DellTM InspironTM 4000 System SOLUTIONS GUIDE www.dell.com support.dell.com Hints, Notices, and Cautions HINT: A HINT 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 potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury. Abbreviations and Acronyms For a complete listing of abbreviations and acronyms, see the Glossary in the Tell Me How help file (see the Start Here sheet for instructions on how to open the help file). ____________________ Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 2000 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 E COM logo, Dellnet, the Dellnet logo, Dell TravelLite, Inspiron, and DellWare are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks and Celeron is a trademark of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows and are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. 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. August 2000 P/N 77JUC Rev. A00 Contents Safety Instructions ......................... ................... 7 7 When Using Your Computer When Removing or Installing Memory Modules Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge . . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . . . . . . . . 11 1 Setting Up Setting Up DellnetTM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Accessing the Internet . Accessing Your E-Mail Viewing Your Account Information Sending and Receiving E-Mail Resetting E-Mail Address Settings Connecting a Printer Parallel Printer USB Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Installing the Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 . . . . . 18 Turning Off the Computer Windows 98 Windows Millennium Edition (Me) and Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . . . 19 Using the Modular Bay Swapping Devices While the Computer Is Turned Off Swapping Devices While Windows Is Running Setting Up the APR to Connect to a Network Setting Up the APR for Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . 21 . . . . . . . . . . . 22 . . . . . 22 Setting Up the APR for Windows Me and Windows 98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Contents 3 2 Solving Problems Finding Solutions ......................... ....................... 26 28 29 30 30 30 31 32 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 36 36 37 38 38 38 39 Accessing Help Files . Power Problems .......................... ..................... .................... Start-Up Error Messages Video and Display Problems If the display is blank ..................... ................ If the display is difficult to read Sound and Speaker Problems Integrated Speakers External Speakers Printer Problems ................... ...................... ....................... ......................... .......... If you cannot print to a parallel port printer If you cannot print to a USB printer Modem Problems Scanner Problems .............. ......................... ......................... ........................ ................... Touch Pad Problems External Keyboard Problems Unexpected Characters Drive Problems ...................... .......................... ............ If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk If you cannot play a music CD or install a program from a CD . If you cannot play a DVD movie If you have a hard drive problem Network Problems ................ ................ ............... If the CD-RW drive stops writing . ................ ......................... 4 Conte n ts Windows Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 General Program Problems A program crashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 A program stops responding . A solid blue screen appears Internet Connection Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 . . . . . . . . 41 If you have a problem with your Dellnet account . E-Mail Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 If Your Computer Gets Wet . If You Drop or Damage Your Computer Resolving Other Technical Problems Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Reinstalling Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Reinstalling Windows Me and Windows 98 Reinstalling Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 . . . . . . . . . 48 Recreating the Hibernate File (Windows 98 Only) Boot (Restart) Your Computer With the Drivers and Utilities CD . . . . . . . . Delete the Old Hibernate File Create the Hibernate File . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 3 Adding Parts Replacing the Palm Rests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Replacing the Display Cover Using the Advanced Port Replicator APR Controls and Indicators Docking the Computer . Connecting External Devices to the APR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Contents 5 Undocking the Computer Monitor Stand Adding Memory .................... 59 60 61 63 65 ......................... .......................... ...................... ................. Replacing a Hard Drive Returning a Hard Drive to Dell 4 Appendix Specifications ........................... ......................... ...................... 68 74 74 75 75 88 88 88 89 90 90 91 Standard Settings System Setup Pages Contacting Dell .......................... ................ ......... Contact Numbers and Addresses Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Regulatory Information Battery Disposal ...................... ........................ ................ ....... NOM Information (Mexico Only) Información para NOM (únicamente para México) Warranty and Return Policy Information Macrovision Product Notice . ............. ................... Index ................................... 93 6 Conte n ts Safety Instructions Use the following safety guidelines to help protect yourself and your computer. For comfort and efficiency, observe the ergonomic guidelines in "Sitting Comfortably at Your Computer" in the Tell Me How help file. When Using Your Computer CAUTION: Do not operate your portable computer for an extended period of time with the base resting directly on your body. With extended operation, heat can potentially build up in the base. Allowing sustained contact with the skin could cause discomfort or, eventually, a burn. · · Do not attempt to service the computer yourself. Always follow installation instructions closely. Do not carry a battery in your pocket, purse, or other container where metal objects (such as car keys) could short-circuit the battery terminals. The resulting excessive current flow can cause extremely high temperatures and may result in damage from burns. Be sure that nothing rests on your AC adapter's power cable and that the cable is not located where it can be tripped over or stepped on. 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 while it is inside a carrying case. Do not use your computer in a wet environment, for example, near a bath tub, sink, or swimming pool or in a wet basement. 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. Use only the AC adapter and batteries that are approved for use with this computer as indicated in this document. Use of another type of battery or AC adapter may risk fire or explosion. · · · · · Saf et y I n s tr uc t io n s 7 w w w. d e l l . c o m | s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m · Before you connect the computer to a power source, ensure that the voltage rating of the AC adapter matches that of the available power source: ­ ­ ­ 115 V/60 Hz in most of North and South America and some Far Eastern countries such as South Korea and Taiwan 100 V/50 Hz in eastern Japan and 100 V/60 Hz in western Japan 230 V/50 Hz in most of Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East · To help prevent electric shock, plug the AC adapter and external device power cables into properly grounded power sources. These cables are equipped with 3-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a cable. If you must use an extension cable, use a 3-wire cable with properly grounded plugs. If you use an extension cable with your AC adapter, ensure that the total ampere rating of the products plugged in to the extension cable does not exceed the ampere rating of the extension cable. To remove power from the computer, turn it off, remove the battery, and disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet. If your computer includes an integrated or optional (PC Card) modem, disconnect the modem cable during an electrical storm to avoid the remote risk of electric shock from lightning via the telephone line. 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. PC Cards may become very warm during normal operation. Use care when removing PC Cards after their continuous operation. Do not dispose of batteries in a fire. They may explode. Check with local authorities for disposal instructions. When setting up the computer for work, place it on a level surface. When traveling, do not check the computer as baggage. You can put your computer through an X-ray security machine, but never put your computer through a metal detector. If you have the computer checked by hand, be sure to have a charged battery available in case you are asked to turn on the computer. · · · · · · · · 8 Safe t y Ins tr u ct ions · When traveling with the hard drive removed from the computer, wrap the drive in a nonconducting material, such as cloth or paper. If you have the drive checked by hand, be ready to install the drive in the computer. You can put the hard drive through an X-ray security machine, but never put the drive through a metal detector. When traveling, do not place the computer in overhead storage compartments where it could slide around. Do not drop your computer or subject it to other mechanical shocks. Protect your computer, battery, and hard drive from environmental hazards such as dirt, dust, food, liquids, temperature extremes, and overexposure to sunlight. When you move your computer between environments with very different temperature and/or humidity ranges, condensation may form on or within the computer. To avoid damaging the computer, allow sufficient time for the moisture to evaporate before using the computer. NOTICE: When taking the computer from low-temperature conditions into a warmer environment or from high-temperature conditions into a cooler environment, allow the computer to acclimate to room temperature before turning on power. · · · · When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strainrelief loop, not on the cable itself. As you pull out the connector, keep it evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable make sure both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned. Handle components with care. Hold a component such as a memory module by its edges, not its pins. When removing a memory module from the system board or disconnecting an external device from the computer, wait 5 seconds after turning off the computer before removing the memory module or disconnecting the device to he ...