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Dell Inspiron 6400 Owner's Manual - Page 73

To access the Help and Support Center, The Windows XP operating system - specification

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Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager Depending on the software installed on your computer, different wireless configuration utilities may manage your network devices: • Your wireless network card's configuration utility • The Windows XP operating system To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless network card: 1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2 Double-click Network Connections. 3 Right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon, and then click View Available Wireless Networks. If the Choose a wireless network window states Windows cannot configure this connection, the wireless network card's configuration utility is managing the wireless network card. If the Choose a wireless network window states Click an item in the list below to connect to a wireless network in range or to get more information, the Windows XP operating system is managing the wireless network card. For specific information about the wireless configuration utility installed on your computer, see your wireless network documentation in the Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center: 1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support. 2 Under Pick a Help topic, click Dell User and System Guides. 3 Under Device Guides, select the documentation for your wireless network card. Completing the Connection to the WLAN When you turn on your computer and a network (for which your computer is not configured) is detected in the area, a pop-up appears near the icon in the notification area (in the lower-right corner of the Windows desktop). Follow the instructions provided in any utility prompts that appear on your screen. Once you have configured your computer for the wireless network that you selected, another pop-up notifies you that your computer is connected to that network. Thereafter, whenever you log on to your computer within the range of the wireless network that you selected, the same pop-up notifies you of the wireless network connection. NOTE: If you select a secure network, you must enter a WEP or WPA key when prompted. Network security settings are unique to your network. Dell cannot provide this information. NOTE: Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network. Setting Up a Network 73

Section	Page
Owner’s Manual	1
Finding Information	11
About Your Computer	15
Determining Your Computer’s Configuration	15
Front View	16
Left Side View	20
Right Side View	21
Back View	22
Bottom View	24
Setting Up Your Computer	25
Connecting to the Internet	25
Setting Up Your Internet Connection	25
Transferring Information to a New Computer	26
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD	26
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD	27
Setting Up a Printer	29
Printer Cable	29
Connecting a USB Printer	29
Power Protection Devices	30
Surge Protectors	30
Line Conditioners	31
Uninterruptible Power Supplies	31
Using the Display	33
Adjusting Brightness	33
Switching the Video Image	33
Setting Display Resolution	33
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad	35
Numeric Keypad	35
Key Combinations	36
System Functions	36
Display Functions	36
Power Management	36
Speaker Functions	36
Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions	37
QuickSet Key Combinations	37
Adjusting Keyboard Settings	37
Touch Pad	38
Customizing the Touch Pad	38
Using a Battery	39
Battery Performance	39
Checking the Battery Charge	40
Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter	40
Microsoft® Windows® Power Meter	40
Charge Gauge	40
Low-Battery Warning	41
Conserving Battery Power	41
Power Management Modes	41
Configuring Power Management Settings	43
Charging the Battery	43
Replacing the Battery	43
Storing a Battery	44
Using Multimedia	45
Playing CDs or DVDs	45
Copying CDs and DVDs	46
How to Copy a CD or DVD	46
Using Blank CDs and DVDs	47
Helpful Tips	47
Adjusting the Volume	48
Adjusting the Picture	49
Using Dell Media Experience™ and Dell MediaDirect™	49
If the computer is turned on or in standby mode	49
If the computer is turned off or in hibernate mode	49
Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help	50
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device	50
S-Video and Standard Audio	52
S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	53
Composite Video and Standard Audio	55
Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	56
Component Video and Standard Audio	58
Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	60
Setting Up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones	62
Enabling the Display Settings for a TV	63
Using Cards	65
ExpressCards	65
ExpressCard Blanks	65
Installing an ExpressCard	65
Removing an ExpressCard or Blank	66
Media Memory Cards	67
Installing a Media Memory Card	67
Removing a Media Memory Card	68
Setting Up a Network	69
Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband Modem	69
Network Setup Wizard	70
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)	70
What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection	70
Checking Your Wireless Network Card	70
Setting Up a New WLAN	71
Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network	72
Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card	74
Monitoring the Status of Wireless Network Connections Through Dell™ QuickSet	74
Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)	74
What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection	74
Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network	75
Securing Your Computer	77
Security Cable Lock	77
Passwords	77
Computer Tracking Software	78
If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen	78
Solving Problems	79
Dell Diagnostics	79
Dell Support Utility	82
Accessing the Dell Support Utility	82
Clicking the Dell Support Icon	82
Double-Clicking the Dell Support Icon	82
Drive Problems	83
CD and DVD drive problems	83
If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW drive tray	83
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound	84
Hard drive problems	84
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems	84
Error Messages	85
ExpressCard Problems	89
IEEE 1394 Device Problems	89
Keyboard Problems	90
External Keyboard problems	90
Unexpected characters	91
Lockups and Software Problems	91
The computer does not start up	91
The computer stops responding	91
A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly	91
A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft® Windows® operating system	91
A solid blue screen appears	92
Dell MediaDirect problems	92
Other software problems	92
Memory Problems	93
Network Problems	93
Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area Network [WWAN])	94
Power Problems	94
Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer	95
Printer Problems	95
Scanner Problems	96
Sound and Speaker Problems	97
No sound from integrated speakers	97
No sound from external speakers	97
No sound from headphones	97
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems	98
Video and Display Problems	98
If the display is blank	98
If the display is difficult to read	99
If only part of the display is readable	99
Drivers	99
What Is a Driver?	99
Identifying Drivers	100
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities	100
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities	102
Restoring Your Operating System	102
Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore	103
Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec	104
Using the Operating System CD	106
Adding and Replacing Parts	109
Before You Begin	109
Recommended Tools	109
Turning Off Your Computer	109
Before Working Inside Your Computer	110
Optical Drive	111
Hard Drive	112
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell	114
Memory	114
Modem	117
Hinge Cover	118
Keyboard	119
Wireless Mini-Card	121
Coin-Cell Battery	124
Display	125
Internal Card With Bluetooth® Wireless Technology	127
Dell™ QuickSet Features	129
Traveling With Your Computer	131
Identifying Your Computer	131
Packing the Computer	131
Travel Tips	132
Traveling by Air	132
Contacting Dell	133
Specifications	155
Appendix	163
Using the System Setup Program	163
Viewing the System Setup Screen	163
System Setup Screen	163
Commonly Used Options	164
Cleaning Your Computer	165
Computer, Keyboard, and Display	165
Touch Pad	165
Floppy Drive	166
CDs and DVDs	166
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)	166
Definition of \	167
Definition of \	167
FCC Notice (U.S. Only)	167
FCC Class B	167
Macrovision Product Notice	168
Glossary	169

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Setting Up a Network

Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager

Depending on the software installed on your computer, different wireless configuration utilities may

manage your network devices:

•

Your wireless network card’s configuration utility

•

The Windows XP operating system

To determine which wireless configuration utility is managing your wireless network card:

Click the

Start

button, point to

Settings

, and then click

Control Panel

Double-click

Network Connections

Right-click the

Wireless Network Connection

icon, and then click

View Available Wireless Networks

If the

Choose a wireless network

window states

Windows cannot configure this connection

, the wireless

network card’s configuration utility is managing the wireless network card.

If the

Choose a wireless network

window states

Click an item in the list below to connect to a wireless

network in range or to get more information

, the Windows XP operating system is managing the

wireless network card.

For specific information about the wireless configuration utility installed on your computer, see your

wireless network documentation in the Windows Help and Support Center.

To access the Help and Support Center:

Click the

Start

button and click

Help and Support

Under

Pick a Help topic

, click

Dell User and System Guides

Under

Device Guides

, select the documentation for your wireless network card.

Completing the Connection to the WLAN

When you turn on your computer and a network (for which your computer is not configured) is detected

in the area, a pop-up appears near the

icon in the notification area (in the lower-right corner of the

Windows desktop).

Follow the instructions provided in any utility prompts that appear on your screen.

Once you have configured your computer for the wireless network that you selected, another pop-up

notifies you that your computer is connected to that network.

Thereafter, whenever you log on to your computer within the range of the wireless network that you

selected, the same pop-up notifies you of the wireless network connection.

NOTE:

If you select a secure network, you must enter a WEP or WPA key when prompted. Network security

settings are unique to your network. Dell cannot provide this information.

NOTE:

Your computer can take up to 1 minute to connect to the network.