Getting Help, Obtaining Assistance, 169 | Dell GU051 guide

Getting Help

Obtaining Assistance

CAUTION: If you need to remove the computer cover, first disconnect the computer power and modem cables from all electrical outlets.

If you experience a problem with your computer, you can complete the following steps to diagnose and troubleshoot the problem:

1See "Troubleshooting" on page 97 for information and procedures that pertain to the problem your computer is experiencing.

2See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 97 for procedures on how to run Dell Diagnostics.

3Fill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 174.

4Use Dell's extensive suite of online services available at Dell Support (support.dell.com) for help with installation and troubleshooting procedures. See "Online Services" on page 170 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online.

5If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem, see "Contacting Dell" on page 175.

NOTE: Call Dell Support from a telephone near or at the computer so that the support staff can assist you with any necessary procedures.

NOTE: Dell's Express Service Code system may not be available in all countries.

Getting Help

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Dell GU051 manual Getting Help, Obtaining Assistance, 169

Contents

W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m September GU051 Contents Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Using Blank CDs and DVDs Using the Memory Card Reader Securing Your Computer External Keyboard problems Adding and Replacing Parts Removing the Optical Drive Dell QuickSet Features Traveling With Your Computer Glossary Drivers and Utilities Media Finding Information Dell Product Information Guide Service Tag and Microsoft Windows Site To view Dell QuickSet Help, right-click Features onDell QuickSet icon Windows notification area Operating System Media About Your Computer Determining Your Computer’s Configuration Front View Keyboard status lights V I C E S T a T U S L I G H T S Information, see the documentation that came with your card Y B O a R D S T a T U S L I G H T S Left Side View Right Side View Eject button Optical drive Audio connectors Connects video devices, such as a monitor Back View USB connector D E M C O N N E C T O R RJ Air vents Hard drive Bottom View About Your Computer Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Computer Setting Up Your Internet Connection Transferring Information to a New Computer Setting Up a PrinterWindows Easy Transfer Printer Cable Connecting a USB Printer Surge Protectors Power Protection Devices Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies Adjusting Brightness Using the DisplaySetting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate Be installed Numeric Keypad Using the Keyboard and Touch PadKey Combinations Adjusting Keyboard Settings Power ManagementMicrosoft Windows Logo Key Functions Dell QuickSet Key Combinations Touch Pad Customizing the Touch Pad Battery Performance Using a Battery Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Checking the Battery Charge Charge Gauge Microsoft Windows Battery Meter Low-Battery Warning Conserving Battery Power Using the Sleep Power State Configuring Power Management Settings Replacing the Battery Charging the Battery To remove the battery Storing a Battery Using a Battery Playing Media Using Multimedia DVD player includes the following basic buttons CD player includes the following basic buttons Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote Copying CDs and DVDs How to Copy a CD or DVD To copy the CD or DVD Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful Tips Adjusting the Picture Adjusting the VolumeUsing Dell MediaDirect Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device Video TV-out connector Video cable Composite video adapter Video and Standard Audio Standard S-video cable Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Video cable Composite Video and Standard Audio Composite video adapter Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Pdif digital audio cable Component Video and Standard Audio Component video adapter Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Standard audio cable Component video cable Enabling the Display Settings for a TV Using Multimedia ExpressCard Blanks Using ExpressCards Installing an ExpressCard Removing an ExpressCard or Blank Using ExpressCards Installing a Memory Card Using the Memory Card ReaderMemory Card Blanks Removing a Memory Card or Blank Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable Setting Up and Using Networks Wireless Local Area Network Setting Up a NetworkWhat You Need to Establish a Wlan Connection Checking Your Wireless Network Card Setting Up and Using Networks Connecting to a Wlan Page Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card Dell Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator Securing Your Computer PasswordsSecurity Cable Lock If Your Computer is Lost or Stolen Securing Your Computer Securing Your Computer Dell Technical Update Service TroubleshootingDell Diagnostics During the assessment, answer any questions that appear Press and hold the Fn key while powering the computer onShut down and restart the computer Option Function Option Function 101 Dell Support Center Dell Support 103 DellConnect PC TuneUp Network AssistantPC CheckUp 104 Optical drive problems Drive ProblemsHardware Problems in the Windows Vista Operating System on Problems writing to a CD-RW or DVD+/-RW Hard drive problems 107 Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems 108 Error Messages 109 Do not use these characters in filenames 110 111 112 Drive and try again ExpressCard ProblemsContact the ExpressCard manufacturer 113 Keyboard Problems Ieee 1394 Device ProblemsExternal Keyboard problems 115 Unexpected characters Computer does not start Lockups and Software ProblemsComputer stops responding Program stops responding or crashes repeatedly Menu to access Dell MediaDirect Help Dell MediaDirect problemsSolid blue screen appears 117 118 Other software problems Network Problems Memory ProblemsRun the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on 119 Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network Wwan 121 Power Problems 122 Printer Problems Sound and Speaker Problems Scanner ProblemsNo sound from integrated speakers No sound from headphones Touch Pad or Mouse ProblemsNo sound from external speakers If the display is blank Video and Display Problems125 Glare, which can cause poor picture quality If the display is difficult to read126 Drivers What is a Driver?If only part of the display is readable 127 Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities128 129 Manually Reinstalling Drivers Restoring Your Operating System You can restore your operating system in the following ways131 Using Windows Vista System Restore 133 Troubleshooting Before You Begin Adding and Replacing PartsRecommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer 137 Removing the Hard Drive Hard Drive 139 Replacing the Hard Drive Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Optical DriveRemoving the Optical Drive 141 Replacing the Optical Drive Hinge Cover142 Replacing the Hinge Cover Removing the Hinge Cover143 Removing the Keyboard KeyboardLift and remove the keyboard 144 145 Replacing the Keyboard Replace the four screws on the top of the keyboard Memory 147 Removing the Dimm a Memory Module Replacing the Dimm a Memory Module 149 Removing the Dimm B Memory Module Memory module/coin-cell battery Captive screw Compartment 151 Replacing the Dimm B Memory Module 152 153 Subscriber Identity Module Removing a Wlan Card Wireless Mini Cards154 155 Disconnect the antenna cables from the Wlan card Replacing a Wlan Card 157 Removing a Mobile Broadband or Wwan Card 158 159 Disconnect the two antenna cables from the Wwan card Replacing a Wwan Card 161 Removing a Wpan Card Replacing a Wpan Card Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless TechnologyRemoving the Card Replacing the Card Coin-Cell Battery163 Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery Removing the Coin-Cell BatterySlide the battery out of the mylar sleeve 165 Dell QuickSet Features 166 Identifying Your Computer Traveling With Your ComputerPacking the Computer 167 Traveling by Air Travel Tips168 Obtaining Assistance Getting Help169 DellConnect Online Services Technical Support and Customer Service 171 AutoTech Service Automated Order-Status Service Problems With Your Order172 173 Before You Call 174 175 Contacting Dell 176 177 Specifications 178 USB 179 WXGA+ 180 Wuxga 181 182 183 Storage Grms 184 Appendix Using the System Setup Program185 System Setup Screen Viewing the System Setup ScreenCommonly Used Options Diskette Drive Internal HDD 186 187 USB Storage Device CD/DVD/CD-RW drive Modular bay HDD Cleaning Your Computer About Your RAID ConfigurationRAID Level 0 Configuration RAID Level 1 Configuration 189 Touch Pad Media Mouse 191 Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only FCC Notice U.S. Only Definition of Dell-Installed Software and PeripheralsDefinition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals FCC Class B 193 Macrovision Product Notice 194 195 Glossary 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 Index Index 215 Index 217 Index 219 See also Mobile Broadband installing 220