DellTM InspironTM 1100 Owner's Manual w w w. d e l l . c o m | s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m Notes, Notices, and Cautions NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. Abbreviations and Acronyms For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the Tell Me How help file. To access the help file, see page 80. If you purchased a DellTM n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft® Windows® operating systems are not applicable. ____________________ Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 2002­2003 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, AccessDirect, Inspiron, AccessDirect, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude, Dell TrueMobile, and Dellnet are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Intel, Pentium, and Celeron are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; EMC is a registered trademark of EMC Corporation; Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell Computer Corporation under license. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own. Model PP07L July 2003 P/N 6W956 Rev. A02 Contents CAUTION: Safety Instructions General Power . Battery ................... 11 11 12 13 14 14 14 15 16 16 17 17 ............................. ............................. ............................. ............................ ........................ ....................... .................... .................. .............. ........... Air Travel EMC Instructions California Residents When Using Your Computer Ergonomic Computing Habits When Working Inside Your Computer Battery Disposal Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge ........................ 1 A Tour of Your Computer Front View ............................. ........................... .......................... 20 23 24 26 28 Left Side View Right Side View . Back View . ............................. ............................ Bottom View 2 Setting Up Your Computer DellTM QuickSet Features ...................... ................... ............... 32 32 32 Clicking the QuickSet Icon Double-Clicking the QuickSet Icon Contents 3 Right-Clicking the QuickSet Icon . Connecting to the Internet ............... 32 33 33 34 35 36 37 38 38 38 39 39 40 40 40 .................... .............. ............ Setting Up Your Internet Connection Modem and Internet Connection Problems E-Mail Problems .......................... .......... Transferring Information to a New Computer Setting Up a Printer Printer Cable ........................ ......................... ................... Connecting a USB Printer Printer Problems ......................... ..................... Power Protection Devices Surge Protectors Line Conditioners ........................ ....................... ................ Uninterruptible Power Supplies Turning Off Your Computer .................... 3 Using a Battery Battery Performance ....................... ................... 42 43 43 43 44 44 45 45 45 Checking the Battery Charge Power Meter Low-Battery Warning Charging the Battery Removing a Battery Installing a Battery Storing a Battery .......................... ..................... ....................... ........................ ........................ ......................... ................... Battery and Power Problems 4 Contents If the battery is not charging If battery life is short .................. 46 46 ...................... 4 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad DellTM AccessDirectTM Button .................... ................... 48 48 48 49 49 49 50 50 50 51 52 52 53 53 Reprogramming the Button Numeric Keypad .......................... ........................ ........................ ........................ ....................... ....................... ........... Keyboard Shortcuts System Functions Display Functions Speaker Functions Power Management Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions Touch Pad .............................. ................... ................... Customizing the Touch Pad Touch Pad or Mouse Problems External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters . .................... ...................... 5 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Using CDs and DVDs CD or DVD Problems ........................ ........................ ............ ..... ...... 56 56 56 56 56 57 57 57 If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, or DVD If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive tray If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound If the CD-RW drive stops writing Sound and Speaker Problems ................ ................... ......... If you have a problem with integrated speakers Contents 5 If you have a problem with external speakers . Connecting a Television to the Computer S-Video Connection Composite Video Connection ......... 57 58 59 61 63 ............. ...................... .................. ......... Enabling the Display Settings for a Television 6 Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard Network Problems ................ 66 66 67 67 68 68 71 ...................... ......................... ........... Connecting to Wireless Local Area Networks Determining Your Network Type Connecting to a Network in Windows XP . ................ ........... .... Finalizing Your Network Connection (Security Settings) 7 Solving Problems Finding Solutions Accessing Help Error Messages ......................... 78 80 80 81 81 82 83 83 84 84 85 .......................... .......................... .................... Video and Display Problems If the display is blank ..................... ................ ............. If the display is difficult to read If only part of the display is readable . Scanner Problems Drive Problems ......................... .......................... ........... If you cannot save a file to a floppy drive . If you have problems with a hard drive ............. 6 Contents PC Card Problems ......................... ..................... 85 86 86 86 86 86 87 88 88 88 89 89 91 92 93 93 93 94 95 95 95 General Program Problems A program crashes ....................... .................. A program stops responding . Error messages appear ..................... ................ Resolving Other Technical Problems If Your Computer Gets Wet . .................... .............. If You Drop or Damage Your Computer Drivers ............................... ........................ ....................... ....................... ......... ....... What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows XP Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Using System Restore ....................... .................... ...... Creating a Restore Point Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore ................ .............. Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP . Before You Reinstall Reinstalling Windows XP ...................... .................... 8 Adding and Replacing Parts Before You Add or Replace Parts Memory Modem ................. 100 100 103 104 106 .............................. .............................. ............................ ................ Hard Drive Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Contents 7 CD or DVD Drive Keyboard . .......................... 106 108 ............................. 9 Appendix Specifications ........................... ................. 114 121 121 121 121 122 123 123 124 124 125 125 126 126 144 145 147 Using the System Setup Program Overview . ........................... ............... Viewing the System Setup Screens System Setup Screens Commonly Used Options ..................... .................... ......... System and Battery Performance Optimization System Performance Overview Variable Speed Fan ................. ... Optimizing Power Consumption and Battery Charge Time ...................... ............ ..... Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals Contacting Dell ...... .......................... ........................ ................ .............. Regulatory Notices NOM Information (Mexico Only) Limited Warranties and Return Policy Limited Warranty for the Dell-Branded Hardware Products (U.S. Only) 147 "Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (U.S. Only) . ......... 150 Limited Warranty Terms for Dell-Branded Hardware Products (Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 "Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (Canada Only) Dell Software and Peripherals (Canada Only) . ........ 153 154 ......... 1-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee (Latin America and the Caribbean Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 8 Contents Intel® Warranty Statement for Pentium® and Celeron® Processors Only (U.S. and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Index .................................. 159 Contents 9 10 Contents CAUTION: Safety Instructions Use the following safety guidelines to help ensure your own personal safety and to help protect your computer and working environment from potential damage. General · · Do not attempt to service the computer yourself unless you are a trained service technician. Always follow installation instructions closely. If you use an extension power cable with your AC adapter, ensure that the total ampere rating of the products plugged in to the extension power cable does not exceed the ampere rating of the extension cable. Do not push objects into air vents or openings of your computer. Doing so can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components. Do not block air vents or openings of your computer. Doing so can damage the computer or cause fire. Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a carrying case or a closed briefcase, while the computer is turned on or connected to the AC adapter. Restricting airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire. Keep your computer away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling vents. Avoid placing loose papers underneath your computer; do not place your computer in a closed-in wall unit or on a bed, sofa, or rug. Place the AC adapter in a ventilated area, such as a desk top or on the floor, when you use it to run the computer or to charge the battery. Do not cover the AC adapter with papers or other items that will reduce cooling; also, do not use the AC adapter inside a carrying case. The AC adapter may become hot during normal operation of your computer. Use care when handling the adapter during or immediately after operation. Do not allow your portable computer to operate with the base resting directly on exposed skin for extended periods of time. The surface temperature of the base will rise during normal operation (particularly when AC power is present). Allowing sustained contact with exposed skin can cause discomfort or, eventually, a burn. Do not use your computer in a wet environment, for example, near a bath tub, sink, or swimming pool or in a wet basement If your computer includes an integrated or optional (PC Card) modem, disconnect the modem cable if an electrical storm is approaching to avoid the remote risk of electric shock from lightning via the telephone line. CAU TION: Safe ty Instr u c tions 11 · · · · · · · · · w w w. d e l l . c o m | s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m CAUTION: Safety Instructions (continued) · To help avoid the potential hazard of electric shock, do not connect or disconnect any cables or perform maintenance or reconfiguration of this product during an electrical storm. Do not use your computer during an electrical storm unless all cables have been disconnected and the computer is operating on battery power. If your computer includes a modem, the cable used with the modem should be manufactured with a minimum wire size of 26 American wire gauge (AWG) and an FCC-compliant RJ-11 modular plug. Before you open the memory module cover or Mini PCI card/modem cover on the bottom of your computer, disconnect all cables from their electrical outl ...