Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product Inspiron 1200 Dell
Go to page of 164
www .dell.com | support.dell.com Dell™ V ostro™ 1200 Owner’ s Manual Model PP16S book.book Page 1 Wednesd ay, December 12, 2007 1 0:32 AM.
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 damag e, personal injury , or death.
Contents 3 Contents 1 Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 2 About Y our Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Front V iew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Left Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 Contents Charging the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Removing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Storing a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 4 Using the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Numeric Keypad .
Contents 5 6 Using Multimedia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Playing CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Copying CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 How to Copy a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Using Blank CDs and DVDs .
6 Contents Installing an ExpressCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Removing an ExpressCard or Blank . . . . . . . . 65 9 Securing Y our Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Security Cable Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Passwords . . . .
Contents 7 11 T roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Battery Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems . . . . . . 85 Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Lockups and Software Problems .
8 Contents 13 Reinstalling Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 What Is a Driver? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Identifying Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities .
Contents 9 Product Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Returning Items for W arranty Repair or Credit . . . . . 126 Before Y ou Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 Contents book.book Page 10 Wednes day, December 12, 2007 10:32 AM.
Finding Information 11 1 Finding Information NOTE: Some features or media may be opt ional and may not ship with your computer . Some features or media ma y not be available in certain countries. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer .
12 Finding Information •W a r r a n t y i n f o r m a t i o n • T erms and Conditions (U.S. only) •S a f e t y i n s t r u c t i o n s •R e g u l a t o r y i n f o r m a t i o n • Er gonom i.
Finding Information 13 • Service T ag and Expr ess Service Code • Microsoft W indows License Label Service T ag and Microsoft ® Windows ® License NOTE: Y our computer’ s Service T ag and Microsoft ® Windows ® License labels are located on your computer .
14 Finding Information • Soluti ons — T roubles hootin g hints and tips, arti cles from t echnicians, o nline courses, and frequently asked questions • Community — Onli ne discussi on with oth.
Finding Information 15 • Softw are upgrad es and troubleshooting hints — F requently asked questio ns, hot topics, and general heal th of your computin g enviro nment Dell Support Utility The Dell Support Utili ty is an automated upgrade and notification system installed on your computer .
16 Finding Information • How to us e Microsoft W indows XP or Wi n d o w s V i s t a ™ • How to wo rk wi th pro grams and fil es • How to personaliz e my desktop Windows Help and Support Micros oft Windows XP: 1 Click the Start button and click Help and Supp ort .
Finding Information 17 After you reinstall your operating system, use th e Drivers and Utilities media to r einstall drivers for the devices that came with your computer . Y our operating system product key label is located on your computer . NOTE: The color of your CD varies based on the operating sy stem you ordered.
18 Finding Information book.book Page 18 Wednes day, December 12, 2 007 10:32 AM.
About Y our Computer 19 2 About Y our Computer Front V iew 1 left array microphone (optional with camera) 2 camera (optional) 4 5 1 2 9 13 12 10 3 7 6 8 11 book.
20 About Y our Computer M ICROPHONE — The built-in microphone allows you to communicate without connecting an e xternal microphone. C AMERA — The built-in camera features a 2.0 mega pix el CMOS web camera. D ISPLAY — F or mor e information about your display , see "Using the Display" on page 43.
About Y our Computer 21 The green lights located above the keyboar d indicate the following: K EYBOARD — The keyboa rd includes a numeric k eypad as well as the W indows logo key . F or information on supported keyboar d shortcuts, see "Key Combinations" on page 40.
22 About Y our Computer D EVICE S TATUS L IGHTS If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the light operates as follow s: – Solid blue: The ba tter y is f ully- charged.
About Y our Computer 23 NOTICE: T o avoid losing data, turn off your computer by performing a Microsoft ® Windows ® operating sy stem shutdown rather than by pressing the power button. If the computer stops r esponding, pr ess and hold the power button until the computer turns off completely (which may take several seconds).
24 About Y our Computer Right Side V iew USB C ONNE CTOR — Interfaces between the computer and add-on devices (such as audio players, joysticks, keyboar ds, telephones, scanners, and printers ). A UDIO C ONNECTORS 1 USB connector 2 audio connectors 3 air vent 4 video connector (VGA) 5 security cable slot Attach headphones to the connector .
About Y our Computer 25 A IR V ENTS — The computer uses an internal fan to cr eate airflow through the ven ts, which pr events the computer from overheating.
26 About Y our Computer The A C adapter converts A C power to the DC power r equir ed by the computer . Y ou can connect the AC adapte r with your com puter turned either on or off. CAUTION: The AC adapter works with ele ctrical outlets worldwide. However , power connectors and power strips vary among countries.
About Y our Computer 27 N ETWORK C ONNECTOR (RJ-45) NOTICE: The network connector is slightly larger than th e modem connector . T o avoid damaging the computer , do not plug a telephone line into the network connector . Connects the computer to a network.
28 About Y our Computer Bottom V iew COVER FOR OPTIONAL INTERNAL CARD WITH B LUETOOTH ® WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY — F or more information, see the documentat ion that came with yo ur car d. T o quickly enable or disable all wireless devices, press <Fn><F2>.
About Y our Computer 29 CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, su ch as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restric ting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire .
30 About Y our Computer book.book Page 30 Wednes day, December 12, 2 007 10:32 AM.
Using a Battery 31 3 Using a Battery Battery Performance NOTE: For information about the Dell warranty for your computer , see the Product Information Guide or separa te paper warranty document that shipped with your computer .
32 Using a Battery • R unning the computer in maximum performan ce mode. See "Configuring P ower Management Settings" on page 35 for information about accessing W indows P ower Options P roperties which you can use to configure power management settings.
Using a Battery 33 A pop-up window warns you when th e battery char ge is approximately 90 percent depleted. If two batteries ar e installed, the low-battery warning means that the combined char ge of both batteries is approximately 90 percent depleted.
34 Using a Battery T o enter standby mode in W i ndows XP , click the Start button, click Tu r n o f f computer , and then click Stand by . T o enter sleep mode in W indows V ista, click the W indows Vi sta Start button , and then click Sl eep .
Using a Battery 35 T o exit hibernate mode, pr ess the po wer button. The computer may take a short time to exit hibernate mode. Y ou cannot make the computer e xit hibernate mode by pressing a k ey or touching the touch pad. F or more information on hibernate mode, see th e doc ument ation that came w ith y our operating sy stem.
36 Using a Battery Removing the Battery CAUTION: Using an incompatible bat tery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The battery is designed to work with your Dell™ computer .
Using a Battery 37 5 T o replace the battery , follow the removal procedur e in reverse order . Storing a Battery Remove the battery when you stor e your computer for an extended period of time.
38 Using a Battery book.book Page 38 Wednes day, December 12, 2 007 10:32 AM.
Using the Keyboard 39 4 Using the Keyboard Numeric Keyp ad The numeric k eypad functions like the numeric k eypad on an e xternal k eyboard. Each ke y on the keypad has multiple functions. The k eypad numbers and symbols are mar ked in blue on the right of the k eypad k eys.
40 Using the Keyboard Key Combinations Sy stem Functions Power Mana gement Speaker Func tions Microsoft ® Windows ® Logo Key Function s <Ctrl><Shift> <Esc> Opens the T ask Manager window . <Fn><Esc> Activates a po wer management mode.
Using the Keyboard 41 T o adjust keyboar d operation, suc h as t he character r epeat rate, open the Control P anel, click P rinters and Other Hardwar e , and click Ke y b o a r d . F o r information about the Control P anel, see the W indows Help and Support Center .
42 Using the Keyboard • T o select and move (or drag) an object, position the cursor on the object and tap twice on the touch pad. On the second tap, leave your finger on the touch pad and move the selected ob ject by sliding your finger over the surface.
Using the Dis play 43 5 Using the Display Adjusting Brightness When a Dell™ compu ter is running on battery power , you can conserve power by setting the displa y brightness to the lowe st comfortable setting by pressing <Fn> and the up- or down-arrow k ey on the keyboar d.
44 Using the Display Making Images and T ext Look Bigger or Sharper NOTE: If you change the display resolution from the current settings, the image may appear blurry or text may be hard to read if you change the resolution to one not supported by your computer and displa y .
Using the Dis play 45 3 In the Display Settings window , under Re s o l u t i o n , slide the slide bar to the left/right to decrease/incr ease the screen r esolution. 4 Click How do I get the best display? for further instructi ons. If the video resolution setti ng is higher than that s upported by the display , the computer enters pan mode.
46 Using the Display 7 Change Screen Area to the appropriate sizes for both displays and click Apply . 8 If prompted to r estart the computer , click Apply the new color setting without restarting and click OK . 9 If prompted, click OK to resize your deskto p.
Using the Dis play 47 Microsoft ® Windows ® XP 1 Click the Start button and click Contro l P anel . 2 Under Pic k a ca t e go r y , click Appearance and Themes . 3 Under Pick a task... , click th e area you want to change, or un der or pick a Control P anel icon , click Display .
48 Using the Display book.book Page 48 Wednes day, December 12, 2 007 10:32 AM.
Using M ultime dia 49 6 Using Multimedia Playing CDs or DVDs NOTICE: Do not press down on t he CD/DVD tray when y ou open or close it. Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive. NOTICE: Do not move the computer wh ile playing CDs or DVDs. 1 P ress the eject button on the front of the drive.
50 Using Multimedia NOTE: If you use a module that shipped with another computer , you need to install the drivers and software necessary to pl ay DVDs or write data. For more information, see the Drivers and Utilities CD (the Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not be available for your com puter or in certain countries).
Using M ultime dia 51 F or more information on playing CD s or D VDs, click Help on the CD or D V D player (if available). Copying CDs and DVDs NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when creating CDs or DVDs. This section a pplies only to computers that have a CD-RW , D VD+/-RW , or CD-R W/D VD (combo) drive.
52 Using Multimedia 3 T o copy the CD or DVD: • If you have one CD/D VD drive , ensure that the settings ar e corr ect, and then click Disc Copy . The computer r eads your sour ce CD or DVD and copies the data to a temporar y folder on your computer h ar d drive.
Using M ultime dia 53 DVD-Writable Drives Helpful T ips • Use Microsoft ® W indows ® Explor er to drag and dr op files to a CD -R or CD-R W only after you start Roxio Crea tor Plus and ope n a Cr eator project. • Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that yo u want to pl ay in regular ster eos.
54 Using Multimedia Adjusting the V olume NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing. 1 Select Start → Pr o g r a m s → Accessories → Entertainment → Vo l u m e Control . 2 Click and drag the bar in the Vo l u m e C o n t r o l column and slide it up or down to incr ease or decrease the volume.
Setting Up and Using Networks 55 7 Setting Up and Using Networks Setting up a computer network provides connectivity between y our computer and the Internet, another computer , or a network.
56 Setting Up and Using Networks Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Operating Sy stem 1 Click Start → All P rograms → Accessories → Communications → Network Setup W izard → Next → Checklist for creating a network .
Setting Up and Using Networks 57 2 Select an option under Choose a connection option . 3 Click Next , and then follow the instructions in the wi zar d.
58 Setting Up and Using Networks In Microsoft Windows V ista , click → Connect T o → Vi e w n e t w o r k computers and devices . If W ir eless Network Connection does not appear under LAN or High-Speed Internet, you may not have a wi re le s s n e t wo r k ca rd .
Setting Up and Using Networks 59 7 Disconnect the AC adapter cable from your wireless router to ensure that there is no power connected to the router . NOTE: W ait for a minimum of 5 minutes after disconnecting your broadband modem before you continue with the network setup.
60 Setting Up and Using Networks NOTE: The following networking instructions do not apply to inte rnal cards with Bluetooth ® wirele ss technology or cellular products. This section provides general procedur es for connecting to a network using wir eless technology .
Setting Up and Using Networks 61 F or specific information about the wir e less configurat ion utilit y installed on your computer , see your wireless ne twork documentation in the W indows Help and Support Center (see "W in dows Help and Support" on page 16).
62 Setting Up and Using Networks book.book Page 62 Wednes day, December 12, 2 007 10:32 AM.
Using Cards 63 8 Using Cards ExpressCards ExpressCar ds provide additional memory , wired and wir eless communications, mu ltimedia and securi ty features. Expr essCards support two f orm f actor s: • E x p re s sC a rd / 5 4 ( 54 m m w i d e i n a n L-shape with a 34 mm connector) The 54 mm car d only fits into a 54 mm card slot.
64 Using Cards ExpressCard Blan ks Y our computer shipped with a plastic bl ank inst alled in th e ExpressCard slot. Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles. Save the blank for use when no ExpressCar d is installed in the slot; blanks from other com puters may not fit your computer .
Using Cards 65 The computer recognizes the ExpressCar d and automatically loads the appropriate device driver . If the config uration program tells you to load the manufacturer's drivers, use the floppy disk or CD that came with the ExpressCar d.
66 Using Cards 1 slot 2 ExpressCard 1 2 book.book Page 66 Wednes day, December 12, 2 007 10:32 AM.
Securing Y our Computer 67 9 Securing Y our Computer Security Cable Lock NOTE: Y our computer does not ship with a security cable lock. A security cable lock is a commercially available antitheft device. T o use the lock, attach it to the security cable slot on your Del l™ computer .
68 Securing Y our Computer A primary (or system) password and an administrator password pr event unauthorized access to your computer in different ways. The foll owing table identifies types and features of pa sswor ds available on your computer . NOTE: Some hard drives do not support hard drive passwords.
Securing Y our Computer 69 If you do not en ter a pass word within two minutes, the computer r eturns to its pr evious ope rating state . NOTICE: If you disable the administrator passw or d, the primary password is also disabled. T o add or cha nge passwo rds, access User Accounts from the Control P anel .
70 Securing Y our Computer Computer T racking Software Computer tracking software may enable yo u to locate your computer if it is lost or stolen. The software is optional and may be purchased when you order your Dell™ computer , or you can contac t your Dell sales repr esentative for information about this security feature.
Securing Y our Computer 71 • If the computer belongs to a company , notify the security office of the company . • Contact Dell customer s ervice to r e port the mi ssing computer .
72 Securing Y our Computer book.book Page 72 Wednes day, December 12, 2 007 10:32 AM.
T roubleshooting T ools 73 10 T roubleshooting T ools Diagnostic Lights CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedur es in this section, follow the safety instruction s in the Product Information Guide . Y our computer has three k eyboar d status lights located above the keyboard (see "F ront View" on page 19).
74 T roubleshooting T ools Sy stem Messages NOTE: If the message you received is not liste d in the table, see the documentation for either the operating sy stem or the program that was running when the message appeared. CMOS F AILURE — P ossible system board failur e or the R TC battery is low .
T roubleshooting T ools 75 I NVALID CONFIGURA TION INFORM ATION - PLEASE RUN SETUP PROGRAM — Enter System Setup (see "V iewing the Syst em Setup Screens" on page 102) and change System Setup options (see "Commo nly Used Options" on page 102) to corr ect the configuration error .
76 T roubleshooting T ools P OWER WARNING MESSAGES HAVE BEEN DISABLED . RUN THE SETUP UTILITY TO ENABLE THESE MESSAGES .— See "System Setup P rogram" on page 101. R EAD FAIL URE ON INTERNAL HARD DRIVE — See your Servic e Manual for more information.
T roubleshooting T ools 77 WA RN I N G : T HE PRIMARY BA TTERY CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED . THIS SY STEM WILL BE UNABLE TO CHARGE BATTERIES UNTIL THIS BATTERY IS REMOVED .— Fo r computers with two batteries installed, the primary battery may be installed incorr ectly , or the battery or system boar d may be defective.
78 T roubleshooting T ools Y OUR SY STEM AUTOM ATICAL LY POWER OFF BECAUSE IT BECAME WARMER TH AN EXPECTED . THIS MAY HA VE BEEN CAUSED BY : OPE RATIN G OR STORING THE SY STEM IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS TOO HIGH , OR OBSTRUCTING THE AIR FLOW FROM THE SY STEM FAN VENTS .
T roubleshooting T ools 79 Dell Diagnostics CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedur es in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide .
80 T roubleshooting T ools The computer runs the P r e-boot System Assess ment (PSA), a series of initial tests of your system boar d, ke yboar d, disp lay , memory , hard drive, etc.
T roubleshooting T ools 81 Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Media Before running the Dell Diagnostics, enter System Setup (s ee "Viewing the System Setup Scre ens".
82 T roubleshooting T ools 9 At the Dell D iagnostics Main Menu , left-click with the mouse, or press <T ab> and then <Enter>, to select the test you want to run (see "Dell Diagnostics Main Menu" on pa ge 82).
T roubleshooting T ools 83 NOTE: It is recommended that you select Extended T est to perform a more thorough check of devices in the computer . F or any problem encounter ed during a test, a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem.
84 T roubleshooting T ools Configuration Displays the hardware configuration for the selected device. The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information fo r all devices from System Setup, m emory, and various internal tests, and displays the information in the devic e list in the left pane of the screen.
T roubleshooting 85 11 T roubleshooting F ollow these tips when troub leshooting your computer : • If you added or r emoved a part before the problem started, review the installation proced ures and ensur e that the part is correctly installed. • If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly connected.
86 T roubleshooting C HECK THE M ICROSOFT O UTLOOK ® E XPRESS SECURITY SETTINGS — If you cannot open your e-mail attachments: 1 In Outlook Ex pr ess, click T ools → Options → Security . 2 Click Do not allow attachments to remove the checkmark, as needed.
T roubleshooting 87 2 Click the COM port for your modem → P roperties → Diagnostics → Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with W indows. If all commands r eceive responses, the modem is operating properly . W indows V ista : 1 Click Start → Control P anel → Hardware and Sound → Phone and Modem Options → Modems .
88 T roubleshooting W indows V ista : 1 Click Start → Contro l P anel → Pr o g r a m s → P rograms and F eatures . 2 Select the program you want to remove. 3 Click Uninstall . 4 See the program documentation for installation instructions. drive letter : IS NOT ACCESSIBLE .
T roubleshooting 89 3 Click to select the program that is no longer responding. 4 Click End T ask . A program crashes repeatedly NOTE: Most software includes installation instr uctions in its doc umentation or on a floppy disk, CD, or DVD. C HECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUM ENTAT ION — If necessary , uninstall and then r einstall the program.
90 T roubleshooting Other software problems C HECK THE SOFTWARE DOCU MENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFOR MATION • Ensur e that the program is compatible with the operatin g system installed on your computer . • Ensur e that your computer meets the minimum hardware r equirements needed to run the softwar e.
T roubleshooting 91 • Ensure that you ar e following the memory in stallation guideline s (see “Installing Memory ” in your Service Manual). • Ensure that the memory you are using is supported b y your computer . F or more information about the type of memory supported by your computer , see your Service Manual.
92 T roubleshooting • Bypass power strips , power e xtension cables, and other power protection devices to verify that the co mputer turns on properly . • Ensure that any power strips being used are plugged into a n electrical outlet and ar e turned on.
T roubleshooting 93 T EST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp. V ERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY W INDOWS Wi n d o w s X P: 1 Click Start → Control P anel → P rinters and Other Hardware → Vi e w install ed printe rs or fax p rinter s .
94 T roubleshooting V ERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY M ICROSOFT W INDOWS Wi n do w s X P: 1 Click Start → Control P anel → P rinters and Other Hardware → Scanners and Cameras . 2 If your scanner is listed, W indows recognizes the scanner .
T roubleshooting 95 E LIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENC E — T urn off nearby fans, fluor escent lights, or halogen lamps to check for interference. R UN THE SPEAKE R DIAGNOSTICS R EINSTALL THE SOUND DRIVE R — See "Drivers" on page 105. R UN THE H ARDWARE T ROUBLESHOOTER — See "Har dwar e and Softwar e P roblems" on page 110.
96 T roubleshooting C HECK THE SY STEM SETUP PROGRAM S ETTINGS — V erify that the system setup program lists the corr ect device for the pointing device option. (The computer automatically re cognizes a USB mouse without making any setting adjustmen ts.
T roubleshooting 97 W indows V ista : 1 Click Start → Contro l P anel → Hardware and Sound → P ersonalization → Display Settings . 2 Adjust Re s o l u t i o n and Colors settings, as needed.
98 T roubleshooting – If the computer is plugged into a power strip, ensu r e that the power strip is plugged into an electrical outlet and that the power strip is turned on. – Bypass p ower protection devices, pow er strips, and power extension cables to verify that the computer turns on properly .
T roubleshooting 99 Accessing the De ll Support Utility Access the Dell Support Utilit y from th e icon on the taskbar or from the Start menu. If the Dell Support icon does not appear in your taskbar: 1 Click Start → All P rograms → Dell Supp ort → Dell Support Settin gs .
100 T roubleshooting book.book Page 100 Wednesday, December 12, 2007 10:32 AM.
Sy stem Setup Program 101 12 Sy stem Setup Program Overview NOTE: Y our operating sy stem may automatica lly configure most of the options available in the sy stem setup program, t hus overriding options that you set through the sy stem setup program.
102 Sy stem Setup Program NOTE: Unless you are an expert computer user or are directed to do so by Dell technical support, do not change the sy stem setup settings. Certain changes might make your computer work incorrectly . V iewing the Sy stem Setup Screens 1 T ur n on (or restart) your computer .
Sy stem Setup Program 103 The Boot Order page displays a general list o f the bootab le devices that may be installed in your computer , includ ing but not limited to the following: • Diskette Drive.
104 Sy stem Setup Program 5 When the boot device list appears, highlight the device from which you want to boot and press <Enter>. The computer boots to the selected device. The next time you r eboot the computer , the previous boot or der is restor ed.
Reinstalling Software 105 13 Reinstalling Software Drivers What Is a Driver? A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer , mouse, or key b oa rd . A ll d ev i c es re qu i re a d r i ve r pr o g r am . A driver acts lik e a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device.
106 Reinstalling Software Microsoft ® Windows ® XP 1 Click Start → Control P anel . 2 Unde r Pic k a Ca t e go r y , click P erformance and Maintenance , and cl ick System . 3 In the System P roperties window , click the Hardware tab, and click Device Manager .
Reinstalling Software 107 W indows V ista: 1 Click the W indows V ista start button , and right-click Computer . 2 Click P roperties → Device Manager . NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear . If you are an administrator on the computer , click Continue ; otherwise, contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager .
108 Reinstalling Software 6 Click the driver that you want to r ein stall and follow the ins tructions on the screen. If a particular driver is not l isted, then that driver is not r e quir ed by your operating sys tem.
Reinstalling Software 109 If instructed to navigate to the driver files, click the CD/DVD dir ectory on the driver information window to display the files associated with that driver .
110 Reinstalling Software 7 When the name of the appropriate driv er appears, click the name of the driver → OK → Next . 8 Click Fi n i s h and restart your computer . Hardware and Software Problems This section di scusses issues wi th W i ndows XP and W indows Vista operating systems.
Reinstalling Software 111 permanently delete all data on the hard drive and r emove any programs installed after you received th e computer . Use Dell PC Restore or Dell F actory Image Restor e only if System Restore did not r esolve your operating system problem.
112 Reinstalling Software W indows V ista : 1 Click Start . 2 In the Start Search box, type System Restore and press <Enter>. NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear . If you are an administrator on the computer , click Continue ; otherwise, contact your administrator to cont inue the desired action.
Reinstalling Software 113 Using Dell™ PC Restore and Dell Factor y Image Restore NOTICE: Using Dell PC Resto re or Dell Fact ory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any pr o grams or drivers installed after you received your computer .
114 Reinstalling Software 5 When prompted, click Ye s . The computer r estarts. Because the computer is r estored to its original operating state, the screens that ap pear , such as the End Us er License Agr eement, are the same ones that ap peared the first time the computer was turned on.
Reinstalling Software 115 6 Right-click Lo ca l D is k ( C ) in W indows Explorer , click P roperties , and verify that the additional disk space is available as indicated by the increased value for F ree Space . 7 Click Fi n i s h to close the PC Restor e Remov al window and r estart the computer .
116 Reinstalling Software Using the Operating Sy stem Media Before y ou Begi n If you are considering reinstalling the W indows operating syst em to correct a problem with a newly instal led driver , first try using W indows Device Driver Rollback. See "Using W indows Device Driver Rollback" on page 1 06.
Reinstalling Software 117 NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating sy stem logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft ® Windows ® desktop; then, shut down your computer and try again. NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only .
118 Reinstalling Software book.book Page 118 Wednesday, December 12, 2007 10:32 AM.
T raveling With Y our Computer 119 14 T raveling With Y our Computer Identifying Y our Computer • Attach a name tag or business card to the computer . • W r ite down your Service T ag and store it in a safe place away from the computer or carrying case.
120 T raveling With Y our Computer • A void packing the computer with item s such as shaving cr eam, colognes, perfumes, or food. NOTICE: If the computer has been exposed to ex treme temperatures, allow it to acclimate to room temperature for one hour before turning it on.
T raveling With Y our Computer 121 • P rior to entering the airplane, verify that using a computer is permitted. Some airlines forbi d the use of electronic devices during flight. Al l airlines forbid the use of electronic devices during takeoff and landing.
122 T raveling With Y our Computer book.book Page 122 Wednesday, December 12, 2007 10:32 AM.
Getting Help 123 15 Getting Help Obtaining Assistance If you e xperience a problem with yo ur computer , you can complete the following steps to diagno se and troubleshoot the problem: 1 See "T roubleshooting" on page 85 for information and procedur es that pertain to the proble m your computer is experiencing.
124 Getting Help T e chnical Support and Custome r Service Dell's support service is available to answer your questions about Dell™ hardwar e. Our support staff uses comput er -based diagnostics to provide fast, accurate answers.
Getting Help 125 • la-techsupport@dell.com (Latin America and Caribbean countries only) • apsupport@de ll.com (Asian/P acific countries on ly) • Dell Marketing and Sales e-mail addr esses •a p m a r k e t i n g @ d e l l . c o m (Asian/P acific countries only) • sales_canada@dell.
126 Getting Help Product Information If you need information ab out additional products availa ble from Dell, or if you would like to place an orde r , visit the Dell website at www .dell.c om . F or the telephone number to call for yo ur region or to spea k to a sales sp ecialist, see "Contacting Dell" on page 129.
Getting Help 127 Before Y ou Call NOTE: Have your Express Service Code ready when you call. The code helps Dell’ s automated-support telephone sy stem direct y our call more efficiently . Y ou may also be asked for your Service T ag (located on the back or bottom of your computer).
128 Getting Help Diagnostics Checklist Name: Date: Address: Phone number: Service T ag (bar code on the back or bottom of the computer): Expre ss Service Code: Return Material Authorizat ion Number (i.
Getting Help 129 Contacting Dell F or cus tomers in the United States, call 800- WWW -DELL (800 -999-3355). NOTE: If you do not have an active Inte rnet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.
130 Getting Help book.book Page 130 Wednesday, December 12, 2007 10:32 AM.
Specifications 131 16 Specifications NOTE: Offerings may va ry by region. Fo r more information regarding the configuration of your computer , click Start → Help and Support and select the option to view information about your computer .
132 Specifications PCIe Expr essCard 54 mm PCI Expr essCard 3-in-1 Card Reader Supports SD, MMC, MS, MS P r o , MS Duo including SDHC Communications Modem T ype: internal MDC 1.5 solution V .92 56 Kbps V .90 56 Kbps Network adapter Marvell 88E805 5 GB LAN (PCI Expr ess Gigabit Ethernet) W ireless internal Bluetooth™ V 2.
Specifications 133 Speaker one 4-ohm speakers Internal speaker amplifier 1 .5 W channel into 4 ohms V olume controls keyboar d shor tcuts, program menus Display T ype (active-matrix TFT) WXGA Dimensions: Diagonal 307.34 mm (12.1 inches) Maximum resolutions: WXGA 1280 x 800 at 16.
134 Specifications T ouch Pad X/Y position reso lution (graphics table mode) 240 cpi Size: Wi d t h 64.88 mm (2.55-inch) s ensor -active area Height 48.88-mm (1.92-inch) re ctangle Battery T ype 4-cell “smart” lithium ion (2400 mAh) 6-cell “smart” lithium ion (4800 mAh) We i g h t V oltage 4-cell: 14.
Specifications 135 Output current 65W 3.9 A (maximum at 4-second pulse) 3.34 A (continuous) Output power 65W Rated output voltage 19.5 +/– 1 VDC Drives Optical Disk Drive Height 12.7 mm (.5 inches) Supports CD-R W/D VD-ROM Ty p e DV D S u p e r Mu l ti Har d Disk Drive Height 9.
136 Specifications Relative humidity (maximum): Opera ting 10% to 90% (noncondensing) Storage 5% to 95% (noncondensing) Maximum vibration (using a random-vibration spectrum that simulates user environme nt): Opera ting 0.
Appendix 137 17 Appendix FCC Notice (U.S. Only) FCC Class B This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency ener gy and, if not inst alled and used in accor dan ce with the manufactur er ’s instruction manual, may cause interfer ence with radio and television reception.
138 Appendix The following informatio n is provided on the device or devices covered in this document in compliance with the FCC r egulations: • P roduct name: Dell™ V ostro™ 1200 • Model number: PP16S • Company name: Dell Inc.
Appendix 139 Mouse (Non-Optical) 1 T urn the retainer ring on th e underside of your mou se counterclockwise, and then r emove the ball. 2 W ipe the bal l with a clean, lint-free cloth.
140 Appendix 2 W ith a s oft, lint-free cloth, gently wipe the bottom of the dis c (the unlabeled side) in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc. F or stubborn dirt, try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap.
Glossary 141 Glossary T erms in this Glossary ar e provided for informational purposes only and may or may not describe featur es includ ed with your particular computer . A AC — alternating curr ent — The form of electr icity that powers your computer when you plug the AC adapter power cable in to an electrical outlet.
142 Glossary Blu-ray Disc ™ (B D) — An optical storage technology offering storage capacity of up to 50 GB, full 1080p video resolution (HDTV requir ed), and as many as 7.
Glossary 143 CD-R W drive — A drive that can read CDs and write to CD-R W (rewritable CDs) and CD-R (r ecordable CDs) discs. Y ou can write to CD-R W discs multiple times, but you can write to CD-R discs only once.
144 Glossary device driver — See driver . DIMM — dual in-line memory module — A ci rcuit board with memory chips that connects to a memory module on the system boar d.
Glossary 145 DV D +RW d r iv e — drive that can read D VDs and most CD media and write to D VD+R W (r ewritable DVDs) discs. DV I — digital video interface — A standard for digital transmission between a computer and a digital video display .
146 Glossary F F ahre nheit — A temperature measur ement scale wher e 32° is the fr eezing point and 212° is the boiling point of water . FBD — fully-buffered DIMM — A DIMM with DDR2 DRAM chips and an Advanced Memory Buffer (AMB) that speeds communication between the DDR2 SDR AM chips and the system.
Glossary 147 H hard drive — A drive that reads and writes data on a har d disk. The terms hard drive and har d disk ar e often used interchangeably .
148 Glossary I/O address — An address in R AM that is associated with a specific device (such as a serial connector , parallel connector , or expan sion slot) and allows the processor to communicate with that device . IrD A — Infrared Data Association — The org anization that cr eates international standar ds for infrar ed communications.
Glossary 149 M Mb — megabit — A measur ement of memory chip capacity that equals 1024 Kb. Mbps — megabits per second — One million bits per second. This measurement is typically used for transmission speeds for networks and modems. MB — megabyte — A measur ement of data storage that equals 1,048,576 bytes.
150 Glossary N network ada pter — A chip that provide s netw ork capabilities. A computer may include a network adapter on its system board, or it may contain a PC Car d with an adapter on it. A network adapter is also r eferre d to as a NIC (network interface controller).
Glossary 151 PCMCIA — P ersonal Computer M emory Card International Association — The or ganization that esta blishes standar ds for PC Cards. PIO — programmed input/output — A method of transferring data betwee n two devices through the processor as part of the data path.
152 Glossary read-only — Data and/or files you can view but cannot edit or delete. A file can have read-only status if: • It r esides on a physically write- p rotected floppy disk, CD, or D VD. • It is located on a network in a directory and the system adm inistrat or has assign ed rights only to spe cific ind ividuals .
Glossary 153 SDR A M — synchronous dynamic random-access memory — A type of DR AM that is synchronized with the optimal clock speed of the processor . serial connector — An I/O port often used to connect devices such as a handheld digital device or digital camera to your computer .
154 Glossary The number of colors and resolution that a program displays depends on the capabilities of the monitor , the video controller and its drivers, and the amoun t of video memory installed in the computer . S-video TV -out — A connector u sed to attach a TV or digital audio device to the computer .
Glossary 155 systems typically provide surge suppression and may also provide voltage regulation. Small UPS systems provide battery power fo r a few minutes to enable you to shut down your computer .
156 Glossary expe cting to find th e operating system. If th e computer is infected, the boot viru s may replicate itself onto all the floppy disks that are read or writt en in that computer until the virus is eradicated. V — volt — The measurement of electric potential or electromotive force.
Glossary 157 Zip — A popular data compression format. F i les that have been compresse d with the Zip format are called Zip file s and usually have a filename e xtension of .zi p . A special kind of zipped file is a self -extra cting file, which has a filename e xtension of .
158 Glossary book.book Page 158 Wednesday, December 12, 2007 10:32 AM.
Index 159 Index A air vents description, 2 5 B battery charging, 3 5 checking the charge, 3 2 performance, 3 1 power meter , 3 2 problems, 8 5 re m o v i n g , 3 6 storing, 3 7 blanks ExpressCar ds, 6.
160 Index descrip tion, 2 9 device status lights descrip tion, 2 2 diagnostic lights, 73 diagnostic s lights, 7 3 display adjusting brightness, 4 3 descrip tion, 2 0 dual di splay op eratio n, 4 5 pri.
Index 161 Internet problems, 8 5 Internet Connection F irewall, 61 IRQ conflicts, 78, 110 K ke yb o a rd numeric k eypad, 3 9 shortcuts, 4 0 k eyboard status lights description, 2 0 ke yp a d numeric,.
162 Index PC Rest or e, 113 phone numb ers, 129 playing CDs, 49 playing D VDs, 49 power hiber nat e mod e, 3 4 problem s, 9 1 standby mode, 3 3 power button descrip tion, 2 2 power light, 97 condition.
Index 163 Starting the Dell Diagnostics F rom the Drivers and Utilities CD, 81 stolen computer , 70 suppor t contacting Dell, 1 2 9 support websit e, 14 System Restor e, 110-111 system se tup program .
164 Index book.book Page 164 Wednesday, December 12, 2007 10:32 AM.
An important point after buying a device Dell Inspiron 1200 (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Dell Inspiron 1200 yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Dell Inspiron 1200 - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Dell Inspiron 1200 you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Dell Inspiron 1200 will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Dell Inspiron 1200, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Dell Inspiron 1200.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Dell Inspiron 1200. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Dell Inspiron 1200 along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
