1. Click the Start button and then click Help and Support.
2. Click User and system guides and then click User's guides.
3. Click Tell Me How.

1. Click the Start button and then click Help and Support.
2. Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and then click the arrow icon.
3. Click the topic that describes your problem.
4. Follow the instructions shown on the screen.

1. Reinstall the battery.
2. Use the AC adapter to connect the computer to an electrical outlet.
3. Turn on the computer.

If the battery status light flashes green and orange, the battery is too hot to charge. Shut down the computer, disconnect the computer from the electrical outlet, and then let the battery and computer cool to room temperature.

If the battery status light rapidly flashes orange, the battery may be defective. Contact Dell. See your Owner's Manual for contact information.

Check the light —

• If the light is blinking, the computer is in standby mode—press the power button to exit standby mode.
• If the light is off, press the power button.
• If the light is on, your power management settings may have caused the display to turn off. Try pressing the power button.

1. Click the Start button and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Appearance and Themes.
3. Click the area you want to change or click the Display icon.
4. Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution.

1. Shut down your computer and connect an external monitor to the computer.
2. Turn on the computer and the monitor and adjust the monitor brightness and contrast controls.

If the external monitor works, the computer display or video controller may be defective. Contact Dell. See your Owner's Manual for contact information.

1. Click the Start button and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Printers and Other Hardware.
3. Click View installed printers or fax printers. If the printer model is listed, right-click the printer icon.
4. Click Properties, and then click the Ports tab. Ensure that the Print to the following port(s): setting is LPT1 (Printer Port).

Slow connection speeds can be caused by telephone noise as well as by telephone line or network conditions. Contact your telephone company or network administrator for more information.

1. Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2. Click Printers and Other Hardware, click Phone and Modem Options, click the Dialing Rules tab, and then click Edit....
3. In the Edit Location window, ensure that To disable call waiting, dial: is checked, and then select the proper code as listed in your telephone directory.
4. Click Apply and click OK.
5. Close the Phone and Modems Options window.
6. Close the Control Panel window.

1. Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
2. Click Printers and Other Hardware and click Phone and Modem Options.
3. Click the Modems tab.
4. Click the COM port for your modem.
5. Click Properties, click the Diagnostics tab, and then click Query Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows.

If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.

1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Printers and Other Hardware.
2. Click Mouse.
3. Try adjusting the settings.

If you are using a mouse extension cable, disconnect it and connect the mouse directly to the computer.

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Disconnect the mouse.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. At the Windows desktop, use the touch pad to move the cursor around, select an icon, and open it.

If the touch pad operates correctly, the mouse may be defective.

If you are using a keyboard extension cable, disconnect it and connect the keyboard directly to the computer.

1. Shut down the computer, wait 1 minute, and turn it on again.
2. Verify that the numbers, capitals, and scroll lock lights on the keyboard blink during the boot routine.
3. From the Windows® desktop, click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and click Notepad.
4. Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the display.

If you cannot verify these steps, you may have a defective external keyboard.

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Disconnect the external keyboard.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. From the Windows desktop, click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and click Notepad.
5. Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the display.

If the characters appear now but did not with the external keyboard, you may have a defective external keyboard. Contact Dell. See your Owner's Manual for contact information.

1. Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and shut down the computer.
2. Remove the drive from the module bay.
3. Reinstall the drive.
4. Turn on the computer.

1. Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and shut down the computer.
2. Remove the drive.
3. Reinstall the drive.
4. Turn on the computer.

1. Ensure that the computer is turned off.
2. Straighten a paper clip and insert one end into the eject hole at the front of the drive; push firmly until the tray is partially ejected.
3. Gently pull out the tray until it stops.

• Ensure that the sound is not caused by the program that is running.
• Ensure that the disk or disc is inserted properly.

1. Click the Start button and click My Computer.
2. Right-click the drive letter (local disk) that you want to scan for errors, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Tools tab.
4. Under Error-checking, click Check Now.
5. Click Start.

1. Simultaneously press .
2. Click the Applications tab, and then select the program that is no longer responding.
3. Click End Task.

If the computer does not respond to a keystroke or a proper shutdown, press the power button until the computer turns off. Press the power button again to restart the computer.