Dell 9100 Power Problems

80 Solving Problems

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Power Problems

NOTE: See the Dell Inspiron Help file for information on standby mode. To access the help file,

seepage 16.

CHECK THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD

1

Turn off the computer, wait 1 minute, and turn it on again.

2

Verify that the numbers, capitals, and scroll lock lights on the keyboard blink

during the boot routine.

3

From the Windows

®

desktop, click the

Start

button, point to

Programs

, point to

Accessories

, and click

Notepad

.

4

Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on

thedisplay.

If you cannot verify these steps, you may have a defective external keyboard.

TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD, CHECK THE

INTEGRATEDKEYBOARD

1

Turn off the computer.

2

Disconnect the external keyboard.

3

Turn on the computer.

4

From the Windows desktop, click the

Start

button, point to

Programs

, point to

Accessories

, and click

Notepad

.

5

Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on

thedisplay.

If the characters appear now but did not with the external keyboard, you may

have a defective external keyboard. Contact Dell (see page132).

CHECK THE POWER LIGHT —When the power light is lit or blinking, the

computer has power. If the power light is blinking, the computer is in standby

mode—press the power button to exit standby mode. If the light is off, press the

power button to turn on the computer.

CHARGE THE BATTERY —The battery charge may be depleted.

1Reinstall the battery.

2Use the AC adapter to connect the computer to an electrical outlet.

3Turn on the computer.

G2806bk2.book Page 80 Tuesday, May 25, 2004 8:48 AM

Contents

Main Notes, Notices, and Cautions Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents 1 A Tour of Your Computer 2 Setting Up Your Computer 3 Optimizing Performance 4 Using a Battery 5 Using the Module Bay 6 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad 7 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia 8 Setting Up a Home and Office Network 9 Solving Problems 10 Adding and Replacing Parts Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 CAUTION: Safety Instructions SAFETY: General 10 SAFETY: Power SAFETY: Battery Safety Instructions 11 SAFETY: Air Travel SAFETY: EMC Instructions When Using Your Computer NOTICE: When taking the computer from low-temperature conditions into a warmer environment or from 12 SAFETY: Ergonomic Computing Habits 5 4 3 2 SAFETY: Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge SAFETY: Battery Disposal Page Finding Information NOTE: 16 Page Page A Tour of Your Computer Front View 20 Solid green: The battery is charging. Flashing green: The battery is almost fully charged. Page Left Side View Press this to release the device latch. 24 Right Side View Back View Page Page Page Bottom View Page Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection Transferring Information to a New Computer Setting Up a Printer Printer Cable Connecting a USB Printer Power Protection Devices Surge Protectors Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies Turning Off Your Computer Page Optimizing Performance DDR Memory and Processor Front-Side Bus Hyper-Threading Page Using a Battery Battery Performance Checking the Battery Charge Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Microsoft Windows Power Meter Charge Gauge Low-Battery Warning Charging the Battery Removing a Battery Page Page Using the Module Bay About the Module Bay Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Turn ed O ff Page Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Running Page Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Numeric Keypad Key Combinations System Functions Battery CD or DVD Tray Display Functions Speaker Functions Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Touch Pad Customizing the Touch Pad and Track Stick Changing the Track Stick Cap Page Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Using CDs and DVDs Copying CDs and DVDs How to Copy a CD or DVD Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs Helpful Tips Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device S-Video and Standard Audio S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Composite Video and Standard Audio Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio Setting Up the Dolby Headphone Enabling the Display Settings for a TV Page Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network Determining Your Network Type Connecting to a Wireless Network in Microsoft Windows XP Page Configuring Security Settings (Optional) Page Page Page Solving Problems 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 If you have problems with a hard drive Hard Drive Problems PC Card Problems External Keyboard Problems Power Problems Unexpected Characters Touch Pad or Mouse Problems Printer Problems Network Problems General Program Problems A program crashes 84 A program stops responding 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 If the CD-RW drive stops writing Sound and Speaker Problems If you have a problem with integrated speakers If you have a problem with external speakers E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Page Resolving Other Technical Problems Drivers What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Page Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore Creating a Restore Point Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore Using the Dell Diagnostics When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Page Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP Before You Begin Reinstalling Windows XP Page Adding and Replacing Parts Before You Begin Recommended Tools Shutting Down Your Computer Page Hard Drive Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Memory Page Page Mini PCI Card Page Page Subwoofer Page Fans Page Hinge Covers Page Display Page Page Keyboard Page Reserve Battery Card with Bluetooth Wireless Technology Page Appendix Specifications 124 NOTE: Page Page Page 128 NOTICE: Using the System Setup Program Overview Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screens Commonly Used Options Enabling the Infrared Sensor 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 Limited Warranties Limited Warranty for Dell-Branded Hardware Products (U.S. Only) How long does this limited warranty last? What do I do if I need warranty service? What will Dell do? NOTE: What if I purchased a service contract? How will you fix my product? May I transfer the limited warranty? 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? 154 NOTE: What if I purchased a service contract? How will you fix my product? May I transfer the limited warranty? 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) Making a Claim Limitation and Statutory Rights Intel Warranty Statement for Pentium and Celeron Processors Only (U.S. and Canada Only) G2806bk2.book Page 157 Tuesday, May 25, 2004 8:48 AM www.dell.com | support.dell.com G2806bk2.book Page 158 Tuesday, May 25, 2004 8:48 AM Index A B C D E F H I K N O P R S U V W