Me and My Dell For Inspiron, XPS, and Alienware computers May 2020 Rev.
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. © 2011-2020 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..........................................................................................................................
Memory module...................................................................................................................................................................20 System board.......................................................................................................................................................................20 Chipset................................................................................................................................................
Visual Graphics Array.......................................................................................................................................................... 37 Digital Visual Interface.........................................................................................................................................................37 DisplayPort..............................................................................................................................................
Configuring the power button behavior..................................................................................................................... 56 Dell Power Manager......................................................................................................................................................56 Improving battery life..........................................................................................................................................................
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. Connecting to the internet You can connect your computer to the internet using cable, DSL, dial‑up, or a WWAN connection. You may also install a wired or wireless router to share your cable or DSL internet connection with multiple devices.
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. 4. Turn on or off file sharing (optional). Connecting to the internet using WWAN WWAN connection does not require a modem or a router to allow your laptop or tablet to connect to the internet. The WWAN card on your computer connects directly to the service provider’s network, like your mobile phone.
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 or tap Manage audio devices. 3. Under the Playback tab, click or tap Speakers or Headphones. 4. Click or tap Configure and click or tap Test. You should hear a tone from each speaker. 5. Click or tap Next, and follow the on-screen instructions. Windows 7 1. Click the Start icon, type Sound in the search box and press Enter. In the results list, click Sound.
Connecting 7.1 speakers Figure 2. Connecting 7.1 speakers 1. 3. 5. 7. 9. Rear audio connector on the computer Side audio connector on the computer 7.1 channel audio cable Front audio connector on the speaker Side audio connector on the speaker 2. 4. 6. 8. Center/LFE surround out on the computer Front audio connector on the computer Center/LFE surround out on the speaker Rear audio connector on the speaker Setting up your printer You can connect a printer to the USB port on your computer.
Windows 7 1. Click Start > Devices and Printers. 2. Click Add a Printer. The Add Printer window appears. 3. Follow the on-screen instructions. NOTE: You may be prompted to install the printer driver while adding your printer. Use the printer-driver media, or download the drivers from the printer manufacturer’s website. For more information on setting up the printer, see the documentation shipped with your printer.
• Second Screen only—Use only display 2 and show nothing on display 1. The primary monitor will be disabled and only the second monitor will be used. Windows 8 Windows mode 1. 2. 3. 4. Invoke Windows Charms by swiping in from the right or moving the mouse cursor to one of the right-hand side corners. Choose Devices. Select Second Screen. Select any of the following options: • • • • PC Screen only—Use only display 1 and show nothing on display 2.
2 About your computer This section provides more information on the components which can be found in your computer. Power adapter Power adapters are used to supply power to portable computers, tablets, and certain desktop computers. The Dell power-adapter kit consists of the power adapter and the power cable. The power‑adapter rating (90 W, 65 W, and so on) depends on the device it is designed for, and the power cable varies based on the country where the power adapter is shipped.
Coin-cell battery Coin-cell battery provides power to the Complementary Metal‑Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) chip while the computer is turned off. The CMOS chip contains the time, date, and other configuration information about your computer. Under normal usage conditions, the coincell battery can last for several years. Factors affecting the coin‑cell battery life are the type of system board, temperature, the time for which the computer is powered off, and so on.
NOTE: Wireless display may not be supported on all computers. For more information, see www.intel.com. Camera Webcam The webcam enables you to video chat, capture photos, and record videos. 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.
Keyboard backlight The backlight present on some physical keyboards illuminate 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.
Keyboard connection types Keyboards can be connected to your computer with a cable (wired) or using wireless signals (wireless). Wired Wired keyboards are connected to the computer using a cable (generally USB) and do not require additional power source, such as batteries. Wireless Wireless keyboards use Radio Frequency (RF) or Bluetooth (BT) to connect to your computer.
Internal storage devices Internal storage devices are installed on your computer and generally cannot be removed while the computer is turned on. The most common internal storage devices are hard-disk drives—HDDs and solid-state drives—SSDs. HDDs and SSDs use SATA interface to transfer information. SSDs are also physically similar to HDDs, which makes them compatible with existing computers. HDDs contain disk platters.
Table 1.
Table 1. Examples of common types of memory cards(continued) 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). Faster and higher amount of memory generally provides better performance.
Processors are mainly classified based on: • • • Number of processing cores Speed or frequency measured in GigaHertz (GHz) or MegaHertz (MHz) On-board memory, also referred to as cache These aspects also determine the performance of the processor. Higher values generally mean better performance. Some processors may be integrated on the system board. Some of the processor manufacturers are Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and so on.
• • Integrated–Often referred to as on-board video card, it is integrated on the system board. In some computers, the video card is integrated on the processor. Integrated video cards generally share the system memory (RAM) and the may also utilize the processor to perform video processing. An Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) is integrated on the same die as the processor and provides higher data transfer rates while reducing the power consumption.
NOTE: Your sound card and speakers must support 5.1/7.1 channels for producing 5.1/7.1 channel audio. 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.
Wireless Local Area Network Devices are connected wirelessly and cover a relatively small area, generally within a house or a building. The wireless connection used for setting up WLAN is generally Wi-Fi (802.11x where x refers to the different 802.11 protocols). Wireless Wide Area Network Also known as Mobile Broadband, this service is generally provided by the phone companies for use on mobile devices. A mobile device or laptop must support WWAN technology to connect to this network.
More sophisticated routers, such as enterprise routers, connect large business or ISP networks up to the powerful core routers that forward data at high speed along the optical fiber lines of the internet backbone. Near-Field Communication Near-Field Communication (NFC) allows you to exchange data between two devices by touching the devices with each other or by bringing them to close proximity.
3 Using your computer 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. NOTE: If the battery becomes too hot due to being in a hot environment, it may not charge when you connect the power adapter. Allow the battery to cool down for it to resume charging.
Table 2. List of keyboard shortcuts(continued) Ctrl and c Copy a selected item. Ctrl and x Cut a selected item. Ctrl and v Paste a selected item. Ctrl and z Undo an action. Ctrl and a Select all items in a document or window. Ctrl and F4 Close the active window (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously). Ctrl, Alt and Tab Use the arrow keys to switch between open items. Alt and Tab Switch between open applications.
Table 3. List of keyboard shortcuts(continued) Ctrl and - Zoom out of a large number of items on the screen such as apps pinned on the Start screen. Windows key and c Open the charms sidebar. Windows key and f Open the Search charm to search files on your computer. Windows key and h Open the Search charm. Windows key and i Open the Settings charm. Windows key and j Switch between the main app and snapped app. Windows key and k Open the Devices charm.
4. Click or tap Keyboard. 5. Adjust the keyboard settings you want to change and click or tap OK to save the settings and close the window. Windows 7 1. 2. 3. 4. Click Start > Control Panel. If your Control Panel is displayed by Category, click the View by: drop-down menu and select Small icons or Large icons. Click Keyboard. Adjust the keyboard settings you want to change and click OK to save the settings and close the window. Using numeric keypad on a laptop 1.
Table 4. List of touchpad gestures 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 scroll the selected object. Vertical Auto‑Scroll—Scroll up or down on the active window. Move two fingers up or down at a fast pace to start vertical auto‑scroll. Tap on the touchpad to stop auto‑scroll. Horizontal Auto‑Scroll—Scroll left or right on the active window.
Table 4. List of touchpad gestures(continued) Tap three fingers on the touchpad to launch the pre-configured application. NOTE: Use the touchpad configuration tool to choose the application to be launched. Using your touch screen NOTE: Avoid using the touch screen in dusty, hot, or humid environments. NOTE: Sudden change in temperature may cause condensation on the inner surface of the screen. This does not affect normal usage and disappears after the computer is kept on for at least 48 hours.
Table 5. List of touch screen gestures(continued) Flick Move a finger quickly in the desired direction to flip through content in the active window like pages in a book. Flick also works vertically when navigating content such as images or songs in a playlist Rotate Rotate clockwise—Keeping a finger or thumb in place, move the other finger in an arched direction to the right. Rotate counter-clockwise—Keeping a finger or thumb in place, move the other finger in an arched direction to the left.
Table 5. List of touch screen gestures(continued) Scroll Horizontal–Scroll right or left on the active window. Move a finger to the right or left to start horizontal scrolling. Using Bluetooth You can connect (pair) Bluetooth devices such as mice, keyboard, headsets, phones, TV, and so on. For details on pairing the device with your computer, see the documentation of the device. NOTE: Ensure that you have Bluetooth drivers installed on your computer.
4. To make your computer discoverable to Bluetooth enabled devices, select the check box for Allow Bluetooth devicesto find this computer. Using the webcam If your computer or display has a built-in webcam, the drivers are installed and configured at the factory. The webcam gets activated automatically when you start a video chat or video capture application. You can also use Dell Webcam Central (Windows 7 only) to capture still images and videos using the webcam. Capturing a still image 1.
4 Ports and connectors 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.com/ support. Types of audio ports Table 6. Types of audio ports Headphone port—Connect headphones, powered speaker, or sound system.
Table 6. Types of audio ports(continued) RCA S/PDIF port—Transmits digital audio without the need of analog audio conversion. Optical S/PDIF port—Transmits digital audio, using optical signals, without the need of analog audio conversion. USB Universal Serial Bus (USB) enables you to connect peripherals to a computer or a tablet. These peripherals include the mouse, keyboard, printer, external drives, cameras, phones, and so on.
Table 8. USB standards(continued) USB PowerShare The USB PowerShare feature enables you to charge USB devices when the computer is powered off or is in sleep state. The icon indicates that the USB port supports PowerShare feature. NOTE: Certain USB devices may not charge when the computer is powered off or in sleep state. In such cases, turn on the computer to charge the device. NOTE: If you turn off your computer while charging a USB device, the device may stop charging.
Advantages of DisplayPort • • • • • • Supports high resolutions and high refresh‑rates Supports 3D transmission Supports multiple display‑devices simultaneously Supports High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) Supports plug-and-play adapters that allow you to connect displays using older connection standards such as DVI, HDMI, and VGA DisplayPort cables can extend up to 15 m (49.21 ft) without requiring signal boosters.
5 Software and Applications 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. NOTE: Persistence technology may not be supported on all computers. Getting Help on Absolute Dell provides help on persistence technology through Absolute Software.
• • Windows 8.1— Click or tap the My Dell icon on the Start screen. Windows 7—Click Start > All Programs > Dell > My Dell > My Dell. PC Check NOTE: PC checkup is available only on selected models. Use PC Checkup to check your hard‑drive usage, run hardware diagnostics, and track the changes made to your computer. • • Drive Space Manager—Manage your hard drive using a visual representation of the space consumed by each type of file.
Table 9. Solution Station offerings(continued) Type Offerings File transfer and data backup Troubleshooting and repair Speed up your computer Virus and spy-ware removal Data recovery Computer errors and troubleshooting Network errors and troubleshooting Quickset Quickset is a suite of software applications that provide enhanced functionality to your Dell computer. It provides easy access to various functions that would normally require several steps.
Table 10. Keyboard shortcuts for 3D gaming(continued) Keys Description Function Increases 3D depth Increases the 3D depth in the current game. Decreases 3D depth Decreases the 3D depth in the current game. Captures a 3D screen shot of the current game, and saves the file in a folder in the Documents folder. To view the file, use the NVIDIA 3D Photo Viewer.
6 Restoring your operating system 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. System recovery options Option Description Dell Backup and Recovery Use this option as the first solution to recover your operating system.
Table 12. Dell Backup and Recovery features(continued) Features Basic Premium 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. 2. Click the Dell Backup and Recovery icon and follow the on-screen instructions. Windows 8 1. Access the search charm. 2. Click or tap Apps and type Dell Backup and Recovery in the search box. 3.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions. Restoring specific files or folders from a Full System Backup 1. 2. 3. 4. Launch Dell Backup and Recovery. Click or tap the Recovery tile, and then select Data Recovery. Click or tap Yes, Continue. Follow the on-screen instructions. Restoring specific files or folders from a file and folder backup 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Launch Dell Backup and Recovery. Click or tap the Recovery tile, and then select Recover your Data.
5. Log on to a local computer. 6. Select Dell Factory Image Restore or Dell Factory Tools > Dell Factory Image Restore (depending on the configuration of your computer). 7. Click or tap Next. The Confirm Data Deletion screen appears. NOTE: If you do not want to proceed with Dell Factory Image Restore, click or tap Cancel. 8. Select the check box to confirm that you want to continue reformatting the hard drive and restoring the system software to the factory condition, then click or tap Next.
Undoing the last system restore 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Click or tap Settings in the charms sidebar. Click or tap Control Panel. In the System window, click or tap Action Center. At the lower-right corner of Action Center window, click or tap Recovery. Click or tap Open System Restore and follow the on-screen instructions to undo the last system restore. Windows 7 Using system restore 1. Click Start. 2. In the search box, type System Restore and press Enter. NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear.
Restoring your computer using system reinstall media To restore your computer using the system reinstall media: 1. Turn off your computer. 2. Insert the system recovery disc into the optical drive or connect the USB key and turn on the computer. 3. When the DELL logo appears, press F12 immediately to access the boot menu. 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.
7 Troubleshooting Basic troubleshooting steps This section lists some basic troubleshooting steps you can use to resolve common issues with your computer. • • • • • • • Ensure your computer is turned on and all the components are receiving power. Ensure all the cables are firmly connected to the respective ports. Ensure that the cables are not damaged or frayed. Ensure that there are no bent or broken pins on the connectors. Restart your computer and check whether the problem persists.
Enhanced PSA You can use the Enhanced Pre-Boot System Assessment (ePSA) to diagnose various hardware problems. The ePSA tests devices such as the system board, keyboard, display, memory, hard drive, and so on. NOTE: ePSA may not be supported on all computers. The ePSA home screen is divided into three areas: • • Devices window—Appears on the left of the ePSA home screen. It displays all the devices in your computer and can be used to select devices.
Press to continue if you are experiencing memory issue, otherwise press to finish the test. If the ePSA completes with errors, the following message appears on your screen: Testing completed. One or more errors were detected. The Event Log tab in the Status window displays the errors that occurred during the ePSA tests. Beep codes Your computer may emit a series of beeps during start-up if there are errors or problems. This series of beeps, called a beep code, identifies a problem.
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 on desktop computers contain a jumper to clear CMOS settings along with the BIOS password. The location of this jumper varies depending upon the system board. Look for the jumpers near the CMOS battery, usually labeled as CLR, CLEAR, CLEAR CMOS, and so on. For procedure on clearing passwords and clearing CMOS settings, see your computer Service Manual at www.dell.com/support.
9 Getting help and contacting Dell Self-help resources You can get information and help on Dell products and services using these self-help resources: Table 14. Self-help resources Self-help resources Resource location Information about Dell products and services www.dell.com My Dell Tips Contact Support In Windows search, type Contact Support, and press Enter. Online help for operating system www.dell.com/support/windows www.dell.
10 References 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. Back up your data regularly. Perform a virus scan regularly. Check your computer for errors using SupportAssist and other tools available on your computer.
3. To modify the power settings, click Change plan settings. Configuring the power button behavior To configure the power button behavior: Windows 10 and 8.1 1. Click or tap Start > All apps. 2. Under Windows System, click or tap Control Panel. NOTE: For Windows 8.1/Windows RT click or tap Settings in the charms sidebar and 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.
• • • Operating the computer on AC power when possible. Battery life reduces with the number of times the battery is discharged and recharged. Configuring the power management settings using Microsoft Windows Power Options to optimize your computer’s power usage (see Power management). Enabling the sleep/standby and hibernation features of your computer. NOTE: The life of the battery decreases over time depending on how often the battery is used and the conditions under which it is used.
Migrating from one Windows operating system to a newer Windows operating system While migrating to a newer operating system, refer to the Microsoft guidelines provided for migration from one operating system to another. For more information, see www.microsoft.com. Ergonomic instructions CAUTION: Improper or prolonged keyboard use may result in injury. CAUTION: Viewing the monitor screen for extended periods of time may result in eye strain.
1. Monitor at or below eye level 3. Monitor stand 5. Arms at desk level 2. Monitor and keyboard positioned directly in front of the user 4. Feet flat on the floor 6. Wrists relaxed and flat NOTE: For the latest ergonomic instructions, see www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Dell and the environment Green is not about limitation, it is about possibility. It is about finding a better way.
Table 15. Dell and the environment(continued) Join the Plant a Tree program Dell created the Plant a Tree program to make it easy for you to offset the greenhouse gas emissions from your computer equipment and to help build a healthier planet—one tree and forest at a time. For more information, see www.dell.com/ plantatree. Recycle with Dell As you upgrade computers and electronics, please join our efforts to keep technology out of the world’s landfills.
