Based on selections that you made when purchasing your computer, your computer has one of several different video controller configurations. To determine your computer's video controller configuration:
Under Pick a Task, click Use Tools to view your computer information and diagnose problems.
Under My Computer Information, select Hardware.
From the My Computer Information - Hardware screen, you can view the type of video controller installed in your computer, as well as the other hardware components.
Front View
1
display latches (2)
5
device status lights
9
touch pad buttons
2
display latch release
6
touch pad
10
keyboard
3
display
7
media control buttons
11
Dell MediaDirect button
4
power button
8
speakers
12
keyboard and wireless status lights
display latches —
Keeps the display closed.
display latch release —
Slide to release the display latches and open the display.
display —
For more information about your display, see Using the Display.
power button —
Press to turn on the computer or to enter or exit a power management mode. For more information on power management modes, see Power Management Modes.
device status lights
Turns on when you turn on the computer, and blinks when the computer is in a power management mode.
Turns on when the computer reads or writes data.
NOTICE: To avoid loss of data, never turn off the computer while the light is flashing.
Turns on steadily or blinks to indicate battery charge status.
If the computer is connected to an electrical outlet, the
light operates as follows:
Solid green: The battery is charging.
Flashing green: The battery is almost fully charged.
If the computer is running on a battery, the
light operates as follows:
Off: The battery is adequately charged (or the computer is turned off).
Flashing orange: The battery charge is low.
Solid orange: The battery charge is critically low.
touch pad —
Provides the functionality of a mouse.
touch pad scroll zone —
Provides the functionality of the scroll button on a mouse. A vertical scroll zone is located on the right side of the touch pad. A horizontal scroll zone is located on the bottom of the touch pad.
media control buttons —
Control CD, DVD, and Media Player playback.
Mute the sound.
Turn the volume down.
Turn the volume up.
Play or pause.
Play the previous track.
Play the next track.
Stop.
speakers —
To adjust the volume of the integrated speakers, press the media control buttons or speaker-volume keyboard shortcuts. For more information, see Speaker Functions.
touch pad buttons —
Touch pad buttons provide the same functionality as mouse buttons.
keyboard —
The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as well as the Microsoft Windows logo key. For information on supported keyboard shortcuts, see Key Combinations.
The lights located above the keyboard indicate the following:
Turns on when the numeric keypad is enabled.
Turns on when the uppercase letter function is enabled.
Turns on when the scroll lock function is enabled.
Turns on when wireless networking is enabled. To quickly enable or disable wireless networking, press <Fn><F2>.
Turns on when a card with Bluetooth® wireless technology is enabled.
NOTE: The card with Bluetooth wireless technology is an optional feature, so the
light turns on only if you ordered the card with your computer. For more information, see the documentation that came with your card.
To turn off only the Bluetooth wireless technology functionality, right-click the
icon in the Windows taskbar (in the lower-right corner of your screen) and click Disable Bluetooth Radio.
To quickly enable or disable all wireless devices, press <Fn><F2>.
Left Side View
1
security cable slot
3
USB connectors (2)
5
optical-drive-tray eject button
2
air vent
4
optical drive
security cable slot —
Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer. For more information, see Security Cable Lock. Also, see the instructions included with the device.
NOTICE: Before you buy an antitheft device, ensure that it will work with the security cable slot.
air vent —
The computer uses fan(s) to create airflow through the vent(s), 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 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.
USB connectors —
Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer. You can also connect the optional floppy drive directly to a USB connector using the optional floppy-drive cable
optical drive —
You can install devices such as a DVD drive or other optical drive in the optical drive bay. For more information, see Optical Drive.
optical-drive-tray eject button —
Press this button to eject a CD or DVD from the optical drive. This button only works when the computer is turned on.
ExpressCard slot —
Supports one ExpressCard, such as a modem or network adapter. The computer ships with a plastic blank installed in the slot. For more information, see ExpressCards.
NOTE: The ExpressCard slot does not support PC Cards.
IEEE 1394 connector —
Connects devices supporting IEEE 1394 high-speed transfer rates, such as some digital video cameras.
5-in-1media memory card reader —
Provides a fast and convenient way to view and share digital photos, music, and videos stored on a media memory card. The 5-in-1 media memory card reader reads the following digital media memory cards:
Secure Digital (SD) card/SDIO
MultiMediaCard (MMC)
Memory Stick
Memory Stick PRO
xD-Picture Card
audio connectors
Attach headphones or speakers to the
connector.
Attach a microphone to the
connector.
air vent —
The computer uses fan(s) to create airflow through the vent(s), 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 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.
Back View
1
air vent
5
USB connectors (2)
9
AC adapter connector
2
S-video TV-out connector
6
USB connectors (2)
10
air vent
3
network (RJ-45) connector
7
Digital-Video Interface (DVI) connector
4
modem (RJ-11) connector
8
video (VGA) connector
air vent —
The computer uses fan(s) to create 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 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.
S-video TV-out connector
Connects your computer to a TV. Also connects digital audio capable devices using the TV/digital audio adapter cable.
network connector (RJ-45)
NOTICE: The network connector is slightly larger than the modem connector. To avoid damaging the computer, do not plug a telephone line into the network connector.
Connects the computer to a network. The two lights at the top of the connector indicate link status and activity for wired network connections. The solid light on the connector provides link status information. When the status information light is "off," it indicates no link, green indicates a 10-Mb/sec link, and orange indicates a 100-Mb/sec link. The blinking yellow light on the connector indicates wired network activity.
For information on using the network adapter, see the network adapter documentation supplied with your computer under the Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center, see Windows Help and Support Center.
modem connector (RJ-11)
To use the internal modem, connect the telephone line to the modem connector.
For additional information on using the modem, see the modem documentation supplied with your computer under the Windows Help and Support Center. To access the Help and Support Center, see Windows Help and Support Center.
USB connectors
Connect USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, or printer.
digital-video interface (DVI) connector
Connects an external DVI-compatible monitor, such as a flat-panel monitor. With an adapter cable, you can also connect an external VGA-compatible monitor to the DVI connector.
video connector
Connects an external VGA-compatible monitor.
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 either on or off.
The AC adapter is available in both 2-wire and 3-wire configurations. Use the AC adapter that is compatible with the power connectors in your country.
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 avoid damaging the cable.
NOTE: For optimum computer performance, always use the AC adapter that came with your computer. Using less-powerful AC adapters may cause your computer to display a WARNING message or experience a degradation in performance.
Bottom View
1
subwoofer
5
cover for optional internal card with Bluetooth® wireless technology
9
memory module cover
2
battery charge gauge
6
hard drive
10
air vent
3
battery-bay latch release
7
air vent
11
optical-drive locking screw
4
battery
8
Mini-Card/modem cover
subwoofer —
Produces a broader bass output than is provided by the speakers.
battery charge gauge —
Provides information on the battery charge status. For more information, see Checking the Battery Charge.
battery-bay latch release —
Releases the battery from the battery bay. For more information, see Replacing the Battery.
battery —
When a battery is installed, you can use the computer without connecting the computer to an electrical outlet. For more information, see Using a Battery.
cover for optional internal card with Bluetooth® wireless technology —
For more information, see the documentation that came with your card. To quickly enable or disable all wireless devices, press <Fn><F2>.
hard drive —
Stores software and data. For more information, see Hard Drive. The size displayed for your hard drive in Windows Explorer is the capacity of the drive before any operating system or programs are installed.
air vent —
The computer uses fan(s) to create airflow through the vent(s), 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 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.
Mini-Card/modem cover —
Covers the compartment that contains the Mini-Card and the modem. For more information, see Modem.
memory module cover —
Covers the compartment that contains the memory modules. For more information, see Memory.
optical-drive locking screw —
Secures the optical drive in the optical drive bay. For more information, see Optical Drive.
light operates as follows:
light operates as follows:
light turns on only if you ordered the card with your computer. For more information, see the documentation that came with your card.
icon in the Windows taskbar (in the lower-right corner of your screen) and click 
connector.
connector.
