I have a dell Dimension4400, and the keyboard that came with it has 3 little buttons on the top , one for email, and I don't know what the other two are for. Then, there is an indent with what looks like a half moon, located between the F12 key and the print screen/sysRq button. What are they for, and how do I enable them? Also, what is the SysRq key for?
Nothing in the material that came with the computer says anything about the buttons or how to enable them, and I couldn't find anything in the help/solution offered by Dell.
thanks, lvlf

Shoot, LVLF:

I've got an 8200 and my layout's completely different. You might try emailing them for the info if you can't find it at their site.

Here's the link:Dell Technical Support

That question is easy, I have the same keyboard!

The button that looks like a moon puts your pc in standby.

The top 3 buttons are programmable, you can make then launch any program you want, do tasks, etc.
To program them go to Start > Programs > DellTouch

The Print Screen function is handy for taking screenshots. But, I don't know that the SysRq function does. (I think it had a purpose in the DOS-OS/2 days) I've never had to use the SysRq buttom.

LOL JWooden...guess what I just found on my keyboard? A little tiny black rubber button, with a crescent moon symbol, that put my PC into standby when I pushed it.

I don't have those programmable buttons, just sound buttons across the top. Volume -, Volume +, Equalizer/Mixer, Mute, Previous, Play/Pause, and Next.

I've also never figured out what the SysRq is supposed to do...no news, is good news?

Might be a tad technical but this what SYSrq does:

Link 1

And as for the original discussion this might help

Link 2.

ivnj

ivnj:

Outstanding information! Thanks for those links.

Thanks for all the good info, and I do remember seeing an icon for Dell Touch, but I can't find it now, even with a 'search'. It must be on one of the CD's that came with the computer, but I can't find it. ANy ideas?

Hi LVLF,to enable the Delltouch Programable Keys system tray icon, go to C:\Programe Files\Netropa, and click on Traymon.you should then see the icon in your sys.tray.

sonnet, love your new avatar!

[This message was edited by redder on 05-06-03 at 02:23 PM.]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,

If you need to install the Delltouch driver (if you don't find the place where redder mentioned), you can download it from Dell:
http://support.dell.com/FileLib/Format.aspx?ReleaseID=R34645

I got it! Thanks for your help, guys. One more thing, now. When I press the email button, it takes me to OutLook Express, which I have not set up an account. I tried once, but couldn't get it to work, so I gave up. I'd like to try again, bt I don't know what to enter when prompted to give the POP3 address, and Http, or whatever it is they are asking. Can someone walk me through it?

ISP for Email

Can you tell us the name of your Internet Service Provider? I'm assuming that your email is provided by your ISP. What I need to know, which I can find on their Website, is what they're using for their *POP3 and *SMTP addresses.

If you wish, you can go to your ISP's Website and look up their POP and SMTP settings. Also, you can call your ISP on the telephone and ask for one-on-one assistance with setting up your email account in Outlook Express.

Hotmail for Email

If you're using Hotmail, you can set that in Outlook Express. It would be set as HTTP mail format.

Yahoo for Email

I notice that you list a Yahoo mail address here at AnswerPool. You can set your Yahoo mail account to be received in the Outlook Express email program, but there is an annual fee by Yahoo for that service.

This page explains the Yahoo mail in Outlook Express

POP3 - Acronym for Post Office Protocol (Handles incoming mail).

SMTP - Acronym for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (Handles outgoing mail).

Dwight

Dwight, I'll get all that info, plus I'll have more questions, but I have to go to work, so it might be a day or two. Thanks, so much.

You can use Yahoo Mail in Outlook Express without paying a fee. See Sonnet's post:
http://www.answerpool.com/groupee/forums?a=tpc&s=669605981&f=719609502&m=8196084162

Dwight, I have the Yahoo account, but also an MSN account ( through Internet Explorer), so would MSN be the ISP?
When I sign in to msn and the home page loads, I can click 'My msn'. Then, when I check my email, it looks like it is an Hotmail account, but the emails, folders, etc are all identical to the things I have if I click on the envelope icon on the tool bar on the top of the screen. Does any of this make sense so far?
So, do I have an Hotmail account, and a msn account?

For your MSN Hotmail account, you can choose to use Outlook Express to access your mail.

Open Outlook Express, click "Tools" and then "Accounts". Click the "Mail" tab and then "New" / "Mail". It would be set as HTTP mail format. Add your username and password. When complete, it will offer to download the folders. Then you're set.

By ISP, I meant how do you connect to the Internet? Usually, an Internet connection service includes a POP3 email account.

And note JWooden271's message. The link he provides explains how to use Outlook Express to access your Yahoo mail for free.

I hope this is helpful!

Dwight

HI, Dwight. I tried your idea,but there isn't a choice for 'new mail', but there is a choice for add. When I click that it brings me to the set up for adding an email account. It asks my display name, then email address, then my pop3 or HTTP settings, then SMPT setting. I have tried to find them, but I can't. I know I found them at another time, months ago, but I don't know where. I'll go check some of the old posts, I think I might find it there...I have asked about this before but I am so dense I just can't get it.

"It asks my display name, then email address, then my pop3 or HTTP settings, then SMTP setting. I have tried to find them, but I can't." Quote from LVLF

Open Outlook Express, click "Tools" and then "Accounts". Click the "Mail" tab and then "Add" / "Mail".

Type in any name you wish to have displayed for others to see, then on the next page, put in your hotmail address (for instance, "george@hotmail.com")

Then, for Hotmail, set it as HTTP mail format.

In the box that says "My HTTP provider is ______. (It probably says "Other", now).
Please select "Hotmail".

When you do that, the SMTP box will "Grey Out" with the correct setting automatically put in.

Then put in your account name (for instance, "george@hotmail.com") and your password. Click Next, and Finish.

The setup process will then offer to download your mail folders (Inbox, Outbox, Drafts, Send Items, and Trash folders). Just click Yes (or OK) and let it do it.

Once in a great while, it will say it cannot download the folders. This is usually due to net congestion. If you see this, just close Outlook Express, then open Outlook Express again in a few minutes and it will proceed with the folder download.


I hope this helps!

Dwight

The edit was to correct an error. I originally left out the section about selecting Hotmail as "My HTTP provider is ______.".

[This message was edited by Dwight on 05-16-03 at 02:15 PM.]

The SysRq noted on the Print Screen key is a throwback to the old old days telling you that you need a print screen program. It still works in that fashion if you install one of the many FREE Print Screen programs available.
Google search turned up many Print Screen programs. Here is link to one: http://www.gadwin.com/printscreen/
Go to the Download tab at the top and scroll to the Print Screen FREE program.

Hi again. It still is not working. I have two email addresses, an @msn and an @Yahoo, I very the same result with both, but different error messages, depending on what I enter. I just don't see why it doesn't work for me, no one else seems to have problems setting up an account in OE...
I'll try to copy the error messages, if that will help determine what I'm doing wrong, in the meantime, I'll explore other options, like downloading a new version, or just giving up again.

I have been working under the illusion that the mail you've been trying to setup is from Hotmail, not MSN mail.

This page has a detailed explanation as well as pictures about how to setup a MSN account in Outlook Express.

MSN in Outlook Express

For the Yahoo mail account, see JWooden271's post above.
I hope this will solve the problem.

Dwight