Dell TM373 manual

www .dell.com | support.dell.com Dell™ XPS™ M1730 Owner’ s Manual Model PP06XA book.book Page 1 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 1 About Y our Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Left Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Right Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Back View . . . . . . . . . [...]

4 Contents 3 Using the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Adjusting Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Using a Projector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Making Images and T ext Look Bigger or Sharper . . . 40 Microsoft ® Windows ® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Windows Vista™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

Contents 5 Microsoft ® Windows ® Battery Meter . . . . . . . 48 Charge Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Low-Battery W arning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Conserving Battery Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Power Management Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Standby and Sleep Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Hibernate Mo[...]

6 Contents Playing Media Using Dell Express Card Remote Control (Optional) 61 Copying CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) Media . . . 62 How to Copy a CD, DVD or BD . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Using Blank CD, DVD, and BD Media . . . . . . . 63 Helpful T ips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Adjusting the V olume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

Contents 7 10 Setting Up and Using Networks . . . . . . . 91 Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable . . 91 Setting Up a Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Wireless Local Area Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 What Y ou [...]

8 Contents 13 T roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Dell T echnical Update Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Dell Support Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Optical drive problems . . . [...]

Contents 9 Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Scanner Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 No sound from integrated speakers . . . . . . . . 131 No sound from external speakers . . . . . . .[...]

10 Contents Recommended T ools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 T urning Off Y our Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Before W orking Inside Y our Computer . . . . . . . 150 Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Removing the Hard Drive Cage . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Replacing a Hard Drive in the Hard Drive Cage . . 1[...]

Contents 11 Product Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Returning Items fo r Warr anty Repair or Credit . . . . . 168 Before Y ou Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 17 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 A Appendix . . . . . . . . [...]

12 Contents book.book Page 12 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Finding Information 13 Finding Information NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and ma y not ship with your computer . Some features or media may n ot be available in certain countries. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer . What Are Y ou Looking For? Find It Here • A diagnostic program for my computer • Drivers for [...]

14 Finding Information • W arranty information • 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: The appearance of your setup diagram may vary . • Service T ag and E[...]

Finding Information 15 • Microsoft W indows License Label The label is located on the memory module cover at the bottom of the system. NOTE: If your operating sy stem is Windows XP , this label mi ght look different. NOTE: As an increased security measure,the newly designed Microsoft Windows license label incorporates a missing portion or "h[...]

16 Finding Information • Notebook System Software (NSS)— If you reinstall the operating system for your computer , you should also reinstall the NSS utility . NSS provides critical updates for your operating system and support for processo rs, optical drives, USB devices, and so on. NSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer .[...]

Finding Information 17 • Information on network activity , the P ower Management W izard, hotkeys, and other items controlled by Dell QuickSet. • How to change the LED colors for the zones, play various LED effects (like strobe lights, breathing lights, rotating lights), enable or disable visualization plugins for select music players Dell Quic[...]

18 Finding Information book.book Page 18 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

About Y our Computer 19 About Y our Computer Front V iew 1 13 2 4 8 7 10 5 9 3 11 14 12 6 15 book.book Page 19 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

20 About Y our Computer CAMERA — Built-in camera for video capt ure, c onferencing, and chat. DISPLAY — F or more information about your disp lay , see "Using the Display" on page 39. POWER BUTTON — P ress the power button to turn on the computer or exit a power management mode (see "P ower Management Modes" on page 50). N[...]

About Y our Computer 21 DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS 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 (or external power is not available to char ge the battery). If the computer is[...]

22 About Y our Computer TOUCH PAD — P rovides the functionality of a mo use (see "T ouch P ad" on page 45). I NFRARED S ENSOR — Consumer Infrared sensor to operate the r emote control. M EDIA CONTROL BUTTONS — Control CD, DVD, and Media Player playback. SPEAKERS — T o adjust the volume of the inte grated speakers , press the volum[...]

About Y our Computer 23 D ELL ™ M EDIA D IRECT ™ BUTTON — P ress the Dell MediaDirect button to launch Dell MediaDirect (see "Using De ll MediaDir ect™" on page 67). 1 Dell MediaDirect button 1 book.book Page 23 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

24 About Y our Computer KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS The blue lights located above the keyboar d indicate the following: D IGITAL M ICROPHONES — Digital directional microph ones for confer encing and chat. DISPLAY LATCH — Keeps the display closed. CAMERA I NDICATOR — The indicator shows solid blu e light when the camera is active and off when the c[...]

About Y our Computer 25 Left Side V iew DVI-I C ONNECTOR — Used for connecting a DVI or VGA display (through dongle). S- VIDEO CONNECTOR — Connects your computer to a TV . Also connects digital audio-capable devices using the TV/digital audio adapter cable. USB CONNECTORS IEEE 1394 CONNECTOR — Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high-speed [...]

26 About Y our Computer 8- IN -1 MEMORY CARD READER — P rovides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos, music, and videos st or ed on a memory card. The 8-in-1 media memory card r eader reads the following digital media memory cards: • Secur e Digital (SD) •S D I O • MultiMediaCar d (MMC) •M e m o r y S t i c k • Mem[...]

About Y our Computer 27 Right Side V iew E XPRESS C ARD SLOT — Supports one ExpressCar d. The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot. F or more information, see "ExpressCar ds" on page 85. WIRELESS SWITCH — Y ou can use this switch to rapi dly turn off or on any wireless devices such as WLAN card s and internal car [...]

28 About Y our Computer DELL W I -F I C ATCHER ™ NETWORK LOCATOR — Push this button to scan specifically for wireless networks in your vicinity . The W i-F i Catcher Network L ocator has an LED that operates as follows: – Flashing blue: Searching for networks – Solid blue: Strong network found – Solid yellow: W eak network found – Off: [...]

About Y our Computer 29 CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumula te in the air vents. Do not store your computer in a low -airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the airflow can dama ge the computer or cause a fire. AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR The AC adapter converts A C power to the DC[...]

30 About Y our Computer USB CONNECTORS NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45) NOTICE: T o avoid damaging the computer , do not plug a telephone line into the network connector . Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboar d, or printer . Connects the computer to a network. The two lights next to the connector indicate status and activity for wired network con[...]

About Y our Computer 31 Bottom V iew MEMORY MODULE COVER — Covers the compartment that contains the memory module connectors. BATTERY - BAY LATCH RELEASES — Release the battery . BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE / HEALTH GAUGE — P r ovides information on the battery charge (see "Checking the Ba ttery Char ge" on page 48). BATTERY — When a bat[...]

32 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. book.book Page 32 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Setting Up Y our Computer 33 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 wireless modem/router or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP). Y our ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options: • DSL connectio[...]

34 Setting Up Y our Computer If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP , perform the steps in the following section that corresponds to the op erating system your computer is using. NOTE: If you are having problems connecti ng to the Internet, see "E-Mail and Internet Pr[...]

Setting Up Y our Computer 35 Setting Up a Printer NOTICE: Complete the operating sy stem setup before yo u connect a printer to the computer . See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information, including how to: • Obtain and install updated drivers. • Connect the printer to the computer . • Load paper and install the tone[...]

36 Setting Up Y our Computer 3 T urn on the printer and then turn on the computer . 4 Depending on your computer ’s operating system, a printer wizard may be available to help you install the printer driver: If your computer is running th e Windows V ista™ operating system , click the W indows Vista Start button , and click Network → Add a pr[...]

Setting Up Y our Computer 37 Power Protection Devices Several devices are available to protect against power fluctua tions and failur es: • Surge protectors • Line conditioners • Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) Surge Protectors Surge protectors and power strips equipp ed with sur ge protection help prevent damage to your computer from vo[...]

38 Setting Up Y our Computer 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 ensure maximum battery operating ti me, connect only your computer to a UPS. Connect other devices, such as a printer , to a separate power strip that provides surge protecti[...]

Using the Display 39 Using the Display Adjusting Brightness When a Dell™ computer is running on battery power , you can conserve power by setting the display brightness to the lowest comfortable setting by pressing <Fn> and the up- or down-arrow k ey on the k eyboard. NOTE: Brightness key combination s only affect the displa y on your porta[...]

40 Using the Display Making Images and T ext Look Bigger or Sharper NOTE: If you change the display resolution from the current settings, the image may appear blurry or text may be hard to read if you change the resol ution to one not supported by your compu ter and display . Before yo u change any of the display settings, make a note of the curren[...]

Using the Display 41 Windows Vista™ 1 Click the W indows Vista Start button , and click Control P anel . 2 Under Appearance and P erson alization , click Adjust screen resolution . 3 In the Display Settings window , under Resolution , slide the slide bar to the left/right to decrease/incr ease the screen r esolution. 4 Click How do I get the best[...]

42 Using the Display Microsoft Windows XP 1 Click Start → Settings → Control P anel . 2 Under Pick a category , click Appearance and Themes . 3 Under Pick a task... , click the area you want to change, or under or pick a Control P anel icon , click Display . 4 In the Display P roperties window , click the Settings tab. 5 T ry differ ent setting[...]

Using the Keyboard 43 Using the Keyboard Numeric Keypad The numeric keypad functions lik e the numeric keypad on an external k eyboard. • T o enable the keypad, pr ess <Num Lk >. The light indicates that the keypad is active. • T o disable the keypad, pr ess <Num Lk> again. Keyboard Illumination Y our computer features k eyboard ill[...]

44 Using the Keyboard Battery Power Management Microsoft ® Windows ® Logo Key Functions T o adjust keyboar d operation, such as the character repeat rate, open the Control P anel, click Hardware and Sound , and click Keyboard . F o r information about the Control P anel , see the W indows Help and Support Center . <Fn><F3> Displays th[...]

Using the Keyboard 45 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 slid e your finger over the touch pad. • T o select an object, lightly tap once on the surface of the [...]

46 Using the Keyboard book.book Page 46 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Using a Battery 47 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[...]

48 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 49 Charge Gauge By either pressing once or pr essing and holding the status button on the charge gauge on the battery , you can check: • Battery charge (check by pr essing and releasing the status button) • Battery health (check by pressing and holding the status button) The battery operating time is largely de termined by the n[...]

50 Using a Battery Y ou can change the settings for the battery alarms in QuickSet or the P ower Options P roperties window . See "Configuring P ower Management Settings" on page 52 for informatio n about accessing QuickSet or the P ower Options P roperties window . Conserving Battery Power P erform the following actions to conserve batte[...]

Using a Battery 51 T o enter sleep mode in Wi n d o w s Vi s t a , click the W indows Vista Start button , and then click Sl eep . NOTE: If your computer is not responding, pres sing and holding the power button for more than 10 seconds turns it off. Depending on how you set the po wer management options in the P ower Options Properties window or t[...]

52 Using a Battery NOTE: Some PC Cards or Express Cards may not operate co rrectly after the computer exits hibernate mode. Remove and reinsert the card (see "Removing an ExpressCard or Blank" on page 87), or simply restart (reboot) your computer . T o exit hibernate mode, pr ess the power button. The computer may take a short time to exi[...]

Using a Battery 53 The battery is too hot to start charging if the light flashes alternately blue and orange. Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room temperature. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet to continue charging the battery . F or information about resolving pro[...]

54 Using a Battery book.book Page 54 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Using the Camera 55 Using the Camera The camera is integrated in the comp uter display . The camera and its integrated digital microphones allow you to take photos and videos and to communicate visually an d verbally with other computer users. The blue camera light appears when the camera is turned on. F or more information about camera features, s[...]

56 Using the Camera Manually Adjusting the Camera Settings If you do not want the camera to us e automatic settings, you can manually adjust the camera settings. 1 Right-click the icon in the notification area and click Launch W ebcam Console . 2 In the W ebcam Console window : •C l i c k t h e Camera tab to adjust video settings, such as contras[...]

Using GamePanel 57 Using GamePanel The Logitech ® GameP anel™ is a small secondary monochrome LCD for displaying text and graphical informati on located at the top right hand corner of the dashboard. This shows importan t gaming information such as frames per second, health and so on, without cl uttering the main display . It can also display no[...]

58 Using GamePanel The GameP anel toggle button lets you toggle among the various applications provided by the GameP anel. Y ou can use the first two buttons of the GameP anel control buttons to navigate between values and options in the LC D Manager tabs.The third and fourth buttons are used for confirming and cance lling the value selections r es[...]

Using Multimedia 59 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[...]

60 Using Multimedia T o format media for storing or copying data, see the media software that came with your computer . NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyrig ht laws when copying media. A CD player includes the following basic buttons: A DVD player includes the following basic buttons: F o r more information on playing media, click Help on the m[...]

Using Multimedia 61 Playing Media Using Dell Express Card Remote Control (Optional) The Dell Express Car d remote control is designed to control Dell Media Direct and W indows Vista™ Media Center . It can work only with specified computers. F o r more details, r efer to the Dell Support website at support.dell.com . T o play media using Dell Expr[...]

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

Using Multimedia 63 How to Copy a CD, DVD or BD NOTE: Most commercial DVDs and BDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Roxio Creator Plus. NOTE: BD media can only be copi ed to other BD media. NOTE: Copying a BD-R to BD-RE does not produce an exact copy . 1 Click Start → All P rograms → Roxio Creator → P rojects → Copy . 2 [...]

64 Using Multimedia DVD-Writable and Combo Drives Blu-Ray 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 C[...]

Using Multimedia 65 • 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[...]

66 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 67 Using Dell MediaDirect™ Dell MediaDirect is an instant-on mu ltimedia playback mode for digital media. P ress the Dell MediaDirect bu tton, located on the hinge cover , to launch Dell MediaDirect. If the computer is turned on or in standby or sleep mode If you press the Dell MediaDir ect butt on while the computer is turned on[...]

68 Using Multimedia NOTE: If you voluntarily reformat the hard dr ive, reinstall Dell MediaDirect using the MediaDirect re-installation media tha t was shipped with your computer . For more information, see the Reinstalling Dell MediaDirect techsheet that accompanied your computer . F o r more information on using Dell MediaDir ect, use the Help me[...]

Using Multimedia 69 1 S-video TV-out conne ctor 2 S-video connector 1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video adapter 3 S/PDIF digital audio connecto r 4 composite video-output connector 5 S-video connector 1 S-video TV-out connec tor 2 component video adapter 3 S/PDIF digital audio connector 4 Pr (red) component video-output connector 5 Pb (blu[...]

70 Using Multimedia If you want to connect y our 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 • D VI to HDMI adaptor cable and stand[...]

Using Multimedia 71 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 cable directly to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer (without the TV/digital audio adapter cable). 2 Plug one end of the S-video c[...]

72 Using Multimedia 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 book.book Page 72 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Using Multimedia 73 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[...]

74 Using Multimedia 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 book.book Page 74 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Using Multimedia 75 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 composit e[...]

76 Using Multimedia 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 book.book Page 76 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Using Multimedia 77 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 composit e v[...]

78 Using Multimedia Component Video and Standard Audio 1 S-video TV-out connecto r 2 component video adapter 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable 3 standard audio cable 2 1 1 2 3 book.book Page 78 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Using Multimedia 79 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[...]

80 Using Multimedia Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio 1 S-video TV-out connector 2 component video adapter 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 2 1 2 3 book.book Page 80 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Using Multimedia 81 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 componen t video adapter . Make sur e that the red, gr e[...]

82 Using Multimedia 7 T urn on the TV , turn on any audio de vice that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer . 8 See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 83 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV . Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio 1 Double-click the speaker icon in the W indow[...]

Using Multimedia 83 1 T urn off the computer and the TV and/ or audio device that you want to connect. 2 Plug the D VI end of the DVI to H DMI adaptor cable into the D VI-I connector on the computer . 3 Plug the other end of the D VI to HDMI adaptor cable into the HDMI connector on your TV . 4 Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into t[...]

84 Using Multimedia 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 Re solution . The Display P r operties window appears. 3 Click Advanced . 4 Click the tab for your video card. NOTE: T o determine the type of video card i[...]

Using Cards 85 Using Cards ExpressCards ExpressCar ds provide additional memo ry , wired and wire less communications, multimedia and security features. F or example, you can add an Expr essCard 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[...]

86 Using Cards ExpressCard Blanks Y our computer shipped with a plastic bl ank installed in the ExpressCar d slot. Blanks protect unused slots from dust an d other particles. Save the blank for use when no ExpressCar d is installed in the slot; blanks from other computers may not fit your computer . Remove the blank before installing an Expr essCar[...]

Using Cards 87 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, follow the[...]

88 Using Cards Memory Card Reader The memory card r eader provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos, music, and vide os stor ed on a memory card. NOTE: A memory card is not a bootable device. The 8-in-1 memory card r eader reads the following memory cards: • Secure Digital (SD) •S D I O • MultiMediaCard (MMC) • Mem[...]

Using Cards 89 Memory Card Blanks Y our computer shipped with a plasti c blank installed in the memory card reader . Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles. Save the blank for use when no media memory card is installed in the slot; blanks from other computers may not fit your computer . Remove the blank before installing a media [...]

90 Using Cards The computer recognizes the memory car d 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 memory car d, if applicable. Removing a Memory Card or Blank CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this sectio[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 91 Setting Up and Using Networks Setting up a computer network provid es connectivity 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 compu ter , browse other net[...]

92 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 93 Windows Vista 1 Click the W indows Vista Start button , and then click Connect T o → Set up a connection or network . 2 Select an option under Choose a connection option . 3 Click Next , and then follow the instructions in the wizard. Wireless Local Area Network A wireless local ar ea network (WLAN) is a series of[...]

94 Setting Up and Using Networks Start Button and Connect T o Option In Microsoft W indows XP , click Start → Connect T o → Show all connections . NOTE: If your computer is set to the Classic Start menu option, click Start → Settings → Network Connections to view your netw ork connections. In Microsoft W indows Vista , click → Connect T o[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 95 4 Shut down your computer and any ot her wir eless-enabled computers in the vicinity through the W indows Vista Start button , or Start → Shutdown in W indows XP . 5 Disconnect your broadband modem power cable from the electrical outlet. 6 Disconnect the network cable fr om the computer and the modem. 7 Disconnect[...]

96 Setting Up and Using Networks Connecting to a WLAN NOTE: Before you connect to a WLAN, en sure that you have followed the instructions in "Wireless Loca l Area Network" on page 93. NOTE: The following networking instructions do not apply to i nternal cards with Bluetooth ® wireless technology or cellular products. This section provide[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 97 Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Depending on the software installed on your computer , differ ent wireless 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[...]

98 Setting Up and Using Networks 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 network, you mu st enter a WEP or WP A key when prompted. Network security settings are un ique to your netw ork[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 99 What Y ou Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection NOTE: Depending on your computer , you c an 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 Broadband network connection, you need: • A Mobile Broadband Ex[...]

100 Setting Up and Using Networks Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network NOTE: These instructions only apply to Mob ile Broadband ExpressCards or Mini-Cards. They do not apply to inte rnal cards with other wireless technology . NOTE: Before you connect to the Internet, you must act ivate Mobile Broadband service through your cellular service prov[...]

Setting Up and Using Networks 101 If the switch is in the on position, move the switch to the off position to disable the switch and the Mobile Broa dband card. If the switch is in the off position, move the switch to the on position to enable the switch and the Dell Mobile Broadband card. T o monitor the status of your wireless device, see "M[...]

102 Setting Up and Using Networks book.book Page 1 02 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

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 de[...]

104 Securing Y our Computer Passwords P asswords prevent unauthorized access to your computer . When using passwords, observe t he following guidelines: • Choose a password that you can r ememb er , but not one that is 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 [...]

Cleaning Y our Computer 105 Cleaning Y our Computer CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions 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. Cle[...]

106 Cleaning Y our Computer CDs, DVDs and BDs NOTICE: Alway s use compressed air to clean th e lens in the CD/DVD and BD drive, and follow the instructions that come wi th the compressed-air product. Never touch the lens in the drive. If you notice problems, such as skipp ing, with the playback quality of your CDs, D VDs or BDs, try cleaning the di[...]

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 170). 1 Ensure that the computer is connected to an electrical outlet that[...]

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 Utility The Dell Support Utility is customi zed for your computing environment. This utility provides self -support info rmation, software updates, and health scans for your computer . Use this utility to [...]

112 T roubleshooting T o access the Dell Support Utility : • Click the Dell Support icon in the notification area. NOTE: The icon functions vary when cl icking, double-clicking, or right-clicking. Or • Click the Start → All P rograms → Dell Support → Dell Support Settings . Ensure that the Show icon on the taskbar option is checked. NOTE:[...]

T roubleshooting 113 E NSURE THAT THE CD, DVD, OR BD MEDIA IS SNAPPED ONTO THE SPINDLE C HECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS C HECK FOR HARDWARE INCOMPATIBILITIES — See "T roubleshooting Softwar e and Hardwar e P roblems in the Microsoft ® Windows ® XP and Microsoft W indows Vista™ Operating Systems" on page 139. R UN THE D ELL D IAGNOSTICS [...]

114 T roubleshooting Hard drive problems A LLOW THE COMPUTER TO COOL BEFORE TURNING IT ON — A hot hard drive may prevent the operating system from star ting. T ry allowing the computer to return to room temperatur e before turning it on. R UN C HECK D ISK — Windows XP 1 Click Start and click My Computer . 2 Right-click Local Disk C: . 3 Click P[...]

T roubleshooting 115 S CAN THE COMPUTER FOR SPYWARE — If you are e xperiencing slow computer performance, you frequently r eceive pop-up advertisements, or you are having problems connecting to the Internet, yo ur computer might be infected with spyware. Use an anti-virus program that includes anti -spywar e protection (your program may requir e [...]

116 T roubleshooting E RROR READING PCMCIA CARD — The computer cannot identify the ExpressCar d. Reinsert the card or tr y another card (see "ExpressCar ds" on page 85). E XTENDED MEMORY SIZE HAS CHANGED — The amount of memory recor ded in NVR A M does not match the memory in stalled in the computer . Restart the computer . If the err[...]

T roubleshooting 117 H ARD - DISK DRIVE READ FAILURE — The hard drive may be defective. Shut down the computer , remove the hard d rive (see "Hard Drive" on page 152), and boot the computer from a CD. Then, shut down the computer , reinstall the hard drive, and r estart the comput er . If the problem persists, try another drive. R un th[...]

118 T roubleshooting M EMORY ALLOCATION ERROR — The software you ar e attempting to run is conflicting with the operating system, another program, or a utility . Shut down the computer , wait 30 seconds, and then restart it. T ry to run the program again. If the error message still appears, see the software documentation. M EMORY DATA LINE FAILUR[...]

T roubleshooting 119 Win d ow s XP 1 Click Start → Control P anel → Add or Remove P rograms → P rograms and F eatur es . 2 Select the program you want to remove. 3 Click Uninstall . 4 See the program documentation for installation instructions. Windows V ista 1 Click Start → Control P anel → P rograms → P rograms and F eatures . 2 Selec[...]

120 T roubleshooting T IME - OF - DAY NOT SET - PLEASE RUN THE S YS T E M S ETUP PROGRAM — The time or date stored in the system setup prog ram does not match the system clock. Correct the settings for the Date and Tim e options (see "System Setup Screens" on page 180). T IMER CHIP COUNTER 2 FAILED — A chip on the system board may be [...]

T roubleshooting 121 IEEE 1394 Device Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . E NSURE THAT THE IEEE 1394 DEVICE IS RECOGNIZED BY W INDOWS — Win d ow s XP Click Start and click Control P anel . 1 Under Pick a Ca tegory , click P erformance and Main[...]

122 T roubleshooting External Keyboard problems NOTE: When you attach an external keyboard, the integr ated keyboard remains fully functional. C HECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE — Shut down the computer , disconnect the keyboar d cable and check it for dama ge, then firmly reconnect the cable. If you are using a k eyboard extensio n cable, disconnect it a[...]

T roubleshooting 123 Unexpected characters D ISABLE THE NUMERIC KEYPAD — P ress <Num Lk> to disable the numeric keypad if numbers ar e displayed instead of letters. V erify that the numbers lock light is not lit. Lockups and Software Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in[...]

124 T roubleshooting A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft ® Windows ® operating sy stem R UN THE P ROGRAM C OMPATIBILITY W IZARD Windows XP The P rogram Compatibility Wi zard configur es a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non- XP operating system environments. 1 Click Start → All P rograms → Accessories → P rog[...]

T roubleshooting 125 C ANNOT PLAY SOME MEDIA FILES — Because Dell MediaDirect provides access to media files outside the W indows op erating system environment, access to licensed content is restricted. Licensed content is digital content that has Digital Rights Management (DRM) appl ied to it. The Dell MediaDirect environment cannot verify the D[...]

126 T roubleshooting R UN THE D ELL D IAGNOSTICS — If all tests run successfully , the error condition is related to a softwar e problem (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 107). Memory Problems F ill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 169 as you complete these checks. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proc edures in this [...]

T roubleshooting 127 R ESTART THE COMPUTER AND LOG ON TO THE NETWORK AGAIN C HECK YOUR NETWORK SETTINGS — Contact your network administrator or the person who set up your network to verify that your network settings are correct and that the network is functioning. Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area Network [WWAN]) NOTE: The Dell Mobile B roadb [...]

128 T roubleshooting Power Problems F ill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 169 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 . C HECK THE POWER LIGHT — When the power light is lit or blinking, the computer has power .[...]

T roubleshooting 129 C ONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Bypass power protection devices, power strips, and extension cables to verify that the computer turns on. E LIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE — T urn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, halogen lamps, or other appliances. A DJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES — See "Confi[...]

130 T roubleshooting V ERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY W INDOWS — Windows 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 f[...]

T roubleshooting 131 V ERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY M ICROSOFT W INDOWS — Win d ow s 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 . Windows V ista 1 Click Start → Control P anel → Hardware and Sound → Scanners and Camer[...]

132 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 133 T O VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MOUSE , CHECK THE TOUCH PAD — 1 Shut down the computer . 2 Disconnect the mouse. 3 T urn on the computer . 4 At the W indows desktop, use the touch pad to move the cursor around, select an icon, and open it. If the touch pad operates correctl y , the mouse may be defective. C HECK THE S[...]

134 T roubleshooting C ONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Bypass power protection devices, power strips, and extension cables to verify that the computer turns on. A DJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES — Search for the keywor d sleep in W indows Help and Support. S WITCH THE VIDEO IMAGE — If your computer is attached to an external[...]

T roubleshooting 135 If only part of the display is readable C ONNECT AN EXTERNAL MONITOR — 1 Shut down your computer and connect an external monitor to the computer . 2 T urn on the computer and the monit or , and then adjust the monitor brightness and contrast controls. If the external monitor works, the computer display or video controller may[...]

136 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 137 Windows V ista 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[...]

138 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 139 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 . Windows V ista 1 Click the W indows Vista start button , and right-click Computer . 2 Click P roperties → Device Manager . NO[...]

140 T roubleshooting T o start the Hardwar e T roubleshooter: Windows 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 141 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[...]

142 T roubleshooting Windows V ista 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 143 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[...]

144 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 145 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 Re mo v al window and restart the computer . Windows Vista: Dell Factory Image Restore 1 T urn on th[...]

146 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 136). If Device Driver Rollback does not re so[...]

T roubleshooting 147 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[...]

148 T roubleshooting book.book Page 1 48 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 149 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 urni ng Off Y our Computer" (see "T ur[...]

150 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 Shut down the operating system: W indows ® XP: Click Start → Shut Down → Shut down . W indows Vista™: Click the W indows Vista Start button , click the arrow[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 151 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). NOTICE: T o avoid damaging the computer , pe rform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer . [...]

152 Adding and Replacing Parts Hard Drive CAUTION: If you remove the hard drive from the computer when th e drive is hot, do not touch the metal housing of the hard drive. CAUTION: Before working inside your computer , follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide . NOTICE: T o prevent data loss, tur n off your computer be[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 153 3 Loosen the four captive screws on th e hard drive cage and then lift the pull-tab to flip the cage towards th e center of the computer so that the SA T A cables and connectors are accessible. 4 Carefully r emove the SA T A cables from the hard drive or drives that are installed in the cage. 1 captive screws (4) 1 bo[...]

154 Adding and Replacing Parts Replacing a Hard Drive in the Hard Drive Cage 1 Remove two screws on each side of the har d drive cage to free the hard drive, then lift the drive out of its tray in the cage. NOTICE: When a hard drive is not in the computer , store it in protective antistatic packaging. See “Protecting Agains t Electrostatic D isch[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 155 Replacing the Hard Drive Cage 1 Place the hard drive cage upside down on the bottom of the computer with the SA T A connectors and cables aligned, and then firmly press the cables onto the hard drives’ connectors. 2 Flip the hard drive cage over and into the har d drive bay . 3 Tighten the scr ews on the drive cage.[...]

156 Adding and Replacing Parts 3 T urn the computer over , loosen the ca ptive screws on the memory module cover , and then remove the cover . NOTICE: T o prevent damage to the memory m odule connector , do not use tools to spread the memory-mo dule securing clips. 4 If you are r eplacing a memory module, remove the existing module: a Use your fing[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 157 NOTICE: If you need to install memory modules in tw o connectors, install a memory module in the conne ctor labeled “DIMMA” before you install a module in the connector labeled “DI MMB.” Insert memory modules at a 45-degree angle to avoid damaging the connector . 5 Ground yourself and install the new memory mo[...]

158 Adding and Replacing Parts 6 Replace the memory module cover . NOTICE: If the cover is difficult to close, remove the module and rein stall it. Forcing the cover to close may damage your computer . 7 Insert the battery into the battery bay , or connect the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet. 8 T urn on the computer . As the co[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 159 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 GSM (HSDP A) type cards need a SI M. [...]

160 Adding and Replacing Parts Internal Card With Bluetooth™ Wireless T echnology CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedu res in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . If you order ed a card with Bluetooth wireless technology with your computer , it is already installed. The Bluetooth wi r eless techn[...]

Adding and Replacing Parts 161 Optical Drive CAUTION: Before you begin any of the proced ures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide . 1 F ollow the procedures in "Before Y ou Begin" on page 149. 2 Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and shut down the computer . 3 Remove the opt[...]

162 Adding and Replacing Parts book.book Page 1 62 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

T raveling With Y our Computer 163 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 tor e 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 enforcemen t officials and [...]

164 T raveling With Y our Computer • A void packing the computer with items such as shaving cream, colognes, perfumes, or food. NOTICE: If the computer has been exposed to extreme temperatures, allow it to acclimate to room temperature for 1 hour before turning it on. • P rotect the computer , the batteries, and the hard drive from hazar ds suc[...]

Getting Help 165 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"[...]

166 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 di agnostics to provide fast, accurate answers. T o contact Dell's support service, see "Before Y ou Call" on page 168, and then see the contact inf[...]

Getting Help 167 • 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[...]

168 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 region, see "Contacting Dell&quo[...]

Getting Help 169 Diagnostics Checklist Name: Date: Address: Phone number: Service T ag (bar code in the battery bay 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, version,[...]

170 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. Because availability varies by country and product, some services may not be[...]

Specifications 171 Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. Fo r more information regarding the configuration of yo ur computer , click Start → Help and Support and select the option to view information about your computer . Processor P rocessor type Intel ® Core™ 2 Duo processor Intel ® 45 nm Core™ 2 Duo processor L1 cache 64 KB [...]

172 Specifications ExpressCard NOTE: The ExpressCard slot is designed only fo r ExpressCards. It does NOT support PC Cards. ExpressCar d connector one ExpressCar d slot (54 mm) 1.5 V and 3.3 V Cards supported ExpressCar d /34 (34 mm) and ExpressCar d/54 (54 mm) ExpressCar d connector size 26 pins Memory Memory module connector two us er -accessible[...]

Specifications 173 Ports and Connectors Audio microphone-in connector , two stereo headphones/speakers connector IEEE 1394a 4-pin mini, nonpower ed connector Consumer IR sensor compatible with Philips RC6 (receive only) Network adapter RJ-45 port S-video TV -out 7-pin mini-DIN connector (optional S-video to composite video adapter cable; optional S[...]

174 Specifications Audio Audio type High Definition Audio (HD A) codec Stereo conversion 2 4-b it (a nal og- t o-digital and digital-to-analog) Interfaces: Internal HDA bus External microphone-in connector , two stereo headphones/speakers connector Speaker stereo 8-ohm main speak ers with two 18 mm transducers bluetooth speaker adapter Internal spe[...]

Specifications 175 Viewing angle (typical): Horizontal ±60° V ertical ±45° Pix el pitch 0.191 mm (17-inch display) P ower consumption ( panel with backlight) (typical): 7.54 W Controls brightness can be controlled through keyboar d shortcuts Keyboard Number of keys 101 (U.S. and Canada); 88 (Europe); 91 (Japan) Layout QWER TY/AZER TY/Kanji T yp[...]

176 Specifications Battery T ype 9-cell "smart" lithium ion Dimensions: Depth 88.5 mm (3.48 inches) Height 21.5 mm (0.83 inch) Wi d t h 139.0 mm (5.47 inches) W eight 0.48 kg (1.1 lb) (9 cell) V oltage 10.8 VDC Charge time (approximate) : Computer off 4 hours (at 100% in 4 hours) 2 hour (at 80% in 2 hours) Operating time Battery operatin [...]

Specifications 177 Dimensions: Height 43 mm (1.7 inches) Wi d t h 100 mm (3.93 inches) Depth 200 mm (7.87 inches) W eight (with cables) 1.3 kg (2.86 lb) T emperature range: Operating 0° to 40°C (32° to 104°F) Storage –40° to 65°C (–40° to 158°F) Phy sical Height 50.8 mm (2.0 inches) W idth 406 mm (16 inches) Depth 302 mm (11.9 inches) W[...]

178 Specifications Maximum shock (measured with a 2-ms half -sine pulse): Operating 143 G Storage 163 G Altitude (maximum): Operating –15.2 to 3048 m (– 50 to 10,000 ft) Storage –15.2 to 10,668 m (–50 to 35,000 ft) Environmental (continued) book.book Page 1 78 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

Appendix 179 Appendix Overview NOTE: Y our operating sy stem may automatica lly configure most of the options available in the sy stem s etup program, thus overriding options that you set through the sy stem setup program. (An exception is the Fn Key Emulation option, which you can disable or enable only through the sy s tem setup program.) Fo r mo[...]

180 Appendix V iewing the Sy stem Setup Screens V erify the system setup entry procedure for your system (steps 1 and 2) with the project team. 1 T urn on (or restart) your computer . 2 When the DELL™ logo appears, press <F2> immediately . If you wait too long and the Microsoft ® W indows ® logo appears, continue to wait until you see the[...]

Appendix 181 The Boot Order page displays a general list of the bootable devices that may be installed in your computer , includ ing but not limited to the following: • Diskette Drive • Modular bay HDD • Internal HDD • Optical Drive During the boot routine, t he computer starts at the top of the list and scans each enabled device for the op[...]

182 Appendix 3 T urn on the computer . When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately . If you wait too long and the W indows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the W indows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again. 4 When the boot device list appears, highlight the device from which you want to boot and press <En[...]

Appendix 183 • Move the system away from the receiver . • Plug the system into a different outlet so that the system and the r eceiver are on differ ent branch circuits. If necessary , consult a repr esentative of Dell Inc. or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions. The following information is provided on the dev[...]

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Glossary 185 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[...]

186 Glossary bit — The smallest unit of data interpr eted by your computer . Blu-ray Disc ™ (BD) — An optical storage technology o ffering storage capacity of up to 50 GB, full 1080p video resolution (HDTV r e quired), and as many as 7.1 channels of native, uncompressed surround sound. Bluetooth ® wireless technology — A wireless technolog[...]

Glossary 187 CD-R W drive — A drive that can read CDs and write to CD-R W (rewritable CDs) and CD-R (recor dable CDs) discs. Y ou can wr ite to CD-R W discs multiple times, but you can write to CD-R discs only once. CD-R W/D VD drive — A drive, sometimes referred to as a combo drive, that can r e ad CDs and DVDs and write to CD-R W (rewritable [...]

188 Glossary disk striping — A technique for spr eading data over multiple disk drives. Disk striping can speed up operations that retrieve data from disk storage. Computers that use disk striping generally allow the user to selec t the data unit size or stripe width . DMA — direct memory access — A channel tha t allows certain types of data [...]

Glossary 189 E ECC — error checking and correction — A type of memory that includes special circuitry for testing the accuracy of data as it passes in and out of memory . ECP — extended capabilities port — A para llel connector design that provides improved bidirectional data transmission. Similar to EPP , ECP uses direct memory access to t[...]

190 Glossary F Fa h r e n h e i t — A temperature measurement scale wher e 32° is the freezing point and 212° is the boiling point of water . FBD — fully-buffered DIMM — A DIMM with DDR2 DR AM chips and an Advanced Memory Buffer (AMB) that speeds communication between the DDR2 SDR AM chips and the system. FCC — F ederal Communications Com[...]

Glossary 191 H hard drive — A drive that reads and writes data on a hard disk. The terms har d drive and hard di sk are often used interchangeably . HDMI — The High-Definition Multimedia In terface (HDMI) is an all-digital audio/video interface capable of transmitting uncompressed str eams. heat sink — A metal plate on some proce ssors that h[...]

192 Glossary IrD A — Infrared Data Association — The or ganization that cr eates international standards for infrar ed communications. IRQ — interrupt request — An electronic path way assigned to a specific device so that the device can communica te with the processor . Each device connection must be assigned an IRQ. Although two devices ca[...]

Glossary 193 M Mb — megabit — A measuremen t of memory chip capacity that equals 1024 Kb. Mbps — megabits per second — One million bits per second. This measurement is typically used for transmission speeds for networks and modems. MB — megabyte — A measurement of data st orage that equals 1,048,576 bytes. 1 MB equals 1024 KB. When used[...]

194 Glossary N network adapter — A chip that provides network ca pabilities. A computer may include a network adapter on its system board, or it may contain a PC Car d with an adapter on it. A network adapter is also referr ed to as a NIC (network interface controller). NIC — See network adapter . notification area — The section of the W indo[...]

Glossary 195 PIO — programmed input/output — A method of transferring data between two devices through the processor as part of the data path. pixel — A single point on a display screen. P ixe ls are arranged in rows and columns to create an image. A video r e solution, such as 800 x 600, is expr essed as the number of pixels across by the nu[...]

196 Glossary refresh rate — The frequency , measured in Hz, at whi ch your screen's horizontal lines are r e charged (sometimes also r eferred to as its vertical frequency ). The higher the refr esh rate, the less video flicker can be seen by the human eye. resolution — The sharpness and clarity of an image produced by a printer or display[...]

Glossary 197 Service T ag — A bar code label on your compute r that identifies your computer when you access Dell Support at support.dell.com or when you call Dell for customer service or technical support. setup program — A program that is used to install and configure har dware and software. The setup.ex e or install.exe program comes with mo[...]

198 Glossary SXGA — super -extended graphics array — A video standard for video card s and controllers that supports res olutions up to 1280 x 1024. SXGA+ — super -extended graphics array plus — A video standard for video car ds and controllers that supports res olutions up to 1400 x 1050. system board — The main circuit board in your com[...]

Glossary 199 USB — universal serial bus — A hardwar e inte rface for a low-speed device such as a USB-compatible keyboar d, mouse, joystick, scanner , set of speakers, printer , broadband devices, imaging devices, or storag e devices. Devices are plugged dir ectly in to a 4-pin socket on your computer or in to a multi-port hub that plugs in to [...]

200 Glossary W W — watt — The measurement of electrical power . One W is 1 ampere of curr ent flowing at 1 volt. WHr — watt-hour — A unit of measure commo nly used to indicate the approximate capacity of a battery . F or example, a 66- WHr battery can supply 66 W of power for 1 hour or 33 W for 2 hours. wallpaper — The background pattern [...]

Index 201 Index Numerics 8-in-1 memory c ard r eader , 88 A air vents d e s c r i p t i o n , 25, 28, 31 audio device connecting, 6 8 enabling, 8 2 audio . See sound B battery charge gauge, 4 9 charging, 5 2 checking the charge, 4 8 performance, 4 7 power meter , 4 8 removing, 5 3 storing, 5 3 blank cards ExpressCar ds, 8 6 memory card, 8 9 r e m o[...]

202 Index how to , 6 3 copying D VDs helpful tips, 6 4 how to , 6 3 D Dell contacting, 1 7 0 Dell Diagnostics a b o u t , 107 starting from the Drivers and Utilities media, 1 0 9 starting from your hard drive, 1 0 8 Dell MediaDirect about, 2 3 p r o b l e m s , 124 Dell support site, 15 DellConnect, 166 device latch release description, 3 1 device [...]

Index 203 F F actory Image Restore, 143, 145 H hard drive description, 3 1 p r o b l e m s , 114 replacing, 1 5 2 hardwar e conflicts, 1 3 9 Dell Diagnostics, 1 0 7 Hardwar e T roubleshooter , 139 I IEEE 1394 connector description, 2 5 p r o b l e m s , 121 infrared sensor description, 2 7 Internet connection about, 3 3 options, 3 3 setting up, 3 3[...]

204 Index messages error , 1 1 5 microphone directional, 5 5 Mobile Broadband network connections, 9 8 p r o b l e m s , 126 See also wireless switch monitor switching the video image, 3 9 monitor . See display N network Mobile Broadband ( W W A N ) , 126 p r o b l e m s , 126 network connector description, 3 0 O operating system reinstalling W ind[...]

Index 205 printer , 1 2 9 program crashes repeatedly , 1 2 3 program stops r esponding, 1 2 3 programs and W indows compatibility , 1 2 4 restor e computer to previous operating state, 1 4 1 restor e operating system to previous state, 1 4 0 scanner , 1 3 0 s l o w c o m p u t e r p e r f o r m a n c e, 115, 125 s o f t w a r e , 123-125 sound and [...]

206 Index support website, 15 System Restore, 140-141 system setup program commonly used options, 1 8 0 p u r p o s e , 179 screens, 1 8 0 viewing, 1 8 0 T taskbar Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility , 1 2 7 Safely Remove Hardwar e, 1 2 0 wireless activity indicator , 9 8 telephone numbers, 170 touch pad, 45 track stick/touch pad buttons description[...]

Index 207 reinstalling, 1 4 6 system restor e, 1 4 1 wizards P rogram Compatibility w i z a r d , 124 WW AN See also Mobile Broadband book.book Page 2 07 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]

208 Index book.book Page 2 08 Monday, April 14, 2008 4:23 PM[...]