What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers | Dell PP23LA instruction

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 CD 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.

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 81.

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.

Solving Problems

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Dell PP23LA owner manual What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers, Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

Contents

W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m Dell Inspiron Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Configuring Power Management Settings What You Need to Establish a Wlan Connection Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding soundProgram stops responding or crashes repeatedly If only part of the display is readable Using Microsoft Windows XP System RestoreResolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities 101 105 104109 110 Glossary Index Contents Warranty information Finding InformationSupport.dell.com Setup Diagram What Are You Looking For? Find It Here Click the topic that describes your problemClick the arrow icon Follow the instructions on the screen Restore your operating system Microsoft Windows System Restore MicrosoftService call status and support history Top technical issues for my computer Determining Your Computer’s Configuration About Your ComputerAbout Your Computer Front View Light operates as follows 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 Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your ComputerSetting 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 Setting Up a Printer Connecting a USB PrinterPrinter Cable Surge Protectors Power Protection Devices Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies Setting Up Your Computer Adjusting Brightness Using the DisplaySwitching the Video Image Setting Display Resolution Using the Display Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Using the Keyboard and Touch PadNumeric Keypad Key Combinations Power ManagementSystem Functions Display Functions Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Adjusting Keyboard Settings Customizing the Touch Pad Touch Pad Using a Battery Battery PerformanceUsing a Battery Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Checking the Battery ChargeMicrosoft Windows Power Meter Charge Gauge Low-Battery Warning Conserving Battery PowerPower Management Modes Check the Battery HealthPage Charging the Battery Replacing the BatteryConfiguring Power Management Settings Storing a Battery Using Multimedia Using MultimediaPlaying a CD or DVD Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture How to Copy a CD or DVDCopying CDs and DVDs Media Type Read Write Rewritable Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful Tips Using Multimedia Installing an ExpressCard Using CardsUsing Cards ExpressCards Removing an ExpressCard or Blank Media Memory Cards Installing a Media Memory Card Removing a Media Memory Card Setting Up a Network Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband ModemSetting Up a Network Wireless Local Area Network Wlan Network Setup WizardChecking Your Wireless Network Card What You Need to Establish a Wlan Connection Setting Up a New Wlan Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network Completing the Connection to the Wlan Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card Setting Up a Network Securing Your Computer PasswordsSecurity Cable Lock Securing Your Computer If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen Computer Tracking Software Dell Diagnostics Solving ProblemsWhen to Use the Dell Diagnostics Solving Problems Option Function Tab Function CD and DVD drive problems Drive ProblemsProblems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive Management Modes on page 41 for information on standby mode Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Hard drive problemsIf you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound Error Messages Solving Problems Solving Problems Solving Problems ExpressCard Problems Keyboard ProblemsManufacturer Lockups and Software Problems External Keyboard problemsUnexpected characters Computer does not start up Other software problemsComputer stops responding Program stops responding or crashes repeatedly Network Problems Memory Problems Communication exists. Replace the network cable Power Problems Printer Problems Scanner ProblemsEnsuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from integrated speakersNo sound from external speakers Video and Display Problems Touch Pad or Mouse ProblemsNo sound from headphones If the display is blank If the display is difficult to read If only part of the display is readablePicture quality Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities What Is a Driver?Drivers Identifying Drivers Solving Problems Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore You can restore your operating system in the following waysRestoring Your Operating System Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec Solving Problems Using the Operating System CD Solving Problems Adding and Replacing Parts Adding and Replacing PartsBefore You Begin Recommended Tools Before Working Inside Your Computer Optical Drive Hard Drive Screws Hard drive Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Memory Memory module Securing clips 2 per connector Modem Adding and Replacing Parts Hinge Cover Keyboard 100 101 Wireless Mini-Card 102 Install the replacement Mini-Card 103 Coin-Cell Battery 105 Display Adding and Replacing Parts Dell QuickSet Features Dell QuickSet Features107 108 Identifying Your Computer Traveling With Your ComputerPacking the Computer 109 Traveling by Air Travel Tips Contacting Dell 111Contacting Dell 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 Should be called from within Singapore orMalaysia only 128 129 130 131 132 133 Specifications 134 Ports and ConnectorsMemory Communications 135 VideoAudio Display 136 137 BatteryKeyboard Touch Pad 138 AC AdapterPhysical Environmental 139 140 Entering System Setup Using the System Setup ProgramAppendix 141 Commonly Used Options 143 Cleaning Your Computer Touch Pad Computer, Keyboard, and DisplayFloppy Drive CDs and DVDs Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only Definition of Dell-Installed Software and PeripheralsDefinition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals 145 FCC Notice U.S. Only FCC Class B146 147 Macrovision Product Notice 148 Glossary 149Glossary 150 151 Device driver See driverDocking device See APR 152 153 154 NIC See network adapter 155 156 System tray See notification area 157 158 Video resolution See resolution 159 160 Boot sequence Brightness adjusting Index161 Index See also display problems Power management conserving battery power163 System setup program commonly used options Compatibility, 74 restore computer to previous 165 166