What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers, 141 | Dell NX046 instruction

11

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 Enclosure Security Management Software Trusted Platform Module TPM 103 Cleaning Your Computer 130 129136 141 Turning Off Your Computer 205 193281 289 Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Finding Information Drivers and Utilities Disc What Are You Looking For? Find It Here At support.dell.com Quick Reference Guide What Are You Looking For? Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License Dell Support Website support.dell.com Windows Help and Support Dell Supported Linux Sites Finding Information Front View of the Computer Tower Orientation About Your Computer Ieee 1394 connector Cards Back View of the Computer Tower Orientation Connector Back Panel Connectors Tower Orientation Network adapter Front View Desktop Orientation Information on booting to a USB device Back View Desktop Orientation Inside View Inside View Hard Drive Bay Rotated Out System Board Components Device Color Cable Colors Changing 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 Connectors Audio VideoDrives Key Combinations Front panel Power Environmental Physical About Your Computer About Your Computer LegacySelect Technology Control ManageabilityAlert Standard Format Chassis intrusion alert has been cleared Alert Description Power Management Dell OpenManage IT AssistantDell OpenManage Client Instrumentation Sleep Mode Hyperthreading and Multi-Core Technology About RAID Configurations RAID Level RAID Level Hard drive RAID level Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode Configuring Your Computer for RAID Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration Creating a RAID Level 5 Configuration Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration On the Delete RAID Volume Wizard screen, click Next Deleting a RAID Volume About 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 Configuration Creating 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 Computer Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet Windows XP Setting Up Your Internet Connection Windows Vista Transferring Information to a New Computer To prepare a new computer for the file transfer Microsoft Windows XP Setting Up Your Computer Setting Up Your Computer Microsoft Windows Vista Power Protection Devices Uninterruptible Power Supplies Surge ProtectorsLine Conditioners Chassis Intrusion Detection Removing the Chassis Intrusion Switch Resetting the Chassis Intrusion Detector Replacing the Chassis Intrusion Switch Security Cable Lock About Passwords Passwords Type of Password Features Using a Primary or System Password Assigning a System Password Option Settings Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password Typing Your System Password Using an Administrator Password Assigning an Administrator Password Deleting or Changing an Existing Administrator Password Disabling a Forgotten Password and Setting a New Password Trusted Platform Module TPM Enabling the TPM Feature Security Management Software Using the Security Management SoftwareComputer Tracking Software Activating the Security Management Software If 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 Menu Selecting the Boot Device for the Current Boot Option Settings Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots Booting to a USB DeviceMemory Key 100 Floppy Drive 101 Jumper Setting Description 102 Clearing Cmos Settings Flashing the Bios103 104 Floppy Drive Computer, Keyboard, and MonitorCDs and DVDs 105 106 Battery Problems Solving ProblemsDrive Problems 107 Optical drive problems Problems writing to an optical drive108 Mail and Internet Problems Hard drive problems109 110 Error Messages 111 Ieee 1394 Device Problems Keyboard Problems Lockups and Software Problems112 Computer stops responding Computer does not start upProgram stops responding Program crashes repeatedly Other software problems Memory ProblemsSolid blue screen appears 114 115 Mouse Problems Network Problems Power Problems116 117 Printer Problems 118 Scanner Problems 119 Sound Problems 120 Diagnostic Light Codes Before Post Diagnostic LightsDiagnostic Lights Power 121 122 Suggested Resolution Diagnostic Light Codes During Post Light Pattern Problem Description123 124 125 Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution 126 127 128 Beep Codes 129Code Cause 130 Error Messages Click the Change or Remove Program icon 131 132 133 Keyboard Failure -See Keyboard Problems on 134 135 Dell Diagnostics When to Use the Dell Diagnostics136 137 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 138Option Function Tab Function 139 140 Drivers What Is a Driver?Identifying Drivers Microsoft Windows XP Using Windows Device Driver Rollback Reinstalling Drivers and UtilitiesMicrosoft Windows Vista 142 143 Fix a Problem section, click Hardware Troubleshooter Starting System Restore Using Microsoft Windows System RestoreRestoring Your Operating System 144 Undoing 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 Restore Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista Using the Operating System DiscBefore you Begin 149 150 Recommended Tools Before You BeginTurning Off Your Computer 151 152 Before Working Inside Your Computer Removing the Computer Cover and Front Panel Removing the Computer Cover153 154 155 Removing the Front Panel 156 Rotating the Hard Drive Carrier Out of the Computer 157 158 Replacing the Front Panel and Computer Cover 159 Rotating the Hard-Drive Carrier Back into the Computer 160 Replacing the Front Panel 161 Replacing the Computer Cover 162 163 Panel 164 Panel Components 165 Removing the I/O Panel 166 Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments Power SupplyReplacing the I/O Panel 167 168 DC Power Connectors P1 169 Pin Number Signal name 170 DC Power Connectors P2 DC Power Connector P3 DC Power Connector P5171 DC Power Connector FD5 172 DC Power Connector P6 DC Power Connectors Bays 1, 2, and 3 Sata DC Power Connector Bay 1 PataSignal name AWG Wire 173 174 Removing the Power Supply 175 Replacing the Power Supply BatteryAbout the Battery 176 177 Replacing the Battery 178 Processor Removing the Processor179 180 181 Heat-sink assembly 182 183 Installing the Processor 184 185 186 Memory Fully Buffered Dimm FBD Memory Overview187 188 Memory Installation 189 Removing Memory 190 Installing Memory 191 192 Cards Expansion Card Support193 194 Installing an Expansion Card 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 Removing an Expansion Card 202 203 204 Drives Tower Computer Drives205 206 Desktop Computer Drives 207 About the Metal Shields Present in Some Drive Configurations 208 209 General Drive Installation Guidelines 210 211 Controller Card Data Cable Connectors Hard Drive212 213 214 215 216 217 218 Removing an Optional Third Hard Drive Tower Computer Only 219 220 221 Installing an Optional Third Hard Drive Tower Computer Only 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 Installing an Optional Third Sata Hard Drive Desktop Only 229 230 231 232 Drive Panels Removing the Drive Panel233 234 235 Removing a Drive-Panel Insert 236 Replacing a Drive-Panel Insert 237 Replacing the Drive Panel 238 239 240 Removing a Floppy Drive Tower Computer 241 242 243 Installing a Floppy Drive Tower Computer 244 245 246 Removing a Floppy Drive Desktop Computer 247 248 249 250 Installing a Floppy Drive Desktop Computer 251 252 253 Media Card Reader Removing a Media Card Reader Tower Computer254 255 256 257 Installing a Media Card Reader Tower Computer 258 259 260 Removing a Media Card Reader Desktop Computer 261 262 263 264 Installing a Media Card Reader Desktop Computer 265 266 267 Optical Drive Removing an Optical Drive Tower Computer268 269 270 271 Installing an Optical Drive Tower Computer 272 273 274 Removing an Optical Drive Desktop Computer 275 276 277 Installing an Optical Drive Desktop Computer 278 279 280 System Board Removing the System Board281 282 283 284 Replacing the System Board 285 286 287 288 289 Obtaining Assistance Technical Support and Customer Service Online Services290 AutoTech Service Problems With Your OrderAutomated Order-Status Service Product Information Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Before You Call292 293 294 Diagnostics Checklist 295 Contacting Dell 296 FCC Notice U.S. Only FCC Class B297 298 299 Glossary 300 Device driver See driver 301 302 303 304 305 306 Module bay See media bay 307 NIC See network adapter 308 309 310 311 312 313 Video resolution See resolution 314 315 316