As an antitheft measure, assign a primary password and a
hard-disk drive password to prohibit unauthorized access to the computer.
Dell recommends that you follow these precautions before
you travel with your computer:
Write down your service tag and put it in a safe place
separate from the computer or carrying case. If the computer is lost or stolen, use the service tag number when reporting to law enforcement officials and to Dell.
Use a text editor (such as Microsoft� Windows� Notepad) to create a file called if_found in your root directory. Place information such as your name, address, and telephone number in this file. (For instructions on using the appropriate text editor, see the documentation that came with your operating system.)
Attach your business card or other name tag to the computer.
Contact your credit-card company and ask if it offers coded identification tags that allow your property to be returned to you without the risk of revealing your name, address, or telephone number.
Use a permanent marking or stenciling device to write your driver’s license number or some other unique identifying mark on the computer. If a lost or stolen computer is recovered, such marking identifies the computer as your property.
The service tag is an alphanumeric sequence on a bar code label located on the bottom of the computer. The service tag is unique to your computer and allows Dell technical assistance personnel to identify the computer and its configuration quickly if you call for assistance.
If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen
If your computer is lost or stolen, Dell suggests that you perform the following steps:
Call a law enforcement agency to report the lost or stolen computer.
Include the service tag in your description of the computer. Ask that a case number be assigned, and write it down. Also write down the name, address, and telephone number of the law enforcement agency. If possible, obtain the name of the investigating officer.
If you know where the computer was lost or stolen, call a law enforcement agency in that area. If you do not know, call a law enforcement agency where you live.
If the computer belongs to a company, notify the security office of the firm.
Call Dell technical assistance to report the missing computer.
Provide the computer’s service tag, the case number, and the name, address, and telephone number of the law enforcement agency to which you reported the missing computer. If possible, give the name of the investigating officer.
The Dell support technician will log your report under the computer’s service tag and flag the computer as missing or stolen. If someone calls Dell for technical assistance and gives your service tag, the computer is identified automatically as missing or stolen. The technician will attempt to get the phone number and address of the caller. Dell will then contact the law enforcement agency to which you made the report of the missing or
stolen computer.
To prepare your computer for travel, perform the following steps:
Detach any external devices attached to the computer, and store them in a safe place. Remove any cables attached to installed PC Cards (you do not have to remove the PC Card itself).
To maximize battery life, check the charge on your battery. Then fully charge the battery and any spares you plan to carry with you. For more information, see "Batteries."
For systems running Windows� NT,
turn off the computer or press <Fn><a> to enter suspend-to-disk (S2D) mode. (On a French keyboard, press <Fn><q>.) For
ACPI-compliant systems (Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows Me), turn off the computer or, if hibernate mode has been enabled for the sleep button, press <Fn><Esc> to enter hibernate mode.
NOTICE: When you disconnect the AC adapter from the
computer, grasp the adapter cable's connector, not the cable itself, and pull gently but firmly to avoid damaging the cable.
Disconnect the AC adapter.
NOTICE: When the display is closed, items left on
the keyboard could damage the display.
Make sure that there is nothing on the keyboard and palmrest that can damage the display when you close it. Then close the display.
Pack all your computing accessories.
With an optional Dell carrying case, you can pack the
computer and its accessories together. A lightweight portfolio travel case
without storage space is also available.
NOTE: Follow the travel tips and take special
precautions if you are planning to travel by air.
Accessories
You may want to take some of the following accessories with
you when you travel:
Spare batteries
Cables for PC Cards (if necessary)
AC adapter and AC power cable
Power adapters for foreign electrical outlets and modem cable adapters for foreign telephone networks
Appropriate printer driver files if you will be using a printer
External media bay and its cable
Additional storage devices such as the CD-ROM and diskette drives
Backup diskettes
Dell Latitude L400 ResourceCD
Traveling by Air
You may want to take the following precautions when you are traveling by air with your computer:
Notify airport security in advance that you are bringing a portable computer.
Be sure to have a charged battery or the AC adapter and power cable available in case
you are asked to turn on the computer.
Do not check the computer as baggage.
NOTICE: Have airport security personnel check the computer by hand. If the
computer passes through a metal detector, data loss may occur. If you must pass the
computer through a metal detector, first remove the hard-disk drive.
Do not put the computer through a metal detector. (The computer can
safely go through an airport X-ray security machine.)
Before you use the computer on an airplane, check the in-flight magazine or ask the
flight crew to verify that such use is permitted. Some airlines forbid the use of
electronic devices during the flight. All airlines forbid the use of electronic devices
during takeoff and landing.
Use a carrying case (available from Dell) to protect the computer and accessories during
travel.
If you pack the computer in a suitcase, do not pack so tightly that the computer display
breaks or so loosely that the computer slides around.
Avoid packing the computer with items such as shaving cream, colognes, perfumes, or
food.
Protect the computer, the battery, and the hard-disk drive from hazards such as extreme
temperatures; overexposure to sunlight; and exposure to dirt, dust, or liquids.
Pack the computer so that it does not slide around in the trunk of your car or in an
overhead storage compartment.
If you are carrying a hard-disk drive separately from your computer, protect the drive
from exposure to static electricity by placing it in the case you received it in or in an
antistatic bag, or wrapping it in a nonconductive fabric.
NOTICE: Carefully handle the hard-disk
drive only by its carrier; do not touch the drive itself.The
drive comes in a metal carrier for protection and easy installation. The drive
is vulnerable to static electricity and scratches when outside the computer because the
drive carrier protects only the sides of the drive, leaving the top and bottom of the
drive exposed.
Consider changing the settings of your power management
options to maximize battery life if you will be using battery power for extended periods.
If you are traveling internationally, carry proof of ownership to
speed your passage through customs. If the computer is provided by your employer, carry
documentation of your right to use the computer. Investigate the customs regulations of
the countries you plan to visit, and consider acquiring an international carnet
from your government if you travel through many different countries.
Power interruptions can occur frequently in some countries. Always have a charged
battery available if traveling abroad.
Credit card holders should check with their credit card companies for information about
the kinds of emergency travel assistance they offer to users of portable computers. Many
companies provide services that help you solve problems, such as quickly locating 3.5-inch
diskettes or providing a direct-dial telephone line for your modem connection.
NOTICE: Do not use a device in the external media bay while the computer is in
motion. Doing so could interrupt the flow of data between the device and the
hard-disk drive.
A carnet is an international customs document (also known as a merchandise passport)
that facilitates temporary imports into foreign countries and is valid for up to 1 year.
