Technical Information on Dell Computers

Location

Dell keeps an exhaustive library of technical specifications on its website. If you need to know about your Dell computer, it has the information somewhere online, but you need to know how to find it. The first step is going to the Dell support site. You can go to Dell's website and click on the Support link (see References). Select the appropriate Start Here link, and then click on the Manuals link. You can then enter your service tag and select your model or log in and choose one of the computers saved under your profile. The easiest way to get information about a specific computer is to use the service tag. Dell places a service tag on all of its machines. It is a series of letters and numbers seven characters long (for example, 1A2B3C4). By entering your service tag, the website will direct you to the manuals for your specific machine. If you are looking for more general information or you don't have a service tag, you can select the model name from a list.

The two main types of manuals that you will find are an owner's manual and a service manual. The owner's manual is what comes with the computer and it is intended for the general consumer. The owner's manual will provide you with information on how to set up the computer, how to order accessories, how to troubleshoot and technical specifications. The service manual is intended for a computer technician and provides the technical details for repairing the system. Following the directions in the service manual can result in your warranty being voided if you are not following the instructions of a Dell technical support representative.

In the Specifications section of the owner's manual you will find almost every technical detail that pertains to that computer. Since these manuals function for a range of computers within a model line, there will be a range of options in the specifications; for example, the amount of RAM will be expressed as a minimum and a maximum.

Finding out what's wrong with your computer can be difficult, and a good place to start is with the Troubleshooting section of the owner's manual. Dell has provided a range of options to help you determine what might be ailing your system. The Troubleshooting section of the owner's manual will introduce you to all of them.

Perhaps you are looking into the technical specifications so that you can upgrade your system. The owner's manual also offers information about the type of upgrades you can install (in the Specifications section) and how to install those upgrades (in the Adding and Replacing Parts section). Make sure you have the right parts and you are installing them correctly by studying the technical specifications.