INSPIRON™

SETUP GUIDE

DELL

INSPIRON™

SETUP GUIDE

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.

△CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem.

WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.

If you purchased a Dell n Series computer, any references in this document to the Microsoft Windows operating systems are not applicable.

This item incorporates copy protection technology that is protected by U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights of Rovi Corporation. Reverse engineering and disassembly are prohibited.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

© 2011–2012 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell™, the DELL logo, Inspiron™, and DellConnect™ are trademarks of Dell Inc. Intel®, Pentium®, and Core™ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. AMD® and Radeon™ are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Microsoft®, Windows®, and the Windows start button logo 🌐 are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Bluetooth® is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license. Blu-ray Disc™ is a trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Contents

Setting Up Your Inspiron Laptop .....5
Before Setting Up Your Computer .....5
Connect the AC Adapter .....6
Connect the Network Cable (Optional) .....7
Press the Power Button .....8
Set Up the Operating System .....9
Create System Recovery Media (Recommended) .....10
Install the SIM Card (Optional) .....12
Enable or Disable Wireless (Optional) .....14
Set Up Wireless Display (Optional) .....16
Connect to the Internet (Optional) .....17
Using Your Inspiron Laptop .....20
Right View Features .....20
Left View Features .....22
Back View Features .....26

Front View Features .....28
Status Lights and Indicators .....30
Disabling Battery Charging .....31
Computer Base and Keyboard Features .....32
Touch Pad Gestures .....36
Multimedia Control Keys .....38
Using the Optical Drive .....40
Display Features .....42
Removing and Replacing the Top Cover (Optional) .....44
Removing and Replacing the Battery .....48
Software Features .....50
Dell DataSafe Online Backup .....51
Dell Stage .....52

Contents

Solving Problems ..... 54
Beep Codes ..... 54
Network Problems ..... 55
Power Problems ..... 56
Memory Problems ..... 58
Lockups and Software Problems ..... 58
Using Support Tools ..... 62
Dell Support Center ..... 62
My Dell Downloads ..... 63
Hardware Troubleshooter ..... 64
Dell Diagnostics ..... 64
Restoring Your Operating System ..... 66
System Restore ..... 67
Dell DataSafe Local Backup ..... 68
System Recovery Media ..... 71
Dell Factory Image Restore ..... 72

Getting Help.....74
Technical Support and Customer Service.....75
DellConnect.....75
Online Services.....76
Automated Order-Status Service.....77
Product Information.....77
Returning Items for Repair Under Warranty or for Credit.....78
Before You Call.....80
Contacting Dell.....82
Finding More Information and Resources.....84
Specifications.....86
Appendix.....93
Information for NOM, or Official Mexican Standard (Only for Mexico).....93
Index.....94

Setting Up Your Inspiron Laptop

This section provides information about setting up your Dell Inspiron laptop.

Before Setting Up Your Computer

When positioning your computer, ensure that you allow easy access to a power source, adequate ventilation, and a level surface to place your computer.

Restricting airflow around your laptop may cause it to overheat. To prevent overheating, ensure that you leave at least 10.2 cm (4 inches) at the back of the computer and a minimum of 5.1 cm (2 inches) on all other sides. You should never place your computer in an enclosed space, such as a cabinet or drawer when it is powered on.

WARNING: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Do not place your Dell computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, or on fabric surfaces, such as carpets or rugs, while it is powered on. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer, deteriorate the computer performance, or cause a fire. The computer turns on the fan when the computer gets hot. Fan noise is normal and does not indicate a problem with the fan or the computer.

△CAUTION: Placing or stacking heavy or sharp objects on the computer may result in permanent damage to the computer.

Connect the AC Adapter

Connect the AC adapter to the computer and then plug it into an electrical outlet or surge protector.

WARNING: 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 a