Dell Inspiron 1420 Owner'S Manual Download

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Contents

Setting Up and Using Networks

. . . . . . .

Connecting a Network or Broadband
Modem Cable

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Setting Up a Network

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wireless Local Area Network

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

What You Need to Establish a WLAN
Connection

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Checking Your Wireless Network Card

. . . . . .

Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless
Router and a Broadband Modem

. . . . . . . . .

Connecting to a WLAN

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area
Network)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What You Need to Establish a Mobile
Broadband Network Connection

. . . . . . . . .

Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card

. . . .

Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network

. . .

Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile
Broadband Card

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator

. . . . . . . . .

10 Securing Your Computer

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Security Cable Lock

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Passwords

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If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen

. . . . . . . . . . .

Summary of Contents for Inspiron 1420

Page 1: ...w w w d e l l c o m s u p p o r t d e l l c o m Dell Inspiron 1420 Owner s Manual Model PP26L ...

Page 2: ...trictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo Inspiron Wi Fi Catcher and Dell MediaDirect are trademarks of Dell Inc Intel Celeron and Core are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks and Windows Vista is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned b...

Page 3: ...ront View 22 Left Side View 27 Right Side View 28 Back View 30 Bottom View 31 2 Setting Up Your Computer 33 Connecting to the Internet 33 Setting Up Your Internet Connection 34 Transferring Information to a New Computer 35 Windows Easy Transfer 35 Setting Up a Printer 35 Printer Cable 36 Connecting a USB Printer 36 ...

Page 4: ... From Your Computer Display To a Projector 39 Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate 40 4 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 41 Numeric Keypad 41 Key Combinations 42 System Functions 42 Display Functions 42 Battery 42 Power Management 42 Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions 42 Dell QuickSet Key Combinations 43 Adjusting Keyboard Settings 43 Touch Pad 43 Customizing the Touch Pad 44 ...

Page 5: ...ing Battery Power 48 Configuring Power Management Settings 48 Using the Sleep Power State 49 Charging the Battery 49 Replacing the Battery 50 Storing a Battery 50 6 Using the Optional Camera 51 Accessing the Camera s Help File 51 Manually Adjusting the Camera Settings 52 Creating a Picture or a Video 52 7 Using Multimedia 53 Playing Media 53 Playing Media Using Dell Express Card Remote Control 55 ...

Page 6: ...2 S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 64 Composite Video and Standard Audio 66 Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 68 Component Video and Standard Audio 70 Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 72 Enabling the Display Settings for a TV 74 8 Using Cards 75 ExpressCards 75 ExpressCard Blanks 76 Installing an ExpressCard 76 Removing an ExpressCard or Blank 77 Memory Card Reader 78 Memory Card Bl...

Page 7: ...a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem 83 Connecting to a WLAN 85 Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network 86 What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection 86 Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card 87 Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network 88 Enabling Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card 88 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator 89 10 Securing Your Computer 91 Securit...

Page 8: ...ems 107 IEEE 1394 Device Problems 107 Keyboard Problems 108 External Keyboard problems 108 Unexpected characters 109 Lockups and Software Problems 109 The computer does not start 109 The computer stops responding 109 A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly 110 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operating system 110 A solid blue screen appears 110 Dell MediaDirect probl...

Page 9: ...nes 118 Remote Control Problems 118 Touch Pad or Mouse Problems 118 Video and Display Problems 119 If the display is blank 119 If the display is difficult to read 120 If only part of the display is readable 120 Drivers 121 What Is a Driver 121 Identifying Drivers 121 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities 122 Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems 124 Restoring Your Operating System 124 Using ...

Page 10: ...4 Optical Drive 134 Removing the Optical Drive 134 Replacing the Optical Drive 135 Hinge Cover 135 Removing the Hinge Cover 136 Replacing the Hinge Cover 136 Keyboard 137 Removing the Keyboard 137 Replacing the Keyboard 138 Memory 139 Removing the Memory Module 139 Replacing the Memory Module 141 Modem 142 Subscriber Identity Module 144 Wireless Mini Cards 145 Removing a WLAN Card 145 Replacing a ...

Page 11: ...54 Replacing the Coin Cell Battery 155 13 Dell QuickSet Features 157 14 Traveling With Your Computer 159 Identifying Your Computer 159 Packing the Computer 159 Travel Tips 160 Traveling by Air 160 15 Getting Help 161 Obtaining Assistance 161 Technical Support and Customer Service 162 DellConnect 162 Online Services 162 AutoTech Service 163 Automated Order Status Service 163 Problems With Your Orde...

Page 12: ...wing the System Setup Screen 178 System Setup Screen 178 Commonly Used Options 178 Cleaning Your Computer 180 Computer Keyboard and Display 180 Touch Pad 181 Mouse 181 Media 182 Dell Technical Support Policy U S Only 182 Definition of Dell Installed Software and Peripherals 183 Definition of Third Party Software and Peripherals 183 FCC Notice U S Only 183 FCC Class B 183 Macrovision Product Notice...

Page 13: ...Contents 13 Glossary 185 Index 203 ...

Page 14: ...14 Contents ...

Page 15: ...n your computer You can use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 122 or run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 93 Readme files may be included on your Drivers and Utilities media to provide last minute updates about technical changes to your computer or advanced technical reference material for technicians or experienced...

Page 16: ...uter Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support dell com or contact support Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support NOTE As an increased security measure the newly designed Microsoft Windows license label incorporates a security portal which looks like a missing portion of the label to discourage removal of the label What Are You Looking F...

Page 17: ... NSS If you reinstall the operating system on your computer you should also reinstall the NSS utility NSS automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration providing critical updates for your operating system and support for Dell 3 5 inch USB floppy drives Intel processors optical drives and USB devices NSS is necessary for correct...

Page 18: ... page 97 How to use Windows Vista How to work with programs and files How to personalize my desktop Windows Help and Support 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click Help and Support 2 In Search Help type a word or phrase that describes your problem and then press Enter or click the magnifying glass 3 Click the topic that describes your problem 4 Follow the instructions on the screen ...

Page 19: ...ng System Installation Media If you received operating system media with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system For more information see Restoring Your Operating System on page 124 After you reinstall your operating system use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer Your operating system product key label is located o...

Page 20: ...20 Finding Information ...

Page 21: ...igurations To determine your computer s video controller configuration 1 Click Start and then click Help and Support 2 Under Pick a Task click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems 3 Under My Computer Information select Hardware From the My Computer Information Hardware screen you can view the type of video controller installed in your computer as well as the other hard...

Page 22: ...22 About Your Computer Front View 4 5 13 16 1 11 8 9 2 10 6 14 12 7 15 3 ...

Page 23: ...t your display see Using the Display on page 39 MEDIA CONTROL BUTTONS Control CD DVD and Media Player playback 1 camera indicator 2 camera optional 3 digital microphones 2 4 display 5 media control buttons 6 touch pad 7 touch pad buttons 8 microphone connector 9 headphone connectors 2 10 wireless switch 11 device status lights 12 8 in 1 memory card reader 13 keyboard 14 Dell MediaDirect button 15 ...

Page 24: ...ed through Dell QuickSet this switch can scan for a wireless LAN WLAN in your vicinity You can also use it to rapidly turn off or on any wireless devices such as WLAN cards and internal cards with Bluetooth wireless technology DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS The lights located on the palm rest towards the front of the computer indicate the following Power light Turns on when you turn on the computer and blin...

Page 25: ...ediaCard MMC Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD KEYBOARD The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as well as the Microsoft Windows logo key Battery status light Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status WiFi status light Turns on when wireless networking is enabled To enable or disable wireless networking use the wireless switch Bluetooth stat...

Page 26: ...management mode see Configuring Power Management Settings on page 48 NOTICE To avoid losing data turn off your computer by performing a Microsoft Windows operating system shutdown rather than by pressing the power button If the computer stops responding press and hold the power button until the computer turns off completely may take several seconds Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled Turns...

Page 27: ...to the power strip or electrical outlet may cause fire or equipment damage NOTICE When you disconnect the AC adapter cable from the computer grasp the connector not the cable itself and pull firmly but gently to help prevent damage to the cable AIR VENTS The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents which prevents the computer from overheating The computer turns the fan on ...

Page 28: ...n see ExpressCards on page 75 Right Side View OPTICAL DRIVE For more information about the optical drive see Using Multimedia on page 53 EJECT BUTTON Press the eject button to open the optical drive Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer 1 optical drive 2 eject button 3 S video TV out connector 4 USB connectors 2 5 video connector VGA 1 4 5 3 2 ...

Page 29: ...OR USB CONNECTORS VIDEO CONNECTOR Connects your computer to a TV Also connects digital audio capable devices using the TV digital audio adapter cable Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer Connects video devices such as a monitor ...

Page 30: ... to the modem connector For information on using the modem see the online modem documentation supplied with your computer Connects the computer to a network The two lights next to the connector indicate status and activity for wired network connections For information on using the network adapter see the device user s guide supplied with your computer 1 2 ...

Page 31: ...er 31 Bottom View 1 battery bay latch releases 2 2 hard drive 3 battery 4 battery charge health gauge 5 processor and thermal module cover 6 memory module coin cell battery bluetooth modem compartment cover 3 4 1 6 5 2 ...

Page 32: ...Battery on page 45 BATTERY CHARGE HEALTH GAUGE Provides information on the battery charge see Checking the Battery Charge on page 46 PROCESSOR AND THERMAL MODULE COVER Covers the processor and thermal module MEMORY MODULE COIN CELL BLUETOOTH MODEM BATTERY COMPARTMENT Compartment that contains the memory modules modem bluetooth and the coin cell battery For additional information see Adding and Rep...

Page 33: ...rnet access through a satellite television system Dial up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line Dial up connections are considerably slower than DSL cable and satellite modem connections Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN or Mobile Broadband technology provides a connection to the Internet using cellular technology at broadband rates Wireless Local Area Network WLAN connec...

Page 34: ... Connect to the Internet wizard can help you obtain one If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Click Start and then click Control Panel 3 Under Network and Internet click Connect to the Internet The Connect to the Internet window appears 4 Click either Broadband...

Page 35: ...s System Tools Windows Easy Transfer 2 In the User Account Control dialog box click Continue 3 Click Next 4 Click Start a new transfer or Continue a transfer in progress 5 Follow the instructions in the Windows Easy Transfer wizard Setting Up a Printer NOTICE Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the computer See the documentation that came with the printer for setup ...

Page 36: ...ter cable at the same time you purchased your computer the cable may arrive in the computer s shipping box Connecting a USB Printer NOTE You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on 1 Complete the operating system setup if you have not already done so 2 Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer The USB connectors fit only one way 1 USB connec...

Page 37: ...age to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical storms or after power interruptions Some surge protector manufacturers include warranty coverage for certain types of damage Carefully read the device warranty when choosing a surge protector A device with a higher joule rating offers more protection Compare joule ratings to determine the relative effectiveness of different ...

Page 38: ...sure maximum battery operating time connect only your computer to a UPS Connect other devices such as a printer to a separate power strip that provides surge protection A UPS protects against power fluctuations and interruptions UPS devices contain a battery that provides temporary power to connected devices when AC power is interrupted The battery charges while AC power is available See the UPS m...

Page 39: ...your portable computer not monitors or projectors that you attach to your portable computer If your computer is connected to an external monitor and you try to change the brightness level the Brightness Meter may appear but the brightness level on the external device does not change Switching the Video Image From Your Computer Display To a Projector When you start the computer with an external dev...

Page 40: ...er and can benefit people with vision impairments To display a program at a specific resolution both the video card and the display must support the program and the necessary video drivers must be installed NOTE Use only the Dell installed video drivers which are designed to offer the best performance with your Dell installed operating system If you choose a resolution or color palette that is hig...

Page 41: ...ternal keyboard Each key on the keypad has multiple functions The keypad numbers and symbols are marked in blue on the right of the keypad keys To type a number or symbol hold down Fn and press the desired key To enable the keypad press Num Lk The light indicates that the keypad is active To disable the keypad press Num Lk again numeric keypad 9 ...

Page 42: ... brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Fn and down arrow key Decreases brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Fn F3 Displays the Dell QuickSet Battery Meter see Dell QuickSet Battery Meter on page 46 Fn Esc Activates a power management mode See Configuring Power Management Settings on page 48 Windows logo key and m Minimizes all open win...

Page 43: ...and then click Control Panel 2 Click Hardware and Sound 3 Click Keyboard Touch Pad The touch pad detects the pressure and movement of your finger to allow you to move the cursor on the display Use the touch pad and touch pad buttons as you would use a mouse Windows logo key and r Opens the Run dialog box Windows logo key and f Opens the Search Results dialog box Windows logo key and Ctrl f Opens t...

Page 44: ... object by sliding your finger over the surface To double click an object position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button twice Customizing the Touch Pad You can use the Mouse Properties window to disable the touch pad or adjust the touch pad settings 1 Click Start and then click Control Panel 2 Click Hardware and Sound 3 Click ...

Page 45: ...on area NOTE Battery operating time the time the battery can hold a charge decreases over time Depending on how often the battery is used and the conditions under which it is used you may need to purchase a new battery during the life of your computer NOTE It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to media Battery operating time varies depending on opera...

Page 46: ...risk of fire or chemical burn Do not puncture incinerate disassemble or expose the battery to temperatures above 65 C 149 F Keep the battery away from children Handle damaged or leaking batteries with extreme care Damaged batteries may leak and cause personal injury or equipment damage Checking the Battery Charge You can check the battery charge on your computer using any one of the following meth...

Page 47: ...dicator lights Each light represents approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge For example if the battery has 80 percent of its charge remaining four of the lights are on If no lights are on the battery has no charge Check the Battery Health NOTE You can check battery health in one of two ways by using the charge gauge on the battery as described below and by using the Battery Meter in ...

Page 48: ...ng Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible battery life is largely determined by the number of times the battery is used and recharged Configure the power management settings using Microsoft Windows Power Options to optimize your computer s power usage see Configuring Power Management Settings on page 48 Use the Sleep power state when you leave the computer unattended for long p...

Page 49: ...ttery in the computer for as long as you like The battery s internal circuitry prevents the battery from overcharging When you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery while the computer is connected to an electrical outlet the computer checks the battery charge and temperature If necessary the AC adapter then charges the battery and maintains the battery charge If the bat...

Page 50: ...bles from the computer to avoid possible connector damage NOTICE If you choose to replace the battery with the computer in Sleep state you have up to 1 minute to complete the battery replacement before the computer shuts down and loses any unsaved data To remove the battery 1 Ensure that the computer is turned off 2 Turn the computer over 3 Slide and click the battery release latches to keep them ...

Page 51: ... The blue camera light appears when the camera is turned on For more information about camera features see Specifications on page 167 NOTE It is normal for the camera to feel warm to the touch when the computer is running and when the camera is in use Accessing the Camera s Help File To access the camera s Video Software Help file right click the icon in the notification area and click Launch Webc...

Page 52: ...e Help file see Accessing the Camera s Help File on page 51 Creating a Picture or a Video 1 Click the icon in the notification area and click QuickCapture The QuickCapture window appears and the blue camera light turns on You can now direct the camera to point at the object or person that you want to record The QuickCapture window on the screen shows you the camera target view 2 To take a picture ...

Page 53: ...n you open or close it Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive NOTICE Do not move the computer while playing media 1 Press the eject button on the front of the drive 2 Place the disc label side up in the center of the tray and snap the disc onto the spindle 3 Push the tray back into the drive ...

Page 54: ...ic buttons For more information on playing media click Help on the media player if available Play Move backward within the current track Pause Move forward within the current track Stop Go to the previous track Eject Go to the next track Stop Restart the current chapter Play Fast forward Pause Fast reverse Advance a single frame while in pause mode Go to the next title or chapter Continuously play...

Page 55: ... It can work only with specified computers For more details refer to the Dell Support website at support dell com To play media using Dell Express Card remote control 1 Install a coin cell battery into your Express Card remote control 2 Launch Windows Vista Media Center from Start Programs 3 Use the remote control buttons to play media 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16 15 14 13 12 18 17 ...

Page 56: ... Roxio Creator for other purposes such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data For help open Roxio Creator and then press F1 The DVD drives installed in Dell computers do not support HD DVD media For a list of supported media formats see Using Blank CD and DVD Media on page 57 1 Infrared Transmitter 2 Page Up 3 Page Down 4 Arrow Up 5 OK Enter Sel...

Page 57: ...ter copies the data from the source disc to the blank disc Once you have finished copying the source disc the disc that you have created automatically ejects Using Blank CD and DVD Media DVD writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media Use blank CD Rs to record music or permanently store data files After creating a CD R you cannot write to that CD R again see the Sonic documentatio...

Page 58: ...lled Use a blank CD RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques If you make a mistake you can erase the data on the CD RW and try again You can also use blank CD RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD R You cannot create audio DVDs with Roxio Creator Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems ...

Page 59: ...on the screen Adjusting the Picture If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing media playback adjust the display properties 1 Click Start Control Panel Appearance and Personalization 2 Under Personalization click Adjust screen resolution 3 On Display Settings click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting 4 In the ...

Page 60: ...not be included with your computer Cables and TV digital audio adapter cables are available for purchase from Dell Your computer has an S video TV out connector that together with a standard S video cable a composite video adapter cable or a component video adapter cable available from Dell enable you to connect the computer to a TV Your TV has either an S video input connector a composite video i...

Page 61: ... PDIF digital audio connector 4 composite video output connector 5 S video connector 1 S video TV out connector 2 component video adapter 3 S PDIF digital audio connector 4 Pr red component video output connector 5 Pb blue component video output connector 6 Y green component video output connector 1 2 5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 1 2 6 ...

Page 62: ...eginning of each subsection to help you determine which method of connection you should use When you finish connecting the video and audio cables between your computer and your TV you must enable your computer to work with the TV See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 74 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Additionally if you are using S PDIF digital a...

Page 63: ...er 3 Plug the other end of the S video cable into the S video input connector on your TV 4 Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on your 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 6 Turn on the TV and any audio device that you connected if applicable and then tur...

Page 64: ...64 Using Multimedia S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 S video cable 3 S PDIF digital audio cable 1 2 1 2 3 ...

Page 65: ...he TV 5 Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the digital audio connector on the composite video adapter cable 6 Plug the other end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the audio input connector on your TV or audio device 7 Turn on the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 74 t...

Page 66: ...g Multimedia Composite Video and Standard Audio 1 audio input connector 2 S video TV out connector 3 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 2 1 3 1 2 3 ...

Page 67: ...o the composite video input connector on the TV 5 Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer 6 Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device 7 Turn on the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the D...

Page 68: ...68 Using Multimedia Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 2 1 2 3 ...

Page 69: ...nnector on the TV 5 Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the S PDIF audio connector on the composite video adapter 6 Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S PDIF input connector on your TV or other audio device 7 Turn on the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page...

Page 70: ...70 Using Multimedia Component Video and Standard Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 component video adapter 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable 3 standard audio cable 2 1 1 2 3 ...

Page 71: ... video cable into the component video input connectors on the TV Make sure that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input connectors 5 Plug the single connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer 6 Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or audio device 7 Turn on th...

Page 72: ...72 Using Multimedia Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 component video adapter 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 2 1 2 3 ...

Page 73: ...colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports 4 Plug all three connectors from the other end of the component video cable into the component video input connectors on the TV Make sure that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input connectors 5 Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the S PDIF audio connector on the component video adapter ...

Page 74: ...E To ensure that the display options appear correctly connect the TV to the computer before you enable the display settings 1 Click Start click Control Panel and then click Appearance and Personalization 2 Under Personalization click Adjust Screen Resolution The Display Properties window appears 3 Click Advanced 4 Click the tab for your video card NOTE To determine the type of video card installed...

Page 75: ...nnectivity available on your computer ExpressCards support two form factors ExpressCard 34 34 mm wide ExpressCard 54 54 mm wide in an L shape with a 34 mm connector The 34 mm card fits into both the 34 mm and 54 mm card slots The 54 mm card only fits into a 54 mm card slot See Specifications on page 167 for information on supported ExpressCards NOTE An ExpressCard is not a bootable device 1 Expres...

Page 76: ...e computer automatically detects the card ExpressCards are generally marked with a symbol such as a triangle or an arrow or a label to indicate which end to insert into the slot The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion If card orientation is not clear see the documentation that came with the card CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instruction...

Page 77: ...Card or Blank CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Press the latch and remove the card or blank For some latches you must press the latch twice once to pop the latch out and then a second time to pop the card out Save a blank to use when no ExpressCard is installed in a slot Blanks protect unused slots from d...

Page 78: ...d share digital photos music and videos stored on a memory card NOTE A memory card is not a bootable device The 8 in 1 memory card reader reads the following memory cards Secure Digital SD SDIO MultiMediaCard MMC Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD 1 release button 1 ...

Page 79: ...er is running The computer automatically detects the card Memory cards are generally marked with a symbol such as a triangle or an arrow or a label to indicate which end to insert into the slot The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion If card orientation is not clear see the documentation that came with the card CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the sa...

Page 80: ...ON Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE Use the memory card configuration utility click the icon in the notification area to select a card and stop it from functioning before you remove it from the computer If you do not stop the card in the configuration utility you could lose data Press the card into the slo...

Page 81: ...p guide you through the process of networking computers For more information about Networking access Windows Help and Support click Start and then click Help and Support Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable Before you connect your computer to a network the computer must have a network adapter installed and a network cable connected to it 1 Connect the network cable to the network adapter ...

Page 82: ...ternet or network access The access point or wireless router and the wireless network card in the computer communicate by broadcasting data from their antennas over the air waves What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection Before you can set up a WLAN you need High speed broadband Internet access such as cable or DSL A broadband modem that is connected and working A wireless router or access poin...

Page 83: ...r computer lists the hardware and software that shipped with your computer Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem 1 Contact your Internet service provider ISP to obtain specific information about the connection requirements for your broadband modem 2 Ensure that you have wired Internet access through your broadband modem before you attempt to set up a wireless Internet...

Page 84: ...scribed below to prevent a potential connection failure 11 Turn on only your broadband modem and wait for at least 2 minutes for the broadband modem to stabilize After 2 minutes proceed to step 12 12 Turn on your wireless router and wait for at least 2 minutes for the wireless router to stabilize After 2 minutes proceed to the step 13 13 Start your computer and wait until the boot process complete...

Page 85: ...upport website at support dell com For information on the type of wireless network card that is installed in your computer see Checking Your Wireless Network Card on page 82 When you turn on your computer and a network for which your computer is not configured is detected in the area a pop up appears near the network icon in the Windows notification area To connect to the network 1 Click Start and...

Page 86: ...ide Area Network A Mobile Broadband network also known as a Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN is a high speed digital cellular network that provides Internet access over a much wider geographical area than a WLAN which typically covers only from 100 to 1000 feet Your computer can maintain Mobile Broadband network access as long as the computer is within a cellular data coverage zone Contact your ser...

Page 87: ...u purchased it separately from your computer Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer the computer has a variety of configurations To determine your computer configuration see one of the following Your order confirmation Microsoft Windows Help and Support To check your Mobile Broadband card in Windows Help and Support 1 Click Start He...

Page 88: ...k connection to the Internet 1 Click the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility icon in the Windows notification area to run the utility 2 Click Connect NOTE The Connect button changes to the Disconnect button 3 Follow the instructions on the screen to manage the network connection with the utility or 1 Click Start All Programs Dell Wireless 2 Click Dell Wireless Broadband and follow the instructions ...

Page 89: ...ifically for wireless networks in your vicinity To scan for a wireless network slide and hold the wireless switch in the momentary position for a few seconds The Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator functions regardless of whether your computer is turned on or off or in Sleep state as long as the switch is configured through Dell QuickSet or the BIOS system setup program to control WiFi network connectio...

Page 90: ...90 Setting Up and Using Networks ...

Page 91: ...cable slot on your computer Passwords Passwords prevent unauthorized access to your computer When you first start your computer you must assign a primary password at the prompt If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes the computer returns to its previous operating state When using passwords observe the following guidelines Choose a password that you can remember but not one that is easy to ...

Page 92: ...o report the lost or stolen computer Include the Service Tag in your description of the computer Ask that a case number be assigned and write down the number along with the name address and phone number of the law enforcement agency If possible obtain the name of the investigating officer NOTE If you know where the computer was lost or stolen call a law enforcement agency in that area If you do no...

Page 93: ...ecks in Lockups and Software Problems on page 109 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin NOTE The Dell Diagnostics only operate on Dell computers Enter system setup review your computer s configuration information and ensure that the device you want to test displays in system setup and is acti...

Page 94: ...ivers and Utilities media The computer runs the Pre boot System Assessment a series of initial tests of your system board keyboard hard drive and display During the assessment answer any questions that appear If a failure is detected the computer stops and beeps To stop the assessment and restart the computer press n to continue to the next test press y to retest the component that failed press r ...

Page 95: ...Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list If multiple versions are listed select the version appropriate for your computer 8 At the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu select the test you want to run NOTE Write down any error codes and problem descriptions exactly as they appear and follow the instructions on the screen 9 After all tests have completed close the test window to return to the Dell Diagnostics ...

Page 96: ...each test screen When contacting Dell support have your Service Tag ready The following tabs provide additional information for tests run from the Custom Test or Symptom Tree option Option Function Express Test Performs a quick test of system devices The test typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part Run Express Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the ...

Page 97: ...lays 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 any requirements for running the test Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for all devices from system setup memory and various ...

Page 98: ...tructions in the Product Information Guide Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 165 as you complete these checks ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT WINDOWS RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE Click Start Computer If the drive is not listed perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive TEST THE DRIVE Insert another floppy...

Page 99: ...grams before you write to the drive TURN OFF SLEEP STATE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD DVD DISC See Using the Sleep Power State on page 49 for information on Sleep state CHANGE THE WRITE SPEED TO A SLOWER RATE See the help files for your CD or DVD creation software The drive tray cannot eject 1 Ensure that the computer is shut down 2 Straighten a paper clip and insert one end into the eject ho...

Page 100: ...egin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTE Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only The modem does not operate while it is connected to a digital telephone network CHECK THE MICROSOFT OUTLOOK EXPRESS SECURITY SETTINGS If you cannot open your e mail attachments 1 In Outlook Express click Tools click Options and then clic...

Page 101: ...Modems tab 5 Click the COM port for your modem 6 Click Properties click the Diagnostics tab and then click Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows If all commands receive responses the modem is operating properly ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET Ensure that you have subscribed to an Internet service provider With the Outlook Express e mail program open click...

Page 102: ...sor has failed Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 166 CD DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE The CD drive does not respond to commands from the computer see Drive Problems on page 98 DATA ERROR The hard drive cannot read the data see Drive Problems on page 98 DECREASING AVAILABLE MEMORY One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace t...

Page 103: ...s from the computer Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 131 and boot the computer from a CD Then shut down the computer reinstall the hard drive and restart the computer If the problem persists try another drive Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 93 HARD DISK DRIVE FAILURE The hard drive does not respond to commands fr...

Page 104: ...outine Run the Stuck Key test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 93 LICENSED CONTENT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE IN MEDIADIRECT DellMediaDirect cannot verify the Digital Rights Management DRM restrictions on the file so the file cannot be played see Dell MediaDirect problems on page 110 MEMORY ADDRESS LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or impro...

Page 105: ...rams open Close all windows and open the program that you want to use OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND Reinstall the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 131 If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 166 OPTIONAL ROM BAD CHECKSUM The optional ROM has failed Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 166 A REQUIRED DLL FILE WAS NOT FOUND The program that you are trying to open is missin...

Page 106: ... the battery If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 166 TIME OF DAY NOT SET PLEASE RUN THE SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM The time or date stored in the system setup program does not match the system clock Correct the settings for the Date and Time options see Using the System Setup Program on page 177 TIMER CHIP COUNTER 2 FAILED A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning Run...

Page 107: ...ROVIDED BY DELL Contact the ExpressCard manufacturer IEEE 1394 Device Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide ENSURE THAT THE IEEE 1394 DEVICE IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS 1 Click Start Control Panel System and Maintenance Device Manager NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administ...

Page 108: ...sconnect the keyboard cable and check it for damage then firmly reconnect the cable If you are using a keyboard extension cable disconnect it and connect the keyboard directly to the computer CHECK THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD 1 Shut down the computer wait 1 minute and then turn it on again 2 Verify that the numbers capitals and scroll lock lights on the keyboard blink during the boot routine 3 From the ...

Page 109: ...etters Verify that the numbers lock light is not lit Lockups and Software Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide The computer does not start CHECK THE AC ADAPTER Ensure that the AC adapter is firmly connected to the computer and to the electrical outlet The AC adapter shuts down when there is a fault T...

Page 110: ...ions of Windows For more information search for the keyword program compatibility wizard in Windows Help and Support A solid blue screen appears TURN THE COMPUTER OFF If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off then restart your computer Dell MediaDirect problem...

Page 111: ...brightness contrast saturation ratios NOTICE You cannot reinstall the Dell MediaDirect feature if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive Contact Dell for assistance see Contacting Dell on page 166 Other software problems CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on...

Page 112: ...AUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide IF YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements If necessary install additional memory see Memory on p...

Page 113: ...ss Wide Area Network WWAN NOTE The Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility user s guide and the Mobile Broadband ExpressCard user s guide are available through Windows Help and Support click Start Help and Support You can also download the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility user s guide from support dell com NOTE The icon appears in the notification area if the computer has a Dell WWAN device installed...

Page 114: ... button to exit Sleep state If the light is off press the power button to turn on the computer NOTE For information on Sleep power state see Using the Sleep Power State on page 49 CHARGE THE BATTERY The battery charge may be depleted 1 Reinstall the battery 2 Use the AC adapter to connect the computer to an electrical outlet 3 Turn on the computer NOTE Battery operating time the time the battery c...

Page 115: ...ent lights halogen lamps or other appliances ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES See Configuring Power Management Settings on page 48 RESEAT THE MEMORY MODULES If the computer power light turns on but the display remains blank reinstall the memory modules see Memory on page 139 Printer Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 165 as you complete these checks CAUTION Before you begin any of the ...

Page 116: ... the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTE If you need technical assistance for your scanner contact the scanner s manufacturer CHECK THE SCANNER DOCUMENTATION See the scanner documentation for setup and troubleshooting information UNLOCK THE SCANNER Ensure that your scanner is unlocked RESTART THE COMPUTER AND TRY THE SCANNER AGAIN CHECK T...

Page 117: ...diagram supplied with the speakers If your speakers have volume controls adjust the volume bass or treble to eliminate distortion ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL 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 DISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR Sound from the speakers is automatica...

Page 118: ...our remote control to the receiver The receiver is underneath the touch pad of your computer Move the remote control closer to your computer REMOTE CONTROL IS STUCK IN THE SLOT Check that you have not incorrectly stored the remote control into a non Express Card slot Contact Dell Technical Support for removing it Touch Pad or Mouse Problems CHECK THE TOUCH PAD SETTINGS 1 Click Start Control Panel ...

Page 119: ... Diagnostics Checklist on page 165 as you complete these checks CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide If the display is blank NOTE If you are using a program that requires a higher resolution than your computer supports it is recommended that you attach an external monitor to your computer CHECK THE BATTERY If...

Page 120: ...quality ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS 1 Click Start Control Panel Appearance and Personalization Personalization Display Settings 2 Click the area you want to change or click the Display icon Try different settings for Resolution and Colors RUN THE VIDEO DIAGNOSTICS TESTS If no error message appears and you still have a display problem but the display is not completely blank run the Video de...

Page 121: ...he keyboard driver come with your Microsoft Windows operating system You may need to install drivers if you Upgrade your operating system Reinstall your operating system Connect or install a new device Identifying Drivers If you experience a problem with any device identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and if necessary update the driver 1 Click Start and then right click Comput...

Page 122: ...ver If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem use System Restore see Restoring Your Operating System on page 124 to return your computer to the operating state that existed before you installed the new driver Using the Drivers and Utilities Media If using Device Driver Rollback or System Restore see Restoring Your Operating System on page 124 does not resolve the problem reinstall the...

Page 123: ...at driver is not required by your operating system Manually Reinstalling Drivers NOTE If your computer has a Consumer IR port and you are reinstalling a Consumer IR driver you must first enable the Consumer IR port in the system setup program see Using the System Setup Program on page 177 before continuing with the driver installation see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 122 For informat...

Page 124: ...ing state without affecting data files Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files For instructions see Using Microsoft Windows System Restore on page 124 If you received Operating System media with your computer you can use it to restore your operating system However using the Operating System media also deletes all data on the hard drive...

Page 125: ... and close all open files and exit any open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete 1 Click Start Help and Support 2 Type System Restore in the search field and press Enter 3 Click Undo my last restoration and then click Next Using the Operating System Media Before You Begin If you are considering reinstalling the Windows operating system...

Page 126: ...technical support representative instructs you to do so 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 Insert the Operating System media 3 Click Exit if the Install Windows message appears 4 Restart the computer When the DELL logo appears press F12 immediately NOTE If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop ...

Page 127: ...Troubleshooting 127 ...

Page 128: ...128 Troubleshooting ...

Page 129: ...dures in this document may require the following tools Small flat blade screwdriver Phillips screwdriver Small plastic scribe Flash BIOS update see the Dell Support website at support dell com Turning Off Your Computer NOTICE To avoid losing data save and close any open files and exit any open programs before you turn off your computer 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs 2 C...

Page 130: ...ble As you pull connectors apart keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins Also before you connect a cable ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned NOTICE To avoid electrostatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface such as a connector on the back of the computer 1 Ensure that the w...

Page 131: ...s section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To prevent data loss turn off your computer see Turning Off Your Computer on page 129 before removing the hard drive Do not remove the hard drive while the computer is on or in Sleep state NOTICE Hard drives are extremely fragile Exercise care when handling the hard drive NOTE Dell does not guarantee compatibility or ...

Page 132: ...1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 129 2 Turn the computer over 3 Loosen the two captive screws securing the hard drive cover and then remove the cover 4 Remove the hard drive assembly by using the pull tab 1 hard drive cover 2 screws 2 1 2 ...

Page 133: ...essure to slide the drive into place If you use excessive force you may damage the connector 2 Place the hard drive assembly in the hard drive bay by aligning the tabs on the hard drive assembly with the slots in the bay and pressing the connector end down 3 Replace the hard drive door and tighten the screws 4 Install the operating system for your computer as needed see Restoring Your Operating Sy...

Page 134: ...ou begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Removing the Optical Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 129 2 Turn the computer over 3 Remove the locking screw from the optical drive 4 Using a plastic scribe push the notch to release the optical drive from the bay 5 Slide the optical drive out of the bay 1 foam p...

Page 135: ...ty instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To avoid electrostatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface such as a connector on the back of the computer NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer 1 optical drive...

Page 136: ...e to the hinge cover do not lift the cover on both sides simultaneously 3 Insert a plastic scribe into the indent to lift the hinge cover on the right side 4 Ease the hinge cover up moving from right to left and remove it Replacing the Hinge Cover 1 Insert the left edge of the hinge cover 2 Press from left to right until the cover snaps into place 1 hinge cover 2 scribe 1 2 ...

Page 137: ...move the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer Removing the Keyboard 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 129 2 Remove the hinge cover see Hinge Cover on page 135 3 Remove the two screws at the top of the keyboard NOTICE The key caps on the keyboard are fragile easily dislodged and time consuming to replace Be careful when removing and handling th...

Page 138: ...board connector latch to secure the cable 3 Hook the tabs along the front edge of the keyboard into the palmrest 4 Press on the right edge near the top to snap the keyboard into place 5 Replace the two screws to secure the keyboard 1 screws 2 2 keyboard 3 tabs 5 4 keyboard cable 5 cable connector latch 6 palmrest 1 2 4 5 3 6 ...

Page 139: ... A and DIMM B accessed from the bottom of the computer NOTICE If your computer has only one memory module install the memory module in the connector labeled DIMMA NOTICE If you need to install memory modules in two connectors install a memory module in the connector labeled DIMMA before you install a module in the connector labeled DIMMB Removing the Memory Module NOTICE To avoid electrostatic dis...

Page 140: ...onnector do not use tools to spread the memory module securing clips 5 Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory module connector until the module pops up 6 Remove the module from the connector 1 screws 3 2 memory module cover 2 1 ...

Page 141: ...k of the computer 1 Align the notch in the module edge connector with the tab in the connector slot 2 Slide the module firmly into the slot at a 45 degree angle and rotate the module down until it clicks into place If you do not feel the click remove the module and reinstall it NOTE If the memory module is not installed properly the computer may not boot No error message indicates this failure 1 m...

Page 142: ...irm the amount of memory installed in the computer click Start Help and Support Dell System Information Modem CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 129 2 Turn the computer over loosen the three captive screws on the modem cover and then remove the cover 3 Rem...

Page 143: ...o the connector on the system board NOTICE The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion If you feel resistance check the connectors and realign the card 7 Connect the modem cable 8 Tighten the three screws and replace the modem cover 1 screw 2 pull tab 3 modem cable 4 modem 3 4 1 2 ...

Page 144: ...this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTE Only GSM HSDPA type cards need a SIM EVDO cards do not use a SIM 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 129 2 In the battery bay locate the SIM compartment at the base 3 Slide in the SIM into the compartment with the cut off corner of the card aligning with the cut off corner in the SIM compartment 1 bat...

Page 145: ...with your computer the card is already installed Your computer supports three types of wireless Mini Cards Wireless Local Area Network WLAN Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN Internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology Removing a WLAN Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 129 2 Remove the hinge cover see Removing the Hinge Cover on page 136 3 Remove the key...

Page 146: ...146 Adding and Replacing Parts 6 Pull the WLAN card out of its system board connector 1 antenna cable connectors 2 WLAN card 3 screw 1 2 3 ...

Page 147: ...m board and realign the card NOTICE To avoid damage to the WLAN card never place cables under the card 1 Insert the WLAN card connector into the system board connector labeled WLAN at a 45 degree angle by aligning the notch on the WLAN card to the slot on the system board connector 2 Press down the other end of the WLAN card and tighten the screw securing the card to the system board ...

Page 148: ...ay triangle 4 Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve 5 Replace the keyboard see Replacing the Keyboard on page 138 6 Replace the hinge cover see Replacing the Hinge Cover on page 136 Internal Card with Bluetooth Wireless Technology CAUTION Before performing the following procedures follow the safety instructions in your Product Information Guide NOTICE To avoid electrostatic d...

Page 149: ...not pull on the card cable with excessive force 5 Disconnect the card from the cable and remove the card from the computer Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card NOTE WWAN is also available on an ExpressCard see ExpressCards on page 75 NOTE WWAN card and FCM share the same slot You can install only one card at a time 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 129 2 Remove the hinge cove...

Page 150: ...lacing Parts 4 Loosen the screw that secures the Mini Card to the system board 5 Disconnect the antenna cables from the WWAN card 6 Pull the WWAN card out of its system board connector 1 WWAN card 2 antenna cables 2 1 2 ...

Page 151: ...on the WWAN card to the slot on the system board connector 2 Press down the other end of the WWAN card and tighten the screw securing the card to the system board 3 Connect the appropriate antenna cables to the WWAN card you are installing Connect the white striped cable to the connector on the card marked with a white triangle Connect the black striped cable to the connector on the card marked wi...

Page 152: ... WWAN card and FCM share the same slot You can install only one card at a time Removing the FCM 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 129 2 Remove the hinge cover see Hinge Cover on page 135 3 Remove the keyboard see Keyboard on page 137 4 Ground yourself by touching one of the metal connectors on the back of the computer NOTE If you leave the area ground yourself again when you retu...

Page 153: ... these antenna cables may cause damage to your computer NOTICE Install the FCM in the WWAN slot Do not install an FCM in the WLAN card slot Doing so may cause damage to your computer 1 Connect the FCM to the connector on the system board 2 Tighten the screw securing the FCM to the system board 3 Replace the keyboard see Replacing the Keyboard on page 138 4 Replace the hinge cover see Replacing the...

Page 154: ...f the computer NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the computer Removing the Coin Cell Battery 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 129 2 Turn the computer over 3 Loosen the captive screws on the coin cell battery cover see Bottom View on page 31 and remove the cover 4 Remove the modem see...

Page 155: ...ng the Coin Cell Battery 1 Connect the coin cell battery cable to the system board 2 Place the coin cell battery on the system board in the location marked 3 Replace the modem see Modem on page 142 4 Replace the cover and tighten the screws ...

Page 156: ...156 Adding and Replacing Parts ...

Page 157: ... settings Network connectivity Display System information Depending on what you want to do in Dell QuickSet you can start it by either clicking double clicking or right clicking the QuickSet icon in the Microsoft Windows notification area The notification area is located in the lower right corner of your screen For more information about QuickSet right click the QuickSet icon and select Help ...

Page 158: ...158 Dell QuickSet Features ...

Page 159: ...Computer Remove any external devices attached to the computer and store them in a safe place Fully charge the main battery and any spare batteries that you plan to carry with you Shut down the computer Disconnect the AC adapter NOTICE When the display is closed extraneous items on the keyboard or palm rest could damage the display Remove any extraneous items such as paper clips pens and paper from...

Page 160: ...f your right to use the computer if it is company owned to speed your passage through customs Investigate the customs regulations of the countries you plan to visit and consider acquiring an international carnet also known as a merchandise passport from your government Find out what type of electrical outlets are used in the countries you will visit and have appropriate power adapters Check with y...

Page 161: ...ces on page 162 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 166 NOTE Call Dell Support from a telephone near or at the computer so that the support staff can assist you with any necessary procedures NOTE Dell s Express Service Code system may not be available in all countries When prompted by Dell s automated t...

Page 162: ...r it all under your supervision For more information go to support dell com and click DellConnect 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...

Page 163: ...n the status of any Dell products that you have ordered you can go to support dell com or you can call the automated order status service A recording prompts you for the information needed to locate and report on your order For the telephone number to call for your region see Contacting Dell on page 166 Problems With Your Order If you have a problem with your order such as missing parts wrong part...

Page 164: ...g shipping expenses You are also responsible for insuring any product returned and you assume the risk of loss during shipment to Dell Collect On Delivery C O D packages are not accepted Returns that are missing any of the preceding requirements will be refused at Dell s receiving dock and returned to you Before You Call NOTE Have your Express Service Code ready when you call The code helps Dell s...

Page 165: ...ion 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 If the computer is connected to a printer print each file Otherwise record the contents of each file before calling Dell Error message beep code or diagnostic code Description of ...

Page 166: ... availability varies by country and product some services may not be available in your area To contact Dell for sales technical support or customer service issues 1 Visit www support dell com 2 At the bottom of the page verify your country or region 3 Locate the Browse by Category section on the left side of the page and click Contact Us 4 Select the appropriate service or support link based on yo...

Page 167: ...cessor Intel Celeron processor available in specific countries L1 cache 32 KB per instruction 32 KB data cache per core L2 cache 2 MB or 4 MB per core External bus frequency 667 and 800 MHz System Information System chipset Intel 965GM Express chipset for integrated graphics Intel 965PM Express chipset for discrete graphics Data bus width 64 bits DRAM bus width dual channel 2 64 bit buses Processo...

Page 168: ...nector 8 in 1 combo card connector Cards supported Secure Digital SD SDIO MultiMediaCard MMC Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD Memory Memory module connector two SODIMM connectors Memory module capacities 512 MB 1 GB 2 GB Memory type 667 MHz SODIMM DDR2 Minimum memory 512 MB Maximum memory 4 GB NOTE In order to take advantage of the dual channel bandwidth capa...

Page 169: ...apter cable USB four 4 pin USB 2 0 compliant connector Video 15 hole connector Communications Modem Type v 92 56K MDC Controller softmodem Interface Intel High Definition Audio Network adapter 10 100 Ethernet LAN on system board Wireless internal WLAN WWAN WPAN Mini Cards WWAN ExpressCard Bluetooth 2 0 wireless technology Video Video type integrated on system board Video controller Intel 965GM Exp...

Page 170: ... 2 GB system memory LCD interface LVDS TV support NTSC or PAL in S video composite and component modes Audio Audio type multi channel high definition audio codec Audio controller High Definition Audio HDA bus Stereo conversion 24 bit analog to digital and digital to analog Interfaces Internal Intel High Definition Audio External microphone in connector stereo headphones speakers connector Speaker ...

Page 171: ...A with TrueLife 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors WXGA with TrueLife 1440 x 900 at 262K colors Refresh rate 60 Hz Operating angle 0 closed to 145 Viewing angles Horizontal 40 WXGA 40 WXGA with TrueLife 40 WXGA with TrueLife Vertical 15 30 WXGA 15 30 WXGA with TrueLife 15 30 WXGA with TrueLife Pixel pitch WXGA 0 237 mm WXGA with TrueLife 0 237 mm WXGA with TrueLife 0 211 mm Controls brightness can be cont...

Page 172: ...raphics table mode 240 cpi Size Width 71 7 mm 2 8 in sensor active area Height 34 08 mm 1 3 in rectangle Battery Type 9 cell smart lithium ion 6 cell smart lithium ion Dimensions Depth 69 25 mm 2 73 in 9 cell 49 76 mm 1 96 in 6 cell Height 21 0 mm 0 83 in 9 cell 20 4 mm 0 8 in 6 cell Width 209 4 mm 8 26 in 6 9 cells Weight 0 49 kg 1 08 lb 9 cell 0 34 kg 0 75 lb 6 cell Voltage 11 1 VDC Charge time ...

Page 173: ...ure range Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Coin cell battery CR 2032 AC Adapter Input voltage 100 240 VAC Input current maximum 1 5 A Input frequency 50 60 Hz Output current 65 W 4 34 A maximum at 4 second pulse 3 34 A 65 W continuous Output current 90 W 5 62 A maximum at 4 second pulse 4 62 A 90 W continuous Output power 65 W 90 W Rated output voltage 19 5 1 0 VDC Dim...

Page 174: ... to 65 C 40 to 149 F Physical Height 32 1 mm 1 26 in front 38 9 mm 1 53 in back Width 333 5 mm 13 13 in Depth 244 mm 9 61 in Weight with 6 cell battery Configurable to less than 2 497 kg 5 5 lb Environmental Temperature range Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Relative humidity maximum Operating 10 to 90 noncondensing Storage 5 to 95 noncondensing AC Adapter continued ...

Page 175: ...aximum shock Measured with hard drive in operating status and a 2 ms half sine pulse for operating Also measured with hard drive in head parked position and a 2 ms halfsine pulse for storage Operating 143 G Storage 163 G Altitude maximum Operating 15 2 to 3048 m 50 to 10 000 ft Storage 15 2 to 10 668 m 50 to 35 000 ft Environmental continued ...

Page 176: ...176 Specifications ...

Page 177: ...uter password To verify information about the computer s current configuration such as the amount of system memory After you set up the computer run system setup to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information and optional settings You may want to write down the information for future reference The system setup screens display the current setup information and settings for your ...

Page 178: ...er appear less bright The upper right corner of the screen displays help information for the currently highlighted option the lower right corner displays information about the computer System setup key functions are listed across the bottom of the screen Commonly Used Options Certain options require that you reboot the computer for new settings to take effect Changing the Boot Sequence The boot se...

Page 179: ... press u to move the device up the list or d to move a device down the list Boot sequence changes take effect as soon as you save the changes and exit the system setup program Performing a One Time Boot You can set a one time only boot sequence without entering the system setup program you can also use this procedure to boot the Dell Diagnostics on the diagnostics utility partition on your hard dr...

Page 180: ...ructions that are included with the product Moisten a soft lint free cloth with either water or a display cleaner Do not use alcohol or an ammonia based cleaner Wipe the display gently working from the center to the edges until it is clean and any fingerprints are removed Do not use excessive pressure NOTICE To prevent damage to the antiglare coating do not wipe the display with soap or alcohol Mo...

Page 181: ...Optical Mouse 1 Clean the outside casing of the mouse with a cloth moistened with a mild cleaning solution 2 Turn the retainer ring on the underside of your mouse counterclockwise and then remove the ball 3 Wipe the ball with a clean lint free cloth 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...

Page 182: ...ides for restoration of the operating system software programs and hardware drivers to the original default configuration as shipped from Dell as well as the verification of appropriate functionality of the computer and all Dell installed hardware In addition to this technician assisted technical support online technical support is available at support dell com Additional technical support options...

Page 183: ...rer of the product FCC Notice U S Only FCC Class B This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer s instruction manual may cause interference with radio and television reception This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules T...

Page 184: ...evision technician for additional suggestions The following information is provided on the device or devices covered in this document in compliance with the FCC regulations Macrovision Product Notice This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by U S patents and other intellectual property rights Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macr...

Page 185: ...e video circuitry and the computer memory AHCI Advanced Host Controller Interface An interface for a SATA hard drive Host Controller which allows the storage driver to enable technologies such as Native Command Queuing NCQ and hot plug ALS ambient light sensor A feature that helps to control display brightness antivirus software A program designed to identify quarantine and or delete viruses from ...

Page 186: ...ssion speed BTU British thermal unit A measurement of heat output bus A communication pathway between the components in your computer bus speed The speed given in MHz that indicates how fast a bus can transfer information byte The basic data unit used by your computer A byte is usually equal to 8 bits C C Celsius A temperature measurement scale where 0 is the freezing point and 100 is the boiling ...

Page 187: ...uct ID Consumer IR A port that allows you to transfer data between the computer and infrared compatible devices without using a cable connection Control Panel A Windows utility that allows you to modify operating system and hardware settings such as display settings controller A chip that controls the transfer of data between the processor and memory or between the processor and devices CRIMM cont...

Page 188: ... DRAM dynamic random access memory Memory that stores information in integrated circuits containing capacitors driver Software that allows the operating system to control a device such as a printer Many devices do not work properly if the correct driver is not installed in the computer DSL Digital Subscriber Line A technology that provides a constant high speed Internet connection through an analo...

Page 189: ...er and communications equipment expansion card A circuit board that installs in an expansion slot on the system board in some computers expanding the capabilities of the computer Examples include video modem and sound cards expansion slot A connector on the system board in some computers where you insert an expansion card connecting it to the system bus ExpressCard A removable I O card adhering to...

Page 190: ...data path and physical interface between the processor and RAM FTP file transfer protocol A standard Internet protocol used to exchange files between computers connected to the Internet G G gravity A measurement of weight and force GB gigabyte A measurement of data storage that equals 1024 MB 1 073 741 824 bytes When used to refer to hard drive storage the term is often rounded to 1 000 000 000 by...

Page 191: ... video equipment IDE integrated device electronics An interface for mass storage devices in which the controller is integrated into the hard drive or CD drive IEEE 1394 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc A high performance serial bus used to connect IEEE 1394 compatible devices such as digital cameras and DVD players to the computer infrared sensor A port that allows you to tran...

Page 192: ...0 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 A LAN can be connected to another LAN over any distance through telephone lines and radio waves to form a wide area network WAN LCD liquid crystal display The technology used by portable computer and flat panel displays LED light emitting diode An electronic comp...

Page 193: ...o the system board MHz megahertz A measure of frequency that equals 1 million cycles per second The speeds for computer processors buses and interfaces are often measured in MHz Mini PCI A standard for integrated peripheral devices with an emphasis on communications such as modems and NICs A Mini PCI card is a small external card that is functionally equivalent to a standard PCI expansion card Min...

Page 194: ...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 Example of optical drives include CD drives DVD drives CD RW drives and CD RW DVD com...

Page 195: ...mpliant POST power on self test Diagnostics programs loaded automatically by the 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 processin...

Page 196: ...d programs that cannot be deleted or written to by the computer ROM unlike RAM retains its contents after 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 da...

Page 197: ...rd 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 t...

Page 198: ...s Windows programs to operate with a wide variety of telephony devices including voice data fax and video text editor A program used to create and edit files that contain only text for example Windows Notepad uses a text editor Text editors do not usually provide word wrap or formatting functionality the option to underline change fonts and so on TPM trusted platform module A hardware based securi...

Page 199: ...n the system board in computers with an integrated video controller that provides the video capabilities in combination with the monitor for your computer video memory Memory that consists of memory chips dedicated to video functions Video memory is usually faster than system memory The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can display video mode...

Page 200: ...cal area network A series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves using access points or wireless routers to provide Internet access write protected Files or media that cannot be changed Use write protection when you want to protect data from being changed or destroyed To write protect a 3 5 inch floppy disk slide its write protect tab to the open position W...

Page 201: ... Zip format are called Zip files and usually have a filename extension of zip A special kind of zipped file is a self extracting file which has a filename extension of exe You can unzip a self extracting file by double clicking it Zip drive A high capacity floppy drive developed by Iomega Corporation that uses 3 5 inch removable disks called Zip disks Zip disks are slightly larger than regular flo...

Page 202: ...202 Glossary ...

Page 203: ...ory card 79 removing 77 80 Bluetooth wireless technology card device status light 25 installing 148 boot sequence 178 brightness adjusting 39 C camera 23 carnet 160 CD about 56 blank 57 CD RW drive problems 99 drive problems 99 Check Disk 100 cleaning touch pad 181 coin cell battery replacing 154 computer crashes 109 110 restore to previous operating state 124 slow performance 101 112 specificatio...

Page 204: ...ce latch release description 32 device status lights description 24 diagnostics Dell 93 display adjusting brightness 39 adjusting the size of icons 157 adjusting the size of toolbars 157 description 23 resolution 40 switching the video image 39 documentation End User License Agreement 15 ergonomics 15 online 17 Product Information Guide 15 regulatory 15 safety 15 warranty 15 drivers about 121 iden...

Page 205: ...ng 131 returning to Dell 134 hardware Dell Diagnostics 93 Hardware Troubleshooter 124 hinge cover removing 135 I icons adjusting the size 157 IEEE 1394 connector description 27 problems 107 installing 145 Internet connection about 33 options 33 setting up 34 K keyboard numeric keypad 41 problems 108 removing 137 shortcuts 42 keyboard status lights description 26 keypad numeric 41 L labels Microsof...

Page 206: ...145 WLAN 145 WPAN 145 WWAN 145 Mobile Broadband network connections 86 See also wireless switch Mobile Broadband WWAN problems 113 modem connector description 29 monitor See display N network installing WLAN Mini Card 145 Mobile Broadband WWAN 113 problems 113 QuickSet 157 network connector description 30 O operating system reinstalling Windows Vista 124 P phone numbers 166 power line conditioners...

Page 207: ... network 113 power 114 power light conditions 114 printer 115 program crashes repeatedly 110 program stops responding 110 programs and Windows compatibility 110 restore computer to previous operating state 124 problems continued restore operating system to previous state 124 scanner 116 slow computer performance 101 112 software 109 111 sound and speakers 117 speakers 117 spyware 101 112 Product I...

Page 208: ...66 support website 17 S video TV out connector description 29 System Restore 124 system setup program commonly used options 178 screens 178 viewing 178 T taskbar Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility 113 Dell Support Utility 18 QuickSet icon 157 Safely Remove Hardware 107 wireless activity indicator 86 telephone numbers 166 toolbars adjusting the size 157 touch pad 43 cleaning 181 customizing 44 touc...

Page 209: ... video controller configuration determining what controller is installed 21 volume adjusting 117 W warranty information 15 Windows Easy Transfer wizard 35 Windows Vista Device Driver Rollback 122 Program Compatibility wizard 110 reinstalling 124 System Restore 124 Windows Easy Transfer wizard 35 wireless turning activity on and off 157 wizards Program Compatibility wizard 110 Windows Easy Transfer...

Page 210: ...210 Index ...

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Dell Inspiron 1420, Owner'S Manual

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