Owner’s Manual
Dell Inspiron
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Hints, Notices, and Cautions
Abbreviations and Acronyms
November
P/N 1R408
Contents
1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
When Working Inside Your Computer
Contents
2 Solving Problems
Modem and Internet Connection Problems
3 Adding and Replacing Parts
Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows XP
Undoing the Last System Restore
Reinstalling Drivers and Software
4 Appendix
Specifications
Limited Warranty for the U.S
Adding Memory
Contents
CAUTION Safety Instructions
General
CAUTION Safety Instructions continued
Power
Battery
CAUTION Safety Instructions continued
EMC Instructions
Air Travel
CAUTION Safety Instructions continued
When Using Your Computer
When Working Inside Your Computer
When Using Your Computer continued
Ergonomic Computing Habits
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
Battery Disposal
When Using Your Computer continued
16 When Using Your Computer
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Setting Up and Using Your Computer
A Tour of Your Computer
Front View
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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DI S P L A Y L A T C H - Keeps the display closed
Turns on when you turn on the computer
hard drive
Left Side View
PC Card slot
HA R D DR I V E - Reads and writes data on a hard disk
Right Side View
modem connector
audio connectors
infrared sensor
Attach a microphone to the connector
NE T W O R K CO N N E C T O R
Back View
S-VI D E O TV- OU T CO N N E C T O R
Connects serial devices, such as a mouse or handheld device
Connects USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer
CAUTION The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However, power connectors and power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible cable or improperly connecting the cable to the power strip or electrical outlet may cause fire or equipment damage
Bottom View
card, and modem cover
Connecting a Parallel Printer
Setting Up a Printer
Printer Cable
Connecting a USB Printer
parallel connector on computer
Transferring Information to a New Computer With Windows XP
Connecting to the Internet
Setting Up a Home and Office Network With Windows XP
3 Click checklist for creating a network
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
4 Click Set up or change your Internet connection
3 Click Network and Internet Connections
6 Click Connect to the Internet
Copying CDs
click Project Selector
Using Blank CD-R Discs or Blank CD-RW Discs
Using Easy CD Creator Basic
Helpful Tips
How to Copy a CD
Turning Off the Computer
About the Module Bay
Swapping Devices While the Computer Is Turned Off
3 Click Turn off
Swapping Devices While the Computer Is Running
Using the Floppy Drive as an External Device
Enabling the Infrared Sensor
Connecting a Television to the Computer
S-Video Connection
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Before you begin, ensure that you have the following cables
3 Plug the other end of the S-video cable into your television
S-video cable audio cable
Composite Video Connection
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
composite TV-out adapter cable composite video cable audio cable
composite video connector
S-video TV-out connector S-video connector
composite TV-out adapter cable
Enabling the Display Settings for a Television
2 Click Appearance and Themes and click Display
4 Click the Displays tab
Setting Up the Docking Device to Connect to a Network
Setting Up the Dolby Headphone
3 Click the Dolby Headphone tab 4 Click Enable Dolby Headphone
Surge Protectors
Power Protection Devices
Line Conditioners
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
52 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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Solving Problems
Solving Problems
Finding Solutions
See page
Solving Problems
See page See page See page See page See page See page See page
See page See page 66 See page See page See page See page See page
See page
Accessing Help
Power Problems
TO A C C E S S T H E TE L L ME HO W H E L P F I L E
TO A C C E S S H E L P I N WI N D O W S XP
Error Messages
Video and Display Problems
If the display is blank
If the display is difficult to read
Solving Problems
Sound and Speaker Problems
If you have a problem with integrated speakers
If only part of the display is readable
2 Click Appearance and Themes
If you have a problem with external speakers
Printer Problems
Solving Problems
Modem and Internet Connection Problems
2 Click Printers and Other Hardware
5 Close the Phone and Modems Options window
Scanner Problems
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems
External Keyboard Problems
Unexpected Characters
Drive Problems
If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk drive
does not indicate a defect with the drive or the CD
If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, or DVD
back of floppy disk
If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive tray
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound
PC Card Problems
If you have problems with a hard drive
If the CD-RW drive stops writing
4 Under Error-checking, click Check Now
General Program Problems
Network Problems
A program crashes
E-Mail Problems
Error messages appear
A program stops responding
A solid blue screen appears
If Your Computer Gets Wet
Resolving Other Technical Problems
If You Drop or Damage Your Computer
What Is a Driver?
Drivers
Identifying Drivers
3 In the Performance and Maintenance window, click System
Reinstalling Drivers
Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback
3 In the Performance and Maintenance window, click System
Using the Drivers and Utilities CD
Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows XP
3 Click Properties
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click System
Using Microsoft Windows System Restore
Creating a Restore Point
2 Click the Performance and Maintenance
4 Click the System Restore tab
Using the System Restore Wizard
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State
Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP
Undoing the Last System Restore
Before You Reinstall
Reinstalling Windows XP
Starting Windows XP Setup
Preparing to Boot From the Operating System CD
select To set up Windows now
Completing the GUI Setup
Completing the Operating System Setup
Reinstalling Drivers and Software
Adding and Replacing Parts
Palm Rests Display Cover Hard Drive Memory, Mini PCI Card, and Modem
Palm Rests
Adding and Replacing Parts
Display Cover
Hard Drive
To replace the hard drive in the hard drive bay
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell
Memory, Mini PCI Card, and Modem
foam packaging
Adding and Replacing Parts
captive screws
M2.5 x 12-mm screw
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Adding Memory
1 If you are replacing a memory module, remove the existing module
Adding a Mini PCI Card
Adding a Modem
4 Install the screws to secure the modem to the system board
Adding and Replacing Parts
2 Connect the modem cable to the modem
5 Replace the modem cover
98 Adding and Replacing Parts
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A p p e n d i
Specifications Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Contacting Dell
Regulatory Notices Limited Warranties and Return Policy
Specifications
Appendix
Ports and Connectors
Communications
Video
Appendix
Audio
Video continued
Display
Keyboard
Display continued
Touch Pad
Track Stick
Battery
Appendix
Physical
AC Adapter
Appendix
Environmental
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Definition of “Dell-Installed” Software and Peripherals
Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only
Contacting Dell
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit
Definition of “Third-Party” Software and Peripherals
Country City
Austria Vienna
Website support.euro.dell.com
Bahamas
Barbados
Brunei
Canada North York, Ontario
Cayman Islands
Chile Santiago
China Xiamen
Tech Support website support.ap.dell.com/china
Colombia
Costa Rica
Denmark Copenhagen
Website support.euro.dell.com
Dominica
Dominican Republic
France Paris Montpellier
Website support.euro.dell.com
E-mail support.euro.dell.com/fr/fr/emaildell
Home and Small Business
Country City
Hong Kong
India
Ireland Cherrywood
Italy Milan
Website support.euro.dell.com
E-mail support.euro.dell.com/it/it/emaildell
Home and Small Business
Website support.jp.dell.com
Japan Kawasaki
Korea Seoul
Latin America
Luxembourg
Website support.euro.dell.com
Macao
Mexico
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Amsterdam
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway Lysaker
Website support.euro.dell.com
Portugal
E-mail support.euro.dell.com/es/es/emaildell
Puerto Rico
St. Kitts and Nevis
Spain Madrid
Website support.euro.dell.com
Home and Small Business
Corporate
Switzerland Geneva
Website support.euro.dell.com
Customers support.euro.dell.com/ch/fr/emaildell
Taiwan
dell.co.uk/lca/customerservices
Country City
U.K. Bracknell
Website support.euro.dell.com
U.S.A. Austin, Texas
Business
U.S. Virgin Islands
Venezuela
Regulatory Notices
NOM Information Mexico Only
128 Appendix
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Limited Warranty for the U.S
Limited Warranties and Return Policy
What is covered by this limited warranty?
What is not covered by this limited warranty?
How long does this limited warranty last?
What do I do if I need warranty service?
What will Dell do?
Appendix
How will you fix my product?
What if I purchased a service contract?
Appendix
Total Satisfaction Return Policy U.S. Only
May I transfer the limited warranty?
What do I do if I am not satisfied?
Appendix
Limited Warranty Terms for Canada
What is covered by this limited warranty?
What is not covered by this limited warranty?
Appendix
How long does this limited warranty last?
What do I do if I need warranty service?
WE DO NOT ACCEPT LIABILITY BEYOND THE REMEDIES PROVIDED FOR IN THIS WARRANTY STATEMENT OR FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY LIABILTY FOR THIRD PARTY CLAIMS AGAINST YOU FOR DAMAGES, FOR PRODUCTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE FOR USE, OR FOR LOST DATA OR LOST SOFTWARE. OUR LIABILITY WILL BE NO MORE THAN THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR THE PRODUCT THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF A CLAIM. THIS IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR WHICH WE ARE RESPONSIBLE
What will Dell do?
How will you fix my product?
What if I purchased an on-site service contract?
Appendix
Total Satisfaction Return Policy Canada Only
May I transfer the limited warranty?
What do I do if I am not satisfied?
Appendix
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
Intel’s Three Year Limited Warranty
Limited Warranty
Extent of Limited Warranty
How to Obtain Warranty Service
Appendix
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Intel’s Commitment to Quality
What are ’Errata’?
I n d ex
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Index