Me and My Dell For Inspiron, XPS, and Alienware computers
Notes, cautions, and warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. © 2011-2018 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Contents 1 Setting up your computer...............................................................................................................................7 Connecting to the internet................................................................................................................................................7 Connecting to the internet using LAN.......................................................................................................................
Removable storage devices.......................................................................................................................................21 Memory module............................................................................................................................................................... 23 System board.................................................................................................................................................................
4 Ports and connectors...................................................................................................................................40 Audio..................................................................................................................................................................................40 Types of audio ports..................................................................................................................................................
7 Troubleshooting........................................................................................................................................... 57 Basic troubleshooting steps............................................................................................................................................57 Diagnostics........................................................................................................................................................................
1 Setting up your computer The setup procedure varies according to your computer. For setup instructions specific to your computer or tablet, see the Quick Start Guide shipped with your computer or see the Setup and Specifications at www.dell.com/support.
Windows 8.1 1 Click or tap Settings in the charms sidebar. 2 Click or tap the wireless icon. 3 Click or tap the network you want to connect to. 4 Click or tap Connect. NOTE: Enter the network password, if prompted. You may have configured the network key while setting up the router or the router may have a default network key. For details, contact the router manufacturer. 5 Turn on or off file sharing (optional). Windows 7 1 Click or tap the wireless icon in the notification menu.
2 In the Mobile Broadband Utility window, click Connect. 3 If prompted, type the access point name (APN) or PIN, the user name, and the password. Setting up audio Dell computers and tablets have built-in speakers that support 2‑channel audio. To use the built-in speakers, play the media and set the volume to your desired level. Dell computers and tablets also support a 3.5 mm audio port allowing you to connect external speakers. If you are setting up 2‑channel audio, connect the speakers to the 3.
Connecting 5.1 speakers Figure 1. Connecting 5.1 speakers 1 Rear audio connector on the computer 2 Center/LFE surround out on the computer 3 Front audio connector on the computer 4 5.
Connecting 7.1 speakers Figure 2. Connecting 7.1 speakers 1 Rear audio connector on the computer 2 Center/LFE surround out on the computer 3 Side audio connector on the computer 4 Front audio connector on the computer 5 7.1 channel audio cable 6 Center/LFE surround out on the speaker 7 Front audio connector on the speaker 8 Rear audio connector on the speaker 9 Side audio connector on the speaker Setting up your printer You can connect a printer to the USB port on your computer.
NOTE: If your printer is installed, it should appear in the list on the right side. If your printer is not in this list, click or tap Add a device at the top of the device list. Select your printer from this list to install it. For more information on setting up the printer, see the documentation shipped with your printer. Windows 7 1 Click Start > Devices and Printers. 2 Click Add a Printer. The Add Printer window appears. 3 Follow the instructions on the screen.
Windows 10 Once the cables are connected securely, your computer should automatically detect and display the desktop screen on the connected monitors. You can now select the display style that best suits your needs. Microsoft Windows provides multiple display style options on how the desktop screen is displayed across multiple monitors that are connected to your PC. • PC Screen only—Use only display 1 and show nothing on display 2. The second monitor is ignored and only the primary monitor is used.
• Duplicate—Duplicate your laptop screen image on both monitors based on the monitor with the lower resolution. • Extend—Move a window from one monitor to the other by clicking the Title Bar of the window and dragging the window to a new location. • Projector only—Typically chosen when your laptop is used as a desktop computer, so you can enjoy the higher resolution of a large external monitor.
2 About your computer This section provides more information on the components which can be found in your computer.
Battery Batteries are classified by their power ratings, such as 45 WHr, 65 WHr, and so on. The battery allows you to use your device when it is not connected to a power outlet. The life cycle of the battery is the number of times it can be discharged and recharged without affecting the operating time significantly. After the battery life-cycle reaches its end of life, you must replace the battery.
Touchpad A touchpad is available on most laptops and provides the functionality of a mouse. It has a touch-sensitive surface that senses the motion and position of your fingers. You can use the touchpad to move the cursor, drag or move selected items, and click by tapping the surface. Gesture‑enabled touchpads support gestures such as zoom, pinch, rotate, scroll, and so on. You can also purchase external touchpads.
3D camera You can use a 3D camera to capture and stream 3-dimensional images, making it possible to perceive distance, size, dimensions of objects through the built-in sensors. This feature enables enhanced interactivity during video conferencing, online gaming, and so on. Intel RealSense 3D camera RealSense cameras feature three lenses, a standard 2D camera for regular photo and video, along with an infrared camera and an infrared laser projector.
Keyboard backlight The backlight present on some physical keyboards illuminates the symbols on the keys for using the keyboard in dark environments. You can turn on the backlight manually or configure the backlight to turn on automatically when your computer is placed in a dark environment. The backlit keyboards on Dell laptops have different lighting states. Press the Fn and the right-arrow key to switch between the various lighting states.
On-screen keyboard On-screen keyboards are available on almost all computers and tablets. However, they are used in touch screen devices such as tablets and all-in-one computers. You can select the keys using a mouse or by touching the keys on a touch screen. Keyboard connection types Keyboards can be connected to your computer with a cable (wired) or using wireless signals (wireless).
BIOS setup program 1 Turn on or restart your computer. 2 When the DELL logo is displayed, watch for the F2 prompt to appear and then press F2 immediately to enter BIOS setup program. NOTE: The F2 prompt stays active only for a short time. If you miss the prompt, wait for your computer to boot up to the desktop, then turn off your computer and try again. 3 Navigate to the Main tab and look for Service Tag. For more information about BIOS setup program, see the Service Manual of your computer at www.
Table 1.
Memory Stick XC (MSXC) Compact Flash I, II/Compact Flash MD Memory Stick Duo Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick (MS)/Memory Stick Pro (MS Pro) Smart Media/Smart Media XD Memory module A memory module stores temporary data that your computer needs to perform tasks. Any file or application loads in the memory modules before you can open or use them. Memory modules are categorized based on their capacity (in GB) and speed (in MHz).
System board A system board forms the central part of computers. All other devices connect to the system board to be able to interact with each other. The system board holds various controllers and connectors that help in exchange of data among various components of the computer. A system board may also have integrated graphics, sound, and network capabilities.
Heat sink Heat sinks are used to dissipate heat generated by the processor, some high-end graphics cards, and on-board chipsets. Heat sinks generally have a fan mounted above or beside them to increase airflow. A heat sink is made up of fins or blades instead of a single block of metal. This helps increase the surface area for increased heat dissipation. A layer of thermal grease is applied between the processor or graphics card and the heat sink for easy exchange of heat.
External • USB • PC Card • ExpressCard TV tuners are mostly standalone, however some video cards also have built-in TV tuners. For more information on using TV tuners, see the documentation for the TV tuner. Speakers Laptops and tablets have built-in speakers for audio output. Desktops also have a built-in speaker. However, they are used only to produce beeps to indicate errors or failures. You can also connect external speakers to your computer or tablet. Speakers may support 3.
2.1 Audio 2.1 refers to a system with two speakers (left and right channel) and one subwoofer. 5.1 Audio 5.1 refers to the number of audio channels in most surround-sound configurations. A 5.1 audio system uses five main audio channels (front left, front right, center, left surround, and right surround) and one low-frequency audio channel. 7.1 Audio 7.1 refers to the number of audio channels in high-end surround-sound configurations. A 7.
Wireless Personal Area Network Devices are generally connected wirelessly using Bluetooth, RF, Near-Field Communication (NFC), and so on. This type of network generally operates within a few feet of the devices. To connect your computer or tablet to the internet, see Connecting to the internet. Modem Modems allow you to connect your computer or router to the internet. Modems can be analog (dial-up) or digital (DSL or cable). DSL or cable modems are generally provided by your internet service provider.
Bluetooth Bluetooth allows you to connect other Bluetooth-enabled devices to your computer or tablet, over a short distance. Bluetooth devices may include phones, headsets, keyboard, mice, printers, and so on. Bluetooth adapters can be internal (expansion cards or integrated to the system board) or external.
3 Using your computer Topics: • Charging the battery • Using your keyboard • Using your touchpad • Using your touch screen • Using Bluetooth • Using the webcam Charging the battery Connect the power adapter to your computer or tablet to charge the battery. The battery gets charged when the computer or tablet is in use or turned off. The internal circuitry of the battery prevents it from overcharging.
Windows and L key Lock the system. Fn and Esc Activate a power management mode. You can reprogram this keyboard shortcut to activate a different power management mode using the Advanced tab in the Power Options Properties window. F2 Rename the selected item. F3 Search for a file or folder. F4 Display the address bar drop-down in Windows Explorer. F5 Refresh the active window. F6 Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop. F10 Activate the menu bar in the active program.
Windows key and Pause Open the System Properties dialog box. Keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8.1 and Windows RT This table provides some keyboard shortcuts specific to Windows 8.1 and Windows RT. These keyboard shortcuts are in addition to the keyboard shortcuts that are already available in earlier versions of the Windows. Table 3. List of keyboard shortcuts Windows key and start typing Search your computer.
• Change the time before keyboard characters repeat when you press and hold a key • Change the speed at which keyboard characters repeat • Change the cursor blink rate • Customize key sequences for input languages To customize your keyboard: Windows 10 and 8.1 1 Type Control Panel in the search box. NOTE: In Windows 10, click or tap the search icon to access the search box. In Windows 8.1, access the Search charm to access the search box. 2 Click Control Panel.
Using your touchpad Use the touchpad to move the cursor or select objects on the screen. • To move the cursor, gently slide your finger over the touchpad. • To left-click or select an object, press the left touchpad button or tap the touchpad once. • To right-click an object, tap the right touchpad button once. • To double-click an object, press the left touchpad button twice or tap twice on the touchpad.
Move a finger down in the zoom zone to zoom‑out. Two‑finger zoom—Zoom-in or zoom-out using two fingers. Place two fingers on the touchpad and then move them apart to zoom‑in. Place two fingers on the touchpad and then bring them closer to zoom‑out. Rotate Twist—Rotate active content, in 90‑degree increments, using two fingers. Keeping the thumb in place, move the index finger in an arched direction right or left to rotate the selected item 90‑degree clockwise or counterclockwise.
Table 5. List of touch screen gestures Zoom Place two fingers on the touch screen and then move them apart to zoom‑in. Place two fingers on the touch screen and then bring them closer to zoom‑out. Dwell Touch and hold the item on the screen to open the context menu. Flick Move a finger quickly in the desired direction to flip through content in the active window like pages in a book.
Scroll Pan–Move the focus on the selected object when the entire object is not visible. Move two fingers in the desired direction to pan the selected object. Scroll Vertical–Scroll up or scroll down on the active window. Move a finger up or down to start vertical scrolling. Scroll Horizontal–Scroll right or left on the active window. Move a finger to the right or left to start horizontal scrolling.
Pairing a Bluetooth device with your computer or tablet Windows 10 1 Enable Bluetooth on your computer or tablet and the device you are pairing. On a Dell laptop, turn on wireless to enable Bluetooth. NOTE: For information to turn on Bluetooth on your device, see the documentation shipped with your device. 2 Swipe in from the right edge of the display to open Action Center. 3 Press and hold Bluetooth and then tap Go to settings.
Capturing a still image 1 Open Dell Webcam Central. 2 Click or tap the Snap Photos tab. 3 Click or tap the camera icon to capture a still image. NOTE: To configure options such as image size, self-timer, burst‑capture, image format, and so on, click or tap the drop‑down arrow next to the camera icon. Recording a video 1 Open Dell Webcam Central. 2 Click or tap the Record Videos tab. 3 Click or tap the recording icon to start recording a video.
4 Ports and connectors Topics: • Audio • USB • eSATA • Visual Graphics Array • Digital Visual Interface • DisplayPort • HDMI • SPDIF Audio Audio connectors allow you to connect speakers, headphones, microphones, sound systems, amplifiers, or TVs audio output. NOTE: Your computer may not support all the audio ports. For information on the ports available on your computer or tablet, see the Quick Start Guide shipped with your computer or see the Setup and Specifications at www.dell.
Rear‑surround out port—Connect multi‑channel capable speakers. Center/LFE surround out —Connect a single subwoofer. NOTE: The Low Frequency Effects (LFE) audio channel, found in digital surround sound audio schemes, carries only frequency information (80 Hz and below). The LFE channel drives a subwoofer to provide extremely low bass extension. Systems not using subwoofers can shunt the LFE information to the main speakers in the surround sound setup. Side-surround sound port—Connect left/right speakers.
Micro‑USB A micro-USB port is smaller than mini-USB port and is used in phones, tablets, wireless headphones, and other small electronic devices. Powered USB A powered USB port uses a more complex connector than a standard USB. It essentially has two connectors in a single cable, one for standard USB plug and the other for power, thus allowing higherpower devices to be connected without the use of an independent power supply. It is used in retail equipment such as barcode reader and receipt printers.
Digital Visual Interface Digital Visual Interface (DVI) enables you to connect your computer to displays such as flat-panel monitors, projectors, and so on. There are three types of DVI connections: • DVI-D (DVI-Digital)—DVI-D transmits digital video‑signals between the video card and the digital display. This provides fast and highquality video output. • DVI-A (DVI-Analog)—DVI‑A transmits analog video‑signals to an analog display such as a CRT monitor or an analog LCD monitor.
Mini High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) provides digital connection between your computer and portable devices such as smartphones, laptops, and so on. Micro HDMI Micro High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) provides digital connection between your computer and portable devices such as smart phones, laptops, and so on. This connector resembles the micro-USB connector found on most smartphones. SPDIF S/PDIF is a standard for transferring audio in digital format.
5 Software and Applications Topics: • Absolute • My Dell Downloads • Dell SupportAssist • PC Check • Solution Station • Quickset • NVIDIA 3D Applications • DellConnect Absolute Absolute provides persistent endpoint security and data risk management solutions for computers, tablets, and smartphones. Persistence technology enables you to consistently assess risk, secure the lifecycle of each device, and preemptively respond to security incidents.
3 Reinstall the software or create a backup media for future use. Dell SupportAssist SupportAssist provides information about the Product, Model, Risk Notification, Service Tag, Express Service Code and Warranty details. Some features include: • Notifications—provide messages about the overall health of the system and offers self-help options to resolve issues. • Checkup status—provides diagnostics information, tools and utilities to detect and fix system issues.
The support categories provide flexible pricing and varying degrees of customer involvement in issue resolution. Solution Station offerings Table 9.
NVIDIA 3D Applications The NVIDIA 3DTV Play application installed on your computer enables you to play 3D games, watch Blu-ray 3D videos, and browse 3D photos. It supports the same games as NVIDIA 3D Vision. For a list of supported 3D games, see www.nvidia.com. NOTE: Refer to NVIDIA support for more details on this application. NOTE: NVIDIA 3D application is not available on all computers. Playing games in 3D 1 Launch the game in full-screen mode.
NOTE: To access DellConnect and terms of usage, see www.dell.com/DellConnect.
6 Restoring your operating system Topics: • System recovery options • Dell Backup and Recovery • Dell Factory Image Restore • System Restore • Operating System disc System recovery options CAUTION: Using Dell Factory Image Restore or the operating system disc permanently deletes all files on your computer. If possible, back up your data files before using these options. You can restore the operating system on your computer using one of the following options: Table 11.
Table 12. Dell Backup and Recovery features Features Basic Premium Restore your system back to factory state Backup files manually Restore files from backup Continuously backup files to minimize data loss Create a full system backup including applications and settings Merge multiple backups and archive old backups Backup and restore files based on type Dell Backup and Recovery Basic Accessing Dell Backup and Recovery Windows 10 1 Click Start, type Backup in the search box.
4 Click or tap Yes, Continue. 5 Follow the instructions on the screen. Dell Backup and Recovery premium CAUTION: Although you are provided with an option to preserve your personal files during the recovery process, it is recommended that youbackup your personal files on a separate drive or disk before using the recovery option.
NOTE: Dell Factory Image Restore may not be available in certain countries or on certain computers. Use Dell Factory Image Restore only as the last method to restore your operating system. This option restores the software on your hard drive to the state is was initially shipped. Any programs or files added after you received your computer—including data files such as pictures, music, and videos—are permanently deleted.
NOTE: If newly installed hardware may be a cause, remove or disconnect the hardware and try a system restore. NOTE: System restore does not backup your personal files and hence it cannot recover your personal files that are deleted or damaged Windows 10 Using system restore 1 Right-click (or press and hold) the Start button, and then select Control Panel. 2 Type Recovery in the search box. 3 Click or tap Recovery. 4 Click or tap Open System Restore.
2 In the search box, type System Restore and press Enter. NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click or tap Continue; otherwise, contact the administrator of the computer. 3 Click Next and follow the instructions on the screen. Undoing the last system restore In the event that System Restore did not resolve the issue, you may undo the last system restore.
NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until your computer loads the operating system; then, restart your computer and try again. 4 Highlight the media you are using to restore, and press Enter. 5 If prompted, quickly press any key to boot from the boot device. 6 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the recovery process.
7 Troubleshooting Topics: • Basic troubleshooting steps • Diagnostics Basic troubleshooting steps This section lists some basic troubleshooting steps you can use to resolve common issues with your computer. • Make sure your computer is turned on and all the components are receiving power. • Make sure all the cables are firmly connected to the respective ports. • Make sure that the cables are not damaged or frayed. • Make sure that there are no bent or broken pins on the connectors.
If a component fails the test, the test stops, the computer beeps, and an error code is displayed. Note the error code(s) and search for solutions at www.dell.com/support or Contact Dell. Follow the instructions on the screen to continue to the next test, retest the component that failed, or stop the test and restart the computer. If the PSA completes successfully, the following message appears on your screen: No problems have been found with this system so far.
Invoking ePSA To invoke ePSA: 1 Restart the computer. 2 Press F12 at the Dell logo to access the BIOS setup program. NOTE: f you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop, then restart your computer and try again 3 Select Diagnostics and press Enter. 4 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the test and note any error messages that appear.
8 BIOS BIOS stores hardware information about your computer and passes on the information to the operating system when the computer boots up. You can make changes to the basic hardware settings stored in the BIOS using BIOS setup program. You can use BIOS setup program to: • Set or change a user-selectable option such as the user password. • Determine the devices installed on your computer, such as amount of memory, type of hard drive, and so on.
Almost all system boards use a coin‑cell battery that helps retain BIOS settings, including the password. To reset the password, remove the coin‑cell battery, wait for 15 to 30 seconds and replace the coin‑cell battery. NOTE: For more information on the location of the coin‑cell battery and instruction on removing and replacing it, see the Service Manual at www.dell.com/support. Use system‑board jumper NOTE: System-board jumper is available only on desktop computers.
9 Getting help and contacting Dell Topics: • Getting help • Contacting Dell Getting help Self-help resources You can get information and help on Dell products and services using these self-help resources: Table 14. Self-help resources Information about Dell products and services www.dell.com Dell Help & Support app Tips Contact Support In Windows search, type Help and Support, and press Enter. Online help for operating system www.dell.com/support/windows www.dell.
Contacting Dell To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues, see www.dell.com/contactdell. NOTE: Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your country. NOTE: If you do not have an active internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.
10 References Topics: • Computer maintenance • Power management • Improving battery life • Migration tips • Ergonomic instructions • Dell and the environment • Regulatory compliance policy Computer maintenance It is recommended that you perform the following tasks to avoid general computer problems: • Provide direct access to a power source, adequate ventilation, and a level surface to place your computer. • Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents.
Configuring power settings Windows 10 and 8.1 1 Click or tap Start > All apps. 2 Under Windows System, click or tap Control Panel. 3 If your Control Panel is displayed by category, click or tap the View by: drop down and select Small icons or Large icons. 4 Click or tap Power Options. 5 You can choose a plan from the list of options available depending on your computer usage. 6 To modify the power settings, click or tap Change plan settings. NOTE: For Windows 8.
Dell Power Manager NOTE: This software is only supported on computers running on Windows 10 operating systems. Dell Power Manager is a software that enables you to efficiently manage the power settings for Dell notebooks and tablets. The software offers these key features: • Battery Information–Display health information for up to six installed batteries, depending on system capabilities, and edit battery settings or create a custom battery setting.
2 Click or tap the Longevity mode tab. 3 Click or tap Enable to turn on, or Disable to turn off Dell longevity mode. 4 Click or tap OK. NOTE: When longevity mode is enabled, the battery charges only between 88% to 100% of its capacity. Dell desktop mode If you primarily use your computer with the power adapter connected, you can enable the desktop mode to moderate the extent to which your battery is charged. This reduces the number of charge/discharge cycles and improves battery life.
• Place the external monitor at a comfortable viewing distance. The recommended distance is 510 mm to 610 mm (20 in to 24 in) from your eyes. • Ensure the monitor is at eye level or slightly lower when you are sitting in front of the monitor. • Adjust the tilt of the monitor, its contrast and brightness settings, and the lighting around you (such as overhead lights, desk lamps, and the curtains or blinds on nearby windows) to minimize reflections and glare on the monitor screen.
Every day, you have the opportunity to make greener choices, but when choosing technology, you do not want to compromise on cost, performance, or reliability. At Dell, we believe you should not have to, which is why we strive to ensure that people and companies do not have to make trade-offs to be green. We make this a reality by delivering practical products and services that make an impact on real environmental issues, because at the heart of green is the powerful idea that better ways are possible.
