Dell Inspiron 1210 User manual

SETUP GUIDE
INSPIRON™

Model PP40S
INSPIRON™1210
SETUP GUIDE

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.
© 2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell , the DELL logo, Inspiron , YOURS IS HERE, and DellConnect are trademarks of Dell Inc.;
Intel , and Atom are registered trademarks and Core is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries;
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 PP40S
July 2008 P/N M438J Rev. A00

3
INSPIRON
Setting Up Your Inspiron Laptop. . . . . . . . . .5
Before Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . 5
Connect the AC Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Connect the Network Cable (optional) . . . . . 7
Press the Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Ubuntu®Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Windows Vista®Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Connect to the Internet (Optional) . . . . . . . . 10
Using Your Inspiron Laptop. . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Left Side Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Computer Base and Keyboard Features . . . 18
Display Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Removing and Replacing the Battery . . . . . 21
Software Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Memory Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Lockups and Software Problems . . . . . . . . . 27
Dell Support Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Using Support Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Hardware Troubleshooter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Restoring Your Operating System . . . . . . .34
System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Dell Factory Image Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Operating System Reinstallation . . . . . . . . . 37
Contents

4
Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Technical Support and Customer
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Online Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
AutoTech Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Product Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Before You Call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Contacting Dell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Finding More Information and
Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Basic Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

5
INSPIRON
Setting Up Your Inspiron Laptop
This section provides information about setting
up your Inspiron 1210 laptop and connecting
peripherals.
Before Setting Up Your Computer
When positioning your computer, ensure that
you allow easy access to a power source,
adequate ventilation, and a level surface to
place your computer.
Restricting airflow around your Inspiron
laptop may cause it to overheat. To prevent
overheating ensure that you leave at least
10.2 cm (4 in) at the back of the computer and a
minimum of 5.1 cm (2 in) on all other sides. You
should never put your computer in an enclosed
space, such as a cabinet or drawer when it is
powered on.
CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into,
or allow dust to accumulate in the air
vents. Do not store your Dell™ computer
in a low-airflow environment, such as
a closed briefcase, while it is running.
Restricting the airflow can damage the
computer or cause a fire.
NOTICE: Placing or stacking heavy or sharp
objects on the computer may result in
permanent damage to the computer.

6
Setting Up Your Inspiron Laptop
Connect the AC Adapter
Connect the AC adapter to the computer and
then plug it into a wall outlet or surge protector.
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 a power strip or electrical outlet may
cause fire or equipment damage.

7
Setting Up Your Inspiron Laptop
Connect the Network Cable
(optional)
To use a wired network connection, plug in the
network cable.

8
Setting Up Your Inspiron Laptop
Press the Power Button