Dell Dimension 4550 driver and firmware
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Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 4
... to Copy a CD 32
Hyper-Threading 33
Booting to a USB Device 34
Turning Off the Computer 34
2 Solving Problems
Finding Solutions 36
Finding Help Information 38
Battery Problems 38
Drive Problems 39 Floppy drive problems 39 CD drive problems 40 Problems writing to a CD-RW drive 41 DVD drive problems 41 Hard drive problems 42
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems 42
Error Messages...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 5
...
Diagnostic Lights 60 Dell Diagnostics 62
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics 62 Starting the Dell Diagnostics 62 Drivers 65 What Is a Driver 65 Identifying Drivers 66 Reinstalling drivers 66 Using System Restore 68 Creating a Restore Point 68 Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State 68 Undoing the Last System Restore 69 Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 6
... Windows XP 71 Reinstalling Drivers and Software 73
4 Adding Parts
Front and Back View of the Computer 76 Front View 76 Back View 78
Reattaching the Front Door and Hinge Arms 80 Reattaching the Hinge Arms 80 Reattaching the Front Door 82
Opening the Computer Cover 83 Looking Inside Your Computer 84
System Board 85 Installing and Removing Cards...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 16
... Forum - online discussion with other Dell customers • Upgrades - upgrade information for components, such as memory,
the hard drive, and the operating system • Customer Care - contact information, order status, warranty, and
repair information • Downloads - drivers, patches, and software updates • Reference - computer documentation, product specifications, and
white...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 20
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Setting Up a Printer
NOTICE: Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the computer. See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information, including how to: • Obtain and install updated drivers • Connect the printer to the computer • Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge • Contact the ...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 21
... printer.
Connecting a USB Printer
1 Complete the operating system setup, if you have not already done so. 2 Install the printer driver if necessary. See the documentation that
came with your printer. 3 Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connector on the computer
and the printer. The USB connectors fit only one way.
HINT: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.
Setting...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 31
... a steady stream of data to properly record. Direct Internet downloads, floppy drives, and Zip drives may not be able to provide a steady data stream to your CD-RW drive.
• Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed.
• Ensure that you set the sampling rate to at least 128 Kbps...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 33
... and may require an update from the software manufacturer. Contact the software manufacturer for updates and information on using your software with Hyper-Threading.
To determine if your computer is using Hyper-Threading technology:
1 Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2 Click Hardware and click Device Manager.
3 In the Device Manager window, click the plus...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 45
... an environment similar to non-Windows XP operating system environments. 1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories, and then click
Program Compatibility Wizard. 2 In the welcome screen, click Next. 3 Follow the instructions on the screen.
HINT: Software usually includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk or CD.
So l vi n g Pro...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 59
3
SECTION 3
Advanced Troubleshooting
Diagnostic Lights Dell Diagnostics Drivers Using System Restore Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 65
... Menu screen. To exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer, close the Main Menu screen.
Drivers
What Is a Driver?
A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver program.
A driver acts like a translator between the device and the programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 66
... Dell Dimension ResourceCD provide approved drivers for Dell™ computers. If you install drivers obtained from other sources, your computer might not work correctly.
Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver, use Windows XP Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version. To use Device...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 67
... 69) to return your computer to the operating state that existed before you installed the new driver.
Using the Dell Dimension ResourceCD
If using Device Driver Rollback or System Restore (see page 69) does not resolve the problem, then reinstall the driver from the Dell Dimension ResourceCD:
1 With the Windows desktop displayed, insert the ResourceCD into the CD or DVD drive.
If this is...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 68
.... System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them.
Creating a Restore Point
1 Click the Start button and click Help and Support. 2 Click System Restore. 3 Follow the instructions on the screen.
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State
If problems occur after installing a device driver, use Device Driver Rollback (see page 66) to resolve the problem. If...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 70
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Windows XP IRQ conflicts occur if a device either is not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured.
To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows XP:
1 Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click System. 3 Click the ...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 71
...you will need to reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software.
NOTICE: The Operating System CD provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows XP unless instructed to do so by a Dell technical support representative. NOTICE: To prevent conflicts...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 72
... remove the CD from the drive.
4 If you want to install a new copy of Windows XP, press to select the fresh copy option.
5 Press to select the highlighted partition (recommended), and then follow the instructions on the screen.
The Windows XP Setup screen appears, and the operating system begins to copy files and install the devices. The computer restarts multiple times.
Completing...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 73
... will use this computer? screen appears, you can enter up to five users. 4 Click Next. 5 Click Finish to complete the setup and remove the CD from the drive.
Reinstalling Drivers and Software
1 Reinstall the appropriate drivers (see page 66). 2 Reinstall your virus protection software. See the documentation that
came with the software for instructions. 3 Reinstall your other software programs. See...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 149
Index
A
audio. See sound
B
battery disposal, 14 fixing problems, 38 replacing, 113
BIOS, 110 booting to a USB device, 34
C
cards connectors, 85 installing, 86 removing, 86
CD drive fixing problems, 40
CD-RW drive blank discs, 31 fixing problems, 41
CDs copying, 30 Easy CD Creator Basic, 30
Check Disk, 42
computer back view, 78 closing cover, 104 error messages, 44-45 front...
Dell Dimension 4550 Owner's Manual - Page 151
..., 45 error messages, 44 general, 45
program crashes, 45 stops responding, 45
R
RAM. See memory regulatory information, 133 reinstalling
drivers, 66, 70 Windows XP, 70 ResourceCD, 66 Dell Diagnostics, 62 returning items, 133
S
safety instructions, 9 scanner
fixing problems, 54 screen. See monitor
service tag number, 15, 77 settings
system setup program, 110 setup diagram, 17 shutdown, 34 software...