Dell™ Inspiron™ 1720 Owner’s Manual Model PP22X w w w. d e l l . c o m | s u p p o r t . d e l l .
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 hardware 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. ____________________ Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 2007–2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Contents Finding Information 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . About Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Determining Your Computer’s Configuration Front View 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Right Side View 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Bottom View 2 21 . . . . . . Left Side View Back View 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power Protection Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Surge Protectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Line Conditioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Uninterruptible Power Supplies 3 . . . . . . . . . . Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Numeric Keypad . . . . 41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Key Combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . System Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 .
Using a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Battery Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Checking the Battery Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dell QuickSet Battery Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . Microsoft® Windows® Battery Meter . Charge Gauge 47 48 48 . . . . . . 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Low-Battery Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Conserving Battery Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Configuring Power Management Settings . . .
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device . . . . . . . . . . . . S-Video and Standard Audio . . . . . . . . . . 63 . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio . . . . . . . . . Composite Video and Standard Audio . . . . . . . 70 . . . . . . 72 . . . . 75 . . . . . . . 78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wireless Local Area Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Checking Your Wireless Network Card . . . . . . Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem Connecting to a WLAN . 86 87 87 . . . . 88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network) . . . . . . . . . . . What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection . . . . .
Dell Support Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Dell Support 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 DellConnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Network Assistant PC TuneUp PC CheckUp Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area Network [WWAN]) 121 . . . . . 122 Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Scanner Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 125 . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 . . . . . . . . .
12 Adding and Replacing Parts Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recommended Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turning Off Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Removing the Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Replacing the Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Removing a WPAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Replacing a WPAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Replacing a WWAN Card Flash Cache Module Removing the FCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Replacing the FCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Internal Card With Bluetooth® Wireless Technology . . . . . . . . . . . .
15 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obtaining Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Online Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AutoTech Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit . . . . . 174 Before You Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Contacting Dell . .
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 . . . . . . 193 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FCC Notice (U.S. Only) . FCC Class B . 192 Macrovision Product Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contents
Finding Information NOTE: Some features may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features may not be available in certain countries. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer. What Are You Looking For? Find It Here • • • • Drivers and Utilities Media A diagnostic program for my computer Drivers for my computer Device documentation Notebook System Software (NSS) Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here • • • • • • Dell™ Product Information Guide Warranty information Terms and Conditions (U.S. only) Safety instructions Regulatory information Ergonomics information End User License Agreement • How to set up my computer Setup Diagram • Service Tag and Express Service Code • Microsoft® Windows® Product Key Service Tag and Microsoft Windows Product Key These labels are located on your computer. • Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here • Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, online courses, and frequently asked questions • Community — Online discussion with other Dell customers • Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as the memory, hard drive, and operating system • Customer Care — Contact information, service call and order status, and warranty and repair information • Service and support — Service call status, support history, service contract, and o
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here • Software upgrades and troubleshooting hints — Frequently asked questions, hot topics, and general health of your computing environment Dell Support Utility The Dell Support Utility is an automated upgrade and notification system installed on your computer. This support provides real-time health scans of your computing environment, software updates, and relevant self-support information. Access the Dell Support Utility from the icon on the taskbar.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here • How to reinstall my operating system Operating System Media The operating system is already installed on your computer. To reinstall your operating system, use one of the following methods: • Microsoft Windows System Restore — Microsoft Windows System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files. • Dell PC Restore — Dell PC Restore returns your computer to its original operating state.
Finding Information
About Your Computer Determining Your Computer’s Configuration Based on selections that you made when purchasing your computer, your computer has one of several different video controller configurations. To determine your computer’s video controller configuration: 1 Click Start , and then click Help and Support. 2 Under Pick a Task, click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems. 3 Under My Computer Information, select Hardware.
Front View 1 2 4 3 14 5 13 12 6 7 11 22 About Your Computer 10 9 8
1 camera indicator (optional) 2 camera (optional) 3 display latch 4 display 5 power button 6 keyboard 7 device status lights 8 touch pad 9 consumer IR 10 media control buttons 11 touch pad buttons 12 Dell™ MediaDirect™ button 13 keyboard status lights 14 digital array microphones CAMERA INDICATOR — Indicates that the camera is turned on. Based on configuration selections you made when ordering your computer, your computer may not include a camera.
DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS The blue lights located to the right of the keyboard indicate the following: Power light – Turns on when you turn on the computer, and blinks when the computer is in a power management mode. Hard drive activity light – Turns on when the computer reads or writes data. NOTICE: To avoid loss of data, never turn off the computer while the light is flashing. Battery status light – Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status.
Bluetooth® status light – Turns on when a card with Bluetooth wireless technology is enabled. NOTE: The card with Bluetooth wireless technology is an optional feature. The light turns on only if you ordered the card with your computer. For more information, see the documentation that came with your card. To turn off only the Bluetooth wireless technology functionality, right-click the icon in the notification area, and then click Disable Bluetooth Radio.
D E L L ™ M E D I A D I R E C T ™ B U T T O N — Press the Dell MediaDirect button to launch Dell MediaDirect (see "Using Dell MediaDirect™" on page 62). KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS The blue lights located above the keyboard indicate the following: 9 Turns on when the numeric keypad (Num Lock) is enabled. A Turns on when the uppercase letter (Caps Lock) function is enabled. Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled.
Left Side View 1 2 3 4 1 security cable slot 2 air vents 3 hard drive 4 ExpressCard slot 5 wireless switch 6 Wi-Fi Catcher light 5 6 SECURITY CABLE SLOT — Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer (see "Security Cable Lock" on page 95). CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running.
1 2 3 4 1 off position Disables wireless devices. 2 on position Enables wireless devices. 3 momentary position Scans for WLAN networks (see "Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator" on page 94). 4 Wi-Fi Catcher light • • • • • Flashing green: Searching for networks Solid green: Strong network found Solid yellow: Weak network found Flashing yellow: Error Off: No signal found NOTE: The Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator light appears only when the system is switched off and Wi-Fi is activated in BIOS.
1 battery status light 2 hard drive activity light 3 power light 4 USB connectors (2) 5 network connector (RJ-45) 6 video connector 7 IEEE 1394 connector 8 8-in-1 memory card reader 9 eject button 10 optical drive 11 audio connectors AUDIO CONNECTORS Attach headphones to the Attach a microphone to the connector. connector. OPTICAL DRIVE — For more information about the optical drive see "Using Multimedia" on page 55.
• Memory Stick • Memory Stick PRO • xD-Picture Card • Hi Speed-SD • Hi Density-SD IEEE 1394 C O N N E C T O R — Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high-speed transfer rates, such as some digital video cameras. VIDEO CONNECTOR Connects video devices, such as a monitor. NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45) NOTICE: The network connector is slightly larger than the modem connector. To avoid damaging the computer, do not plug a telephone line into the network connector. Connects the computer to a network.
Back View 1 2 3 4 1 S-video TV-out connector 2 USB connectors (2) 3 AC adapter connector 4 modem connector (RJ-11) 5 USB connector 5 S - V I D E O TV- O U T C O N N E C T O R Connects your computer to a TV. Also connects digital audio-capable devices using the TV/digital audio adapter cable. USB CONNECTORS Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer.
A C A D A P T E R C O N N E C T O R — Attaches an AC adapter to the computer. The AC adapter converts AC power to the DC power required by the computer. You can connect the AC adapter with your computer turned on or off. CAUTION: The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However, power connectors and power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible cable or improperly connecting the cable to the power strip or electrical outlet may cause fire or equipment damage.
Bottom View 1 2 3 4 10 9 8 7 6 5 1 left speaker 2 consumer IR 3 memory module/coin-cell battery compartment 4 right speaker 5 wireless mini card compartment 6 battery 7 battery charge/health gauge 8 battery release latches (2) 9 air vents 10 hard drive About Your Computer 33
L E F T S P E A K E R — To adjust the volume of the integrated speaker, press the volume control buttons or the mute button. C O N S U M E R I R — A port on the front of the computer that allows certain software applications to be controlled by the Dell Travel Remote. MEMORY MODULE/COIN-CELL BATTERY COMPARTMENT — Compartment that contains the DIMM B memory module and the coin-cell battery. For additional information, see "Adding and Replacing Parts" on page 137.
Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country. To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP). Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options: • DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing telephone line or cellular telephone service.
Setting Up Your Internet Connection To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut: 1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs. 2 Double-click the ISP icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop. 3 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup. NOTE: If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems" on page 109.
Transferring Information to a New Computer You can transfer the following types of data from one computer to another: • E-mail messages • Toolbar settings • Window sizes • Internet bookmarks Use one of the following methods for transferring data: • Windows Easy Transfer wizard, an Easy Transfer Cable, and a USB port • Over a network • Removable media, such as a writable CD Windows Easy Transfer 1 Click Start →All Programs→Accessories→System Tools→Windows Easy Transfer.
Printer Cable Your printer connects to your computer with a USB cable. Your printer may not come with a printer cable, so if you purchase a cable separately, ensure that it is compatible with your printer and computer. If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer, the cable may arrive in the computer’s shipping box. Connecting a USB Printer NOTE: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.
3 Turn on the printer, and then turn on the computer. If the Add New Hardware Wizard window appears, click Cancel. 4 Click Start , and then click Network. 5 Click Add a printer to start the Add Printer Wizard. NOTE: To install the printer driver, see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 130 and the documentation that came with your printer. 6 Click Add a local printer or Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer. 7 Follow the instructions in the Add Printer Wizard.
Line Conditioners NOTICE: Line conditioners do not protect against power interruptions. Line conditioners are designed to maintain AC voltage at a fairly constant level. Uninterruptible Power Supplies NOTICE: Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in data loss or file damage. NOTE: To ensure maximum battery operating time, connect only your computer to a UPS. Connect other devices, such as a printer, to a separate power strip that provides surge protection.
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Numeric Keypad The numeric keypad functions like the numeric keypad on an external keyboard. • To enable the keypad, press . The keypad is active. • To disable the keypad, press again. 9 light indicates that the Key Combinations System Functions Opens the Task Manager window.
Power Management Activates a power management mode. You can reprogram this keyboard shortcut to activate a different power management mode using the Advanced tab in the Power Options Properties window (see "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 50). Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions Windows logo key and Minimizes all open windows. Windows logo key and Restores all minimized windows.
Touch Pad The touch pad detects the pressure and movement of your finger to allow you to move the cursor on the display. Use the touch pad and touch pad buttons as you would use a mouse. 1 2 1 touch pad 2 silk screen depicting scrolling capabilities • To move the cursor, lightly slide your finger over the touch pad. • To select an object, lightly tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button.
Customizing the Touch Pad You can use the Mouse Properties window to disable the touch pad or adjust the touch pad settings. 1 Click Start , and then click Control Panel. 2 Click Hardware and Sound. 3 Click Mouse. 4 In the Mouse Properties window: • Click the Device Select tab to disable the touch pad. • Click the Touch Pad tab to adjust touch pad settings. 5 Click OK to save the settings and close the window.
Using the Display Adjusting Brightness When a Dell™ computer is running on battery power, you can conserve power by setting the display brightness to the lowest comfortable level. • Press and the up-arrow key to increase brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor). • Press and the down-arrow key to decrease brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor).
You can enhance the legibility of text and change the appearance of images on the screen by adjusting display resolution. As you increase resolution, items appear smaller on the screen. In contrast, lower resolution causes text and images to appear larger and can benefit people with vision impairments. To display a program at a specific resolution, both the video card and the display must support the program, and the necessary video drivers must be installed.
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. For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™ portable computer with the main battery installed at all times. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay.
You can check the battery charge before you insert the battery into the computer. You can also set power management options to alert you when the battery charge is low. CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use batteries from other computers with your computer. CAUTION: Do not dispose of batteries with household waste.
For more information about QuickSet, right-click the QuickSet icon, and then click Help. Microsoft® Windows® Battery Meter The battery meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the battery meter, double-click the icon in the notification area.
Low-Battery Warning NOTICE: To avoid losing or corrupting data, save your work immediately after a low-battery warning, then connect the computer to an electrical outlet. If the battery runs completely out of power, Sleep state begins automatically. A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. The computer enters Sleep state when the battery charge is at a critically low level.
Using the Sleep Power State Rather than shutting down your portable computer, use the Sleep power state to conserve power. Sleep automatically saves your work to your hard drive, and then returns you to your previous work session without restarting your computer. NOTICE: If your computer loses AC and battery power while in Sleep state, it may lose data. To enter Sleep state: • Click Start , click , and then click Sleep.
The battery is too hot to start charging if the battery light flashes alternately blue and amber. Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room temperature, then connect the computer to an electrical outlet to continue charging the battery. For more information about resolving problems with a battery, see "Power Problems" on page 122. Replacing the Battery CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion.
1 1 battery 2 2 battery release latches (2) To replace the battery, follow the removal procedure in reverse order. Storing a Battery Remove the battery when you store your computer for an extended period of time. A battery discharges during prolonged storage. After a long storage period, recharge the battery fully (see "Charging the Battery" on page 51) before you use it.
Using a Battery
Using Multimedia Playing Media NOTICE: Do not press down on the optical drive tray when you open or close it. Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive. NOTICE: Do not move the computer while playing media. 1 Press the eject button on the front of the drive. 2 Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray and snap the disc onto the spindle. 3 Push the tray back into the drive. To format media for storing or copying data, see the media software that came with your computer.
A CD player includes the following basic buttons: Play Move backward within the current track Pause Move forward within the current track Stop Go to the previous track Eject Go to the next track A DVD player includes the following basic buttons: Stop Restart the current chapter Play Fast forward Pause Fast reverse Advance a single frame while in pause mode Go to the next title or chapter Continuously play the current title or chapter Go to the previous title or chapter Eject For more information on playin
Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote The Dell Travel Remote is designed to control Dell Media Direct and Windows Vista™ Media Center. It can work only with specified computers. For more details, go to the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. To play media using Dell Travel Remote: 1 Install the CR2106 coin-cell battery in your remote control. 2 Launch Windows Vista Media Center, and then click Start →Programs. 3 Use the remote control buttons to play media.
1 Infrared Transmitter 2 Page Up 3 Page Down 4 Arrow Up 5 OK/Enter/Select 6 Arrow Right 7 Arrow Down 8 Play/Pause 9 Forward 10 Skip Forward 11 Stop 12 Skip Back 13 Reverse 14 Back 15 Arrow Left 16 Mute 17 Volume Down 18 Volume Up Copying CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) Media This section applies only to computers that have a DVD+/-RW drive or a BD-RE drive. NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when copying media.
3 To copy the CD, DVD, or BD: • If you have one optical drive, insert the source disc into the drive, ensure that the settings are correct, and then click the Copy Disc button to continue. The computer reads your source disc and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive. When prompted, insert a blank disc into the drive and click OK. • If you have two optical drives, select the drive into which you have inserted your source disc and click the Copy Disc button to continue.
DVD-Writable Drives Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD-R Yes Yes No CD-RW Yes Yes Yes DVD+R Yes Yes No DVD-R Yes Yes No DVD+RW Yes Yes Yes DVD-RW Yes Yes Yes DVD+R DL Yes Yes No DVD-R DL Yes No No Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD-R Yes Yes No CD-RW Yes Yes Yes DVD+R Yes Yes No DVD-R Yes Yes No DVD+RW Yes Yes Yes DVD-RW Yes Yes Yes DVD+R DL Yes Yes No DVD-R DL Yes Yes No BD-R Yes Yes No BD-RE Yes Yes Yes BD-Writable Drives H
• Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs do not play in most home or car stereos. • Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed. • Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the CD-RW and try again.
Adjusting the Picture If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing media playback, adjust the display properties: 1 Click Start →Control Panel→Appearance and Personalization. 2 Under Personalization, click Adjust screen resolution. 3 On Display Settings, click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting. 4 In the drop-down menu under Color quality, click Medium (16 bit). 5 Click OK.
NOTE: You cannot reinstall Dell MediaDirect if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive. You need the installation software to reinstall Dell MediaDirect. Contact Dell for assistance (see "Contacting Dell" on page 177). For more information on using Dell MediaDirect, use the Help menu in the Dell MediaDirect application. Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device NOTE: Video and audio cables for connecting your computer to a TV or other audio device may not be included with your computer.
1 2 3 4 5 1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video adapter 3 S/PDIF digital audio connector 4 composite video-output connector 5 S-video connector 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video adapter 3 S/PDIF digital audio connector 4 Pr (red) component video-output connector 5 Pb (blue) component video-output connector 6 Y (green) component video-output connector If you want to connect your computer to a TV or audio device, it is recommended that you connect video
When you finish connecting the video and audio cables between your computer and your TV, you must enable your computer to work with the TV. See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV. Additionally, if you are using S/PDIF digital audio, see "Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio" on page 78.
1 Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect. NOTE: If your TV or audio device supports S-video but not S/PDIF digital 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 cable into the S-video output connector on the computer. 3 Plug the other end of the S-video cable into the S-video input connector on your TV.
1 2 3 1 composite video adapter 3 S/PDIF digital audio cable 2 S-video cable 1 Turn 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 into the S-video output connector on the composite video adapter. 1 composite video adapter 1 2 2 S-video cable 4 Plug the other end of the S-video cable into the S-video input connector on the TV.
1 1 2 composite video adapter 2 S/PDIF digital audio cable 6 Plug the other end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable into the audio input connector on your TV or audio device. 7 Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer. 8 See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.
1 2 3 1 composite video adapter 3 standard audio cable 2 composite video cable 1 Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect. 2 Connect the composite video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on your computer. 3 Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite videooutput connector on the composite video adapter.
5 Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer. 6 Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device. 7 Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer. 8 See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.
1 2 3 1 composite video adapter 3 standard audio cable 2 composite video cable 1 Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect. 2 Connect the composite video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer. 3 Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video-input connector on the composite video adapter.
1 1 2 composite video adapter 2 S/PDIF digital audio cable 6 Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S/PDIF input connector on your TV or other audio device. 7 Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer. 8 See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.
1 2 3 1 component video adapter 3 standard audio cable 2 component video adapter 1 Turn 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 component video cable into the component video-output connectors on the component video adapter. Make sure that the red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports.
1 1 component video adapter 2 2 component video adapter 4 Plug all three connectors from the other end of the component video cable into the component video-input connectors on the TV. Make sure that the red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input connectors. 5 Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer.
Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio 1 1 S-video TV-out connector 2 2 composite video cable Using Multimedia 75
1 2 3 1 component video adapter 3 standard audio cable 2 composite video cable 1 Turn 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 component video cable into the component video-output connectors on the component video adapter. Make sure that the red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports.
2 3 1 1 component video adapter 3 component video cable 2 component video-output connectors 4 Plug all three connectors from the other end of the component video cable into the component video-input connectors on the TV. Make sure that the red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input connectors. 5 Plug one end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable into the S/PDIF audio connector on the component video adapter.
Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio 1 Double-click the speaker icon in the Windows notification area. 2 Click the Options menu and then click Advanced Controls. 3 Click Advanced. 4 Click S/PDIF Interface. 5 Click Close. 6 Click OK. Enabling the Display Settings for a TV NOTE: To ensure that the display options appear correctly, connect the TV to the computer before you enable the display settings. 1 Click Start , click Control Panel, and then click Appearance and Personalization.
Using ExpressCards ExpressCards provide additional memory, wired and wireless communications, multimedia and security features. For example, you can add an ExpressCard to make wireless wide area network (WWAN) connectivity available on your computer. ExpressCards support two form factors: • ExpressCard/34 (34 mm wide) • ExpressCard/54 (54 mm wide in an L-shape with a 34 mm connector) The 34 mm card fits into both the 34 mm and 54 mm card slots. The 54 mm card only fits into a 54 mm card slot.
Remove the blank before installing an ExpressCard. To remove the blank, see "Removing an ExpressCard or Blank" on page 81. Installing an ExpressCard You can install an ExpressCard while the computer is running. The computer automatically detects the card. ExpressCards are generally marked with a symbol (such as a triangle or an arrow) or a label to indicate which end to insert into the slot. The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion.
The computer recognizes the ExpressCard and automatically loads the appropriate device driver. If the configuration program tells you to load the manufacturer's drivers, use the media that came with the ExpressCard. Removing an ExpressCard or Blank CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. Press the latch and remove the card or blank.
Using ExpressCards
Using the Memory Card Reader The memory card reader provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos, music, and videos stored on a memory card. NOTE: A memory card is not a bootable device.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. To install a memory card: 1 Hold the card with the top side of the card facing up. 2 Slide the card into the slot until the card is completely seated in its connector. If you encounter too much resistance, do not force the card. Check the card orientation and try again. The computer recognizes the memory card and automatically loads the appropriate device driver.
Setting Up and Using Networks Setting up a computer network provides connectivity between your computer and the Internet, another computer, or a network. For example, with a network set up in a home or small office you can print to a shared printer, access drives and files on another computer, browse other networks, or access the Internet. You can set up a local area network (LAN) using a network or broadband modem cable or set up a wireless LAN (WLAN).
Setting Up a Network 1 Click Start , and then click Connect To. 2 Click Set up a connection or network. 3 Select an option under Choose a connection option. 4 Click Next, and then follow the instructions in the wizard. Wireless Local Area Network A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves rather than through a network cable connected to each computer.
What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection Before you can set up a WLAN, you need: • High-speed (broadband) Internet access (such as cable or DSL) • A broadband modem that is connected and working • A wireless router or access point • A wireless network card for each computer that you want to connect to your WLAN • A network cable with a network (RJ-45) connector Checking Your Wireless Network Card Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer, the computer has a variety of con
Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem 1 Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to obtain specific information about the connection requirements for your broadband modem. 2 Ensure that you have wired Internet access through your broadband modem before you attempt to set up a wireless Internet connection (see "Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable" on page 85). 3 Install any software required for your wireless router.
13 Start your computer and wait until the boot process completes. 14 See the documentation that came with your wireless router to do the following in order to set up the wireless router: • Establish communication between your computer and your wireless router. • Configure your wireless router to communicate with your broadband router. • Find out your wireless router’s broadcast name. The technical term for the name of your router’s broadcast name is Service Set Identifier (SSID) or network name.
To connect to the network: 1 Click Start , and then click Network. 2 Click Network and Sharing on the navigation bar at the top of the Network folder. 3 Click Connect to a network under Tasks. 4 Select your network from the list and click Connect. Once you have configured your computer for a wireless network, another popup notifies you that your computer is connected to that network.
Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network) A Mobile Broadband network, also known as a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), is a high-speed digital cellular network that provides Internet access over a much wider geographical area than a WLAN, which typically covers only from 100 to 1000 feet. Your computer can maintain Mobile Broadband network access as long as the computer is within a cellular-data coverage zone. Contact your service provider for coverage of a high-speed digital cellular network.
Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer, the computer has a variety of configurations. To determine your computer configuration, see one of the following: • Your order confirmation • Microsoft Windows Help and Support To check your Mobile Broadband card in Windows Help and Support: 1 Click Start →Help and Support→Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems.
Use the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility to establish and manage a Mobile Broadband network connection to the Internet: 1 Click the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility icon notification area to run the utility. in the Windows 2 Click Connect. NOTE: The Connect button changes to the Disconnect button. 3 Follow the instructions on the screen to manage the network connection with the utility. Or 1 Click Start →All Programs→Dell Wireless.
Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator The wireless switch on your Dell computer uses the Dell Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator to scan for wireless networks in your vicinity. To scan for a wireless network, slide and hold the switch in the momentary position (see "wireless switch" on page 27) for a few seconds.
Securing Your Computer Security Cable Lock NOTE: Your computer does not ship with a security cable lock. A security cable lock is a commercially available antitheft device. To use the lock, attach it to the security cable slot on your Dell computer. For more information, see the instructions included with the device. NOTICE: Before you buy an antitheft device, ensure that it will work with the security cable slot on your computer. Passwords Passwords prevent unauthorized access to your computer.
When using passwords, observe the following guidelines: • Choose a password that you can remember, but not one that is easy to guess. For example, do not use the names of family members or pets for passwords. • It is recommended that you do not write down your password. If you do write it down, however, ensure that the password is stored in a secure location. • Do not share your password with other people. • Ensure that people are not watching you when you type your password.
If Your Computer is Lost or Stolen • Call a law enforcement agency to report the lost or stolen computer. Include the Service Tag in your description of the computer. Ask that a case number be assigned and write down the number, along with the name, address, and phone number of the law enforcement agency. If possible, obtain the name of the investigating officer. NOTE: If you know where the computer was lost or stolen, call a law enforcement agency in that area.
Securing Your Computer
Troubleshooting Dell Technical Update Service The Dell Technical Update service provides proactive e-mail notification of software and hardware updates for your computer. The service is free and can be customized for content, format, and how frequently you receive notifications. To enroll for the Dell Technical Update service, go to support.dell.com/technicalupdate.
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your 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, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 177). NOTE: If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked), undock it. See the documentation that came with your docking device for instructions. 1 Ensure that the computer is connected to an electrical outlet that is known to be working properly.
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 immediately. NOTE: Keyboard failure may result when a key on the keyboard is held down for extended periods of time. To avoid possible keyboard failure, press and release in even intervals until the boot device menu appears.
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu After the Dell Diagnostics 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. Option Function Test Memory Run the stand-alone memory test Test System Run System Diagnostics Exit Exit the Diagnostics After you have selected the Test System option from the main menu, the following menu appears.
For any problem encountered during a test, a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem. Write down the error code and problem description exactly as it appears and follow the instructions on the screen. If you cannot resolve the problem, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 177). NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen. When contacting Dell support, have your Service Tag ready.
Dell Support Center The Dell Support Center provides service, support and system-specific information. To obtain detailed information about Dell Support Center and the available support tools, go to the Consumer Services Home Page at www.dell.com/services. Systems purchased on June 26, 2007 and later are pre-installed with Dell Support Center. Systems purchased prior to June 26, 2007 can obtain Dell Support Center by downloading the program from www.support.dell.com/dellsupportcenter.
• View frequently asked questions • Learn more about Dell Support 3 • Turn Dell Support 3 off For more information about Dell Support 3, click the question mark (?) at the top of the Dell Support 3 window. To access Dell Support 3: • Click the Dell Support 3 icon NOTE: The in the notification area. icon functions vary when clicking, double-clicking, or right-clicking. or • →All Programs→Dell Support 3→Dell Support Click the Start Settings.
Network Assistant Designed specifically for users of Dell systems, the Dell Network Assistant helps simplify the setup, monitoring, troubleshooting, and repair of your network.
Drive Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. Fill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 176 as you complete these checks. ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE — • Click Start →Computer. If the drive is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive.
D I S C — See "Using the Sleep Power State" on page 51 for information on Sleep state. C H A N G E T H E W R I T E S P E E D T O A S L O W E R R A T E — See the help files for your CD, DVD, or BD creation software. The drive tray cannot eject 1 Ensure that the computer is shut down. 2 Straighten a paper clip and insert one end into the eject hole at the front of the drive, then push firmly until the tray is partially ejected. 3 Gently pull out the tray until it stops.
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. NOTE: Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only. The modem does not operate while it is connected to a digital telephone network.
5 Click the COM port for your modem. 6 Click Properties, click the Diagnostics tab, and then click Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows. If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly. E N S U R E T H A T Y O U A R E C O N N E C T E D T O T H E I N T E R N E T — Ensure that you have subscribed to an Internet service provider. With the Outlook Express e-mail program open, click File.
D A T A E R R O R — The hard drive cannot read the data (see "Drive Problems" on page 107). D E C R E A S I N G A V A I L A B L E M E M O R Y — One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them (see "Memory" on page 147). D I S K C : F A I L E D I N I T I A L I Z A T I O N — The hard drive failed initialization. Run the hard drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 99).
H A R D - D I S K D R I V E C O N T R O L L E R F A I L U R E 0 — The hard drive does not respond to commands from the computer. Shut down the computer, remove the hard drive (see "Hard Drive" on page 139), and boot the computer from a CD. Then, shut down the computer, reinstall the hard drive, and restart the computer. If the problem persists, try another drive. Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 99).
K E Y B O A R D S T U C K K E Y F A I L U R E — For external keyboards or keypads, check the cable connection. Restart the computer, and avoid touching the keyboard or keys during the boot routine. Run the Stuck Key test in the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 99).
NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES. EXIT SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN — You have too many programs open. Close all windows and open the program that you want to use. O P E R A T I N G S YS T E M N O T F O U N D — Reinstall the hard drive (see "Hard Drive" on page 139). If the problem persists, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 177). O P T I O N A L R O M B A D C H E C K S U M — The optional ROM has failed. Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 177). A R E Q U I R E D .
T I M E - O F - D A Y C L O C K S T O P P E D — The reserve battery that supports the system configuration settings may require recharging. Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge the battery. If the problem persists, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 177). T I M E - O F - D A Y N O T S E T - P L E A S E R U N T H E S YS T E M S E T U P P R O G R A M — The time or date stored in the system setup program does not match the system clock.
IEEE 1394 Device Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. E N S U R E T H A T T H E IEEE 1394 D E V I C E I S R E C O G N I Z E D B Y W I N D O W S — 1 Click Start Manager. →Control Panel→System and Maintenance→Device NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue the desired action.
CHECK THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD — 1 Shut down the computer, wait 1 minute, and then turn it on again. 2 Verify that the numbers, capitals, and scroll lock lights on the keyboard blink during the boot routine. 3 From the Windows desktop, click Start Accessories→Notepad. →All Programs→ 4 Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the display. If you cannot verify these steps, you may have a defective external keyboard.
Lockups and Software Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. The computer does not start C H E C K T H E A C A D A P T E R — Ensure that the AC adapter is firmly connected to the computer and to the electrical outlet. The computer stops responding NOTICE: You might lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.
A solid blue screen appears TU R N T H E C O M P U T E R O F F — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off, then restart your computer. Dell MediaDirect problems C H E C K T H E D E L L M E D I A D I R E C T H E L P F I L E F O R I N F O R M A T I O N — Use the Help menu to access Dell MediaDirect Help.
Other software problems CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION — • Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on your computer. • Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software. See the software documentation for information. • Ensure that the program is installed and configured properly. • Verify that the device drivers do not conflict with the program.
IF YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE — • Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem. • See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements. If necessary, install additional memory (see "Memory" on page 147). • Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory (see "Memory" on page 147). • Run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 99).
Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area Network [WWAN]) NOTE: The Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility user’s guide and the Mobile Broadband ExpressCard user’s guide are available through Windows Help and Support (click Start →Help and Support). You can also download the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility user’s guide from support.dell.com. NOTE: The icon appears in the notification area if the computer has a Dell WWAN device installed. Double-click the icon to launch the utility.
C H A R G E T H E B A T T E R Y — The battery charge may be depleted. 1 Reinstall the battery. 2 Use the AC adapter to connect the computer to an electrical outlet. 3 Turn 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 conditions under which it is used, you may need to purchase a new battery during the life of your computer.
Printer Problems Fill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 176 as you complete these checks. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your printer, contact the printer’s manufacturer. C H E C K T H E P R I N T E R D O C U M E N T A T I O N — See the printer documentation for setup and troubleshooting information.
C H E C K T H E S C A N N E R D O C U M E N T A T I O N — See the scanner documentation for setup and troubleshooting information. U N L O C K T H E S C A N N E R — Ensure that your scanner is unlocked. RESTART THE COMPUTER AND TRY THE SCANNER AGAIN CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS — • See the scanner documentation for cable connection information. • Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer.
A D J U S T T H E W I N D O W S V O L U M E C O N T R O L — Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted. D I S C O N N E C T H E A D P H O N E S F R O M T H E H E A D P H O N E C O N N E C T O R — Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the headphone connector.
TO V E R I F Y T H A T T H E P R O B L E M I S W I T H T H E M O U S E , C H E C K T H E T O U C H P A D — 1 Shut down the computer. 2 Disconnect the mouse. 3 Turn on the computer. 4 At the Windows desktop, use the touch pad to move the cursor around, select an icon, and open it. If the touch pad operates correctly, the mouse may be defective.
C O N N E C T T H E C O M P U T E R D I R E C T L Y T O A N E L E C T R I C A L O U T L E T — Bypass power protection devices, power strips, and extension cables to verify that the computer turns on. A D J U S T T H E P O W E R P R O P E R T I E S — Search for the keyword sleep in Windows Help and Support. S W I T C H T H E V I D E O I M A G E — If your computer is attached to an external monitor, press to switch the video image to the display.
If only part of the display is readable CONNECT AN EXTERNAL MONITOR — 1 Shut down your computer and connect an external monitor to the computer. 2 Turn on the computer and the monitor, and then adjust the monitor brightness and contrast controls. If the external monitor works, the computer display or video controller may be defective. Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 177). Drivers What is a Driver? A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard.
Identifying Drivers If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver. 1 Click Start , and then right-click Computer. 2 Click Properties→Device Manager. NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue.
Using the Drivers and Utilities Media If using Device Driver Rollback or System Restore (see "Restoring Your Operating System" on page 133) does not resolve the problem, reinstall the driver from your Drivers and Utilities media. 1 With the Windows desktop displayed, insert your Drivers and Utilities media. If this is your first time to use your Drivers and Utilities media, continue to step 2. If not, proceed to step 5.
Manually Reinstalling Drivers NOTE: If your computer has a Consumer IR port and you are reinstalling a Consumer IR driver, you must first enable the Consumer IR port in the system setup program (see "Using the System Setup Program" on page 187) before continuing with the driver installation (see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 130). For information about components installed on your computer, see "Determining Your Computer’s Configuration" on page 21.
To start the Hardware Troubleshooter: 1 Click Start →Help and Support. 2 In the Find an answer section, click Troubleshooting. OR Type hardware troubleshooter in the search field, then press . 3 In the search results, select the option that best describes the problem and follow the remaining troubleshooting steps. NOTE: If you do not find the answer in the items categorized in Troubleshooting, you can get Online Help by typing in your question in the Search Help field at the top of the window.
Using Windows Vista System Restore The Windows Vista operating system provides System Restore to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without affecting data files) if changes to the hardware, software, or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. See the Windows Help and Support Center for information on using System Restore. To access the Windows Help and Support Center, click Start Support.
1 Click Start →Control Panel→System and Maintenance→Back Up and Restore Center.. 2 In the Tasks list, click Repair Windows using System Restore. 3 Click Continue in the User Account Control (UAC) dialog box asking for permission to run the application. 4 Click Next in the System Restore window to view the most recent restore points in chronological order. 5 Select the Show restore points older than 5 days checkbox to view the complete list of restore points. 6 Select a restore point.
Restoring the Computer to the Default Factory Configuration The Dell Factory Image Restore option allows you to restore your hard drive back to its original factory configuration as when you first ordered it from Dell. This option appears on Dell computers that were originally pre-installed with Windows Vista™ and does not include computers purchased through the Express Upgrade promotion or computers that were upgraded to Windows Vista from another version of Windows.
Adding and Replacing Parts Before You Begin This chapter provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist: • You have performed the steps in "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 137 and "Before Working Inside Your Computer" on page 138. • You have read the safety information in your Dell Product Information Guide.
Before Working Inside Your Computer Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. CAUTION: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket.
5 Turn the computer over. 6 Slide and click the battery release latches. 7 Slide the battery out of the battery bay. 1 1 battery 2 2 battery release latch (2) 8 Turn the computer top-side up, open the display, and press the power button to ground the system board. 9 Remove any installed cards from the ExpressCard slot (see "Removing an ExpressCard or Blank" on page 81) and the 8-in-1 memory card reader (see "Removing a Memory Card or Blank" on page 84).
NOTICE: Hard drives are extremely fragile. Exercise care when handling the hard drive. NOTE: Dell does not guarantee compatibility or provide support for hard drives from sources other than Dell. NOTE: If you are installing a hard drive from a source other than Dell, you need to install an operating system, drivers, and utilities on the new hard drive (see "Restoring Your Operating System" on page 133 and "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 130).
4 Using the pull-tab on the hard drive, pull the hard drive out of the hard drive bay. 1 4 2 3 1 secondary hard drive bay 2 screws (3) 3 primary hard drive 4 pull-tab Replacing the Hard Drive 1 Remove the new drive from its packaging. Save the original packaging for storing or shipping the hard drive. NOTICE: Use firm and even pressure to slide the drive into place. If you use excessive force, you may damage the connector.
5 Install the operating system for your computer, as needed (see "Restoring Your Operating System" on page 133). 6 Install the drivers and utilities for your computer, as needed (see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 130). Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Return your old hard drive to Dell in its original, or comparable, foam packaging. Otherwise, the hard drive may be damaged in transit.
1 3 1 optical drive 3 locking screw 2 2 notch Replacing the Optical Drive 1 Slide the optical drive into the bay. 2 Replace and tighten the locking screw. Hinge Cover CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer).
Removing the Hinge Cover 1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 137. 2 Open the display as far as it will open. NOTICE: To avoid damage to the hinge cover, do not lift the cover on both sides simultaneously. 3 Insert a plastic scribe into the indent to lift the hinge cover on the right side. 4 Ease the hinge cover up, moving from right to left, and remove it. 1 2 1 hinge cover 2 scribe Replacing the Hinge Cover 1 Insert the left edge of the hinge cover.
Keyboard For more information about the keyboard, see "Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad" on page 41. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer).
2 3 1 4 1 keyboard 2 screws (4) 3 notch on keyboard 4 tab on computer base Replacing the Keyboard 1 Hook the tabs and the keyboard connector along the front edge of the keyboard into the palmrest, and place the notch on the top of the keyboard on the tab on the base of the computer. 2 Keeping the keyboard flat against the computer base, slide the tabs on the bottom of the keyboard under the palmrest, and ensure the tab on the computer base slides into the notch on the top of the keyboard.
2 3 1 4 5 1 tabs (7) 2 keyboard connector 3 notch on keyboard 4 tab on computer base 5 palmrest 3 Replace the four screws on the top of the keyboard. Memory CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. You can increase your computer memory by installing memory modules on the system board. See "Specifications" on page 179 for information on the memory supported by your computer.
Your computer has two user-accessible SODIMM sockets, one accessed from beneath the keyboard (DIMM A), and the other accessed from the bottom of the computer (DIMM B). NOTICE: If your computer has only one memory module, install the memory module in the connector labeled “DIMMA.” NOTICE: If you need to install memory modules in two connectors, install a memory module in the connector labeled “DIMMA” before you install a module in the connector labeled “DIMMB.
1 2 1 memory module (DIMM A) 2 securing clips (2) Replacing the DIMM A Memory Module NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer). 1 Align the notch in the module edge connector with the tab in the connector slot. 2 Slide the module firmly into the slot at a 45-degree angle, and rotate the module down until it clicks into place.
1 2 1 tab 2 notch 3 Replace the keyboard and hinge cover. 4 Insert the battery into the battery bay, or connect the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet. 5 Turn on the computer. As the computer boots, it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information. To confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer, click Start →Help and Support→Dell System Information.
1 2 1 memory module/coin-cell battery compartment 2 captive screw NOTICE: To prevent damage to the memory module connector, do not use tools to spread the memory module securing clips. NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer).
1 1 securing clips (2) 2 2 memory module Replacing the DIMM B Memory Module NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer). 1 Align the notch in the module edge connector with the tab in the connector slot. 2 Slide the module firmly into the slot at a 45-degree angle, and rotate the module down until it clicks into place.
1 2 1 tab 2 notch NOTICE: If the cover is difficult to close, remove the module and reinstall it. Forcing the cover to close may damage your computer. 3 Replace the memory module cover. 4 Insert the battery into the battery bay, or connect the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet. 5 Turn on the computer. As the computer boots, it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information.
1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 137. 2 In the battery bay, slide the SIM into the compartment with the cut-off corner of the SIM facing away from the compartment. 2 1 1 battery bay 2 SIM Wireless Mini Cards CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. NOTICE: To help prevent damage to the system board, you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer.
Removing a WLAN Card 1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 137. 2 Turn the computer over. 3 Loosen the captive screws on the cover of the Mini Card compartment and remove the cover.
4 Disconnect the antenna cables from the WLAN card. 2 1 1 antenna cable connectors (2) 2 WLAN card 5 Release the WLAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly. 6 Lift the WLAN card out of its system board connector.
2 1 1 metal securing tabs (2) 2 WLAN card Replacing a WLAN Card NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion. If you feel resistance, check the connectors on the card and on the system board, and realign the card. NOTICE: To avoid damage to the WLAN card, never place cables under the card. 1 Insert the WLAN card connector at a 45-degree angle into the system board connector labeled "WLAN".
3 Connect the appropriate antenna cables to the WLAN card you are installing: If the WLAN card has two triangles on the label (white and black), connect the white antenna cable to the connector labeled "main" (white triangle), and connect the black antenna cable to the connector labeled "aux" (black triangle).
4 Disconnect the two antenna cables from the WWAN card. 2 1 1 antenna cable connectors (2) 2 WWAN card 5 Release the WWAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly. 6 Lift the WWAN card out of its system board connector.
2 1 1 metal securing tabs (2) 2 WWAN card Replacing a WWAN Card NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion. If you feel resistance, check the connectors on the card and on the system board, and realign the card. NOTICE: To avoid damage to the WWAN card, never place cables under the card. 1 Insert the WWAN card connector at a 45-degree angle into the system board connector labeled "WWAN".
3 Connect the black antenna cable with a gray stripe to the connector labeled "aux" (black triangle) and connect the white antenna cable with a gray stripe to the connector labeled "main" (white triangle). 4 Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve. 5 Replace the cover and tighten the captive screws. Removing a WPAN Card 1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 137. 2 Turn the computer over.
Replacing a WPAN Card NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion. If you feel resistance, check the connectors on the card and on the system board, and realign the card. NOTICE: To avoid damage to the WPAN card, never place cables under the card. 1 Insert the WPAN card connector at a 45-degree angle into the system board connector labeled "WPAN". 2 Press the other end of the WPAN card down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place.
2 1 1 metal securing tabs (2) 2 FCM Replacing the FCM NOTICE: Install the FCM in the WWAN or WPAN slot. Do not install an FCM in the WLAN card slot. Doing so may cause damage to your computer. 1 Insert the FCM connector at a 45-degree angle into the system board connector labeled "FCM". 2 Press the other end of the FCM down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place.
Internal Card With Bluetooth® Wireless Technology CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on the back of the computer).
1 3 2 1 securing tabs (2) 3 card 2 cable Replacing the Card 1 Replace the card at an angle to slide it under the securing tabs in the card compartment. 2 Connect the cable to the card. Coin-Cell Battery CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery 1 Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 137. 2 Turn the computer over. 3 Loosen the captive screw on the memory module/coin-cell battery cover (see "Bottom View" on page 33), and remove the cover. 4 Disconnect the coin-cell battery cable from the system board. 1 1 coin-cell battery 3 battery cable connector 2 2 mylar sleeve 5 Slide the battery out of the mylar sleeve.
Dell™ QuickSet Features NOTE: This feature may not be available on your computer. Dell QuickSet provides you with easy access to configure or view the following types of settings: • Network connectivity • Power management • Display • System information Depending on what you want to do in Dell QuickSet, you can start it by either clicking, double-clicking, or right-clicking the QuickSet icon in the Microsoft® Windows® notification area.
Dell™ QuickSet Features
Traveling With Your Computer Identifying Your Computer • Attach a name tag or business card to the computer. • Write down your Service Tag and store it in a safe place away from the computer or carrying case. Use the Service Tag if you need to report a loss or theft to law enforcement officials and to Dell. • Create a file on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop called if_found. Place information such as your name, address, and phone number in this file.
• Protect the computer, the batteries, and the hard drive from hazards such as extreme temperatures and overexposure to sunlight, dirt, dust, or liquids. • Pack the computer so that it does not slide around in the trunk of your car or in an overhead storage compartment. Travel Tips NOTICE: Do not move the computer while using the optical drive to prevent loss of data. NOTICE: Do not check the computer as baggage.
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 diagnose and troubleshoot the problem: 1 See "Troubleshooting" on page 99 for information and procedures that pertain to the problem your computer is experiencing. 2 See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 99 for procedures on how to run Dell Diagnostics.
Technical Support and Customer Service Dell's support service is available to answer your questions about Dell™ hardware. Our support staff uses computer-based diagnostics to provide fast, accurate answers. To contact Dell's support service, see "Before You Call" on page 175, and then see "Contacting Dell" on page 177.
• Dell Support e-mail addresses mobile_support@us.dell.com support@us.dell.com la-techsupport@dell.com (Latin America and Caribbean countries only) apsupport@dell.com (Asian/Pacific countries only) • Dell Marketing and Sales e-mail addresses apmarketing@dell.com (Asian/Pacific countries only) sales_canada@dell.com (Canada only) • Anonymous file transfer protocol (FTP) ftp.dell.com Log in as user: anonymous, and use your e-mail address as your password.
Problems With Your Order If you have a problem with your order, such as missing parts, wrong parts, or incorrect billing, contact Dell for customer assistance. Have your invoice or packing slip handy when you call. For the telephone number to call for your region, see "Contacting Dell" on page 177. Product Information If you need information about additional products available from Dell, or if you would like to place an order, visit the Dell website at www.dell.com.
Before You Call NOTE: Have your Express Service Code ready when you call. The code helps Dell’s automated-support telephone system direct your call more efficiently. You may also be asked for your Service Tag (located on the back or bottom of your computer). Remember to fill out the Diagnostics Checklist (see "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 176). If possible, turn on your computer before you call Dell for assistance and call from a telephone at or near the computer.
Diagnostics Checklist Name: Date: Address: Phone number: Service Tag (bar code on the back or bottom of the computer): Express Service Code: Return Material Authorization Number (if provided by Dell support technician): Operating system and version: Devices: Expansion cards: Are you connected to a network? Yes No Network, version, and network adapter: Programs and versions: See your operating system documentation to determine the contents of the system’s start-up files.
Contacting Dell NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog. Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your area. To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues: 1 Visit support.dell.com.
Getting Help
Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. For more information regarding the configuration of your computer, click Start , click Help and Support, and then select the option to view information about your computer.
ExpressCard (continued) Cards supported ExpressCard/34 (34 mm) ExpressCard/54 (54 mm) 1.5 V and 3.
Ports and Connectors (continued) Consumer IR sensor compatible with Philips RC6 (receive only) Mini Card three Type IIIA Mini Card slots Modem RJ-11 port Network adapter RJ-45 port S-video TV-out 7-pin mini-DIN connector (optional S-video to composite video adapter cable) USB five 4-pin USB 2.0-compliant connector Video 15-hole connector Communications Modem: Type v.
Video (continued) Video type: discrete video card Data bus PCI Express X16 Video controller nVIDIA GeForce 8400M G or nVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT Video memory 128 MB (GeForce 8400M G) or 256 MB (GeForce 8600M GT) LCD interface LVDS TV support NTSC or PAL in S-video, composite, and component modes Audio Audio type two-channel high-definition stereo Audio controller Intel HDA Azalia Stereo conversion 24-bit (analog-to-digital and digital-toanalog) Interfaces: Internal Intel High Definition Audi
Display (continued) Dimensions: Height 229.5 mm (9.04 in) Width 367.2 mm (14.46 in) Diagonal 433.0 mm (17.0 in) Maximum resolutions: WXGA+ 1440 x 900 at 262 K colors WXGA+ with TrueLife 1440 x 900 at 262 K colors WUXGA with TrueLife 1920 x 1200 at 262 K colors Refresh rate 60± Hz Operating angle 0° (closed) to 155° Viewing angles: Horizontal ±40° (WXGA+) typical ±65° (WUXGA) Vertical +15°/–30° (WXGA+) +45°/-55° (WUXGA) Pixel pitch: WXGA+ 0.255 mm WUXGA 0.
Touch Pad (continued) Size: Width 71.7-mm (2.8-in) sensor-active area Height 34.0-mm (1.3-in) rectangle Battery Type 9-cell "smart" lithium ion 6-cell "smart" lithium ion Dimensions: Depth 67.6 mm (2.66 inches) (9 cell) 47.5 mm (1.87 inches) (6 cell) Height 20.4 mm (0.8 inch) Width 209.9 mm (8.26 inches) Weight 0.48 kg (1.06 lb) (9 cell) 0.33 kg (0.7 lb) (6 cell) Voltage 11.
AC Adapter Input voltage 100–240 VAC Input current (maximum) 1.5 A Input frequency 50–60 Hz Output current 5.62 A (maximum at 4-second pulse) 4.62 A (90 W) (continuous) Output power 90 W Rated output voltage 19.5 +/– 1.0 VDC Dimensions: Height 34.2 mm (1.34 in) Width 60.87 mm (2.39 in) Depth 153.45 mm (6.0 in) Weight (with cables) 0.46 kg (1.01 lb) Temperature range: Operating 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F) Storage –40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F) Physical Height 44 mm (1.
Environmental Temperature range: Operating 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F) Storage –40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F) Relative humidity (maximum): Operating 10% to 90% (noncondensing) Storage 5% to 95% (noncondensing) Maximum vibration (using a random vibration spectrum that simulates user environment): Operating 0.66 GRMS Storage 1.3 GRMS Maximum shock (Measured with hard drive in operating status and a 2-ms half-sine pulse for operating.
Appendix Using the System Setup Program NOTE: Your operating system may automatically configure most of the options available in system setup, thus overriding options that you set through system setup. An exception is the External Hot Key option, which you can disable or enable only through system setup. For more information on configuring features for your operating system, see Windows Help and Support (click Start , and then click Help and Support).
Viewing the System Setup Screen 1 Turn on (or restart) your computer. 2 When the DELL logo appears, press immediately. If you wait too long and the Microsoft Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop, then shut down your computer and try again. System Setup Screen NOTE: For information about a specific item on a system setup screen, highlight the item and see the Help area on the screen. On each screen, the system setup options are listed at the left.
• USB Storage Device • CD/DVD/CD-RW drive • Modular bay HDD NOTE: Only devices that are preceded by a number are bootable. During the boot routine, the computer starts at the top of the list and scans each enabled device for the operating system start-up files. When the computer finds the files, it stops searching and starts the operating system.
Cleaning Your Computer CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide. Computer, Keyboard, and Display CAUTION: Before you clean your computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and remove any installed batteries. Clean your computer with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances.
Touch Pad 1 Shut down and turn off your computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 137). 2 Disconnect any attached devices from the computer and from their electrical outlets. 3 Remove any installed batteries (see "Battery Performance" on page 47). 4 Moisten a soft, lint-free cloth with water, and wipe it gently across the surface of the touch pad. Do not allow water from the cloth to seep between the touch pad and the surrounding palm rest.
Media NOTICE: Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the optical drive, and follow the instructions that come with the compressed air product. Never touch the lens in the drive. If you notice problems, such as skipping, with the playback quality of your media, try cleaning the discs. 1 Hold the disc by its outer edge. You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole. NOTICE: To help prevent damage to the surface, do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc.
Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Dell-installed software includes the operating system and some of the software programs that are installed on the computer during the manufacturing process (Microsoft Office, Norton Antivirus, etc). Dell-installed peripherals include any internal expansion cards, or Dell-branded module bay or ExpressCard accessories.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference with radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: • Reorient the receiving antenna.
Glossary Terms in this Glossary are provided for informational purposes only and may or may not describe features included with your particular computer. A AC — alternating current — The form of electricity that powers your computer when you plug the AC adapter power cable in to an electrical outlet.
BIOS — basic input/output system — A program (or utility) that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system. Unless you understand what effect these settings have on the computer, do not change them. Also referred to as system setup. bit — The smallest unit of data interpreted by your computer.
L1 cache — Primary cache stored inside the processor. L2 cache — Secondary cache which can either be external to the processor or incorporated into the processor architecture. carnet — An international customs document that facilitates temporary imports into foreign countries. Also known as a merchandise passport. CD-R — CD recordable — A recordable version of a CD. Data can be recorded only once onto a CD-R. Once recorded, the data cannot be erased or written over.
D DDR SDRAM — double-data-rate SDRAM — A type of SDRAM that doubles the data burst cycle, improving system performance. DDR2 SDRAM — double-data-rate 2 SDRAM — A type of DDR SDRAM that uses a 4-bit prefetch and other architectural changes to boost memory speed to over 400 MHz. device — Hardware such as a disk drive, printer, or keyboard that is installed in or connected to your computer. device driver — See driver.
dual display mode — A display setting that allows you to use a second monitor as an extension of your display. Also referred to as extended display mode. DVD-R — DVD recordable — A recordable version of a DVD. Data can be recorded only once onto a DVD-R. Once recorded, the data cannot be erased or written over. DVD+RW — DVD rewritable — A rewritable version of a DVD. Data can be written to a DVD+RW disc, and then erased and written over (rewritten). (DVD+RW technology is different from DVD-RW technology.
Express Service Code — A numeric code located on a sticker on your Dell™ computer. Use the Express Service Code when contacting Dell for assistance. Express Service Code service may not be available in some countries. extended display mode — A display setting that allows you to use a second monitor as an extension of your display. Also referred to as dual display mode. extended PC Card — A PC Card that extends beyond the edge of the PC Card slot when installed.
GHz — gigahertz — A measurement of frequency that equals one thousand million Hz, or one thousand MHz. The speeds for computer processors, buses, and interfaces are often measured in GHz. graphics mode — A video mode that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors. Graphics modes can display an unlimited variety of shapes and fonts. GUI — graphical user interface — Software that interacts with the user by means of menus, windows, and icons.
infrared sensor — A port that allows you to transfer data between the computer and infrared-compatible devices without using a cable connection. integrated — Usually refers to components that are physically located on the computer’s system board. Also referred to as built-in. I/O — input/output — An operation or device that enters and extracts data from your computer. Keyboards and printers are I/O devices.
LED — light-emitting diode — An electronic component that emits light to indicate the status of the computer. local bus — A data bus that provides a fast throughput for devices to the processor. LPT — line print terminal — The designation for a parallel connection to a printer or other parallel device. M Mb — megabit — A measurement of memory chip capacity that equals 1024 Kb. Mbps — megabits per second — One million bits per second.
Mini Card — A small card designed for integrated peripherals, such as communication NICs. The Mini Card is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card. Mobile Broadband network — (also known as a WWAN) is a series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other through wireless cellular technology and provides Internet access in the same varied locations from which cellular telephone service is available.
O optical drive — A drive that uses optical technology to read or write data from CDs, DVDs, or DVD+RWs. Example of optical drives include CD drives, DVD drives, CD-RW drives, and CD-RW/DVD combo drives. P parallel connector — An I/O port often used to connect a parallel printer to your computer. Also referred to as an LPT port. partition — A physical storage area on a hard drive that is assigned to one or more logical storage areas known as logical drives.
processor — A computer chip that interprets and executes program instructions. Sometimes the processor is referred to as the CPU (central processing unit). PS/2 — personal system/2 — A type of connector for attaching a PS/2-compatible keyboard, mouse, or keypad. PXE — pre-boot execution environment — A WfM (Wired for Management) standard that allows networked computers that do not have an operating system to be configured and started remotely.
RPM — revolutions per minute — The number of rotations that occur per minute. Hard drive speed is often measured in rpm. RTC — real time clock — Battery-powered clock on the system board that keeps the date and time after you shut down the computer. RTCRST — real-time clock reset — A jumper on the system board of some computers that can often be used for troubleshooting problems.
smart card — A card that is embedded with a processor and a memory chip. Smart cards can be used to authenticate a user on computers equipped for smart cards. S/PDIF — Sony/Philips Digital Interface — An audio transfer file format that allows the transfer of audio from one file to another without converting it to and from an analog format, which could degrade the quality of the file. standby mode — A power management mode that shuts down all unnecessary computer operations to save energy.
T TAPI — telephony application programming interface — Enables Windows programs to operate with a wide variety of telephony devices, including voice, data, fax, and video. text editor — A program used to create and edit files that contain only text; for example, Windows Notepad uses a text editor. Text editors do not usually provide word wrap or formatting functionality (the option to underline, change fonts, and so on).
V video controller — The circuitry on a video card or on the system board (in computers with an integrated video controller) that provides the video capabilities—in combination with the monitor—for your computer. video memory — Memory that consists of memory chips dedicated to video functions. Video memory is usually faster than system memory. The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can display.
WLAN — wireless local area network. A series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves using access points or wireless routers to provide Internet access. write-protected — Files or media that cannot be changed. Use write-protection when you want to protect data from being changed or destroyed. To write-protect a 3.5-inch floppy disk, slide its write-protect tab to the open position. WPAN — wireless personal area network.
Glossary
Index Numerics Blu-ray Disc, 58-59, 61, 107 8-in-1 memory card reader, 83 boot sequence, 188 A audio device connecting, 63 enabling, 78 audio. See sound B battery charge gauge, 49 charging, 51 checking the charge, 48 performance, 47 power meter, 49 removing, 52 replacing coin-cell battery, 165 storing, 53 BD.
connecting audio device, 63 Mobile Broadband network, 91 TV, 63 contacting Dell, 177 copying CDs general information, 58 helpful tips, 60 how to, 58 copying DVDs general information, 58 helpful tips, 60 how to, 58 D Dell contacting, 177 Dell Diagnostics about, 99 starting from the Drivers and Utilities media, 101 starting from your hard drive, 100 Dell MediaDirect about, 26 problems, 119 Dell support site, 17 DellConnect, 172 Device Driver Rollback, 130 device latch release description, 34 device status li
E I End User License Agreement, 16 icons adjusting the size, 167 ergonomics information, 16 error messages, 110 ExpressCard slot description, 27 ExpressCards, 79 blanks, 79, 81, 83 installing, 80 removing, 81 F FCM.
M N media playing, 55 network installing WLAN Mini Card, 154 Mobile Broadband (WWAN), 121 problems, 121 QuickSet, 167 media control buttons Dell MediaDirect button, 62 description, 25 memory DIMM A, 149 DIMM B, 150 installing, 147 removing, 148 memory card, 83 blanks, 84 installing, 83 reader, 29 removing, 84 types, 83 network connector description, 30 O operating system reinstalling Windows Vista, 134 P memory card reader, 83 phone numbers, 177 memory module cover description, 34 power line cond
printer cable, 38 connecting, 37 problems, 124 setting up, 37 USB, 38 problems blue screen, 119 CD drive, 107 CD-RW drive, 107 computer crashes, 118-119 computer does not start up, 118 computer stops responding, 118 Dell Diagnostics, 99 Dell MediaDirect, 119 drives, 107 DVD drive, 107 error messages, 110 hard drive, 108 IEEE 1394 connector, 116 keyboard, 116 lockups, 118 network, 121 power, 122 power light conditions, 122 printer, 124 program crashes repeatedly, 118 program stops responding, 118 programs an
security cable slot description, 27 T Service Tag, 16 taskbar QuickSet icon, 167 SIM.
UPS, 39 USB connector description, 31 wizards Program Compatibility wizard, 118 Windows Easy Transfer, 37 V WLAN, 155 installing Mini Card, 154 video problems, 127 WPAN installing, 161 video controller determining configuration, 21 WWAN installing, 158 See Mobile Broadband video controller configuration determining what controller is installed, 21 volume adjusting, 126 W warranty information, 16 Windows Device Driver Rollback, 130 Windows Easy Transfer wizard, 37 Windows Vista Program Compatibility
Index