Dell Precision T5400: инструкция

Dell Precision™ T5400

Quick Reference Guide

Model DCTA

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of

your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data

and tells you how to avoid the problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury,

or death.

____________________

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

© 2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and Dell Precision are trademarks of Dell Inc.;

Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Vista are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft

Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming

the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and

trade names other than its own.

Model DCTA

September 2007 P/N GX738 Rev. A00

Contents

Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Setting Up Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Changing Between Tower and Desktop

Orientations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure

. . . . . 11

Transferring Information to a New Computer

. . . . 13

Power Protection Devices

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

About Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Front View (Tower Orientation)

. . . . . . . . . . 18

Back View (Tower Orientation)

. . . . . . . . . . 20

Back Panel Connectors (Tower Orientation)

. . . . . 21

Front View (Desktop Orientation)

. . . . . . . . . 23

Back View (Desktop Orientation)

. . . . . . . . . 25

Cleaning Your Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor

. . . . . . . . . 26

Mouse (Non-Optical)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Floppy Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

CDs and DVDs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Troubleshooting Tools

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Power Lights

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Diagnostic Lights

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Beep Codes

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

System Messages

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Hardware Troubleshooter

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Dell Diagnostics

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Troubleshooting

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Contents 3

4 Contents

Finding Information

NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer.

Some features or media may not be available in certain countries.

NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• A diagnostic program for my computer

Drivers and Utilities Disc

• Drivers for my computer

Documentation and drivers are already

installed on your computer. You can use

• My device documentation

the Drivers and Utilities disc to reinstall

• Desktop System Software (DSS)

drivers (see "Reinstalling Drivers and

Utilities" in your User’s Guide) and to run

the Dell™ Diagnostics (see

"Dell Diagnostics"

on page 36

).

NOTE: Drivers and documentation updates

can be found at support.dell.com.

• How to remove and replace parts

Dell Precision™ User’s Guide

®

®

•Specifications

Microsoft

Windows

XP and

Windows Vista™ Help and Support Center

• How to configure system settings

1

Click

Start

→

Help and Support

→

Dell

• How to troubleshoot and solve problems

User and System Guides

→

System Guides

.

2

Click the

User’s Guide

for your computer.

This document is also available on

support.dell.com.

Quick Reference Guide 5

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Warranty information

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License

• Microsoft Windows License Label

These labels are located on your computer:

• Use the Service Tag to identify your

computer when you use

support.dell.com

or contact support.

• Enter the Express Service Code to direct

your call when contacting support.

NOTE: As an increased security measure,

the newly designed Microsoft Windows

license label incorporates a missing portion,

or "hole", to discourage removal of the label.

6 Quick Reference Guide

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

tips, articles from technicians, and online

NOTE: Select your region or business

courses, frequently asked questions

segment to view the appropriate support site.

• Community — Online discussion with

other Dell customers

• Upgrades — Upgrade information for

components, such as memory, the hard

drive, and the operating system

• Customer Care — Contact information,

service call and order status, warranty,

and repair information

• Service and support — Service call status

and support history, service contract,

online discussions with technical support

• Dell Technical Update Service —

Proactive e-mail notification of software

and hardware updates for your computer

• Reference — Computer documentation,

details on my computer configuration,

product specifications, and white papers

• Downloads — Certified drivers, patches,

and software updates

• Desktop System Software (DSS) — If you

To download Desktop System Software:

reinstall the operating system for your

1

Go to

support.dell.com

, select your

computer, you should also reinstall the

region or business segment, and enter

DSS utility. DSS provides critical updates

your Service Tag.

for your operating system and support for

2

Select

Drivers & Downloads

and click

Go

.

processors, optical drives, USB devices,

3

Click your operating system and search for

and so on. DSS is necessary for correct

the keyword

Notebook System Software

.

operation of your Dell computer. The

software automatically detects your

NOTE: The support.dell.com user interface

computer and operating system and

may vary depending on your selections.

installs the updates appropriate for your

configuration.

Quick Reference Guide 7

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to use Microsoft Windows XP or

Windows Help and Support

Vista™

Microsoft Windows XP:

• How to work with programs and files

1

Click the

Start

button and click

Help

and Support

.

• How to personalize my desktop

2

Either select one of the topics listed, or

type a word or phrase that describes your

problem into the

Search

box, click the

arrow icon, and then click the topic that

describes your problem.

3

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Microsoft Windows Vista:

1

Click the Windows Vista Start button

, and then click

Help and Support

.

2

In

Search Help

, type a word or phrase that

describes your problem, and then press

<Enter> or click the magnifying glass.

3

Click the topic that describes your problem.

4

Follow the instructions on the screen.

8 Quick Reference Guide

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to reinstall my operating system

Operating System Disc

NOTE: The Operating System disc may be

optional and may not ship with your computer.

The operating system is already installed on

your computer. To reinstall your operating

system, use the Operating System disc (see

"Reintalling Windows XP or Windows Vista"

in your User’s Guide).

After you reinstall your operating system,

use the Drivers and Utilities disc to reinstall

drivers for the devices that came with your

computer.

Your operating system product key label is

located on your computer.

NOTE: The color of your disc varies based

on the operating system you ordered.

• How to use Linux

Dell Supported Linux Sites

• E-mail discussions with users of Dell

• linux.dell.com

Precision products and the Linux

• lists.us.dell.com/mailman/listinfo/linux-

operating system

precision

• Additional information regarding Linux

and my Dell Precision computer

Quick Reference Guide 9

6

Under

What do you want to transfer?

, click to select the data you want to

transfer, then click

Next

.

The selected data is copied and the

Completing the Collection Phase

screen appears.

7

Click

Finish

.

TRANSFER DATA TO THE DESTINATION COMPUTER

1

Go to the destination computer.

2

Under

Now go to your old computer

, click

Next

.

3

Under

Where are the files and settings?

, click to select the method you

chose for transferring your settings and files, then click

Next

.

The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to the

destination computer. When the transfer is complete, the

Finished

screen

appears.

4

Click

Finished

, and then restart the computer.

Microsoft Windows Vista

1

Click the Windows Vista Start button and then click

Transfer files

and settings

→

Start Windows Easy Transfer

.

2

In the

User Account Control

dialog box, click

Continue

.

3

Click

Start a new transfer

or

Continue a transfer in progress

.

Follow the instructions provided on the screen by the Windows Easy Transfer

wizard.

Power Protection Devices

Several devices are available to protect against power fluctuations and failures:

• Surge protectors

• Line conditioners

• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)

16 Quick Reference Guide

Surge Protectors

Surge protectors and power strips equipped with surge protection help prevent

damage to your computer from voltage spikes that can occur during electrical

storms or after power interruptions. Some surge protector manufacturers include

warranty coverage for certain types of damage. Carefully read the device warranty

when choosing a surge protector and compare joule ratings to determine the

relative effectiveness of different devices. A device with a higher joule rating offers

more protection.

NOTICE: Most surge protectors do not protect against power fluctuations or power

interruptions caused by nearby lightning strikes. When lightning occurs in your area,

disconnect the telephone line from the telephone wall jack and disconnect your

computer from the electrical outlet.

Many surge protectors have a telephone jack for modem protection. See the

surge protector documentation for modem connection instructions.

NOTICE: Not all surge protectors offer network adapter protection. Disconnect the

network cable from the network wall jack during electrical storms.

Line Conditioners

NOTICE: Line conditioners do not protect against power interruptions.

Line conditioners are designed to maintain AC voltage at a fairly constant level.

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

NOTICE: Loss of power while data is being saved to the hard drive may result in

data loss or file damage.

NOTE: To ensure maximum battery operating time, connect only your computer to

a UPS. Connect other devices, such as a printer, to a separate power strip that

provides surge protection.

A UPS protects against power fluctuations and interruptions. UPS devices

contain a battery that provides temporary power to connected devices when

AC power is interrupted. The battery charges while AC power is available. See

the UPS manufacturer documentation for information on battery operating time

and to ensure that the device is approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Quick Reference Guide 17

About Your Computer

Front View (Tower Orientation)

1

2

12

3

11

4

10

9

5

6

8

7

1 upper 5.25-inch

Holds an Optical Drive.

drive bay

2 lower 5.25-inch

You can use this bay for an optional Optical Drive.

drive bay

3 FlexBay You can use this bay for an optional third hard drive

(SATA or SAS), a floppy drive or a Media Card Reader.

4 hard-drive

The hard drive light is on when the computer reads data

activity light

from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also

be on when a device such as your CD drive is operating.

5 IEEE 1394

Use the optional IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed

connector (optional)

data devices such as digital video cameras and external

storage devices.

18 Quick Reference Guide

6 USB 2.0 connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices that you

connect occasionally, such as flash memory keys or

cameras, or for bootable USB devices (see "System

Setup" in your User’s Guide for more information on

booting to a USB device).

Dell recommends that you use the back USB connectors for

devices that typically remain connected, such as printers

and keyboards.

7 Dell rotatable badge To rotate the Dell badge for tower-to-desktop conversion:

remove the

front panel ("Removing the Computer Cover"

in your User’s Guide

)

, turn it over, and rotate the plastic

handle behind the badge.

8 power button,

Press the power button to turn on the computer. The light in

power light

the center of this button indicates power state. See "Controls

and Lights" in your User’s Guide for more information.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power

button to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an

operating system shutdown.

9 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.

10 microphone connector Use the microphone connector to attach a personal

computer microphone for voice or musical input into

a sound or telephony program.

11 network link light The network link light is on when a good connection

exists between a 10-Mbps, 100-Mbps, or 1000-Mbps

(or 1-Gbps) network and the computer.

12 diagnostic lights (4) Use these lights to help you troubleshoot a computer

problem based on the diagnostic code. For more information,

see "Power Lights" on page 27.

Quick Reference Guide 19

Back View (Tower Orientation)

1

2

3

1 power connector Insert the power cable.

2 card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI and PCI Express cards.

The center four connector slots support full-length cards,

and the connector slots on either the top or bottom (one x8

PCI Express slot (wired as x4) and one PCI-X card) support

half-length cards.

3 back panel

Plug USB, audio, and other devices into the appropriate

connectors

connector. For more information, see "Back View (Desktop

Orientation)" on page 25.

CAUTION: Ensure that none of the system air vents are blocked. Blocking them

would cause serious thermal problems.

20 Quick Reference Guide

Back Panel Connectors (Tower Orientation)

12357

46

8

9

10

1 parallel connector Connect a parallel device, such as a printer, to the parallel

connector. If you have a USB printer, plug it into a USB connector.

The integrated parallel connector is automatically disabled if

the computer detects an installed card containing a parallel

connector configured to the same address. For more

information, see "System Setup Options" in your User’s Guide.

2PS/2 mouse

Plug a standard PS/2 mouse into the green mouse connector.

connector

Turn off the computer and any attached devices before you

connect a mouse to the computer. If you have a USB mouse,

plug it into a USB connector.

3 line-in connector Use the blue line-in connector to attach a playback device

such as an MP3 player, CD player, or VCR.

On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

4 line-out connector Use the green line-out connector to attach most speakers with

integrated amplifiers.

On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.

5 link integrity light Green — A good connection exists between a 10-Mbps

network and the computer.

Orange — A good connection exists between a 100-Mbps

network and the computer.

Yellow — A good connection exists between a 1000-Mbps

(or 1-Gbps) network and the computer.

Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection

to the network.

Quick Reference Guide 21

6 network adapter

To attach your computer to a network or broadband device,

connector

connect one end of a network cable to either a network jack or

your network or broadband device. Connect the other end of

the network cable to the network adapter connector on your

computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been

securely attached.

Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector.

On computers with an additional network connector card, use

the connectors on the card and on the back of the computer

when setting up multiple network connections (such as

a separate intra- and extranet).

Dell recommends that you use Category 5 wiring and connectors

for your network. If you must use Category 3 wiring, force the

network speed to 10 Mbps to ensure reliable operation.

7network

Flashes a yellow light when the computer is transmitting or

activity light

receiving network data. A high volume of network traffic may

make this light appear to be in a steady "on" state.

8 serial

Connect a serial device, such as a handheld device, to the

connectors (2)

serial port. If necessary, the address for this port can be

modified through "System Setup" in your User’s Guide.

9 PS/2 keyboard

If you have a standard PS/2 keyboard, plug it into the purple

connector

keyboard connector. If you have a USB keyboard, plug it into

a USB connector.

10 USB 2.0

Dell recommends that you use the front USB connectors for

connectors (5)

devices that you connect occasionally, such as flash memory

keys or cameras, or for bootable USB devices.

Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain

connected, such as printers and keyboards.

22 Quick Reference Guide

Front View (Desktop Orientation)

1 23

4

5

67

9101112

8

1 upper 5.25-inch

Holds an Optical Drive.

drive bay

2 lower 5.25-inch

You can use the bay for an optional Optical Drive or a SATA

drive bay

hard drive.

3 FlexBay You can use the bay for a floppy drive or a Media Card Reader.

4 IEEE 1394

Use the optional IEEE 1394 connector for high-speed data devices

connector

such as digital video cameras and external storage devices.

(optional)

5 USB 2.0

Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect

connectors (2)

occasionally, such as flash memory keys or cameras, or for

bootable USB devices. (For more information on booting to

a USB device, see "System Setup" in your User’s Guide.)

Dell recommends that you use the back USB connectors for

devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and

keyboards.

6 hard-drive

The hard drive light is on when the computer reads data from or

activity light

writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when

a device such as your CD player is operating.

Quick Reference Guide 23

7 Dell rotatable

To rotate the Dell badge for tower-to-desktop conversion:

badge

remove the

front panel (see

"Removing the Front Panel" in your

User’s Guide

)

, turn it over, and rotate the plastic handle behind

the badge.

8 power button,

Press the power button to turn on the computer. The light in the

power light

center of this button indicates power state. For more information,

see "Power Lights" on page 27.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power

button to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an

operating system shutdown.

9 headphone

Use the headphone connector to attach headphones.

connector

10 microphone

Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer

connector

microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or

telephony program.

11 network link light The network link light is on when a good connection exists

between a 10-Mbps, 100-Mbps, or 1000-Mbps (or 1-Gbps)

network and the computer.

12 diagnostic

Use these lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem

lights (4)

based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Power

Lights" on page 27.

24 Quick Reference Guide

Back View (Desktop Orientation)

1 back panel

Plug serial, USB, and other devices into the

connectors

appropriate connector

.

2 card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI and PCI Express cards.

Slots 2-4 support full-length cards:

- two PCI Express x16 slots

- one PCI slot.

Slots 1, 5, and 6 support half-length cards:

- two PCI-X slots

- one PCI Express x8 slot.

3 power connector Insert the power cable.

Quick Reference Guide 25

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

A possible expansion

1

Determine if a conflict exists by removing

card failure has

an expansion card (not a graphics card)

occurred.

and restarting the computer (see "Cards"

in your User’s Guide

).

2

If the problem persists, reinstall the card

you removed, and then remove

a different card and restart the computer.

3

Repeat this process for each expansion

card installed. If the computer starts

normally, troubleshoot the last card

removed from the computer for resource

conflicts (see "Restoring Your Operating

System"

in your User’s Guide

).

4

If the problem persists, contact Dell

(see

"Contacting Dell" in your User’s

Guide

).

Another failure

• Ensure that all hard drive and CD/DVD

has occurred.

drive cables are properly connected to

the system board (see "System Board

Components"

in your User’s Guide

).

• If there is an error message on the

screen identifying a problem with

a device (such as the floppy drive or

hard drive), check the device to make

sure it is functioning properly.

• If the operating system is attempting to

boot from a device (such as the floppy

drive or CD/DVD drive), check the

system setup program (see "System

Setup"

in your User’s Guide

) to ensure

the boot sequence is correct for the

devices installed on your computer.

• If the problem persists, contact Dell

(see

"Contacting Dell" in your User’s

Guide

).

32 Quick Reference Guide

Beep Codes

Your computer may emit a series of beeps during start up. The series of beeps

is called a beep code and can be used to help identify a problem with your

computer.

If your computer emits a series of beeps during start-up:

1

Write down the beep code.

2

Run the Dell Diagnostics to identify the cause (see "Dell Diagnostics" on

page 36).

Code Cause

2 short, 1 long BIOS checksum error

1 long, 3 short, 2 short Memory error

1 short F12 key pressed

Code

Description Suggested Remedy

(repetitive

short beeps)

1BIOS checksum

Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" in

failure. Possible

your User’s Guide).

motherboard failure.

2 No memory modules

• If two or more memory modules are

are detected.

installed, remove the modules

(see "Memory"

in your User’s Guide

),

reinstall one module, and then restart

the computer. If the computer starts

normally, continue to install additional

memory modules (one at a time) until

you have identified a faulty module or

reinstalled all modules without error.

• If available, install working memory of

the same type into your computer

(see "Memory"

in your User’s Guide

).

• If the problem persists, contact Dell (see

"Contacting Dell" in your User’s Guide

).

3 Possible motherboard

Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" in

failure.

your User’s Guide).

Quick Reference Guide 33

Code

Description Suggested Remedy

(repetitive

short beeps)

4 RAM Read/Write

• Ensure that no special requirements for

failure.

memory module/connector placement

exist (see "Memory"

in your User’s Guide

).

• Ensure that the memory you are using is

supported by your computer (see "Memory"

in your User’s Guide

).

• If the problem persists, contact Dell (see

"Contacting Dell" in your User’s Guide).

5 Real time clock failure.

• Replace the battery (see "Replacing the

Possible battery failure

Battery"

in your User’s Guide

).

or motherboard failure.

• If the problem persists, contact Dell (see

"Contacting Dell" in your User’s Guide).

6Video BIOS Test

Dell (see "Contacting Dell" in your User’s

Failure.

Guide).

System Messages

NOTE: If the message you received is not listed in the following table, see the

documentation for either the operating system or the program that was running

when the message appeared.

A

LERT! PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT BOOTING THIS SYSTEM HAVE FAILED AT CHECKPOINT

[

NNNN]. FOR HELP IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE NOTE THIS CHECKPOINT

AND CONTACT DELL TECHNICAL SUPPORT — The computer failed to complete the

boot routine three consecutive times for the same error (see "Contacting Dell" in your

User’s Guide for assistance).

CMOS

CHECKSUM ERROR — Possible motherboard failure or the real-time clock

battery charge is low. Replace the battery (see "Replacing the Battery" or "Contacting

Dell" in your User’s Guide for assistance).

CPU

FAN FAILURE — CPU fan failure. Replace the CPU fan (see "Removing the

Processor" in your User’s Guide).

F

LOPPY DISKETTE SEEK FAILURE — A cable may be loose, or the computer

configuration information may not match the hardware configuration. Check cable

connections (see "Contacting Dell" in your User’s Guide for assistance).

D

ISKETTE READ FAILURE — The floppy disk may be defective or a cable may be loose.

Replace the floppy disk and/or check for a loose cable connection.

34 Quick Reference Guide

HARD-DISK READ FAILURE — Possible hard drive failure during hard-drive boot test

(see "Contacting Dell" in your User’s Guide for assistance).

K

EYBOARD FAILURE — Keyboard failure or the keyboard cable is loose (see "Keyboard

Problems" in your User’s Guide).

N

O BOOT DEVICE AVAILABLE — The system cannot detect a bootable device or partition.

• If the floppy drive is your boot device, ensure that the cables are connected and that

a bootable floppy disk is in the drive.

• If the hard drive is your boot device, ensure that the cables are connected and that

the drive is installed properly and partitioned as a boot device.

• Enter the system setup program and ensure that the boot sequence information is

correct (see "Entering System Setup"

in your User’s Guide

).

NO TIMER TICK INTERRUPT — System board failure or a chip on the system board

might be malfunctioning (see "Contacting Dell" in your User’s Guide for assistance).

N

ON-SYSTEM DISK OR DISK ERROR — Replace the floppy disk with one that has

a bootable operating system or remove the floppy disk from drive A and restart

the computer.

N

OT A BOOT DISKETTE — Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart your computer.

NOTICE - H

ARD DRIVE SELF MONITORING SYSTEM HAS REPORTED THAT

A PARAMETER HAS EXCEEDED ITS NORMAL OPERATING RANGE. DELL RECOMMENDS

THAT YOU BACK UP YOUR DATA REGULARLY. A PARAMETER OUT OF RANGE MAY OR

MAY NOT INDICATE A POTENTIAL HARD DRIVE PROBLEM — S.M.A.R.T error, possible

HDD failure. This feature can be enabled or disabled in BIOS setup.

Hardware Troubleshooter

If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected,

but incorrectly configured, you can use the Hardware Troubleshooter to resolve

the incompatibility.

Windows XP:

1

Click

Start

→

Help and Support

.

2

Ty p e

hardware troubleshooter

in the search field and press

<Enter> to start the search.

3

In the

Fix a Problem

section, click

Hardware Troubleshooter

.

4

In the

Hardware Troubleshooter

list, select the option that best describes

the problem and click

Next

to follow the remaining troubleshooting steps.

Quick Reference Guide 35

Windows Vista:

1

Click the Windows Vista start button , and click

Help and Support

.

2

Ty p e

hardware troubleshooter

in the search field and press

<Enter> to start the search.

3

In the search results, select the option that best describes the problem and

follow the remaining troubleshooting steps.

Dell Diagnostics

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in

"Lockups and Software Problems" on page 45 and run the Dell Diagnostics

before you contact Dell for technical assistance.

Dell recommends that you print these procedures before you begin.

NOTICE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell™ computers.

NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities disc is optional and may not ship with your computer.

Enter system setup (see "System Setup" in your User’s Guide), review your

computer’s configuration information, and ensure that the device you want

to test displays in system setup and is active.

Start the Dell Diagnostics from either your hard drive or from the Drivers and

Utilities disc.

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive

1

Turn on (or restart) your computer.

2

When the DELL™ logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

NOTE: If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been

found, run the Dell Diagnostics from your Drivers and Utilities disc. See "Starting the

Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Disc" on page 37.

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to

®

®

wait until you see the Microsoft

Windows

desktop. Then shut down

your computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" in your

User’s Guide

),

and try again.

36 Quick Reference Guide

3

When the boot device list appears, highlight

Boot to Utility Partition

and

press <Enter>.

4

When the Dell Diagnostics

Main Menu

appears (see "Dell Diagnostics

Main Menu" on page 37), select the test that you want to run.

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities Disc

1

Insert the

Drivers and Utilities

disc.

2

Shut down and restart the computer.

When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

If you wait too long and the Windows logo appears, continue to wait until

you see the Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.

NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only. On the

next start-up, the computer boots according to the devices specified in the

system setup program.

3

When the boot device list appears, highlight

Onboard or USB CD-ROM

Drive

and press <Enter>.

4

Select the

Boot from CD-ROM

option from the menu that appears and

press <Enter>.

5

Ty p e

1

to start the menu and press <Enter> to proceed.

6

Select

Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics

from the numbered list. If multiple

versions are listed, select the version appropriate for your computer.

7

When the Dell Diagnostics

Main Menu

appears, select the test you want

to run.

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

1

After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the

Main

Menu

screen appears, click

the button for the option you want.

Option Function

Express Test Performs a quick test of devices. This test typically takes 10 to 20

minutes and requires no interaction on your part. Run Express

Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly.

Extended Test Performs a thorough check of devices. This test typically takes

1 hour or more and requires you to answer questions periodically.

Quick Reference Guide 37

Option Function

Custom Test Tests a specific device. You can customize the tests you want

to run.

Symptom Tree Lists the most common symptoms encountered and allows you

to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you

are having.

2

If a problem is encountered during a test, a message appears with an error

code and a description of the problem. Write down the error code and

problem description and follow the instructions on the screen.

If you cannot resolve the error condition, contact Dell (see "Contacting

Dell" in your

User’s Guide

).

NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test

screen. If you contact Dell, technical support will ask for your Service Tag.

3

If you run a test from the

Custom Test

or

Symptom Tree

option, click the

applicable tab described in the following table for more information.

Tab Function

Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions

encountered.

Errors Displays error conditions encountered, error codes, and

the problem description.

Help Describes the test and may indicate requirements for

running the test.

Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected

device.

The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information

for all devices from system setup, memory, and various

internal tests, and it displays the information in the device

list in the left pane of the screen. The device list may not

display the names of all the components installed on your

computer or all devices attached to your computer.

Parameters Allows you to customize the test by changing the

test settings.

38 Quick Reference Guide

4

When the tests are completed, if you are running the Dell Diagnostics

from the

Drivers and Utilities

disc

,

remove the disc.

5

Close the test screen to return to the

Main

Menu

screen. To exit the Dell

Diagnostics and restart the computer, close the

Main

Menu

screen.

Troubleshooting

Follow these tips when you troubleshoot your computer:

• If you added or removed a part before the problem started, review the

installation procedures and ensure that the part is correctly installed.

• If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly

connected.

• If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message.

This message may help support personnel diagnose and fix the problem(s).

• If an error message occurs in a program, see the program’s documentation.

NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view,

so they may not apply if you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view.

Battery Problems

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed.

Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the

manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

R

EPLACE THE BATTERY — If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information

after turning on the computer, or if an incorrect time or date displays during start-up,

replace the battery (see "Replacing the Battery" in your User’s Guide). If the battery

still does not work properly, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" in your User’s Guide).

Drive Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

E

NSURE THAT MICROSOFT WINDOWS RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE —

Windows XP:

•Click

Start

and click

My Computer

.

Quick Reference Guide 39

Windows Vista:

• Click the Windows Vista Start button and click

Computer

.

If the drive is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and

remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive.

T

EST THE DRIVE —

• Insert another disc to eliminate the possibility that the original drive is defective.

• Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer.

CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK — See

"Back View (Desktop Orientation)" on page 25

.

C

HECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Restoring Your Operating System"

in your User’s Guide.

R

UN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS — See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 36.

Optical Drive Problems

NOTE: High-speed optical drive vibration is normal and may cause noise, which

does not indicate a defect in the drive or the media.

NOTE: Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all

DVD titles work in all DVD drives.

A

DJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL —

• Click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen.

• Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slidebar and dragging it up.

• Ensure that the sound is not muted by clicking any boxes that are checked.

CHECK THE SPEAKERS AND SUBWOOFER — See "Sound and Speaker Problems" on

page 51.

Problems Writing to an Optical Drive

CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS — The optical drive must receive a steady stream of data

during the writing process. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. Try closing all

programs before you write to the optical.

T

URN OFF STANDBY MODE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A DISC — Search for

the keyword standby in Windows Help and Support for information on power

management modes.

40 Quick Reference Guide

Hard Drive Problems

RUN CHECK DISK —

Windows XP:

1

Click

Start

and click

My Computer

.

2

Right-click

Local Disk C:

.

3

Click

Properties

→

Tools

→

Check Now

.

4

Click

Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors

and click

Start

.

Windows Vista:

1

Click

Start

and click

Computer

.

2

Right-click

Local Disk C:

.

3

Click

Properties

→

Tools

→

Check Now

.

The

User Account Control

window may appear. If you are an administrator on the

computer, click

Continue

; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue the

desired action.

4

Follow the instructions on the screen.

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

NOTE: Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only. The modem does not

operate while it is connected to a digital telephone network.

NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network adapter connector (see

"Back Panel Connectors" in your User’s Guide).

C

HECK THE MICROSOFT OUTLOOK EXPRESS SECURITY SETTINGS — If you cannot

open your e-mail attachments:

1

In Outlook Express, click

Tools

→

Options

→

Security

.

2

Click

Do not allow attachments

to remove the checkmark, as needed.

CHECK THE TELEPHONE LINE CONNECTION

CHECK THE TELEPHONE JACK

CONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK

USE A DIFFERENT TELEPHONE LINE —

• Verify that the telephone line is connected to the jack on the modem (the jack has

either a green label or a connector-shaped icon next to it).

• Ensure that you hear a click when you insert the telephone line connector into

the modem.

Quick Reference Guide 41

RESTART THE COMPUTER —

1

Simultaneously press <Ctrl><Esc> to display the

Start

menu.

2

Press <u>,

press the up- and down-arrow keys

to highlight

Shut down

or

Tur n O ff

,

and then press <Enter>.

3

After the computer turns off, reconnect the mouse cable as shown on the setup diagram.

4

Turn on the computer.

TEST THE MOUSE — Connect a properly working mouse to the computer, then try

using the mouse.

C

HECK THE MOUSE SETTINGS —

Windows XP:

1

Click

Start

→

Control Panel

→

Mouse

.

2

Adjust the settings as needed.

Windows Vista:

1

Click

Start

→

Control Panel

→

Hardware and Sound

→

Mouse

.

2

Adjust the settings as needed.

REINSTALL THE MOUSE DRIVER — See "Drivers" in your User’s Guide.

R

UN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Restoring Your Operating System"

in your User’s Guide.

Network Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

C

HECK THE NETWORK LIGHT ON THE FRONT OF THE COMPUTER — If the link

integrity light is off (see "Controls and Lights" in your User’s Guide), no network

communication is occurring. Replace the network cable.

C

HECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR — Ensure that the network cable is firmly

inserted into the network connector on the back of the computer and the network jack.

R

ESTART THE COMPUTER AND ATTEMPT TO LOG ON TO THE NETWORK AGAIN

CHECK YOUR NETWORK SETTINGS — Contact your network administrator or the

person who set up your network to verify that your network settings are correct and

that the network is functioning.

R

UN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Restoring Your Operating System"

in your User’s Guide.

48 Quick Reference Guide

Power Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

I

F THE POWER LIGHT IS GREEN AND THE COMPUTER IS NOT RESPONDING — See

"Power Lights" on page 27.

I

F THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING GREEN — The computer is in standby mode.

Press a key on the keyboard, move the mouse, or press the power button to resume

normal operation.

I

F THE POWER LIGHT IS OFF — The computer is either turned off or is not receiving power.

• Reseat the power cable in the power connector on the back of the computer and the

electrical outlet.

• Bypass power strips, power extension cables, and other power protection devices to

verify that the computer turns on properly.

• Ensure that any power strips being used are plugged into an electrical outlet and are

turned on.

• Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as

alamp.

• Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the

system board (see "System Board Components"

in your User’s Guide

).

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING AMBER — The computer is receiving electrical

power, but an internal power problem may exist.

• Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location

(if applicable).

• Ensure that all components and cables are properly installed and securely connected

to the system board (see "System Board Components"

in your User’s Guide

).

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS STEADY AMBER — A device may be malfunctioning or

incorrectly installed.

• Remove and then reinstall all memory modules (see "Removing the Front Panel"

in

your User’s Guide

).

• Remove and then reinstall any expansion cards, including graphics cards (see "Removing

a PCI Card"

in your User’s Guide

).

ELIMINATE INTERFERENCE — Some possible causes of interference are:

• Power, keyboard, and mouse extension cables

• Too many devices connected to the same power strip

• Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet

Quick Reference Guide 49

Printer Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your printer, contact the printer’s

manufacturer.

C

HECK THE PRINTER DOCUMENTATION — See the printer documentation for setup

and troubleshooting information.

E

NSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON

CHECK THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS —

• See the printer documentation for cable connection information.

• Ensure that the printer cables are securely connected to the printer and the computer.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing

it with another device, such as a lamp.

V

ERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS —

Windows XP:

1

Click

Start

→

Control Panel

→

Printers and Other Hardware

→

View installed

printers or fax printers

.

2

If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.

3

Click

Properties

→

Ports

. For a parallel printer, ensure that the

Print to the following

port(s):

setting is

LPT1 (Printer Port)

. For a USB printer, ensure that the

Print to the

following port(s):

setting is

USB

.

Windows Vista:

1

Click

Start

→

Control Panel

→

Hardware and Sound

→

Printer

.

2

If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.

3

Click

Properties

, and then click

Ports

.

4

Adjust the settings, as needed.

REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER — See the printer documentation for information

on reinstalling the printer driver.

Scanner Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your scanner, contact the scanner’s

manufacturer.

C

HECK THE SCANNER DOCUMENTATION — See the scanner documentation for setup

and troubleshooting information.

50 Quick Reference Guide

UNLOCK THE SCANNER — Ensure that your scanner is unlocked (if the scanner has

a locking tab or button).

R

ESTART THE COMPUTER AND TRY THE SCANNER AGAIN

CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS —

• See the scanner documentation for information on cable connections.

• Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer.

VERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY MICROSOFT WINDOWS —

Windows XP:

1

Click

Start

→

Control Panel

→

Printers and Other Hardware

→

Scanners and Cameras

.

2

If your scanner is listed, Windows recognizes the scanner.

Windows Vista:

1

Click

Start

→

Control Panel

→

Hardware and Sound

→

Scanners and Cameras

.

2

If the scanner is listed, Windows recognizes the scanner.

REINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER — See the scanner documentation for instructions.

Sound and Speaker Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

No sound from speakers

NOTE: The volume control in MP3 and other media players may override the

Windows volume setting. Always check to ensure that the volume on the media

player(s) has not been turned down or off.

C

HECK THE SPEAKER CABLE CONNECTIONS — Ensure that the speakers are connected

as shown on the setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If you purchased a sound card,

ensure that the speakers are connected to the card.

E

NSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON — See the

setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If your speakers have volume controls, adjust

the volume, bass, or treble to eliminate distortion.

A

DJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Click or double-click the speaker icon

in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that

the sound is not muted.

D

ISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR — Sound from the

speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the computer’s

front-panel headphone connector.

Quick Reference Guide 51

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by

testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

E

LIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights,

or halogen lamps to check for interference.

R

UN THE SPEAKER DIAGNOSTICS

REINSTALL THE SOUND DRIVER — See "Drivers" in your User’s Guide.

R

UN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Restoring Your Operating System"

in your User’s Guide.

No sound from headphones

CHECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION — Ensure that the headphone cable is

securely inserted into the headphone connector (see "About Your Computer" in your

User’s Guide).

A

DJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Click or double-click the speaker icon

in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that

the sound is not muted.

Video and Monitor Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the

safety instructions in the

Product Information Guide

.

NOTICE: If your computer came with a PCI Express graphics card installed, removal of

the card is not necessary when installing additional graphics cards; however, the card

is required for troubleshooting purposes. If you remove the card, store it in a safe and

secure location. For information about your graphics card, go to support.dell.com.

The screen is blank

NOTE: For troubleshooting procedures, see the monitor’s documentation.

C

HECK THE MONITOR CABLE CONNECTION —

• Ensure that the monitor cable is connected to the correct graphics card (for dual

graphics card configurations).

• If you are using a DVI-to-VGA adapter, ensure that the adapter is correctly attached to

the graphics card and monitor.

• Ensure that the monitor cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for your

computer.

• Remove any video extension cables and connect the monitor directly to the computer.

52 Quick Reference Guide

• Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine if the monitor’s power

cable is defective.

• Check the connectors for bent or broken pins (it is normal for monitor cable connectors

to have missing pins).

CHECK THE MONITOR POWER LIGHT —