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Dell Xps Gen 5 Manual

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    							Setting Up and Using Your Computer31
    If you have two CD or DVD drives, select the drive into which you have inserted your 
    source CD or DVD and click 
    Copy. The computer copies the data on the CD or DVD to 
    the blank CD or DVD.
    Once you have finished copying the source CD or DVD, the CD or DVD that you have created 
    automatically ejects.
    Using Blank CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVD+Rs, and DVD+RWs
    Your CD-RW drive can write to two different types of recording media—CD-Rs and CD-RWs 
    (including High-Speed CD-RWs). Use blank CD-Rs to record music or permanently store data 
    files. After creating a CD-R, you cannot write to that CD-R again (see the Sonic documentation 
    for more information). Use blank CD-RWs to write to CDs or to erase, rewrite, or update data 
    on CDs.
    Your DVD writable drive can write to four different types of recording media—CD-Rs, CD-RWs 
    (including High-Speed CD-RWs), DVD+Rs, and DVD+RWs. Blank DVD+Rs can be used to 
    permanently store large amounts of information. After you create a DVD+R disc, you may not 
    be able write to that disc again if the disc is finalized or closed during the final stage of the 
    disc creation process. Use blank DVD+RWs when you will need to erase, rewrite, or update the 
    information on that disc later.
    Helpful Tips
     Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after 
    you start Sonic RecordNow and open a RecordNow project.
     You must use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. 
    CD-RWs do not play in most home or car stereos.
     You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic RecordNow.
     Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software 
    installed. 
     Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD-RW to its maximum capacity; for example, do not copy a 
    650-MB file to a 650-MB blank CD. The CD-RW drive needs 1 or 2 MB of the blank CD to 
    finalize the recording. 
     Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording 
    techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the CD-RW and try again. You 
    can also use blank CD-RWs to test music file projects before you record the project 
    permanently to a blank CD-R. 
     See the Sonic support website at 
    support.sonic.com for additional information.
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    							32Setting Up and Using Your Computer
    www.dell.com | support.dell.com
    Network Setup Wizard
    The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you 
    through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a 
    home or small office.
    1
    Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories→ Communications, and then 
    click 
    Network Setup Wizard.
    2On the welcome screen, click Next.
    3Click Checklist for creating a network.
     NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the 
    integrated firewall provided with Windows XP SP1.
    4Complete the checklist and required preparations.
    Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen.
    Power Management
    Overview
    The Microsoft® Windows® XP power management features can reduce the amount of 
    electricity your computer uses when it is on and you are not using it. You can reduce power to 
    just the monitor or the hard drive, or you can use standby mode or hibernate mode to reduce 
    power to the entire computer. When the computer exits from a power conservation mode, the 
    Windows desktop is restored to the state it was in before it entered the mode.
     NOTE: Windows XP Professional includes security and networking features not available in 
    Windows XP Home Edition. When a Windows XP Professional computer is connected to a network, 
    different options related to security and networking appear in certain windows.
     
    NOTE: Depending on your operating system, the procedures to activate the standby and hibernate 
    modes may be different. 
    Standby Mode
    Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a time-out. 
    When the computer exits from standby mode, it returns to the operating state it was in before it 
    entered standby mode.
    To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity:
    1
    Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 
    2Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance. 
    3Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Power Options. 
    To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity, click the Start button, 
    click Turn Off Computer, and then click Stand by.
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    							Setting Up and Using Your Computer33
    To exit from standby mode, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse. 
     NOTICE: If your computer loses power while in standby mode, it may lose data.
    Hibernate Mode
    Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive 
    and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits from hibernate mode, 
    the desktop is restored to the state it was in
     before it entered hibernate mode.
    To activate hibernate mode: 
    1
    Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 
    2Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance. 
    3Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Power Options. 
    4Define your hibernate settings on the Power Schemes tab, Advanced tab, and Hibernate tab.
    To exit from hibernate mode, press the power button. The computer may take a short time to 
    exit from hibernate mode. Pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring 
    the computer out of hibernation, because the keyboard and the mouse do not function when 
    the computer is in hibernate mode.
    Because hibernate mode requires a special file on your hard drive with enough disk space to 
    store the contents of the computer memory, Dell creates an appropriately sized hibernate mode 
    file before shipping the computer to you. If the computer’s hard drive becomes corrupted, 
    Windows XP recreates the hibernate file automatically.
     
    Power Options Properties
    Define your standby mode settings, hibernate mode settings, and other power settings in the 
    Power Options Properties window.
     To access the Power Options Properties window:
    1
    Click the Start button and click Control Panel.
    2Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.
    3Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Power Options.
    4Define your power settings on the Po w e r  S c h e m e s tab, Advanced tab, and Hibernate tab.
    Power Schemes Tab
    Each standard power setting is called a scheme. If you want to select one of the standard 
    Windows schemes installed on your computer, choose a scheme from the Power schemes drop-
    down menu. The settings for each scheme appear in the fields below the scheme name. Each 
    scheme has different settings for starting standby mode or hibernate mode, turning off the 
    monitor, and turning off the hard drive.
     
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    							34Setting Up and Using Your Computer
    www.dell.com | support.dell.com
    The Power schemes drop-down menu displays the following schemes:
    Always On (default) — If you want to use your computer with no power conservation.
    
    Home/Office Desk — If you use your computer as a home or office computer and you require 
    minimal power conservation.
    
    Portable/Laptop — If your computer is a portable computer that you use for traveling.
    
    Presentation — If you want your computer to run without interruption (using no power 
    conservation).
    
    Minimal Power Management — If you want your computer to run with minimal power 
    conservation.
    
    Max Battery — If your computer is a portable computer and you run your computer from 
    batteries for extended periods of time. 
    If you want to change the default settings for a scheme, click the drop-down menu in the Tu r n  
    off monitor, Turn off hard disks, System stand by, or System hibernates field, and then select a 
    time-out from the displayed list. Changing the time-out for a scheme field permanently changes 
    the default settings for that scheme, unless you click Save As and enter a new name for the 
    changed scheme.
     NOTICE: If you set the hard drive to time-out before the monitor does, your computer may appear to be 
    locked up. To recover, press any key on the keyboard or click the mouse. To avoid this problem, always 
    set the monitor to time-out before the hard drive.
    Advanced Tab
    The Advanced tab allows you to:
     Place the power options icon   in the Windows taskbar for quick access.
     Set the computer to prompt you for your Windows password before the computer exits from 
    standby mode or hibernate mode. 
     Program the power button to activate standby mode, activate hibernate mode, or turn off the 
    computer.
    To program these functions, click an option from the corresponding drop-down menu and 
    clickOK.
    Hibernate Tab
    The Hibernate tab allows you to enable hibernate mode. If you want to use the hibernate 
    settings you defined on the Power Schemes tab, click the Enable hibernate support check box 
    on the Hibernate tab.
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    							Setting Up and Using Your Computer35
    For more information on power management options:
    1
    Click the Start button and click Help and Support.
    2In the Help and Support window, click Performance and maintenance. 
    3In the Performance and maintenance window, click Conserving power on your computer. 
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    							36Setting Up and Using Your Computer
    www.dell.com | support.dell.com
    D8659bk0.book  Page 36  Thursday, March 10, 2005  10:18 AM 
    						
    							Optimizing Performance37
    Optimizing Performance
    Hyper-Threading
    Hyper-Threading is an Intel® technology that can enhance overall computer performance by 
    allowing one physical processor to function as two logical processors, capable of performing 
    certain tasks simultaneously. It is recommended that you use the Microsoft
    ® Windows® XP 
    Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later operating system because Windows XP is optimized to take 
    advantage of Hyper-Threading technology. While many programs can benefit from Hyper-
    Threading, some programs have not been optimized for Hyper-Threading and may require an 
    update from the software manufacturer. Contact the software manufacturer for updates and 
    information about using Hyper-Threading with your software.
    To determine if your computer is using Hyper-Threading technology:
    1
    Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
    2Click Hardware and click Device Manager.
    3In the Device Manager window, click the plus (+) sign next to Processors. If Hyper-Threading 
    is enabled, the processor is listed twice.
    You can enable or disable Hyper-Threading through system setup. For more information on 
    accessing system setup, see page 127. For more information on Hyper-Threading, search the 
    Knowledge Base on the Dell website at support.dell.com.
    Overclocking
    Dell locks the processor multiplier options in system setup to prevent processor overclocking. 
    The first and most important reason for preventing overclocking is that Dell’s performance labs 
    vigorously test and fine-tune Dell computers at the system level in an attempt to attain the best 
    possible overall performance. Any performance modification that is not implemented in the labs 
    could cause performance degradation. When you receive your computer in the configuration 
    that you ordered, it is already primed for high performance.
    The second reason is that an overclocked processor, in general, creates excessive heat and 
    electrical fields that can cause heat fatigue failures within the processor, thus possibly 
    shortening its expected life span. Even slight overclocking can cause a computer to become 
    unstable and lock up.
    There are several after-market performance-modification products available through various 
    sources, but Dell discourages and does not support the use of those products on its computers.
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    							38Optimizing Performance
    www.dell.com | support.dell.com
    PCI Express Cards
    PCI Express is the next generation technology for graphics cards and PCI cards. The dimensions 
    of PCI Express card slots are different from PCI card slots, and the cards are not interchangeable 
    (you cannot install a PCI card in a PCI Express card slot, or a PCI Express card in a PCI card 
    slot). The PCI Express x16 card slot replaces the AGP graphics card slot.
    Some benefits of PCI Express technology include:
     Greater available bandwidth — PCI Express bus bandwidth is 250 MB/s in each direction per 
    lane simultaneously, while PCI bus bandwidth is 133 MB/s in one direction at a time. 
     Prioritization of service — Multiple PCI cards installed in a computer all share a common 
    bus, but each PCI Express card operates on its own channel. Activities such as video 
    conferencing and web camera functions can be automatically prioritized through the device 
    software to reduce latency.
    D8659bk0.book  Page 38  Thursday, March 10, 2005  10:18 AM 
    						
    							Solving Problems39
    Solving Problems
    Troubleshooting Tips
    Follow these tips when you troubleshoot your computer:
     If you added or removed a part before the problem started, review the installation procedures 
    and ensure that the part is correctly installed.
     If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly connected.
     If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message. This message may 
    help technical support personnel diagnose and fix the problem(s).
    If an error message occurs in a program, see the program’s documentation.
    Battery Problems
     CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the 
    battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used 
    batteries according to the manufacturers instructions.
     
    CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions 
    located in the Product Information Guide.
    Drive Problems
     CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions 
    located in the Product Information Guide.
    REPLACE THE BATTERY—If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on 
    the computer, or if an incorrect time or date displays during start-up, replace the battery (see page 120). 
    If the battery still does not work properly, contact Dell (see page 139).
    ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE—Click the Start button and 
    click My Computer. If the floppy, CD, or DVD drive, is not listed, perform a full scan with your 
    antivirus software to check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from 
    recognizing the drive.
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    							40Solving Problems
    www.dell.com | support.dell.com
    CD and DVD drive problems
     NOTE: High-speed CD or DVD drive vibration is normal and may cause noise, which does not indicate a 
    defect in the drive or the CD or DVD.
     
    NOTE: Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all DVD titles work in all 
    DVD drives.
    Problems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive
    TEST THE DRIVE—
     Insert another floppy disk, CD, or DVD to eliminate the possibility that the original one is defective.
     Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer.
    CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK—See Cleaning Your Computer on page 135.
    CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS
    RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER—See page 64.
    RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS—See page 58.
    ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL—
     Click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen.
     Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slidebar and dragging it up.
     Ensure that the sound is not muted by clicking any boxes that are checked.
    CHECK THE SPEAKERS AND SUBWOOFER—See Sound and Speaker Problems on page 51.
    CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS—The CD/DVD-RW drive must receive a steady stream of data when 
    writing. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. Try closing all programs before you write to the 
    CD/DVD-RW.
    TURN OFF STANDBY MODE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD/DVD-RW DISC—See 
    Standby Mode on page 32 or search for the keyword standby in Windows Help and Support Center. 
    for information on power management modes. For information on accessing window Help, see 
    Windows Help and Support Center on page 11. 
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