Dell Vostro A90 User manual

PP39S
Vostro™ | A90
Setup and
Quick Reference Guide
This guide provides a features overview, specifications, and quick setup, software, and
troubleshooting information for your computer. For more information about your operating
system, devices, and technologies, see the Dell Technology Guide at support.dell.com.
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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.
Macrovision Product Notice
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.
_________________
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, Vostro, Wi-Fi Catcher, DellConnect, are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Bluetooth is a registered trademark
owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and is used by Dell under license; Intel, Pentium, Core, and Celeron are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in
the U.S. and other countries; Microsoft, Windows,Windows Vista, and the Windows Vista start button logo are either trademarks or registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
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.
August 2008 P/N C242J Rev. A00
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Contents
3
Contents
About Your Computer. . . . . . . . 5
Front View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Right View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Left View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Battery Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Quick Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . 16
Setting Up Your Internet
Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Transferring Information to
a New Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . 31
Using the Hardware
Troubleshooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . 32
Memory Problems . . . . . . . . . 33
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Contents
4
Lockups and Software Problems. . 33
Dell Technical Update Service . . . 35
Dell Support Utility . . . . . . . . . 35
Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . 36
Reinstalling Software . . . . . . . 39
Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Identifying Drivers . . . . . . . . . 39
Reinstalling Drivers and
Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Restoring Your Operating System . . 41
Using Microsoft® Windows®
System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Using the Operating System
Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Finding Information . . . . . . . . 45
Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Obtaining Assistance. . . . . . . . . 49
Technical Support and
Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . 50
Online Services . . . . . . . . . . . 50
AutoTech Service . . . . . . . . . . 51
Automated Order-Status
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Problems With Your Order . . . . . . 52
Product Information . . . . . . . . . 52
Before You Call . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
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About Your Computer
5
About Your Computer
Front View
2
6
7
5
4
3
1
1 power light 2 battery light
3 camera activity light 4 camera
5 display 6 touch pad
7 integrated single
analog microphone
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About Your Computer
6
CAMERA ACTIVITY LIGHT —Indicates when
the camera is on or off.
CAMERA —Built-in camera for video capture,
conferencing, and chat.
DISPLAY —For more information on the display,
see Dell Technology Guide.
TOUCH PAD —Provides the functionality of a
mouse.
Power light – Turns on when you turn on
the computer.
The light operates as follows:
On AC adapter -
• Solid white:
– The computer is on.
– The computer is off or in hibernate
mode with less than 90 per cent
battery charge and the battery is
charging.
• Flashing white: The computer is in
standby mode.
• Off: The computer is off or in
hibernate mode and the battery is
adequately charged.
On battery -
• Solid white: The computer is on.
• Flashing white: The computer is in
standby mode.
• Off: The computer is off or in
hibernate mode.
Battery status light – Blinks amber to
indicate that the battery charge is low.
Connect to an AC adapter to charge the
battery.
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About Your Computer
7
INTEGRATED SINGLE ANALOG
MICROPHONE —Used for chatting and voice
recording.
Right View
NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45)
KEYBOARD —For more information on the
keyboard, see Dell Technology Guide. Wireless and
volume control keys are also located on the
keyboard.
1 network connector 2 keyboard
3 VGA connector 4 USB connector
1
3
654
7
2
5 air vents 6 audio-in/microphone
connector
7 audio out/headphone
connector
Connects the computer to a
network. The two lights next to
the connector indicate status
and activity for wired network
connections.
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About Your Computer
8
USING WIRELESS —To turn on/off wireless,
press the wireless key combination (<Fn><2>) on
the keyboard. A confirmation of your selection
appears on the screen. This key allows you to
quickly turn all of your wireless radios (Bluetooth
and WiFi) off, such as when you are asked to
disable all wireless radios on an airplane flight.
Pressing <Fn><2> one time turns all your radios off
and pressing the key combination again returns
your wireless radios to their respective states they
were in before you pressed the key the first time.
VGA CONNECTOR
USB CONNECTOR
Press <Fn><2> to turn on/off
your wireless devices
Press <Fn><3> to view details
of your battery status, battery
health, and to get battery tips
Press <Fn><4> to mute the
sound
Press <Fn><5> to turn down
the volume
Press <Fn><6> to turn up the
volume
Connects video devices, such
as a monitor.
Connects USB devices, such
as a mouse, keyboard, or
printer.
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About Your Computer
9
AIR VENTS —The computer creates 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.
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.
AUDIO CONNECTORS
Left View
Attach headphones to the connector
Attach a microphone to the connector
1 3-in-1 media card
reader slot
2 USB connectors (2)
3 AC adapter
connector
4 security cable slot
1
2
43
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About Your Computer
10
3-IN-1 MEDIA CARD READER —Provides a
fast and convenient way to view and share digital
photos, music, videos, and documents stored on the
following digital memory cards:
•Secure digital (SD) memory card
•Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) card
•Multi Media card (MMC)
•Memory Stick
NOTE: Your computer ships with a plastic
blank installed in the media card slot. Blanks
protect unused slots from dust and other
particles. Save the blank for use when no
media card is installed in the slot. Blanks
from other computers may not fit your
computer.
USB CONNECTORS
AC ADAPTER 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 on or off.
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
cable from the computer, grasp the connector,
not the cable itself, and pull firmly, but gently to
help prevent damage to the cable.
NOTE: Plug the power cord and the adapter
firmly in, and ensure that the light is on.
SECURITY CABLE SLOT —Lets you attach a
commercially available antitheft device to the
computer.
Connect USB devices, such as
a mouse, keyboard, or printer.
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