Dell Networking 8100 Series User manual

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Dell™ Inspiron™ 8100 Systems
Solutions Guide

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 potentially hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
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).
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2001 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer
Corporation is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text:
Dell , Dell TravelLite , Inspiron , DellWare , TrueMobile , Dimension ,
OptiPlex , Dell Precision , and Latitude are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Intel and
Pentium are registered trademarks and Celeron is a trademark of Intel Corporation; GeForce2
Go
is a trademark of NVIDIA Corporation; 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 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.
June 2001 P/N 0E214 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
Safety and EMC Instructions:
Portable Computers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
EMC Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
When Using Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
When Removing or Installing Memory Modules . . . . . . . . . 12
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1Setting Up
Connecting a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Installing the Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Parallel Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
USB Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Turning Off the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Windows Millennium Edition (Me) and Windows 2000 . . . . . 18
Using the Media Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Swapping Devices While the Computer Is Turned Off . . . . . . 20
Swapping Devices While Windows Is Running . . . . . . . . . . 21
Setting Up the Dolby Headphone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Setting Up the APR to Connect to a Network . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Setting Up the APR for Windows Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Setting Up the APR for Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

4Contents
2Solving Problems
Finding Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Accessing Help Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Start-Up Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Video and Display Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
If the display is blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
If the display is difficult to read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Integrated Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
External Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Printer Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
If you cannot print to a parallel port printer . . . . . . . . . . 32
If you cannot print to a USB printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Modem Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Scanner Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Touch Pad Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
External Keyboard Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Unexpected Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
If you cannot play a music CD
or install a program from a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
If you cannot play a DVD movie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
If the CD-RW drive stops writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
If you have a hard drive problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Network Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Contents 5
Windows Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
General Program Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
A program crashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
A program stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
A solid blue screen appears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Internet Connection Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
E-Mail Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
If Your Computer Gets Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
If You Drop or Damage Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Resolving Other Technical Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Reinstalling Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Reinstalling Windows Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Reinstalling Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
3Adding Parts
Replacing the Palm Rests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Using the Advanced Port Replicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Connecting External Devices to the APR . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
APR Controls and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Docking the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Undocking the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Monitor Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Adding Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Installing a Mini PCI Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Replacing a Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

6Contents
4Appendix
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Standard Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
System Setup Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Viewing the System Setup Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Contact Numbers and Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit . . . . . . . . . 87
Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
General EMC Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
FCC Notices (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Battery Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
NOM Information (Mexico Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Información para NOM (únicamente para México) . . . . . . . 93
Limited Warranties and Return Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
One-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Two-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Three-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . 99
One-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Two-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Three-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . 107
“Total Satisfaction” Return Policy
(U.S. and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
One-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee
(Latin America and the Caribbean Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Safety and EMC Instructions: Portable Computers 7
Safety and EMC Instructions:
Portable Computers
The following information defines the meaning of symbols used in the
Safety and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Instructions.
Safety Instructions
General
•Do not attempt to service the computer yourself. Always follow
installation instructions closely.
•If you use an extension power cable with your AC adapter, ensure that
the total ampere rating of the products plugged in to the extension
power cable does not exceed the ampere rating of the extension cable.
•Do not push objects into air vents or openings of your computer.
Doing so can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior
components.
•Place the AC adapter in a ventilated area, such as a desk top or on the
floor, when you use it to run the computer or to charge the battery. Do
not cover the AC adapter with papers or other items that will reduce
cooling; also, do not use the AC adapter inside a carrying case.
Attention Risk of electric shock
Risk of explosion Aircraft
Risk of fire Use of this feature may be prohibited on
aircraft

8Safety and EMC Instructions: Portable Computers
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•Do not allow your portable computer to operate with the base resting
directly on exposed skin, for example, legs, for an extended period of
time. With extended operation, heat can potentially build up in the
base. Allowing sustained contact with the skin could cause discomfort
or, eventually, a burn.
•Do not use your computer in a wet environment, for example, near a
bath tub, sink, or swimming pool or in a wet basement.
•If your computer includes an integrated or optional (PC Card)
modem, disconnect the modem cable if an electrical storm is
approaching to avoid the remote risk of electric shock from lightning
via the telephone line.
•To help avoid the potential hazard of electric shock, do not connect or
disconnect any cables or perform maintenance or reconfiguration of
this product during an electrical storm. Do not use your computer
during an electrical storm unless all cables have been disconnected and
the computer is operating on battery power.
•If your computer includes a modem, the cable used with the modem
should be manufactured with a minimum wire size of 26 American
wire gauge (AWG) and an FCC-compliant RJ-11 modular plug.
•PC Cards may become very warm during normal operation. Use care
when removing PC Cards after their continuous operation.
•Before you clean your computer, remove power. Clean your computer
with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol
cleaners, which may contain flammable substances.
Power (Safety Instructions, continued)
•Use only the Dell-provided AC adapter approved for use with this
computer. Use of another AC adapter may cause a fire or explosion.
•Before you connect the computer to an electrical outlet, check the AC
adapter voltage rating to ensure that the required voltage and
frequency match the available power source.
•To remove power from the computer, turn it off, remove the battery
pack, and disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet.

Safety and EMC Instructions: Portable Computers 9
•To help prevent electric shock, plug the AC adapter and peripheral
power cables into properly grounded power sources. These power
cables may be equipped with three-prong plugs to provide an earth
grounding connection. Do not use adapter plugs or remove the
grounding prong from the power cable plug. If you use a power
extension cable, use the appropriate type, two-prong or three-prong, to
mate with the AC adapter power cable.
•Be sure that nothing rests on your AC adapter’s power cable and that
the cable is not located where it can be tripped over or stepped on.
•If you are using a multiple-outlet power strip, use caution when
plugging the AC adapter’s power cable into the power strip. Some
power strips may allow you to insert the plug incorrectly. Incorrect
insertion of the power plug could result in permanent damage to your
computer, as well as risk of electric shock and/or fire. Ensure that the
ground prong of the power plug is inserted into the mating ground
contact of the power strip.
Battery (Safety Instructions, continued)
•Use only Dell battery modules that are approved for use with this
computer. Use of other types may increase the risk of fire or explosion.
•Do not carry a battery pack in your pocket, purse, or other container
where metal objects (such as car keys or paper clips) could short-circuit
the battery terminals. The resulting excessive current flow can cause
extremely high temperatures and may result in damage to the battery
pack or cause fire or burns.
•The battery poses a burn hazard if you handle it improperly. Do not
disassemble it. Handle a damaged or leaking battery pack with extreme
care. If the battery is damaged, electrolyte may leak from the cells and
may cause personal injury.
•Keep away from children.
•Do not store or leave your computer or battery pack near a heat source
such as a radiator, fireplace, stove, electric heater, or other heat-
generating appliance. When heated to excessive temperatures, battery
cells could explode or vent, posing a risk of fire.

10 Safety and EMC Instructions: Portable Computers
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•Do not dispose of your computer’s battery in a fire or with normal
household waste. Battery cells may explode. Discard a used battery
according to the manufacturer’s instructions or contact your local
waste disposal agency for disposal instructions. Dispose of a spent or
damaged battery promptly.
Air Travel (Safety Instructions, continued)
•Certain Federal Aviation Administration regulations and/or airline-
specific restrictions may apply to the operation of your Dell™
computer while you are onboard an aircraft. For example, such
regulations/restrictions may prohibit the use of any personal electronic
device (PED) that has the capacity for intentional transmission of
radio frequency or other electromagnetic signals while on an aircraft.
– In order to best comply with all such restrictions, if your Dell
portable computer is equipped with Dell TrueMobile™ or some
other wireless communication device, please disable this device
before you board the aircraft and follow all instructions provided
by airline personnel with regard to such device.
– Additionally, the use of any PED, such as a portable computer,
may be prohibited in aircraft during certain critical phases of
flight, for example, takeoff and landing. Some airlines may further
define the critical flight phase as any time the aircraft is below
3050 m (10,000 ft). Please follow the airline’s specific instructions
as to when the use of a PED is allowed.
EMC Instructions
•Use shielded signal cables to ensure that you maintain the appropriate
EMC classification for the intended environment. For parallel printers,
a cable is available from Dell. If you prefer, you can order a cable from
Dell at its world-wide website at http://www.dell.com.
•Static electricity can harm electronic components inside your
computer. To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from
your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic
components, such as a memory module. You can do so by touching an
unpainted metal surface on the computer’s input/output panel.

Safety and EMC Instructions: Portable Computers 11
When Using Your Computer
Observe the following safety guidelines to prevent damage to your
computer:
•When setting up the computer for work, place it on a level surface.
•When traveling, do not check the computer as baggage. You can put
your computer through an X-ray security machine, but never put your
computer through a metal detector. If you have the computer checked
by hand, be sure to have a charged battery available in case you are
asked to turn on the computer.
•When traveling with the hard drive removed from the computer, wrap
the drive in a nonconducting material, such as cloth or paper. If you
have the drive checked by hand, be ready to install the drive in the
computer. You can put the hard drive through an X-ray security
machine, but never put the drive through a metal detector.
•When traveling, do not place the computer in overhead storage
compartments where it could slide around. Do not drop your
computer or subject it to other mechanical shocks.
•Protect your computer, battery, and hard drive from environmental
hazards such as dirt, dust, food, liquids, temperature extremes, and
overexposure to sunlight.
•When you move your computer between environments with very
different temperature and/or humidity ranges, condensation may form
on or within the computer. To avoid damaging the computer, allow
sufficient time for the moisture to evaporate before using the
computer.
NOTICE: When taking the computer from low-temperature conditions into a
warmer environment or from high-temperature conditions into a cooler
environment, allow the computer to acclimate to room temperature before
turning on power.
•When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-
relief loop, not on the cable itself. As you pull out the connector, keep
it evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you
connect a cable make sure both connectors are correctly oriented and
aligned.
•Handle components with care. Hold a component such as a memory
module by its edges, not its pins.

12 Safety and EMC Instructions: Portable Computers
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•When removing a memory module from the system board or
disconnecting a peripheral device from the computer, wait 5 seconds
after turning off the computer before removing the memory module or
disconnecting the device to help avoid possible damage to the system
board.
•Clean the display with a soft, clean cloth and commercial window
cleaner that does not contain wax or abrasives. Apply the cleaner to the
cloth; then stroke the cloth across the display in one direction, moving
from the top of the display to the bottom. If the display contains
grease or some other contaminant, use isopropyl alcohol instead of
commercial window cleaner.
•If your computer gets wet or is damaged, follow the procedures
described in “If Your Computer Gets Wet” on page 42 and “If You
Drop or Damage Your Computer” on page 43. If, after following these
procedures, you confirm that your computer is not operating properly,
contact Dell (see page 73).
When Removing or Installing Memory Modules
Before removing or installing memory modules, perform the following steps
in the sequence indicated.
NOTICE: The only time you should ever access the inside of your computer is
when you are installing memory modules.
NOTICE: Wait 5 seconds after turning off the computer before disconnecting
a peripheral device or removing a memory module to help prevent possible
damage to the system board.
1Turn off your computer and any attached peripherals.
2Disconnect your computer and peripherals from electrical outlets to
reduce the potential for personal injury or shock. Also, disconnect any
telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.
3Remove the main battery from the battery bay and, if necessary, the
secondary battery from the media bay.
4Ground yourself by touching the unpainted metal surface of the I/O
panel on the back of the computer.
While you work, periodically touch the I/O panel to dissipate any
static electricity that might harm internal components.

Safety and EMC Instructions: Portable Computers 13
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
Static electricity can harm electronic components inside your computer. To
prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you
touch any of your computer’s electronic components, such as a memory
module. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the
computer’s I/O panel.
As you continue to work inside the computer, periodically touch an I/O
connector to remove any static charge your body may have accumulated.
You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic
discharge (ESD):
•When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping
carton, do not remove the component from the antistatic packing
material until you are ready to install the component. Just before
unwrapping the antistatic packaging, be sure to discharge static
electricity from your body.
•When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic
container or packaging.
•Handle all sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use
antistatic floor pads and workbench pads.
The following notice may appear throughout this document to remind you
of these precautions:
NOTICE: See “Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge” in the safety
instructions at the front of this guide.

14 Safety and EMC Instructions: Portable Computers
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1
SECTION 1
Setting Up
Connecting a Printer
Turning Off the Computer
Using the Media Bay
Setting Up the Dolby Headphone
Setting Up the APR to Connect to a Network

16 Setting Up
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Connecting a Printer
See the documentation that came with the printer for any recommended
preparation procedures, such as:
•Removing the packaging
•Installing the toner or ink cartridge
•Loading paper
Then follow the instructions that came with the printer to connect it to the
computer. If no information is provided, see the following sections.
Installing the Printer Driver
Dell installs drivers for some new printers. Click the Start button, point to
Settings, and then click Printers. If your printer is listed in the Printers
window, the printer is ready to use.
HINT: For complete
printer driver installation
instructions, refer to your
printer documentation.
If you need to install a printer driver, insert the installation CD into the CD
or DVD drive. Then follow the prompts on the screen using the instructions
that came with the printer.
If your printer installation CD does not automatically run, click the Start
button on the Microsoft®Windows®desktop, click Run, and type
x:\setup.exe (where xis the letter of your CD or DVD drive [usually
drive D]). Then click OK and follow the prompts on your screen.
Parallel Printer
1Turn off the computer (see page 18).
NOTICE: Use only a standard IEEE parallel cable measuring 3 m (10 ft) or
less to connect the printer to the computer. Use of a nonstandard cable may
prevent the printer from working.
2Attach the parallel printer cable to the parallel connector on the
computer and tighten the two screws. Attach the cable to the parallel
connector on the printer and snap the two clips into the two notches.

Setting Up 17
3Turn on the printer and then turn on the computer. If the Add New
Hardware Wizard window appears, click Cancel.
4Install the printer driver if necessary (see page 16).
USB Printer
HINT: You can connect
USB devices while the
computer is turned on.
1Install the printer driver if necessary (see page 16).
2Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connector on the computer
and the printer. The USB connectors fit only one way.
parallel printer
cable
parallel connector on
computer
parallel
connector on
printer
screws (2)
clips (2)
notches (2)

18 Setting Up
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Turning Off the Computer
NOTICE: To prevent data loss, you must perform the Windows shutdown
procedure to turn off your computer.
Windows Millennium Edition (Me) and Windows 2000
1Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
2Click the Start button and then click Shut Down.
3Click the pull-down menu under What do you want the computer to
do?.
4Click Shut down and then click OK.
The computer automatically turns off after the shutdown process
finishes.
USB printer
cable
USB connector on
back of computer
USB connector on
printer

Setting Up 19
Using the Media Bay
Dell ships your computer with a floppy drive installed in the media bay. The
media bay also supports the following devices:
•CD drive
•CD-RW drive
•DVD drive
•DVD/CD-RW combo drive
•Zip drive
•Second hard drive
•Second battery
•Dell TravelLite™ module
NOTICE: To prevent irreparable damage to the docking connector, do not
remove or replace devices while the computer is connected to an advanced port
replicator (APR).

20 Setting Up
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Swapping Devices While the Computer Is Turned Off
1Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and shut down
the computer (see page 18).
2If the computer is connected (docked) to an APR, undock it (see
page 55).
3Close the display and turn the computer over.
4Slide and hold the latch release, and pull the device out of the media
bay.
NOTICE: To prevent damage, place devices in a travel case when they are not
inserted in the computer. Store devices in a dry, safe place, and avoid placing
heavy objects on top of them.
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device latch release