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Dell™ Latitude™ D531
Quick Reference Guide
Model PP04X
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
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Notes, Notices, and Cautions NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. Abbreviations and Acronyms For a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, see the Glossary in your User’s Guide. ® ® If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, a
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Contents Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Setting Up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 About Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Using a Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Contents 3
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4 Contents
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Finding Information NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or media may not be available in certain countries. NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer. What Are You Looking For? Find It Here A diagnostic program for my computer Drivers and Utilities Media Drivers for my computer NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. My device documentation Notebook System Sof
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What Are You Looking For? Find It Here ® ® Service Tag and Express Service Code Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License Microsoft Windows License Label These labels are located on your computer. Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use support.dell.com or contact support. Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting support. NOTE: The Microsoft Windows License label has been redesigned with a hole, or "security portal," as an increased sec
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What Are You Looking For? Find It Here Software upgrades and troubleshooting hints — Dell Support Utility Frequently asked questions, hot topics, and general The Dell Support Utility is an automated upgrade and health of your computing environment notification system installed on your computer. This support provides real-time health scans of your computing environment, software updates, and relevant self-support information. Access the Dell Support Utility from the icon in the task bar.
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Setting Up Your Computer CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. 1 Unpack the accessories box. 2 Set aside the contents of the accessories box, which you will need to complete the setup of your computer. The accessories box also contains user documentation and any software or additional hardware (such as PC Cards, drives, or batteries) that you have ordered. 3 Connect the AC adapter to the AC adapter con
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About Your Computer Front View 1 2 3 11 10 4 9 5 6 7 8 1 display latch 2 display 3 power button 4 device status lights 5 speakers (2) 6 keyboard 7 touch pad 8 touch pad buttons 9 keyboard status lights 10 wireless enable/disable button 11 ambient light sensor Quick Reference Guide 9
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Left Side View 5 1 2 3 6 4 1 security cable slot 2 air vent 3 IEEE 1394 connector 4 audio connectors (2) 5 PC Card slot 6 hard drive Right Side View 1 23 1 media bay 2 device latch release 3 USB connectors (2) Back View CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into, or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents. Do not store your computer in a low-airflow environment, such as a closed briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the airflow can damage the computer or cause a fire. 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 n
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Bottom View 1 2 3 7 6 5 4 1 battery charge gauge 2 battery-bay latch release 3 battery 4 memory module/coin-cell battery 5 docking device slot 6 air vents cover 7 hard drive Quick Reference Guide 11
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Using a Battery Battery Performance NOTE: For information about the Dell warranty for your computer, see the Product Information Guide or separate paper warranty document that shipped with your computer. For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™ portable computer with the main battery installed at all times. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in the battery bay. NOTE: Because the battery may not be fully charged, use the AC adapter to
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Checking the Battery Charge The Dell QuickSet Battery Meter, the Microsoft Windows Power Meter window and icon, the battery charge gauge and health gauge, and the low-battery warning provide information on the battery charge. Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter If Dell QuickSet is installed, press to display the QuickSet Battery Meter. The Battery Meter displays status, battery health, charge level, and charge completion time for the battery in your computer. For more information about Quic
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Low-Battery Warning NOTICE: To avoid losing or corrupting data, save your work immediately after a low-battery warning. Then connect the computer to an electrical outlet, or install a second battery in the media bay. If the battery runs completely out of power, hibernate mode begins automatically. By default, a pop-up window warns you when the battery charge is approximately 90 percent depleted. You can change the settings for the battery alarms in QuickSet or the Power Options Properties wi
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To remove the battery: 1 If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked), undock it. See the documentation that came with your docking device for instructions. 2 Ensure that the computer is turned off, in hibernate mode, or connected to AC adapter. NOTICE: Removing the battery in while the computer is in standby mode (without AC power) causes the computer to shut down and may result in loss of data. 3 Slide and hold the battery-bay latch release on the bottom of the computer. 4 Lift
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Troubleshooting Lockups and Software Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. The computer does not start up ENSURE THAT THE AC ADAPTER IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER AND TO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET. The computer stops responding NOTICE: You might lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown. TURN THE COMPUTER OFF — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on
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Other software problems CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION OR CONTACT THE SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION — Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on your computer. Ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software. See the software documentation for information. Ensure that the program is installed and configured properly. Verify that the device drivers do not conflict with the program.
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1 Ensure that the computer is connected to an electrical outlet that is known to be working properly. 2 Turn on (or restart) your computer. 3 Start the Dell Diagnostics in one of the following two ways: a When the DELL™ logo appears, press immediately. Select Diagnostics from the boot menu and press . NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the ® ® Microsoft Windows desktop; then, shut down your computer and try again. NOT
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Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 1 After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears, click the button for the option you want. NOTE: It is recommended that you select Test System to run a complete test on your computer. Option Function Test Memory Runs the stand-alone memory test Test System Runs System Diagnostics Exit Exits the Diagnostics 2 After you have selected the Test System option from the main menu, the following menu appears. NOTE: It is recommended that you select Exten
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4 If you run a test from the Custom Test or Symptom Tree option, click the applicable tab described in the following table for more information. Tab Function Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered. Errors Displays error conditions encountered, error codes, and the problem description. Help Describes the test and may indicate requirements for running the test. Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device. The Dell Diagnostics
