Dell Dimension 4100 User manual

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Dell™ Inspiron™ 4100
A Tour of Your Computer
Conserving Power
System Specifications
Solving Problems
Using the Dell™ Diagnostics
System Setup Program
Ports and Connector Pin-Outs
Removing and Replacing Parts
Hints, Notices, and Cautions
HINT: A HINT 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.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the Tell Me How help file (click
the Start button on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop, point to Programs—>
User's Guides, and click Tell Me How).
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Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Dell TravelLite, Inspiron, and AccessDirect are
trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks and Intel
SpeedStep is a trademark of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, MS-DOS, and Windows are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
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 Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary
interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain
U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights
owners. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision Corporation,
and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by
Macrovision Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.
December 2001 Rev. A01
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
Back to Contents Page
A Tour of Your Computer
Dell™ Inspiron™ 4100
Front View
Left Side View
Right Side View
Back View
Bottom View
Front View
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate
in the air vents. Doing so can damage the computer or cause a fire.
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
1 display latch 8 display latch button
2 display 9 battery bay
3 keyboard status lights 10 touch pad/track stick buttons
4 microphone 11 keyboard
5 device status lights 12 track stick
6 touch pad 13 power button
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
7 module bay 14 AccessDirect button
Display Latch
This latch keeps the display closed.
Display
The computer has a color LCD.
Keyboard Status Lights
The green lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:
Keyboard Status Lights
Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
Turns on when the uppercase letter function is enabled
Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled
Microphone
Record audio with the internal microphone.
Device Status Lights
●The light turns on when the computer is turned on.
●The light turns on when the computer reads or writes data.
●The light turns on steadily or blinks when the computer is in a power
management mode. It also blinks to indicate battery charge status.
If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the light operates as
follows:
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
❍Flashing green: The battery is fully charged.
❍Solid green: The battery is charging.
If the computer is running on a battery, the light operates as follows:
❍Off: The battery is adequately charged.
❍Flashing orange: The battery charge is low.
❍Solid orange: The battery charge is critically low.
NOTICE: To avoid data loss, never turn off the computer while the light is
flashing.
Touch Pad
Use the touch pad and touch pad buttons as you would use a mouse.
Module Bay
You can install devices such as a CD drive, a DVD drive, a CD-RW drive, a second hard
drive, a second battery, or a Dell TravelLite™ travel module in the module bay. For
more information, see "About the Module Bay" in the Solutions Guide.
Display Latch Button
Press this button to release the display latch and open the display.
Battery Bay
When a battery is installed, you can use the computer without connecting it to an
electrical outlet.
Touch Pad/Track Stick Buttons
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
These buttons correspond to the left and right buttons on a standard mouse.
Keyboard
The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as well as the Microsoft® Windows® logo
key, .
Track Stick
Use the track stick and track stick buttons as you would use a mouse.
Power Button
Press the power button to turn on the computer or to exit standby mode.
HINT: To turn off your computer, perform a Windows shutdown.
If the computer stops responding, press and hold the power button until the computer
turns off completely (which may take several seconds).
Dell™ AccessDirect™ Button
This button allows you to launch a frequently used program, such as your default
Internet browser.
Left Side View
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
1 PC Card slot 3 security cable slot
2 hard drive 4 speaker (one of two)
PC Card Slot
The PC Card slot has two connectors that support various types of PC Cards (also
referred to as PCMCIA cards), including modems and network adapters.
Hard Drive
The hard drive reads and writes data on a hard disk.
Security Cable Slot
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
This slot allows you to attach a commercially available antitheft device to the
computer. Instructions for installing antitheft devices are usually included with the
device.
NOTICE: Before you buy an antitheft device, ensure that it will work with the
security cable slot.
Speakers
Press the volume control keyboard shortcuts to adjust the volume of the integrated
speakers. If no sound comes from the speakers, press and adjust the volume.
Right Side View
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate
in the air vents. Doing so can damage the computer or cause a fire.
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
1 speaker (one of two) 5 network connector
2 infrared sensor 6 S-video TV-out connector
3 audio connectors 7 air vent
4 modem connector
Infrared Sensor
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
The infrared sensor lets you transfer files from your computer to another infrared-
compatible device without using cable connections.
Audio Connectors
Attach headphones or speakers to the connector.
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
Attach a microphone to the connector.
Modem Connector
To use your computer's internal modem, connect the telephone cable to the modem
connector.
For information on using the modem, see the online modem documentation supplied
with your computer.
Network Connector
To use your computer's integrated network adapter, use this connector to connect the
computer to a network.
NOTICE: The network connector is slightly larger than the modem connector.
Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector.
For information on using the network adapter, see the online network adapter
documentation supplied with your computer.
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
S-Video TV-Out Connector
Use this connector to attach your computer to a television.
Air Vent
HINT: The computer turns on the fans only when the computer gets hot. They
may run most of the time or very seldom, depending on your use of the
computer. Because the fans spin at a high rate of speed, they may make a
noise. This noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fans or the
computer.
The computer uses an internal fan to create airflow through the vents, which prevents
the computer from overheating.
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate
in the air vents. Doing so can damage the computer or cause a fire.
Back View
NOTICE: To avoid damaging the computer, wait 5 seconds after turning off the
computer before you disconnect an external device.
HINT: The computer turns on the fans only when the computer gets hot. The
fans may make a noise, which is normal and does not indicate a problem with
the fans or the computer.
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate
in the air vents. Doing so can damage the computer or cause a fire.
1 air intake 6 PS/2 connector
2 serial connector 7 USB connector
3 parallel connector 8 video monitor connector
4 docking connector 9 AC adapter connector
5 air vent
Serial Connector
Use this connector to attach serial devices, such as a mouse or a
handheld device.
Parallel Connector
Use this connector to attach a parallel device, such as a printer.
You can also attach a floppy drive to this connector with the
optional parallel connector cable.
Docking Connector
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HINT: Docking devices may not be available in all countries.
Use this connector to attach the optional docking device, also
called an advanced port replicator (APR). A docking device, or
APR, allows you to easily use external devices with your
computer, such as an external keyboard, mouse, or monitor.
See the documentation that came with your docking device for
additional information.
PS/2 Connector
HINT: You can use the integrated keyboard and an external keyboard at the
same time. When you attach a keyboard or numeric keypad, the integrated
numeric keypad is automatically disabled.
Use this connector to attach PS/2-compatible devices, such as a
mouse, keyboard, or external numeric keypad.
Shut down the computer before attaching or removing a PS/2-
compatible device. If the device does not work, install the
device drivers from the floppy disk or CD that came with the
device, and restart the computer.
On an external keyboard, the key acts the same way as
the key on the computer's keyboard (if the External Hot
Key option is enabled in the system setup program).
USB Connector
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
Use this connector to attach USB devices, such as a mouse,
keyboard, or printer.
Video Monitor Connector
Use this connector to attach an external monitor.
AC Adapter Connector
This connector 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 either on or off.
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
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 from the computer, grasp the
adapter cable connector, not the cable itself, and pull firmly but gently to avoid
damaging the cable.
Bottom View
NOTICE: To avoid damaging the computer, wait 5 seconds after turning off the
computer before you disconnect an external device.
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate
in the air vents. Doing so can damage the computer or cause a fire.
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A Tour of Your Computer: Dell Inspiron 4100
1 air intake 4 memory module and Mini PCI card
2 module release latch 5 battery release latch
3 docking device latch
Module Release Latch
Press the latch to remove a device in the module bay.
Docking Device Latch
This latch connects the computer to an optional docking device.
Memory Module and Mini PCI Card
For instructions on removing and installing memory modules and the optional Mini PCI
card, see "Replacing Parts" in the Solutions Guide.
Battery Release Latch
Press the latch to remove a battery from the battery bay.
Back to Contents Page
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Conserving Power: Dell Inspiron 4100
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Conserving Power
Dell™ Inspiron™ 4100
Conservation Tips
Power Conservation Modes
Power Options Properties
Conservation Tips
●You automatically conserve battery power each time you attach your computer
to an electrical outlet. When the AC adapter is attached, the battery is charged
while the computer uses AC power. Your battery's life expectancy is largely
determined by the number of times it is charged, so use an AC power source to
run the computer if one is available.
●When the computer is using battery power, remove the PC Cards that you are
not using.
●When possible, attach your computer to an electrical outlet when you play CDs
and DVDs. Playing a CD or DVD uses a lot of battery power.
●Place the computer in standby mode or hibernate mode when you leave the
computer unattended for long periods of time.
Power Conservation Modes
Standby Mode
Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a
predetermined period of inactivity (a time-out). When you exit standby mode, the
desktop is restored to the same state that it was in before the computer entered
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