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Ports and Connectors: Dell Inspiron 3800 System Reference
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Ports and Connectors: Dell™ Inspiron™ 3800 System
Reference
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 adapter 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. |
Audio Connectors
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.
- Connect the audio cable from a microphone to the microphone-in
connector.
- Connect the audio cable from the speakers to the line-out connector.
- Connect the line-out cable from a record/playback device to the
line-in connector. Cassette players, CD players, radios, stereo systems, and tape players
are all record/playback devices.
- Connect the TV-out S-video I/O cable from a record/playback device to
the TV-out S-video connector. VCRs and video cameras are record/playback devices.
Figure 2. Connecting Audio and S-Video
Devices
 |
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:
- If your television uses an S-video cable for video input, connect one
end of that cable directly to your computer's TV-out S-video connector and connect the
other end into your television's S-video connector. Connecting the S-video cable that came
with your television to the television's S-video connector and to the TV-out S-video
connector on your computer allows your computer to output video information to your
television.
- If your television uses a composite video cable for video input, you
need both the composite TV-out adapter cable that came with your computer and the
composite video cable that came with your television. Connecting these cables together,
and then connecting them to your television's composite video-in connector and your
computer's TV-out S-video connector, allows your computer to output video information to
your television.
To connect a television that has a composite video-in connector to
your computer's TV-out S-video connector, perform the following steps:
- 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.
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. |
- Make sure that the external monitor is turned off. Set the monitor on
a monitor stand, desk top, or other level surface near your computer.
- Connect the external monitor's video cable to
the computer.
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).
- Connect your external monitor to a grounded electrical outlet.
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 Mode." |
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.
|
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.
|
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. |
Connecting an External Mouse
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
|
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
|
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.
Connecting an External Keypad
You can attach a PS/2-compatible external numeric keypad to the
computer's mini-DIN keypad connector.
|
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. |
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