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Connecting External Devices: Dell Latitude L400 User's Guide
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Connecting External Devices: Dell™ Latitude™ L400 User's Guide
You can connect external devices to the input/output (I/O)
connectors on the back and left side of the computer (see Figure 1).
The computer's basic input/output system (BIOS) detects the presence of the external
devices when you boot (start) or reboot your computer. You can connect to the Dell Latitude L400 Advanced Port Replicator (APR)
through the docking connector on the bottom of the computer.
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NOTES: Some external devices require
you to load software called device drivers into system memory before using the devices.
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.
The APR provides the same I/O connectors as your computer and, in addition, provides a
serial port and one additional PS/2 port. For more information on the APR, see the documentation that came with it.
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Figure 1. I/O Connectors On the Computer
You can attach a Personal System (PS)/2-compatible device such as a mouse, 101- or
102-key keyboard, or external numeric keypad to the mini-DIN PS/2 connector.
Mouse
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NOTE: If the computer is in suspend
(or standby) or suspend-to-disk (S2D) (or hibernate) mode when
you attach a mouse, you can use the mouse when the computer resumes normal operation.
However, programs that were already running may need to be restarted to recognize the
mouse. If the computer is not in suspend (or standby) or S2D (or hibernate) mode when you
attach the mouse, you must reboot the computer to use the mouse. |
When you attach a PS/2 mouse to the computer, the touch pad is
automatically disabled if the Internal Touchpad option in the system
setup program is set to Auto Disabled (the default). To keep the
touch pad enabled while an external pointing device is attached to the computer, go to the Advanced
screen of the system setup program and set Internal
Touchpad to Enabled.
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 that came with the mouse and reboot the computer.
Keyboard
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NOTE: If the computer is in suspend (or standby)
mode or S2D (or hibernate) mode when you attach an external keyboard, the device is
recognized immediately by the computer when it resumes normal operation. |
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 on the Advanced screen of the system
setup program is enabled) for certain key combinations.
External Numeric Keypad
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NOTE: If the computer is in suspend (or standby)
mode or S2D (or hibernate) mode when you attach an external numeric keypad, the device is
recognized immediately by the computer when it resumes normal operation.
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When you attach an external numeric keypad to the computer, the numeric keypad on the
computer keyboard is automatically disabled. The indicators on the integrated keyboard
track the operation of an external numeric keypad.
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).
You can attach a parallel device (usually a printer) to the 25-pin
parallel connector. You can also connect the diskette drive to the parallel connector.
The parallel port sends and receives data in parallel format, where
eight data bits (one byte) are sent simultaneously over eight separate lines. The port can
be configured as a unidirectional (output-only) port for devices such as a printer or as a
bidirectional port for devices such as a network adapter.
The computer's integrated parallel port is designated as LPT1. The
Microsoft® Windows® 98, Windows 2000,
and Windows Me operating systems automatically recognize the parallel device and
configure it correctly. The parallel port can also be configured for compatibility with
the PS/2 standard.
You can use the diskette drive as a second external device if you
already have a device connected to the media bay connector. The diskette drive letter is
A, unless a diskette drive is already installed in the external media bay, in which case
the drive connected to the parallel connector is drive B.
To connect the drive to the parallel connector on the I/O panel, use
the optional parallel diskette-drive cable (available from Dell), as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Connecting a Diskette Drive
to the Parallel Connector
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 indicator 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
external media 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 the Dell APR through the docking connector on the
bottom of the computer. For information on docking your computer, see the documentation
that came with the APR.
You can use the 15-pin video connector to attach an external monitor
to the computer.
To attach an external monitor, perform the following steps.
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, the display, or
both.
- 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. If the video cable is not permanently attached to the
monitor, connect it to the 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 APR.
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NOTE: If you are using the Microsoft Windows 98 or Windows Me operating system, you can use an external monitor as an extension of your display. For more information, see your operating system documentation or "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 on the Advanced screen in the system
setup program is enabled.
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.
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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. |
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.
You can connect audio devices such as speakers, microphones, and headphones to the two audio jacks, as follows:
- Connect the audio cable from a microphone to the microphone jack, also called the MIC IN
jack.
- Connect the audio cable from speakers to the headphones/speakers jack, also called the
line-out/speaker-out jack.
You can connect a telephone line to the integrated modem through the RJ11 modem
connector on the back of the computer.
NOTICE: Do not confuse the modem and NIC
connectors on your computer. Do not plug a telephone line into the NIC
connector.
You can connect to the integrated network interface controller (NIC) through the RJ45
connector on the back of the computer.
NOTICE: Do not confuse the modem and NIC
connectors on your computer. Do not plug a telephone line into the NIC
connector.
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NOTE: If you are running Microsoft
Windows 98, Windows NT®, Windows 2000, or Windows Me
and you intend to install a PC Card NIC, you should disable the system's integrated NIC
to avoid problems. |
You can connect external
media options such as CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, Zip 250,
and diskette drives to the external media bay connector. You can also connect a second
(nonbootable) hard-disk drive.
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