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Dell Vostro 1420 Owners Manual - Page 115

Troubleshooting, Dell Technical Update Service, Dell Diagnostics - review

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Troubleshooting Dell Technical Update Service The Dell Technical Update service provides proactive e-mail notification of software and hardware updates for your computer. The service is free and can be customized for content, format, and how frequently you receive notifications. To enroll for the Dell Technical Update service, go to support.dell.com/technicalupdate. Dell Diagnostics CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. When to Use the Dell Diagnostics If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in "Lockups and Software Problems" on page 135and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance. It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin. NOTE: The Dell Diagnostics only operates on Dell computers. Enter the system setup program, review your computer's configuration information, and ensure that the device you want to test displays in the system setup program and is active (see "Using the System Setup Program" on page 213). Start the Dell Diagnostics from your hard drive or from your Drivers and Utilities media (see "Drivers and Utilities Media" on page 15). Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive. Troubleshooting 115

Section	Page
Contents	3
Finding Information	15
About Your Computer	23
Determining Your Computer’s Configuration	23
Front View	24
Left Side View	30
Right Side View	31
Back View	32
Bottom View	34
Setting Up Your Computer	37
Connecting to the Internet	37
Setting Up Your Internet Connection	38
Transferring Information to a New Computer	39
Microsoft® Windows® XP	39
Microsoft Windows Vista™	43
Setting Up a Printer	43
Printer Cable	44
Connecting a USB Printer	44
Power Protection Devices	45
Surge Protectors	45
Line Conditioners	46
Uninterruptible Power Supplies	46
Using the Display	47
Adjusting Brightness	47
Switching the Video Image From Your Computer Display To a Projector	47
Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate	47
Microsoft® Windows® XP	48
Windows Vista™	48
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad	49
Numeric Keypad	49
Key Combinations	50
System Functions	50
Display Functions	50
Battery	50
Power Management	50
Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions	50
Dell™ QuickSet Key Combinations	51
Adjusting Keyboard Settings	51
Touch Pad	52
Customizing the Touch Pad	53
Using a Battery	55
Battery Performance	55
Checking the Battery Charge	56
Dell QuickSet Battery Meter	56
Charge Gauge	57
Low-Battery Warning	58
Microsoft® Windows® XP Battery Meter	58
Microsoft® Windows® Vista Battery Meter	58
Conserving Battery Power	58
Power Management Modes	59
Standby and Sleep Mode	59
Hibernate Mode	59
Configuring Power Management Settings	60
Accessing Power Options Properties	60
Charging the Battery	61
Replacing the Battery	61
Storing a Battery	62
Using the Optional Camera	63
Accessing the Camera’s Help File	63
Manually Adjusting the Camera Settings	64
Creating a Picture or a Video	64
Using Multimedia	67
Playing Media	67
Playing Media Using Dell Express Card Remote Control	69
Copying CD and DVD Media	71
How to Copy a CD or DVD	71
Using Blank CD and DVD Media	72
Helpful Tips	72
Adjusting the Volume	73
Adjusting the Picture	74
Using Dell Media Experience™ and Dell MediaDirect™	74
If the computer is turned on or in standby or sleep mode	75
If the computer is turned off or in hibernate mode	75
Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help	76
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device	76
S-Video and Standard Audio	78
S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	80
Composite Video and Standard Audio	82
Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	84
Component Video and Standard Audio	86
Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	88
Enabling the Display Settings for a TV	91
Using ExpressCards	93
ExpressCard Blanks	93
Installing an ExpressCard	94
Removing an ExpressCard or Blank	95
Using the Memory Card Reader	97
Memory Card Blanks	97
Installing a Memory Card	97
Removing a Memory Card or Blank	98
Setting Up and Using Networks	99
Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable	99
Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft® Windows® XP Operating System	100
Setting Up a Network in the Microsoft Windows Vista™ Operating System	100
Wireless Local Area Network	101
What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection	101
Checking Your Wireless Network Card	101
Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem	102
Connecting to a WLAN	103
Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network)	106
What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection	106
Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card	107
Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network	107
Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card	108
Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator	108
Securing Your Computer	111
Security Cable Lock	111
Passwords	111
If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen	112
Troubleshooting	115
Dell Technical Update Service	115
Dell Diagnostics	115
Dell Support Center	120
Dell Support 3	120
Dell PC Tune-Up	121
Dell PC Checkup	122
Dell Network Assistant	122
DellConnect	122
Drive Problems	123
Optical drive problems	124
Hard drive problems	124
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems	125
Error Messages	127
ExpressCard Problems	132
IEEE 1394 Device Problems	133
Keyboard Problems	133
External Keyboard problems	133
Unexpected characters	134
Lockups and Software Problems	135
The computer does not start	135
The computer stops responding	135
A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly	135
A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft® Windows® operating system	136
A solid blue screen appears	136
Dell MediaDirect problems	136
Other software problems	137
Memory Problems	138
Network Problems	139
Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area Network [WWAN])	139
Power Problems	140
Printer Problems	141
Scanner Problems	142
Sound and Speaker Problems	143
No sound from integrated speakers	143
No sound from external speakers	143
No sound from headphones	144
Remote Control Problems	144
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems	145
Video and Display Problems	146
If the display is blank	146
If the display is difficult to read	146
If only part of the display is readable	147
Drivers	147
What Is a Driver?	147
Identifying Drivers	148
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities	149
Using the Drivers and Utilities Media	150
Manually Reinstalling Drivers	151
Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems	152
Restoring Your Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Operating System	153
Using Windows Vista System Restore	153
Restoring the Computer to the Default Factory Configuration	155
Using the Operating System Media	156
Restoring Your Microsoft® Windows® XP Operating System	158
Using Microsoft Windows System Restore	158
Starting System Restore	158
Using Dell™ PC Restore	159
Using the Operating System Media	161
Adding and Replacing Parts	163
Before You Begin	163
Recommended Tools	163
Turning Off Your Computer	164
Before Working Inside Your Computer	164
Hard Drive	166
Removing the Hard Drive	166
Replacing the Hard Drive	168
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell	168
Optical Drive	169
Removing the Optical Drive	169
Replacing the Optical Drive	170
Central Control Cover	170
Removing the Central Control Cover	171
Replacing the Central Control Cover	171
Keyboard	172
Removing the Keyboard	172
Replacing the Keyboard	173
Memory	174
Removing the Memory Module	174
Replacing the Memory Module	176
Modem	177
Subscriber Identity Module	179
Wireless Mini-Cards	179
Removing a WLAN Card	180
Replacing a WLAN Card	181
Internal Card with Bluetooth® Wireless Technology	182
Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card	184
Replacing a WWAN Card	185
Flash Cache Module	186
Removing the FCM	186
Replacing the FCM	187
Coin-Cell Battery	188
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery	188
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery	189
Dell™ QuickSet Features	191
Traveling With Your Computer	193
Identifying Your Computer	193
Packing the Computer	193
Travel Tips	194
Traveling by Air	194
Getting Help	195
Obtaining Assistance	195
Technical Support and Customer Service	196
DellConnect	196
Online Services	196
AutoTech Service	197
Automated Order-Status Service	197
Problems With Your Order	197
Product Information	198
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit	198
Before You Call	199
Contacting Dell	201
Specifications	203
Appendix	213
Using the System Setup Program	213
Viewing the System Setup Screen	214
System Setup Screen	214
Commonly Used Options	214
Cleaning Your Computer	216
Computer, Keyboard, and Display	216
Touch Pad	217
Mouse	217
Media	218
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)	218
Definition of \	219
Definition of \	219
FCC Notice (U.S. Only)	219
FCC Class B	219
Macrovision Product Notice	221
Glossary	223