Dell Precision M90 PP05XA User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell Precision™ M90 Mobile
Workstation
Quick Reference Guide
Model PP05XA

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.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see Glossary in your User’s Guide .
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.
Trademarksusedinthistext:Dell,theDELLlogo,DellPrecision,andExpressCharge are trademarksofDellInc.;Intelisaregisteredtrademark
of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Bluetooth
SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell Inc. 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 PP05XA
February 2006 P/N KD773 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
About Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Front View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Left Side View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Right Side View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Back View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Bottom View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Using a Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Battery Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Checking the Battery Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Charging the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Replacing the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Storing a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Lockups and Software Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Dell Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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
• Notebook System Software (NSS)
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
to run the
Dell Diagnostics
(See "Dell Diagnostics" on
page 19).
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 Precision™ 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 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, and online courses, 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
• Notebook System Software (NSS)— If you reinstall the
operating system for your computer, you should also
reinstall the NSS utility. NSS provides 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. The software
automatically detects your computer and operating
system and installs the updates appropriate for your
configuration.
Dell Support Website — support.dell.com
NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support
site.
To download Notebook System Software:
1 Go to support.dell.com , select your region or business
segment, and enter your Service Tag.
2 Select Drivers & Downloads and click Go .
3 Click your operating system and 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

Quick Reference Guide 7
• 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 in the taskbar. For more information, see "Dell Support
Utility" in your
User’s Guide .
• How to use Windows XP
• 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.
• 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. See "Reinstalling Windows XP" in your User’s
Guide.
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.
What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

8Quick Reference Guide
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 PC Cards, drives, or batteries) that you have ordered.
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 latches (2) 6touch pad 11 keyboard
2display latch release 7media control buttons 12 media button
3display 8speakers (2) 13 keyboard and wireless
status lights
4power button 9touch pad buttons
5device status lights 10 touch-pad scroll zone
2
11
3
6
9
4
8
13 5
7
1
12
10

10 Quick Reference Guide
Left Side View
Right Side View
1security cable slot 3USB connectors (2) 5optical-drive-tray eject
button
2air vent 4optical drive
1smart card slot 4IEEE 1394 connector 7air vent
2hard drive 55-in-1 media memory card
reader
3ExpressCard slot 6audio connectors (2)
12345
2345671

Quick Reference Guide 11
Back View
1air vent 5USB connectors (2) 9AC adapter connector
2S-video TV-out connector 6USB connectors (2) 10 air vent
3network (RJ-45) connector 7Digital-Video Interface
(DVI) connector
4modem (RJ-11) connector 8video (VGA) connector
12345 6 7 8 9 10

12 Quick Reference Guide
Bottom View
1subwoofer 5cover for optional internal
card with Bluetooth®
wireless technology
9docking-device connector
2battery charge/health
gauge
6hard drive 10 memory module cover
3battery-bay latch release 7air vent 11 air vent
4battery 8Mini-Card/modem cover 12 optical-drive security screw
12 3 4
5
6
7
89
11
12
10

Quick Reference Guide 13
Using a Battery
Battery Performance
NOTE: For information about the Dell warranty for your computer, see the Product Information Guide or separate
paper warranty document that shipped with your computer.
For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™ portable
computer with the battery installed at all times. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the
battery bay.
NOTE: Because the battery may not be fully charged, use the AC adapter to connect your new computer to an
electrical outlet the first time you use the computer. For best results, operate the computer with the AC adapter
until the battery is fully charged. To view battery charge status, click Start→ Control Panel→ Power Options, and
click Power Meter tab.
NOTE: Battery operating time (the time the battery can operate the computer) decreases over time. Depending on
how often the battery is used and the conditions under which it is used, you may need to purchase a new battery
during the life of your computer.
Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions. Operating time is significantly reduced
when you perform operations including, but not limited to, the following:
• Using optical drives.
• Using wireless communications devices, ExpressCards, or USB devices.
• Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power-intensive programs such as
complex 3D graphics applications.
• Running the computer in maximum performance mode. See "Configuring Power Management
Settings" on in your
User’s Guide for information about accessing Windows Power Options Properties
or Dell QuickSet, which you can use to configure power management settings.
NOTE: It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to a CD or DVD.
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. For more information, see "Checking
the Battery Charge" on page 14.
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 a battery 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.

14 Quick Reference Guide
Checking the Battery Charge
The Dell QuickSet Battery Meter, the Microsoft Windows Power Meter window and icon, the
battery charge gauge and health gauge, and the low-battery warning provide information on the battery
charge.
NOTE: Dell QuickSet may not be available on your computer.
Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter
If Dell QuickSet is installed, press <Fn><F3> to display the QuickSet Battery Meter. The Battery Meter
displays status, battery health, charge level, and charge completion time for the battery in your computer.
For more information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar, and click Help.
Microsoft®Windows®Power Meter
The Windows Power Meter indicates the remaining battery charge. To check the Power Meter, double-
click the icon on the taskbar.
If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, a icon appears.
Charge Gauge
By pressing (or pressing and holding) the status button on the charge gauge on the battery, you can check:
• Battery charge (check by pressing and releasing the status button)
• Battery health (check by pressing and
holding the status button)
The battery operating time is largely determined by the number of times it is charged. After hundreds of
charge and discharge cycles, batteries lose some charge capacity—or battery health. That is, a battery can
show a status of "charged" but maintain a reduced charge capacity (health).
Check the Battery Charge
To check the battery charge, press the status button on the battery charge gauge to illuminate the charge-
level lights. Each light represents approximately 20 percent of the total battery charge. For example, if
the battery has 80 percent of its charge remaining, four of the lights are on. If no lights appear, the
battery has no charge.

Quick Reference Guide 15
Check the Battery Health
NOTE: You can check battery health either by using the charge gauge on the battery as described below, or by
using the Battery Meter in Dell QuickSet. For information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar,
and click Help.
To check the battery health using the charge gauge, press and hold the status button on the battery
charge gauge for at least 3 seconds. If no lights appear, the battery is in good condition, and more than
80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. Each light represents incremental degradation. If five
lights appear, less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the
battery. See "Specifications" in your User’s Guide for more information about the battery operating time.
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,
hibernate mode begins automatically.
A pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. The
computer enters hibernate mode when the battery charge is at a critically low level.
You can change the settings for the battery alarms in QuickSet or the Power Options Properties window.
See "Configuring Power Management Settings" in your User’s Guide for information about accessing
QuickSet or the Power Options Properties window.
Conserving Battery Power
Perform the following actions to conserve battery power:
• Connect the computer to an electrical outlet when possible because battery life is largely determined
by the number of times the battery is used and recharged.
• Place the computer in standby mode or hibernate mode when you leave the computer unattended for
long periods of time. See "Power Management Modes" in your
User’s Guide for more information
about standby and hibernate modes.
• Use the Power Management Wizard
to select options to optimize your computer’s power usage. These
options can also be set to change when you press the power button, close the display, or press
<Fn><Esc>. See "Configuring Power Management Settings" in your
User’s Guide for more
information on using the Power Management Wizard.
NOTE: See "Configuring Power Management Settings" in your User’s Guide.

16 Quick Reference Guide
Charging the Battery
NOTE: With Dell™ ExpressCharge™, when the computer is turned off, the AC adapter charges a completely
discharged battery to 80 percent in about 1 hour and to 100 percent in approximately 2 hours. 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.The battery is too hot to start charging
if the light flashes alternately orange and green. Disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet
and allow the computer and the battery to cool to room temperature. Then connect the computer to an
electrical outlet to continue charging the battery.
For more information about resolving problems with a battery, see "Power Problems" in your User’s Guide .
Replacing the Battery
CAUTION: Before performing these procedures, turn off the computer, disconnect the AC adapter from the
electrical outlet and the computer, disconnect the modem from the wall connector and computer, and remove any
other external cables from the computer.
NOTICE: You must remove all external cables from the computer to avoid possible connector damage.
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 a battery from other computers with your computer.
To remove the battery:
1
If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked), undock it. See the documentation that
came with your docking device for instructions.
2 Ensure that the computer is turned off.
3 Slide and hold the battery-bay latch release on the bottom of the computer, and then lift the battery
from the bay.

Quick Reference Guide 17
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 before you use it. See
"Charging the Battery" on page 16.
Troubleshooting
Lockups and Software Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product
Information Guide.
The computer does not start up
ENSURE THAT THE AC ADAPTER IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER AND TO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET
The computer stops responding
NOTICE: You might lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.
TURN THE COMPUTER OFF —If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or
moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer
turns off. Then restart your computer.
1battery-bay latch release 2battery
1 2

18 Quick Reference Guide
A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly
NOTE: Software usually includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk or CD.
END THE PROGRAM —
1 Press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously.
2 Click Task Manager .
3 Click the program that is no longer responding.
4 Click End Task .
CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION —If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.
A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft® Windows®operating system
RUN THE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD —The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program
so it runs in an environment similar to non-Windows XP operating system environments.
1
Click the Start button, point to All Programs → Accessories , and then click Program Compatibility
Wizard
.
2 In the welcome screen, click Next .
3 Follow the instructions on the screen.
A solid blue screen appears
TURN THE COMPUTER OFF —If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or
moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer
turns off. Then restart your computer.
Other software problems
CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING
INFORMATION —
• Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on your computer.
• Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software.
See the software documentation for information.
• Ensure that the program is installed and configured properly.
• Verify that the device drivers do not conflict with the program.
• If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.

Quick Reference Guide 19
BACK UP YOUR FILES IMMEDIATELY
USE AVIRUS-SCANNING PROGRAM TO CHECK THE HARD DRIVE, FLOPPY DISKS, OR CDS
SAVE AND CLOSE ANY OPEN FILES OR PROGRAMS AND SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER THROUGH THE Start MENU
SCAN THE COMPUTER FOR SPYWARE —If you are experiencing slow computer performance, you frequently
receive pop-up advertisements, or you are having problems connecting to the Internet, your computer
might be infected with spyware. Use an anti-virus program that includes anti-spyware protection (your
program may require an upgrade) to scan the computer and remove spyware. For more information, go to
support.dell.com and search for the keyword spyware.
RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS —See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 19. If all tests run successfully, the error
condition is related to a software problem.
Dell Diagnostics
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product
Information Guide.
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in "Lockups and Software
Problems" on page 17 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance.
It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin.
NOTICE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell computers.
NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not ship with your computer.
Enter system setup, review your computer’s configuration information, and ensure that the device you
want to test displays in system setup and is active.
Start the Dell Diagnostics from either your hard drive or from the Drivers and Utilities CD (also known
as the ResourceCD).
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive
1 Turn on (or restart) your computer.
a When the DELL™ logo appears, press <F12> immediately. Select Diagnostics from the boot
menu and press <Enter>.
NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the
Microsoft®Windows®desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.
b
Press and hold the <Fn> key while powering the system on.
NOTE: If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, run the Dell
Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities CD.
2 See "Contacting Dell" in your User’s Guide .

20 Quick Reference Guide
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD
1 Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD.
2 Shut down and restart the computer.
When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.
If you wait too long and the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows
desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.
NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only. On the next start-up, the computer boots
according to the devices specified in the system setup program.
3 When the boot device list appears, highlight CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive and press <Enter>.
4 Select the Boot from CD-ROM option from the menu that appears and press <Enter>.
5 Ty p e 1 to start the ResourceCD menu and press <Enter> to proceed.
6 Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list. If multiple versions are listed, select
the version appropriate for your computer.
7 When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears, select the test you want to run.
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu
1 After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears, click the button for the option
you want.
2 If a problem is encountered during a test, a message appears with an error code and a description of the
problem. Write down the error code and problem description and follow the instructions on the
screen.
If you cannot resolve the error condition, contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" in your
User’s Guide .
NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen. If you contact Dell,
technical support will ask for your Service Tag.
Option Function
Express Test Performs a quick test of devices. This test typically takes 10 to
20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part. Run Express Test
first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly.
Extended Test Performs a thorough check of devices. This test typically takes 1 hour or
more and requires you to answer questions periodically.
Custom Test Tests a specific device. You can customize the tests you want to run.
Symptom Tree Lists the most common symptoms encountered and allows you to select
a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having.