Dell 8500 manual

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Dell™ Inspiron™ 8500

Owner’s Manual

Contents

Main Notes, Notices, and Cautions Abbreviations and Acronyms For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the Tell Me How help file (see page 104). ____________________ Contents 1A Tour of Your Computer 2Setting Up Your Computer 3Using Batteries and Module Bay Devices 4Using the Keyboard and Touchpad 5Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia 6Setting Up a Home and Office Network 7Solving Problems Page 8Adding and Replacing Parts 9Appendix Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Page General Power Battery Air Travel EMC Instructions California Residents Page Ergonomic Computing Habits When Working Inside Your Computer Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Battery Disposal Page Page Front View Page Page Page Left View Page Right View Back View Page Page Page Bottom View Page Page Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection Modem and Internet Connection Problems Transferring Information to a New Computer Page Setting Up a Printer Printer Cable Connecting a Parallel Printer Connecting a USB Printer Printer Problems Setting Up the Docking Device to Connect to a Network Power Protection Devices Surge Protectors Line Conditioners 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 Page Page Storing a Battery Power Problems 0 C (32 F), the computer will not start up. 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 Page Page Page Speaker Functions Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Tou ch P ad Customizing the Touch Pad Touch Pad or Mouse Problems External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters keypad if numbers are displayed instead of letters. Verify that the numbers lock light is not lit. Page Page Using CDs and DVDs CD or DVD problems If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, 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 Page Connecting a Television to the Computer Page Page Page Page Composite Video and Standard Audio Page Page Enabling the Display Settings for a Television Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Page Page Page Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard Communications, and then click Network Setup Wizard. the screen. Network Problems Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks Determining your Network Type Connecting to a Network in Windows XP Page Page Finalizing your Network Connection (Security Settings) Page Page Page Page Solving Problems Finding Solutions Solving Problems 103 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 E-Mail Problems A program stops responding Error messages appear 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 Page Page Adding a Mini PCI Card Page Page Adding a Modem Page Page Replacing the Hard Drive Page Page Appendix Specifications Page Page Page Page (continued) Page Standard Settings Overview Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screens Commonly Used Options Page 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 Dell-Branded Hardware Products (U.S. Only) What is covered by this limited warranty? What is not covered by this limited warranty? How long does this limited warranty last? 172 Appendix What do I do if I need warranty service? What will Dell do? NOTE: Appendix 173 NOTE: What if I purchased a service contract? How will you fix my product? May I transfer the limited warranty? "Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (U.S. Only) Limited Warranty Terms for Dell-Branded Hardware Products (Canada Only) 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 177 NOTE: What if I purchased a service contract? How will you fix my product? May I transfer the limited warranty? "Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (Canada Only) Dell Software and Peripherals (Canada Only) Third-Party Software and Peripherals Products Dell-Branded Peripheral Products Return Policy 1-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee (Latin America and the Caribbean Only) Guarantee Exclusions Making a Claim Limitation and Statutory Rights Intel Warranty Statement for Pentium and Celeron Processors Only (U.S. and Canada Only) www.dell.com | support.dell.com Index A B C D H I K L M R S T U V W