Document Outline

• Notes, Notices, and Cautions
  • Vostro™ | A90
  • Setup and
  • Quick Reference Guide
    • About Your Computer 5
    • Quick Setup 13
    • Specifications 23
    • Troubleshooting Tips 31
    • Reinstalling Software 39
    • Finding Information 45
    • Getting Help 49
• About Your Computer
  • Front View
  • Right View
  • Left View
  • Battery Removal
    • 1 Ensure that the computer is turned off.
    • 2 Slide the two battery release latches to the unlock position.
    • 3 Slide the battery out.
• Quick Setup
  • 1 Connect the AC adapter to the AC adapter connector on the computer and to the electrical outlet.
  • 2 Connect the network cable.
  • 3 Connect USB devices, such as a mouse or keyboard.
  • 4 Open the computer display and press the power button to turn on the computer.
  • 5 Connect to the Internet. See "Connecting to the Internet" on page 16 for more information.
  • Connecting to the Internet
    • Setting Up Your Internet Connection
      • 1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
      • 2 Double-click the ISP icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop.
      • 3 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.
      • 1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.
      • 2 Click StartÆ Internet ExplorerÆ Connect to the Internet.
      • 3 In the next window, click the appropriate option:
      • 4 Click Next.
      • 5 Click the appropriate option under How do you want to connect to the Internet?, and click Next.
      • 6 Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.
  • Transferring Information to a New Computer
    • 1 Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click StartÆ All ProgramsÆ AccessoriesÆ System ToolsÆ Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
    • 2 When the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears, click Next.
    • 3 On the Which computer is this? screen, click New ComputerÆ Next.
    • 4 On the Do you have a Windows XP CD? screen, click I will use the wizard from the Windows XP CDÆ Next.
    • 5 When the Now go to your old computer screen appears, go to your old or source computer. Do not click Next at this time.
    • 1 On the old computer, insert the Windows XP Operating System media.
    • 2 On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen, click Perform additional tasks.
    • 3 Under What do you want to do?, click Transfer files and settingsÆ Next.
    • 4 On the Which computer is this? screen, click Old ComputerÆ Next.
    • 5 On the Select a transfer method screen, click the transfer method you prefer.
    • 6 On the What do you want to transfer? screen, select the items you want to transfer and click Next.
    • 7 After the information has been copied, the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears.
    • 8 Click Finish.
    • 1 On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer, click Next.
    • 2 On the Where are the files and settings? screen, select the method you chose for transferring your settings and files and click Next.
    • 3 The wizard applies the collected files and settings to your new computer.
    • 4 On the Finished screen, click Finished, and restart the new computer.
    • 1 Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click StartÆ All ProgramsÆ AccessoriesÆ System ToolsÆ Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
    • 2 When the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears, click Next.
    • 3 On the Which computer is this? screen, click New ComputerÆ Next.
    • 4 On the Do you have a Windows XP CD? screen, click I want to create a Wizard Disk in the following driveÆ Next.
    • 5 Insert the removable media, such as a writable CD, and click OK.
    • 6 When the disk creation completes and the Now go to your old computer message appears, do not click Next.
    • 7 Go to the old computer.
    • 1 On the old computer, insert the wizard disk, and click StartÆ Run.
    • 2 In the Open field on the Run window, browse to the path for fastwiz (on the appropriate removable media) and click OK.
    • 3 On the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen, click Next.
    • 4 On the Which computer is this? screen, click Old ComputerÆ Next.
    • 5 On the Select a transfer method screen, click the transfer method you prefer.
    • 6 On the What do you want to transfer? screen, select the items you want to transfer and click Next.
    • 7 After the information has been copied, the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears.
    • 8 Click Finish.
    • 1 On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer, click Next.
    • 2 On the Where are the files and settings? screen, select the method you chose for transferring your settings and files and click Next. Follow the instructions on the screen.
    • 3 The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.
    • 4 When all of the settings and files have been applied, the Finished screen appears.
    • 5 Click Finished and restart the new computer.
• Specifications
• Troubleshooting Tips
  • Using the Hardware Troubleshooter
    • 1 Click StartÆ Help and Support.
    • 2 Type hardware troubleshooter in the search field and press <Enter> to start the search.
    • 3 In the Fix a Problem section, click Hardware Troubleshooter.
    • 4 In the Hardware Troubleshooter list, select the option that best describes the problem and click Next to follow the remaining troubleshooting steps.
  • Tips
    • Power Problems
    • Memory Problems
    • Lockups and Software Problems
      • 1 Press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously to access the Task Manager, and click the Applications tab.
      • 2 Click to select the program that is no longer responding, and click End Task.
      • 1 Click StartÆ All ProgramsÆ AccessoriesÆ Program Compatibility WizardÆ Next.
      • 2 Follow the instructions on the screen.
    • Dell Technical Update Service
    • Dell Support Utility
      • 1 Click StartÆ All ProgramsÆ Dell SupportÆ Dell Support Settings.
      • 2 Ensure that the Show icon on the taskbar option is checked.
    • Dell Diagnostics
      • 1 Ensure that the computer is connected to a working electrical outlet.
      • 2 Turn on (or restart) your computer.
      • 3 When the DELL™ logo appears, press <0> immediately. Select Diagnostics from the start menu and press <Enter>.
      • 4 Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the diagnostics utility partition on your solid-state drive, and follow the instructions on the screen.
      • 1 Insert the Drivers and Utilities media.
      • 2 Shut down and restart the computer.
      • 3 When the boot device list appears, highlight CD/DVD/CD-RW and press <Enter>.
      • 4 Select the Boot from CD-ROM option from the menu that appears and press <Enter>.
      • 5 Type 1 to start the CD menu and press <Enter> to proceed.
      • 6 Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list. If multiple versions are listed, select the version that is appropriate for your computer.
      • 7 When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears, select the test that you want to run, and follow the instructions on the screen.
• Reinstalling Software
  • Drivers
    • Identifying Drivers
      • 1 Click StartÆ Control PanelÆ System.
      • 2 In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab, and click Device Manager.
    • Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities
      • 1 Click StartÆ My ComputerÆ PropertiesÆ HardwareÆ Device Manager.
      • 2 Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed and click Properties.
      • 3 Click the Drivers tabÆ Roll Back Driver.
      • 1 With the Windows desktop displayed, insert your Drivers and Utilities media.
      • 2 When the Drivers and Utilities media installation program starts, follow the prompts on the screen.
      • 3 When the InstallShield Wizard Complete window appears, remove the Drivers and Utilities media and click Finish to restart the computer.
      • 4 When you see the Windows desktop, reinsert the Drivers and Utilities media.
      • 5 At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen, click Next.
      • 6 Click the driver that you want to reinstall and follow the instructions on the screen.
      • 1 Click StartÆ My ComputerÆ PropertiesÆ HardwareÆ Device Manager.
      • 2 Double-click the type of device for which you are installing the driver (for example, Audio or Video).
      • 3 Double-click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver.
      • 4 Click the Driver tabÆ Update Driver.
      • 5 Click Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)Æ Next.
      • 6 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files.
      • 7 When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click the name of the driverÆ OKÆ Next.
      • 8 Click Finish and restart your computer.
  • Restoring Your Operating System
    • Using Microsoft® Windows® System Restore
      • 1 Click StartÆ All ProgramsÆ AccessoriesÆ System ToolsÆ System Restore.
      • 2 Click either Restore my computer to an earlier time or Create a restore point.
      • 3 Click Next and follow the remaining prompts on the screen.
      • 1 Click StartÆ All ProgramsÆ AccessoriesÆ System ToolsÆ System Restore.
      • 2 Click Undo my last restoration and click Next.
    • Using the Operating System Media
      • 1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
      • 2 Insert the Operating System media.
      • 3 If the Install Windows message appears, click Exit.
      • 4 Restart the computer.
      • 5 When the boot device list appears, highlight CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive and press <Enter>.
      • 6 Press any key to Boot from CD-ROM, and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
• Finding Information
• Getting Help
  • Obtaining Assistance
    • 1 See "Troubleshooting Tips" on page 31 for information and procedures that pertain to the problem your computer is experiencing.
    • 2 See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 36 for procedures on how to run Dell Diagnostics.
    • 3 Fill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" on page 53.
    • 4 Use Dell's extensive suite of online services available at Dell Support (support.dell.com) for help with installation and troubleshooting procedures. See "Online Services" on page 50 for a more extensive list of Dell Support online.
    • 5 If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem, see "Contacting Dell" on page 54.
    • Technical Support and Customer Service
    • Online Services
    • AutoTech Service
    • Automated Order-Status Service
  • Problems With Your Order
  • Product Information
  • Before You Call
  • Contacting Dell
    • 1 Visit support.dell.com, and verify your country or region in the Choose A Country/ Region drop-down menu at the bottom of the page.
    • 2 Click Contact Us on the left side of the page, and select the appropriate service or support link based on your need.
    • 3 Choose the method of contacting Dell that is convenient for you.
  • Index
  • B
    • battery
  • C
    • connecting
    • contacting Dell, 49, 54
  • D
    • Dell
    • Dell Diagnostics, 36
    • Dell Technology Guide, 47
    • DellConnect, 50
    • diagnostics
    • display
    • documentation, 45
    • drivers, 39
    • Drivers and Utilities media, 40, 46
  • E
    • End User License Agreement (EULA), 47
    • ergonomics information, 47
    • Express Service Code, 45
  • F
    • Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, 18
    • finding information, 45
  • I
    • Internet
  • L
    • license label, 47
  • M
    • media
    • memory
  • N
    • network connector
    • networks
    • Notebook System Software, 46
  • O
    • operating system
    • operating system product key, 47
  • P
    • phone numbers, 54
    • power
  • R
    • regulatory information, 47
    • reinstalling
  • S
    • safety information, 47
    • security cable slot
    • Service Manual, 47
    • Service Tag, 45
    • setup
    • software
    • specifications
    • support, 49
    • support information, 47
  • T
    • Terms and Conditions, 47
    • track stick/touch pad buttons
    • transferring information to a new computer, 18
    • troubleshooting, 31, 47
  • U
    • updates
  • V
    • view
  • W
    • warranty information, 47
    • Windows License label, 47
    • Windows XP
    • wizards