Owner’s Manual
Dell Inspiron
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P/N 1R408
Hints, Notices, and Cautions
Abbreviations and Acronyms
November
Contents
Contents
1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
When Working Inside Your Computer
2 Solving Problems
Modem and Internet Connection Problems
Reinstalling Drivers and Software
3 Adding and Replacing Parts
Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows XP
Undoing the Last System Restore
Adding Memory
4 Appendix
Specifications
Limited Warranty for the U.S
Contents
General
CAUTION Safety Instructions
Power
CAUTION Safety Instructions continued
CAUTION Safety Instructions continued
Battery
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
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16 When Using Your Computer
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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A Tour of Your Computer
Front View
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
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
infrared sensor
Right Side View
modem connector
audio connectors
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
card, and modem cover
Bottom View
Connecting a Parallel Printer
Setting Up a Printer
Printer Cable
parallel connector on computer
Connecting a USB Printer
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
6 Click Connect to the Internet
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
4 Click Set up or change your Internet connection
3 Click Network and Internet Connections
click Project Selector
Copying CDs
Using Blank CD-R Discs or Blank CD-RW Discs
Using Easy CD Creator Basic
Helpful Tips
How to Copy a CD
3 Click Turn off
Turning Off the Computer
About the Module Bay
Swapping Devices While the Computer Is Turned Off
Swapping Devices While the Computer Is Running
Using the Floppy Drive as an External Device
Enabling the Infrared Sensor
S-Video Connection
Connecting a Television to the Computer
S-video cable audio cable
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
Composite Video Connection
composite TV-out adapter cable composite video cable audio cable
Setting Up and Using Your Computer
composite video connector
S-video TV-out connector S-video connector
composite TV-out adapter cable
2 Click Appearance and Themes and click Display
Enabling the Display Settings for a Television
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
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52 Setting Up and Using Your Computer
Solving Problems
Solving Problems
Finding Solutions
See page
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
TO A C C E S S H E L P I N WI N D O W S XP
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
Error Messages
If the display is blank
Video and Display Problems
Solving Problems
If the display is difficult to read
2 Click Appearance and Themes
Sound and Speaker Problems
If you have a problem with integrated speakers
If only part of the display is readable
If you have a problem with external speakers
Printer Problems
Solving Problems
2 Click Printers and Other Hardware
Modem and Internet Connection Problems
5 Close the Phone and Modems Options window
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems
Scanner 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 hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound
If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive tray
4 Under Error-checking, click Check Now
PC Card Problems
If you have problems with a hard drive
If the CD-RW drive stops writing
General Program Problems
Network Problems
A program crashes
A solid blue screen appears
E-Mail Problems
Error messages appear
A program stops responding
If Your Computer Gets Wet
If You Drop or Damage Your Computer
Resolving Other Technical Problems
3 In the Performance and Maintenance window, click System
What Is a Driver?
Drivers
Identifying Drivers
Using the Drivers and Utilities CD
Reinstalling Drivers
Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback
3 In the Performance and Maintenance window, click System
3 Click Properties
Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows XP
2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click System
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Using Microsoft Windows System Restore
Using the System Restore Wizard
Creating a Restore Point
2 Click the Performance and Maintenance
4 Click the System Restore tab
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State
Reinstalling Windows XP
Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP
Undoing the Last System Restore
Before You Reinstall
Starting Windows XP Setup
Preparing to Boot From the Operating System CD
select To set up Windows now
Completing the GUI Setup
Reinstalling Drivers and Software
Completing the Operating System Setup
Palm Rests Display Cover Hard Drive Memory, Mini PCI Card, and Modem
Adding and Replacing Parts
Adding and Replacing Parts
Palm Rests
Display Cover
Hard Drive
To replace the hard drive in the hard drive bay
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell
foam packaging
Memory, Mini PCI Card, and Modem
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Adding and Replacing Parts
captive screws
M2.5 x 12-mm screw
Adding Memory
1 If you are replacing a memory module, remove the existing module
Adding a Mini PCI Card
Adding a Modem
5 Replace the modem cover
4 Install the screws to secure the modem to the system board
Adding and Replacing Parts
2 Connect the modem cable to the modem
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98 Adding and Replacing Parts
Regulatory Notices Limited Warranties and Return Policy
A p p e n d i
Specifications Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Contacting Dell
Appendix
Specifications
Appendix
Ports and Connectors
Communications
Video
Audio
Video continued
Display
Keyboard
Display continued
Touch Pad
Track Stick
Battery
Appendix
Physical
AC Adapter
Appendix
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Environmental
Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only
Definition of “Dell-Installed” Software and Peripherals
Contacting Dell
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit
Definition of “Third-Party” Software and Peripherals
Country City
Barbados
Austria Vienna
Website support.euro.dell.com
Bahamas
Chile Santiago
Brunei
Canada North York, Ontario
Cayman Islands
Costa Rica
China Xiamen
Tech Support website support.ap.dell.com/china
Colombia
Dominican Republic
Denmark Copenhagen
Website support.euro.dell.com
Dominica
Home and Small Business
France Paris Montpellier
Website support.euro.dell.com
E-mail support.euro.dell.com/fr/fr/emaildell
Ireland Cherrywood
Country City
Hong Kong
India
Home and Small Business
Italy Milan
Website support.euro.dell.com
E-mail support.euro.dell.com/it/it/emaildell
Website support.jp.dell.com
Japan Kawasaki
Korea Seoul
Macao
Latin America
Luxembourg
Website support.euro.dell.com
Netherlands Amsterdam
Mexico
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
Website support.euro.dell.com
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway Lysaker
St. Kitts and Nevis
Portugal
E-mail support.euro.dell.com/es/es/emaildell
Puerto Rico
Corporate
Spain Madrid
Website support.euro.dell.com
Home and Small Business
Taiwan
Switzerland Geneva
Website support.euro.dell.com
Customers support.euro.dell.com/ch/fr/emaildell
Website support.euro.dell.com
dell.co.uk/lca/customerservices
Country City
U.K. Bracknell
Venezuela
U.S.A. Austin, Texas
Business
U.S. Virgin Islands
Regulatory Notices
NOM Information Mexico Only
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128 Appendix
What is not covered by this limited warranty?
Limited Warranty for the U.S
Limited Warranties and Return Policy
What is covered by this limited warranty?
Appendix
How long does this limited warranty last?
What do I do if I need warranty service?
What will Dell do?
How will you fix my product?
What if I purchased a service contract?
Appendix
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?
What will Dell do?
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
How will you fix my product?
What if I purchased an on-site service contract?
Appendix
Appendix
Total Satisfaction Return Policy Canada Only
May I transfer the limited warranty?
What do I do if I am not satisfied?
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
How to Obtain Warranty Service
Intel’s Three Year Limited Warranty
Limited Warranty
Extent of Limited Warranty
What are ’Errata’?
Appendix
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Intel’s Commitment to Quality
I n d ex
Page
Page
Index