Identifying Drivers | Dell PP20L manual

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.

1Click the Start button and click Control Panel.

2Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance.

3Click System.

4In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab.

5Click Device Manager.

6Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a [!]) on the device icon.

If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver. See "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 100.

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

NOTICE: The Dell Support website at support.dell.com and your Drivers and Utilities CD provide approved drivers for Dell™ computers. If you install drivers obtained from other sources, your computer might not work correctly.

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

Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback

If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver, use Windows XP Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version.

1Click the Start button and click Control Panel.

2Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance.

3Click System.

4In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab.

5Click Device Manager.

6Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties.

7Click the Drivers tab.

8Click Roll Back Driver.

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Solving Problems

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Dell PP20L owner manual Identifying Drivers, Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities, Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback

Contents

Dell Inspiron 6400/E1505 W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents Configuring Power Management Settings Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network What You Need to Establish a Wlan ConnectionWhat You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Double- Clicking the Dell Support Icon Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network Wwan Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your ComputerIf only part of the display is readable Contents Program stops responding or crashes repeatedly 109 129 131 132163 164 Contents Finding Information Support.dell.com These labels are located on the bottom of your computer Enter your Service Tag or product model ConfigurationClick the topic that describes your problem What Are You Looking For? Find It Here Microsoft Windows System Restore Microsoft Earlier operating state without affecting data filesShip with your computer Your operating system About Your Computer Determining Your Computer’s ConfigurationAbout Your Computer Front View W E R B U T T O N About Your Computer Y B O a R D a N D W I R E L E S S S T a T U S L I G H T S Left Side View Right Side View Back View Connects an external VGA-compatible monitor Bottom View Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the InternetSetting Up Your Internet Connection Setting Up Your Computer Transferring Information to a New Computer Click Finished and restart the new computer Click Finished and restart the new computer Connecting a USB Printer Setting Up a PrinterPrinter Cable Power Protection Devices Surge Protectors Uninterruptible Power Supplies Line Conditioners Setting Up Your Computer Using the Display Adjusting BrightnessSwitching the Video Image Setting Display Resolution Using the Display Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Using the Keyboard and Touch PadNumeric Keypad Power Management Key CombinationsSystem Functions Display Functions Adjusting Keyboard Settings Microsoft Windows Logo Key FunctionsQuickSet Key Combinations Opens the Search Results-Computer dialog box Touch Pad Customizing the Touch Pad Battery Performance Using a BatteryUsing a Battery Checking the Battery Charge Dell QuickSet Battery MeterMicrosoft Windows Power Meter Check the Battery Charge Conserving Battery Power Low-Battery WarningPower Management Modes Check the Battery Health Hibernate Mode Replacing the Battery Charging the BatteryConfiguring Power Management Settings Storing a Battery Using Multimedia Using MultimediaPlaying CDs or DVDs How to Copy a CD or DVD Copying CDs and DVDs Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful TipsCD-Writable Drives Media Type Read Write Rewritable DVD-Writable Drives Media Type Read Write Rewritable Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture Using Dell Media Experience and Dell MediaDirectIf the computer is turned on or in standby mode If the computer is turned off or in hibernate mode Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help Using Multimedia Video and Standard Audio Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Composite video adapter Video cable Composite Video and Standard Audio Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Composite video adapter Pdif digital audio cable Component Video and Standard Audio Using Multimedia Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Component video adapter 2 S/PDIF digital audio cable Setting Up the Cyberlink CL Headphones Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio Enabling the Display Settings for a TV Using Multimedia Using Cards Installing an ExpressCardUsing Cards ExpressCards Removing an ExpressCard or Blank Installing a Media Memory Card Media Memory Cards Removing a Media Memory Card Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband Modem Setting Up a NetworkSetting Up a Network Network Setup Wizard Wireless Local Area Network WlanChecking Your Wireless Network Card What You Need to Establish a Wlan Connection Setting Up a New Wlan Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Completing the Connection to the Wlan Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network Wwan Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network Setting Up a Network Passwords Securing Your ComputerSecurity Cable Lock Securing Your Computer Computer Tracking Software If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen Solving Problems Dell DiagnosticsWhen to Use the Dell Diagnostics Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Option Function Tab Function Accessing the Dell Support Utility Dell Support UtilityClicking the Dell Support Icon Double-Clicking the Dell Support Icon CD and DVD drive problems Drive ProblemsProblems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive Hard drive problems Mail, Modem, and Internet ProblemsIf you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound Error Messages Characters in filenames Solving Problems Page ExpressCard Problems Ieee 1394 Device ProblemsWindows taskbar. Ensure that the card is listed Manufacturer Keyboard Problems External Keyboard problems Lockups and Software Problems Unexpected charactersComputer does not start up Computer stops responding Other software problems Dell MediaDirect problemsSolid blue screen appears Network Problems Memory ProblemsCommunication exists. Replace the network cable Power Problems Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network Wwan Printer Problems Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer Scanner Problems No sound from integrated speakers Sound and Speaker ProblemsNo sound from external speakers Video and Display Problems Touch Pad or Mouse ProblemsIf the display is blank What Is a Driver? DriversIf the display is difficult to read If only part of the display is readable Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback Reinstalling Drivers and UtilitiesIdentifying Drivers Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs Using the Drivers and Utilities CD101 Restoring Your Operating System Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities102 Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore 103 Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec 104 105 Using the Operating System CD Reinstalling Windows XPBefore You Begin 106 107 108 Adding and Replacing Parts Adding and Replacing PartsBefore You Begin Recommended Tools Before Working Inside Your Computer 110 Optical Drive 111 Hard Drive 112 113 Memory Returning a Hard Drive to Dell 115 116 Modem 117 Hinge Cover 118 Keyboard 119 120 Wireless Mini-Card 121 Install the replacement Mini-Card 122 123 Coin-Cell Battery Display 125 Lift the display up and away from the computer 126 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology 127 128 Dell QuickSet Features Dell QuickSet Features 130 Traveling With Your Computer Identifying Your ComputerPacking the Computer 131 Travel Tips Traveling by Air 133 Contacting DellContacting Dell 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 Called from within Singapore or Malaysia only 148Website support.ap.dell.com 149 150 151 Printers, and Projectors for Relationship 152 153 154 Specifications 155 Ports and Connectors 156In-1 Media Memory Card Reader Memory 157 CommunicationsVideo Audio 158 Display Battery 159Keyboard Touch Pad AC Adapter 160Physical 161 Environmental 162 Using the System Setup Program Viewing the System Setup ScreenSystem Setup Screen Appendix Performing a One-Time Boot Changing the Boot SequenceCommonly Used Options Cleaning Your Computer Computer, Keyboard, and DisplayTouch Pad 165 Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only Floppy DriveCDs and DVDs 166 Definition of Dell-Installed Software and Peripherals FCC Notice U.S. OnlyDefinition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals FCC Class B Macrovision Product Notice 168 169 GlossaryGlossary 170 Device driver See driver 171Docking device See APR 172 173 174 175 NIC See network adapter 176 177 System tray See notification area Video resolution See resolution 178 179 180 181 IndexIndex See also hard drive See also optical drive 182 183 184 185 186