Dell Portable Computers
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Contents
Using the Display
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device
Using a Battery
Removing a Media Memory Card or Blank
Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network
If only part of the display is readable Contents
111
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
105
108
131
125
127
128
145
Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only 144
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
Finding Information
Support.dell.com
What Are You Looking For?
Under Select a Device, scroll to System
Premier.support.dell.com
Software
Operating System CD
Front View
Tour of Your Computer
V I C E S T a T U S L I G H T S
Tour of Your Computer
Y B O a R D a N D W I R E L E S S 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
Back View
Bottom View
Tour of Your Computer
Click Connect to the Internet
Setting Up Your Computer
Connecting to the Internet
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
If you have a CD, click Use the CD I got from an ISP
Transferring Information to a New Computer
Start the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
Click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
Printer Cable
Setting Up a Printer
Connecting a USB Printer
Power Protection Devices
Surge Protectors
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Line Conditioners
Setting Up Your Computer
Adjusting Brightness
Using the Display
Switching the Video Image
Under Pick a category, click Appearance and Themes
Setting Display Resolution
Numeric Keypad
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad
CD or DVD Tray
Battery
Key Combinations
System Functions
Opens the Search Results-Computer dialog box
Power Management
Power Options Properties window. See Power
Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions
Customizing the Touch Pad
Touch Pad
Setting Sleep Modes
Power Management
Power Management Tips
Power Management Wizard
Selecting a Power Scheme
Standby Mode
Power Management Modes
Setting Battery Alarms and Actions
Completing the Power Management Wizard
Hibernate Mode
Power Options Properties
Power Schemes Tab
Power Meter Tab
Alarms Tab
Advanced Tab
Double-Clicking the QuickSet Icon
Dell QuickSet Features
Hibernate Tab
Clicking the QuickSet Icon
Battery Types
Using a Battery
Battery Performance
Dell QuickSet Battery Meter
Checking the Battery Charge
Microsoft Windows Power Meter
Health Gauge
Charging the Battery
Low-Battery Warning
Charge Gauge
Storing a Battery
Playing a CD or DVD
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
DVD player includes the following basic buttons
Adjusting the Volume
How to Copy a CD or DVD
Adjusting the Picture
Copying CDs and DVDs
Media Type Read Write Rewritable
Using Blank CDs and DVDs
Helpful Tips
Using Dell MediaDirect
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device
Video and Standard Audio
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio
Video cable Pdif digital audio cable
Composite Video and Standard Audio
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio
TV/digital audio adapter Pdif digital audio cable Cable
Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio
Click the DVD Audio Setting icon
Enabling S/PDIF in the Windows Audio Driver
Setting Up the Cyberlink CL Headphones
Click Advanced Click S/PDIF Interface
Video Controller
Enabling the Display Settings for a TV
Click Advanced
ExpressCard Blanks
Using ExpressCards
Installing an ExpressCard
ExpressCard Types
Removing an ExpressCard or Blank
Release button ExpressCard
Using ExpressCards
Media Memory Card Blanks
Using the 5-in-1 Media Memory Card Reader
Installing a Media Memory Card
Media Memory Card Types
Removing a Media Memory Card or Blank
Click Checklist for creating a network
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Connecting to a Network Adapter
Network Setup Wizard
Connecting to a Wireless Network in Microsoft Windows XP
Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network
Determining Your Network Type
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive
Solving Problems
Dell Diagnostics
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD
Option Function
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu
Tab Function
Drive Problems
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound
CD and DVD drive problems
Hard drive problems
Problems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive
Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems
Error Messages
Solving Problems
Solving Problems
Click Add or Remove Programs
Click Printers and Other Hardware
Ieee 1394 Device Problems
Keyboard Problems
External Keyboard problems
Computer stops responding
Lockups and Software Problems
Unexpected characters
Computer does not start up
Solid blue screen appears
Dell MediaDirect problems
Other software problems
Memory Problems
ExpressCard Problems
Network Problems
Power Problems
Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer
Printer Problems
If your scanner is listed, Windows recognizes the scanner
Scanner Problems
No sound from external speakers
Sound and Speaker Problems
No sound from headphones
No sound from integrated speakers
Video and Display Problems
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems
If the display is blank
If only part of the display is readable
What Is a Driver?
Drivers
If the display is difficult to read
Identifying Drivers
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities
Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance
Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback
Click Roll Back Driver
Using the Drivers and Utilities CD
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Manually Reinstalling Drivers
Restoring Your Operating System
100
Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore
Creating a Restore Point
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State
101
Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec
Undoing the Last System Restore
Enabling System Restore
102
Removing Dell PC Restore
103
Using the Operating System CD
Reinstalling Windows XP
Before You Begin
104
Turning Off Your Computer
Adding and Replacing Parts
Before You Begin
Recommended Tools
106
Before Working Inside Your Computer
107
Hard Drive
Battery
Removing a Battery
Installing a Battery
109
110
About the Device Security Screw
Removing and Installing Optical Drives
Optical Drives
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell
112
Memory
113
Installing a Memory Module in Connector Dimm B
114
115
Installing a Memory Module in Connector Dimm a
116
117
118
119
Modem Optional
120
121
Wireless Mini PCI Card
122
Removing the Hinge Cover
Hinge Cover
123
124
Replacing the Hinge Cover
Keyboard
125
126
Removing the Keyboard
Replacing the Keyboard
Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology
127
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery
Coin-Cell Battery
128
129
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery
Adding and Replacing Parts
Appendix
Specifications
131
Memory
Ports and Connectors
132
In-1 Media Memory Card Reader
Audio
133
Communications
Video
Touch Pad
134
Display
Keyboard
135
Battery
AC Adapter
Physical
136
Environmental
137
Using the System Setup Program
Viewing the System Setup Screen
Overview
138
System Setup Screen
Changing the Boot Sequence
Commonly Used Options
139
Computer Tracking Software Traveling With Your Computer
Identifying Your Computer
Packing the Computer
Traveling by Air
Travel Tips
140
141
Cleaning Your Computer
If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen
Computer, Keyboard, and Display
CDs and DVDs
FCC Notices U.S. Only
Touch Pad
Floppy Drive
143
Class a Class B
FCC Identification Information
Definition of Dell-Installed Software and Peripherals
Macrovision Product Notice
Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only
Definition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals
Contacting Dell
145
Australia Sydney
146
Argentina Buenos Aires
Aruba
147
Cayman Islands
148
Brunei
Canada North York, Ontario
Costa Rica
149
China Xiamen
Colombia
150
Corporate
151
France Paris Montpellier Website support.euro.dell.com
Home and Small Business
152
Jamaica
153
Ireland Cherrywood Website support.euro.dell.com
Italy Milan Website support.euro.dell.com
Korea Seoul
Japan Kawasaki Website support.jp.dell.com
Macao
155
Latin America
Luxembourg Website support.euro.dell.com
Netherlands Antilles
156
Mexico
Montserrat
157
158
159
Taiwan Website support.ap.dell.com
160
Sweden Upplands Vasby Website support.euro.dell.com
Switzerland Geneva Website support.euro.dell.com
161
Virgin Islands
162
A. Austin, Texas
Business
163
Glossary
Device driver See driver
164
Docking device See APR
165
166
167
NIC See network adapter
168
169
170
System tray See notification area
171
172
Video resolution See resolution
173
Glossary
175
Index
176
177
178
Problems
179
180