Dell D630-2X33GF1 manual

www .dell.com | support.dell.com Dell™ Latitude™ A TG D630 User’ s Guide Model PP18L[...]

Notes, Notices, and Cautions NOTE: A NOTE indicates important info rmation that helps you make better use of your computer . NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardw are or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for pro perty damage, personal injury , or death. If you purchas[...]

Contents 3 Contents 1 Finding Information 2 About Y our Computer Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Left Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Right Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Back View . . . . . . . . . [...]

4 Contents Hibernate Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Configuring Power Management Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Accessing Power Options Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Charging the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Replacing the Batt[...]

Contents 5 7 Setting Up and Using Networks Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Operating Sy stem . . 50 Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft Windows Vi sta ® Operating Sy stem . . 50 Wireless Local Area Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

6 Contents ExpressCards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Smart Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Card Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Extended Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Installing a PC C[...]

Contents 7 11 T roubleshooting Diagnostic Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Diagnostic Light Codes Du ring POST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Dell™ T echnical Update Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

8 Contents Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area Network) . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 PC Card Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Ensuring Sufficient Po[...]

Contents 9 Using the Hardware T roubleshooter T ool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Microsoft Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Microsoft Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Restoring Y our Operating Sy stem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Using Microsoft ?[...]

10 Contents Packing the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 T ravel T ips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 T raveling by Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 17 Specifications 18 Getting Help Obtaining Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

Finding Information 11 1 Finding Information NOTE: Some features or media may be opt ional and may not ship with your compu ter . Some features or media may not be available in certain countries. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer . What Are Y ou Looking For? Find It Here • A diagnosti c progr am for my compute r • Drivers[...]

12 Findin g Inform ation • How to set up my computer • Basic trou bleshooting informat ion • How to run the Del l Diagnost ics • How to open my com puter Quick Reference Guide NOTE: This document may be optional and may not ship with your computer . NOTE: This document is avail able as a PDF at support.dell.com . • W arranty information ?[...]

Finding Information 13 • Solutions — T roubleshooti ng hints and tips , articles from technician s, and online courses, frequently asked questions • Community — Online discussion wi th other Del l custome rs • Upgrades — Up grade informat ion for components, such as memory , the har d drive, and the opera ting system • Customer Care ?[...]

14 Findin g Inform ation • Informa tion on ne twork activity , the P ower Management W izard, hotk eys, and other items con t rolled by Dell QuickSet . Dell QuickSet Help To v i e w Dell QuickSet Help , right-click the QuickSet icon in the Micr osoft ® Wi n d o w s ® taskbar . F or more informa tion on Dell QuickSet, see "Dell ™ QuickSet[...]

About Y our Computer 15 2 About Y our Computer Front V iew 2 3 12 1 4 5 13 14 11 8 9 10 15 7 6[...]

16 About Y our Computer DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS 1 display latch 2 display 3 power button 4 device st atus lights 5 keyb oa rd 6 touch pad 7 fingerprint reade r (optional) 8 speaker 9 touch pad buttons/track stick buttons 10 track stick 11 keyb oa rd sta tu s li ght s 12 volume control buttons 13 ambient light sensor 14 mute button 15 keyboar d illumin[...]

About Y our Computer 17 If the computer is connected to an electric al outlet, the light operates as follows: – Solid gr een: The battery is charging. – Flashing gr een: The battery is almost fully charged. – Off: The battery is adequately charged (or e xternal power is not available to char ge the battery). If the computer is running on a ba[...]

18 About Y our Computer KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS The green li ghts located above the keyboard indicate the followi ng: KEYBOARD ILL UMINATION LIGHTS — Pr ess <Fn> and the right-arrow key to toggle on and off these lights for illumination of the keyboar d in low-light enviro nments (see "Keyboar d Illumination" on p age 40). TOUCH PA[...]

About Y our Computer 19 AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR — Detects available environmental light and automatically incr eases or decreases the display backlighting to compensate for low-light and high-light environments. P ress the <Fn> and left-arrow k eys to enable or disable the sensor ("Using the Ambient Light Sensor" on page 45). Left Si[...]

20 About Y our Computer IEEE 1394 CONNECTOR — Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high-speed transfer rates, such as some digital video cameras. SMART CARD SLOT ( WITH BLANK )— Supports one smart card. Smart cards provide a variety of functions, including security featur es and data storage. The blank pr events foreign matter from e ntering t[...]

About Y our Computer 21 NOTE: The Dell Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator light appears only when the computer is turned off and wireless networking is activated in the sy stem setup program. Wh ile working in Microsoft Windows operating sy stems, the light is designed not to appear . PC C ARD SLOT — Supports one PC Card, such as a modem or network ad[...]

22 About Y our Computer Back V iew CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vent s. Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is runni ng. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire. 1 network connector (RJ-45) 2 modem connector (RJ-11) [...]

About Y our Computer 23 NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45) NOTICE: The network connector is slightly larger than the modem connector . T o avoid damaging the computer , do not plug a telephone line into the network connector . MODEM CONNECTOR (RJ-11) USB CONNECTORS SERIAL CONNECTOR VIDEO CONNECTOR AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR Connects the computer to a network. The[...]

24 About Y our Computer The AC adapter converts AC pow er to the DC power requir ed by the computer . Y ou can connect t he AC adapter with your computer turned either on or off. CAUTION: The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However , power connectors and power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible cable or improperl[...]

About Y our Computer 25 Bottom V iew BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE / HEALTH GAUGE — Provides information on the battery charge (se e "Checking the Battery Charge" on page 32). BATTERY — When a battery is installed, you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an electrical outlet (see "Using a Battery" on page 31). BAT[...]

26 About Y our Computer[...]

T ransferring Information to Another Computer 27 3 T ransferring Information to Another Computer Y ou can use your operating system wizards to help yo u transfer files and other data from one computer to another . F or instructions, see the fo llowing section that corresponds to the ope rating system that your computer is running. NOTE: "Old c[...]

28 T ransferring Information to Another Computer 1 Click Start → All P rograms → Accessories → System T ools → F iles and Settings T ransfer Wizard . 2 When the F iles and Settin gs T ransfer W izard welcome screen appears, click Next . 3 On the Which computer is this? screen, click New Computer and click Next . 4 On the Do y o u h a v e a [...]

T ransferring Information to Another Computer 29 4 On the Do y o u h a v e a Wi nd o w s X P C D? screen, click I w a nt t o c r e at e a Wiz a r d D i sk i n th e f ol l ow i ng drive → Next. 5 Insert the removable media, such as a writabl e CD, and click OK . 6 When the disk creati on completes and the Now go to your old computer message appear[...]

30 T ransferring Information to Another Computer F ollow the instructions provided on the sc reen by the W indows Easy T ransfer wizard. Easy T ransfer Cable for Windo ws Vista NOTE: Dell does not provide the Easy T ransfer Cable. 1 Insert the Easy T ransfer Cable for W indows V ista Ap plication Software media into the computer from which you are [...]

Using a Battery 31 4 Using a Battery Battery Performance NOTE: For information about the Dell warranty for your computer , see the Product Information Guide or separate paper warranty document that shipped with your computer . F or optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS sett ings, operate your Dell™ portable computer with the main[...]

32 Using a Battery CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The battery is designed to work with your Dell computer . Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer . CAUTION: Do not dispose of batteries w ith household wa[...]

Using a Battery 33 Check the Battery Charge T o check the battery charge, pr ess and r elease the status button on the battery char ge ga uge to illuminate the charge-level lights. Each light repr esents app r oximately 20 percent of the total battery char ge. F or example, if the battery has 80 percent of its charge rem a i n i ng , f o u r o f t [...]

34 Using a Battery Power Management Modes Standby and Sleep Mod e Standby mode (sleep mode in Mi crosoft W indows Vista®) conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a pr ed etermined period of inactivity (a time-out). When the computer exits standby or sleep mode, it r eturns to the same operatin g state it was in befor e [...]

Using a Battery 35 NOTE: Some PC Cards may not operate correctly after the computer exits hibernate mode. Remove and reinsert the card (see "Removing a Card or Blank" on page 67 ), or simply restart (reboot) your computer . T o exit hibernate mode, pr ess the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit hibernate mode. Y ou ca[...]

36 Using a Battery Replacing the Battery CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The battery is designed to work with your Dell™ computer . Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer . CAUTION: Before performing the[...]

Using a Battery 37 Storing a Battery Remove the battery when you store yo ur computer for an extended peri od of time. A ba ttery dischar ges during prolonged storage. After a long storage period, r e charge the battery fully (see "Char ging the Battery" on page 35) before you use it. Battery Errors T o address error codes generated by th[...]

38 Using a Battery[...]

Using the Keyboard 39 5 Using the Keyboard Numeric Keypad Th e nu me ri c key p ad fu n ct i on s l i ke t he n um er i c ke y pa d on an externa l keyboar d. Each key on the keypad has multiple functions. The keypad numbers and symbol s ar e marked in blue on the right of the keypad keys. T o type a number or symbol, hold down <Fn> and press[...]

40 Using the Keyboard Key Combinations Keyboard Illumination Sy stem Functions Battery Display Functions Power Managemen t <Fn> and right-arrow key T oggles the keyboard illumin ation lights on and off. <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> Opens the Ta s k M a n a g e r window . <Fn><F3> Displays the Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter[...]

Using the Keyboard 41 Microsoft ® Windows ® Logo Key Functions T o adjust keyboard operation, such as the char acter repeat rate, open the Control P anel, click Pr i nt er s and Other Hardwa re , and click Ke y b o ar d . F or information about the Contro l P anel, access the Help and Support Center (click Start → Help and Support ). T ouch Pad[...]

42 Using the Keyboard • T o move the cursor , lightly slid e your finger over the touch pad. • T o select an object, lightly tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch-pad button. • T o select and move (or drag) an object, position th e cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad. On the secon d[...]

Using the Keyboard 43 1 P ull the cap off the track stick. 2 Align the new cap over th e square track stick post and gently press the cap down onto the post. NOTICE: The track stick can damage the display if it is not properly seated on the post. 3 T est the track stick to ensure th at the cap is seated properly .[...]

44 Using the Keyboard[...]

Using the Display 45 6 Using the Display Adjusting Brightness When a Dell™ computer is running on battery power , you can conserve power by setting the brigh tness to the lowest comfortable setting by pressing <Fn> an d the up- or down-arrow ke y on the keyboard. NOTE: Brightness key combinations only affect the display on your portabl e co[...]

46 Using the Display The ambient light sensor is disabled when your com puter is shipped to you. If you enable the amb ient light sensor and then use any of the display bright ness k ey combinations, the ambient light sensor is disabled and the display brightness is increased or decreased accor d ingly . Dell™ QuickSet allow s you to enable or di[...]

Using the Display 47 NOTE: Use only the Dell-installed video drivers, which are designed to offer the best performance with your Dell- installed operating sy stem. If you choose a r esolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports, the settin gs adjust automatically to the cl osest supported values. 1 Click the Start button and c[...]

48 Using the Display 9 If prompted, click Ye s to keep the settings. 10 Click OK to close the Display P roperties window . 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 W indows desktop onto this monitor option, and then click Apply . If nece[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 49 7 Setting Up and Using Networks Setting up a computer network prov ides connectivity between your co mputer and the Internet, another computer , or a network. F o r example, with a network set up in a hom e or small office you can print to a s h a r e d p ri n te r , a cc es s d r iv es a nd fi le s o n an ot h e r [...]

50 Setting Up and Using Networks Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Operating Sy stem 1 Click Start → All P rograms → Accessories → Communications → Network Setup Wi zard → Next → Checklist for creating a network . NOTE: Selecting the connection method lab eled This computer connects directly to the Internet enables [...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 51 • The order confirmation for your computer Start Button and Connect T o Option In Microsoft Windows XP , click Start → Connect T o → Show all connections . In Microsoft Windows V ista , click Start → Co nnect T o → Vi e w n e t w o r k c o m p uters and devices . If W ireless Network Connection does not ap[...]

52 Setting Up and Using Networks 8 Insert a network cable into the network (RJ-45 ) connector on the unpowered broadband modem. 9 Connect the other end of the network cable into the Internet network (RJ-45) connector on the unpowered wireless router . 10 Ensure that no network or USB cables, other th an the network cable connecting the modem and th[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 53 • Y our wireless network card’s client utility • The W indows XP or Windows V ista operating system T o determin e which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless network car d in W indows XP : 1 Click Start → Settings → Control P anel → Network Connections . 2 Right-click the Wireless Net[...]

54 Setting Up and Using Networks The wireless activity indicator disp lays whether your computer ’s integrated wireless devices are enabled or disabled. When you turn the wire less networking function on or of f, the wireless activity indicator changes to display the status. F or more information about the Dell QuickSet wir eless ac tivity indica[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 55 1 Click Start → Help and Support → Use T ools to view your computer information and diagnose problems . 2 Under To o l s , click My Computer Information → F ind information about the hardware installed on this computer . On the My Computer Information - Hardware screen, you can view the type of Mobile Broadban[...]

56 Setting Up and Using Networks T o monitor the statu s of your wir eless device, see "Monitoring th e Status of the W ireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet" on page 53. Managing Y our Network Settings Through the Dell QuickSet Location Profiler The Dell QuickSet L ocation P rofiler helps yo u ma nage network settings th at corr esp[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 57 NOTE: Enabling Windows Firewall does not reduce the need for virus-checking software. F or more information, click Start → Control P anel → Security → Win d o ws Fire w a ll , or access the Help and Support Center (click Start → Help and Support ).[...]

58 Setting Up and Using Networks[...]

Using Multimedia 59 8 Using Multimedia Playing Media NOTICE: Do not press down on the media 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 P ull out the tray . 3 Place the disc, label side up, in the c[...]

60 Using Multimedia 4 P ush the tray back into the drive. T o format media for storing data, to create music media, or to copy me dia, see the media software that came with your computer . NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create media. A CD player includes the following basic buttons: A DVD player includes th e following bas[...]

Using Multimedia 61 This section applies only to computers that have a CD-RW , DVD+/-R W , or CD-R W/DVD (combo) drive. NOTE: The types of media drives offer ed by Dell may vary by country . The following instructions e xplain ho w to make a copy usin g Roxio Crea tor Plus - Dell Edition. Y ou can also use Roxio Creator Plus for othe r purpose s, s[...]

62 Using Multimedia CD-Writable Drives DVD-Writable Drives Helpful T ips • Use Microsoft ® Wi n d o w s ® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-R W only after you start Roxio Creator Plus and open a Cr eator project. • Use CD-Rs to b urn music CDs th at you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs may not play in many home or car ste[...]

Using Multimedia 63 Adjusting the V olume NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the media playing. 1 Open the Vo l u m e C o n t r o l window . 2 Click and drag the b ar in the Vo l u m e C o n t r o l column and slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume. F or more informat ion on volume control options, click Help in the [...]

64 Using Multimedia 5 Click OK . Microsoft Windows V ista® Operating Sy stem 1 Click the W indows Vista Start button , , and cli ck Control P anel → Appearance and P ersonalization . 2 Under P ersonalization , click Adjust Screen Resolution . 3 Under Res ol u ti on : click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting. 4 In the drop-down men[...]

Using Cards 65 9 Using Cards NOTE: Electrical and electronic devices are s ensitive to electrostatic discharge (E SD). If a substantial ESD occurs, the device may reset and the device software may attempt to reinitialize a connection. If the software is not operational after an ESD oc currence, restart the modem software program. Card T ypes PC Car[...]

66 Using Cards Extended Cards An extended PC Card (for example, a wireless network adapter) is longer than a s tandard PC Card and extends outside the computer . F ollow these pr ecautions when using extended PC Car ds: • Protect the e xposed e nd of an installed card. Striki ng the end of the card can damage the system board. • Always remove a[...]

Using Cards 67 ExpressCard 1 Place the ExpressCard in the adapter (the ad apter is included with the ExpressCard). 2 Install the ExpressCard with ad apter the same way as a PC Card (see "PC Car d s" on page 65). Removing a Card or Blank CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection, follow the safety instructions in the[...]

68 Using Cards[...]

Securing Y our Computer 69 10 Securing Y our Computer Security Cable Lock NOTE: Y our computer does not ship with a security cable lock. A security cable lock is a commercially available antithef t device. T o use the lock, attach it to the security cable slot on your Dell™ computer . F or more informat ion, see the instructions included with the[...]

70 Securing Y our Computer About Smart Cards Smart cards ar e portable credit-car d shaped devices wi th internal integrated circuits. The top surface of the smart card usually contains an embedded processo r under the gold contact pad. The co mbination of the small size and integrated circuits mak e smart ca rds valuable tools for security , data [...]

Securing Y our Computer 71 Passwords P asswords prevent unauthorized access to your computer . When using passwords, observe the following guidelines: • Choose a password that you can remember , but not one that is ea sy to guess. F or example, do not use the names of family members or pets for passwords. • It is recommended that you do not wri[...]

72 Securing Y our Computer NOTE: Some hard drives do not support hard drive passwords. When using pass words, observe th e following g uidelines: • Choose passwords that you can remember , but not ones that are easy to guess. F or example, do not use the names of family members or pets for passwords. • It is recommended that you do not write do[...]

Securing Y our Computer 73 Using an Administrator Password The administrator password is designed to give syst em administrators or service technicians access to computers for repair or reconfiguration. The admi nistrators or technician s can assign identical administrator passwords to groups of computers, allowing you to assign a unique primary pa[...]

74 Securing Y our Computer T rusted Platform Module (TPM) NOTE: Computers shipping into China are not equipped with the TPM feature. NOTE: The TPM feature supports encryption only if the operating sy stem supports TPM. For more information, see the TPM software documentation and the hel p files that came with the software. TP M is a h ard wa re- b [...]

Securing Y our Computer 75 • Private information management Activating the Security Management Software NOTE: Y ou must first enable the TPM in order for the secur ity management software to have full functionality . 1 Enable the TPM featur e (see "Enabl ing the TPM F eature" on page 74). 2 Load the security management software: a T urn[...]

76 Securing Y our Computer • Contact Dell customer service to report the miss ing comp uter . P rovide the computer Service T ag, the case number , and the name, address, and phone numb e r of the law enforcement agency to which you reported the missing computer . If possible, gi ve the name of the investigating officer . The Dell customer serv i[...]

77 Cleaning Y our Computer CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . Computer , Keyboard, and Display CAUTION: Before you clean your computer , disconnect the com puter from the electrical outlet and remove any installed batteries. Clean your computer with a s[...]

78 2 T urn the retainer ring on the underside of your mouse counterclockwise, and then remove the ball. 3 W ipe the ball with a clean, lint-free cloth. 4 Blow carefully into the ball cag e or use a can of compressed air to dislod ge dust and lint. 5 If the rollers inside th e ball cage are dirty , clea n the rollers with a cotton sw ab moistened li[...]

T roubleshooting 79 12 T roubleshooting Diagnostic Lights CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this secti on, follow the safety in structions that shipped with your computer . Y our computer has thr e e keyboar d status lights lo cated above the keyboard. Du ring normal operation, the keyboar d status lights display the current status[...]

80 T roubleshooting Memory modules are detected, but a memory failure has occurred. • If t wo or more memory modul es are installed, r emove the modules, then reinstall one modu le and restart the computer . If the computer starts normally , continue to i nstall addit ional memory mo dules (one at a time) until you have i dentified a faulty modul[...]

T roubleshooting 81 Dell™ T echnical Update Service The Dell T echnical Update service provides proactiv e e -m a i l n ot i fi ca ti o n o f so ft w are an d ha rdw a re updates for your computer . The service is free an d can be customized for content, format, and how frequently you r eceive notifications. T o enroll for the Dell T echni cal Up[...]

82 T roubleshooting 3 Diagnostics can be invoked one of two ways: a When the DELL™ logo appears, press <F12> immediately . Select Diagnostics from the boot menu and press <Enter>. NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating sy stem l ogo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft ® Windows ® desktop; th en, shut down you[...]

T roubleshooting 83 Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 1 After the Dell Diag nostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears, click the button for the option you want. 2 If a problem is encountered during a test, a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem. W rite down the error code and problem description and follow the instructi[...]

84 T roubleshooting 4 When the tests are completed, if you ar e running the Dell Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities media , remove the media. 5 When the tests are complete, close th e test screen to r eturn to the Main Menu screen. T o exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer , close the Main Menu screen. Dell Support Utility The [...]

T roubleshooting 85 • View the Dell Support Utility settings • Access the help file for the Dell Support Utility • View fr equently asked questions • L earn more about the Dell Support Utility • T urn the Dell Support Utility off Double-Clicki ng the Dell Support Icon Double-click the icon to manually check your computing environment, vie[...]

86 T roubleshooting Problems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive C LOSE OTHER PROGRAMS — The CD/D VD-RW drive must r eceive a steady stream of data when writing. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. T ry closing all programs befo re you write to the CD/D VD- RW . T URN OFF S TANDBY MODE IN W INDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD/DVD-RW DISC — Search[...]

T roubleshooting 87 NOTE: Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only . The modem does not operate while it is connected to a digital telephone network. C HECK THE M ICROSOFT O UTLOOK ® E XPRESS S ECURITY S ETTINGS — If you cannot open your e-mail attachments: 1 In Outlook Ex pres s, click T ools , click Options , and then click Security [...]

88 T roubleshooting Error Messages F ill out the Diagnostics Checklist (see "Diagnostics Ch ecklist" on page 153) as you complete these checks. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . If the message is not listed, see the docume ntation for the ope[...]

T roubleshooting 89 H ARD - DIS K DRIVE CONFIGURATION ERROR — The computer cannot identify the drive type. Shut down the computer , remove the hard drive (see "Ha rd drive pr oblems" on page 86), and boot the computer from media. Then shut down the computer , reinstall the hard drive, and r estart the computer . Run the Har d- Disk Driv[...]

90 T roubleshooting M EMORY DATA LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS , READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE — A memory mo dule may be faulty or improperly seated. Rein stall the memory modules (see "Mem ory P roblems" on page 94) an d, if necessary , r e place them. M EMORY DOUBLE WORD LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS , READ VAL UE EXPECTING VALUE — A memory modul[...]

T roubleshooting 91 S HUTDOWN FAILURE — A chip on the system board may be malf unctioning. R un the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see "D ell Diagnostics" on page 81). T IME - OF - DAY CLOCK LOST POWER — System configuration settings are corrupted. Connec t your compu ter to an electrical outlet to char ge the battery . If [...]

92 T roubleshooting NOTE: Use the integrated keyboard when running the Dell Diagnostics or the system setup program . When you attach an external keyboard, the integr ated keyboard remains fully functional. External Keyboard problems NOTE: When you attach an external keyboard, the in tegrated keyboard remains fully functional. C HECK THE KEYBOARD C[...]

T roubleshooting 93 CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . The computer doe s not start up E NSURE THAT THE AC ADAPTER IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO TH E COMPUTER AND TO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET . The computer stops re sponding NOTICE: Y ou might lose data if you are[...]

94 T roubleshooting • Ensure that the program is in stalled and configured properly . • V erify that the device dri vers do not conflict with the program. • If necessary , un install and then reinstall the program. B ACK UP YOUR FILES IMMEDIATELY . U SE A VIRUS - SCANNING PROGRAM TO CHECK THE HARD DRIVE , FLOP PY DISKS , OR CD S . S AVE AND C[...]

T roubleshooting 95 CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . General C HECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR — Ensure that the network cable is firmly inserted into both the network connector on the back of th e computer and the network connector . C HECK THE NE[...]

96 T roubleshooting • Searching – The Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility has not yet located a Mobile Broadband network. If the searching stat e persists, ensure th at the signal strength is adequate. • No service – The Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility did n ot locate a Mobile Broadband network. Ensure that the signal strength is adequate[...]

T roubleshooting 97 3 T urn on the computer . NOTE: Battery operating time (the time the battery can hold a charge) decreases over time. Depending on how often the battery is used and the condi tions under which it is used, you ma y need to purchase a new battery during the life of your computer . C HECK THE BATTERY STATUS LIGH T — If the battery[...]

98 T roubleshooting AC Power Loss While the Computer Is Docked If a computer loses AC power while docked to the Dell D/Dock or Dell D/P o rt, the computer immediately goes into low-performance mode. Printer Problems F ill out the Diagnostics Checklist (see "Diagnostics Ch ecklist" on page 153) as you complete these checks. CAUTION: Before[...]

T roubleshooting 99 R ESTART THE COMPUTER AND TRY THE SCANNER AGAIN . C HECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS — • See the scanner documentati on fo r cable connection information. • Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer . V ERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY M IC ROSOFT W INDOWS — 1 Click Start → [...]

100 T roubleshooting R UN THE D ELL D IAGNOSTICS — Se e "Dell Diagnostics" on page 81. NOTE: The volume control in some MP3 players overrides t he Windows volume setting. If you have been listening to MP3 songs, ensure that you did not turn the player volume down or off. No sound from headp hones C HECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION ?[...]

T roubleshooting 101 CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . If the display is blank NOTE: If you are using a program that requires a higher resolution than your computer supports, it is recommended that you attach an external monitor to your computer . C HE[...]

102 T roubleshooting If only part of the display is readable C ONNECT AN EXTERNAL MONITOR — 1 Shut down your computer and conn ect an external monitor to the computer . 2 T urn on the computer and the monitor and adjust the monitor brightness and contrast controls. If the external monitor works, the computer display or video controller may be def[...]

Sy stem Setup Program 103 13 Sy stem Setup Program Overview NOTE: Y our operating sy stem may automatically configure most of the options available in the sy stem setup program, thus overriding options that you set th rough the sy stem setup program. (An exception is the External Hot Key option, which you can disable or enable only through t he sy [...]

104 Sy stem Setup Program Sy stem Setup Screens NOTE: For information about a specific item on a sy stem setup screen, highlight the item and see the Help area on the screen. On each screen, the system setup options are listed at the left. T o the right of each option is the setting or value for that option. Y ou can change settings that appear as [...]

Sy stem Setup Program 105 Performing a One-T ime Boot Y ou can set a one-time-only boot sequence without ente ring the system setup program. (Y ou can also use this procedure to boot the Dell Diagnostics on the diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive.) 1 Shut down the computer through the Start menu. 2 If the computer is connected to a doc[...]

106 Sy stem Setup Program[...]

Reinstalling Software 107 14 Reinstalling Software Drivers What Is a Driver? A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printe r , mouse, or keyboard. All devices requir e a driver program. A driver acts like a translator betw een the device and any other programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands [...]

108 Reinstalling Software NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear . If you are an administrator on the computer , click Continue ; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue. Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a " ! ") on the device icon. If an ex clamation point is nex[...]

Reinstalling Software 109 2 Right-click the device fo r which the new driver was installe d and click P roperties . 3 Click the Drivers tab → Rol l B a ck Dr iv e r . Microsoft Windows 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 app[...]

110 Reinstalling Software If instructed to navigate to the driver files, clic k the media dir ectory on the driver information window to display the files associated with that driver . Manually Reinstalling Drivers After e xtracting the driver files to your hard drive as described in the pr evious section, reinstall the drivers: Microsoft Windows X[...]

Reinstalling Software 111 3 In the Fi x a Pr o b l e m section, click Hardware T roubleshooter . 4 In the Hardware T roubleshooter list, select the option that best describes the problem and click Next to follow the remaining troubleshooting steps. Microsoft Windows Vista 1 Click the W indows Vista start button , , and click Help and Suppor t . 2 T[...]

112 Reinstalling Software Microsoft Windows Vista 1 Click the W indows Vista Start button , , and click Help and Support . 2 In the 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 administr ator to conti[...]

Reinstalling Software 113 NOTICE: Before performing the installation, back up all data files on your primary hard drive. For conventional hard drive configurations, the primary hard driv e is the first drive det ected by the computer . T o reinstall Wi ndows, you need the following items: •D e l l ™ Operating System media •D e l l Drive rs an[...]

114 Reinstalling Software[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 115 15 Adding and Replacing Parts Before Y ou Begin This chapter provides procedures for removing and installing the co mponents in your computer . Unless otherwise noted, each proc edure assumes that the following conditions e xist: • Y ou have performed the steps in "T urning O ff Y our Computer" on page 115[...]

116 Adding and Replacing Parts Before Working Inside Y our Computer Use the following safet y guidelines to help protect your computer from potent ial damage and to help ensure your own personal safety . CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instr uctions in the Product Information Guide . CAUTION: Handl[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 117 12 Remove any installed PC Cards from the PC Car d slot (see "Removing a Card or Blank" on page 67).[...]

118 Adding and Replacing Parts Hinge Cover CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection, 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 periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the [...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 119 Keyboard CAUTION: Before performing the following procedures, fo llow the safety inst ructions in your Product Information Guide . NOTICE: T o avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as the back pan el) on the computer[...]

120 Adding and Replacing Parts NOTICE: The keycaps on the keyboard are fragile, easily disl odged, and time-consuming to replace. Be careful when removing and handling the keyboard. 3 Remove the thr ee screws acro ss the top of the keyboard . NOTE: Lift the keyboard carefully in step 4 to ensure that you do not pull on the keyboard cable. 4 Rotate [...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 121 NOTICE: T o avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching a connector on the back panel of the computer . NOTICE: T o avoid damaging the sy stem board, you must remove the main battery before you begin working inside the computer . If you order ed an intern[...]

122 Adding and Replacing Parts Coin-Cell Battery CAUTION: Before performing the following procedures, follow the safety instructions in your Product Information Guide . NOTICE: T o avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching a connector on the back panel of the computer . NOTICE: T o a[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 123 CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTICE: If your computer has only one memory module, in stall the memory module in the connector labeled “DIMMA.” NOTICE: If you remove your original memory modules fr om the computer[...]

124 Adding and Replacing Parts 5 Ground yourself and install the new memory module: NOTE: If the memory module is not installed properly, t he computer may not boot properly . No error message indicates this failure. a Align the notch in the modu le connecto r with the tab in the connector slot. b Slide the module firmly into the slot at a 45-degre[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 125 NOTICE: T o prevent damage to the memory module connector , do not use tools to spread the memory-module securing clips. 3 If you are r eplacing a me mory module, ground yourself and remove the existing module: a Use your fingertips to carefully spr e ad apart the securing clips on each end of the memory module connec[...]

126 Adding and Replacing Parts NOTICE: Insert memory modules at a 45-degr ee angle to avoid damaging the connector . 4 Ground yourself and install the new memory module: NOTE: If the memory module is not installed properly, t he computer may not boot properly . No error message indicates this failure. a Align the notch in the modu le edge connec to[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 127 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card If you order ed a WLAN card with your computer , the car d is already i nstalled. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . 1 F ollow the procedures in "Before Y ou Begin" on page[...]

128 Adding and Replacing Parts NOTICE: T o prevent damage to the connector , do not use tools to spread the securing clips. 4 If a WLAN card is not already installed, go to st ep 5. If you are r eplacing a WLAN card, remove the existing car d: a Disconnect the WLAN card from any attached cables. b Use your fingertips to carefully spr ead apart the [...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 129 5 T o instal l a WLAN card: a Move any antenna cables out of the wa y to make space for the WLAN card. b Align the WLAN card with the connector at a 45-degree angle, and pr ess the card into the connector until you feel a click. NOTICE: T o avoid damaging the WLAN card, never place cables on top of or under the card. [...]

130 Adding and Replacing Parts 3 Remove the keyboar d (see "Keyboar d" on page 119). NOTICE: T o prevent damage to the connector , do not use tools to spread the securing clips. 4 If a Mobile Broadband card is not already installed, go to step 5. If you are r eplacing a Mobile Broadband card , remove the e x isting card: a Disconnect the [...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 131 b Use your fingertips to carefully spr ead apart the metal securi ng tabs until th e card pops up s lig htl y . c Slide and lift the Mobile Broad band card out of its connector . NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion. If you feel resistance, check the connectors and realign the card. NOTICE: The[...]

132 Adding and Replacing Parts Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this s ection, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . NOTE: Only Cingular and Vodafone need a SIM card. Verizon, Sprin t, and T elus do not use a SIM. 1 Remove the battery (see "Replacing the Batter[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 133 NOTE: Dell does not guarantee compatibility or provide suppor t for hard drives from sources other than Dell. T o replac e the hard drive in the hard drive bay: 1 F ollow the procedures in "Before Y ou Begin" on page 115. NOTE: The number of hard drive screws may vary . 2 Remove the har d drive screws on the[...]

134 Adding and Replacing Parts Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Return your old har d drive to Dell in its original or comparable foam packaging. Otherwise, the hard drive may be damaged in transit. hard drive foam packaging[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 135 Media Bay NOTE: If the device locking screw is not present, you can remove and install devices while the computer is running and co nnected to a docking device (docked). Removing Media Bay De vices NOTICE: T o prevent damage to devices, store them in a sa fe, dry place when they are not installed in the computer . Avo[...]

136 Adding and Replacing Parts 1 F ollow the procedures in "Bef or e Y ou Begin" on page 115. 2 Remove the hinge cover (see "Hinge Cover" on page 11 8). 3 Remove the keyboar d (see "Keyboar d" on page 119). 4 Ground yourself by touching one of the metal connectors on the back of the computer . NOTE: If you leave the ar[...]

Dell™ QuickSet 137 16 Dell™ QuickSet NOTE: This feature may not be available on your computer . Dell™ QuickSet provides you with easy access to configure or view the fo llowing 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 De ll™ QuickSet, you ca[...]

138 Dell™ QuickSet[...]

T raveling With Y our Computer 139 17 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 a g and store it in a safe place away from the computer or carrying case. Use the Service T ag if you need to r eport a loss or theft to law enforcement officials and[...]

140 T raveling With Y our Computer T ravel T ips NOTICE: Do not move the computer while using the optical drive to prevent loss of data. NOTICE: Do not check the computer as baggage. • Consider di sabling wireless activity on your comput e r to maximize battery operating time. T o disable wireless activity , use the wireless switch (see " En[...]

Specifications 141 18 Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. Fo r more information regarding the configuration of your computer , click Start → Help and Support and select the option to view info rmation about your computer . Processor P rocessor type Intel ® Core ™ 2 Duo L1 cache 32 KB per instruction, 32 KB data cache pe r core L[...]

142 Specifications www .dell.com | suppo rt.dell.com Cards supported PC Card: 3.3 V and 5 V 1.5- V ExpressCar ds (with adapter) PC Car d connector size 80 pins PCI-E Card Intel ® T urbo Memory 512 MB, 1 GB (flash cache technology ; see "FCM (Flash Cache Module) Car d" on page 135 ) Memory Memory module connector two us er -accessible SOD[...]

Specifications 143 Network adapter RJ-45 port USB four 4-pin USB 2.0-compliant connectors Video 15-hole connector IEEE 1394 4-pin mini-connector (unpower ed) D-Dock standard D-Dock connector for devices such as D-Dock advanced port replicators an d expansion stations D-P ort standard D-P ort connector Communications Modem: Ty p e v .92 Data/F ax MD[...]

144 Specifications www .dell.com | suppo rt.dell.com Sp ea ke r on e 4- oh m sp e ake r Internal speaker amplifier 2- W channel into 4 ohms V olume controls volume control buttons and program menus Display T ype (active-matrix TFT) WXGA or WXGA+ Active ar ea (X/Y) 303.74 x 189.84 Dimensions: Height 206 mm (8.11 inches) Wi d t h 320 mm (12.6 inches)[...]

Specifications 145 Wi d t h 73.0-mm (2.9-inch) sensor -active area Height 42.9-mm (1.7-inch) rect angle T rack Stick X/Y position resolution (graphics table mode) 250 count/sec @ 100 gf Size protrudes 0.5 mm higher than surrounding key c ap s Battery T ype 9-cell "smart" lithium ion (85 WHr) 6-cell "smart" lithium ion (56 WHr) D[...]

146 Specifications www .dell.com | suppo rt.dell.com Charge time (approximate) : Computer off for standard 6-cell battery : approximately 1 hour to 80 % capacity approximately 2 hours to 100% capacity Operating time Bat tery operating time varies depending on operating conditions and can be significantly reduced under ce rtain power-intensive condi[...]

Specifications 147 Fingerprint Reader (Optional) T ype UPEK T CS3 T ouchStrip™ strip sensor with CMOS active capacitive pixel-sensing technology Phy sical Height 44.09 mm (1.74 inches) W idth 342 mm (13.4 6 inches) Depth 240 mm (9.44 inches) W eight (with 6-cell battery and CD drive) 2.88 kg (6.34 lb) Environmental T emperat ure range: Operat ing[...]

148 Specifications www .dell.com | suppo rt.dell.com[...]

Getting Help 149 19 Getting Help Obtaining Assistance CAUTION: If you need to remove the computer cover , first disconnect the computer power and modem cables from all electrical outlets. If you experience a problem with your computer , you can complete the following steps to d iagnose and troubleshoot the problem: 1 See "T roubleshooting"[...]

150 Getting Help DellConnect DellConnect is a simple online acce ss tool that allows a D ell servic e and support associat e to access your computer through a broadband conne ction, diagnose your problem and repair it all under your supervision. F or more informat ion, go to support.dell.com and click DellConnect. Online Services Y ou can learn abo[...]

Getting Help 151 AutoT ech Service Dell's automated support service—AutoT ech—provides recor ded answers to th e questions most frequently asked by Dell customers about their portable and desktop computers. When you call AutoT ech, use your to uch-tone telephone to select the s ubjects that corr espond to your questions. F or the telephone[...]

Returns that are missing any of the preceding re quir ements will be refuse d at Dell’s r eceiving dock and returned to you. Before Y ou Call NOTE: Have your Express Service Code ready when you call. The code helps Dell’ s automated-support telephone sy stem direct your call more efficiently . Y ou may also be asked for your Service T ag (locat[...]

Getting Help 153 CAUTION: Before working inside your computer , fo llow the safety instructions in your Product Information Guide . Diagnostics Checklist Name: Date: Address: Phone number : Service T ag (bar code on the back or bottom of the computer): Express Service Code: Return Material Authorization Number (i f provided by Dell support technici[...]

154 Getting Help[...]

Appendix 155 20 Appendix FCC Notice (U.S. Only) FCC Class B This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency ener gy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the manufactur er ’ s instruction manual, may cause interference with radio and television reception. This equipment has been tested and found t o comply w ith the li[...]

156 Appendix • Model number: PP18L • Company name: Dell Inc. W orldwide Regulatory Complia nce & Environmental Affairs One Dell W ay Round Rock, TX 78682 USA 512-338-4400 NOTE: For further regulatory information, see your Product Information Guide . Macrovision Product Notice This product incorporates copyright protection technolo gy that i[...]

Glossary 157 Glossary T erms in this Glossary are provided for informational purposes only and may or may not describe features included with your particular computer . A AC — alternating current — The form of electricity that powers your computer when you plug the A C adapter power cable in to an electrical outl et. ACP I — advanced configur[...]

158 Glossary byte — The basic data unit us ed by your computer . A byte is usually equal to 8 bits. C C — Celsius — A temperature measur ement scale where 0° is the fre ezing point and 100° is the boiling point of water . cache — A special high-speed storage mechanism which can be either a r eserved sect ion of main memory or an independe[...]

Glossary 159 unit size or stripe width . DMA — direct memory access — A channel that allows certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the processor . docking device — provides port replication, cable management, and security featur es to adapt your notebook to a desktop workspace. DMTF — Distributed Ma nage ment T as[...]

160 Glossary Code service may not be available in some countries. extended display mode — A display setting that allows you to use a second monitor as an extension of your display . Also referred to as du al display mode . extended PC C ard — A PC Card that e xtends beyond the edge of the PC Card slot when installed. F Fa h r e n h e i t — A [...]

Glossary 161 I IC — integrated circuit — A semiconductor wafer , or chip, on which thousands or millions of tiny electronic components ar e fabricated for use in computer , audio, and video equipment. IDE — integrated device electronics — An interface for mass storage devices in which the controller is integrated into the har d drive or CD [...]

162 Glossary per second. This measurem ent is typically used for data transfer ratings. media bay — A bay that supports devices such as optical drives, a second battery , or a Dell T ravelLite™ module. memory — A temporary data storage area inside your computer . Because the data in memory is not permanent, it is recommended that you frequent[...]

Glossary 163 common types of PC Cards. PCI — peripheral component inter connect — PCI is a local bus that supports 32-and 64-bit data paths, providing a high-speed data path between the processor and devices such as video , drives , and networks. PCI Express — A modification to the PCI interface that boosts the data transfer rate between the [...]

164 Glossary rotations that occur per minute. Har d drive speed is often measured in rpm. RT C — real time clock — Battery-powered clock on the system board that k eeps the date and time after you shut down the computer . RT C R S T — real-time clock r eset — A jumper on the system board of some computers that can often be used for troubles[...]

Glossary 165 S-video TV -out — A connector used to attach a TV or digital audio device to the computer . SXGA — super - extended graphics array — A video standard for video car ds and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1280 x 1024. SXGA+ — super -extended graphics array plus — A video standard for video car ds and controllers tha[...]

166 Glossary video modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors. Char acter-ba sed software, such as text editors, displays in video modes that can be defined as x columns by y rows of characters. video resolution — See res ol ut i on . virus — A program that is designed to inconvenience you or to destroy da[...]