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Troubleshooting

109

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media

1

Insert your 

Drivers and Utilities 

media.

2

Shut down and restart the computer.

3

When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

 

NOTE: 

Keyboard failure may result when a key on the keyboard is held down 

for extended periods of time. To avoid possible keyboard failure, press and 
release <F12> in even intervals until the boot device menu appears.

4

At the boot device 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 system setup.

5

Select the 

Boot from CD-ROM

 option from the menu that appears, and 

then press <Enter>.

6

Type 

1

 to start the 

Drivers and Utilities 

menu, and then press <Enter>.

7

Select 

Run the 32 Bit 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 

Main

 

Menu

.

10

Remove your 

Drivers and Utilities

 media, then close the 

Main Menu 

window

 

to exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer.

book.book  Page 109  Monday, April 14, 2008  4:23 PM

Summary of Contents for XPS M1730

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 XPS M1730 Owner s Manual Model PP06XA ...

Page 2: ...URS IS HERE XPS Wi Fi Catcher and Dell MediaDirect are trademarks of Dell Inc Intel 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 by Bluetooth SIG Inc and is used by Dell under license Logitech the ...

Page 3: ... Bottom View 31 2 Setting Up Your Computer 33 Connecting to the Internet 33 Setting Up Your Internet Connection 33 Transferring Information to a New Computer 34 Setting Up a Printer 35 Printer Cable 35 Connecting a USB Printer 35 Power Protection Devices 37 Surge Protectors 37 Line Conditioners 37 Uninterruptible Power Supplies 38 ...

Page 4: ...olution and Refresh Rate 41 Microsoft Windows XP 42 Windows Vista 42 4 Using the Keyboard 43 Numeric Keypad 43 Keyboard Illumination 43 Key Combinations 43 Keyboard Illumination 43 System Functions 43 Battery 44 Power Management 44 Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions 44 Touch Pad 45 5 Using a Battery 47 Battery Performance 47 Checking the Battery Charge 48 Dell QuickSet Battery Meter 48 ...

Page 5: ... Mode 51 Configuring Power Management Settings 52 Accessing Power Options Properties 52 Charging the Battery 52 Removing the Battery 53 Storing a Battery 53 6 Using the Camera 55 Accessing the Camera s Help File 55 Manually Adjusting the Camera Settings 56 Creating a Picture or a Video 56 7 Using GamePanel 57 GamePanel Applications 58 8 Using Multimedia 59 Playing Media 59 ...

Page 6: ... Video and Standard Audio 70 S Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 72 Composite Video and Standard Audio 74 Composite Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 76 Component Video and Standard Audio 78 Component Video and S PDIF Digital Audio 80 DVI to HDMI and Standard Audio 82 Enabling the Display Settings for a TV 83 9 Using Cards 85 ExpressCards 85 ExpressCard Blanks 86 Installing an ExpressCard 86 Removing an...

Page 7: ... Router and a Broadband Modem 94 Connecting to a WLAN 96 Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network 98 What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection 99 Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card 99 Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network 100 Enabling Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card 100 Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator 101 11 Securing Your Computer 103 Security Cabl...

Page 8: ... Keyboard Problems 121 External Keyboard problems 122 Unexpected characters 123 Lockups and Software Problems 123 The computer does not start 123 The computer stops responding 123 A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly 123 A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft Windows operating system 124 A solid blue screen appears 124 Dell MediaDirect problems 124 Other software problems 125 M...

Page 9: ...read 134 If only part of the display is readable 135 Drivers 135 What Is a Driver 135 Identifying Drivers 136 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities 136 Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems in the Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista Operating Systems 139 Restoring Your Operating System 140 Using Microsoft Windows System Restore 141 Starting System Restore 141 Using Dell PC Resto...

Page 10: ... 155 Subscriber Identity Module 159 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology 160 Optical Drive 161 15 Traveling With Your Computer 163 Identifying Your Computer 163 Packing the Computer 163 Travel Tips 164 Traveling by Air 164 16 Getting Help 165 Obtaining Assistance 165 Technical Support and Customer Service 166 DellConnect 166 Online Services 166 AutoTech Service 167 Automated Order Stat...

Page 11: ...You Call 168 Contacting Dell 170 17 Specifications 171 A Appendix 179 Overview 179 Viewing the System Setup Screens 180 System Setup Screens 180 Commonly Used Options 180 Changing the Boot Sequence 180 FCC Notice U S Only 182 FCC Class B 182 Macrovision Product Notice 183 Glossary 185 Index 201 ...

Page 12: ...12 Contents ...

Page 13: ...tebook System Software NSS Drivers and Utilities Media Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer You can use the media to reinstall drivers see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 to run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 or to access your documentation Readme files may be included on your media to provide last minute updates about technical cha...

Page 14: ...omputer Setup Diagram NOTE The appearance of your setup diagram may vary Service Tag and Express Service Code Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License This label is located in the battery bay of 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 What Are You Looking...

Page 15: ...des Upgrade information for components such as memory the hard drive and the operating system Customer Care Contact information service call and order status warranty and repair information Service and support Service call status and support history service contract online discussions with technical support Dell Technical Update Service Proactive e mail notification of software and hardware update...

Page 16: ...e support dell com user interface may vary depending on your selections Software upgrades and troubleshooting hints Frequently asked questions hot topics and general health of your computing environment Dell Support Utility The Dell Support Utility is an automated upgrade and notification system installed on your computer This support provides real time health scans of your computing environment s...

Page 17: ... The taskbar is located in the lower right corner of your screen How to reinstall my operating system Operating System Media The operating system is already installed on your computer To reinstall your operating system use the Operating System media See Restoring Your Operating System on page 140 in your Owner s Manual After you reinstall your operating system use the Drivers and Utilities media t...

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

Page 19: ...About Your Computer 19 About Your Computer Front View 1 13 2 4 8 7 10 5 9 3 11 14 12 6 15 ...

Page 20: ...osoft 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 which may take several seconds GAMEPANEL A small secondary LCD for displaying text and graphical information 1 camera 2 display 3 power button 4 GamePanel 5 device status lights 6 right speaker 7 infrared sensor 8 ...

Page 21: ... Flashing orange The battery charge is low Solid orange The battery charge is critically low Turns on when you turn on the computer and blinks when the computer is in a power management mode 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 Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status Turns on when ...

Page 22: ...ared sensor to operate the remote control MEDIA CONTROL BUTTONS Control CD DVD and Media Player playback SPEAKERS To adjust the volume of the integrated speakers press the volume control buttons or mute button Mute the sound Play the previous track Turn the volume down Play the next track Turn the volume up Stop Play or pause ...

Page 23: ...About Your Computer 23 DELL MEDIADIRECT BUTTON Press the Dell MediaDirect button to launch Dell MediaDirect see Using Dell MediaDirect on page 67 1 Dell MediaDirect button 1 ...

Page 24: ...rectional microphones for conferencing and chat DISPLAY LATCH Keeps the display closed CAMERA INDICATOR The indicator shows solid blue light when the camera is active and off when the camera is not Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled Turns on when the Caps Lock function is enabled Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled 9 A ...

Page 25: ...TV digital audio adapter cable USB CONNECTORS IEEE 1394 CONNECTOR Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high speed transfer rates such as some digital video cameras 1 DVI I connector Dual link 2 S video connector 3 USB connector 4 IEEE 1394 connector 5 8 in 1 memory card reader 6 optical drive 7 microphone connector 8 headphone connectors 2 Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer 1...

Page 26: ...dia memory cards Secure Digital SD SDIO MultiMediaCard MMC Memory Stick Memory Stick PRO xD Picture Card Hi Speed SD Hi Density SD OPTICAL DRIVE For more information about the optical drive see Using Multimedia on page 59 MICROPHONE CONNECTOR Attach a microphone to this connector HEADPHONE CONNECTORS Dual headphone connectors for attaching headphones Attach a microphone to the connector Attach hea...

Page 27: ...For more information see ExpressCards on page 85 WIRELESS SWITCH You can use this switch to rapidly turn off or on any wireless devices such as WLAN cards and internal cards with Bluetooth wireless technology 1 Express card slot 2 wireless switch 3 Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator 4 USB connectors 2 5 security cable slot 1 off 2 on 2 3 4 5 1 1 2 ...

Page 28: ...r Network Locator light appears only when the computer is turned off and wireless networking is activated in the system setup program USB CONNECTORS SECURITY CABLE SLOT Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer see Security Cable Lock on page 103 Back View AIR VENTS The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents which prevents the computer fro...

Page 29: ... turned either on or off CAUTION The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide However power connectors and power strips vary among countries Using an incompatible cable or improperly connecting the cable to the power strip or electrical outlet may cause fire or equipment damage NOTICE When you disconnect the AC adapter cable from the computer grasp the connector not the cable itself and ...

Page 30: ...ne line into the network connector Connect USB devices such as a mouse keyboard or printer 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 ...

Page 31: ... Checking the Battery Charge on page 48 BATTERY When a battery is installed you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an electrical outlet HARD DRIVE Stores software and data AIR VENTS The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents which prevents the computer from overheating 1 memory module cover 2 battery bay latch release 3 battery charge gauge health ga...

Page 32: ...t block push objects into or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents Do not store your computer in a low airflow environment such as a closed briefcase while it is running Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire ...

Page 33: ...multaneously Cable modem connections that provide high speed Internet access through your local cable TV line Satellite modem connections that provide high speed Internet access through a satellite television system Wireless LAN connections that provide Internet access using Bluetooth wireless technology NOTE If you are using a DSL cable or satellite modem connection contact your ISP or cellular t...

Page 34: ...t button and click Control Panel 3 Under Network and Internet click Connect to the Internet The Connect to the Internet window appears 4 Click Wireless to configure your WLAN WWAN card to connect to the Internet 5 Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup Transferring Information to a New Computer You can use your operating syste...

Page 35: ...ter Cable Your printer connects to your computer with either a USB cable or a parallel cable Your printer may not come with a printer cable so if you purchase a cable separately ensure that it is compatible with your printer and computer If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer the cable may arrive in the computer s shipping box Connecting a USB Printer NOTE Yo...

Page 36: ... driver If your computer is running the Windows Vista operating system click the Windows Vista Start button and click Network Add a printer to start the Add Printer Wizard 5 Install the printer driver if necessary See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 and the documentation that came with your printer 1 USB connector on computer 2 USB connector on printer 3 USB printer cable 3 2 1 ...

Page 37: ...otection Compare joule ratings to determine the relative effectiveness of different devices NOTICE Most surge protectors do not protect against power fluctuations or power interruptions caused by nearby lightning strikes When lightning occurs in your area disconnect the telephone line from the telephone wall jack and disconnect your computer from the electrical outlet Many surge protectors have a ...

Page 38: ...er 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 manufacturer documentation for information on battery operating time and to ensure t...

Page 39: ...ghtness level the Brightness Meter may appear but the brightness level on the external device does not change You can press the following keys to adjust display brightness Press Fn and the up arrow key to increase brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Press Fn and the down arrow key to decrease brightness on the integrated display only not on an external monitor Usin...

Page 40: ...eo 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 higher than the display supports the settings adjust automatically to the closest supported values To set the d...

Page 41: ...ettings if needed You can enhance the legibility of text and change the appearance of images on the screen by adjusting display resolution As you increase resolution items appear smaller on the screen In contrast lower resolution causes text and images to appear larger and can benefit people with vision impairments To display a program at a specific resolution both the video card and the display m...

Page 42: ...b 5 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution NOTE As the resolution increases icons and text appear smaller on the screen Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button and click Control Panel 2 Under Appearance and Personalization click Adjust screen resolution 3 In the Display Settings window under Resolution move the slide bar to the left or right to decrease or incr...

Page 43: ...ard illumination It has several LEDs built into the LCD lid that project light onto the keyboard By pressing the Fn keys you may cycle through the following keyboard illumination options Always On Always Off Auto Mode In Auto Mode the keyboard illumination LEDs automatically turn on or off depending on the ambient light level Key Combinations Keyboard Illumination System Functions Fn and right arr...

Page 44: ...ab in the Power Options Properties window Fn F1 Puts the computer into hibernate mode Dell QuickSet is required 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 logo key and m key combination Windows logo key and e Runs Windows Explor...

Page 45: ... tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button To select and move or drag an object position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad 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 ...

Page 46: ...46 Using the Keyboard ...

Page 47: ...age 52 Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions 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 wr...

Page 48: ...ncinerate 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 The Dell QuickSet Battery Meter the Microsoft Windows Battery Meter window and icon the battery charge gauge and health gauge and th...

Page 49: ... 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 Dell QuickSet For information about QuickSet right click the icon in the taskbar and click Help To check the battery health using the charge gauge press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least...

Page 50: ... the Power Management Wizard or the Power Options Properties window to select options to optimize your computer s power usage These options can also be set to change when you press the power button close the display or press Fn Esc NOTE See Configuring Power Management Settings on page 52 for information on conserving battery power Power Management Modes Standby and Sleep Mode Standby mode sleep m...

Page 51: ...s power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer When the computer exits hibernate mode it returns to the same operating state it was in before entering hibernate mode NOTICE You cannot remove devices or undock your computer while your computer is in hibernate mode Your computer enters hibernate mode if the battery charge level become...

Page 52: ...n about QuickSet right click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and click Help Accessing Power Options Properties Windows XP Click Start Control Panel Performance and Maintenance and then click Power Options Windows Vista Click the Windows Vista Start button click Control Panel click System and Maintenance and then click Power Options Charging the Battery When you connect the computer to an electric...

Page 53: ...ures turn off the computer disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet and the computer disconnect the modem from the wall connector and 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 Do not replace the battery with the computer in standby mode If you do the computer shu...

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

Page 55: ...the camera is turned on For more information about camera features see Specifications on page 171 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 Webcam Center Click Help from the menu a...

Page 56: ...lp file see Accessing the Camera s Help File on page 55 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 clic...

Page 57: ...tant gaming information such as frames per second health and so on without cluttering the main display It can also display non gaming information such as memory utilization CPU utilization and so on You can modify the GamePanel settings through the LCD Manager To access the LCD Manager click Start All Programs Logitech Launch LCD Manager 1 GamePanel 2 GamePanel toggle button 3 GamePanel control bu...

Page 58: ...n using the GamePanel see the Help in the LCD Manager interface GamePanel Applications The GamePanel has the following applications A clock with integrated counter for unread mail A multimedia display which shows the track artist URL of currently playing multimedia for Windows Media Player iTunes and Winamp A countdown application which offers stopwatch and egg timer functionality A performance mo...

Page 59: ...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 60: ...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 61: ...enter 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 14 13 12 11 10 17 15 18 16 ...

Page 62: ... also use 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 and BD drives installed in Dell computers do not support HD DVD media For a list of supported media formats see Using Blank CD DVD and BD Media on page 63 1 Infrared Transmitter 2 Arrow Up 3 OK Enter...

Page 63: ...e disc and click the Copy Disc button to continue The computer 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 DVD and BD Media DVD writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media BD writable drives can write to CD DVD and BD recording media Use blank CD Rs to recor...

Page 64: ... 650 MB file to a blank 650 MB CD The CD RW drive needs 1 2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD R Yes Yes No CD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R Yes Yes No DVD R Yes Yes No DVD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R DL Yes Yes No DVD R DL Yes Yes No Media Type Read Write Rewritable CD R Yes Yes No CD RW Yes Yes Yes DVD R Yes Yes No DVD R Yes Yes No DVD RW Yes Y...

Page 65: ...ially available BD players used in home theater systems may not support all available BD formats For a list of formats supported by your BD player see the documentation provided with your BD player or contact the manufacturer See the Roxio website at www sonic com Adjusting the Volume NOTE When the speakers are muted you do not hear the media playing 1 Right click the volume icon in the notificati...

Page 66: ...tion 3 Under Screen resolution click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting 4 In the drop down menu under Color quality click Medium 16 bit and click OK Windows Vista 1 Click the Windows Vista Start button click Control Panel and then click Appearance and Personalization 2 Under Personalization click Adjust Screen Resolution The Display Properties window appears 3 Under Resolution click...

Page 67: ...ile the computer is turned on or in standby Windows XP or sleep Windows Vista mode either Windows Media Center Manager or Dell Media Experience launches depending on your system setup If both applications are present Windows Media Center Manager launches If the computer is turned off or in hibernate mode When your computer is turned off or in hibernate mode you can press the Dell MediaDirect butto...

Page 68: ... with your computer Cables and TV digital audio adapter cables are available for purchase from Dell Your computer has an S video TV out and DVI I connector that together with a standard S video cable a composite video adapter cable a component video adapter cable available from Dell or a DVI to HDMI adaptor cable available from Dell enable you to connect the computer to a TV Your TV has either an ...

Page 69: ... 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 70: ...e the diagrams at the beginning 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 83 to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Additionally if you are...

Page 71: ...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 72: ...72 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 73: ...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 83 t...

Page 74: ...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 75: ...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 76: ...76 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 77: ...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 78: ...78 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 79: ... 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 80: ...80 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 81: ...s 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 6 Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the...

Page 82: ...ure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV Enabling S PDIF Digital Audio 1 Double click the speaker icon in the Windows notification area 2 Click the Options menu and then click Advanced Controls 3 Click Advanced 4 Click S PDIF Interface 5 Click Close 6 Click OK DVI to HDMI and Standard Audio 1 audio connector 2 DVI connector 1 DVI connector 2 HDMI connector 1 2 2 1 ...

Page 83: ...ter recognizes and works properly with the TV Enabling the Display Settings for a TV To ensure that the display options appear correctly connect the TV to the computer before you enable the display settings Windows XP 1 Click the Start button point to Settings and then click Control Panel 2 Double click Display and click the Settings tab 3 Click Advanced 4 Click the tab for your video card NOTE To...

Page 84: ...of video card installed in your computer see the Windows Help and Support Center To access the Help and Support Center in Windows Vista click the Windows Vista Start button Help and Support Under Pick a Task click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems Then under My Computer Information select Hardware 5 In the display devices section select the appropriate option for us...

Page 85: ...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 171 for information on supported ExpressCards NOTE An ExpressCard is not a bootable device 1 Expres...

Page 86: ...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 87: ...ng an ExpressCard or Blank CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Press the latch and remove the card or blank 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...

Page 88: ...to view and 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 ...

Page 89: ...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 90: ...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 91: ...ide you through the process of networking computers For more information about Networking see the Windows Help and Support Center see Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista Help and Support Center on page 16 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...

Page 92: ...rk Setup Wizard Next Checklist for creating a network NOTE Selecting the connection method labeled This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the integrated firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack 2 SP2 2 Complete the checklist 3 Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions in the wizard ...

Page 93: ...ernet 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 point...

Page 94: ...on the General tab NOTE If Wireless Network Connection does not appear you may not have a wireless network card The Order Confirmation for Your Computer The order confirmation that you received when you ordered your 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 IS...

Page 95: ... and the wireless router are connected to the broadband modem NOTE Restart your wireless equipment in the order described 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 t...

Page 96: ...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 93 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 97: ... more information the Windows XP operating system is managing the wireless network card To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless network card in Windows Vista 1 Click Connect To Manage wireless networks 2 Double click a profile to open the wireless network properties screen For specific information about the wireless configuration utility installed on your comput...

Page 98: ...the indicator is off The wireless activity indicator displays whether your computer s integrated wireless devices are enabled or disabled When you turn the wireless networking function on or off the wireless activity indicator changes to display the status For more information about the Dell QuickSet wireless activity indicator right click the QuickSet icon in the taskbar and then select Help Mobi...

Page 99: ... is corrupted or deleted from your computer see the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Utility user s guide in Windows Help and Support click Start and then click Help and Support or on the media that accompanied your card if you 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 ...

Page 100: ...rk 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 101: ...tch on your Dell computer uses the Dell Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator to scan specifically for wireless networks in your vicinity To scan for a wireless network push the Wi Fi Catcher Network Locator button It 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...

Page 102: ...102 Setting Up and Using Networks ...

Page 103: ...lock A security cable lock is a commercially available antitheft device To use the lock attach it to the security cable slot on your Dell computer For more information see the instructions included with the device NOTICE Before you buy an antitheft device ensure that it will work with the security cable slot on your computer ...

Page 104: ...t watching you when you type your password NOTICE Passwords provide a high level of security for data in your computer or hard drive However they are not foolproof If you require more security obtain and use additional forms of protection such as smart cards data encryption programs or PC Cards with encryption features Use the User Accounts option in the Control Panel in the Microsoft Windows oper...

Page 105: ...tances NOTICE Do not use cleaning agents with ammonia as an ingredient Use a can of compressed air to remove dust from between the keys on the keyboard NOTICE To avoid damaging the computer or display do not spray cleaning solution directly onto the display Only use products specifically designed for cleaning displays and follow the instructions that are included with the product Moisten a soft li...

Page 106: ...uter edge You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole NOTICE To avoid damaging the surface do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc 2 With a soft lint free cloth gently wipe the bottom of the disc the unlabeled side in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc For stubborn dirt try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap You can also purchase ...

Page 107: ...n the Product Information 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 123 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 rev...

Page 108: ...ter must be powered down completely b 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 your Drivers 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 answe...

Page 109: ...nly Upon restart the computer boots according to the boot sequence specified in system setup 5 Select the Boot from CD ROM option from the menu that appears and then press Enter 6 Type 1 to start the Drivers and Utilities menu and then press Enter 7 Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list If multiple versions are listed select the version appropriate for your computer 8 At th...

Page 110: ...ntact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 NOTE The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen When contacting Dell support have your Service Tag ready Option Function Test Memory Run the stand alone 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 t...

Page 111: ...the Dell Support Utility click the question mark at the top of the Dell Support window 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 dev...

Page 112: ...es in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 as you complete these checks ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT WINDOWS RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE Windows XP Click Start My Computer Windows Vista 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 ...

Page 113: ...e CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS CD RW DVD RW and BD RE drives must receive a steady stream of data when writing If the stream is interrupted an error occurs Try closing all programs before you write to the drive TURN OFF SLEEP STATE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD DVD BD DISC See Standby and Sleep Mode on page 50 for information on Sleep state CHANGE THE WRITE SPEED TO A SLOWER RATE See the help files fo...

Page 114: ... the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to continue the desired action 4 Follow the instructions on the screen E Mail and Internet Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CHECK THE WINDOWS MAIL SECURITY SETTINGS If you cannot open your e mail attachments 1 In Windows Mail click...

Page 115: ... connection Enable the Pointing Device option in the system setup program see System Setup Screens on page 180 If the problem persists contact Dell see Contacting Dell on page 170 BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME Ensure that you have spelled the command correctly put spaces in the proper place and used the correct pathname CACHE DISABLED DUE TO FAILURE The primary cache internal to the microprocessor has ...

Page 116: ... Take the appropriate action HARD DISK DRIVE CONFIGURATION ERROR The computer cannot identify the drive type Shut down the computer remove the hard drive see Hard Drive on page 152 and boot the computer from a CD Then shut down the computer reinstall the hard drive and restart the computer Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 HARD DISK DRIVE CONTRO...

Page 117: ...st in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 KEYBOARD CONTROLLER FAILURE For external keyboards check the cable connection Restart the computer and avoid touching the keyboard or the mouse during the boot routine Run the Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 KEYBOARD DATA LINE FAILURE For external keyboards check the cable connection Run t...

Page 118: ...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 155 NO BOOT DEVICE AVAILABLE The computer cannot find the hard drive If the hard drive is your boot device ensure that the drive is installed properly seated and partitioned as a boot device NO BOOT SECTOR ON HARD DRIVE The operating system may be c...

Page 119: ...er of sectors are defective back up the data if possible and then reformat the hard drive SEEK ERROR The operating system cannot find a specific track on the hard drive SHUTDOWN FAILURE A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning Run the System Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 TIME OF DAY CLOCK LOST POWER System configuration settings are corrupted Connect yo...

Page 120: ... 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 follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CHECK THE EXPRESSCARD Ensure that the ExpressCard is properly insert...

Page 121: ...EMS WITH A DELL PROVIDED IEEE 1394 DEVICE Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer see Contacting Dell on page 170 IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AN IEEE 1394 DEVICE NOT PROVIDED BY DELL Contact Dell or the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer see Contacting Dell on page 170 Ensure that the IEEE 1394 device is properly inserted into the connector Keyboard Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the ...

Page 122: ...cters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the display If you cannot verify these steps you may have a defective external keyboard TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD CHECK THE INTEGRATED KEYBOARD 1 Shut down the computer 2 Disconnect the external keyboard 3 Turn on the computer 4 From the Windows desktop click Start All Programs Accessories Notepad 5 Type s...

Page 123: ...re unable to perform an operating system shutdown 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 A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly END THE PROGRAM 1 Press Crtl Shift Esc simultaneously 2 Click the Appl...

Page 124: ...e screen click Next Follow the instructions on the screen 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 problems CHECK THE DELL MEDIADIRECT HELP FILE FOR INFORMATION Use ...

Page 125: ... CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on your computer Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software See the software documentation for information Ensure that the program is installed and configured properly Verif...

Page 126: ...ommunicating with the memory see Memory on page 155 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on page 107 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 155 Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines see Memory on page 155 Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diag...

Page 127: ... 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 128: ...r 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 batt...

Page 129: ...ut the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 as you complete these checks CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTE If you need technical assistance for your printer contact the printer s manufacturer CHECK THE PRINTER DOCUMENTATION See the printer documentation for setup and troubleshooting information ENSURE TH...

Page 130: ...3 Click Properties and click Ports 4 Adjust the settings as needed REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER See the printer documentation for instructions Scanner Problems CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide NOTE If you need technical assistance for your scanner contact the scanner s manufacturer CHECK THE SCANNER DOCUM...

Page 131: ...ound from integrated speakers ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL 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 Adjust the volume bass or treble controls to eliminate distortion ADJUST THE VOLUME USING KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS Press Fn End to disable mute or re enable the integrated speakers REINSTALL THE SOUND AU...

Page 132: ...ensure that you did not turn the player volume down or off No sound from headphones CHECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector 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 Touch Pad or Mo...

Page 133: ...s on page 107 REINSTALL THE TOUCH PAD DRIVER See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 Video and Display Problems Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist on page 169 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 hi...

Page 134: ...THE COMPUTER TO FACE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION Eliminate sunlight glare which can cause poor picture quality ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS Windows XP 1 Click Start Control Panel Appearance and Themes 2 Click the area you want to change or click the Display icon 3 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution Windows Vista 1 Click Start Control Panel Hardware and Sound Personaliz...

Page 135: ...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 136: ...r an exclamation point a circle with a next to the device name If an exclamation point is next to the device name you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities on page 136 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities NOTICE The Dell Support website at support dell com and your Drivers and Utilities media provide approved drivers for Dell computers If you...

Page 137: ... Device Driver Rollback or System Restore see Restoring Your Operating System on page 140 does not resolve the problem reinstall the driver from your Drivers and Utilities media 1 With the Windows desktop displayed insert your Drivers and Utilities media If this is your first time to use your Drivers and Utilities media continue to step 2 If not proceed to step 5 2 When the Drivers and Utilities i...

Page 138: ...on the screen If a particular driver is not listed then that 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 System Setup Screens on page 180 before continuing with the driver installation see Reinstallin...

Page 139: ... the device for which you are installing the driver 5 Click the Driver tab Update Driver Browse my computer for driver software 6 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files 7 When the name of the appropriate driver appears click the name of the driver OK Next 8 Click Finish and restart your computer Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems in the ...

Page 140: ...ns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files Use System Restore as the first solution for restoring your operating system and preserving data files For instructions see Using Microsoft Windows System Restore on page 141 Dell PC Restore by Symantec available in Windows XP and Dell Factory Image Restore available in Windows Vista returns your hard drive to the operatin...

Page 141: ...w 1 Click Start Help and Support 2 Type System Restore in the search field then press Enter NOTE The User Account Control window may appear If you are an administrator on the computer click Continue otherwise contact your administrator to continue the desired action 3 Click Next and follow the remaining prompts on the screen In the event that System Restore did not resolve the issue you may undo t...

Page 142: ...open programs Do not alter open or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete Windows XP 1 Click Start All Programs Accessories System Tools System Restore 2 Click Undo my last restoration and click Next Windows Vista 1 Click Start 2 In the Start Search box type System Rest Enabling System Restore NOTE Windows Vista does not disable System Restore regardless of low disk ...

Page 143: ...was in when you purchased the computer Any programs or files added since you received your computer including data files are permanently deleted from the hard drive Data files include documents spreadsheets e mail messages digital photos music files and so on If possible back up all data before using PC Restore or Factory Image Restore Dell PC Restore Using PC Restore 1 Turn on the computer During...

Page 144: ... PC Restore from your computer even to gain additional hard drive space If you remove PC Restore from the hard drive you cannot ever recall it and you will never be able to use PC Restore to return your computer operating system to its original state 1 Log on to the computer as a local administrator 2 In Microsoft Windows Explorer go to c dell utilities DSR 3 Double click the filename DSRIRRemv2 e...

Page 145: ...o access the command prompt type administrator in the User name field then click OK 5 Click Dell Factory Image Restore NOTE Depending upon your configuration you may need to select Dell Factory Tools then Dell Factory Image Restore The Dell Factory Image Restore welcome screen appears 6 Click Next The Confirm Data Deletion screen appears NOTICE If you do not want to proceed with Factory Image Rest...

Page 146: ...g 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 XP or Windows Vista The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hour...

Page 147: ...ows desktop then shut down your computer and try again NOTE The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only On the next start up the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program 5 When the boot device list appears highlight CD DVD CD RW Drive and press Enter 6 Press any key to Boot from CD ROM 7 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the instal...

Page 148: ...148 Troubleshooting ...

Page 149: ...mputer on page 150 and Before Working Inside Your Computer see Before Working Inside Your Computer on page 150 You have read the safety information in your Dell Product Information Guide A component can be replaced or if purchased separately installed by performing the removal procedure in reverse order Recommended Tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools Small flat bl...

Page 150: ...e the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide CAUTION Handle components and cards with care Do not touch the components or contacts on a card Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounti...

Page 151: ...Your Computer on page 150 NOTICE To disconnect a network cable first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it from the network wall jack 3 Disconnect any network cables from the computer 4 Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets NOTICE To avoid damaging the system board you must remove the battery before you service the computer 5 Remove the ba...

Page 152: ...es are extremely fragile even a slight bump can damage the drive NOTE Dell does not guarantee compatibility or provide support for hard drives from sources other than Dell Your computer can accommodate up to two hard drives The hard drives are installed in trays labeled 0 and 1 in the hard drive cage and the cage is installed in the hard drive bay To replace a hard drive or install a second one yo...

Page 153: ...the hard drive cage and then lift the pull tab to flip the cage towards the center of the computer so that the SATA cables and connectors are accessible 4 Carefully remove the SATA cables from the hard drive or drives that are installed in the cage 1 captive screws 4 1 ...

Page 154: ...rge in the Product Information Guide 2 Remove the new hard drive from its packaging Save the original packaging for storing or shipping the hard drive 3 Place the new hard drive into the drive cage tray and secure it with two screws on each side a Install the hard drive so that the manufacturer s label faces the bottom of the drive cage and the SATA connectors are at the open end of the cage b Ins...

Page 155: ...tion on the memory supported by your computer Install only memory modules that are intended for your computer NOTE In order to take advantage of the dual channel bandwidth capability both memory slots must be populated and must match in size NOTE Memory modules purchased from Dell are covered under your computer warranty CAUTION Before you begin any of the procedures in this section follow the saf...

Page 156: ...memory module connector do not use tools to spread the memory module securing clips 4 If you are replacing a memory module remove the existing module a Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory module connector until the module pops up b Remove the module from the connector 1 captive screws 2 2 memory module cover 1 2 ...

Page 157: ...ctor 5 Ground yourself and install the new memory module NOTE If the memory module is not installed properly the computer may not boot properly No error message indicates this failure a Align the notch in the module edge connector with the tab in the connector slot b 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 ...

Page 158: ...r and an electrical outlet 8 Turn on the computer As the computer boots it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information If prompted press F1 to continue Confirm the amount of memory installed in the computer Windows XP Right click the My Computer icon on your desktop then click Properties General Windows Vista Click the Windows Vista Start button rig...

Page 159: ...N Before you begin any of the procedures in 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 149 2 In the battery bay locate the SIM compartment 3 Slide in the SIM into the compartment as indicated on the battery bay 1 SIM 1 ...

Page 160: ...ttery compartment 1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page 149 2 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 return to the computer 3 Pull the card out of the battery compartment so that you can disconnect the card from its cable and remove it from the computer 4 To replace the card connect...

Page 161: ... 2 Save and close any open files exit any open programs and shut down the computer 3 Remove the optical drive locking screw 4 Insert a scribe into the notch and push it to the side to release the drive from the bay 5 Slide the drive out of the bay To reinstall the optical drive slide the drive into the drive bay and snap it into place Then replace the optical drive security screw 1 optical drive 2...

Page 162: ...162 Adding and Replacing Parts ...

Page 163: ...cking the Computer Remove any external devices attached to the computer and store them in a safe place Remove any cables attached to installed PC Cards and remove any extended PC Cards To make the computer as light as possible replace any devices installed in the module bay with the Dell TravelLite module Fully charge the main battery and any spare batteries that you plan to carry with you Shut do...

Page 164: ... 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 adapte...

Page 165: ...ices on page 166 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem see Contacting Dell on page 170 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 166: ...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 167: ...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 170 Problems With Your Order If you have a problem with your order such as missing parts wrong part...

Page 168: ...ing 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...

Page 169: ...on 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 p...

Page 170: ...options Because 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 and click Contact Us on the left side of the page 4 Select the appropriate service or support link based on your need 5 Choose...

Page 171: ...sor Intel 45 nm Core 2 Duo processor L1 cache 64 KB L2 cache 2 MB or 4 MB Intel Core 2 Duo processor 6 MB Intel 45 nm Core 2 Duo processor External bus frequency front side bus 800 MHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor 1066 MHz Intel 45 nm Core 2 Duo processor System Information System chip set Mobile Intel 965PM Data bus width 64 bits DRAM bus width dual channel bus Processor address bus width 32 bits F...

Page 172: ...GB and 4 GB Memory type 1 8 V SODIMM DDR II supports DDR II up to 667 MHz Minimum memory 1 GB via 2 x 512 MB SODIMM DDR II modules Maximum memory 4 GB via 2 x 2 GB SODIMM DDR II modules NOTE In order to take advantage of the dual channel bandwidth capability both memory slots must be populated and must match in size 8 in 1 Media Memory card Reader 8 in 1 media memory card controller Ricoh R5C833 8...

Page 173: ... four 4 pin USB 2 0 compliant connectors Dual link DVI I Digital Video Interface 29 pin connector Communications Network adapter 10 100 1000 Mbps Ethernet LAN on system board Wireless internal PCI e Mini Card WLAN and WWAN support internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology support Video NOTE Your computer comes in different configurations with different video controller cards Video controlle...

Page 174: ...ter Internal speaker amplifier Class D Stereo 5W per channel Volume controls program menus media control buttons Audio controller Sigmatel STAC9228 High Definition Audio codec Headphones bluetooth stereo headphones optional Media Drive DVD combo DVD RW Blu ray Interface Roxio Creator Plus Dell MediaDirect 3 3 Display Type active matrix TFT WUXGA Dimensions Height 245 0 mm 9 64 inches Width 383 0 m...

Page 175: ...rolled through keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Number of keys 101 U S and Canada 88 Europe 91 Japan Layout QWERTY AZERTY Kanji Type LED backlit Camera Pixel 2 0 mega pixel Video Resolution 640x480 at 30fps Diagonal Viewing Angle 60 Touch Pad X Y position resolution graphics table mode 240 cpi Size Width 73 0 mm 2 88 inch sensor active area Height 42 9 mm 1 69 inch rectangle Display continued ...

Page 176: ...me varies depending on operating conditions and can be significantly reduced under certain power intensive conditions See Battery Performance 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 Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F AC Adapter Input voltage 90 264 VAC Input current maximum 3 2 A Input frequency ...

Page 177: ... mm 2 0 inches Width 406 mm 16 inches Depth 302 mm 11 9 inches Weight with 9 cell battery and optical drive 4 81 kg 10 6 lb Environmental Temperature range Operating 0 to 35 C 32 to 95 F Storage 40 to 65 C 40 to 149 F Relative humidity Operating 10 to 90 noncondensing Storage 5 to 95 noncondensing Maximum vibration using a random vibration spectrum that simulates user environment Operating 0 66 GR...

Page 178: ...ications Maximum shock measured with a 2 ms half sine pulse 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 179: ...selectable features for example your computer password To verify information about the computer s current configuration such as the amount of system memory After you set up the computer run the system setup program 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...

Page 180: ...ange settings that appear as white type on the screen Options or values that you cannot change because they are determined by the computer 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 ...

Page 181: ...r change its order in the list To enable or disable a device highlight the item and press the space bar Enabled items appear as white and display a number next to them disabled items appear blue or dimmed without a number To reorder a device in the list highlight the device and then press u or d not case sensitive to move the highlighted device up or down Boot sequence changes take effect as soon ...

Page 182: ...vice pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions 1 This device may not cause harmful interference 2 This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation NOTICE The FCC regulations provide that changes or modifications not expressly approved by Dell...

Page 183: ...ther regulatory information see your Product Information Guide 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 Macrovision and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovisio...

Page 184: ...184 Appendix ...

Page 185: ...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 186: ...tput 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 point of water cache A special high speed storage mechanism w...

Page 187: ...gs 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 continuity rambus in line memory module A special module that has no memory chips and is used to fill unused RIMM slots cursor The marker on a display or screen that shows where the next keyboard touch pad or mouse action will occur It often i...

Page 188: ...ed 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 analog telephone line dual core A technology in which two physical computational u...

Page 189: ...ectricity ESD can damage integrated circuits found in computer 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 and sound cards expansion slot A connector on the system board in some computers where you insert an expansion card connecting it to the s...

Page 190: ...or disk for file storage When a drive or disk is formatted the existing information on it is lost FSB front side bus The 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 ...

Page 191: ...that equals 1 cycle per second Computers and electronic devices are often measured in kilohertz kHz megahertz MHz gigahertz GHz or terahertz THz I IC integrated circuit A semiconductor wafer or chip on which thousands or millions of tiny electronic components are fabricated for use in computer audio and video equipment IDE integrated device electronics An interface for mass storage devices in whic...

Page 192: ...ement of the capacity of memory integrated circuits KB kilobyte A unit of data that equals 1024 bytes but is often referred to as 1000 bytes key combination A command requiring you to press multiple keys at the same time kHz kilohertz A measurement of frequency that equals 1000 Hz L LAN local area network A computer network covering a small area A LAN usually is confined to a building or a few nea...

Page 193: ...ntly the word memory is used as a synonym for RAM memory address A specific location where data is temporarily stored in RAM memory mapping The process by which the computer assigns memory addresses to physical locations at start up Devices and software can then identify information that the processor can access memory module A small circuit board containing memory chips which connects to the syst...

Page 194: ...ample of optical drives include CD drives DVD drives CD RW drives and CD RW DVD combo drives P parallel connector An I O port often used to connect a parallel printer to your computer Also referred to as an LPT port partition A physical storage area on a hard drive that is assigned to one or more logical storage areas known as logical drives Each partition can contain multiple logical drives PC Ca...

Page 195: ...ferred to as the CPU central processing unit PS 2 personal system 2 A type of connector for attaching a PS 2 compatible keyboard mouse or keypad PXE pre boot execution environment A WfM Wired for Management standard that allows networked computers that do not have an operating system to be configured and started remotely R RAID redundant array of independent disks A method of providing data redund...

Page 196: ...minute Hard drive speed is often measured in rpm RTC real time clock Battery powered clock on the system board that keeps the date and time after you shut down the computer RTCRST real time clock reset A jumper on the system board of some computers that can often be used for troubleshooting problems S SAS serial attached SCSI A faster serial version of the SCSI interface as opposed to the original...

Page 197: ...fer file format that allows the transfer of audio from one file to another without converting it to and from an analog format which could degrade the quality of the file standby mode A power management mode that shuts down all unnecessary computer operations to save energy Strike Zone Reinforced area of the platform base that protects the hard drive by acting as a dampening device when a computer ...

Page 198: ...Notepad uses a text editor Text editors do not usually provide word wrap or formatting functionality the option to underline change fonts and so on TPM trusted platform module A hardware based security feature that when combined with security software enhances network and computer security by enabling features such as file and e mail protection travel module A plastic device designed to fit inside...

Page 199: ...he amount of video memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can display video mode A mode that describes how text and graphics are displayed on a monitor Graphics based software such as Windows operating systems displays in video modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors Character based software such as text editors displays ...

Page 200: ...eless wide area network A wireless high speed data network using cellular technology and covering a much larger geographic area than WLAN WXGA wide aspect extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1280 x 800 X XGA extended graphics array A video standard for video cards and controllers that supports resolutions up to 1024 x 768 Z ZIF z...

Page 201: ...6 memory card 89 removing 87 90 Blu ray Disc 65 113 boot sequence 180 brightness adjusting 39 C camera 20 24 carnet 164 CD blank 63 CD RW drive problems 113 drive problems 113 Check Disk 114 computer crashes 123 124 restore to previous operating state 141 slow performance 115 125 specifications 172 stops responding 123 conflicts software and hardware incompatibilities 139 connecting audio device 6...

Page 202: ...display adjusting brightness 39 description 20 resolution 41 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 drivers about 135 identifying 136 reinstalling 136 Drivers and Utilities media about 137 Dell Diagnostics 107 drives problems 112 See hard drive DVD blank 63 drive problems 113 ...

Page 203: ...on about 33 options 33 setting up 33 IRQ conflicts 139 K keyboard numeric keypad 43 problems 121 shortcuts 43 keyboard status lights description 24 keypad numeric 43 L labels Microsoft Windows 14 Service Tag 14 M media playing 59 media control buttons Dell MediaDirect button 67 media memory cards 88 installing 89 types 88 memory adding 155 removing 156 memory card blanks 89 memory card reader 88 m...

Page 204: ...0 power line conditioners problems 128 protection devices surge protectors UPS power button description 20 power light conditions 128 printer cable 35 connecting 33 35 problems 129 setting up 33 35 USB 35 problems blue screen 124 CD drive 113 CD RW drive 113 computer crashes 123 124 computer does not start up 123 computer stops responding 123 conflicts 139 Dell Diagnostics 107 Dell MediaDirect 124...

Page 205: ...Help 17 R RAM See memory regulatory information 14 reinstalling Windows Vista 141 resolution setting 41 S S PDIF digital audio enabling 82 Safely Remove Hardware icon 120 safety instructions 14 scanner problems 130 screen See display security cable slot description 28 Service Tag 14 SIM See Subscriber Identity Module software conflicts 139 problems 124 125 software and hardware incompatibilities 1...

Page 206: ...flicts 139 Dell Diagnostics 107 Hardware Troubleshooter 139 restore computer to previous operating state 140 141 turning off your computer 150 TV connecting 68 U uninterruptible power supply See UPS UPS USB connector description 30 V video problems 133 video controller determining configuration 19 volume adjusting 131 W warranty information 14 Windows Vista Device Driver Rollback 137 Factory Image...

Page 207: ...Index 207 reinstalling 146 system restore 141 wizards Program Compatibility wizard 124 WWAN See also Mobile Broadband ...

Page 208: ...208 Index ...

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