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Using Multimedia

Dell™ Inspiron™ 1520 Owner's Manual

  Playing Media

  Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote (Optional)

  Copying CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) Media

  Adjusting the Volume

  Adjusting the Picture

  Using Dell MediaDirect™

  Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device


Playing Media

NOTICE: Do not press down on the optical drive tray when you open or close it. Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive.
NOTICE: Do not move the computer while playing media.
  1. Press the eject button on the front of the drive.

  2. Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray and snap the disc onto the spindle.

  1. Push the tray back into the drive.

To format media for storing or copying data, see the media software that came with your computer.

NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when copying media.

A CD player includes the following basic buttons:

Play

Move backward within the current track

Pause

Move forward within the current track

Stop

Go to the previous track

Eject

Go to the next track

A DVD player includes the following basic buttons:

Stop

Restart the current chapter

Play

Fast forward

Pause

Fast reverse

Advance a single frame while in pause mode

Go to the next title or chapter

Continuously play the current title or chapter

Go to the previous title or chapter

Eject

For more information on playing media, click Help on the media player (if available).

Playing Media Using Dell Travel Remote (Optional)

The Dell Travel Remote is designed to control Dell Media Direct and Windows Vista Media Center. It can work only with specified computers. For more details, refer to the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

To play media using Dell Travel Remote:

  1. Install a coin-cell battery into your remote control.

  2. Launch Windows Vista® Media Center from Start ® Programs.

  3. Use the remote control buttons to play media.

1

Infrared Transmitter

2

Arrow Up

3

OK/Enter/Select

4

Arrow Right

5

Arrow Down

6

Play/Pause

7

Forward

8

Skip Forward

9

Stop

10

Skip Back

11

Reverse

12

Back

13

Arrow Left

14

Mute

15

Volume Down

16

Page Down

17

Volume Up

18

Page Up

Copying CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) Media

This section applies only to computers that have a DVD+/-RW drive or a BD-RE drive.

NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when copying media.
NOTE: The types of optical drives offered by Dell may vary by country.

The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD, DVD, or BD using Roxio Creator. You can also use Roxio Creator for other purposes, such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data. For help, open Roxio Creator, and then press <F1>.

The DVD drives and BD drives installed in Dell computers do not support HD-DVD media. For a list of supported media formats, see Using Blank CD, DVD, and BD Media.

How to Copy a CD, DVD, or BD

NOTE: BD media can only be copied to other BD media.
NOTE: Copying a BD-R to BD-RE will not produce an exact copy.
NOTE: Most commercial DVDs and BDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Roxio Creator.
  1. Click Start ® All Programs® Roxio Creator® Projects® Copy.

  2. Under the Copy tab, click Copy Disc.

  3. To copy the CD, DVD, or BD:

When prompted, insert a blank disc into the drive and click OK.

Once you have finished copying the source disc, the disc that you have created automatically ejects.

Using Blank CD, DVD, and BD Media

DVD-writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media. BD-writable drives can write to CD, DVD and BD recording media.

Use blank CD-Rs to record music or permanently store data files. After creating a CD-R, you cannot write to that CD-R again (see the Sonic documentation for more information). Use a blank CD-RW if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on that disc later.

Blank DVD+/-R or BD-R media can be used to permanently store large amounts of information. After you create a DVD+/-R or BD-R, you may not be able to write to that disc again if the disc is finalized or closed during the final stage of the disc creation process. Use blank DVD+/-RW or BD-RE media if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on that disc later.

CD-Writable Drives

Media Type

Read

Write

Rewritable

CD-R

Yes

Yes

No

CD-RW

Yes

Yes

Yes

DVD-Writable Drives

Media Type

Read

Write

Rewritable

CD-R

Yes

Yes

No

CD-RW

Yes

Yes

Yes

DVD+R

Yes

Yes

No

DVD-R

Yes

Yes

No

DVD+RW

Yes

Yes

Yes

DVD-RW

Yes

Yes

Yes

DVD+R DL

Yes

Yes

No

DVD-R DL

Yes

No

No

BD-Writable Drives

Media Type

Read

Write

Rewritable

CD-R

Yes

Yes

No

CD-RW

Yes

Yes

Yes

DVD+R

Yes

Yes

No

DVD-R

Yes

Yes

No

DVD+RW

Yes

Yes

Yes

DVD-RW

Yes

Yes

Yes

DVD+R DL

Yes

Yes

No

DVD-R DL

Yes

No

No

BD-R

Yes

Yes

No

BD-RE

Yes

Yes

Yes

Helpful Tips

Adjusting the Volume

NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the media playing.
  1. Right-click the volume icon in the notification area.

  2. Click Open Volume Mixer.

  3. Click and drag the bar to slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume.

For more information on volume control options, click Help in the Volume Mixer window.

The Volume Meter displays the current volume level, including mute, on your computer. Either click the QuickSet icon in the notification area and select or deselect Disable On Screen Volume Meter, or press the volume control buttons to enable or disable the Volume Meter on the screen.

Adjusting the Picture

If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing media playback, adjust the display properties.

Windows XP

  1. Click Start® Control Panel® Appearance and Themes.

  2. Under Pick a task..., click Change the screen resolution.

  3. Under Screen resolution, click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting.

  4. In the drop-down menu under Color quality, click Medium (16 bit) and click OK.

Windows Vista®

  1. Click the Windows Vista Start button , click Control Panel, and then click Appearance and Personalization.

  2. Under Personalization, click Adjust Screen Resolution.

The Display Properties window appears.

  1. Under Resolution: click and drag the bar to reduce the resolution setting.

  2. In the drop-down menu under Colors:, click Medium (16 bit).

  3. Click OK.

Using Dell MediaDirect™

Dell MediaDirect is an instant-on multimedia playback mode for digital media. Press the Dell MediaDirect button, located on the hinge cover, to launch Dell MediaDirect.

If the computer is turned on or in standby or sleep mode

If you press the Dell MediaDirect button while the computer is turned on or in standby (Windows XP) or sleep (Windows Vista) mode, either Windows Media Center Manager or Dell Media Experience launches, depending on your system setup. If both applications are present, Windows Media Center Manager launches.

If the computer is turned off or in hibernate mode

When your computer is turned off or in hibernate mode, you can press the Dell MediaDirect button to start the computer and automatically launch the Dell MediaDirect application.

1

Dell MediaDirect button

NOTE: You cannot reinstall Dell MediaDirect if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive. You need the installation software to reinstall Dell MediaDirect. Contact Dell for assistance (see Contacting Dell).

For more information on using Dell MediaDirect, use the Help menu in the Dell MediaDirect application.

Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device

NOTE: Video and audio cables for connecting your computer to a TV or other audio device may not be included with your computer. Cables and TV/digital audio adapter cables are available for purchase from Dell.

Your computer has an S-video TV-out connector that, together with a standard S-video cable, a composite video adapter cable, or a component video adapter cable (available from Dell), enable you to connect the computer to a TV.

Your TV has either an S-video input connector, a composite video-input connector, or a component video-input connector. Depending on what type of connector is available on your TV, you can use a commercially available S-video cable, composite video cable, or component video cable to connect your computer to your TV.

1

S-video TV-out connector

2

S-video connector

1

S-video TV-out connector

2

composite video adapter

3

S/PDIF digital audio connector

4

composite video-output connector

5

S-video connector

 

 

1

S-video TV-out connector

2

component video adapter

3

S/PDIF digital audio connector

4

Pr (red) component video-output connector

5

Pb (blue) component video-output connector

6

Y (green) component video-output connector

If you want to connect your computer to a TV or audio device, it is recommended that you connect video and audio cables to your computer in one of the following combinations:

NOTE: See the diagrams at the beginning of each subsection to help you determine which method of connection you should use.

When you finish connecting the video and audio cables between your computer and your TV, you must enable your computer to work with the TV. See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV. Additionally, if you are using S/PDIF digital audio, see Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio.

S-Video and Standard Audio

1

audio connector

2

S-video TV-out connector

1

standard S-video cable

2

standard audio cable

  1. Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.

NOTE: If your TV or audio device supports S-video but not S/PDIF digital audio, you can connect an S-video cable directly to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer (without the TV/digital audio adapter cable).
  1. Plug one end of the S-video cable into the S-video output connector on the computer.

  2. Plug the other end of the S-video cable into the S-video input connector on your TV.

  3. Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on your computer.

  4. Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device.

  5. Turn on the TV and any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer.

  6. See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

1

S-video TV-out connector

2

composite video adapter

1

composite video adapter

2

S-video cable

3

S/PDIF digital audio cable

 

 

  1. Turn off the computer and the TV and/or the audio device that you want to connect.

  2. Connect the composite video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on your computer.

  3. Plug one end of the S-video cable into the S-video output connector on the composite video adapter.

1

composite video adapter

2

S-video cable

  1. Plug the other end of the S-video cable into the S-video input connector on the TV.

  2. Plug one end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable into the digital audio connector on the composite video adapter cable.

1

composite video adapter

2

S/PDIF digital audio cable

  1. Plug the other end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable into the audio input connector on your TV or audio device.

  2. Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer.

  3. See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

Composite Video and Standard Audio

1

audio input connector

2

S-video TV-out connector

3

composite video adapter

 

 

1

composite video adapter

2

composite video cable

3

standard audio cable

 

 

  1. Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.

  2. Connect the composite video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on your computer.

  3. Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video- output connector on the composite video adapter.

1

composite video adapter

2

composite video cable

  1. Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video- input connector on the TV.

  2. Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer.

  3. Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or other audio device.

  4. Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer.

  5. See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

1

S-video TV-out connector

2

composite video adapter

1

composite video adapter

2

composite video cable

3

standard audio cable

 

 

  1. Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.

  2. Connect the composite video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer.

  3. Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video-input connector on the composite video adapter.

1

composite video adapter

2

composite video cable

  1. Plug the other end of the composite video cable into the composite video- input connector on the TV.

  2. Plug one end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable into the S/PDIF audio connector on the composite video adapter.

1

composite video adapter

2

S/PDIF digital audio cable

  1. Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S/PDIF input connector on your TV or other audio device.

  2. Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer.

  3. See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

Component Video and Standard Audio

1

S-video TV-out connector

2

component video adapter

1

component video adapter

2

component video cable

3

standard audio cable

 

 

  1. Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.

  2. Connect the component video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on your computer.

  3. Plug all three ends of the component video cable into the component video-output connectors on the component video adapter. Make sure that the red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports.

1

component video adapter

2

component video cable

  1. Plug all three connectors from the other end of the component video cable into the component video-input connectors on the TV. Make sure that the red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input connectors.

  2. Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer.

  3. Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on your TV or audio device.

  4. Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer.

  5. See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio

1

S-video TV-out connector

2

component video adapter

1

component video adapter

2

component video cable

3

standard audio cable

 

 

  1. Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.

  2. Connect the component video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer.

  3. Plug all three ends of the component video cable into the component video-output connectors on the component video adapter. Make sure that the red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the corresponding adapter ports.

1

component video adapter

2

component video-output connectors

3

component video cable

 

 

  1. Plug all three connectors from the other end of the component video cable into the component video-input connectors on the TV. Make sure that the red, green, and blue colors of the cable match the colors of the TV input connectors.

  2. Plug one end of the S/PDIF digital audio cable into the S/PDIF audio connector on the component video adapter.

1

component video adapter

2

S/PDIF digital audio cable

  1. Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S/PDIF input connector on your TV or other audio device.

  2. Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the computer.

  3. See Enabling the Display Settings for a TV to ensure that the computer recognizes and works properly with the TV.

Enabling S/PDIF Digital Audio

  1. Double-click the speaker icon in the Windows notification area.

  2. Click the Options menu and then click Advanced Controls.

  3. Click Advanced.

  4. Click S/PDIF Interface.

  5. Click Close.

  6. Click OK.

Enabling the Display Settings for a TV

NOTE: To ensure that the display options appear correctly, connect the TV to the computer before you enable the display settings.
Windows XP
  1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

  2. Double-click Display and click the Settings tab.

  3. Click Advanced.

  4. Click the tab for your video card.

NOTE: To determine the type of video card installed in your computer, see the Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center, click Start® Help and Support. Under Pick a Task, click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems. Then, under My Computer Information, select Hardware.
  1. In the display devices section, select the appropriate option for using either a single display or multiple displays, ensuring that the display settings are correct for your selection.

Windows Vista
  1. Click the Windows Vista Start button , click Control Panel, and then click Appearance and Personalization.

  2. Under Personalization, click Adjust Screen Resolution.

The Display Properties window appears.

  1. Click Advanced.

  2. Click the tab for your video card.

To determine the type of video card installed in your computer, see the Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center in Windows Vista, click the Windows Vista Start button ® Help and Support. Under Pick a Task, click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems. Then, under My Computer Information, select Hardware.

  1. In the display devices section, select the appropriate option for using either a single display or multiple displays, ensuring that the display settings are correct for your selection.

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