Using the Operating System Media, Before you Begin | Dell JU373

Using the Operating System Media

Before you Begin

If you are considering reinstalling the Windows operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver, first try using Windows Device Driver Rollback. See "Using Windows Device Driver Rollback" on page 128. If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore to return your operating system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver. See "Using Microsoft Windows System Restore" on page 132.

NOTICE: Before performing the installation, back up all data files on your primary hard drive. For conventional hard drive configurations, the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer.

To reinstall Windows, you need the following items:

•Dell™ Operating System media

•Dell Drivers and Utilities media

NOTE: The Dell Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during the assembly of the computer. Use the Dell Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers. Depending on the region from which you ordered your computer, or whether you requested the media, the Dell Drivers and Utilities media and Operating System media may not ship with your computer.

Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista

The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you must also reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software.

NOTICE: The Operating System media provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs that are installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows XP unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so.

1Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.

2Insert the Operating System disc.

3Click Exit if the Install Windows message appears.

4Restart the computer.

When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

Reinstalling Software

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Dell JU373 manual Using the Operating System Media, Before you Begin, Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista, 137

Contents

User’s Guide August JU373 Contents Customizing the Touch Pad Contents Accessing Power Options Properties Using a Monitor as Your Primary Display Mobile Broadband/Wireless Wide Area Network Wwan Checking Your Wireless Network CardInstalling a PC Card or ExpressCard Microsoft Windows Firewall 103 101 Viewing the System Setup Screens When to Use the Dell Diagnostics 127 124141 142 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 Microsoft Windows XP Setting Up Your ComputerTransferring Information to a New Computer 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 Check the Battery Charge Microsoft Windows Power MeterCheck the Battery Health Charge Gauge Low-Battery Warning Conserving Battery Power Hibernate Mode Power Management ModesStandby and Sleep Mode Accessing Power Options Properties Configuring Power Management SettingsWindows XP Windows Vista Replacing the Battery Charging the Battery Storing a Battery Numeric Keypad Using the Keyboard Key Combinations BatterySystem Functions CD or DVD Tray Microsoft Windows XP Logo Key Functions Power ManagementSpeaker Functions TAB Microsoft Windows Vista Logo Key Functions Touch Pad Customizing the Touch Pad Using a Projector Using the DisplayAdjusting Brightness 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 Order Confirmation for Your Computer Checking Your Wireless Network CardStart Button and Connect To Option 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 Extended Cards Installing a PC Card or ExpressCardCard Blanks Using Cards Removing a Card or Blank About Passwords PasswordsSecuring Your Computer Security Cable Lock 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 Activating the Security Management Software Using the Security Management SoftwareComputer Tracking Software If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen 100 Computer, Keyboard, and Display Cleaning Your Computer 102 Floppy DriveCDs and DVDs Dell Technical Update Service TroubleshootingDell Diagnostics When to Use the Dell Diagnostics 104 Option Function Dell Diagnostics Main Menu105 Tab Function 106Option Dell Support Utility Accessing the Dell Support UtilityClicking the Dell Support Icon 107 Drive Problems Solving ProblemsDouble-Clicking the Dell Support Icon 108 Problems writing to an optical drive Optical drive problemsHard drive problems 109 110 Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems 111 Error Messages 112 Ieee 1394 Device Problems Lockups and Software Problems Program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system Other software problemsSolid blue screen appears 114 115 Memory ProblemsNetwork Problems 116 Power Problems 117 Printer Problems No sound from speakers 118 Scanner ProblemsSound and Speaker Problems 119 Touch Pad or Mouse ProblemsNo sound from headphones If the display is blank Video and Display ProblemsDisplay is blank 120 121 If the display is difficult to readIf only part of the display is readable 122 Overview System Setup Program123 Windows Vista, click Start → Help and Support System Setup Screens Viewing the System Setup ScreensChanging the Boot Sequence Commonly Used Options 125 Performing a One-Time Boot 126 Changing COM PortsEnabling the Infrared Sensor What Is a Driver? Reinstalling SoftwareDrivers Identifying Drivers Using Windows Device Driver Rollback Reinstalling Drivers and UtilitiesMicrosoft Windows Vista 128 129 Using the Drivers and Utilities Media 130 Manually Reinstalling Drivers 131 Restoring Your Operating System 132 Using Microsoft Windows System RestoreStarting System Restore 133 Undoing the Last System RestoreEnabling System Restore 134 Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image RestoreWindows XP Dell PC Restore 135 136 Windows Vista Dell Factory Image Restore Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista Using the Operating System MediaBefore you Begin 137 138 139 Dell QuickSet 140 Identifying Your Computer Traveling With Your ComputerPacking the Computer 141 142 Travel TipsTraveling by Air 143 Getting HelpObtaining Assistance 144 Technical Support and Customer ServiceDellConnect Online Services AutoTech Service Problems With Your OrderAutomated Order-Status Service 145 146 Before You Call 147 148 Diagnostics Checklist 149 Contacting Dell 150 151 SpecificationsProcessor System Information Memory Ports and Connectors152 Communications 153Video Audio Display 154 155 BatteryKeyboard Touch Pad AC Adapter 156 Environmental 157Physical 158 FCC Notice U.S. Only AppendixFCC Class B 159 160 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