Finding Solutions, 102 | Dell 8500 specification

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NOTE: If you have a problem with an external device, see the device documentation or contact the manufacturer.

Finding Solutions

Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out where to go for answers. Use this chart to quickly find the answers to your questions.

See page 51.

Press the power button to resume from standby mode. See the Tell Me How help file (see page 104) for more information on standby mode.

Get technical assistance from

Dell. See page 150.

®	See page 104.

102

Solving Problems

Image 102

Dell 8500 manual Finding Solutions, 102

Contents

Dell Inspiron Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents Setting Up the Docking Device to Connect to a Network Uninterruptible Power SuppliesChecking the Charge on the Second Battery Using the Keyboard and Touchpad Removing and Installing Devices While Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks Connecting a Television to the ComputerConnecting to a Network Adapter Accessing Help Error Messages 108 105107 109 128 Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP 119124 131 Limited Warranty Terms for Dell-Branded Hardware Contents General Power Battery Air Travel EMC InstructionsCalifornia Residents 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 Mute button Display latch Power buttonFront View Track stick Light is flashing Tour of Your Computer Y B O a R D S T a T U S L I G H T S Air vents Security cable slot Ieee 1394 connector PC Card slot Audio connectors Infrared sensorLeft View D I O C O N N E C T O R S Right View Module bay Video TV-out connector Air vent Parallel connector Air vents USB connectorsBack View I D E O TV-O U T C O N N E C T O R Connects a parallel device, such as a printer Tour of Your Computer Hard drive Battery-bay latch releaseBottom View Fan Tour of Your Computer Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection Modem and Internet Connection Problems If you have a CD, click Use the CD I got from an ISP Transferring Information to a New Computer Close the Phone and Modems Options window Setting Up Your Computer Setting Up a Printer Connecting a Parallel PrinterPrinter Cable Connecting a USB Printer Printer Problems Click Control Panel Click Printers and Other Hardware Setting Up the Docking Device to Connect to a Network Power Protection DevicesSurge Protectors Uninterruptible Power Supplies Turning Off Your ComputerLine Conditioners Using Batteries Module Bay Devices Using a Battery Battery Performance Checking the Battery Charge Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Charge Gauge Microsoft Windows Power MeterLow-Battery Warning Health Gauge Charging the Battery Removing a Battery Installing a Battery Removing and Installing a Reserve Battery Reserve battery Connector Power Problems Storing a Battery Checking the Charge on the Second Battery About the Module Bay Status button on the charge gauge Second battery top If the Device Screw Is Not Installed Device latch release If the Device Screw Is Installed Using Batteries and Module Bay Devices If the Device Screw Is Not Installed If the Device Screw Is Installed Device latch release Using Batteries and Module Bay Devices Using the Keyboard and Touchpad Numeric Keypad Keyboard ShortcutsSystem Functions CD or DVD Tray Radios Including Wireless Networking and BluetoothPower Management Display Functions Speaker Functions Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Touch Pad Touch Pad or Mouse Problems Customizing the Touch Pad External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters Using the Keyboard and Touchpad Using CDs, DVDs, Other Multimedia Using CDs and DVDs CD or DVD problemsIf you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, or DVD Sound and Speaker Problems Copying CDs Or off Using Easy CD Creator Basic Using Blank CD-R Discs or Blank CD-RW DiscsHelpful Tips How to Copy a CD Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Connecting a Television to the Computer Video TV-out connector TV/digital audio adapter cablePdif digital audio connector Video and Standard Audio TV/digital audio adapter cable Video cable Audio cable Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Video and Digital Audio Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Composite Video and Standard Audio Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Composite Video and Digital Audio Enabling the Display Settings for a Television ATI Video Controller Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio Nvidia Video ControllerEnabling Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio for DVD Playback Click Enable S/PDIF output Click Advanced Click Enable S/PDIF Enabling S/PDIF in the Windows Audio Driver Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Setting Up a Home and Office Network On computer Connecting to a Network AdapterNetwork adapter connector Network cable Network Setup Wizard Network Problems Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks Determining your Network TypeInfrastructure Network Connecting to a Network in Windows XP Wireless network properties window appears Networks area Setting Up a Home and Office Network Finalizing your Network Connection Security Settings Click Properties Setting Up a Home and Office Network Click Properties 100 Solving Problems Finding Solutions 102 103 Accessing Help Error Messages104 Video and Display Problems If the display is blankClick Control Panel Click Add or Remove Programs If the display is difficult to read 106 Scanner Problems If only part of the display is readableClick Appearance and Themes Drive Problems If you cannot save a file to a floppy driveBack of floppy disk Write-protected Not write-protected PC Card Problems If you have problems with a hard driveUnder Error-checking, click Check Now Click Start Error messages appear General Program ProblemsMail Problems Program crashes If Your Computer Gets Wet Resolving Other Technical Problems If You Drop or Damage Your Computer What Is a Driver? DriversIdentifying Drivers Using the Drivers and Utilities CD Reinstalling Drivers and UtilitiesUsing Windows XP Device Driver Rollback 114 Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows XP 115 Using System Restore Creating a Restore PointRestoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore Enabling System Restore117 Click Performance and Maintenance and click System Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Reinstalling Windows XP Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XPBefore You Reinstall Booting From the Operating System CD Windows XP Setup 120 Reinstalling Drivers and Software 121 Solving Problems Adding and Replacing Parts Adding Memory Captive screw 125 Securing clips Per connector Memory module 126 Replace the cover 127 Adding a Mini PCI Card Mini PCI card/modem cover Captive screw 129 Mini PCI card 130 Adding a Modem 132 Pull-tabscrew Modem Modem cable 133 Replacing the Hard Drive Hard drive screw 135 Adding and Replacing Parts P e n d i System Information SpecificationsMicroprocessor PC Card Ports and Connectors Communications139 Display VideoAudio 140 Keyboard 141 Battery AC Adapter142 Physical 143 Environmental 144 Standard Settings Viewing the System Setup ScreensOverview Commonly Used Options System Setup ScreensChanging the Boot Sequence 146 147 Enabling the Infrared Sensor Changing Printer ModesChanging COM Ports 148 Definition of Dell-Installed Software and Peripherals Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only Anguilla Contacting DellDefinition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals Antigua and Barbuda 151 152 Chile Santiago Canada North York, OntarioCayman Islands 153 Costa Rica China XiamenColombia Czech Republic Prague Website support.euro.dell.com 155 156 Ireland Cherrywood Website support.euro.dell.com Hong KongIndia 157 Area Codes Local Numbers, Toll-Free Numbers Italy Milan Website support.euro.dell.comJamaica 158 Japan Kawasaki Website support.jp.dell.com Korea Seoul159 Macao Latin AmericaLuxembourg Website support.euro.dell.com Malaysia Penang Netherlands Antilles MexicoMontserrat Netherlands Amsterdam Website support.euro.dell.com 162 163 Spain Madrid Website support.euro.dell.com Sweden Upplands Vasby Website support.euro.dell.com164 165 Uruguay Dell.co.uk/lca/customerservicesBracknell Website support.euro.dell.com 166 Virgin Islands A. Austin, TexasBusiness Venezuela Regulatory Notices NOM Information Mexico Only 169 What is covered by this limited warranty? What is not covered by this limited warranty?Limited Warranties and Return Policy How long does this limited warranty last? 171 What do I do if I need warranty service? What will Dell do?172 How will you fix my product? What if I purchased a service contract?May I transfer the limited warranty? 173 Total Satisfaction Return Policy U.S. Only 174 175 176 177 Third-Party Software and Peripherals Products Total Satisfaction Return Policy Canada OnlyDell Software and Peripherals Canada Only 178 Return Policy GuaranteeDell-Branded Peripheral Products Exclusions Making a Claim Limitation and Statutory Rights180 Intel’s Three Year Limited Warranty 181 182 What are Errata? D ex 183 184 185 186