Dell Inspiron 5100
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Contents
Transferring Information to a New Computer
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
External Keyboard Problems
Dell AccessDirect Button
Connecting to a Network Adapter
Connecting a Television to the Computer
Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks
Accessing Help Error Messages
Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP
Resolving Other Technical Problems
If You Drop or Damage Your Computer
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
104
System and Battery Performance Optimization 124
106
108
157
Contents
General
Power
Battery
EMC Instructions
Air Travel
When Using Your Computer
Ergonomic Computing Habits
When Working Inside Your Computer
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
Battery Disposal
When Using Your Computer
Tour of Your Computer
Display latch
Front View
Display
Keyboard Speaker
KE Y B O a R D ST a T U S LI G H T S
Light is flashing
Left Side View
PC Card slot Audio connectors 2CD or DVD drive
Battery/battery bay
Right Side View
Security cable slot
MO D E M CO N N E C T O R
AC adapter connector Video TV-out connector Air vents
Video connector Network connector
Back View
AC adapter AC adapter connector
Connects USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer
Bottom View
Hard drive Battery latch release Memory module cover
Modem/Mini PCI
Card cover
Tour of Your Computer
Setting Up Your Computer
Dell QuickSet Features
Adjusting Font and Icon Sizes
Adjusting Font Sizes
Adjusting Icon Sizes
Connecting to the Internet
Double-Clicking the QuickSet Icon
Right-Clicking the QuickSet Icon
Click Connect to the Internet
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
Close the Phone and Modems Options window
Modem and Internet Connection Problems
Setting Up Your Computer
Printer Cable
Setting Up a Printer
Connecting a USB Printer
Printer Problems
USB connector on computer
USB printer On printer Cable
Surge Protectors
Power Protection Devices
Line Conditioners
Click Printers and Other Hardware
Turning Off Your Computer
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Using a Batter y
Battery Performance
Charging the Battery
Checking the Battery Charge
Power Meter
Low-Battery Warning
Battery
Removing a Battery
Installing a Battery
Storing a Battery
Battery and Power Problems
If battery life is short
If the battery is not charging
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad
Numeric Keypad
Dell AccessDirect Button
Reprogramming the Button
Numeric keypad
Keyboard Shortcuts
System Functions
Display Functions
Power Management
Speaker Functions
Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions
Touch pad Touch pad buttons
Touch Pad
Customizing the Touch Pad
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems
Unexpected Characters
External Keyboard Problems
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad
Using CDs, DVDs, Other Multimedia
CD or DVD Problems
Using CDs and DVDs
If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW
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
Video Connection
Connecting a Television to the Computer
Video cable Audio cable
Composite Video Connection
Video TV-out connector Video connector
ATI Video Controller
Enabling the Display Settings for a Television
Nvidia Video Controller
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Network Setup Wizard
Connecting to a Network Adapter
Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks
Network Problems
Connecting to a Network in Windows XP
Determining Your Network Type
Infrastructure Network
Networks area
Wireless network properties window appears
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Finalizing Your Network Connection Security Settings
Click Properties
Click Properties
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Solving Problems
See
Finding Solutions
Solving Problems
Error Messages
Accessing Help
Video and Display Problems
If the display is blank
Click Control Panel Click Add or Remove Programs
If the display is difficult to read
Scanner Problems
If only part of the display is readable
Click Appearance and Themes
If you cannot save a file to a floppy drive
Drive Problems
Write-protected
Back of floppy disk
General Program Problems
PC Card Problems
If you have problems with a hard drive
Under Error-checking, click Check Now Click Start
Error messages appear
Resolving Other Technical Problems
Program crashes
Program stops responding
If Your Computer Gets Wet
What Is a Driver?
If You Drop or Damage Your Computer
Drivers
Reinstalling Drivers
Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback
Identifying Drivers
Click Roll Back Driver
Using the Drivers and Utilities CD
Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows XP
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Using System Restore
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State
Creating a Restore Point
Undoing the Last System Restore
Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP
Before You Reinstall
Enabling System Restore
Reinstalling Windows XP
Preparing to Boot From the Operating System CD
Starting Windows XP Setup
Completing the GUI Setup
Reinstalling Drivers and Software
Completing the Operating System Setup
Solving Problems
Adding and Replacing Parts
Before You Add or Replace Parts
Memory
Captive screw
101
Securing clips Memory module
Modem and Mini PCI Card
Screw
Adding a Modem
Adding a Mini PCI Card
Screws
Modem cable Pull-tab
Metal securing tabs 2 Mini PCI card connector
Mini PCI card
105
Hard Drive
Mini PCI card connector
107
Screws Hard drive
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell
CD or DVD Drive
Lever CD or DVD drive Screw
Keyboard
Screws Keyboard 110
Hinge cover
111
112
P e n d i
Microprocessor
Specifications
System Information
PC Card
Memory
Ports and Connectors
Communications
115
Video
Audio
116
117
Display
118
119
AC Adapter
Physical
Environmental
120
Overview
Using the System Setup Program
System Setup Screens
Viewing the System Setup Screens
Changing the Boot Sequence
Commonly Used Options
123
System and Battery Performance Optimization
Optimizing Power Consumption and Battery Charge Time
System Performance Overview
Definition of Dell-Installed Software and Peripherals
Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only
Variable Speed Fan
Definition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals
Contacting Dell
127
128
Colombia
China Xiamen
Costa Rica
Czech Republic Prague Website support.euro.dell.com
130
Home and Small Business
France Paris Montpellier Website support.euro.dell.com
Corporate
Germany Langen Website support.euro.dell.com
132
Italy Milan Website support.euro.dell.com
Ireland Cherrywood Website support.euro.dell.com
Jamaica
133
Japan Kawasaki Website support.jp.dell.com
Korea Seoul
134
Luxembourg Website support.euro.dell.com
Latin America
Macao
Malaysia Penang
Montserrat
Mexico
Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Amsterdam Website support.euro.dell.com
137
138
Spain Madrid Website support.euro.dell.com
Sweden Upplands Vasby Website support.euro.dell.com
139
140
Bracknell Website support.euro.dell.com
Uruguay
141
Business
A. Austin, Texas
Virgin Islands
Venezuela
Regulatory Notices
144
NOM Information Mexico Only
What is covered by this limited warranty?
What is not covered by this limited warranty?
Limited Warranties and Return Policy
What do I do if I need warranty service?
How long does this limited warranty last?
What will Dell do?
146
May I transfer the limited warranty?
What if I purchased a service contract?
How will you fix my product?
147
148
Total Satisfaction Return Policy U.S. Only
149
150
151
Total Satisfaction Return Policy Canada Only
Third-Party Software and Peripherals Products
Dell Software and Peripherals Canada Only
Dell-Branded Peripheral Products
Return Policy
Exclusions
Guarantee
Making a Claim
Limitation and Statutory Rights
154
155
Intel’s Three Year Limited Warranty
What are Errata?
156
157
D ex
158
159
See UPS
160