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Connecting Devices: Dell Latitude C600/C500 User's Guide
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Connecting Devices: Dell™ Latitude™ C600/C500 User's Guide
You can connect external devices to the input/output (I/O)
connectors. The computer's basic input/output system (BIOS) detects the presence of
external devices when you boot (start) or reboot your computer. Figure 1 shows the I/O connectors on the back of your computer; Figure 2 shows the modem, TV, and audio connectors on the side of the computer.
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NOTES: Some external devices require
you to load software called device drivers into system memory before the devices will
work. These device drivers help your computer recognize the external device and direct its
operation. Instructions for installing this software are usually included in the upgrade
kits.
For instructions on using the I/O connectors on the C/Port Family Advanced Port Replicator
(APR) or C/Dock Family Expansion Station, see the documentation that came with that
device. |
NOTICE: When disconnecting external devices from the back of the computer, wait 5
seconds after turning off the computer before you disconnect a device to avoid possible
damage to the system board.
Figure 1. I/O
Connectors on Back of Computer
Figure 2. I/O
Connectors on Right Side of Computer
You can use the 15-hole video connector to attach an external
monitor to the computer. With the Microsoft® Windows® 98
operating system, you can use an external monitor as an extension of your display in dual-display mode.
NOTICE: Do not place the monitor directly on top of your portable computer, even
if it is closed. Doing so can crack the computer case and the display.
- Make sure that the external monitor is turned off. Set the monitor on
a monitor stand, desk top, or other level surface near your computer.
- Connect the external monitor's video cable to the computer.
Plug the video cable connector into the matching video connector on
the back of the computer, as shown in Figure 3. If the video cable is not permanently
attached to the monitor, connect it to the monitor.
Figure 3. Connecting an
External Monitor
Be sure to tighten all the screws on the video cable connector(s) to
eliminate radio frequency interference (RFI).
- Connect your external monitor to a grounded electrical outlet.
Plug the three-prong connector on one end of the monitor's power
cable into a grounded power strip or some other grounded power source. If the cable is not
permanently attached to the monitor, connect it to the monitor.
You can also connect an external monitor to the C/Port Family APR or
the C/Dock Family Expansion Station.
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NOTE: If you are using the Microsoft
Windows 98 operating system, you can use an external monitor as an extension
of your display. For more information, see your operating system documentation or "Using an External Monitor in Dual-Display
Mode." |
When an external monitor is connected to the computer, the video image automatically
appears on the external monitor's screen when you boot your computer.
To toggle the video image between the display, an external monitor, or both
simultaneously, press <Fn><F8> on the keyboard. Press <Scroll
Lock><F8> on an external keyboard if the External Hot Key option is
enabled in the system setup program.
If the external monitor is turned off when you boot your computer, the computer still
sends the video image to the external monitor, but you will not see an image on either the
computer's display or the external monitor. To see an image, turn on the external monitor
or switch the video image to the computer’s display by pressing <Fn><F8>
on the keyboard or <Scroll Lock><F8> on an external keyboard if the External
Hot Key option is enabled in the system setup program.
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NOTE: If you are using your external monitor at a
resolution greater than the display supports, the simultaneous display feature is
disabled. To use the display, switch to a resolution that the computer supports, or
disconnect the external monitor and restart your computer. |
With the Windows 98 operating system, you
can use an external monitor as an extension of your display.
- Connect the external
monitor, TV, or projector.
- Click the Start button, point to Settings,
and then click Control Panel.
- Double-click the Display
icon.
- In the Display Properties window, click the Settings
tab.
- Change the Colors option to 256 Color
or High Color (16 bit).
- Change the Screen Area to the appropriate size for
your display.
- Click the Advanced... button.
- When the RAGE MOBILITY video driver properties
window appears, select the Displays tab.
- Click the Monitor button.
The dual-display option is activated.
- Click Yes when prompted to restart your system.
- When the system has restarted, open the Display icon
in the Control Panel.
- Click the Settings tab.
Two displays now appear in this window.
- Click the display that is grayed out. When asked if you want to
enable this display, click Yes, and then click Apply.
You can attach a parallel device (usually a printer) to the 25-hole
parallel connector. You can also connect the diskette drive to the parallel connector.
You can use the the diskette drive as a second external device if
you already have a device in the modular bay. The diskette drive letter is A, unless a
diskette drive is already installed in the modular bay, in which case the drive connected
to the parallel connector is drive B. For more information on using the diskette drive,
see "Diskette Drive."
Use the parallel diskette drive cable that came with the computer to
connect the drive to the parallel connector on the I/O panel, as shown in Figure 4.
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NOTE: If you are running the
Microsoft Windows 98 or Windows 2000 operating
system on your computer and the Diskette Reconfig option
is set to Any Time in the system setup
program, you do not have to reboot the computer when you connect
the diskette drive to the parallel connector. If you are running the
Microsoft Windows NT® operating system on your computer, you do need to
reboot the computer after you connect the diskette drive. |
Figure 4.
Using the Diskette Drive As an External Device
NOTICE: When the diskette drive is not being used
externally, remove the parallel diskette-drive cable from the parallel connector.
NOTICE: Use the parallel diskette-drive cable only with the diskette drive. Do
not try to connect any other device to the computer with this cable.
The drive access light does not blink when data is being accessed from the diskette
drive connected to the parallel connector.
NOTICE: Protect the diskette drive when it is not in the modular bay. Do not
squeeze the drive or place objects on top of it; doing so could damage the drive motor.
You can attach your computer to Dell's C/Port Family APR and C/Dock
Family Expansion Station docking devices through the docking connector. For information on
docking your computer, see the documentation that came with your docking device.
You can attach a USB hub device to the USB connector. The USB hub
device can support multiple USB devices (typically low-speed peripherals such as mice,
keyboards, printers, and computer speakers). The C/Port APR Family and the C/Dock
Expansion Station Family docking solutions have two USB connectors.
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NOTE: If you are using a USB external
keyboard, do not enter the system setup program by using a keyboard command on an external
keyboard. Instead, press <Fn><F1> on the computer's keyboard. |
You can attach a PS/2-compatible device such as a mouse, 101- or 102-key keyboard, or
numeric keypad to the mini-DIN PS/2 connector (see Figure 5).
You can also connect these devices to the C/Port Family APR or the
C/Dock Family Expansion Station.
Figure 5. External Mouse, Keyboard, or Keypad Connector
Mouse
If the Pointing Device option in the system
setup program is set to Touch Pad-PS/2 Mouse (the default), you can use both
the DualPoint device and an external PS/2-compatible mouse if one is attached. If you
disconnect the mouse, to use the advanced features of the DualPoint integrated pointing
device, you must shut down the computer or enter suspend or standby mode and then
resume. If you do not do this, the DualPoint integrated pointing device resumes
operation in standard PS/2 mode, which means that many of the configuration features are
disabled.
If you are using a PS/2-compatible mouse that is not made by
Microsoft and the mouse does not work properly, reboot the computer. If the mouse still
does not work, install the drivers from the diskette or CD that came with the mouse and
reboot the computer.
External Keyboard
You can use the computer's keyboard and an external keyboard at the same time. When you
attach a keyboard to the computer, the embedded numeric keypad is automatically disabled.
On an external keyboard, the <Scroll Lock> key acts the same way as the
<Fn> key on the computer’s keyboard (if the External Hot Key option
is enabled in the system setup program).
External Numeric Keypad
When you attach an external numeric keypad to the computer, the numeric keypad on the
computer keyboard is automatically disabled. The lights on the integrated keyboard track
the operation of an external numeric keypad.
To attach a serial device to the computer, use the 9-pin serial
connector.
The serial port passes data in serial format (one bit at a time over
one line). This port supports a variety of devices that require serial data transmission,
including a serial mouse, serial printer, plotter, or external modem.
You can attach the AC
adapter to the computer by using the AC adapter connector. The AC adapter converts AC
power to the DC power required by the computer.
You can connect the AC adapter with your computer turned either on
or off.
The AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However,
power connectors vary among countries. Before using AC power in a foreign country, you may
need to obtain a new power cable designed for use in that country.
The computer’s infrared (IR) port lets you transfer files from
your computer to another IR-compatible device without using cable connections. When you receive your computer, the IR port is disabled. You can enable the IR port by selecting the appropriate setting for
the Infrared Data Port option in the system setup program.
After you enable the IR port, to transfer files:
- Point the computer’s IR port directly at the compatible
device’s IR port. IR devices transmit data in a 30-degree cone of IR light.
- Start the data communications software on both devices, and then
begin to transfer files. Read the documentation that came with your compatible device to
make sure that you operate it correctly.
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NOTES: Make sure that no books,
papers, or other objects come between the two IR devices and that the two devices are
within the 30-degree cone.
If the IR device does not work, the computer and device may be misaligned. Move the device
and computer to bring them into the 30-degree cone. |
The Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 operating system does not
support the use of IR devices.
The IR port is compatible with Infrared Data Association (IrDA) 1.1
(Fast IR) and 1.0 (Slow IR) standards. An IR data stream is transmitted through a lens in
the computer up to a distance of 1 meter (m) (3.3 feet [ft]). This light is received by a
compatible computer, printer, mouse, or remote control.
The default address of the IR port is COM3. To avoid resource
conflicts with other devices, remap the address of the IR port.
When the computer is docked with the C/Port APR Family or C/Dock
Expansion Station Family docking solution, the IR port on the computer is automatically
disabled.
For more information about using an IR device, see the documentation
that came with your operating system.
You can connect a telephone line to the optional modem through the modem connector on the right side of the
computer (see Figure 6).
NOTICE: Do not confuse the modem and network connectors on your
computer. Do not plug a telephone line into the network connector.
Figure 6. Modem and
Network Connectors
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| 1 |
Optional modem connector |
| 2 |
Optional network connector |
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For information on using the modem, see the online modem
documentation supplied with your computer. To access this documentation, double-click the Dell
Documents icon on the Windows desktop, click System Information,
and then click Communications.
You can connect to the integrated network interface controller (NIC) through the
optional network connector on the right side
of the computer (see Figure 6).
NOTICE: Do not confuse the modem and network connectors on your
computer. Do not plug a telephone line into the network connector.
For information on using the integrated NIC, see the online NIC
documentation supplied with your computer. To access this documentation, double-click the Dell
Documents icon on the Windows desktop, click System Information,
and then click Communications.
You can connect a TV with an S-Video connector to your computer.
Figure 7 shows the location of the S-Video connector.
Figure 7. Connecting a TV
To connect your computer to a TV, follow these guidelines:
- If your TV uses an S-Video cable for video input:
- Connect the S-Video cable to your computer's S-Video TV-out connector
(see Figure 7).
- Connect the other end to your TV's S-Video connector.
Connecting the S-Video cable that came with your TV to the TV's
S-Video connector and to the computer's S-Video TV-out connector allows your computer to
play video on the TV.
- If your TV uses a composite video cable for video input:
- Connect the composite TV-out adapter cable that came with your
computer to your computer's S-Video TV-out connector (see Figure 7).
- Connect the other end of the composite TV-out adapter cable to your
TV's composite video cable.
- Connect the composite video cable to your TV's composite video
connector.
You need both the composite TV-out adapter cable that came with your
computer and the composite video cable that came with your TV. Connecting these cables
together, then connecting them to your TV composite video-in connector and your computer's
S-Video TV-out connector, allows your computer to play video on the TV.
You can connect audio devices such as speakers, microphones, and
headphones to your computer. Figure 8 shows
the locations of the audio jacks and the S-Video connector.
- Connect the audio cable from a microphone to the microphone jack,
also called the MIC IN jack.
- Connect speakers or headphones to the headphones/speakers jack, also
called the LINE OUT jack.
- Connect the S-Video cable from a record/playback device to the
S-Video connector. See "S-Video (TV)." VCRs and
video cameras are record/playback devices.
Figure 8.
Connecting Audio and S-Video Devices
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| 1 |
Headphones/speakers (LINE
OUT) jack |
| 2 |
Microphone (MIC IN) jack |
| 3 |
S-Video connector |
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