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