Dell Inspiron Owner’s Manual
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Model PP14L
Notes, Notices, and Cautions
Abbreviations and Acronyms
September
P/N G7903
Contents
2 Setting Up Your Computer
3 Using a Battery
1 A Tour of Your Computer
4 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
5 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad
Radios Including Wireless Networking and Bluetooth
Using PC Cards
7 Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Solving Problems
A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system
9 Adding and Replacing Parts
10 Appendix
Contents
FCC Notices U.S. Only
Class A
Class B
Finding Information
How to set up my computer
Dell Product Information Guide
Help File
Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License
These labels are located on the bottom of your computer
Dell Support Website - support.dell.com
Windows Help and Support Center
A Tour of Your Computer
Front View
Solid green The battery is charging
Flashing green The battery is almost fully charged
Off The battery is adequately charged or the computer is turned off
Flashing orange The battery charge is low
T O U C H P A D - Provides the functionality of a mouse
The green lights located above the keyboard indicate the following
Left Side View
optical-drive-tray
Right Side View
Back View
D I G I T A L - V I D E O I N T E R F A C E DVI C O N N E C T O R
V I D E O C O N N E C T O R
Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer
Bottom View
Setting Up Your Computer
Connecting to the Internet
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
Setting Up a Printer
Printer Cable
Power Protection Devices
Connecting a USB Printer
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Surge Protectors
Line Conditioners
Using a Battery
Battery Performance
Checking the Battery Charge
Dell QuickSet Battery Meter
Microsoft Windows Power Meter
Charging the Battery
Removing a Battery
Low-Battery Warning
Charge Gauge
Installing a Battery
Storing a Battery
1 Slide the battery lengthwise into the bay at a 45-degree angle
2 Press the other side down until the latch release clicks
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
Using CDs and DVDs
How to Copy a CD or DVD
Copying CDs and DVDs
Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs
Helpful Tips
Using MediaDirect
media control buttons
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device
S-video and standard audio page S-video and S/PDIF digital audio page
Composite video and standard audio page
Composite video and S/PDIF digital audio page
S-Video and Standard Audio
TV/digital audio adapter cable
standard audio cable
S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
S-video cable
TV/digital audio adapter cable
S/PDIF digital audio cable
Composite Video and Standard Audio
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia
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TV/digital audio adapter cable composite video cable
standard audio cable
Changing Your Audio Settings
Enabling the Display Settings for a TV
4 Click the Settings tab and click Advanced 5 Click the Displays tab
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad
Numeric Keypad
Battery
Power Management
Key Combinations
System Functions
Speaker Functions
Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions
Touch Pad
Customizing the Touch Pad
Using PC Cards
Installing a PC Card
PC Card Types
PC Card Blanks
Removing a PC Card or Blank
To install a PC Card
1 Press the latch and remove the card or blank
2 Remove the card or blank
50 Using PC Cards
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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
Your network is configured automatically
Solving Problems
Dell Diagnostics
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu
Drive Problems
DVD drive problems
Problems writing to a DVD+RW drive
Hard drive problems
If you cannot eject the DVD or DVD+RW drive tray
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems
C H E C K T H E T E L E P H O N E L I N E C O N N E C T I O N
C H E C K T H E T E L E P H O N E J A C K
U S E A D I F F E R E N T T E L E P H O N E L I N E
Error Messages
IEEE 1394 Device Problems
Keyboard Problems
External keyboard problems
Lockups and Software Problems
Unexpected characters
The computer does not start up
The computer stops responding
A program stops responding
A program crashes repeatedly
Other software problems
A solid blue screen appears
Memory Problems
Network Problems
communication exists. Replace the network cable
PC Card Problems
Power Problems
Printer Problems
Scanner Problems
Sound and Speaker Problems
No sound from integrated speakers
No sound from external speakers
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Touch Pad or Mouse Problems
No sound from headphones
Video and Display Problems
If the display is blank
If the display is difficult to read
If only part of the display is readable
What Is a Driver?
Reinstalling Drivers
Drivers
Identifying Drivers
Restoring Your Operating System
Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore
Creating a Restore Point
2 Click the task for System Restore
3 Click a calendar date to which you want to restore your computer
Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec
1 Turn on the computer
Using the Operating System CD
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Adding and Replacing Parts
Before You Begin
Recommended Tools
Turning Off Your Computer
Before Working Inside Your Computer
Hard Drive
7 Press the power button to ground the system board
8 Remove any installed PC Cards from the PC Card slot
10 Remove the hard drive. See the following subsection, Hard Drive
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell
Memory
4 If you are replacing a memory module, remove the existing module
5 Ground yourself and install the new memory module
Modem
Mini PCI Card
c Lift the Mini PCI card out of its connector
5 Install the replacement Mini PCI card
Hinge Cover
Keyboard
Coin-Cell Battery
1 Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on page
4 Remove the existing battery
a Disconnect the battery cable connector from the system board
Display
4 Remove the hinge cover. See Hinge Cover on page
Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Optical Drive
Page
Specifications
Appendix
Memory
keyboard shortcuts, program menus, media
Display continued Dimensions
Battery operating time varies depending on
See Using a Battery on page 27 for more
operating conditions and can be significantly
AC Adapter continued
Using the System Setup Program
Viewing the System Setup Screens
Overview
System Setup Screen
Commonly Used Options
Changing the Boot Sequence
Diskette Drive Internal HDD USB Storage Device CD/DVD/CD-RW drive
Definition of Dell-Installed Software and Peripherals
Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only
Contacting Dell
Definition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals
International Access Code
Argentina Buenos Aires
Aruba
Australia Sydney
Country City
Brunei
Canada North York, Ontario
Cayman Islands
Chile Santiago
China Xiamen
Colombia
Costa Rica
Country City
Country City
Country City
Country City
Japan Kawasaki
Website support.jp.dell.com
Korea Seoul
Country City
Country City
Country City
800 300 410 or 800 300 411 or
Country City
Country City
toll-free
U.S.A. Austin, Texas
Business
U.S. Virgin Islands
Venezuela
FCC Notices U.S. Only
Class A
Class B
Macrovision Product Notice
FCC Identification Information
128 Appendix
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Index
See hard drive
See display
icon in the taskbar) to select a card and stop it from functioning before you remove it from the computer. If you do not stop the card in the configuration utility, you could lose data. Do not attempt to eject a card by pulling its cable, if one is attached.