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