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book.book Page 2 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Notes, Notices, and Cautions NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
book.book Page 3 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Contents Contents About Your Computer . . . . . . . . 7 Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Right View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Transferring Information to a New Computer . . . . . . Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . Troubleshooting Left View . . . . . . . . . . Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
book.book Page 4 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Contents Lockups and Software Problems . . . . . . . Finding Information . . . . . . . 63 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Obtaining Assistance. . . . . . . . 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Identifying Drivers . . . . . . . . . Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Restoring Your Operating System Using the Operating System Media . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 51 . . 54 . . . 54 . . . .
book.book Page 5 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Contents Before You Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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book.book Page 7 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM About Your Computer About Your Computer Front View DEVICE STATUS LIGHTS The lights located on the palm rest towards the front of the computer indicate the following: Power light – Turns on when you turn on the computer, and blinks when the computer is in a power management mode. Hard drive activity light – Turns on when the computer reads or writes data.
book.book Page 8 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM About Your Computer Right View AUDIO CONNECTORS Attach headphones to the connector 1 Attach a microphone to the connector 2 TOUCH PAD — Provides the functionality of a mouse.
book.book Page 9 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM About Your Computer D I S P L A Y — For more information on the display, see Dell Technology Guide. KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS — The lights located above the keyboard indicate the following: 9 A Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled. Turns on when the uppercase letter (caps lock) function is enabled. Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled. A C A D A P T E R C O N N E C T O R — Attaches an AC adapter to the computer.
book.book Page 10 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM About Your Computer Left View P C C A R D S L O T — Supports one PC Card, such as a modem or network adapter. The computer ships with a blank installed in the slot to prevent foreign matter from entering the computer interior when a card is not installed.
book.book Page 11 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM About Your Computer NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45) Connects the computer to a network. The two lights next to the connector indicate status and activity for wired network connections. A I R V E N T S — The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents, which prevents the computer from overheating. The fan automatically turns on when the computer gets hot.
book.book Page 12 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM About Your Computer CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Do not store your Dell™ computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire.The computer turns on the fan when the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fan or the computer.
book.book Page 13 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM About Your Computer To remove the battery: 1 1 2 2 Ensure that the computer is turned off. Slide the two release latches on the bottom of the computer, and then remove the battery from the bay. To replace the battery, slide the battery into the bay until it clicks into place.
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book.book Page 15 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Quick Setup Quick Setup CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However, power connectors and power strips vary among countries.
book.book Page 16 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Quick Setup 16 1 Connect the AC adapter to the AC adapter connector on the computer and to the electrical outlet. 2 Connect the network cable. 3 Connect USB devices, such as a mouse or keyboard.
book.book Page 17 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Quick Setup 4 Open the computer display and press the power button to turn on the computer. Connecting to the Internet NOTE: Internet Service Provider(s) (ISP) and ISP offerings vary by country. To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an ISP.
book.book Page 18 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Quick Setup To set up an Internet connection with a desktop shortcut provided by your ISP: 1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs. 2 Double-click the ISP icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup. 3 If you do not have an ISP icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an Internet connection with a different ISP, perform the steps in the section below.
book.book Page 19 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Quick Setup 5 Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup. Transferring Information to a New Computer NOTE: The instructions in this section are for computers with Windows Vista operating system installed. 1 2 Click the Windows Vista Start button , and then click Transfer files and settings→ Start Windows Easy Transfer. In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
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book.book Page 21 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Specifications Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. For more information regarding the configuration of your computer, click Start→ Help and Support and select the option to view information about your computer.
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book.book Page 23 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Specifications Memory (continued) Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Minimum memory 512 MB 512 MB Maximum memory 4 GB 4 GB Ports and Connectors Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Audio microphone connector, stereo headphone/speakers connector microphone connector, stereo headphone/ speakers connector Mini-Card one PCI-E Mini-Card slot one PCI-E Mini-Card slot Modem RJ-11 port RJ-11 port Network adapter RJ-45 port RJ-45 port USB two 4-pin USB 2.
book.book Page 24 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Specifications 3-in-1 Media Card Reader Vostro A840 Vostro A860 3-in-1 media memory card controller Ricoh 5C847 Ricoh R5C847 3-in-1 media memory card connector 3-in-1 combo card connector 3-in-1 combo card connector Cards supported SD/SDIO/MMC SD/SDIO/MMC Communications Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Type v.92 Data/Fax MDC Modem v.
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book.book Page 26 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Specifications Audio (continued) Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Speaker one 4-ohm speaker one 4-ohm speaker Internal speaker amplifier 2-W channel into 4 ohms 2-W channel into 4 ohms Volume controls program menus program menus Display Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Type (active-matrix TFT) WXGA HD Active area (X/Y) 303.36 x 189.6 344.23 x 193.53 Height 206 mm (8.11 inches) 209.5 mm (8.24 inches) Width 320 mm (12.6 inches) 359.3 mm (14.
book.book Page 27 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Specifications Display (continued) Vostro A840 Vostro A860 WXGA Horizontal 40/40° 40/40° WXGA Vertical 15/30° 15/30° 0.2373 0.255 Viewing angles: Pixel pitch: HD Power Consumption (panel with backlight) (typical): WXGA 6.2 W (max) with no inverter losses 6.5 W (max) with no inverter losses Keyboard Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Number of keys 86 (U.S. and Canada); 87 (Europe); 90 (Japan) 86 (U.S.
book.book Page 28 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Specifications Touch Pad Vostro A840 X/Y position resolution 240 cpi (graphics table mode) Vostro A860 240 cpi Size: Width 73.0-mm (2.9-inch) sensor-active area) 73.0-mm (2.9-inch) sensor-active area) Height 42.9-mm (1.7-inch) rectangle) 42.9-mm (1.7-inch) rectangle) Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Battery Type 6-cell “smart” lithium ion 6-cell “smart” lithium ion 4-cell “smart” lithium ion 4-cell “smart” lithium ion Depth 53.4 mm (2.
book.book Page 29 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Specifications Battery (continued) Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Voltage 11.1 VDC (6-cell) 11.1 VDC (6-cell) 14.8 VDC (4-cell) 14.8 VDC (4-cell) Charge time (approximate): 4 hours (when computer is off) 4 hours (when computer is off) Operating time Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions and can be significantly reduced under certain power-intensive conditions. See Dell Technology Guide for more information.
book.book Page 30 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Specifications AC Adapter Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Input voltage 100–240 VAC 100–240 VAC Input current (maximum) 1.5 A 1.5 A Input frequency 50–60 Hz 50–60 Hz Output current 4.34 A (maximum at 4-second pulse); 3.34 A (continuous) 4.34 A (maximum at 4-second pulse); 3.34 A (continuous) Output power 65 W 65 W Rated output voltage 19.5 +/–1.0 VDC 19.5 +/–1.0 VDC Height 28.2 mm (1.11 inches) 28.2 mm (1.11 inches) Width 57.9 mm (2.
book.book Page 31 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Specifications AC Adapter (continued) Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Operating 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F) 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F) Storage –40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F) –40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F) Temperature range: Physical Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Height 31.1mm to 35.6 mm (1.2 to 1.4 inches) 31.5 to 36.8 mm (1.24 to 1.44 inches) Width 340 mm (13.39 inches) 376 mm (14.8 inches) Depth 250 mm (9.85 inches) 255 mm (10.
book.book Page 32 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Specifications Environmental (continued) Vostro A840 Vostro A860 Relative humidity (maximum): Operating 10% to 90% (noncondensing) 10% to 90% (noncondensing) Storage 5% to 95% (noncondensing) 5% to 95% (noncondensing) Operating 0.66 GRMS 0.66 GRMS Storage 1.3 GRMS 1.
book.book Page 33 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting Troubleshooting CAUTION: To guard against the likelihood of electric shock, laceration by moving fan blades, or other expected injuries, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before opening the cover. CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.
book.book Page 34 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting D I S K C : F A I L E D I N I T I A L I Z A T I O N — The hard drive failed initialization. Run the hard drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 42). THE FILE BEING COPIED IS TOO LARGE FOR T H E D E S T I N A T I O N D R I V E — The file that you are trying to copy is too large to fit on the disk, or the disk is full. Try copying the file to a different disk or use a larger capacity disk.
book.book Page 35 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting HARD-DISK DRIVE CONFIGURATION E R R O R — The computer cannot identify the drive type. Shut down the computer, remove the hard drive (see your Service Manual at support.dell.com), and boot the computer from the media. Then, shut down the computer, reinstall the hard drive, and restart the computer. Run the Hard Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 42).
book.book Page 36 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting INVALID CONFIGURATION INFORMATIONP L E A S E R U N S YS T E M S E T U P P R O G R A M — The system configuration information does not match the hardware configuration. The message is most likely to occur after a memory module is installed. Correct the appropriate options in the system setup program. See your Service Manual at support.dell.com for more information.
book.book Page 37 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting MEMORY DATA LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE — A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them. See your Service Manual at support.dell.com for more information. MEMORY DOUBLE WORD LOGIC FAILURE AT ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING V A L U E — A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them.
book.book Page 38 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES. EXIT SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY A G A I N — You have too many programs open. Close all windows and open the program that you want to use. 3 4 Click Uninstall. See the program documentation for installation instructions and reinstall the program. optional ROM has failed. Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 69).
book.book Page 39 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting TI M E - O F - D A Y C L O C K L O S T P O W E R — System configuration settings are corrupted. Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge the battery. If the problem persists, try to restore the data by entering the system setup program, then immediately exit the program (see your Service Manual at support.dell.com). If the message reappears, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 69).
book.book Page 40 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting System Messages NOTE: If the message you received is not listed in the table, see the documentation for either the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared. ALERT! PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT BOOTING T H I S S YS T E M H A V E F A I L E D A T C H E C K P O I N T [NNNN]. FOR HELP IN RESOLVING THIS H A R D - D I S K D R I V E F A I L U R E — Possible hard drive failure during hard drive POST.
book.book Page 41 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting N O T I M E R T I C K I N T E R R U P T — A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning or system board failure (see "Contacting Dell" on page 69 for assistance). U S B O V E R C U R R E N T E R R O R — Disconnect the USB device. Use external power source for the USB device. N OT IC E - H A R D D R I V E S E L F MONITORING SYSTEM HAS REPORTED THAT A PARAMETER HAS EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL OPERATING RANGE.
book.book Page 42 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting Dell Diagnostics CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
book.book Page 43 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting NOTICE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop, and then shut down your computer and try again. Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Dell Drivers and Utilities Media 1 2 NOTICE: If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, run the Dell Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities media.
book.book Page 44 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting 5 6 7 Type 1 to start the CD menu and press to proceed. Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list. If multiple versions are listed, select the version that is appropriate for your computer. When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears, select the test that you want to run, and follow the instructions on the screen.
book.book Page 45 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting I F T H E P O W E R L I G H T I S O F F — The computer is either turned off or is not receiving power. • • • • • Reseat the power cable in the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet. Bypass power strips, power extension cables, and other power protection devices to verify that the computer turns on properly.
book.book Page 46 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting • • Ensure that the processor power cable is securely connected to the system board power connector (see your Service Manual at support.dell.com). CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
book.book Page 47 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting • • Reseat the memory modules (see your Service Manual at support.dell.com) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory. Run the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 42). IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS — • • • • Reseat the memory modules (see your Service Manual at support.dell.com) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.
book.book Page 48 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting A program stops responding END THE PROGRAM — 1 Press simultaneously to access the Task Manager, and click the Applications tab. 2 Click to select the program that is no longer responding, and click End Task. A program crashes repeatedly NOTE: Most software includes installation instructions in its documentation or the media (CD or DVD).
book.book Page 49 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting Other software problems CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION • — Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on your computer. • Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software. See the software documentation for information. • Ensure that the program is installed and configured properly.
book.book Page 50 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Troubleshooting Click on the icon in the taskbar to run the application.
book.book Page 51 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Reinstalling Software Reinstalling Software Drivers If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver (see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on page 51). 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 Windows Vista Start button™ and right-click Computer.
book.book Page 52 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Reinstalling Software NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager. 3 Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties. 4 Click the Drivers tab→ Roll Back Driver. 1 If this is your first time to use the Drivers and Utilities media, go to step 2. If not, go to step 5.
book.book Page 53 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Reinstalling Software 5 At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen, click Next. NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities program displays drivers only for hardware that came installed in your computer. If you installed additional hardware, the drivers for the new hardware might not be displayed. If those drivers are not displayed, exit the Drivers and Utilities program. For drivers information, see the documentation that came with the device.
book.book Page 54 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Reinstalling Software 6 7 8 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files. When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click the name of the driver→ OK→ Next. Click Finish and restart your computer.
book.book Page 55 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Reinstalling Software Starting System Restore 1 Click Start 2 In the Start Search box, type System Restore and press . NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue the desired action. 3 Undoing the Last System Restore . Click Next and follow the remaining prompts on the screen.
book.book Page 56 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Reinstalling Software operating system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver. See "Using Microsoft® Windows® System Restore" on page 54. NOTICE: Before performing the installation, back up all data files on your primary hard drive. For conventional hard drive configurations, the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer.
book.book Page 57 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Reinstalling Software NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only. On the next start-up, the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program. 5 When the boot device list appears, highlight CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive and press . 6 Press any key to Boot from CD-ROM, and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
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book.book Page 59 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Finding Information Finding Information NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries. Document/Media/Label Contents Service Tag/Express Service Code NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer. • Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support.dell.com or contact support.
book.book Page 60 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Finding Information Document/Media/Label Contents Operating System Media Reinstall your operating system The Operating System media is a CD or DVD that may have shipped with your computer. Safety, Regulatory, Warranty, and Support Documentation • Warranty information This type of information may have shipped with your computer. For additional regulatory information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage on www.dell.
book.book Page 61 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Finding Information Document/Media/Label Contents Dell Technology Guide • About your operating system The Dell Technology Guide is available at support.dell.com. • Using and maintaining devices Microsoft® Windows® License Label • Provides your operating system product key. • Understanding technologies such as RAID, Internet, Bluetooth® wireless technology, e-mail, networking, and more.
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book.book Page 63 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Getting Help Getting Help Obtaining Assistance CAUTION: If you need to remove the computer cover, first disconnect the computer power and modem cables from all electrical outlets. Follow the safety instructions that shipped with your computer.
book.book Page 64 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Getting Help the Dell Accessories folder, double-click the Express Service Code icon, and follow the directions. For instructions on using the Dell Support, see "Technical Support and Customer Service" on page 64. NOTE: Some of the following services are not always available in all locations outside the continental U.S. Call your local Dell representative for information on availability.
book.book Page 65 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Getting Help You can access Dell Support through the following websites and e-mail addresses: • Dell Support websites: • Dell Marketing and Sales e-mail addresses: apmarketing@dell.com (Asian/Pacific countries only) support.dell.com sales_canada@dell.com (Canada only) support.apj.dell.com (Asia Pacific and Japan only) • support.jp.dell.com (Japan only) support.euro.dell.com (Europe only) • Dell Support e-mail addresses: mobile_support@us.
book.book Page 66 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Getting Help Automated Order-Status Service To check on the status of any Dell products that you have ordered, you can go to support.dell.com, or you can call the automated order-status service. A recording prompts you for the information needed to locate and report on your order. For the telephone number to call for your region, see "Contacting Dell" on page 69.
book.book Page 67 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Getting Help 3 Include any accessories that belong with the item(s) being returned (power cables, software floppy disks, guides, and so on) if the return is for credit. 4 Pack the equipment to be returned in the original (or equivalent) packing materials. You are responsible for paying shipping expenses. You are also responsible for insuring any product returned, and you assume the risk of loss during shipment to Dell. Collect On Delivery (C.O.D.
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book.book Page 69 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Getting Help Contacting Dell 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. Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your area.
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book.book Page 73 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM Index N R network connector description, 11 regulatory information, 60 networks connecting, 17 reinstalling drivers and utilities, 51 software, 51 Notebook System Software, 59 S O S.M.A.R.
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