Dell Technology Guide
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Contents 1 Finding Information 23 Start Button 23 Microsoft Windows Help and Support 24 Windows Vista 25 Windows® XP 25 Control Panel 26 Information About Installed Hardware 26 Device Manager 26 Hardware Devices Installed on Your Computer 27 Programs Installed on Your Computer 28 Wireless Networking 28 Dell Support Website 29 Technical Support 29 Customer Service 30 Warranty Information 30 Dell Forums 31 Contact Us 31 BIOS (System Setup Program) Settings 31 2 Microsoft Windows Desktop 33 Overview 33 Taskbar 34 Contents 3
Contents 1 Finding Information 23 Start Button 23 Microsoft Windows Help and Support 24 Windows Vista 25 Windows® XP 25 Control Panel 26 Information About Installed Hardware 26 Device Manager 26 Hardware Devices Installed on Your Computer 27 Programs Installed on Your Computer 28 Wireless Networking 28 Dell Support Website 29 Technical Support 29 Customer Service 30 Warranty Information 30 Dell Forums 31 Contact Us 31 BIOS (System Setup Program) Settings 31 2 Microsoft Windows Desktop 33 Overview 33 Taskbar 34 Contents 3
Dell Technology Guide
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Changing Boot Sequence to a USB Device . . . . 310 Changing the BIOS Settings 310 Viewing the BIOS Settings 311 Upgrading the BIOS (Flashing the BIOS 311 22 Ports 313 USB Port 313 IEEE 1394 Port 314 RS232 Serial Port 315 Parallel Port 316 eSATA Port 317 Modem 318 Ethernet Port 319 Keyboard and Mouse Port (PS2 320 VGA Port 321 DVI-I Port 322 S-Video TV-Out Port 323 Component Video 324 Composite Video 325 HDMI Port 326 DisplayPort 327 S/PDIF Port (Coaxial RCA 328 Contents 21
Changing Boot Sequence to a USB Device . . . . 310 Changing the BIOS Settings 310 Viewing the BIOS Settings 311 Upgrading the BIOS (Flashing the BIOS 311 22 Ports 313 USB Port 313 IEEE 1394 Port 314 RS232 Serial Port 315 Parallel Port 316 eSATA Port 317 Modem 318 Ethernet Port 319 Keyboard and Mouse Port (PS2 320 VGA Port 321 DVI-I Port 322 S-Video TV-Out Port 323 Component Video 324 Composite Video 325 HDMI Port 326 DisplayPort 327 S/PDIF Port (Coaxial RCA 328 Contents 21
Dell Technology Guide
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... can be changed using the BIOS, using options provided by the operating system is a utility that serves as the amount of system memory. NOTE: Although your computer's current configuration, such as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system. • Service Contracts & Forms • Warranty Status Dell Forums • Support Forums •...
... can be changed using the BIOS, using options provided by the operating system is a utility that serves as the amount of system memory. NOTE: Although your computer's current configuration, such as an interface between the computer hardware and the operating system. • Service Contracts & Forms • Warranty Status Dell Forums • Support Forums •...
Dell Technology Guide
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... the Free Disks field. 6 Use the up , use the arrow keys to exit the RAID BIOS. The Define a New Array window appears. Repeat these steps for each RAID array varies, depending on what computer you want to keep before continuing. 8 Press to clear all data on the selected drives in.... 4 Press to navigate to include in the next step. NOTE: If the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop, and then shut down -arrow keys to select a hard drive to the RAID Mode field. Drives and Media 89 To create a RAID 1 configuration,...
... the Free Disks field. 6 Use the up , use the arrow keys to exit the RAID BIOS. The Define a New Array window appears. Repeat these steps for each RAID array varies, depending on what computer you want to keep before continuing. 8 Press to clear all data on the selected drives in.... 4 Press to navigate to include in the next step. NOTE: If the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop, and then shut down -arrow keys to select a hard drive to the RAID Mode field. Drives and Media 89 To create a RAID 1 configuration,...
Dell Technology Guide
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... LED Control section, you to change made to a file for further review as well as evaluate the effectiveness of a change available BIOS settings via a Windows user interface. Changes to tailor and customize their system's performance. These settings can manually tune these options to ... of the installed components may also create, save and apply customized LED effects through this interface. Dynamic BIOS Access This section of compatible components inside your computer. View System Information This section of the NVIDIA Control Panel allows you to view version information for that...
... LED Control section, you to change made to a file for further review as well as evaluate the effectiveness of a change available BIOS settings via a Windows user interface. Changes to tailor and customize their system's performance. These settings can manually tune these options to ... of the installed components may also create, save and apply customized LED effects through this interface. Dynamic BIOS Access This section of compatible components inside your computer. View System Information This section of the NVIDIA Control Panel allows you to view version information for that...
Dell Technology Guide
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NOTE: To ensure maximum battery operating time, connect only your computer to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your laptop computer with the main battery installed at all times. One battery is supplied as a printer, to a separate power strip that the device ... loss or file damage. UPS devices contain a battery that they continuously charge the battery and continuously run the equipment off battery power. Laptop Computer Batteries To ensure optimal performance and to a UPS. Power (Power Settings, Power Protection Devices, and Batteries) 141 The battery charges while AC...
NOTE: To ensure maximum battery operating time, connect only your computer to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your laptop computer with the main battery installed at all times. One battery is supplied as a printer, to a separate power strip that the device ... loss or file damage. UPS devices contain a battery that they continuously charge the battery and continuously run the equipment off battery power. Laptop Computer Batteries To ensure optimal performance and to a UPS. Power (Power Settings, Power Protection Devices, and Batteries) 141 The battery charges while AC...
Dell Technology Guide
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...BIOS, available through the system setup program (see "Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Card With a Wireless Switch" on page 307) Dell ControlPoint Connection Manager You can use the wireless switch to control Wi-Fi network connections. The Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator functions regardless of whether your computer...Fi Catcher Network Locator may use when your computer is shipped to you, you can access the Dell ControlPoint Connection Manager from the Dell ControlPoint (DCP) application. Scanning for a Wireless Network On some computers, you must first enable and configure the switch...
...BIOS, available through the system setup program (see "Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Card With a Wireless Switch" on page 307) Dell ControlPoint Connection Manager You can use the wireless switch to control Wi-Fi network connections. The Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator functions regardless of whether your computer...Fi Catcher Network Locator may use when your computer is shipped to you, you can access the Dell ControlPoint Connection Manager from the Dell ControlPoint (DCP) application. Scanning for a Wireless Network On some computers, you must first enable and configure the switch...
Dell Technology Guide
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...appeared. DELL RECOMMENDS ...BIOS setup. MEMORY ADDRESS LINE FAILURE AT (ADDRESS), READ VALUE EXPECTING 276 Troubleshooting N O T I M E R T I C K I O N - A PARAMETER OUT OF RANGE MAY OR M A Y N O T I N D I C A T E A P O T E N T I A L H A R D D R I L U R E - P L E A S E R U N S E T U P P R O G R A M - K E Y B O A R D F A I V E P R O B L E M . - S.M.A.R.T error, possible HDD failure. See "Lockups and Software Problems" on page 292. NOTICE - Keyboard failure or keyboard cable loose (see the documentation for External Keyboards" on page 337). System Messages for Laptop Computers...
...appeared. DELL RECOMMENDS ...BIOS setup. MEMORY ADDRESS LINE FAILURE AT (ADDRESS), READ VALUE EXPECTING 276 Troubleshooting N O T I M E R T I C K I O N - A PARAMETER OUT OF RANGE MAY OR M A Y N O T I N D I C A T E A P O T E N T I A L H A R D D R I L U R E - P L E A S E R U N S E T U P P R O G R A M - K E Y B O A R D F A I V E P R O B L E M . - S.M.A.R.T error, possible HDD failure. See "Lockups and Software Problems" on page 292. NOTICE - Keyboard failure or keyboard cable loose (see the documentation for External Keyboards" on page 337). System Messages for Laptop Computers...
Dell Technology Guide
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...wait too long and the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop, then shut down the computer through the Start menu. 2 Turn on (or restart) your computer and try again. 3 When the boot device list appears, highlight the device from which ...you see the Windows desktop, then shut down your computer. 3 When F2 = Setup, F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press . The computer boots to a USB connector. 2 Turn on the computer. When the DELL logo appears, press immediately. Changing the BIOS Settings The BIOS is a utility ...
...wait too long and the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop, then shut down the computer through the Start menu. 2 Turn on (or restart) your computer and try again. 3 When the boot device list appears, highlight the device from which ...you see the Windows desktop, then shut down your computer. 3 When F2 = Setup, F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press . The computer boots to a USB connector. 2 Turn on the computer. When the DELL logo appears, press immediately. Changing the BIOS Settings The BIOS is a utility ...
Dell Technology Guide
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...: Unless you understand what effect the settings have on the computer, do not change the settings for your computer at the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. 3 Click Download Now to your desktop. Upgrading the BIOS (Flashing the BIOS) The BIOS may not apply to download the file. 4 If the Export...and time or system password. See "Viewing System Settings With the System Setup Program" on the computer. 2 Locate the BIOS update file for this program to view the Save In menu, select Desktop, and then click Save. The File Download window appears. 5 Click Save this program. The...
...: Unless you understand what effect the settings have on the computer, do not change the settings for your computer at the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. 3 Click Download Now to your desktop. Upgrading the BIOS (Flashing the BIOS) The BIOS may not apply to download the file. 4 If the Export...and time or system password. See "Viewing System Settings With the System Setup Program" on the computer. 2 Locate the BIOS update file for this program to view the Save In menu, select Desktop, and then click Save. The File Download window appears. 5 Click Save this program. The...
Dell Technology Guide
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7 Click Close when the Download Complete window appears. The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file. 8 Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the instructions on the screen. 312 System Setup
7 Click Close when the Download Complete window appears. The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file. 8 Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the instructions on the screen. 312 System Setup
Dell Technology Guide
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... these settings have on the computer, do not change them. A dedicated graphics port that helps to be used for video-related tasks. AHCI - A feature that allows system memory to control display brightness. BIOS - Unless you plug the AC...define a mechanism for reporting hardware and software alerts to identify, quarantine, and/or delete viruses from your particular computer. A program (or utility) that a laptop computer battery powers the computer. alert standards format - antivirus software - and operating system-independent. A program designed to a management console....
... these settings have on the computer, do not change them. A dedicated graphics port that helps to be used for video-related tasks. AHCI - A feature that allows system memory to control display brightness. BIOS - Unless you plug the AC...define a mechanism for reporting hardware and software alerts to identify, quarantine, and/or delete viruses from your particular computer. A program (or utility) that a laptop computer battery powers the computer. alert standards format - antivirus software - and operating system-independent. A program designed to a management console....
Dell Technology Guide
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...drive that you can contain multiple logical drives. NVRAM - A single point on self-test - The ability of the computer to one billionth of the data path. Modems and network adapters are Plug and Play compliant. Plug and Play provides automatic...installation, configuration, and compatibility with existing hardware if the BIOS, operating system, and all devices are common types of time that establishes standards for maintaining computer configuration information such as logical drives. Personal Computer Memory Card International Association - A measure of PC Cards...
...drive that you can contain multiple logical drives. NVRAM - A single point on self-test - The ability of the computer to one billionth of the data path. Modems and network adapters are Plug and Play compliant. Plug and Play provides automatic...installation, configuration, and compatibility with existing hardware if the BIOS, operating system, and all devices are common types of time that establishes standards for maintaining computer configuration information such as logical drives. Personal Computer Memory Card International Association - A measure of PC Cards...
Dell Technology Guide
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...pre-boot execution environment - RFI - readme file - A file can be deleted or written to 100,000 MHz. resolution - ROM - processor - A computer chip that have an operating system to specific individuals. A WfM (Wired for program instructions and data. A type of RAID include RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID ...such as the CPU (central processing unit). The sharpness and clarity of 10 kHz to by the human eye. BIOS, that perform basic tests on the major computer components, such as its contents after 349 R RAID - read -only memory - The frequency, measured in Hz...
...pre-boot execution environment - RFI - readme file - A file can be deleted or written to 100,000 MHz. resolution - ROM - processor - A computer chip that have an operating system to specific individuals. A WfM (Wired for program instructions and data. A type of RAID include RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID ...such as the CPU (central processing unit). The sharpness and clarity of 10 kHz to by the human eye. BIOS, that perform basic tests on the major computer components, such as its contents after 349 R RAID - read -only memory - The frequency, measured in Hz...
Dell Technology Guide
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...during electrical storms. SVGA - S/PDIF - An audio transfer file format that supports resolutions up to configure user-selectable options in your computer. Always disconnect the network cable from the network connector during an electrical storm, from an analog format, which occur when the voltage ... below the normal AC-line voltage level. SXGA - The main circuit board in the BIOS, such as a dampening device when a computer experiences resonating shock or is dropped (whether the computer is embedded with a wide variety of the platform base that protects the hard drive by...
...during electrical storms. SVGA - S/PDIF - An audio transfer file format that supports resolutions up to configure user-selectable options in your computer. Always disconnect the network cable from the network connector during an electrical storm, from an analog format, which occur when the voltage ... below the normal AC-line voltage level. SXGA - The main circuit board in the BIOS, such as a dampening device when a computer experiences resonating shock or is dropped (whether the computer is embedded with a wide variety of the platform base that protects the hard drive by...
Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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...MHz, or 1333 MHz System Information Chipset RAID support DMA channels Interrupt levels BIOS chip (NVRAM) NIC Intel G45 plus ICH10R RAID 0, 1 8 24 8 MB integrated network interface capable of your computer, click Start→ Help and Support and select the option to view ...information about your computer. Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. For more information regarding the configuration of 10/100/1000 Mbps communication Memory Type Memory connectors Memory modules supported DDR2 800 MHz SDRAM (DDR2 667 MHz capable) Vostro 420: four Vostro 220/220s: two 512 MB, ...
...MHz, or 1333 MHz System Information Chipset RAID support DMA channels Interrupt levels BIOS chip (NVRAM) NIC Intel G45 plus ICH10R RAID 0, 1 8 24 8 MB integrated network interface capable of your computer, click Start→ Help and Support and select the option to view ...information about your computer. Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. For more information regarding the configuration of 10/100/1000 Mbps communication Memory Type Memory connectors Memory modules supported DDR2 800 MHz SDRAM (DDR2 667 MHz capable) Vostro 420: four Vostro 220/220s: two 512 MB, ...
Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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...). 3 If the problem persists, contact Dell. 40 Troubleshooting If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you are installing are detected installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 48). failure. Code Description (repetitive short beeps) Suggested Remedy 1 BIOS checksum Contact Dell. If your Service Manual at support...
...). 3 If the problem persists, contact Dell. 40 Troubleshooting If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you are installing are detected installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 48). failure. Code Description (repetitive short beeps) Suggested Remedy 1 BIOS checksum Contact Dell. If your Service Manual at support...
Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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.... The touch pad or external mouse may be faulty. The primary cache internal to commands from the computer. Troubleshooting 41 C D D R I V E C O N T R O L L E R F A I L A B L E M E M O R Y - Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them. system board failure. 6 Video BIOS Test Contact Dell. The CD drive does not respond to the microprocessor has failed. Enable the Pointing Device option...
.... The touch pad or external mouse may be faulty. The primary cache internal to commands from the computer. Troubleshooting 41 C D D R I V E C O N T R O L L E R F A I L A B L E M E M O R Y - Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them. system board failure. 6 Video BIOS Test Contact Dell. The CD drive does not respond to the microprocessor has failed. Enable the Pointing Device option...
Setup and Quick Reference Guide
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...the Windows Vista Start button , and click Help and Support. 2 Type hardware troubleshooter in BIOS setup. See your Service Manual at support.dell.com). Possible hard drive failure during the operating system setup or is correct (see your ... V E R E A D F A I N T E R R U P T - Troubleshooting 47 A chip on page 71 for assistance). Replace processor fan. Check cables, swap hard disks, or see "Contacting Dell" on page 71 for the USB device. Keyboard failure or keyboard cable loose. HA R D -DISK DRIVE FAILURE - HARD DRIVE SELF MONITORING SYSTEM HAS REPORTED THAT...
...the Windows Vista Start button , and click Help and Support. 2 Type hardware troubleshooter in BIOS setup. See your Service Manual at support.dell.com). Possible hard drive failure during the operating system setup or is correct (see your ... V E R E A D F A I N T E R R U P T - Troubleshooting 47 A chip on page 71 for assistance). Replace processor fan. Check cables, swap hard disks, or see "Contacting Dell" on page 71 for the USB device. Keyboard failure or keyboard cable loose. HA R D -DISK DRIVE FAILURE - HARD DRIVE SELF MONITORING SYSTEM HAS REPORTED THAT...
Service Manual
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Clearing CMOS Settings 135 BIOS 136 Flashing the BIOS From the Hard Drive. . . . . . 136 17 Contacting Dell 137 8 Contents
Clearing CMOS Settings 135 BIOS 136 Flashing the BIOS From the Hard Drive. . . . . . 136 17 Contacting Dell 137 8 Contents