Dell 1700 Drive Problems

Troubleshooting 113

To begin a live session with a Dell associate:

1

Click the

Dell Support

Center icon on your computer’s desktop.

2

Click

Assistance From Dell

→

Technical Support

→

DellConnect

→

Phone

and follow the instructions.

Drive Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT WINDOWS RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE —

Windows XP:

• Click

Start

and click

My Computer

.

Windows Vista

®

:

• Click the Windows Vista Start button and click

Computer

.

If the drive is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus software to

check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from

recognizing the drive.

TEST THE DRIVE —

• Insert another floppy disk, CD, or DVD to eliminate the possibility that

the original media is defective.

• Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer.

CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK —See "Cleaning Your Computer" on page208.

ENSURE THAT THE CD OR DVD MEDIA IS SNAPPED ONTO THE SPINDLE

CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS

CHECK FOR HARDWARE INCOMPATIBILITIES —See "Troubleshooting Software

and Hardware Problems" on page141.

RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS —See "Dell Diagnostics" on page105.

Optical drive problems

NOTE: High-speed optical drive vibration is normal and may cause noise, which

does not indicate a defect in the drive or the media.

NOTE: Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all

DVD titles work in all DVD drives.

Contents

Main Notes, Notices, and Cautions ____________________ Contents 3 Setting Up Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . 35 4 Using the Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 5 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 6 Using a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 7 Using Multimedia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 8 Using ExpressCards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 9 Using the Memory Card Reader . . . . . . 89 10 Setting Up and Using Networks . . . . . . 91 11 Securing Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 12 Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Page Page 13 Adding and Replacing Parts . . . . . . . . . 153 16 Getting Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Page Page Page Finding Information NOTE: 16 NOTE: 18 NOTE: Page About Your Computer Determining Your Computers Configuration Front View Page Page NOTE: 26 The blue lights located above the keyboard indicate the following: Left Side View Page Right Side View 30 Back View 32 Bottom View Page Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection Transferring Information to a New Computer Microsoft Windows XP Page Page Page Microsoft Windows Vista Setting Up a Printer Printer Cable Connecting a USB Printer Power Protection Devices Surge Protectors Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies Using the Display Adjusting Brightness Switching the Video Image From Your Computer Display to a Projector Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate Microsoft Windows XP Windows Vista Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Numeric Keypad Battery Key Combinations System Functions Display Functions Power Management Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Dell QuickSet Key Combinations Adjusting Keyboard Settings Touch Pad Customizing the Touch Pad Using a Battery Battery Performance Checking the Battery Charge Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Microsoft Windows Battery Meter Charge Gauge Low-Battery Warning Conserving Battery Power Configuring Power Management Settings Using the Sleep Power State Charging the Battery Replacing the Battery Storing a Battery Page Using Multimedia Playing Media Page Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote Copying CD and DVD Media How to Copy a CD or DVD Using Blank CD or DVD Media Helpful Tips Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture Using Dell MediaDirect Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device Page Page S-Video and Standard Audio S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Composite Video and Standard Audio Page Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Component Video and Standard Audio Page Page Page Page Page Enabling the Display Settings for a TV Page Page Using ExpressCards ExpressCard Blanks Installing an ExpressCard Removing an ExpressCard or Blank Page Using the Memory Card Reader Memory Card Blanks Installing a Memory Card Removing a Memory Card or Blank Setting Up and Using Networks Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable Setting Up a Network Wireless Local Area Network What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection Checking Your Wireless Network Card Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem Connecting to a WLAN Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network) What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Dell Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator Page Securing Your Computer Security Cable Lock Passwords If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen Page Page Troubleshooting Dell Technical Update Service Dell Diagnostics Page Page Page Page Dell Support Center Dell Support Dell PC TuneUp Dell PC Checkup Dell Network Assistant DellConnect Drive Problems Optical drive problems Hard drive problems E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Page Error Messages Page Page Page Page ExpressCard Problems IEEE 1394 Device Problems Keyboard Problems External Keyboard problems Unexpected characters Lockups and Software Problems The computer does not start The computer stops responding A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft operating system A solid blue screen appears Dell MediaDirect problems Other software problems Memory Problems Network Problems Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area Network [WWAN]) Power Problems Page Printer Problems Scanner Problems Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from integrated speakers No sound from external speakers No sound from headphones Remote Control Problems Touch Pad or Mouse Problems Video and Display Problems If the display is blank If the display is difficult to read If only part of the display is readable Drivers What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Page Page Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems Restoring your Microsoft Windows Operating System Restoring Windows Vista Page Page Page Page Restoring Windows XP Page Page Page Page Page Adding and Replacing Parts Before You Begin Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer Hard Drive Removing the Hard Drive Replacing the Hard Drive Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Optical Drive Removing the Optical Drive Hinge Cover Removing the Hinge Cover Replacing the Hinge Cover Keyboard Removing the Keyboard Replacing the Keyboard Memory Removing the DIMM A Memory Module Replacing the DIMM A Memory Module Removing the DIMM B Memory Module Page Replacing the DIMM B Memory Module Subscriber Identity Module Wireless Mini-Cards Removing a WLAN Card Page Replacing a WLAN Card Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card Page Page Replacing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card Removing a WPAN Card Replacing a WPAN Card Flash Cache Module Removing the FCM Replacing the FCM Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology Removing the Card Coin-Cell Battery Removing the Coin-Cell Battery Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery Page Dell QuickSet Features Page Traveling With Your Computer Identifying Your Computer Packing the Computer Travel Tips Traveling by Air Getting Help Obtaining Assistance Technical Support and Customer Service DellConnect Online Services AutoTech Service Automated Order-Status Service Problems With Your Order Product Information Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Before You Call 194 Contacting Dell Page Specifications NOTE: 198 NOTE: Page Page Page Page Page Page Appendix Using the System Setup Program Viewing the System Setup Screen System Setup Screen Commonly Used Options Page Cleaning Your Computer Computer, Keyboard, and Display Touch Pad Mouse Media Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S.Only) Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals FCC Notice (U.S. Only) FCC Class B Page Page Page Glossary A B C D Page E F G H I K L M N O P R S Page T U V W X Z Page Index Numbers A B C D E F H I K M N O P Q R S T U V W