DellTM VostroTM 1500 Owner's Manual Model PP22L 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. ____________________ Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 2007 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, Vostro, Wi-Fi Catcher, and Dell MediaDirect are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel is a registered trademark and Core is a trademark of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, Outlook, and Windows Vista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries; Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license; ENERGY STAR is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As an ENERGY STAR partner, Dell Inc. has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency. 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 PP22L July 2007 P/N TT979 Rev. A01 Contents 1 2 Finding Information ................. 15 21 21 22 27 30 31 34 About Your Computer ............... ...... Determining Your Computer's Configuration Front View ........................ ...................... ..................... Left Side View Right Side View Back View ........................ ....................... Bottom View 3 Setting Up Your Computer . Connecting to the Internet ........... 37 37 38 39 39 39 40 40 ............... ....... ..... Setting Up Your Internet Connection . Transferring Information to a New Computer Microsoft® Windows® Easy Transfer . . . . . . . Setting Up a Printer Printer Cable ................... .................... ............. Connecting a USB Printer Contents 3 Power Protection Devices Surge Protectors Line Conditioners ............... 41 41 42 42 .................. .................. .......... Uninterruptible Power Supplies 4 Using the Display Adjusting Brightness Using a Projector .................. .................. 43 43 43 43 44 44 .................... ... Making Images and Text Look Bigger or Sharper Microsoft Windows XP Windows VistaTM ® ® ............. .................. Using Both a Monitor and Your Computer Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Microsoft Windows XP . Windows Vista ....... 45 45 46 46 47 47 .............. ................... ..... Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate . Microsoft Windows XP . Windows Vista .............. ................... 5 Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad Numeric Keypad .... 49 49 50 50 50 50 50 ..................... .................... .................. ................. Key Combinations System Functions Battery Display Functions . ....................... ................ Power Management 4 Contents Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions . DellTM QuickSet Key Combinations . Adjusting Keyboard Settings . Touch Pad ... 51 51 51 51 52 ........ ........... ........................ ............ Customizing the Touch Pad 6 Using a Battery .................... .................. .............. .......... ...... 55 55 56 56 57 57 58 58 59 59 59 60 60 61 61 62 Battery Performance Checking the Battery Charge DellTM QuickSet Battery Meter . Charge Gauge Microsoft® Windows® Battery Meter . Low-Battery Warning Conserving Battery Power Power Management Modes Standby and Sleep Mode Hibernate Mode ................... ............... ............... .............. ............. .................. ....... ....... Configuring Power Management Settings Accessing Power Options Properties Charging the Battery Replacing the Battery Storing a Battery .................. .................. .................... Contents 5 7 Using Multimedia Playing Media .................. 63 63 65 65 66 66 67 67 68 ...................... .............. ............. .......... Copying CD and DVD Media . How to Copy a CD or DVD Helpful Tips Using Blank CD and DVD Media Adjusting the Volume . Adjusting the Picture ..................... ............... ................ ............. Using Dell MediaDirectTM Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device . . . . . . . . . . . . S-Video and Standard Audio S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio .......... 69 72 73 75 77 79 82 ............ ......... ....... .... Composite Video and Standard Audio Component Video and Standard Audio Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio ...... .... 8 Using ExpressCards ExpressCard Blanks ................ 87 87 88 89 ................... ................ .......... Installing an ExpressCard Removing an ExpressCard or Blank . 6 Contents 9 Using the Memory Card Reader Memory Card Blanks ....... 91 91 91 92 .................. ................ .......... Installing a Memory Card Removing a Memory Card or Blank . 10 Setting Up and Using Networks Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting Up a Network Windows XP Windows Vista ....... 93 93 94 94 94 95 95 95 96 97 ......... .................. .................... ................... ............. ....... ...... .... Wireless Local Area Network What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Checking Your Wireless Network Card Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem . . . . . Connecting to a WLAN . .............. Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection . . ...... 100 100 101 101 102 103 ....... ... ... Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card . Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card . . . . . . . . . . Dell Wi-Fi CatcherTM Network Locator ........ ......... Contents 7 11 Securing Your Computer Security Cable Lock Passwords ............ 105 105 105 106 ................... ........................ ........... If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen . 12 Troubleshooting . .................. ............. 109 109 109 113 114 115 115 116 118 123 124 124 124 125 126 126 126 126 127 Dell Technical Update Service Dell Diagnostics ..................... ................... Dell Support Utility Drive Problems ..................... ............... Optical drive problems Hard drive problems ................ ........ E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems . Error Messages ..................... ................. ............... ExpressCard Problems IEEE 1394 Device Problems Keyboard Problems ................... ............ External Keyboard problems Unexpected characters .............. ............ ............ .......... ..... Lockups and Software Problems The computer does not start The computer stops responding A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A solid blue screen appears ............ 8 Contents Dell MediaDirect problems Other software problems Memory Problems Network Problems ............ ............. 127 128 129 129 130 131 132 133 134 134 134 135 135 136 136 137 138 138 138 138 139 .................... ................... ..... Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area Network [WWAN]) . . . . . . . . . . . . Power Problems . Printer Problems .................... .................... ................... ............. ........ Scanner Problems . Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from integrated speakers No sound from external speakers No sound from headphones Touch Pad or Mouse Problems Video and Display Problems If the display is blank . ......... ............ ............. .............. ............... .......... ....... If the display is difficult to read If only part of the display is readable Drivers .......................... ................. ................. .......... What Is a Driver? . Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems in the Microsoft® Windows® XP and Microsoft Windows VistaTM Operating Systems . . . . . . . . .. 142 Contents 9 Restoring Your Operating System ............ .... ..... 143 144 145 148 Using Microsoft Windows System Restore Using DellTM PC Restore and Dell Factory Image Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Operating System Media ........ 13 Adding and Replacing Parts Before You Begin Recommended Tools ......... 151 151 151 151 152 154 154 156 157 157 157 158 158 159 159 160 161 162 162 163 165 166 .................... ................ ............. ....... Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer Hard Drive ........................ ............. ............. ........... Removing the Hard Drive . Replacing the Hard Drive . Returning a Hard Drive to Dell Optical Drive . ...................... ............ Removing the Optical Drive Hinge Cover ....................... ............. ............. Removing the Hinge Cover Replacing the Hinge Cover Keyboard ......................... .............. .............. Removing the Keyboard Replacing the Keyboard Memory ......................... ..... ..... ..... ..... Removing the DIMM A Memory Module . Replacing the DIMM A Memory Module Removing the DIMM B Memory Module . Replacing the DIMM B Memory Module 10 Contents Subscriber Identity Module Wireless Mini-Cards ............... 168 169 169 171 172 175 176 177 177 177 178 .................. .............. .............. ......... Removing a WLAN Card Replacing a WLAN Card Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . Replacing a WWAN Card Removing a WPAN Card Replacing a WPAN Card Flash Cache Module ............. .............. .............. .................. ................. ................. Removing the FCM Replacing the FCM Internal Card With Bluetooth® Wireless Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing the Card Coin-Cell Battery ........ 179 179 180 180 ................. .................... .......... Removing the Coin-Cell Battery 14 DellTM QuickSet Features ........... 183 185 185 185 186 186 15 Traveling With Your Computer Identifying Your Computer Packing the Computer . Travel Tips ....... ............... ................. ........................ .................. Traveling by Air . Contents 11 16 Getting Help . ..................... .................. ..... 187 187 188 188 188 189 189 189 190 190 191 193 Obtaining Assistance DellConnect . Technical Support and Customer Service Online Services . .................... .................. ................. ......... AutoTech Service . Automated Order-Status Service Problems With Your Order . Product Information ............... ................... ..... Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Before You Call Contacting Dell ..................... ..................... 17 Specifications 18 Appendix .................... 195 205 205 206 206 206 208 208 209 209 210 ........................ ............ ......... Using the System Setup Program System Setup Screen . Viewing the System Setup Screen Commonly Used Options Cleaning Your Computer . Touch Pad Mouse Media ............... .............. ................ ......... Computer, Keyboard, and Display ..................... ....................... ........................ 12 Contents Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) ....... .... 210 211 211 211 211 213 Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FCC Notice (U.S. Only) . FCC Class B . ...... ................. .................... .............. Macrovision Product Notice Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 Index 233 .............................. Contents 13 14 Contents Finding Information NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer. What Are You Looking For? · A diagnostic program for my computer · Drivers for my computer · My device documentation · Notebook System Software (NSS) Find It Here Drivers and Utilities Media Documentation and drivers are ...