Dell Vostro A860 (Late 2008) User Manual

Vostro™ | A840/A860 Setup andQuick Reference Guidebook.book Page 1 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM

About Your Computer10Left View PC CARD SLOT — Supports one PC Card, such as a modem or network adapter. The computer ships with a blank installed in

About Your Computer11NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45)VGA CONNECTORSECURITY CABLE SLOT — Lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the com

About Your Computer12 CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Do not store your Dell™ computer in a l

About Your Computer13To remove the battery:1 Ensure that the computer is turned off.2 Slide the two release latches on the bottom of the computer, and

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Quick Setup15Quick Setup CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional s

Quick Setup161 Connect the AC adapter to the AC adapter connector on the computer and to the electrical outlet. 2 Connect the network cable. 3 Connect

Quick Setup174 Open the computer display and press the power button to turn on the computer. NOTE: It is recommended that you turn on and shut down y

Quick Setup18To set up an Internet connection with a desktop shortcut provided by your ISP:1 Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs

Quick Setup195 Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.Transferring Information

Notes, Notices, and Cautions NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. NOTICE: A NOTICE indicate

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Specifications21Specifications NOTE: Offerings may vary by region. For more information regarding the configuration of your computer, click Start→ He

Specifications22System Information Vostro A840 Vostro A860Chipset Intel GM965 Express/ICH8M Intel GM965 Express/ICH8MData bus width 64 bits 64 bitsDR

Specifications23Minimum memory 512 MB 512 MBMaximum memory 4 GB 4 GBMemory (continued) Vostro A840 Vostro A860Ports and Connectors Vostro A840 Vostro

Specifications243-in-1 Media Card Reader Vostro A840 Vostro A8603-in-1 media memory card controllerRicoh 5C847 Ricoh R5C847 3-in-1 media memory card

Specifications25Video Vostro A840 Vostro A860Video type: integrated on system board, hardware acceleratedintegrated on system board, hardware acceler

Specifications26Speaker one 4-ohm speaker one 4-ohm speakerInternal speaker amplifier 2-W channel into 4 ohms 2-W channel into 4 ohmsVolume controls p

Specifications27Viewing angles: WXGA Horizontal40/40° 40/40°WXGA Vertical15/30° 15/30°Pixel pitch: HD0.2373 0.255Power Consumption (panel with ba

Specifications28Touch Pad Vostro A840 Vostro A860X/Y position resolution (graphics table mode)240 cpi 240 cpiSize: Width73.0-mm (2.9-inch) sensor-a

Specifications29Voltage 11.1 VDC (6-cell)14.8 VDC (4-cell)11.1 VDC (6-cell)14.8 VDC (4-cell)Charge time (approximate): 4 hours (when computer is off)

Contents3ContentsAbout Your Computer. . . . . . . . 7Front View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Right View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Left

Specifications30AC Adapter Vostro A840 Vostro A860Input voltage 100–240 VAC 100–240 VACInput current (maximum) 1.5 A 1.5 AInput frequency 50–60 Hz 50

Specifications31Temperature range: Operating0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F) 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F) Storage–40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F) –40° to 65°C (–4

Specifications32Relative humidity (maximum): Operating10% to 90% (noncondensing) 10% to 90% (noncondensing)Storage5% to 95% (noncondensing) 5% to 95%

Troubleshooting33Troubleshooting CAUTION: To guard against the likelihood of electric shock, laceration by moving fan blades, or other expected injur

Troubleshooting34DISK C: FAILED INITIALIZATION — The hard drive failed initialization. Run the hard drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see "De

Troubleshooting35HARD-DISK DRIVE CONFIGURATION ERROR — The computer cannot identify the drive type. Shut down the computer, remove the hard drive (se

Troubleshooting36INVALID CONFIGURATION INFORMATION-PLEASE RUN SYS TE M SETUP PROGRAM — The system configuration information does not match the hardwa

Troubleshooting37MEMORY DATA LINE FAILURE AT ADDRESS, READ VALUE EXPECTING VALUE — A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the

Troubleshooting38NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES. EXIT SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN — You have too many programs open. Close all windows and open the p

Troubleshooting39TIME-OF-DAY CLOCK LOST POWER — System configuration settings are corrupted. Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge t

Contents4Lockups and Software Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Dell Technical Update Service. . . 49Dell Support Center . . . . . . . . . .

Troubleshooting40System Messages NOTE: If the message you received is not listed in the table, see the documentation for either the operating system

Troubleshooting41NO TIMER TICK INTERRUPT — A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning or system board failure (see "Contacting Dell&quo

Troubleshooting42Dell Diagnostics CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For addi

Troubleshooting43 NOTICE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop,

Troubleshooting445 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

Troubleshooting45IF THE POWER LIGHT IS OFF — The computer is either turned off or is not receiving power.• Reseat the power cable in the power conne

Troubleshooting46• Ensure that the processor power cable is securely connected to the system board power connector (see your Service Manual at support

Troubleshooting47• Reseat the memory modules (see your Service Manual at support.dell.com) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating

Troubleshooting48A program stops respondingEND THE PROGRAM — 1 Press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously to access the Task Manager,

Troubleshooting49Other software problemsCHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION — • En

Contents5Before You Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Contacting Dell. . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Troubleshooting50Click on the icon in the taskbar to run the application. The home page provides links to access:• Self Help (Troubleshooting, Secur

Reinstalling Software51Reinstalling SoftwareDriversIdentifying DriversIf you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the

Reinstalling Software52 NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, con

Reinstalling Software535 At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen, click Next. NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities program displays drivers only for hardw

Reinstalling Software546 Click Browse and browse to the location to which you previously copied the driver files.7 When the name of the appropriate dr

Reinstalling Software55Starting System Restore1 Click Start .2 In the Start Search box, type System Restore and press <Enter>. NOTE: The User A

Reinstalling Software56operating system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver. See "Using Microsoft® Window

Reinstalling Software57 NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only. On the next start-up, the computer boots according to the de

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Finding Information59Finding Information NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or media may

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Finding Information60Operating System MediaThe Operating System media is a CD or DVD that may have shipped with your computer.Reinstall your operating

Finding Information61Dell Technology GuideThe Dell Technology Guide is available at support.dell.com.•About your operating system•Using and maintainin

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Getting Help63Getting HelpObtaining Assistance CAUTION: If you need to remove the computer cover, first disconnect the computer power and modem cable

Getting Help64the Dell Accessories folder, double-click the Express Service Code icon, and follow the directions.For instructions on using the Dell Su

Getting Help65You can access Dell Support through the following websites and e-mail addresses:• Dell Support websites:support.dell.comsupport.apj.dell

Getting Help66Automated Order-Status ServiceTo check on the status of any Dell products that you have ordered, you can go to support.dell.com, or you

Getting Help673 Include any accessories that belong with the item(s) being returned (power cables, software floppy disks, guides, and so on) if the re

Getting Help68Diagnostics ChecklistName:Date:Address:Phone number:Service Tag (bar code on the back or bottom of the computer):Express Service Code:Re

Getting Help69Contacting Dell NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, pack

About Your Computer7About Your ComputerFront View DEVICE STATUS LIGHTSThe lights located on the palm rest towards the front of the computer indicate t

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Index71IndexBbatteryremoval, 12CconnectingAC adapter, 16Internet, 17network, 17network cable, 16USB devices, 16contacting Dell, 63, 69DDellcontacting,

Index72documentation, 59Dell Technology Guide, 61Service Manual, 60–61drivers, 51Drivers and Utilities media, 59identifying, 51reinstalling, 51returni

Index73Nnetwork connectordescription, 11networksconnecting, 17Notebook System Software, 59Ooperating systemmedia, 55operating system product key, 61Pp

Index74softwareproblems, 48reinstalling, 51troubleshooting, 48–49updates, 49specificationsAC adapter, 30all, 21audio, 25battery, 28communications, 24d

Index75troubleshooting (continued)programs and Windows compatibility, 48software, 47–49tips, 44Uupdatessoftware and hardware, 49Vviewback, 10front, 7–

Index76book.book Page 76 Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:38 PM

About Your Computer8AUDIO CONNECTORSTOUCH PAD — Provides the functionality of a mouse.Right View Attach headphones to the connectorAttach a microph

About Your Computer9DISPLAY — For more information on the display, see Dell Technology Guide.KEYBOARD STATUS LIGHTS — The lights located above the ke