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Using Cards

Dell™ Latitude™ D620 User's Guide

  Card Types

  Installing a PC Card or ExpressCard

  Removing a Card or Blank

NOTE: Electrical and electronic devices are sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD). If a substantial ESD occurs, the device may reset and the device software may attempt to reinitialize a connection. If the software is not operational after an ESD occurrence, restart the modem software program.

Card Types

PC Cards

See Specifications for information on supported PC Cards.

NOTE: A PC Card is not a bootable device.

The PC Card slot has one connector that supports a single Type I or Type II card. The PC Card slot supports CardBus technology and extended PC Cards. "Type" of card refers to its thickness, not its functionality.

ExpressCards

See Specifications for information on supported ExpressCards.

NOTE: An ExpressCard is not a bootable device.

ExpressCards leverage PC Card technology to provide a fast and convenient way to add memory, wired and wireless network communications (including Mobile Broadband network [also known as WWAN] communications), multimedia, and security features to your computer. To use an ExpressCard in the PC Card slot, you must use an adapter.

Card Blanks

Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the card slots. Blanks protect unused slots from dust and other particles. Save the blank for use when no PC card is installed in the slot; blanks from other computers may not fit your computer.

To remove the blank, see Removing a Card or Blank.

Extended Cards

An extended PC Card (for example, a wireless network adapter) is longer than a standard PC Card and extends outside the computer. Follow these precautions when using extended PC Cards:

• Protect the exposed end of an installed card. Striking the end of the card can damage the system board.
  
  
• Always remove an extended PC Card before you pack the computer in its carrying case.
  
  

Installing a PC Card or ExpressCard

You can install a PC Card in the computer while the computer is running. The computer automatically detects the card.

PC Cards are generally marked with a symbol (such as a triangle or an arrow) to indicate which end to insert into the slot. The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion. If card orientation is not clear, see the documentation that came with the card.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

To install a PC Card:

1. Hold the card with its orientation symbol pointing into the slot and the top side of the card facing up. The latch may need to be in the "in" position before you insert the card.
   
   
2. Slide the card into the slot until the card is completely seated in its connector.
   
   

If you encounter too much resistance, do not force the card. Check the card orientation and try again.

The computer recognizes most PC Cards and automatically loads the appropriate device driver. If the configuration program tells you to load the manufacturer's drivers, use the floppy disk or CD that came with the PC Card.

To install an ExpressCard:

1. Place the ExpressCard in the adapter.
   
   
2. Install the ExpressCard with adapter the same way as a PC Card. See the instructions for installing a PC Card.
   
   

Removing a Card or Blank

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: Click the icon in the taskbar to select a card and stop it from functioning before you remove it from the computer. If you do not stop the card in the configuration utility, you could lose data. Do not attempt to eject a card by pulling its cable, if one is attached.

Press the latch and remove the card or blank. For some latches, you must press the latch twice: once to pop the latch out, and then a second time to pop the card out.

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