Dell D830, PP04X manual Reinstalling Software, What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers

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Reinstalling Software

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver 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: The Drivers and Utilities CD may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer. Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system.

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft® Windows® operating system. You may need to install drivers if you:

•Upgrade your operating system.

•Reinstall your operating system.

•Connect or install a new device.

Identifying Drivers

If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver.

Microsoft Windows XP

1Click Start→ Control Panel.

2Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance.

3Click System.

4In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab.

5Click Device Manager.

Microsoft Windows Vista

1Click the Windows Vista Start button,, and right-click Computer.

2Click Properties→ Device Manager

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.

Reinstalling Software

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Contents User’s Guide Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents Customizing the Touch Pad and Track Stick Microsoft Windows Logo Key FunctionsSetting Up and Using Networks Securing Your Computer Program stops responding or crashes repeatedly Traveling With Your Computer 100 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology 116102 104134 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit 133135 137What Are You Looking For? Find It Here Finding InformationService Tag and Microsoft Windows License Dell Support Website support.dell.com What Are You Looking For?To view Dell QuickSet Help, right-click the Quickset Front View About Your ComputerV I C E S T a T U S L I G H T S About Your Computer Y B O a R D S T a T U S L I G H T S Left Side View D I O C O N N E C T O R S Right Side View Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer Back View Connects serial devices, such as a mouse or handheld device Bottom View About Your Computer Transferring Information to a New Computer Start the Files and Settings Transfer WizardClick Start→ Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Windows Vista Page Battery Performance Using a BatteryDell QuickSet Battery Meter Checking the Battery ChargeMicrosoft Windows Power Meter Check the Battery ChargePower Management Modes Conserving Battery PowerLow-Battery Warning Standby ModeClick Start→ Shut Down→ Stand by. or Hibernate ModeConfiguring Power Management Settings Charging the BatteryReplacing the Battery Storing a Battery Battery Using the KeyboardNumeric Keypad Key CombinationsPower Management Display FunctionsMicrosoft Windows Logo Key Functions Touch Pad Changing the Track Stick Cap Customizing the Touch Pad and Track StickMouse Properties window Playing CDs or DVDs Using MultimediaAdjusting the Picture Adjusting the VolumeVolume Control Window Volume Control ButtonsAdjusting Brightness Using the DisplayMicrosoft Windows XP Microsoft Windows XP Click the Settings tab→ Advanced→ Displays tab Using the Ambient Light SensorAmbient light sensor Using the Display Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable Setting Up and Using NetworksSetting Up a Network in Microsoft Windows XP Setting Up a Network in Microsoft Windows VistaChecking Your Wireless Network Card Wireless Local Area Network WlanWhat You Need to Establish a Wlan Connection Start Button and Connect To OptionOrder Confirmation for Your Computer Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Connecting to a WlanCompleting the Connection to the Wlan Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network WwanChecking Your Mobile Broadband Card Connecting to a Mobile Broadband NetworkClick Start→ All Programs→ Dell Wireless Location Profile Settings General Mobility SettingsEnabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Network Card Dell Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator Internet Connection FirewallButton → Help and Support Installing a PC Card or ExpressCard Using CardsCard Types Card BlanksExpressCard Removing a Card or Blank Using Cards Securing Your Computer Installing a Smart CardSecurity Cable Lock Smart CardsPasswords Using a Primary/System Password Using an Administrator PasswordType of Password Features Using a Hard Drive Password Trusted Platform Module TPM Enabling the TPM FeatureSecurity Management Software Computer Tracking SoftwareIf Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen Dell Technical Update Service TroubleshootingDell Diagnostics When to Use the Dell DiagnosticsInsert the Drivers and Utilities CD Dell Diagnostics Main MenuOption Function Test System Run System Diagnostics Exit Accessing the Dell Support Utility Dell Support UtilityClicking the Dell Support Icon CD and DVD drive problems Drive ProblemsDouble-Clicking the Dell Support Icon Click Start→ My Computer. In Windows VistaProblems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive Hard drive problemsIf you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound Click Start→ My ComputerMail, Modem, and Internet Problems Error Messages Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on Click Start→ Control Panel→ Add or Remove Programs Keyboard Problems Ieee 1394 Device ProblemsExternal keyboard problems Click Device ManagerUnexpected characters Lockups and Software ProblemsComputer does not start up Computer stops respondingProgram stops responding or crashes repeatedly Other software problemsSolid blue screen appears Click Task Manager→ click ApplicationsMemory Problems Network ProblemsGeneral Power Problems PC Card or ExpressCard ProblemsEnsuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer Printer ProblemsDocking Power Considerations AC Power Loss While the Computer Is DockedSound and Speaker Problems Scanner ProblemsNo sound from headphones Touch Pad or Mouse ProblemsNo sound from integrated speakers No sound from external speakersVideo and Display Problems If the display is blankIf the display is difficult to read Click Start→ Control Panel→ Appearance and Themes If only part of the display is readableViewing the System Setup Screens System Setup ProgramSystem Setup Screens OverviewCommonly Used Settings Changing the Boot SequencePerforming a One-Time Boot Changing COM Ports System Setup Program Identifying Your Computer Traveling With Your ComputerPacking the Computer Travel TipsTraveling by Air What Is a Driver? Reinstalling SoftwareDrivers Identifying DriversUsing Windows Device Driver Rollback Reinstalling Drivers and UtilitiesUsing the Drivers and Utilities CD Click Properties→ Hardware→ Device ManagerManually Reinstalling Drivers Fix a Problem section, click Hardware Troubleshooter Restoring Your Operating SystemClick Start→ Help and Support Using Microsoft Windows System Restore Starting System RestoreUndoing the Last System Restore Enabling System Restore Using the Operating System CDReinstalling Windows Before You BeginReinstalling Software Reinstalling Software Before You Begin Adding and Replacing PartsRecommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer100 Hard Drive101 Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Media BayRemoving the Device Security Screw 102103 Removing and Installing Media Bay Devices104 Hinge Cover105 Keyboard106 107 Memory108 109 110 Wireless Cards Subscriber Identity Module SIM Card111 112 Wireless Local Area Network Wlan Cards113 114 Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network Wwan Cards115 FCM Flash Cache Module116 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology117 118 Coin-Cell Battery119 120 121 Dell QuickSet122 123 Specifications124 Ports and ConnectorsMemory Communications125 VideoAudio Display 126127 BatteryKeyboard Touch Pad128 AC AdapterPhysical Environmental 129130 DellConnect Online Services Technical Support and Customer ServiceGetting Help Obtaining Assistance132 AutoTech ServiceProblems With Your Order Automated Order-Status Service133 134 Before You CallDiagnostics Checklist Contacting Dell135 136 Visit support.dell.comAppendix Cleaning Your ComputerComputer, Keyboard, and Display Touch PadCleaning an Optical Mouse Cleaning a Non-Optical MouseFloppy Drive CDs and DVDsFCC Notice U.S. Only Macrovision Product NoticeFCC Class B 139140 141 GlossaryDevice driver See driver 142Docking device See APR 143144 145 Module bay See media bay 146147 148 149 150 Video resolution See resolution

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