Dell™ Technology Guide 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. ____________________ Steps pertaining to Microsoft® Windows Vista® and Windows® XP refer to Windows Vista Ultimate and Windows XP Professional edition respectively in default view.
Contents 1 Finding Information Start Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 . . . . . . . . . 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Windows® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Microsoft Windows Help and Support Windows Vista® Control Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Information About Installed Hardware Device Manager . . . . . . . . . 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Displaying the Taskbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Customizing the Taskbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Displaying Hidden Icons From the Notification Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 . . . . . . . . Creating and Deleting Program Shortcuts on the Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 . . . . . . . . . . . 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windows® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choosing the Best Display Settings . . . . . . . . Setting the Display Resolution for External LCD Monitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 50 . . . . . . . 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Windows Vista Using the Ambient Light Sensor in Bright or Low-Light Environments: . . . . . . . . . . Cables and Connections . 4 50 . . . .
Turning the Touch Pointer On or Off From the Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Turning the Touch Pointer On or Off From the Taskbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 . . . . . . . . . 64 Using a USB Pointing Device (Mouse) . . . . . . 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Troubleshooting a USB Pointing Device Keyboard Customizing Your Keyboard . Backlit Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shadow Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reducing Hard Drive Space Used by Shadow Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solid-State Drive (SSD) . . 78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Installing Drivers for Media Drives . . . . . . . . . . . Determining Whether a Device Driver is the Source of a Device Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . Replacing a Driver With a Previous Version of the Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ending a Program That is not Responding . . . . 101 Ending a Process That is not Responding . . . . 103 Docking and Undocking Your Laptop Computer. . . . 104 . . . . . . 104 . . . . . . . 104 Undocking Your Computer While it is Running— Hot Undocking . . . . . . Undocking Without Shutting Down . Shutting Down Your Computer When it Fails to Shut Down Normally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shutting Down a Stalled or "Frozen" Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 . . . . . . .
Sharing Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Windows Vista Windows XP . . . . . 115 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Sharing Files With Password Protection. Restricting Access to a File . . . 116 . . . 116 Transferring Files and Settings to a New Computer Transferring Files From a Computer Running Windows XP to a Computer Running Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transferring Files Between Computers Running Windows XP . . .
Removing Applications From Your Computer . . . . . 123 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Windows Vista Windows XP Ending an Application When it Does not Respond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Maintenance Tasks (Enhance Performance and Ensure Security) . . . . 125 . . . . . 125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power (Power Settings, Power Protection Devices, and Batteries) Setting Power Options . 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Windows Vista Power Protection Devices . Surge Protector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Power Line Conditioner . Laptop Computer Batteries . . . . . . . 141 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Using Your Laptop Computer for the First Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What you Need to set up a WLAN . . . . . . . . Checking Your Wireless Network Card . . . . . . Reinstalling Software and Drivers for Your Wireless Network Card . . . . . . . . . . . 154 . . . . . . 155 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network) Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Establishing a Mobile Broadband Network Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 . . . . .
Accessing the Internet Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 . . . . . 172 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Web Browsers for Viewing Internet Sites Web Addresses . 171 . . . . What you Need to Connect to the Internet . Setting up Your Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . Windows Vista® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Windows® XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Troubleshooting Problems Connecting to the Internet . .
Controlling Pop-ups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Controlling Unwanted Toolbars . . . . . . . . . . . . Content Advisory/Parental Controls . Bookmarking Favorite Websites 185 . . . . . . . . . . . 185 . . . . . . Changing the Internet Communications Protocol (TCP/IP) Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Clearing Browser History . . . . . . . . . 188 . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Deleting Temporary Internet Files . . . . . . . .
Avoiding E-mail Attachments . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Viewing E-mail Messages . Sending E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Windows Vista Windows XP Creating a Contact Group (Mailing List). . . . . . . . . 198 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Windows Vista Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Copying Audio and Video Files to Your Laptop Media Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 . . . . 210 . . . . . . . 210 Playing Media Using the Dell Travel Remote . Adjusting the Volume on Your Computer Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio Through the Media Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio in the Windows Audio Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 Setting up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones 211 . . . . . .
Selecting the Correct Input Signal From the TV Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TV Menu Example . . . . . . 226 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 What to do If the TV Does not Recognize a Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 Evaluating Suggested Connection Configurations . . . 229 Enabling the Display View for the Computer and the TV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 . . . . . . . . . .
Using a TV Wizard to Configure Display Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 . . . . . . . . . . . 249 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 Getting Help for Video Card Control Panels Troubleshooting Display Settings Where to Find Help . . . . . . . . . . 249 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Resolving Common Problems . 17 Security and Privacy Protecting Your Computer—Using Administrator Rights, User Groups, and Passwords . . . . . . . Administrator Rights . . 251 . .
18 Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Pro Remote Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Enabling Remote Desktop on the Host Computer . . . . 261 . . . . . . 262 . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 Installing Remote Desktop Client Software . Calling From a Remote Location. 19 Restoring Your Operating System . . . . . Using Microsoft® Windows® System Restore Starting System Restore 261 265 . . . . . 265 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 . . . . . . . . . 266 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dell Support Center . Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 Battery Problems Drive Problems Optical Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Error Messages . 289 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 IEEE 1394 Device Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 292 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing Boot Sequence to a USB Device Changing the BIOS Settings . . . . . 310 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310 Viewing the BIOS Settings 22 Ports 311 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . USB Port 311 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Upgrading the BIOS (Flashing the BIOS) . 313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IEEE 1394 Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313 314 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315 Parallel Port . . . . . . . .
S/PDIF Port (Toslink) . Audio Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 23 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obtaining Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 Dell Support Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332 Technical Support and Customer Service DellConnect™ . . . . . 332 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332 Online Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AutoTech Service . . . . . .
Finding Information Start Button From the Microsoft® Windows® operating system desktop, you can click the Start button to access resources, programs, and specialized tools for managing the way Windows appears and functions on your computer. The Start button may differ in appearance depending on the version of Windows, but it is consistently located on the left side of the Windows taskbar.
Microsoft Windows Help and Support This information center provides instructions, hints, and general information about Microsoft Windows and explains how to use available features. It also provides access to documentation for your computer and devices installed on your computer. To access Windows Help and Support: 1 Click Start or → Help and Support. 2 Click the topic or task you want to perform. 3 If the specific task is not listed, use the search option.
Windows Vista® Basic Computer Information Click Start → Control Panel→ System and Maintenance→ System to view your computer information. Windows® XP User’s Guides To view the user’s guides available on your computer, click Start → Help and Support→ Dell User and System guides (from the Pick a Topic options). Basic Information Click Start → Help and Support→ Tools (from the Pick a Task options) to view your computer information and to diagnose problems.
Control Panel To manage viewing features and computer functions, click Start → Control Panel. or FOR MORE INFORMATION: See Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Information About Installed Hardware Device Manager Use the Device Manager to view a list of all devices installed on your computer and to learn more about how a specific device is configured.
Windows Vista® Click Start → Control Panel→ System and Maintenance→ System→ Device Manager (listed under Tasks). Windows® XP Click Start → Control Panel→ Performance and Maintenance→ System→ Hardware tab→ Device Manager. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about your computer’s hardware components, see the View your computer information topic in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support.
Programs Installed on Your Computer Click Start → All Programs to view available programs. or If a program is not listed under All Programs, use the Search feature to search for a specific program: Windows Vista® 1 Click Start →Search. 2 Enter the name of the program in the Search field. 3 Press . Windows® XP 1 Click Start → Search→ All Files or Folders. 2 Enter the name of the program and click Search.
Dell Support Website The Dell Support website at support.dell.com provides a variety of information: • Technical Support: Research and find the latest solutions and help for your Dell product. • Customer Service: Explore options such as order status and pickup for Dell products. • Warranty Information: Information relating to warranty for Dell products. • Dell Forums: Information on forums for discussion and support of Dell products.
• My Systems List • Security Center • Support History & Status • System Configuration • Technical Subscriptions • Troubleshooting Search • Windows Vista Center • Windows XP Support Center • Wireless Center Customer Service • Dell Financial Services • FAQs • Invoices • Missing, Wrong & Damaged • Order Status • Ownership Transfer • International Ownership Transfer • Packing Slips • Pickup/Redelivery • Dell Dollars/Rebate Center • Report a Stolen System • Returns • Up
• Service Contracts & Forms • Warranty Status Dell Forums • Support Forums • Discussion Forums Contact Us • Customer Service • Financing Support • Sales Support • Technical Support • International Notebook Support BIOS (System Setup Program) Settings The BIOS is a utility that serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system. You may need to update your BIOS settings when you remove and replace certain hardware components.
Finding Information
Microsoft Windows Desktop desktop shortcut icons Start button taskbar notification area Overview The Microsoft® Windows® desktop is the display screen area that appears after the Windows operating system starts up. The components of the desktop include a background, icons, shortcuts, and a taskbar that is usually located at the bottom of the screen.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about the Windows desktop, see “Windows Basics” in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Taskbar Start button Quick Launch toolbar taskbar button notification area Overview The Windows taskbar is usually located at the bottom of the desktop, although you can relocate it. The taskbar provides quick access to open minimized windows on the desktop, or to frequently-used programs, files, or utilities on your computer.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about the Windows desktop, see “Windows Basics” in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Displaying the Taskbar 1 Right-click on an open area of the taskbar. 2 Click Properties to open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window. 3 On the Taskbar tab, select Keep the taskbar on top of other windows. As you open applications and files, you may not be able to view your desktop.
For computers running Windows® XP, continue with the next step. 4 Click the Customize button in the Notification area. 5 Select an item, then choose its behavior. 6 Click OK. Desktop Icons and Shortcuts icon shortcut Icons displayed on the Windows desktop are links that provide quick access to programs, documents, and folders. Double-click icons to open a file or folder or to run a program. Some icons are shortcuts and other icons are direct links.
HINT: If you delete an icon with an arrow, you are simply deleting the shortcut link. If you delete an icon without an arrow, you are deleting the file or folder, not just a link to the file. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about the Windows desktop, see “Windows Basics” in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Creating and Deleting Program Shortcuts on the Desktop You can create a shortcut to a program, file, or folder by using: Windows Explorer or Desktop.
Shortcut Menus Create Shortcut Delete Rename Properties Shortcut menus are available for many components of the Windows desktop, including files and folders. These menus provide quick access to the most common commands for an item. To access the shortcut menus, position the cursor over the item and rightclick (click the right mouse button or the right touch-pad button).
Changing the Desktop Appearance Start button Control Panel Display Properties window You can personalize the appearance of your desktop by changing various components. Most of these components are accessible through the Display Properties window. You can manage your computer’s desktop theme, resolution, screen saver, icon size and appearance, and monitor settings from the Display Properties Menu screen. Use the tabs to select the items you want to adjust.
1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Appearance and Personalization. 2 Click Personalization. The Personalize appearance and sounds window appears. 3 Review the available options and follow the instructions provided. Windows® XP From the desktop: 1 Right-click an open area of the desktop. 2 Click Properties. 3 Click Display. The Display Properties window appears. 4 Review the available options and follow the instructions provided. From the Start menu: 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Appearance and Themes.
Setting up a Screen Saver screen saver preview screen saver selections inactivity time setting A screen saver is an animated graphic that appears after your computer is left inactive for a specified time. You can set the length of inactive time and select a personal graphic. Windows Vista 1 Right-click an open area of the desktop. 2 Click Personalize. The Personalize appearance and sounds window appears. 3 Click Screen Saver to select a new screen saver.
4 Select the length of time for your computer to remain inactive before the screen saver appears. 5 Click OK. NOTE: After the screen saver activates, you may need to log-in to access your computer.
The programs available on the Start menu depend on the software installed in your computer. You can use the Start menu to restart or shut down your computer. See "Shutting Down Your Computer" on page 99. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about the Start button, see "Start Button" on page 23. Customizing the Start Menu Customize the Start menu through the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window. 1 Right-click an open area of the taskbar. 2 Select Properties.
Control Panel The Control Panel contains programs and tools to help you maintain and customize your computer. Through the Control Panel, you can: • Add and monitor hardware • Add or remove programs • Change hardware settings • Set network and Internet preferences • Customize the appearance of your desktop • Set up printers and other devices • Perform maintenance to enhance performance HINT: A list of the items you can customize appears in the Control Panel screen.
Accessing and Using the Control Panel FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about the Windows desktop, see “Windows Basics” in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Customizing Your Computer Settings 1 Click Start or → Control Panel. 2 Select a category. If you are not sure which category contains the necessary tool, hold your cursor over the category to display its pop-up text box.
HINT: Typically, to access the Device Manager: Windows Vista Click Start→ Control Panel→ System and Maintenance→ Administrative Tools→ Computer Management. Windows XP Click Start→ Control Panel→ Performance and Maintenance→ Administrative Tools→ Computer Management. OR Right-click My Computer and select Properties. Then click Device Manager.
Monitors and Displays FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about your computer’s display screen, see the documentation for your computer. Also see the safety information that shipped with your computer for safety procedures to follow when working with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Adjusting the Resolution of Your Display The display resolution defines the clarity of images on your display. As you increase the resolution, items appear smaller on the screen. As you decrease resolution, text and images appear larger. Before you change any of the display settings, make a note of the current settings so you can change back to them if needed. NOTE: Use only the Dell recommended video drivers, which are designed to offer the best performance with your Dell-installed operating system.
use slide bar to set resolution HINT: To display a program at a specific resolution, both the video card and the display must support the resolution, and the necessary video drivers must be installed. Windows Vista® 1 Right-click an open area of the desktop. 2 Click Personalize. The Personalize appearance and sounds window appears. 3 Click Display Settings. 4 In the Display Settings window under Resolution, move the slide bar to the left or right to decrease/increase the screen resolution.
4 Under the Screen resolution section, move the slide bar to the left or right to decrease/increase the screen resolution. 5 Click Apply to check if the selected resolution is ok, if not repeat step 4. 6 Click OK. Troubleshooting Blurry text: If you change the display resolution from the current settings to one not supported by your computer and display, the image may appear blurry or text may be hard to read.
5 In the Display Settings window, move the Resolution slider bar to the left or right to select a screen resolution that matches the native resolution of the external LCD monitor. 6 Click OK. Windows® XP 1 Right-click an open area of the desktop. 2 Click Properties. The Display Properties window appears. 3 Select the Settings tab. 4 Select the external LCD monitor in the Display drop-down menu.
NOTE: Your video card must support multiple monitors. See Windows Help and Support for information on the requirements for setting up multiple monitors. Windows Vista 1 Right-click an open area of the desktop. 2 Click Personalize, and the Personalize appearance and sounds window appears. 3 Click Display Settings. 4 Drag the monitor icons to match the physical arrangement of your monitors.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about accessing the Display Properties window to configure multiple monitors, see "Control Panel" on page 44. For more detailed information about the Control Panel, see or “Windows Basic” in Windows Help and Support: click Start → Help and Support. Using the Ambient Light Sensor in Bright or LowLight Environments: NOTE: Your laptop computer may not have an ambient light sensor. NOTE: The ambient light sensor adjusts the display brightness on your laptop computer only.
You can enable or disable the ambient light sensor feature by pressing the and left-arrow key combination. NOTE: Do not cover the ambient light sensor with any adhesive labels. If covered, the sensor—when enabled—automatically sets the display brightness to the minimum level. NOTE: The ambient light sensor is disabled when your computer is connected to an electrical outlet.
Cables and Connections Every monitor has at least two cable requirements, power and data.
DisplayPort™ - Features and Benefits Dell, in collaboration with a group of leading PC, graphics, and semiconductor companies, has developed an open-standards based, royaltyfree, and extensible interface, DisplayPort, suited for both external desktop monitors and internal display interfaces.
Navigation Devices (Mouse, Keyboard, Touch Pad) You can use a mouse, a keyboard, a touch pad, and a pointing stick (track stick) to navigate and make selections from the features available on your Microsoft® Windows® desktop. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about these devices, see the documentation for your computer. Also, see Windows Help and Support: click Start → Help and Support.
Mouse left button right button scroll wheel A mouse typically consists of two buttons and a scroll wheel. • Use the left and right buttons to select or click items on the screen. • Use the scroll wheel to scroll through pages or windows on the screen. To scroll down, roll the wheel backward (toward you). To scroll up, roll the wheel forward (away from you). Controlling the Speed of the Mouse Buttons Windows Vista® 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Hardware and Sound→ Mouse.
Controlling the Speed of the Scroll Wheel Windows Vista® 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Hardware and Sound→ Mouse. 2 On the Wheel tab in the Mouse Properties window, set the options for how the scroll wheel on your mouse operates. 3 Click OK. Windows® XP 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Printers and Other Hardware→ Mouse. 2 On the Wheel tab, under Scrolling, select the number of lines to scroll with each notch on the wheel, or click One screen at a time. 3 Click OK.
4 Blow carefully into the ball cage, or use a can of compressed air, to dislodge dust and lint. 5 If the rollers inside the ball cage are dirty, clean the rollers with a cotton swab moistened lightly with isopropyl alcohol. 6 Recenter the rollers in their channels if they are misaligned. Ensure that fluff from the swab is not left on the rollers. 7 Replace the ball and retainer ring, and turn the retainer ring clockwise until it clicks into place.
• To make your computer discoverable to Bluetooth-enabled devices, in the Bluetooth Devices dialog box on the Options tab, select the Allow Bluetooth devices to find this computer check box. • To be notified when a Bluetooth-enabled device wants to connect to your computer, in the Bluetooth Devices dialog box on the Options tab, select the Alert me when a new Bluetooth device wants to connect check box. Windows® XP 1 Attach or turn on your Bluetooth-enabled adapter.
Touch Pad You can use your finger for touch input (or a Tablet PC pen on some computers) to move the cursor or select objects on the screen: • To move the cursor, lightly slide your finger or pen 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. • To select and move (or drag) an object, position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad.
Single Finger Zoom NOTE: Your laptop computer may not support single finger zoom feature. To change the zoom settings, double-click the Dell Touch Pad icon in the notification area of your desktop. In the Gestures tab, enable or disable the one-finger zoom (zoom in and out moving the finger upward or downward) or the pinch zoom (zoom in and out by spreading two fingers or by bringing the two fingers together). Cleaning the Touch Pad 1 Shut down and turn off your computer.
2 On the Touch Pointer tab, select or clear the Show the touch pointer when I’m interacting with items on the screen check box. 3 Click OK. Turning the Touch Pointer On or Off From the Taskbar 1 Use your finger to press and hold the taskbar. 2 Point to Toolbars, and then tap Touch Pointer. 3 To turn the touch pointer on or off, tap the Touch Pointer icon on the taskbar.
For more information on System Restore see "Using Microsoft® Windows® System Restore" on page 265 HINT: If you still have problems with the pointing device, check the software driver for the device. You may have to reinstall the driver. See "Determining Whether a Device Driver is the Source of a Device Problem" on page 79.
Customizing Your Keyboard You can adjust your keyboard settings to: • Change the delay before keyboard characters repeat. • Change the speed at which keyboard characters repeat. • Change the cursor blink rate. • Customize key sequences for input languages. Windows Vista 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Hardware and Sound→ Keyboard. 2 Adjust the keyboard settings you want to change and click OK. Windows XP 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Printers and Other Hardware→ Keyboard.
1 full keyboard/touch pad brightness. 2 half keyboard/touch pad brightness. 3 no lighting. Changing the Input Language of Your Keyboard Windows Vista 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Clock, Language, and Region→ Regional and Language Options. 2 Click Change keyboards or other input methods. 3 On the Keyboards and Languages tab, click Change keyboards. 4 Under Installed services, click Add. 5 Click the language you want to add, select the text services you want to add, and then click OK.
Using the Numeric Keypad on a Laptop Computer numeric keypad Your laptop computer may have a numeric keypad integrated into the keyboard. The keypad corresponds to the keypad of an extended keyboard. 68 • To type a number or symbol, press and hold and press the desired key. • To enable the numeric keypad, press . The that the keypad is active. • To disable the numeric keypad, press again.
General Keyboard Shortcuts Opens the Task Manager window. Displays icons representing all currently available display options (display only, external monitor or projector only, both display and projector, and so on). Highlight the desired icon to switch the display to that option. and up-arrow key Increases brightness on an integrated display. and down-arrow key Decreases brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor).
Switches between open items. Cycles through items in the order in which they were opened. Deletes a selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin. Deletes the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first. and right-arrow key Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word. and left-arrow key Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Printers—Settings and Drivers Accessing Printer Information You can find information about your printer(s) through the Start button. From the Start menu, click Control Panel to access the hardware on your computer, including a list of printers connected to your computer. See your printer manufacturer’s documentation for hardware-specific information.
HINT: Add a shortcut to your printer on your Start menu. For more information, see "Desktop Icons and Shortcuts" on page 36. Also, see Microsoft® Windows® Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Changing Printer Settings Your printer settings determine print quality, finishing options (such as double-sided print) and ink or toner usage, supported paper size, and so on. For Windows Vista® 1 Click Start Faxes.
Setting up Printers You can connect one or more printers to your computer and add one or more computers to your printer. EXAMPLE: You have a laptop computer that you use at work and at home. If you want to print at both locations, you can install both the printers on your computer. Adding a Printer Windows Vista® 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Hardware and Sound→ Printers. For Windows XP Click Start → Control Panel→ Printers and Other Hardware→ Printers and Faxes. 2 Click Add a Printer.
Setting the Default Printer Set the printer you use most often as the default printer.To set a specific printer as your default printer, right-click on the printer icon, and select Set as Default Printer. A checkmark appears above the icon of the printer selected as the default. Sharing Printers on a Network A shared printer is one that receives input from more than one computer. A shared printer is also called a network printer.
Installing a Printer Driver printer drivers CD inkjet printer laser printer A driver is a program that controls a device, such as a printer, and allows it to interface with your computer. All devices require a driver program. Printer drivers are shipped on a CD along with the printer.
5 When the Welcome Dell System Owner screen appears, click Next. A message appears, stating that the Drivers and Utilities program is detecting hardware in your computer. HINT: The drivers that are used by your computer are automatically displayed in the My Drivers—The Resource CD has identified these components in your system window. NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities menu displays drivers only for hardware that came installed in your computer.
Drives and Media Freeing up Hard Drive Space Microsoft® Windows Vista® reserves approximately 1 GB on a hard drive for operating system functions, leaving the remaining space for other standard operations. To determine how much space is available for standard operations, click Start → Computer. A list of drives and storage devices appears. The free space on drive C (the hard drive) is displayed.
3 Click Run as administrator. 4 If a window appears asking permission to continue, click Continue. 5 Type the following: vssadmin list shadowstorage. 6 Press . The Command Prompt displays the amount of space used by Shadow Storage. Reducing Hard Drive Space Used by Shadow Storage 1 Click Start → All Programs→ Accessories. 2 Right-click Command Prompt. 3 Click Run as administrator. 4 If a window appears asking permission to continue, click Continue.
Installing Drivers for Media Drives A driver is a program that controls your media drive. You may need to install drivers if you: • Upgrade your operating system. • Reinstall your operating system. • Connect or install a new device. HINT: You must be logged in with administrator privileges to perform the tasks mentioned in this section. Determining Whether a Device Driver is the Source of a Device Problem 1 Click Start and right-click Computer. 2 Click Properties→ Device Manager.
Using the Drivers and Utilities Media to Reinstall a Driver 1 With the Windows desktop displayed, insert the Drivers and Utilities media. If this is your first time to use the Drivers and Utilities media, go to step 2. If not, go to step 5. 2 When the Drivers and Utilities media installation program starts, follow the prompts on the screen. 3 When the InstallShield Wizard Complete window appears, remove the Drivers and Utilities media and click Finish to restart the computer.
5 Double-click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver. 6 Click the Driver tab→ Update Driver→ Browse my computer for driver software. 7 Click Browse, and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files. 8 When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click the name of the driver→ OK→ Next. 9 Click Finish and restart your computer. HINT: The Dell Support website at support.dell.
R U N T H E D E L L D I A G N O S T I C S — See "Running the Dell Diagnostics" on page 281. Optical Drive Problems NOTE: High-speed optical drive vibration is normal and may cause noise, which does not indicate a defect in the drive or the media. NOTE: Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all DVDs work in all DVD drives.
Windows Vista® 1 Click Start → Computer. ® For Windows XP: Click Start → My Computer. 2 Right-click Local Disk (C:). 3 Click Properties→ Tools→ Check Now. 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. 4 Click to check Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors, and then click Start.
RAID level 0 uses data striping to provide a high data access rate. Data striping writes consecutive segments, or stripes, of data sequentially across the physical drive(s) to create a large virtual drive. This allows one of the drives to read data while the other drive is searching for and reading the next block. RAID 0 uses the full storage capacities of both drives. For example, two 120GB hard drives combine to provide 240 GB of hard drive space on which to store data.
If a drive failure occurs, read and write operations are directed to the remaining drive. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the remaining drive. NOTE: In a RAID 1 configuration, the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the configuration.
RAID Level 0+1 Configuration A RAID 0+1 array combines the high data access rate of a RAID level 0 array and the data protection (redundancy) of a RAID level 1 mirror by striping data across two drives and mirroring that striped data on a second set of two drives. If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the other surviving drives. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drives.
RAID Level 5 Configuration RAID level 5 uses data parity. RAID level 5 stripes both data and parity information across three or more drives. It provides data striping at the byte level and also stripe error correction information (rotating parity array). This results in excellent performance and good fault tolerance. If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the other surviving drives. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drives.
4 Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight RAID On, and then press . 5 Repeat the process, as needed, for each hard drive. NOTE: Hard drives in a RAID configuration should be of equal size to avoid unallocated space. 6 Press , press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight Save/Exit, and then press to exit the system setup program and resume the boot process.
2 Restart the computer. 3 Press when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS. The Define a New Array window appears. NOTE: If the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop, and then shut down your computer and try again. 4 Press to navigate to the RAID Mode field. To create a RAID 0 configuration, use the arrow keys to select Striping. To create a RAID 1 configuration, use the arrow keys to select Mirroring.
Assigning New Drives to a RAID Array With the Operating System Installed Use Nvidia MediaShield to create a RAID configuration only when you are adding one or more new hard drives to an existing (non-RAID) single-drive computer, and you want to configure the new drive(s) into a RAID array. NOTICE: The following procedure deletes all data on your hard drive(s). Back up any data you want to keep before continuing. 1 Enable RAID on your hard drives (see "Setting Your Computer to RAIDEnabled Mode" on page 87).
NOTICE: Deleting a RAID 0 volume destroys all data on the volume. Back up any data you want to keep before continuing. NOTICE: If your computer currently boots to RAID and you delete the RAID volume, your computer will not boot. 1 Launch Nvidia MediaShield. 2 Click to select the array you want to delete. 3 Click Delete Array in the System Tasks pane. The NVIDIA Delete Array Wizard screen appears. 4 Click Next.
6 Under RAID Mode Selection, select Mirroring or Striping from the dropdown menu. 7 Click Next. NOTICE: You lose all data on the drives selected in the next step. Back up any data you want to keep before continuing. 8 Under Free Disk Selection, click the check box next to the hard drive(s) you want to include in the array. 9 Click Finish. The MediaShield RAID management utility window appears and displays the status of the upgrade/migration process along with any other installed hard drives.
• "Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration With the Operating System Installed" on page 94. • "Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration With the Operating System Installed" on page 94. • "Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration With the Operating System Installed" on page 95. • "Recovering From a Single Hard Drive Failure (RAID 1)" on page 95. • "Migrating to a RAID Level 0 Configuration" on page 96. • "Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration" on page 97.
For RAID 1 Press the up- and down-arrow keys to select RAID1 (Mirror). 5 Select the desired capacity for the volume and press . The default value is the maximum available size. 6 Press to create the volume. 7 Press to confirm that you want to create the RAID volume. 8 Confirm that the correct volume configuration is displayed on the main Intel RAID Option ROM utility screen. 9 Press the up- and down-arrow keys to select Exit and press .
Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration With the Operating System Installed NOTE: When you perform this operation, all data on the RAID drives is lost. 1 Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 87). 2 Click Start→ Programs→ Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager→ Intel Matrix Storage Console. NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to RAID-enabled mode.
NOTE: Volumes with a status of Rebuild are rebuilt within the operating system. 5 Use the up- and down-arrow keys to select Exit, and then press . Your computer boots to the operating system and begins rebuilding the RAID volume automatically. NOTE: You can use your computer while the computer is rebuilding the RAID 1 volume. Migrating to a RAID Level 0 Configuration 1 Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 87).
NOTICE: In the following step, all data contained on the member drive is removed. 11 Click Finish to start migrating, or click Back to make changes. NOTE: You can use your computer normally during the migration process. Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration 1 Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see "Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode" on page 87). 2 Click Start→ All Programs→ Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager→ Intel Matrix Storage Console to launch the Intel Storage Utility.
Drives and Media
Shutting Down Your Computer Ensure that you shut down the Microsoft® Windows® operating system before you turn off the computer. Windows Vista® 1 Save and close all open files and close all programs. 2 Click Start button. and move the mouse pointer to the arrow next to the lock 3 Click Shut Down. Windows® XP 1 Save and close all open files and close all programs.
2 Click Start and then select Turn Off menu. 3 The Turn off computer dialog box appears. 4 Click the Turn Off button to shut down the computer. HINT: If your computer is not operating properly, restarting Windows often solves the problem. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about turning off your computer properly in Windows, see Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. NOTE: Windows operating systems start automatically when you turn on the computer.
Shutdown States Microsoft® Windows Vista® Sleep Sleep is a power-saving state, or mode. Sleep saves all open documents and programs, and allows the computer to quickly resume full-power operation (typically within several seconds) when you want to start working again. Shut Down Use shut down only when you must turn off the power to your computer, for example, when you want to add memory or you don’t plan to use the computer for several days.
Applications tab program not responding End Task button If a program on your computer stops responding or appears frozen, Windows will try to find the problem and fix it automatically. In order to continue work, you may have to end (terminate) the program. You can terminate the program by using the Task Manager utility. 1 Right-click the taskbar, and click Task Manager. 2 The Task Manager window appears. 3 In the Applications tab, select the program that is not responding and then click End Task.
Ending a Process That is not Responding Processes tab process not responding End Process button Use the Task Manager to end (terminate) processes that have stopped responding. A process can be a program, such as Windows Explorer, or a service, such as MSTask. 1 Right-click the taskbar, and click Task Manager→ Processes tab. 2 In the Process tab, select the process that is not responding and then click End Process. HINT: Be careful when ending a process.
Docking and Undocking Your Laptop Computer Undocking Your Computer While it is Running— Hot Undocking Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) is a form of power management, that enables the operating system to control the amount of power given to each device attached to the computer. If your computer is ACPI-enabled, you can undock it while it is still running, without shutting down open applications or programs.
2 Click Start → Undock Computer and wait until the system confirms that the computer is ready to be undocked. 3 Remove the computer from the docking station. HINT: 1) If the computer does not have power from a battery, the computer turns off when you undock it, and you lose unsaved data. 2) Never undock the computer without first preparing it. If you undock before preparing the computer, you lose unsaved data and the computer may not recover normal operation for several minutes.
• Do not shut down. Click Cancel to return to Windows. If any of the programs that are preventing shutdown have data that you want to save, save it now. Then proceed to shut down the computer. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about shutting down your computer, see Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Windows XP When you attempt to shut down, Windows may display an End Program dialog box. • Click End Now to end the program.
Press and hold the power button for at least 8 seconds. Also, you may want to remove and replace the battery for a laptop computer to ensure that power is off and components will reset when the power is turned back on. See "Replacing a Battery" on page 143. HINT: If an error message is displayed when the computer stops responding, write down the message. This will help you troubleshoot the problem later. The error reporting dialog box will be displayed after you restart your computer.
Access the Safe Mode by pressing and holding the key while your computer restarts. Restarting Your Computer After a Power Loss FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about Safe Mode, see Windows Help and Support: click Start → Help and or Support. If your computer suffers a power loss, it may restart and display a series of messages. • If you were working in an application, a message may ask you to choose a version of the document to save.
Files and Folders Files are documents, photos, or graphics stored on your computer. A folder is a group of multiple files. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about how to open, copy, and delete files and folders, see Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support.
Navigating to Files Forward/ Back buttons toolbar address bar folders Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to view and find files and folders available on your computer. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about using the Windows Explorer utility, see Windows Help and Support: click Start → Help and Support. or In Windows Explorer, use the Forward and Back buttons above the Address Bar to navigate to files you previously viewed.
Selecting and Opening Files To open a file, you first need to select the file. To select a file, click the filename one time. Selected files appear highlighted. To open the file, doubleclick the selected filename. Selecting a Group of Files SHIFT Click the first file you want included in the group. Press and hold down the key as you click the last file to include in the group. All the files in the group are highlighted. Selecting Several Random Files CTRL Click a file you want to select.
Opening and Saving a File Double-click on a file you want to open. When you finish working with the file, perform the following to save the file: Click File→ Save. Click the X in the upper-right corner to close the file. NOTE: Clicking the X in the upper right corner of an application rather than a particular file in the application, closes all the open files in the application. HINT: To save file with a different name, Click File→ Save As. Type a name for the file in the File name box and click Save.
3 Type the filename or part of the filename in the Search box. 4 Type a word or part of a word in the Search box. 5 Press or click the magnifying glass To search for a picture: 1 Click Start → All Programs →Windows Photo Gallery. Windows® XP 1 Click Start → Search. 2 Under Search Companion, select the type of item you want to search for. 3 Enter a name and click Search. Renaming Files You should not rename files that the operating system or other programs require to operate.
HINT: When you delete a file, Windows places the file in the Recycle Bin in case you need to restore the file. To permanently delete a file, empty the Recycle Bin. To empty the Recycle Bin, double-click the Recycle Bin icon and select Empty Recycle Bin from the File menu. Sharing Files Windows Vista 1 Click one or more files or folders that you want to share, and click Share.
• A Co-owner can view, add, alter, or delete any shared file. 4 Click Share. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. 5 If a window appears asking for permission to continue, click Continue. 6 After you receive confirmation that your folder is shared, send a link to the shared files to the people you are sharing them with. 7 Click Done.
1 Locate the folder or file for which you want to set permissions and rightclick on it. 2 Click Properties→ Security to remove permissions from a group or user, click on the required group or user and click Remove. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about setting permissions, see "Administrator Rights" on page 251.
3 Click Continue on the User Account Control dialog box and follow the instructions on the Windows Easy Transfer wizard. If Windows Easy Transfer is not listed in the Start menu, use the Control Panel to access the Windows Easy Transfer wizard: → Control Panel → System and Maintenance → 1 Click Start Welcome Center → Transfer files and settings. 2 Click Continue on User Account Control dialog box and follow the instructions on the Windows Easy Transfer wizard.
Windows XP 1 Click Start Backup. → All Programs → Accessories → System Tools → 2 Click Advanced Mode in the Backup or Restore Wizard. 3 On the Backup tab→ Job→ New. 4 Specify the files and folders you want to back up by selecting the check box to the left of a file or folder in Click to select the check box for any drive, folder, or file that you want to back up. 5 In Backup destination, do one of the following: • Click File if you want to back up files and folders to a file.
Running Backup With Hidden Drives NOTE: You cannot run backup for a drive that is “hidden”. To run backup in this situation, you must first unhide any hidden drives. To do so, open the program that you used to hide the drive and make the drive visible. Restoring Files You can restore your entire computer or just the files and folders on your computer. Windows Vista 1 Click Start → Control Panel → System and Maintenance → Backup and Restore Center. 2 Click either Restore files or Restore computer.
Files and Folders
Managing Applications (Programs) Installing Applications on Your Computer Installing Applications From a CD or DVD With Microsoft® Windows® 1 Insert the CD or DVD into your computer. 2 Follow the instructions on your screen. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. If an application does not install, look for the application's setup file, usually called setup.exe or install.exe, on the installation disk.
Click Save and download the installation file to your computer to allow you to scan the file for viruses. To install the application, double-click the file and follow the instructions on your screen. NOTICE: When downloading and installing applications from the Internet, be sure you trust the publisher of the application and the website that is offering the application. Installing Applications From a Network This topic only applies if your computer is connected to a network.
3 If your network administrator has organized the available programs into categories, you may need to select a different option in Category to see the program you want to add. 4 Select an application from the list, and click Add. 5 Follow the instructions on your screen. Removing Applications From Your Computer Windows Vista 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Programs→ Programs and Features. 2 Select the application you want to remove, and click Uninstall.
HINT: Simply deleting a program does not completely remove it from your computer. By deleting a program from your computer any way other than by using the Add or Remove Programs utility, you may accidentally delete drivers needed by other programs. Ending an Application When it Does not Respond Applications tab program not responding End Task button If an application stops responding, Windows tries to find the problem and fix it automatically.
Maintenance Tasks (Enhance Performance and Ensure Security) Performing Maintenance Tasks to Increase Computer Speed and Ensure Security Your computer may begin to run slower over time. Slower performance can be caused by: • Disorganized files • Unnecessary software • Unused network drives • Too many programs that run automatically at startup In addition, viruses can cause serious damage and dramatically slow your computer's performance.
Tools are available through your computer’s operating system to manage and improve its performance. Use this document as an overview of the options provided. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about maintenance tasks, see Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Cleaning Your Computer Before You Start Read the safety instructions available in the Dell™ safety information that shipped with your computer. Turn off and unplug the computer from the electrical outlet.
1 Hold the disc by its outer edge. You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole. NOTICE: To avoid damaging the surface, do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc. 2 With a soft, lint-free cloth, gently wipe the bottom of the disc (the unlabeled side) in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc. For stubborn dirt, try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap.
2 Click System and Maintenance→ Performance Information and Tools. 3 Use the following options in the Tasks area to improve your computer’s performance: Manage startup programs — disable some of your startup programs to improve performance. Adjust visual effects — change how menus and windows appear to optimize performance. Adjust indexing options — index options to help you find what you are looking for on your computer.
Performance — monitors your system performance to detect problems. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about managing space on your hard drive by removing unused applications, see "Removing Applications From Your Computer" on page 123. Performance Tuning System Setup Based Performance Tuning For some Dell systems, the settings available under the Advanced page of System Setup provide users with enhanced access to the options and controls that allow for computer performance to be manually tuned.
Device Settings When launched, the application detects installed ESA-compatible devices such as CPUs, video cards, memory, system board, and chassis components. Selecting a component in the Device Settings interface displays the available settings and options for that component. Advanced users can manually tune these options to tailor and customize their system's performance. These settings can be saved to profiles to be recalled at a later time.
When launched the NVIDIA Monitor application detects installed ESAcompatible devices such as CPUs, video cards, memory, system board, and chassis components. Selecting a component in the interface displays realtime data for the available operating characteristics of that component. These characteristics may include voltages, fan speeds, usage, temperatures and more. You can customize the NVIDIA Monitor to: • Choose key performance characteristics to monitor, graph, and log.
Defragmenting Your Hard Drive You can improve the performance of your computer by defragmenting your hard drive. This action enables your programs to run faster and your files to open more quickly. HINT: Why defragment a hard drive? A fragmented hard drive stores fragments of files in many different locations on the disk. The computer must search throughout the disk to retrieve the complete file. Disk Defragmenter combines all the parts of a file that are fragmented into one location.
2 Select the drive you want to defragment and click Analyze to determine if you need to defragment the disk. Click Defragment to go ahead and defragment the disk. NOTE: You should not use your computer during the defragmentation process. Detecting and Repairing Disk Errors 1 Click Start→ My Computer. 2 On the File menu, select Properties. 3 On the Tools tab, click Check Now. 4 Select the actions you want to perform and click Start.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about protecting your computer from viruses, see "Viruses" on page 179. Windows Defender is an antispyware application that: • Checks your computer hard drive for locations infected by the spyware • Checks all files on your hard disk for spyware • Checks all currently running programs for spyware FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about Windows Defender, search for “Using Windows Defender” on the Microsoft website (www.microsoft.com).
Power (Power Settings, Power Protection Devices, and Batteries) Setting Power Options Windows Vista® Using Power Plans Windows Vista provides three power plans that you can use or configure to meet your needs. Power plans manage how your computer uses power by saving energy, maximizing system performance, or achieving a balance between the two. The preconfigured power plans are: • Balanced offers full performance when necessary and saves power during periods of inactivity.
2 Click the option you want to use. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about power plans, see Windows Help and Support: click Start Support. or → Help and Power Management States Sleep Sleep saves power by saving your open documents and programs, and allowing your computer to quickly resume full operation when you are ready to start again. To put your computer to sleep: • Click Start and move the pointer to the arrow icon by the Lock button. Then click Sleep.
NOTICE: You cannot remove devices or undock your computer while your computer is in hibernate mode. Your computer enters hibernate mode if the battery charge level becomes critically low. To manually enter hibernate mode: • Click Start and move the pointer to the arrow icon by the Lock button. Then click Hibernate. OR • Depending on how you set the power management options, you may also use one of the following methods to put your computer to sleep: • Press the power button.
• Power Meter — view the available battery power (laptop computers) • Advanced — select options for advanced power settings • Hibernate — select to enable or disable hibernation FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about configuring power option settings in Windows, see Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Power Management Modes Standby Mode Standby conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a predetermined period of inactivity (a time-out).
Hibernate Mode Hibernate conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits hibernate, it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering hibernate. NOTICE: You cannot remove devices or undock your computer while your computer is in hibernate mode. Your computer enters hibernate if the battery charge level becomes critically low. To manually enter hibernate: • Click Start → Turn off computer.
Power Protection Devices Interference or fluctuations in the power supplied to your computer can cause crashes and sometimes permanent damage to your computer. Surge protectors, power line conditioners, uninterruptible power supplies provide protection for your computer.
Plug your computer power line into a power line conditioner to compensate peaks and valleys in the power supply and reduce peaks in the power flow to your computer. Power line conditioners are different from the typical uninterruptible power supply in that they continuously charge the battery and continuously run the equipment off battery power. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) NOTICE: Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in data loss or file damage.
Using Your Laptop Computer for the First Time Power Meter icon The first time you use your computer, use the AC adapter to connect your computer to an electrical outlet in case your battery is not fully charged. For best results, operate the computer with the AC adapter until the battery is fully charged. To view the battery charge status, check the Power Meter icon on the taskbar. NOTE: To preserve battery power, connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to a CD or DVD.
Replacing a Battery CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer. CAUTION: Do not dispose of batteries with household waste. When your battery no longer holds a charge, call your local waste disposal or environmental agency for advice on disposing batteries.
Microsoft Windows Power Meter The Power Meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the amount of the power remaining on your battery, double-click the Power Meter icon in the taskbar. Charge Gauge on the Battery The operating time of a battery depends on the number of times it is charged. After hundreds of charge and discharge cycles, batteries lose some charge capacity—or battery health.
Understanding Low Battery Warnings NOTICE: To avoid losing or corrupting data, save your work immediately after a low-battery warning. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet, or install a second battery in the media bay if your laptop has this option. If the battery runs completely out of power, hibernate mode begins automatically. Your laptop computer will display a warning when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted.
NOTE: With Dell™ ExpressCharge™, when the computer is turned off, the AC adapter charges a completely discharged battery to 80 percent in about 1 hour and to 100 percent in approximately 2 hours. Charge time is longer with the computer turned on. You can leave the battery in the computer for as long as you like. The battery’s internal circuitry prevents the battery from overcharging.
You can optimize the battery life for your laptop computer using the options available under All Day Battery mode or Extended Battery Life mode. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about using the Dell ControlPoint application, see the Help available from the main ControlPoint screen.
Power (Power Settings, Power Protection Devices, and Batteries)
Networks (LAN, Wireless, Mobile Broadband) LAN WLAN Overview A computer network provides connectivity between your computer and the Internet, another computer, or a peripheral such as a printer. 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. • Share files. • Browse other networks. • Access the Internet.
You can set up a local area network (LAN) using a broadband modem and network cables, or you can set up a wireless LAN (WLAN) using a wireless router or access point. A Network Connections Wizard guides you through the process of setting up a computer network and connecting to other networks. The Intel® Active Management Technology (Intel AMT or iAMT®) provides enhanced tools for management of networked computers. This Intel AMT software is available on some Dell computers.
What You Need to Set up a LAN • Cable or DSL broadband modem with Internet access established. For information on broadband connection, see "Broadband Access" on page 151. • Router — A router connects computers and peripherals on the network to each other, allowing the computers to share Internet access provided by the broadband modem. A router has multiple ports, each supporting one computer or one peripheral such as a printer. • Network cables — Use either CAT 5 or CAT 5e cables.
Setting up the Hardware 1 Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to obtain specific information about the connection requirements for your broadband modem. 2 Ensure that you have Internet access through your broadband modem. 3 Install any software required for your router. Your router may have been shipped with installation media, which usually contains installation and troubleshooting information. Install the required software according to the instructions provided by the router manufacturer.
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) 1 2 3 1 Router 2 Modem 3 Internet A wireless local area network (WLAN) connects two or more computers with each other and the Internet over the air waves rather than through a network cable connected to each computer. In a WLAN, a radio communications device (an access point or wireless router) connects the networked computers and peripherals, and provides Internet or network access.
• A wireless network card, an integrated wireless adapter, or a wireless USB adapter for each computer that you want to connect to your WLAN See "Checking Your Wireless Network Card" on page 154.
Setting up a new Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) 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. 3 Install any software required for your wireless router.
NOTE: Your available selections may differ based on any configuration or changes your may have made to your Start menu. NOTE: If you select a secure public network, you must enter the network’s WEP or WPA encryption key when prompted. Whenever you log on to your computer within the range of the wireless network that you selected, the same pop-up notifies you of the wireless network connection. NOTE: Your computer can take several minutes to connect to the network.
Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Card With a Wireless Switch Your laptop computer may include a wireless switch. You can use this switch to turn your wireless card on or off. NOTE: By default, the wireless switch is turned Off while shipping your computer. The wireless switch must be turned On to detect and connect to a wireless network. On some computers, you can also use the wireless switch to scan for a wireless network by sliding and holding the wireless switch in position for a few seconds.
Ad Hoc Networks Ad hoc networks are simple networks that connect two or more computers in close range without the use of a router or access point. Generally ad hoc networks are used for sharing files and playing games. Some of the Dell wireless printers use an ad hoc network to configure the wireless adapter for the printer. The Windows Vista operating system provides an easy-to-use wizard to help you set up the network. 1 From the Network and Sharing Center, click Tasks→ Setup a connection or network.
Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network) Networks 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 details.
Establishing a Mobile Broadband Network Connection NOTE: Depending on your computer, you can use either a Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini Card, but not both, to establish a Mobile Broadband network connection.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about using the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility, see: • The user's guide typically available through Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support • The user's guide available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.
WPAN NOTE: WPAN is not supported on all computers. WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) helps interconnect wireless devices centered around your personal workspace. WPAN technology supports communication over a short distance. Bluetooth, used as the basis for a new standard, IEEE 802.15. is an example of WPAN.
Secure your router. If your network’s router is unprotected, a hacker can access your computer through your broadband Internet connection. To improve the security of your network, change the network name and administrator password to unique values using the router configuration software, and change the administrator password periodically. When setting up the router, enable data encryption. To set up data encryption on the router, use your router’s configuration software. Set up a firewall.
Securing Your Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Change the Default Router Administrator Password Setting and Default Wireless Network Name (SSID). Your wireless router uses an administrator password and wireless network name (Service Set Identifier [SSID]), which are set to default values by the router manufacturer. Set up encryption. When setting up your wireless router, enable data encryption.
Set up MAC filtering. If you configure your wireless router to use MAC filtering, the router will limit access to wireless adapters with MAC addresses that you specify. 1 Open the Command Prompt window and type ipconfig/all. 2 Under the wireless network connection, note the 12-character hexadecimal Physical Address value. This value is the MAC address for the computer’s wireless adapter.
Update your software. Before using public wireless networks, update your operating system and security software with the latest security patches and virus information. Use a firewall. If you are using the Windows Vista or Windows XP operating system, ensure that the Windows firewall feature is enabled. See "Using a Firewall to Secure Your Computer" on page 255.
The wireless switch uses the Dell Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator to scan specifically for wireless networks in your vicinity. Scanning for a Wireless Network On some computers, you can use the wireless switch to scan for wireless networks in your vicinity. To scan for a wireless network, slide and hold the wireless switch in position for a few seconds (see "Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Card With a Wireless Switch" on page 157). Other computers may use a separate button or switch for scanning.
Dell ControlPoint Connection Manager is a network connectivity application that enables you to manage all networking from a single place on your computer. You can use the ControlPoint Connection Manager to manage network types, such as: • Wi-Fi • Mobile Broadband • Dial-up • Ethernet (or "wired") • Bluetooth and UWB • GPS To access the ControlPoint Connection Manager to enable and configure your computer’s Wi-Fi Network Locator feature: 1 Click the ControlPoint icon (DCP icon) on the taskbar.
• Remotely repair systems even after operating system failures — In the event of a software or operating system failure, Intel AMT can be used to access the computer remotely for repair purposes. • Protect networks from incoming threats while keeping software and virus protection up to date across the network See the Dell™ Systems Management Administrator's Guide for details on the use of the Intel® Active Management Technology. This guide is available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
Networks (LAN, Wireless, Mobile Broadband)
Accessing the Internet Overview The Internet is an electronic communications network that connects computer networks (for both individual and organizational users) around the world. The Internet supports an extensive world-wide collection of computers and servers, which contain documents or information pages (called web pages) that link to one another through a process called hypertext linking, or hyperlinks.
• DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing telephone line. With a DSL connection, you can access the Internet and use your telephone on the same line simultaneously. • Cable modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your local cable TV line. • Satellite modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through a satellite television system.
1 To view a particular website, open Internet Explorer by clicking the Internet Explorer icon. 2 When the browser opens, click the address bar at the top of the browser window, and type in a web address. Web Addresses A web address, or uniform resource locator (URL), provides the location of a website. Every web page on the Internet has a URL. A common format for a web address is: http://www.dell.com.
4 Click either Broadband (PPPoE), Wireless, or Dial-up, depending on how you want to connect: • Choose Broadband if you will use a DSL modem, cable TV modem, or satellite modem. • Choose Wireless if you will use a wireless connection through a WLAN card. • Choose Dial-up if you will use a dial-up modem or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, click Help me choose or contact your ISP.
Troubleshooting Problems Connecting to the Internet If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see the information that came from your Internet service provider and the information that came with any connection hardware. If you cannot connect to the Internet, but have successfully connected in the past, the ISP may have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the service status, or try connecting again later.
Setting the Way the Browser Displays Web Pages The general appearance of a web page can be altered through the use of colors, languages, font, and accessibility. 1 Click Start→ Control Panel→ Network and Internet Connections→ Internet Options. 2 Locate buttons to control web page appearance. Click the buttons for the features you wish to change. Colors From the color selection window you can alter the text, the background, and the hyperlinks.
Zoom Adjust the size of everything on the screen by using the Zoom feature. Hold the key down while pressing the plus (+) key to zoom in. Hold the key down while pressing the minus (–) key to zoom out. Saving Space by Setting the way the Browser Logs Viewing History Internet Explorer keeps a log of the websites that you visit in order to speed up the process of downloading graphics each time you re-visit a web page. You can delete or decrease the amount of space the history logs use.
5 Click Always open pop-ups in a new tab. This action ensures that advertisements open in the web browser you are currently using without redirecting your to a new address. 6 In the Open links from other programs section, click A new tab in the current window. This action opens hyperlinks in a new tab without opening a new browser.
• Restricted sites allow you to add websites that you fear may damage your computer. 2 Type in the web address of the site and click OK. Protecting Your Privacy While Accessing the Internet Privacy affects how other web pages are able to impact your computer. Each time you visit a website a certain amount of interaction occurs between the web page and your computer’s browser. Sometimes websites display ads that pop up in another window.
Using Antivirus Programs Protect your computer from viruses by using antivirus programs. Two popular antivirus programs include Norton AntiVirus and McAfee VirusScan. Both of these programs will regularly check your computer for viruses and quarantine suspected programs and data. You can obtain antivirus programs from the Dell Support web page located at support.dell.com. Updating Your Antivirus Programs Keep your antivirus program up to date since new viruses are discovered every day.
The General tab displays two settings: On and Off. The shields to the left are green with a checkmark (On) or red with an x (Off). Setting Windows Firewall to On (recommended) provides another choice. A check box that says Don’t allow exceptions is available for use. 3 Check the Don’t allow exceptions check box to boost the security settings. Windows Firewall will send a message every time it blocks a program.
Spyware and Malware Spyware is a type of computer program used for tracking consumers to better aim advertising at specific targets. It can also be used to discover information about individuals who do not protect their computers. Malware is software that is designed to corrupt data or hard drives on computers. Some malware can record every key you press, which may allow the capture of your credit card numbers and banking information.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about spyware and malware, see the following topics in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support: • "Remove spyware from your computer" • "Using anti-malware software to help protect your computer" • "When to trust a website". Spam Spam refers to unwanted e-mail messages, which can include chain letters and advertisements. You can obtain anti-spam programs to reduce the amount of spam you receive.
Take the following precautions to ensure that your online shopping experience is both safe and secure: • Verify the credibility of the retail website. • Is it a well known shopping site? • Does the website belong to an Internet trust organization.
Controlling Unwanted Toolbars toolbar Toolbars are located in the top of the browser to assist you as you navigate through web pages. Many of these are useful but too many can decrease the actual size of the browser you use to view the websites. 1 Click View. 2 Click Toolbars. Another menu will appear that displays all the available toolbars for the browser. A check next to a toolbar indicates that the toolbar is currently turned on. 3 Click a toolbar to enable or disable it.
1 Click Favorites→ Organize Favorites. 2 Click Create Folder to create a new folder. 3 Highlight a folder or page and click Rename to change the way a favorite is listed. 4 Highlight a folder or page and click Move to Folder to move a page into a folder. 5 Highlight a folder or page and click Delete to delete a favorite from your list. To view a list of favorites, click on the Favorites menu and a drop-down list appears with all of the previously chosen favorites.
Changing the Internet Communications Protocol (TCP/IP) Settings The Internet uses certain communications protocols to share information. When you click a selected website (to access the web page), information is sent (downloaded) to your computer through a communications protocol, such as: TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP). You may need to change your computer’s settings for the TCP/IP.
Freeing up Space and Protecting Your Computer Clearing Browser History The browser keeps a record of all the websites you visit. This function was designed to make travel to the same website take less time. However, this can sometimes create security risks or even impact your computer’s performance. Deleting the browser history can reduce the risk and the size of the history files on the computer. 1 Click Start→ Control Panel→ Network and Internet Connections→ Internet Options.
Maintaining Privacy by Blocking and Deleting Cookies Cookies are small markers (pieces of code) placed on your computer when you visit a website. Companies on the Internet use cookies to track visits to their website. Some cookies simply enhance your use of a website. For example, a cookie can save your website password information so that you only have to enter it the first time you visit a website. However, some cookies may use this personal information for commercial gain, putting your privacy at risk.
Accessing the Internet
E-mail Setting up a new E-mail Account With an Internet connection and an e-mail service, you can exchange e-mail messages with family, friends, and co-workers over the Internet. The e-mail software from most service providers offers an Internet Connection Wizard to help you connect to the Internet and set up your email account.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about using e-mail, see "Getting started with e-mail" in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Windows Vista® To add (or remove) a Windows Mail account: 1 Click Start → All Programs→ Windows Mail. 2 Click Tools→ Accounts. 3 Click Add or Remove, choose the type of account you want to add or remove, click Next, and then follow the online instructions.
4 In the Select the folder in which to create the new folder list, click the folder where you want to store your new folder. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about deleting or switching folders, see "Add, delete, or rename e-mail folders" in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. To create an e-mail rule: 1 Click Start → All Programs→ Windows Mail. 2 Click the message you want to use as a basis for your rule. 3 Click Message→ Create Rule from Message.
Windows XP To add an e-mail folder: 1 Click Start → Programs→ Outlook Express. 2 On the File→ Folder→ New. 3 In the Folder name text box, type the name and then select the location for the new folder. To create an e-mail rule: 1 Click Start → Programs→ Outlook Express. 2 Select an e-mail message in the main window. 3 On the Message window, click Create Rule from Message.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about securing your e-mail messages, see the documentation from your e-mail service provider. Reducing Spam Set an appropriate security level in your e-mail software (Windows Mail for Windows Vista or Outlook Express for Windows XP) for sorting e-mail that you receive. Windows Vista 1 Click Start → All Programs→ Windows Mail. 2 Click Tools→ Junk e-mail Options. 3 Select the protection level you want: • No Automatic Filtering.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about reducing spam in your e- mail messages, see "Block spam and other unwanted e-mail" in or → Help and Windows Help and Support: click Start Support. Windows XP 1 Click Start → Programs→ Outlook Express. 2 Click Tools→ Options→ Security tab. 3 Under Download Images, click Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail.
Avoiding E-mail Attachments Some e-mail services automatically block file types that commonly spread e-mail viruses. If an attachment is blocked, the Information bar displays a message, to let you know that it has done so, and lists the attachment that has been blocked. Other e-mail services allow you to select file types to be blocked. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about e-mail attachments, see the Help information provided by your e-mail service provider.
3 In the To box, type the e-mail address for each of your primary recipients. 4 In the Subject box, type the subject of your message. 5 Click in the main message window and type your message. 6 To send the message right away, click Send. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about sending e-mail in Windows Mail, see "Write an e-mail message" in Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Windows XP 1 Click Start → Programs→ Outlook Express. 2 On the toolbar, click Create Mail.
2 On the toolbar, click New Contact Group, type a name in the Group Name box, and then fill in the boxes on the Contact Group tab and Contact Group Details tab. You do not have to fill in all the boxes; just type as much information as you want about the new contact group you are creating. 3 Add contacts to the contact group in any of the following ways: • To add individual contacts to the group from your existing contacts, click Add to Contact Group.
• To add a person to both the group and your Address Book, click New Contact and fill in the appropriate information. • To use a directory service, click Select Members, and then click Find. Select a directory service from the drop-down list at the end of the text box. After finding and selecting an address, it is automatically added to your Address Book. 5 Repeat for each addition until your group is defined.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about backing up e-mail messages, see "To compact and back up e-mail folders" in Outlook Express Help.
E-mail
Multimedia (CDs/DVDs, 5.1 Audio, MP3s, TVs, Digital Cameras, and Projectors) Overview Most Dell computers come with a CD/DVD player/recorder, which can be used for data, music or videos. Depending on the computer, you can also connect other media devices, such as digital cameras, projectors, MP3 Players, and TVs. You can view and print digital photos, play CDs and DVDs, create your own CDs, listen to radio stations, and copy files to a laptop media device, such as an MP3 player.
CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Disc™ Media Some computers may come equipped with media buttons for: • Playing various media • Transferring and backing up data • Entertainment For instructions on using these buttons see the documentation that came with your computer. Playing a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray Disc Media For Drives With Spindles and/or Trays 1 Press the eject button on the drive.
For Drives With a Slot drive opening NOTICE: Do not use non-standard-size or shape discs (including mini-CDs and mini-DVDs) as you will damage the drive. NOTE: Do not move the computer while playing or recording CDs and DVDs. 1 Press the eject button to remove a pre-installed cd. For the location of the eject button, see the documentation shipped with your computer. 2 Slide the disc, label side up, in the drive slot. 3 For those computers equipped with multimedia buttons, press the Play button.
With a Single Disk Drive: a Insert the source disk into the drive. b Ensure that the settings are correct, and then follow the instructions online. The computer reads your source disk and copies the data to a temporary folder on your hard drive. c When prompted, insert a blank disk into the drive and click OK. The computer copies the data from the temporary folder to the blank disk. With Dual Disk Drives: a Select the drive for the source disk (and insert the disk).
5.1 Audio NOTE: 5.1 Audio may not be supported on all computers. 5.1 refers to the number of audio channels in most surround-sound configurations. The 5 refers to the five main audio channels: left front, center front, right front, left surround and right surround; while the 1 refers to the low frequency effects channel (LFE). A 5.1 signal can be provided by the optical media or a satellite TV channel. Setting up the 5.1 Audio Connections To set up the 5.
Laptop Media Devices (MP3 Players) FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about connecting your laptop media device to your computer and for playing your laptop media device (MP3 Player), see the documentation that came with the device. Also, see "Using Windows Media Player" in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Connecting a Laptop Media Device (MP3 Player) to Your Computer Follow the instructions that came with your media device to connect it to your computer.
If the storage capacity of the laptop media device is not large enough to handle the files you want to copy, Media Player defaults to manual sync. At this point, you must manually remove files from the device or alter your selection of files to copy. Media Player allows you to switch between automatic and manual sync operations.
Playing Media Using the Dell Travel Remote The Dell Travel Remote is designed to control Windows Vista Media Center and is available only for specified computers. 1 Install a coin-cell battery into the remote control. 2 Launch the Windows Vista Media Center. 3 Use the remote control buttons to play media. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about Dell Travel Remote, see the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. Also, see the instructions that came with the Dell Travel Remote.
3 Click Settings→ DVD→ DVD Audio Setting. 4 Click the arrows beside the Speaker Configuration setting to scroll through the options, and select the SPDIF option. 5 Click the Back button once, and then click the Back button again to return to the main menu screen. Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio in the Windows Audio Driver 1 Double-click the Volume icon in the taskbar. 2 From the Volume Control window, click Options→ Advanced Controls→ Advanced. 3 Click the check box to enable S/PDIF Interface.
7 Click the Back button once, and then click the Back button again to return to the main menu screen. Using a Digital Camera With Your Computer When you use a digital camera with your computer, you can perform one or more of the following tasks: • View and download pictures on your camera. • Modify pictures and add special effects. • Print pictures. • Organize your picture collection. • Create slide shows.
• Burning (creating) your own CDs and DVDs as well as copying music from CDs • Listening to radio stations • Searching and organizing your digital media files • Copying and syncing files to laptop devices • Shopping for digital media online FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about using the Windows Media Player, see Windows Help and Support: click Start → Help and Support.
Multimedia
Connecting Your Computer to a TV and Adjusting Display Settings Accessing a TV With Your Computer Using a TV Tuner Card You can use a TV tuner card, a special video adapter, to view and record TV on your computer. A TV tuner card may replace your current video card or it may work with your current video card. For more information about watching and recording TV on your computer, see the documentation that came with your TV tuner card.
• DisplayPort™ • Digital Video Interface (DVI) or High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) In addition, possible audio connections to support the video connections vary from standard analog RCA jacks to S/PDIF digital audio and multi-channel digital audio through optical cable. All of these video and audio connection options vary for each computer and TV. Examine the back and sides of both your computer and your TV to determine what options are available.
You may need to navigate through a great deal of information in order to understand the possible selections for these video and audio connections. See the documentation that came with your computer and your TV. You may also want to take advantage of some of the tutorials available on the Internet.
Connector Description/Function A DVI connector allows you to connect an external DVI-compatible monitor, such as flat-panel monitors or TVs. DVI connectors are available for DVI-D (digital only), DVI-A (high-resolution analog), and DVI-I (digital and analog). NOTE: DVI-A, DVI-D, and DVI-I connectors are noninterchangeable. Cables for each are unique. Make sure that you know which format your computer supports. DisplayPort allows you to connect a computer and a home-theater system.
Connector Description/Function An audio connector allows you to connect to standard audio, S/PDIF digital audio, or multichannel analog audio. A headphone/line-in connector allows you to connect headphones to your computer. You can also use this connector for standard audio connection to speakers. HINT: DON’T FORGET THE AUDIO: Connect an audio cable if you want to hear the sound on anything other than your computer’s speakers. S-video cables generally transmit video only.
• – VGA connector and VGA cable – Standard S-video connector and S-video cable – Composite adapter with composite-video cable – Component adapter with component-video cable – DVI connector with DVI cable or DVI/HDMI converter cable – HDMI connector with HDMI cable or DVI/HDMI converter cable – DisplayPort connector with DisplayPort cable or DisplayPort/DVI converter cable Audio adapter and cable – Standard analog audio – S/PDIF digital audio – Multi-channel analog audio Depending on the
Multi-Port Composite Adapter S-video TV-out connector composite adapter Single-Port Composite Adapter S-video TV-out connector composite adapter Component Adapter S-video TV-out connector component adapter Connecting Your Computer to a TV and Adjusting Display Settings 221
Cables S-Video TV-out connector cable component video cable standard audio cable DVI cable HDMI video cable DVI/HDMI converter cable Physically Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device If you want to connect your computer to a TV or audio device, it is recommended that you connect video and audio cables to your computer in one of the following combinations.
Quick Reference for Possible Configurations NOTE: These configurations may or may not be supported by your computer and TV. NOTE: See the documentation that came with your computer and TV.
Performing the Basic Connection Steps 1 Determine the type of connection you want to use. 2 Ensure that you have the correct video and audio adapters and cables. 3 Turn off the TV, the audio devices, and the computer. 4 Based on the type of connection selected, connect the video adapters and cables. 5 Connect the audio cables that are appropriate for the selected video connection. 6 Turn on the television and any audio device that you connected (if applicable).
• Operating system Display Properties menu — Can be used to select display arrangement but may cause conflicts with vendor settings for the video card. From the Control Panel, click Display Properties → Settings Some vendor video card control panels provide a TV Setup Wizard to help you adjust the display settings for the TV.
1 Turn off the computer and TV. Connect while TV and computer are turned off 2 Connect the computer and TV. 3 Then turn the TV on. 4 Next, turn on the computer to allow it to detect the connection to the TV. The computer recognizes the TV as an available external display. S/PDIF—Ensure that your computer supports it Before selecting S/PDIF digital audio, ensure that your computer supports S/PDIF.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about input settings, see the documentation that came with your TV for available settings. Access the menu for your TV and select the option that allows you to choose the proper source for the incoming signal based on how you have your TV and computer connected. NOTE: You may be able to access the TV menu from the TV remote control. Examine the remote for a button labeled "Menu.
EXAMPLE: If you are connecting an S-Video cable from the computer to the TV and you have inserted it into the S-Video connection labeled S-Video 1 on the back of the TV, then select option #8 for AV3 (S-Video 1). What to do If the TV Does not Recognize a Signal 1 Turn off the TV. 2 Disconnect the S-Video cable from the TV. 3 Look on the back of the TV for the connection labeled S-Video 1. 4 Reconnect the S-Video cable to the correct connection for S-Video 1. 5 Turn on the TV.
Evaluating Suggested Connection Configurations S-Video and Standard Audio S-video TV-out connector standard audio connector NOTE: 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) if your TV or audio device supports S-video but not S/PDIF digital audio. 1 Plug one end of the S-video cable into the S-video output connector on the computer.
3 Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on your computer. 4 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. Composite Video and Standard Audio composite video adapter S-video TV-out connector standard audio connector NOTE: Depending on the computer, the composite video adapter may be a single port or multi-port dongle. See the documentation shipped with your computer.
2 Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite videooutput connector on the composite video adapter. 3 Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite videoinput connector on the TV. 4 Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer. 5 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.
Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio composite video adapter S-video TV-out connector NOTE: Depending on the computer, the composite S-video adapter may be a single port or multi-port dongle. For more information, see the documentation shipped with your computer. 1 Connect the composite S-video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer. 2 Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video-input connector on the composite video adapter.
3 Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite videoinput connector on the TV. 4 Plug one end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable in to the S/PDIF audio connector on the composite video adapter. 5 Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S/PDIF input connector on your TV or other audio device.
NOTE: Only certain computers offer the multi-channel analog audio adapter dongle, as shown in the example. For information about the types of connectors available for your computer, see the documentation shipped with your computer. NOTE: Depending on the computer, the composite S-video adapter may be a single port or multi-port dongle. For more information, see the documentation shipped with your computer. 1 Connect the composite video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer.
Component S-Video and Standard Audio component video adapter S-video TV-out connector standard audio connector 1 Connect the component S-video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on your computer. 2 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.
3 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. 4 Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer. 5 Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or audio device.
1 Connect the component video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer. 2 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. 3 Plug all three connectors from the other end of the component video cable into the component video-input connectors on the TV.
DVI Connector DVI connector standard audio connector 1 Connect the DVI video adapter to the DVI connector on the computer. 2 Plug the other end of the DVI video cable into the DVI video-input connector on the TV. 3 Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer. 4 Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or audio device.
Enabling the Display View for the Computer and the TV Verify the Connection to the TV To ensure that the display options appear correctly, connect the TV to the computer before you enable the display settings. For more information on physical connections, see "Physically Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device" on page 222. Verify the Input Signal for the TV If the TV does not recognize the input signal from your computer, access the TV menu to select the correct input signal configuration.
Configure the Display Views After you have successfully connected your computer to your TV or projector, you can configure the display for the computer and the TV or projector by using the following: • Windows Display Properties Settings • Video card display control menu • TV or Projector display control wizards Use the Display Properties menu to enable the TV monitor as a display device for your computer. 1 Click Start → Control Panel. 2 Click the category for appearance and themes.
4 Click Settings. The Settings screen shows two display monitors labeled 1 and 2. If you have not successfully hooked the TV to your computer, one of the monitors will appear grayed out and you will not be able to select it. Recheck your computer-to-TV connections. 5 Under the Display: section, select the appropriate option for using either a single display or multiple displays, ensuring that the display settings are correct for your selection.
2 Click the monitor 2 icon, clear the Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor check box, and click Apply. If necessary, press to bring the screen image back to the computer display. Swapping Primary and Secondary Displays To swap your primary and secondary display designations (for example, to use your external monitor as your primary display after docking): 1 Access the Display Properties window and click the Settings tab. 2 Click Advanced→ Displays tab.
HINT: If you are using a TV as a second display device, the best method for configuring the display resolution is the video card control panel available through the video card installed in your computer. Depending on the video card installed in your computer, your computer may have a special video control panel with extensive help information. The video card control panel may also provide special wizard software to enable the TV display option, along with custom display settings.
Accessing the Settings tab of the Display Properties Menu settings tab use the slide bar to set resolution color quality selection menu color quality selection menu Windows Vista 1 Right-click an open area of the desktop. 2 Click Personalize. The Personalize appearance and sounds window appears. 3 Click Display Settings. 4 In the Display Settings window under Resolution, move the slide bar to the left or right to decrease/increase the screen resolution. 5 Click OK.
NOTE: As the resolution increases, icons and text appear smaller on the screen. HINT: The capacities of your display and video card determine how much you can change the screen resolution. You may not be able to increase the resolution above a certain level. Only the recommended screen resolutions are listed. For additional settings, click the Advanced button on the Settings tab, click the Adapter tab, and then click List all Modes. Select the resolution, color level, and refresh rate.
Depending on the video card installed in your computer, your computer may have a special video control panel with extensive help information. The video card control panel may also provide special wizard software to enable the TV display option, along with custom display settings.
4 Click the tab for the video card installed in your computer. This tab will display the manufacturer’s name for the video card. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about the video card installed in your computer, see Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. When you click the tab for the specific video card, the appropriate video card control panel is displayed. For example, if the computer has an Nvidia video card, the Nvidia Control Panel is displayed.
6 From the Select a Task menu, select the Display category. Windows XP 1 Access the Display Properties menu through the Control Panel. 2 Click the Settings tab. 3 Click Advanced. 4 Click the tab for the Nvidia video card. 5 Launch the Nvidia Control Panel. 6 From the Select a Task menu, select the Display category. The Nvidia Control Panel shows the Display menu. If you have the connection to your TV set up correctly, the wizard for Multiple Displays is available.
Getting Help for Video Card Control Panels Depending on the video card installed in your computer, your computer may have a special video card control panel with extensive help information. EXAMPLE: The Nvidia Control Panel provides an example of the help that is available. For information about the topics displayed, click on Help Contents shown on the left of the screen. You can also select a category and click on the Help Contents for that category.
4 After ensuring that you are using the correct connectors on the back of the TV and the computer, reconnect the video cable to the computer and the TV. 5 Turn on the TV and the computer. The TV should be shown as a display device on the Display Properties menu. TV Resolution is Blurry Use the control panel for the video card vendor to set the display resolution. This method provides the best coordination for video card and TV display resolution.
Security and Privacy Protecting Your Computer—Using Administrator Rights, User Groups, and Passwords The Microsoft® Windows® operating system has security features such as administrator passwords and user passwords that let you control access to your computer and the information stored on your computer. Administrator Rights An administrator can make system-wide changes to the computer, change security settings, install software, and access all files on the computer.
EXAMPLE: If more than one person in your office uses the same computer, administrator rights allow you to ensure that security and other computer settings remain the same and that confidential data is not accessed. EXAMPLE: If several family members, including children, share a home computer, you can, as administrator, limit the information your children have access to and the programs they can install.
EXAMPLE: If several family members share a home computer, each person can be assigned to his own account, with restrictions placed on the information each user can access. Changing a User Account or Group To assign a user to a group or change a user’s group, log in as administrator and access User Account through the Control Panel. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about assigning users to or groups, see Windows Help and Support: click Start → Help and Support.
A strong password: • Contains both uppercase and lowercase letters • Contains a combination of numbers, words, and/or symbols • Is changed on a regular basis FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about creating secure passwords, see Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Smart Cards NOTE: The smart card feature may not be available on your computer. Smart cards are laptop credit-card shaped devices with internal integrated circuits.
Facial Recognition Software NOTE: The facial recognition software may not be available on your computer. Using a digital image from the camera in your computer, the facial recognition software can identify or verify your face. This is done by comparing select facial features from the image and a facial database. On verification of your identity, the software allows you to access your computer without entering the password.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about firewalls, see "Windows Firewall: recommended links" in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. Also, see "Firewalls" on page 180. Encrypting Files and Folders Encryption is an additional method you can use to protect your files and folders. Encrypted files and folders can only be viewed or accessed by users with proper permissions. 1 Right-click the folder or file you want to encrypt, and then click Properties.
• Security-enabled — A security-enabled connections offers some protection for your computer and the information it contains. • Unsecured — An unsecured network leaves your computer vulnerable to attacks or other security risks. As a rule of thumb, you should avoid using unsecured public wireless network. You will know if the wireless public network that you select is secure if a network key is requested.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about viruses and how to protect against them, see the following topics in Windows Help and Support: click Start or → Help and Support. • How do I remove a computer virus? • How can I tell if my computer has a virus? Dealing With Cookies Cookies are used by websites to personalize your viewing experience. For instance, a cookie can save your password information so that you only have to enter it the first time you visit a website.
Avoiding Spyware and Malware Spyware and malware are types of computer programs that can potentially harm your computer and make the information it contains vulnerable to security risks. There are many ways to prevent spyware and malware from infecting your computer. For example, you can use anti-virus software to secure, check, and/or clean up your computer from these forms of malicious software.
Security and Privacy
Microsoft®Windows® XP Pro Remote Desktop Remote Desktop provides access from a remote location to a computer running the Microsoft Windows XP Professional operating system, enabling you to work on your computer from anywhere, anytime. Enabling Remote Desktop on the Host Computer Before using Remote Desktop, you must enable the Remote Desktop feature on the host computer so that you can control it remotely from another computer. You must be logged on as administrator to enable Remote Desktop.
• The host computer must be part of a network in which Remote Desktop connections are permitted. • The remote computer must be running a compatible version of Microsoft Windows and must be connected to the Internet or on a local area network. • The remote computer must have the Remote Desktop Connection client software installed. The remote computer is called the client. • Both computers must be connected to the Internet through a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
EXAMPLE: Some remote users take advantage of a free service from No-IP.com. The No-IP.com software runs on the client computer and on a time schedule basis contacts the No-IP.com servers. The No-IP.com servers then know what the IP address is and maps that address to a fully qualified domain name. That information is then propagated over the public Internet. Then the remote user calls the Remote Desktop host computer using the fully qualified domain name.
Microsoft®Windows® XP Pro Remote Desktop
Restoring Your Operating System You can restore your operating system in the following ways: • System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files. Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files. • Dell PC Restore by Symantec (available in Windows XP) and Dell Factory Image Restore (available in Windows Vista) returns your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer.
NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view, so they may not apply if you set your Dell™ computer to the Windows Classic view. Starting System Restore NOTICE: Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state, save and close any open files and exit any open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete. Windows Vista® 1 Click Start . 2 In the Start Search box, type System Restore and press .
Windows XP 1 Click Start System Restore. → All Programs→ Accessories→ System Tools→ 2 Click Undo my last restoration and click Next. Enabling System Restore NOTE: Windows Vista does not disable System Restore; regardless of low disk space. Therefore, the steps below apply only to Windows XP. If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free hard-disk space available, System Restore is automatically disabled.
These options restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Any programs or files added since you received your computer—including data files—are permanently deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos, music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore or Factory Image Restore. Windows Vista: Dell Factory Image Restore 1 Turn on the computer.
Using the Operating System Media Before you Begin If you are considering reinstalling the Windows operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver, first try using Windows Device Driver Rollback. See "Determining Whether a Device Driver is the Source of a Device Problem" on page 79. Then try Device Driver Rollback (see "Replacing a Driver With a Previous Version of the Driver" on page 79).
3 Click Exit if the Install Windows message appears. 4 Restart the computer. When the DELL logo appears, press immediately. NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop; then, shut down your computer and try again. NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only. On the next start-up, the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program.
Troubleshooting HINT: Save time by following these basic tips when troubleshooting your computer. 1 If you added or removed a part before the problem started, review the installation procedures and ensure that the part is correctly installed. 2 If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly connected. 3 If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message. This message may help support personnel diagnose and fix the problem(s).
Troubleshooting Tools Some of the troubleshooting tools you may need to diagnose and resolve problems on your computer include: Tool Function Power lights The power button light illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different power states, such as power, no power, or standby. This light can also indicate internal power problems. See your Service Manual for information about power lights. Diagnostic lights for desktop computers Some desktop computers have diagnostic lights.
Dell Support Utility Use this support utility for self-support information, software updates, and health scans of your computing environment. Power Lights for Desktop Computers CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
• • • – Replace power protection devices, power strips, and power extension cables with similar products in known working condition to verify that the computer turns on properly. – Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp. – Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board (see the Service Manual for your computer).
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about the meaning of the various diagnostic lights displayed, see the Service Manual for your computer or search for the topic on the Dell Support website support.dell.com. Diagnostic Lights for Laptop Computers Typically laptop computers have keyboard status lights located above the keyboard. See the documentation shipped with your computer for more details. During normal operation, the keyboard status lights display the current status of certain features.
K E Y B O A R D F A I L U R E — Keyboard failure or keyboard cable loose (see "Keyboard Problems for External Keyboards" on page 292). N O B O O T D E V I C E A V A I L A B L E — The system cannot detect a bootable device or partition. • If the optical drive is your boot device, ensure that the cables are connected and that a bootable optical media is in the drive.
( V A L U E ) — See "Lockups and Software Problems" on page 292. MEMORY DOUBLE WORD LOGIC FAILURE AT (ADDRESS), READ VALUE EXPECTING ( V A L U E ) — See "Lockups and Software Problems" on page 292. MEMORY ODD/EVEN LOGIC FAILURE AT (ADDRESS) READ VALUE EXPECTING ( V A L U E ) — See "Lockups and Software Problems" on page 292. MEMORY WRITE/READ FAILURE AT (ADDRESS), READ VALUE EXPECTING ( V A L U E ) — See "Lockups and Software Problems" on page 292.
PROGRAM — Enter the system setup program and correct the date or time (see "Entering the System Setup Program" on page 308). If the problem persists, replace the CMOS battery. 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 — Enter the system setup program and correct the date or time (see "Entering the System Setup Program" on page 308). If the problem persists, replace the CMOS battery.
T H E R E C O M M E N D E D X X X -W AC A D A P T E R O R I G I N A L L Y S H I P P E D . T H I S W I L L I N C R E A S E T H E T I M E T O C H A R G E T H E B A T T E R Y . T H E Y S YS T E M W I L L A D J U S T T H E P E R F O R M A N C E T O M A T C H T H E P O W E R A V A I L A B L E . P L E A S E C O N N E C T A D E L L X X X -W AC A D A P T E R O R G R E A T E R F O R B E S T P E R F O R M A N C E .
Y O U R S YS T E M I S D O C K E D , B U T T H E A C A D A P T E R T Y P E C A N N O T B E D E T E R M I N E D . E I T H E R U N D O C K O R I N S E R T A N A P P R O P R I A T E A D A P T E R . S T R I K E T H E F1 K E Y T O S H U T D O W N . — The AC adapter may be installed incorrectly, or the AC adapter or docking station may be defective. Y O U R S YS T E M A U T O M A T I C A L L Y P O W E R E D O F F B E C A U S E I T B E C A M E W A R M E R T H A N E X P E C T E D .
Running the Dell Diagnostics CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance. NOTICE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell™ computers.
• When the DELL™ logo appears, press immediately. Select Diagnostics from the boot menu and press . NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop; then, shut down your computer and try again. OR • After the computer has been powered down completely, press and hold the key while powering the computer on.
NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop; then, shut down your computer and try again. NOTE: If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, run the Dell Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities media. 4 Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive. 5 When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears, select the test you want to run.
Using the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 1 After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears, click the button for the option you want. NOTE: Select Test System to run a complete test on your computer.
Tab Function Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered. Errors Displays error conditions encountered, error codes, and the problem description. Help Describes the test and may indicate requirements for running the test. Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device.
Accessing the Dell Support Center Access the Dell Support Center from the Start menu. icon on the taskbar or from the NOTE: If the Dell Support Center is not available from the Start menu, go to support.dell.com and download the software. The Dell Support Center application is customized for your computing environment. The icon in the taskbar functions differently when you click, doubleclick, or right-click the icon.
Solving Problems Battery Problems CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions. CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.
FOR DRIVES THAT USE SLOT-LOADING, ENSURE THAT THE MEDIA IS COMPLETELY IN THE SLOT R U N T H E D E L L D I A G N O S T I C S — See your computer’s Documentation and see "Running the Dell Diagnostics" on page 281. Optical Drive Problems R U N T H E H A R D W A R E TR O U B L E S H O O T E R — See "Windows Hardware Troubleshooter" on page 280. R U N T H E D E L L D I A G N O S T I C S — See "Running the Dell Diagnostics" on page 281.
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. 4 Follow the instructions on the screen. Windows XP 1 Click Start and click My Computer. 2 Right-click Local Disk C:. 3 Click Properties→ Tools→ Check Now. 4 Click Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors and click Start.
• If you have other telephone devices sharing the line, such as an answering machine, fax machine, surge protector, or line splitter, bypass them and use the telephone to connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack. If you are using a line that is 3 meters (10 feet) or more in length, try a shorter one. I F Y O U R C O M P U T E R H A S A M O D E M , R U N T H E M O D E M D I A G N O S T I C TO O L — 1 Click Start→ All Programs→ Modem Helper or Modem Diagnostic Tool.
is missing an essential file. To remove and then reinstall the program: Windows Vista 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Programs→ Programs and Features. 2 Select the program you want to remove. 3 Click Uninstall. 4 See the program documentation for installation instructions. Windows XP 1 Click Start→ Control Panel→ Add or Remove Programs→ Programs and Features. 2 Select the program you want to remove. 3 Click Uninstall. 4 See the program documentation for installation instructions.
If your IEEE 1394 device is listed, Windows recognizes the device. Windows XP 1 Click Start and click Control Panel. 2 Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance→ System→ System Properties→ Hardware→ Device Manager. I F Y O U H A V E P R O B L E M S W I T H A D E L L IEEE 1394 D E V I C E — Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 337). I F Y O U H A V E P R O B L E M S W I T H A N IEEE 1394 D E V I C E N O T P R O V I D E D B Y D E L L — Contact the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer.
The Computer Does not Start up C H E C K T H E D I A G N O S T I C L I G H T S — See "Power Lights for Desktop Computers" on page 273 or "Diagnostic Lights for Desktop Computers" on page 274 or "Diagnostic Lights for Laptop Computers" on page 275. ENSURE THAT THE POWER CABLE IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER AND TO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET The Computer Stops Responding NOTICE: You may lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.
Windows XP The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-XP operating system environments. 1 Click Start → All Programs→ Accessories→ Program Compatibility Wizard→ Next. 2 Follow the instructions on the screen.
• See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements. If necessary, install additional memory (see the documentation shipped with your computer). • Reseat the memory modules (see the documentation shipped with your computer) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory. • Run the Dell Diagnostics (see"Running the Dell Diagnostics" on page 281).
Windows Vista 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Hardware and Sound→ Mouse. 2 Adjust the settings as needed. Windows XP 1 Click Start → Control Panel→ Printers and Other Hardware→ Mouse. 2 Adjust the settings as needed. R E I N S T A L L T H E M O U S E D R I V E R — See "Installing Drivers for Media Drives" on page 79. R U N T H E H A R D W A R E TR O U B L E S H O O T E R — See "Windows Hardware Troubleshooter" on page 280.
Computers" on page 275. NOTE: On certain systems the power light is green. I F T H E P O W E R L I G H T I S B L I N K I N G B L U E — The computer is in standby mode. Press a key on the keyboard, move the mouse, or press the power button to resume normal operation. NOTE: On certain systems the power light is green. I F T H E P O W E R L I G H T I S O F F — The computer is either turned off or is not receiving power.
• Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet Printer Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance. NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your printer, contact the printer’s manufacturer.
Scanner Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance. NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your scanner, contact the scanner’s manufacturer. 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.
No Sound From Speakers NOTE: The volume control in MP3 and other media players may override the Windows volume setting. Always check to ensure that the volume on the media player(s) has not been turned down or off. C H E C K T H E S P E A K E R C A B L E C O N N E C T I O N S — Ensure that the speakers are connected as shown on the setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If you purchased a sound card, ensure that the speakers are connected to the card.
No Sound From Headphones C H E C K T H E H E A D P H O N E C A B L E C O N N E C T I O N — Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector (see the documentation shipped with your 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.
Video and Monitor Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance. NOTICE: If your computer came with a PCI graphics card installed, removal of the card is not necessary when installing additional graphics cards; however, the card is required for troubleshooting purposes.
C H E C K T H E D I A G N O S T I C L I G H T S — See "Power Lights for Desktop Computers" on page 273. C H E C K T H E M O N I T O R S E T T I N G S — See the monitor documentation for instructions on adjusting the contrast and brightness, demagnetizing (degaussing) the monitor, and running the monitor self-test.
defective. Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 337). Power Lights CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
• • – Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location, if applicable. – Ensure that the processor power cable is securely connected to the system board (see the Service Manual for your computer.) If the power light is steady amber, a device may be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed. – Remove and then reinstall the memory modules (see the Documentation for your computer). – Remove and then reinstall any cards (see the Documentation for your computer.
Troubleshooting
System Setup Viewing System Settings With the System Setup Program Your operating system may automatically configure most of the options available in the system setup program, thus overriding options that you set through the system setup program. An exception is the External Hot Key option, which you can disable or enable only through the system setup program.
Entering the System Setup Program 1 Turn on (or restart) your computer. 2 When the DELL™ logo appears, press immediately. 3 If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop. Then, shut down your computer and try again. Working With Options on the System Setup Program Screen FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about a specific item on a system setup program screen, highlight the item and see the Help area on the screen.
Changing the Boot Sequence The boot sequence, or boot order, tells the computer where to look to find the software needed to start the operating system. You can control the boot sequence and enable/disable devices using the Boot Order page of the system setup program. NOTE: To change the boot sequence on a one-time-only basis, see "Performing a One-Time Boot" on page 310.
Performing a One-Time Boot You can set a one-time-only boot sequence without entering the system setup program. 1 Shut down the computer through the Start menu. 2 Turn on the computer. When the DELL logo appears, press immediately. If you wait too long and the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop, then shut down your computer and try again. 3 When the boot device list appears, highlight the device from which you want to boot and press .
The system setup program allows you to configure user-selectable options in the BIOS, such as date and time or system password. See "Viewing System Settings With the System Setup Program" on page 307 for more information. NOTE: Unless you understand what effect the settings have on the computer, do not change the settings for this program. Viewing the BIOS Settings 1 Open System Information by clicking the Start button and selecting All Programs. 2 Click Accessories→ System Tools → System Information.
7 Click Close when the Download Complete window appears. The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file. 8 Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the instructions on the screen.
Ports USB Port The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 480 Mbps in case of USB 2.0. USB gives you a single, standardized way to connect many devices to your computer. USB also supports Plug-and-Play installation and hot swapping. The USB standard uses A and B connectors to avoid confusion: • Connectors A head upstream toward the computer. • Connectors B head downstream and connect to individual devices.
IEEE 1394 Port Like the USB, IEEE 1394 is a serial data transfer protocol and supports hot swapping. While the USB 2.0 technology supports speed only upto 480 Mbps, the IEEE 1394b supports speed upto 800 Mbps. IEEE 1394 is preferred for high bandwidth applications such as connecting digital video cameras and external hard drives. .
RS232 Serial Port A serial port is a serial communication physical interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time. Serial port is usually identified with RS-232 standard compliant hardware. Some of the devices that commonly use serial port are dial-up modems, printers, and serial mice.
Parallel Port A parallel port is a parallel communication physical interface through which information transfers in or out 8 bits of data (1 byte) at a time. These 8 bits are transmitted parallel to each other, as opposed to the same eight bits being transmitted serially (all in a single row) through a serial port. A parallel port is also known as a printer port or Centronics port and is commonly used to connect to a printer.
eSATA Port SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) is a computer bus primarily designed for transfer of data between a computer and mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives. External SATA or eSATA, users can now utilize shielded cable lengths up to 2 meters outside the PC to take advantage of the benefits the SATA interface brings to storage. eSATA provides more performance than existing solutions (up to 6 times faster than existing external storage solutions: USB 2.
Modem A modem port connects an internal modem to a telephone line. A modem is used to connect a computer to the Internet by making a data call over phone lines to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Usually, there are two modem ports side by side. The one marked line (or with a line symbol) is connected to the telephone line connector. The one marked phone (or with a phone symbol) can optionally be connected to the telephone handset if you want to use a telephone on the same connector.
Ethernet Port An ethernet port uses twisted pair conductors for networking and faster Internet connection. Cable plugged into this port can lead either to a network hub (a junction box that can wire lots of network cables together), directly to a cable modem, or a DSL modem or to an Internet gateway which shares a fast Internet connection between computers. Data moves through these at speeds of either 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, or 1000 Mbps depending on the speed supported by the network card in the computer.
Keyboard and Mouse Port (PS2) The PS/2 standard, introduced by IBM in 1987, stands for Personal System/2. PS/2 port is commonly used to plug in a keyboard or mouse.
VGA Port Video Graphics Array (VGA) port supports the basic graphic hardware before a device-specific driver is loaded into the computer.
DVI-I Port DVI-I (Digital Video Interface-Integrated) port supports both analog signals and digital signals in a single cable. The cable can transmit either a digital-todigital signal or an analog-to-analog one, but it will not transmit crossovers of either one (digital-to-analog or analog-to-digital). If you have a DVI-I port on your video card, you can connect most DVI-D (Digital Video InterfaceDigital) or DVI-A (Digital Video Interface-Analogue) devices without the need for a separate adapter.
S-Video TV-Out Port SUPER Video (S-Video), also known as Y/C is an analog video signal that carries the video data as two separate signals, luma (brightness) and chroma (color). S-Video supports a standard definition video, but does not carry audio on the same cable. S-Video provides sharp images when using a clean DVD source. S-Video commonly connects to consumer TVs, DVD players, highend video cassette recorders, digital TV receivers, DVRs, and game consoles.
Component Video Component video consists of three signals. The first is the luminance signal, which indicates brightness or black & white information that is contained in the original RGB (red green blue) signal. It is referred to as the Y component. The second and third signals are called color difference signals indicating the quantum of blue and red signals compared to luminance. The blue component is Y-B and the red component is Y-R.
Composite Video Composite video is an interface for sending or receiving an analog video signal. It is a composite of several signals, LUMA, CHROMA, and SYNC (together referred to as CVSB or Composite Video Blanking and Sync). LUMA represents the brightness or luminance of the picture and includes synchronizing or SYNC pulses. CHROMA carries the color information. Composite video interface usually connects a VHS tape player, DVD player, or game console to a television.
HDMI Port The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) PORT is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital streams. On a single cable, HDMI supports PC or TV video formats such as standard, enhanced, and high-definition video along with up to 8 channels of digital audio. It is independent of the various digital television standards.
DisplayPort™ DisplayPort is a digital display interface standard put forth by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). It defines a new license-free, royalty-free, digital audio/video interconnect, intended to be used primarily between a computer and its display monitor, or a computer and a hometheater system. For more information see "DisplayPort™ - Features and Benefits" on page 56.
S/PDIF Port (Coaxial RCA) Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format (S/PDIF) is a serial interface for transferring digital audio from CD and DVD players to amplifiers and TVs. S/PDIF uses unbalanced 75 ohm coaxial cable up to 10 meters with coaxial RCA connectors or optical fiber terminated with a Toslink (Toshiba link) connector. NOTE: There are no differences in the signals transmitted over optical or coaxial S/PDIF connectors—both carry exactly the same information.
Audio Ports 2 1 3 6 4 5 Port Signal Connection 1 Use the (blue) line-in connector to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR. line-in connector On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card. 2 lineout/ headphone connector Use the (green) line-out connector to attach headphones and speakers with integrated amplifiers.
Ports
Getting Help Obtaining Assistance CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, follow the safety instructions shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance. If you experience a problem with your computer, complete the following steps to troubleshoot and diagnose the problem: 1 See "Troubleshooting" on page 271 for information and procedures that pertain to the problem your computer is experiencing.
4 Use Dell's extensive suite of online services available at Dell Support (support.dell.com) for help with installation and troubleshooting procedures. See "Online Services" on page 333 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online services and features. 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem, see "Contacting Dell" on page 337. NOTE: Call Dell Support from a telephone at or near the computer so that the support staff can assist you with any necessary procedures.
Online Services You can learn about Dell products and services on the following websites: www.dell.com www.dell.com/ap (Asian/Pacific countries only) www.dell.com/jp (Japan only) www.euro.dell.com (Europe only) www.dell.com/la (Latin American and Caribbean countries) www.dell.ca (Canada only) You can access Dell Support through the following websites and e-mail addresses: • Dell Support websites support.dell.com support.jp.dell.com (Japan only) support.euro.dell.
AutoTech Service Dell's automated support service—AutoTech—provides recorded answers to the questions most frequently asked by Dell customers about their laptop and desktop computers. When you call AutoTech, use your touch-tone telephone to select the subjects that correspond to your questions. For the telephone number to call for your region, see "Contacting Dell" on page 337. Automated Order-Status Service To check on the status of any Dell products you have ordered, you can go to support.dell.
3 Include a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist (see "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 336), indicating the tests that you have run and any error messages reported by the Dell Diagnostics (see "Running the Dell Diagnostics" on page 281). 4 Include any accessories that belong with the item(s) being returned (power cables, software, guides, and so on) if the return is for credit. 5 Pack the equipment to be returned in the original (or equivalent) packing materials.
Diagnostics Checklist Name: Date: Address: Phone number: Service Tag (bar code on the bottom or back of your 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 For customers in the United States, call 800-WWW-DELL (800-999-3355). NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog. Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your area. To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues: 1 Visit support.
Getting Help
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.
bit — The smallest unit of data interpreted by your computer. Bluetooth® wireless technology — A wireless technology standard for short-range (9 m [29 feet]) networking devices that allows for enabled devices to automatically recognize each other. boot sequence — Specifies the order of the devices from which the computer attempts to boot. bootable CD — A CD that you can use to start your computer.
and CD-R (recordable CDs) discs. You can write to CD-RW discs multiple times, but you can write to CD-R discs only once. CD-RW/DVD drive — A drive, sometimes referred to as a combo drive, that can read CDs and DVDs and write to CD-RW (rewritable CDs) and CD-R (recordable CDs) discs. You can write to CD-RW discs multiple times, but you can write to CD-R discs only once. clock speed — The speed, given in MHz, that indicates how fast computer components that are connected to the system bus operate.
can speed up operations that retrieve data from disk storage. Computers that use disk striping generally allow the user to select the data unit size or stripe width. DMA — direct memory access — A channel that allows certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the processor. DisplayPort — An interface standard of the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) used for digital displays.
circuitry for testing the accuracy of data as it passes in and out of memory. ECP — extended capabilities port — A parallel connector design that provides improved bidirectional data transmission. Similar to EPP, ECP uses direct memory access to transfer data and often improves performance. EIDE — enhanced integrated device electronics — An improved version of the IDE interface for hard drives and CD drives. EMI — electromagnetic interference — Electrical interference caused by electromagnetic radiation.
computers and other electronic equipment can emit. fingerprint reader — A strip sensor that uses your unique fingerprint to authenticate your user identity to help secure your computer. folder — A term used to describe space on a disk or drive where files are organized and grouped. Files in a folder can be viewed and ordered in various ways, such as alphabetically, by date, and by size. format — The process that prepares a drive or disk for file storage.
HTTP — hypertext transfer protocol — A protocol for exchanging files between computers connected to the Internet. Hz — hertz — A unit of frequency measurement that equals 1 cycle per second. Computers and electronic devices are often measured in kilohertz (kHz), megahertz (MHz), gigahertz (GHz), or terahertz (THz). I IC — integrated circuit — A semiconductor wafer, or chip, on which thousands or millions of tiny electronic components are fabricated for use in computer, audio, and video equipment.
K Kb — kilobit — A unit of data that equals 1024 bits. A measurement of the capacity of memory integrated circuits. KB — kilobyte — A unit of data that equals 1024 bytes but is often referred to as 1000 bytes. key combination — A command requiring you to press multiple keys at the same time. kHz — kilohertz — A measurement of frequency that equals 1000 Hz. L LAN — local area network — A computer network covering a small area. A LAN usually is confined to a building or a few nearby buildings.
memory is not permanent, it is recommended that you frequently save your files while you are working on them, and always save your files before you shut down the computer. Your computer can contain several different forms of memory, such as RAM, ROM, and video memory. Frequently, the word memory is used as a synonym for RAM. memory address — A specific location where data is temporarily stored in RAM.
ns — nanosecond — A measure of time that equals one billionth of a second. NVRAM — nonvolatile random access memory — A type of memory that stores data when the computer is turned off or loses its external power source. NVRAM is used for maintaining computer configuration information such as date, time, and other system setup options that you can set. O optical drive — A drive that uses optical technology to read or write data from CDs, DVDs, or DVD+RWs.
BIOS, that perform basic tests on the major computer components, such as memory, hard drives, and video. If no problems are detected during POST, the computer continues the start-up. 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.
you shut down your computer. Some programs essential to the operation of your computer reside in ROM. 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.
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). TPM — trusted platform module — A hardware-based security feature that when combined with security software enhances network and computer security by enabling features such as file and e-mail protection.
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. video mode — A mode that describes how text and graphics are displayed on a monitor. Graphics-based software, such as Windows operating systems, displays in video modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors.
X XGA — extended graphics array — A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1024 x 768. Z ZIF — zero insertion force — A type of socket or connector that allows a computer chip to be installed or removed with no stress applied to either the chip or its socket. Zip — A popular data compression format. Files that have been compressed with the Zip format are called Zip files and usually have a filename extension of.zip.
