NOTICE: Do not press down on the CD or DVD tray when you open or close it. Keep the tray closed when you are not using the drive.
NOTICE: Do not move the computer when you are playing CDs or DVDs.
Press the eject button on the front of the drive.
Pull out the tray.
1
CD/DVD tray
Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray and snap the disc onto the spindle.
NOTE: If you use a CD/DVD drive that shipped with another computer, you need to install the drivers and software necessary to play CDs or DVDs or write data. For more information, see the Drivers and Utilities CD (the Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not be available for your computer or in certain countries).
Push the tray back into the drive.
To format CDs for storing data, to create music CDs, or to copy CDs, see the CD software that came with your computer.
NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs.
Adjusting the Volume
NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing.
To adjust the speaker volume when playing a CD or DVD, use the media control buttons on the front of the computer.
Mute the sound.
Turn the volume down.
Turn the volume up.
Play or pause.
Play the previous track.
Play the next track.
Stop.
You can also adjust the volume with the Volume Control option through the Start menu.
Click the Start button, point to All Programs (or Programs)® Accessories® Entertainment (or
Multimedia), and then click Volume Control.
In the Volume Control window, click and drag the bar in the Volume Control column and slide it up
or down to increase or decrease the volume.
For more information on volume control options, click Help in the Volume Control window.
The Volume Meter displays the current volume level, including mute, on your computer. Either click the icon in the taskbar 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.
1
volume icon
2
Volume Meter
3
mute icon
When the Volume Meter is enabled, adjust the volume with the volume control buttons or by pressing the following key combinations:
Press <Fn><PageUp> to increase the volume.
Press <Fn><PageDn> to decrease the volume.
Press <Fn><End> to mute the volume.
For more information about QuickSet, right-click the icon in the taskbar and click Help.
Adjusting the Picture
If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing DVD playback, adjust the display properties.
Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
Under Pick a category, click Appearance and Themes.
Under Pick a task..., click Change the screen resolution.
In the Display Properties window, click and drag the bar in Screen resolution to reduce the screen
resolution setting.
Click the drop-down menu under Color quality, and then click Medium (16 bit).
Click OK to save the settings and close the window.
Copying CDs and DVDs
NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when creating CDs or DVDs.
This section applies only to computers that have a CD-RW, DVD+/-RW, or CD-RW/DVD (combo) drive.
NOTE: The types of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by country.
The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD. You can also use Sonic DigitalMedia for other purposes, such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data. For help, open Sonic DigitalMedia and then click the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of the window.
How to Copy a CD or DVD
NOTE: CD-RW/DVD combo drives cannot write to DVD media. If you have a CD-RW/DVD combo drive and you experience recording problems, check for available software patches on the Sonic support website at www.sonic.com.
The DVD-writable drives installed in Dell™ computers can write to and read DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW and DVD+R DL (dual layer) media, but cannot write to and may not read DVD-RAM or DVD-R DL media.
NOTE: Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Sonic DigitalMedia.
Click the Start button, point to All Programs®Sonic® DigitalMedia Projects, and then clickCopy.
Under the Copy tab, click Disc Copy.
To copy the CD or DVD:
If you have one CD or DVD drive, ensure that the settings are correct and click the Disc Copy button. The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive.
When prompted, insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive and click OK.
If you have two CD or DVD drives, select the drive into which you have inserted your source CD or DVD and click the DiscCopy button. The computer copies the data from the source CD or DVD to the blank CD or DVD.
Once you have finished copying the source CD or DVD, the CD or DVD that you have created automatically ejects.
Using Blank CDs and DVDs
CD-RW drives can write to CD recording media only (including high-speed CD-RW) while DVD-writable drives can write to both CD and DVD 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 blank CD-RWs to write to CDs or to erase, rewrite, or update data on CDs.
Blank DVD+/-Rs can be used to permanently store large amounts of information. After you create a DVD+/-R disc, 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+/-RWs 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
Maybe
No
No
DVD-RAM
Maybe
No
No
Helpful Tips
Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after you start Sonic DigitalMedia and open a DigitalMedia project.
Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs do not play in most home or car stereos.
You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic DigitalMedia.
Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed.
Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may not support all available DVD formats. For a list of formats supported by your DVD player, see the documentation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer.
Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD-RW to its maximum capacity; for example, do not copy a 650-MB file to a blank 650-MB CD. The CD-RW drive needs 1–2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording.
Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the CD-RW and try again. You can also use blank CD-RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD-R.
See the Sonic website at www.sonic.com for additional information.
Using Dell Media Experience and Dell MediaDirect™
Based on configuration settings and selections you made when ordering your computer, your computer provides support for:
Dell Media Experience, which is a multimedia user interface for accessing and playing digital media, such as music and videos
Dell MediaDirect, which is an instant-on multimedia playback mode for digital media
NOTE: Dell QuickSet is necessary for Dell MediaDirect to function. Changing or disabling QuickSet's default settings can limit Dell MediaDirect's functionality. For more information about Dell QuickSet, see Dell™ QuickSet Features.
Press the Dell MediaDirect button, located on the hinge cover, to launch either Dell Media Experience or Dell MediaDirect.
If the Computer Is On or in Standby Mode
If you press the Dell MediaDirect button while the computer is on or in standby mode, either Windows XP Media Center Manager or Dell Media Experience launches, depending on your system setup. If both applications are present, Windows XP Media Center Manager launches.
NOTE: If both Windows XP Media Center and Dell Media Experience are installed on your computer, launch Dell Media Experience through the Start® All Programs function or click the Media Experience icon on the desktop.
If the Computer Is Off or in Hibernate Mode
When your computer is off or in hibernate mode, you can press the Dell MediaDirect button to start the computer and automatically launch the Dell MediaDirect application.
NOTICE: You cannot reinstall the Dell Media Experience or Dell MediaDirect feature if you voluntarily reformat the hard drive. You need the installation software to reinstall these media applications. Contact Dell for assistance (see Contacting Dell).
1
Dell MediaDirect button
Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help
The Dell media application on your computer provides help information. When you launch the media application, click the desktop icon for additional help.
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 (available from Dell), enables 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.
Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.
NOTE: 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) if your TV or audio device supports S-video but not S/PDIF digital audio.
Plug one end of the S-video cable into the S-video output connector on the computer.
Plug the other end of the S-video cable into the S-video input connector on your TV.
Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on your computer.
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.
Turn on the TV and any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the
computer.
Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.
Connect the component video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on your computer.
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
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.
Plug the single-connector end of the audio cable into the headphone connector on the computer.
Plug the two RCA connectors on the other end of the audio cable into the audio input connectors on
your TV or audio device.
Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the
computer.
Turn off the computer and the TV and/or audio device that you want to connect.
Connect the component video adapter to the S-video TV-out connector on the computer.
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
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.
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
Plug the other end of the digital audio cable into the S/PDIF input connector on your TV or other
audio device.
Turn on the TV, turn on any audio device that you connected (if applicable), and then turn on the
computer.
If your computer has a DVD drive, you can enable digital audio for DVD playback.
Click Start, and point to AllPrograms, and click PowerDVD to launch the Cyberlink PowerDVD
application.
Insert a DVD into the DVD drive.
If the DVD begins playing, click the stop button.
Click the Settings option.
Click the DVD option.
Click the DVD Audio Setting icon.
Click the arrows beside the Speaker Configuration setting to scroll through the options, and select the
SPDIF option.
Click the Back button once, and then click the Back button again to return to the main menu screen.
Enabling S/PDIF in the Windows Audio Driver
Double-click the speaker icon in the Windows notification area.
Click the Options menu and then click Advanced Controls.
Click Advanced.
Click S/PDIF Interface.
Click Close.
Click OK.
Setting Up the Cyberlink (CL) Headphones
NOTE: The CL headphone feature is available only if your computer has a DVD drive.
If your computer has a DVD drive, you can enable digital audio for DVD playback.
Click Start, and point to All Programs, and click PowerDVD to launch the Cyberlink PowerDVD
program.
Insert a DVD into the DVD drive.
If the DVD begins playing, click the stop button.
Click the Settings option.
Click the DVD option.
Click the DVD Audio Setting icon.
Click the arrows beside the Speaker Configuration setting to scroll through the options, and select the
Headphones option.
Click the arrows beside the Audio listening mode setting to scroll through the options, and select the
CL Headphone option.
Click the arrows beside the Dynamic range compression option to select the most suitable option.
Click the Back button once, and then click the Back button again to return to the main menu screen.
Enabling the Display Settings for a TV in Microsoft® Windows® XP
Video Controller
NOTE: To ensure that the display options appear correctly, connect the TV to the computer before you enable the display settings.
Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Display and click the Settings tab.
Click Advanced.
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.
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.
