|
Ports and Connectors: Dell Inspiron 3700 System Reference
Back to Contents Page
Ports and Connectors: Dell™ Inspiron™
3700 System Reference
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 connectors on the back of your computer.
| 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
| 1 |
Video connector |
5 |
Mini-Deutsche
Industrie Norm (DIN) PS/2 connector |
| 2 |
Parallel
port connector |
6 |
Serial port connector |
| 3 |
Docking connector |
7 |
AC power connector |
| 4 |
USB connector
|
8 |
Infrared port |
 |
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.
The advanced port replicator (APR) has the same I/O connectors as your computer.
In addition, the APR has a second Personal System/2 (PS/2) connector, a
second Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, and an Ethernet network connector. |
Audio Connectors
You can connect audio devices such as speakers, microphones,
headphones, and record/playback devices to your computer. The following information
tells you how to connect the cables. Figure 2 shows
the locations of the audio connectors and the TV-out S-video connector.
- Connect the audio cable from a microphone to the microphone-in
connector.
- Connect the audio cable from the speakers to the line-out
connector.
- Connect the line-out cable from a record/playback device
to the line-in connector. Cassette players, CD players, radios, stereo systems,
and tape players are all record/playback devices.
- Connect the TV-out S-video I/O cable from a record/playback
device to the TV-out S-video connector. VCRs and video cameras are record/playback
devices.
Figure 2. Connecting Audio and
S-Video Devices
 |
1 |
Microphone-in
connector |
| 2 |
Line-out connector |
| 3 |
Line-in connector |
| 4 |
TV-out S-video
connector |
You can connect a television with an S-video connector to
your computer. Figure 2 shows the location of the TV-out
S-video connector on your computer.
To connect the cables, follow these guidelines:
- If your television uses an S-video cable for video input,
connect one end of that cable directly to your computer's TV-out S-video connector
and connect the other end into your television's S-video connector. Connecting
the S-video cable that came with your television to the television's S-video
connector and to the TV-out S-video connector on your computer allows your
computer to output video information to your television.
- If your television uses a composite video cable for video
input, you need both the composite TV-out adapter cable that came with your
computer and the composite video cable that came with your television. Connecting
these cables together, and then connecting them to your television's composite
video-in connector and your computer's TV-out S-video connector, allows your
computer to output video information to your television.
To connect a television that has a composite video-in connector to your computer's
TV-out S-video connector, perform the following steps:
- Connect the composite TV-out adapter cable that came
with your computer to your computer's TV-out S-video connector.
- Connect the other end of the composite TV-out adapter
cable to your television's composite video cable.
- Connect the composite video cable to your television's
composite video connector.
Video
Use the 15-hole video connector to
attach an external monitor to the computer.
The computer's video connector is used to connect 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, as shown in Figure
3. If the video cable is not permanently attached to the monitor, connect
it to the monitor also.
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 also.
You can also connect an external monitor to the APR.
|
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 the Windows
98 documentation or "Extended Desktop."
|
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.
In this case, 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.
Use the 25-hole parallel port connector to attach a parallel
device to the computer. The parallel port connector is used primarily for printers.
You can also connect the diskette drive to the parallel port connector.
The parallel port sends and receives data in parallel format,
where 8 data bits (one byte) are sent simultaneously over 8 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 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.
The docking connector supports Dell's APR docking solution.
The USB connector supports the use of a USB hub device to
attach multiple devices. USB devices are typically low-speed peripherals such
as mice, keyboards, printers, and computer speakers. The APR docking solution
has two USB connectors.
|
NOTE: If you are using
a USB external keyboard, do not enter the System Setup program by using
a keyboard command on the external keyboard. Instead, press <Fn><F1>
on the computer's keyboard. |
Use the mini-Deutsche Industrie Norm (DIN) PS/2 connector
to attach PS/2-compatible devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or external numeric
keypad.
|
NOTE: If the computer
is in standby mode when you attach a mouse, you can use the mouse when the
computer resumes normal operation. Otherwise, you must reboot the computer
to use the mouse. While the mouse is attached to the computer, the DualPoint™
integrated pointing device is disabled. |
Connecting an External Mouse
You can attach a PS/2-compatible mouse to the computer's
mini-DIN mouse connector, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Connecting an External
Mouse
|
NOTE: If the computer is in standby
mode or save-to-disk-suspend (S2D) mode when you attach an external mouse,
the device is recognized immediately by the computer when it resumes normal
operation. However, programs that were already running may need
to be restarted in order to recognize the mouse. |
When you attach a PS/2 mouse to the computer, the DualPoint
integrated pointing device is automatically disabled. If you disconnect the
mouse, you must shut down the computer or enter standby mode and then resume
from it before the DualPoint integrated pointing device is operational. 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 that came with
the mouse and reboot the computer.
You can also connect an external mouse to the APR.
You can attach a PS/2-compatible external 101- or 102-key
keyboard to the computer's mini-DIN connector, as shown in Figure
5.
Figure 5. Connecting an External
Keyboard
|
NOTE: If the computer is in standby
mode or save-to-disk suspend (S2D) 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 is enabled in the System Setup program).
You can also connect an external keyboard to the APR.
Connecting an External Keypad
You can attach a PS/2-compatible external numeric keypad
to the computer's mini-DIN keypad connector.
|
NOTE: If the computer is in standby
mode or S2D mode when you attach an external keypad, the device is recognized
immediately by the computer when it resumes normal operation. |
When you attach a numeric keypad to the computer, the embedded
numeric keypad is automatically disabled. The indicators on the integrated keyboard
track the operation of an external numeric keypad.
You can also connect an external keypad to the APR.
To attach a serial device to the computer, use the 9-pin
serial port 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.
Use the AC power connector to attach the AC
adapter to the computer. The AC adapter converts AC power to the DC power
required by the computer.
You can connect the AC adapter with your computer either
turned 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 is compatible with
Infrared Data Association (IrDA) 1.1 (Fast IR) and 1.0 (Slow IR) standards.
An infrared port lets you transfer files from your computer to another infrared-compatible
device without using cable connections. An infrared 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 infrared port is COM3. To avoid
resource conflicts with other devices, remap the address of the infrared port.
When the computer is being used with the APR docking solution,
the infrared port on the computer is automatically disabled.
Point the computer’s infrared port directly at the
compatible device’s infrared port. Infrared devices transmit data in a
30-degree cone of infrared 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.
For more information about using an infrared device, see
the documentation that came with your operating system. The Microsoft Windows
NT 4.0 operating system does not support the use of infrared devices.
|
NOTES: Make sure that
no books, papers, or other objects come between the two infrared devices
and that the two devices are within the 30-degree cone.
If the infrared device does not work, the computer and device may be misaligned.
Move the device and computer to bring them into the 30-degree cone. |
Back to Contents Page
| 
