DellTM InspironTM 1150 Owner's Manual Model PP08L 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 Dell Inspiron Help file. To access the help file, see page 9. 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. © 2004 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, AccessDirect, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude, PowerApp, PowerEdge, PowerConnect, PowerVault, and DellNet are trademarks of Dell Inc.; 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 Inc. 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 Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own. Model PP08L November 2004 P/N F7573 Rev. A01 Contents Finding Information ............................ 9 1 A Tour of Your Computer Front View. ................................ .............................. .............................. 13 16 17 19 21 Left Side View . Right Side View Back View ................................ ............................... Bottom View. 2 Setting Up Your Computer Connecting to the Internet ......................... .................. ................. 23 23 24 25 26 26 26 27 27 27 28 28 28 Setting Up Your Internet Connection Modem and Internet Connection Problems E-Mail Problems . ............................. ............................ ....................... ....................... 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 ......................... Contents 3 3 Using a Battery Battery Performance . ........................... ....................... 29 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31 32 32 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 . If the battery is not charging . If battery life is short . . . . 4 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad DellTM AccessDirectTM Button ....................... ...................... 33 33 33 34 34 34 34 34 35 35 36 37 37 37 38 Reprogramming the Button Numeric Keypad . ............................. ............................ .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. Keyboard Shortcuts System Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . CD or DVD Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Display Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power Management. . . . . . . . . . . . Speaker Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions. Touch Pad . ................................ ...................... Customizing the Touch Pad Touch Pad or Mouse Problems External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters ....................... ........................ .......................... 4 Contents 5 Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia Using CDs and DVDs . CD or DVD Problems . ........................... ........................... .......... .......... .......... .......... 39 39 39 39 39 40 40 40 40 41 41 41 42 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. If you have a problem with external speakers. . Copying CDs and DVDs. .......................... ................... ................... ................... How to Copy a CD or DVD . . . . Using Blank CD-Rs and CD-RWs . Helpful Tips . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard . Network Problems. ..................... 43 44 44 45 45 45 .......................... ............................ ............... .... .... Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network Determining Your Network Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting to a Wireless Network in Microsoft® Windows® XP. 7 Solving Problems Dell Diagnostics . ............................. ................... 49 49 51 52 52 53 54 54 Contents 5 When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Error Messages .............................. ........................ ................. ................. ................. 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 .............................. ............... ............... 55 55 56 56 56 56 57 57 57 57 58 59 59 59 59 60 60 61 61 62 If you cannot save a file to a floppy drive . If you have problems with a hard drive . . PC Card Problems ............................. ........................ ..................... ..................... ..................... .................... 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 Restoring Your Operating System . ..................... ............. ............. Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec . . . . . 8 Adding and Replacing Parts Before You Begin ............................. .................... .................... 65 65 65 66 68 68 71 72 72 75 76 Recommended Tools . . . . . Shutting Down Your Computer . Hard Drive. ................................ ..................... Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Memory . ................................. ......................... ........................ ........................ Modem and Mini PCI Card Replacing the Modem . Adding a Mini PCI Card CD or DVD Drive . Keyboard 6 Contents ............................. ................................. 9 Appendix Specifications . .............................. ..................... .................. .................. .................. .................. ............... ........ ........ ........ 79 86 86 86 87 87 88 88 89 89 89 90 90 90 91 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . Optimizing Power Consumption and Battery Charge Time Variable Speed Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . ................. ......... ......... Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals . FCC Notices (U.S. Only) Contacting Dell .......................... .............................. Index ................................... 109 Contents 7 8 Contents Finding Information NOTE: Some features may not be available for your computer or in certain countries. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer. What Are You Looking For? · · · · · · Warranty information Terms and Conditions (U.S. only) Safety instructions Regulatory information Ergonomics information End User License Agreement Find It Here DellTM Product Information Guide · How to set up my computer Setup Diagram Finding Information 9 www.dell.com | support.dell.com What Are You Looking For? · · · · · Tips on using Microsoft Windows How to play CDs and DVDs How to use standby mode and hibernate mode How to change my display resolution How to clean my computer ® ® Find It Here Help File 1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support. 2 Click User and system guides and click User's guides. 3 Click Dell Inspiron Help. Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License These labels are located on the bottom of your computer. · Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support.dell.com or contact technical support. · Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting technical support. · Service Tag and Express Service Code · Microsoft Windows License Label 10 Finding Information What Are You Looking For? · Solutions -- Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, online courses, frequently asked questions · Community -- Online discussion with other Dell customers · Upgrades -- Upgrade information for components, such as memory, the hard drive, and the operating system · Customer Care -- Contact information, service call and order status, warranty, and repair information · Service and support -- Service call status and support history, service contract, online discussions with technical support · Reference -- Computer documentation, details on my computer configuration, product specifications, and white papers · Downloads -- Certified drivers, patches, and software updates · -- If you reinstall the operating system for your computer, you should also reinstall the NSS utility. NSS provides critical updates for your operating system and support for DellTM 3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel® Pentium® M processors, optical drives, and USB devices. NSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer. The software automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration. · How to use Windows XP · Documentation for my computer · Documentation for devices (such as a modem) Find It Here Dell Support Website -- support.dell.com NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support site. NOTE: Corporate, government, and education customers can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website at premier.support.dell.com. The website may not be available in all regions. Windows Help and Support Center 1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support. 2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the arrow icon. 3 Click the topic that describes your problem. 4 Follow the instructions on the screen. Finding Information 11 www.dell.com | support.dell.com 12 Finding Information A Tour of Your Computer Front View display latch Dell AccessDirect button display power button keyboard status lights touch pad keyboard touch pad buttons device status lights speakers (2) D I S P L A Y L A T C H -- Keeps the display closed. D I S P L A Y -- For more information about your display, see "Using the Display" in the Dell Inspiron Help file. To access the help file, see page 9. A Tour of Your Computer 13 www.dell.com | support.dell.com KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS The green lights located above the keyboard indicate the following: 9 Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled. Turns on when Caps Lock is enabled. Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled. A K E Y B O A R D -- The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as well as the Microsoft® Windows® logo key. For information on supported keyboard shortcuts, see page 34. S P E A K E R S -- To adjust the volume of the integrated speakers, pr ...