Dell Inspiron 7500 Reference And Troubleshooting Guide

							support.dell.comInstalling System Software4-13Installing the Internal Modem Driver (Optional)
The modem driver allows you to customize the operation of your optional internal 
modem.NOTICE: Do not install this driver if the computer does not have an internal 
modem installed.
NOTE: The internal modem is not available in all regions.
1.Log on as Administrator.
2.Insert the System Software CD into the CD-ROM drive.
3.Double-click the My Computer icon, and then double-click the CD-ROM drive 
icon.
4.Double-click the WinNT folder, and then double-click the Modem folder.
5.Double-click Setup.
The Installing Modem Drivers window appears.
6.At the Modem Installation window, click Next>.
7.When prompted, select Install new modem driver and components and click 
Next>. 
8.When prompted, select the Yes, I want to restart my computer now check box 
and click Finish to restart the computer.Installing the System Help
The Dell Inspiron system Help is available on the System Software CD. You can also 
access it from Dell’s support Web site (http://support.dell.com). 
NOTE: You must install Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 from the Microsoft Windows  
NT 4.0 Service Pack 5 CD prior to installing the system Help.Installing Help From the CD
To install the system Help from the System Software CD, perform the following steps:
1.Insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive.
2.Double-click the My Computer icon, and then double-click the CD-ROM drive 
icon. 
3.Double-click the Guide folder, and then double-click the appropriate language 
folder for the version of the Help you want to install.
4.Right-click and hold 7500help and drag it to the Windows desktop.
5.Release the right mouse button. 
						

							4-14Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
6.Left-click Copy Here.
7.Double-click the 7500help icon to access the system Help.Downloading Help From the Support Web Site
To download the system Help from http://support.dell.com, perform the following 
steps:
1.Click Support Your Dell.
2.Type your service tag sequence, if available, click Submit, and go to step 5. 
If the service tag is not available, go to step 3.
3.Click Inspiron Notebooks. 
4.Click 7500. 
5.Click Dell Documents (Technical Information).
Follow the instructions on the page to save the file to your hard-disk drive.
6.Click System Help.
7.When prompted, you can save the system Help to your hard-disk drive.Contacting Dell
Dell’s technical assistance Web site (http://support.dell.com) provides driver and 
utility updates, as well as technical assistance with questions about your computer. In 
addition, if you have access to a computer with a modem and/or fax capabilities, you 
can access Dell’s TechConnect bulletin board service (BBS), AutoTech service, and 
TechFax service. Dell’s Web site also contains links to some of these services. 
Dell regularly tests and officially releases new drivers and utilities for                       
Inspiron computers. A list of the latest drivers and utilities is available at                     
http://support.dell.com. 
						

							support.dell.comGetting Help5-1CHAPTER 5
Getting Help
This chapter describes the tools Dell provides to help you when you have a problem 
with your computer. It also tells you when and how to call Dell for technical or 
customer assistance.                                                    Technical Assistance    
If you need assistance with a technical problem, perform the following steps:
1.Complete the troubleshooting checks in Chapter 3, “Basic Troubleshooting.”
2.Run the Dell Diagnostics as described in “Running the Dell Diagnostics” in 
Chapter 3.
3.Make a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist (found later in this chapter), and fill it 
out.
4.Use Dell’s extensive suite of online services available at Dell’s World Wide Web 
site (http://www.dell.com www.dell.com
) for help with installation and troubleshooting 
procedures.
For more information, refer to “World Wide Web on the Internet” found later in 
this chapter.
5.If the preceding steps have not resolved the problem and you need to talk to a 
Dell technician, call Dell’s technical support service.
When prompted by Dell’s automated telephone system, enter your Express 
Service Code to route the call directly to the proper support personnel. If you do   
not have an Express Service Code, open the Dell Accessories folder, double-click 
the Express Service Code icon, and follow the directions.
NOTES: The Express Service Code is shown on the bottom of the computer. 
Dell’s Express Service Code system may not be available in all countries.
For instructions on using the technical support service, refer to “Technical 
Support Service” and “Before You Call” found later in this chapter. 
						

							5-2Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting GuideHelp Tools
Dell provides a number of tools to assist you. These tools are described in the 
following subsections.
NOTE: Some of the following tools are not always available in all locations outside the 
continental U.S. Please call your local Dell representative for information on 
availability.World Wide Web
The Internet is your most powerful tool for obtaining information about your computer 
and other Dell products. Through the Internet, you can access most of the services 
described in this chapter, including AutoTech, TechFax, order status, technical support, 
and product information.
From Dell’s World Wide Web home page (www.dell.com), click the Support icon, 
and click Support Your Dell. Enter your service tag number (or, if you have one, your 
Express Service Code) and click Submit. The service tag and Express Service Code 
are shown on the bottom of the computer. 
You can also select support by clicking Inspiron and selecting your system by name.
Your system information is presented on the system support page, including the 
following tools and information:•
Technical information — Details on every aspect of your system, including 
hardware specifications.•
Self-diagnostic tool — A system-specific troubleshooting application for resolving 
many computer-related issues by following interactive flowcharts.•
Drivers, files, and utilities — The latest drivers and BIOS updates to keep your 
system functioning at its best.•
Component support — Technical information, documentation, and 
troubleshooting tips for different system components.•
Online Communications Center — Tool for submitting requests for both              
technical and non-technical information on Dell products. Avoid telephone        
delays by receiving an e-mail response to your request for information if your 
computer is not functioning properly or if you have questions regarding your 
computer’s hardware or operation.
Dell can be accessed electronically using the following addresses:•
World Wide Web
http://www.dell.com/ 
http://www.dell.com/ap/ (for Asian/Pacific countries only)
http://www.euro.dell.com (for Europe only) 
						

							support.dell.comGetting Help5-3•
Anonymous file transfer protocol (FTP)
ftp.dell.com/
Log in as user: anonymous
, and use your e-mail address as your password. •
Electronic Support Service
[email protected] 
[email protected] (for Asian/Pacific countries only)
support.euro.dell.com (for Europe only)•
Electronic Quote Service
[email protected]
[email protected] (for Asian/Pacific countries only)•
Electronic Information Service
[email protected] Service
Dell’s automated technical support service—AutoTech—provides recorded answers 
to the questions most frequently asked by Dell customers.
When you call AutoTech, you use your touch-tone telephone to select the subjects 
that correspond to your questions. You can even interrupt an AutoTech session and 
continue the session later. The code number that the AutoTech service gives you 
allows you to continue your session where you ended it.
The AutoTech service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also 
access this service through the technical support service. For the telephone number 
to call, refer to “Dell Contact Numbers” found later in this chapter.TechFax Service
Dell takes full advantage of fax technology to serve you better. Twenty-four hours a 
day, seven days a week, you can call the Dell TechFax line toll-free for all kinds of 
technical information. 
Using a touch-tone phone, you can select from a full directory of topics. The technical 
information you request is sent within minutes to the fax number you designate. For 
the TechFax telephone number to call, refer to “Dell Contact Numbers” found later in 
this chapter.TechConnect BBS              
Use your modem to access Dell’s TechConnect bulletin board service (BBS) 24 hours 
a day, seven days a week. The service is menu-driven and fully interactive. The 
protocol parameters for the BBS are 1200 to 19.2K baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop 
bit. 
						

							5-4Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting GuideAutomated Order-Status System
You can call this automated service to check on the status of any Dell products that 
you have ordered. A recording prompts you for the information needed to locate and 
report on your order. For the telephone number to call, refer to “Dell Contact 
Numbers” found later in this chapter. Technical Support Service
Dell’s industry-leading hardware technical-support service is available 24 hours a day, 
seven days a week, to answer your questions about Dell hardware.
Our technical support staff pride themselves on their track record: more than 
90 percent of all problems and questions are taken care of in just one toll-free call, 
usually in less than 10 minutes. When you call, our experts can refer to records kept 
on your Dell system to better understand your particular question. Our technical       
support staff use computer-based diagnostics to provide fast, accurate answers to 
questions. 
To contact Dell’s technical support service, first refer to the section titled “Before You 
Call” and then call the number for your country as listed in “Dell Contact Numbers” 
found later in this chapter. Problems With Your Order    
If you have a problem with your order, such as missing parts, wrong parts, or incorrect 
billing, contact Dell Computer Corporation for customer assistance. Have your invoice 
or packing slip handy when you call. For the telephone number to call, refer to “Dell 
Contact Numbers” found later in this chapter.Product Information
If you need information about additional products available from Dell Computer 
Corporation, or if you would like to place an order, visit Dell’s World Wide Web site         
at http://www.dell.com/. For the telephone number to call to speak to a sales 
specialist, refer to “Dell Contact Numbers” found later in this chapter.Returning Items for Warranty Repair or 
Credit
Dell’s technical support staff will work with you to solve any problem you may have 
with your computer. Sometimes, though, a part needs to be returned to Dell for repair 
or credit. Use the following procedure to prepare all items being returned:
1.Call Dell to obtain an authorization number, and write it clearly and prominently 
on the outside of the box.
For the telephone number to call, refer to “Dell Contact Numbers” found later in 
this chapter. 
						

							support.dell.comGetting Help5-5
2.Include a copy of the invoice and a letter describing the reason for the return.
3.Include a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist indicating the tests you have run and 
any error messages reported by the Dell Diagnostics.
4.Include any accessories that belong with the item(s) being returned (power 
cables, software diskettes, guides, and so on) if the return is for credit.
5.Pack the equipment to be returned in the original (or equivalent) packing 
materials.
You are responsible for paying shipping expenses. You are also responsible for 
insuring any product returned, and you assume the risk of loss during shipment 
to Dell Computer Corporation. Collect-on-delivery (C.O.D.) packages are not 
accepted.
Returns that are missing any of the preceding requirements will be refused at our 
receiving dock and returned to you.Before You Call
NOTE: Have your Express Service Code ready when you call. The code helps Dell’s 
automated-support telephone system direct your call more efficiently.
Remember to fill out the Diagnostics Checklist (Figure 5-1). If possible, turn on your 
system before you call Dell for technical assistance and call from a telephone at or 
near the computer. You may be asked to type some commands at the keyboard, relay 
detailed information during operations, or try other troubleshooting steps possible 
only at the computer system itself. Make sure the system documentation is available.  
						

							5-6Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting GuideFigure 5-1.  Diagnostics Checklist
Name: ______________________________________________________________Date:  ______________________
Address: ________________________________________________________Phone number:  _________________
Service tag (bar code on the back of the computer):  _________________________________________________
Express Service Code:  ___________________________________________________________________________
Return Material Authorization Number (if provided by Dell support technician):  ___________________________
Operating system and version:  ____________________________________________________________________
Peripherals: ____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Expansion cards:_________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Are you connected to a network?                            yes                   no 
Network, version, and network card:  _______________________________________________________________
Programs and versions: ___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Refer to your operating system documentation to determine the contents of the system’s start-up files. If the 
computer is connected to a printer, print each file. Otherwise, record the contents of each file before 
calling Dell.
Error message, beep code, or diagnostic code: ______________________________________________________
Description of problem and troubleshooting procedures you performed:  ________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Diagnostics Checklist 
						

							support.dell.comGetting Help5-7Dell Contact Numbers             
When you need to contact Dell, use the telephone numbers and codes provided         
in Tables 5-1 and 5-2. Table 5-1 provides the various codes required to make            
long-distance and international calls. Table 5-2 provides local telephone numbers,   
area codes, and toll-free numbers, if applicable, for each department or service      
available in various countries around the world. If you are making a direct-dialed call to 
a location outside of your local telephone service area, determine which codes to use 
(if any) in Table 5-1 in addition to the local numbers provided in Table 5-2. For example, 
to place an international call from Paris, France to Bracknell, England, dial the         
international access code for France followed by the country code for the U.K.,         
the city code for Bracknell, and then the local number as shown in the following 
illustration. 
To place a long-distance call within your own country, use area codes instead of 
international access codes, country codes, and city codes. For example, to call Paris, 
France from Montpellier, France, dial the area code plus the local number as shown in 
the following illustration.
The codes required depend on where you are calling from as well as the destination 
of your call; in addition, each country has a different dialing protocol. If you need 
assistance in determining which codes to use, contact a local or an international 
operator.
NOTE: Toll-free numbers are for use only within the country for which they are listed. 
Area codes are most often used to call long distance within your own country (not 
internationally)—in other words, when your call originates in the same country you      
are calling. 00
International 
Access Code
(in France)1344City Code 
(Bracknell)________Local 
Number44Country 
Code
(for U.K.)01
Area Code
(for Paris from 
outside Paris)________Local 
Number 
						

							5-8Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting GuideTable 5-1.  International Dialing Codes
Country (City)International
Access CodeCountry CodeCity Code
Australia (Sydney)0011612
Austria (Vienna)900431
Belgium (Brussels)00322
Brunei—673—
Canada (North York, Ontario)011—Not required
Chile (Santiago)—562
China (Xiamen)—86592
Czech Republic (Prague)004202
Denmark (Horsholm)00945Not required
Finland (Helsinki)9903589
France (Paris) (Montpellier)0033(1) (4)
Germany (Langen)00496103
Hong Kong001852Not required
Ireland (Bray)163531
Italy (Milan)00392
Japan (Kawasaki)0018144
Korea (Seoul)001822
Luxembourg00352—
Macau—853Not required
Malaysia (Penang)00604
Mexico (Colonia Granada)95525
Netherlands (Amsterdam)003120
New Zealand0064—
Norway (Lysaker)09547Not required
Poland (Warsaw)0114822
Singapore (Singapore)00565Not required
South Africa (Johannesburg)09/0912711
Spain (Madrid)073491