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Dell Inspiron 1420 Owner's Manual - Page 121

Drivers, What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers - windows 8 drivers

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Drivers What Is a Driver? A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver program. A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes. Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed-no further installation or configuration is needed. NOTICE: Your Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer. Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system. Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft® Windows® operating system. You may need to install drivers if you: • Upgrade your operating system. • Reinstall your operating system. • Connect or install a new device. Identifying Drivers If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver. 1 Click Start , and then right-click Computer. 2 Click Properties, and then click 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 continue. Scroll down the list of devices and check for an exclamation point (a circle with a [!]) next to the device name. If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver (see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 122). Troubleshooting 121

Section	Page
Contents	3
Finding Information	15
About Your Computer	21
Determining Your Computer’s Configuration	21
Front View	22
Left Side View	27
Right Side View	28
Back View	30
Bottom View	31
Setting Up Your Computer	33
Connecting to the Internet	33
Setting Up Your Internet Connection	34
Transferring Information to a New Computer	35
Windows Easy Transfer	35
Setting Up a Printer	35
Printer Cable	36
Connecting a USB Printer	36
Power Protection Devices	37
Surge Protectors	37
Line Conditioners	38
Uninterruptible Power Supplies	38
Using the Display	39
Adjusting Brightness	39
Switching the Video Image From Your Computer Display To a Projector	39
Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate	40
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad	41
Numeric Keypad	41
Key Combinations	42
System Functions	42
Display Functions	42
Battery	42
Power Management	42
Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions	42
Dell™ QuickSet Key Combinations	43
Adjusting Keyboard Settings	43
Touch Pad	43
Customizing the Touch Pad	44
Using a Battery	45
Battery Performance	45
Checking the Battery Charge	46
Dell QuickSet Battery Meter	46
Microsoft® Windows® Battery Meter	47
Charge Gauge	47
Low-Battery Warning	48
Conserving Battery Power	48
Configuring Power Management Settings	48
Using the Sleep Power State	49
Charging the Battery	49
Replacing the Battery	50
Storing a Battery	50
Using the Optional Camera	51
Accessing the Camera’s Help File	51
Manually Adjusting the Camera Settings	52
Creating a Picture or a Video	52
Using Multimedia	53
Playing Media	53
Playing Media Using Dell Express Card Remote Control	55
Copying CD and DVD Media	56
How to Copy a CD or DVD	57
Using Blank CD and DVD Media	57
Helpful Tips	58
Adjusting the Volume	59
Adjusting the Picture	59
Using Dell MediaDirect™	59
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device	60
S-Video and Standard Audio	62
S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	64
Composite Video and Standard Audio	66
Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	68
Component Video and Standard Audio	70
Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	72
Enabling the Display Settings for a TV	74
Using Cards	75
ExpressCards	75
ExpressCard Blanks	76
Installing an ExpressCard	76
Removing an ExpressCard or Blank	77
Memory Card Reader	78
Memory Card Blanks	79
Installing a Memory Card	79
Removing a Memory Card or Blank	80
Setting Up and Using Networks	81
Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable	81
Setting Up a Network	82
Wireless Local Area Network	82
What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection	82
Checking Your Wireless Network Card	82
Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem	83
Connecting to a WLAN	85
Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network)	86
What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection	86
Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card	87
Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network	88
Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card	88
Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator	89
Securing Your Computer	91
Security Cable Lock	91
Passwords	91
If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen	92
Troubleshooting	93
Dell Technical Update Service	93
Dell Diagnostics	93
Dell Support Utility	97
Drive Problems	98
Optical drive problems	99
Hard drive problems	100
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems	100
Error Messages	102
ExpressCard Problems	107
IEEE 1394 Device Problems	107
Keyboard Problems	108
External Keyboard problems	108
Unexpected characters	109
Lockups and Software Problems	109
The computer does not start	109
The computer stops responding	109
A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly	110
A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft® Windows® operating system	110
A solid blue screen appears	110
Dell MediaDirect problems	110
Other software problems	111
Memory Problems	112
Network Problems	113
Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area Network [WWAN])	113
Power Problems	114
Printer Problems	115
Scanner Problems	116
Sound and Speaker Problems	117
No sound from integrated speakers	117
No sound from external speakers	117
No sound from headphones	118
Remote Control Problems	118
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems	118
Video and Display Problems	119
If the display is blank	119
If the display is difficult to read	120
If only part of the display is readable	120
Drivers	121
What Is a Driver?	121
Identifying Drivers	121
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities	122
Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems	124
Restoring Your Operating System	124
Using Microsoft Windows System Restore	124
Using the Operating System Media	125
Adding and Replacing Parts	129
Before You Begin	129
Recommended Tools	129
Turning Off Your Computer	129
Before Working Inside Your Computer	130
Hard Drive	131
Removing the Hard Drive	132
Replacing the Hard Drive	133
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell	134
Optical Drive	134
Removing the Optical Drive	134
Replacing the Optical Drive	135
Hinge Cover	135
Removing the Hinge Cover	136
Replacing the Hinge Cover	136
Keyboard	137
Removing the Keyboard	137
Replacing the Keyboard	138
Memory	139
Removing the Memory Module	139
Replacing the Memory Module	141
Modem	142
Subscriber Identity Module	144
Wireless Mini Cards	145
Removing a WLAN Card	145
Replacing a WLAN Card	147
Internal Card with Bluetooth® Wireless Technology	148
Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card	149
Replacing a WWAN Card	151
Flash Cache Module	152
Removing the FCM	152
Replacing the FCM	153
Coin-Cell Battery	154
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery	154
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery	155
Dell™ QuickSet Features	157
Traveling With Your Computer	159
Identifying Your Computer	159
Packing the Computer	159
Travel Tips	160
Traveling by Air	160
Getting Help	161
Obtaining Assistance	161
Technical Support and Customer Service	162
DellConnect	162
Online Services	162
AutoTech Service	163
Automated Order-Status Service	163
Problems With Your Order	163
Product Information	163
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit	164
Before You Call	164
Contacting Dell	166
Specifications	167
Appendix	177
Using the System Setup Program	177
Viewing the System Setup Screen	178
System Setup Screen	178
Commonly Used Options	178
Cleaning Your Computer	180
Computer, Keyboard, and Display	180
Touch Pad	181
Mouse	181
Media	182
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)	182
Definition of \	183
Definition of \	183
FCC Notice (U.S. Only)	183
FCC Class B	183
Macrovision Product Notice	184
Glossary	185