Dell Precision 380: Solving Problems Troubleshooting Tips Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore
Solving Problems Troubleshooting Tips Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore: Dell Precision 380
Table of contents
- Notes, Notices, and Cautions Abbreviations and Acronyms
- Contents
- Finding Information What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- Setting Up Your Computer (Tower Orientation) Connect the keyboard and the mouse. Connect the modem or the network cable.
- Connect the monitor.
- For single- and dual-monitor capable cards with a single connector
- For dual-monitor capable cards with one DVI connector and one VGA connector For dual-monitor capable cards with two DVI connectors
- Connect the speakers. Connect the power cables and turn on the computer and monitor.
- Install additional software or devices. Setting Up Your Computer (Desktop Orientation) Connect the keyboard and the mouse.
- Connect the modem or the network cable. Connect the monitor.
- For single- and dual-monitor capable cards with a single connector
- For dual-monitor capable cards with one DVI connector and one VGA connector For dual-monitor capable cards with two DVI connectors
- Connect the speakers. Connect the power cables and turn on the computer and monitor. Install additional software or devices.
- About Your Computer Front View (Tower Orientation) 5 hard-drive activity light The hard drive light is on when the computer reads data from or
- 14 network link light The network link light is on when a good connection exists between a 10-Mbps,
- Back View (Tower Orientation)
- Front View (Desktop Orientation) 1 upper 5.25-inch drive bay
- 12 network link light The network link light is on when a good connection exists between a 10-Mbps,
- Back View (Desktop Orientation) Back-Panel Connectors
- 1 mouse connector Plug a standard mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off the computer
- 12 keyboard connector If you have a standard keyboard, plug it into the purple keyboard connector. If you
- Inside View
- Cable Colors System Board Components
- 12 password jumper (PASS) Locating Your User’s Guide
- To access the User’s Guide from your hard drive: To access your User’s Guide from the Dell Support website: Removing the Computer Cover
- Caring for Your Computer
- Solving Problems Troubleshooting Tips Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore
- Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore Enabling System Restore
- Using the Last Known Good Configuration Other Options to Help Resolve Additional Device or Software Conflicts Dell Diagnostics When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
- Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD
- Before You Start Testing Beep Codes Code Cause
- Code Cause Error Messages Diagnostic Lights Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution
- Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution
- Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution
- Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution
- Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution
- Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution Frequently Asked Questions How Do I... Solution Where to Find Additional Information
- How Do I... Solution Where to Find Additional Information
Solving Problems
Troubleshooting Tips
Perform the following checks 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. The message may
help technical support personnel diagnose and fix the problem(s).
• If an error message occurs in a program, see the program’s documentation.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
• If the recommended action in the troubleshooting section is to see a section in your
User’s
Guide
, go to
support.dell.com
(on another computer if necessary) to access your
User’s
Guide.
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
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.
To resolve incompatibilities using the Hardware Troubleshooter:
1
Click the
Start
button and click
Help and Support
.
2
Ty p e
hardware troubleshooter
in the
Search
field and click the arrow to start the search.
3
Click
Hardware Troubleshooter
in the
Search Results
list.
4
In the
Hardware Troubleshooter
list, click
I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my
computer
, and click
Next
.
®
®
Using Microsoft
Windows
XP System Restore
The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides System Restore to allow you to return your
computer to an earlier operating state (without affecting data files) if changes to the hardware,
software, or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. See the
Windows Help and Support Center (see "Finding Information" on page 5) for information about
using System Restore.
NOTICE: Make regular backups of your data files. System Restore does not monitor your data files or
recover them.
Creating a Restore Point
1
Click the
Start
button and click
Help and Support
.
2
Click
System Restore
.
3
Follow the instructions on the screen.
32 Quick Reference Guide
