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Dell NX046 manual What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers, Microsoft Windows XP, 141

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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 disc 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.

Reinstalling Software

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Dell NX046 manual What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers, Microsoft Windows XP, 141

Contents

Dell Precision T5400 User’s Guide August Contents Transferring Information to a New Computer Installing Your Computer in an EnclosureSecurity Management Software Trusted Platform Module TPM103 Cleaning Your Computer130 129136 141Turning Off Your Computer 205 193281 289Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Finding Information Drivers and Utilities Disc What Are You Looking For? Find It HereAt support.dell.com Quick Reference GuideWhat Are You Looking For? Service Tag and Microsoft Windows LicenseDell Support Website support.dell.com Windows Help and Support Dell Supported Linux Sites Finding Information Front View of the Computer Tower Orientation About Your ComputerIeee 1394 connector Cards Back View of the Computer Tower OrientationConnector Back Panel Connectors Tower OrientationNetwork adapter Front View Desktop Orientation Information on booting to a USB deviceBack View Desktop Orientation Inside View Inside View Hard Drive Bay Rotated Out System Board Components Device Color Cable ColorsChanging Between Tower and Desktop Modes Tower Orientation Desktop Orientation Spare card retainer Desktop Orientation Tower Orientation FlexBay About Your Computer Specifications Processor MemorySystem Information Desktop Mode Tower ModeExpansion USB Ports and ConnectorsAudio VideoDrives Key CombinationsFront panel PowerEnvironmental PhysicalAbout Your Computer About Your Computer LegacySelect Technology Control ManageabilityAlert Standard Format Chassis intrusion alert has been cleared Alert DescriptionPower Management Dell OpenManage IT AssistantDell OpenManage Client Instrumentation Sleep Mode Hyperthreading and Multi-Core Technology About RAID ConfigurationsRAID Level RAID Level Hard drive RAID levelSetting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode Configuring Your Computer for RAIDCreating a RAID Level 0 Configuration Creating a RAID Level 5 Configuration Creating a RAID Level 1 ConfigurationOn the Delete RAID Volume Wizard screen, click Next Deleting a RAID VolumeAbout Migrating to a RAID Configuration Migrating to a RAID Level 0 ConfigurationDrive RAID Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration Migrating to a RAID Level 5 Configuration Creating a Spare Hard Drive Rebuilding a Degraded RAID Level 1 or 5 ConfigurationCreating a RAID Level 0 Configuration Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration Creating a RAID Level 5 Configuration Deleting a RAID Volume Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure Setting Up Your ComputerSetting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet Windows XP Setting Up Your Internet ConnectionWindows Vista Transferring Information to a New ComputerTo prepare a new computer for the file transfer Microsoft Windows XPSetting Up Your Computer Setting Up Your Computer Microsoft Windows Vista Power Protection DevicesUninterruptible Power Supplies Surge ProtectorsLine Conditioners Chassis Intrusion Detection Removing the Chassis Intrusion SwitchResetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector Replacing the Chassis Intrusion SwitchSecurity Cable Lock About Passwords PasswordsType of Password Features Using a Primary or System PasswordAssigning a System Password Option SettingsDeleting or Changing an Existing System Password Typing Your System PasswordUsing an Administrator Password Assigning an Administrator Password Deleting or Changing an Existing Administrator Password Disabling a Forgotten Password and Setting a New PasswordTrusted Platform Module TPM Enabling the TPM FeatureSecurity Management Software Using the Security Management SoftwareComputer Tracking Software Activating the Security Management SoftwareIf Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen Securing Your Computer Entering System Setup System Setup OptionsOverview Date, Service Tag, Express Service Code, and Asset Tag Off COM3 Performance Security Auto Power Time Read and U for Unread. Mark All Entries Read puts an R to Setup program or the Quickboot feature. Setup & Boot Boot MenuSelecting the Boot Device for the Current Boot Option SettingsChanging Boot Sequence for Future Boots Booting to a USB DeviceMemory Key 100 Floppy Drive101 Jumper Setting Description102 Clearing Cmos Settings Flashing the Bios103 104 Floppy Drive Computer, Keyboard, and MonitorCDs and DVDs 105106 Battery Problems Solving ProblemsDrive Problems 107Optical drive problems Problems writing to an optical drive108 Mail and Internet Problems Hard drive problems109 110 Error Messages111 Ieee 1394 Device ProblemsKeyboard Problems Lockups and Software Problems112 Computer stops responding Computer does not start upProgram stops responding Program crashes repeatedlyOther software problems Memory ProblemsSolid blue screen appears 114115 Mouse ProblemsNetwork Problems Power Problems116 117 Printer Problems118 Scanner Problems119 Sound Problems120 Diagnostic Light Codes Before Post Diagnostic LightsDiagnostic Lights Power 121122 Suggested ResolutionDiagnostic Light Codes During Post Light Pattern Problem Description123 124 125 Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution126 127 128 Beep Codes 129Code Cause 130 Error MessagesClick the Change or Remove Program icon 131132 133 Keyboard Failure -See Keyboard Problems on134 135 Dell Diagnostics When to Use the Dell Diagnostics136 137 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard DriveDell Diagnostics Main Menu 138Option Function Tab Function 139140 Drivers What Is a Driver?Identifying Drivers Microsoft Windows XPUsing Windows Device Driver Rollback Reinstalling Drivers and UtilitiesMicrosoft Windows Vista 142143 Fix a Problem section, click Hardware TroubleshooterStarting System Restore Using Microsoft Windows System RestoreRestoring Your Operating System 144Undoing the Last System Restore Enabling System Restore145 Using Dell PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore Windows XP Dell PC Restore146 147 148 Windows Vista Dell Factory Image RestoreReinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista Using the Operating System DiscBefore you Begin 149150 Recommended Tools Before You BeginTurning Off Your Computer 151152 Before Working Inside Your ComputerRemoving the Computer Cover and Front Panel Removing the Computer Cover153 154 155 Removing the Front Panel156 Rotating the Hard Drive Carrier Out of the Computer157 158 Replacing the Front Panel and Computer Cover159 Rotating the Hard-Drive Carrier Back into the Computer160 Replacing the Front Panel161 Replacing the Computer Cover162 163 Panel164 Panel Components165 Removing the I/O Panel166 Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments Power SupplyReplacing the I/O Panel 167168 DC Power Connectors P1169 Pin Number Signal name170 DC Power Connectors P2DC Power Connector P3 DC Power Connector P5171 DC Power Connector FD5 172 DC Power Connector P6DC Power Connectors Bays 1, 2, and 3 Sata DC Power Connector Bay 1 PataSignal name AWG Wire 173174 Removing the Power Supply175 Replacing the Power Supply BatteryAbout the Battery 176177 Replacing the Battery178 Processor Removing the Processor179 180 181 Heat-sink assembly182 183 Installing the Processor184 185 186 Memory Fully Buffered Dimm FBD Memory Overview187 188 Memory Installation189 Removing Memory190 Installing Memory191 192 Cards Expansion Card Support193 194 Installing an Expansion Card195 196 197 198 199 200 201 Removing an Expansion Card202 203 204 Drives Tower Computer Drives205 206 Desktop Computer Drives207 About the Metal Shields Present in Some Drive Configurations208 209 General Drive Installation Guidelines210 211 Controller Card Data Cable Connectors Hard Drive212 213 214 215 216 217 218 Removing an Optional Third Hard Drive Tower Computer Only219 220 221 Installing an Optional Third Hard Drive Tower Computer Only222 223 224 225 226 227 228 Installing an Optional Third Sata Hard Drive Desktop Only229 230 231 232 Drive Panels Removing the Drive Panel233 234 235 Removing a Drive-Panel Insert236 Replacing a Drive-Panel Insert237 Replacing the Drive Panel238 239 240 Removing a Floppy Drive Tower Computer241 242 243 Installing a Floppy Drive Tower Computer244 245 246 Removing a Floppy Drive Desktop Computer247 248 249 250 Installing a Floppy Drive Desktop Computer251 252 253 Media Card Reader Removing a Media Card Reader Tower Computer254 255 256 257 Installing a Media Card Reader Tower Computer258 259 260 Removing a Media Card Reader Desktop Computer261 262 263 264 Installing a Media Card Reader Desktop Computer265 266 267 Optical Drive Removing an Optical Drive Tower Computer268 269 270 271 Installing an Optical Drive Tower Computer272 273 274 Removing an Optical Drive Desktop Computer275 276 277 Installing an Optical Drive Desktop Computer278 279 280 System Board Removing the System Board281 282 283 284 Replacing the System Board285 286 287 288 289 Obtaining AssistanceTechnical Support and Customer Service Online Services290 AutoTech Service Problems With Your OrderAutomated Order-Status Service Product InformationReturning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Before You Call292 293 294 Diagnostics Checklist295 Contacting Dell296 FCC Notice U.S. Only FCC Class B297 298 299 Glossary300 Device driver See driver 301302 303 304 305 306 Module bay See media bay 307NIC See network adapter 308309 310 311 312 313 Video resolution See resolution314 315 316