Main
Notes, Notices, and Cautions
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Contents
1 A Tour of Your Computer
2 Setting Up Your Computer
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3 Using a Battery
4 Using the Module Bay
5 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad
6 Using CDs, DVDs, and other Multimedia
7 Setting Up a Home and Office Network
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8 Solving Problems
9 Adding and Replacing Parts
10 Appendix
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
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Finding Information
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NOTE:
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A Tour of Your Computer
Front View
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NOTE:
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The green lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:
Left View
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Right View
Back View
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Bottom View
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Setting Up Your Computer
Connecting to the Internet
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
Modem and Internet Connection Problems
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E-Mail Problems Setting Up a Printer
Printer Cable
Connecting a Parallel Printer
Connecting a USB Printer
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3
Printer Problems
Power Protection Devices
Surge Protectors
Line Conditioners
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Turning Off Your Computer
Using a Battery
Battery Performance
Checking the Battery Charge
Dell QuickSet Battery Meter
Microsoft Windows Power Meter
Charge Gauge
Low-Battery Warning
Charging the Battery
Removing a Battery
Installing a Battery
Removing and Installing a Reserve Battery
Storing a Battery
Power Problems
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Using the Module Bay
About the Module Bay
Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Turned Off
Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Running
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad
Numeric Keypad
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Keyboard Shortcuts
Advanced
System Functions
Battery CD or DVD Tray Display Functions
Radios (Including Wireless Networking and Bluetooth Wireless Technology) Power Management
Speaker Functions
If no sound comes from the speakers, press <Fn><End> and adjust the volume.
Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions
Touch Pad
Customizing the Touch Pad
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems
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External Keyboard Problems
Unexpected Characters
Using CDs, DVDs, and other Multimedia
Using CDs and DVDs
Drive Problems
If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk drive
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If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, or DVD
If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive tray
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If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound If the CD-RW drive stops writing
If you have problems with a hard drive
Sound and Speaker Problems
If you have a problem with integrated speakers
If you have a problem with external speakers
Copying CDs and DVDs
How to Copy a CD or DVD
Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs
Helpful Tips
Connecting a Television to the Computer
S-Video Connection
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Composite Video Connection
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Enabling the Display Settings for a Television
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Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Connecting to a Network Adapter
Network Setup Wizard
Network Problems
Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network
Determining Your Network Type
Connecting to a Wireless Network in Microsoft Windows XP
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Solving Problems
Error Messages
Video and Display Problems
If the display is blank
If the display is difficult to read
If only part of the display is readable
Modem and Internet Connection Problems
Scanner Problems
Floppy Disk and Hard Drive Problems
If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk drive
If you have problems with a hard drive
PC Card Problems
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General Program Problems
A program crashes
Resolving Other Technical Problems
A program stops responding
A solid blue screen appears
If Your Dell Computer Gets Wet
If You Drop or Damage Your Computer
Drivers
What Is a Driver?
Identifying Drivers
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Restoring Your Operating System
Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore
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Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec
Dell Diagnostics
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
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Adding and Replacing Parts
Before You Begin
Recommended Tools
Shutting Down Your Computer
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Adding Memory
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Adding a Mini PCI Card
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Replacing the Hard Drive
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell
Keyboard
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Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology
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Appendix
Specifications
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Using the System Setup Program
Viewing the System Setup Screens
System Setup Screens
Commonly Used Options
Changing the Boot Sequence
Changing Printer Modes
Changing COM Ports
Enabling the Infrared Sensor
FCC Notices (U.S. Only)
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NOM Information (Mexico Only)
Contacting Dell
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Index
A
B
C
D
H
I
K
L
M
R
S
T
U
V
W