Use the following safety guidelines to help ensure your own personal safety and to help protect your media base and working environment from potential damage.
General
Do not attempt to service the media base yourself unless you are a trained service technician. 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 media base. Doing so can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components.
Do not store your media base in a low-airflow environment, such as a carrying case or a closed briefcase, while the media base is turned on. Restricting airflow can damage the media base or cause a fire.
Keep your media base away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling vents. Avoid placing loose papers underneath your media base; do not place your media base in a closed-in wall unit or on a bed, sofa, or rug.
Place the AC adapter in a ventilated area, such as a desk top or on the floor, when you use it to run the media base 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.
The AC adapter may become hot during normal operation of your media base. Use care when handling the adapter during or immediately after operation.
Do not allow your portable media base to operate with the base resting directly on exposed skin for extended periods of time. The surface temperature of the base will rise during normal operation (particularly when AC power is present). Allowing sustained contact with exposed skin can cause discomfort or, eventually, a burn.
Do not use your media base 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.
Before you clean your media base, disconnect the media base from the electrical outlet. Clean your media base with a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners, which may contain flammable substances.
Power
Use only the Dell-provided AC adapter approved for use with this media base. Use of another AC adapter may cause a fire or explosion.
Before you connect the media base 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 the media base from all power sources, turn the computer off, disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet, and remove any battery installed in the battery bay.
To help prevent electric shock, plug the AC adapter and device power cables into properly grounded power sources. These power cables may be equipped with 3-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, 2-prong or 3-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 media base, 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
Use only Dell™ battery modules that are approved for use with this media base. 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 the battery away from children.
Do not store or leave your media base or battery pack near a heat source such as a radiator, fireplace, stove, electric heater, or other heat-generating appliance or otherwise expose it to temperatures in excess of 60ºC (140ºF). When heated to excessive temperatures, battery cells could explode or vent, posing a risk of fire.
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
Certain Federal Aviation Administration regulations and/or airline-specific restrictions may apply to the operation of your Dell computer while you are on board 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 electromagnetic compatibility (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 worldwide website at www.dell.com.
Static electricity can harm electronic components inside your media base. To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your media base's electronic component. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the media base's input/output panel.
WARNING: Handling the cord on this product, or cords associated with accessories sold with this product, will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash your hands after handling the cord.
When Using Your Media Base
Observe the following safe-handling guidelines to prevent damage to your media base:
When setting up the media base for work, place it on a level surface.
When traveling, do not check the media base as baggage. You can put your media base through an X-ray security machine, but never put your media base through a metal detector.
When traveling, do not place the media base in overhead storage compartments where it could slide around. Do not drop your media base or subject it to other mechanical shocks.
Protect your media base, battery, and hard drive from environmental hazards such as dirt, dust, food, liquids, temperature extremes, and overexposure to sunlight.
When you move your media base between environments with very different temperature and/or humidity ranges, condensation may form on or within the media base. To avoid damaging the media base, allow sufficient time for the moisture to evaporate before using the media base.
NOTICE: When taking the media base from low-temperature conditions into a warmer
environment or from high-temperature conditions into a cooler environment, allow the media base
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 by its edges, not its pins.
If your media base gets wet or is damaged, follow the procedures described in "Solving Problems" in the documentation that came with your computer. If, after following these procedures, you confirm that your media base is not operating properly, contact Dell (see Contacting Dell in the documentation that came with your computer for the appropriate contact information).
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
Static electricity can harm electronic components inside your media base. To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your media base's electronic components. You can do so by touching any unpainted metal surface on the back of the media base. Periodically touch any unpainted metal surface on the back of the media base 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.
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Microsoft Windows 2000
Double-click the User's Guides icon
on your desktop.
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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. The Express Service Code is not available in all countries.
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Click the Start button and click Help and Support.
Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the arrow icon.
parallel connector — Connects a parallel device, such as a parallel printer.
video connector — Connects an external VGA monitor.
NOTE: When your computer is docked, use the video
connector on the media base.
serial connector — Connects a serial device, such as a serial mouse or a handheld device.
RJ-45 network connector — Connects the media base to a network.
The network connector has status lights on both sides.
If the light on the right is off, the media base is not detecting a network connection. Try replacing the network cable. The light on the right blinks yellow when the network is active.
The light on the left indicates the link speed:
Solid Green — Connection speed is 10 Mbps.
Amber — Connection speed is 100 Mbps.
Yellow — Connection speed is 1 Gbps.
For information on using the network adapter, see the documentation that came with your computer.
NOTICE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the
network connector.
USB 2.0 connectors — Connects up to two USB 2.0-compliant devices.
AC Adapter connector — Connects an AC adapter to the media base and to AC power to convert AC power to the DC power required by the media base. You can connect the AC adapter with your media base either turned on or off. For more information, see Setting Up Your Media Base.
CAUTION: If you are using a multiple-outlet power strip, use caution when you plug the AC adapter 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 media base, as well as risk of electric shock and/or fire. Ensure that you insert the ground prong of the power plug into the mating ground contact of the power strip.
NOTICE: When you disconnect the AC adapter from
the media base, hold the adapter cable connector, not
the cable itself, and pull firmly but gently to avoid
damaging the cable.
IEEE 1394 connector — Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high-speed transfer rates, such as some digital cameras and video cameras
PS/2 connector — Connects PS/2-compatible devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or external numeric keypad.
Shut down the computer before attaching a PS/2-compatible device. If the device does not work, install the device drivers from the floppy disk or CD that came with the device, and restart the computer.
You can use the integrated keyboard and an external keypad at the same time. When you attach a PS/2 numeric keypad, the integrated keypad is disabled.
headphone connector — Connects headphones or speakers. The connector is a stereo output connector.
security cable slot — Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the media base. Instructions for installing antitheft devices are usually included with the device. For more information, see Securing the Media Base.
NOTICE: Always use the Dell AC adapter that came with the media base. If you use any other
commercially available AC adapter—or the AC adapter from older models of Dell computers—
you may damage the media base or the computer.
Connect the AC adapter to the AC adapter connector and to an electrical outlet.
Before you initially dock your computer, the operating system must complete its setup
process. To verify that the operating system has completed the setup process:
Ensure that the computer is not connected to the media base (docked).
Turn on the computer.
Verify that the Microsoft® Windows® desktop appears.
Shut down the computer through the Windows Start menu.
Securing the Media Base
NOTE: If the computer is docked to the media base and an antitheft device is attached to the
security cable slot on the media base, you cannot undock the computer.
Attach a commercially available antitheft device to the security cable slot on the
media base.
Antitheft devices usually include a segment of metal-stranded cable with an attached locking device and associated key. For instructions on installing this kind of antitheft device, see the documentation that accompanied the device.
Slide both battery latches in the direction of the arrows, and remove the battery from
the bay.
1
battery latch release (2)
2
battery
Docking Your Computer
NOTE: If you are docking your computer for the first time and have not completed the steps in
Setting Up Your Media Base, complete them before proceeding to the next step.
NOTE: After docking the computer for the first time, the computer battery or the computer AC
adapter connection can power the media base if the media base is not connected to an AC
adapter.
Align the front of the computer with the front of the media base and lower the
computer onto the media base.
1
back of the media base
2
front of the computer
Gently press the computer into the media base until it clicks and the computer is
seated.
Turn on the computer.
The operating system recognizes the media base.
NOTE: Your computer should be turned off only when you dock your computer for the first time.
Undocking Your Computer
Before you undock your computer, save and close any open files and exit any open
programs.
To set your computer's power management settings so that the computer does not
enter standby or hibernate mode when you close (lower) the display:
Windows® XP
Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.
Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Power Options and click the Advanced
tab.
Under the When I close the lid of my portable computer drop-down menu, select
Do nothing.
Windows 2000
Click the Start button, click Settings and then click Control Panel.
Double-click the Power Options icon and click the Advanced tab.
Under the When I close the lid of my portable computer drop-down menu, click
None.
NOTICE: Never undock the computer without first preparing the computer to undock. If you
undock before preparing the computer, you will lose data and the computer may not recover
normal operation for several minutes, if at all.
To prepare the computer for undocking, do one of the following:
In Windows XP, click the Start button and then click Undock Computer.
In Windows 2000, click the Start button and click Eject PC.
An Undock Complete message appears, stating that you can now undock your computer, click OK.
OR
Press the undock button on the front of the media base for 1 second.
(See "Front View.")
An Undock Complete message appears stating that you can now undock your computer. Click OK.
If your media base is secured, remove the lock.
Pull the computer release lever (see "Left Side View") to release the computer.
Lift the computer out of the media base.
Installing Drives
Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
Insert the drive into the optical bay drive on the media base. (See
"Right Side View.")
The operating system recognizes the new drive.
Removing Drives
Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
Push the drive latch release and pull the drive out of the bay. (See
"Right Side View.")
Connecting and Disconnecting External Drives
To connect an external drive such as a floppy, CD, CD-RW, or DVD/CD-RW drive while the computer is off, connect the drive cable to the USB connector on the media base. (See
"Back View.")
To disconnect an external drive while the computer is off, remove the drive cable from the USB connector.
NOTICE: To prevent damage to external drives, place them in a safe, dry place when they are
not connected to the computer. Avoid pressing down on them or placing heavy objects on top of
them.
Swapping External Drives While the Computer Is Running
In Windows XP
Double-click the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon on the Windows taskbar.
Click the drive you want to eject.
Remove the drive cable from the USB connector.
Connect the new drive by connecting the drive cable to the USB connector.
The operating system recognizes the new drive.
If necessary, enter your password to unlock your computer.
In Windows 2000
Double-click the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon on the Windows taskbar.
Click the drive you want to eject and then click Stop.
Click OK, and wait until the drive you want to eject is cleared from the list of devices
in the Unplug or Eject Hardware window.
Click OK.
Remove the drive cable from the USB connector.
Connect the new drive by connecting the drive cable to the USB connector.
CAUTION: 
on your desktop. 
