Dell Latitude X300 – страница 2

Using a Battery  

 

  

Battery Performance

 

  

Checking the Battery Charge

  

Charging the Battery

 

  

Removing a Battery

 

  

Installing a Battery

 

  

Storing a Battery

 

Battery Performance 

 

For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™ portable computer with the main battery installed at all times. Use 

a battery to run the computer when it is not connected to an electrical outlet. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay. 

 

Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions. You can either use an optional 65 WHr extended battery and an optional second 28 WHr 

battery in the media base to significantly increase operating time. For more information about the second battery, see the documentation that came with your 

media base. 

 

Operating time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not limited to, the following: 

 

l

Using optical drives, especially DVD and CD-RW drives 

 

  

l

Using wireless communications devices, PC Cards, or USB devices 

 

  

l

Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power-intensive programs such as 3D games 

 

  

l

Running the computer in 

maximum performance mode

 

You can 

check the battery charge

 before you 

insert the battery

 into the computer. You can also set power management options to alert you when the 

battery 

charge is low

. 

Checking the Battery Charge 

 

The Dell QuickSet Battery Meter, the Microsoft

® 

Windows

® 

Power Meter

 window and 

 icon, the battery charge gauge and health gauge, and the low-

battery warning provide information on the battery charge. 

Dell QuickSet Battery Meter 

 

If 

Dell QuickSet

 is installed, press <Fn><F3> to display the QuickSet Battery Meter. 

 

The 

Battery Meter

 window displays status, charge level, and charge completion time for the battery in your computer. 

NOTE: 

Batteries for portable computers are covered only during the initial one-year period of the limited warranty for your computer. For more 

information about the Dell warranty for your computer, see the 

System Information Guide

.

NOTE: 

It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to a CD.

CAUTION: 

Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the battery only with a compatible battery purchased 

from Dell. The lithium-ion battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer. 

CAUTION: 

Do not dispose of batteries with household waste. When your battery no longer holds a charge, call your local waste disposal or 

environmental agency for advice on disposing of a lithium-ion battery. See the battery disposal instructions in your 

System Information Guide

." 

CAUTION: 

Misuse of the battery may increase the risk of fire or chemical burn. Do not puncture, incinerate, disassemble, or expose the battery to 

temperatures

 above 65°C (149°F). Keep the battery away from children. Handle damaged or

 leaking batteries with extreme care. Damaged 

batteries may leak and cause personal injury or equipment damage. 

 

In addition, when your computer is connected to a media base (docked), the 

Battery Meter

 window includes a 

Dock Battery

 tab, which displays the charge 

level and current status of the media base battery. 

 

The following icons appear in the 

Battery Meter

 window: 

 

 

For more information about QuickSet, right-click the 

 icon in the taskbar, and click 

Help

. 

Microsoft Windows Power Meter 

 

The Windows Power Meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the Power Meter, double-click the 

 icon on the taskbar. For more information 

about the 

Power Meter

 tab, see "

Power Management

." 

 

If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, a 

 icon appears. 

Charge Gauge 

 

Before you 

insert a battery

, press the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate the charge-level lights. Each light represents approximately 20 

percent of the total battery charge. For example, if the battery has 80 percent of its charge remaining, four of the five lights are on. If no lights appear, the 

battery has no charge. 

 

  

Health Gauge 

 

The battery operating time is largely determined by the number of times it is charged. After hundreds of charge and discharge cycles, batteries lose some 

charge capacity, or battery health. To check the battery health, press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds. If no 

lights appear, the battery is in good condition, and more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. Each light represents incremental 

degradation. If five lights appear, less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery. See "

Specifications

" for 

more information about the battery operating time. 

Low-Battery Warning 

NOTE: 

You can use your media base to charge a computer battery. However, a battery in a media base does not power the media base or the 

computer.

 

l

The computer or media base is running on battery power.  

l

The battery is discharging or idle.  

 

l

The computer or media base is connected to an electrical outlet and running on AC power. 

l

The battery is charging.  

 

l

The computer or media base is connected to an electrical outlet and running on AC power. 

l

The battery is idle.  

 

A low-

battery warning occurs when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. The computer beeps once, indicating that minimal battery 

operating time remains. During that time, the speaker beeps periodically. If two batteries are installed, the low-battery warning means that the combined 

charge of both batteries is approximately 90 percent depleted. The computer enters hibernate mode when the battery charge is at a critically low level. For 

more information about low-battery alarms, see "

Power Management

." 

Charging the Battery 

 

When you connect the computer to an electrical outlet or install a battery while the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the computer checks the 

battery charge and temperature. If necessary, the AC adapter then charges the battery and maintains the battery charge. 

 

If the battery is hot from being used in your computer or being in a hot environment, the battery may not charge when you connect the computer to an 

electrical outlet. 

 

The battery is too hot to start charging if the 

 light flashes alternately green and orange. Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and allow the 

computer and the battery to cool to room temperature. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet to continue charging the battery. 

 

For more information about resolving problems with a battery, see "

Power Problems

." 

Removing a Battery 

1.

Ensure that the computer is turned off, suspended in a power management mode, or connected to an electrical outlet. 

2.

If the computer is connected to a media base (docked), undock it. See the documentation that came with your media base for instructions. 

3.

Slide the battery latch releases on the bottom of the computer and remove the battery from the bay. 

 

  

 

NOTICE: 

To avoid losing or corrupting data, save your work immediately after a low-battery warning. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet. 

If the battery runs completely out of power, hibernate mode begins automatically.

NOTE: 

The AC adapter charges a completely discharged battery in approximately 1 hour with the computer turned off. Charge time is longer with the 

computer turned on. You can leave the battery in the computer as long as you like. The battery's internal circuitry prevents the battery from 

overcharging.

CAUTION: 

Before performing these procedures, disconnect the modem from the telephone wall jack. 

NOTICE: 

If you choose to replace the battery with the computer in standby mode, you have up to 1 minute to complete the battery replacement. The 

computer will shut down shortly after this.

1  battery latch release (2) 

Installing a Battery 

CAUTION: 

Before performing any of the procedures listed below, read and follow the safety instructions.

  

1. Slide the battery into the bay until the latch release clicks. 

Installing the Optional Extended Battery 

 

  

Storing a Battery 

 

Remove the battery when you store your computer for an extended period of time. A battery discharges during prolonged storage. After a long storage period, 

recharge the battery

 fully before you use it. 

Using the Dell™ D/Bay 

 

  

About the Dell D/Bay

  

Removing and Installing Devices When the Computer is Turned Off

 

  

Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Running

 

  

Using the CD or DVD Tray

 

About the Dell D/Bay 

 

You can install Dell Latitude™ D

-Family devices such as a floppy drive or an optical drive. 

Removing and Installing Devices When the Computer is Turned Off 

CAUTION: 

Before performing any of the procedures listed below, read and follow the safety instructions.

  

1.

Press the device latch release so that the latch release pops out. 

 

  

2.

Pull the device by the latch release to remove the device from the D/Bay. 

 

  

3.

Insert the new device into the bay, push the device until you feel a click, and push the device latch release in so that it is flush with the bay. 

4.

Connect the D/Bay cable to the Dell D/Bay connector on the computer. 

Removing and Installing Devices While the Computer Is Running 

Microsoft

®

 Windows

®

 XP

1.

Double-click the 

Safely Remove Hardware

 icon on the taskbar. 

2.

Click the device you want to eject. 

NOTICE: 

To prevent damage to devices, place them in a safe, dry place when they are not installed in the computer. Avoid pressing down on them or 

placing heavy objects on top of them.

3.

Press the device latch release so that the latch release pops out. 

 

  

4.

Pull the device by the latch release to remove the device from the D/Bay. 

 

  

5.

Insert the new device into the bay, push the device until you feel a click, and push the device latch release in so that it is flush with the bay. 

Windows XP automatically recognizes the new device. 

6.

If necessary, enter your password to unlock your drive. 

Windows 2000 

1.

Click the 

Unplug or Eject Hardware

 icon on the taskbar. 

2.

Click the device you want to eject and click 

Stop

. 

3.

Press the device latch release so that the latch release pops out. 

 

  

4.

Pull the device by the latch release to remove the device from the D/Bay. 

 

NOTICE: 

To prevent damage to devices, place them in a safe, dry place when they are not installed in the computer. Avoid pressing down on them or 

placing heavy objects on top of them.

  

5.

Insert the new device into the bay, push the device until you feel a click, and push the device latch release in so that it is flush with the computer. 

6.

When the operating system recognizes the new device, click 

Close

. 

Using the CD or DVD Tray 

1.

Press the eject button on the front of the drive. 

2.

Pull the tray out. 

3.

Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray. 

4.

Snap the disc onto the spindle. 

 

  

 

5.

Push the tray back into the drive. 

 

You can play a DVD on your computer if the computer shipped with a DVD drive or a CD-RW/DVD combo drive. You can write data to a blank CD on your 

computer if the computer shipped with a CD-RW or CD-RW/DVD combo drive. 

 

For more information about playing CDs or watching movies, click 

Help

 on the CD player or DVD player (if available). 

Adjusting the Volume 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button, point to 

All Programs

®

Accessories

®

Entertainment

 (or 

Multimedia

), and then click 

Volume Control

. 

2.

In the 

Volume Control

 window, click and drag the bar in the 

Volume Control

 column and slide the bar up or down to increase or decrease the volume. 

 

NOTICE: 

Do not press down on the drive tray when opening or closing it. Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive.

NOTICE: 

Do not move the computer while playing CDs or DVDs.

1 

eject button 

NOTE: 

If you use a module bay that shipped with another Latitude D-Family computer, you need to install the drivers and software necessary to play 

DVDs or write data. For more information, see the 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD.

NOTE: 

If the speaker is muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing.

For more information about volume control options, click 

Help

 in the 

Volume Control

 window. 

 

The Volume Meter displays the current volume level, including mute, on your computer. Either right-click the 

 icon in the taskbar or press the volume control 

buttons to enable or disable the Volume Meter on the screen (if 

Dell QuickSet

 is installed). 

 

  

 

 

When the meter is enabled, adjust the volume using the volume control buttons or by pressing the following keys: 

 

l

Press <Fn><Page Up> to increase volume. 

 

  

l

Press <Fn><Page Down> to decrease volume. 

 

  

l

Press <Fn><Find> to mute volume. 

 

For more information about QuickSet, right-click the 

 icon in the taskbar and click 

Help

. 

Adjusting the Picture 

 

If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing DVD playback, adjust the display 

properties. 

Windows XP 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button and click 

Control Panel

. 

2.

Under 

Pick a category

, click 

Appearance and Themes

. 

3.

Under 

Pick a task...

, click 

Change the screen resolution

. 

4.

In the 

Display Properties

 window, click and drag the bar in 

Screen resolution

 to change the setting to 

1024 by 768 pixels

. 

5.

Under 

Color quality

, click the drop-down menu and click 

Medium (16 bit)

. 

6.

Click 

OK

. 

Windows 2000 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button, point to 

Settings

, and then click 

Control Panel

. 

2.

Double-click the 

Display

 icon and click the 

Settings

 tab.  

3.

Click and drag the bar in 

Screen area

 to change the setting to 

1024 by 768 pixels

. 

4.

Under 

Color quality

, click the drop-down menu and click 

High Color (16 bit)

. 

5.

Click 

Apply

. 

6.

Click 

OK

 to save the settings and close the window. 

1 

volume icon 

2 

Volume Meter 

3 

mute icon 

NOTE: 

By default, the Volume Meter appears in the lower-right corner of the display. If you click and drag the meter to a new location, the meter always 

appears at the new location.

Cleaning Your Computer  

 

  

Computer, Keyboard, and Display

 

  

Touch Pad

 

  

Floppy Drive

 

  

CDs and DVDs

 

Computer, Keyboard, and Display 

 

l

Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove dust from the slots and holes on your computer and from between the keys on the 

keyboard. 

 

l

Moisten a soft, lint-free cloth with either water or an LCD cleaner, and wipe the display until it is clean. 

 

  

l

Moisten a soft, lint-free cloth with water and wipe the computer and keyboard. Do not allow water from the cloth to seep between the touch pad and 

the surrounding palm rest. 

Touch Pad 

1.

Shut down and turn off your computer, disconnect any attached devices, and disconnect them from their electrical outlets. 

2.

Remove the battery

. 

3.

Moisten a soft, lint-free cloth with water, and wipe it gently across the surface of the touch pad. Do not allow water from the cloth to seep between the 

touch pad and the surrounding palm rest. 

Floppy Drive 

 

Clean the floppy drive on your D/Bay or media base using a commercially available cleaning kit. These kits contain pretreated floppy disks to remove 

contaminants that accumulate during normal operation. 

CDs and DVDs 

 

If you notice problems, such as skipping, with the playback quality of your CDs or DVDs, try cleaning the discs. 

1.

Hold the disc by its outer edge. You can also touch the inside edge of the center hole. 

2.

With a soft, lint-free cloth, gently wipe the bottom of the disc (the unlabeled side) in a straight line from the center to the outer edge of the disc. 

For stubborn dirt, try using water or a diluted solution of water and mild soap. You can also purchase commercial products that clean discs and provide 

some protection from dust, fingerprints, and scratches. Cleaning products for CDs are safe to use on DVDs. 

CAUTION: 

Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, read the safety instructions in the 

System Information Guide

. 

CAUTION: 

Before you clean your computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet and remove any installed batteries. Clean your 

computer with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances. 

NOTICE: 

To avoid damaging the computer or display, do not spray cleaning solution directly onto the display. Only use products specifically designed for 

cleaning LCDs, and follow the instructions that are included with the product.

NOTICE: 

Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab. You might accidentally misalign the heads, which prevents the drive from operating.

NOTICE: 

Always use compressed air to clean the lens in the CD/DVD drive, and follow the instructions that come with the compressed air. Never touch 

the lens in the drive.

NOTICE: 

To prevent damaging the surface, do not wipe in a circular motion around the disc.

Dell Diagnostics  

 

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics 

 

If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in "

Solving Problems

" and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical 

assistance. Running the Dell Diagnostics may help you resolve the problem without contacting Dell. If you do contact Dell, the test results can provide 

important information for Dell's service and support personnel. 

 

The Dell Diagnostics allows you to: 

 

l

Perform tests on one or all devices. 

 

  

l

Select tests based on a symptom of the problem you are having. 

 

  

l

Choose how many times a test is run. 

 

  

l

Suspend testing if an error is detected. 

 

  

l

Access help information that describes the tests and devices. 

 

  

l

Receive status messages that tell you whether tests completed successfully. 

 

  

l

Receive error messages if problems are detected. 

Starting the Dell Diagnostics 

 

It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin. 

 

The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive. 

1.

Shut down the computer. 

2.

If the computer is connected to a media base (docked), undock it. See the documentation that came with your media base for instructions. 

3.

Connect the computer to an electrical outlet. 

4.

Turn on the computer. When the DELL™ logo appears, press <F12>immediately.

If you wait too long and the Microsoft

® 

Windows

® 

logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer 

through the 

Start

 menu and try again. 

5.

When the boot device list appears, highlight 

Diagnostics

 and press <Enter>. 

The computer runs the Pre-boot System Assessment, a series of initial tests of your system board, keyboard, hard drive, and display. 

l

During the assessment, answer any questions that appear.  

l

If a failure is detected, the computer stops and beeps. To stop the assessment and restart the computer, press <N>; to continue to the next test, 

press <Y>; to retest the component that failed, press <R>.  

l

If failures are detected during the Pre-boot System Assessment, write down the error code(s) and contact Dell before continuing on to the Dell 

Diagnostics.  

If the Pre-boot System Assessment completes successfully, you receive the message 

Booting Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition. Press any key to 

continue

. 

6.

Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive. 

7.

When the Dell Diagnostics 

Main Menu

 appears, select the test you want to run. 

NOTICE: 

Use the Dell Diagnostics to test your Dell™ computer only. Using this program with other computers can result in error messages.

NOTE: 

If your computer cannot display a screen image, contact Dell.

NOTE: 

If you cannot see anything on your display, hold down the mute button and press the computer's power button to begin the Dell Diagnostics. 

The computer automatically runs the Pre-boot System Assessment.

NOTE: 

If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, run the Dell Diagnostics from your 

Drivers and Utilities 

CD.

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 

1.

After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the 

Main

Menu

 screen appears, click the button for the option you want. 

 

2.

If a problem is encountered during a test, a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem. Write down the error code and 

problem description and follow the instructions on the screen. 

If you cannot resolve the error condition, 

contact Dell

. 

3.

If you run a test from the 

Custom Test

 or 

Symptom Tree

 option, click the applicable tab described in the following table for more information. 

 

4.

When the tests are complete, close the test screen to return to the 

Main

Menu

 screen. To exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer, close the 

Main

Menu

 screen. 

Option 

Function

 

Express Test  Performs a quick test of devices. This test typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part. Run Express Test 

first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly. 

Extended 

Test 

Performs a thorough check of devices. This test typically takes an hour or more and requires you to answer questions periodically. 

Custom Test  Tests a specific device. You can customize the tests you want to run. 

Symptom 

Tree 

Lists the most common symptoms encountered and allows you to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having. 

NOTE: 

The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen. If you contact Dell, technical support will ask for your Service Tag 

number.

Tab 

Function

 

Results 

Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered. 

Errors 

Displays error conditions encountered, error codes, and the problem description. 

Help 

Describes the test and may indicate requirements for running the test. 

Configuration  Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device. 

The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for all devices from the system setup program, memory, and various internal tests, and 

it displays the information in the device list in the left pane of the screen. The device list may not display the names of all the components 

installed on your computer or all devices attached to your computer. 

Parameters 

Allows you to customize the test by changing the test settings. 

Using the Display  

 

  

Adjusting Brightness

  

Switching the Video Image

 

  

Setting Display Resolution

  

Dual Independent Display Mode

Adjusting Brightness 

 

When the Dell™ computer is running on battery power, you can conserve power by setting the brightness to the lowest comfortable setting using the 

appropriate 

Keyboard Shortcuts

 for the display. 

 

The Dell QuickSet Brightness Meter shows the current brightness setting for the display. Right-click the 

 icon in the taskbar to enable or disable the 

Brightness Meter on the screen. 

 

  

 

 

You can enable or disable the Brightness Meter from the QuickSet taskbar menu. When the meter is enabled, press the following keys to adjust brightness: 

 

l

Press <Fn> and the up-arrow key to increase brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor). 

 

  

l

Press <Fn> and the down-arrow key to decrease brightness on the integrated display only (not on an external monitor). 

 

For more information about QuickSet, right-click the 

 icon in the taskbar and click 

Help

. 

Switching the Video Image 

 

When you start the computer with an external device (such as an external monitor or projector) attached and turned on, the image may appear on either the 

computer display or the external device. 

 

Press <Fn><F8> to switch the video image to the display only, the external device only, or the display and the external device simultaneously. 

Setting Display Resolution 

 

To display a program at a specific resolution, both the video controller and the display must support the program, and the necessary video drivers must be 

installed. 

 

Before you change any of the default display settings, make a note of the default settings for future reference. 

NOTE: 

By default, the Brightness Mete

r

 appears in the lower-right corner of the display. You can click and drag the meter to a new location, and the 

meter subsequently always appears at the new location.

NOTE: 

Brightness keyboard shortcuts only affect the display on your portable computer, not monitors that you attach to your portable computer or 

docking device. If your computer is connected to an external monitor and you try to change the brightness level, the Brightness Meter appears, but the 

brightness level on the monitor does not change.

NOTE: 

Use only the Dell-installed video drivers, which are designed to offer the best performance with your Dell-installed operating system.

 

If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports, the settings adjust automatically to the closest possible setting. 

Microsoft

® 

Windows

® 

XP 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button and click 

Control Panel

. 

2.

Under 

Pick a category

, click 

Appearance and Themes

. 

3.

Under 

Pick a task...

, click the area you want to change, or under 

or pick a Control Panel icon

, click 

Display

. 

4.

Try different settings for 

Color quality 

and 

Screen resolution

.  

Windows 2000 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button, point to 

Settings

, and then click 

Control Panel

. 

2.

Double-click the 

Display

 icon and click the 

Settings

 tab.  

3.

Try different settings for 

Colors

 and 

Screen area

. 

 

If the video resolution setting is higher than that supported by the display, the computer enters 

pan mode

. In pan mode, the screen cannot be completely 

displayed. For example, the taskbar that usually appears at the bottom of the desktop may no longer be visible. To view the rest of the screen, use the touch 

pad to pan up, down, left, and right. 

Dual Independent Display Mode 

 

You can attach an external monitor or projector to your computer and use it as an extension of your display (known as "dual independent display" or 

"extended desktop" mode). This mode allows you to use both screens independently and drag objects from one screen to the other, effectively doubling the 

amount of viewable work space. 

Windows XP  

1.

Connect the external monitor, TV, or projector to the computer. 

2.

Open the Control Panel and double-click the 

Display

 icon. 

3.

In the 

Display Properties

 window, click the 

Settings

 tab. 

4.

Click the monitor 2 icon, click the 

Extend my Windows desktop... 

check box, and click 

Apply

. 

5.

Change 

Screen Area

 to the appropriate sizes for both displays and click 

Apply

. 

6.

If prompted to restart the computer, click 

Apply the new color setting without restarting

 and click 

OK

. 

7.

If prompted, click 

OK

 to resize your desktop.  

8.

If prompted, click 

Yes

 to keep the settings. 

9.

Click 

OK

 to close the 

Display Properties

 window. 

 

To disable dual independent display mode: 

1.

Click the 

Settings

 tab in the 

Display Properties

 window. 

2.

Click the monitor 2 icon, uncheck the 

Extend my Windows desktop...

 option, and then click 

Apply

. 

 

If necessary, press <Fn><F8> to bring the screen image back to the computer display. 

Windows 2000 

 

The Windows 2000 operating system does not natively support dual independent display (extended desktop) mode on your computer. However, you can 

download software from the Dell Support website at 

support.dell.com

 that lets your computer use two displays together to simulate dual independent display 

behavior. 

NOTE: 

As the resolution increases, icons and text appear smaller on the screen.

NOTICE: 

You can damage an external monitor by using an unsupported refresh rate. Before adjusting the refresh rate on an external monitor, see the 

monitor user's guide.

NOTE: 

If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports, the settings adjust automatically to the closest possible 

values. For more information, see your operating system documentation.

Reinstalling Software  

 

  

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities

  

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

 

  

Using Microsoft

® 

Windows

® 

XP System Restore

  

Reinstalling Microsoft

® 

Windows

® 

XP

  

Reinstalling Microsoft Windows 2000

 

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities 

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. 

 

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft

®

 Windows

®

 operating system. You may need to install drivers if you:

 

l

Upgrade your operating system. 

 

  

l

Reinstall your operating system. 

 

  

l

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. 

Windows XP 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button and click 

Control Panel

. 

2.

Under 

Pick a Category

, click 

Performance and Maintenance

. 

3.

Click 

System

. 

4.

In the 

System Properties

 window, click the 

Hardware

 tab. 

5.

Click 

Device Manager

. 

6.

Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a [!]) on the device icon. 

If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver. 

Windows 2000 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button, point to 

Settings

, and then click 

Control Panel

. 

2.

Double-click 

System

. 

3.

In the 

System Properties

 window, click the 

Hardware

 tab. 

4.

Click 

Device Manager

. 

5.

Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a [!]) on the device icon. 

If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver. 

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.

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities 

Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback 

 

If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver, use Windows XP Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously 

installed version. 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button and click 

Control Panel

. 

2.

Under 

Pick a Category

, click 

Performance and Maintenance

. 

3.

Click 

System

. 

4.

In the 

System Properties

 window, click the Hardware tab. 

5.

Click 

Device Manager

. 

6.

Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed and click 

Properties

. 

7.

Click the 

Drivers

 tab. 

8.

Click 

Roll Back Driver

. 

 

If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use 

System Restore

 to return your computer to the operating state that existed before you 

installed the new driver. 

Using the Drivers and Utilities CD 

 

If using 

Device Driver Rollback

 or 

System Restore 

does not resolve the problem, then reinstall the driver from the 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD (also known as the 

Resource CD). 

1.

Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.  

2.

Insert the 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD. 

In most cases, the CD starts running automatically. If it does not, start Windows Explorer, click your CD drive directory to display the CD contents, and 

then double-click the 

autocd.exe

 file. The first time that you run the CD, it might prompt you to install setup files. Click 

OK

, and follow the instructions on 

the screen to continue. 

3.

From the 

Language

 drop-down menu in the toolbar, select your preferred language for the driver or utility (if available). A welcome screen appears. 

4.

Click 

Next

.  

The CD automatically scans your hardware to detect drivers and utilities used by your computer. 

5.

After the CD completes the hardware scan, you can also detect other drivers and utilities. Under 

Search Criteria

, select the appropriate categories from 

the 

System Model

, 

Operating System

, and 

Topic

 drop-down menus. 

A link or links appear(s) for the specific drivers and utilities used by your computer. 

6.

Click the link of a specific driver or utility to display information about the driver or utility that you want to install. 

7.

Click the 

Install

 button (if present) to begin installing the driver or utility. At the welcome screen, follow the screen prompts to complete the installation. 

If no 

Install

 button is present, automatic installation is not an option. For installation instructions, either see the appropriate instructions in the following 

subsections, or click 

Extract

, follow the extracting instructions, and then read the readme file. 

If instructed to navigate to the driver files, click the CD directory on the driver information window to display the files associated with that driver. 

1.

After extracting the driver files to your hard drive as described in the previous section, click the 

Start

 button and right-click 

My Computer

. 

2.

Click 

Properties

. 

3.

Click the 

Hardware

 tab and click 

Device Manager

. 

4.

Double-click the type of device for which you are installing the driver (for example, 

Modems

 or 

Infrared devices

). 

5.

Double-click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver. 

6.

Click the 

Driver

 tab and click 

Update Driver

. 

7.

Click 

Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)

 and click 

Next

. 

8.

Click 

Browse

 and browse to the location to which you previously extracted the driver files. 

9.

When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click 

Next

. 

10.

Click 

Finish

 and restart your computer. 

NOTICE: 

The Dell Support website at 

support.dell.com

 and your 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD provide approved drivers for Dell™ computers. If you install 

drivers obtained from other sources, your computer might not work correctly.

NOTE: 

If you are reinstalling an infrared sensor driver, you must first enable the infrared sensor in the system setup program before continuing with the 

driver installation.

Manually Reinstalling Drivers for Windows 2000 

1.

After extracting the driver files to your hard drive as described previously, click the 

Start

 button, point to 

Settings

, and then click 

Control Panel

. 

2.

Double-click the 

System

 icon. 

3.

Click the 

Hardware

 tab. 

4.

Click 

Device Manager

. 

5.

Double-click the type of device for which you are installing the driver (for example, 

Modems

 or 

Infrared devices

). 

6.

Double-click the name of the device. 

7.

Click the 

Driver

 tab and click 

Update Driver

. 

8.

Click 

Next

. 

9.

Ensure that 

Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended)

 is selected, and click 

Next

. 

10.

Ensure that the 

Specify a location

 check box is checked and that all other check boxes are unchecked, and click 

Next

. 

11.

Click 

Browse,

 and browse to the location to which you previously extracted the driver files. 

12.

When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click 

Next

. 

13.

Click 

Finish

 and restart your computer. 

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities 

 

If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured, you can use Device Manager or the Hardware 

Troubleshooter to resolve the incompatibility. 

Microsoft

®

 Windows

®

 XP

 

To resolve incompatibilities using Device Manager: 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button and click 

Control Panel

.  

2.

Click 

Performance and Maintenance

 and click 

System

.  

3.

Click the 

Hardware

 tab and click 

Device Manager

. 

4.

In the 

Device Manager

 list, check for devices that are incorrectly configured. 

Incorrectly configured devices are indicated by a yellow exclamation point (

!

) or a red 

X

 if the device has been disabled. 

5.

Double-click any device marked with an exclamation point to display the 

Properties

 window. 

The 

Device

 status area in the 

Properties

 window reports the cards or devices that need to be reconfigured. 

6.

Reconfigure the devices or remove the devices from the 

Device Manager

. See the documentation that came with the device for information on 

configuring the device. 

 

To resolve incompatibilities using the Hardware Troubleshooter: 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button and click 

Help and Support

. 

2.

Type 

hardware troubleshooter

 in the 

Search

 field and click the arrow to start the search. 

3.

Click 

Hardware Troubleshooter

 in the 

Search Results

 list. 

4.

In the 

Hardware Troubleshooter

 list, click 

I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my computer

, and click 

Next

. 

Windows 2000 

 

To resolve incompatibilities using Device Manager: 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button, point to 

Settings

, and then click 

Control Panel

. 

2.

In the 

Control Panel 

window, double-click 

System

. 

3.

Click the 

Hardware

 tab. 

4.

Click 

Device Manager

. 

NOTE: 

If you are reinstalling an infrared driver, you must first enable the infrared sensor in the system setup program before continuing with the driver 

installation.

5.

Click 

View

 and click 

Resources by connection

. 

6.

Double-click 

Interrupt request (IRQ)

. 

Incorrectly configured devices are indicated by a yellow exclamation point (

!

) or a red 

X

 if the device has been disabled. 

7.

Double-click any device marked with an exclamation point to display the 

Properties

 window. 

The 

Device

 status area in the 

Properties

 window reports the cards or devices that need to be reconfigured. 

8.

Reconfigure the devices or remove the devices from the Device Manager. See the documentation that came with the device for information on 

configuring the device. 

 

To resolve incompatibilities using the Hardware Troubleshooter: 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button and click 

Help

. 

2.

Click 

Troubleshooting and Maintenance

 on the 

Contents

 tab, click 

Windows 2000 troubleshooters

, and then click 

Hardware

. 

3.

In the 

Hardware Troubleshooter

 list, click 

I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my computer

 and click 

Next

. 

Using Microsoft ®  Windows ®  XP System Restore 

 

The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides System Restore to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without affecting 

data files) if changes to the hardware, software, or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. See the 

Help and Support 

Center

 for information on using System Restore. 

Creating a Restore Point 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button and click 

Help and Support

. 

2.

Click 

System Restore

. 

3.

Follow the instructions on the screen. 

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button, point to 

All Programs

®

Accessories

®

System Tools

, and then click 

System Restore

. 

2.

Ensure that 

Restore my computer to an earlier time

 is selected and click 

Next

. 

3.

Click a calendar date to which you want to restore your computer. 

The 

Select a Restore Point 

screen provides a calendar that allows you to see and select restore points. All calendar dates with available restore points 

appear in boldface type.  

4.

Select a restore point and click 

Next

.  

If a calendar date has only one restore point, then that restore point is automatically selected. If two or more restore points are available, click the 

restore point that you prefer. 

5.

Click 

Next

. 

The 

Restoration Complete

 screen appears after System Restore finishes collecting data and then the computer restarts. 

6.

After the computer restarts, click 

OK

.  

 

To change the restore point, you can either repeat the steps using a different restore point, or you can undo the restoration. 

Undoing the Last System Restore 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button, point to 

All Programs

®

 Accessories

®

 System Tools

, and then click 

System Restore

. 

2.

Click 

Undo my last restoration 

and click 

Next

. 

3.

Click 

Next

. 

NOTICE: 

Make regular backups of your data files. System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them.

NOTICE: 

Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state, save and close any open files and exit any open programs. Do not alter, open, 

or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

NOTICE: 

Before you undo the last system restore, save and close all open files and exit any open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or 

programs until the system restoration is complete.

The 

System Restore

 screen appears and the computer restarts.  

4.

After the computer restarts, click 

OK

. 

Enabling System Restore 

 

If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free hard-disk space available, System Restore is automatically disabled. To see if System Restore is 

enabled: 

1.

Click the 

Start

 button and click 

Control

Panel

.  

2.

Click 

Performance and Maintenance

. 

3.

Click 

System

. 

4.

Click the 

System Restore

 tab. 

5.

Ensure that 

Turn off System Restore

 is unchecked. 

Reinstalling Microsoft

®

 Windows

®

 XP

Before You Begin 

 

If you are considering reinstalling the Windows XP operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver, first try using Windows XP 

Device Driver 

Rollback

. If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use 

System Restore

 to return your operating system to the operating state it was in 

before you installed the new device driver. 

 

To reinstall Windows XP, you need the following items: 

 

l

Dell™ Operating System CD

 

  

l

Dell 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD 

 

l

Product Key (Product ID Number) 

Reinstalling Windows XP 

 

To reinstall Windows XP, perform all the steps in the following sections in the order in which they are listed. 

 

The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you must also reinstall the device drivers, virus 

protection program, and other software. 

Booting From the Operating System CD 

1.

Save and close any open files and exit any open programs. 

2.

Insert the 

Operating System 

CD. If any program starts automatically, exit the program before proceeding. 

3.

Shut down the computer through the 

Start

 menu and restart the computer.Press <F2> immediately after the DELL™ logo appears.

If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the Windows desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again. 

4.

Press the arrow keys to select 

CD-ROM

, and press <Enter>. 

5.

When the 

Press any key to boot from CD

 message appears, press any key. 

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.

NOTE: 

The 

Drivers and Utilities 

CD contains drivers that were factory installed during assembly of the computer. Use the 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD to load 

any required drivers, including those drivers required if your computer has a RAID controller.

NOTE: 

The Product Key is the bar code number on the sticker that is located on the external side cover of your computer. You may be prompted for the 

Product Key when using the 

Operating System

 CD under certain conditions.

NOTICE: 

The 

Operating System

 CD provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs installed 

on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows XP unless instructed to do so by a Dell technical support representative.

NOTICE: 

To prevent conflicts with Windows XP, disable any virus protection software installed on your computer before you reinstall Windows XP. See 

the documentation that came with the software for instructions.

Windows XP Setup 

1.

When the 

Windows XP Setup

 screen appears, press <Enter> to select 

To set up Windows now

. 

2.

Read the information on the 

Microsoft Windows Licensing Agreement

 screen, and press <F8> to accept the license agreement. 

3.

If your computer already has Windows XP installed and you want to recover your current Windows XP data, type 

r

 to select the repair option, and 

remove the CD.  

4.

If you want to install a new copy of Windows XP, press <Esc> to select that option. 

5.

Press <Enter> to select the highlighted partition (recommended), and follow the instructions on the screen. 

The 

Windows XP Setup

 screen appears, and the operating system begins to copy files and install the devices. The computer automatically restarts 

multiple times. 

6.

When the 

Regional and Language Options 

screen appears, select the settings for your location and click 

Next

. 

7.

Enter your name and organization (optional) in the 

Personalize Your Software 

screen, and click 

Next

. 

8.

At the 

Computer Name and Administrator Password

 window, enter a name for your computer (or accept the one provided) and a password, and click 

Next

. 

9.

If the 

Modem Dialing Information

 screen appears, enter the requested information and click 

Next

. 

10.

Enter the date, time, and time zone in the

 Date and Time Settings

 window, and click 

Next

. 

11.

If the 

Networking Settings

 screen appears, click 

Typical

 and click 

Next

. 

12.

If you are reinstalling Windows XP Professional and you are prompted to provide further information regarding your network configuration, enter your 

selections. If you are unsure of your settings, accept the default selections.  

Windows XP installs the operating system components and configures the computer. The computer automatically restarts. 

13.

When the 

Welcome to Microsoft

 screen appears, click 

Next

. 

14.

When the 

How will this computer connect to the Internet?

 message appears, click 

Skip

.  

15.

When the 

Ready to register with Microsoft? 

screen appears, select 

No, not at this time

 and click 

Next

. 

16.

When the 

Who will use this computer?

 screen appears, you can enter up to five users. Click 

Next

. 

17.

Click 

Finish 

to complete the setup, and remove the CD. 

18.

Reinstall the appropriate drivers using the 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD. 

19.

Reinstall your virus protection software. 

Reinstalling Microsoft Windows 2000 

1.

Save and close any open files and exit any open programs. 

 

To reinstall Windows 2000, you need the following items: 

 

l

Dell™ Operating System CD

 

  

l

Dell 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD 

 

l

Product Key (Product ID Number) 

2.

Insert the 

Operating System

 CD. If any program starts automatically, exit the program before proceeding. 

NOTE: 

The time required to complete the setup depends on the size of the hard drive and the speed of your computer.

NOTICE: 

Do not press any key when the following message appears: 

Press any key to boot from the CD

. 

NOTICE: 

Do not press any key when the following message appears: 

Press any key to boot from the CD.

NOTICE: 

The 

Operating System

 CD provides options for reinstalling Windows 2000. The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs 

installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows 2000 unless instructed to do so by a Dell technical support representative.

NOTICE: 

The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you must also reinstall the device 

drivers, virus protection program, and other software.

NOTE: 

The 

Drivers and Utilities 

CD contains drivers that were factory installed during assembly of the computer. Use the 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD to load 

any required drivers., including those drivers required if your computer has a RAID controller.

NOTE: 

The Product Key is the bar code number on the sticker that is located on the external side cover of your computer. You may be prompted for the 

Product Key when using the 

Operating System

 CD under certain conditions.

3.

Shut down the computer through the 

Start

 menu and restart the computer. 

4.

Press <F2> immediately after the DELL™ logo appears.

5.

If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the Windows desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again. 

6.

Press the arrow keys to select 

CD-ROM

, and press <Enter>. 

7.

When the 

Press any key to boot from CD

 message appears, press any key. 

8.

When the 

Windows 2000 Setup

 window appears, ensure that 

To setup Win2000 now, press ENTER

 is highlighted. Then press <Enter>. 

9.

When the 

Windows 2000 Professional Setup

 window appears, press the arrow keys to select the Windows 2000 partition option that you want. Then 

press the key for the partition option you chose. 

10.

When the 

Windows 2000 Professional Setup

 window reappears, press the arrow keys to select the type of file system that you want Windows 2000 

to use, and press <Enter>. 

11.

Press <Enter> again to restart your computer. 

12.

Click 

Next

 when the 

Welcome to the

Windows 2000 Setup Wizard

 window appears. 

13.

When the 

Regional Settings

 window appears, select your region and click 

Next

. 

14.

Enter your name and organization in the 

Personalize Your Software

 window, and click 

Next

. 

15.

Enter the Windows product key, which is printed on the Microsoft label on your computer, and click 

Next

. 

16.

When the 

Computer Name and Administrator Password 

window appears, enter a name for your computer and a password, if desired. Then click 

Next

. 

17.

Enter the date and time in the 

Date and Time Settings

 window, and click 

Next

. 

Windows 2000 installs components and configures the computer. 

18.

When the 

Completing the Windows 2000 Setup Wizard

 window appears, remove the CD from the drive and click 

Finish

. 

The computer automatically restarts. 

19.

Reinstall the appropriate drivers using the 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD. 

20.

Reinstall your virus protection software.