Finding Information for Your Computer | Dell XPS specs

Finding Information for Your Computer

Dell provides the following support options to help you quickly find answers to your questions and problems:

•Dell Solution Center — Double-click the Dell Solution Center icon on your Microsoft® Windows® desktop for documentation, tools, troubleshooting information, and links to online support resources.

•Dell Support on the Internet — The Dell Support website (support.dell.com) provides online tools, including a Knowledge Base, Frequently Asked Questions, Hints and Tips, Software Reinstall Guides, Dell Community Forums, and Dell Customer Care.

•Dell Technical Support — E-mail or call technical support personnel for Dell™ hardware or operating system issues that you cannot resolve using the Dell Support options.

Use the following chart to determine where you can find information on a particular topic.

What are you looking for?	Find It Here

• How to access tutorials and other how	Dell Solution Center
to information
• How to get a copy of my invoice	On your Windows desktop

•How to extend my warranty

•Additional documentation, tools, troubleshooting information, and links to online support resources

	• Latest drivers for my computer	Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
	• Answers to technical service and	The Dell Support website provides several online tools, including:
	support questions	• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians,
	• Online discussions with other users and
	• Online discussions with other users and	and online courses
	technical support	• Community Forum — Online discussion with other Dell customers
	• Documentation for my computer
	• Documentation for my computer	• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as memory,

		the hard drive, and the operating system
		• Customer Care — Contact information, order status, warranty, and
		repair information
		• Downloads — Drivers, patches, and software updates
		• Reference — Computer documentation, product specifications, and
		white papers

Finding Information for Your Computer

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Dell XPS manual Finding Information for Your Computer

Contents

Ieee 1394 connector Headphone connector Microphone connectorSerial connector Fans Diagnostic lights Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents Optimizing Performance Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Using Microsoft Windows XP System RestoreResolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Removing and Installing Parts 109 105110 128 Contents Safety General Safety When Working Inside Your Computer Safety When Using Your Computer Safety Ergonomic Computing Habits Safety Protecting Against Electrostatic DischargeSafety Battery Disposal W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m Finding Information for Your Computer How to change my display resolution ResourceCD Service Tag and Microsoft Windows LabelDrivers for my computer My computer documentation Finding Information for Your Computer Using Your Computer Opening the Drive Door Connecting Two Monitors TV OUT connector DVI white connector If both monitors have VGA connectorsOptional VGA adapter Settings and Functions Configuring Graphics CardsIf one of the monitors is a television About Serial ATA Drives About Your RAID ConfigurationRemoving the Graphics Card Driver Segment Hard drive RAID Level Segment Transferring Information to a New Computer Copying CDs and DVDs Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs How to Copy a CD or DVDHelpful Tips Turning Off Your Computer Network Setup WizardIntegrated firewall provided with Windows XP Using Your Computer DDR Memory and Processor Front-Side Bus Intel Performance Acceleration TechnologyHyper-Threading Optimizing Performance Overclocking Solving Problems Finding Solutions Finding Help Information Drive Problems Battery ProblemsFloppy drive problems CD drive problems DVD drive problems Problems writing to a CD-RW driveHard drive problems Under Error-checking, click Check Now Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Click Add or Remove Programs Error MessagesClick the Change or Remove Program icon Computer stops responding General ProblemsProgram stops responding Program crashes repeatedly Other software problemsSolid blue screen appears General hardware problems Other technical problems Keyboard Problems Ieee 1394 Device ProblemsClick Printers and Other Hardware Simultaneously press CtrlEsc to display the Start menu Mouse Problems Network Network ProblemsIntegrity/speed light Power Problems Printer Problems Click Scanners and Cameras Scanner Problems No sound from speakers Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from headphones Video and Monitor ProblemsIf the screen is blank Click Appearance and Themes If the screen is difficult to read Solving Problems Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution Diagnostic LightsAdvanced Troubleshooting = yellow = green = off Light Pattern Problem Description When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Dell DiagnosticsStarting the Dell Diagnostics Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the ResourceCD Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Option Function Dell Diagnostics Main MenuTab Function Drivers What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers Creating a Restore Point Using Microsoft Windows XP System RestoreUsing the ResourceCD Click System Restore Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore Click Performance and Maintenance Enabling System RestoreClick the System Restore tab Click Performance and Maintenance and click System Reinstalling Windows XP Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XPBooting From the Operating System CD Before You Begin Next Windows XP Setup Advanced Troubleshooting Front and Back View of the Computer Removing and Installing PartsFront View Computer. Instead, perform a Microsoft Windows shutdown Front View Doors Open Back View Network or broadband jack Removing and Installing Parts Before You Begin Precautionary MeasuresRecommended Tools Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Opening the Computer Cover Page Floppy drive CD/DVD drive Hard drive Inside View of Your Computer Memory System Board Components DDR Memory Overview Memory Installation Guidelines Installing Memory Notch Memory module Cutouts Crossbar PCI Cards Installing a PCI Card Not fully seated card Fully seated card Bracket Filler bracket Alignment guide Alignment bar Retention arm Removing a PCI Card Removing an AGP Card AGP Cards Drives Installing an AGP CardOverview Removing a Hard Drive Hard DriveFloppy drive CD/DVD drives Hard drives Power cable Tabs IDE hard- drive cable Installing a Hard DrivePower cable Tabs IDE hard drive example Drive Bracket rails Screws System board Connector Removing a Floppy Drive Floppy Drive Tabs Floppy drive Installing a Floppy Drive Tabs Floppy drive CD/DVD Drive Power cable Tabs CD/DVD drive cable Audio cableRemoving a CD/DVD Drive Installing a CD/DVD Drive Power cable Tabs CD/DVD drive cable Audio cable Removing the Processor Airflow Shroud Processor Airflow Shroud Top anchor tabs Installing the Processor Airflow ShroudSide anchor tabs Indentations Bottom anchor tabs Processor Installing the Processor Processor socket Retention module Heat sink processor socket Release tab Removing the Processor Removing the Front Panel Front PanelRelease lever Processor Socket Replacing the Front Panel Removing the Drive Door Drive Door Top bracket hinge Bottom bracket hinge Replacing the Drive Door 100 Door bracket/door hinge assemblyHinge tab Door hinges Door bracket Door hinge 101 Battery Closing the Computer Cover Battery102 Cover latch release Security cable slot Padlock ring 103 Removing and Installing Parts 105 Specifications Video 106Audio Expansion Bus Controls and Lights 107 108 PowerPhysical Environmental Viewing Settings Standard SettingsSystem Setup Screens Boot Sequence Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot Clearing Forgotten PasswordsChanging Boot Sequence for Future Boots 110 111 Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only Contacting Dell Definition of Dell-Installed Software and PeripheralsDefinition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 What is not covered by this limited warranty? What is covered by this limited warranty?Regulatory Notices Limited Warranties and Return Policy 129 How long does this limited warranty last? What will Dell do? What do I do if I need warranty service?130 May I transfer the limited warranty? What if I purchased a service contract?Total Satisfaction Return Policy U.S. Only How will you fix my product? 132 133 134 Dell Software and Peripherals Canada Only Total Satisfaction Return Policy Canada Only 136 Intel’s Three Year Limited Warranty What are Errata? 137 Appendix Index 139 Index Help file, 14 accessing Processor Problems Modem problems140 Index Index 141 142 Index Wizard, 37 reinstalling, 60 scanner, 44 System Restore