Home » Dell Manuals » Laptops » Dell Inspiron E1705 » Manual Viewer

Dell Inspiron E1705 Owner's Manual - Page 108

Drivers, What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers, Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities - upgrade to windows 7

View all Dell Inspiron E1705 manuals

Add to My Manuals
Save this manual to your list of manuals

Page 108 highlights

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: The Drivers and Utilities CD 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 the Start button and click Control Panel. 2 Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance. 3 Click System. 4 In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab. 5 Click Device Manager. 6 Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a [!]) on the device icon. 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 108. Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities NOTICE: The Dell Support website at support.dell.com and your Drivers and Utilities CD provide approved drivers for Dell™ computers. If you install drivers obtained from other sources, your computer might not work correctly. NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not ship with your computer. 108 Troubleshooting

Section	Page
Owner’s Manual	1
Contents	3
Finding Information	11
A Tour of Your Computer	15
Determining Your Computer’s Configuration	15
Front View	16
Left Side View	20
Right Side View	21
Back View	23
Bottom View	27
Setting Up Your Computer	29
Connecting to the Internet	29
Setting Up Your Internet Connection	29
Transferring Information to a New Computer	30
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD	30
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD	31
Setting Up a Printer	33
Printer Cable	33
Connecting a USB Printer	33
Power Protection Devices	34
Surge Protectors	34
Line Conditioners	35
Uninterruptible Power Supplies	35
Using the Display	37
Adjusting Brightness	37
Switching the Video Image	37
Setting Display Resolution	38
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad	39
Numeric Keypad	39
Key Combinations	40
System Functions	40
Battery	40
CD or DVD Tray	40
Display Functions	40
Wireless Networking and Bluetooth® Wireless Technology Function	40
Power Management	40
Speaker Functions	41
Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions	41
Touch Pad	42
Customizing the Touch Pad	42
Using a Battery	43
Battery Performance	43
Checking the Battery Charge	44
Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter	44
Microsoft® Windows® Power Meter	44
Charge Gauge	44
Low-Battery Warning	45
Conserving Battery Power	45
Power Management Modes	45
Standby Mode	45
Configuring Power Management Settings	47
Charging the Battery	47
Replacing the Battery	47
Storing a Battery	48
Dell™ QuickSet Features	49
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia	51
Playing CDs or DVDs	51
Adjusting the Volume	52
Adjusting the Picture	53
Copying CDs and DVDs	54
How to Copy a CD or DVD	54
Using Blank CDs and DVDs	54
Helpful Tips	55
Using Dell Media Experience and Dell MediaDirect™	56
If the Computer Is On or in Standby Mode	56
If the Computer Is Off or in Hibernate Mode	56
Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help	57
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device	57
S-Video and Standard Audio	59
S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	60
Composite Video and Standard Audio	62
Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	63
Component Video and Standard Audio	65
Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	67
Setting Up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones	69
Enabling the Display Settings for a TV in Microsoft® Windows® XP	70
Using Cards	71
ExpressCards	71
ExpressCard Blanks	71
Installing an ExpressCard	71
Removing an ExpressCard or Blank	73
Media Memory Cards	74
Installing a Media Memory Card	74
Removing a Media Memory Card	75
Setting Up a Home and Office Network	77
Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband Modem	77
Network Setup Wizard	78
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)	78
What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection	78
Checking Your Wireless Network Card	78
Setting Up a New WLAN	79
Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network	80
Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager	81
Completing the Connection to the WLAN	81
Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card	82
Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell™ QuickSet	82
Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network	82
What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection	82
Checking Your Mobile Broadband Card	83
Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network	83
Internet Connection Firewall	84
Securing Your Computer	85
Security Cable Lock	85
Passwords	85
Computer Tracking Software	86
If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen	86
Troubleshooting	87
Dell Technical Update Service	87
Dell Diagnostics	87
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics	87
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive	87
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD	88
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu	89
Dell Support Utility	90
Accessing the Dell Support Utility	90
Clicking the Dell Support Icon	91
Double-Clicking the Dell Support Icon	91
Drive Problems	91
CD and DVD Drive Problems	91
If You Cannot Eject the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW Drive Tray	92
If You Hear an Unfamiliar Scraping or Grinding Sound	92
Hard Drive Problems	92
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems	92
Error Messages	94
IEEE 1394 Device Problems	97
Keyboard Problems	98
External Keyboard Problems	98
Unexpected Characters	98
Lockups and Software Problems	99
The Computer Does Not Start Up	99
The Computer Stops Responding	99
A Program Stops Responding or Crashes Repeatedly	99
A Program Is Designed for an Earlier Microsoft® Windows® Operating System	99
A Solid Blue Screen Appears	99
Dell MediaDirect Problems	100
Other Software Problems	100
Memory Problems	101
Network Problems	101
General	101
Mobile Broadband Network	101
ExpressCard Problems	102
Power Problems	103
Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer	104
Printer Problems	104
Scanner Problems	104
Sound and Speaker Problems	105
No Sound From Integrated Speakers	105
No Sound From External Speakers	105
No Sound From Headphones	106
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems	106
Video and Display Problems	106
If the Display Is Blank	106
If the Display Is Difficult to Read	107
If Only Part of the Display is Readable	107
Drivers	108
What Is a Driver?	108
Identifying Drivers	108
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities	108
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities	110
Restoring Your Operating System	111
Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore	111
Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec	112
Using the Operating System CD	114
Adding and Replacing Parts	117
Before You Begin	117
Recommended Tools	117
Turning Off Your Computer	117
Before Working Inside Your Computer	118
Hard Drive	119
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell	121
Memory	121
Modem	124
Mini-Card	125
Hinge Cover	129
Keyboard	131
Coin-Cell Battery	132
Optical Drive	133
Internal Card With Bluetooth® Wireless Technology	133
Traveling With Your Computer	135
Identifying Your Computer	135
Packing the Computer	135
Travel Tips	136
Traveling by Air	136
Specifications	137
Getting Help	145
Obtaining Assistance	145
Online Services	145
AutoTech Service	146
Automated Order-Status Service	146
Support Service	146
Problems With Your Order	147
Product Information	147
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit	147
Before You Call	147
Appendix	149
Using the System Setup Program	149
Viewing the System Setup Screens	149
System Setup Screen	149
Commonly Used Options	150
Cleaning Your Computer	151
Computer, Keyboard, and Display	151
Touch Pad	151
CDs and DVDs	151
FCC Notices (U.S. Only)	152
FCC Class B	152
Macrovision Product Notice	153
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)	153
Definition of \	153
Definition of \	154
Contacting Dell	155
Glossary	173