Contents
Dell Inspiron 5100
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Contents
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Transferring Information to a New Computer
Dell AccessDirect Button
External Keyboard Problems
Connecting a Television to the Computer
Connecting to a Network Adapter
Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks
Accessing Help Error Messages
Resolving Other Technical Problems
Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP
If You Drop or Damage Your Computer
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
System and Battery Performance Optimization 124
104
106
108
157
Contents
General
Power
Battery
Air Travel
EMC Instructions
When Using Your Computer
When Working Inside Your Computer
Ergonomic Computing Habits
Battery Disposal
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
When Using Your Computer
Tour of Your Computer
Front View
Display latch
Display
Keyboard Speaker
KE Y B O a R D ST a T U S LI G H T S
Light is flashing
PC Card slot Audio connectors 2CD or DVD drive
Left Side View
Right Side View
Battery/battery bay
Security cable slot
MO D E M CO N N E C T O R
Video connector Network connector
AC adapter connector Video TV-out connector Air vents
Back View
AC adapter AC adapter connector
Connects USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer
Hard drive Battery latch release Memory module cover
Bottom View
Modem/Mini PCI
Card cover
Tour of Your Computer
Setting Up Your Computer
Adjusting Font and Icon Sizes
Dell QuickSet Features
Adjusting Font Sizes
Adjusting Icon Sizes
Double-Clicking the QuickSet Icon
Connecting to the Internet
Right-Clicking the QuickSet Icon
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
Click Connect to the Internet
Modem and Internet Connection Problems
Close the Phone and Modems Options window
Setting Up Your Computer
Setting Up a Printer
Printer Cable
Printer Problems
Connecting a USB Printer
USB connector on computer
USB printer On printer Cable
Power Protection Devices
Surge Protectors
Line Conditioners
Click Printers and Other Hardware
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Turning Off Your Computer
Using a Batter y
Battery Performance
Checking the Battery Charge
Charging the Battery
Power Meter
Low-Battery Warning
Removing a Battery
Battery
Storing a Battery
Installing a Battery
Battery and Power Problems
If the battery is not charging
If battery life is short
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad
Dell AccessDirect Button
Numeric Keypad
Reprogramming the Button
Numeric keypad
System Functions
Keyboard Shortcuts
Display Functions
Speaker Functions
Power Management
Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions
Touch Pad
Touch pad Touch pad buttons
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems
Customizing the Touch Pad
External Keyboard Problems
Unexpected Characters
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad
Using CDs, DVDs, Other Multimedia
Using CDs and DVDs
CD or DVD Problems
If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound
If you have a problem with integrated speakers
Sound and Speaker Problems
If you have a problem with external speakers
Connecting a Television to the Computer
Video Connection
Video cable Audio cable
Composite Video Connection
Video TV-out connector Video connector
Enabling the Display Settings for a Television
ATI Video Controller
Nvidia Video Controller
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Connecting to a Network Adapter
Network Setup Wizard
Network Problems
Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks
Determining Your Network Type
Connecting to a Network in Windows XP
Infrastructure Network
Wireless network properties window appears
Networks area
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Finalizing Your Network Connection Security Settings
Click Properties
Click Properties
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Solving Problems
Finding Solutions
See
Solving Problems
Accessing Help
Error Messages
If the display is blank
Video and Display Problems
Click Control Panel Click Add or Remove Programs
If the display is difficult to read
If only part of the display is readable
Scanner Problems
Click Appearance and Themes
Drive Problems
If you cannot save a file to a floppy drive
Write-protected
Back of floppy disk
PC Card Problems
General Program Problems
If you have problems with a hard drive
Under Error-checking, click Check Now Click Start
Resolving Other Technical Problems
Error messages appear
Program crashes
Program stops responding
If Your Computer Gets Wet
If You Drop or Damage Your Computer
What Is a Driver?
Drivers
Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback
Reinstalling Drivers
Identifying Drivers
Using the Drivers and Utilities CD
Click Roll Back Driver
Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows XP
Using System Restore
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Creating a Restore Point
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State
Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP
Undoing the Last System Restore
Before You Reinstall
Enabling System Restore
Preparing to Boot From the Operating System CD
Reinstalling Windows XP
Starting Windows XP Setup
Completing the GUI Setup
Completing the Operating System Setup
Reinstalling Drivers and Software
Solving Problems
Adding and Replacing Parts
Memory
Before You Add or Replace Parts
Captive screw
Securing clips Memory module
101
Modem and Mini PCI Card
Adding a Modem
Screw
Screws
Adding a Mini PCI Card
Modem cable Pull-tab
Mini PCI card
Metal securing tabs 2 Mini PCI card connector
105
Mini PCI card connector
Hard Drive
Screws Hard drive
107
CD or DVD Drive
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell
Keyboard
Lever CD or DVD drive Screw
Hinge cover
Screws Keyboard 110
111
112
P e n d i
Specifications
Microprocessor
System Information
PC Card
Ports and Connectors
Memory
Communications
115
Audio
Video
116
Display
117
118
AC Adapter
119
Environmental
Physical
120
Using the System Setup Program
Overview
Viewing the System Setup Screens
System Setup Screens
Changing the Boot Sequence
Commonly Used Options
123
Optimizing Power Consumption and Battery Charge Time
System and Battery Performance Optimization
System Performance Overview
Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only
Definition of Dell-Installed Software and Peripherals
Variable Speed Fan
Contacting Dell
Definition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals
127
128
China Xiamen
Colombia
Costa Rica
Czech Republic Prague Website support.euro.dell.com
130
France Paris Montpellier Website support.euro.dell.com
Home and Small Business
Corporate
Germany Langen Website support.euro.dell.com
132
Ireland Cherrywood Website support.euro.dell.com
Italy Milan Website support.euro.dell.com
Jamaica
133
Korea Seoul
Japan Kawasaki Website support.jp.dell.com
134
Latin America
Luxembourg Website support.euro.dell.com
Macao
Malaysia Penang
Mexico
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Amsterdam Website support.euro.dell.com
137
138
Sweden Upplands Vasby Website support.euro.dell.com
Spain Madrid Website support.euro.dell.com
139
140
Uruguay
Bracknell Website support.euro.dell.com
141
A. Austin, Texas
Business
Virgin Islands
Venezuela
Regulatory Notices
NOM Information Mexico Only
144
What is not covered by this limited warranty?
What is covered by this limited warranty?
Limited Warranties and Return Policy
How long does this limited warranty last?
What do I do if I need warranty service?
What will Dell do?
146
What if I purchased a service contract?
May I transfer the limited warranty?
How will you fix my product?
147
Total Satisfaction Return Policy U.S. Only
148
149
150
Total Satisfaction Return Policy Canada Only
151
Dell Software and Peripherals Canada Only
Third-Party Software and Peripherals Products
Dell-Branded Peripheral Products
Return Policy
Guarantee
Exclusions
Making a Claim
Limitation and Statutory Rights
154
Intel’s Three Year Limited Warranty
155
156
What are Errata?
D ex
157
158
See UPS
159
160