Dell Inspiron 1521 Owner'S Manual Download

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Glossary

— megapixel — A measure of image resolution used for digital cameras.

— millisecond — A measure of time that equals one thousandth of a second.

Access times of storage devices are often measured in ms.

network adapter

— A chip that provides network capabilities. A computer may

include a network adapter on its system board, or it may contain a PC Card with an
adapter on it. A network adapter is also referred to as a

NIC

(network interface

controller).

NIC

— See

network

adapter

notification area

— The section of the Windows taskbar that contains icons for

providing quick access to programs and computer functions, such as the clock, volume
control, and print status. Also referred to as

system tray

— nanosecond — A measure of time that equals one billionth of a second.

NVRAM

— nonvolatile random access memory — A type of memory that stores data

when the computer is turned off or loses its external power source. NVRAM is used for
maintaining computer configuration information such as date, time, and other system
setup options that you can set.

optical drive

— A drive that uses optical technology to read or write data from CDs,

DVDs, or DVD+RWs. Example of optical drives include CD drives, DVD drives,
CD-RW drives, and CD-RW/DVD combo drives.

parallel connector

— An I/O port often used to connect a parallel printer to your

computer. Also referred to as an

LPT port

partition

— A physical storage area on a hard drive that is assigned to one or more

logical storage areas known as logical drives. Each partition can contain multiple
logical drives.

PC Card

— A removable I/O card adhering to the PCMCIA standard. Modems and

network adapters are common types of PC Cards.

PCI

— peripheral component interconnect — PCI is a local bus that supports 32-and

64-bit data paths, providing a high-speed data path between the processor and devices
such as video, drives, and networks.

Summary of Contents for Inspiron 1521

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 1521 Owner s Manual Model PP22L ...

Page 2: ...n Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo Inspiron Wi Fi Catcher and Dell MediaDirect are trademarks of Dell Inc AMD AMD Turion HyperMemory ATI Radeon and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices Inc Microsoft Windows and Windows Vista are either trademarksorregisteredtrademarksofMicrosoftCorporationintheUnitedStatesand orothercountries Bluetooth is a registered tradem...

Page 3: ...View 25 Right Side View 27 Back View 28 Bottom View 30 3 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 Power Protection Devices 37 Surge Protectors 37 ...

Page 4: ... Refresh Rate 39 5 Using the Keyboard and Touchpad 41 Numeric Keypad 41 Key Combinations 42 System Functions 42 Display Functions 42 Battery 42 Power Management 42 Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions 43 Dell QuickSet Key Combinations 43 Adjusting Keyboard Settings 43 Touch Pad 43 Customizing the Touch Pad 45 6 Using a Battery 47 Battery Performance 47 Checking the Battery Charge 48 Dell QuickSet ...

Page 5: ...5 Playing Media 55 Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote 57 Copying CD and DVD Media 58 How to Copy a CD or DVD 59 Using Blank CD and DVD Media 59 Helpful Tips 60 Adjusting the Volume 61 Adjusting the Picture 61 Using Dell MediaDirect 61 Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device 62 S Video and Standard Audio 65 S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 66 Composite Video and Standard Audio 68 Compo...

Page 6: ...y Card 83 Removing a Memory Card or Blank 85 10 Setting Up and Using Networks 87 Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable 87 Setting Up a Network 88 Wireless Local Area Network 88 What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection 88 Checking Your Wireless Network Card 89 Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem 90 Connecting to a WLAN 91 Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide...

Page 7: ...ity Cable Lock 97 Passwords 97 If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen 99 12 Troubleshooting 101 Dell Technical Update Service 101 Dell Diagnostics 101 Dell Support Center 106 Dell Support 3 106 Dell PC Tune Up 107 Dell PC CheckUp 108 Dell Network Assistant 108 DellConnect 108 Drive Problems 109 Optical drive problems 109 Hard drive problems 110 E Mail Modem and Internet Problems 111 Error Messages 112...

Page 8: ...operating system 120 A solid blue screen appears 121 Dell MediaDirect problems 121 Other software problems 122 Memory Problems 123 Network Problems 123 Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN 124 Power Problems 125 Printer Problems 126 Scanner Problems 127 Sound and Speaker Problems 127 No sound from integrated speakers 127 No sound from external speakers 128 No sound from headphones 128 ...

Page 9: ...ws Vista System Restore 136 Using the Operating System Media 139 13 Adding and Replacing Parts 141 Before You Begin 141 Recommended Tools 141 Turning Off Your Computer 141 Before Working Inside Your Computer 142 Hard Drive 143 Removing the Hard Drive 144 Replacing the Hard Drive 145 Returning a Hard Drive to Dell 145 Optical Drive 146 Removing the Optical Drive 146 Replacing the Optical Drive 147 ...

Page 10: ... 157 Replacing a WLAN Card 159 Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card 160 Replacing a WWAN Card 163 Removing a WPAN Card 164 Replacing a WPAN Card 165 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology 165 Removing the Card 165 Replacing the Card 166 Coin Cell Battery 166 Removing the Coin Cell Battery 167 Replacing the Coin Cell Battery 167 14 Dell QuickSet Features 169 15 Traveling With Your Com...

Page 11: ...us Service 175 Problems With Your Order 175 Product Information 175 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit 176 Before You Call 177 Contacting Dell 179 17 Specifications 181 A Appendix 189 Using the System Setup Program 189 Viewing the System Setup Screen 190 System Setup Screen 190 Commonly Used Options 190 Cleaning Your Computer 192 Computer Keyboard and Display 192 Touch Pad 192 Mouse 193...

Page 12: ...l Support Policy U S Only 194 Definition of Dell Installed Software and Peripherals 195 Definition of Third Party Software and Peripherals 195 FCC Notice U S Only 195 FCC Class B 195 Macrovision Product Notice 196 Glossary 197 Index 215 ...

Page 13: ...tware NSS Drivers and Utilities Media Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer You can use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 132 or run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 101 Readme files may be included on your Drivers and Utilities media to provide last minute updates about technical changes ...

Page 14: ...Key Service Tag and Microsoft Windows Product Key These labels are located on your computer Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support 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...

Page 15: ... 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 16: ...se Microsoft 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 Informa...

Page 17: ...Dell PC Restore may not ship with your computer Operating 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 Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System on page 135 After you reinstall your operating system use the Drivers and Utilities media to reinstall drivers for the devices th...

Page 18: ...18 Finding Information ...

Page 19: ...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 20: ... optional 3 display latch 4 display 5 power button 6 keyboard 7 device status lights 8 touch pad 9 consumer IR 10 media control buttons 11 touch pad buttons 12 Dell MediaDirect button 13 keyboard status lights 14 digital array microphones 4 5 13 3 6 12 8 7 14 2 1 11 9 10 ...

Page 21: ...LAY For more information about your display see Using the Display on page 39 POWER BUTTON Press the power button to turn on the computer or exit a power management mode see Configuring Power Management Settings on page 50 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 resp...

Page 22: ...anagement mode Hard drive activity light Turns on when the computer reads or writes data NOTICE To avoid loss of data never turn off the computer while the light is flashing Battery status light Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status Wi Fi status light Turns on when wireless networking is enabled To enable or disable wireless networking use the wireless switch see wireless s...

Page 23: ... you use the touch pad to move the cursor on the display see Touch Pad on page 43 MEDIA CONTROL BUTTONS Control CD DVD and Media Player playback Bluetooth status light Turns on when a card with Bluetooth wireless technology is enabled NOTE The card with Bluetooth wireless technology is an optional feature The light turns on only if you ordered the card with your computer For more information see t...

Page 24: ... on page 61 KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS The blue lights located above the keyboard indicate the following DIGITAL ARRAY MICROPHONES Built in microphone for conferencing and chat Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled Turns on when the uppercase letter caps lock function is enabled Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled 9 A ...

Page 25: ...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 see Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator on page 96 1 security cable slot 2 wireless switch 3 Wi Fi Catcher light 4 air vents 5 audio connectors 6 ExpressCard slot 1 off Disables wireless devices 2 on Enables wireless devices 3 momentary Scans for ...

Page 26: ...R 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 when the computer gets hot Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fan or the computer AUDIO CONNECTORS EXPRESSCARD SLOT Supports one ExpressCard The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot For more informati...

Page 27: ...lot The 8 in 1 memory card reader reads the following digital media memory cards Secure Digital SD memory card Secure Digital Input Output SDIO card MultiMediaCard MMC Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD IEEE 1394 CONNECTOR Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high speed transfer rates such as some digital video cameras 1 battery status light 2 hard drive activ...

Page 28: ...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 Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer 1 S video TV out connector 2 USB connectors 2 3 AC adapter connector 4 battery 5 modem connector RJ 11 1 2 3 5 4 ...

Page 29: ... power connectors and power strips vary among countries Using an incompatible cable or improperly connecting the cable to the power strip or electrical outlet may cause fire or equipment damage 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 Connects your computer to a TV Also ...

Page 30: ...r Computer MODEM CONNECTOR RJ 11 Bottom View Connect the telephone line to the modem connector For information on using the modem see the online modem documentation supplied with your computer 2 3 4 10 7 1 6 8 9 5 ...

Page 31: ...on page 157 BATTERY When a battery is installed you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an electrical outlet see Using a Battery on page 47 BATTERY CHARGE HEALTH GAUGE Provides information on the battery charge see Checking the Battery Charge on page 48 BATTERY BAY LATCH RELEASES Releases the battery see Replacing the Battery on page 52 for instructions FAN The computer uses a ...

Page 32: ...32 About Your Computer ...

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: ...el 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 device attached such as an external monitor or projector and turned on the image may appear on either the computer display or the external device Press Fn F8 to switch the video image betw...

Page 40: ...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 higher than the display supports the settings adjust automatically to the closest supported values To set the display resolution and refresh rate for your display 1 Click Start Control Panel 2 Unde...

Page 41: ...ernal 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: ...isplay to that option Fn and up arrow key Increases 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 48 Fn Esc Activates a power management mode You can reprogram this keyboard shortcut to act...

Page 43: ...ch 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 m Minimizes all open windows Windows logo key and Shift m Restores all minimized windows This key combination functions as a toggle to restore minimized windows following the use of the Windows log...

Page 44: ...ct and move or drag an object position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad On the second tap leave your finger on the touch pad and move the selected 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 1 touch pad 2 silk screen depicti...

Page 45: ...uch pad or adjust the touch pad settings 1 Click Start and then click Control Panel 2 Click Hardware and Sound 3 Click Keyboard 4 In the Mouse Properties window Click the Device Select tab to disable the touch pad Click the Touch Pad tab to adjust touch pad settings 5 Click OK to save the settings and close the window ...

Page 46: ...46 Using the Keyboard and Touchpad ...

Page 47: ...OTE 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 operating cond...

Page 48: ...ION Misuse of the battery may increase the 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 c...

Page 49: ...ry charge gauge to illuminate the charge indicator 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 describ...

Page 50: ...mber of times the battery is used and recharged Configure the power management settings using either Dell QuickSet or Microsoft Windows Power Options to optimize your computer s power usage see Configuring Power Management Settings on page 50 Use the Sleep power state when you leave the computer unattended for long periods of time see Using the Sleep Power State on page 51 Configuring Power Manage...

Page 51: ... methods Press the power button Close the display Press Fn Esc To exit Sleep state press the power button Charging the Battery NOTE Charge time is longer with the computer turned on You can leave the battery in the computer for as long as you like The battery s internal circuitry prevents the battery from overcharging When you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery while...

Page 52: ... your computer CAUTION Before performing these procedures turn off the computer disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet and the computer disconnect the modem from the wall connector and the computer and remove any other external cables from the computer NOTICE You must remove all external cables from the computer to avoid possible connector damage NOTICE If you choose to replace the b...

Page 53: ...oring a Battery Remove the battery when you store your computer for an extended period of time A battery discharges during prolonged storage After a long storage period recharge the battery fully see Charging the Battery on page 51 before you use it 1 battery 2 battery release latches 2 2 1 ...

Page 54: ...54 Using a Battery ...

Page 55: ...CE Do not move the computer while playing media 1 Press the eject button on the front of the drive 2 Place the disc label side up in the center of the tray and snap the disc onto the spindle 3 Push the tray back into the drive To format media for storing or copying data see the media software that came with your computer NOTE Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when copying media ...

Page 56: ...f 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 the current title or chapter Go to the previous title or chapter Eject ...

Page 57: ...an work only with specified computers For more details refer to the Dell Support website at support dell com To play media using Dell Travel Remote 1 Install the CR2106 coin cell battery into your 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 58: ... 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 59 1 Infrared Transmitter 2 Page Up 3 Page Down 4 Arrow Up 5 OK Enter Sel...

Page 59: ...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 60: ...alled 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 61: ...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 62: ...ect application Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device NOTE Video and audio cables for connecting your computer to a TV or other audio device may not be included with your computer 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 co...

Page 63: ...nnector is available on your TV you can use a commercially available S video cable composite video cable or component video cable to connect your computer to your TV 1 S video TV out connector 2 S video connector 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 3 S PDIF digital audio connector 4 composite video output connector 5 S video connector 1 2 5 4 3 2 1 ...

Page 64: ...n 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 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Additionally if you are using S PDIF digital audio see Enabling S PDIF Digital Audio on page 78 1 S video TV out connecto...

Page 65: ... you can connect an S video cable directly to the S video TV out connector on the computer without the TV digital audio adapter cable 2 Plug one end of the S video cable into the S video output connector on the computer 3 Plug the other end of the S video cable into the S video input connector on your TV 1 audio connector 2 S video TV out connector 1 standard S video cable 2 standard audio cable 1...

Page 66: ...e 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 turn on the computer 7 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 1 2 ...

Page 67: ... the S video cable into the S video output connector on the composite video adapter 4 Plug the other end of the S video cable into the S video input connector on the TV 5 Plug one end of the S PDIF digital audio cable into the digital audio connector on the composite video adapter cable 1 composite video adapter 2 S video cable 3 S PDIF digital audio cable 1 composite video adapter 2 S video cable...

Page 68: ...evice that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Composite Video and Standard Audio 1 composite video adapter 2 S PDIF digital audio cable 1 audio input connector 2 S video TV out connector 3 composite video adapter 1 2 2 1 3 ...

Page 69: ...r on your computer 3 Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video output connector on the composite video adapter 4 Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector on the TV 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 1 2 3 2 1 ...

Page 70: ...the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device 7 Turn on the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 composite video adapter 1 2 ...

Page 71: ... cable into the composite video input connector on the composite video adapter 4 Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video input connector 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 1 composite video adapter 2 composite video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 composite video adapter 2 composi...

Page 72: ...n any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Component Video and Standard Audio 1 composite video adapter 2 S PDIF digital audio cable 1 S video TV out connector 2 component video adapter 1 2 2 1 ...

Page 73: ...he S video TV out connector on your computer 3 Plug all three ends of the component video cable into the component video output connectors on the component video adapter Make sure that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 2 3 ...

Page 74: ... 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 the TV turn on any audio device that you connected if applicable and then turn on the computer 8 See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV on page 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and wo...

Page 75: ...Using Multimedia 75 Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 1 S video TV out connector 2 component video adapter 1 2 ...

Page 76: ...he S video TV out connector on the computer 3 Plug all three ends of the component video cable into the component video output connectors on the component video adapter Make sure that the red green and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports 1 component video adapter 2 component video cable 3 standard audio cable 1 2 3 ...

Page 77: ...tor on the component 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 78 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV 1 component video ada...

Page 78: ... 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 in your computer see Windows Help and Support To access Help and Support click Start Help and Support Under Pick a Task click Use Tools to view your computer information a...

Page 79: ...ape 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 181 for information on supported ExpressCards NOTE An ExpressCard is not a bootable device ExpressCard Blanks Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the ExpressCard slot Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other pa...

Page 80: ...ch 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 instructions in the Product Information Guide To install an ExpressCard 1 Hold the card with the top side of the card facing up 2 Slide the card into the slot...

Page 81: ...ExpressCard or Blank CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Press the latch and remove the card or blank 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...

Page 82: ...82 Using ExpressCards ...

Page 83: ...mory card reader Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles Save the blank for use when no media memory card is installed in the slot blanks from other computers may not fit your computer Remove the blank before installing a media memory card To remove the blank see Removing a Memory Card or Blank on page 85 Installing a Memory Card You can install a media memory card in the compute...

Page 84: ... card facing up 2 Slide the card into the slot until the card is completely seated in its connector If you encounter too much resistance do not force the card Check the card orientation and try again The computer recognizes the memory card and automatically loads the appropriate device driver If the configuration program tells you to load the manufacturer s drivers use the media that came with the...

Page 85: ...nformation 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 slot to release it from the card reader When it is partially ejected remove the card ...

Page 86: ...86 Using the Memory Card Reader ...

Page 87: ...o help 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 ada...

Page 88: ...ther over the air waves rather than through a network cable connected to each computer In a WLAN a radio communications device called an access point or wireless router connects network computers and provides Internet 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 N...

Page 89: ...anel 2 Click Classic View on the menu on the left side of the Control Panel 3 Double click Device Manager NOTE The User Account Control window may open 4 Click Continue on the User Account Control window if it opens 5 Click the next to Network adapters to list the utility that manages your wireless network card If a network adapter is not listed you may not have a wireless network card If a networ...

Page 90: ...outlet 6 Disconnect the network cable from the computer and the modem 7 Disconnect the AC adapter cable from your wireless router to ensure that there is no power connected to the router NOTE Wait for a minimum of 5 minutes after disconnecting your broadband modem before continuing with the network setup 8 Insert a network cable into the network RJ 45 connector on the unpowered broadband modem 9 C...

Page 91: ...chnology or cellular products This section provides general procedures for connecting to a network using wireless technology Specific network names and configuration details vary See Wireless Local Area Network on page 88 for more information about how to prepare for connecting your computer to a WLAN Your wireless network card requires specific software and drivers for connecting to a network The...

Page 92: ...ll cannot provide this information NOTE Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet The wireless activity indicator provides you with an easy way to monitor the status of your computer s wireless devices To turn the wireless activity indicator on or off click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and select Hot...

Page 93: ...ending on your computer you can use either a Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini Card but not both to establish a Mobile Broadband network connection To set up a Mobile Broadband network connection you need A Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or Mini Card depending on your computer s configuration NOTE For instructions on using ExpressCards see Using ExpressCards on page 79 An activated Mobile Broadba...

Page 94: ...Mobile Broadband card installed in your computer as well as other hardware components NOTE The Mobile Broadband card is listed under Modems Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network NOTE These instructions only apply to Mobile Broadband ExpressCards or Mini Cards They do not apply to internal cards with wireless technology NOTE Before you connect to the Internet you must activate Mobile Broadband s...

Page 95: ...le Broadband connection see What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection on page 93 and then verify that your Mobile Broadband card is enabled by verifying the setting of the wireless switch You can turn your Mobile Broadband card on and off using the wireless switch on your computer You can turn your computer s wireless devices on and off with the wireless switch on the left s...

Page 96: ...figured through Dell QuickSet or the BIOS system setup program to control Wi Fi network connections NOTE The Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator light appears only when the computer is turned off and the wireless switch is configured in the system setup program BIOS to control Wi Fi network connections Because the Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator is disabled and not configured for use when your computer is...

Page 97: ...on your Dell computer For more information see the instructions included with the device NOTICE Before you buy an antitheft device ensure that it will work with the security cable slot on your computer Passwords Passwords prevent unauthorized access to your computer When you first start your computer you must assign a primary password at the prompt If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes t...

Page 98: ...ard drive However they are not foolproof If you require more security obtain and use additional forms of protection such as data encryption programs Use the User Accounts option in the Control Panel in the Microsoft Windows operating system to create user accounts or to change passwords Once you create a user password you must enter it each time you turn on or unlock your computer If you do not en...

Page 99: ...company notify the security office of the company Contact Dell customer service to report the missing computer Provide the computer Service Tag the case number and the name address and phone number of the law enforcement agency to which you reported the missing computer If possible give the name of the investigating officer The Dell customer service representative will log your report under the co...

Page 100: ...100 Securing Your Computer ...

Page 101: ...formation Guide When to Use the Dell Diagnostics If you experience a problem with your computer perform the checks in Lockups and Software Problems on page 120 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 operates on Dell computers Enter system setup program review you...

Page 102: ...r NOTE Before attempting the following option the computer must be powered down completely Press and hold the Fn key while powering the computer on NOTE If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found run the Dell Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities media The computer runs the Pre boot System Assessment PSA a series of initial tests of your system board key...

Page 103: ...ice menu use the up and down arrow keys to highlight CD DVD CD RW and then press Enter NOTE The Quickboot feature changes the boot sequence for the current boot only Upon restart the computer boots according to the boot sequence specified in the system setup program 4 Select the Boot from CD ROM option from the menu that appears and then press Enter 5 Type 1 to start the Drivers and Utilities menu...

Page 104: ...one memory test Test System Run System Diagnostics Exit Exit the Diagnostics 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 problem quickly Extended Test Performs a thorough check of system devices The test typically takes an hou...

Page 105: ...ptom Tree option Tab Function Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered Errors Displays error conditions encountered error codes and the problem description Help Describes the test and any requirements for running the test Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for all dev...

Page 106: ...fic to your computer are available under Drivers Downloads Upgrades and System Information The top of the Dell Support Center home page displays your computer s model number along with its Service Tag Express Service code and warranty expiration details When permissions are given to Dell to use your Service Tag additional details about your computer such as available memory disk space installed ha...

Page 107: ...ad the software Dell PC Tune Up The automated or monthly version of Dell PC Tune Up allows you to choose the day and time of the month you want your computer tuned up A typical tune up includes hard drive defragmentation removal of unwanted and temporary files updated security settings verification of good restore points and other maintenance activities designed to improve computer performance and...

Page 108: ...dated setup alerting and device status Simplified tracking of networked devices through a visual display of network status Proactive troubleshooting and repair of network problems Tutorials setup wizards and frequently asked questions FAQs to enhance understanding of networking principles To access Dell Network Assistant 1 Click the Dell Support Center icon on your computer s desktop 2 Click Self ...

Page 109: ...can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive TEST THE DRIVE Insert another floppy disk CD or DVD to eliminate the possibility that the original media is defective Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK See Cleaning Your Computer on page 192 ENSURE THAT THE CD OR DVD MEDIA IS SNAPPED ONTO THE SPINDLE CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS CHECK FOR HARDWARE ...

Page 110: ...of the drive then push firmly until the tray is partially ejected 3 Gently pull out the tray until it stops The drive makes an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound Ensure that the sound is not caused by the program that is running Ensure that the disc is inserted properly Hard drive problems ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO COOL BEFORE TURNING IT ON A hot hard drive may prevent the operating system from sta...

Page 111: ...the jack has either a green label or a connector shaped icon next to it Ensure that you hear a click when you insert the telephone line connector into the modem Disconnect the telephone line from the modem and connect it to a telephone then listen for a dial tone If you have other telephone devices sharing the line such as an answering machine fax machine surge protector or line splitter then bypa...

Page 112: ...ram may require an upgrade to scan the computer and remove spyware For more information go to support dell com and search for the keyword spyware Error Messages Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 178 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 message is not listed see the...

Page 113: ...atch the memory installed in the computer Restart the computer If the error appears again contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 179 THE FILE BEING COPIED IS TOO LARGE FOR THE DESTINATION DRIVE The file that you are trying to copy is too large to fit on the disk or the disk is full Try copying the file to a different disk or use a larger capacity disk A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWI...

Page 114: ...install 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 101 INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA The operating system is trying to boot to nonbootable media such as a floppy disk or CD Insert bootable media INVALID CONFIGURATION INFORMATION PLEASE RUN SYSTEM SETUP PROGRAM The system configuration ...

Page 115: ... VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 150 MEMORY DOUBLE WORD LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Reinstall the memory modules and if necessary replace them see Memory on page 150 MEMORY ODD EVEN LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS...

Page 116: ... FOUND The operating system cannot locate a sector on the hard drive You may have a defective sector or corrupted FAT on the hard drive Run the Windows error checking utility to check the file structure on the hard drive See Windows Help and Support for instructions click Start Help and Support If a large number of sectors are defective back up the data if possible and then reformat the hard drive...

Page 117: ... Dell Diagnostics on page 101 X IS NOT ACCESSIBLE THE DEVICE IS NOT READY Insert a disk into the drive and try again WARNING BATTERY IS CRITICALLY LOW The battery is running out of charge Replace the battery or connect the computer to an electrical outlet otherwise activate hibernate mode or shut down the computer ExpressCard Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section ...

Page 118: ...IDED BY DELL Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer see Contacting Dell on page 179 Ensure that the IEEE 1394 device is properly inserted into the connector Keyboard Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 178 as you perform the various checks NOTE U...

Page 119: ...ect the external keyboard 3 Turn on the computer 4 From the Windows desktop click Start All Programs Accessories Notepad 5 Type some characters on the internal keyboard and verify that they appear on the display If the characters appear now but did not with the external keyboard you may have a defective external keyboard Contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 179 RUN THE KEYBOARD DIAGNOSTICS TES...

Page 120: ...ff then restart your computer A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly END THE PROGRAM 1 Press Crtl Shift Esc simultaneously 2 Click the Applications tab and select the program that is no longer responding 3 Click End Task NOTE The chkdsk program may run when you restart the computer Follow the instructions on the screen CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION If necessary uninstall and then rein...

Page 121: ...ents when playing DVDs and certain types of video files CANNOT PLAY SOME MEDIA FILES Because Dell MediaDirect provides access to media files outside the Windows operating system environment access to licensed content is restricted Licensed content is digital content that has Digital Rights Management DRM applied to it The Dell MediaDirect environment cannot verify the DRM restrictions so the licen...

Page 122: ...R FILES IMMEDIATELY USE A VIRUS SCANNING PROGRAM TO CHECK THE HARD DRIVE FLOPPY DISKS OR CDS SAVE AND CLOSE ANY OPEN FILES OR PROGRAMS AND SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER THROUGH THE START MENU SCAN THE COMPUTER FOR SPYWARE If you are experiencing slow computer performance you frequently receive pop up advertisements or you are having problems connecting to the Internet your computer might be infected wit...

Page 123: ...ostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 101 IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory see Memory on page 150 Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines see Memory on page 150 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 101 Network Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklis...

Page 124: ... THE MOBILE BROADBAND EXPRESSCARD You must activate the Mobile Broadband ExpressCard before you can connect to the network Position the mouse over the icon in the notification area to verify the status of the connection If the card is not activated follow the card activation instructions located within the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility To access the utility double click the icon located in th...

Page 125: ...ver 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 CHECK THE BATTERY STATUS LIGHT If the battery status light flashes amber or is a steady amber the battery charge is low or depleted Connect the computer to an electrical outlet If the battery status light flashes blue and amber the ba...

Page 126: ...nical assistance for your printer contact the printer s manufacturer CHECK THE PRINTER DOCUMENTATION See the printer documentation for setup and troubleshooting information ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON CHECK THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS See the printer documentation for cable connection information Ensure that the printer cables are securely connected to the printer and the computer TEST ...

Page 127: ...S Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound Scanners and Cameras If your scanner is listed Windows recognizes the scanner REINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER See the scanner documentation for instructions Sound and Speaker Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 178 as you complete these checks CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in...

Page 128: ...TE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE Turn off nearby fans fluorescent lights or halogen lamps to check for interference REINSTALL THE AUDIO DRIVER See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 132 RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS See Dell Diagnostics on page 101 NOTE The volume control in some MP3 players overrides the Windows volume setting If you have been listening to MP3 songs ensure that you did not turn the pl...

Page 129: ... setting adjustments TEST THE MOUSE CONTROLLER To test the mouse controller which affects pointer movement and the operation of the touch pad or mouse buttons run the Mouse test in the Pointing Devices test group in the Dell Diagnostics on page 101 REINSTALL THE TOUCH PAD DRIVER See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 132 Video and Display Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page...

Page 130: ... FROM THE COMPUTER OR MONITOR If your external speaker system includes a subwoofer ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm 2 ft away from the computer or external monitor ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE Turn off nearby fans fluorescent lights halogen lamps or other appliances ROTATE THE COMPUTER TO FACE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION Eliminate sunlight glare which can cause poor picture quality ADJUST ...

Page 131: ...iver program A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed no further installation or configuration is needed NOTICE Your Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that...

Page 132: ... media provide approved drivers for Dell computers If you install drivers obtained from other sources your computer might not work correctly Using Windows Device Driver Rollback If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver use Windows Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version 1 Click Start and then right click Computer 2 Click P...

Page 133: ... window appears remove the Drivers and Utilities disc and click Finish to restart the computer 4 When you see the Windows desktop reinsert the Drivers and Utilities disc 5 At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen click Next NOTE The Drivers and Utilities program displays drivers only for hardware that came installed in your computer If you installed additional hardware the drivers for the new hardw...

Page 134: ...r administrator to enter the Device Manager 3 Double click the type of device for which you are installing the driver for example Modems or Infrared devices 4 Double click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver 5 Click Driver tab and then click Update Driver 6 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files 7 Select the name of the ap...

Page 135: ...drive You can then restore your operating system or files if needed Microsoft Windows System Restore returns your hard drive to an earlier operating state without affecting data files Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files For instructions see Using Windows Vista System Restore on page 136 Dell Factory Image Restore restores your hard...

Page 136: ...f you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view Creating a Restore Point You can either automatically or manually create a restore point from the Windows Vista Back Up and Restore Center To access the Windows Vista Backup and Restore Center Click Start Welcome Center In the Get started with Windows section click Show all 14 items Back Up and Restore Center OR Click Start All Programs Main...

Page 137: ...t If this restore point fails to correct the problem try the next oldest restore point until the issue is resolved Any software installed after the selected restore point will need to be reinstalled 7 Click Next Finish 8 When prompted click Yes 9 After System Restore finishes collecting data the computer restarts 10 After the computer restarts click OK To change the restore point you can either re...

Page 138: ...t 2 As the computer restarts press F8 until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears on the screen NOTE You must press the F8 key before the Windows logo appears on the screen If you press F8 after the Windows logo appears on the screen the Advanced Boot Options menu will not appear on the screen If you do not see the Advanced Boot Options menu restart the computer and then repeat this step until yo...

Page 139: ...following items Dell Operating System media Dell Drivers and Utilities media NOTE Your Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during assembly of the computer Use your Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers including the drivers required if your computer has a RAID controller Reinstalling Windows Vista The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to c...

Page 140: ...uence for one time only On the next start up the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program 5 When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW Drive and then press Enter 6 Press any key to Boot from CD ROM 7 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation NOTE You cannot reinstall Dell MediaDirect if you voluntarily reformat the hard dr...

Page 141: ...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 142: ...rs 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 NOTICE To help prevent damage to the comput...

Page 143: ...Card or Blank on page 85 Hard Drive CAUTION If you remove the hard drive from the computer when the drive is hot do not touch the metal housing of the hard drive CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this 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 141 before removing th...

Page 144: ...storing Your Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System on page 135 and Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 132 Removing the Hard Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 141 2 Turn the computer over and remove the hard drive screws NOTICE When the hard drive is not in the computer store it in protective antistatic packaging see Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge in t...

Page 145: ...nto the bay until it is fully seated 3 Replace and tighten the screws 4 Install the operating system for your computer as needed see Restoring Your Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System on page 135 5 Install the drivers and utilities for your computer as needed see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 132 Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Return your old hard drive to Dell in its original or...

Page 146: ...oduct Information Guide Removing the Optical Drive 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 141 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 optical drive 2 notch 3 locking screw 2 1 3 ...

Page 147: ...ching 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 Removing the Hinge Cover 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 141 2 Open the display as far as it will open NOTICE To avoid damage to the hinge cover do not lif...

Page 148: ...ou begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To avoid electrostatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface such as a connector on the back of the computer NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board you must remove the battery from the battery ba...

Page 149: ... consuming to replace Be careful when removing and handling the keyboard 4 Lift the keyboard and hold it up and slightly forward to access to the keyboard connector 5 To disconnect the keyboard cable from the keyboard connector on the system board rotate the keyboard connector latch toward the front of the computer 6 Slide the keyboard cable out of the keyboard connector on the DIMM A memory modul...

Page 150: ...intended for your computer NOTE Memory modules purchased from Dell are covered under your computer warranty Your computer has two user accessible SODIMM sockets one accessed from beneath the keyboard DIMM A and the other accessed from the bottom of the computer DIMM B NOTICE If your computer has only one memory module install the memory module in the connector labeled DIMMA NOTICE If you need to i...

Page 151: ...le cover but do not remove it NOTICE To prevent damage to the memory module connector 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 memory module cover 2 memory module DIMM A 3 securing clips 2 1 2 3 ...

Page 152: ...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 3 Replace the memory module cover 4 Replace the keyboard and hinge cover 5 Insert the battery into the battery bay or connect the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet 6 Turn on the computer A...

Page 153: ...r NOTICE To prevent damage to the memory module connector do not use tools to spread the memory module securing clips NOTICE To avoid electrostatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface such as a connector on the back of the computer 3 Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memo...

Page 154: ...back of the computer 1 Align the notch in the module edge connector with the tab in the connector slot 2 Slide the module firmly into the slot at a 45 degree angle and rotate the module down until it clicks into place 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 ...

Page 155: ...e cover 4 Insert the battery into the battery bay or connect the AC adapter to your computer and an electrical outlet 5 Turn on the computer As the computer boots it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information To confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer click Start Help and Support Dell System Information 1 tab 2 notch 1 2 ...

Page 156: ... any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTE Only Cingular and Vodafone need a SIM Verizon Sprint and Telus do not use SIMs 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 141 2 In the battery bay slide the SIM into the compartment with the cut off corner of the card facing away from the compartment 1 battery bay 2 SIM 1 2 ...

Page 157: ...side the computer If you ordered a wireless Mini Card 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 Wireless Personal Area Network WPAN Removing a WLAN Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 141 2 Turn the computer over 3 Loosen the cap...

Page 158: ...enna cables from the WLAN card 5 Release the WLAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly 6 Lift the WLAN card out of its system board connector 1 antenna cable connectors 2 2 WLAN card 1 2 ...

Page 159: ...e card and on the system board and realign the card NOTICE To avoid damage to the WLAN card never place cables under the card 1 Insert the WLAN card connector into the system board connector labeled WLAN at a 45 degree angle 2 Press the other end of the WLAN card down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place 1 metal securing tabs 2 2 WLAN card 1 2 ...

Page 160: ...r labeled aux black triangle If the WLAN card has three triangles on the label white black and gray connect the white antenna cable to the white triangle connect the black antenna cable to the black triangle and connect the gray antenna cable to the gray triangle 4 Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve 5 Replace the cover and tighten the captive screws Removing a Mobile Broad...

Page 161: ...Adding and Replacing Parts 161 1 captive screws 2 2 cover 1 2 ...

Page 162: ...ntenna cables from the WWAN card 5 Release the WWAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly 6 Lift the WWAN card out of its system board connector 1 antenna cable connectors 2 2 WWAN card 1 2 ...

Page 163: ...e card and on the system board and realign the card NOTICE To avoid damage to the WWAN card never place cables under the card 1 Insert the WWAN card connector into the system board connector labeled WWAN at a 45 degree angle 2 Press the other end of the WWAN card down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place 1 metal securing tabs 2 2 WWAN card 1 2 ...

Page 164: ...e the cover and tighten the captive screws Removing a WPAN Card 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 141 2 Turn the computer over 3 Loosen the captive screws on the cover of the Mini Card compartment and remove the cover 4 Disconnect the blue antenna cable from the WPAN card 5 Release the WPAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pop...

Page 165: ...ernal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To avoid electrostatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface such as a connector on the back of the computer NOTICE To help prevent damage to th...

Page 166: ...n follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTICE To avoid electrostatic discharge ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface such as a connector on the back of the computer NOTICE To help prevent damage to the system board you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you begin working inside the compute...

Page 167: ...r see Bottom View on page 30 and remove the cover 4 Disconnect the coin cell battery cable from the system board 5 Slide the battery out of the mylar sleeve Replacing the Coin Cell Battery 1 Connect the coin cell battery cable to the system board 2 Slide the coin cell battery into the mylar sleeve 3 Replace the cover and tighten the captive screw 1 coin cell battery 2 mylar sleeve 3 battery cable ...

Page 168: ...168 Adding and Replacing Parts ...

Page 169: ...s Network connectivity Power management Display System information Depending on what you want to do in Dell QuickSet you can start it by either clicking double clicking or right clicking the QuickSet icon in the Microsoft Windows notification area 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 H...

Page 170: ...170 Dell QuickSet Features ...

Page 171: ...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 172: ...f ownership or of 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 adapt...

Page 173: ...ices on page 174 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 179 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 ...

Page 174: ...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 175: ...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 179 Problems With Your Order If you have a problem with your order such as missing parts wrong part...

Page 176: ...e 178 indicating the tests that you have run and any error messages reported by the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 101 4 Include any accessories that belong with the item s being returned power cables software floppy disks guides and so on if the return is for credit 5 Pack the equipment to be returned in the original or equivalent packing materials You are responsible for paying sh...

Page 177: ...ics Checklist see Diagnostics Checklist on page 178 If possible turn on your computer before you call Dell for assistance and call from a telephone at or near the computer You may be asked to type some commands at the keyboard relay detailed information during operations or try other troubleshooting steps possible only at the computer itself Ensure that the computer documentation is available CAUT...

Page 178: ...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 179: ...ability varies by country and product and some services may not be available in your area To contact Dell for sales technical support or customer service issues 1 Visit support dell com 2 Verify your country or region in the Choose A Country Region drop down menu at the bottom of the page 3 Click Contact Us on the left side of the page 4 Select the appropriate service or support link based on your...

Page 180: ...180 Getting Help ...

Page 181: ...he 512 KB or 1 MB per core depending on model External bus frequency 1600 MHz and HyperTransport System Information System chipset AMD M690T Chipset with ATI Radeon X1270 Graphics Data bus width 64 bits DRAM bus width dual channel 2 64 bit buses Processor address bus width 32 bits Flash EPROM 1 MB Graphics bus PCI E X16 PCI bus 32 bits ExpressCard NOTE The ExpressCard slot is designed only for Exp...

Page 182: ...d SD Hi Density SD Memory Memory module connector two user accessible SODIMM connectors Memory module capacities 512 MB 1 GB 2 GB Memory type 667 MHz SoDIMM DDR2 Minimum memory 1 GB Maximum memory 4 GB NOTE In order to take advantage of the dual channel bandwidth capability both memory slots must be populated and must match in size NOTE The available memory displayed does not reflect the complete ...

Page 183: ... 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 wireless technology Video Video type integrated ATI graphics with 64 MB local frame buffer Video controller ATI Radeon X1270 Graphics Controller Video memory Up to 256 MB of shared memory 64 MB local frame buffer with...

Page 184: ... Watts per channel into 4 ohms Volume controls program menus media control buttons Display Type active matrix TFT 15 4 inch WXGA 15 4 inch WXGA with TrueLife 15 4 inch WXGA with TrueLife 15 4 inch WSXGA with TrueLife Dimensions Height 222 5 mm 8 8 in Width 344 5 mm 13 6 in Diagonal 391 2 mm 15 4 in Maximum resolutions WXGA 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors WXGA with TrueLife 1280 x 800 at 262 K colors WX...

Page 185: ...XGA with TrueLife 0 258 mm WXGA with TrueLife 0 2304 mm WSXGA with TrueLife 0 197 mm Controls brightness can be controlled through keyboard shortcuts see Display Functions on page 42 Keyboard Number of keys 87 U S and Canada 88 Europe 91 Japan Layout QWERTY AZERTY Kanji Touch Pad X Y position resolution graphics table mode 240 cpi Size Width 71 7 mm 2 8 in sensor active area Height 34 0 mm 1 3 in ...

Page 186: ...VDC Charge time approximate Computer off 4 hours Operating time Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions and can be significantly reduced under certain power intensive conditions see Power Problems on page 125 See Using a Battery on page 47 for more information on battery life Life span approximate 300 discharge charge cycles Temperature range Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F ...

Page 187: ...imum at 4 second pulse 4 62 A 90 W continuous Output power 65 W 90 W Rated output voltage 19 5 1 0 VDC Dimensions 65 W Height 28 2 mm 1 11 in Width 57 9 mm 2 28 in Depth 137 2 mm 5 4 in Weight with cables 0 4 kg 0 9 lb Dimensions 90 W Height 34 2 mm 1 34 in Width 60 8 mm 2 39 in Depth 153 4 mm 6 0 in Weight with cables 0 46 kg 1 01 lb Temperature range Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to ...

Page 188: ...10 to 90 noncondensing Storage 5 to 95 noncondensing Maximum vibration using a random vibration spectrum that simulates user environment Operating 0 66 GRMS Storage 1 3 GRMS Maximum shock Measured with hard drive in operating status and a 2 ms half sine pulse for operating Also measured with hard drive in head parked position and a 2 ms halfsine pulse for storage Operating 142 G Storage 163 G Alti...

Page 189: ...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 190: ...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 191: ... 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 192: ...r 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 Moisten a soft lint free cloth with water and wipe the computer and keyboard Do not all...

Page 193: ...an 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 rollers with a cotton swab moistened lightly with isopropyl alcohol 6 Recenter the rollers in their channels if they are misaligned Ensure that fluff from the swab is not left on the rollers 7 Replace the ball and retainer ring an...

Page 194: ...m 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 may be available for purchase Dell provides limited technical support for the computer and any Dell installed software and peripherals1...

Page 195: ...riginal manufacturer 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 o...

Page 196: ...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 197: ...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 your computer ASF alert standards format A standard to d...

Page 198: ...on 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 point of water cache A special high speed storage mechanism which can be either a r...

Page 199: ...controlled by the Dell Travel Remote in some systems In other systems this port 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 memor...

Page 200: ... 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 201: ...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 202: ...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 203: ...ions of tiny electronic components are fabricated for use in computer audio and 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...

Page 204: ...ommand requiring you to press multiple keys at the same time kHz kilohertz A measurement of frequency that equals 1000 Hz L LAN local area network A computer network covering a small area A LAN usually is confined to a building or a few nearby buildings 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...

Page 205: ...taining memory chips which connects to 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...

Page 206: ...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 207: ...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 208: ...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 209: ...smissions SIM cards can be used in phones or portable computers smart card A card that is embedded with a processor and a memory chip Smart cards can be used to authenticate a user on computers equipped for smart cards S PDIF Sony Philips Digital Interface An audio transfer file format that allows the transfer of audio from one file to another without converting it to and from an analog format whi...

Page 210: ... what effect the settings have on the computer do not change the settings for this program T TAPI telephony application programming interface Enables Windows programs to operate with a wide variety of telephony devices including voice data fax and video text editor A program used to create and edit files that contain only text for example Windows Notepad uses a text editor Text editors do not usua...

Page 211: ...sheath around each pair of wires to protect against interference UXGA ultra extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 V video controller The circuitry on a video card or on the system board in computers with an integrated video controller that provides the video capabilities in combination with the monitor for your computer...

Page 212: ... or picture on the Windows desktop Change your wallpaper through the Windows Control Panel You can also scan in your favorite picture and make it wallpaper WLAN wireless local area network A series of interconnected computers that communicate with each other over the air waves using access points or wireless routers to provide Internet access write protected Files or media that cannot be changed U...

Page 213: ... 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 214: ...214 Glossary ...

Page 215: ...ory card 83 removing 81 85 Bluetooth wireless technology card device status light 23 installing 165 boot sequence 190 brightness adjusting 39 C camera 21 carnet 172 CD about 58 blank 59 CD RW drive problems 110 drive problems 109 Check Disk 110 cleaning touch pad 192 coin cell battery replacing 166 computer crashes 120 121 restore to previous operating state 136 slow performance 112 122 specificat...

Page 216: ...n 22 diagnostics Dell 101 digital array microphones 24 display adjusting brightness 39 adjusting the size of icons 169 adjusting the size of toolbars 169 description 21 resolution 39 switching the video image 39 documentation End User License Agreement 14 ergonomics 14 online 15 Product Information Guide 14 regulatory 14 safety 14 warranty 14 Dolby headphones setting up 78 drivers about 131 identi...

Page 217: ... to Dell 145 hardware Dell Diagnostics 101 Hardware Troubleshooter 134 hinge cover removing 147 I icons adjusting the size 169 IEEE 1394 connector description 27 problems 118 infrared sensor description 31 installing 157 Internet connection about 33 options 33 setting up 34 K keyboard numeric keypad 41 problems 118 removing 148 shortcuts 42 keyboard status lights description 24 keypad numeric 41 L...

Page 218: ...n 31 messages error 112 Mini Card installing 157 WLAN 157 WPAN 157 WWAN 157 Mobile Broadband network connections 93 See also wireless switch Mobile Broadband WWAN problems 123 modem connector description 29 monitor See display N network installing WLAN Mini Card 157 Mobile Broadband WWAN 123 problems 123 QuickSet 169 network connector description 28 O operating system reinstalling Windows Vista 13...

Page 219: ... keyboard 118 lockups 120 network 123 power 125 power light conditions 125 printer 126 program crashes repeatedly 120 program stops responding 120 programs and Windows compatibility 120 restore computer to previous operating state 136 restore operating system to previous state 135 scanner 127 slow computer performance 112 122 software 120 122 sound and speakers 127 speakers 127 spyware 112 122 Pro...

Page 220: ... 29 System Restore 135 136 system setup program commonly used options 190 screens 190 viewing 190 T taskbar Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility 124 Dell Support Utility 16 QuickSet icon 169 Safely Remove Hardware 117 wireless activity indicator 92 toolbars adjusting the size 169 touch pad 43 cleaning 192 customizing 45 touch pad buttons description 23 track stick touch pad buttons description 23 tr...

Page 221: ...ed 19 volume adjusting 128 W warranty information 14 Windows Easy Transfer wizard 35 Windows Vista Device Driver Rollback 132 Program Compatibility wizard 120 reinstalling 136 System Restore 135 136 Windows Easy Transfer wizard 35 wireless turning activity on and off 169 wizards Program Compatibility wizard 120 Windows Easy Transfer 35 WLAN 157 installing Mini Card 157 WPAN installing 164 WWAN ins...

Page 222: ...222 Index ...

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Dell Inspiron 1521, Owner'S Manual

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