DELL Vostro A100
Contents
1. Troubleshooting A program stops responding END THE PROGRAM 1 Press lt Ctrl gt lt Shift gt lt Esc gt simultaneously to access the Task Manager and click the Applications tab 2 Click to select the program that is no longer responding and click End Task A program crashes repeatedly NOTE Most software includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk CD or DVD CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION If necessary uninstall and then reinstall the program 48 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operating system RUN THE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD 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 Inthe 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 and then restart your computer Other software problems CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION e Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating s2. 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 appropriate section below NOTE If you cannot connect to the Internet see the Dell Technology Guide available on your hard drive or on the Dell Support website at support dell com If you have 16 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 NOTE Have your ISP information ready If you do not have an ISP consult the Connect to the Internet wizard Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Click the Windows Vista Start button e Control Panel 3 Under Network and Internet click Connect to the Internet In the Connect to the Internet window 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 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 setu
3. relay detailed information during operations or try other troubleshooting steps possible only atthe computer itself Ensure that the computer documentation is available A CAUTION Before working inside your computer follow the safety instructions in the documentation that shipped with your computer 67 Getting Help 68 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 files If the computer is connected to a printer print each file Otherwise record the contents of each file before calling Dell Error message beep code or diagnostic code Description of problem and troubleshooting procedures you performed Getting Help Contacting Dell For customers in the United States call 800 WWW DELL 800 999 3355 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
4. see your Service Manual at support dell com If the problem persists contact Dell 5 Real time clock failure Replace the battery see your Service Manual at Possible battery failure or system board failure 6 Video BIOS Test Failure 7 CPU cache test failure support dell com If the problem persists contact Dell Contact Dell Contact Dell 33 Troubleshooting Error Messages N CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions that shipped with your computer If the message is not listed see the documentation for the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared AUXILIARY DEVICE FAILURE The touch pad or external mouse may be faulty For an external mouse check the cable connection Enable the Pointing Device option in the system setup program See your Service Manual at support dell com for more information If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 69 BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME Ensure that you have spelled the command correctly put spaces in the proper place and used the correct pathname 34 CACHE DISABLED DUE TO FAILURE The primary cache internal to the microprocessor has failed Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 69 CD DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE The CD drive does not respond to commands from the computer DATA ERROR The hard drive cannot read the data DECREAS
5. If multiple versions are listed select the version that is appropriate for your computer When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears select the test that you want to run and follow the instructions on the screen Troubleshooting Tips Follow these tips when troubleshooting your computer If you added or removed a part before the problem started review the installation procedures and ensure that the partis correctly installed see your Service Manual at support dell com If a device does not work ensure that the device is properly connected If an error message appears on the screen write down the exact message This message may help support personnel to diagnose and fix the problem s If an error message occurs in a program see the program documentation NOTE The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view so they may not apply if you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view Troubleshooting Power Problems N CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety information that shipped with your computer IF THE POWER LIGHT IS OFF The computer is either turned off or is not receiving power Reseat the power cable in the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet Bypass power strips power extension cables and other power protection devices to verify that the computer turns on properly Ensure th
6. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries Document Media Label Contents Service Tag Express Service Code e Use the Service Tag to identify your computer The Service Tag Express Service Code is located on your When you use support dell com or contact computer support e Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support NOTE Your Service Tag Express Service Code is located on your computer Operating System Media Reinstall your operating system The Operating System media is a CD or DVD that may have shipped with your computer 59 Finding Information Document Media Label Continued Contents Drivers and Utilities Media The Drivers and Utilities media is a CD or DVD that may have shipped with your computer e A diagnostic program for your computer e Drivers for your computer NOTE Drivers and documentation updates can be found at support dell com e Desktop System Software DSS e Readme files NOTE Readme files may be included on your media to provide last minute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technical reference material for technicians or experienced users Safety Regulatory Warranty and Support Documentation This type of information may have shipped with your computer For additional regulatory information see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage on www dell com at the following location www dell com regula
7. Specifications 19 Troubleshooting 31 TOOIS ag ase oe Ra EER BOER 31 PowerLights 31 BeepCodes 31 Contents Error Messages System Messages Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems Dell Diagnostics Troubleshooting Tips PowerProblems Memory Problems Lockups and Software Problems Dell Technical Update Service Reinstalling Software Drivers 0 0 Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Uile a Skee EER fee ee Restoring Your Operating Syte e ie e dn dade RD Using Microsoft Windows System Restore Using Dell Factory Image Restore Using the Operating System Media Finding Information Getting Help Obtaining Assistance Technical Support and Customer Service Online Services 64 AutoTech Service 65 Automated Order Status Service 0 65 Problems With Your Order 66 Product Information 66 Returning Items for Warranty RepairorCredit 66 Before YouCall 67 Contacting Dell 69 Index Fee RS ED EE 71 Contents Contents About Your Computer Front View optical drive 2 optional optical drive 4 bay microphone 6 connector power button power 8 light About Your Computer optical drive eject button U
8. and some services may not be available in your area To contact Dell for sales technical support or customer service issues 1 Visit support dell com and verify your country or region in the Choose A Country Region drop down menu at the bottom of the page 2 Click Contact Us on the left side of the page and select the appropriate service or support link based on your need 3 Choose the method of contacting Dell that is convenient for you 69 Getting Help 70 Index B beep codes 31 c connecting modem 12 monitor 11 network 13 power cables 12 contacting Dell 63 69 Index Dell contacting 63 69 Factory Image Restore 56 technical support and customer service 64 Technical Update Service 49 Dell Diagnostics 42 starting from the Drivers and Utilities media 44 starting from your hard drive 43 Dell Factory Image Restore 56 Dell Technology Guide 61 Desktop System Software 60 diagnostics beep codes 31 Dell 42 7 Index documentation 59 Dell Technology Guide 61 Service Manual 61 drivers 51 Drivers and Utilities media 60 identifying 51 reinstalling 51 returning to a previous version 51 Drivers and Utilities media 52 60 Dell Diagnostics 42 E End User License Agreement EULA 60 ergonomics information 60 error messages beep codes 31 Express Service Code 59 72 F Factory Image Restore 56 Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 17 finding informatio
9. pin connectors one 34 pin connector one 4 pin connector one 4 pin connector two 124 pin connectors one 36 pin connector one 164 pin connector one 10 pin connector one 10 pin connector one 10 pin connector one 775 pin connector two 240 pin connectors 25 Specifications Connectors Continued Power 12V Power Vostro A100 Vostro A180 one 4 pin connector one 24 pin connector one 4 pin connector one 24 pin connector Controls and Lights Front of computer Power button Power light Drive activity light 26 Vostro A100 Vostro A180 push button blue light Power on state blinking blue light Standby state off no light Power off state blue light A blinking blue light indicates the computer is reading data from or writing data to the SATA hard drive or CD DVD push button blue light Power on state off no light Power off and standby states blue light A blinking blue light indicates the computer is reading data from or writing data to the SATA hard drive or CD DVD Specifications Controls and Lights Continued Vostro A100 Vostro A180 Rear of computer Link integrity light on the green light A good connection integrated network adapter exists between the network and the computer off no light The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network Network activity light on yellow bli
10. 4 memory 46 power 45 power light conditions 45 power lights 31 program crashes 47 programs and Windows compatibility 48 restore to previous state 54 software 47 49 tips 45 U updates software and hardware 49 wW warranty information 60 Windows License label 61 Index Windows Vista Dell Factory Image Restore 56 Device Driver Rollback 51 Program Compatibility wizard 48 reinstalling 59 returning to a previous device driver version 51 System Restore 54 Windows XP Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 17 reinstalling 59 setting up Internet connection 17 System Restore 54 wizards Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 17 Program Compatibility wizard 48 75 Index 76
11. 4 pins connector data width N A 16 PCI Express lanes maximum Drives Vostro A100 Vostro A180 Externally accessible Internally accessible two 3 5 inch drive bays four 3 5 inch SATA drive bays two 3 5 inch drive bays four 3 5 inch SATA drive bays 23 Specifications Drives Continued Vostro A100 Vostro A180 Available devices e up to two 3 5 inch SATA hard drives up to four 3 5 inch SATA hard drives e two 5 25 inch optical disc drive bays e two 5 25 inch optical disc drive bays Connectors Vostro A100 Vostro A180 External connectors Video 15 hole connector 15 hole connector Network adapter RJ45 connector RJ45 connector Serial N A 9 pin connector Parallel N A 25 pin connector USB two front panel and four back panel two front panel and four back panel USB 2 0 compliant connectors USB 2 0 compliant connectors Audio three connectors for 2 0 support three connectors for 5 1 support 24 Specifications Connectors Continued System board connectors Serial ATA Floppy drive Processor fan Chassis fan PCI 2 3 PCI Express x1 PCI Express x16 Front panel control Front panel USB Front panel audio HDA header Processor Memory Vostro A100 Vostro A180 two 7 pin connectors N A N A one 4 pin connector one 124 pin connector N A N A one 10 pin connector one 10 pin connector one 10 pin connector solder down for Intel Atom processor one 240 pin connector four 7
12. Dell Vostro A100 A180 Setup and Quick Reference Guide This guide provides a features overview specifications and quick setup software and troubleshooting information for your computer For more information about your operating system devices and technologies see the De Technology Guide at support dell com DELL Notes Notices and Cautions K NOTE A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer NOTICE A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem A CAUTION A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage personal injury or death If you purchased a Dell n Series computer any references in this document to Microsoft Windows operating systems are not applicable Macrovision Product Notice This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain U S patents and other intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision Corporation and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision Corporation Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited Information in this document is subject to change without notice 2008 Dell Inc All rights reserved Reproduction of these materials in any man
13. Dell on page 69 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 68 indicating the tests that you have run and any error messages reported by the Dell Diagnostics see Contacting Dell on page 69 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 0 D packages are not accepted Returns that are missing any of the preceding requirements will be refused at Dell s receiving dock and returned to you Before You Call K NOTE Have your Express Service Code ready when you call The code helps Dell s automated support telephone system direct your call more efficiently You may also be asked for your Service Tag located on the back or bottom of your computer Getting Help Remember to fill out the Diagnostics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 68 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
14. ING AVAILABLE MEMORY One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them See your Service Manual at support dell com for more information Disk C FAILED INITIALIZATION The hard drive failed initialization Run the hard drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 42 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 your Service Manual at support dell com for more information ERROR READING PCMCIA CARD The computer cannot identify the ExpressCard Reinsert the card or try another card See your Service Manual at support dell com for more information EXTENDED MEMORY SIZE HAS CHANGED The amount of memory recorded in non volatile 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 69 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 Troubleshooting A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS 2 lt gt Do not use these characters in filenames GATE A20 FAILURE Amemory module may be loose Reinstall the memory mod
15. If the problem persists try another drive Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 42 HARD DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE The hard drive may be defective Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see your Service 36 Manual at support dell com 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 42 INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA The operating system is trying to boot to nonbootable media such as a floppy disk or CD Insert bootable media INVALID CONFIGURATION INFORMATION PLEASE RUN SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM The system configuration information does not match the hardware configuration The message is most likely to occur after a memory module is installed Correct the appropriate options in the system setup program See your Service Manual at support dell com for more information 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 42 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 se
16. OWER 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 your Service Manual at support dell com If the message reappears contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 69 TIME OF DAY CLOCK STOPPED The reserve battery that supports the system configuration settings may require recharging 39 Troubleshooting Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge the battery If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 69 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 your Service Manual at support dell com for more information TIMER CHIP COUNTER 2 FAILED Achip on the system board may be malfunctioning Run the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 42 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 42 X IS NOT ACCESSIBLE THE DEVICE IS NOT READY Insert a disk into the drive and try again 40 WARNING BATTE
17. RY 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 System Messages NOTE If the message you received is not listed in the table see the documentation for either the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared ALERT PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT BOOTING THIS SYSTEM HAVE FAILED AT CHECKPOINT NNNN FOR HELP IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM PLEASE NOTE THIS CHECKPOINT AND CONTACT DELL TECHNICAL SUPPORT The computer failed to complete the start routine three consecutive times for the same error see Contacting Dell on page 69 for assistance CMOS CHECKSUM ERROR Possible system board failure or RTC battery low Replace the battery See your Service Manual at support dell com or see Contacting Dell on page 69 for assistance CPU FAN FAILURE Processor fan failure Replace processor fan See your Service Manual at support dell com HARD DISK DRIVE FAILURE Possiblehard drive failure during hard drive POST Check cables swap hard disks or see Contacting Dell on page 69 for assistance HARD DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE Possible hard drive failure during hard drive start test see Contacting Dell on page 69 for assistance KEYBOARD FAILURE Keyboard failure or keyboard cable loose Troubleshooting NO BOOT DEVICE AVAILABLE No bo
18. SB 2 0 connectors 2 headphone connector drive activity light About Your Computer Back View 1 power connector 2 voltage selector switch optional 3 power supply light 4 back panel connectors 5 expansion card slots 6 padlock ring NOTE The serial and parallel connectors are available only in Vostro A180 Back Panel Connectors Vostro A100 mouse connector network adapter connector line in connector microphone connector VGA video connector 10 About Your Computer link integrity light network activity light front line out connector USB 2 0 connectors 4 keyboard connector About Your Computer Vostro A180 1 mouse connector 2 parallel connector 3 network activity light 4 network adapter connector 11 5 link integrity light 6 line in connector 7 front line out 8 microphone connector connector 9 USB2 0 connectors 4 10 VGA video connector 11 serial connector 12 keyboard connector 10 Setting Up Your Computer Quick Setup A CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions that shipped with your computer NOTE Some devices may not be included if you did not order them 1 Connect the monitor using only one of the following cables the dual monitor Y adapter cable the white DVI cable or the blue VGA cable Setting Up Your Computer 11 Setting Up Y
19. Service Manual at support dell com for more information 37 Troubleshooting MEMORY DOUBLE WORD LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE Amemory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them See your Service Manual at support dell com for more information MEMORY ODD EVEN LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE Amemory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them See your Service Manual at support dell com for more information MEMORY WRITE READ FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE Amemory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them See your Service Manual at support dell com for more information 38 No BOOT DEVICE AVAILABLE The computer cannot find the hard drive If the hard drive is your boot device ensure that the drive is installed properly seated and partitioned as a boot device NO BOOT SECTOR ON HARD DRIVE The operating system may be corrupted Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 69 No TIMER TICK INTERRUPT Achip onthe system board may be malfunctioning Run the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 42 NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES EXIT SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN You have too many programs open Close all windows and o
20. at any power strips being used are plugged into an electrical outlet and are turned on Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp 45 Troubleshooting e Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board see your Service Manual at support dell com IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLUE AND THE COMPUTER IS NOT RESPONDING e Ensure that the display is connected and powered on e Ifthe display is connected and powered on see Beep Codes on page 31 IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING BLUE VosTRO A100 ONLY The computer is in standby mode Press a key on the keyboard move the mouse or press the power button to resume normal operation ELIMINATE INTERFERENCE Some possible causes of interference are e Power keyboard and mouse extension cables e Too many devices connected to the same power strip 46 e Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet Memory Problems N CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety information that shipped with your computer IF YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE e Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem e See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements If necessary install additional memory see your Service Manual at sup
21. e Dell Diagnostics on page 42 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 42 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 42 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 Diagnostics on page 42 Troubleshooting MEMORY ADDRESS LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE Amemory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them See your Service Manual at support dell com for more information 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 your
22. ed by your 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 Reinstalling Software If a particular driver is not listed then that driver is not required by your operating system Manually Reinstalling Drivers After extracting the driver files to your hard drive as described in the previous section 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and right click Computer 2 Click Properties Device Manager 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 4 Double click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver 53 Reinstalling Software 5 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 1 When the name of the appropriate driver appears click the name of the driver 0K Next 8 Click Finish and restart your computer Restoring Your Operating System You can restore your operating system in the following ways e Microsoft Windows System Restore returns your computer to a
23. elect Diagnostics from the start menu and press lt Enter gt NOTE If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop and then shut down your computer and try again Troubleshooting K NOTE If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found run the Dell Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities media 4 Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive and follow the instructions on the screen Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Dell Drivers and Utilities Media 1 Insert the Drivers and Utilities media 2 Shut down and restart the computer 3 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 44 K NOTE The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only On the next start up the computer starts according to the devices specified in the system setup program When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW and press lt Enter gt Select the Boot from CD ROM option from the menu that appears and press lt Enter gt Type 1 to start the CD menu and press lt Enter gt to proceed Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list
24. encing See Dell Diagnostics on page 42 for procedures on how to run Dell Diagnostics Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 68 E Ed Getting Help 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 64 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 69 NOTE Call Dell Support from a telephone at or near the affected computer so that the Support staff can assist you with any necessary procedures 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 63 Getting Help you do not have an Express Service Code open the Dell Accessories folder double click the Express Service Code icon and follow the directions For instructions on using the Dell Support see Technical Support and Customer Service on page 64 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 Technical Support and Customer Service Dell s support service is available to answer your questions about Dell hardware Our sup
25. f 10 100 communication Memory Vostro A100 Vostro A180 Type 533 MHz 667 800 MHz Memory connectors one two Memory capacities 512 MB 1 GB or 2 GB 512 MB 1 GB or 2 GB Minimum memory 512 MB 512 MB Maximum memory 2 GB 4 GB 20 Specifications Video Vostro A100 Vostro A180 Type Integrated Intel integrated video GMA 950 Intel Graphics Media Accelerator up to 256 MB video memory shared 3100 at total system memory of greater than 512 MB Discrete N A optional PCI Express x16 graphics card up to 25 W Audio Type Intel High Definition Audio 21 Specifications Expansion Bus Bus type Bus speed PCI connector size connector data width maximum 22 Vostro A100 Vostro A180 PCI 2 3 PCI 2 3 SATA 1 0 and 2 0 PCI Express 1 0A USB 2 0 SATA 1 0 and 2 0 133 MB s PCI 1 5 Gbps and 3 0 Gbps SATA 480 Mbps high speed 12 Mbps full speed 1 2 Mbps low speed USB one 124 pins 32 bits USB 2 0 133 MB s PCI x1 slot bidirectional speed 500 MB s PCI Express x16 slot bidirectional speed 8 GB s PCI Express 1 5 Gbps and 3 0 Gbps SATA 480 Mbps high speed 12 Mbps full speed 1 2 Mbps low speed USB two 124 pins 32 bits Specifications Expansion Bus Continued Vostro A100 Vostro A180 PCI Express x1 N A one connector size N A 36 pins connector data width N A 1 PCI Express lane maximum PCI Express x16 N A one connector size N A 16
26. ick the checkbox to confirm that you want to continue reformatting the hard drive and restoring the system software to the factory condition then click Next The restore process begins and may take 5 or more minutes to complete A message appears when the operating system and factory installed applications have been restored to factory condition 9 Click Finish to restart the computer Reinstalling Software 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 Returning to a Previous Device Driver Version on page 51 If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem use Microsoft Windows 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 54 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 Dell Operating System media and the Dell Drivers and Utilities media 57 Reinstalling Software K NOTE The Dell Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during the assembly of the computer Use the Drivers and U
27. ifications on page 19 Leave a 10 2 cm 4 inch minimum clearance on all sides of the computer that have air vents to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation If your enclosure has doors the doors need to be of a type that allows at leasta 30 percent airflow through the enclosure at the front and at the back NOTICE Do not install your computer in an enclosure that does not allow airflow Restricting the airflow impacts your computer s performance possibly causing it to overheat If your computer is installed in a corner ona desk or under a desk leave at least 5 1 cm 2 inch clearance from the back of the computer to the wall to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation Setting Up Your Computer IT Connecting to the Internet K 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 f 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 set up your Internet 15 Setting Up Your Computer connection f you are using a DSL or cable satellite modem connection contact your ISP or cellular phone service for setup instructions Setting Up Your Internet Connection To set up an Internet connection with a desktop shortcut provided by your ISP 1 Save and close any open files and exit any
28. k or System Restore see Restoring Your Operating System on page 54 does not resolve the problem reinstall the driver from your Drivers and Utilities media 52 With the Windows desktop displayed insert your Drivers and Utilities media If this is your first time to use the Drivers and Utilities media go to step 3 If not go to step 6 When the Drivers and Utilities media installation program starts follow the prompts on the screen K NOTE In most cases the Drivers and Utilities program starts running automatically If it does not start Windows Explorer click your media drive directory to display the media contents and then double click the autorcd exe file When the InstallShield Wizard Complete window appears remove the Drivers and Utilities media and click Finish to restart the computer When you see the Windows desktop reinsert the Drivers and Utilities media 6 Atthe Welcome Dell System Owner screen click Next 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 appears stating that the Drivers and Utilities media is detecting hardware in your computer The drivers that are us
29. lve your operating system problem NOTE Dell Factory Image Restore may not be available in certain countries or on certain computers Use Dell Factory Image Restore Windows Vista only as the last method to restore your operating system These options restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer Any programs or files added since you received your computer including data files are permanently deleted from the hard drive Data files include documents spreadsheets e mail 56 messages digital photos music files and so on If possible back up all data before using Factory Image Restore Dell Factory Image Restore Windows Vista Only 1 Turn on the computer When the Dell logo appears press lt F8 gt several times to access the Vista Advanced Boot Options Window Select Repair Your Computer 3 The System Recovery Options window appears 4 Select a keyboard layout and click Next 5 To access the recovery options log on as a local user To access the command prompt type administrator in the User name field then click OK 6 Click Dell Factory Image Restore NOTE Depending upon your configuration you may need to select Dell Factory Tools then Dell Factory Image Restore On the Dell Factory Image Restore welcome screen click Next The Confirm Data Deletion screen appears NOTICE If you do not want to proceed with Factory Image Restore click Cancel Cl
30. n 59 Internet 15 setting up 16 L license label 61 media Drivers and Utilities 60 operating system 59 memory troubleshooting 46 networks 13 connecting 13 0 Operating system Dell Factory Image Restore 56 media 57 reinstalling 59 System Restore 54 Operating System media 59 operating system product key 61 Index P phone numbers 69 power power light conditions 45 troubleshooting 45 problems restore to previous state 54 regulatory information 60 reinstalling drivers and utilities 51 software 51 S S M A R T 42 safety information 60 73 Index Service Manual 61 Service Tag 59 setup computer 11 installing your computer in an enclosure 14 Internet 16 quick setup 11 software problems 48 reinstalling 51 troubleshooting 48 49 updates 49 specifications all 19 audio 21 connectors 24 controls and lights 26 drives 23 environmental 29 expansion bus 22 memory 20 physical 28 74 specifications continued power 28 processor 19 system information 19 video 21 support 63 contacting Dell 69 online services 64 regional 64 technical support and customer service 64 support information 60 System Restore 54 T Terms and Conditions 60 transferring information to a new computer 17 troubleshooting 31 61 blue screen 48 computer not responding 47 Dell Diagnostics 42 troubleshooting continued error messages 3
31. n earlier operating state without affecting data files Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files e Dell Factory Image Restore available in Windows Vista returns your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer The program 54 permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs installed after you received the computer Use Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem e Ifyou received the Operating System media with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system However using the Operating System media also deletes all data on the hard drive Use the media only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem Using Microsoft Windows System Restore The Windows operating systems provide a System Restore option that allows you to return your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files if changes to the hardware software or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state Any changes that System Restore makes to your computer are completely reversible NOTICE Make regular backups of your data files System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them K NOTE The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view so they may no
32. ner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo Vostro and MediaDirect are trademarks of Dell Inc Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG Inc and is used by Dell under license Intel Pentium Core and Celeron are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U S and other countries Blu ray Disc is a trademark of the Blu ray Disc Association Microsoft Windows Windows Vista and the Windows Vista start button logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products Dell Inc disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own Model DCMTLF July 2008 P N U792G Rev A00 Contents About Your Computer FrontView BackView Back Panel Connectors VostroA100 VostroA180 Setting Up Your Computer Quick Setup Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure 10 11 11 14 Contents Connecting to the Internet 15 Setting Up Your Internet Connection 16 Transferring Information to a NewComputer 17 Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System 17
33. ng Storage 20 to 80 noncondensing 5 500 Hz 2 2 Grms 15 mins per side 40 G 5 2 ms 10 half sine wave 105 G 5 2 ms 10 half sine wave 29 Specifications Environmental Continued Altitude Operating Storage Airborne contaminant level 30 15 2 to 3048 m 50 to 10 000 ft 15 2 to 10 668 m 50 to 35 000 ft G2 or lower as defined by ISA S71 04 1985 Troubleshooting N CAUTION To guard against the likelihood of electric shock laceration by moving fan blades or other expected injuries always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover N CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions that shipped with your computer Tools Power Lights The power button light located on the front of the computer turns on and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states e Ifthe power light is off the computer is either turned off or is not receiving power Troubleshooting e Ifthe power light is steady blue and the computer is not responding ensure that the display is connected and powered on e If the power light is blinking blue Vostro A100 only the computer is in standby mode Press a key on the keyboard move the mouse or press the power button to resume normal operation Beep Codes Your computer might emit a series of beeps during start up if the monitor cannot display e
34. nking light integrated network adapter Power supply LED green light Power on state off no light Indicates power supply motherboard or peripheral device failure green light A good connection exists between the network and the computer off no light The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network yellow blinking light green light Power on state off no light Indicates power supply motherboard or peripheral device failure 21 Specifications Power DC power supply Wattage 180 W Maximum heat dissipation MHD 614 BTU hr Heat dissipation is calculated by using the power supply wattage rating Voltage see the safety information 200 240 VAC 50 60 Hz 3 5 A that shipped with your computer for 115 230 VAC 50 60 Hz 7 A 3 5 A important voltage setting information Coin cell battery 3 V CR2032 lithium coin cell NOTE Vostro A180 can support discrete graphic cards up to 25W or additional peripherals up to 25W If greater power capabilities are required the power supply unit must be upgraded Physical Height 35 9 cm 14 1 inches Width 18 0 cm 7 1 inches 28 Specifications Physical Continued Depth 45 0 cm 17 7 inches Weight 12 7 kg 28 0 Ib Environmental Temperature Operating 10 to 35 C 50 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Relative humidity Maximum vibration Storage Maximum shock Operati
35. one telephone to select the subjects that correspond to your questions For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 69 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 69 65 Getting Help 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 available when you call For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 69 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 69 66 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 2 For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting
36. otable partition on hard drive or the hard drive cable is loose or no bootable device exists e Ifthe hard drive is your boot device ensure that the cables are connected and that the drive is installed properly and partitioned as a boot device e Enter system setup and ensure that the boot sequence information is correct see your Service Manual at support dell com No TIMER TICK INTERRUPT A chip onthe system board might be malfunctioning or system board failure see Contacting Dell on page 69 for assistance USB OVER CURRENT ERROR Disconnect the USB device Use external power source for the USB device 41 Troubleshooting NOTICE HARD Drive SELF MONITORING SYSTEM HAS REPORTED THAT A PARAMETER HAS EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL OPERATING RANGE DELL RECOMMENDS THAT YOU BACK UP YOUR DATA REGULARLY A PARAMETER OUT OF RANGE MAY OR MAY NOT INDICATE A POTENTIAL HARD DRIVE PROBLEM S M A R T error possible hard drive failure This feature can be enabled or disabled in BIOS setup 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 42 To start the Hardware Troubleshooter Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and click Help and Support 2 Typehardware troubleshooter in the search field and press lt Enter gt to
37. our Computer 2 Connect a USB device such as a keyboard 4 Connect the modem or mouse Pn 5 Connect the power cable s a 3 Connect the network cable 12 6 Press the power buttons on the monitor and 7 the computer BS Connect to your network 4 Setting Up Your Computer sd 1 Internet service 2 cable or DSL modem 3 wireless router 4 desktop computer with network adapter 5 desktop computer 6 USB wireless adapter with USB wireless adapter 13 Setting Up Your Computer Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure Installing your computer in an enclosure can restrict the airflow and impact your computer s performance possibly causing it to overheat Follow the guidelines below when installing your computer in an enclosure N CAUTION Before installing your computer 14 in an enclosure read the safety instructions that shipped with your computer NOTICE The operating temperature specifications indicated in this document reflects the maximum ambient operating temperature The room ambient temperature needs to be a consideration when you install your computer in an enclosure For example if the ambient room temperature is at 25 C 77 F depending on your computer s specifications you only have 5 to 10 C 9 to 18 F temperature margin before you reach your computer s maximum operating temperature For details about your computer s specifications see Spec
38. p information provided by your ISP to complete the setup Setting Up Your Computer Transferring Information to a New Computer Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Transfer files and settings Start Windows Easy Transfer In the User Account Control dialog box click Continue Click Start a new transfer or Continue a transfer in progress Follow the instructions provided on the screen by the Windows Easy Transfer wizard 17 Setting Up Your Computer 18 Specifications Specifications 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 Intel Atom processor Intel Pentium Dual Core processor Intel Celeron Dual Core processor Intel Celeron processor Level 2 L2 cache 512 KB for Intel Atom Intel Celeron Dual Core and Intel Celeron processors 1 MB for Intel Pentium Dual Core processor System Information Vostro A100 Vostro A180 Chipset Intel 945GC and ICH7 Intel G31 and ICH7 DMA channels seven seven 19 Specifications System Information Continued Interrupt levels BIOS chip NVRAM NIC Vostro A100 Vostro A180 24 24 4Mb 8 Mb integrated network interface capable of 10 100 communication integrated network interface capable o
39. pen the program that you want to use OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND Reinstall the hard drive see your Service Manual at support dell com If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 69 OPTIONAL ROM BAD CHECKSUM The optional ROM has failed Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 69 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 Microsoft Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista start button gt 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 or corrupted FAT on the hard drive Run the Windows error checking utility to check the file structure on the hard drive See Windows Help and Support for instructions click Troubleshooting 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 Achip on the system board may be malfunctioning Run the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 42 TIME OF DAY CLOCK LOST P
40. port dell com e Reseat the memory modules see your Service Manual at support dell com to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 42 IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS Reseat the memory modules see your Service Manual at support dell com to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines see your Service Manual at support dell com 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 20 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 42 Troubleshooting Lockups and Software Problems N CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety information that shipped with your computer The computer does not start up ENSURE THAT THE POWER CABLE IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER AND TO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET The computer stops responding NOTICE You may lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown TURN THE COMPUTER OFF If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off and then restart your computer 47
41. port staff uses computer based diagnostics to provide fast accurate answers To contact Dell s support service see Before You Call on page 67 and then see the contact information for your region or go to support dell com 64 Online Services You can learn about Dell products and services at 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 Dell Support e mail addresses mobile_support us dell com support us dell com la techsupport dell com Latin America and Caribbean countries only apsupport dell com Asian Pacific countries only Dell Marketing and Sales e mail addresses apmarketing dell com Asian Pacific countries only sales_canada dell com Canada only Anonymous file transfer protocol FTP ftp dell com log in as user anonymous and use your e mail address as your password Getting Help AutoTech Service Dell s automated support service AutoTech provides recorded answers to the questions most frequently asked by Dell customers about their laptop and desktop computers When you call AutoTech use your touch t
42. rrors or problems This series of beeps called a beep code identifies a problem One possible beep code consists of repetitive three short beeps This beep code tells you that the computer encountered a possible system board failure 31 Troubleshooting If your computer beeps during start up 1 Write down the beep code 2 Run the Dell Diagnostics to identify a more serious cause see Dell Diagnostics on page 42 Code Description Suggested Remedy repetitive short beeps 1 BIOS checksum failure Contact Dell Possible system board failure 2 No memory modules are If you have two or more memory modules installed remove the detected modules reinstall one module see your Service Manual at support dell com and then restart the computer If the computer starts normally reinstall an additional module Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error If available install good memory of the same type into your computer see your Service Manual at support dell com If the problem persists contact Dell 3 Possible system board failure Contact Dell 32 Troubleshooting Code Description Suggested Remedy repetitive short beeps 4 RAM Read Write failure Ensure that no special memory module memory connector placement requirements exist see your Service Manual at support dell com Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your computer
43. start the search 3 Inthe search results select the option that best describes the problem and follow the remaining troubleshooting steps Dell Diagnostics N CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions that shipped with your computer When to Use the Dell Diagnostics If you experience a problem with your computer perform the checks in Lockups and Software Problems see Lockups and Software Problems on page 47 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin NOTICE The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell computers K NOTE The Dell Drivers and Utilities media is optional and may not ship with your computer See your Service Manual at support dell com to review your computer s configuration information and ensure that the device that you want to test displays in the system setup program and is active Start the Dell Diagnostics from your hard drive or from the Dell Drivers and Utilities media Troubleshooting Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive NOTE If your computer cannot display a screen image see Contacting Dell on page 69 1 Ensure thatthe computer is connected to an electrical outlet that is known to be working properly 2 Turn on or restart your computer 3 When the DELL logo appears press lt F12 gt immediately S
44. t apply if you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view NOTE Set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view Starting System Restore Windows Vista 1 Click Start 2 Inthe Start Search box type System Restore and press lt Enter gt K NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Reinstalling Software Continue otherwise contact your administrator to continue the desired action 3 Click Next and follow the remaining prompts on the screen In the event that System Restore did not resolve the issue you may undo the last system restore see Undoing the Last System Restore on page 55 Undoing the Last System Restore NOTICE Before you undo the last system restore save and close all open files and exit any open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete Windows Vista 1 Click Start 2 Inthe Start Search box type System Restore and press lt Enter gt 3 Click Undo my last restoration and click Next 55 Reinstalling Software Using Dell Factory Image Restore NOTICE Using Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or drivers installed after you received your computer If possible back up the data before using these options Use Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not reso
45. therwise 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 Reinstalling Software 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 51 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities NOTICE The Dell Support website at support dell com and your Drivers and Utilities media provide approved drivers for Dell computers If you install drivers obtained from other sources your computer might not work correctly Returning to a Previous Device Driver Version Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and right click Computer 51 Reinstalling Software 2 Click Properties Device Manager K NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager 3 Right click the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties 4 Click the Drivers tab Roll Back Driver If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem then use System Restore see Restoring Your Operating System on page 54 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 Rollbac
46. tilities media to load any required drivers Depending on the region from which you ordered your computer or whether you requested the media the Dell Drivers and Utilities media and Dell Operating System media may not ship with your computer Reinstalling Windows 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 1 58 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs Insert the Operating System media Ifthe Install Windows message appears click Exit Restart the computer When thie DELL logo appears press lt F12 gt immediately NOTE If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop then shut down your computer and try again K NOTE 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 press lt Enter gt Press any key to Boot from CD ROM and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation Finding Information Finding Information NOTE Some features or media may be K NOTE Additional information may ship with optional and may not ship with your your computer computer
47. tory_compliance 60 e Warranty information e Terms and Conditions U S only e Safety instructions e Regulatory information e Ergonomics information e End User License Agreement Finding Information Document Media Label Continued Contents Service Manual The Service Manual for your computer can be found at support dell com How to remove and replace parts How to configure system settings How to troubleshoot and solve problems Dell Technology Guide The Dell Technology Guide is available on your hard drive and on the Dell Support website at support dell com About your operating system Using and maintaining devices Understanding technologies such as RAID Internet Bluetooth wireless technology e mail networking and more Microsoft Windows License Label Your Microsoft Windows License is located on your computer Provides your operating system product key 61 Finding Information 62 Getting Help Obtaining Assistance A CAUTION If you need to remove the computer cover first disconnect the computer power and modem cables from all electrical outlets Follow the safety instructions that shipped with your computer If you experience a problem with your computer you can complete the following steps to diagnose and troubleshoot the problem 1 See Troubleshooting Tips on page 45 for information and procedures that pertain to the problem your computer is experi
48. ules and if necessary replace them See your Service Manual at support dell com for more information 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 your Service Manual at support dell com 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 42 35 Troubleshooting HARD DISK DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE 0 The hard drive does not respond to commands from the computer Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see your Service Manualat support dell com 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 42 HARD DISK DRIVE FAILURE The hard drive does not respond to commands from the computer Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see your Service Manual at support dell com and boot the computer from a CD Then shut down the computer reinstall the hard drive and restart the computer
49. ystem 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 Troubleshooting BACK UP YOUR FILES IMMEDIATELY e Use a virus scanning program to check the hard drive floppy disks CDs or DVDs e Save and close any open files or programs and shut down your computer through the Start menu 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 49 Troubleshooting 50 Reinstalling Software Drivers 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 Microsoft Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and right click Computer 2 Click Properties Device Manager NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue o
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