Dell 500m Reinstalling Windows XP

Solving Problems 101

Reinstalling Windows XP

To reinstall Windows XP, perform all the steps in th e following sections in the order in

which they are listed.

The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the

operating system, you must also reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and

other software.

NOTICE: The

Operating System

CD provides options for reinstalling Wi ndows XP. The options

can overwrite files and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive. Th erefore, do not

reinstall Windows XP unless inst ructed to do so by a Dell technical support repres entative.

NOTICE: To prevent conflicts with Windows XP, disable any virus protection software instal led

on your computer before you reinstall Windows XP. See the documentation that came with the

software for instr uctions.

Booting From the Operating System CD

1Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.

2Insert the Operating System C D. If any program starts automatically, exit the program

before proceeding.

3Shut down the computer through the Start menu (see "Turning Off Your Computer"

on page 42) and restart th e computer.

4Press immediately after the DELL™ logo appears.

If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the Windows desktop, and

then shut down the computer and try again. Press the arrow keys to select CD-ROM,

and then press .

5When the Press any key t o boot from CD messag e appears, press any key.

Windows XP Setup

1When the Windows XP Setup scr een appears, press to se lect To se t up

Windows now .

2Read the information on the Microsoft Windows Licensing Agreement screen, and

press to accept the license agreement.

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Contents

Main Notes, Notices, and Cautions Abbreviations and Acronyms ___________________ Contents 1A Tour of Your Computer 2Setting Up Your Computer 3Using Batteries and Module Bay Devices 4Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 5Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia 6Setting Up a Home and Office Ne twork 7Solving Problems Page 8Adding and Replacing Parts 9Appendix Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Page General Power Battery Air Travel EMC Instructions Page Ergonomic Computing Habits When Working Inside Your Computer Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Battery Disposal Page Page Front View Page Page Left Side View Page Right Side View Back View Page Page Page Bottom View Page Page Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection Modem and Internet Connection Problems E-Mail Problems Transferring Information to a New Computer Page Setting Up a Printer Printer Cable Connecting a Parallel Printer Connecting a USB Printer The USB connectors fit only one way. Printer Problems Setting Up the Docking Device to Connect to a Network Power Protection Dev ic es Surge Protectors Line Conditione r s Uninterruptible Power Supplies Turning Off Your Computer Page Using a Battery Battery Performance Checking the Battery Charge Page Charging the Battery Removing a Battery Installing a Battery Removing and Installing a Reserve Battery compartment. Storing a Battery Power Problems About the Module Bay Checking the Charge on the Second Battery Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Turned Off If the Device Screw Is Not Installed If the Device Screw Is Installed Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Running If the Device Screw Is Not Installed If the Device Screw Is Installed Page Page Numeric Keypad Keyboard Shortcuts Power Management Speaker Functions If no sound comes from the speakers, press and adjust the volume. Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Page Customizing the Touch Pad You can disable the touch pad or adjust their settings by using the Mouse Properties window. Touch Pad or Mouse Problems External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters are displayed instead of letters. Ver ify that the numbers lock light is not lit. Page Page Using CDs and DVDs CD and DVD Problems If you cannot play a CD or DVD If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive tray If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound Sound and Speaker Problems If you have a problem with integrated speakers If you have a problem with external speakers Copying CDs Using Easy CD Creator Basic Using Blank CD-R Discs or Blank CD-RW Discs Helpful Tips How to Copy a CD Connecting a Television to the Computer S-Video Connection Page Composite Video Connection Page Enabling the Display Settings for a Television Page Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard Network Problems Page Solving Problems 84 Solving Problems Finding Solutions Tell Me How Solving Problems 85 Accessing Help H M T 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 Scanner Problems Drive Problems Tell Me How If you cannot save a file to a floppy drive If you have problems with a hard drive PC Card Problems General Program Problems A program crashes Error messages appear A program stops responding If Your Computer Gets Wet If You Drop or Damage Your Computer Resolving Other Technical Problems Drivers What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows XP Using System Restore Creating a Restore Point Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP Before You Reinstall Reinstalling Windows XP Page Reinstalling Drivers and Software Page Page Adding Memory Page Adding a Mini PCI Card Page Page Replacing the Hard Drive Page Page Page Appendix Specifications Page Page Page Page Page Standard Settings Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screens Commonly Used Options Page Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals Contacting Dell Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Regulatory Notices NOM Information (Mexico Only) Limited Warranties and Return Policy Limited Warranty for the U.S. 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 149 NOTE: What if I purchased a service contract? How will you fix my product? What do I do if I am not satisfied? May I transfer the limited warranty? "Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (U.S. Only) Limited Warranty Terms for Canada What is covered by this limited warranty? What is not covered by this limited warranty? How long does this limited warranty last? Appendix 153 What do I do if I need warranty service? What will Dell do? NOTE: 154 Appendix NOTE: What if I purchased a service contract? How will you fix my product? What do I do if I am not satisfied? May I transfer the limited warranty? "Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (Canada Only) Dell Software and Peripherals (Canada Only) Third-Party Software and Pe ripherals Products Dell-Branded Peripheral Products Return Policy One-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee (Latin America and the Caribbean Only) Guarantee Exclusions Making a Claim Limitation and Statutory Rights www.dell.com | support.dell.com 3Y647bk0.book Page 158 We dnesday, April 2, 2003 3:24 PM Intel Warranty Statement for Pentium and Celeron Processors Only (U.S. and Canada Only) 3Y647bk0.book Page 159 We dnesday, April 2, 2003 3:24 PM Page Index A B C D H I K L M R S T U V W DELL INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT Printing Specifications Dell Confidential (Completed by Infor mation Development )LOCALIZATIO N ENGLISH Dell Confidential Revise section, file name, page count, and comments columns