Reinstalling Software, Drivers, What Is a Driver? | Dell JU373

14

Reinstalling Software

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver program.

A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes.

Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed—no further installation or configuration is needed.

NOTICE: The Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer. Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system.

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft® Windows® operating system. You may need to install drivers if you:

•Upgrade your operating system.

•Reinstall your operating system.

•Connect or install a new device.

Identifying Drivers

If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver.

Microsoft® Windows® XP

1Click Start→ Control Panel.

2Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance, and click System.

3In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab, and click Device Manager.

Reinstalling Software

127

Image 127

Dell JU373 manual Reinstalling Software, What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers

Contents

User’s Guide August JU373 Contents Customizing the Touch Pad Contents Accessing Power Options Properties Using a Monitor as Your Primary Display Microsoft Windows Firewall Checking Your Wireless Network CardMobile Broadband/Wireless Wide Area Network Wwan Installing a PC Card or ExpressCard 103 101 Viewing the System Setup Screens When to Use the Dell Diagnostics 142 124127 141 Macrovision Product Notice Automated Order-Status Service Contents Contents What Are You Looking For? Find It Here Finding Information At support.dell.com May not ship with your computer What Are You Looking For? Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License Label Dell Support Website support.dell.com Dell Support Utility Windows Help and Support Operating System Media Finding Information Front View About Your Computer Power button About Your Computer Y B O a R D S T a T U S L I G H T S Left Side View D I O C O N N E C T O R S Back View Right Side View Network connector RJ-45 Connects serial devices, such as a mouse or handheld device About Your Computer Bottom View About Your Computer Transferring Information to a New Computer Setting Up Your ComputerMicrosoft Windows XP To prepare a new computer for the file transfer Setting Up Your Computer Microsoft Windows Vista Turning Off Your Computer Setting Up Your Computer Battery Performance Using a Battery Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Checking the Battery Charge Charge Gauge Microsoft Windows Power MeterCheck the Battery Charge Check the Battery Health Low-Battery Warning Conserving Battery Power Standby and Sleep Mode Power Management ModesHibernate Mode Windows Vista Configuring Power Management SettingsAccessing Power Options Properties Windows XP Replacing the Battery Charging the Battery Storing a Battery Numeric Keypad Using the Keyboard CD or DVD Tray BatteryKey Combinations System Functions Speaker Functions Power ManagementMicrosoft Windows XP Logo Key Functions TAB Microsoft Windows Vista Logo Key Functions Touch Pad Customizing the Touch Pad Adjusting Brightness Using the DisplayUsing a Projector Windows Vista Using Both a Monitor and Your Computer Display Click the Settings tab→ Advanced→ Displays tab Using a Monitor as Your Primary Display Windows Vista Using the Display Playing CDs or DVDs Using Multimedia DVD player includes the following basic buttons Adjusting the Volume Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device Adjusting the Picture Video TV-out connector Connector Output connector Video and Standard Audio Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Composite video adapter Composite Video and Standard Audio Standard audio cable Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Composite video adapter Component Video and Standard Audio Component video adapter Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Component video adapter Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio Enabling S/PDIF in the Windows Audio Driver Setting Up the Cyberlink CL Headphones Click Advanced Enabling the Display Settings for a TV Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable Setting Up and Using Networks What You Need to Establish a Wlan Connection Wireless Local Area Network Wlan Start Button and Connect To Option Checking Your Wireless Network CardOrder Confirmation for Your Computer Setting Up and Using Networks Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Connecting to a Wlan Completing the Connection to the Wlan Click Start→ Settings→ Control Panel→ Network Connections Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card Mobile Broadband/Wireless Wide Area Network Wwan Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card Microsoft Windows Firewall Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network Setting Up and Using Networks Card Types Using Cards Card Blanks Installing a PC Card or ExpressCardExtended Cards Using Cards Removing a Card or Blank Security Cable Lock PasswordsAbout Passwords Securing Your Computer Type of Password Features Using a Primary or System Password Using an Administrator Password Trusted Platform Module TPM Using a Hard Drive Password Security Management Software Enabling the TPM Feature Computer Tracking Software Using the Security Management SoftwareActivating the Security Management Software If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen 100 Computer, Keyboard, and Display Cleaning Your Computer CDs and DVDs Floppy Drive102 When to Use the Dell Diagnostics TroubleshootingDell Technical Update Service Dell Diagnostics 104 105 Dell Diagnostics Main MenuOption Function Option 106Tab Function 107 Accessing the Dell Support UtilityDell Support Utility Clicking the Dell Support Icon 108 Solving ProblemsDrive Problems Double-Clicking the Dell Support Icon 109 Optical drive problemsProblems writing to an optical drive Hard drive problems 110 Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems 111 Error Messages 112 Ieee 1394 Device Problems Lockups and Software Problems 114 Other software problemsProgram is designed for an earlier Windows operating system Solid blue screen appears Network Problems Memory Problems115 116 Power Problems 117 Printer Problems Sound and Speaker Problems Scanner ProblemsNo sound from speakers 118 No sound from headphones Touch Pad or Mouse Problems119 120 Video and Display ProblemsIf the display is blank Display is blank If only part of the display is readable If the display is difficult to read121 122 Windows Vista, click Start → Help and Support System Setup ProgramOverview 123 Commonly Used Options Viewing the System Setup ScreensSystem Setup Screens Changing the Boot Sequence 125 Performing a One-Time Boot Enabling the Infrared Sensor Changing COM Ports126 Identifying Drivers Reinstalling SoftwareWhat Is a Driver? Drivers 128 Reinstalling Drivers and UtilitiesUsing Windows Device Driver Rollback Microsoft Windows Vista 129 Using the Drivers and Utilities Media 130 Manually Reinstalling Drivers 131 Restoring Your Operating System Starting System Restore Using Microsoft Windows System Restore132 Enabling System Restore Undoing the Last System Restore133 Windows XP Dell PC Restore Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore134 135 136 Windows Vista Dell Factory Image Restore 137 Using the Operating System MediaReinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista Before you Begin 138 139 Dell QuickSet 140 141 Traveling With Your ComputerIdentifying Your Computer Packing the Computer Traveling by Air Travel Tips142 Obtaining Assistance Getting Help143 DellConnect Online Services Technical Support and Customer Service144 145 Problems With Your OrderAutoTech Service Automated Order-Status Service 146 Before You Call 147 148 Diagnostics Checklist 149 Contacting Dell 150 System Information Specifications151 Processor 152 Ports and ConnectorsMemory Audio 153Communications Video Display 154 Touch Pad Battery155 Keyboard AC Adapter 156 Physical 157Environmental 158 159 AppendixFCC Notice U.S. Only FCC Class B 160 Macrovision Product Notice 161 Glossary 162 Product ID 163 164 165 166 167 168 Module bay See media bay 169 NIC See network adapter 170 171 172 173 174 175 Video resolution See resolution 176