Dell Inspiron 1521 Manual (222 Sider)

w w w. d e l l . c o m | s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m

Dell™ Inspiron™ 1521 Owner’s Manual

Model PP22L

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.

____________________

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Inspiron, Wi-Fi Catcher, and Dell MediaDirect are

trademarks of Dell Inc.; AMD, AMD Turion, HyperMemory, ATI Radeon and combinations thereof are

trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.; Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Vista are either

trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries;

Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming

the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and

trade names other than its own.

Model PP22L

September 2007 P/N RT722 Rev. A02

Contents 3

Contents

1 Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2 About Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Determining Your Computer’s Configuration . . . . . . 19

Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Left Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Right Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Back View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Bottom View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

3 Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Setting Up Your Internet Connection. . . . . . . . 34

Transferring Information to a New Computer . . . . . 35

Windows Easy Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Setting Up a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Printer Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Connecting a USB Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Power Protection Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Surge Protectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

4Contents

Line Conditioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Uninterruptible Power Supplies . . . . . . . . . . 38

4 Using the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Adjusting Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Switching the Video Image From Your Computer Display To a

Projector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate . . . . . . 39

5 Using the Keyboard and Touchpad . . . . . 41

Numeric Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Key Combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

System Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Display Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions . . . 43

Dell™ QuickSet Key Combinations . . . . . . . . . 43

Adjusting Keyboard Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Touch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Customizing the Touch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

6 Using a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Battery Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Checking the Battery Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Dell QuickSet Battery Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

6Contents

Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio . . . . 75

Enabling the Display Settings for a TV . . . . . . . 78

8 Using ExpressCards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

ExpressCard Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Installing an ExpressCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Removing an ExpressCard or Blank . . . . . . . . . . . 81

9 Using the Memory Card Reader . . . . . . . 83

Memory Card Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Installing a Memory Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Removing a Memory Card or Blank . . . . . . . . . . . 85

10 Setting Up and Using Networks . . . . . . . 87

Connecting a Network or Broadband Modem Cable . . 87

Setting Up a Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Wireless Local Area Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection . 88

Checking Your Wireless Network Card . . . . . . 89

Setting Up a New WLAN Using a Wireless Router and a

Broadband Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Connecting to a WLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Mobile Broadband (or Wireless Wide Area Network) . 93

What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network

Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Contents 7

Checking Your Dell Mobile Broadband Card . . . . 94

Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network . . . 94

Enabling/Disabling the Dell Mobile Broadband Card 95

Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator . . . . . . . . . 96

11 Securing Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Security Cable Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen . . . . . . . . . . . 99

12 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Dell Technical Update Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Dell Support Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Dell Support 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Dell PC Tune-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Dell PC CheckUp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Dell Network Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

DellConnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Optical drive problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Hard drive problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems . . . . . . . . 111

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

ExpressCard Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Contents 9

If only part of the display is readable . . . . . . . 131

Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

What Is a Driver? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Identifying Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities . . . . . . . . . . 132

Troubleshooting Software and Hardware Problems in the Windows

Vista® Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Restoring Your Microsoft® Windows Vista® Operating System 135

Using Windows Vista System Restore . . . . . . . 136

Using the Operating System Media . . . . . . . . 139

13 Adding and Replacing Parts . . . . . . . . . 141

Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Recommended Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Turning Off Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Before Working Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . 142

Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Removing the Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Replacing the Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Returning a Hard Drive to Dell . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Removing the Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Replacing the Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Hinge Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Removing the Hinge Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Replacing the Hinge Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Removing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

10 Contents

Replacing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Removing the DIMM A Memory Module . . . . . . 150

Replacing the DIMM A Memory Module . . . . . 152

Removing the DIMM B Memory Module . . . . . . 153

Replacing the DIMM B Memory Module . . . . . 154

Subscriber Identity Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Wireless Mini Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Removing a WLAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Replacing a WLAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Removing a Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card . . 160

Replacing a WWAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Removing a WPAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

Replacing a WPAN Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Internal Card With Bluetooth

® Wireless Technology . 165

Removing the Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Replacing the Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

Removing the Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . 167

Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . 167

14 Dell™ QuickSet Features . . . . . . . . . . . 169

15 Traveling With Your Computer . . . . . . . . 171

Identifying Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Packing the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Travel Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Contents 11

Traveling by Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

16 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

Obtaining Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

Technical Support and Customer Service . . . . . 174

DellConnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Online Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

AutoTech Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Automated Order-Status Service . . . . . . . . . 175

Problems With Your Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Product Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit . . . . . 176

Before You Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

17 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

A Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Using the System Setup Program . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Viewing the System Setup Screen . . . . . . . . . 190

System Setup Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

Commonly Used Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

Cleaning Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

Computer, Keyboard, and Display . . . . . . . . . 192

Touch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

12 Contents

Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . 194

Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals 195

Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals 195

FCC Notice (U.S. Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

FCC Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

Macrovision Product Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196

Glossary 197

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215

Finding Information 13

Finding Information

NOTE: Some features may be optional and may not ship with your computer.

Some features may not be available in certain countries.

NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• A diagnostic program for my computer

• Drivers for my computer

• Device documentation

• Notebook System Software (NSS)

Drivers and Utilities Media

Documentation and drivers are already

installed on your computer. You can use

the Drivers and Utilities media to

reinstall drivers (see "Reinstalling Drivers

and Utilities" on page 132) or run the

Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics"

on page 101).

Readme files may be included on your

Drivers and Utilities media to provide

last-minute updates about technical

changes to your computer or advanced

technical-reference material for

technicians or experienced users.

NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates

can be found at support.dell.com.

14 Finding Information

• Warranty information

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• How to set up my computer

Setup Diagram

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft

®

Windows

®

Product Key

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows

Product Key

These labels are located on your

computer.

• Use the Service Tag to identify your

computer when you use

support.dell.com

or contact support.

• Enter the Express Service Code to

direct your call when contacting

support.

NOTE: As an increased security measure,

the newly designed Microsoft Windows

license label incorporates a "security

portal," which looks like a missing portion

of the label, to discourage removal of the

label.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

Finding Information 15

• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and

tips, articles from technicians, online

courses, and frequently asked questions

• Community — Online discussion with

other Dell customers

• Upgrades — Upgrade information for

components, such as the memory, hard

drive, and operating system

• Customer Care — Contact

information, service call and order

status, and warranty and repair

information

• Service and support — Service call

status, support history, service contract,

and online discussions with support

• Dell Technical Update Service —

Proactive e-mail notification of software

and hardware updates for your

computer

• Reference — Computer

documentation, details on my

computer configuration, product

specifications, and white papers

• Downloads — Certified drivers,

patches, and software updates

• Notebook System Software (NSS) — If

you reinstall the operating system on

your computer, you should also reinstall

the NSS utility. NSS automatically

detects your computer and operating

system, and installs the updates

appropriate for your configuration,

providing critical updates for your

operating system and support for Dell

3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel

®

processors, optical drives, and USB

devices. NSS is necessary for correct

operation of your Dell computer.

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region or business

segment to view the appropriate support site.

To download Notebook System Software:

1

Go to

support.dell.com

, select your

country/region, and then click

Drivers

& Downloads

.

2

Enter your Service Tag or product

model, and then click

Go

.

3

Select your operating system and

language, and then click

Find

Downloads

, or under

Downloads

Search

, search for the keyword

Notebook System Software

.

NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface

may vary depending on your selections.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

16 Finding Information

• Software upgrades and troubleshooting

hints — Frequently asked questions,

hot topics, and general health of your

computing environment

Dell Support Utility

The Dell Support Utility is an automated

upgrade and notification system installed

on your computer. This support provides

real-time health scans of your computing

environment, software updates, and

relevant self-support information. Access

the Dell Support Utility from the

icon on the taskbar. For more information,

see "Dell Support Center" on page 106.

• How to use Microsoft Windows Vista

®

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

Windows Help and Support

1

Click the Windows Vista Start button

, and then click

Help and Support

.

2

In

Search Help

, type a word or phrase

that describes your problem, and then

press <Enter> or click the magnifying

glass.

3

Click the topic that describes your

problem.

4

Follow the instructions on the screen.

• Information on network activity, the

Power Management Wizard, hotkeys,

and other items controlled by Dell

QuickSet

Dell QuickSet Help

To view

Dell QuickSet Help

,

right-click

the Dell QuickSet icon in the Windows

notification area.

For more information on Dell QuickSet,

see "Dell™ QuickSet Features" on

page 169.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

Finding Information 17

• How to reinstall my operating system

Operating System Media

The operating system is already installed

on your computer. To reinstall your

operating system, use one of the

following methods:

• Microsoft Windows System Restore

—

Microsoft Windows System Restore

returns your computer to an earlier

operating state without affecting data

files.

• Dell PC Restore — Dell PC Restore

returns your computer to its original

operating state. Dell PC Restore may

not ship with your computer.

• Operating System Installation Media —

If you received operating system media

with your computer, you can use it to

restore your operating system.

For more information, see "Restoring

Your Microsoft® Windows Vista®

Operating System" on page 135.

After you reinstall your operating system,

use the Drivers and Utilities media to

reinstall drivers for the devices that came

with your computer.

Your operating system product key label is

located on your computer.

NOTE: The color of your operating system

installation media varies according to the

operating system you ordered.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

18 Finding Information

About Your Computer 19

About Your Computer

Determining Your Computer’s Configuration

Based on selections that you made when purchasing your computer, your

computer has one of several different video controller configurations.

To determine your computer’s video controller configuration:

1 Click

Start

, and then click

Help and Support

.

2

Under

Pick a Task

, click

Use Tools to view your computer information

and diagnose problems.

3

Under

My Computer Information

, select

Hardware

.

From the My Computer Information - Hardware screen, you can view the

type of video controller installed in your computer, as well as the other

hardware components.

20 About Your Computer

Front View

1 camera indicator (optional) 2 camera (optional)

3 display latch 4 display

5 power button 6 keyboard

7 device status lights 8 touch pad

9 consumer IR 10 media control buttons

11 touch pad buttons 12 Dell™ MediaDirect™ button

13 keyboard status lights 14 digital array microphones

4

5

13

3

6

12

8

7

14

2

1

11 910

About Your Computer 21

C A M E R A I N D I C AT O R — Indicates that the camera is on. Based on configuration

selections you made when ordering your computer, your computer may not include a

camera.

C A M E R A — Built-in camera for video capture, conferencing, and chat. Based on

configuration selections you made when ordering your computer, your computer may

not include a camera.

D I S P L AY L AT C H — Keeps the display closed.

D I S P L AY — For more information about your display, see "Using the Display" on

page 39.

P O W E R B U T T O N — Press the power button to turn on the computer or exit a power

management mode (see "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 50).

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, turn off your computer by performing a Microsoft

®

Windows® operating system shutdown rather than by pressing the power button.

If the computer stops responding, press and hold the power button until the

computer turns off completely (may take several seconds).

K E Y B O A R D — For more information about the keyboard, see "Using the Keyboard and

Touchpad" on page 41.

22 About Your Computer

D E V I C E S T A T U S L I G H T S

The blue lights located to the right of the keyboard 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.

NOTICE: To avoid loss of data, never turn off the computer while the

light is flashing.

Battery status light – Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge

status.

Wi-Fi status light – Turns on when wireless networking is enabled. To

enable or disable wireless networking, use the wireless switch (see "wireless

switch" on page 25).

About Your Computer 23

If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the light operates as follows:

– Solid blue: The battery is charging.

– Flashing blue: The battery is almost fully charged.

– Off: The battery is adequately charged.

If the computer is running on a battery, the light operates as follows:

– Off: The battery is adequately charged (or the computer is turned off).

– Flashing amber: The battery charge is low.

– Solid

amber

: The battery charge is critically low.

T O U C H P A D —Provides the functionality of a mouse (see "Touch Pad" on page 43).

T O U C H P A D B U T T O N S —Use these buttons much like the buttons on a mouse when

you use the touch pad to move the cursor on the display (see "Touch Pad" on page 43).

M E D I A C O N T R O L B U T T O N S —Control CD, DVD, and Media Player playback.

Bluetooth® status light – Turns on when a card with Bluetooth wireless

technology is enabled.

NOTE: The card with Bluetooth wireless technology is an optional feature.

The light turns on only if you ordered the card with your computer. For

more information, see the documentation that came with your card.

To turn off only the Bluetooth wireless technology functionality, right-click

the icon in the notification area, and then click Disable Bluetooth

Radio.

To quickly enable or disable all wireless devices, use the wireless switch

(see "wireless switch" on page 25).

Mute Play the previous track

Turn the volume down Play the next track

Turn the volume up Stop

Play or pause

24 About Your Computer

D D —E L L ™ M E D I A I R E C T ™B U T T O N Press the Dell MediaDirect button to launch

Dell MediaDirect (see "Using Dell MediaDirect™" on page 61).

K E Y B O A R D S T A T U S L I G H T S

The blue lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:

D I G I T A L A R R A Y M I C R O P H O N E S —Built-in microphone for conferencing and chat.

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.

9

A

About Your Computer 25

Left Side View

S E C U R I T Y C A B L E S L O T —Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device

to the computer (see "Security Cable Lock" on page 97).

W I R E L E S S S W I T C H —When enabled through Dell QuickSet, this switch can scan for

a wireless local area network (WLAN) in your vicinity. You can also use it to rapidly

turn off or on any wireless devices such as WLAN cards and internal cards with

Bluetooth wireless technology (see "Dell Wi-Fi Catcher™ Network Locator" on

page 96).

1 security cable slot 2 wireless switch

3 Wi-Fi Catcher light 4 air vents

5 audio connectors 6 ExpressCard slot

1off Disables wireless devices.

2on Enables wireless devices.

3momentary Scans for WLAN networks (see "Dell Wi-Fi

Catcher™ Network Locator" on page 96).

1 2 5 63 4

1 2 3 4

26 About Your Computer

NOTE: The Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator light appears only when the computer is

turned off and the wireless switch is configured in the system setup program (BIOS)

to control Wi-Fi network connections.

CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air

vents. Do not store your 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.

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 computer turns the fan on when

the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the

fan or the computer.

AUDIO C O N N E C T O R S

E C —X P R E S S A R D S L O T Supports one ExpressCard. The computer ships with a

plastic blank installed in the slot. For more information, see "Using ExpressCards" on

page 79.

4Wi-Fi Catcher light

• Flashing green: Searching for networks

• Solid green: Strong network found

• Solid yellow: Weak network found

• Flashing yellow: Error

• Off: No signal found

Attach headphones to the connector.

Attach a microphone to the connector.

28 About Your Computer

V I D E O C O N N E C T O R

N E T W O R K C O N N E C T O R (R J - 4 5 )

US B C O N N E C T O R S

Back View

Connects video devices, such as a monitor.

Connects the computer to a network. The two lights next

to the connector indicate status and activity for wired

network connections.

For information on using the network adapter, see the

device user’s guide supplied with your computer.

Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or

printer.

1 S-video TV-out connector 2 USB connectors (2)

3 AC adapter connector 4 battery

5 modem connector (RJ-11)

1 2 3 54

About Your Computer 29

S- V I D E O TV-O U T C O N N E C T O R

USB C O N N E C T O R S

AC A D A P T E R —C O N N E C T O R Attaches an AC adapter to the computer.

The AC adapter converts AC power to the DC power required by the computer.

You can connect the AC adapter with your computer turned on or off.

CAUTION: The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However,

power connectors and power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible

cable or improperly connecting the cable to the power strip or electrical outlet

may cause fire or equipment damage.

NOTICE: When you disconnect the AC adapter cable from the computer, grasp the

connector, not the cable itself, and pull firmly, but gently to help prevent damage to

the cable.

Connects your computer to a TV. Also connects digital

audio-capable devices using the TV/digital audio

adapter cable.

Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or

printer.

About Your Computer 31

L E F T S P E A K E R —To adjust the volume of the integrated speaker, press the volume

control buttons or the mute button.

M E M O R Y M O D U L E /C O I N -C E L L B A T T E R Y C O M P A R T M E N T —Compartment that

contains the DIMM B memory module and the coin-cell battery. For additional

information, see "Adding and Replacing Parts" on page 141.

C O N S U M E R I R — A port on the front of the computer that allows certain software

applications to be controlled by the Dell Travel Remote.

R I G H T S P E A K E R —To adjust the volume of the integrated speaker, press the volume

control buttons or the mute button.

W I R E L E S S M I N I C A R D C O M P A R T M E N T —Compartment for WLAN, WWAN, or

WPAN Mini Cards (see "Wireless Mini Cards" on page 157).

B A T T E R Y —When a battery is installed, you can use the computer without

connecting the computer to an electrical outlet (see "Using a Battery" on page 47).

B A T T E R Y C H A R G E / H E A L T H GAUGE —Provides information on the battery charge (see

"Checking the Battery Charge" on page 48).

B A T T E R Y -BAY L A T C H R E L E A S E S —Releases the battery (see "Replacing the Battery"

on page 52 for instructions).

F A N —The computer uses a fan to create airflow through the vents, which prevents

the computer from overheating. The computer turns the fan on when the computer

gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fan or the

computer.

H A R D D R I V E —Stores software and data.

1 left speaker 2 memory module/coin-cell battery

compartment

3 consumer IR 4 right speaker

5 wireless mini card compartment 6 battery

7 battery charge/health gauge 8 battery-bay latch releases (2)

9 fan 10 hard drive

32 About Your Computer

34 Setting Up Your Computer

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

To set up an Internet connection with a provided ISP desktop shortcut:

1

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

2

Double-click the ISP

icon on the Microsoft

®

Windows

®

desktop.

3

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

NOTE: If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem,

and Internet Problems" on page 111. If you cannot connect to the Internet, but have

successfully connected in the past, the ISP may have a service outage. Contact

your ISP to check the service status, or try connecting again later.

NOTE: Have your ISP information ready. If you do not have an ISP, the Connect to

the Internet wizard can help you obtain one.

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:

1

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

2

Click

Start

, and then click

Control Panel

.

3

Under

Network and Internet

, click

Connect to the Internet

.

The

Connect to the Internet

window appears.

4

Click either

Broadband (PPPoE)

,

Wireless

, or

Dial-up

, depending on how

you want to connect:

• Choose

Broadband

if you will use a DSL modem, cable TV modem, or

satellite modem.

• Choose

Wireless

if you will use a wireless connection through a

WLAN card.

• Choose

Dial-up

if you will use a dial-up modem or ISDN.

NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, click Help me

choose or contact your ISP.

5

Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information

provided by your ISP to complete the setup.

Setting Up Your Computer 35

Transferring Information to a New Computer

You can transfer the following types of data from one computer to another:

• E-mail messages

• Toolbar settings

• Window sizes

• Internet bookmarks

Use one of the following methods for transferring data:

• Windows Easy Transfer wizard, an Easy Transfer Cable, and a USB port

• Over a network

• Removable media, such as a writable CD

Windows Easy Transfer

1

Click

Start

→

All Programs

→

Accessories

→

System Tools

→

Windows

Easy Transfer

.

2

In the

User Account Control

dialog box, click

Continue

.

3

Click

4

Click

Start a new transfer

or

Continue a transfer in progress

.

5

Follow the instructions in the Windows Easy Transfer wizard.

Setting Up a Printer

NOTICE: Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the

computer.

See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information,

including how to:

• Obtain and install updated drivers.

• Connect the printer to the computer.

• Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge.

For technical assistance, refer to the printer owner's manual or contact the

printer manufacturer.

36 Setting Up Your Computer

Printer Cable

Your printer connects to your computer with a USB cable. Your printer may

not come with a printer cable, so if you purchase a cable separately, ensure

that it is compatible with your printer and computer. If you purchased a

printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer, the cable may

arrive in the computer’s shipping box.

Connecting a USB Printer

NOTE: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.

1

Complete the operating system setup if you have not already done so.

2

Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and

the printer. The USB connectors fit only one way.

1 USB connector on computer 2 USB connector on printer

3 USB printer cable

3

2

1

Setting Up Your Computer 37

3

Turn on the printer, and then turn on the computer.

If the

Add New Hardware Wizard

window appears, click

Cancel

.

4

Click

Start

, and then click

Network

.

5

Click

Add a printer

to start the Add Printer Wizard.

NOTE: To install the printer driver, see "Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities" on

page 132 and the documentation that came with your printer.

6

Click

Add a local printer

or

Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer

.

7

Follow the instructions in the Add Printer Wizard.

Power Protection Devices

Several devices are available to protect against power fluctuations and

failures:

• Surge protectors

• Line conditioners

• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)

Surge Protectors

Surge protectors and power strips equipped with surge protection help

prevent damage to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during

electrical storms or after power interruptions. Some surge protector

manufacturers include warranty coverage for certain types of damage.

Carefully read the device warranty when choosing a surge protector. A device

with a higher joule rating offers more protection. Compare joule ratings to

determine the relative effectiveness of different devices.

NOTICE: Most surge protectors do not protect against power fluctuations or

power interruptions caused by nearby lightning strikes. When lightning occurs in

your area, disconnect the telephone line from the telephone wall jack and

disconnect your computer from the electrical outlet.

Many surge protectors have a telephone jack for modem protection. See the

surge protector documentation for modem connection instructions.

NOTICE: Not all surge protectors offer network adapter protection. Disconnect the

network cable from the network wall jack during electrical storms.

38 Setting Up Your Computer

Line Conditioners

NOTICE: Line conditioners do not protect against power interruptions.

Line conditioners are designed to maintain AC voltage at a fairly constant level.

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

NOTICE: Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in

data loss or file damage.

NOTE: To ensure maximum battery operating time, connect only your computer to

a UPS. Connect other devices, such as a printer, to a separate power strip that

provides surge protection.

A UPS protects against power fluctuations and interruptions. UPS devices

contain a battery that provides temporary power to connected devices when

AC power is interrupted. The battery charges while AC power is available. See the

UPS manufacturer documentation for information on battery operating time and

to ensure that the device is approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Using the Display 39

Using the Display

Adjusting Brightness

When a Dell™ computer is running on battery power, you can conserve power

by setting the display brightness to the lowest comfortable level.

• Press <Fn> and the up-arrow key to increase brightness on the integrated

display only (not on an external monitor).

• Press <Fn> and the down-arrow key to decrease brightness on the

integrated display only (not on an external monitor).

NOTE: Brightness key combinations only affect the display on your portable

computer, not monitors or projectors 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 may appear, but the brightness

level on the external device does not change.

Switching the Video Image From Your Computer

Display To a Projector

When you start the computer with an external device attached (such as an

external monitor or projector) and turned on, the image may appear on either

the computer display or the external device.

Press <Fn><F8> to switch the video image between the display only, the

external device only, or the display and the external device simultaneously.

Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate

NOTE: If you change the display resolution from the current settings, the image

may appear blurry or text may be hard to read if you change the resolution to one

not supported by your computer and display. Before you change any of the display

settings, make a note of the current settings so you can change back to the

previous settings if needed.

40 Using the Display

You can enhance the legibility of text and change the appearance of images

on the screen by adjusting display resolution. As you increase resolution,

items appear smaller on the screen. In contrast, lower resolution causes text

and images to appear larger and can benefit people with vision impairments.

To display a program at a specific resolution, both the video card and the

display must support the program, and the necessary video drivers must be

installed.

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 supported values.

To set the display resolution and refresh rate for your display:

1

Click

Start

→

Control Panel

.

2

Under

Appearance and Personalization

, click

Adjust screen resolution

.

3

In the

Display Settings

window, under

Resolution

, move the slide bar to

the left or right to decrease/increase the screen resolution.

NOTE: For additional instructions, click How do I get the best display?

Using the Keyboard and Touchpad 41

Using the Keyboard and Touchpad

Numeric Keypad

The numeric keypad functions like the numeric keypad on an external

keyboard. Each key on the keypad has multiple functions. The keypad

numbers and symbols are marked in blue on the right of the keypad keys.

To type a number or symbol, hold down <Fn> and press the desired key.

• To enable the keypad, press <Num Lk>. The light indicates that the

keypad is active.

• To disable the keypad, press <Num Lk> again.

numeric keypad

9

42 Using the Keyboard and Touchpad

Key Combinations

System Functions

Display Functions

Battery

Power Management

<Ctrl><Shift><Esc> Opens the Task Manager window.

<Fn><F8> Displays icons representing all currently

available display options (display only, external

monitor or projector only, both display and

projector, etc). Highlight the desired icon to

switch the display to that option.

<Fn> and up-arrow key Increases brightness on the integrated display

only (not on an external monitor).

<Fn> and down-arrow key Decreases brightness on the integrated display

only (not on an external monitor).

<Fn><F3> Displays the Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter

(see "Dell QuickSet Battery Meter" on

page 48).

<Fn><Esc> Activates a power management mode. You can

reprogram this keyboard shortcut to activate a

different power management mode using the

Advanced tab in the Power Options

Properties window (see "Configuring Power

Management Settings" on page 50).

Using the Keyboard and Touchpad 43

Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions

Dell™ QuickSet Key Combinations

If Dell QuickSet is installed, you can use other shortcut keys for functions

such as the Battery Meter or activating power management modes. For more

information about Dell QuickSet key combinations, right-click the QuickSet

icon in the notification area, and then click Help.

Adjusting Keyboard Settings

To adjust keyboard operation, such as the character repeat rate:

1

Click

Start

,

and then click

Control

Panel

.

2

Click

Hardware and Sound

.

3

Click

Keyboard

.

Touch Pad

The touch pad detects the pressure and movement of your finger to allow you

to move the cursor on the display. Use the touch pad and touch pad buttons

as you would use a mouse.

Windows logo key and <m> Minimizes all open windows.

Windows logo key and

Restores all minimized windows. This key

combination functions as a toggle to restore

minimized windows following the use of the

Windows logo key and <m> combination.

Windows logo key and <e> Starts Windows Explorer.

Windows logo key and <r> Opens the Run dialog box.

Windows logo key and <f> Opens the Search Results dialog box.

Windows logo key and

Opens the Search Results-Computer dialog box

(if the computer is connected to a network).

Windows logo key and <Pause> Opens the System Properties dialog box.

44 Using the Keyboard and Touchpad

• To move the cursor, lightly slide your finger over the touch pad.

• To select an object, lightly tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use

your thumb to press the left touch pad button.

• To select and move (or drag) an object, position the cursor on the object

and tap twice on the touch pad. On the second tap, leave your finger on

the touch pad and move the selected object by sliding your finger over the

surface.

• To double-click an object, position the cursor on the object and tap twice

on the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button

twice.

1 touch pad 2 silk screen depicting scrolling capabilities

1

2

Using the Keyboard and Touchpad 45

Customizing the Touch Pad

You can use the Mouse Properties window to disable the touch pad or adjust

the touch pad settings.

1

Click

Start

,

and then click

Control

Panel

.

2

Click

Hardware and Sound

.

3

Click

Keyboard

.

4

In the

Mouse Properties

window:

• Click the

Device Select

tab to disable the touch pad.

• Click the

Touch Pad

tab to adjust touch pad settings.

5

Click

OK

to save the settings and close the window.

46 Using the Keyboard and Touchpad

48 Using a Battery

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.

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 battery is designed to work with your Dell computer. Do not use batteries

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 "Battery Disposal" in the

Product 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.

Checking the Battery Charge

You can check the battery charge on your computer using any one of the

following methods:

• Dell QuickSet Battery Meter

• Microsoft Windows battery meter icon located in the notification area

• Battery charge/health gauge located on the battery

• Low-battery warning pop-up window

Dell QuickSet Battery Meter

To view the

Dell QuickSet Battery Meter:

• Double-click the Dell QuickSet icon in the taskbar, and then click

Battery Meter

or

• Press <Fn><F3>

The Battery Meter displays the status, battery health, charge level, and charge

completion time for the battery in your computer.

50 Using a Battery

Low-Battery Warning

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, Sleep state begins automatically.

A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately

90 percent depleted. The computer enters Sleep state when the battery

charge is at a critically low level.

You can change the settings for the battery alarms in Dell QuickSet or the Power

Options window (see "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 50).

Conserving Battery Power

To conserve battery power on your portable computer, do any of the following:

• Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible; battery life is

largely determined by the number of times the battery is used and

recharged.

• Configure the power management settings using either Dell QuickSet or

Microsoft Windows Power Options to optimize your computer’s power

usage (see "Configuring Power Management Settings" on page 50).

• Use the Sleep power state when you leave the computer unattended for

long periods of time (see "Using the Sleep Power State" on page 51).

Configuring Power Management Settings

You can use Dell QuickSet or Windows Power Options to configure the power

management settings on your computer.

• For information on how to use the Dell QuickSet Power Management

wizard, right-click the QuickSet icon in the notification area, click

Help

,

and then select

Power Management

.

• To use Windows Power Options, do one of the following:

• Click

Start

→

Control Panel

→

Hardware and Sound

→

Power

Options

, and then select a power plan in the

Select a power plan

window.

or

•

Click the icon in the notification area

, click

Power Options

, and

then select a plan in the

Select a power plan

window.

Using a Battery 51

Using the Sleep Power State

Rather than shutting down your portable computer, use the Sleep power state

to conserve power. Sleep automatically saves your work to your hard drive, and

then returns you to your previous work session without restarting your

computer.

NOTICE: If your computer loses AC and battery power while in Sleep state, it may

lose data.

To enter Sleep state:

•

Click

Start

, click

,

and then click

Sleep

.

or

• Depending on how you set the power management options in the

Windows Power Options or Dell QuickSet, use one of the following

methods:

• Press the power button.

• Close the display.

• Press <Fn><Esc>.

To exit Sleep state, press the power button.

Charging the Battery

NOTE: Charge time is longer with the computer turned on. You can leave the

battery in the computer for as long as you like. The battery’s internal circuitry

prevents the battery from overcharging.

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.

Using a Battery 53

To replace the battery, follow the removal procedure in reverse order.

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 (see "Charging the Battery" on page 51)

before you use it.

1 battery 2 battery release latches (2)

2

1

54 Using a Battery

Using Multimedia 57

Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote

The Dell Travel Remote is designed to control Dell Media Direct and

Windows Vista® Media Center. It can work only with specified computers.

For more details, refer to the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

To play media using Dell Travel Remote:

1

Install the CR2106 coin-cell battery into your remote control.

2

Launch Windows Vista Media Center from

Start

→

Programs

.

3

Use the remote control buttons to play media.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

16

15

14

13

12

18

17

60 Using Multimedia

DVD-Writable Drives

Helpful Tips

• Use Microsoft

®

Windows

®

Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or

CD-RW only after you start

Roxio Creator

and open a Creator project.

• Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD-RW to its maximum capacity; for

example, do not copy a 650-MB file to a blank 650-MB CD. The CD-RW

drive needs 1–2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording.

• Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos.

CD-RWs do not play in most home or car stereos.

• Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that

have MP3 software installed.

• Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with

CD recording techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on

the CD-RW and try again. You can also use blank CD-RWs to test music

file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD-R.

• You cannot create audio DVDs with

Roxio Creator

.

• Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may

not support all available DVD formats. For a list of formats supported by

your DVD player, see the documentation provided with your DVD player

or contact the manufacturer.

• See the Roxio website at

www.sonic.com

.

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

CD-RW Yes Yes Yes

DVD+R Yes Yes No

DVD-R Yes Yes No

DVD+RW Yes Yes Yes

DVD-RW Yes Yes Yes

DVD+R DL Yes Yes No

DVD-R DL Yes No No

66 Using Multimedia

4

Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone

connector on your computer.

5

Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the

audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device.

6

Turn on the TV and any audio device that you connected (if applicable),

and then turn on the computer.

7

See "Enabling the Display Settings for a TV" on page 78 to ensure that the

computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

1 S-video TV-out connector 2 composite video adapter

1 2

Mærke:	Dell
Kategori:	Laptop
Model:	Inspiron 1521

Dell Inspiron 1521 Manual

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