About Your Computer | Dell Vostro 1000 manual

B A T T E R Y — When a battery is installed, you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an electrical outlet. For more information, see "Using a Battery" on page 53.

H A R D D R I V E — Stores software and data. For more information, see "Hard Drive" on page 92 and "Hard drive problems" on page 120.

M O D E M / M E M O R Y M O D U L E C O V E R — Covers the compartment that contains the modem and the memory modules. For more information, see "Modem" on page 98 and "Memory" on page 95.

F A N — The computer uses a fan to create airflow through the vents, which prevents the computer from overheating.

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About Your Computer

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Dell Vostro 1000 owner manual About Your Computer

Contents

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 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Uninterruptible Power Supplies Customizing the Touch Pad Physically Connecting to a Network or Using Blank CDs and DVDsInstalling a Media Memory Card Removing a Media Memory Card Connecting a Network or Broadband Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Contents Enabling/Disabling the Wireless NetworkMobile Broadband/Wireless Wide Area Microsoft Windows Firewall 117 Dell Technical Update Service 111116 118 Touch Pad or Mouse Problems 140 Contents External Keyboard problems 129Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area 129 Using Microsoft Windows System Restore 154 Video and Display Problems 141Using Windows Vista System Restore 149 Using the Operating System Media 157 Computer, Keyboard, and Display 179 177179 180 Contents Finding Information What Are You Looking For? Find It Here Warranty information With your computer Your call when contacting support Use the Service Tag to identify yourComputer when you use Microsoft Windows License Label Tips articles from technicians online How to find information about myHow to connect to the Internet Site Problem into the Search box, click Updates appropriate for your ConfigurationHow to use the Windows operating Describes your problem Returns your computer to an earlier Microsoft Windows System RestoreRestore your operating system Files Determining Your Computer’s Configuration About Your ComputerAbout Your Computer Display latches Power button Device status lights Front ViewSpeakers Touch pad buttons V I C E S T a T U S L I G H T S 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 Optical drive bay Left Side ViewAir vent Optical-drive-tray eject button Hard drive ExpressCard slot USB connectors About Your ComputerRight Side View Card reader USB C O N N E C T O R S AC adapter connector Network connector RJ-45 RJ-11 USB connectors Video connectorBack View Connects an external VGA-compatible monitor Release Battery Hard driveBottom View Module cover About Your Computer Setting Up Your Internet Connection Setting Up Your ComputerConnecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Computer Setting Up Your Computer Transferring Information to a New Computer Microsoft Windows XP To copy data from the old computer On the old computer, insert the wizard disk Click Start→ Run Microsoft Windows Vista Setting Up a Printer Connecting a USB PrinterPrinter Cable Setting Up Your Computer Surge Protectors Power Protection DevicesUninterruptible Power Supplies Line Conditioners Setting Up Your Computer Using a Projector Using the DisplayAdjusting Brightness Using the Display Windows Vista Using Both a Monitor and Your Computer Display Using a Monitor as Your Primary Display Click OK to close the Display Settings window Using Catalyst Control Center Using the Desktop Shortcut Using Hot KeysLaunching Catalyst Control Center Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Using the Keyboard and Touch PadNumeric Keypad Key Combinations Microsoft Windows Logo Key Functions Adjusting Keyboard SettingsSpeaker Functions Opens the Search Results-Computer dialog box Touch Pad Touch pad Customizing the Touch Pad Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Using a Battery Battery PerformanceUsing a Battery Checking the Battery Charge Dell QuickSet Battery Meter Check the Battery Health Microsoft Windows Power MeterCheck the Battery Charge Charge Gauge Power Management Modes Conserving Battery PowerLow-Battery Warning Standby Mode Press the power button Close the display Press FnEsc Hibernate Mode Charging the Battery Configuring Power Management SettingsAccessing Power Options Properties Replacing the Battery To remove the battery Storing a Battery Battery-bay latch release Using Multimedia CD/DVD tray Using MultimediaPlaying a CD or DVD Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture How to Copy a CD or DVD Copying CDs and DVDs Using Blank CDs and DVDs To copy the CD or DVDMedia Type Read Write Rewritable Helpful Tips DVD-Writable Drives Volume icon Mute icon Using Multimedia Click Start→ Control Panel→ Appearance and Themes Using Multimedia ExpressCards Using CardsUsing Cards ExpressCard Blanks Installing an ExpressCard ExpressCard Using Cards Removing an ExpressCard or Blank Release latch Installing a Media Memory Card Media Memory Cards Removing a Media Memory Card Media memory card slot Using Cards Setting Up and Using Networks Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband ModemConnecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable Setting Up and Using Networks Wireless Local Area Network Wlan Checking Your Wireless Network CardWhat You Need to Establish a Wlan Connection Setting Up and Using Networks Connecting to a Wlan Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card Completing the Connection to the Wlan Mobile Broadband/Wireless Wide Area Network Wwan Microsoft Windows Firewall Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband CardMobile Broadband card is listed under Modems Setting Up and Using Networks Security Cable Lock PasswordsSecuring Your Computer Securing Your Computer Computer Tracking Software If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen Securing Your Computer Securing Your Computer Before You Begin Adding and Replacing PartsAdding and Replacing Parts Recommended Tools Before Working Inside Your Computer Press the power button to ground the system board Optical Drive Hard DriveOptical drive Device security screw Hard drive screws Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Foam packaging Memory Clips 2 per connector Memory module Notch Modem Adding and Replacing Parts Hinge Cover Keyboard 101Hinge cover Keyboard cable Plastic bar on Keyboard connector 102Keyboard Wireless Mini-Card 103Mini-Card Metal securing tab Mini-Card 105 Coin-Cell Battery ConnectorSystem board Antenna cables Display 107 Lift the display away from the computer 108 Screws Display cableBoard 109 110 Troubleshooting Dell Technical Update ServiceDell Diagnostics Troubleshooting 113 Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 114Option Function 115 Tab Function Dell Support Center Dell Support Desktop Dell PC TuneUpClick the Dell Support icon 117 DellConnect Dell PC CheckupDell Network Assistant 118 Click Start and click My Computer Drive ProblemsOptical drive problems Click the Windows Vista Start button and click Computer Hard drive problems Problems writing to a CD-RW or DVD+/-RW drive Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems 121 Click Start→ All Programs→ Modem Helper 122 Error Messages 123 124 125 Windows XP 127 ExpressCard Problems Ieee 1394 Device Problems Keyboard Problems External Keyboard problems129 Computer does not start Lockups and Software ProblemsUnexpected characters 130 Computer stops responding Program stops responding or crashes repeatedly131 Dell MediaDirect problems Solid blue screen appears132 Memory Problems Other software problems133 Network Problems Run the Dell Diagnostics see Dell Diagnostics on134 Power Problems Mobile Broadband Wireless Wide Area Network Wwan135 136 Printer Problems 137 Scanner Problems Sound and Speaker Problems138 No sound from external speakers No sound from headphonesNo sound from integrated speakers 139 Remote Control Problems Touch Pad or Mouse ProblemsShut down the computer Disconnect the mouse 140 Video and Display Problems If the display is blank141 If the display is difficult to read 142 If only part of the display is readable What Is a Driver?Drivers Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Using Windows Device Driver Rollback Using the Drivers and Utilities Media 145 Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems 147 Fix a Problem section, click Hardware Troubleshooter Restoring Your Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System Using Windows Vista System Restore Creating a Restore Point149 Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State 150 Restoring the Computer to the Default Factory Configuration 151 Using the Operating System Media Before You Begin152 Restoring Your Microsoft Windows XP Operating System 153 Using Microsoft Windows System Restore Using Dell PC Restore Enabling System Restore155 Troubleshooting 157 Troubleshooting Dell QuickSet Features Dell QuickSet Features159 160 Packing the Computer Traveling With Your ComputerIdentifying Your Computer 161 Travel Tips 162 Traveling by Air 163 164 Contacting Dell 165Contacting Dell 166 Specifications 167 168 169 ATI R485M 170 171 Information on battery life Reduced under certain power-intensiveConditions. See Power Problems on 172 173 174 175 Using the System Setup ProgramAppendix Appendix Viewing the System Setup Screens 176 Commonly Used Options 177 Changing the Boot Sequence 178 Computer, Keyboard, and Display Cleaning Your ComputerPerforming a One-Time Boot 179 Touch Pad Mouse Floppy Drive CDs and DVDs181 FCC Notice U.S. Only FCC Class B Macrovision Product Notice 183 184 Glossary 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 Index 203Index See also hard drive See also optical drive 204 205 206 207 208 209 WWAN. See Mobile Broadband 210