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Dell PP22L User's Manual

1. 200 Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate Microsoft Windows XP Windows Vista 000008 Numeric Keypad Key Combinations System Functions Display Functions 0 Battery se brad ea Sn eee a eRe Power Management Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Dell QuickSet Key Combinations Adjusting Keyboard Settings 47 48 48 49 49 50 50 51 51 Touch Pad 3 3344 0 0 58 AAS BA oe SK 55 Customizing the Touch Pad 56 6 UsingaBattery 59 Battery Performance 59 Checking the Battery Charge 60 Dell QuickSet Battery Meter 60 Microsoft Windows Battery Meter 61 Charge Gauge 00 4 61 Low Battery Warning 62 Conserving Battery Power 62 Power Management Modes 63 Standby and Sleep Mode 63 Hibernate Mode 63 Configuring Power Management Settings 64 Accessing Power Options Properties 64 Charging the Battery 65 Replacing the Battery 65 Storing a Battery 66 7 Using Multimedia 67 Playing Media haahaahaa aa aaa 67 Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote 69 Copying CD DVD and Blu ray Disc
2. To adjust the volume of the integrated speaker press the volume control buttons or the mute button MEMORY MODULE COIN CELL BATTERY COVER Covers the DIMM B memory module and the coin cell battery For additional information see Adding and Replacing Parts on page 161 34 About Your Computer CONSUMER IR SENSOR Receives the signal from the Dell travel remote controller for basic multimedia navigation control RIGHT SPEAKER To adjust the volume of the integrated speaker press the volume control buttons or the mute button WIRELESS MINI CARD COVER Covers wireless Mini Cards WLAN WWAN or WPAN or a Flash Cache Module FCM see Wireless Mini Cards on page 179 and Flash Cache Module on page 187 BATTERY When a battery is installed you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an electrical outlet see Using a Battery on page 59 BATTERY CHARGE HEALTH GAUGE Provides information on the battery charge see Checking the Battery Charge on page 60 BATTERY RELEASE LATCHES Releases the battery see Replacing the Battery on page 65 for instructions FAN The computer uses a fan to create airflow through the vents which prevents the computer from overheating The computer turns the fan on when the computer gets hot Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fan or the computer HARD DRIVE Stores software and data About Your Computer 35 36
3. BD Media 70 Howto CopyaCD DVD orBD 70 Contents Using Blank CD DVD and BD Media Helpful Tips sess fo eee Bh Se eS Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture Using Dell MediaDirect Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device S Video and Standard Audio S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio Composite Video and Standard Audio Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio Component Video and Standard Audio Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio Enabling the Display Settings foraTV 8 Using ExpressCards ExpressCard Blanks Installing an ExpressCard 2 Removing an ExpressCard or Blank 9 Using the Memory Card Reader Memory Card Blanks Installing a MemoryCard Removing a Memory CardorBlank 6 Contents 10 Setting Up and Using Networks 97 Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable 3 2d 2h ie at eS de Be o Re 97 Setting UpaNetwork 98 WindowsXP 0 00000 98 Windows Vista 00000 98 Wireless Local AreaNetwork 99 What You Need to Establish a WLAN Confection sc eke ee ke ee ee be 99 Checking Your Wireless Network Card 99 Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router anda Broadband Modem 100
4. CD rewritable A rewritable version of a CD Data can be written to a CD RW disc and then erased and written over rewritten 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 connected 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 Consumer IR A port that allows you to transfer data between the computer and infrared compatible devices without using a cable connection 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 me
5. To turn off only the Bluetooth wireless technology functionality right click the icon in the notification area and then click Disable Bluetooth Radio To quickly enable or disable all wireless devices use the wireless switch see wireless switch on page 27 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 If the computer is running on a battery the light operates as follows Off The battery is adequately charged or the computer is turned off Flashing amber The battery charge is low Solid amber The battery charge is critically low TOUCH PAD Provides the functionality of a mouse see Touch Pad on page 55 TOUCH PAD BUTTONS Use these buttons much like the buttons on a mouse when you use the touch pad to move the cursor on the display see Touch Pad on page 55 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 gt Play the next track About Your Computer 25 Q Tum the volume up a Stop P Il Play or pause DELL MEDIADIRECT BUTTON Press the Dell MediaDirect button to launch Dell MediaDirect see Using Dell MediaDirect on page 74 KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS The blue lights located above t
6. data NOTICE Do not check the computer as baggage Consider disabling wireless activity on your computer to maximize battery operating time To disable wireless activity use the wireless switch see wireless switch on page 27 Consider changing your power management options to maximize battery operating time see Power Management Modes on page 63 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 offers to users of portable computers Traveling by Air NOTICE Do not walk the computer through a metal detector Send the computer 196 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 W
7. 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 WPAN wireless personal area network A computer network used for communication among computer devices including telephones and personal digital assistants close to one person 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 800 240 Glossary 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 file
8. 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 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 Windows Control Panel You can also scan in your favorite picture and make it wallpaper WLAN
9. KEY 1 3 J 4 O ia _ z 6 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 3 S PDIF digital audio connector 4 Pr red component video output connector 5 Pb blue component video output 6 Y green component video output connector connector 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 K NOTE See the diagrams atthe beginning of each subsection to help you determine which method of connection you should use 76 Using Multimedia When you finish connecting the video and audio cables 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 90 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 90 S Video and Standard Audio m n m S 2 1 audio connector 2 S video TV out connector EE 1 m e U D gt 1 standard S video cable 2 standard audio cable Using Multimedia 71 Turn off the computer and the TV and or audio device that you want to connect NOTE If your TV or audio device supports S video but not S PDIF digital a
10. 1 Dell MediaDirect button Using Multimedia NOTE You cannot reinstall Dell MediaDirect if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive You need the installation software to reinstall Dell MediaDirect Contact Dell for assistance see Contacting Dell on page 203 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 Z 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 connector that together with a standard S video cable a composite video adapter cable or a component video adapter cable available from Dell enable you to connect the computer to a TV Your TV has either an S video input connector a composite video input connector or a component video input connector Depending on what type of connector is available on your TV you can use a commercially available S video cable composite video cable or component video cable to connect your computer to your TV 1 2 wo PO 1 S video TV out connector 2 S video cable Using Multimedia 75 1 2 Ea a s L lt e Cia 3 5 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 3 S PDIF digital audio connector 4 composite video output connector 5 S video connector 1 2
11. 187 Flash Cache Module 187 RemovingtheFCM 187 Replacing the FCM 188 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology 0 000000 eee 189 RemovingtheCard 189 Coin Cell Battery 190 Removing the Coin Cell Battery 190 14 Dell QuickSet Features 193 15 Traveling With Your Computer 195 Identifying Your Computer 195 Packing the Computer 195 Travel Tips ner Bee a ae Bee es 196 TravelingbyAir 20 196 16 Getting Help 197 Obtaining Assistance 197 Contents 11 Technical Support and Customer Service DellConnect i340 0 on oe ages 24 Online Services AutoTech Service Automated Order Status Service Problems With Your Order Product Information Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Before You Call Contacting Dell 17 Specifications 18 Appendix Using the System Setup Program Viewing the System Setup Screen System Setup Screen Commonly Used Options Cleaning YourComputer Computer Keyboard and Display TouchPad Dell Technical Support Policy U S Only Definition of Dell Installed Software and Periph
12. About Your Computer Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet Z NOTE ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country To connect to the Internet you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider ISP Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options 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 e Cable modem connections that provide high speed Internet access through your local cable TV line e Satellite modem connections that provide high speed Internet access through a satellite television system e Dial up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line Dial up connections are considerably slower than DSL cable and satellite modem connections e Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN or Mobile Broadband technology provides a connection to the Internet using cellular technology at broadband rates e Wireless Local Area Network WLAN connections use high frequency radio waves to communicate Typically a wireless router is connected to the broadband cable or DSL modem that broadcasts the Internet signal to your computer If you are using a dial up connection connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your computer and to the telephone wall connector before you se
13. C 40 to 149 F 10 to 90 noncondensing 5 to 95 noncondensing Environmental continued Maximum vibration using a random vibration spectrum that simulates user environment Operating 0 66 GRMS Storage 1 3 GRMS Maximum shock Measured with hard drive in operating status and a 2 ms half sine pulse for operating Also measured with hard drive in head parked position and a 2 ms halfsine pulse for storage Operating 142G 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 Airborne contaminant level C2 or lower as defined by ISA S71 04 1985 Camera Optional Still Resolution 2 Mega Pixel Video Resolution 640 x 480 at 30 fps Camera activation Desktop icon Specifications 213 214 Specifications Appendix Using the System Setup Program Z 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 External Hot Key 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 can use system setup as follows e To set or change user selectable features such
14. Dell Inc disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own Model PP22L September 2009 P N TT979 Rev A03 Contents 1 Finding Information 15 2 About Your Computer 21 Determining Your Computer s Configuration 21 FrontView 2 202000 22 LeftSideView 0 27 RightSideView 0 30 BackView 22 2004 31 BottomView 0 34 3 Setting Up YourComputer 37 Connecting to the Internet 37 Setting Up Your Internet Connection 38 Transferring Information to a New Computer 39 Microsoft Windows XP 39 Microsoft Windows Vista 43 Setting UpaPrinter 43 Printer Cable noana aaa 43 Connecting a USB Printer 44 Power Protection Devices 45 Contents 4 Surge Protectors 4 Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies 4 Using the Display 5 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Contents Adjusting Brightness Using a Projector 04 Making Images and Text Look Bigger or Sharper Microsoft Windows XP Windows Vista 4 Using Both a Monitor and Your Computer Display Microsoft Windows XP Windows Vista
15. Double click the 1 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 Power Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Troubleshooting 137 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 Z NOTE For information on the Sleep power state see Power Management Modes on page 63 CHARGE THE BATTERY The battery charge may be depleted 1 Reinstall the battery Use the AC adapter to connect the computer to an electrical outlet Turn on the computer 2 3 Z 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 compu
16. Go to the previous title or chapter fzli hir Eject For more information on playing media click Help on the media player if available 68 Using Multimedia Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote The Dell Travel Remote is designed to control Dell Media Direct and Windows Vista Media Center It can work only with specified computers For more details go to the Dell Support website at support dell com To play media using Dell Travel Remote 1 Install the CR2106 coin cell battery in your remote control 2 Launch Windows Vista Media Center and then click Start Programs 3 Use the remote control buttons to play media 1 ee wh f DO ve moe 5 NE 14 ip j J 1 Infrared Transmitter 2 Page Up 3 Page Down 4 Arrow Up 5 OK Enter Select 6 Arrow Right Using Multimedia 69 7 Arrow Down 8 Play Pause 9 Forward 10 Skip Forward 11 Stop 12 Skip Back 13 Reverse 14 Back 15 Arrow Left 16 Mute 17 Volume Down 18 Volume Up Copying CD DVD and Blu ray Disc BD Media This section applies only to computers that have a DVD RW drive or a BD RE drive Z NOTE Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when copying media K NOTE The types of optical drives offered by Dell may vary by country 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
17. If possible give the name of the investigating officer The Dell customer service representative will log your report under the computer Service Tag and record the computer as missing or stolen If someone calls Dell for technical assistance and gives your Service Tag the computer is identified automatically as missing or stolen The representative will attempt to get the phone number and address of the caller Dell will then contact the law enforcement agency to which you reported the missing computer Securing Your Computer 111 112 Securing 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 133 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin Z NOTE The Dell Diagnostics only operates on Dell computers
18. Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in data loss or file damage A Z 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 46 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 level 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 V NOTE Brightness key combinations only affect the display on your portable computer not monitors or projectors that you attach to your portable computer or docking device If your computer is connected to an external monitor and you try to change the brightness level the Brightness Meter may appear but the brightnes
19. box and then click Apply 7 Change Screen Area to the appropriate sizes for both displays and click Apply 8 If prompted to restart the computer click Apply the new color setting without restarting and click OK 9 If prompted click OK to resize your desktop 10 If prompted click Yes to keep the settings 11 Click OK to close the Display Properties window Using the Display 49 To disable dual independent display mode 1 Click the Settings tab in the Display Properties window 2 Click the monitor 2 icon uncheck the Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor option and then click Apply If necessary press lt Fn gt lt F8 gt to bring the screen image back to the computer 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 click the monitor 2 icon click the Extend the desktop onto this monitor check box and then click Apply 4 Click OK to close the Display Settings window To disable extended desktop mode 1 Inthe Display Settings window click the Settings tab 2 Click the monitor 2 icon uncheck the Extend the desktop onto this monitor option and then click Apply Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate Z 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
20. less than 60 percent of Using a Battery 61 the charge capacity remains and you should consider replacing the battery see Battery on page 210 for more information about the battery operating time Low Battery Warning NOTICE To avoid losing or corrupting data save your work immediately after a low battery warning then connect the computer to an electrical outlet If the battery runs completely out of power Sleep state begins automatically A pop up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted The computer enters Standby or Sleep mode when the battery charge is at a critically low level You can change the settings for the battery alarms in Dell QuickSet or the Power Options window see Power Management Modes on page 63 Conserving Battery Power To conserve battery power on your portable computer do any of the following Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible 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 63 e Configure the power management settings using either Dell QuickSet or Microsoft Windows Power Options to optimize your computer s power usage see Power Management Modes on page 63 Use the Power Management Wizard or the Power Options Prope
21. 203 Z 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 The following tabs provide additional information for tests run from the Custom Test or Symptom Tree option Tab 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 Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for all devices from the system setup program 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 Parameters Allows you to customize the test by changing the test settings Troubleshooting 117 Dell Support Center The Dell Support Center provides service support and system specific information For more information about Dell Support Center and available support tools click the Services tab at support dell com Computers purchased on June 26 2007 and later are pre installed with Dell Support Center For computers purchased prior to June 26 2007 you can download Dell
22. ConnectingtoaWLAN 101 Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network 0 104 What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection 104 Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card 105 Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network 105 Enabling Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card 04 106 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator 107 11 Securing YourComputer 109 Security CableLock 109 Passwords 20000005 109 If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen 110 Contents 12 Troubleshooting 113 Contents Dell Technical Update Service 113 DellDiagnostics 0 113 DellSupportCenter 118 Dell Support 004 118 Dell PC TuneUp 0 119 Dell PC Checkup 120 Dell Network Assistant 120 DellConnects s cenean e ie eee ee 120 Drive Problems 121 Optical drive problems 121 Harddrive problems 122 E Mail Modem and Internet Problems 123 Error Messages 00000 125 ExpressCard Problems 130 IEEE 1394 Device Problems 131 Keyboard Problems 131 External Keyboard problems 131 Unexpected characters 132 Lockups and Software Problems
23. Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system Many drivers such as the keyboard driver come with your Microsoft Windows operating system You may need to install drivers if you Upgrade your operating system e Reinstall your operating system e Connect or install a new device 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 Troubleshooting 145 146 Windows XP 1 Click Start 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 0 and right click Computer 2 Click Properties Device Manager Z 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 to see if any device has an exclamation point a yellow circle with a on the device icon If an exclamation point is next to the device name you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities NOTICE The Dell S
24. Enter the system setup program review your computer s configuration information and ensure that the device you want to test displays in the system setup program and is active see Using the System Setup Program on page 215 Start the Dell Diagnostics from your hard drive or from your Drivers and Utilities media see Drivers and Utilities Media on page 15 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive Troubleshooting 113 114 NOTE If your computer cannot display a screen image see Contacting Dell on page 203 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 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 When the DELL logo appears press lt F12 gt immediately Select Diagnostics from the boot menu and press lt Enter gt Z NOTE Before attempting the following option the computer must be powered down completely Press and hold the lt Fn gt key while powering the computer on Z NOTE If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found run the Dell Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities medi
25. 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 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 computers 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 perform
26. No BOOT SECTOR ON HARD DRIVE The operating system may be corrupted Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 203 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 113 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 164 If the problem persists contact Dell see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 OPTIONAL ROM BAD CHECKSUM The optional ROM has failed Contact Dell see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 A REQUIRED DLL FILE WAS NOT FOUND The program that you are trying to open is missing an essential file Remove and then reinstall the program Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Add or Remove Programs Programs and Features Select the program you want to remove Click Uninstall See the program documentation for installation instructions 128 Troubleshooting Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button Control Panel Programs Programs and Features 2 Select the program you want to remove 3 Click Uninstall 4 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 o
27. Rollback 146 Program Compatibility wizard 134 reinstalling 156 System Restore 156 Windows Easy Transfer wizard 39 Windows XP Device Driver Rollback 147 hibernate mode 63 PC Restore 157 standby mode 63 wireless turning activity on and off 193 wizards Program Compatibility wizard 134 Windows Easy Transfer 39 WLAN 179 Index 249 installing Mini Card 179 WPAN installing 186 WWAN installing 182 See also Mobile Broadband 250 Index
28. Select your operating system and language and then click Find Downloads or under Downloads Search search for the keyword Notebook System Software NOTE The support dell com user interface may vary depending on your selections Finding Information 17 What Are You Looking For Find It Here How to use Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista e How to work with programs and files e How to personalize my desktop Windows Help and Support Microsoft Windows XP 1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support 2 Either select one of the topics listed or type a word or phrase that describes your problem into the Search box click the arrow icon and then click the topic that describes your problem 3 Follow the instructions on the screen Microsoft Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Help and Support 2 In Search Help type a word or phrase that describes your problem and then press lt Enter gt or click the magnifying glass 3 Click the topic that describes your problem 4 Follow the instructions on the screen e Information on network activity the Power Management Wizard hotkeys and other items controlled by Dell QuickSet 18 Finding Information Dell QuickSet Help To view Dell QuickSet Help right click the Dell QuickSet icon in the Windows notification area For more information on Dell QuickSet see Dell QuickSet Features on page 19
29. Support Center from the Services page at support dell com Click the Dell Support Center icon AE on your computer s desktop to run the application and to access the following features e Self help tools such as Dell Support Dell PC TuneUp Dell PC Checkup and Network Assistant e DellConnect for remote real time technical support e Dell support contact information including e mail and online chat addresses as well as telephone numbers e Resources specific to your computer are available under Drivers amp Downloads Upgrades and System Information The top of the Dell Support Center home page displays your computer s model number along with its Service Tag Express Service code and warranty expiration details When permissions are given to Dell to use your Service Tag additional details about your computer such as available memory disk space installed hardware network addresses modem specifications installed security software and much more are provided In addition using your Service Tag Dell can link you to the most relevant www dell com web pages for information about your warranty ordering accessories and details about installing recommended drivers and downloads Dell Support Dell Support is customized for your computing environment This utility provides self support information software updates and health scans for your computer Use this utility for following functions e Check your computing environme
30. Test System to 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 option from the main menu the following menu appears Z NOTE It is recommended that you select Extended Test from the menu to run a more thorough check of the devices in the computer Option Function Express Test Extended 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 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 116 Troubleshooting 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
31. 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 Setting Up and Using Networks 103 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 digital cellular network Z 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 cellul
32. a TV on page 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Using Multimedia 89 Enabling S PDIF Digital Audio 1 2 3 4 5 6 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 Enabling the Display Settings for a TV Ki 1 N gt o 90 NOTE To ensure that the display options appear correctly connect the TV to the computer before you enable the display settings Click Start 0 click Control Panel and then click Appearance and Personalization 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 Windows Help and Support To access Help and Support click Start e 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 ExpressCards ExpressCards provide additional memory wired and wireless communications multimedia and security features For example you can add an E
33. 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 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 display Use the optional Dell carrying case to pack the computer and its accessories together safely 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 Traveling With YourComputer 195 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 NOTICE Do not move the computer while using the optical drive to prevent loss of
34. and works properly with the TV Using Multimedia Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video cable Using Multimedia 87 wo component video adapter 2 composite video cable standard audio cable 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 the 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 Using Multimedia wo component video adapter 2 component video output connectors component video cable 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 one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the S PDIF audio connector on the component video adapter JA a component 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 TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer See Enabling the Display Settings for
35. are missing any of the preceding requirements will be refused at Dell s receiving dock and returned to you 200 Getting Help Before You Call Z 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 on the back or bottom of your computer Remember to fill out the Diagnostics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 202 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 Guide Getting Help 201 202 Diagnostics Checklist Name Date Address Phone number Service Tag bar code on the back or bottom 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 fil
36. as 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 system setup 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 System security and hard drive password 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 215 Viewing the System Setup Screen 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 Screen Z NOTE For information about a specific item on a system setup screen highlight the item and see the Help area on the screen 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
37. be populated and must match in size NOTE The available memory displayed does not reflect the complete maximum memory installed because some memory is reserved for system files Specifications Ports and Connectors Audio IEEE 1394 Consumer IR Mini Card Modem Network adapter S video TV out microphone connector stereo headphone speakers connector 4 pin serial connector sensor compatible with Philips RC6 receive only three Type IIIA Mini Card slots RJ 11 port RJ 45 port 7 pin mini DIN connector optional S video to composite video adapter cable USB four 4 pin USB 2 0 compliant connector Video 15 hole connector Communications Modem Type v 92 56K MDC Controller softmodem Interface Intel High Definition Audio Network adapter 10 100 Ethernet LAN on system board Wireless internal WLAN WWAN WPAN Mini Cards WWAN ExpressCard Bluetooth wireless technology Specifications 207 Video NOTE Optional video controller upgrades are available for your computer subject to availability at the time of purchase To determine the configuration of your computer see Determining Your Computer s Configuration on page 21 Video type Video controller Video memory LCD interface TV support Video type Data bus Video controller Video memory integrated on system board Intel 965 GM size of shared video memory is up to 358 MB LVDS NTSC or PAL in S video composite and componen
38. by the online or telephone service and support team Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product NOTICE When you disconnect a cable pull on its connector or on its strain relief loop 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 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 Adding and Replacing Parts NOTICE To help prevent damage to 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 161 On NOTICE To disconnect a network cable first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network connector Disconnect any telephone or network cables from the computer Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electric
39. computer are automatically displayed in the My Drivers The ResourceCD has identified these components in your system window Click the driver that you want to reinstall and 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 Z 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 Using the System Setup Program on page 215 before continuing with the driver installation see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 For information about components installed on your computer see Determining Your Computer s Configuration on page 21 After extracting the driver files to your hard drive as described in the previous section Windows XP 1 Click Start gt My Computer Properties 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 5 Click Install from a list or specific location Advanced gt Next 6 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied 148 the driver files Troubleshooting 7 When the name of the appropriate driver appears click Next 8 Click Finish and re
40. copying DVDs general information 70 helpful tips 72 how to 70 Dell contacting 203 Dell Diagnostics about 113 starting from the Drivers and Utilities media 115 starting from your hard drive 113 Dell MediaDirect about 26 problems 134 Dell Network Assistant 120 244 Index Dell Support 3 118 Dell Support Center 118 Dell support site 17 DellConnect 120 198 device latch release description 35 device status lights description 24 diagnostics Dell 113 digital array microphones 26 display adjusting brightness 47 adjusting the size of icons 193 adjusting the size of toolbars 193 cleaning 218 description 23 dual display operation 49 resolution 50 switching the video image 47 documentation End User License Agreement 15 ergonomics 15 online 17 Product Information Guide 15 regulatory 15 safety 15 User s Guide 16 warranty 15 Dolby headphones setting up 90 drivers about 145 identifying 145 reinstalling 146 Drivers and Utilities media 15 about 147 Dell Diagnostics 113 drives problems 121 See also hard drive See also optical drive DVD about 70 drive problems 121 E End User License Agreement 15 ergonomics information 15 error messages 125 ExpressCard slot description 29 ExpressCards 91 blanks 91 93 95 installing 92 removing 93 F fan description 35 FCM See Flash Cache Module Flash Cache Module 187 H h
41. courses and frequently asked questions segment to view the appropriate support Community Online discussion with site other Dell customers Upgrades Upgrade information for components such as the memory hard drive and operating system Customer Care Contact information service call and order status and warranty and repair information Service and support Service call status support history service contract and online discussions with 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 Notebook System Software NSS If To download Notebook System Software you reinstall the operating system on 1 Go to support dell com select your your computer you should also reinstall country region and then click Drivers the NSS utility NSS automatically amp Downloads detects your computer and operating 2 Enter your Service Tag or product system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration providing critical updates for your operating system and support for Dell 3 5 inch USB floppy drives Intel processors optical drives and USB devices NSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer model and then click Go 3
42. e Memory Stick PRO e xD Picture Card e Hi Speed SD e Hi Density SD Memory Card Blanks Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the 8 in 1 memory card reader Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles Save the blank for use when no memory card is installed in the slot blanks from other computers may not fit your computer Remove the blank before installing a memory card To remove the blank see Removing a Memory Card or Blank on page 96 Installing a Memory Card You can install a memory card in the computer while the computer is running The computer automatically detects the card Memory 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 Using the Memory CardReader 95 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 K The computer recognizes the memory card and automatically loads the appropriate device driver If the confi
43. 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 connector and disconnect your computer from the electrical outlet Many surge protectors have a telephone jack for modem protection See the surge protector documentation for modem connection instructions NOTICE Not all surge protectors offer network adapter protection Disconnect the network cable from the network wall connector during electrical storms Setting Up Your Computer 45 Line Conditioners NOTICE Line conditioners do not protect against power interruptions Line conditioners are designed to maintain AC voltage at a fairly constant level Uninterruptible Power Supplies NOTICE
44. 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 For more information see your Windows documentation If you forget any of your passwords contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 203 For your protection Dell technical support staff will ask you for proof of your identity to ensure that only an authorized person can use the computer If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen 110 Call a law enforcement agency to report the lost or stolen computer Include the Service Tag in your description of the computer Ask that a case number be assigned and write down the number along with the name address and phone number of the law enforcement agency If possible obtain the name of the investigating officer NOTE If you know where the computer was lost or stolen call a law enforcement agency in that area If you do not know call a law enforcement agency where you live If the computer belongs to a company notify the security office of the company Securing Your Computer Contact Dell customer service to report the missing computer Provide the computer Service Tag the case number and the name address and phone number of the law enforcement agency to which you reported the missing computer
45. located in the Product Information Guide Computer Keyboard and Display A CAUTION Before you clean your computer disconnect the computer from the 218 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 Use a can of compressed air to remove dust from between the keys on the keyboard and to remove any dirt or lint from the display NOTICE To help prevent damage to 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 Do not use alcohol or an ammonia based cleaner Wipe the display gently working from the center to the edges until it is clean and any fingerprints are removed Do not use excessive pressure NOTICE To prevent damage to the antiglare coating do not wipe the display with soap or alcohol 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 To clean your monitor screen lightly dampen a soft clean cloth with water You can also use a special screen cleaning tissue or solution suitable for the monitor s antistatic coating Wipe the
46. 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 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 Z 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 Z 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
47. mouse directly to the computer 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 113 REINSTALL THE TOUCH PAD DRIVER Sce Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 Video and Display Problems 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 Z 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 be depleted Connect the computer to an electrical outlet using the AC adapter and then turn on the compu
48. muted you do not hear the media playing Right click the volume icon in the notification area Click Open Volume Mixer 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 Screen Volume Meter or press the volume control buttons to enable or disable the Volume Meter on the screen Using Multimedia 73 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 1 oa fF Ww N Click Start Control Panel Appearance and Personalization Under Personalization click Adjust screen resolution On Display Settings click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting In the drop down menu under Color quality click Medium 16 bit Click OK 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 When your computer is turned off or in Sleep state you can press the Dell MediaDirect button to start the computer and automatically launch the Dell MediaDirect application 74
49. 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 50 Using the Display 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 fo
50. replace the battery slide the battery into the bay until it latches into place 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 65 before you use it 66 Using a Battery 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 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 Using Multimedia 67 ACD 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 J 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
51. seated Replace and tighten the hard drive screws Install the operating system for your computer as needed see Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating System on page 150 Install the drivers and utilities for your computer as needed see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 Adding and Replacing Parts Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Return your old hard drive to Dell in its original or comparable foam packaging Otherwise the hard drive may be damaged in transit 1 foam packaging 2 harddrive Optical Drive A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Removing the Optical Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Tur the computer over 3 Remove the device security screw from the optical drive 4 Using a plastic scribe push the notch to release the optical drive from the bay 5 Slide the optical drive out of the bay Adding and Replacing Parts 167 1 optical drive 2 notch 3 device security screw Replacing the Optical Drive 1 Remove the new drive from its packaging Save the original packaging for storing or shipping the hard drive NOTICE Use firm and even pressure to slide the drive into place If you use excessive force you may damage the connector Slide the optical drive into the optical drive bay until it is fully seated Replace and tighten the optical driv
52. 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 See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 No sound from external speakers ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON Sece 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 DISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are connected 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 146 RUN THE DELL DiAGNostics See Dell Diagnostics on page 113 Z 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 Troubleshooting 141 N
53. use the touch pad or track stick to move or pan the image up down left and right 48 Using the Display NOTICE You can damage an external monitor by using an unsupported refresh rate Before adjusting the refresh rate on an external monitor see the user s guide for the monitor Using Both a Monitor and Your Computer Display You can attach an external monitor or projector to your computer and use it as an extension of your display known as dual independent display or extended desktop mode This mode allows you to use both screens independently and drag objects from one screen to the other effectively doubling the amount of viewable work space To use extended desktop mode perform the steps in the following section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is using Microsoft Windows XP 1 Connect the external monitor TV or projector to the computer 2 Click Start Settings Control Panel 3 Under Pick a category click Appearance and Themes 4 Under Pick a task click the area you want to change or under or pick a Control Panel icon click Display 5 In the Display Properties window click the Settings tab Z NOTE If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports the settings adjust automatically to the closest supported values For more information see your operating system documentation 6 Click the monitor 2 icon click the Extend my Windows desktop check
54. 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 99 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 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 e 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 Panel Network 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 to a wireless network in range or to get more information the Windows XP operating system is managing the wireless network card 102 Setting Up and Using Networks To determine which wireless configuration utility is
55. 133 The computer does notstart 133 The computer stopsresponding 133 A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly 22 00 133 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operating system 134 A solid blue screenappears 134 Dell MediaDirect problems 134 Other software problems 135 Memory Problems 136 Network Problems 136 Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN 4 137 PowerProblems 137 Printer Problems 139 Scanner Problems 140 Sound and Speaker Problems 141 No sound from integrated speakers 141 No sound from external speakers 141 No sound fromheadphones 142 Remote Control Problems 142 Touch Pad or Mouse Problems 142 Video and Display Problems 143 Ifthe displayisblank 143 If the display is difficulttoread 144 If only part of the display is readable 145 Drivers s i oc oie ek ae sh er es 145 WhatlsaDriver 145 Identifying Drivers 145 Reinstalling Drivers and Utiliies 146 Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems e noe 06 42 apn eA a Ea ee 149 Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating System oiz 4 fond tae de E taal tA ao adele S
56. 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 right side of your computer Z 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 Z NOTE Do not use a network cable with a telephone wall connector Setting Up and Using Networks 97 Setting Up a Network Windows XP 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories Communications Network Setup Wizard Next Checklist for creating a network Z 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 Complete the checklist Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions in the wizard Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button 6 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 98 Setting Up and Using Networks Wireless Local Area Network A wireless local area network WLAN is a series of interconnected computers
57. 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 Glossary 235 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 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 refresh rate The frequency measured in Hz at which your screen s horizontal lines are recharged sometimes also referred to as its vertical frequency The higher the refresh rate the less video flicker can be seen by the human eye resolution The shar
58. 203 power hibernate mode 63 line conditioners 45 problems 137 protection devices 45 standby mode 63 surge protectors 45 UPS 45 power button description 23 power light conditions 137 power management adjusting settings 193 QuickSet 193 printer cable 43 connecting 43 problems 139 setting up 43 USB 44 problems blue screen 134 CD drive 121 CD RW drive 122 computer crashes 133 134 computer does not start up 133 computer stops responding 133 Dell Diagnostics 113 Dell MediaDirect 134 drives 121 DVD drive 121 error messages 125 hard drive 122 IEEE 1394 connector 131 keyboard 131 lockups 133 network 136 power 137 power light conditions 137 printer 139 program crashes repeatedly 133 program stops responding 133 programs and Windows compatibility 134 restore computer to previous operating state 156 scanner 140 slow computer performance 124 135 software 133 135 sound and speakers 141 speakers 141 spyware 124 135 Product Information Guide 15 Q QuickSet 193 QuickSet Help 18 Index 247 R RAM See memory regulatory information 15 reinstalling Windows Vista 156 resolution setting 50 S S PDIF digital audio enabling 90 Safely Remove Hardware icon 130 safety instructions 15 scanner problems 140 screen See display security cable slot description 27 Service Tag 16 SIM See Subscriber Identity
59. 3 What Are You Looking For Find It Here 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 one of the following methods e Microsoft Windows System Restore Microsoft Windows System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files e Dell PC Restore Dell PC Restore returns your computer to its original operating state Dell PC Restore may not ship with your computer Operating System Installation Media If you received operating system media with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system For more information see Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating System on page 150 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 operating system installation media varies according to the operating system you ordered Finding Information 19 20 Finding Information About Your Computer Determining Your Computer s Configuration Based on selections that you made when purchasing your computer your computer has one of several different video controller configurations To determine your computer s video controller configuration 1 Acc
60. Click Dell Factory Image Restore nu oO 0a A In the Dell Factory Image Restore window click Next Troubleshooting 153 8 Select the Yes reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition check box 9 Click Next The computer is restored to the default factory configuration 10 When the restore operation is completed click Finish to restart the computer 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 146 If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem then use System Restore to return your operating system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver see Using Microsoft Windows System Restore on page 156 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 Z 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 h
61. Combinations If Dell QuickSet is installed you can use other shortcut keys for functions such as the Battery Meter or activating power management modes For more information about Dell QuickSet key combinations right click the QuickSet icon in the notification area and then click Help Adjusting Keyboard Settings To adjust keyboard operation such as the character repeat rate 1 Click Start and then click Control Panel 2 Click Hardware and Sound 3 Click 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 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 55 1 touch pad 2 silkscreen with scroll zones To move the cursor lightly slide your finger over the touch pad To select an object lightly tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button To select and move or drag an object position the cursor on the object and tap 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 Customizing the Touch Pad You can use the Mouse Properties window to disable the touch pad or adjust the touch pad settin
62. Dell Vostro 1500 Owner s Manual Model PP22L www dell com support dell com Notes Notices and Cautions Z 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 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 Vostro Wi Fi Catcher and Dell MediaDirect are trademarks of Dell Inc Intel is a registered trademark and Core is a trademark of Intel Corporation Microsoft Windows Outlook Windows XP and Windows Vista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG Inc and is used by Dell under license EVERGY STAR is aregistered trademark of the U S Environmental Protection Agency As an ENERGY STAR partner Dell Inc has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products
63. 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 1 slot 2 ExpressCard 92 Using ExpressCards 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 ExpressCard 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 release latch and remove the card or blank For some release 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 1 release latch Using ExpressCards 93 94 Using ExpressCards Using the 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 Z NOTE A memory card is not a bootable device The 8 in 1 memory card reader reads the following memory cards e Secure Digital SD e SDIO e MultiMediaCard MMC e Memory Stick
64. Microsoft Windows Operating System on page 150 does not resolve the problem reinstall the driver from your Drivers and Utilities media 1 With the Windows desktop displayed 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 Z 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 147 5 At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen click Next Z 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
65. Module software problems 134 135 software and hardware incompatibilities 149 sound problems 141 volume 141 speakers 248 Index description 34 35 problems 141 volume 141 specifications 205 spyware 124 135 standby mode about 63 stolen computer 110 Subscriber Identity Module 178 support contacting Dell 203 support website 17 S video TV out connector description 32 System Restore 156 system setup program commonly used options 216 screens 216 viewing 216 T taskbar Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility 137 QuickSet icon 193 Safely Remove Hardware 130 wireless activity indicator 103 telephone numbers 203 toolbars adjusting the size 193 touch pad 55 cleaning 219 customizing 56 touch pad buttons description 25 track stick touch pad buttons description 25 transferring information to anew computer 39 traveling with the computer by air 196 identification tag 195 packing 195 tips 196 troubleshooting Dell Diagnostics 113 Hardware Troubleshooter 149 restore computer to previous operating state 156 TV connecting 75 U uninterruptible power supply See UPS UPS 45 USB connector description 32 User s Guide 16 V video problems 143 video controller configuration determining what controller is installed 21 volume adjusting 141 W warranty information 15 Windows Easy Transfer wizard 39 Windows Vista Device Driver
66. ONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK USE A DIFFERENT TELEPHONE LINE e Verify that the telephone line is connected to the jack on the modem the jack has either a green label or a connector shaped icon next to it e Ensure that you hear a click when you insert the telephone line connector into the modem e Disconnect the telephone line from the modem and connect it to a telephone then listen for a dial tone e If you have other telephone devices sharing the line such as an answering machine fax machine surge protector or line splitter then bypass them and connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack If you are using a line that is 3 m 10 ft or more in length try a shorter one Troubleshooting 123 RUN THE MODEM HELPER DIAGNOSTICS Windows XP 1 Click Start All Programs Modem Helper 2 Follow the instructions on the screen to identify and resolve modem problems Modem Helper is not available on certain computers Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button All Programs Modem Diagnostic Tool 2 Follow the instructions on the screen to identify and resolve modem problems Modem diagnostics are not available on all computers VERIFY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel gt Printers and Other Hardware gt Phone and Modem Options Modems 2 Click the COM port for your modem Properties Diagnostics Query Modem to verify that
67. 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 Z NOTE To change the boot sequence on a one time only basis see Performing a One Time Boot on page 217 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 Diskette Drive e Internal HDD 216 Appendix e USB Storage Device e CD DVD CD RW drive e Modular bay HDD Z NOTE Only devices that are preceded by a number are bootable 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 searching and starts the operating system To control the boot devices select highlight a device by pressing th
68. ROBLEMS WITH AN EXPRESSCARD NOT PROVIDED BY DELL Contact the ExpressCard manufacturer 130 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 1 Click Start Control Panel System and Maintenance gt Device Manager Z 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 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 203 IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AN IEEE 1394 DEVICE NOT PROVIDED BY DELL Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer see Contacting Dell on page 203 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 Z 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 External Keyboard problems Z NOTE When you attach an external keybo
69. 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 113 Troubleshooting 129 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 113 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 follow 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 203 Also for Mobile Broadband WWAN ExpressCards see Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN on page 137 IF YOU HAVE P
70. TWARE 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 protection Troubleshooting 135 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 RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS If all tests run successfully the error condition is related to a software problem see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 Memory Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety i
71. VD 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 plan 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 CD Writable Drives Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD R Yes Yes No CD RW Yes Yes Yes Using Multimedia 71 DVD Writable 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 BD Writable 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 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 proj
72. a The computer runs the Pre boot System Assessment PSA a series of initial tests of your system board keyboard display memory and hard drive e During the assessment answer any questions that appear e If failures are 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 codes and contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 203 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 Insert your Drivers and Utilities media Shut down and restart the computer When the DELL logo appears press lt F 12 gt immediately 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 Z 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 Z NOTE Keyboard failur
73. able CD bootable disk A 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 or floppy disk available 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 bits C C Celsius A temperature measurement scale where 0 is the 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 226 Glossary 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
74. al outlets NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board remove the battery from the battery bay before you service the computer 0 NOTE To avoid damage to the computer use only the battery designed for this particular Dell computer Do not use batteries designed for other Dell computers 7 Slide the battery out of the battery bay nial 1 battery 2 battery release latches 2 5 Turn the computer over 6 Slide and click the battery release latches Adding and Replacing Parts 163 8 Turn the computer top side up open the display and press the power button to ground the system board 9 Remove any installed cards from the ExpressCard slot see Removing an ExpressCard or Blank on page 93 and the 8 in 1 memory card reader see Removing a Memory Card or Blank on page 96 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 you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent data loss turn off your computer see Turning Off Your Computer on page 161 before removing the hard drive Do not remove the hard drive while the computer is on or in Standby or Sleep mode O 0 NOTICE Hard drives are extremely fragile Exercise care when handling the hard drive IN NOTE Dell does not guarantee compatibility or prov
75. ance serial bus used to connect IEEE 1394 compatible devices such as digital cameras and DVD players to the computer infrared sensor A port that allows you to transfer data between the computer and infrared compatible devices without using a cable connection 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 connector parallel connector or expansion slot and allows the processor to communicate with that device Glossary 231 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 kilobi
76. and then erased and written over rewritten DVD RW technology is different from DVD RW technology 228 Glossary 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 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 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 ca
77. ar data coverage zone 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 l l computer s configuration Z NOTE For instructions on using ExpressCards see Using ExpressCards on page 91 e An activated Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or activated Subscriber Identity Module SIM for your service provider 104 Setting Up and Using Networks 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 Center see Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Help and Support Center on page 16 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 has a variety of configurations To determine your computer configuration see one of the following e Your order confirm
78. ard A small card designed for integrated peripherals such as communication NICs The Mini Card is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card Mobile Broadband network also known as a WWAN is a series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other through wireless cellular technology and provides Internet access in the same varied locations from which cellular telephone service is available Your computer can maintain the Mobile Broadband network connection regardless of its physical location as long as the computer remains in the service area of your cellular service provider Glossary 233 modem A device that allows your computer to communicate with other computers over analog telephone lines Three types of modems include external PC Card and internal You typically use your modem to connect to the Internet and exchange e mail 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 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 NIC network interface controller NIC See network adapter notification area The section of t
79. ard 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 Troubleshooting 131 CHECK THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD 1 2 Shut down the computer wait 1 minute and then turn it on again Verify that the numbers capitals and scroll lock lights on the keyboard blink during the boot routine From the Windows desktop click Start All Programs Accessories gt Notepad Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the display If you cannot verify these steps you may have a defective external keyboard TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD CHECK THE INTEGRATED KEYBOARD 1 2 3 4 Shut down the computer Disconnect the external keyboard Turn on the computer From the Windows desktop click Start All Programs Accessories Notepad 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 203 RUN THE KEYBOARD DIAGNOSTICS TESTS Run the PC AT Compatible Keyboards tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics o
80. ard and hinge cover See Replacing the Keyboard on page 171 and Replacing the Hinge Cover on page 170 6 Insert the battery into the battery bay or connect the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet 7 Turn on the computer As the computer boots it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information Confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer Windows XP Right click the My Computer icon on your desktop then click Properties General Windows Vista Click the Windows Vista Start button 0 right click Computer and then click Properties 174 Adding and Replacing Parts Removing the DIMM B Memory Module The DIMM B memory module is located under the memory module cover on the bottom of the computer 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Turn the computer upside down loosen the captive screw on the memory module cover see Bottom View on page 34 and remove the cover 1 memory module coin cell battery 2 captive screw cover NOTICE To prevent damage to the memory module connector do not use tools to spread the memory module securing clips 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 3 Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clip
81. ard drive description 35 problems 122 replacing 164 returning to Dell 167 hardware Dell Diagnostics 113 Hardware Troubleshooter 149 hibernate mode 63 hinge cover removing 168 l icons adjusting the size 193 IEEE 1394 connector description 30 problems 131 infrared sensor description 35 installing 179 Internet connection about 37 options 37 setting up 38 K keyboard cleaning 218 Index 245 numeric keypad 53 problems 131 removing 170 shortcuts 54 keyboard status lights description 26 keypad numeric 53 L labels Microsoft Windows 16 Service Tag 16 lost computer 110 media playing 67 media control buttons Dell MediaDirect button 74 description 25 memory DIMM A 173 DIMM B 175 installing 172 removing 173 175 memory card 95 blanks 96 installing 95 reader 30 removing 96 246 Index types 95 memory card reader 95 memory module cover description 35 messages error 125 Mini Card installing 179 WLAN 179 WPAN 179 WWAN 179 Mobile Broadband network connections 104 See also wireless switch Mobile Broadband WWAN problems 136 modem connector description 32 monitor See display network installing WLAN Mini Card 179 Mobile Broadband WWAN 136 problems 136 QuickSet 193 network connector description 31 0 operating system reinstalling Windows Vista 156 P PC Restore 157 phone numbers
82. ards 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 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 example Windows Notepad uses a text editor Text editors do not usually provide word wrap or formatting functionality
83. as a RAID controller Reinstalling 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 154 Troubleshooting NOTICE The Operating System media provides options for reinstalling Windows Aa WwW N K The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs that are installed on your hard drive Therefore do not reinstall Windows unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so Save and close any open files and exit any open programs Insert the Operating System media Click Exit if the Install Windows message appears Restart the computer When the DELL logo appears press lt F12 gt immediately 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 Z 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 When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW Drive and then press lt Enter gt Press any key to Boot from CD ROM Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation NOTE You cannot reinstall Dell MediaDirect if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive You need
84. at you that you must log on as administrator Click Quit and then log on as a local administrator V 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 because there is no partition to delete 4 Click OK to remove the PC Restore partition on the hard drive 158 Troubleshooting 5 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 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 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 146 If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem then use System Restore to return your operating system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver see Using Microsoft Windows System Restore on page 156 NOTICE Before performing the installation back up all data files on your primary hard drive For conventional har
85. ation e Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center To check your Mobile Broadband card in the Windows Help and Support Center 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 Z NOTE The Mobile Broadband card is listed under Modems Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network Z NOTE These instructions only apply to Mobile Broadband ExpressCards or Mini Cards They do not apply to internal cards with wireless technology Setting Up and Using Networks 105 Z 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 the Windows Help and Support Center Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Help and Support Center on page 16 The user s guide is also available on the Dell Support website at support dell com and on the CD included with your Mobile Broadband card if you purchased the card separately from your computer Use the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility to establish and manage a Mobile Broadband network
86. ation 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 Using the System Setup Program on page 215 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 113 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 113 KEYBOARD DATA LINE FAILURE For external keyboards check the cable connection Run the Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 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 113 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 134 MEMORY ADDRESS LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or improperl
87. 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 may take several seconds KEYBOARD For more information about the keyboard see Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad on page 53 About Your Computer 23 DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS Delete The blue lights located to the right of the keyboard indicate the following Power light Turns on when you turn on the computer and blinks when the computer is in a power management mode 6B Hard drive activity light Turns on when the computer reads or writes data NOTICE To avoid loss of data never turn off the computer while the O lightis flashing Battery status light Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status wits WiFi status light Turns on when wireless networking is enabled To enable or disable wireless networking use the wireless switch see wireless switch on page 27 24 About Your Computer Bluetooth status light Turns on when an internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology is enabled NOTE The internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology is an optional feature The light turns on only if you ordered the card with your computer For more information see the documentation that came with your card
88. cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device 7 Turn on the TV 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 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video cable 82 Using Multimedia 1 w composite video adapter 2 composite video cable standard audio cable 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 input connector on the composite video adapter A 2 amp n 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 Using Multimedia 83 im composite 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 7 Turn on the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabl
89. cally touching an unpainted metal surface such as a connector on the back of the computer NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer Removing the Keyboard 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 Remove the hinge cover see Hinge Cover on page 168 Remove the two keyboard screws at the top of the keyboard 2 3 NOTICE The key caps on the keyboard are fragile easily dislodged and time consuming to replace Be careful when removing and handling the keyboard 4 Lift the keyboard and hold it up and slightly forward to access the keyboard connector 5 To disconnect the keyboard cable from the keyboard connector on the system board rotate the cable release lever toward the front of the computer 6 Slide the keyboard cable out of the keyboard connector 170 Adding and Replacing Parts 1 keyboard screws 2 2 keyboard 3 tabs 5 4 keyboard cable 5 cable release lever Replacing the Keyboard 1 Slide the keyboard cable into the keyboard connector 2 Rotate the cable release lever downwards to secure the cable to the keyboard connector on the system board 3 Hook the tabs along the front edge of the keyboard into the palm rest 4 Press on the right edge near the top to snap the keyboard into place 5 Replace the two keyboard screws at the top of the keyboard Adding and Replacing Parts 171 Memor
90. 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 15 If necessary configure your wireless network card to connect to the wireless network see Connecting toa WLAN on page 101 Connecting to a WLAN Z NOTE Before you connect to a WLAN ensure that you have followed the instructions in Wireless Local Area Network on page 99 Z NOTE The following networking instructions do not apply to internal cards with Bluetooth wireless technology or cellular products Setting Up and Using Networks 101 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 99 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 Z 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
91. 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 Therefore 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 indicator 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 are on the battery has no charge Check the Battery Health Z NOTE You can check battery health in one of two ways by using the charge gauge on the battery as described below and by using the Battery Meter in Dell QuickSet For information about QuickSet right click the QuickSet icon in the notification area and then 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 to illuminate the health indicator lights Each light represents incremental degradation If no lights appear the battery is in good condition and more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains If five lights appear
92. computer The AC adapter converts AC power to the DC power required by the computer You can connect the AC adapter with your computer turned on or off Z NOTE If your computer has the discrete video configuration you must use the 90 W AC adapter that is shipped with your computer Using the incorrect AC adapter will prevent optimal system performance and produce a BIOS warning Z NOTE Ensure the power cord is firmly attached to the AC adapter A green LED light on the AC adapter indicates a proper connection 32 About Your Computer 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 help prevent damage to the cable MODEM CONNECTOR RJ 11 Connect the telephone line to the modem connector For information on using the modem see the online modem documentation supplied with your computer About Your Computer 33 Bottom View 7 6 5 1 left speaker 2 memory module coin cell battery cover 3 consumer IR sensor 4 right speaker 5 wireless Mini Card cover 6 battery 7 battery charge health gauge 8 battery release latches 2 9 fan 10 hard drive LEFT SPEAKER
93. connection to the Internet 1 Click the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility icon cull on the Windows desktop to run the utility 2 Click Connect Z 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 104 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 left side of the computer see Left Side View on page 27 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 card For information about the wireless switch positions see wireless switch on page 27 106 Setting Up and Using Networks To monit
94. ction 32 KB data cache per core 2 MB or 4 MB per core depending on model 533 MHz 667 MHz and 800 MHz System Information System chipset Data bus width DRAM bus width Processor address bus width Flash EPROM Graphics bus PCI bus PCI Express used for video controllers Intel 965 Express Chipset Family 64 bits dual channel 2 64 bit buses 32 bits 1 MB PCI E X16 32 bits xl6 ExpressCard NOTE The ExpressCard slot is designed only for ExpressCards It does NOT support PC Cards NOTE PCMCIA may not be available in some regions ExpressCard controller ExpressCard connector Intel ICH8M one ExpressCard slot 54 mm Specifications 205 ExpressCard continued Cards supported ExpressCard 34 34 mm ExpressCard 54 54 mm 1 5 V and 3 3 V ExpressCard connector size 26 pins 8 in 1 Memory Card Reader 8 in 1 memory card controller Ricoh R5C833 8 in 1 memory card connector Cards supported 8 in 1 combo card connector Secure Digital SD e SDIO e MultiMediaCard MMC e Memory Stick e Memory Stick PRO e xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD e Hi Density SD Memory 206 Memory module connector Memory module capacities Memory type Minimum memory Maximum memory two user accessible SoDIMM connectors 512 MB 1 GB 2 GB 667 MHz SoDIMM DDR2 512 MB 4 GB NOTE In order to take advantage of the dual channel bandwidth capability both memory slots must
95. d 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 Z 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 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 Troubleshooting 159 NOTICE The Operating System media provides options for reinstalling Windows A WwW N 160 The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs that are installed on your hard drive Therefore do not reinstall Windows unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so Save and close any open files and exit any open programs Insert the Operating System media Click Exit if the Install Windows message appears Restart the computer When the DELL logo appears press lt F 12 gt immediately 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 Z NOTE The next steps change the boot s
96. ded 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 word 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 C
97. dell com support us dell com 198 Getting Help la techsupport dell com Latin America and Caribbean countries only apsupport dell com Asian Pacific countries only 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 203 Automated Order Status Service To check on the status of any Dell products that you have 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 203 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 Contact
98. display to that option lt Fn gt and up arrow key Increases brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor lt Fn gt and down arrow key Decreases brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Battery lt Fn gt lt F3 gt Displays the Dell QuickSet Battery Meter see Dell QuickSet Battery Meter on page 60 Power Management lt Fn gt lt Esc 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 see Power Management Modes on page 63 54 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Windows logo key and lt m gt Minimizes all open windows Windows logo key and Restores all minimized windows This key lt Shift gt lt m gt combination functions as a toggle to restore minimized windows following the use of the Windows logo key and lt m gt combination Windows logo key and lt e gt Starts Windows Explorer Windows logo key and lt r gt Opens the Run dialog box Windows logo key and lt f gt Opens the Search Results dialog box Windows logo key and Opens the Search Results Computer dialog box lt Ctrl gt lt f gt if the computer is connected to a network Windows logo key and lt Pause gt Opens the System Properties dialog box Dell QuickSet Key
99. dows Power Options to configure the power management settings on your computer e For information on how to use the Dell QuickSet Power Management wizard right click the QuickSet icon in the notification area click Help and then select Power Management Accessing Power Options Properties Windows XP Click Start Control Panel Performance and Maintenance and then click Power Options 64 Using a Battery Windows Vista Click the Windows Vista Start button 6 click Control Panel click System and Maintenance and then click Power Options Charging the Battery Z NOTE Charge time is longer with the computer turned on You can leave the battery in the computer for as long as you like The battery s internal circuitry prevents the battery from overcharging When you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery while the computer is connected to an electrical outlet the computer checks the battery charge and temperature If necessary the AC adapter then charges the battery and maintains the battery charge If the battery is hot from being used in your computer or being in a hot environment the battery may not charge when you connect the computer to an electrical outlet The battery is too hot to start charging if the battery light flashes alternately blue and amber Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room temperature then connect the compute
100. e 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 Using a Battery 63 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 display e Press lt Fn gt lt Esc gt Z NOTE Some ExpressCards may not operate correctly after the computer exits hibernate mode Remove and reinsert the card see Removing an ExpressCard or Blank on page 93 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 Dell QuickSet or Win
101. e 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 134 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 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 203 Other software problems CHECK THE SOF
102. e 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 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 program instructions Sometimes the processor is referred to as the CPU central processing unit PS
103. e access tool that allows a Dell service and support associate to access your computer through an Internet connection diagnose the problem and repair it The associate works with your permission under your supervision and you can work with Dell s associate during the troubleshooting session To use this service you must have an Internet connection and your Dell computer must be under warranty DellConnect is also available for a fee through Dell On Call 120 Troubleshooting To begin a live session with a Dell associate 1 Click the Dell Support Center icon 6 on your computer s desktop 2 Click Assistance From Dell Technical Support DellConnect gt Phone and follow the instructions Drive Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT WINDOWS RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE Windows XP e Click Start and click My Computer Windows Vista e Click the Windows Vista Start button and click 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 or DVD 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 See Cleaning Your Comput
104. e 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 BD R Blu ray Disc recordable refers to two optical disc formats that can be recorded with an optical disc recorder BD R discs can be written to once BD RE Blu ray Disc RE can be erased and re recorded multiple times Glossary 225 BIOS basic input output system A program or utility that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system Unless you understand what effect these settings have on the computer do not change them Also referred to as system setup bit The smallest unit of data interpreted by your computer 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 CD A CD 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 or floppy disk available Your Drivers and Utilities media is a boot
105. e down arrow or up arrow key and then enable or disable the device or change its order in the list To enable or disable a device highlight the item and press the space bar Enabled items are preceded by a number disabled items are not preceded by a number e To reorder a device in the list highlight the device and press lt u gt to move the device up the list or lt d gt to move a device down the list 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 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 previous boot order is restored Appendix 217 Cleaning Your Computer A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions
106. e may result when a key on the keyboard is held down for extended periods of time To avoid possible keyboard failure press and release the lt F12 gt key in even intervals until the boot device menu appears At the boot device menu use the up and down arrow keys to highlight CD DVD CD RW and then press lt Enter gt Z 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 the system setup program 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 Z 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 and then close the Main Menu window to exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer Troubleshooting 115 Dell Diagnostics Main Menu After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears click the button for the option you want Z NOTE It is recommended that you select
107. e 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 Starting System Restore NOTICE Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state save and close any open files and exit any open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete 1 Click Start All Programs AccessoriesSystem Tools gt System Restore 2 Click either Restore my computer to an earlier time or Create a restore point 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 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools System Restore 2 Click Undo my last restoration and click Next 156 Troubleshooting Enabling System Restore Z NOTE If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free hard disk space available System Restore is automatically 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 uncheck
108. e screws Hinge Cover A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide 168 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 help prevent damage to the system board remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer Removing the Hinge Cover 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Open the display as far as it will open NOTICE To avoid damage to the hinge cover do not lift the cover on both sides simultaneously 3 Insert a plastic scribe into the indent to lift the hinge cover on the right side 4 Ease the hinge cover up moving from right to left and remove it 1 hinge cover 2 scribe Adding and Replacing Parts 169 Replacing the Hinge Cover 1 Insert the left edge of the hinge cover 2 Press from left to right until the cover snaps into place Keyboard For more information about the keyboard see Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad on page 53 A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To avoid electrostatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodi
109. e wireless switch is configured in the system setup program BIOS to control WiFi network connections Av 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 AIR VENTS The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents which prevents the computer from overheating The computer turns the fan on when the computer gets hot Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fan or the computer 28 About Your Computer AUDIO CONNECTORS yen Soa A Attach headphones to the connector Attach a microphone to the connector EXPRESSCARD SLOT Supports one ExpressCard The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot For more information see Using ExpressCards on page 91 About Your Computer 29 Right Side View 1 battery status light hard drive activity light 2 power light 4 optical drive 6 8 in 1 memory card reader 8 IEEE 1394 connector network connector RJ 45 10 USB connectors 2 3 5 eject button 7 video connector VGA 9 OPTICAL DRIVE For more information about the optical drive see Using Multimedia on page 67 EJECT BUTTON Press the eject button to open the optical drive 8 IN 1 MEMORY CARD READER Prov
110. earch Troubleshooting 149 3 In the Fix a Problem section click Hardware Troubleshooter 4 Inthe Hardware Troubleshooter list select the option that best describes the problem and click Next to follow the remaining troubleshooting steps Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and click Help and Support 2 Inthe Find an answer section click Troubleshooting OR Type hardware troubleshooter in the search field and then press lt Enter gt 3 In the search results select the option that best describes the problem and follow the remaining troubleshooting steps Z NOTE If you do not find the answer in the items categorized in Troubleshooting you can get online help by typing your question in the Search Help field at the top of the window Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating System Restoring Windows Vista You can restore your Windows Vista operating system in the following ways e Windows Vista includes the Backup and Restore Center to create backups of important files on your computer or to back up the entire hard drive You can then restore your operating system or files if needed e Microsoft Windows System Restore returns your hard drive 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 156 e Dell Factor
111. ect 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 72 Using Multimedia 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 Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed 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 You cannot create audio DVDs with Roxio Creator 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 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 See the Roxio website at www sonic com or the Blu ray Disc Association website at blu raydisc com for additional information Adjusting the Volume K 1 2 3 NOTE When the speakers are
112. ed Using Dell PC Restore NOTICE Using Dell PC 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 only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem Z NOTE Dell PC Restore by Symantec may not be available in certain countries or on certain computers Use Dell PC Restore 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 To use PC Restore 1 Turn on the computer During the boot process a blue bar with www dell com appears 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 booting 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 Troubleshooting 157 4 W
113. efore you turn off your computer 1 Save and close all open files and exit all open programs 2 Shut down the operating system Windows XP Click Start gt Shut Down Shut down Adding and Replacing Parts 161 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 mem mjia The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process is complete Ensure that the computer and all attached devices are turned off If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system press and hold the power button for about 4 seconds to turn them off 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 A A 162 CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CAUTION Handle components and cards with care Do not touch the components 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 CAUTION Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician You should only perform troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation or as directed
114. ek amp 150 Contents Restoring Windows Visti oe west ee Beek 150 Restoring Windows XP 155 13 Adding and Replacing Parts 161 Before You Begin 06 161 Recommended Tools 161 Turning Off YourComputer 161 Before Working Inside YourComputer 162 Hard Drive 2 02004 164 Removing the Hard Drive 164 Replacing the Hard Drive 166 Returning a Hard DrivetoDell 167 OpticalDrive 167 Removing the Optical Drive 167 Replacing the Optical Drive 168 Hinge Cover 2 005 168 Removing the Hinge Cover 169 Replacing the Hinge Cover 170 Keyboard 2 2 fie Sas ow SPS Be eS 170 Removing the Keyboard 170 Replacing the Keyboard 171 Memory soi 2 6 see ease tee Sine a es 172 Removing the DIMM A Memory Module 172 Replacing the DIMM A Memory Module 173 Removing the DIMM B Memory Module 175 Replacing the DIMM B Memory Module 176 Subscriber Identity Module 178 10 Contents Wireless Mini Cards 179 RemovingaWLANCard 179 ReplacingaWLANCard 181 Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card a aeea tay Bite Settee et ee 182 Replacing a WWAN Card 185 RemovingaWPANCard 186 ReplacingaWPANCard
115. equence for one time only On the next start up the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW Drive and then press lt Enter gt Press any key to Boot from CD ROM Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation NOTE You cannot reinstall Dell MediaDirect if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive You need the installation software to reinstall Dell MediaDirect See Contacting Dell on page 203 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 on page 161 and Before Working Inside Your Computer on page 162 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 see the Dell Support website at support dell com Turning Off Your Computer NOTICE To avoid losing data save and close any open files and exit any open programs b
116. er on page 218 ENSURE THAT THE CD oR DVD MEDIA IS SNAPPED ONTO THE SPINDLE CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS CHECK FOR HARDWARE INCOMPATIBILITIES See Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems on page 149 RUN THE DELL DiAGNosTIcs See Dell Diagnostics on page 113 Optical drive problems Z NOTE High speed optical drive vibration is normal and may cause noise which does not indicate a defect in the drive or the media Z NOTE Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats not all DVD titles work in all DVD drives Troubleshooting 121 Problems writing to a CD RW or DVD RW drive CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS CD RW and DVD RW 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 DISC See Power Management Modes on page 63 for information on sleep modes CHANGE THE WRITE SPEED TO A SLOWER RATE Sce the help files for your CD or DVD 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 e Ensure that the sound is not caused by the program that is runn
117. eral e Windows Vista Click the Windows Vista Start button right click Computer and then click Properties Adding and Replacing Parts 177 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 161 2 In the battery bay slide the SIM into the SIM compartment with the cut off corner of the card facing away from the compartment 1 battery bay 2 SIM 178 Adding and Replacing Parts Wireless Mini Cards A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer If you ordered a wireless Mini Card with your computer the card is already installed Your computer supports three types of wireless Mini Cards e Wireless Local Area Network WLAN e Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN e Wireless Personal Area Network WPAN Removing a WLAN Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Tur the computer over 3 Loosen the capti
118. erals o sai sdei ee ae Sas Contents Definition of Third Party Software and Peripherals 3 24 2 a0 a4 4 8 4 ae a Aa Ps 221 FCC Notice U S Only 221 FOG Class Be NA 4 2 hace ek a tk g 221 Macrovision Product Notice 223 GOS SAI rnan Msn Ri acta aa Oe 225 WG OX See oe ate 3 905 eae a dy kate apg eoeowa ks 243 Contents 13 14 Contents Finding Information Z NOTE Some features may be optional and may not ship with your computer Some features may not be available in certain countries Z 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 Device documentation Notebook System Software NSS Drivers and Utilities Media Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer You can use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 or run the Dell Support 3 utility see Dell Support on page 118 Readme files may be included on your Drivers and Utilities media to provide last minute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technical reference material for technicians or experienced users NOTE Drivers and documentation updates can be found at support dell com Warranty information Terms and Conditions U S only Safety instructions Regulatory informatio
119. es Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Coin cell battery CR 2032 AC Adapter Input voltage 90 264 VAC Input current maximum L5A Input frequency 47 63 Hz Output current 65 W Output current 90 W 4 34 A maximum at 4 second pulse 3 34 A continuous 5 62 A maximum at 4 second pulse 4 62 A continuous NOTE If your computer has the discrete video configuration you must use the 90 W AC adapter that is shipped with your computer Using the incorrect AC adapter will prevent optimal system performance and produce a BIOS warning Output power Rated output voltage 65 W 90 W 19 5 1 0 VDC Specifications 211 AC Adapter continued Dimensions 65 W Height Width Depth Weight with cables Dimensions 90 W Height Width Depth Weight with cables Temperature range 28 2 mm 1 11 in 57 9 mm 2 28 in 137 2 mm 5 4 in 0 4 kg 0 9 Ib 34 2 mm 1 34 in 60 8 mm 2 39 in 153 4 mm 6 0 in 0 46 kg 1 01 Ib Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Physical Height 42 mm 1 65 in Width 358 7 mm 14 12 in Depth 269 mm 10 59 in Weight with 6 cell battery Configurable to less than 3 0 kg 6 61 Ib Environmental 212 Temperature range Operating Storage Relative humidity maximum Operating Storage Specifications 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F 40 to 65
120. es 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 Contacting Dell For customers in the United States call 800 WWW DELL 800 999 3355 Z 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 Availability varies by country and product and some services may not be available in your area To contact Dell for sales technical support or customer service issues Visit support dell com 2 Verify your country or region in the Choose A Country Region drop down menu at the bottom of the page Click Contact Us on the left side of the page Select the appropriate service or support link based on your need Choose the method of contacting Dell that is convenient for you Getting Help 203 204 Getting Help Specifications Z 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 Front side bus frequency Intel Core 2 Duo 32 KB per instru
121. ess the Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center For instructions see Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Help and Support Center on page 16 2 Under Pick a Task click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems 3 Under My Computer Information select Hardware From the My Computer Information Hardware screen you can view the type of video controller installed in your computer as well as the other hardware components About Your Computer 21 Front View 11 10 camera indicator optional display latch power button device status lights consumer IR sensor touch pad buttons keyboard status lights About Your Computer camera optional display keyboard touch pad media control buttons Dell MediaDirect button digital array microphones CAMERA INDICATOR Indicates that the camera is on Based on configuration selections you made when ordering your computer your computer may not include a camera CAMERA Built in camera for video capture conferencing and chat Based on configuration selections you made when ordering your computer your computer may not include a camera DISPLAY LATCH Keeps the display closed DISPLAY For more information about your display see Using the Display on page 47 POWER BUTTON Press the power button to turn on the computer or exit a power management mode see Power Management Modes on page 63 NOTICE To
122. gs 1 Click Start and then click Control Panel 2 Click Hardware and Sound 56 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 3 Click Mouse 4 Inthe Mouse Properties window Click the Device Select tab to disable the touch pad Click the Touch Pad tab to adjust touch pad settings 5 Click OK to save the settings and close the window Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 57 58 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Using a Battery Battery Performance Z NOTE For information about the Dell warranty for your computer see the Product Information Guide or separate paper warranty document that shipped with your computer For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings operate your Dell portable computer with the main battery installed at all times One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay 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 place the mouse cursor over the battery icon in the Windows notification area Z 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 compute
123. guration 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 card 96 Using the Memory Card Reader Setting Up and Using Networks 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
124. hard drive does not respond to commands from the computer Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 164 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 113 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 16 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 113 HARD DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE The hard drive may be defective Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 164 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 113 126 Troubleshooting 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 inform
125. he 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 I 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 234 Glossary 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 and devices such as video drives and networks PCI Express A modification to th
126. he keyboard indicate the following l Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled Turns on when the uppercase letter caps lock function is enabled Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled DIGITAL ARRAY MICROPHONES Built in microphone for conferencing and chat 26 About Your Computer Left Side View 1 security cable slot 2 wireless switch 3 Dell Wi FiCatcher Network Locator 4 airvents light 5 audio connectors 6 ExpressCard slot SECURITY CABLE SLOT Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer see Security Cable Lock on page 109 WIRELESS SWITCH When enabled through Dell QuickSet this switch can scan for a wireless local area network WLAN in your vicinity You can also use it to rapidly turn off or on any wireless devices such as WLAN cards and internal cards with Bluetooth wireless technology see Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator on page 107 About Your Computer 27 1 off Disables wireless devices 2 on Enables wireless devices 3 momentary Scans for WLAN networks see Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator on page 107 4 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Flashing green Searching for networks Locator light Solid green Strong network found Solid yellow Weak network found e Flashing yellow Error Off No signal found NOTE The Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator light appears only when the computer is turned off and th
127. hen prompted click Finish to reboot the computer Z NOTE Do not manually shut down the computer Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot 5 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 6 Click Next The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts 7 After the computer restarts click OK To remove PC Restore from the hard drive 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 space 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 1 Log on to the computer as a local administrator 2 In Microsoft Windows Explorer go to c dell utilities DSR 3 Double click the filename DSRIRRemv2 exe Z NOTE If you do not log on as a local administrator a message appears stating th
128. ide support for hard drives from sources other than Dell N NOTE If you are installing a hard drive from a source other than Dell you need to install an operating system drivers and utilities on the new hard drive see Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating System on page 150 and Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 Removing the Hard Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Turn the computer over and remove the hard drive screws 164 Adding and Replacing Parts 2 harddrive screws 4 1 hard drive NOTICE When the hard drive is not in the computer store it in protective antistatic packaging see Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge in the Product Information Guide 3 Slide the hard drive out of the computer 4 Remove the two hard drive bezel screws and pull the hard drive bezel off the hard drive Adding and Replacing Parts 165 hard drive bezel 2 hard drive bezel screws 2 hard drive Replacing the Hard Drive 166 1 Remove the new drive from its packaging Save the original packaging for storing or shipping the hard drive NOTICE Use firm and even pressure to slide the drive into place If you use excessive force you may damage the connector Slide the hard drive bezel that you took off the old hard drive onto the new hard drive and fasten the two hard drive bezel screws Slide the hard drive into the hard drive bay until it is fully
129. ides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos music and videos stored on a memory card The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot The 8 in 1 memory card reader reads the following digital memory cards Secure Digital SD memory card e SDIO card e MultiMediaCard MMC e Memory Stick e Memory Stick PRO e xD Picture Card e Hi Speed SD e Hi Density SD IEEE 1394 coNNECTOR Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high speed transfer rates such as some digital video cameras 30 About Your Computer VIDEO CONNECTOR NETWORK CONNECTOR RJ 45 Connects video devices such as a monitor Connects the computer to a network The two lights next to the connector indicate status and activity for wired Y network connections For information on using the network adapter see the device user s guide supplied with your computer USB CONNECTORS Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer Back View 1 S video TV out connector 2 USB connectors 2 3 AC adapter connector 4 battery 5 modem connector RJ 11 About Your Computer 31 S VIDEO TV OUT CONNECTOR Connects your computer to a TV Also connects digital C4 audio capable devices using the TV digital audio adapter cable USB CONNECTORS Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer gt AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR Attaches an AC adapter to the
130. ilable to customers in the U S and Canada For the latest updates and to learn how to keep your computer running at peak performance search for the keyword PC TuneUp on support dell com Troubleshooting 119 Dell PC Checkup Dell PC Checkup is a troubleshooting and diagnostic tool that provides customized scanning and testing of your Dell computer PC Checkup verifies whether your hardware is working properly and provides automated fixes for common configuration concerns It is recommended that you run PC Checkup on a regular basis or before contacting Dell for assistance The application creates a detailed report that Dell technicians can use to resolve your issue quickly Dell Network Assistant Designed specifically for users of Dell computers the Dell Network Assistant helps simplify the setup monitoring troubleshooting and repair of your network Dell Network Assistant provides the following features Consolidated setup alerting and device status Simplified tracking of networked devices through a visual display of network status e Proactive troubleshooting and repair of network problems e Tutorials setup wizards and frequently asked questions FAQs to enhance understanding of networking principles To access Dell Network Assistant 1 Click the Dell Support Center icon e on your computer s desktop 2 Click Self Help Network Internet gt Network Management DellConnect DellConnect is a simple onlin
131. indicates that no network communication exists Replace the network cable 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 Z 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 Z NOTE The i 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 ExpressCard before you can connect to the network Position the mouse over the j 4 icon in the notification area to verify the 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 J 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
132. ing e Ensure that the disc is inserted properly Hard drive problems ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO COOL BEFORE TURNING IT ON A hot hard drive may prevent the operating system from starting Try allowing the computer to return to room temperature before turning it on 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 the Windows Vista Start button and click Computer 2 Right click Local Disk C 122 Troubleshooting 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 Modem and Internet Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Z NOTE Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only The modem does not operate while itis connected to a digital telephone network CHECK THE MICROSOFT OUTLOOK EXPRESS SECURITY SETTINGS If you cannot open your e mail attachments 1 In Outlook Express click Tools gt Options Security 2 Click Do not allow attachments to remove the check mark as needed CHECK THE TELEPHONE LINE CONNECTION CHECK THE TELEPHONE JACK C
133. ing Dell on page 203 Getting Help 199 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 Contacting Dell on page 203 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 203 2 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 202 indicating the tests that you have run and any error messages reported by the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 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
134. ing the Display Settings for a TV on page 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Component Video and Standard Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 component video adapter 84 Using Multimedia w component video adapter 2 component video adapter standard audio cable 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 Using Multimedia 85 86 1 i component video adapter 2 component video adapter 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 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 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes
135. ite triangle connect the black antenna cable to the black triangle and connect the gray antenna cable to the gray triangle 4 Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve 5 Replace the Mini Card cover and tighten the captive screws Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card NOTE WWAN is also available on an ExpressCard see Using ExpressCards on page 91 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Tur the computer over 3 Loosen the captive screws on the Mini Card cover and remove the cover 182 Adding and Replacing Parts 1 captive screws 2 2 Mini Card cover Adding and Replacing Parts 183 4 Disconnect the two antenna cables from the WWAN card 1 antenna cable connectors 2 2 WWAN card 5 Release the WWAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly 6 Lift the WWAN card out of its system board connector 184 Adding and Replacing Parts 1 metal securing tabs 2 2 WWAN card 3 mylar sleeve Replacing a WWAN Card NOTICE The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion If you feel resistance check the connectors on the card and on the system board and realign the card NOTICE To avoid damage to the WWAN card never place cables under the card 1 Insert the WWAN card connector into the system board connector labeled WWAN at a 45 degree angle 2 Press the other end of the WWAN ca
136. ith Your Computer Getting Help Obtaining Assistance A CAUTION If you need to remove the computer cover first disconnect the modem cable and all power cables from 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 Software and Hardware Problems on page 149 for information and procedures that pertain to the problem your computer is experiencing 2 See Dell Diagnostics on page 113 for procedures on how to run Dell Diagnostics Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 202 4 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 198 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 203 Z NOTE Call Dell Support from a telephone near or at the computer so that the support staff can assist you with any necessary procedures Z 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 inst
137. keyboard computer and monitor plastics with a soft cleaning cloth moistened with a solution of three parts water and one part dishwashing detergent Do not soak the cloth or let water drip inside your computer or keyboard Appendix Touch Pad 1 Shut down and turn off your computer see Turning Off Your Computer on page 161 Disconnect any attached devices from the computer and from their electrical outlets Remove any installed batteries see Battery Performance on page 59 Moisten a soft lint free cloth with water and wipe it gently across the surface of the touch pad Do not allow water from the cloth to seep between the touch pad and the surrounding palm rest Mouse NOTICE Disconnect the mouse from the computer before cleaning the mouse If your screen cursor skips or moves abnormally clean the mouse Cleaning a Non Optical Mouse 1 Clean the outside casing of the mouse with a cloth moistened with a mild cleaning solution Turn the retainer ring on the underside of your mouse counterclockwise and then remove the ball Wipe the ball with a clean lint free cloth Blow carefully into the ball cage or use a can of compressed air to dislodge dust and lint If the rollers inside the ball cage are dirty clean the rollers with a cotton swab moistened lightly with isopropyl alcohol Recenter the rollers in their channels if they are misaligned Ensure that no fibers from the swab are left on the rol
138. l expansion cards or Dell branded module bay or ExpressCard accessories In addition any Dell branded monitors keyboards mice speakers microphones for telephonic modems docking stations port replicators networking products and all associated cabling are included Definition of Third Party Software and Peripherals Third party software and peripherals include any peripheral accessory or software program sold by Dell not under the Dell brand printers scanners cameras games etc Support for all third party software and peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer of the product 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 Appendix 221 This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions e This device may not cause harmful interference e 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 limit
139. le may arrive in the computer s shipping box Setting Up Your Computer 43 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 oe Xx USB connector on computer 2 USB connector on printer 3 USB printer cable 3 Tum on the printer and then turn on the computer If the Add New Hardware Wizard window appears click Cancel 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 Microsoft Windows XP operating system and the Add New Hardware Wizard window appears click Cancel 44 Setting Up Your Computer If your computer is running the Windows Vista operating system click the Windows Vista Start button and click Network Add a printer to start the Add Printer Wizard Click Add a printer to start the Add Printer Wizard Z NOTE To install the printer driver see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 146 and the documentation that came with your printer 5 Click Add a local printer or Add a network wireless or Bluetooth printer 6 Follow the instructions in the Add Printer Wizard Power Protection Devices Several devices are available to protect against power
140. lers Replace the ball and retainer ring and turn the retainer ring clockwise until it clicks into place Cleaning an Optical Mouse Clean the outside casing of the mouse with a cloth moistened with a mild cleaning solution Appendix 219 Media NOTICE Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the optical drive and follow the instructions that come with the compressed air product Never touch the lens in the drive If you notice problems such as skipping with the playback quality of your media 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 help prevent damage to 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 Dell Technical Support Policy U S Only Technician assisted technical support requires the cooperation and participation of the customer in the troubleshooting process and provides for restoration of the operating system software programs and hardware drivers to the original default configuration a
141. ll the required software according to the instructions provided by the router manufacturer Shut down your computer and any other wireless enabled computers in the vicinity 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 Setting Up and Using Networks Z NOTE Wait for a minimum of 5 minutes after disconnecting your broadband modem before continuing with the network setup 8 Insert a network cable into the network RJ 45 connector on the unpowered broadband modem 9 Connect the other end of the network cable into the Internet network RJ 45 connector on the unpowered wireless router 10 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 Z NOTE Restart your wireless equipment in the order described below to prevent a potential connection failure 11 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 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 13 Start your computer and wait until the boot process completes 14 See the documentation that
142. mission to run the application Click Next in the System Restore window to view the most recent restore points in chronological order Select the Show restore points older than 5 days check box to view the complete list of restore points Select a restore point Try to restore from the most recent restore point If this restore point fails to correct the problem try the next oldest restore point until the issue is resolved Any software installed after the selected restore point will need to be reinstalled Click Next Finish When prompted click Yes After System Restore finishes collecting data the computer restarts After the computer restarts click OK To change the restore point you can either repeat the steps using a different restore point or you can undo the restoration If you encounter any error messages during the restore process follow the prompts on the screen to correct the error 152 Troubleshooting Undoing the Last System Restore NOTICE Before you undo the last system restore save and close all open files and exit any open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete Click the Windows Vista Start button Help and Support Type System Restore in the search field and press lt Enter gt Click Undo my last restoration and then click Next Restoring the Computer to the Default Factory Configuration The Dell Factory Image Restore opti
143. mory 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 Glossary 227 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 memory 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 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 DMTF Dis
144. 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 Media on page 71 How to Copy a CD DVD or BD K NOTE BD media can only be copied to other BD media Z NOTE Copying a BD R to BD RE will not produce an exact copy NOTE Most commercial DVDs and BDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Roxio Creator 1 Click Start All Programs Roxio Creator gt Projects Copy 2 Under the Copy tab click Copy Disc 70 Using Multimedia 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 Ifyou 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 D
145. n Ergonomics information End User License Agreement Dell Product Information Guide Finding Information 15 What Are You Looking For Find It Here How to set up my computer How to remove and replace parts Specifications How to configure system settings How to troubleshoot and solve problems Setup Diagram Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Help and Support Center 1 Click Start Help and Support gt Dell User and System Guides System Guides 2 Click the User s Guide for your computer 16 Service Tag and Express Service Code Microsoft Windows Product Key Finding Information Service Tag and Microsoft Windows Product Key These labels are located on your computer e Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support dell com or contact support AAL APA ETE HE TLE ONN aeceneae SERVICE TAG S8e6868 EXPRE SERVICE CODE Windows Vista DeL rmen eg e Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support NOTE As an increased security measure the newly designed Microsoft Windows license label incorporates a security portal which looks like a missing portion of the label to discourage removal of the label What Are You Looking For Find It Here Solutions Troubleshooting hints and Dell Support Website support dell com tips articles from technicians online NOTE Select your region or business
146. n page 113 If the tests indicate a defective external keyboard contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 203 Unexpected characters DISABLE THE NUMERIC KEYPAD Press lt Num Lock gt to disable the numeric keypad if numbers are displayed instead of letters Verify that the numbers lock light is not lit 132 Troubleshooting 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 AC adapter shuts down when there is a fault The green light turns off when this happens To bring it back on disconnect the AC adapter from the power source for 10 seconds and then connect it back on The computer stops responding NOTICE You might lose data if you are unable to perform 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 Ctrl gt lt Shift gt lt Esc gt simultaneously to access the Task Manager 2 Click the Applications tab 3 Click to select the program that is no longer
147. n 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 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 change the location of files If you delete a shortcut the original file is not affected Also you can rename a shortcu
148. name extension of exe You can unzip a self extracting file by double clicking it Zip drive A high 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 Glossary 241 242 Glossary Index Numerics 8 in l memory card reader 95 A audio device connecting 75 enabling 90 audio See sound battery charge gauge 61 charging 65 checking the charge 60 performance 59 power meter 61 removing 65 replacing coin cell battery 190 storing 66 BD See Blu ray Disc blank cards ExpressCards 91 removing 93 blanks ExpressCards 95 removing 96 Bluetooth wireless technology card device status light 25 installing 189 Blu ray Disc 70 71 73 boot sequence 216 brightness adjusting 7 C camera 23 carnet 196 CD about 70 CD RW drive problems 122 drive problems 121 Check Disk 122 cleaning display 218 keyboard 218 media 220 mouse 219 touch pad 219 coin cell battery replacing 190 computer cleaning 218 Index 243 crashes 133 134 restore to previous operating state 156 slow performance 124 135 specifications 205 stops responding 133 connecting audio device 75 Mobile Broadband network 104 TV 75 contacting Dell 203 copying CDs general information 70 helpful tips 72 how to 70
149. nce 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 VERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel gt Printers and Other Hardware gt View installed printers or fax printers If the printer is listed right click the printer icon Click Properties Ports For a parallel printer ensure 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 the Windows Vista Start button Control Panel Hardware and Sound gt Printer 2 Ifthe printer is listed right click the printer icon Troubleshooting 139 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 Produc
150. nformation about this procedure search support dell com for document 154781 What Are The Different Methods To Transfer Files From My Old Computer To My New Dell Computer Using the Microsoft Windows XP Operating System l Setting Up Your Computer Z NOTE Access to the Dell Knowledge Base document may not be available in certain countries Microsoft Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Transfer files and settings Start Windows Easy Transfer 2 In the 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 Setting Up a Printer NOTICE Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the computer See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information including how to e Obtain and install updated drivers e Connect the printer to the computer e 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 a USB cable Your printer may not come with a printer cable so if you purchase a cable separately ensure that it is compatible with your printer and computer If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer the cab
151. ngerprint 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 force 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 230
152. nna cables in the protective mylar sleeve 5 Replace the Mini Card cover and tighten the captive screws Flash Cache Module The Flash Cache Module FCM is an internal flash drive that helps Microsoft Windows Vista improve the performance of your computer If you ordered an FCM with your computer the card is already installed Z NOTE Windows XP does not support an FCM You can have an FCM installed when running Windows XP but it will have no effect on your computer s performance Removing the FCM 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Turn the computer over and remove the Mini Card cover 3 Ground yourself by touching one of the metal connectors on the back of the computer Z NOTE If you leave the area ground yourself again when you return to the computer 4 Release the FCM by pushing the metal securing brackets away from the card until the card pops up slightly 5 Remove the FCM Adding and Replacing Parts 187 1 metal securing tabs 2 2 FCM Replacing the FCM NOTICE install the FCM in the WWAN or WPAN slot Do not install an FCM in the WLAN card slot Doing so may cause damage to your computer 1 Insert the FCM connector into the system board connector at a 45 degree angle 2 Press the other end of the FCM down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place 188 Adding and Replacing Parts Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology A CAUTION Before
153. nstructions in the Product Information Guide IF YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE 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 172 Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory see Memory on page 172 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 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 172 e Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines see Memory on page 172 e Ensure that the memory you are using is supported by your computer For more information about the type of memory supported by your computer see Memory on page 172 e Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 Network Problems 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 136 Troubleshooting CHECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE NETWORK CONNECTOR No light
154. nt View the Dell Support settings e Access the Dell Support help file 118 Troubleshooting e View frequently asked questions Learn more about Dell Support e Turn Dell Support off For more information about Dell Support click the question mark at the top of the Dell Support window To access Dell Support e Click the Dell Support icon in the notification area of your Windows desktop Z NOTE The icon functions vary depending on whether you click double click or right click the icon OR e Click the Start button All Programs gt Dell Support gt Dell Support Settings Ensure that the Show icon on the taskbar option is checked Z NOTE If Dell Supportis not available from the Start menu go to support dell com and download the software Dell PC TuneUp The automated or monthly version of Dell PC TuneUp allows you to choose the day and time of the month you want your computer tuned up A typical tune up includes hard drive defragmentation removal of unwanted and temporary files updated security settings verification of good restore points and other maintenance activities designed to improve computer performance and security The monthly version is available as an annual subscription and is a feature of Dell Support a complimentary application that provides real time health scans and information on how to maintain your computer see Dell Support on page 118 Both versions of PC TuneUp are ava
155. o sound from headphones CHECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector see Using ExpressCards on page 91 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 Remote Control Problems APPLICATION DOES NOT RESPOND TO REMOTE CONTROL WITHIN THE SPECIFIED MAXIMUM RANGE e Check that the battery is placed correctly with the side facing up Check that the battery is also not weak e Point your remote control to the receiver The receiver is underneath the touch pad of your computer e Move the remote control closer to your computer REMOTE CONTROL IS STUCK IN THE SLOT Check that you have not incorrectly stored the remote control into a non Express Card slot Contact Dell Technical Support for removing it Touch Pad or Mouse Problems CHECK THE TOUCH PAD SETTINGS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel gt Mouse 2 Adjust the settings as needed Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button 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 142 Troubleshooting If you are using a mouse extension cable disconnect it and connect the
156. ock Z 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 attach 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 Passwords Passwords prevent unauthorized access to your computer When you first start your computer you must assign a primary password at the prompt If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes the computer returns to its previous operating state Securing Your Computer 109 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 location 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 data encryption programs Use the User Accounts option in the Control Panel
157. on allows you to restore your hard drive back to its original factory configuration as when you first purchased it from Dell This option appears on Dell computers that were originally pre installed with the Windows Vista operating system and does not include computers purchased through the Express Upgrade promotion or computers that were upgraded to Windows Vista from a previous version of the Windows operating systems NOTICE When you restore the computer to the default factory configuration all data on the hard drive is deleted Before performing this procedure back up personal files If you do not back up personal files the data is lost 1 Restart the computer To do this click the Windows Vista Start button gt a Restart 2 As the computer restarts press lt F8 gt until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears on the screen Z NOTE You must press the lt F8 gt key before the Windows logo appears on the screen If you press lt F8 gt after the Windows logo appears on the screen the Advanced Boot Options menu will not appear on the screen If you do not see the Advanced Boot Options menu restart the computer and then repeat this step until you see the menu on the screen 3 Press lt Down Arrow gt to select Repair Your Computer on the Advanced Boot Options menu and then press lt Enter gt Specify the language settings that you want and then click Next Log in as a user who has administrative credentials and then click OK
158. or the status of your wireless device see Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet on page 103 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator Z NOTE The Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator light appears only when the computer is turned off and the wireless switch is configured in the system setup program BIOS to control WiFi network connections 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 slide and hold the wireless switch see wireless switch on page 27 in the momentary position for a few seconds The Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator functions regardless of whether your computer is turned on or off in hibernate mode in standby mode 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 taskbar and select Help Setting Up and Using Networks 107 108 Setting Up and Using Networks Securing Your Computer Security Cable L
159. otherwise authorized by Macrovision Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited Appendix 223 224 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 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 hardwar
160. ou 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 Z 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 slide the slide bar to the left or right to decrease increase the screen resolution 4 Click How do I get the best display for further instructions If the video resolution setting is higher than that supported by the display the computer enters pan mode In pan mode the entire video image cannot be displayed at one time and the taskbar that usually appears at the bottom of the desktop may no longer be visible To view the parts of the video image that are not visible you can
161. owing drive Next Insert the removable media such as a writable CD and click OK Setting Up Your Computer 41 6 7 When the disk creation completes and the Now go to your old computer message appears do not click Next Go to the old computer To copy data from the old computer 1 2 3 On the old computer insert the wizard disk Click Start Run In the Open field on the Run window browse to the path for fastwiz on the appropriate removable media and click OK On the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen click Next On the Which computer is this screen click Old Computer Next On the Select a transfer method screen click the transfer method you prefer On the What do you want to transfer screen select the items you want to transfer and click Next After the information has been copied the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears Click Finish To transfer data to the new computer N o 42 1 On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer click Next On the Where are the files and settings screen select the method you chose for transferring your settings and files and click Next Follow the instructions on the screen The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer When all of the settings and files have been applied the Finished screen appears Click Finished and restart the new computer NOTE For more i
162. pabilities of the computer Examples include video modem 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 monitor 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 229 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 fi
163. perating 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 Using the System Setup Program on page 215 If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 203 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 203 CD DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE The CD drive does not respond to commands from the computer see Drive Problems on page 121 DATA ERROR The hard drive cannot read the data see Drive Problems on page 121 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 172 Disk C FAILED INITIALIZATION The hard drive failed initialization Run the hard drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 113 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 164 ERROR READING PCMCIA card The computer cannot identify the ExpressCa
164. pness 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 236 Glossary ScanDisk A Microsoft utility that checks files folders and the hard disk s surface for errors ScanDisk ofte
165. posal 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 You can check the battery charge on your computer using any one of the following methods e Dell QuickSet Battery Meter e Microsoft Windows battery meter icon W located in the notification area e Battery charge health gauge located on the battery e Low battery warning pop up window Dell QuickSet Battery Meter To view the Dell QuickSet Battery Meter e Double click the Dell QuickSet icon in the taskbar and then click Battery Meter or e Press lt Fn gt lt F3 gt The Battery Meter displays the status battery health charge level and charge completion time for the battery in your computer 60 Using a Battery For more information about QuickSet right click the QuickSet icon and then click Help Microsoft Windows Battery Meter The battery meter indicates the remaining battery charge To check the battery meter double click the J icon in the notification area Charge Gauge By either pressing once or pressing and holding the status button on the battery charge gauge you can check e Battery
166. r V NOTE It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to media Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions 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 ExpressCards 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 Power Management Modes on page 63 for information about accessing Windows Power Options Properties or Dell QuickSet which you can use to configure power management settings Using a Battery 59 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 batteries 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 Dis
167. r Color quality and Screen resolution Z 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 Z NOTE For additional instructions click How do I get the best display Using the Display 51 52 Using the Display Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Numeric Keypad numeric keypad The numeric keypad functions like the numeric keypad on an external keyboard Each key on the keypad has multiple functions The keypad numbers and symbols are marked in blue on the right of the keypad keys To type a number or symbol hold down lt Fn gt and press the desired key 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 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 53 Key Combinations System Functions lt Ctrl gt lt Shift gt lt Esc gt Opens the Task Manager window Display Functions lt Fn gt lt F8 gt Displays icons representing all currently available display options display only external monitor or projector only both display and projector etc Highlight the desired icon to switch the
168. r 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 113 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 program see Using the System Setup Program on page 215 If the message reappears contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 203 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 203 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 Using the System Setup Program on page 215
169. r method you prefer On the What do you want to transfer screen select the items you want to transfer and click Next After the information has been copied the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears 7 Click Finish To transfer data to the new computer 1 On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer click Next On the Where are the files and settings screen select the method you chose for transferring your settings and files and click Next The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer When all of the settings and files have been applied the Finished screen appears 3 Click Finished and restart the new computer Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System Media To run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard without the Operating System media you must create a wizard disk that will allow you to create a backup image file to removable media To create a wizard disk use your new computer with Windows XP and perform the following steps 1 Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Files and Settings Transfer Wizard When the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears click Next On the Which computer is this screen click New Computer Next On the Do you have a Windows XP CD screen click I want to create a Wizard Disk in the foll
170. r to an electrical outlet to continue charging the battery For more information about resolving problems with a battery see Power Problems on page 137 Replacing 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 batteries from other computers with your computer CAUTION Before performing these procedures turn off the computer disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet and the computer disconnect the modem from the wall connector and the 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 Using a Battery 65 NOTICE If you choose to replace the battery with the computer in standby or sleep mode you have up to 1 minute to complete the battery replacement before the computer shuts down and loses any unsaved data To remove the battery 1 a Ff Ww N 1 If the computer is connected to a docking device docked undock it See the documentation that came with your docking device for instructions Ensure that the computer is turned off Turn the computer over Slide and click the battery release latches to keep them open Slide the battery out of the bay battery 2 battery release latches 2 To
171. rd Reinsert the card or try another card see Using ExpressCards on page 91 Troubleshooting 125 EXTENDED MEMORY SIZE HAS CHANGED The amount of memory recorded in nonvolatile memory 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 203 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 modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 172 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 164 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 113 HARD DISK DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE 0 The
172. rd cable from the memory module cover 4 Pull the tab to release the memory module cover 5 Lift the memory module cover but do not remove it NOTICE To prevent damage to the memory module connector do not use tools to spread the memory module securing clips 172 Adding and Replacing Parts 6 Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory module connector until the module pops up 7 Remove the module from the connector 1 memory module cover 2 memory module DIMM A 3 memory module securing clips 2 Replacing the DIMM A Memory Module 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 1 Align the notch in the module edge connector with the tab in the connector slot 2 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 reinstall it Adding and Replacing Parts 173 K NOTE If the memory module is not installed properly the computer may not boot No error message indicates this failure 1 tab 2 notch 3 Tilt the module cover towards the front of the system Lift the memory module cover but do not remove it 4 Carefully lower the memory module cover and allow it to snap into place Replace the keybo
173. rd down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place Adding and Replacing Parts 185 3 Connect the black antenna cable with a gray stripe to the connector labeled aux black triangle and connect the white antenna cable with a gray stripe to the connector labeled main white triangle Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve 5 Replace the cover and tighten the captive screws Removing a WPAN Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Turn the computer over 3 Loosen the captive screws on the Mini Card cover and remove the cover 1 captive screws 2 2 cover 4 Disconnect the blue antenna cable from the WPAN card Release the WPAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly 6 Liftthe WPAN card out of its system board connector 186 Adding and Replacing Parts Replacing a WPAN Card NOTICE The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion If you feel resistance check the connectors on the card and on the system board and realign the card NOTICE To avoid damage to the WPAN card never place cables under the card 1 Insert the WPAN card connector into the system board connector labeled WPAN at a 5 degree angle 2 Press the other end of the WPAN card down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place Connect the blue antenna cable to the WPAN card Secure unused ante
174. res in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Tur the computer over 3 Loosen the captive screw on the memory module coin cell battery cover see Bottom View on page 34 and remove the cover 4 Disconnect the coin cell battery cable from the system board 190 Adding and Replacing Parts 1 coin cell battery 2 mylar sleeve 3 coin cell battery cable connector 5 Slide the battery out of the mylar sleeve Adding and Replacing Parts 191 192 Adding and Replacing Parts Dell QuickSet Features Z NOTE This feature may not be available on your computer Dell QuickSet provides you with easy access to configure or view the following types of settings e Network connectivity e Power management e Display e System information Depending on what you want to do in Dell QuickSet you can start it by either clicking double clicking or right clicking the QuickSet icon in the Microsoft Windows taskbar area The taskbar area is located in the lower right corner of your screen For more information about QuickSet right click the QuickSet icon and select Help Dell QuickSet Features 193 194 Dell QuickSet Features 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
175. responding 4 Click End Task Z 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 133 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 Accessories Program Compatibility Wizard gt 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 version of Windows 2 In the welcome screen click Next 3 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 th
176. rties Sleep power state when you leave the computer unattended for long periods of time see Standby and Sleep Mode on page 63 62 Using a Battery 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 Turn off computer gt Stand by To enter sleep mode in Windows Vista click the Windows Vista Start button 6 and then click Sleep 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 Press the power button 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 th
177. ructions on using Dell Support see Technical Support and Customer Service on page 198 V 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 197 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 201 and then see Contacting Dell on page 203 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 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 e 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
178. s level on the external device does not change Using a Projector When you start the computer with an external device attached such as an external monitor or projector 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 the external device only or the display and the external device simultaneously Making Images and Text Look Bigger or Sharper Z 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 Using the Display 47 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 Z NOTE Use only the Dell installed video drivers which are designed to offer the best performance with your Dell installed operating system If y
179. s 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 e Move the system away from the receiver e 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 Vostro 1500 Model number PP22L Company name Dell Inc Worldwide Regulatory Compliance amp Environmental Affairs One Dell Way Round Rock TX 78682 USA 512 338 4400 222 Appendix 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
180. s on each end of the memory module connector until the module pops up 4 Remove the module from the connector Adding and Replacing Parts 175 1 securing clips 2 2 memory module Replacing the DIMM B Memory Module 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 1 Align the notch in the module edge connector with the tab in the connector slot 2 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 reinstall it Z NOTE If the memory module is not installed properly the computer may not boot No error message indicates this failure 176 Adding and Replacing Parts 1 tab 2 notch NOTICE If the memory module cover is difficult to close remove the module and reinstall it Forcing the cover to close may damage your computer Replace the memory module cover Insert the battery into the battery bay or connect the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet 5 Turn on the computer As the computer boots it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information Confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer Windows XP Right click the My Computer icon on your desktop then click Properties Gen
181. s shipped from Dell as well as the verification of appropriate functionality of the computer and all Dell installed hardware In addition to this technician assisted technical support online technical support is available at support dell com Additional technical support options may be available for purchase 220 Appendix Dell provides limited technical support for the computer and any Dell installed software and peripherals Support for third party software and peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer including those purchased and or installed through Dell Software and Peripherals Readyware and Custom Factory Integration Repair services are provided pursuant to the terms and conditions of your limited warranty and any optional support service contract purchased with the computer All Dell standard components included in a Custom Factory Integration CFI project are covered by the standard Dell limited warranty for your computer However Dell also extends a parts replacement program to cover all nonstandard third party hard ware components integrated through CFI for the duration of the computer s service contract Definition of Dell Installed Software and Peripherals Dell installed software includes the operating system and some of the software programs that are installed on the computer during the manufacturing process Microsoft Office Norton Antivirus etc Dell installed peripherals include any interna
182. start your computer Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista start button and right click Computer 2 Click Properties Device Manager Z 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 3 Double click the type of device for which you are installing the driver for example Audio or Video Double click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver Click the Driver tab Update Driver 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 gt Next 8 Click Finish and restart your computer Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems 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 Z NOTE Windows Vista is a new operating system so drivers or applications that support certain devices may not yet be available Check with your hardware manufacturer for information on Windows Vista support for your device To start the Hardware Troubleshooter Windows XP 1 Click Start Help and Support 2 Type hardware troubleshooter in the search field and press lt Enter gt to start the s
183. t 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 LCD 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 232 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 roun
184. t Information Guide Z 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 VERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY MICROSOFT WINDOWS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Printers and Other Hardware Scanners and Cameras 2 If your scanner is listed Windows recognizes the scanner Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button e Control Panel gt Hardware and Sound Scanners and Cameras 2 If the scanner is listed Windows recognizes the scanner REINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER See the scanner documentation for instructions 140 Troubleshooting Sound and Speaker Problems 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
185. t To View network computers and devices Setting Up and Using Networks 99 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 2 Right click Wireless Network Connection Click Properties The Wireless Network Connection Properties window appears The wireless network card s name and model number are listed on the General tab Z 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 received 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 1 100 Contact your Internet service provider ISP to obtain specific information about the connection requirements for your broadband modem 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 97 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 Insta
186. t 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 Glossary 237 Network connections cannot be protected by surge protectors Always disconnect the network cable from the network connector during electrical storms SVGA super video graphics array A video standard for video c
187. t modes discrete video card PCI Express X16 nVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS or nVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 128 MB GeForce 8400M GS or 256 MB GeForce 8600M GT LCD interface LVDS TV support NTSC or PAL in S video composite and component modes Audio Audio type Audio controller Stereo conversion Interfaces Internal External Speaker Internal speaker amplifier 208 Specifications two channel high definition stereo Sigmatel STAC9205 High Definition Audio codec 24 bit analog to digital and digital to analog Intel High Definition Audio microphone in connector stereo headphones speakers connector two 4 ohm speakers 2 Watts per channel into 4 ohms Audio continued Internal microphone Volume controls Dual digital microphone array program menus media control buttons Display Type active matrix TFT Dimensions Height Width Diagonal Maximum resolutions WXGA WXGA with TrueLife WXGA with TrueLife WSXGA with TrueLife Refresh rate Operating angle Viewing angles Horizontal Vertical 15 4 inch WXGA 15 4 inch WXGA with TrueLife 15 4 inch WXGA with TrueLife 15 4 inch WSXGA with TrueLife 222 5 mm 8 8 inches 344 5 mm 13 6 inches 391 2 mm 15 4 inches 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors 1440 x 900 at 262 K colors 1680 x 1050 at 262 K colors 60 Hz 0 closed to 155 40 40 WXGA WXGA with TrueLife 55 WXGA
188. t up your Internet connection If you are using a DSL cable or satellite modem connection contact your ISP or cellular telephone service for setup instructions Setting Up Your Computer 37 Setting Up Your Internet Connection To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Double click the ISP icon on the Microsoft Windows desktop 3 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP perform the steps in the following section that corresponds to the operating system your computer is using Z NOTE If you are having problems connecting to the Internet see E Mail Modem and Internet Problems on page 123 If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past the ISP might have a service outage Contact your ISP to check the service status or try connecting again later Windows XP 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Click Start Internet Explorer The New Connection Wizard appears 3 Click Connect to the Internet In the next window click the appropriate option e Ifyou do not have an ISP and want to select one click Choose from a list of Internet service providers ISPs e If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not recei
189. ter TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp Troubleshooting 143 CHECK THE AC ADAPTER Check the AC adapter cable connections If the AC adapter has a light ensure that the light is on 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 MOVE THE EXTERNAL SUBWOOFER AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER OR MONITOR If your external speaker system includes a subwoofer ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm 2 ft away from the computer or external monitor ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE lurn 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 qualit
190. ter 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 See Contacting Dell on page 203 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 CONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET Bypass power protection devices power strips and extension cables to verify that the computer turns on ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE lurn off nearby fans fluorescent lights halogen lamps or other appliances 138 Troubleshooting ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES Sce Power Management Modes on page 63 RESEAT THE MEMORY MODULES If the computer power light turns on but the display remains blank reinstall the memory modules see Memory on page 172 Printer Problems A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Z NOTE If you need technical assista
191. 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 e A broadband modem that is connected and working e A wireless router or access point e A wireless network card for each computer that you want to connect to your WLAN e A network cable with a network RJ 45 connector 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 use one of the following e The Start button and the Connect To option e The order confirmation for your computer Start Button and Connect To Option In Microsoft Windows XP click Start Connect To Show all connections Z 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 Connec
192. the installation software to reinstall Dell MediaDirect See Contacting Dell on page 203 Restoring Windows XP 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 Dell PC Restore by Symantec returns your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer It permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs installed after you received the computer Use Dell PC Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem Troubleshooting 155 e If you received an Operating System disc with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system However using the Operating System disc also deletes all data on the hard drive Use the disc only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem 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 See the Windows Help and Support Center for information on using System Restore NOTICE Make regular backups of your data files System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them Z NOTE Th
193. the modem is communicating with Windows If all commands receive responses the modem is operating properly Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button Control Panel Hardware and Sound Phone and Modem Options Modems 2 Click the COM port for your modem Properties Diagnostics gt Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows If all commands receive responses the modem is operating properly ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET Ensure that you have subscribed to an Internet service provider With the Outlook Express e mail program open click File If Work Offline has a check mark next to it click the check mark to remove it and then connect to the Internet For help contact your Internet service provider 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 protection 124 Troubleshooting 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 A 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 o
194. 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 238 Glossary 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 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 DSL and cable modems imaging devices or storage devices Devices are plugged directly in to a 4 pin socket on your computer or in to a multi port hub that pl
195. tributed 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 in the computer DSL Digital Subscriber Line A technology that provides a constant high speed Internet connection through an analog telephone line dual core An Intel 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
196. tries For transferring information to a new computer you must run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard You can use the optional Operating System media for this process or you can create a wizard disk with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System Media K NOTE This procedure requires the Operating System media This media is optional and may not be included with certain computers To prepare a new computer for the file transfer 1 Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard click Start All Programs gt Accessories System Tools Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 2 When the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears click Next 3 On the Which computer is this screen click New Computer Next 4 On the Do you have a Windows XP CD screen click I will use the wizard from the Windows XP CD gt Next 5 When the Now go to your old computer screen appears go to your old or source computer Do not click Next at this time To copy data from the old computer 1 On the old computer insert the Windows XP Operating System media 2 On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen click Perform additional tasks 3 Under What do you want to do click Transfer files and settings Next On the Which computer is this screen click Old Computer Next 40 Setting Up Your Computer 5 On the Select a transfer method screen click the transfe
197. u can either automatically or manually create a restore point from the Windows Vista Back Up and Restore Center To access the Windows Vista Backup and Restore Center e Click the Windows Vista Start button Welcome Center In the Get started with Windows section click Show all 14 items Back Up and Restore Center OR e Click the Windows Vista Start button All Programs gt Maintenance gt Back Up and Restore Center Under Tasks click Create a restore point or change settings Troubleshooting 151 For more information 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button Help and Support 2 Type System Restore in the search field and press lt Enter gt Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State If problems occur after you install a device driver use Device Driver Rollback see Using Windows Device Driver Rollback on page 146 to resolve the problem If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem then use System Restore NOTICE Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state save and 9 10 close all open files and exit any open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete Click the Windows Vista Start button Control Panel System and Maintenance Back Up and Restore Center In the Tasks list click Repair Windows using System Restore Click Continue in the User Account Control UAC dialog box asking for per
198. u 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 Microsoft Windows XP The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to move data from a source computer to a new computer You can transfer data such as e E mail messages e Toolbar settings e Window sizes e Internet bookmarks You can transfer the data to the new computer over a network or serial connection or you can store it on removable media such as a writable CD for transfer to the new computer Setting Up Your Computer 39 K NOTE You can transfer information from an old computer to a new computer by directly connecting a serial cable to the input output 1 0 ports of the two computers To transfer data over a serial connection you must access the Network Connections utility from the Control Panel and perform additional configuration steps such as setting up an advanced connection and designating the host computer and the guest computer For instructions on setting up a direct cable connection between two computers see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 305621 titled How to Set Up a Direct Cable Connection Between Two Computers in Windows XP This information may not be available in certain coun
199. udio 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 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 78 1 gr S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter Using Multimedia wo iso s 2 e e composite video adapter 2 S video cable S PDIF digital audio cable 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 vA 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 Pl
200. ug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the digital audio connector on the composite video adapter cable Using Multimedia 79 _ aa 1 composite video adapter 2 S PDIF digital audio cable 6 Plug the other end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the audio input connector on your TV or audio device 7 Turn on the TV 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 90 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Composite Video and Standard Audio 1 audio input connector 2 S video TV out connector 3 composite video adapter 80 Using Multimedia 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable standard audio cable w 1 Turn off the computer and the TV and or audio device that you want to connect 2 Connect the composite video adapter to the S video TV out connector on your computer 3 Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video output connector on the composite video adapter A Z 1 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 4 Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector on the TV Using Multimedia 81 5 Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer 6 Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio
201. ugs 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 that can be defined as x columns by y rows of characters Glossary 239 video resolution
202. upport website at support dell com and your Drivers and Utilities media provide approved drivers for Dell computers If you install drivers obtained 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 My Computer Properties gt Hardware gt 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 Troubleshooting Windows Vista 1 2 4 Click the Windows Vista start button 0 and right click Computer Click Properties Device Manager Z 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 Microsoft Windows Operating System on page 150 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
203. ve a setup CD click Set up my connection manually e Ifyou have a CD click Use the CD I got from an ISP 5 Click Next If you selected Set up my connection manually continue to step 6 Otherwise follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup NOTE If you do not know which type of connection to select contact your ISP o DN Click the appropriate option under How do you want to connect to the Internet and then click Next 7 Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup 38 Setting Up Your Computer Windows Vista Z 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 and click Control Panel Under Network and Internet click Connect to the Internet The Connect to the Internet window appears 4 Click either Broadband PPPoE or Dial up depending on how you want to connect e Choose Broadband if you will use a DSL satellite modem cable TV modem or Bluetooth wireless technology connection e Chose Dial up if you will use a dial up modem or ISDN Z NOTE If you do not know which type of connection to select click Help me choose or contact your ISP 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 Yo
204. ve screws on the Mini Card cover and remove the cover 1 captive screws 2 2 Mini Card cover Adding and Replacing Parts 179 4 Disconnect the antenna cables from the WLAN card 1 antenna cable connectors 2 2 WLAN card 5 Release the WLAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly 6 Lift the WLAN card out of its system board connector 180 Adding and Replacing Parts 1 metal securing tabs 2 2 WLAN card 3 mylar sleeve Replacing a WLAN Card NOTICE The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion If you feel resistance check the connectors on the card and on the system board and realign the card NOTICE To avoid damage to the WLAN card never place cables under the card 1 Insert the WLAN card connector into the system board connector labeled WLAN at a 45 degree angle 2 Press the other end of the WLAN card down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place Adding and Replacing Parts 181 3 Connect the appropriate antenna cables to the WLAN card that you are installing If the WLAN card has two triangles on the label white and black connect the white antenna cable to the connector labeled main white triangle and connect the black antenna cable to the connector labeled aux black triangle If the WLAN card has three triangles on the label white black and gray connect the white antenna cable to the wh
205. with TrueLife 60 WSXGA with TrueLife 15 30 WXGA 15 30 WXGA with TrueLife 45 WXGA with TrueLife 40 50 WSXGA with TrueLife ERA Specifications 209 Display continued Pixel pitch WXGA WXGA with TrueLife WXGA with TrueLife WSXGA with TrueLife 0 258 mm 0 258 mm 0 2304 mm 0 197 mm Controls brightness can be controlled through keyboard shortcuts see Display Functions on page 54 Keyboard Number of keys Layout 87 U S and Canada 88 Europe 91 Japan OWERTY AZERTY Kanji Touch Pad X Y position resolution graphics table mode 240 cpi Size Width 71 7 mm 2 8 in sensor active area Height 34 0 mm 1 3 in rectangle Battery Type 9 cell smart lithium ion 6 cell smart lithium ion Dimensions Depth 67 6 mm 2 66 in 9 cell 47 5 mm 1 87 in 6 cell Height 20 4 mm 0 8 in Width 209 9 mm 8 26 in 210 Specifications Battery continued Weight Voltage Charge time approximate Computer off Operating time Life span approximate Temperature range 0 48 kg 1 06 Ib 9 cell 0 33 kg 0 7 Ib 6 cell 11 1 VDC 4 hours Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions and can be significantly reduced under certain power intensive conditions see Power Problems on page 137 See Using a Battery on page 59 for more information on battery life 300 discharge charge cycl
206. xpressCard 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 205 for information on supported ExpressCards Z NOTE An ExpressCard is not a bootable device 1 ExpressCard 34 2 ExpressCard 54 ExpressCard Blanks 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 Using ExpressCards 91 Remove the blank before installing an ExpressCard To remove the blank see Removing an ExpressCard or Blank on page 93 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
207. y A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide You can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on the system board See Specifications on page 205 for information on the memory supported by your computer Install only memory modules that are intended for your computer Z NOTE Memory modules purchased from Dell are covered under your computer warranty Your computer has two user accessible SODIMM sockets one accessed from beneath the keyboard DIMM A and the other accessed from the bottom of the computer DIMM B NOTICE If your computer has only one memory module install the memory module in the connector labeled DIMMA 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 Removing the DIMM A Memory Module 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 The DIMM A memory module is located under the keyboard 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Remove the hinge cover see Hinge Cover on page 168 3 Remove the keyboard see Keyboard on page 170 Z NOTE It is not necessary to disconnect the keyboa
208. y Image Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any 150 Troubleshooting applications installed after you received the computer Use Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem e If you received an Operating System disc with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system However using the Operating System disc also deletes all data on the hard drive Use the disc only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem Using Windows Vista System Restore The Windows Vista 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 See the Windows Help and Support Center for information on using System Restore To access the Windows Help and Support Center click the Windows Vista Start button Help and Support NOTICE Make regular backups of your data files System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them Z 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 Creating a Restore Point Yo
209. y and Screen resolution Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button Control Panel Hardware and Sound Personalization 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 113 then contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 203 SEE ERROR MESSAGES If an error message appears see Error Messages on page 125 144 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 Turn 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 203 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
210. y seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 172 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 172 Troubleshooting 127 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 necessary replace them see Memory on page 172 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 172 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 172 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
211. you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions 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 help prevent damage to the system board remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer If you ordered an internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology with your computer it is already installed Removing the Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 161 2 Remove the hinge cover see Hinge Cover on page 168 3 Disconnect the cable on the card 4 Grasp the connector end of the card and slide it out from under the securing tabs Adding and Replacing Parts 189 1 securing tab 2 card 3 securing tab 4 cable Coin Cell Battery A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions 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 help prevent damage to the system board remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer Removing the Coin Cell Battery 1 Follow the procedu

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