click

and settings

In the

User Account Control

Click

Start a new transfer

and restart the new computer.

→ Start Windows Easy Transfer

dialog box, click

Continue a transfer in progress

Continue

Windows® XP

Transfer files

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

Quick Reference Guide 15

Turning Off Your Computer

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, save and close all open files and exit all open

programs before you turn off your computer.

Shut down the operating system:

Save and close all open files and exit all open programs.

In the Microsoft Windows XP operating system

Down

→ Shut down

In the Microsoft Windows Vista™ operating system,

Vista Start button , click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu as shown below, and then click

The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process is complete.

Ensure that the computer and all attached devices are turned off. If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system, press and hold the power button for about 4 seconds to turn them off.

, click

Start→

click the Windows

Shut Down

Shut

16 Quick Reference Guide

About Your Computer

Front View

1 display 2 device status lights 3 keyboard 4 touch pad 5 display latch 6 speaker 7 touch pad buttons 8 keyboard status lights 9 power button

Quick Reference Guide 17

Left Side View

1 security cable slot 2 IEEE 1394 Connector 3 PC Card/ExpressCard slot 4 infrared sensor 5 audio connectors (2) 6 hard drive

Right Side View

352 41 6

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

18 Quick Reference Guide

1 23

Back View

1 USB connectors (2) 2 modem connector (RJ-11) 3 network connector (RJ-45) 4 S-video TV-out connector 5 serial connector 6 video connector 7 AC adapter connector 8 air vents

8123 4 5 6 7

Quick Reference Guide 19

Bottom View

1 memory module/modem/WLAN

Mini-Card/coin-cell battery cover

3 battery charge gauge/health

gauge 5 docking-device connector 6 air vents 7 hard drive

2 battery-bay latch release

4battery

20 Quick Reference Guide

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, check the Power Meter in Power Options (see "Accessing Power Options Properties" on page 26).

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, Express Cards, media memory cards, or USB devices.

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

• Running the computer in maximum performance mode. See "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 26 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.

Quick Reference Guide 21

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.

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" in the Product Information Guide.

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, the Microsoft Windows Power Meter window and icon, 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, double-click the icon 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

releasing

holding

the status button)

22 Quick Reference Guide

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.

Check the Battery Health

NOTE: You can check battery health in one of two ways: by using the charge gauge

on the battery as described below and by using the Battery Meter in Dell QuickSet. For information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar, and click Help.

To check the battery health using the charge gauge, press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds. If no lights appear, the battery is in good condition, and more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. Each light represents incremental degradation. If five lights appear, less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery. See "Using a Battery" on page 21 for more information about the battery operating time.

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, or install a second battery in the media bay. If the battery runs completely out of power, hibernate mode begins automatically.

A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. 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 charge is at a critically low level.

Quick Reference Guide 23

You can change the settings for the battery alarms in QuickSet or the Power Options Properties window. See "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 26 for information about accessing QuickSet or the Power Options Properties window.

Conserving Battery Power

Perform the following actions to conserve battery power:

• Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible because battery life is largely determined by the number of times the battery is used and recharged.

• Place the computer in standby mode or hibernate mode when you leave the computer unattended for long periods of time. See "Power Management Modes" on page 24.

• Use the Power Management Wizard or the

Power Options Properties

window to select options to optimize your computer’s power usage. These options can also be set to change when you press the power button, close the display, or press <Fn><Esc>.

NOTE: See "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 26 for information

on conserving battery power.

Power Management Modes

Standby and Sleep Mode

Standby mode (sleep mode in Microsoft Windows Vista) conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a predetermined period of inactivity (a time-out). When the computer exits standby or sleep mode, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering standby or sleep mode.

NOTICE: If your computer loses AC and battery power while in standby or sleep

mode, it may lose data.

To enter standby mode in Windows XP, click the Start button, click Turn off computer, and then click Stand by.

To enter sleep mode in Windows Vista, click the Windows Vista Start button

, and then click Sleep.

24 Quick Reference Guide

Depending on how you set the power management options in the Power Options Properties window or the QuickSet Power Management Wizard, you

may also use one of the following methods:

• Press the power button.

• Close the display.

• Press <Fn><Esc>.

To exit standby or sleep mode, press the power button or open the display, depending on how you set the power management options. You cannot make the computer exit standby or sleep mode by pressing a key or touching the touch pad.

Hibernate Mode

Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits hibernate mode, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering hibernate mode.

NOTICE: You cannot remove devices or undock your computer while your

computer is in hibernate mode.

Your computer enters hibernate mode if the battery charge level becomes critically low.

To manually enter hibernate mode in Windows XP, click the Start button, click Turn off computer, press and hold <Shift>, and then click Hibernate.

To manually enter hibernate mode in Windows Vista, click the Windows Vista Start button , and then click Hibernate.

Depending on how you set the power management options in the Power Options Properties window or the QuickSet Power Management Wizard, you may also use one of the following methods to enter hibernate mode:

• Press the power button.

• Close the display.

• Press <Fn><Esc>.

NOTE: Some PC Cards or Express Cards may not operate correctly after the

computer exits hibernate mode. Remove and reinsert the card, or simply restart (reboot) your computer.

Quick Reference Guide 25

To exit hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit hibernate mode. You cannot make the computer exit hibernate mode by pressing a key or touching the touch pad. For more information on hibernate mode, see the documentation that came with your operating system.

Configuring Power Management Settings

You can use the QuickSet Power Management Wizard or Windows Power Options Properties to configure the power management settings on your computer. For more information about QuickSet, right-click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and click Help.

Accessing Power Options Properties

Windows XP

Click the Start button, point to Control Panel→ Performance and Maintenance, and then click Power Options

Windows Vista

Click the Windows Vista Start button , click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, and then click Power Options.

Charging the Battery

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.

NOTE: With Dell ExpressCharge™, when the computer is turned off, the AC

adapter charges a completely discharged battery to 80 percent in about 1 hour and to 100 percent in approximately 2 hours. Charge time is longer with the computer turned on. You can leave the battery in the computer for as long as you like. The battery’s internal circuitry prevents the battery from overcharging.

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.

26 Quick Reference Guide

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 information about resolving problems with a battery, see "Power Problems in your User’s Guide.

Replacing the Battery

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.

CAUTION: Before performing these procedures, turn off the computer, disconnect

the AC adapter from the electrical outlet and the computer, disconnect the modem from the wall connector and computer, and remove any other external cables from the computer.

NOTICE: You must remove all external cables from the computer to avoid possible

connector damage.

For information about replacing the second battery, which is located in the media bay, see the User’s Guide for your system on support.dell.com.

To remove the battery:

If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked), undock it. See the documentation that came with your docking device for instructions.

Ensure that the computer is turned off.

Slide the battery-bay latch release on the bottom of the computer, and then remove the battery from the bay.

Quick Reference Guide 27

To replace the battery, follow the removal procedure in reverse order and press down until the battery-bay latch release fully engages.

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 (see "Charging the Battery" on page 26) before you use it.

Troubleshooting

Follow these tips when you troubleshoot your computer:

• If you added or removed a part before the problem started, review the installation procedures and ensure that the part is correctly installed.

• If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly connected.

• If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message. This message may help support personnel diagnose and fix the problem(s).

• If an error message occurs in a program, see the program’s documentation.

NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default

view, so they may not apply if you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view.

28 Quick Reference Guide

Lockups and Software Problems

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

safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

The computer does not start up

ENSURE THAT THE POWER CABLE IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER AND TO

THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET

The computer stops responding

NOTICE: You may lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system

shutdown.

URN THE COMPUTER OFF — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on

your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds (until the computer turns off), and then restart your computer.

A program stops responding

END THE PROGRAM —

Press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously to access the Task Manager.

Click the

Click to select the program that is no longer responding.

Click

A program crashes repeatedly

Applications

End Task

tab.

NOTE: Most software includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a

floppy disk, CD, or DVD.

HECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION — If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall

the program.

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system

RUN THE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD —

Windows XP:

The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-XP operating system environments.

Click

Start→

All Programs→ Accessories→ Program Compatibility Wizard→ Next

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Quick Reference Guide 29

Windows Vista:

The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-Windows Vista operating system environments.

Click

Start

→

Control Panel→ Programs→ Use an older program with this

version of Windows.

In the welcome screen, click

Follow the instructions on the screen.

A solid blue screen appears

TURN THE COMPUTER OFF — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a

key on your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds (until the computer turns off), and then restart your computer.

Dell Diagnostics

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

safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

30 Quick Reference Guide

+ 124 hidden pages