Dell Latitude 131L User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell™ Latitude™ 131L
Quick Reference Guide
Model PP23LB

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.
If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft
®
Windows
®
operating systems are not applicable.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2006 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and Latitude are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Microsoft 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 Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Model PP23LB
October 2006 P/N HN835 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
About Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Front View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Left Side View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Right Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Back View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Bottom View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Using a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Battery Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Checking the Battery Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Charging the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Replacing the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Storing a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Lockups and Software Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD . . . . . . 17
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

4Contents

Quick Reference Guide 5
Finding Information
NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or media may
not be available in certain countries.
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
• My computer documentation
• My device documentation
Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as ResourceCD)
NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD may be optional and may
not ship with your computer.
Documentation and drivers are already installed on your
computer. You can use the CD to reinstall drivers or run
the Dell Diagnostics (see "Dell Diagnostics" on page 16.)
Readme files may be
included on your CD 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.
• Warranty information
• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
• Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement
Dell™ Product Information Guide
• How to remove and replace parts
• Specifications
• How to configure system settings
• How to troubleshoot and solve problems
Dell Latitude™ User’s Guide
Microsoft Windows XP Help and Support Center
1 Click Start → Help and Support → Dell User and System
Guides
→ System Guides .
2 Click the User’s Guide for your computer.

6Quick Reference Guide
• Service Tag and Express Service Code
• Microsoft Windows License Label
Service Tag and Microsoft
®
Windows
®
License
These labels are located on the bottom of your computer.
• Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you
use
support.dell.com or contact technical support.
• Enter the Express
Service Code to direct
your call when
contacting technical
support.
• 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 memory, the hard drive, and the operating system
• Customer Care — Contact information, service call and
order status, warranty, and repair information
• Service and support — Service call status and support
history, service contract, online discussions with
technical support
• Reference — Computer documentation, details on my
computer configuration, product specifications, and
white papers
• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches, and software
updates
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support
site.
• How to use the Windows operating system
• How to work with programs and files
• How to personalize my desktop
Windows Help and Support Center
1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support .
2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and
click the arrow icon.
3 Click the topic that describes your problem.
4 Follow the instructions on the screen.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

Quick Reference Guide 7
Setting Up Your Computer
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product
Information Guide.
1 Unpack the accessories box.
2 Set aside the contents of the accessories box, which you will need to complete the setup of your
computer.
The accessories box also contains user documentation and any software or additional hardware (such
as drives or batteries) that you have ordered.
• How to reinstall my operating system Operating System CD
NOTE: The Operating System CD may be optional and may
not ship with your computer.
The operating system is already installed on your computer.
To reinstall your operating system, use the Operating
System CD.
After you reinstall your
operating system, use the
Drivers and Utilities CD
(ResourceCD) 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 CD varies based on the operating
system you ordered.
• Service call status and support history
• Top technical issues for my computer
• Frequently asked questions
• File downloads
• Details on my computer configuration
• Service contract for my computer
Dell Premier Support Website — premiersupport.dell.com
The Dell Premier Support website is customized for
corporate, government, and education customers. This
website may not be available in all regions.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

8Quick Reference Guide
3 Connect the AC adapter to the AC adapter connector on the computer and to the electrical outlet.
4 Open the computer display and press the power button to turn on the computer (see "Front View" on
page 9).
NOTE: It is recommended that you turn on and shut down your computer at least once before you install any cards
or connect the computer to a docking device or other external device, such as a printer.

Quick Reference Guide 9
About Your Computer
Front View
1display latch release 2display latches (2) 3display
4power button 5device status lights 6touch pad
7speakers (2) 8touch pad buttons 9keyboard
10 keyboard and wireless
status lights
1
9
3
6
8
4
7
5
10
2

10 Quick Reference Guide
Left Side View
Right Side View
Back View
1air vent 2security cable slot 3optical drive bay
4optical-drive-tray eject button
1hard drive 2ExpressCard slot 33-in-1 media memory card reader
4audio connectors (2) 5USB connectors (2)
1AC adapter connector 2network connector (RJ-45) 3modem connector (RJ-11)
4USB connectors (2) 5video connector
3241
34 521
1 4 532