Home » Dell Manuals » Laptops » Dell XPS M1210 » Manual Viewer

Dell XPS M1210 Owner's Manual - Page 105

If only part of the display is readable, Drivers, What Is a Driver?, Identifying Drivers - display driver

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

Page 105 highlights

ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS - 1 Click the Start button and then click Control Panel. 2 Click Appearance and Themes. 3 Click the area you want to change or click the Display icon. 4 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution. SEE "ERROR MESSAGES" - If an error message appears, see "Error Messages" on page 91. If only part of the display is readable CONNECT AN EXTERNAL MONITOR - 1 Shut down your computer and connect an external monitor to the computer. 2 Turn on the computer and the monitor, and adjust the monitor brightness and contrast controls. If the external monitor works, the computer display or video controller may be defective. Contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" on page 141. 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. Troubleshooting 105

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	23
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	27
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD	28
Setting Up a Printer	29
Printer Cable	29
Connecting a USB Printer	30
Power Protection Devices	30
Surge Protectors	31
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
Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions	36
QuickSet Key Combinations	37
Adjusting Keyboard Settings	37
Touch Pad	37
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	43
Using the Optional Camera	45
Accessing the Camera’s Help File	45
Manually Adjusting the Camera Settings	46
Creating a Picture or a Video	46
Using Multimedia	49
Playing a CD or DVD	49
Adjusting the Volume	50
Adjusting the Picture	51
Copying CDs and DVDs	51
How to Copy a CD or DVD	51
Using Blank CDs and DVDs	52
Helpful Tips	53
Using Dell Media Experience and Dell MediaDirect™	54
If the Computer Is Turned On or in Standby Mode	54
If the Computer Is Turned Off or in Hibernate Mode	54
Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help	55
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device	56
S-Video and Standard Audio	57
S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	58
Composite Video and Standard Audio	60
Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	61
Component Video and Standard Audio	63
Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	65
Setting Up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones	67
Enabling the Display Settings for a TV in Microsoft® Windows® XP	68
Sound Modes	68
Stereo Sound Mode	68
5.1 Surround Sound Mode	68
Using Cards	71
ExpressCards	71
ExpressCard Blanks	71
Installing an ExpressCard	71
Removing an ExpressCard or Blank	72
Media Memory Cards	73
Installing a Media Memory Card	73
Removing a Media Memory Card	74
Using Networks	75
Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband Modem	75
Network Setup Wizard	76
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)	76
What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection	76
Checking Your Wireless Network Card	76
Setting Up a New WLAN	77
Connecting to a WLAN	78
Determining the Wireless Network Device Manager	79
Completing the Connection to the WLAN	79
Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell™ QuickSet	80
Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network)	80
What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection	80
Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card	81
Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network	81
Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card	82
Dell™ Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator	82
Microsoft® Windows® Firewall	82
Securing Your Computer	83
Security Cable Lock	83
Passwords	83
Computer Tracking Software	84
If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen	84
Troubleshooting	85
Dell Diagnostics	85
Dell Support Utility	88
Accessing the Dell Support Utility	88
Clicking the Dell Support Icon	88
Double-Clicking the Dell Support Icon	88
Drive Problems	89
CD and DVD drive problems	89
If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW drive tray	89
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound	90
Hard drive problems	90
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems	90
Error Messages	91
ExpressCard Problems	95
IEEE 1394 Device Problems	95
Keyboard Problems	96
External Keyboard problems	96
Unexpected characters	96
Lockups and Software Problems	97
The computer does not start up	97
The computer stops responding	97
A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly	97
A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft® Windows® operating system	97
A solid blue screen appears	97
Dell MediaDirect™ problems	98
Other software problems	98
Memory Problems	99
Network Problems	99
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)	99
Mobile Broadband (Wireless Wide Area Network)	100
Power Problems	100
Ensuring Sufficient Power for Your Computer	101
Printer Problems	101
Scanner Problems	102
Sound and Speaker Problems	102
No sound from integrated speakers	103
No sound from external speakers	103
No sound from headphones	103
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems	103
Video and Display Problems	104
If the display is blank	104
If the display is difficult to read	104
If only part of the display is readable	105
Drivers	105
What Is a Driver?	105
Identifying Drivers	105
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities	106
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities	108
Restoring Your Operating System	108
Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore	108
Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec	110
Using the Operating System CD	112
Adding and Replacing Parts	113
Before You Begin	113
Recommended Tools	113
Turning Off Your Computer	113
Before Working Inside Your Computer	114
Optical Drive	115
Hard Drive	116
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell	119
Memory	119
Hinge Cover	121
Keyboard	122
WLAN Card	124
Mobile Broadband Card	128
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card	134
Internal Card With Bluetooth® Wireless Technology	134
Dell™ QuickSet	137
Traveling With Your Computer	139
Identifying Your Computer	139
Packing the Computer	139
Travel Tips	140
Traveling by Air	140
Contacting Dell	141
Specifications	163
Appendix	171
Using the System Setup Program	171
Viewing the System Setup Screen	171
System Setup Screen	171
Commonly Used Options	172
Cleaning Your Computer	173
Computer, Keyboard, and Display	173
Touch Pad	173
Floppy Drive	174
CDs and DVDs	174
Camera	174
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)	174
Definition of \	175
Definition of \	175
FCC Notice (U.S. Only)	175
FCC Class B	175
Macrovision Product Notice	176
Glossary	177