Document Outline

• Dell Inspiron 3500 Portable Computer Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
• Safety Instructions
  • When Using Your Computer
  • Ergonomic Computing Habits
  • When Removing or Installing Memory Modules
  • Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
• Preface
  • About This Guide
  • Warranty and Return Policy Information
  • Other Documents You May Need
  • Notational Conventions
    • Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
    • Typographical Conventions
• Contents
• Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Introduction
    • Hardware Features
    • Software Features
    • Using the Power Button
    • Accessing Electronic Documentation
    • Available Options
    • Getting Help
• Chapter 2: Customizing System Features
  • Customizing System Features
    • System Utilities
    • Setup Program
      • Accessing the Setup Program
      • Main Menu Options
        • System Time
        • System Date
        • Floppy Drive
        • Hard Disk
        • Quiet Boot
        • Video Display Device
        • System Memory
        • Extended Memory
      • System Devices Menu Options
        • IDE Controller
        • FDD Controller
        • Serial Port
        • Infrared Port
        • Parallel Port
        • Modem Port
        • Audio
      • Security Menu Options
        • System Password is
        • Set System Password
        • Password On Boot
      • Power Menu Options
        • Power Management Mode
        • CPU Throttling
        • Standby Time-Out
        • Suspend Time-Out
        • Suspend Mode
        • Resume On Modem Ring
        • Resume On Time of Day
        • Resume Time
      • Boot Menu Options
      • Exit Menu Options
        • Save Changes and Exit
        • Discard Changes and Exit
        • Load Factory Defaults
        • Load Last Saved Values
        • Save Changes
    • Creating the Save-to-Disk Suspend File
    • Reinstalling the System User’s Guide
• Chapter 3: Troubleshooting Your Computer
  • Troubleshooting Your Computer
    • Backing Up Your Files
    • Basic Checks
      • Checking Connections
    • Look and Listen
      • Setup Options
    • Messages and Codes
      • System Beep Codes
    • Finding Software Solutions
      • Installing and Configuring Software
        • Start-Up Files
      • Using Software
        • Error Messages
        • Input Errors
        • Memory-Resident Programs
        • Program Conflicts
        • Avoiding Interrupt Assignment Conflicts
    • Troubleshooting Procedures
      • Troubleshooting a Wet Computer
      • Troubleshooting a Damaged Computer
      • Troubleshooting a Power Failure
        • Total Power Failure When Using the AC Adapter
        • Total Power Failure When Using a Battery
        • No Power to a Part of the Computer
      • Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive
      • Troubleshooting the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drive
      • Troubleshooting the Hard-Disk Drive
      • Troubleshooting an External Keyboard
      • Troubleshooting Memory
      • Troubleshooting the Display
      • Troubleshooting an External Monitor
      • Troubleshooting the Serial and Parallel Ports
        • Troubleshooting the Basic I/O Functions
        • Troubleshooting a Parallel Printer
        • Troubleshooting a Serial I/O Device
        • Troubleshooting the Infrared Port
      • Troubleshooting the Touch Pad
      • Troubleshooting Audio Functions
• Chapter 4: Running Dell Diagnostics
  • Running the Dell Diagnostics
    • Features of the Dell Diagnostics
    • When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
    • Before You Start Testing
    • Starting the Dell Diagnostics
    • Completing the Dell Diagnostics
    • How to Use the Dell Diagnostics
    • Confirming the System Configuration Information
    • How to Use the Menu
    • Main Menu Options
      • Run
      • Select
      • Subtest
        • Run (Under Subtest)
        • Select (Under Subtest)
        • Options (Under Subtest)
        • Test Limits (Under Subtest)
        • About (Under Subtest)
        • Key-Help (Under Subtest)
        • Quit Menu (Under Subtest)
      • Options
        • Number of Times to Repeat Test(s)
        • Maximum Errors Allowed
        • Pause for User Response
        • Output Device for Status Messages
        • Output Device for Error Messages
      • Test Limits
      • About
      • Key-Help
      • Quit
    • Tests in the Dell Diagnostics
    • Error Messages
    • RAM Test Group
      • Why Run a RAM Test?
      • Subtests
    • System Set Test Group
      • Why Run a System Set Test?
      • Subtests
    • Video Test Group
      • Why Run a Video Test?
      • Subtests
    • Keyboard Test Group
      • Why Run a Keyboard Test?
      • Subtests
    • Mouse Test
      • Why Run the Mouse Test?
      • Subtests
    • Diskette Drives Test Group
      • Why Run a Diskette Drives Test?
      • Subtests
    • IDE (ATA/ATAPI) Devices Test Group
      • Why Run an IDE Devices Test?
      • Subtests
    • Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group
      • Why Run a Serial/Infrared Ports Test?
      • Subtests
    • Parallel Ports Test Group
      • Why Run a Parallel Ports Test?
      • Subtests
    • Audio Test Group
      • Why Run an Audio Test?
      • Subtests
    • Other Test Group
• Chapter 5: Getting Help
  • Getting Help
    • Technical Assistance
    • Help Tools
      • World Wide Web on the Internet
      • AutoTech Service
      • TechFax Service
      • TechConnect BBS
      • Automated Order-Status System
      • Technical Support Service
    • Problems With Your Order
    • Product Information
    • Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit
    • Before You Call
    • Dell Contact Numbers
• Appendix A: Technical Specifications
  • Technical Specifications
• Appendix B: Diagnostic Video Tests
  • Diagnostic Video Tests
    • Video Memory Test
    • Video Hardware Test
    • Text Mode Character Test
      • Character Attributes Subtest (80 x 25)
      • Character Set Subtest (80 x 25)
      • Character Attributes Subtest (40 x 25)
      • Character Set Subtest (40 x 25)
    • Text Mode Color Test
      • Color Attributes Subtest (80 x 25)
      • Color Attributes Subtest (40 x 25)
      • Color Bars Subtest
    • Text Mode Pages Test
    • Graphics Mode Test
      • 320 x 200 Graphics Mode Screens
      • 320 x 200 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen
      • 640 x 200 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen
      • 640 x 350 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen
      • 640 x 480 2-Color Graphics Mode Screen
      • 640 x 480 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen
      • 320 x 200 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen
      • 640 x 480 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen
      • 800 x 600 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen
      • 800 x 600 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen
      • 1024 x 768 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen
      • 1024 x 768 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen
    • Color Palettes Test
    • Solid Colors Test
• Appendix C: Regulatory Notices
  • Regulatory Notices
    • FCC Notices (U.S. Only)
      • Class A
      • Class B
      • Modem Regulatory Information
        • Fax Branding
    • IC Notice (Canada Only)
      • Modem Regulatory Information
    • CE Notice (European Union)
    • EN 55022 Compliance (Czech Republic Only)
    • VCCI Notice (Japan Only)
      • Class A ITE
      • Class B ITE
    • MOC Notice (South Korea Only)
      • Class A Device
      • Class B Device
    • Polish Center for Testing and Certification Notice
    • Wymagania Polskiego Centrum BadaÒ i Certyfikacji
    • Pozosta³e instrukcje bezpieczeÒstwa
    • NOM Information (Mexico Only)
    • Información para NOM (únicamente para México)
    • BCIQ Notice (Taiwan Only)
• Appendix D: Warranty, Return Policy, and Year 2000 Statement of Compliance
  • Warranty, Return Policy, and Year 2000 Statement of Compliance
    • Limited Three-Year Warranty (U.S. and Canada Only)
      • Coverage During Year One
      • Coverage During Years Two and Three
      • General Provisions
    • “Total Satisfaction” Return Policy (U.S. and Canada Only)
    • Year 2000 Statement of Compliance for Dell-Branded Hardware Products
      • Previous Products
      • Software
      • Additional Information
  • Index