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