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About the I/O Connectors | |
USB Connector |
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PS/2 Connector | |
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Video Connector | |
Serial Port Connector |
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Parallel Port Connector | |
AC Power Connector |
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Docking Connector | |
Infrared Port |
You can connect external devices to the input/output (I/O) connectors. The computer's basic input/output system (BIOS) detects the presence of external devices when you boot (start) or reboot your computer. Figure 1 shows the connectors on the back of your computer.
| NOTICE: When disconnecting external devices from the back of the computer, wait 5 seconds after turning off the computer before you disconnect a device to avoid possible damage to the system board. |
Figure 1. I/O Connectors
| 1 | Video connector | 5 | Mini-Deutsche Industrie Norm (DIN) PS/2 connector |
| 2 | Parallel port connector | 6 | Serial port connector |
| 3 | Docking connector | 7 | AC power connector |
| 4 | USB connector | 8 | Infrared port |
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NOTES: Some external
devices require you to load software called device drivers into system memory
before the devices will work. These device drivers help your computer recognize
the external device and direct its operation. Instructions for installing
this software are usually included in the upgrade kits. The advanced port replicator (APR) has the same I/O connectors as your computer. In addition, the APR has a second Personal System/2 (PS/2) connector, a second Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, and an Ethernet network connector. |
You can connect audio devices such as speakers, microphones, headphones, and record/playback devices to your computer. The following information tells you how to connect the cables. Figure 2 shows the locations of the audio connectors and the TV-out S-video connector.
Figure 2. Connecting Audio and S-Video Devices
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1 | Microphone-in connector |
| 2 | Line-out connector | |
| 3 | Line-in connector | |
| 4 | TV-out S-video connector |
You can connect a television with an S-video connector to your computer. Figure 2 shows the location of the TV-out S-video connector on your computer.
To connect the cables, follow these guidelines:
- Connect the composite TV-out adapter cable that came with your computer to your computer's TV-out S-video connector.
- Connect the other end of the composite TV-out adapter cable to your television's composite video cable.
- Connect the composite video cable to your television's composite video connector.
Use the 15-hole video connector to attach an external monitor to the computer.
The computer's video connector is used to connect an external monitor to the computer. To attach an external monitor, perform the following steps.
| NOTICE: Do not place the monitor directly on top of your portable computer, even if it is closed. Doing so can crack the computer case, the display, or both. |
Plug the video cable connector into the matching video connector on the back of the computer, as shown in Figure 3. If the video cable is not permanently attached to the monitor, connect it to the monitor also.
Figure 3. Connecting an External Monitor
Be sure to tighten all the screws on the video cable connector(s) to eliminate radio frequency interference (RFI).
Plug the three-prong connector on one end of the monitor's power cable into a grounded power strip or some other grounded power source. If the cable is not permanently attached to the monitor, connect it to the monitor also.
You can also connect an external monitor to the APR.
NOTE: If you are using the Microsoft® Windows® 98 operating system, you can use an external monitor as an extension of your display. For more information, see the Windows 98 documentation or "Extended Desktop."
When an external monitor is connected to the computer, the video image automatically appears on the external monitor's screen when you boot your computer.
To toggle the video image between the display, an external monitor, or both simultaneously, press <Fn><F8> on the keyboard. Press <Scroll Lock><F8> on an external keyboard if the External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program.
If the external monitor is turned off when you boot your computer, the computer still sends the video image to the external monitor. In this case, you will not see an image on either the computer's display or the external monitor. To see an image, turn on the external monitor or switch the video image to the computer’s display by pressing <Fn><F8> on the keyboard or <Scroll Lock><F8> on an external keyboard if the External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program.
Use the 25-hole parallel port connector to attach a parallel device to the computer. The parallel port connector is used primarily for printers. You can also connect the diskette drive to the parallel port connector.
The parallel port sends and receives data in parallel format, where 8 data bits (one byte) are sent simultaneously over 8 separate lines. The port can be configured as a unidirectional (output-only) port for devices such as a printer or as a bidirectional port for devices such as a network adapter.
The computer's integrated parallel port is designated as LPT1. The Microsoft Windows 98 operating systems automatically recognize the parallel device and configure it correctly. The parallel port can also be configured for compatibility with the PS/2 standard.
The docking connector supports Dell's APR docking solution.
The USB connector supports the use of a USB hub device to attach multiple devices. USB devices are typically low-speed peripherals such as mice, keyboards, printers, and computer speakers. The APR docking solution has two USB connectors.
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NOTE: If you are using a USB external keyboard, do not enter the System Setup program by using a keyboard command on the external keyboard. Instead, press <Fn><F1> on the computer's keyboard. |
Use the mini-Deutsche Industrie Norm (DIN) PS/2 connector to attach PS/2-compatible devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or external numeric keypad.
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NOTE: If the computer is in standby mode when you attach a mouse, you can use the mouse when the computer resumes normal operation. Otherwise, you must reboot the computer to use the mouse. While the mouse is attached to the computer, the DualPoint™ integrated pointing device is disabled. |
You can attach a PS/2-compatible mouse to the computer's mini-DIN mouse connector, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Connecting an External Mouse
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NOTE: If the computer is in standby mode or save-to-disk-suspend (S2D) mode when you attach an external mouse, the device is recognized immediately by the computer when it resumes normal operation. However, programs that were already running may need to be restarted in order to recognize the mouse. |
When you attach a PS/2 mouse to the computer, the DualPoint integrated pointing device is automatically disabled. If you disconnect the mouse, you must shut down the computer or enter standby mode and then resume from it before the DualPoint integrated pointing device is operational. If you do not do this, the DualPoint integrated pointing device resumes operation in standard PS/2 mode, which means that many of the configuration features are disabled.
If you are using a PS/2-compatible mouse that is not made by Microsoft and the mouse does not work properly, reboot the computer. If the mouse still does not work, install the drivers from the diskette that came with the mouse and reboot the computer.
You can also connect an external mouse to the APR.
You can attach a PS/2-compatible external 101- or 102-key keyboard to the computer's mini-DIN connector, as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5. Connecting an External Keyboard
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NOTE: If the computer is in standby mode or save-to-disk suspend (S2D) mode when you attach an external keyboard, the device is recognized immediately by the computer when it resumes normal operation. |
You can use the computer's keyboard and an external keyboard at the same time. When you attach a keyboard to the computer, the embedded numeric keypad is automatically disabled.
On an external keyboard, the <Scroll Lock> key acts the same way as the <Fn> key on the computer’s keyboard (if the External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program).
You can also connect an external keyboard to the APR.
You can attach a PS/2-compatible external numeric keypad to the computer's mini-DIN keypad connector.
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NOTE: If the computer is in standby mode or S2D mode when you attach an external keypad, the device is recognized immediately by the computer when it resumes normal operation. |
When you attach a numeric keypad to the computer, the embedded numeric keypad is automatically disabled. The indicators on the integrated keyboard track the operation of an external numeric keypad.
You can also connect an external keypad to the APR.
To attach a serial device to the computer, use the 9-pin serial port connector.
The serial port passes data in serial format (one bit at a time over one line). This port supports a variety of devices that require serial data transmission, including a serial mouse, serial printer, plotter, or external modem.
Use the AC power connector to attach the 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 either turned on or off.
The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However, power connectors vary among countries. Before using AC power in a foreign country, you may need to obtain a new power cable designed for use in that country.
The computer’s infrared (IR) port is compatible with Infrared Data Association (IrDA) 1.1 (Fast IR) and 1.0 (Slow IR) standards. An infrared port lets you transfer files from your computer to another infrared-compatible device without using cable connections. An infrared data stream is transmitted through a lens in the computer up to a distance of 1 meter (m) (3.3 feet [ft]). This light is received by a compatible computer, printer, mouse, or remote control.
The default address of the infrared port is COM3. To avoid resource conflicts with other devices, remap the address of the infrared port.
When the computer is being used with the APR docking solution, the infrared port on the computer is automatically disabled.
Point the computer’s infrared port directly at the compatible device’s infrared port. Infrared devices transmit data in a 30-degree cone of infrared light. Start the data communications software on both devices, and then begin to transfer files. Read the documentation that came with your compatible device to make sure that you operate it correctly.
For more information about using an infrared device, see the documentation that came with your operating system. The Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 operating system does not support the use of infrared devices.
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NOTES: Make sure that
no books, papers, or other objects come between the two infrared devices
and that the two devices are within the 30-degree cone. If the infrared device does not work, the computer and device may be misaligned. Move the device and computer to bring them into the 30-degree cone. |