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Dell Inspiron XPS Owner's Manual - Page 93

Resolving Other Technical Problems, Drivers, What Is a Driver?

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E N S U R E T H A T Y O U A R E C O N N E C T E D T O T H E I N T E R N E T - Ensure that you have subscribed to an Internet provider. With the Outlook Express e-mail program open, click File. If Work Offline has a checkmark next to it, click the checkmark to remove it and connect to the Internet. For help, contact your Internet service provider. S C A N T H E C O M P U T E R F O R S P Y W A R E - If you are experiencing slow computer performance, you frequently receive pop-up advertisements, or you are having problems connecting to the Internet, your computer might be infected with spyware. Use an anti-virus program that includes anti-spyware protection (your program may require an upgrade) to scan the computer and remove spyware. For more information, go to support.dell.com and search for the keyword spyware. Resolving Other Technical Problems G O T O T H E D E L L S U P P O R T W E B S I T E - Go to support.dell.com for help with general usage, installation, and troubleshooting questions. See "Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)" on page 152 for a description of the hardware and software support provided by Dell. E - M A I L D E L L - Go to support.dell.com and then click E-Mail Dell in the Communicate list. Send an e-mail message to Dell about your problem; you can expect to receive an e-mail message from Dell within hours. See "Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)" on page 152 for a description of the hardware and software support provided by Dell. C O N T A C T D E L L - If you cannot solve your problem using the Dell™ support website or e-mail service, call Dell for technical assistance (see page 152). See "Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)" on page 152 for a description of the hardware and software support provided by Dell. 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. Solving Problems 93

Section	Page
Owner’s Manual	1
Contents	3
CAUTION: Safety Instructions	11
SAFETY: General	11
SAFETY: Power	12
SAFETY: Battery	12
SAFETY: Air Travel	12
SAFETY: EMC Instructions	13
When Using Your Computer	13
SAFETY: Ergonomic Computing Habits	14
SAFETY: When Working Inside Your Computer	14
SAFETY: Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge	14
SAFETY: Battery Disposal	15
Finding Information	17
A Tour of Your Computer	21
Front View	21
Left Side View	25
Right Side View	26
Back View	27
Bottom View	31
Using Your Computer	33
Transferring Information to a New Computer	33
Configuring Graphics Cards	34
Settings and Functions	34
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device	35
S-Video and Standard Audio	36
S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	37
Composite Video and Standard Audio	39
Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	40
Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio	42
Setting Up the Dolby Headphone	42
Enabling the Display Settings for a TV	43
Connecting Monitors	43
Using CDs and DVDs	45
Copying CDs and DVDs	45
How to Copy a CD or DVD	45
Using Blank CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVD+Rs, and DVD+RWs	46
Helpful Tips	46
Optimizing Performance	47
DDR Memory and Processor Front-Side Bus	47
Hyper-Threading	47
Using a Battery	49
Battery Performance	49
Checking the Battery Charge	50
Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter	50
Microsoft® Windows® Power Meter	50
Charge Gauge	50
Low-Battery Warning	51
Charging the Battery	51
Removing a Battery	52
Installing a Battery	53
Storing a Battery	53
Using the Module Bay	55
About the Module Bay	55
Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Turned Off	55
Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Running	56
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad	59
Numeric Keypad	59
Key Combinations	59
System Functions	59
Battery	59
CD or DVD Tray	59
Display Functions	60
Radios (Including Wireless Networking and PC Cards With Bluetooth® Wireless Technology)	60
Power Management	60
Speaker Functions	60
Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions	61
Touch Pad	62
Customizing the Touch Pad and Track Stick	63
Changing the Track Stick Cap	63
Setting Up a Home and Office Network	65
Connecting to a Network Adapter	65
Network Setup Wizard	66
Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network	66
Determining Your Network Type	66
Connecting to a Wireless Network in Microsoft® Windows® XP	67
Configuring Security Settings (Optional)	70
Solving Problems	75
Using the Dell Diagnostics	75
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics	75
Error Messages	77
Video and Display Problems	79
If the display is blank	79
If the display is difficult to read	80
If only part of the display is readable	80
Scanner Problems	81
Hard Drive Problems	81
If you have problems with a hard drive	81
PC Card Problems	82
External Keyboard Problems	82
Power Problems	83
Unexpected Characters	84
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems	84
Printer Problems	85
E-Mail Problems	86
Modem and Internet Connection Problems	86
Network Problems	87
General Program Problems	88
A program crashes	88
A program stops responding	88
A solid blue screen appears	88
Error messages appear	88
CD or DVD Problems	89
If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, or DVD	89
If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive tray	89
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound	90
Sound and Speaker Problems	90
If you have a problem with integrated speakers	90
If you have a problem with external speakers	91
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems	92
Resolving Other Technical Problems	93
Drivers	93
What Is a Driver?	93
Identifying Drivers	94
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities	94
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities	96
Using Microsoft® Windows® XP System Restore	97
Creating a Restore Point	97
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State	97
Undoing the Last System Restore	98
Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP	98
Before You Begin	98
Reinstalling Windows XP	99
Adding and Replacing Parts	103
Before You Begin	103
Recommended Tools	103
Shutting Down Your Computer	103
Memory	105
Mini PCI Card	108
Hard Drive	111
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell	112
Subwoofer	113
Keyboard	114
PC Card With Bluetooth® Wireless Technology	116
Modem	117
Removing the Modem	117
Installing the Modem	118
Keyboard Bracket	118
Fans	119
Hinge Covers	121
Display	124
Display Latch	127
Video Card	128
Processor Thermal-Cooling Assembly	129
Removing the Processor Thermal-Cooling Assembly	129
Installing the Processor Thermal-Cooling Assembly	130
Palm Rest	130
Processor Module	132
Removing the Processor Module	132
Installing the Processor Module	133
Flashing the BIOS	134
Reserve Battery	134
System Board	135
Removing the System Board	135
Installing the System Board	137
Speakers	138
Display Latch Release	139
Pin Assignments for I/O Connectors	140
USB Connector	140
Video Connector	140
S-Video TV-Out Connector	141
IEEE 1394 Connector	141
DVI-I Connector	142
Appendix	143
Specifications	143
Using the System Setup Program	149
Overview	149
Viewing the System Setup Screens	150
System Setup Screens	150
Commonly Used Options	150
Enabling the Infrared Sensor	151
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)	152
Definition of \	152
Definition of \	152
Contacting Dell	152
Regulatory Notices	170
NOM Information (Mexico Only)	171
Limited Warranties	171
Limited Warranty for Dell-Branded Hardware Products (U.S. Only)	171
Limited Warranty Terms for Dell-Branded Hardware Products (Canada Only)	174
Dell Software and Peripherals (Canada Only)	177
1-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee (Latin America and the Caribbean Only)	178
Intel® Warranty Statement for Pentium® and Celeron® Processors Only (U.S. and Canada Only)	180

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Solving Problems

Resolving Other Technical Problems

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.

NSURE

THAT

YOU

ARE

CONNECTED

THE

NTERNET

—

Ensure that you have subscribed to an

Internet provider. With the Outlook Express e-mail program open, click

File

. If

Work Offline

has a

checkmark next to it, click the checkmark to remove it and connect to the Internet. For help, contact

your Internet service provider.

CAN

THE

COMPUTER

FOR

SPYWARE

—

If you are experiencing slow computer performance, you

frequently receive pop-up advertisements, or you are having problems connecting to the Internet, your

computer might be infected with spyware. Use an anti-virus program that includes anti-spyware

protection (your program may require an upgrade) to scan the computer and remove spyware. For more

information, go to

support.dell.com

and search for the keyword

spyware

THE

ELL

SUPPORT

WEBSITE

—

Go to

support.dell.com

for help with

general usage, installation, and troubleshooting questions. See "Dell Technical

Support Policy (U.S. Only)" on page 152 for a description of the hardware and

software support provided by Dell.

E-

MAIL

ELL

—

Go to

support.dell.com

and then click

E-Mail Dell

in the

Communicate

list. Send an e-mail message to Dell about your problem; you can

expect to receive an e-mail message from Dell within hours. See "Dell Technical

Support Policy (U.S. Only)" on page 152 for a description of the hardware and

software support provided by Dell.

ONTACT

ELL

—

If you cannot solve your problem using the Dell™ support

website or e-mail service, call Dell for technical assistance (see page 152). See

"Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)" on page 152 for a description of the

hardware and software support provided by Dell.