If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the
checks in "Solving
Problems" and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for
technical assistance. Running the Dell Diagnostics may help you resolve the
problem without contacting Dell. If you do contact Dell, the test results can
provide important information for Dell's service and support personnel.
The Dell Diagnostics allows you to:
Perform quick checks or extensive tests on one or all devices
Choose how many times a test is run
Suspend testing if an error is detected or terminate testing if a certain
number of errors occur
Access Help screens that describe the tests and how to run them
Read status messages that tell you whether tests completed successfully
It is recommended that you print these procedures before you
begin.
NOTICE: Only use the Dell Diagnostics to test your Dell
computer. Using this program with other computers can result in error
messages.
Enter system setup, review your
computers 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 CD (also known as the ResourceCD).
Dell recommends that you print these procedures before you begin.
Shut down and restart the computer.
When the DELL® logo appears, press <F12> immediately.
If you wait too long and the Microsoft® Windows®
logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop. Then shut
down your computer through the Start menu and try again.
NOTE: If you receive a message stating that no Diagnostics utility partition
has been found, follow the instructions to run the Dell Diagnostics from
your Drivers and Utilities CD.
When the boot device list appears, highlight Boot to Utility
Partition and press
<Enter>.
When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears, select the test you want
to run.
Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD into the CD drive.
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 through the Start
menu and try again.
NOTE: This feature
changes the boot sequence for one time only. On the next start-up, the
computer boots according to the devices specified in system setup.
When the boot device list appears, highlight IDE CD-ROM Device
and press <Enter>.
Select the IDE CD-ROM Device option from the CD boot menu.
Select the Boot from CD-ROM option from the menu that appears.
Type 1 to start the ResourceCD
menu.
Type 2 to start the Dell
Diagnostics.
Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list. If
multiple versions are listed, select the version appropriate for your
platform.
When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears, select the test you want to
run.
After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the MainMenu screen
appears, click the button for the option you want.
NOTE: The Service
Tag number for your computer is located in the title bar of each test
screen.
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 an hour or more and
requires you to answer questions periodically.
Custom Test
Tests
a specific device. You can customize the tests to be 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.
If a problem is encountered during a test, a message displaying the error
code and a description of the problem appear. Write down the error code and
problem description and follow the instructions on the screen.
If you cannot resolve the error condition, contact Dell.
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.
Displays error conditions
encountered, error codes, and 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 your configuration
information for all devices from system setup,
memory, and various internal tests and displays it 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.
When the tests are completed, if you are running the Dell Diagnostics
from the Drivers and Utilities CD, remove the CD.
Close the test screen to return to the MainMenu screen. To
exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer, close the MainMenu
screen.
NOTE: To access device
drivers and user
documentation, you must
use the Drivers and
Utilities CD while your
computer is running
Windows.
Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD into the CD drive.
If this is your first time to use the Drivers and Utilities CD, the ResourceCD Installation window opens to inform you that the CD will begin installation. Click OK, and respond to the installation program prompts to complete the installation.
Click Next at the Welcome Dell System Owner screen.
Choose the appropriate selections for System Model, Operating
System, and Topic.
The Drivers and Utilities CD scans your computer's hardware and operating system and then displays a list of device drivers for your system configuration.
Click the appropriate driver and follow the instructions to download
the driver for your computer.
To view a list of all available drivers for your computer, click Drivers in the Topic pull-down menu.
To access the Dell OptiPlex ResourceCD Guide, click User's Guides in the Topic pull-down menu, and then click Dell OptiPlex ResourceCD.
Windows XP IRQ conflicts occur if a device either is not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured.
To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows XP:
Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
In the Device Manager list, check for conflicts with the other devices.
Conflicts are indicated by a yellow exclamation point (!) beside the conflicting device or a red X if the device has been disabled.
Double-click any conflicting device listed to
display the Properties
window to determine what needs to be reconfigured or removed from
the Device Manager.
Resolve these conflicts before checking specific devices.
Double-click the malfunctioning device type in the Device Manager
list.
Double-click the icon for the specific device in the expanded list.
The Properties window appears.
Resolve any IRQ conflicts, as described in step 5.
If an IRQ conflict exists, the Device status area in the Properties window reports the cards or devices that share the device's IRQ.
You can also use the Windows XP Hardware Troubleshooter. To use the troubleshooter, click the Start button and click Help and Support. Type hardware troubleshooter in the Search field, and then click the arrow to start the search. Click Hardware Troubleshooter in the Search Results list. In the Hardware Troubleshooter list, click I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my computer, and then click Next.
To check for conflicts on a computer running Windows 2000:
Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
In the Control Panel window, double-click System.
Click the Hardware tab.
Click Device Manager.
Click View, and then click Resources by connection.
Double-click Interrupt request (IRQ) to view the IRQ assignments.
Conflicts are indicated by a yellow exclamation point (!) beside the conflicting device or a red X if the device has been disabled.
Double-click any conflicting device listed to
display the Properties
window to determine what needs to be reconfigured or removed from
the Device Manager. Resolve these conflicts before checking specific
devices.
Double-click the malfunctioning device type in the Device Manager
list.
Double-click the icon for the specific device in the expanded list.
The Properties window appears.
If an IRQ conflict exists, the Device status area in the Properties
window reports the cards or devices that share the device's IRQ.
Resolve the IRQ conflicts.
You can also use the Windows 2000 Hardware Troubleshooter. To use the troubleshooter, click the Start button and click Help. Click Troubleshooting and Maintenance on the Contents tab, click Windows 2000 troubleshooters, and then click Hardware. In the Hardware Troubleshooter list, click I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my computer, and then click Next.
