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About Your Computer: Dell Precision M90 User's Guide

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About Your Computer

Dell Precision™ M90 User's Guide

Determining Your Computer's Configuration

Determining Your Computer's Configuration

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:

Access the Windows Help and Support Center. For instructions, see Windows Help and Support Center.
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)

6

touch pad

11

keyboard

2

display latch release

7

media control buttons

12

media button

3

display

8

speakers (2)

13

keyboard and wireless status lights

4

power button

9

touch pad buttons

5

device status lights

10

touch-pad scroll zone

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.

media button — Press the media button to launch the software for the media player, if your computer has a media player.

keyboard and wireless status lights

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.

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.

Right Side View

1

smart card slot

4

IEEE 1394 connector

7

air vent

2

hard drive

5

5-in-1 media memory card reader

3

ExpressCard slot

6

audio connectors (2)

smart card slot — Supports one smart card. See Smart Cards.

hard drive — Stores software and data.

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 Using Cards.

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.

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.

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 solid light on the connector provides link status information. Off indicates no link, green indicates a 10-Mb/sec link, orange indicates a 100-Mb/sec link, and yellow indicates a 1000-Mb/sec link. The blinking yellow light on the connector indicates activity on the wired network connection.

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. For optimum performance, use only the AC adapter that came with your computer.

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.

Bottom View

1

subwoofer

5

cover for optional internal card with Bluetooth® wireless technology

9

docking-device connector

2

battery charge/health gauge

6

hard drive

10

memory module cover

3

battery-bay latch release

7

air vent

11

air vent

4

battery

8

Mini-Card/modem cover

12

optical-drive security screw

subwoofer — Produces a broader bass output than is provided by the speakers.

battery charge/health 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.

Mini-Card/modem cover — Covers the compartment that contains the Mini-Card and the modem. For more information, see Modem.

Docking-device connector — Lets you attach your computer to the Media Base or other docking device. See the Dell documentation that came with your docking device for more information.

NOTICE: Your computer features Undock & Go™ technology that allows you to undock your computer without going into standby mode. Because the computer may not automatically go into standby mode when it is undocked, be sure the settings in the Power Options control panel do not prohibit the computer from going into standby mode. If you change the Power Options control panel to prohibit the computer from going into standby mode, you greatly increase the chances of causing your battery to wear down quickly or causing your computer to overheat.

memory module cover — Covers the compartment that contains the memory modules. For more information, see Memory.

optical-drive security screw — Secures the optical drive in the optical drive bay. For more information, see Optical Drive.

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