Dell PP22L manual

www .dell.com | support.dell.com Dell™ Inspiron™ 1520 Owner’ s Manual Model PP22L[...]

Notes, Notices, and Cautions NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer . NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to ha rdware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury , or death. ________________[...]

Contents 3 Contents Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 1 About Y our Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Determining Y our Co mputer’ s Configuration . . . . . . 21 Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Left Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Right Side View . . . . . .[...]

4 Contents Power Protection Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Surge Protectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Line Conditioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Uninterruptible Power Supplies . . . . . . . . . . 40 3 Using the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Adjusting Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

Contents 5 T ouch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Customizing the T ouch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 5 Using a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Battery Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Checking the Battery Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Dell QuickSet Battery Meter . . . . . . . . [...]

6 Contents Copying CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) Media . . . 64 How to Copy a CD, DVD, or BD . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Using Blank CD, DVD, and BD Media . . . . . . . 65 Helpful T ips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Adjusting the V olume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Adjusting the Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

Contents 7 9 Setting Up and Using Networks . . . . . . . 93 Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Setting Up a Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Wireless Local Area Network [...]

8 Contents 11 T roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Dell T echnical Update Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Dell Support Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Dell Support 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Dell PC T une-Up . . . . . . . .[...]

Contents 9 Dell MediaDirect problems . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Other software problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Memory Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Mobile Broadband (Wi reless Wide Area Network [WW AN]) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Power Problems . . [...]

10 Contents Starting Sy stem Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Using Dell™ PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Using the Operating Sy stem Media . . . . . . . . 150 12 Adding and Replacing Parts . . . . . . . . . 153 Before Y ou Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 Recommended T o[...]

Contents 11 Subscriber Identity Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 Wireless Mini Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Removing a WLAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Replacing a WLAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Removing a Mobile Broadband or WW AN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Replacing a WW AN Card .[...]

12 Contents 15 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Obtaining Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 T echnical Support and Customer Service . . . . . 188 DellConnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Online Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 AutoT ech Service . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

Contents 13 Dell T echnical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . 208 Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals 209 Definition of "Third-Party " Software and Peripherals 209 FCC Notice (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 FCC Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Macrovision Produc[...]

14 Contents[...]

Finding Information 15 Finding Information NOTE: Some features may be optional and may not ship with your computer . Some features may not be available in certain countries. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer . What Are Y o u Looking For? Find It Here • A diagnostic program for my computer • Drivers for my computer • Dev[...]

16 Finding Information • W arranty inform ation • T erms and Conditions (U.S. only) • Safety instructions • Regulatory information • Ergonomics information • End User License Agreement Dell™ Product Information Guide • How to set up my computer Setup Diagram NOTE: See the setup diag ram that came with your computer . • How to remo[...]

Finding Information 17 • Solutions — T roubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, online courses, and frequently ask ed questions • Community — Online discussion with other Dell customers • Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as the memory , hard drive, and operating system • Customer Care — Contact in[...]

18 Finding Information • Software upgrades and troubleshooting hints — F requently asked questions, hot topics, and general health of your computing environment Dell Support Utility The Dell Support Utili ty is an automated upgrade and notification system installed on your computer . This support provides real-time health scans of your computin[...]

Finding Information 19 • How to reinstall my operating system Operating Sy stem Media The operating system is already installed on your computer . T o reinstall your operating system, use one of the following methods: • Microsoft W indows System Restore — Microsoft W indows System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state wi[...]

20 Finding Information[...]

About Y our Computer 21 About Y our Computer Determining Y our Computer’ s Configuration Based on selections that you made when purchasing your computer , your computer has one of several different video controller configurations. T o determine your computer ’s video controller configuration: 1 Click Start , and then click Help and Support . 2 [...]

22 About Y our Computer Front V iew 1 camera indicator (optional) 2 camera (optional) 3 display latch 4 display 5 power button 6 keyboard 7 device status lights 8 touch pad 9 consumer IR 10 media control buttons 11 touch pad buttons 12 Dell MediaDirect™ button 13 keyboard status lights 14 digital array microphones 4 5 13 3 6 12 8 7 14 2 1 11 9 10[...]

About Y our Computer 23 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, confer encing, and chat. Based on configuration selections you made when ordering your computer , your computer m[...]

24 About Y our Computer DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS The blue lights located to the right of the keyboar d indicate the following: P ower light – T urns on when you turn on the computer , and blinks when the computer is in a power management mode. Hard drive activity light – T urns on when the computer reads or writes data. NOTICE: T o avoid loss of da[...]

About Y our Computer 25 If the computer is connected to an elec trical 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 runn ing on a battery , the li ght operates as follows: – Off: The battery is [...]

26 About Y our Computer D ELL M EDIA D IRECT ™ BUTTON — P ress the Dell MediaDirect button to launch Dell MediaDirect (see "Using Dell MediaDir ect™" on page 68). KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS The blue lights located above the keyboar d indicate the following: DIGITAL ARRAY MICROPHONES — Built-in microphone for conferencing and chat. T u[...]

About Y our Computer 27 Left Side V iew SECURITY CABLE SLOT — Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer (see "Securit y Cable Lock" on page 103). WIRELESS SWITCH — When enabled through De ll QuickSet, this switch can scan for a wireless local ar ea network (WLAN) in your vicinity . Y ou can also use it [...]

28 About Y our Computer CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Do not store your co mputer in a low-airflow envi ronment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is runn ing. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire. AIR VENTS — The computer uses an internal fan to create airflo[...]

About Y our Computer 29 Right Side V iew OPTICAL DRIVE — F or more information about the optical drive, see "Using Multimedia" on page 61. EJECT BUTTON — P ress the eject button to open the optical drive. 8- IN -1 MEMORY CARD READER — Provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos, music, and videos st or ed on [...]

30 About Y our Computer VIDEO CONNECTOR NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45) USB CONNECTORS Back V iew Connects video devices, such as a monitor . Connects the computer to a network. The two lights next to the connector indicate st atus and activity for wired network connections. F or information on using th e network adapter , see the device user ’s guide [...]

About Y our Computer 31 S- VIDEO TV- OUT CONNECTOR USB CONNECTORS AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR — Attaches an AC adapter to the computer . The AC adapter converts AC power to the DC p ower r equired by the computer . Y ou can connect the AC adapter with your computer turned on or off. CAUTION: The AC adapter works with electrica l outlets worldwide. Howev[...]

32 About Y our Computer MODEM CONNECTOR (RJ-11) Bottom V iew Connect the telephone line to the modem connector . F or information on using th e modem, see the online modem documentation supplied with your computer . 1 left speaker 2 memory module /coin-cell battery compartment 3 consumer IR 4 right speaker 5 wi re le ss m ini ca rd c omp ar tme nt [...]

About Y our Computer 33 LEFT SPEAKER — T o adjust the volume of the inte grated speaker , press the volume control buttons or the mute button. MEMORY MODULE / COIN - CELL BATTERY COMPARTMENT — Compartment that contains the DIMM B memory module an d the coin-cell battery . F or additional information, see "Adding and Replacing P arts" [...]

34 About Y our Computer[...]

Setting Up Y our Computer 35 Setting Up Y our Computer Connecting to the Internet NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country . T o connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP). Y our ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options: • DSL connections that provide h[...]

36 Setting Up Y our Computer Setting Up Y our Internet Connection T o set up an Internet connection wi th 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 ® W indows ® desktop. 3 F ollow the instructions on the scr een to complete the setup. NOTE: If you are[...]

Setting Up Y our Computer 37 T ransferring Information to a New Computer Y ou can transfer the following types of data from one computer to another: • E-mail messages • T oolbar settings • W indow sizes • Internet bookmarks Use one of the following methods for transferring data: • W indows Easy T ransfer wizard, an Easy T ransfer Cable, a[...]

38 Setting Up Y our Computer Printer Cable Y our printer connects to your computer with a USB cable. Y our printer may not come with a printer cable, so if you purchase a cable separately , ensure that it is compatible with your p rinter and computer . If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you p urchased your computer , the cable may ar[...]

Setting Up Y our Computer 39 3 T urn on the printer , and then turn on the computer . If the Add New Hardware Wizard window appears, click Cancel . 4 Click Start , and then click Network . 5 Click Add a printer to start the Add P rinter Wizar d. NOTE: T o install the printer dr iver , see "Reinstalling Dr ivers and Utilities" on page 140 [...]

40 Setting Up Y our Computer Line Conditioners NOTICE: Line conditioners do not prote ct against powe r interruptions. Line conditioners are designed to maintai n A C voltage at a fairly constant level. Uninterruptible Power Supplies NOTICE: Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in data loss or file damage. NOTE: T o [...]

Using the Display 41 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. • P ress <Fn> and the up-arrow key to in cr ease brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor). • P ress <Fn[...]

42 Using the Display and images to appear larger and can benefit people with vision impairments. T o display a program at a specific resolu tion, both the video car d and the display must support the program, and the nece ssary video drivers must be installed. NOTE: Use only the Dell-installed video dr ivers, which are designed to offer the best pe[...]

Using the Display 43 Using Both a Monitor and Y our Computer Display Y ou 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 , effecti[...]

44 Using the Display T o disable dual independent display mode: 1 Click the Settings tab in the Display P roperties window . 2 Click the monitor 2 icon, uncheck the Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor option, and then click Apply . If necessary , press <Fn><F8> to bring the scr een image back to the computer display . Windows Vi[...]

Using the Display 45 If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports, the settings adjust automatica lly to the closest supported values. T o set the display resolution and r efresh rate for your display , perform the steps in the following section that cor responds to the operating system your computer is using[...]

46 Using the Display[...]

Using the Keyboard and T ouchpad 47 Using the Keyboard and T ouchpad Numeric Keypad The numeric keypad functions lik e t he numeric keypad on an external keyboar d. Each key on the k eypad ha s multiple functions. The keypad numbers and symbols are mark ed in blue on the right of the keypad k eys. T o type a number or symbol, hold down <Fn> a[...]

48 Using the Keyboa rd and T ouchpad Key Combinations Sy stem Functions Display Functions Battery Power Management <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> Opens the T ask Manager window . <Fn><F8> Displays icons r epresenting all currently available display options (display only , external monitor or projector only , both display and proje[...]

Using the Keyboard and T ouchpad 49 Microsoft ® Windows ® Logo Key Functions Dell™ QuickSet Key Combinations If Dell QuickSet is installed, you ca n use other shortcut keys for functions such as the Battery Meter or activatin g power management modes. F or more information about Dell QuickSet key combinations, right-click the QuickSet icon in t[...]

50 Using the Keyboa rd and T ouchpad T ouch Pad The touch pad detects the pressur e 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. • T o move the cursor , lightly slide your finger over the touch pad. • T o select an object, lightly tap once on the s[...]

Using the Keyboard and T ouchpad 51 Customizing the T ouch Pad Y ou can use the Mouse P roperties window to disable the touch pad or adjust the touch pad settings. 1 Click Start , and then click Control Pa n e l . 2 Click Hardware and Sound . 3 Click Key b o a r d . 4 In the Mouse P roperties window : • Click the Device Select tab to disable the [...]

52 Using the Keyboa rd and T ouchpad[...]

Using a Battery 53 Using a Battery Battery Performance NOTE: For information about the Dell warr anty for your computer , see the Product Information Guide or separate paper warranty do cument that shipped with your computer . F or optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™ portable computer wi th the main[...]

54 Using a Battery Y ou can check the battery charge befo r e you insert the battery into the computer . Y ou can also set power manage ment options to alert you when the battery charge is low . CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the b attery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell.[...]

Using a Battery 55 Microsoft ® Windows ® Battery Meter The battery meter indicates the rema ining battery char ge. T o check the battery meter , double-click the icon in the notification area. Charge Gauge By either pressing once or pr essing and holding the status button on the battery charge gauge, you can check: • Battery charge (check by pr[...]

56 Using a Battery Low-Battery Warning NOTICE: T o avoid losing or corrupting data, sa ve 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 begi ns automatically. A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent[...]

Using a Battery 57 Depending on how you set the po wer management options in the P ower Options P roperties window or the Quic kSet P ower Management W izard, you may also use one of the following methods: • P ress the power button. • Close the display . • P ress <Fn><Esc>. T o exit standby or sleep mode, pr ess the power button o[...]

58 Using a Battery T o exit hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may tak e a short time to exit hibernate mode. Y ou cannot mak e the computer exit hibernate mode by pressing a k ey or touching the touch pad. F or more information on hibernate mode, see t he documentation that came with your operating system. Configuring Power Manag[...]

Using a Battery 59 The battery is too hot to start charg ing 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 computer to an electrical ou tlet to continue charging the battery . F or more information abou[...]

60 Using a Battery T o replace the battery , follow the removal procedur e in reverse order . Storing a Battery Remove the battery when you store your computer for an e xtended period of time. A battery discharges during prol onged storage. After a long storage period, rechar ge the battery fully (see "Charging the Battery" on page 58) be[...]

Using Multimedia 61 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 P ress the eject button on the front of the drive. 2 Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray[...]

62 Using Multimedia A CD player includes the following basic buttons: A DVD player includes the following basic buttons: F or more information on playing media, click Help on the media player (if available). Play Move backward within the curr ent track Pa u s e Move forward within the curr ent track Stop Go to the previous track Eject Go to the nex[...]

Using Multimedia 63 Playing Media Using Dell T ravel Remote (Optional) The Dell T ravel Remote is designed to control Dell Media Direct and W indows Vista Media Center . It can wo rk only with specified computers. F or more details, r efer to the Dell Support website at support.dell.com . T o play media using Dell T ravel Remote: 1 Install a coin-c[...]

64 Using Multimedia Copying CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) Media This section applies only to comput ers that have a D VD+/-RW drive or a BD-RE drive. NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copy right laws when copying media. NOTE: The types of optical drives offered by Dell may vary by country . The following instructions explain how to mak e an exa[...]

Using Multimedia 65 3 T o copy the CD, DVD, or BD: • If you have one optical drive , insert the source disc into the drive, ensure that the settings ar e correct, and then click the Copy Disc button to continue. The computer read s your source disc and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive. When prompted, insert a blan[...]

66 Using Multimedia DVD-Writable Drives BD-Writable Drives Helpful T ips • Use Microsoft ® W indows ® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-R W only after you start Roxio Creator and open a Creator project. • Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD -R W to its maximum capacity; for example, do not copy a 650-MB file to a blank 650-MB CD. The[...]

Using Multimedia 67 • Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular ster eos. CD-R Ws 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-R W to practice CD re cording until you ar e familiar with CD recor ding techniques[...]

68 Using Multimedia Adjusting the Picture If an error message notifies you that the current r esolution and color depth are using too much memory and pr eventing media playback, adjust the display properties. Windows XP 1 Click Start → Control P anel → Appearance and Themes . 2 Under Pick a task... , click Change the screen resolution . 3 Under[...]

Using Multimedia 69 If the computer is turned of f or in hibernate mode When your computer is turned off or in hibernate mode, you can press the Dell MediaDirect button to start th e computer and automatically launch the Dell MediaDirect application. NOTE: Y ou cannot reinstall Dell MediaDirect if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive. Y ou need [...]

70 Using Multimedia Y our 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 S-vi[...]

Using Multimedia 71 If you want to connect your computer to a TV or audio device, it is recommended that you connect video an d audio cables to your computer in one of the following combinations: • S-video and standard audio • Composite video and standard audio • Component-out video and standard audio NOTE: See the diagrams at the b eginning [...]

72 Using Multimedia 1 T urn 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 audio, you can connect an S-video c able directly to the S-vid eo TV-out connector on the computer (without the TV/dig ital audio adapter cable). 2 Plug one end of the S-vid[...]

Using Multimedia 73 S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio 1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 S-video cable 3 S/PDIF digital audio cable 1 2 1 2 3[...]

74 Using Multimedia 1 T urn off the computer and the TV and/ or the 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 S-video cable in to the S-video output connector on the composite video adapter . 4 Plug the other end of the S-video cab le into t[...]

Using Multimedia 75 Composite Video and Standard Audio 1 audio input connector 2 S-video TV-out connector 3 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 2 1 3 1 2 3[...]

76 Using Multimedia 1 T urn 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 . 4 Plug the other end of the composite[...]

Using Multimedia 77 Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio 1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 2 1 2 3[...]

78 Using Multimedia 1 T urn 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 the computer . 3 Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video-input connector on the composite video adapter . 4 Plug the other end of the composite vi[...]

Using Multimedia 79 Component Video and Standard Audio 1 S-video TV-out connector 2 component video adapter 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable 3 standard audio cable 2 1 1 2 3[...]

80 Using Multimedia 1 T urn off the computer and the TV and/ or audio device that you want to connect. 2 Connect the component video adapter to the S-video TV -out connector on your computer . 3 Plug all three ends of the compon ent video cable into the component video-output connectors on the component video adapter . Make sure that the red, gr ee[...]

Using Multimedia 81 Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio 1 S-video TV-out connector 2 component video adapter 1 2[...]

82 Using Multimedia 1 T urn off the computer and the TV and/ or audio device that you want to connect. 2 Connect the component video adapter to the S-video TV -out connector on the computer . 3 Plug all three ends of the compon ent video cable into the component video-output connectors on the component video adapter . Make sure that the red, gr een[...]

Using Multimedia 83 4 Plug all three connectors from the ot her end of the component video cable into the component video-input connector s on the TV . Make sur e that the red, gr een, and blue colors of the ca ble match the colors of the TV input connectors. 5 Plug one end of the S/PDIF digita l audio cable into the S/PDIF audio connector on the c[...]

84 Using Multimedia Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio 1 Double-click the speaker icon in the W indows notification area. 2 Click the Options menu and then click Advanced Controls . 3 Click Advanced . 4 Click S/PDIF Interface . 5 Click Close . 6 Click OK . Enabling the Display Settings for a TV NOTE: T o ensure that the displa y options appear correctly[...]

Using Multimedia 85 Windows Vista 1 Click the W indows Vista Start button , click Control P anel , and then click Appearance and P ersonalization . 2 Under P ersonalization , click Adjust Screen Resolution . The Display P roperties window appears. 3 Click Advanced . 4 Click the tab for your video card. NOTICE: T o determine the type of video car d [...]

86 Using Multimedia[...]

Using ExpressCards 87 Using ExpressCards ExpressCar ds provide additional memory , wired and wir eless communications, multimedia and security features. F or example, you can add an ExpressCar d to make wir eless wide area network (WW AN) connectivity available on your computer . ExpressCa rds support two form factors: • ExpressCar d/34 (34 mm wi[...]

88 Using ExpressCards Remove the blank before installing an Expr essCard. T o remove the blank, see "Removing an ExpressCar d or Blank" on page 89. Installing an ExpressCard Y ou can install an ExpressCar d whil e the computer is running. The computer automatically detects the card. ExpressCar ds are generally marked with a symbol (such a[...]

Using ExpressCards 89 The computer recognizes the Expr essC ard and automatically loads the appropriate device driver . If the config uration program tells you to load the manufacturer's drivers, use the media that came with the Expr essCard. Removing an ExpressCard or Blank CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, fol[...]

90 Using ExpressCards[...]

Using the Memory Card Reader 91 Using the Memory Card Reader The memory card r eader provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos, music, and vide os store d on a memory card. NOTE: A memory card is no t a bootable device. The 8-in-1 memory card r eader re ads the following memory cards: • Secure Digital (SD) •S D I O •[...]

92 Using the Memory Card Reader CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . T o install a memory card: 1 Hold the card with the top side of the car d facing up. 2 Slide the card into the slot until the car d is completely seated in its connector . If you encount[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 93 Setting Up and Using Networks A computer network provides connectiv ity between your computer and the Internet, another computer , or a network. F or 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 ac[...]

94 Setting Up and Using Networks Setting Up a Network Windows XP 1 Click Start → All P rograms → Accessories → Communications → Network Setup Wizard → Next → Checklist for creating a network . NOTE: Selecting the connecti on method labeled This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Wind[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 95 • A wireless network car d for each comp uter that you want to connect to your WLAN • A network cable with a network (RJ-45) connector Checking Y our Wireless Network Card Depending on what you selected w hen you purchased your computer , the computer has a variety of configuratio ns. T o confirm that your compu[...]

96 Setting Up and Using Networks Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem 1 Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to obtain specific information about the connection requir ements for your broadband modem. 2 Ensure that you have wir ed Internet access through your broadband modem before you attempt to set up a wir [...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 97 14 See the documentation that came with your wireless router to do the following in order to set up the wir eless router: • Establish communication between your computer and your wireless router . • Configure your wir eless router to communicate with your broadband router . • F ind out your wireless router’s[...]

98 Setting Up and Using Networks Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Depending on the software installed on your computer , different wir eless configuration utilities may manage your network devices: • Y our wireless network car d’s client utility • The W indows XP or W indows Vista operating system T o determine which wireless c[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 99 Thereafter , whenever you log on to yo ur computer within the range of the wireless network that you selected, the same pop-up notifies you of the wireless network connection. NOTE: If you select a secure n etwork, you must enter a WEP or WP A key when prompted. Network security settings are unique to your ne twork.[...]

100 Setting Up and Using Networks What Y ou Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection NOTE: Depending on your comp uter , you can use either a Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini Card, but not both, to establish a Mobile Broadband network connection. T o set up a Mobile Broadb and network connection, you need: • A Mobile Broadband [...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 101 On the My Computer Information - Hardware screen, you can view the type of Mobile Broadband card installed in your computer as well as other hardwar e components. NOTE: The Mobile Broadband ca rd is listed under Modems . Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network NOTE: These instructions only a pply to Mobile Broadba[...]

102 Setting Up and Using Networks Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card NOTE: If you are unable to connect to a Mobile Broa dband network, ensure that you have all the components for establishing a Mobile Broadband connection (see "What Y ou Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection" on page 100), and then verify[...]

Securing Y our Computer 103 Securing Y our Computer Security Cable Lock NOTE: Y our computer does not ship wi th a security cable lock. A security cable lock is a commercially available antitheft device. T o use the lock, attach it to the security cable slot on your Dell computer . F or more information, see the instructions included with the devic[...]

104 Securing Y our Computer Passwords P asswords 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 m inutes, the computer r eturns to its previous operating state. When using passwords, observ e the following guidelines: • C[...]

Securing Y our Computer 105 If Y our Computer Is Lost or Stolen • Call a law enforcement agency to re port the lost or stolen computer . Include the Service T ag in your descri ption 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 po[...]

106 Securing Y our Computer[...]

T roubleshooting 107 T roubleshooting Dell T echnical Update Service The Dell T echnical Update service provides proactive e-mail notification of software and har dware updates for your computer . The service is free and can be customized for content, format , and how frequently you r eceive notifications. T o enroll for the Dell T echnica l Update[...]

108 T roubleshooting Starting the Dell Diagnostic s From Y our Hard Drive The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive. NOTE: If your computer cannot display a screen image, c ontact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 192). NOTE: If the computer is connected to a doc king device (docked), un[...]

T roubleshooting 109 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media 1 Insert your Drivers and Utilities media. 2 Shut down and restart the computer . 3 When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately . NOTE: Keyboard failure may result when a key on the keyboard is held down for extended periods of time. T o avoi d pos[...]

110 T roubleshooting Dell Diagnostics Main Menu After the Dell Diagno stics loads and the Main Menu screen appears, click the button for the option you want. NOTE: It is recommended that you select Test System to run a complete test on your computer . After you have selected the Test System option from the main menu, the following menu appears. NOT[...]

T roubleshooting 111 The following tabs provide additional information for tests run from the Custom T est or Symptom T ree option: Dell Support Center The Dell Support Center helps you find the service, support and system-specific information you need. F or more information about Dell Support Center and available support tools, click the Services [...]

112 T roubleshooting • Dell support contact information including e-mail and online chat addresses as well as telephone numbers • Resources specific to your computer are available under Drivers & Downloads, Upgrades and System Information The top of the Dell Support Center home page displays your computer ’s model number along with its Se[...]

T roubleshooting 113 • Click the Microsoft ® W indows Vista ® Start button → All P rograms → Dell Support 3 → Dell Support Settings . Ensure that the Show icon on the taskbar option is checked. NOTE: If Dell Support 3 is n ot available from the Start menu, go to support.dell.com and download the software. Dell PC T une-Up The automated or[...]

114 T roubleshooting The Dell Network Assistant provides the following features: • Consolidated setup, alerting, and device status • Simplified tracking of networked de vices through a visual display of network status • P roactive troubleshooting and repair of network problems • T utorials, setup wizards, and frequently ask ed questions (F [...]

T roubleshooting 115 W indows Vista ® Click Start → Computer . If the drive is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses. V iruses can sometimes prevent W i ndows from recognizing the drive. T EST THE DRIVE — • Insert another floppy disk, CD, or DV D to eliminate the possibility that the ori[...]

116 T roubleshooting The drive tray cannot eject 1 Ensure that the computer is shut down. 2 Straighten a paper clip and insert on e end into the eject hole at the front of the drive, then push firmly until the tray is partially ejected. 3 Gently pull out the tray until it stops. The drive makes an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound • Ensure th[...]

T roubleshooting 117 E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTE: Connect the modem to an analog telep hone jack only . The modem does not operate while it is connected to a digital telephone network. C HECK THE M ICROSO[...]

118 T roubleshooting Wi n d ow s Vi s t a 1 Click Start → All P rograms → Modem Diagnostic T ool . 2 F ollow the instructions on the scr een to identify and resolve modem problems. Modem diagnostics are not available on all computers. V ERIFY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH W INDOWS — Wi n d ow s X P 1 Click Start → Control P anel → [...]

T roubleshooting 119 Error Messages F ill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 191 as you complete these checks. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . If the message is not listed, see the documentation for the operating system or the program [...]

120 T roubleshooting T HE FILE BEING COPIED IS TOO LARGE FOR THE DESTINATION DRIVE — The file that you are trying to copy is too lar ge to fit on the disk, or the disk is full. T ry copying the file to a different disk or use a lar ger capacity disk. A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS : / : * ? “ < > | — Do not [...]

T roubleshooting 121 I NVALID CONFIGURATION INFORMATION - PLEASE RUN S Y STEM S ETUP P ROGRAM — The system configuration info rmation does not match the hardwar e configuration. The message is most likely to occur after a memory module is installed. Correct the appr opriate options in the system setup program (see "Using the System Setup P r[...]

122 T roubleshooting M EMORY 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 , repl ace them (see "Memory" on page 163). M EMORY ODD / EVEN LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS , READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE — A memory module may b[...]

T roubleshooting 123 W indows Vista 1 Click Start → Control P anel → P rograms → P rograms and F eatures . 2 Select the program you want to remove. 3 Click Uninstall . 4 See the program documentation for installation instructions. S ECTOR NOT FOUND — The operating system cannot locate a sector on the hard drive. Y ou may have a defective se[...]

124 T roubleshooting U NEXPECTED INTERRUPT IN PROTECTED MODE — The keyboar d controller may be malfunctioning, or a memory modu le may be loose. R u n the System Memory tests and the Keyboar d Cont roller test in the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 107). X : IS NOT ACCESSIBLE . T HE DEVICE IS NOT READY — Insert a dis[...]

T roubleshooting 125 W indows Vista 1 Click Start → Control P anel → Hardware and Sound . 2 Click Device Manager . If your IEEE 1394 device is listed, W indows recognizes the device. I F YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A D ELL - PROVIDED IEEE 1394 DEVICE — Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer (see "Contacting Dell" on page 192).[...]

126 T roubleshooting 3 F rom the W indows desktop, click Start → All P rograms → Accessories → Notepad . 4 T ype some characters on the external keyboar d and verify that they appear on the display . If you cannot verify these steps, you may have a defective external keyboar d. T O VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD , CHECK[...]

T roubleshooting 127 Lockups and Software Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . The computer does not start C HECK THE AC ADAPTER — Ensure that the A C adapter is firmly connected to the computer and to the electrical outlet. The computer stops [...]

128 T roubleshooting 1 Click Start → All P rograms → Accessories → P rogram Compatibility Wiz a r d → Next . 2 F ollow the instructions on the scr een. W indows Vista The P rogram Compatibility Wi zard configur es a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non- W indows Vista operating system environments. 1 Click Start → Cont[...]

T roubleshooting 129 A DJUSTING THE COLOR SETTINGS FOR MOVIES THAT CONTAIN SCENES THAT ARE TOO DARK OR TOO BRIGHT — Click EagleV ision to use a video enhancement technology that detects video cont ent and dynamically adjusts the brightness/contrast/saturation ratios. NOTICE: Y ou cannot reinstall the Dell Medi aDirect feature if you voluntarily r[...]

130 T roubleshooting Memory Problems F ill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 191 as you complete these checks. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . I F YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE — • Save and close any open files and ex[...]

T roubleshooting 131 Network Problems F ill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 191 as you complete these checks. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . C HECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR — Ensure that the network cable is firmly inserted in[...]

132 T roubleshooting C HECK NETWORK CONNECTION STATUS IN THE D ELL M OBILE B ROADBAND C ARD U TILITY — Double-click the icon to launch the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility . Check the status in the main window: • No card detected — Restart the computer , and launch the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility again. • Check your WW AN serv ice [...]

T roubleshooting 133 C HECK THE BATTERY TEMPERATURE — If the battery temperature is below 0°C (32°F), the computer will not start. T EST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp. C HECK THE AC ADAPTER — Check the AC adapter cabl e connections. If the AC adapter ha[...]

134 T roubleshooting V ERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY W INDOWS — W indows XP 1 Click Start → Control P anel → P rinters and Other Hardware → V iew installed printers or fax printers . 2 If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon. 3 Click P roperties → Po r t s . F or a parallel printer , ensure that the P rint to the [...]

T roubleshooting 135 V ERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY M ICROSOFT W INDOWS — W indows XP 1 Click Start → Control P anel → P rinters and Other Hardware → Scanners and Cameras . 2 If your scanner is listed, W indows recognizes the scanner . W indows Vista 1 Click Start → Control P anel → Hardware and Sound → Scanners and Cameras[...]

136 T roubleshooting D ISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR — Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones ar e connected to the headphone connector . T EST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp. E LIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE ?[...]

T roubleshooting 137 C HECK THE MOUSE CABLE — Shut down the computer , disconnect the mouse cable and check it for damage, then firmly reconnect the cable. If you are using a mouse e xtension cable, disconnect it and connect the mouse directly to the computer . T O VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MOUSE , CHECK THE TOUCH PAD — 1 Shut down th[...]

138 T roubleshooting C HECK THE BATTERY — If you are using a battery to power your computer , the battery charge may be depleted. Connect t he computer to an electrical outlet using the AC adapter , and then turn on the computer . T EST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such [...]

T roubleshooting 139 R UN THE V IDEO DIAGNOSTICS TESTS — If no error message appears and you still have a display problem, but the di splay is not completely blank, run the Vi d e o device group in the "Dell Diagnost ics" on page 107, then contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 192). S EE "E RROR M ESSAGES "— [...]

140 T roubleshooting Identifying Drivers If you experience a problem with any devi ce, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary , update the driver . Windows XP 1 Click Start → Control P anel . 2 Under Pick a Category , click P erformance and Maintenance , and click System . 3 In the System P roperties window , [...]

T roubleshooting 141 W indows Vista 1 Click the W indows Vista start button , and right-click Computer . 2 Click P roperties → 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 Right-click the devi[...]

142 T roubleshooting 5 At the W elcome Dell System Owner screen, click Next . NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities program display s drivers only for hardware that came installed in your computer . If you installed additional hardware, the drivers for the new hardwa re might not be displaye d. If those drivers are not displayed, exit the Drivers and Uti[...]

T roubleshooting 143 6 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files. 7 When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click Next . 8 Click Fi n i s h and restart your computer . W indows Vista 1 Click the W indows Vista start button , and right-click Computer . 2 Click P roperties → Device Manager . NO[...]

144 T roubleshooting T o start the Hardware T roubleshooter: W indows XP 1 Click Start → Help and Support . 2 Ty p e hardware troubleshooter in the search field and press <Enter> to start the search. 3 In the F ix a P roblem section, click Hardware T roubleshooter . 4 In the Hardware T roubleshooter list, select the option that best describ[...]

T roubleshooting 145 Using Microsoft Windows Sy stem Restore The W indows operating system provid es System Restore to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without affecting data files) if changes to the hardwar e, software, or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operat ing state. Any changes t[...]

146 T roubleshooting W indows Vista 1 Click Start . 2 In the Start Search box, type System Restore and press <Enter>. NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear . If you are an administrator on the computer , click Continue ; otherwise, contact your administrator to continu e the desired action. 3 Click Next and follow the remaining pro[...]

T roubleshooting 147 Using Dell™ PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore NOTICE: Using Dell PC Restore or Dell Fa ctory 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 u sing these options. Use PC Restore or Dell Fa[...]

148 T roubleshooting 5 When prompted, click Ye s . The computer restarts. Because the co mputer is r estored to its original operating state, the screens that appe ar , such as the End User License Agreement, ar e the same ones that a ppeared the first time the computer was turned on. 6 Click Next . The System Restore screen appears and the compute[...]

T roubleshooting 149 6 Right-click Local Disk (C) in W indows Explorer , click P rop erties , and verify that the additional disk spac e is available as indicated by the increased value for F ree Space . 7 Click Fi n i s h to close the PC Re st o re Rem o va l window and restart the computer . Windows Vista: Dell Factory Image Restore 1 T urn on th[...]

150 T roubleshooting Using the Operating Sy stem Media Before Y ou Begin If you are considering r einstalling the Windows operating system to corr ect a problem with a newly installed driver , first try using W indows Device Driver Rollback (see "Using W indows Device Driver Rollback" on page 140). If Device Driver Rollback does not re so[...]

T roubleshooting 151 4 Restart the computer . When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately . NOTE: If you wait too long and the oper ating sy stem logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft ® Windows ® desktop; then, shut down your computer and try again. NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only[...]

152 T roubleshooting[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 153 Adding and Replacing Parts Before Y ou Begin This chapter provides procedures for r emoving and installing the components in your computer . Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exis t: • Y ou have performed the steps in "T urning Off Y our Computer" on page 154 and [...]

154 Adding and Replacing Parts T urning Off Y our Computer NOTICE: T o avoid losing data, save and close any open files and exit any open programs before you tu rn off your computer . 1 Save and close all open files and exit all open programs. 2 Shut down the operating system: W indows ® XP: Click Start → Shut Down → Shut down . W indows Vista[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 155 NOTICE: When you disconnect a cabl e, 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 yo u pull connectors apart, k eep them evenly[...]

156 Adding and Replacing Parts 8 T urn 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 Expr essCard slot (see "Removing an ExpressCar d or Blank" on pa ge 89 ) and the 8-in-1 memory card r eader (see "Removing a Memory Card or Blank" on pa [...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 157 Removing the Hard Drive 1 F ollow the procedur es in "Before Y ou Begin" on page 153. 2 T urn the computer over and remove the hard drive scr ews. NOTICE: When the hard drive is not in the compu ter , store it in protective antistatic packaging (see "Protecti ng Against Electrosta tic Discharge" in[...]

158 Adding and Replacing Parts Replacing the Hard Drive 1 Remove the new drive from its packaging. Save the original packaging for stor ing or shipping the hard drive. NOTICE: Use firm and even pressure to sli de the drive into place. If you use excessive force, you may damage the connector . 2 Slide the hard drive into the bay until it is fully se[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 159 Optical Drive CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . Removing the Optical Drive 1 F ollow the procedur es in "Before Y ou Begin" on page 153. 2 T urn the computer over . 3 Remove the locking screw from the optical dr[...]

160 Adding and Replacing Parts Replacing the Optical Drive 1 Slide the optical drive into the bay . 2 Replace and tighten the locking screw . Hinge Cover CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTICE: T o avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by us[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 161 Replacing the Hinge Cover 1 Insert the left edge of the hinge cover . 2 P ress from left to right un til the cover snaps into place. Keyboard F or more information about the k eyb oard, see "Using the Keyboar d and T ouchpad" on page 47. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follo[...]

162 Adding and Replacing Parts Removing the Keyboard 1 F ollow the procedur es in "Before Y o u Begin" on page 153. 2 Remove the hinge cover (see "Hinge Cover" on page 160). 3 Remove the two screws at the top of the k eyboard. NOTICE: The key caps on the keyboard are fr agile, easily dislodged, and time- consuming to replace. Be[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 163 Replacing the Keyboard 1 Slide the keyboar d cable into the keyboard connector on the DIMM A memory module cover . 2 Rotate the keyboar d connector latch to secure the cable. 3 Hook the tabs along the front edge of the keyboar d into the palmrest. 4 P ress on the right edge near the top to snap the keyboar d into plac[...]

164 Adding and Replacing Parts 3 Remove the keyboar d (see "Keyboar d" on page 161). NOTE: It is not necessary to disconnect the keyboard cable from the memory module cover . 4 Lift the memory module cover but do not remove it. NOTICE: T o prevent damage to the memory m odule connector , do not use tools to spread the memory mo dule secur[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 165 Replacing the DIMM A Memory Module NOTICE: T o avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by peri odically touching an unpainte d metal surface (such as a connector on the bac k of the computer). 1 Align the notch in the module ed ge connector with the tab in the connector slot.[...]

166 Adding and Replacing Parts Confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer: • W indows ® XP – Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, then click P roper ties → General . • W indows Vista ® – Click the W indows Vista Start button , right-click Computer , and then click P roperties . Removing the DIMM B Memory Module [...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 167 3 Use your fingertips to carefully spr ead apart the securing clips on each end of the memory module connector until the module pops up. 4 Remove the module from the connector . Replacing the DIMM B Memory Module NOTICE: T o avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by peri odi[...]

168 Adding and Replacing Parts NOTICE: If the cover is difficult to close, remove the module and rein stall it. Forcing the cover to close may damage your computer . 3 Replace the memory module cover . 4 Insert the battery into the battery bay , or connect the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet. 5 T urn on the computer . As the co[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 169 Subscriber Identity Module Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM) identify users uniquely through an International Mobile Subscriber Identity . CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTE: Only Cingular and V odafone need a SIM. Ve[...]

170 Adding and Replacing Parts Wireless Mini Cards CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTICE: T o help prevent damage to the sy stem board, you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer . If you order ed a[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 171 4 Disconnect the antenna cables from the WLAN card. 5 Release the WLAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs towar d the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly . 1 antenna cable connectors (2) 2 WLAN card 1 2[...]

172 Adding and Replacing Parts 6 Lift the WLAN card out of its system board connector . Replacing a WLAN Card NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct in sertion. If you feel resistance, check the connecto rs on the card and on the sy stem board, and realign the card. NOTICE: T o avoid damage to the WLAN card, never place cables under the[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 173 3 Connect the appropriate antenna cables to the WLAN card you ar e 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 ante nna cable to the connector labeled "aux" (bl[...]

174 Adding and Replacing Parts 4 Disconnect the two antenna cables from the WW AN card. 1 captive screws (2) 2 cover 1 2[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 175 5 Release the WW AN card by pushing the metal securing tabs towar d the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly . 1 antenna cable connec tors (2) 2 WWAN card 1 2[...]

176 Adding and Replacing Parts 6 Lift the WW AN card out of its system board connector . Replacing a WWAN Card NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct in sertion. If you feel resistance, check the connecto rs on the card and on the sy stem board, and realign the card. NOTICE: T o avoid damage to the WW AN card, never place cable s under [...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 177 3 Connect the black antenna cable with a gray stripe to the connector labeled "aux" (black triangle) and conn ect the white antenna cable with a gray stripe to the connector labeled "main" (white triangle). 4 Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve. 5 Replace the cover and tight[...]

178 Adding and Replacing Parts Replacing a WP AN Card NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct in sertion. If you feel resistance, check the connecto rs on the card and on the sy stem board, and realign the card. NOTICE: T o avoid damage to the WP AN card, never place cables under the card. 1 Insert the WP AN card connector into the syste[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 179 4 Release the FCM by pushing the meta l securing brackets away from the card until the car d pops up slightly . 5 Remove the FCM. Replacing the FCM NOTICE: Install the FCM in the WW AN or WP AN slot. Do n ot install an FCM in the WLAN card slot. Doing so may cause damage to your computer . 1 Insert the FCM connector i[...]

180 Adding and Replacing Parts Internal Card With Bluetooth ® Wireless T echnology CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTICE: T o avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by peri odically touching an unpainted [...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 181 Replacing the Card 1 Replace the card at an angle to slide it under the securing tabs in the car d compartment. 2 Connect the cable to the card. Coin-Cell Battery CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTICE: T o avoid electr[...]

182 Adding and Replacing Parts Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery 1 Connect the coin-cell battery cable to the system board. 2 Slide the coin-cell battery into the mylar sleeve. 3 Replace the cover and tighten the captive screw .[...]

Dell™ QuickSet Features 183 Dell™ QuickSet Features 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: • Network connectivity • P ower management •D i s p l a y • System information Depending on what you want to do in Dell QuickSet,[...]

184 Dell™ QuickSet Features[...]

T raveling With Y our Computer 185 T raveling With Y our Computer Identifying Y our Computer • Attach a name tag or business card to the computer . • W rite down your Service T ag and s tore it in a safe place away from the computer or carrying case. Use the Service T a g if you need to report a loss or theft to law enforcemen t officials and t[...]

186 T raveling With Y our Computer • P rotect the computer , the batteries, a nd the hard drive from hazards such as extr eme temperatures and overe xposure to sunlight, dirt, dust, or liquids. • P ack the computer so that it does no t slide around in the trunk of your car or in an overhead storage compartment. T ravel T ips NOTICE: Do not move[...]

Getting Help 187 Getting Help Obtaining Assistance CAUTION: If you need to remove the comp uter cover , first disconnect the computer power and modem c ables from all electrical outlets. If you experience a problem with yo ur computer , you can complete the following steps to diagnose and troubleshoot the problem: 1 See "T roubleshooting"[...]

188 Getting Help T echnical Support and Customer Service Dell's support service is available to answer your questions about Dell™ hardwar e. Our support staff uses computer-based diagnostics to provide fast, accurate answers. T o contact Dell's support service, see "Before Y ou Call" on page 190, and then see "Contacting [...]

Getting Help 189 • Dell Marketing and Sales e-mail addr esses apmarketing@dell.com (Asian/P acific 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 passwor d. AutoT ech Service Dell's automated support service—AutoT ec[...]

190 Getting Help Returning Items for W arranty Repair or Credit P repare all items being r eturned, whether for repair or credit, as follows: 1 Call Dell to obtain a Return Materi al Authorization Number , and write it clearly and prominently on the outside of the box. F or the telephone number to call for your r egion, see "Contacting Dell&qu[...]

Getting Help 191 Diagnostics Checklist Name: Date: Address: Phone number: Service T ag (bar code on the back or bottom of the computer): Express Servi ce Code: Return Material Authorization Number (if provided by Dell support technician): Operating system and version: Devices: Expansion cards: Are you connected to a network? Y es/No Network, versio[...]

192 Getting Help Contacting Dell NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, yo u can find contact information on your purchase invoice, pa cking slip, bill, or Dell product catalog. Dell provides several online and teleph one-based support and service options. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be ava[...]

Specifications 193 Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. Fo r more information regarding the configuration of yo ur computer , click Start , click Help and Support , and then select the option to view information about your computer . Processor P rocessor type Intel ® Core™ 2 Duo L1 cache 32 KB per instruction, 32 KB data cache per [...]

194 Specifications Cards supported ExpressCar d /34 (34 mm) ExpressCar d/54 (54 mm) 1.5 V and 3.3 V ExpressCar d connector size 26 pins 8-in-1 Memory Card Reader 8-in-1 memory card controller Ricoh R5C833 8-in-1 memory card connector 8-in-1 combo card connector Cards supported • Secur e Digital (SD) •S D I O • MultiMediaCar d (MMC) •M e m o[...]

Specifications 195 Ports and Connectors Audio microphone connector , stereo headphone/speakers connector IEEE 1394 4-pin serial connector Consumer IR sensor compatible with Philips R C6 (receive only) Mini Card three T ype II IA Mini Card slots Modem RJ-11 port Network adapter RJ-45 port S-video TV -out 7-pin mini-DIN connector (optional S-video to[...]

196 Specifications Vide o NOTE: Optional video controller upgrades are available for your computer subject to availability at the time of purchase. T o determine the configura tion of your computer , see "Determining Y our Computer ’ s Configuration" on page 21. Video type: integrated on system board Video controller Intel 965 GM Video [...]

Specifications 197 Display T ype (active-matrix TFT) 15.4-inch WXGA 15.4-inch WXGA with T rueLife 15.4-inch WXGA+ with T rueLife 15.4-inch WSXGA+ with T rueLife Dimensions: Height 222.5 mm (8.8 in) Wi d t h 344.5 mm (13.6 in) Diagonal 391.2 mm (15.4 in) Maximum resolutions: WXGA 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors WXGA with T rueLife 1280 x 800 at 262 K col[...]

198 Specifications Pix el pitch: WXGA 0.258 mm WXGA with T rueLife 0.258 mm WXGA+ with T rueLife 0.2304 mm WSXGA+ with T rueLife 0.197 mm Controls brightness can be controlled through keyboar d shortcuts (see "Display F unctions" on page 48) Keyboard Nu m be r of ke ys 87 (U.S. and Canada); 88 (Europe); 91 (Japan) Layout QWER TY/AZER TY/K[...]

Specifications 199 V oltage 11.1 VDC Charge time (approximate) : Computer off 4 hours Operating time Battery operati ng time varies depending on operating conditions and can be significantly reduced under certain power -intensive conditions (see "P ower P roblems" o n page 132). See "Using a Battery" on page 53 for more informat[...]

200 Specifications W eight (with cables) 0.4 kg (0.9 lb) Dimensions (90 W): Height 34.2 mm (1.34 in) Wi d t h 60.8 mm (2.39 in) Depth 153.4 mm (6.0 in) W eight (with cables) 0.46 kg (1.01 lb) T emperature range: Operating 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F) Storage –40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F) Phy sical Height 42 mm (1.65 in) W idth 358.7 mm (14.1[...]

Specifications 201 Maximum shock (Measured with hard drive in operating status and a 2-ms half -sine pulse for operating. Also measured with har d drive in head-parked position and a 2-ms halfsine pulse for storage): Operating 142 G Storage 163 G Altitude (maximum): Operating –15.2 to 3048 m (–50 to 10,000 ft) Storage –15.2 to 10,668 m (– 5[...]

202 Specifications[...]

Appendix 203 Appendix Using the Sy stem Setup Program NOTE: Y our operating sy stem may automatica lly configure most of the options available in sy stem setup, thus overriding options that you set through sy stem setup. An exception is the External Hot Key option, which you can disable or enable only through sy stem setup. For more information on [...]

204 Appendix Viewing the Sy stem Setup Screen 1 T urn on (or restart) your computer . 2 When the DELL logo appears, press <F2> immediately . If you wait too long and the Microsof t W indows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the W indows desk top, then shut down your computer and try again. Sy stem Setup Screen NOTE: For information[...]

Appendix 205 • USB Storage Device • CD/D VD/CD-RW drive • Modular bay HDD NOTE: Only devices that are preceded by a number are bootable. During the boot routine, t he 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 sear ching and starts t[...]

206 Appendix Cleaning Y our Computer CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide . Computer , Keyboard, and Display CAUTION: Before you clean your computer , dis connect the computer from the electrical outlet and remove any installed batteries. Clea n you[...]

Appendix 207 T ouch Pad 1 Shut down and turn off your comput er (see "T urning Off Y our Computer" on page 154). 2 Disconnect any attached devices from the computer and from their electrical outlets. 3 Remove any installed batteries (see "Battery P erformance" on page 53). 4 Moisten a soft, lint-free cloth with wa ter , and wipe[...]

208 Appendix Media NOTICE: Alway s use compressed air to clean the lens in the optical drive, and follow the instructions that come with the compressed air produ ct. Never touch the lens in the drive. If you notice problems, such as skipp ing, with the playback quality of your media, try cleaning the discs. 1 Hold the disc by its outer edge. Y ou c[...]

Appendix 209 Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Dell-installed software includes t he operating system and some of the software programs that ar e inst alled on the computer during the manufacturing process (Microsoft Office, Norton Antivirus, etc). Dell-installed peripherals include any internal expansion car ds, or [...]

210 Appendix These limits are designed to provide r easonable protection against harmful interference in a r esidential installation. However , there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If t his equipment does cause harmful interference with radio or television r eception, which can be determined by turnin[...]

Glossary 211 Glossary T erms in this Glossary are provided fo r informational purposes only and may or may not describe features inclu ded 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. ACP I — advanced configur[...]

212 Glossary BIOS — basic input/output system — A pr ogram (or utility) that serves as an interface between the computer hardwar e and the operating system. Unless you understand what effect these settings have on the computer , do not change them. Also referr ed to as system setup . bit — The smallest unit of data interpr eted by your comput[...]

Glossary 213 carnet — An international customs document that facilitates temporary imports into foreign countries. Also known as a merchandise passport . CD-R — CD recor dable — A recordable version of a CD. Data can be r ecorded only once onto a CD-R. Once recor ded, the data cannot be erased or written over . CD-R W — CD rewritable — A [...]

214 Glossary D DDR SDR AM — double-data-rate SDRAM — A type of SDR AM that doubles the data burst cycle, improving system performance. DDR2 SDR AM — double-data-rate 2 SDRAM — A type of DDR SDR AM that uses a 4-bit prefetch and other architectural changes to boost memory speed to over 400 MHz. device — Hardwar e such as a disk drive, prin[...]

Glossary 215 dual display mode — A display setting that allows you to use a second monitor as an extension of your display . Also referr ed to as extended display mode . D VD-R — DVD r ecordable — A recor dable versi on of a DVD. Data can be r ecorded only once onto a DVD-R. Once r ecorded, th e data cannot be erased or written over . DVD + R[...]

216 Glossary Express Service Code — A numeric code located on a sticker on your Dell™ computer . Use the Express Service Code wh en contacting Dell for assistance. Expr ess Service Code service may not be available in some countries. extended display mode — A display setting that allows yo u to use a second monitor as an extension of your dis[...]

Glossary 217 GHz — gigahertz — A measurement of fr eque ncy that equals one thousand million Hz, or one thousand MHz. The speeds for computer processors, buses, and interfaces are often mea sured 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 unli[...]

218 Glossary infrared sensor — Sensor for the Dell T ravel Remote integrated — Usually refers to components that ar e physically locate d on the computer ’s system board. Also r e ferred to as built-in . I/O — input/output — An operation or device that enters and extracts data from your computer . Keyboards and pr inters ar e I/O devices.[...]

Glossary 219 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 fo r a parallel connection to a printer or other parallel device. M Mb — megabit —[...]

220 Glossary Mini-Card — A small card designed for integrated peripherals, such as communication NICs. The Mini-Card is func tionally equivalent to a standar d PCI expansion car d. Mobile Broadband network — (also known as a WW AN) is a series of interconnected computers that communicate with each othe r through wir eless cellular technology an[...]

Glossary 221 O optical drive — A drive that uses optical technolo gy to read or write data from CDs, D VDs, or D VD+RWs. Example of optical drives include CD drives, D VD drives, CD-R W drives, and CD-R W/D VD combo drives. P parallel connector — An I/O port often used to connect a parallel printer to your computer . Also referr ed to as an LPT[...]

222 Glossary processor — A computer chip that interprets and e xecutes program instructions. Sometimes the processor is referr ed to as the CPU (central processing unit). PS/2 — personal system/2 — A type of co nnector for attaching a PS/2-compatible keyboar d, mouse, or keypad. PXE — pre-boot e xecution environmen t — A WfM (W ired for M[...]

Glossary 223 RPM — revolutions per minute — The numb er of rotations that occur per minute. Hard drive speed is often measur ed in rpm. RT C — real time clock — Battery-powered c lock on the system boar d that keeps the date and time after you shut down the computer . RT C R S T — real-time clock reset — A jumper on the system boar d of[...]

224 Glossary smart card — A card that is embedded with a processor and a memory chip. Smart cards can be used to authenticate a u ser on computers equipped for smart car ds. S/PDIF — Sony/Philips Digital Interface — An audio transfer file format that allows the transfer of audio from one file to ano ther without converting it to and from an a[...]

Glossary 225 T T API — telephony application programming interface — Enables Windows programs to operate with a wide variety of telephony de vices, including voice, data, fax, and video . text editor — A program used to create and edit files that contain only te xt; for example, W indows Notepad uses a text editor . T ext editors do not usual[...]

226 Glossary V video controller — The circuitry on a video card or on the system boar d (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 t[...]

Glossary 227 WLAN — wireless local ar ea network. A se ries of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves using access points or wireless routers to provide Internet access. write-protected — F iles or media that cannot be changed. Use write -protection when you want to protect data from being changed or destro[...]

228 Glossary[...]

Index 229 Index Numerics 8-in-1 memory c ard r eader , 91 A audio device connecting, 6 9 enabling, 8 4 audio . See sound B battery charge gauge, 5 5 charging, 5 8 checking the charge, 5 4 performance, 5 3 power meter , 5 5 removing, 5 9 replacing coin-cell battery , 1 8 1 storing, 6 0 BD. See Blu-ray Disc blank cards ExpressCar ds, 8 7 memory card,[...]

230 Index computer c r a s h e s , 127-128 restor e to previous operating state, 1 4 5 s l o w p e r f o r m a n c e , 118, 129 specifications, 1 9 3 stops responding, 1 2 7 conflicts software and har dware incompatibilities, 1 4 3 connecting audio device, 6 9 Mobile Broadband network, 9 9 TV , 6 9 contacting Dell, 192 copying CDs general informati[...]

Index 231 drivers a b o u t , 139 identifying, 1 4 0 reinstalling, 1 4 0 Drivers and Utilities media, 15 a b o u t , 141 Dell Diagnostics, 1 0 7 drives p r o b l e m s , 114 See also hard drive See also optical drive DV D about, 6 4 drive problems, 1 1 5 E End User License Agreement, 16 ergonomics information, 16 error messages, 119 ExpressCar d sl[...]

232 Index Internet connection about, 3 5 options, 3 5 setting up, 3 6 IRQ conflicts, 143 K key b oa rd numeric keypad, 4 7 p r o b l e m s , 125 r e m o v i n g , 161 shortcuts, 4 8 keyboar d status lights description, 2 6 keypad numeric, 4 7 L labels Microsoft W indows, 1 6 Service T ag, 1 6 lost computer , 105 M media playing, 6 1 media control b[...]

Index 233 N network installing WLAN Mini Card, 1 7 0 Mobile Broadband ( W W A N ) , 131 p r o b l e m s , 131 QuickSet, 1 8 3 network connector description, 3 0 O operating system reinstalling W indows Vista, 1 4 5 P PC Restore, 147 phone numbers, 192 power hibernate mode, 5 7 line conditioners, 3 9 p r o b l e m s , 132 protection devices, 3 9 sta[...]

234 Index problems ( continued ) restor e computer to previous operating state, 1 4 5 restor e operating system to previous state, 1 4 4 scanner , 1 3 4 s l o w c o m p u t e r pe r f o r m a n c e , 118, 129 s o f t w a r e , 127, 129 sound and speakers, 1 3 5 speakers, 1 3 5 s p y w a r e , 118, 129 P roduct Information Guide, 16 Q QuickSet, 183 [...]

Index 235 support website, 17 S-video TV -out connector description, 3 1 System Restore, 144-145 system setup program commonly used options, 2 0 4 screens, 2 0 4 viewing, 2 0 4 T taskbar Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility , 1 3 1 Dell Support Utility , 1 8 QuickSet icon, 1 8 3 Safely Remove Hardwar e, 1 2 4 wireless activity indicator , 9 9 telepho[...]

236 Index volume adjusting, 1 3 5 W warranty information, 16 W indows Easy T ransfer wizard, 37 W indows Vista Device Driver Rollback, 1 4 0 F actory Image Restore, 1 4 7 P rogram Compatibility wizard, 1 2 7 reinstalling, 1 4 5 S y s t e m R e s t o r e , 144-145 W indows Easy T ransfer wizard, 3 7 W indows XP Device Driver Rollback, 1 4 1 Hardwar [...]