Dell Precision T3400 (Late 2007): Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive: Dell Precision T3400 (Late 2007)
Table of contents
- Notes, Notices, and Cautions
- Contents
- 4 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
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- About Your Computer Front View (Tower Orientation) 4 lower 3.5-inch drive bay
- 9 power button Press to turn on the computer.
- 14 network link light The network link light is on when a good connection
- Back View (Tower Orientation)
- Front View (Desktop Orientation) 4 hard drive activity light
- 7 power button Press to turn on the computer.
- 12 network link light The network link light is on when a good connection
- Back View (Desktop Orientation)
- Back Panel Connectors 1 mouse connector Plug a PS/2 mouse into the green mouse connector. Turn off
- 8 Rear Dual USB 2.0 connectors (2)
- 11 keyboard connector Setting Up Your Computer Changing Between Tower and Desktop Orientations
- Switching From Tower to Desktop Orientation Switching From Desktop to Tower Orientation Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure
- • Leave 10.2 cm (4 in) minimum clearance on all vented sides of the computer to permit the airflow required for proper ventilation.
- • Do not install your computer in an enclosure that does not allow airflow.
- Transferring Information to a New Computer Microsoft Windows XP
- Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (With the Operating System Media)
- Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (Without the Operating System Media)
- TRANSFER DATA TO THE DESTINATION COMPUTER: Power Protection Devices
- Surge Protectors Line Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
- Cleaning Your Computer Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor Mouse (Non-Optical)
- Floppy Drive CDs and DVDs Troubleshooting Tools Power Lights
- • Eliminate interference. Some possible causes of interference are:
- Diagnostic Lights Diagnostic Light Codes During POST 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 Beep Codes Code Cause
- Code Description Suggested Remedy
- Code Description Suggested Remedy System Messages
- NOT A BOOT DISKETTE —Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart your computer.
- Hardware Troubleshooter 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 Disc
- Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Option Function
- Tab Function Troubleshooting
- Battery Problems Drive Problems
- Optical drive problems Problems writing to an optical drive Hard drive problems
- E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems RUN THE MODEM DIAGNOSTIC TOOL — VERIFY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH WINDOWS —
- Error Messages
- IEEE 1394 Device Problems
- Keyboard Problems Lockups and Software Problems The computer does not start up The computer stops responding
- A program stops responding A program crashes repeatedly A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system A solid blue screen appears
- Other software problems Memory Problems F YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE — IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS —
- Mouse Problems RESTART THE COMPUTER — TEST THE MOUSE — Connect a properly working mouse to the computer, then try C HECK THE MOUSE SETTINGS — REINSTALL THE MOUSE DRIVER — See "Drivers" in your User’s Guide. R UN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Hardware Troubleshooter" on
- Network Problems Power Problems
- Printer Problems
- Scanner Problems
- Sound and Speaker Problems
- Video and Monitor Problems The screen is blank
- The screen is difficult to read 3D image quality is poor Only part of the screen is readable

See "System Setup" in your User’s Guide to review your computer’s
configuration information, and ensure that the device that you want to test
displays in System Setup and is active.
NOTE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell computers.
NOTE: Print the following procedures before you run the Dell diagnostics.
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive
The Dell Diagnostics is located on a separate diagnostic utility partition on
your hard drive.
NOTE: If your computer cannot display a screen image, see "Contacting Dell" in
your User’s Guide.
1
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2
When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.
NOTE: Keyboard failure may result when a key is held down for extended
periods of time. To avoid possible keyboard failure, press and release <F12> in
even intervals to open the Boot Device Menu.
NOTE: If at any time a message appears 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 43).
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 and try again.
3
At the
Boot Device Menu
, use the up- and down-arrow keys or press the
appropriate number on the keyboard to highlight
Boot to Utility Partition
,
and then press <Enter>.
NOTE: The Quickboot feature changes the boot sequence for the current
boot only. Upon restart, the computer boots according to the boot sequence
specified in System Setup.
4
At the Dell Diagnostics
Main Menu
, left-click with the mouse, or press
<Tab> and then <Enter>, to select the test you want to run (see "Dell
Diagnostics Main Menu" on page 44).
NOTE: Write down any error codes and problem descriptions exactly as they
appear and follow the instructions on the screen.
42 Quick Reference Guide

