Dell Vostro 1540/1550 Owner's Manual Regulatory Model P18F Regulatory Type P18F001,P18F002
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if instructions are not followed. WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. Information in this publication is subject to change without notice. © 2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Contents Notes, Cautions, and Warnings..................................................................2 1 Working on Your Computer......................................................................7 Before Working Inside Your Computer.............................................................................7 Recommended Tools.........................................................................................................8 Turning Off Your Computer.............................................
9 Removing The Power Button Board......................................................27 Installing The Power Button Board.................................................................................28 10 Removing The Hard Drive.....................................................................29 Installing The Hard Drive.................................................................................................30 11 Removing The Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card...........
21 Removing The Display Bezel................................................................59 Installing The Display Bezel............................................................................................60 22 Removing The Camera..........................................................................61 Installing The Camera.....................................................................................................62 23 Removing The Display Panel......................................
Working on Your Computer 1 Before Working Inside Your Computer Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help to ensure your personal safety. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure included in this document assumes that the following conditions exist: • • • You have performed the steps in Working on Your Computer. You have read the safety information that shipped with your computer.
NOTE: The color of your computer and certain components may appear differently than shown in this document. To avoid damaging your computer, perform the following steps before you begin working inside the computer. 1. Ensure that your work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover from being scratched. 2. Turn off your computer (see Turning Off Your Computer). 3. If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked) such as the optional Media Base or Battery Slice, undock it.
• • • • #0 Phillips screwdriver #1 Phillips screwdriver Small plastic scribe Flash BIOS update program CD Turning Off Your Computer CAUTION: To avoid losing data, save and close all open files and exit all open programs before you turn off your computer. 1. Shut down the operating system: • In Windows Vista : Click Start , then click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu as shown below, and then click Shut Down. • 2. In Windows XP: Click Start → Turn Off Computer → Turn Off .
CAUTION: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network device and then plug it into the computer. 3. 4. 5. 10 Replace the battery. Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets. Turn on your computer.
Removing The Battery 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Slide the release latches to unlock the battery. 3. Slide the battery and remove it from the computer. 2 Installing The Battery 1. Slide the battery into its slot until it clicks into place. 2. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The Secure Digital (SD) Card 1. 2. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. Press in on the SD memory card to release it from the computer. 3. Slide the memory card out of the computer.
Installing The Secure Digital (SD) Card 1. 2. 14 Push the memory card into the compartment until it is fully engaged with a click sound. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The Hinge Cover 1. 2. 3. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. Remove the battery. Remove the screws that secure the hinge cover. 4. Flip the computer around and remove the hinge cover.
Installing The Hinge Cover 1. 2. 3. 4. 16 Install the hinge cover and press on it to secure its connection to the computer. Flip the computer around and install the screws that secure the hinge cover. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The Keyboard 5 1. 2. 3. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. Remove the battery. Pry up to release the top four snaps securing the keyboard to the computer. 4. Flip the keyboard over and lay it on the palm rest. 5. Disconnect the keyboard cable from the system board.
6. Remove the keyboard from the computer. Installing The Keyboard 1. 2. 3. 4. Connect the keyboard cable to the system board. Insert the keyboard at an angle of 30 degrees to its compartment. Press down on the keyboard to secure the top snaps. Install the battery. 5. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The Optical Disc Drive 1. 2. 3. 4. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. Remove the battery. Remove the keyboard. Remove the screw that secures the optical drive. 5. Use a screwdriver to gently pry the optical drive out of the computer.
Installing The Optical Disc Drive 1. Slide the optical drive into the compartment on the left side of the chassis. 2. 3. 4. 5. Tighten the screw to secure the optical drive to the computer. Install the keyboard. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The Memory Module 1. 2. 3. 4. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. Remove the battery. Remove the keyboard. Pry the retention clips away from the memory module until it pops up. 5. Remove the memory module from the computer.
Installing The Memory Module 1. Insert the memory module into the memory socket. 2. Press down on the memory module until the retention clips secure the memory module in place. Install the keyboard. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. 3. 4. 5.
Removing The Palm Rest 8 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the keyboard. 4. Remove the screws that secure the bottom base. 5. Flip the computer around and disconnect the power board cable (1) and the touchpad cable (2). 6. Remove the screws that secure the palm rest to the computer.
7. 24 Pry up the palm rest using a plastic scribe to release all the snaps on the bottom, left, and right sides of the palm rest. Once all the snaps have been released, lift up the palm rest from the computer and remove.
Installing The Palm Rest 1. Insert the palm rest towards the display screen at a 30–degree angle. 2. 6. Align and adjust the palm rest into position before pressing it down to secure all the snaps. Connect the power board cable and touchpad cable to their respective connectors. Install the screws that secure the palm rest to the computer. Flip the computer around and install the screws that secure the bottom base. Install the keyboard. 7. 8. Install the battery.
Removing The Power Button Board 9 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the keyboard. 4. Remove the palm rest. 5. Peel the power button board cable from the adhesive affixing it to the palm rest. 6. Flip the palm rest around and remove the screw that secures the power button board to the palm rest.
7. Lift up the power button board and release the power button board cable through the opening. Installing The Power Button Board 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 28 Insert the power button board cable through the opening. Fix the power button board to its compartment. Install the screw to secure the power button board. Flip the computer around and attach the power button board cable to the palm rest. Install the palm rest. Install the keyboard. Install the battery.
Removing The Hard Drive 10 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the keyboard. 4. Remove the palm rest. 5. Slide the hard drive and lift it out of the computer. 6. Remove the screws that secure the hard drive bracket and detach it from the hard drive.
Installing The Hard Drive 1. Install the hard drive bracket to the hard drive. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Tighten the screws that secure the hard drive bracket. Place the hard drive in its compartment and slide it towards the SATA connector to secure it to the system board. Install the palm rest. Install the keyboard. Install the battery. 7. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card 11 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the keyboard. 4. Remove the palm rest. 5. Disconnect any antennae connected to the WLAN card. 6. Pry the latch to release the WLAN card from its compartment. 7. Remove the WLAN card from the computer.
Installing The Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card 1. Slide the WLAN card into its slot. 2. 3. 4. 5. Clip on the WLAN card to the latch to secure it in place. Connect the antennae according to the color code on the WLAN card. Install the palm rest. Install the keyboard. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. 6. 7.
Removing The Coin-Cell Battery 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the keyboard. 4. Remove the palm rest. 5. Disconnect the coin-cell battery cable from the system board. 6. Remove the coin-cell battery from the computer.
Installing The Coin-Cell Battery 1. Install the coin-cell battery to the coin-cell battery compartment. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Connect the coin-cell battery cable to the system board. Install the palm rest. Install the keyboard. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The USB Board 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the keyboard. 4. Remove the optical drive. 5. Remove the palm rest. 6. Disconnect the USB board cable from the system board. 7. Remove the screw that secures the USB board. 8. Lift up the USB board and remove it from the computer.
Installing The USB Board 1. Insert and align the USB board into its compartment on the computer. 2. 3. 4. 5. Install the screw that secures the USB board in place. Connect the USB board cable to the system board. Install the palm rest. Install the optical drive. Install the keyboard. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. 6. 7. 8.
Removing The Microphone 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the keyboard. 4. Remove the palm rest. 5. Disconnect the microphone cable from the system board. 6. Lift up and remove the microphone from its compartment.
Installing The Microphone 1. Insert and align the microphone into its compartment. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Connect the microphone cable to the system board. Install the palm rest. Install the keyboard. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The CPU Fan Assembly And The Heatsink 15 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the keyboard. 4. Remove the palm rest. 5. Disconnect the CPU fan cable from the system board. 6. Remove the captive screws that secure the heat sink and CPU fan assembly by following the sequence in the image.
7. Remove the heat sink and the CPU fan assembly from the computer. Installing The CPU Fan Assembly And The Heatsink 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 40 Place and align the heat sink and CPU fan assembly. Tighten the captive screws to secure the heat sink and the CPU fan assembly. Connect the CPU fan cable to the system board. Install the palm rest. Install the keyboard. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The Processor 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the keyboard. 4. Remove the palm rest. 5. Remove the CPU fan assembly and the heatsink. 6. Rotate the processor-cam screw in a counter-clockwise direction. 7. Lift up the processor and remove it from the computer.
Installing The Processor 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 42 Insert the processor into the processor socket. Ensure the processor is properly seated. Tighten the cam-screw in a clockwise direction to the locked position. Install the CPU fan assembly and the heatsink. Install the palm rest. Install the keyboard. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The System Board 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the SD memory card. 4. Remove the keyboard. 5. Remove the optical drive. 6. Remove the memory module. 7. Remove the palm rest. 8. Remove the hard drive. 9. Remove the WLAN card. 17 10. Remove the CPU fan assembly and the heatsink. 11.
13. Lift up the system board at an angle and slide it out from the LAN, VGA, HDMI, and USB sockets.
Installing The System Board 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Insert the system board with the LAN, VGA, HDMI, and USB connectors into their respective sockets and align the system board in place. Install the screws that secure the system board in place. Connect the LCD cable, DC-in cable, USB board cable, audio board cable, coin-cell battery cable, and the speaker cable. Install the processor. Install the CPU fan assembly and the heatsink . Install the WLAN card. Install the hard drive.
Removing The Speakers 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the SD memory card. 4. Remove the keyboard. 5. Remove the optical drive. 6. Remove the memory module. 7. Remove the palm rest. 8. Remove the hard drive. 9. Remove the WLAN card. 18 10. Remove the CPU fan assembly and the heatsink. 11. Remove the system board. 12. Release the speaker cable from the routing channel. 13. Press the securing latches and lift up the left speaker.
14. Press the securing latches and lift up the right speaker. 15. Remove the speaker assembly and the speaker cable from the computer.
Installing The Speakers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Insert and attach the left and right speakers into their respective compartments. Align and route the speaker cable to the chassis. Install the system board. Install the processor. Install the CPU fan assembly and the heatsink . Install the WLAN card. Install the hard drive. Install the palm rest. Install the memory module. Install the optical drive. Install the keyboard. Install the SD memory card. Install the battery.
Removing The Display Assembly 19 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the hinge cover. 4. Remove the keyboard. 5. Remove the palm rest. 6. Disconnect the LVDS cable from the system board. 7. Disconnect the WLAN antennae and release it from the routing channel on the chassis. 8. Remove the screws that secure the left and right hinges.
9. 52 Lift up the display assembly from the computer and remove.
Installing The Display Assembly 1. Insert the display assembly hinges into their holders. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Install the screws that secure both the hinges in place. Connect the LVDS cable to the system board. Align the WLAN antennae routing cable to its holder and connect the antennae to the WLAN card. Connect the USB board cable. Install the palm rest. 7. 8. 9. 10. Install the keyboard. Install the hinge cover. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The DC-in Port And The Bracket 20 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. Remove the battery. Remove the hinge cover. Remove the keyboard. Remove the palm rest. Remove the display assembly Disconnect the DC-in cable from the system board. 8. Remove the screw that secures the DC-in port and bracket.
9. Lift up the DC-in port bracket. 10. Lift up the DC-in port from the computer and remove.
Installing The DC-in Port And Bracket 1. Insert the DC-in port and the bracket into its compartment. 2. Align the bracket and tighten the screw that secures the bracket and DC-in port. Connect the DC-in cable to the system board. Install the display assembly. Install the palm rest. Install the keyboard. Install the hinge cover. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Removing The Display Bezel 21 1. 2. 3. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. Remove the battery. Starting from the bottom , pry the bezel inside out from the display assembly and work your way to the right and the left corners of the display bezel. 4. Remove the bezel from the display assembly once all the snaps have been loosened.
Installing The Display Bezel 1. Align the display bezel in line with the top cover. 2. Starting from the bottom edge, press downward on the display bezel to engage the tabs. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer. 3. 4.
Removing The Camera 1. 2. 3. 4. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. Remove the battery. Remove the display bezel. Disconnect the camera cable from the camera module. 5. Pry the latch, lift up the camera, and remove.
Installing The Camera 1. Insert and align the camera module to its compartment. 2. 3. 4. 5. Connect the camera cable to the camera module. Install the display bezel. Install the battery. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Removing The Display Panel 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the hinge cover. 4. Remove the keyboard. 5. Remove the palm rest. 6. Remove the display assembly. 7. Remove the display bezel. 8. Disconnect the camera cable from the camera module. 9. Remove the screws that secure the display brackets and hinges.
10. Release the wireless antennae from the right hinge. 11. Release the LVDS cable from the left hinge. 12. Lift up the display panel and brackets from the display top cover.
13. Remove the screws on the left and right display brackets and remove the display panel.
Installing The Display Panel 1. 5. 6. 7. Attach the left and right brackets to the display panel and secure the screws. Insert and route the display cable and wireless antennae to the left and right hinges. Align the display panel with its brackets to the top cover. Align the WLAN antennae routing cable to its holder and connect the antennae to the WLAN card. Install the screws that secure the display panel and the brackets. Connect the camera cable to the camera module. Install the display bezel. 8. 9.
Removing The Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) Cable 24 1. Follow the procedures in Before Working On Your Computer. 2. Remove the battery. 3. Remove the hinge cover. 4. Remove the keyboard. 5. Remove the optical drive. 6. Remove the palm rest. 7. Remove the display assembly. 8. Remove the display bezel. 9. Remove the display panel. 10. Peel off the tape securing the LVDS cable connection. 11. Disconnect the LVDS cable from the display panel.
12. peel off the entire display cable from the adhesive affixing it to the display panel.
Installing The Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) Cable 1. Attach the display cable to the display panel. 2. Connect the display cable connector to the display panel and affix the tape to secure it. 3. Install the display panel. 4. Install the display bezel. 5. Install the display assembly. 6. Install the palm rest. 7. Install the optical drive. 8. Install the keyboard. 9. Install the hinge cover. 10. Install the battery. 11. Follow the procedures in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Entering System Setup 25 1. Turn on (or restart) your computer. 2. When the blue DELL logo is displayed, you must watch for the F2 prompt to appear. 3. Once the F2 prompt appears, press immediately. NOTE: The F2 prompt indicates that the keyboard has initialized. This prompt can appear very quickly, so you must watch for it to display, and then press . If you press before you are prompted, this keystroke will be lost. 4.
and < Right Arrow > keys to navigate. As a Menu option is highlighted, the Options List lists the options that define the hardware installed on your computer. Options Field Appears on the right side of Options List and contains information about each option listed in the Options List . In this field you can view information about your computer and make changes to your current settings. Press < Enter> to make changes to your current settings. Press to return to the Options List.
System Time Re-sets the time on the computer's internal clock. BIOS Version Displays the BIOS revision. Product Name Displays the product name and the model number. Service Tag Displays the service tag of your computer. Asset Tag Displays the asset tag of your computer (if available). CPU Type Displays the type of processor. CPU Speed Displays the speed of the processor. CPU ID Displays the processor ID. L1 Cache Size Displays the processor L1 cache size.
USB Emulation Enable or disable the USB emulation feature. Default: Enabled USB Wake Support Allows USB devices to Default: Disabled wake-up the computer from standby. This feature is enabled only when the AC adapter is connected. SATA Operation Change the SATA controller Default: AHCI mode to either ATA or AHCI. Adapter Warnings Enables or disables adapter Default: Enabled warnings. Function Key Behavior Specifies the behavior of the function key .
Boot Boot Priority Order Specifies the order of different devices in which the computer will boot through at start up. Hard Disk Drives Specifies which hard drive the computer can boot through. USB Storage Device Specifies which USB storage device the computer can boot through. CD/DVD ROM Drives Specifies which CD/DVD the computer can boot through. Network Specifies which network device the computer can boot through.
Diagnostic Beep Codes 26 The computer may emit a series of beeps during start-up if the display cannot show errors or problems. These series of beeps, called beep codes, identify various problems. The delay between each beep is 300 ms, the delay between each set of beeps is 3 seconds, and the beep sound lasts 300 ms. After each beep and each set of beeps, the BIOS should detect if the user presses the power button.
Battery Status Lights If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the battery light operates as follows: • • • • • Alternately blinking amber light and white light — An unauthenticated or unsupported non-Dell AC adapter is attached to your laptop. Alternately blinking amber light with steady white light — Temporary battery failure with AC adapter present. Constantly blinking amber light — Fatal battery failure with AC adapter present.
27 Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. The following specifications are only those required by law to ship with your computer. For more information regarding the configuration of your computer, click Start → Help and Support and select the option to view information about your computer.
Audio Controller IDT 92HD87B1 Stereo conversion 24-bit (analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog) Interface: Internal high definition audio External microphone-in/stereo headphones/external speakers connector Speakers 2 x 2 Watt Volume controls keyboard function keys and program menus Video Video type • • integrated on system board discrete Data bus: UMA integrated video Discrete • • PCI-E x16 Gen1 PCI-E x16 Gen2 Video controller: UMA Intel HD Graphics Vostro 1450/Vostro 1550 • • Vost
Camera Video Resolution 640 x 480 at 30 fps (Maximum) Communications Network adapter 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet LAN Wireless internal wireless local area network (WLAN) Ports and Connectors Audio one microphone connector; one stereo headphone/speakers connector Video • • Network adapter one RJ-45 connector USB three 4-pin USB 2.
Display Diagonal 396.24 mm (15.60 inches) Active area (X/Y) 344.23 mm x 193.54 mm Maximum resolution 1366 x 768 pixels at 262K colors Maximum Brightness 220 nits Operating angle 0° (closed) to 140° Refresh rate 60 Hz Minimum Viewing angles: Horizontal 40/40 Vertical 15/30 (H/L) Pixel pitch 0.23 mm x 0.23 mm Keyboard Number of keys: United States and Canada: 86 keys, Europe and Brazil: 87 keys, Japan: 90 keys Touchpad Active Area: X-axis 90.00 mm (3.54 inches) Y-axis 49.00 mm (1.
Battery Voltage 11.1 VDC Temperature range: Operating 0 °C to 35 °C (32 °F to 95 °F) Non-Operating –40 °C to 65 °C (–40 °F to 149 °F) Coin-cell battery 3 V CR2032 lithium coin cell AC Adapter Type: Vostro 1440 / Vostro 1450 / Vostro 1540 / Vostro 1550 with integrated video card 65 W Vostro 1440 with discrete video card 65 W Vostro 1450 with discrete video card 90 W Input voltage 100 VAC to 240 VAC Input current (maximum) 1.50 A/1.60 A/1.70 A/2.
AC Adapter Operating 0 °C to 40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F) Non-Operating –40 °C to 70 °C (–40 °F to 158 °F) Physical Vostro 1440 / Vostro 1450: Height (with a WLED panel) 31.50 mm to 34.70 mm (1.24 inches to 1.36 inches) Width 342.00 mm (13.46 inches) Depth 244 mm (9.60 inches) Weight (Minimum) 2.2 kg (4.85 lb) Vostro 1540 / Vostro 1550: Height (with a WLED panel) 31.50 mm to 34.50 mm (1.24 inches to 1.35 inches) Width 376.00 mm (14.80 inches) Depth 260 mm (10.23 inches) Weight (Minimum) 2.
Contacting Dell 28 Contacting Dell NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog. Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your area. To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues: 1. 2. 3. 4. Visit support.dell.com.
