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Dell XPS TM373 User's Manual

1. 180 Commonly Used Options 180 Changing the Boot Sequence 180 FCC Notice U S Only 182 FCC Class Bins a iter aed Gt hee Ape b 182 Macrovision Product Notice 183 Glossary 185 Contents 11 12 Contents Finding Information K 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 K 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 Media Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer You can use the media to reinstall drivers see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 to run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 or to access your documentation Readme files may be included on your media to provide last minute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technical reference material for technicians or experienced users DOLL DRIVERS AND UTILITIES ALREADY INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER NOTE Drivers and documentation updates can be found at support dell com Finding Information 13 What Are You Looking For Find It Here e Warranty information e Terms and Cond
2. system and installs the updates NOTE The support dell com user interface appropriate for your configuration may vary depending on your selections Software upgrades and troubleshooting Dell Support Utility hints Frequently asked questions hot topics and general health of your computing environment 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 111 16 How to use Windows XP or Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Windows Vista Help and Support Center e How to work with programs and files 1 Click StartHelp and Support 2 Type a word or phrase that describes e How to personalize my desktop your problem and click the arrow icon 3 Click the topic that describes your problem 4 Follow the instructions on the screen Finding Information What Are You Looking For Find It Here e Information on network activity the Power Management Wizard hotkeys and other items controlled by Dell QuickSet How to change the LED colors for the zones play various LED effects like strobe lights breathing lights rotating lights enable or disable visualization plugins for select music players Del
3. 0000 124 A solid blue screen appears 124 Dell MediaDirect problems 124 Other software problems 125 Memory Problems 126 Network Problems 126 Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN 127 Contents PowerProblems 128 Printer Problems 129 Scanner Problems 130 Sound and Speaker Problems 131 No sound from integrated speakers 131 No sound from external speakers 131 No sound fromheadphones 132 Touch Pad or Mouse Problems 132 Video and Display Problems 133 Ifthe displayisblank 133 If the display is difficulttoread 134 If only part of the displayisreadable 135 Drivers s ganea A ea She See Be be aS 135 WhatlsaDriver 135 Identifying Drivers 136 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities 136 Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems in the Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista Operating Systems 139 Restoring Your Operating System 140 Using Microsoft Windows System Restore 141 Starting System Restore 141 Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore 143 Using the Operating System Media 146 14 Adding and Replacing Parts Before YouBegin Contents 9
4. ADJUSTING THE COLOR SETTINGS FOR MOVIES THAT CONTAIN SCENES THAT ARE TOO DARK OR TOO BRIGHT Click FagleVision to use a video enhancement technology that detects video content and dynamically adjusts the brightness contrast saturation ratios NOTICE You cannot reinstall the Dell MediaDirect feature if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive Contact Dell for assistance see Contacting Dell on page 170 Other software problems CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION e Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on your computer e Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software See the software documentation for information e Ensure that the program is installed and configured properly e Verify that the device drivers do not conflict with the program e If necessary uninstall and then reinstall the program BACK UP YOUR FILES IMMEDIATELY USE A VIRUS SCANNING PROGRAM TO CHECK THE HARD DRIVE FLOPPY DISKS OR CDS SAVE AND CLOSE ANY OPEN FILES OR PROGRAMS AND SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER THROUGH THE START MENU SCAN THE COMPUTER FOR SPYWARE If you are experiencing slow computer performance you frequently receive pop up advertisements or you are having problems connecting to the Internet your computer might be infected with spyware Use an anti virus program that includes anti spyware
5. On each screen the system setup options are listed at the left To the right of each option is the setting or value for that option You can change settings that appear as white type on the screen Options or values that you cannot change because they are determined by the computer appear less bright The upper right corner of the screen displays help information for the currently highlighted option the lower right corner displays information about the computer System setup key functions are listed across the bottom of the screen Commonly Used Options Certain options require that you reboot the computer for new settings to take effect Changing the Boot Sequence The boot sequence or boot order tells the computer where to look to find the software needed to start the operating system You can control the boot sequence and enable disable devices using the Boot Order page of the system setup program K NOTE To change the boot sequence on a one time only basis see Performing a One Time Boot on page 181 180 Appendix The Boot Order page displays a general list of the bootable devices that may be installed in your computer including but not limited to the following e Diskette Drive e Modular bay HDD Internal HDD e Optical Drive During the boot routine the computer starts at the top of the list and scans each enabled device for the operating system start up files When the computer finds the files it stops s
6. Plug all three connectors from the other end of the component video cable into the component video input connectors on the TV Make sure that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input connectors Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or audio device Turn on the TY turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 83 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Using Multimedia 79 Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 component video adapter 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable 3 standard audio cable 80 Using Multimedia 1 Tur off the computer and the TV and or audio device that you want to connect 2 Connect the component video adapter to the S video TV out connector on the computer 3 Plug all three ends of the component video cable into the component video output connectors on the component video adapter Make sure that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports is component video adapter component video output connectors 3 component video cable 4 Plug all three co
7. NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS discrete video adapter PCI Express x16 256 MB LVDS NTSC or PAL in S video component and composite modes Specifications 173 Audio Audio type Stereo conversion Interfaces Internal External Speaker Internal speaker amplifier Volume controls Audio controller High Definition Audio HDA codec 24 bit analog to digital and digital to analog HDA bus microphone in connector two stereo headphones speakers connector stereo 8 ohm main speakers with two 18 mm transducers bluetooth speaker adapter Class D Stereo 5W per channel program menus media control buttons Sigmatel STAC9228 High Definition Audio codec Headphones bluetooth stereo headphones optional Media Drive DVD combo DVD RW Blu ray Interface Roxio Creator Plus Dell MediaDirect 3 3 Display Type active matrix TFT WUXGA Dimensions Height 245 0 mm 9 64 inches Width 383 0 mm 15 inches Diagonal 431 8 mm 17 inches Maximum resolution Refresh rate Operating angle 174 Specifications 1920 x 1200 60 Hz 0 closed to 142 Display continued Viewing angle typical Horizontal Vertical Pixel pitch Power consumption panel with backlight typical Controls 60 45 0 191 mm 17 inch display 7 54 W brightness can be controlled through keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Number of keys 101 U S and Canada 88 Europe 91 Japa
8. The higher the refresh rate the less video flicker can be seen by the human eye resolution The sharpness and clarity of an image produced by a printer or displayed on a monitor The higher the resolution the sharper the image RFI radio frequency interference Interference that is generated at typical radio frequencies in the range of 10 kHz to 100 000 MHz Radio frequencies are at the lower end of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum and are more likely to have interference than the higher frequency radiations such as infrared and light ROM read only memory Memory that stores data and programs that cannot be deleted or written to by the computer ROM unlike RAM retains its contents after you shut down your computer Some programs essential to the operation of your computer reside in ROM RPM revolutions per minute The number of rotations that occur per minute Hard drive speed is often measured in rpm RTC real time clock Battery powered clock on the system board that keeps the date and time after you shut down the computer RTCRST real time clock reset A jumper on the system board of some computers that can often be used for troubleshooting problems S SAS serial attached SCSI A faster serial version of the SCSI interface as opposed to the original SCSI parallel architecture SATA serial ATA A faster serial version of the ATA IDE interface ScanDisk A M
9. modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 155 GENERAL FAILURE The operating system is unable to carry out the command The message is usually followed by specific information for example Printer out of paper Take the appropriate action HARD DISK DRIVE CONFIGURATION ERROR The computer cannot identify the drive type Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 152 and boot the computer from a CD Then shut down the computer reinstall the hard drive and restart the computer Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 HARD DISK DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE 0 The hard drive does not respond to commands from the computer Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 152 and boot the computer from a CD Then shut down the computer reinstall the hard drive and restart the computer If the problem persists try another drive Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 HARD DISK DRIVE FAILURE The hard drive does not respond to commands from the computer Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 152 and boot the computer from a CD Then shut down the computer reinstall the hard drive and restart the computer If the problem persists try another drive Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnosti
10. open is missing an essential file Remove and then reinstall the program 118 Troubleshooting Windows XP 1 Click Start gt Control Panel gt Add or Remove Programs Programs and Features 2 Select the program you want to remove 3 Click Uninstall 4 See the program documentation for installation instructions Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Programs Programs and Features 2 Select the program you want to remove 3 Click Uninstall See the program documentation for installation instructions SECTOR NOT FOUND The operating system cannot locate a sector on the hard drive You may have a defective sector or corrupted FAT on the hard drive Run the Windows error checking utility to check the file structure on the hard drive See Windows Help and Support for instructions click Start Help and Support If a large number of sectors are defective back up the data if possible and then reformat the hard drive SEEK ERROR The operating system cannot find a specific track on the hard drive SHUTDOWN FAILURE A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning Run the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 TIME OF DAY CLOCK LOST POWER System configuration settings are corrupted Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge the battery If the problem persists try to restore the data by entering the system setup program then immediately exit the progr
11. status of the connection If the card is not activated follow the card activation instructions located within the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility To access the utility double click the Lull icon located in the taskbar at the lower right corner of your screen If your ExpressCard is not a Dell branded card see the manufacturer s instructions for your card CHECK NETWORK CONNECTION STATUS IN THE DELL MOBILE BROADBAND CARD UTILITY Double click the 4 icon to launch the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility Check the status in the main window e No card detected Restart the computer and launch the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility again e Check your WWAN service Contact your cellular service provider to verify your plan coverage and supported services Troubleshooting 127 Power Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 as you complete these checks A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CHECK THE POWER LIGHT When the power light is lit or blinking the computer has power If the power light is blinking the computer is in Sleep state press the power button to exit Sleep state If the light is off press the power button to turn on the computer K NOTE For information on Sleep power state see Standby and Sleep Mode on page 50 CHARGE THE BATTERY The battery charge may be depleted 1 Reinstall
12. the computer K NOTE If you leave the area ground yourself again when you return to the computer Adding and Replacing Parts 155 3 Turn the computer over loosen the captive screws on the memory module cover and then remove the cover 1 captive screws 2 2 memory module cover NOTICE To prevent damage to the memory module connector do not use tools to spread the memory module securing clips 4 Ifyou are replacing a memory module remove the existing module a Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory module connector until the module pops up b Remove the module from the connector 156 Adding and Replacing Parts 1 memory module 2 securing clip NOTICE If you need to install memory modules in two connectors install a memory module in the connector labeled DIMMA before you install a module in the connector labeled DIMMB Insert memory modules at a 45 degree angle to avoid damaging the connector 5 Ground yourself and install the new memory module K NOTE If the memory module is not installed properly the computer may not boot properly No error message indicates this failure a Align the notch in the module edge connector with the tab in the connector slot b Slide the module firmly into the slot at a 45 degree angle and rotate the module down until it clicks into place If you do not feel the click remove the module and reinsta
13. 20 oe ehh BPs Se al Power Management Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Touch Pad 2 000004 5 Using a Battery a5 i0 ca eet ore cede as Battery Performance Checking the Battery Charge Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Contents Microsoft Windows Battery Meter 48 Charge Gauge 00 4 49 Low Battery Warning 49 Conserving Battery Power 50 Power Management Modes 50 Standby and Sleep Mode 50 Hibernate Mode 00 51 Configuring Power Management Settings 52 Accessing Power Options Properties 52 Charging the Battery 52 Removing the Battery 53 Storing a Battery 53 6 Using the Camera 55 Accessing the Camera s Help File 55 Manually Adjusting the Camera Settings 56 Creating a PictureoraVideo 56 7 Using GamePanel 57 GamePanel Applications 58 8 Using Multimedia 59 Playing Media 59 Contents Playing Media Using Dell Express Card Remote Control Optional 61 Copying CD DVD and Blu ray Disc BD Media 62 HowtoCopyaCD DVDorBD 63 Using Blank CD DVD and BD Media 63 Helpful Tips ne ce See ea pas ee he ows 64 A
14. Checklist on page 169 as you complete these checks A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CHECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR Ensure that the network cable is firmly inserted into both the network connector on the back of the computer and the network jack CHECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE NETWORK CONNECTOR No light indicates that no network communication exists Replace the network cable 126 Troubleshooting RESTART THE COMPUTER AND LOG ON TO THE NETWORK AGAIN CHECK YOUR NETWORK SETTINGS Contact your network administrator or the person who set up your network to verify that your network settings are correct and that the network is functioning Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN K NOTE The Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility user s guide and the Mobile Broadband ExpressCard user s guide are available through Windows Help and Support click Start Help and Support You can also download the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility user s guide from support dell com K NOTE The fp icon appears in the notification area if the computer has a Dell WWAN device installed Double click the icon to launch the utility ACTIVATE THE MOBILE BROADBAND EXPRESSCARD You must activate the Mobile Broadband Eestad before you can connect to the network Position the mouse over the cull i icon in the notification area to verify the
15. Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin K NOTE The Dell Diagnostics only operate on Dell computers Enter system setup review your computer s configuration information and ensure that the device you want to test displays in system setup and is active see System Setup Screens on page 180 Start the Dell Diagnostics from your hard drive or from your Drivers and Utilities media see Drivers and Utilities Media on page 13 Troubleshooting 107 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive 108 K NOTE If your computer cannot display a screen image contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 Ensure that the computer is connected to an electrical outlet that is known to be working properly Turn on or restart your computer Start the Dell Diagnostics in one of the following two ways a When the DELL logo appears press lt F12 gt immediately Select Diagnostics from the boot menu and then press lt Enter gt K NOTE If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again K NOTE Before attempting option B the computer must be powered down completely b Press and hold the lt Fn gt key w
16. For more information see your Windows documentation 104 Securing Your Computer Cleaning Your Computer A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Computer Keyboard and Display A CAUTION Before you clean your computer disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and remove any installed batteries Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with water Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners which may contain flammable substances NOTICE Do not use cleaning agents with ammonia as an ingredient Use a can of compressed air to remove dust from between the keys on the keyboard NOTICE To avoid damaging the computer or display do not spray cleaning solution directly onto the display Only use products specifically designed for cleaning displays and follow the instructions that are included with the product Moisten a soft lint free cloth with either water or a display cleaner and wipe the display until it is clean Moisten a soft lint free cloth with water and wipe the computer and keyboard Do not allow water from the cloth to seep between the touch pad and the surrounding palm rest Cleaning Your Computer 105 CDs DVDs and BDs NOTICE Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the CD DVD and BD drive and follow the instructions that come with the compressed air product Never touch the lens
17. NIC network interface controller NIC See network adapter notification area The section of the Windows taskbar that contains icons for providing quick access to programs and computer functions such as the clock volume control and print status Also referred to as system tray ns nanosecond A measure of time that equals one billionth of a second NVRAM nonvolatile random access memory A type of memory that stores data when the computer is turned off or loses its external power source NVRAM is used for maintaining computer configuration information such as date time and other system setup options that you can set 0 optical drive A drive that uses optical technology to read or write data from CDs DVDs or DVD RWs Example of optical drives include CD drives DVD drives CD RW drives and CD RW DVD combo drives P parallel connector An T O port often used to connect a parallel printer to your computer Also referred to as an LPT port partition A physical storage area on a hard drive that is assigned to one or more logical storage areas known as logical drives Each partition can contain multiple logical drives PC Card A removable I O card adhering to the PCMCIA standard Modems and network adapters are common types of PC Cards PCI peripheral component interconnect PCI is a local bus that supports 32 and 64 bit data paths providing a high speed data path between the processor
18. Plug the system into a different outlet so that the system and the receiver are on different branch circuits If necessary consult a representative of Dell Inc or an experienced radio television technician for additional suggestions The following information is provided on the device or devices covered in this document in compliance with the FCC regulations Product name Dell XPS M1730 Model number PPO6XA Company name Dell Inc Worldwide Regulatory Compliance amp Environmental Affairs One Dell Way Round Rock TX 78682 USA 512 338 4400 K NOTE For further regulatory information see your Product Information Guide Macrovision Product Notice This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by U S patents and other intellectual property rights Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited Appendix 183 184 Appendix Glossary Terms in this Glossary are provided for informational purposes only and may or may not describe features included with your particular computer A AC alternating current The form of electricity that powers your computer when you plug the AC adapter power cable in to an electrical outlet ACPI advanced configuration and power interface A power management
19. RJ 45 connector on the unpowered broadband modem Connect the other end of the network cable into the Internet network RJ 45 connector on the unpowered wireless router Ensure that no network or USB cables other than the network cable connecting the modem and the wireless router are connected to the broadband modem K NOTE Restart your wireless equipment in the order described below to prevent a potential connection failure Turn on only your broadband modem and wait for at least 2 minutes for the broadband modem to stabilize After 2 minutes proceed to step 12 Turn on your wireless router and wait for at least 2 minutes for the wireless router to stabilize After 2 minutes proceed to the step 13 Start your computer and wait until the boot process completes See the documentation that came with your wireless router to do the following in order to set up the wireless router Establish communication between your computer and your wireless router e Configure your wireless router to communicate with your broadband router e Find out your wireless router s broadcast name The technical term for the name of your router s broadcast name is Service Set Identifier SSID or network name If necessary configure your wireless network card to connect to the wireless network see Connecting toa WLAN on page 96 Setting Up and Using Networks 95 Connecting to a WLAN K NOTE Before you connect to a WLAN ensur
20. Recovery Options window appears Select a keyboard layout and click Next To access the recovery options log on as a local user To access the command prompt type administrator in the User name field then click OK 5 Click Dell Factory Image Restore K NOTE Depending upon your configuration you may need to select Dell Factory Tools then Dell Factory Image Restore The Dell Factory Image Restore welcome screen appears 6 Click Next The Confirm Data Deletion screen appears NOTICE If you do not want to proceed with Factory Image Restore click Cancel 7 Click the checkbox to confirm that you want to continue reformatting the hard drive and restoring the system software to the factory condition then click Next The restore process begins and may take five or more minutes to complete A message appears when the operating system and factory installed applications have been restored to factory condition 8 Click Finish to reboot the system Troubleshooting 145 Using the Operating System Media Before You Begin If you are considering reinstalling the Windows operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver first try using Windows Device Driver Rollback see Using Windows Device Driver Rollback on page 136 If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem then use System Restore to return your operating system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver see
21. TV Your TV has either an S video input connector a composite video input connector a component video input connector or an HDMI connector Depending on what type of connector is available on your TV you can use a commercially available S video cable composite video cable component video cable or DVI to HDMI adaptor cable to connect your computer to your TV 68 Using Multimedia 1 S video TV out connector S le cman tm 1 S video TV out connector 2 3 S PDIF digital audio connector 4 5 S video connector C6 2 1 S video TV out connector 2 3 S PDIF digital audio connector 4 5 Pb blue component video output 6 connector lt e E 2 S video connector composite video adapter composite video output connector j 3 14 JW 5 j 6 component video adapter Pr red component video output connector Y green component video output connector Using Multimedia 69 If you want to connect your computer to a TV or audio device it is recommended that you connect video and audio cables to your computer in one of the following combinations e S video and standard audio e Composite video and standard audio e Component out video and standard audio e DVI to HDMI adaptor cable and standard audio K NOTE See the diagrams atthe beginning of each subsection to help you determine which method of connection you should use When you finish connecting the video and audio cabl
22. 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 Battery Meter The battery meter indicates the remaining battery charge To check the Power Meter double click the J icon on the taskbar If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet a Le icon appears 48 Using a Battery Charge Gauge By either pressing once or pressing and holding the status button on the charge gauge on the battery you can check e Battery charge check by pressing and releasing the status button e Battery health check by pressing and holding the status button 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 K NOTE
23. Using Microsoft Windows System Restore on page 141 NOTICE Before performing the installation back up all data files on your primary hard drive For conventional hard drive configurations the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer To reinstall Windows you need the following items e Dell Operating System media e Dell Drivers and Utilities media K NOTE Your Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during assembly of the computer Use your Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers including the drivers required if your computer has a RAID controller Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete After you reinstall the operating system you must also reinstall the device drivers virus protection program and other software NOTICE The Operating System media provides options for reinstalling Windows XP The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs that are installed on your hard drive Therefore do not reinstall Windows XP unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs Insert the Operating System disc 3 Click Fxitif the Install Windows message appears 146 Troubleshooting 4 Restart the computer When the DELL logo appears press lt F12 gt immediately K NOTE If you wait too long and the ope
24. and click Next to follow the remaining troubleshooting steps Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista start button and click Help and Support 2 lypehardware troubleshooter in the search field and press lt Enter gt to start the search 3 In the search results select the option that best describes the problem and follow the remaining troubleshooting steps Restoring Your Operating System You can restore your operating system in the following ways 140 Microsoft Windows Vista System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files For instructions see Using Microsoft Windows System Restore on page 141 Dell PC Restore by Symantec available in Windows XP and Dell Factory Image Restore available in Windows Vista returns your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer Both permanently delete all data on the hard drive and remove any programs installed after you received the computer Use Dell PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem If you received Operating System media with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system However using the Operating System media also deletes all data on the hard drive Use the media only if System Restore did not resolve your ope
25. are plugged directly in to a 4 pin socket on your computer or in to a multi port hub that plugs in to your computer USB devices can be connected and disconnected while the computer is turned on and they can also be daisy chained together UTP unshielded twisted pair Describes a type of cable used in most telephone networks and some computer networks Pairs of unshielded wires are twisted to protect against electromagnetic interference rather than relying on a metal sheath around each pair of wires to protect against interference UXGA ultra extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 V video controller The circuitry on a video card or on the system board in computers with an integrated video controller that provides the video capabilities in combination with the monitor for your computer video memory Memory that consists of memory chips dedicated to video functions Video memory is usually faster than system memory The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can display video mode A mode that describes how text and graphics are displayed on a monitor Graphics based software such as Windows operating systems displays in video modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors Character based software such as text editors displays in video modes th
26. be depleted Connect the computer to an electrical outlet using the AC adapter and then turn on the computer TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp CHECK THE AC ADAPTER Check the AC adapter cable connections If the AC adapter has a light ensure that the light is on Troubleshooting 133 CONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET Bypass power protection devices power strips and extension cables to verify that the computer turns on ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES Search for the keyword sleep in Windows Help and Support SWITCH THE VIDEO IMAGE If your computer is attached to an external monitor press lt Fn gt lt F8 gt to switch the video image to the display If the display is difficult to read ADJUST THE BRIGHTNESS Press lt Fn gt and the up or down arrow key ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE Turn off nearby fans fluorescent lights halogen lamps or other appliances ROTATE THE COMPUTER TO FACE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION Eliminate sunlight glare which can cause poor picture quality ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Appearance and Themes 2 Click the area you want to change or click the Display icon 3 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound Personalizat
27. card 90 Using Cards Setting Up and Using Networks Setting up a computer network provides connectivity between your computer and the Internet another computer or a network For example with a network set up in a home or small office you can print to a shared printer access drives and files on another computer browse other networks or access the Internet You can set up a local area network LAN using a network or broadband modem cable or set up a wireless LAN WLAN The Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista operating systems provide wizards to help guide you through the process of networking computers For more information about Networking see the Windows Help and Support Center see Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Help and Support Center on page 16 Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable Before you connect your computer to a network the computer must have a network adapter installed and a network cable connected to it 1 Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your computer K NOTE Insert the cable connector until it clicks into place and then gently pull on the cable to ensure that it is securely attached 2 Connect the other end of the network cable to a network connection device or a network wall connector K NOTE Do not use a network cable with a telephone wall connector Setting Up and Using Networks 91 Paii Setting Up a N
28. computer to an electrical outlet when possible because battery life is largely determined by the number of times the battery is used and recharged e 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 50 e 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 lt Fn gt lt Esc gt K NOTE See Configuring Power Management Settings on page 52 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 Start gt Turn off computer gt Stand by 50 Using a Battery To enter sleep mode in Windows Vista click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Sleep K NOTE If your computer is not responding pressing and holding the power button for more than 10
29. do the computer shuts down and loses any unsaved data To remove the battery 1 Ensure that the computer is turned off 2 Slide the battery bay latch release on the bottom of the computer and then remove the battery from the bay To replace the battery follow the removal procedure in reverse order 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 52 before you use it Using a Battery 53 54 Using a Battery Using the Camera The camera is integrated in the computer display The camera and its integrated digital microphones allow you to take photos and videos and to communicate visually and verbally with other computer users The blue camera light appears when the camera is turned on For more information about camera features see Specifications on page 171 K NOTE It is normal for the camera to feel warm to the touch when the computer is running and when the camera is in use 1 2 1 camera 2 camera indicator 3 digital microphones 2 Accessing the Camera s Help File To access the camera s Video Software Help file right click the XF icon in the notification area and click Launch Webcam Center Click Help from the menu and select Contents By Fae FCG 1231 AM Using the Camera 55 Manually Adjusting the Ca
30. experiencing slow computer performance you frequently receive pop up advertisements or you are having problems connecting to the Internet your computer might be infected with spyware Use an anti virus program that includes anti spyware protection your program may require an upgrade to scan the computer and remove spyware For more information go to support dell com and search for the keyword spyware Error Messages Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 as you complete these checks AN CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide If the message is not listed see the documentation for the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared AUXILIARY DEVICE FAILURE The touch pad or external mouse may be faulty For an external mouse check the cable connection Enable the Pointing Device option in the system setup program see System Setup Screens on page 180 If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME Ensure that you have spelled the command correctly put spaces in the proper place and used the correct pathname CACHE DISABLED DUE TO FAILURE The primary cache internal to the microprocessor has failed Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 CD DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE The CD drive does not respond to commands from the compute
31. freezing point and 100 is the boiling point of water cache A special high speed storage mechanism which can be either a reserved section of main memory or an independent high speed storage device The cache enhances the efficiency of many processor operations L1 cache Primary cache stored inside the processor L2 cache Secondary cache which can either be external to the processor or incorporated into the processor architecture carnet An international customs document that facilitates temporary imports into foreign countries Also known as a merchandise passport CD R CD recordable A recordable version of a CD Data can be recorded only once onto a CD R Once recorded the data cannot be erased or written over CD RW CD rewritable A rewritable version of a CD Data can be written to a CD RW disc and then erased and written over rewritten 186 Glossary CD RW drive A drive that can read CDs and write to CD RW rewritable CDs and CD R recordable CDs discs You can write to CD RW discs multiple times but you can write to CD R discs only once CD RW DVD drive A drive sometimes referred to as a combo drive that can read CDs and DVDs and write to CD RW rewritable CDs and CD R recordable CDs discs You can write to CD RW discs multiple times but you can write to CD R discs only once clock speed The speed given in MHz that indicates how fast computer components that are conne
32. icon in the notification area K NOTE The icon functions vary when clicking double clicking or right clicking Or e Click the Start E ENNI Programs Dell Support Dell Support Settings Ensure that the Show icon on the taskbar option is checked K NOTE If the Dell Support Utility is not available from the Start menu go to support dell com and download the software Drive Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 as you complete these checks ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT Wi npows RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE Windows XP Click Start My Computer Windows Vista Click Start Computer If the drive is not listed perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive TEST THE DRIVE e Insert another floppy disk CD DVD or BD to eliminate the possibility that the original media is defective e Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK Sce Cleaning Your Computer on page 105 112 Troubleshooting ENSURE THAT THE CD DVD oR BD MEDIA IS SNAPPED ONTO THE SPINDLE CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS CHECK FOR HARDWARE INCOMPATIBILITIES See Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems in the Microsoft Windows XP and Microso
33. in the drive If you notice problems such as skipping with the playback quality of your CDs DVDs or BDs try cleaning the discs 1 Hold the disc by its outer edge You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole NOTICE To avoid damaging the surface do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc 2 With a soft lint free cloth gently wipe the bottom of the disc the unlabeled side in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc For stubborn dirt try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap You can also purchase commercial products that clean discs and provide some protection from dust fingerprints and scratches Cleaning products for CDs are also safe to use on DVDs and BDs 106 Cleaning Your Computer Troubleshooting Dell Technical Update Service The Dell Technical Update service provides proactive e mail notification of software and hardware updates for your computer The service is free and can be customized for content format and how frequently you receive notifications To enroll for the Dell Technical Update service go to support dell com technicalupdate Dell Diagnostics A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide When to Use the Dell Diagnostics If you experience a problem with your computer perform the checks in Lockups and Software Problems on page 123 and run the
34. its own Model PP06XA April 2008 P N TM373 Rev A04 Contents Finding Information 13 1 About Your Computer 19 FrontView 2 2 200000 19 LeftSideView 0 4 25 RightSideView 0 27 BackView 2204 28 BottomView 04 31 2 Setting Up YourComputer 33 Connecting to the Internet 33 Setting Up Your Internet Connection 33 Transferring Information toa New Computer 34 Setting UpaPrinter 35 PrinterCable 0 35 Connecting a USB Printer 35 Power Protection Devices 37 Surge Protectors 37 Line Conditioners 37 Uninterruptible Power Supplies 38 Contents 3 Using the Display Adjusting Brightness Using a Projector 04 Making Images and Text Look Bigger or Sharper Microsoft Windows XP Windows Vista 2 4 Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate Microsoft Windows XP Windows Vista 0 000008 4 Using the Keyboard Numeric Keypad Keyboard Illumination Key Combinations Keyboard Illumination System Functions Battetyins 45 5
35. of the dashboard This shows important gaming information such as frames per second health and so on without cluttering the main display It can also display non gaming information such as memory utilization CPU utilization and so on You can modify the GamePanel settings through the LCD Manager To access the LCD Manager click Start All Programs ogitech gt Launch LCD Manager 1 GamePanel 2 GamePanel toggle button 3 GamePanel control buttons Using GamePanel 57 The GamePanel toggle button lets you toggle among the various applications provided by the GamePanel You can use the first two buttons of the GamePanel control buttons to navigate between values and options in the LCD Manager tabs The third and fourth buttons are used for confirming and cancelling the value selections respectively For more information on using the GamePanel see the Help in the LCD Manager interface GamePanel Applications The GamePanel has the following applications e A clock with integrated counter for unread mail e A multimedia display which shows the track artist URL of currently playing multimedia for Windows Media Player iTunes and Winamp e Acountdown application which offers stopwatch and egg timer functionality e A performance monitor which graphs the CPU and memory utilization e A POP3 email application which periodically checks the content of a POP3 mail account and allows a preview of new unread email 58 Usin
36. offers to users of portable computers Traveling by Air 164 NOTICE Do not walk the computer through a metal detector Send the computer through an X ray machine or have it hand inspected Ensure that you have a charged battery available in case you are asked to turn on the computer Prior to entering the airplane verify that using a computer is permitted Some airlines forbid the use of electronic devices during flight All airlines forbid the use of electronic devices during takeoff and landing l Traveling With Your Computer Getting Help Obtaining Assistance A CAUTION If you need to remove the computer cover first disconnect the computer power and modem cables from all electrical outlets If you experience a problem with your computer you can complete the following steps to diagnose and troubleshoot the problem 1 See Troubleshooting on page 107 for information and procedures that pertain to the problem your computer is experiencing 2 See Dell Diagnostics on page 107 for procedures on how to run Dell Diagnostics 3 Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 Use Dell s extensive suite of online services available at Dell Support support dell com for help with installation and troubleshooting procedures See Online Services on page 166 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 170 K NOTE Call Del
37. only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed e Use a blank CD RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques If you make a mistake you can erase the data on the CD RW and try again You can also use blank CD RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD R e You cannot create audio DVDs with Roxio Creator e Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may not support all available DVD formats For a list of formats supported by your DVD player see the documentation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer e Commercially available BD players used in home theater systems may not support all available BD formats For a list of formats supported by your BD player see the documentation provided with your BD player or contact the manufacturer e See the Roxio website at www sonic com Adjusting the Volume K NOTE When the speakers are muted you do not hear the media playing 1 Right click the volume icon in the notification area 2 Click Open Volume Mixer 3 Click and drag the bar to slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume For more information on volume control options click Help in the Volume Mixer window The Volume Meter displays the current volume level including mute on your computer Either click the QuickSet icon in the notification area and select or deselect Disable On
38. ordered you can go to support dell com or you can call the automated order status service A recording prompts you for the information needed to locate and report on your order For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 170 Problems With Your Order If you have a problem with your order such as missing parts wrong parts or incorrect billing contact Dell for customer assistance Have your invoice or packing slip handy when you call For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 170 Product Information If you need information about additional products available from Dell or if you would like to place an order visit the Dell website at www dell com For the telephone number to call for your region or to speak to a sales specialist see the Contacting Dell on page 170 Getting Help 167 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Prepare all items being returned whether for repair or credit as follows 1 Call Dell to obtain a Return Material Authorization Number and write it clearly and prominently on the outside of the box For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 170 Include a copy of the invoice and a letter describing the reason for the return 3 Include a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 indicating the tests that you have run and any error messages reporte
39. performance EIDE enhanced integrated device electronics An improved version of the IDE interface for hard drives and CD drives EMI electromagnetic interference Electrical interference caused by electromagnetic radiation ENERGY STAR Environmental Protection Agency requirements that decrease the overall consumption of electricity EPP enhanced parallel port A parallel connector design that provides bidirectional data transmission ESD electrostatic discharge A rapid discharge of static electricity ESD can damage integrated circuits found in computer and communications equipment expansion card A circuit board that installs in an expansion slot on the system board in some computers expanding the capabilities of the computer Examples include video and sound cards expansion slot A connector on the system board in some computers where you insert an expansion card connecting it to the system bus ExpressCard A removable I O card adhering to the PCMCIA standard Modems and network adapters are common types of ExpressCards ExpressCards support both the PCI Express and USB 2 0 standard Express Service Code A numeric code located on a sticker on your Dell computer Use the Express Service Code when contacting Dell for assistance Express Service Code service may not be available in some countries extended display mode A display setting that allows you to use a second moni
40. program instructions Sometimes the processor is referred to as the CPU central processing unit PS 2 personal system 2 A type of connector for attaching a PS 2 compatible keyboard mouse or keypad PXE pre boot execution environment A WfM Wired for Management standard that allows networked computers that do not have an operating system to be configured and started remotely RAID redundant array of independent disks A method of providing data redundancy Some common implementations of RAID include RAID 0 RAID 1 RAID 5 RAID 10 and RAID 50 RAM random access memory The primary temporary storage area for program instructions and data Any information stored in RAM is lost when you shut down your computer readme file A text file included with a software package or hardware product Typically readme files provide installation information and describe new product enhancements or corrections that have not yet been documented read only Data and or files you can view but cannot edit or delete A file can have read only status if e It resides on a physically write protected floppy disk CD or DVD e It is located on a network in a directory and the system administrator has assigned rights only to specific individuals Glossary 195 refresh rate The frequency measured in Hz at which your screen s horizontal lines are recharged sometimes also referred to as its vertical frequency
41. protection your program may require an upgrade to scan the computer and remove spyware For more information go to support dell com and search for the keyword spyware Troubleshooting 125 RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS If all tests run successfully the error condition is related to a software problem see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 Memory Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 as you complete these checks A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide IF YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE e Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem e See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements If necessary install additional memory see Memory on page 155 Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory see Memory on page 155 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory see Memory on page 155 e Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines see Memory on page 155 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 Network Problems Fill out the Diagnostics
42. seconds turns it off 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 e Close the display e Press lt Fn gt lt Esc gt 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 enter hibernate mode in Windows XP click the Start button click Turn off computer press and hold lt Shift gt and then click Hibernate To 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 e Press the power button e Close the disp
43. specification that enables Microsoft Windows operating systems to put a computer in standby or hibernate mode to conserve the amount of electrical power allocated to each device attached to the computer AGP accelerated graphics port A dedicated graphics port that allows system memory to be used for video related tasks AGP delivers a smooth true color video image because of the faster interface between the video circuitry and the computer memory AHCI Advanced Host Controller Interface An interface for a SATA hard drive Host Controller which allows the storage driver to enable technologies such as Native Command Queuing NCQ and hot plug ALS ambient light sensor A feature that helps to control display brightness antivirus software A program designed to identify quarantine and or delete viruses from your computer ASF alert standards format A standard to define a mechanism for reporting hardware and software alerts to a management console ASF is designed to be platform and operating system independent battery life span The length of time years during which a portable computer battery is able to be depleted and recharged battery operating time The length of time minutes or hours that a portable computer battery powers the computer BIOS basic input output system A program or utility that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system Unles
44. 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 Setting Up Your Computer 37 Uninterruptible Power Supplies NOTICE Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in data loss or file damage K 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 38 Setting Up Your Computer Using the Display Adjusting Brightness When a Dell computer is running on battery power you can conserve power by setting the display brightness to the lowest comfortable setting by pressing lt Fn gt and the up or down arrow key on the keyboard K NOTE Brightness key combinations only affect the display on your portable computer not monitors or projectors that you attach to your portable computer If your computer is connected to an external mo
45. verify these steps you may have a defective external keyboard TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD CHECK THE INTEGRATED KEYBOARD 1 Shut down the computer 2 Disconnect the external keyboard 3 Tur on the computer 4 From the Windows desktop click Start E NT Programs Accessories Notepad 5 Type some characters on the internal keyboard and verify that they appear on the display If the characters appear now but did not with the external keyboard you may have a defective external keyboard Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 RUN THE KEYBOARD DIAGNOSTICS TESTS Run the PC AT Compatible Keyboards tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 If the tests indicate a defective external keyboard contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 122 Troubleshooting Unexpected characters DISABLE THE NUMERIC KEYPAD Press lt Num Lk gt to disable the numeric keypad if numbers are displayed instead of letters Verify that the numbers lock light is not lit Lockups and Software Problems A 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 CHECK THE AC ADAPTER Ensure that the AC adapter is firmly connected to the computer and to the electrical outlet The computer stops responding NOTICE You might lose data if you are unable to perf
46. while the computer is turned on or in standby Windows XP or sleep Windows Vista mode either Windows Media Center Manager or Dell Media Experience launches depending on your system setup If both applications are present Windows Media Center Manager launches If the computer is turned off or in hibernate mode When your computer is turned off or in hibernate mode you can press the Dell MediaDirect button to start the computer and automatically launch the Dell MediaDirect application 1 Dell MediaDirect button Using Multimedia 67 NOTE If you voluntarily reformat the hard drive reinstall Dell MediaDirect using the MediaDirect re installation media that was shipped with your computer For more information see the Reinstalling Dell MediaDirecttechsheet that accompanied your computer For more information on using Dell MediaDirect use the Help menu in the Dell MediaDirect application Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device K NOTE Video and audio cables for connecting your computer to a TV or other audio device may not be included with your computer Cables and TV digital audio adapter cables are available for purchase from Dell Your computer has an S video TV out and DVI I connector that together with a standard S video cable a composite video adapter cable a component video adapter cable available from Dell or a DVI to HDMI adaptor cable available from Dell enable you to connect the computer to a
47. CD liquid crystal display The technology used by portable computer and flat panel displays LED light emitting diode An electronic component that emits light to indicate the status of the computer local bus A data bus that provides a fast throughput for devices to the processor LPT line print terminal The designation for a parallel connection to a printer or other parallel device 192 Glossary Mb megabit A measurement of memory chip capacity that equals 1024 Kb Mbps megabits per second One million bits per second This measurement is typically used for transmission speeds for networks and modems MB megabyte A measurement of data storage that equals 1 048 576 bytes 1 MB equals 1024 KB When used to refer to hard drive storage the term is often rounded to 1 000 000 bytes MB sec megabytes per second One million bytes per second This measurement is typically used for data transfer ratings media bay A bay that supports devices such as optical drives a second battery or a Dell TravelLite module memory A temporary data storage area inside your computer Because the data in memory is not permanent it is recommended that you frequently save your files while you are working on them and always save your files before you shut down the computer Your computer can contain several different forms of memory such as RAM ROM and video memory Frequently the wo
48. Dell XPS M1730 Owner s Manual Model PPOGXA www dell com support dell com Notes Notices and Cautions K 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 A CAUTION A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage personal injury or death Information in this document is subject to change without notice 2007 2008 Dell Inc All rights reserved Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo YOURS IS HERE XPS Wi Fi Catcher and Dell MediaDirect are trademarks of Dell Inc Intel and Core are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks and Windows Vista is a trademark 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 Logitech the Logitech logo and the Logitech products referred to herein are either the trademarks or the registered trademarks of Logitech 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
49. Function Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered Errors Displays error conditions encountered error codes and the problem description Help Describes the test and any requirements for running the test Configuration Parameters Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for all devices from system setup memory and various internal tests and it displays the information in the device list in the left pane of the screen The device list may not display the names of all the components installed on your computer or all devices attached to your computer Allows you to customize the test by changing the test settings Dell Support Utility The Dell Support Utility is customized for your computing environment This utility provides self support information software updates and health scans for your computer Use this utility to do the following e Check your computing environment e View the Dell Support Utility settings e Access the help file for the Dell Support Utility e View frequently asked questions e Learn more about the Dell Support Utility Turn the Dell Support Utility off For more information about the Dell Support Utility click the question mark at the top of the Dell Support window Troubleshooting 111 To access the Dell Support Utility e Click the Dell Support
50. HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AN IEEE 1394 DEVICE NOT PROVIDED BY DELL Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer see Contacting Dell on page 170 Ensure that the IEEE 1394 device is properly inserted into the connector Keyboard Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 as you perform the various checks K NOTE Use the integrated keyboard when running the Dell Diagnostics or the system setup program When you attach an external keyboard the integrated keyboard remains fully functional Troubleshooting 121 External Keyboard problems K NOTE When you attach an external keyboard the integrated keyboard remains fully functional CHECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE Shut down the computer disconnect the keyboard cable and check it for damage then firmly reconnect the cable If you are using a keyboard extension cable disconnect it and connect the keyboard directly to the computer CHECK THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD 1 Shut down the computer wait 1 minute and then turn it on again 2 Verify that the numbers capitals and scroll lock lights on the keyboard blink during the boot routine 3 From the Windows desktop click Start eal Programs Accessories Notepad 4 Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the display If you cannot
51. Network 98 What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network CONNE CON o i tones Ge ek ann ae et A 99 Checking Your Dell Mobile BroadbandCard 99 Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network 100 Enabling Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card 100 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator 101 11 Securing YourComputer 103 Security CableLock 103 Passwords 220 0 4 34 eee OA SS 104 12 Cleaning Your Computer 105 Computer Keyboard and Display 105 CDs DVDs and BDs 106 Contents 13 Troubleshooting 107 Dell Technical Update Service 107 DellDiagnostics 0 4 107 Dell Support Utility 111 Drive Problems 112 Optical drive problems 113 Harddrive problems 114 E Mail and Internet Problems 114 Error Messages 0 00000 115 ExpressCard Problems 120 IEEE 1394 Device Problems 121 Keyboard Problems 121 External Keyboard problems 122 Unexpected characters 123 Lockups and Software Problems 123 The computer does notstart 123 The computer stopsresponding 123 A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly 123 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operatingsystem
52. OTE 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 52 Using a Battery The battery is too hot to start charging if the i light flashes alternately blue 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 on page 128 Removing the Battery A 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 A 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 NOTICE Do not replace the battery with the computer in standby mode If you
53. Recommended Tools 149 Turning Off YourComputer 150 Before Working Inside YourComputer 150 Hard Drive 2 220004 152 Removing the Hard DriveCage 152 Replacing a Hard Drive in the Hard Drive Cage 154 Replacing the Hard Drive Cage 155 Memory 2 23 eck we eee a ea 155 Subscriber Identity Module 159 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology 160 OpticalDrive 161 15 Traveling With Your Computer 163 Identifying YourComputer 163 Packing the Computer 163 Travel Tips lt lt td is ed a e ak 25 ein ke S 164 Traveling byAir 0 164 16 Getting Help noaa es seeps ees 165 Obtaining Assistance 165 Technical Support and Customer Service 166 DellConnect 004 166 Online Services 008 166 AutoTech Service 04 167 Automated Order Status Service 167 Problems With Your Order 2 167 10 Contents Product Information 167 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit 168 Before You Call 00 168 Contacting Dell 170 17 Specifications aoaaa naaa 171 A Appendix 005 179 QVerIOW 5 sch ee a See ee Ok 179 Viewing the System Setup Screens 180 System Setup Screens
54. Screen Volume Meter or press the volume control buttons to enable or disable the Volume Meter on the screen You can also use the media control buttons on the front of the computer to adjust the volume see Media control buttons on page 22 Using Multimedia 65 Adjusting the Picture If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing media playback adjust the display properties Windows XP 1 2 3 Click Start Control Panel Appearance and Themes Under Pick a task click Change the screen resolution Under Screen resolution click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting In the drop down menu under Color quality click Medium 16 bit and click OK Windows Vista 1 66 Click the Windows Vista Start button click Control Panel and then click Appearance and Personalization Under Personalization click Adjust Screen Resolution The Display Properties window appears Under Resolution click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting In the drop down menu under Colors click Medium 16 bit Click OK Using Multimedia Using Dell MediaDirect Dell MediaDirect is an instant on multimedia playback mode for digital media Press the Dell MediaDirect button located on the hinge cover to launch Dell MediaDirect If the computer is turned on or in standby or sleep mode If you press the Dell MediaDirect button
55. Services You can learn about Dell products and services on the following websites www dell com www dell com ap Asian Pacific countries only www dell com jp Japan only www euro dell com Europe only www dell com la Latin American and Caribbean countries www dell ca Canada only You can access Dell Support through the following websites and e mail addresses Dell Support websites support dell com support jp dell com Japan only support euro dell com Europe only e Dell Support e mail addresses mobile_support us dell com support us dell com la techsupport dell com Latin America and Caribbean countries only apsupport dell com Asian Pacific countries only 166 Getting Help e Dell Marketing and Sales e mail addresses apmarketing dell com Asian Pacific countries only sales_canada dell com Canada only e Anonymous file transfer protocol FTP ftp dell com Log in as user anonymous and use your e mail address as your password AutoTech Service Dell s automated support service AutoTech provides recorded answers to the questions most frequently asked by Dell customers about their portable and desktop computers When you call AutoTech use your touch tone telephone to select the subjects that correspond to your questions For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 170 Automated Order Status Service To check on the status of any Dell products that you have
56. TE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE lurn off nearby fans fluorescent lights halogen lamps or other appliances ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES Sce Configuring Power Management Settings on page 52 RESEAT THE MEMORY MODULES If the computer power light turns on but the display remains blank reinstall the memory modules see Memory on page 155 Printer Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 as you complete these checks A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide K NOTE If you need technical assistance for your printer contact the printer s manufacturer CHECK THE PRINTER DOCUMENTATION Sce the printer documentation for setup and troubleshooting information ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON CHECK THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS e See the printer documentation for cable connection information e Ensure that the printer cables are securely connected to the printer and the computer TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp Troubleshooting 129 VERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware View installed printers or fax printers If the printer is listed right click the printer icon Click Properties Ports For a parallel printer ens
57. Windows Vista Media Center It can work only with specified computers For more details refer to the Dell Support website at support dell com To play media using Dell Express Card remote control 1 Install a coin cell battery into your Express Card remote control 2 Launch Windows Vista Media Center from Start Programs 3 Use the remote control buttons to play media J a ae aj 1 7 M oe Using Multimedia 61 1 Infrared Transmitter 2 Arrow Up 3 OK Enter Select 4 Arrow Right 5 Arrow Down 6 Play Pause 7 Forward 8 Skip Forward 9 Stop 10 Skip Back 11 Reverse 12 Back 13 Arrow Left 14 Mute 15 Volume Down 16 Page Down 17 Volume Up 18 Page Up Copying CD DVD and Blu ray Disc BD Media K NOTE Ensure that you observe all copyright laws while copying media K NOTE The types of optical drives offered by Dell may vary by country This section applies only to computers that have a DVD RW Combo or BD RE drive The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD DVD or BD using Roxio Creator You can also use Roxio Creator for other purposes such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data For help open Roxio Creator and then press lt F1 gt The DVD drives and BD drives installed in Dell computers do not support HD DVD media For a list of supported media formats see Using Blank CD DVD and BD M
58. 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 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 pop up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted The computer enters hibernate mode when the battery charge is at a critically low level Using a Battery 49 You can change the settings for the battery alarms in QuickSet or the Power Options Properties window See Configuring Power Management Settings on page 52 for information about accessing QuickSet or the Power Options Properties window Conserving Battery Power Perform the following actions to conserve battery power Connect the
59. ace If you remove PC Restore from the hard drive you cannot ever recall it and you will never be able to use PC Restore to return your computer operating system to its original state 144 1 2 3 Log on to the computer as a local administrator In Microsoft Windows Explorer go to c dell utilities DSR Double click the filename DSRIRRemv2 exe K NOTE If you do not log on as a local administrator a message appears stating that you must log on as administrator Click Quit and then log on as a local administrator K NOTE If the partition for PC Restore does not exist on your computer hard drive a message appears stating that the partition was not found Click Quit there is no partition to delete Click OK to remove the PC Restore partition on the hard drive Click Yes when a confirmation message appears The PC Restore partition is deleted and the newly available disk space is added to the free space allocation on the hard drive Troubleshooting 6 Right click Local Disk C in Windows Explorer click Properties and verify that the additional disk space is available as indicated by the increased value for Free Space 7 Click Finish to close the PC Restore Removal window and restart the computer Windows Vista Dell Factory Image Restore 1 Turn on the computer When the Dell logo appears press lt F8 gt several times to access the Vista Advanced Boot Options Window 2 Select Repair Your Computer The System
60. ally disabled To see if System Restore is enabled 1 Click Start Control Panel Performance and Maintenance System 2 Click the System Restore tab and ensure that Turn off System Restore is unchecked 142 Troubleshooting Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore NOTICE Using Dell PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or drivers installed after you received your computer If possible back up the data before using these options Use PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem K NOTE Dell PC Restore by Symantec and Dell Factory Image Restore may not be available in certain countries or on certain computers Use Dell PC Restore Windows XP or Dell Factory Image Restore Windows Vista only as the last method to restore your operating system These options restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer Any programs or files added since you received your computer including data files are permanently deleted from the hard drive Data files include documents spreadsheets e mail messages digital photos music files and so on If possible back up all data before using PC Restore or Factory Image Restore Dell PC Restore Using PC Restore 1 Turn on the computer During the boot process a blue bar with www dell com ap
61. am see System Setup Screens on page 180 If the message reappears contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 TIME OF DAY CLOCK STOPPED The reserve battery that supports the system configuration settings may require recharging Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge the battery If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 Troubleshooting 119 TIME OF DAY NOT SET PLEASE RUN THE SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM The time or date stored in the system setup program does not match the system clock Correct the settings for the Date and Time options see System Setup Screens on page 180 TIMER CHIP COUNTER 2 FAILED A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning Run the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 UNEXPECTED INTERRUPT IN PROTECTED MODE The keyboard controller may be malfunctioning or a memory module may be loose Run the System Memory tests and the Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 X IS NOT ACCESSIBLE THE DEVICE IS NOT READY Insert a disk into the drive and try again WARNING BATTERY IS CRITICALLY LOW The battery is running out of charge Replace the battery or connect the computer to an electrical outlet otherwise activate hibernate mode or shut down the computer ExpressCard Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section fol
62. and devices such as video drives and networks PCI Express A modification to the PCI interface that boosts the data transfer rate between the processor and the devices attached to it PC Express can transfer data at speeds from 250 MB sec to 4 GB sec If the PCI Express chip set and the device are capable of different speeds they will operate at the slower speed PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card International Association The organization that establishes standards for PC Cards 194 Glossary PIO programmed input output A method of transferring data between two devices through the processor as part of the data path pixel A single point on a display screen Pixels are arranged in rows and columns to create an image A video resolution such as 800 x 600 is expressed as the number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down Plug and Play The ability of the computer to automatically configure devices Plug and Play provides automatic installation configuration and compatibility with existing hardware if the BIOS operating system and all devices are Plug and Play compliant POST power on self test Diagnostics programs loaded automatically by the BIOS that perform basic tests on the major computer components such as memory hard drives and video If no problems are detected during POST the computer continues the start up processor A computer chip that interprets and executes
63. anner is listed Windows recognizes the scanner REINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER Sce the scanner documentation for instructions Sound and Speaker Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 as you complete these checks A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide No sound from integrated speakers ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Double click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted Adjust the volume bass or treble controls to eliminate distortion ADJUST THE VOLUME USING KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS Press lt Fn gt lt End gt to disable mute or re enable the integrated speakers REINSTALL THE SOUND AUDIO DRIVER Sce Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 No sound from external speakers ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON Sce the setup diagram supplied with the speakers If your speakers have volume controls adjust the volume bass or treble to eliminate distortion ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Click or double click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted Troubleshooting 131 DISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are conne
64. at can be defined as x columns by y rows of characters video resolution See resolution virus A program that is designed to inconvenience you or to destroy data stored on your computer A virus program moves from one computer to another through an infected disk software downloaded from the Internet or e mail attachments When an infected program starts its embedded virus also starts A common type of virus is a boot virus which is stored in the boot sectors of a floppy disk If the floppy disk is left in the drive when the computer is shut down and then turned on the computer is infected when it reads the boot sectors of the floppy disk expecting to find the operating system If the computer is infected the boot virus may replicate itself onto all the floppy disks that are read or written in that computer until the virus is eradicated V volt The measurement of electric potential or electromotive force One V appears across a resistance of 1 ohm when a current of 1 ampere flows through that resistance Glossary 199 W W watt The measurement of electrical power One W is 1 ampere of current flowing at 1 volt WHr watt hour A unit of measure commonly used to indicate the approximate capacity of a battery For example a 66 WHr battery can supply 66 W of power for 1 hour or 33 W for 2 hours wallpaper The background pattern or picture on the Windows desktop Change your wallpaper through the Win
65. bile Broadband Card Utility to establish and manage a Mobile Broadband network connection to the Internet 1 Click the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility icon cull in the Windows notification area to run the utility 2 Click Connect K NOTE The Connect button changes to the Disconnect button 3 Follow the instructions on the screen to manage the network connection with the utility or 1 Click Start All Programs Dell Wireless 2 Click Dell Wireless Broadband and follow the instructions on the screen Enabling Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card K NOTE If you are unable to connect to a Mobile Broadband network ensure that you have all the components for establishing a Mobile Broadband connection see What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection on page 99 and then verify that your Mobile Broadband card is enabled by verifying the setting of the wireless switch You can turn your Mobile Broadband card on and off using the wireless switch on your computer You can turn your computer s wireless devices on and off with the wireless switch on the right side of the computer see Right Side View on page 27 100 Setting Up and Using Networks If the switch is in the on position move the switch to the off position to disable the switch and the Mobile Broadband card If the switch is in the off position move the switch to the on position to enable the switch and the Dell Mobile Broadband ca
66. btained from other sources your computer might not work correctly Using Windows Device Driver Rollback If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver use Windows Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version Windows XP 1 Click Start gt My Computer Properties gt Hardware Device Manager 2 Right click the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties 3 Click the Drivers tab Roll Back Driver 136 Troubleshooting Windows Vista 1 2 4 Click the Windows Vista start button and right click Computer Click Properties gt Device Manager K NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager Right click the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties Click the Drivers tab Roll Back Driver If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem use System Restore see Restoring Your Operating System on page 140 to return your computer to the operating state that existed before you installed the new driver Using the Drivers and Utilities Media If using Device Driver Rollback or System Restore see Restoring Your Operating System on page 140 does not resolve the problem reinstall the driver from your Drivers and Utilities media 1 4 With the Windows desktop display
67. capacity floppy drive developed by Iomega Corporation that uses 3 5 inch removable disks called Zip disks Zip disks are slightly larger than regular floppy disks about twice as thick and hold up to 100 MB of data 200 Glossary Index Numerics 8 in 1 memory card reader 88 A air vents description 25 28 31 audio device connecting 68 enabling 82 audio See sound battery charge gauge 49 charging 52 checking the charge 48 performance 47 power meter 48 removing 53 storing 53 blank cards ExpressCards 86 memory card 89 removing 87 90 Blu ray Disc 65 113 boot sequence 180 brightness adjusting 39 C camera 20 24 carnet 164 CD blank 63 CD RW drive problems 113 drive problems 113 Check Disk 114 computer crashes 123 124 restore to previous operating state 141 slow performance 115 125 specifications 172 stops responding 123 conflicts software and hardware incompatibilities 139 connecting audio device 68 Mobile Broadband network 98 TV 68 contacting Dell 170 copying CDs helpful tips 64 Index 201 how to 63 copying DVDs helpful tips 64 how to 63 Dell contacting 170 Dell Diagnostics about 107 starting from the Drivers and Utilities media 109 starting from your hard drive 108 Dell MediaDirect about 23 problems 124 Dell support site 15 DellConnect 166 device latch release description 31 device status lights de
68. ce menu use the up and down arrow keys to highlight CD DVD CD RW and then press lt Enter gt K NOTE The Quickboot feature changes the boot sequence for the current boot only Upon restart the computer boots according to the boot sequence specified in system setup Select the Boot from CD ROM option from the menu that appears and then press lt Enter gt Type 1 to start the Drivers and Utilities menu and then press lt Enter gt Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list If multiple versions are listed select the version appropriate for your computer At the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu select the test you want to run K NOTE Write down any error codes and problem descriptions exactly as they appear and follow the instructions on the screen After all tests have completed close the test window to return to the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Remove your Drivers and Utilities media then close the Main Menu window to exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer Troubleshooting 109 Dell Diagnostics Main Menu After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears click the button for the option you want K NOTE It is recommended that you select Test Systemto run a complete test on your computer Option Function Test Memory Run the stand alone memory test Test System Run System Diagnostics Exit Exit the Diagnostics After you have selected the Test System o
69. ceived when you ordered your computer lists the hardware and software that shipped with your computer Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem 1 Contact your Internet service provider ISP to obtain specific information about the connection requirements for your broadband modem 2 Ensure that you have wired Internet access through your broadband modem before you attempt to set up a wireless Internet connection see Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable on page 91 3 Install any software required for your wireless router Your wireless router may have been shipped with installation media Installation media usually contains installation and troubleshooting information Install the required software according to the instructions provided by the router manufacturer 94 Setting Up and Using Networks 10 11 12 13 14 15 Shut down your computer and any other wireless enabled computers in the vicinity through the Windows Vista Start button or Start Shutdown in Windows XP Disconnect your broadband modem power cable from the electrical outlet Disconnect the network cable from the computer and the modem Disconnect the AC adapter cable from your wireless router to ensure that there is no power connected to the router K NOTE Wait for a minimum of 5 minutes after disconnecting your broadband modem before continuing with the network setup Insert a network cable into the network
70. cs on page 107 116 Troubleshooting HARD DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE The hard drive may be defective Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 152 and boot the computer from a CD Then shut down the computer reinstall the hard drive and restart the computer If the problem persists try another drive Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA The operating system is trying to boot to nonbootable media such as a floppy disk or CD Insert bootable media INVALID CONFIGURATION INFORMATION PLEASE RUN SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM The system configuration information does not match the hardware configuration The message is most likely to occur after a memory module is installed Correct the appropriate options in the system setup program see System Setup Screens on page 180 KEYBOARD CLOCK LINE FAILURE For external keyboards check the cable connection Run the Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 KEYBOARD CONTROLLER FAILURE For external keyboards check the cable connection Restart the computer and avoid touching the keyboard or the mouse during the boot routine Run the Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 KEYBOARD DATA LINE FAILURE For external keyboards check the cable connection Run the Keyboard Controller t
71. cted to the headphone connector TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE lurn off nearby fans fluorescent lights or halogen lamps to check for interference REINSTALL THE AUDIO DRIVER Sce Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 RUN THE DELL Diagnostics See Dell Diagnostics on page 107 K NOTE The volume control in some MP3 players overrides the Windows volume setting If you have been listening to MP3 songs ensure that you did not turn the player volume down or off No sound from headphones CHECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL Click or double click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your screen Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted Touch Pad or Mouse Problems CHECK THE TOUCH PAD SETTINGS Windows XP 1 Click Start gt Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware gt Mouse 2 Try adjusting the settings Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound Mouse 2 Adjust the settings as needed CHECK THE MOUSE CABLE Shut down the computer disconnect the mouse cable and check it for damage then firmly reconnect the cable If you are using a mouse extension cable disconnect it and connect
72. cted to the system bus operate CMOS A type of electronic circuit Computers use a small amount of battery powered CMOS memory to hold date time and system setup options COA Certificate of Authenticity The Windows alpha numeric code located on a sticker on your computer Also referred to as the Product Key or Product ID Control Panel A Windows utility that allows you to modify operating system and hardware settings such as display settings controller A chip that controls the transfer of data between the processor and memory or between the processor and devices CRIMM continuity rambus in line memory module A special module that has no memory chips and is used to fill unused RIMM slots cursor The marker on a display or screen that shows where the next keyboard touch pad or mouse action will occur It often is a blinking solid line an underline character or a small arrow D DDR SDRAM double data rate SDRAM A type of SDRAM that doubles the data burst cycle improving system performance DDR2 SDRAM double data rate 2 SDRAM A type of DDR SDRAM that uses a 4 bit prefetch and other architectural changes to boost memory speed to over 400 MHz device Hardware such as a disk drive printer or keyboard that is installed in or connected to your computer device driver See driver DIMM dual in line memory module A circuit board with memory chips that connects to a mem
73. d Replacing Parts 149 Turning Off Your Computer NOTICE To avoid losing data save and close any open files and exit any open programs before you turn off your computer Shut down the operating system Windows XP Click Start gt Shut Down Shut down Windows Vista Click the Windows Vista Start button click the arrow in the lower right corner of the Start menu as shown below and then click Shut Down a The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process is complete Ensure that the computer and any 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 at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off Before Working Inside Your Computer Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide A CAUTION Handle components and cards with care Do not touch the components 150 or contacts on a card Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket Hold a component such as a processor by its edges not by its pins NOTICE Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty NOTICE When you disc
74. d as standard equipment in the battery bay K 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 Properties see Accessing Power Options Properties on page 52 Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions K 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 itis used you may need to purchase a new battery during the life of your computer K 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 e Using optical drives e Using wireless communications devices Express Cards media memory cards or USB devices e Using high brightness display settings 3D screen savers or other power intensive programs such as complex 3D graphics applications e Running the computer in maximum performance mode See Configuring Power Management Settings on page 52 for information about accessing Windows Power Options Properties or Dell QuickSet which you can use to configure power ma
75. d by the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 4 Include any accessories that belong with the item s being returned power cables software floppy disks guides and so on if the return is for credit 5 Pack the equipment to be returned in the original or equivalent packing materials You are responsible for paying shipping expenses You are also responsible for insuring any product returned and you assume the risk of loss during shipment to Dell Collect On Delivery C O D packages are not accepted Returns that are missing any of the preceding requirements will be refused at Dell s receiving dock and returned to you Before You Call K NOTE Have your Express Service Code ready when you call The code helps Dell s automated support telephone system direct your call more efficiently You may also be asked for your Service Tag located in the battery bay of your computer Remember to fill out the Diagnostics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 If possible turn on your computer before you call Dell for assistance and call from a telephone at or near the computer You may be asked to type some commands at the keyboard relay detailed information during operations or try other troubleshooting steps possible only at the computer itself Ensure that the computer documentation is available A CAUTION Before working inside your computer follow the safety instructions in your Product Information Gui
76. d then lift the pull tab to flip the cage towards the center of the computer so that the SATA cables and connectors are accessible 1 captive screws 4 4 Carefully remove the SATA cables from the hard drive or drives that are installed in the cage Adding and Replacing Parts 153 Replacing a Hard Drive in the Hard Drive Cage 1 Remove two screws on each side of the hard drive cage to free the hard drive then lift the drive out of its tray in the cage NOTICE When a hard drive is not in the computer store it in protective antistatic packaging See Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge in the Product Information Guide 1 screws 2 hard drive cage 2 Remove the new hard drive from its packaging Save the original packaging for storing or shipping the hard drive 3 Place the new hard drive into the drive cage tray and secure it with two screws on each side a Install the hard drive so that the manufacturer s label faces the bottom of the drive cage and the SATA connectors are at the open end of the cage b Install the primary hard drive in the tray labeled 0 You can install a secondary hard drive in the tray labeled 1 154 Adding and Replacing Parts Replacing the Hard Drive Cage 1 Place the hard drive cage upside down on the bottom of the computer with the SATA connectors and cables aligned and then firmly press the cables onto the hard drives connectors Flip the hard drive cage over and int
77. de 168 Getting Help Diagnostics Checklist Name Date Address Phone number Service Tag bar code in the battery bay of the computer Express Service Code Return Material Authorization Number if provided by Dell support technician Operating system and version Devices Expansion cards Are you connected to a network Yes No Network version and network adapter Programs and versions See your operating system documentation to determine the contents of the system s start up files If the computer is connected to a printer print each file Otherwise record the contents of each file before calling Dell Error message beep code or diagnostic code Description of problem and troubleshooting procedures you performed Getting Help 169 Contacting Dell K NOTE If you do not have an active Internet connection you can find contact information on your purchase invoice packing slip bill or Dell product catalog Dell provides several online and telephone based support and service options Because availability varies by country and product some services may not be available in your area To contact Dell for sales technical support or customer service issues 1 2 3 4 5 170 Visit www support dell com At the bottom of the page verify your country or region Locate and click Contact Us on the left side of the page Select the appropriate service or support link based on your need Choose
78. dio cable into the headphone connector on your computer Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device Turn on the TV and any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 83 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Enabling the Display Settings for a TV K To ensure that the display options appear correctly connect the TV to the computer before you enable the display settings Windows XP 1 2 3 4 K Click the Start button point to Settings and then click Control Panel Double click Display and click the Settings tab Click Advanced Click the tab for your video card NOTE To determine the type of video card installed in your computer see the Windows Help and Support Center To access the Help and Support Center click Start Help and Support Under Pick a Task click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems Then under My Computer Information select Hardware In the display devices section select the appropriate option for using either a single display or multiple displays ensuring that the display settings are correct for your selection Using Multimedia 83 Windows Vista 84 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button click Control Panel and then click Appearance and Per
79. djusting the Volume 65 Adjusting the Picture 66 Using Dell MediaDirect 67 Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device 68 S Video and Standard Audio 70 S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 72 Composite Video and Standard Audio 74 Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 76 Component Video and Standard Audio 78 Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 80 DVI to HDMI and Standard Audio 82 Enabling the Display Settings foraTV 83 9 Using Cards ween a see A ene oh ee 85 ExpressCards 000005 85 ExpressCard Blanks 86 Installing an ExpressCard 86 Removing an ExpressCard or Blank 87 Memory CardReader 88 Memory Card Blanks 89 Installing a Memory Card 89 Removing a Memory Card or Blank 90 Contents 10 Setting Up and Using Networks 91 Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable 91 Setting UpaNetwork 92 WindowsXP 2 2000 92 Windows Vista 2 02 93 Wireless Local Area Network 93 What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection 93 Checking Your Wireless Network Card 93 Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a BroadbandModem 94 ConnectingtoaWLAN 96 Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area
80. dows Control Panel You can also scan in your favorite picture and make it wallpaper WLAN wireless local area network A series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves using access points or wireless routers to provide Internet access write protected Files or media that cannot be changed Use write protection when you want to protect data from being changed or destroyed To write protect a 3 5 inch floppy disk slide its write protect tab to the open position WWAN wireless wide area network A wireless high speed data network using cellular technology and covering a much larger geographic area than WLAN WXGA wide aspect extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1280 x 800 X XGA extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1024 x 768 Z ZIF zero insertion force A type of socket or connector that allows a computer chip to be installed or removed with no stress applied to either the chip or its socket Zip A popular data compression format Files that have been compressed with the Zip format are called Zip files and usually have a filename extension of zip A special kind of zipped file is a self extracting file which has a filename extension of exe You can unzip a self extracting file by double clicking it Zip drive A high
81. e TV Using Multimedia 71 S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter _ a rrr 2 Ea 1 composite video adapter 2 S video cable 3 S PDIF digital audio cable 3 72 Using Multimedia Turn off the computer and the TV and or the audio device that you want to connect Connect the composite video adapter to the S video TV out connector on your computer Plug one end of the S video cable into the S video output connector on the composite video adapter Zz prea composite video adapter 2 S video cable Plug the other end of the S video cable into the S video input connector on the TV Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the digital audio connector on the composite video adapter cable S composite video adapter 2 S PDIF digital audio cable Plug the other end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the audio input connector on your TV or audio device Turn on the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 83 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Using Multimedia 73 Composite Video and Standard Audio 1 audio input connector 2 S video TV out connector 3 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audi
82. e appropriate for your operating system Many drivers such as the keyboard driver come with your Microsoft Windows operating system You may need to install drivers if you Upgrade your operating system e Reinstall your operating system e Connect or install a new device Troubleshooting 135 Identifying Drivers If you experience a problem with any device identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and if necessary update the driver Windows XP 1 Click Start gt Control Panel 2 Under Pick a Category click Performance and Maintenance and click System 3 In the System Properties window click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista start button and right click Computer 2 Click Properties gt Device Manager K NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to continue Scroll down the list of devices and check for an exclamation point a circle with a next to the device name If an exclamation point is next to the device name you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities NOTICE The Dell Support website at support dell com and your Drivers and Utilities media provide approved drivers for Dell computers If you install drivers o
83. e or more of the following Internet connection options K DSL connections that provide high speed Internet access through your existing telephone line or cellular telephone service 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 Satellite modem connections that provide high speed Internet access through a satellite television system Wireless LAN connections that provide Internet access using Bluetooth wireless technology NOTE If you are using a DSL cable or satellite modem connection contact your ISP or cellular telephone service provider for setup instructions Setting Up Your Internet Connection To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut 1 2 3 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 Setting Up Your Computer 33 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 perform the steps in the following section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is using K NOTE If you are having problems connecting to the Internet see E Mail and Internet Problems on page 114 If you cannot connect to the Internet but
84. e that you have followed the instructions in Wireless Local Area Network on page 93 K NOTE The following networking instructions do not apply to internal cards with Bluetooth wireless technology or cellular products This section provides general procedures for connecting to a network using wireless technology Specific network names and configuration details vary See Wireless Local Area Network on page 93 for more information about how to prepare for connecting your computer to a WLAN Your wireless network card requires specific software and drivers for connecting to a network The software is already installed K NOTE If the software is removed or corrupted follow the instructions in the user documentation for your wireless network card Verify the type of wireless network card installed in your computer and then search for that name on the Dell Support website at support dell com For information on the type of wireless network card that is installed in your computer see Checking Your Wireless Network Card on page 93 When you turn on your computer and a network for which your computer is not configured is detected in the area a pop up appears near the network icon in the Windows notification area To connect to the network 1 Click Start and then click Network 2 Click Network and Sharing on the navigation bar at the top of the Network folder 3 Click Connect to a network under Tasks 4 Select your netw
85. e the drive out of the bay To reinstall the optical drive slide the drive into the drive bay and snap it into place Then replace the optical drive security screw Adding and Replacing Parts 161 162 Adding and Replacing Parts Traveling With Your Computer Identifying Your Computer Attach a name tag or business card to the computer Write down your Service Tag and store it in a safe place away from the computer or carrying case Use the Service Tag if you need to report a loss or theft to law enforcement officials and to Dell Create a file on the Microsoft Windows desktop called if found Place information such as your name address and phone number in this file Contact your credit card company and ask if it offers coded identification tags Packing the Computer Remove any external devices attached to the computer and store them ina safe place Remove any cables attached to installed PC Cards and remove any extended PC Cards To make the computer as light as possible replace any devices installed in the module bay with the Dell TravelLite module Fully charge the main battery and any spare batteries that you plan to carry with you Shut down the computer Disconnect the AC adapter NOTICE When the display is closed extraneous items on the keyboard or palm rest could damage the display Remove any extraneous items such as paper clips pens and paper from the keyboard and palm rest and close the d
86. earching and starts the operating system To control the boot devices select highlight a device by pressing the down arrow or up arrow key and then enable or disable the device or change its order in the list e To enable or disable a device highlight the item and press the space bar Enabled items appear as white and display a number next to them disabled items appear blue or dimmed without a number e To reorder a device in the list highlight the device and then press lt u gt or lt d gt not case sensitive to move the highlighted device up or down Boot sequence changes take effect as soon as you save the changes and exit the system setup program Performing a One Time Boot You can set a one time only boot sequence without entering the system setup program You can also use this procedure to boot the Dell Diagnostics on the diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive 1 Shut down the computer through the Start menu 2 Connect the computer to an electrical outlet Appendix 181 3 Turn on the computer When the DELL logo appears press lt F12 gt immediately If you wait too long and the Windows logo appears continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop Then shut down your computer and try again 4 When the boot device list appears highlight the device from which you want to boot and press lt Enter gt The computer boots to the selected device The next time you reboot the computer the pr
87. ecessary replace them see Memory on page 155 MEMORY ODD EVEN LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 155 MEMORY WRITE READ FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 155 No BOOT DEVICE AVAILABLE The computer cannot find the hard drive If the hard drive is your boot device ensure that the drive is installed properly seated and partitioned as a boot device NO BOOT SECTOR ON HARD DRIVE The operating system may be corrupted Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 No TIMER TICK INTERRUPT A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning Run the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES EXIT SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN You have too many programs open Close all windows and open the program that you want to use OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND Reinstall the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 152 If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 OPTIONAL ROM BaD CHECKSUM The optional ROM has failed Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 A REQUIRED DLL FILE WAS NOT FOUND The program that you are trying to
88. ector parallel connector or expansion slot and allows the processor to communicate with that device Glossary 191 IrDA Infrared Data Association The organization that creates international standards for infrared communications IRQ interrupt request An electronic pathway assigned to a specific device so that the device can communicate with the processor Each device connection must be assigned an IRQ Although two devices can share the same IRQ assignment you cannot operate both devices simultaneously ISP Internet service provider A company that allows you to access its host server to connect directly to the Internet send and receive e mail and access websites The ISP typically provides you with a software package user name and access phone numbers for a fee K Kb kilobit A unit of data that equals 1024 bits A measurement of the capacity of memory integrated circuits KB kilobyte A unit of data that equals 1024 bytes but is often referred to as 1000 bytes key combination A command requiring you to press multiple keys at the same time kHz kilohertz A measurement of frequency that equals 1000 Hz L LAN local area network A computer network covering a small area A LAN usually is confined to a building or a few nearby buildings A LAN can be connected to another LAN over any distance through telephone lines and radio waves to form a wide area network WAN L
89. ed insert your Drivers and Utilities media If this is your first time to use your Drivers and Utilities media continue to step 2 If not proceed to step 5 When the Drivers and Utilities installation program starts follow the prompts on the screen K NOTE In most cases the Drivers and Utilities program starts running automatically If it does not start Windows Explorer click your media drive directory to display the media contents and then double click the autorcd exe file When the InstallShield Wizard Complete window appears remove the Drivers and Utilities disc and click Finish to restart the computer When you see the Windows desktop reinsert the Drivers and Utilities disc Troubleshooting 137 5 At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen click Next K NOTE The Drivers and Utilities program displays drivers only for hardware that came installed in your computer If you installed additional hardware the drivers for the new hardware might not be displayed If those drivers are not displayed exit the Drivers and Utilities program For drivers information see the documentation that came with the device A message stating that the Drivers and Utilities program is detecting hardware in your computer appears The drivers that are used by your computer are automatically displayed in the My Drivers The ResourceDVD has identified these components in your system window Click the driver that you want to reinstall a
90. edia on page 63 62 Using Multimedia How to Copy a CD DVD or BD K NOTE Most commercial DVDs and BDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Roxio Creator Plus K NOTE BD media can only be copied to other BD media K NOTE Copying a BD R to BD RE does not produce an exact copy 1 Click Start All Programs gt Roxio Creator Projects gt Copy 2 Under the Copy tab click Copy Disc 3 To copy the CD DVD or BD e Ifyou have one optical drive insert the source disc into the drive ensure that the settings are correct and then click the Copy Disc button to continue The computer reads your source disc and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive When prompted insert a blank disc into the drive and click OK e If you have two optical drives select the drive into which you have inserted your source disc and click the Copy Disc button to continue The computer copies the data from the source disc to the blank disc Once you have finished copying the source disc the disc that you have created automatically ejects Using Blank CD DVD and BD Media DVD writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media BD writable drives can write to CD DVD and BD recording media Use blank CD Rs to record music or permanently store data files After creating a CD R you cannot write to that CD R again see the Sonic documentation for more information Use a blank CD RW if you p
91. emoving 90 memory module cover description 31 Index 203 messages error 115 microphone directional 55 Mobile Broadband network connections 98 problems 126 See also wireless switch monitor switching the video image 39 monitor See display network Mobile Broadband WWAN 126 problems 126 network connector description 30 0 operating system reinstalling Windows Vista 141 P PC Restore 143 phone numbers 170 power line conditioners 204 Index problems 128 protection devices surge protectors UPS power button description 20 power light conditions 128 printer cable 35 connecting 33 35 problems 129 setting up 33 35 USB 35 problems blue screen 124 CD drive 113 CD RW drive 113 computer crashes 123 124 computer does not start up 123 computer stops responding 123 conflicts 139 Dell Diagnostics 107 Dell MediaDirect 124 drives 112 DVD drive 113 error messages 115 hard drive 114 IEEE 1394 connector 121 keyboard 121 lockups 123 network 126 power 128 power light conditions 128 printer 129 program crashes repeatedly 123 program stops responding 123 programs and Windows compatibility 124 restore computer to previous operating state 141 restore operating system to previous state 140 scanner 130 slow computer performance 115 125 software 123 125 sound and speakers 131 speakers 131 spyware 115 125 Product Inf
92. ery bay latch release 2 battery 6 Press the power button to ground the system board 7 Remove any installed ExpressCards from the ExpressCard slot Adding and Replacing Parts 151 Hard Drive A CAUTION If you remove the hard drive from the computer when the drive is hot do not touchthe metal housing of the hard drive A CAUTION Before working inside your computer follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent data loss turn off your computer before removing the hard drive Do not remove the hard drive while the computer is on in standby mode or in hibernate mode NOTICE Hard drives are extremely fragile even a slight bump can damage the drive K NOTE Dell does not guarantee compatibility or provide support for hard drives from sources other than Dell Your computer can accommodate up to two hard drives The hard drives are installed in trays labeled 0 and 1 in the hard drive cage and the cage is installed in the hard drive bay To replace a hard drive or install a second one you must first remove the hard drive cage from the hard drive bay Removing the Hard Drive Cage 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 149 2 Turn the computer over loosen the two captive screws on the hard drive cover and then remove the cover x 1 1 captive screws 2 152 Adding and Replacing Parts 3 Loosen the four captive screws on the hard drive cage an
93. es between your computer and your TV you must enable your computer to work with the TV See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 83 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Additionally if you are using S PDIF digital audio see Enabling S PDIF Digital Audio on page 82 S Video and Standard Audio 1 audio connector 2 S video TV out connector 70 Using Multimedia a ain h 2 U D 1 standard S video cable 2 standard audio cable Turn off the computer and the TV and or audio device that you want to connect K NOTE If your TV or audio device supports S video but not S PDIF digital audio you can connect an S video cable directly to the S video TV out connector on the computer without the TV digital audio adapter cable Plug one end of the S video cable into the S video output connector on the computer Plug the other end of the S video cable into the S video input connector on your TV Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on your computer Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device Turn on the TV and any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 83 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with th
94. est in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 KEYBOARD STUCK KEY FAILURE For external keyboards or keypads check the cable connection Restart the computer and avoid touching the keyboard or keys during the boot routine Run the Stuck Key test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 LICENSED CONTENT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE IN MEDIADIRECT Dell MediaDirect cannot verify the Digital Rights Management DRM restrictions on the file so the file cannot be played see Dell MediaDirect problems on page 124 MEMORY ADDRESS LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 155 Troubleshooting 117 MEMORY ALLOCATION ERROR The software you are attempting to run is conflicting with the operating system another program or a utility Shut down the computer wait 30 seconds and then restart it Try to run the program again If the error message still appears see the software documentation MEMORY DATA LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 155 MEMORY DOUBLE WORD LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if n
95. etup before you connect a printer to the computer See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information including how to e Obtain and install updated drivers e Connect the printer to the computer Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge For technical assistance refer to the printer owner s manual or contact the printer manufacturer Printer Cable Your printer connects to your computer with either a USB cable or a parallel cable Your printer may not come with a printer cable so if you purchase a cable separately ensure that it is compatible with your printer and computer If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer the cable may arrive in the computer s shipping box Connecting a USB Printer K NOTE You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on 1 Complete the operating system setup if you have not already done so 2 Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer The USB connectors fit only one way Setting Up Your Computer 35 1 USB connector on computer 2 USB connector on printer 3 USB printer cable 3 Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer 4 Depending on your computer s operating system a printer wizard may be available to help you install the printer driver If your computer is running the Windows Vista operating system click the Windows Vista Start button and click Net
96. etwork Windows XP 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories Communications gt Network Setup Wizard Next Checklist for creating a network K NOTE Selecting the connection method labeled This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack 2 SP2 2 Complete the checklist 3 Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions in the wizard 92 Setting Up and Using Networks Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Connect To gt Set up a connection or network Select an option under Choose a connection option Click Next and then follow the instructions in the wizard Wireless Local Area Network A wireless local area network WLAN is a series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves rather than through a network cable connected to each computer In a WLAN a radio communications device called an access point or wireless router connects network computers and provides Internet or network access The access point or wireless router and the wireless network card in the computer communicate by broadcasting data from their antennas over the air waves What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection Before you can set up a WLAN you need e High speed broadband Internet access such as cable or DSL A broadband modem that is connected and working e A wireless router o
97. evious boot order is restored FCC Notice U S Only FCC Class B This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer s instruction manual may cause interference with radio and television reception This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions 1 This device may not cause harmful interference 2 This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation NOTICE The FCC regulations provide that changes or modifications not expressly approved by Dell Inc could void your authority to operate this equipment These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference with radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures e Reorient the receiving antenna e Relocate the system with respect to the receiver 182 Appendix e Move the system away from the receiver e
98. example Windows Notepad uses a text editor Text editors do not usually provide word wrap or formatting functionality the option to underline change fonts and so on TPM trusted platform module A hardware based security feature that when combined with security software enhances network and computer security by enabling features such as file and e mail protection travel module A plastic device designed to fit inside the module bay of a portable computer to reduce the weight of the computer U UAC user account control Microsoft Windows Vista security feature that when enabled provides an added layer of security between user accounts and access to operating system settings UMA unified memory allocation System memory dynamically allocated to video UPS uninterruptible power supply A backup power source used when the electrical power fails or drops to an unacceptable voltage level A UPS keeps a computer running for a limited amount of time when there is no electrical power UPS systems typically provide surge suppression and may also provide voltage regulation Small UPS systems provide battery power for a few minutes to enable you to shut down your computer 198 Glossary USB universal serial bus A hardware interface for a low speed device such as a USB compatible keyboard mouse joystick scanner set of speakers printer broadband devices imaging devices or storage devices Devices
99. ft Windows Vista Operating Systems on page 139 RUN THE DELL Diagnostics See Dell Diagnostics on page 107 Optical drive problems K NOTE High speed optical drive vibration is normal and may cause noise which does not indicate a defect in the drive or the media K NOTE Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats not all DVD titles work in all DVD drives Problems writing to a CD RW DVD RW or BD RE drive CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS CD RW DVD RW and BD RE drives must receive a steady stream of data when writing If the stream is interrupted an error occurs Try closing all programs before you write to the drive TURN OFF SLEEP STATE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD DVD BD DISC See Standby and Sleep Mode on page 50 for information on Sleep state CHANGE THE WRITE SPEED TO A SLOWER RATE Sce the help files for your CD DVD or BD creation software The drive tray cannot eject 1 Ensure that the computer is shut down 2 Straighten a paper clip and insert one end into the eject hole at the front of the drive then push firmly until the tray is partially ejected 3 Gently pull out the tray until it stops The drive makes an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound Ensure that the sound is not caused by the program that is running e Ensure that the disc is inserted properly Troubleshooting 113 Hard drive problems ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO COOL BEFORE TURNING IT ON A ho
100. g GamePanel Using Multimedia Playing Media NOTICE Do not press down on the optical drive tray when you open or close it Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive NOTICE Do not move the computer while playing media 1 Press the eject button on the front of the drive 2 Place the disc label side up in the center of the tray and snap the disc onto the spindle 3 Push the tray back into the drive Using Multimedia 59 To format media for storing or copying data see the media software that came with your computer K NOTE Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when copying media A CD player includes the following basic buttons Play Move backward within the current track Pause Move forward within the current track Stop Go to the previous track Eject Go to the next track A g VD player includes the following basic buttons Stop Restart the current chapter Play Fast forward Pause Fast reverse Advance a single frame while in pause mode Go to the next title or chapter Continuously play the current title or chapter Go to the previous title or chapter o REKA BEAA MNO Eject For more information on playing media click Help on the media player if available 60 Using Multimedia Playing Media Using Dell Express Card Remote Control Optional The Dell Express Card remote control is designed to control Dell Media Direct and
101. grams until the system restoration is complete Click Start All Programs AccessoriesSystem Tools System Restore Click either Restore my computer to an earlier time or Create a restore point Click Next and follow the remaining on screen prompts Troubleshooting 141 Windows Vista 1 Click Start 2 Inthe Start Search box type System Restore and press lt Enter gt K NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to continue the desired action 3 Click Next and follow the remaining prompts on the screen In the event that System Restore did not resolve the issue you may undo the last system restore Undoing the Last System Restore NOTICE Before you undo the last system restore save and close all open files and exit any open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete Windows XP 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools System Restore 2 Click Undo my last restoration and click Next Windows Vista 1 Click Start 2 Inthe Start Search box type System Rest Enabling System Restore K NOTE Windows Vista does not disable System Restore regardless of low disk space Therefore the steps below apply only to Windows XP If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free hard disk space available System Restore is automatic
102. has a variety of configurations To determine your computer configuration see one of the following e Your order confirmation e Microsoft Windows Help and Support To check your Mobile Broadband card in Windows Help and Support 1 Click Start Help and Support Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems 2 Under Tools click My Computer Information Find information about the hardware installed on this computer On the My Computer Information Hardware screen you can view the type of Mobile Broadband card installed in your computer as well as other hardware components K NOTE The Mobile Broadband card is listed under Modems Setting Up and Using Networks 99 Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network K NOTE These instructions only apply to Mobile Broadband ExpressCards or Mini Cards They do not apply to internal cards with other wireless technology K NOTE Before you connect to the Internet you must activate Mobile Broadband service through your cellular service provider For instructions and for additional information about using the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility see the user s guide available through Windows Help and Support click Start and then click Help and Support The user s guide is also available on the Dell Support website at support dell com and on the media included with your Mobile Broadband card if you purchased the card separately from your computer Use the Dell Mo
103. 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 K NOTE Have your ISP information ready If you do not have an ISP the Connect to the Internet wizard can help you get one 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs Click the Windows Vista Start button e and click Control Panel Under Network and Internet click Connect to the Internet The Connect to the Internet window appears 4 Click Wireless to configure your WLAN WWAN card to connect to the Internet 5 Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup 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 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Transfer files and settings Start Windows Easy Transfer 2 Inthe User Account Control dialog box click Continue 3 Click Start a new transfer or Continue a transfer in progress Follow the instructions provided on the screen by the Windows Easy Transfer wizard 34 Setting Up Your Computer Setting Up a Printer NOTICE Complete the operating system s
104. hile powering the computer on K NOTE If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found run the Dell Diagnostics from your Drivers and Utilities media The computer runs the Pre boot System Assessment a series of initial tests of your system board keyboard hard drive and display e During the assessment answer any questions that appear e Ifa failure is detected the computer stops and beeps To stop the assessment and restart the computer press lt n gt to continue to the next test press lt y gt to retest the component that failed press lt r gt e If failures are detected during the Pre boot System Assessment write down the error code s and contact Dell If the Pre boot System Assessment completes successfully you receive the message Booting Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition Press any key to continue Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive Troubleshooting Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media 1 2 3 10 Insert your Drivers and Utilities media Shut down and restart the computer When the DELL logo appears press lt F12 gt immediately K NOTE Keyboard failure may result when a key on the keyboard is held down for extended periods of time To avoid possible keyboard failure press and release lt F12 gt in even intervals until the boot device menu appears At the boot devi
105. icrosoft utility that checks files folders and the hard disk s surface for errors ScanDisk often runs when you restart the computer after it has stopped responding SCSI small computer system interface A high speed interface used to connect devices to a computer such as hard drives CD drives printers and scanners The SCSI can connect many devices using a single controller Each device is accessed by an individual identification number on the SCSI controller bus SDRAM synchronous dynamic random access memory A type of DRAM that is synchronized with the optimal clock speed of the processor serial connector An I O port often used to connect devices such as a handheld digital device or digital camera to your computer 196 Glossary Service Tag A bar code label on your computer that identifies your computer when you access Dell Support at support dell com or when you call Dell for customer service or technical support setup program A program that is used to install and configure hardware and software The setup exe or install exe program comes with most Windows software packages Setup program differs from system setup shortcut An icon that provides quick access to frequently used programs files folders and drives When you place a shortcut on your Windows desktop and double click the icon you can open its corresponding folder or file without having to find it first Shortcut icons do not cha
106. in the computer DSL Digital Subscriber Line A technology that provides a constant high speed Internet connection through an analog telephone line dual core A technology in which two physical computational units exist inside a single processor package thereby increasing computing efficiency and multi tasking ability dual display mode A display setting that allows you to use a second monitor as an extension of your display Also referred to as extended display mode DVD R DVD recordable A recordable version of a DVD Data can be recorded only once onto a DVD R Once recorded the data cannot be erased or written over DVD RW DVD rewritable A rewritable version of a DVD Data can be written to a DVD RW disc and then erased and written over rewritten DVD RW technology is different from DVD RW technology DVD RW drive drive that can read DVDs and most CD media and write to DVD RW rewritable DVDs discs DVI digital video interface A standard for digital transmission between a computer and a digital video display 188 Glossary E ECC error checking and correction A type of memory that includes special circuitry for testing the accuracy of data as it passes in and out of memory ECP extended capabilities port A parallel connector design that provides improved bidirectional data transmission Similar to EPP ECP uses direct memory access to transfer data and often improves
107. input connector on the composite video adapter 4 Z lt M 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector on the TV Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the S PDIF audio connector on the composite video adapter amp o 1 composite video adapter 2 S PDIF digital audio cable Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S PDIF input connector on your TV or other audio device Turn on the TY turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 83 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Using Multimedia 71 Component Video and Standard Audio 1 video TV out connector 2 component video adapter ef BOLE a 1 component video adapter component video cable 3 standard audio cable 78 Using Multimedia Turn off the computer and the TV and or audio device that you want to connect Connect the component video adapter to the S video TV out connector on your computer Plug all three ends of the component video cable into the component video output connectors on the component video adapter Make sure that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports En 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable
108. ion Display Settings 2 Adjust Resolution and Colors settings as needed RUN THE VIDEO DIAGNOSTICS TESTS If no error message appears and you still have a display problem but the display is not completely blank run the Video device group in the Dell Diagnostics on page 107 then contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 SEE ERROR MESSAGES If an error message appears see Error Messages on page 115 134 Troubleshooting If only part of the display is readable CONNECT AN EXTERNAL MONITOR 1 Shut down your computer and connect an external monitor to the computer 2 Tum on the computer and the monitor and then adjust the monitor brightness and contrast controls If the external monitor works the computer display or video controller may be defective Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 Drivers What Is a Driver A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer mouse or keyboard All devices require a driver program A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed no further installation or configuration is needed NOTICE Your Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer Ensure that you are installing softwar
109. isplay Use the optional Dell carrying case to pack the computer and its accessories together safely Traveling With YourComputer 163 Avoid packing the computer with items such as shaving cream colognes perfumes or food NOTICE If the computer has been exposed to extreme temperatures allow it to acclimate to room temperature for 1 hour before turning it on Protect the computer the batteries and the hard drive from hazards such as extreme temperatures and overexposure to sunlight dirt dust or liquids Pack the computer so that it does not slide around in the trunk of your car or in an overhead storage compartment Travel Tips e NOTICE Do not move the computer while using the optical drive to prevent loss of data NOTICE Do not check the computer as baggage Consider changing your power management options to maximize battery operating time If you are traveling internationally carry proof of ownership or of your right to use the computer if it is company owned to speed your passage through customs Investigate the customs regulations of the countries you plan to visit and consider acquiring an international carnet also known as a merchandise passport from your government Find out what type of electrical outlets are used in the countries you will visit and have appropriate power adapters Check with your credit card company for information about the kinds of emergency travel assistance it
110. itions U S only e Safety instructions e Regulatory information e Ergonomics information End User License Agreement Dell Product Information Guide e How to set up my computer Setup Diagram NOTE The appearance of your setup diagram may vary Service Tag and Express Service Code 14 Finding Information Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License This label is located in the battery bay of your computer e Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support dell com or contact support e Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support LOTOU E TOE IE eee seee eose SERVICE TAG Beeeea EXPRESS SERVICE CODE What Are You Looking For Find It Here Microsoft Windows License Label The label is located on the memory module cover at the bottom of the system NOTE If your operating system is Windows XP this label might look different Rectone vate gt Oe nee st d TT 1 fi hs 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 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 o
111. k How do I get the best display for further instructions Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate K NOTE If you change the display resolution from the current settings the image may appear blurry or text may be hard to read if you change the resolution to one not supported by your computer and display Before you change any of the display settings make a note of the current settings so you can change back to the previous settings if needed You can enhance the legibility of text and change the appearance of images on the screen by adjusting display resolution As you increase resolution items appear smaller on the screen In contrast lower resolution causes text and images to appear larger and can benefit people with vision impairments To display a program at a specific resolution both the video card and the display must support the program and the necessary video drivers must be installed K NOTE Use only the Dell installed video drivers which are designed to offer the best performance with your Dell installed operating system If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports the settings adjust automatically to the closest supported values To set the display resolution and refresh rate for your display perform the steps in the following section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is using Using the Display 41 Microsoft Windows XP 1 Click Start Settings C
112. ks Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the ExpressCard slot Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles Save the blank for use when no ExpressCard is installed in the slot blanks from other computers may not fit your computer Remove the blank before installing an ExpressCard To remove the blank see Removing an ExpressCard or Blank on page 87 Installing an ExpressCard You can install an ExpressCard while the computer is running The computer automatically detects the card ExpressCards are generally marked with a symbol such as a triangle or an arrow or a label to indicate which end to insert into the slot The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion If card orientation is not clear see the documentation that came with the card A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide To install an ExpressCard 1 Hold the card with the top side of the card facing up 2 Slide the card into the slot until the card is completely seated in its connector If you encounter too much resistance do not force the card Check the card orientation and try again 86 Using Cards The computer recognizes the ExpressCard and automatically loads the appropriate device driver If the configuration program tells you to load the manufacturer s drivers use the media that came with the ExpressCard Removing an Expres
113. l 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 e How to reinstall my operating system Operating System Media The operating system is already installed on your computer To reinstall your operating system use the Operating System media See Restoring Your Operating System on page 140 in your Owner s Manual DOLL OPERATING SYSTEM ALREADY INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER After you reinstall your operating system use the Drivers and Utilities media 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 DVD varies based on the operating system you ordered Finding Information 17 18 Finding Information About Your Computer Front View 14 15 1 About Your Computer 19 1 camera 2 display 3 power button 4 GamePanel 5 device status lights 6 right speaker 7 infrared sensor 8 media control buttons 9 touch pad 10 left speaker 11 Dell MediaDirect button 12 keyboard status lights 13 digital array microphones 2 14 display latch 15 camera indicator CAMERA Built in camera for video capture conferencing and chat DISPLAY For more information about your display see Using the Display on page 39 POWER BUTTON Press the
114. l Support from a telephone near or at the computer so that the support staff can assist you with any necessary procedures K NOTE Dell s Express Service Code system may not be available in all countries When prompted by Dell s automated telephone system enter your Express Service Code to route the call directly to the proper support personnel If you do not have an Express Service Code open the Dell Accessories folder double click the Express Service Code icon and follow the directions For instructions on using the Dell Support see Technical Support and Customer Service on page 166 K NOTE Some of the following services are not always available in all locations outside the continental U S Call your local Dell representative for information on availability Getting Help 165 Technical Support and Customer Service Dell s support service is available to answer your questions about Dell hardware Our support staff uses computer based diagnostics to provide fast accurate answers To contact Dell s support service see Before You Call on page 168 and then see the contact information for your region or go to support dell com DellConnect DellConnect is a simple online access tool that allows a Dell service and support associate to access your computer through a broadband connection diagnose your problem and repair it all under your supervision For more information go to support dell com and click DellConnect Online
115. l cellular network K NOTE Even if you are able to make a call from your cellular phone in a specific geographical location that location may not necessarily be within a cellular data coverage zone 98 Setting Up and Using Networks What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection K NOTE Depending on your computer you can use either a Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini Card but not both to establish a Mobile Broadband network connection To set up a Mobile Broadband network connection you need e A Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini Card depending on your computer s configuration K NOTE For instructions on using ExpressCards see ExpressCards on page 85 e An activated Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or activated Subscriber Identity Module SIM for your service provider e The Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility already installed on your computer if you purchased the card when you purchased your computer or on the media that accompanied your card if purchased separately from your computer If the utility is corrupted or deleted from your computer see the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility user s guide in Windows Help and Support click Start and then click Help and Support or on the media that accompanied your card if you purchased it separately from your computer Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer the computer
116. lan to erase rewrite or update information on that disc later Blank DVD R or BD R media can be used to permanently store large amounts of information After you create a DVD R or BD R you may not be able to write to that disc again if the disc is finalized or closed during the final stage of the disc creation process Use blank DVD RW or BD RE media if you plan to erase rewrite or update information on that disc later Using Multimedia 63 DVD Writable and Combo Drives Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD R Yes Yes No CD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R Yes Yes No DVD R Yes Yes No DVD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R DL Yes Yes No DVD R DL Yes Yes No Blu Ray Drives Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD R Yes Yes No CD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R Yes Yes No DVD R Yes Yes No DVD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R DL Yes Yes No DVD R DL Yes No No BD R Yes Yes No BD RE Yes Yes Yes Helpful Tips Use Microsoft Windows Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD R or CD RW only after you start Roxio Creator and open a Creator project Do not burn a blank CD R or CD RW to its maximum capacity for example do not copy a 650 MB file to a blank 650 MB CD The CD RW drive needs 1 2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording 64 Using Multimedia e Use CD Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos CD RWs do not play in most home or car stereos e Music MP3 files can be played
117. larger and can benefit people with vision impairments To display a program at a specific resolution both the video card and the display must support the program and the necessary video drivers must be installed K NOTE Use only the Dell installed video drivers which are designed to offer the best performance with your Dell installed operating system If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports the settings adjust automatically to the closest supported values To set the display resolution and refresh rate for your display perform the steps in the following section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is using Microsoft Windows XP 1 Click Start Settings Control Panel 2 Under Pick a category click Appearance and Themes 3 Under Pick a task click the area you want to change or under or pick a Control Panel icon click Display 4 Inthe Display Properties window click the Settings tab 5 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution K NOTE As the resolution increases icons and text appear smaller on the screen 40 Using the Display Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and click Control Panel 2 Under Appearance and Personalization click Adjust screen resolution 3 In the Display Settings window under Resolution slide the slide bar to the left right to decrease increase the screen resolution 4 Clic
118. lay e Press lt Fn gt lt Esc gt Using a Battery 51 K NOTE Some PC Cards or Express Cards may not operate correctly after the computer exits hibernate mode Remove and reinsert the card see Removing an ExpressCard or Blank on page 87 or simply restart reboot your computer 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 Start 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 K N
119. ll it Adding and Replacing Parts 157 1 memory module 2 securing clip 6 Replace the memory module cover NOTICE If the cover is difficult to close remove the module and reinstall it Forcing the cover to close may damage your computer 7 Insert the battery into the battery bay or connect the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet 8 Tur on the computer As the computer boots it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information If prompted press lt F1 gt to continue Confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer Windows XP Right click the My Computer icon on your desktop then click Properties gt General Windows Vista Click the Windows Vista Start button right click Computer and then click Properties 158 Adding and Replacing Parts Subscriber Identity Module Subscriber Identity Modules SIM identify users uniquely through an International Mobile Subscriber Identity A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide K NOTE Only GSM HSDPA type cards need a SIM EVDO cards do not use a SIM 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 149 2 In the battery bay locate the SIM compartment 3 Slide in the SIM into the compartment as indicated on the battery bay 1 SIM Adding and Replacing Parts 159 Inter
120. low the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CHECK THE EXPRESSCARD Ensure that the ExpressCard is properly inserted into the connector CHECK THAT THE CARD IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS Double click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Windows taskbar Some cards do not support this feature If the card supports this Windows feature the card will be listed IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A DELL PROVIDED EXPRESSCARD Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 Also for Mobile Broadband WWAN ExpressCards see Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN on page 127 IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AN EXPRESSCARD NOT PROVIDED BY DELL Contact the ExpressCard manufacturer 120 Troubleshooting IEEE 1394 Device Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide ENSURE THAT THE IEEE 1394 DEVICE IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS Windows XP Click Start and click Control Panel 1 Under Pick a Category click Performance and Maintenance System gt System Properties gt Hardware Device Manager Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound 2 Click Device Manager If your IEEE 1394 device is listed Windows recognizes the device IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A DELL PROVIDED IEEE 1394 DEVICE Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer see Contacting Dell on page 170 IF YOU
121. m overheating 28 About Your Computer A 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 AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR Connects an AC adapter to the computer J wI 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 A 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 When you wrap the AC adapter cable ensure that you follow the angle of the connector on the AC adapter to avoid damaging the cable About Your Computer 29 USB CONNECTORS o e Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer NETWORK CONNECTOR RJ 45 NOTICE 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 status and activity f
122. mera Settings If you do not want the camera to use automatic settings you can manually adjust the camera settings 1 Right click the v icon in the notification area and click Launch Webcam Console 2 Inthe Webcam Console window e Click the Camera tab to adjust video settings such as contrast and brightness e Click the Effects tab to adjust audio settings such as the volume level For more information about camera settings and other camera related topics see the camera s Video Software Help file see Accessing the Camera s Help File on page 55 Creating a Picture or a Video 1 Click the icon in the notification area and click QuickCapture The QuickCapture window appears and the blue camera light turns on You can now direct the camera to point at the object or person that you want to record The QuickCapture window on the screen shows you the camera target view 2 To take a picture click Take a Picture To record a video click Record a Video Unless you designate a different location the picture or video is automatically saved to the My Pictures folder on your hard drive For more information about creating pictures or videos see the camera s Video Software Help file see Accessing the Camera s Help File on page 55 56 Using the Camera Using GamePanel The Logitech GamePanel is a small secondary monochrome LCD for displaying text and graphical information located at the top right hand corner
123. mm 7 87 inches 1 3 kg 2 86 lb Operating 0 to 40 C 32 to 104 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 158 F Physical Height 50 8 mm 2 0 inches Width 406 mm 16 inches Depth 302 mm 11 9 inches Weight with 9 cell battery and optical drive 4 81 kg 10 6 Ib Environmental Temperature range Operating Storage Relative humidity Operating Storage Maximum vibration using a random vibration spectrum that simulates user environment Operating Storage 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F 10 to 90 noncondensing 5 to 95 noncondensing 0 66 GRMS 1 3 GRMS Specifications 177 Environmental continued Maximum shock measured with a 2 ms half sine pulse Operating 143G Storage 163 G Altitude maximum Operating 15 2 to 3048 m 50 to 10 000 ft Storage 15 2 to 10 668 m 50 to 35 000 ft 178 Specifications Appendix Overview K NOTE Your operating system may automatically configure most of the options available in the system setup program thus overriding options that you set through the system setup program An exception is the Fn Key Emulation option which you can disable or enable only through the system setup program For more information on configuring features for your operating system access the Help and Support Center see Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Help and Support Center on page 16 You ca
124. n Layout QWERTY AZERTY Kanji Type LED backlit Camera Pixel 2 0 mega pixel Video Resolution 640x480 at 30fps Diagonal Viewing Angle 60 Touch Pad X Y position resolution graphics table mode 240 cpi Size Width Height 73 0 mm 2 88 inch sensor active area 42 9 mm 1 69 inch rectangle Specifications 175 Battery Type Dimensions Depth Height Width Weight Voltage Charge time approximate Computer off Operating time Life span approximate Temperature range 9 cell smart lithium ion 88 5 mm 3 48 inches 21 5 mm 0 83 inch 139 0 mm 5 47 inches 0 48 kg 1 1 Ib 9 cell 10 8 VDC 4 hours at 100 in 4 hours 2 hour at 80 in 2 hours Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions and can be significantly reduced under certain power intensive conditions See Battery Performance on page 47 for more information on battery life 300 discharge charge cycles Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F AC Adapter Input voltage 90 264 VAC Input current maximum 3 2A Input frequency 47 63 Hz Output current Output power Rated output voltage 176 Specifications 11 8 A continuous 12 8A peak 4 second pulse 230 W 19 5 VDC AC Adapter continued Dimensions Height Width Depth Weight with cables Temperature range 43 mm 1 7 inches 100 mm 3 93 inches 200
125. n use the system setup program as follows e To set or change user selectable features for example your computer password e To verify information about the computer s current configuration such as the amount of system memory After you set up the computer run the system setup program to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information and optional settings You may want to write down the information for future reference The system setup screens display the current setup information and settings for your computer such as e System configuration e Boot order e Boot start up configuration e Basic device configuration settings e System security settings NOTE Unless you are an expert computer user or are directed to do so by Dell technical support do not change the system setup settings Certain changes might make your computer work incorrectly Appendix 179 Viewing the System Setup Screens Verify the system setup entry procedure for your system steps and 2 with the project team 1 Turn on or restart your computer 2 When the DELL logo appears press lt F2 gt immediately If you wait too long and the Microsoft Windows logo appears continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop Then shut down your computer and try again System Setup Screens K NOTE For information about a specific item on a system setup screen highlight the item and see the Help area on the screen
126. nagement settings UsingaBattery 47 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 A 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 A 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 A 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 Battery 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 lt Fn gt lt F3 gt to display the QuickSet Battery Meter
127. nal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide If you ordered a card with Bluetooth wireless technology with your computer it is already installed The Bluetooth wireless technology card is located in the battery compartment 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 149 2 Ground yourself by touching one of the metal connectors on the back of the computer K NOTE If you leave the area ground yourself again when you return to the computer 3 Pull the card out of the battery compartment so that you can disconnect the card from its cable and remove it from the computer 1 internal card with Bluetooth Wireless technology 2 cable 3 bluetooth compartment 4 To replace the card connect the card to the cable and insert it into the compartment 5 Replace the battery 160 Adding and Replacing Parts Optical Drive A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 149 2 Save and close any open files exit any open programs and shut down the computer 3 Remove the optical drive locking screw 4 Insert a scribe into the notch and push it to the side to release the drive from the bay J 1 optical drive 2 locking screw 3 notch 5 Slid
128. nd follow the instructions on the screen If a particular driver is not listed then that driver is not required by your operating system Manually Reinstalling Drivers K NOTE If your computer has a Consumer IR port and you are reinstalling a Consumer IR driver you must first enable the Consumer IR port in the system setup program see System Setup Screens on page 180 before continuing with the driver installation see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 For information about components installed on your computer see Front View on page 19 After extracting the driver files to your hard drive as described in the previous section Windows XP 1 Click Start gt My Computer Properties gt Hardware Device Manager 2 Double click the type of device for which you are installing the driver for example Audio or Video 3 Double click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver 4 Click the Driver tab Update Driver 138 Click Install from a list or specific location Advanced gt Next Troubleshooting 6 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files 7 When the name of the appropriate driver appears click Next 8 Click Finish and restart your computer Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista start button and right click Computer 2 Click Properties Device Manager K NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an admini
129. nge the location of files If you delete a shortcut the original file is not affected Also you can rename a shortcut icon SIM Subscriber Identity Module A SIM card contains a microchip that encrypts voice and data transmissions SIM cards can be used in phones or portable computers smart card A card that is embedded with a processor and a memory chip Smart cards can be used to authenticate a user on computers equipped for smart cards S PDIF Sony Philips Digital Interface An audio transfer file format that allows the transfer of audio from one file to another without converting it to and from an analog format which could degrade the quality of the file standby mode A power management mode that shuts down all unnecessary computer operations to save energy Strike Zone Reinforced area of the platform base that protects the hard drive by acting as a dampening device when a computer experiences resonating shock or is dropped whether the computer is on or off surge protectors Prevent voltage spikes such as those that may occur during an electrical storm from entering the computer through the electrical outlet Surge protectors do not protect against lightning strikes or against brownouts which occur when the voltage drops more than 20 percent below the normal AC line voltage level Network connections cannot be protected by surge protectors Always disconnect the network cable from the network connec
130. nitor and you try to change the brightness level the Brightness Meter may appear but the brightness level on the external device does not change You can press the following keys to adjust display brightness e Press lt Fn gt and the up arrow key to increase brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor e Press lt Fn gt and the down arrow key to decrease brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Using a Projector When you start the computer with an external device such as an external monitor or projector attached and turned on the image may appear on either the computer display or the external device Press lt Fn gt lt F8 gt to switch the video image between the display only or the external device only Using the Display 39 Making Images and Text Look Bigger or Sharper K NOTE If you change the display resolution from the current settings the image may appear blurry or text may be hard to read if you change the resolution to one not supported by your computer and display Before you change any of the display settings make a note of the current settings so you can change back to the previous settings if you need to You can enhance the legibility of text and change the appearance of images on the screen by adjusting display resolution As you increase resolution items appear smaller on the screen In contrast lower resolution causes text and images to appear
131. nnectors from the other end of the component video cable into the component video input connectors on the TV Make sure that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input connectors 5 Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the S PDIF audio connector on the component video adapter 7 oo component video adapter 2 S PDIF digital audio cable 6 Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S PDIF input connector on your TV or other audio device Using Multimedia 81 7 Turn on the TY turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 83 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Enabling S PDIF Digital Audio 1 Double click the speaker icon in the Windows notification area Click the Options menu and then click Advanced Controls Click Advanced Click S PDIF Interface Click Close Click OK ao oo FS Ww N DVI to HDMI and Standard Audio 1 audio connector 2 DVI connector Ea 1 DVI connector 2 HDMI connector 82 Using Multimedia Turn off the computer and the TV and or audio device that you want to connect Plug the DVI end of the DVI to HDMI adaptor cable into the DVI I connector on the computer Plug the other end of the DVI to HDMI adaptor cable into the HDMI connector on your TV Plug the single connector end of the au
132. nt light level Key Combinations Keyboard Illumination lt Fn gt and right arrow key Toggles the keyboard illumination lights on and off System Functions lt Ctrl gt lt Shift gt lt Esc gt Opens the Task Manager window Using the Keyboard 43 Battery lt Fn gt lt F3 gt Power Management Displays the Dell QuickSet Battery Meter lt Fn gt lt Esc gt lt Fn gt lt Fl gt Activates a power management mode You can reprogram this keyboard shortcut to activate a different power management mode using the Advanced tab in the Power Options Properties window Puts the computer into hibernate mode Dell QuickSet is required Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Windows logo key and lt m gt Windows logo key and lt Shift gt lt m gt Windows logo key and lt e gt Windows logo key and lt r gt Windows logo key and lt f gt Windows logo key and lt Ctrl gt lt f gt Windows logo key and lt Pause gt Minimizes all open windows Restores all minimized windows This key combination functions as a toggle to restore minimized windows following the use of the Windows logo key and lt m gt key combination Runs Windows Explorer Opens the Run dialog box Opens the Search Results dialog box Opens the Search Results Computer dialog box if the computer is connected to a network Opens the System Properties dialog box To adjust keyboard operation s
133. o cable 74 Using Multimedia Turn off the computer and the TV and or audio device that you want to connect Connect the composite video adapter to the S video TV out connector on your computer Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video output connector on the composite video adapter 4 va b lt lt i 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector on the TV Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device Turn on the TY turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 83 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Using Multimedia 75 Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 76 Using Multimedia Turn off the computer and the TV and or audio device that you want to connect Connect the composite video adapter to the S video TV out connector on the computer Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video
134. o controller determining configuration 19 volume adjusting 131 W warranty information 14 Windows Vista Device Driver Rollback 137 Factory Image Restore 143 Program Compatibility wizard 124 reinstalling 141 System Restore 140 141 Windows XP Device Driver Rollback 137 device driver rollback 136 Hardware Troubleshooter 139 PC Restore 143 Program Compatibility wizard 124 reinstalling 146 system restore 141 wizards Program Compatibility wizard 124 WWAN See also Mobile Broadband Index 207 208 Index
135. o the hard drive bay Tighten the screws on the drive cage Replace the hard drive cover and tighten the screws oF Ww N If you have replaced the primary hard drive with a new hard drive that is not already pre imaged install the operating system and drivers for your computer See Restoring Your Operating System on page 140 and Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 Memory You can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on the system board See Specifications on page 171 for information on the memory supported by your computer Install only memory modules that are intended for your computer K NOTE In order to take advantage of the dual channel bandwidth capability both memory slots must be populated and must match in size K NOTE Memory modules purchased from Dell are covered under your computer warranty A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To avoid electrostatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface such as a connector on the back of the computer NOTICE To avoid damaging the system board you must remove the battery before you begin working inside the computer 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 149 2 Ground yourself by touching one of the metal connectors on the back of
136. onnect a cable pull on its connector not on the cable itself Some cables have a connector with locking tabs if you are disconnecting this type of cable press in on the locking tabs before you disconnect the cable As you pull connectors apart keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins Also before you connect a cable ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned Adding and Replacing Parts NOTICE To avoid electrostatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface such as a connector on the back of the computer NOTICE To avoid damaging the computer perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer 1 Ensure that the work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover from being scratched Turn off your computer See Turning Off Your Computer on page 150 2 NOTICE To disconnect a network cable first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack Disconnect any network cables from the computer Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets 3 4 NOTICE To avoid damaging the system board you must remove the battery before you service the computer 5 Remove the battery Slide and hold the battery bay latch release on the bottom of the computer and then remove the battery from the bay 1 batt
137. ontrol Panel 2 Under Pick a category click Appearance and Themes 3 Under Pick a task click the area you want to change or under or pick a Control Panel icon click Display 4 Inthe Display Properties window click the Settings tab 5 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution K NOTE As the resolution increases icons and text appear smaller on the screen Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and click Control Panel 2 Under Appearance and Personalization click Adjust screen resolution 3 In the Display Settings window under Resolution move the slide bar to the left or right to decrease or increase the screen resolution K NOTE For additional instructions click How do I get the best display 42 Using the Display Using the Keyboard Numeric Keypad The numeric keypad functions like the numeric keypad on an external keyboard e To enable the keypad press lt Num Lk gt The light indicates that the keypad is active e To disable the keypad press lt Num Lk gt again Keyboard Illumination Your computer features keyboard illumination It has several LEDs built into the LCD lid that project light onto the keyboard By pressing the lt Fn gt lt gt keys you may cycle through the following keyboard illumination options e Always On e Always Off e Auto Mode In Auto Mode the keyboard illumination LEDs automatically turn on or off depending on the ambie
138. or wired network T connections For information on using the network adapter see the device user s guide supplied with your computer 30 About Your Computer Bottom View 1 memory module cover 2 battery bay latch release 3 battery charge gauge health gauge 4 battery 5 hard drive 6 air vents MEMORY MODULE COVER Covers the compartment that contains the memory module connectors BATTERY BAY LATCH RELEASES Release the battery BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE HEALTH GAUGE Provides information on the battery charge see Checking the Battery Charge on page 48 BATTERY When a battery is installed you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an electrical outlet HARD DRIVE Stores software and data AIR VENTS The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents which prevents the computer from overheating About Your Computer 31 A 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 32 About Your Computer Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet K NOTE ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country To connect to the Internet you need a wireless modem router or network connection and an Internet service provider ISP Your ISP will offer on
139. ork from the list and click Connect Once you have configured your computer for a wireless network another pop up notifies you that your computer is connected to that network Thereafter whenever you log on to your computer within the range of the wireless network that you selected the same pop up notifies you of the wireless network connection K NOTE If you select a secure network you must enter a WEP or WPA key when prompted Network security settings are unique to your network Dell cannot provide this information K NOTE Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network 96 Setting Up and Using Networks Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Depending on the software installed on your computer different wireless configuration utilities may manage your network devices e Your wireless network card s client utility The Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless network card in Windows XP 1 Click Start Settings Control PanelNetwork Connections 2 Right click the Wireless Network Connection icon and then click View Available Wireless Networks If the Choose a wireless network window states Windows cannot configure this connection the wireless network card s client utility is managing the wireless network card If the Choose a wireless network window states Click an item in the list below to connect
140. orm an operating system shutdown 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 then restart your computer A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly END THE PROGRAM 1 Press lt Crtl gt lt Shift gt lt Esc gt simultaneously 2 Click the Applications tab and select the program that is no longer responding 3 Click End Task K NOTE The chkdsk program may run when you restart the computer Follow the instructions on the screen CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION If necessary uninstall and then reinstall the program Software usually includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk or CD Troubleshooting 123 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft 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 1 Click Start All Programs AccessoriesProgram Compatibility Wizard Next 2 Follow the instructions on the screen Windows Vista The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non Windows Vista operating system environments 1 Click Start Control Panel Programs Use an older program with this ve
141. ormation Guide 14 Q QuickSet Help 17 R RAM See memory regulatory information 14 reinstalling Windows Vista 141 resolution setting 41 S S PDIF digital audio enabling 82 Safely Remove Hardware icon 120 safety instructions 14 scanner problems 130 screen See display security cable slot description 28 Service Tag 14 SIM See Subscriber Identity Module software conflicts 139 problems 124 125 software and hardware incompatibilities 139 sound problems 131 volume 131 speakers description 22 problems 131 volume 131 specifications 172 spyware 115 125 Subscriber Identity Module 159 support contacting Dell 170 Index 205 support website 15 System Restore 140 141 system setup program commonly used options 180 purpose 179 screens 180 viewing 180 T taskbar Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility 127 Safely Remove Hardware 120 wireless activity indicator 98 telephone numbers 170 touch pad 45 track stick touch pad buttons description 22 traveling with the computer by air 164 identification tag 163 packing 163 tips 164 troubleshooting conflicts 139 Dell Diagnostics 107 Hardware Troubleshooter 139 restore computer to previous operating state 140 141 turning off your computer 150 TV connecting 68 206 Index U uninterruptible power supply See UPS UPS USB connector description 30 V video problems 133 vide
142. ory cards are generally marked with a symbol such as a triangle or an arrow or a label to indicate which end to insert into the slot The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion If card orientation is not clear see the documentation that came with the card A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide To install a memory card 1 Hold the card with the top side of the card facing up 2 Slide the card into the slot until the card is completely seated in its connector If you encounter too much resistance do not force the card Check the card orientation and try again Using Cards 89 The computer recognizes the memory card and automatically loads the appropriate device driver If the configuration program tells you to load the manufacturer s drivers use the media that came with the memory card if applicable Removing a Memory Card or Blank A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE Use the memory card configuration utility click the 5 icon in the notification area to select a card and stop it from functioning before you remove it from the computer If you do not stop the card in the configuration utility you could lose data Press the card into the slot to release it from the card reader When it is partially ejected remove the
143. ory module on the system board DIN connector A round six pin connector that conforms to DIN Deutsche Industrie Norm standards it is typically used to connect PS 2 keyboard or mouse cable connectors Glossary 187 disk striping A technique for spreading data over multiple disk drives Disk striping can speed up operations that retrieve data from disk storage Computers that use disk striping generally allow the user to select the data unit size or stripe width DMA direct memory access A channel that allows certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the processor docking device provides port replication cable management and security features to adapt your notebook to a desktop workspace DMTF Distributed Management Task Force A consortium of hardware and software companies who develop management standards for distributed desktop network enterprise and Internet environments domain A group of computers programs and devices on a network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures for use by a specific group of users A user logs on to the domain to gain access to the resources DRAM dynamic random access memory Memory that stores information in integrated circuits containing capacitors driver Software that allows the operating system to control a device such as a printer Many devices do not work properly if the correct driver is not installed
144. our Computer Right Side View 1 Express card slot 2 wireless switch 3 Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator 4 USB connectors 2 5 security cable slot EXPRESSCARD SLOT Supports one ExpressCard The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot For more information see ExpressCards on page 85 WIRELESS SWITCH You can use this switch to rapidly turn off or on any wireless devices such as WLAN cards and internal cards with Bluetooth wireless technology About Your Computer 27 DELL Wi Fi CATCHER NETWORK LOCATOR Push this button to scan specifically for wireless networks in your vicinity The Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator has an LED that operates as follows Flashing blue Searching for networks Solid blue Strong network found Solid yellow Weak network found Off No signal found K NOTE The Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator light appears only when the computer is turned off and wireless networking is activated in the system setup program USB CONNECTORS e Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer SECURITY CABLE SLOT Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer see Security Cable Lock on page 103 Back View 1 2 3 4 1 air vents 2 AC adapter connector 3 USB connector 4 network connector RJ 45 AIR VENTS The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents which prevents the computer fro
145. pears at the top of the screen 2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar press lt Ctrl gt lt F11 gt If you do not press lt Ctrl gt lt F11 gt in time let the computer finish starting and then restart the computer again NOTICE If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore click Reboot 3 Click Restore and click Confirm The restore process takes approximately 6 to 10 minutes to complete 4 When prompted click Finish to reboot the computer K NOTE Do not manually shut down the computer Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot Troubleshooting 143 5 7 When prompted click Yes The computer restarts Because the computer is restored to its original operating state the screens that appear such as the End User License Agreement are the same ones that appeared the first time the computer was turned on Click Next The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts After the computer restarts click OK Removing PC Restore NOTICE Removing Dell PC Restore from the hard drive permanently deletes the PC Restore utility from your computer After you have removed Dell PC Restore you will not be able to use it to restore your computer operating system Dell PC Restore enables you to restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased your computer It is recommended that you do not remove PC Restore from your computer even to gain additional hard drive sp
146. perating 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 Finding Information What Are You Looking For Find It Here e Notebook System Software NSS If To download Notebook System Software you reinstall the operating system for 1 Go to support dell com and click your computer you should also reinstall Drivers amp Downloads the NSS utility NSS provides critical 2 Enter your Service Tag or Product Type updates for your operating system and and Product Model and dick Co support for processors optical drives f USB devices and so on NSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell 3 Scroll to System and Configuration Utilities Dell Notebook System EN Software and click Download Now computer The software automatically detects your computer and operating 4 Select Drivers amp Downloads and click Go
147. power button to turn on the computer or exit a power management mode see Power Management Modes on page 50 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 GAMEPANEL A small secondary LCD for displaying text and graphical information 20 About Your Computer DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS Turns on when you turn on the computer and blinks when the computer is in a power management mode Turns on when the computer reads or writes data NOTICE To avoid loss of data never turn off the computer while the O light is flashing Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status Turns on when wireless devices are enabled ve amp Turns on when Bluetooth wireless technology is enabled To enable or disable Bluetooth wireless technology toggle the wireless switch between the on and off positions see wireless switch on page 27 for more information If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet the light operates as follows Solid blue The battery is charging Flashing blue The battery is almost fully charged Off The battery is adequately charged or external power is not available to charge the battery If
148. ption from the main menu the following menu appears K NOTE It is recommended that you select Extended Test from the menu below to run a more thorough check of the devices in the computer Option Function Express Test Performs a quick test of system devices The test typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part Run Express Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly Extended Test Performs a thorough check of system devices The test typically takes an hour or more and periodically requires your input to answer specific questions Custom Test Tests a specific device in the system and can be used to customize the tests you want to run Symptom Tree Lists a number of common symptoms and allows you to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having For any problem encountered during a test a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem Write down the error code and problem description exactly as it appears and follow the instructions on the screen If you cannot resolve the problem contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 K NOTE The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen When contacting Dell support have your Service Tag ready 110 Troubleshooting The following tabs provide additional information for tests run from the Custom Test or Symptom Tree option Tab
149. r see Drive Problems on page 112 DATA ERROR The hard drive cannot read the data see Drive Problems on page 112 DECREASING AVAILABLE MEMORY One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 155 Disk C FAILED INITIALIZATION The hard drive failed initialization Run the hard drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 DRIVE NOT READY The operation requires a hard drive in the bay before it can continue Install a hard drive in the hard drive bay see Hard Drive on page 152 Troubleshooting 115 ERROR READING PCMCIA card The computer cannot identify the ExpressCard Reinsert the card or try another card see ExpressCards on page 85 EXTENDED MEMORY SIZE HAS CHANGED The amount of memory recorded in NVRAM does not match the memory installed in the computer Restart the computer If the error appears again contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 THE FILE BEING COPIED IS TOO LARGE FOR THE DESTINATION DRIVE The file that you are trying to copy is too large to fit on the disk or the disk is full Try copying the file to a different disk or use a larger capacity disk A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS 2 lt gt Do not use these characters in filenames GATE A20 FAILURE A memory module may be loose Reinstall the memory
150. r access point e A wireless network card for each computer that you want to connect to your WLAN Checking Your Wireless Network Card Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer the computer has a variety of configurations To confirm that your computer has a wireless network card and to determine the type of card e Start button and Connect To option e Check the order confirmation for your computer Setting Up and Using Networks 93 Start Button and Connect To Option In Microsoft Windows XP click Start gt Connect To Show all connections K NOTE If your computer is set to the Classic Start menu option click Start gt Settings Network Connections to view your network connections In Microsoft Windows Vista click Connect ToView network computers and devices If Wireless Network Connection does not appear under LAN or High Speed Internet you may not have a wireless network card If Wireless Network Connection appears you have a wireless network card To view detailed information about the wireless network card 1 Right click Wireless Network Connection 2 Click Properties The Wireless Network Connection Properties window appears The wireless network card s name and model number are listed on the General tab K NOTE If Wireless Network Connection does not appear you may not have a wireless network card The Order Confirmation for Your Computer The order confirmation that you re
151. rating syst m logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again K NOTE The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only On the next start up the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program 5 When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW Drive and press lt Enter gt 6 Press any key to Boot from CD ROM 7 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation Troubleshooting 147 148 Troubleshooting Adding and Replacing Parts Before You Begin This chapter provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer Unless otherwise noted each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist e You have performed the steps in Turning Off Your Computer see Turning Off Your Computer on page 150 and Before Working Inside Your Computer see Before Working Inside Your Computer on page 150 e You have read the safety information in your Dell Product Information Guide e Acomponent can be replaced or if purchased separately installed by performing the removal procedure in reverse order Recommended Tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools e Small flat blade screwdriver e Phillips screwdriver e Small plastic scribe e Flash BIOS update program see the Dell Support website at support dell com Adding an
152. rating system problem For instructions see Using the Operating System Media on page 146 Troubleshooting Using Microsoft Windows System Restore The Windows operating system provides System Restore to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files if changes to the hardware software or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state Any changes that System Restore makes to your computer are completely reversible K 3 NOTICE Make regular backups of your data files System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them 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 Click Start Help and Support Type System Restore in the search field then press lt Enter gt K NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to continue the desired action Click Next and follow the remaining prompts on the screen In the event that System Restore did not resolve the issue you may undo the last system restore Starting System Restore Windows XP NOTICE Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state save and close any open files and exit any open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or pro
153. rce GB gigabyte A measurement of data storage that equals 1024 MB 1 073 741 824 bytes When used to refer to hard drive storage the term is often rounded to 1 000 000 000 bytes GHz gigahertz A measurement of frequency that equals one thousand million Hz or one thousand MHz The speeds for computer processors buses and interfaces are often measured in GHz graphics mode A video mode that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors Graphics modes can display an unlimited variety of shapes and fonts GUI graphical user interface Software that interacts with the user by means of menus windows and icons Most programs that operate on the Windows operating systems are GUIs 190 Glossary hard drive A drive that reads and writes data on a hard disk The terms hard drive and hard disk are often used interchangeably HDMI The High Definition Multimedia Interface HDMI is an all digital audio video interface capable of transmitting uncompressed streams heat sink A metal plate on some processors that helps dissipate heat hibernate mode A power management mode that saves everything in memory to a reserved space on the hard drive and then turns off the computer When you restart the computer the memory information that was saved to the hard drive is automatically restored HTTP hypertext transfer protocol A protocol for exchanging files between compute
154. rd To monitor the status of your wireless device see Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet on page 98 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator You can use the wireless switch to rapidly turn off or on any wireless devices such as WLAN cards and internal cards with Bluetooth wireless technology The wireless switch on your Dell computer uses the Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator to scan specifically for wireless networks in your vicinity To scan for a wireless network push the Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator button It functions regardless of whether your computer is turned on or off or in Sleep state as long as the switch is configured through Dell QuickSet or the BIOS system setup program to control WiFi network connections Because the Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator is disabled and not configured for use when your computer is shipped to you you must first use Dell QuickSet to enable and configure the switch to control WiFi network connections For more information on the Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator and to enable the feature through Dell QuickSet right click the QuickSet icon in the notification area and then select Help Setting Up and Using Networks 101 102 Setting Up and Using Networks Securing Your Computer Security Cable Lock K NOTE Your computer does not ship with a security cable lock A security cable lock is a commercially available antitheft device To use the lock a
155. rd memory is used as a synonym for RAM memory address A specific location where data is temporarily stored in RAM memory mapping The process by which the computer assigns memory addresses to physical locations at start up Devices and software can then identify information that the processor can access memory module A small circuit board containing memory chips which connects to the system board MHz megahertz A measure of frequency that equals million cycles per second The speeds for computer processors buses and interfaces are often measured in MHz Mini PCI A standard for integrated peripheral devices with an emphasis on communications such as modems and NICs A Mini PCI card is a small external card that is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card Mini Card A small card designed for integrated peripherals such as communication NICs The Mini Card is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card module bay See media bay MP megapixel A measure of image resolution used for digital cameras ms millisecond A measure of time that equals one thousandth of a second Access times of storage devices are often measured in ms Glossary 193 network adapter A chip that provides network capabilities A computer may include a network adapter on its system board or it may contain a PC Card with an adapter on it A network adapter is also referred to as a
156. re unique to your network Dell cannot provide this information K NOTE Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet The wireless activity indicator provides you with an easy way to monitor the status of your computer s wireless devices To turn the wireless activity indicator on or off click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and select Hotkey Popups If Wireless Activity Indicator Off is not checked the indicator is on If Wireless Activity Indicator Off is checked the indicator is off The wireless activity indicator displays whether your computer s integrated wireless devices are enabled or disabled When you turn the wireless networking function on or off the wireless activity indicator changes to display the status For more information about the Dell QuickSet wireless activity indicator right click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and then select Help Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network A Mobile Broadband network also known as a Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN is a high speed digital cellular network that provides Internet access over a much wider geographical area than a WLAN which typically covers only from 100 to 1000 feet Your computer can maintain Mobile Broadband network access as long as the computer is within a cellular data coverage zone Contact your service provider for coverage of a high speed digita
157. rs connected to the Internet Hyper Threading Hyper Threading is an Intel technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing one physical processor to function as two logical processors capable of performing certain tasks simultaneously Hz hertz A unit of frequency measurement that equals cycle per second Computers and electronic devices are often measured in kilohertz kHz megahertz MHz gigahertz GHz or terahertz THz IC integrated circuit A semiconductor wafer or chip on which thousands or millions of tiny electronic components are fabricated for use in computer audio and video equipment IDE integrated device electronics An interface for mass storage devices in which the controller is integrated into the hard drive or CD drive IEEE 1394 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc A high performance serial bus used to connect IEEE 1394 compatible devices such as digital cameras and DVD players to the computer infrared sensor Consumer Infrared sensor to operate the remote control integrated Usually refers to components that are physically located on the computer s system board Also referred to as built in 1 O input output An operation or device that enters and extracts data from your computer Keyboards and printers are I O devices T O address An address in RAM that is associated with a specific device such as a serial conn
158. rsion of Windows 2 In the welcome screen click Next 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 then restart your computer Dell MediaDirect problems CHECK THE DELL MEDIADIRECT HELP FILE FOR INFORMATION Use the Help menu to access Dell MediaDirect Help TO PLAY MOVIES WITH DELL MEDIADIRECT YOU MUST HAVE A DVD DRIVE AND THE DELL DVD PLAYER f you purchased a DVD drive with your computer this software should already be installed VIDEO QUALITY PROBLEMS Turn off the Use Hardware Acceleration option This feature takes advantage of the special processing in some graphics cards to reduce processor requirements when playing DVDs and certain types of video files 124 Troubleshooting CANNOT PLAY SOME MEDIA FILES Because Dell MediaDirect provides access to media files outside the Windows operating system environment access to licensed content is restricted Licensed content is digital content that has Digital Rights Management DRM applied to it The Dell MediaDirect environment cannot verify the DRM restrictions so the licensed files cannot be played Licensed music and video files have a lock icon next to them You can access licensed files in the Windows operating system environment
159. s you understand what effect these settings have on the computer do not change them Also referred to as system setup Glossary 185 bit The smallest unit of data interpreted by your computer Blu ray Disc BD An optical storage technology offering storage capacity of up to 50 GB full 1080p video resolution HDTV required and as many as 7 1 channels of native uncompressed surround sound Bluetooth wireless technology A wireless technology standard for short range 9 m 29 feet networking devices that allows for enabled devices to automatically recognize each other boot sequence Specifies the order of the devices from which the computer attempts to boot bootable media A CD DVD or floppy disk that you can use to start your computer In case your hard drive is damaged or your computer has a virus ensure that you always have a bootable CD DVD or floppy disk available Your Drivers and Utilities media is an example of bootable media bps bits per second The standard unit for measuring data transmission speed BTU British thermal unit A measurement of heat output bus A communication pathway between the components in your computer bus speed The speed given in MHz that indicates how fast a bus can transfer information byte The basic data unit used by your computer A byte is usually equal to 8 bits C C Celsius A temperature measurement scale where 0 is the
160. sCard or Blank A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Press the latch and remove the card or blank For some latches you must press the latch twice once to pop the latch out and then a second time to pop the card out Save a blank to use when no ExpressCard is installed in a slot Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles Using Cards 87 Memory Card Reader The memory card reader provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos music and videos stored on a memory card K NOTE A memory card is not a bootable device The 8 in 1 memory card reader reads the following memory cards Secure Digital SD SDIO MultiMediaCard MMC Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD Using Cards Memory Card Blanks Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the memory card reader Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles Save the blank for use when no media memory card is installed in the slot blanks from other computers may not fit your computer Remove the blank before installing a media memory card To remove the blank see Removing a Memory Card or Blank on page 90 Installing a Memory Card You can install a media memory card in the computer while the computer is running The computer automatically detects the card Mem
161. scription 21 diagnostics Dell 107 display adjusting brightness 39 description 20 resolution 41 switching the video image 39 documentation End User License Agreement 14 202 Index ergonomics 14 online 15 Product Information Guide 14 regulatory 14 safety 14 warranty 14 drivers about 135 identifying 136 reinstalling 136 Drivers and Utilities media about 137 Dell Diagnostics 107 drives problems 112 See hard drive DVD blank 63 drive problems 113 E End User License Agreement 14 ergonomics information 14 error messages 115 ExpressCard slot description 27 ExpressCards 85 blanks 86 87 installing 86 removing 87 F Factory Image Restore 143 145 hard drive description 31 problems 114 replacing 152 hardware conflicts 139 Dell Diagnostics 107 Hardware Troubleshooter 139 IEEE 1394 connector description 25 problems 121 infrared sensor description 27 Internet connection about 33 options 33 setting up 33 IRQ conflicts 139 K keyboard numeric keypad 43 problems 121 shortcuts 43 keyboard status lights description 24 keypad numeric 43 L labels Microsoft Windows 14 Service Tag 14 M media playing 59 media control buttons Dell MediaDirect button 67 media memory cards 88 installing 89 types 88 memory adding 155 removing 156 memory card blanks 89 memory card reader 88 memory cards blanks 90 r
162. sonalization Under Personalization click Adjust Screen Resolution The Display Properties window appears Click Advanced Click the tab for your video card NOTE To determine the type of video card installed in your computer see the Windows Help and Support Center To access the Help and Support Center in Windows Vista click the Windows Vista Start button Help and Support Under Pick a Task click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems Then under My Computer Information select Hardware In the display devices section select the appropriate option for using either a single display or multiple displays ensuring that the display settings are correct for your selection Using Multimedia Using Cards ExpressCards ExpressCards provide additional memory wired and wireless communications multimedia and security features For example you can add an ExpressCard to make wireless wide area network WWAN connectivity available on your computer ExpressCards support two form factors ExpressCard 34 34 mm wide ExpressCard 54 54 mm wide in an L shape with a 34 mm connector The 34 mm card fits into both the 34 mm and 54 mm card slots The 54 mm card only fits into a 54 mm card slot See Specifications on page 171 for information on supported ExpressCards K NOTE An ExpressCard is not a bootable device 1 ExpressCard 34 2 ExpressCard 54 Using Cards 85 ExpressCard Blan
163. strator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager 3 Double click the type of device for which you are installing the driver for example Audio or Video 4 Double click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver 5 Click the Driver tab Update Driver gt Browse my computer for driver software 6 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files 7 When the name of the appropriate driver appears click the name of the driver gt OK Next 8 Click Finish and restart your computer Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems in the Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista Operating Systems If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured use Windows Vista Help and Support to resolve the incompatibility If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured you can use the Hardware Troubleshooter to resolve the incompatibility Troubleshooting 139 To start the Hardware Troubleshooter Windows XP 1 Click Start gt Help and Support 2 Type hardware troubleshooter in the search field and press lt Enter gt to start the search 3 In the Fix a Problem section click Hardware Troubleshooter 4 In the Hardware Troubleshooter list select the option that best describes the problem
164. t hard drive may prevent the operating system from starting Try allowing the computer to return to room temperature before turning it on RUN CHECK Disk Windows XP 1 Click Start and click My Computer 2 Right click Local Disk C 3 Click Properties Tools Check Now 4 Click Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors and click Start Windows Vista 1 Click Start and click Computer 2 Right click Local Disk C 3 Click Properties Tools Check Now The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to continue the desired action 4 Follow the instructions on the screen E Mail and Internet Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CHECK THE WINDOWS MAIL SECURITY SETTINGS If you cannot open your e mail attachments 1 In Windows Mail click Tools click Options and then click Security 2 Click Do not allow attachments to remove the checkmark ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET Ensure that you have subscribed to an Internet service provider With the Windows Mail open click File If Work Offline has a checkmark next to it click the checkmark to remove it and then connect to the Internet For help contact your Internet service provider 114 Troubleshooting SCAN THE COMPUTER FOR SPYWARE If you are
165. the mouse directly to the computer 132 Troubleshooting TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MOUSE CHECK THE TOUCH PAD 1 Shut down the computer 2 Disconnect the mouse 3 Turn on the computer 4 At the Windows desktop use the touch pad to move the cursor around select an icon and open it If the touch pad operates correctly the mouse may be defective CHECK THE SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM SETTINGS Verify that the system setup program lists the correct device for the pointing device option the computer automatically recognizes a USB mouse without making any setting adjustments TEST THE MOUSE CONTROLLER To test the mouse controller which affects pointer movement and the operation of the touch pad or mouse buttons run the Mouse test in the Pointing Devices test group in the Dell Diagnostics on page 107 REINSTALL THE TOUCH PAD DRIVER Sce Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 Video and Display Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 as you complete these checks A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide If the display is blank K NOTE If you are using a program that requires a higher resolution than your computer supports it is recommended that you attach an external monitor to your computer CHECK THE BATTERY If you are using a battery to power your computer the battery charge may
166. the battery 2 Use the AC adapter to connect the computer to an electrical outlet 3 Tur on the computer K 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 itis used you may need to purchase a new battery during the life of your computer CHECK THE BATTERY STATUS LIGHT If the battery status light flashes amber or is a steady amber the battery charge is low or depleted Connect the computer to an electrical outlet If the battery status light flashes blue and amber the battery is too hot to charge Shut down the computer disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and then let the battery and computer cool to room temperature If the battery status light rapidly flashes amber the battery may be defective Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 CHECK THE BATTERY TEMPERATURE If the battery temperature is below 0 C 32 F the computer will not start TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp CHECK THE AC ADAPTER Check the AC adapter cable connections If the AC adapter has a light ensure that the light is on 128 Troubleshooting CONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET Bypass power protection devices power strips and extension cables to verify that the computer turns on ELIMINA
167. 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 About Your Computer 21 TOUCH PAD Provides the functionality of a mouse see Touch Pad on page 45 INFRARED SENSOR Consumer Infrared sensor to operate the remote control MEDIA CONTROL BUTTONS Control CD DVD and Media Player playback X Mute the sound M4 Play the previous track Q Turm the volume down b Play the next track Q Tur the volume up E Stop P Il Play or pause SPEAKERS To adjust the volume of the integrated speakers press the volume control buttons or mute button 22 About Your Computer DELL MEDIADIRECT BUTTON Press the Dell MediaDirect button to launch Dell MediaDirect see Using Dell MediaDirect on page 67 1 Dell MediaDirect button About Your Computer 23 KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS The blue lights located above the keyboard indicate the following A 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 DIGITAL MICROPHONES Digital directional microphones for conferencing and chat DISPLAY LATCH Keeps the display closed CAMERA INDICATOR The indicator shows solid blue light when the camera is ac
168. the method of contacting Dell that is convenient for you Getting Help Specifications K NOTE Offerings may vary by region For more information regarding the configuration of your computer click Start Help and Support and select the option to view information about your computer Processor Processor type L1 cache L2 cache External bus frequency front side bus System Information Intel Core 2 Duo processor Intel 45 nm Core 2 Duo processor 64 KB 2 MB or 4 MB Intel Core 2 Duo processor 6 MB Intel 45 nm Core 2 Duo processor 800 MHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor 1066 MHz Intel 45 nm Core 2 Duo processor System chip set Data bus width DRAM bus width Processor address bus width Flash EPROM PCI bus PCI Express used for video controllers Mobile Intel 965PM 64 bits dual channel bus 32 bits 2 MB 32 bits x16 Specifications 171 ExpressCard NOTE The ExpressCard slot is designed only for ExpressCards It does NOT support PC Cards ExpressCard connector Cards supported ExpressCard connector size one ExpressCard slot 54 mm 1 5 V and 3 3 V ExpressCard 34 34 mm and ExpressCard 54 54 mm 26 pins Memory Memory module connector Jemory module capacities Memory type Jinimum memory Maximum memory two user accessible SODIMM connectors 512 MB 1 GB 2 GB and 4 GB 1 8 V SODIMM DDR II supports DDR II up to 667 MHz 1 GB via 2
169. tive and off when the camera is not 24 About Your Computer Left Side View 1 DVI I connector Dual link 2 S video connector 3 USB connector 4 IEEE 1394 connector 5 8 in 1 memory card reader 6 optical drive 7 8 microphone connector headphone connectors 2 DVI I CONNECTOR Used for connecting a DVI or VGA display through dongle S VIDEO CONNECTOR Connects your computer to a TV Also connects digital audio capable devices using the T V digital audio adapter cable USB CONNECTORS e Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer IEEE 1394 CONNECTOR Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high speed transfer rates such as some digital video cameras About Your Computer 25 8 IN 1 MEMORY CARD READER Provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos music and videos stored on a memory card The 8 in 1 media memory card reader reads the following digital media memory cards e Secure Digital SD e SDIO e MultiMediaCard MMC e Memory Stick e Memory Stick PRO e xD Picture Card e Hi Speed SD e Hi Density SD OPTICAL DRIVE For more information about the optical drive see Using Multimedia on page 59 MICROPHONE CONNECTOR Attach a microphone to this connector HEADPHONE CONNECTORS Dual headphone connectors for attaching headphones Q Attach a microphone to the connector Attach headphones to the connectors 26 About Y
170. to a wireless network in range or to get more information the Windows XP operating system is managing the wireless network card To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless network card in Windows Vista 1 Click Connect To Manage wireless networks 2 Double click a profile to open the wireless network properties screen For specific information about the wireless configuration utility installed on your computer see your wireless network documentation in the Windows Help and Support Center see Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Help and Support Center on page 16 Completing the Connection to the WLAN When you turn on your computer and a network for which your computer is not configured is detected in the area a pop up appears near the network icon in the notification area in the lower right corner of the Windows desktop Follow the instructions provided in any utility prompts that appear on your screen Once you have configured your computer for the wireless network that you selected another pop up notifies you that your computer is connected to that network Setting Up and Using Networks 97 Thereafter whenever you log on to your computer within the range of the wireless network that you selected the same pop up notifies you of the wireless network connection K NOTE If you select a secure network you must enter a WEP or WPA key when prompted Network security settings a
171. tor as an extension of your display Also referred to as dual display mode extended PC Card A PC Card that extends beyond the edge of the PC Card slot when installed Glossary 189 F Fahrenheit A temperature measurement scale where 32 is the freezing point and 212 is the boiling point of water FBD fully buffered DIMM A DIMM with DDR2 DRAM chips and an Advanced Memory Buffer AMB that speeds communication between the DDR2 SDRAM chips and the system FCC Federal Communications Commission A U S agency responsible for enforcing communications related regulations that state how much radiation computers and other electronic equipment can emit fingerprint reader A strip sensor that uses your unique fingerprint to authenticate your user identity to help secure your computer folder A term used to describe space on a disk or drive where files are organized and grouped Files in a folder can be viewed and ordered in various ways such as alphabetically by date and by size format The process that prepares a drive or disk for file storage When a drive or disk is formatted the existing information on it is lost FSB front side bus The data path and physical interface between the processor and RAM FTP file transfer protocol A standard Internet protocol used to exchange files between computers connected to the Internet G G gravity A measurement of weight and fo
172. tor during electrical storms SVGA super video graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers Typical SVGA resolutions are 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 The number of colors and resolution that a program displays depends on the capabilities of the monitor the video controller and its drivers and the amount of video memory installed in the computer S video TV out A connector used to attach a TV or digital audio device to the computer Glossary 197 SXGA super extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 SXGA super extended graphics array plus A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1400 x 1050 system board The main circuit board in your computer Also known as the motherboard system setup A utility that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system System setup allows you to configure user selectable options in the BIOS such as date and time or system password Unless you understand what effect the settings have on the computer do not change the settings for this program T TAPI telephony application programming interface Enables Windows programs to operate with a wide variety of telephony devices including voice data fax and video text editor A program used to create and edit files that contain only text for
173. ttach it to the security cable slot on your Dell 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 on your computer Securing Your Computer 103 Passwords Passwords prevent unauthorized access to your computer When using passwords observe the following guidelines Choose a password that you can remember but not one that is easy to guess For example do not use the names of family members or pets for passwords It is recommended that you do not write down your password If you do write it down however ensure that the password is stored in a secure place Do not share your password with other people Ensure that people are not watching you when you type your password NOTICE Passwords provide a high level of security for data in your computer or hard drive However they are not foolproof If you require more security obtain and use additional forms of protection such as smart cards data encryption programs or PC Cards with encryption features Use the User Accounts option in the Control Panel in the Microsoft Windows operating system to create user accounts or to change passwords Once you create a user password you must enter it each time you turn on or unlock your computer If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes the computer returns to its previous operating state
174. uch as the character repeat rate open the Control Panel click Hardware and Sound and click Keyboard For information about the Control Panel see the Windows Help and Support Center 44 Using the Keyboard Touch Pad The touch pad detects the pressure and movement of your finger to allow you to move the cursor on the display Use the touch pad and touch pad buttons as you would use a mouse e To move the cursor lightly slide your finger over the touch pad 1 touch pad 2 scroll zones e To select an object lightly tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button e To select and move or drag an object position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad On the second tap leave your finger on the touch pad and move the selected object by sliding your finger over the surface e To double click an object position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button twice Using the Keyboard 45 46 Using the Keyboard Using a Battery Battery Performance K 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 supplie
175. ure that the Print to the following port s setting is LPT Printer Port For a USB printer ensure that the Print to the following port s setting is USB Windows Vista 1 Click Start e Control Panel Hardware and Sound Printer 2 If the printer is listed right click the printer icon 3 Click Properties and click Ports 4 Adjust the settings as needed REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER Sce the printer documentation for instructions Scanner Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide K NOTE If you need technical assistance for your scanner contact the scanner s manufacturer CHECK THE SCANNER DOCUMENTATION Sce the scanner documentation for setup and troubleshooting information UNLOCK THE SCANNER Ensure that your scanner is unlocked RESTART THE COMPUTER AND TRY THE SCANNER AGAIN CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS See the scanner documentation for cable connection information e Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer 130 Troubleshooting VERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY MICROSOFT WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start gt Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware Scanners and Cameras 2 If your scanner is listed Windows recognizes the scanner Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel gt Hardware and Sound Scanners and Cameras If the sc
176. work Add a printer to start the Add Printer Wizard 5 Install the printer driver if necessary See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 and the documentation that came with your printer 36 Setting Up Your Computer Power Protection Devices Several devices are available to protect against power fluctuations and failures e Surge protectors e Line conditioners e Uninterruptible power supplies UPS Surge Protectors Surge protectors and power strips equipped with surge protection help prevent damage to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical storms or after power interruptions 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
177. x 512 MB SODIMM DDR II modules 4 GB via 2 x 2 GB SODIMM DDR II modules NOTE In order to take advantage of the dual channel bandwidth capability both memory slots must be populated and must match in size 8 in 1 Media Memory card Reader 8 in 1 media memory card controller Ricoh R5C833 8 in 1 media memory card connector 8 in 1 combo card connector Cards supported 172 Specifications Secure Digital SD e SDIO e MultiMediaCard MMC e Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO e xD Picture Card e Hi Speed SD e Hi Density SD Ports and Connectors Audio IEEE 1394a Consumer IR Network adapter S video TV out USB Dual link DVI I Digital Video Interface microphone in connector two stereo headphones speakers connector 4 pin mini nonpowered connector sensor compatible with Philips RC6 receive only RJ 45 port 7 pin mini DIN connector optional S video to composite video adapter cable optional S video to component video adapter cable four 4 pin USB 2 0 compliant connectors 29 pin connector Communications Network adapter 10 100 1000 Mbps Ethernet LAN on system board Wireless internal PCI e Mini Card WLAN and WWAN support internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology support Video NOTE Your computer comes in different configurations with different video controller cards Video controller Video type Data bus Video memory LCD interface TV support

Dell XPS TM373 User's Manual

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