Dell Inspiron 5100
 Abbreviations and Acronyms
 Contents
 Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Transferring Information to a New Computer
 Dell AccessDirect Button
External Keyboard Problems
 Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks
Connecting a Television to the Computer
Connecting to a Network Adapter
Accessing Help Error Messages
 If You Drop or Damage Your Computer
Resolving Other Technical Problems
Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
 106
System and Battery Performance Optimization 124
104
108
 157
 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
 Display
Front View
Display latch
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
 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
 Modem/Mini PCI
Hard drive Battery latch release Memory module cover
Bottom View
Card cover
 Tour of Your Computer
 Setting Up Your Computer
 Adjusting Font Sizes
Adjusting Font and Icon Sizes
Dell QuickSet Features
Adjusting Icon Sizes
 Connecting to the Internet
Double-Clicking the QuickSet Icon
Right-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
 USB connector on computer
Printer Problems
Connecting a USB Printer
USB printer On printer Cable
 Line Conditioners
Power Protection Devices
Surge Protectors
Click Printers and Other Hardware
 Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Turning Off Your Computer
 Using a Batter y
 Battery Performance
 Power Meter
Checking the Battery Charge
Charging the Battery
Low-Battery Warning
 Removing a Battery
Battery
 Installing a Battery
Storing a Battery
Battery and Power Problems
 If the battery is not charging
If battery life is short
 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad
 Reprogramming the Button
Dell AccessDirect Button
Numeric Keypad
Numeric keypad
 Keyboard Shortcuts
System Functions
Display Functions
 Power Management
Speaker Functions
Microsoft Windows Logo Key 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
 If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW
Using CDs and DVDs
CD or DVD Problems
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
 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
 Connecting to a Network in Windows XP
Determining Your Network Type
Infrastructure Network
 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
 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
 Write-protected
Drive Problems
If you cannot save a file to a floppy drive
Back of floppy disk
 If you have problems with a hard drive
PC Card Problems
General Program Problems
Under Error-checking, click Check Now Click Start
 Program crashes
Resolving Other Technical Problems
Error messages appear
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
 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
 Before You Reinstall
Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP
Undoing the Last System Restore
Enabling System Restore
 Reinstalling Windows XP
Preparing to Boot From the Operating System CD
Starting Windows XP Setup
 Completing the GUI Setup
 Completing the Operating System Setup
Reinstalling Drivers and Software
 Solving Problems
 Adding and Replacing Parts
 Before You Add or Replace Parts
Memory
Captive screw
 Securing clips Memory module
101
 Modem and Mini PCI Card
 Adding a Modem
Screw
 Adding a Mini PCI Card
Screws
Modem cable Pull-tab
 Metal securing tabs 2 Mini PCI card connector
Mini PCI card
105
 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
 111
 112
 P e n d i
 System Information
Specifications
Microprocessor
PC Card
 Communications
Ports and Connectors
Memory
115
 Video
Audio
116
 Display
117
 118
 AC Adapter
119
 Physical
Environmental
120
 Using the System Setup Program
Overview
 Changing the Boot Sequence
Viewing the System Setup Screens
System Setup Screens
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
 Contacting Dell
Definition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals
 127
 128
 Costa Rica
China Xiamen
Colombia
Czech Republic Prague Website support.euro.dell.com
 130
 Corporate
France Paris Montpellier Website support.euro.dell.com
Home and Small Business
Germany Langen Website support.euro.dell.com
 132
 Jamaica
Ireland Cherrywood Website support.euro.dell.com
Italy Milan Website support.euro.dell.com
133
 Japan Kawasaki Website support.jp.dell.com
Korea Seoul
134
 Macao
Latin America
Luxembourg Website support.euro.dell.com
Malaysia Penang
 Netherlands Antilles
Mexico
Montserrat
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
 Virgin Islands
A. Austin, Texas
Business
Venezuela
 Regulatory Notices
 NOM Information Mexico Only
144
 What is covered by this limited warranty?
What is not covered by this limited warranty?
Limited Warranties and Return Policy
 What will Dell do?
How long does this limited warranty last?
What do I do if I need warranty service?
146
 How will you fix my product?
What if I purchased a service contract?
May I transfer the limited warranty?
147
 Total Satisfaction Return Policy U.S. Only
148
 149
 150
 Total Satisfaction Return Policy Canada Only
151
 Dell-Branded Peripheral Products
Dell Software and Peripherals Canada Only
Third-Party Software and Peripherals Products
Return Policy
 Making a Claim
Guarantee
Exclusions
Limitation and Statutory Rights
 154
 Intel’s Three Year Limited Warranty
155
 156
What are Errata?
 D ex
157
 158
 See UPS
159
 160