Background and Identification
Dell Inspiron laptops were introduced in 1999 with the Inspiron 7500. This line of computers is marketed towards the general public. In the earlier models, this was unique because many of Dell’s computers were business-oriented, and only really available through Dell directly, not any third-party stores.
The Inspiron 5100 series includes the 5100, the 5150, and the 5160 models. These are all laptop computers that were the focus of some technical issues, such as overheating problems, in the early 2000s. The 5100 and the 5150 models are very similar. They share an operating manual, and have the same specifications in many cases, although the 5150 model has a Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, as opposed to the standard Intel Pentium 4 processor that the 5100 model uses. There are also some differences in video graphics and display for these two models, but they are largely the same. The 5160 model has it’s own separate manual, but the specifications are still very similar between all three models.
The model number on a Dell laptop can be in several different places. Use Dell support for detailed information on the location of the model number. You can enter this number or the name of the computer (Inspiron 7500, for example) into the Dell support website to find troubleshooting help and support documents from the manufacturer.