Tour of Your Computer | Dell 8500 specification

w w w . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m

NOTE: The computer turns on the fan when the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fan or the computer.

CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.

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A Tour of Your Computer

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Dell 8500 manual Tour of Your Computer

Contents

Dell Inspiron Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents Checking the Charge on the Second Battery Setting Up the Docking Device to Connect to a NetworkUninterruptible Power Supplies Using the Keyboard and Touchpad Removing and Installing Devices While Connecting a Television to the Computer Connecting to a Network AdapterConnecting to Wireless Local Area Networks Accessing Help Error Messages 105 107108 109 Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP 119 124128 131 Limited Warranty Terms for Dell-Branded Hardware Contents General Power Battery California Residents Air TravelEMC 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 latch Power button Front ViewMute button 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 Left View Air vents Security cable slot Ieee 1394 connectorPC Card slot Audio connectors Infrared sensor D I O C O N N E C T O R S Right View Module bay Back View Video TV-out connectorAir vent Parallel connector Air vents USB connectors 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 Battery-bay latch release Bottom ViewHard drive 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 Printer Cable Setting Up a PrinterConnecting a Parallel Printer Connecting a USB Printer Printer Problems Click Control Panel Click Printers and Other Hardware Surge Protectors Setting Up the Docking Device to Connect to a NetworkPower Protection Devices Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power SuppliesTurning Off Your Computer Using Batteries Module Bay Devices Using a Battery Battery Performance Checking the Battery Charge Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Microsoft Windows Power Meter Low-Battery WarningCharge Gauge 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 System Functions Numeric KeypadKeyboard Shortcuts Radios Including Wireless Networking and Bluetooth Power ManagementCD or DVD Tray 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 If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, or DVD Using CDs and DVDsCD or DVD problems Sound and Speaker Problems Copying CDs Or off Helpful Tips Using Easy CD Creator BasicUsing Blank CD-R Discs or Blank CD-RW Discs How to Copy a CD Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Pdif digital audio connector Connecting a Television to the ComputerVideo TV-out connector TV/digital audio adapter cable 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 Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio for DVD Playback Enabling S/PDIF Digital AudioNvidia Video Controller 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 Connecting to a Network Adapter Network adapter connectorOn computer Network cable Network Setup Wizard Network Problems Infrastructure Network Connecting to Wireless Local Area NetworksDetermining your Network Type 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 102 103 104 Accessing HelpError Messages Click Control Panel Click Add or Remove Programs Video and Display ProblemsIf the display is blank If the display is difficult to read 106 Click Appearance and Themes Scanner ProblemsIf only part of the display is readable Back of floppy disk Write-protected Not write-protected Drive ProblemsIf you cannot save a file to a floppy drive Under Error-checking, click Check Now Click Start PC Card ProblemsIf you have problems with a hard drive General Program Problems Mail ProblemsError messages appear Program crashes If Your Computer Gets Wet Resolving Other Technical Problems If You Drop or Damage Your Computer Identifying Drivers What Is a Driver?Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Using Windows XP Device Driver RollbackUsing the Drivers and Utilities CD 114 Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows XP 115 Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Using System RestoreCreating a Restore Point 117 Undoing the Last System RestoreEnabling System Restore Click Performance and Maintenance and click System Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP Before You ReinstallReinstalling Windows XP 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 Specifications MicroprocessorSystem Information PC Card 139 Ports and ConnectorsCommunications Video AudioDisplay 140 Keyboard 141 142 BatteryAC Adapter Physical 143 Environmental 144 Overview Standard SettingsViewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screens Changing the Boot SequenceCommonly Used Options 146 147 Changing Printer Modes Changing COM PortsEnabling the Infrared Sensor 148 Definition of Dell-Installed Software and Peripherals Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only Contacting Dell Definition of Third-Party Software and PeripheralsAnguilla Antigua and Barbuda 151 152 Canada North York, Ontario Cayman IslandsChile Santiago 153 China Xiamen ColombiaCosta Rica Czech Republic Prague Website support.euro.dell.com 155 156 Hong Kong IndiaIreland Cherrywood Website support.euro.dell.com 157 Italy Milan Website support.euro.dell.com JamaicaArea Codes Local Numbers, Toll-Free Numbers 158 159 Japan Kawasaki Website support.jp.dell.comKorea Seoul Latin America Luxembourg Website support.euro.dell.comMacao Malaysia Penang Mexico MontserratNetherlands Antilles Netherlands Amsterdam Website support.euro.dell.com 162 163 164 Spain Madrid Website support.euro.dell.comSweden Upplands Vasby Website support.euro.dell.com 165 Dell.co.uk/lca/customerservices Bracknell Website support.euro.dell.comUruguay 166 A. Austin, Texas BusinessVirgin Islands Venezuela Regulatory Notices NOM Information Mexico Only 169 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? 171 172 What do I do if I need warranty service?What will Dell do? What if I purchased a service contract? May I transfer the limited warranty?How will you fix my product? 173 Total Satisfaction Return Policy U.S. Only 174 175 176 177 Total Satisfaction Return Policy Canada Only Dell Software and Peripherals Canada OnlyThird-Party Software and Peripherals Products 178 Guarantee Dell-Branded Peripheral ProductsReturn Policy Exclusions 180 Making a ClaimLimitation and Statutory Rights Intel’s Three Year Limited Warranty 181 182 What are Errata? D ex 183 184 185 186