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. D8659bk0.book Page 31 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM
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. D8659bk0.book Page 32 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM
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. D8659bk0.book Page 33 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM
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. D8659bk0.book Page 34 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM
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. D8659bk0.book Page 35 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM
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. D8659bk0.book Page 37 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM
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. D8659bk0.book Page 39 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM
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. D8659bk0.book Page 40 Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:18 AM