Dell PD598 Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting 87

Troubleshooting

Dell Technical Update Service

The Dell Technical Update service provides proactive e-mail notification of software and hardware

updates for your computer. The service is free and can be customized for content, format, and how

frequently you receive notifications.

To enroll for the Dell Technical Update service, go to support.dell.com/technicalupdate.

Dell Diagnostics

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide.

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in "Lockups and Software

Problems" on page99 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance.

NOTICE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell™ computers.

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not ship with your computer.

Start the Dell Diagnostics from either your hard drive or from the Drivers and Utilities CD (also

known as the ResourceCD).

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive

The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive.

NOTE: If your computer cannot display a screen image, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page155).

Before working inside your computer, read the safety instructions in your Product Information Guide.

1

Shut down the computer.

2

If the computer has docking capability and is connected to a docking device (docked), undock it.

See the documentation that came with your docking device for instructions.

3

Connect the computer to an electrical outlet.

PD598a01.book Page 87 Monday, February 6, 2006 2:24 PM

Contents

Main Notes, Notices, and Cautions Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents 1 A Tour of Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2 Setting Up Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 3 Using the Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 4 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 5 Using a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 8U s i n g C a r d s 9 Setting Up a Home and Office Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 10 Securing Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 11 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 12 Adding and Replacing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 13 Traveling With Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 16 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Finding Information NOTE: 12 NOTE: 14 NOTE: A Tour of Your Computer Determining Your Computers Configuration Front View Page Page The lights located above the keyboard indicate the following: NOTE: 20 Left Side View Right Side View Page Back View 24 Page Page Bottom View Page Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection Transferring Information to a New Computer Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD Page Setting Up a Printer Printer Cable Connecting a USB Printer Power Protection Devices Surge Protectors Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies Page Using the Display Adjusting Brightness Switching the Video Image Setting Display Resolution Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Numeric Keypad 40 Key Combinations System Functions Battery CD or DVD Tray Display Functions Wireless Networking and Bluetooth Wireless Technology Function Power Management Speaker Functions Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Touch Pad Customizing the Touch Pad Using a Battery Battery Performance Checking the Battery Charge Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Microsoft Windows Power Meter Charge Gauge Low-Battery Warning Conserving Battery Power Power Management Modes Standby Mode Page Configuring Power Management Settings Charging the Battery Replacing the Battery Storing a Battery Dell QuickSet Features Page Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Playing CDs or DVDs Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture Copying CDs and DVDs How to Copy a CD or DVD Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful Tips Using Dell Media Experience and Dell MediaDirect If the Computer Is On or in Standby Mode If the Computer Is Off or in Hibernate Mode Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device Page S-Video and Standard Audio S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Composite Video and Standard Audio Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Component Video and Standard Audio Page Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Page Setting Up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones Enabling the Display Settings for a TV in Microsoft Windows XP Using Cards ExpressCards ExpressCard Blanks Installing an ExpressCard Page Removing an ExpressCard or Blank Media Memory Cards Installing a Media Memory Card Removing a Media Memory Card Page Setting Up a Home and Office Network Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband Modem Network Setup Wizard Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection Checking Your Wireless Network Card Setting Up a New WLAN Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Completing the Connection to the WLAN Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell QuickSet Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection Checking Your Mobile Broadband Card Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network Internet Connection Firewall Securing Your Computer Security Cable Lock Passwords Computer Tracking Software If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen Troubleshooting Dell Technical Update Service Dell Diagnostics When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Dell Support Utility Accessing the Dell Support Utility Clicking the Dell Support Icon Double-Clicking the Dell Support Icon Drive Problems CD and DVD Drive Problems If You Cannot Eject the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW Drive Tray If You Hear an Unfamiliar Scraping or Grinding Sound Hard Drive Problems E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Page Error Messages Page Page IEEE 1394 Device Problems Keyboard Problems External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters Lockups and Software Problems The Computer Does Not Start Up The Computer Stops Responding A Program Stops Responding or Crashes Repeatedly A Program Is Designed for an Earlier Microsoft Windows Operating System Dell MediaDirect Problems CHECK THE DELL MEDIADIRECT HELP FILE FOR INFORMATION Click the ? icon at the bottom of the Dell MediaDirect screen to access Help. TO PLAY MOVIES WITH DELL MEDIADIRECT, YOU MUST HAVE A DVD DRIVE AND THE DELL DVD PLAYER If you purchased a DVD drive with your computer, this software should already be installed. Memory Problems Network Problems General Mobile Broadband Network ExpressCard Problems Power Problems Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer Printer Problems Scanner Problems Sound and Speaker Problems No Sound From Integrated Speakers No Sound From External Speakers No Sound From Headphones Touch Pad or Mouse Problems Video and Display Problems If the Display Is Blank If the Display Is Difficult to Read If Only Part of the Display is Readable Drivers What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Page Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Restoring Your Operating System Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec Page Using the Operating System CD Page Page Adding and Replacing Parts Before You Begin Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer Hard Drive Page Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Memory Page Page Modem Mini-Card Page Page Page Hinge Cover Page Keyboard Coin-Cell Battery Optical Drive Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology Page Traveling With Your Computer Identifying Your Computer Packing the Computer Travel Tips Traveling by Air Specifications NOTE: 138 NOTE: Page Page Page Page Page Getting Help Obtaining Assistance Online Services AutoTech Service Automated Order-Status Service Support Service Problems With Your Order Product Information Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Before You Call 148 Appendix Using the System Setup Program Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screen Commonly Used Options Cleaning Your Computer Computer, Keyboard, and Display Touch Pad CDs and DVDs FCC Notices (U.S. Only) FCC Class B Macrovision Product Notice Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S.Only) Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals Contacting Dell Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Printers, and Projectors Page Glossary A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S Page T U V W X Z Index Numbers A B C E F H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W