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.
Replace
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. If the
battery still does not work properly, contact
Dell.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
Check
the card seating and cable —
1.Turn
off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their electrical outlets,
wait 10 to 20 seconds, and then open the computer cover.
2.Ensure
that each card is firmly seated in its connector. Reseat any loose cards.
3.Ensure
that all cables are firmly connected to their corresponding connectors on the
cards. If any cables appear loose, reconnect them.
For
instructions on which cables should be attached to specific connectors on a
card, see the card's documentation.
4.Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to
electrical outlets, and then turn them on.
Test
the graphics card —
1.Turn
off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their electrical outlets,
wait 10 to 20 seconds, and then open the computer cover.
2.Remove
all cards except the graphics card.
If
your primary hard drive is connected to a drive controller card and not to
one of the system board IDE connectors, leave the drive controller card
installed in the computer.
3.Close
the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to
electrical outlets, and then turn them on.
If any
of the tests fail, the card you just reinstalled is faulty and needs to be
replaced.
5.Repeat
this process until you have reinstalled all cards.
Clearing NVRAM and Restoring Default Settings
Clear
the computer's non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) and restore the
computer's system settings to their default values —
1.Turn
on or restart your computer.
2.When
Press <F2> to Enter Setup appears in the upper-right
corner of the screen, press <F2> immediately.
3.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.
4.Toggle
the <Caps Lock>, <Scroll Lock>, and <Num Lock> keys,
ensuring that the status lights for all three functions are lit.
NOTE:
The <Num Lock> key is often on by default, so toggling that
key may turn the Num Lock feature off. Before clearing the NVRAM, ensure that
the Num Lock function is on and that the keyboard light displays.
5.Simultaneously
press <Alt> and <e>.
The
computer emits a beep tone to indicate that the NVRAM has been cleared.
6.Simultaneously
press <Alt> and <f> to restore the computer's
original default settings.
NOTE:
After restoring the computer's default settings, ensure that all IDE
devices are present and properly enabled. Also, check or reset the date and
time.
7.Press
<Esc> and then press <Enter> to save the changes
and restart your computer.
To help you troubleshoot a
problem, your computer is equipped with four lights on the back panel labeled
"A," "B," "C," and "D." These lights
can be yellow or green. When the computer starts up normally, the lights flash.
After the computer starts, the lights remain green. If the computer
malfunctions, the color and sequence of the lights identify the problem.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
Verify that the computer
is plugged into a working outlet and that you have pressed the power button.
green
yellow
yellow
yellow
Possible BIOS failure;
the computer is in the recovery mode
Run the BIOS Recovery
utility, wait for recovery completion, and restart the computer to
retest.
yellow
green
yellow
yellow
Possible processor
failure
Reseat the processor,
and restart the computer to retest.
green
green
yellow
yellow
Possible memory failure
Reseat all memory
modules and restart the computer to retest.
yellow
yellow
green
yellow
Possible expansion card
failure
Remove each expansion
card individually, and restart the computer to retest.
Reinstall the expansion
card(s) one at a time, and restart the computer to retest.
Move each expansion card
one at a time to another PCI slot, and restart the computer to retest.
green
yellow
green
yellow
Possible video card
failure or bad on-board video
If you have a video
card, reseat it and restart the computer to retest. If you have video
integrated, you must replace the system board.
yellow
green
green
yellow
Possible floppy or hard
drive failure
Reseat all power and
data cables, and restart the computer to retest.
green
green
green
yellow
Possible USB failure
Reseat all USB devices
and cables, and restart the computer to retest.
yellow
yellow
yellow
green
No memory detected
Reseat all memory
modules and restart the computer.
If the problem still
exists, to eliminate the possibility of a faulty memory connector, install
one memory module (if the computer supports a single module), and restart the
computer. Then move the module to another connector and restart the computer.
yellow
green
yellow
green
Memory is detected, but
a memory configuration or compatibility error exists
Be sure that the memory
modules are compatible with your computer. If necessary, replace the memory
modules.
yellow
green
green
green
Other failure
Check the computer
message that appears on your monitor screen.
green
green
green
green
Normal operating
condition after POST
None.
Drive Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
Close
other programs — The CD/DVD-RW drive must
receive a steady stream of data when writing. If the stream is interrupted,
an error occurs. Try closing all programs before you write to the CD/DVD-RW.
Turn
off Standby mode in Windows before writing to a CD/DVD-RW disc — See your computer
documentation for information on power
management modes.
Hard drive problems
Running
the Dell IDE Hard Drive Diagnostics —
The Dell IDE Hard
Drive Diagnostics is a utility that tests the hard drive to troubleshoot or
confirm a hard drive failure.
1.Turn
on your computer (if your computer is already on, restart it).
2.When
F2 = Setup appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press
<Ctrl><Alt><d>.
3.Follow
the instructions on the screen.
Run
Check Disk —
Windows XP
1.Click
the Start button and click My Computer.
2.Right-click
Local Disk C:.
3.Click
Properties.
4.Click
the Tools tab.
5.Under
Error-checking, click Check Now.
6.Click
Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.
7.Click
Start.
Windows 2000
1.Double-click
My Computer on the Windows desktop.
2.Click
the Tools tab.
3.Under
Error-checking, click Check Now.
4.Click
Start.
MS-DOS®
Type scandisk x: at an MS-DOS prompt, where x is the hard drive
letter, and then press <Enter>. Click the Start button and click
My Computer.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
If
the message is not listed, see the documentation for the operating system or
the program that was running when the message appeared.
A filename cannot contain any of the following characters: \
/ : * ? " < > | — Do not use these characters in filenames.
A
required .DLL file was not found — The program that you are
trying to open is missing an essential file. To remove and then reinstall the
program:
1.Click
the Start button, click Control Panel, and
then click Add or Remove Programs.
2.Select
the program you want to remove.
3.Click
the Change or Remove Program icon.
4.See
the program documentation for installation instructions.
Alert!
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 — Contact Dell and report
the checkpoint code (nnnn) to the support technician.
1.Turn
off the computer, wait 30 seconds, and then restart the computer.
2.Try
to run the program again.
3.If
the error message appears again, see the software
documentation for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
Memory
data line failure at address, read value expecting value
— Memory double word logic failure at address, read value
expecting value — Memory odd/even logic failure at address, read value
expecting value — Memory write/read failure at address, read value
expecting value — Memory size in CMOS invalid —
Non-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.
Not a
boot diskette — Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart your computer.
Not
enough memory or resources. Close some programs and try again — Close all windows and open
the program that you want to use. In some cases, you might have to restart
your computer to restore computer resources. If so, run the program that you
want to use first.
1.Turn
your computer off, unplug it from the electrical outlet, and then remove all
but one of the cards.
2.Plug
in your computer and reboot it.
3.If
the message reappears, the installed card might be malfunctioning. If the
message does not reappear, turn off the computer and reinsert one of the
other cards.
4.Repeat
this process until you identify which card is malfunctioning.
Read
fault — Requested sector not found — Reset failed —
Time-of-day
not set-please run the System Setup program — Enter system setup and correct the date or
time. If the problem persists, replace the battery.
Unexpected
interrupt in protected mode — Run the Dell
Diagnostics.
WARNING:
Dell's Disk Monitoring System has detected that drive [0/1] on the
[primary/secondary] EIDE controller is operating outside of normal
specifications. It is advisable to immediately back up your data and replace
your hard drive by calling your support desk or Dell —
If no replacement
drive is immediately available and the drive is not the only bootable drive, enter system setup and
change the appropriate drive setting to None. Then remove the drive
from the computer.
x:\ is not
accessible. The device is not ready — The floppy drive cannot
read the disk. Insert a floppy disk into the drive and try again.
Keyboard Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
Check
the keyboard cable —
Ensure that the keyboard
cable is firmly connected to the computer.
Shut down the computer,
reconnect the keyboard cable as shown in the Setup
and Quick Reference Guide for your computer, and then restart the
computer.
Check the cable connector
for bent or broken pins and for damaged or frayed cables. Straighten
bent pins.
Remove keyboard extension
cables and connect the keyboard directly to the computer.
Test
the keyboard — Connect a properly working keyboard to the computer, and try
using the keyboard. If the new keyboard works, the original keyboard is
faulty.
Ensure that the power cable is firmly connected to the
computer and to the electrical outlet
The computer stops responding
NOTICE: You might lose data if you are unable to perform an
operating system shutdown.
Turn
the computer off — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a
key on your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and hold the power button
for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off. Then restart your
computer.
A program stops responding
End
the program —
Windows XP, Windows
2000
1.Press
<Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously.
2.Click
Applications.
3.Click
the program that is no longer responding.
4.Click
End Task.
A program crashes repeatedly
NOTE: Software usually includes installation instructions in
its documentation or on a floppy disk or CD.
Check
the software documentation — If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the
program.
A solid blue screen appears
Turn
the computer off — If you are unable to get a
response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and
hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns
off. Then restart your computer.
Other software problems
Check
the software documentation or contact the software
manufacturer for troubleshooting information —
Ensure that the program is
compatible with the operating system installed on your computer.
Ensure that your computer
meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software. See
the software documentation for information.
Ensure that the program is
installed and configured properly.
Verify that the device
drivers do not conflict with the program.
If necessary, uninstall and
then reinstall the program.
Back up your files immediately
Use a virus-scanning program to check the hard drive,
floppy disks, or CDs
Save and close any open files or programs and shut down
your computer through the Start menu
Run
the Dell Diagnostics — If all tests run
successfully, the error condition is related to a software problem.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
Check
the network cable connector — Ensure that the network cable is firmly
inserted into both the network connector on the back of the computer and the
network jack.
Check
the network lights on the back of the computer — No light indicates that no
network communication exists. Replace the network cable.
Restart the computer and 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.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
If
the power light is green and the computer is not responding — See "Diagnostic Lights."
If
the power light is blinking green — The computer is in standby
mode. Press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse to resume normal
operation.
If
the power light is off — The computer is either turned off or is not
receiving power.
Reseat the power cable into
both the power connector on the back of the computer
and the electrical outlet.
If the computer is plugged
into a power strip, ensure that the power strip is plugged into an
electrical outlet and that the power strip is turned on. Also bypass
power protection devices, power strips, and power
extension cables to verify that the computer turns on properly.
Ensure that the electrical
outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
Ensure that the main power
cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board.
If
the power light is amber and green or steady amber — The computer is receiving
electrical power, but an internal power problem might exist.
Ensure that the voltage
selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location (if applicable).
Ensure that the processor
power cable is securely connected to the system board.
If
the power light is blinking amber — A device might be
malfunctioning or incorrectly installed.
Remove and then reinstall
the memory modules.
Remove and then reinstall
any cards.
Remove and then reinstall
the graphics card, if applicable.
Eliminate
interference — Some possible causes of interference are:
Power, keyboard, and mouse
extension cables
Too many devices on a power
strip
Multiple
power strips connected to the same electrical outlet
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your printer,
contact the printer's manufacturer.
Check
the printer documentation — See the printer documentation for setup and
troubleshooting information.
Ensure 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.
Verify
that the printer is recognized by Windows —
Windows XP
1.Click
the Start button, click Control Panel, and
then click Printers and Other Hardware.
2.Click
View installed printers or fax printers.
If the
printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.
3.Click
Properties and click the Ports tab. 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 2000
1.Click
the Start button, point to Settings, and
then click Printers.
If the
printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.
2.Click
Properties and click the Ports tab.
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.
Reinstall
the printer driver — See the printer documentation for instructions.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
NOTE: If you are having a problem with a printer, see "Printer Problems."
Check
the option setting — See the device's documentation for the recommended
settings. Then enter system setup and go to
the Integrated Devices option settings. Ensure that the Serial Port
setting or the Parallel Port setting matches the recommended settings.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
No sound from speakers
NOTE: The volume control in some MP3 players overrides the
Windows volume setting. If you have been listening to MP3 songs, ensure that
you did not turn the player volume down or off.
Check
the speaker cable connections — Ensure that the speakers are connected as
shown on the setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If you purchased an
audio card, ensure that the speakers are connected to the card.
Ensure
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.
Adjust
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.
Disconnect
headphones from the headphone connector — Sound from the speakers is
automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the computer's
front-panel headphone connector.
Test
the electrical outlet — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by
testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
Enable
digital mode — Your speakers do not work if the CD drive is operating in
analog mode.
Windows XP
1.Click
the Start button, click ControlPanel,
and then click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.
2.Click
Sounds and Audio Devices.
3.Click
the Hardware tab.
4.Double-click
the name of your CD drive.
5.Click
the Properties tab.
6.Check
the Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device box.
Windows 2000
1.Click
the Start button, point to Settings→ ControlPanel, and then click Sounds and Multimedia.
2.Click
the Hardware tab.
3.Click
the name of your CD drive and click Properties.
4.Click
the Properties tab.
5.Check
the Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device
box.
Eliminate
possible interference — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, or
halogen lamps to check for interference.
Check
the device option setting — Enter system setup
and ensure that Sound under the Integrated Devices option is
set to On. Exit system setup and restart your computer.
Check
the headphone cable connection — Ensure that the headphone
cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector.
Disable
digital mode — Your headphones do not work if the CD drive is operating in
digital mode.
Windows XP
1.Click
the Start button, click Control Panel, and
then click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.
2.Click
Sounds and Audio Devices.
3.Click
the Hardware tab.
4.Double-click
the name of your CD drive.
5.Click
the Properties tab.
6.Uncheck
the Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device
box.
Windows 2000
1.Click
the Start button, point to Settings→ ControlPanel, and then click Sounds and Multimedia.
2.Click
the Hardware tab.
3.Click
the name of your CD drive and click Properties.
4.Click
the Properties tab.
5.Uncheck
the Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device
box.
Adjust
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.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
If the screen is blank
NOTE: See the monitor documentation for troubleshooting
procedures.
Check
the monitor cable connection —
If you purchased a graphics
card, ensure that the monitor is connected to the card.
Ensure that your monitor is
properly connected (see the Setup and Quick
Reference Guide that came with your computer).
If you are using a graphics
extension cable and removing the cable solves the problem, the cable is
defective.
Swap the computer and
monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is defective.
Check the connector for bent
or broken pins. (It is normal for monitor cable connectors to have
missing pins.)
Check
the monitor power light — If the power light is off, firmly press the button
to ensure that the monitor is turned on. If the power light is lit or
blinking, the monitor has power. If the power light is blinking, press a key
on the keyboard or move the mouse.
Test
the electrical outlet — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by
testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
Test
the monitor — Connect a properly working monitor to the computer, and try
using the monitor. If the new monitor works, the original monitor is faulty.
Check
the card setting — Enter system setup
and ensure that Primary Video Controller under the Integrated
Devices option is set correctly. For an AGP card, set Primary Video
Controller to AGP. For a PCI card, set Primary Video Controller
to Auto. Exit system setup and restart your computer.
Check
the monitor settings — See the monitor
documentation for instructions on adjusting the contrast and brightness,
demagnetizing (degaussing) the monitor, and running the monitor self-test.
Move
the subwoofer away from the monitor — If your speaker system
includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm
(2 ft) away from the monitor.
Move
the monitor away from external power sources — Fans, fluorescent lights,
halogen lamps, and other electrical devices can cause the screen image to
appear "shaky." Turn off nearby devices to check for interference.
Adjust
the Windows display settings —
Windows XP
1.Click
the Start button, click Control Panel, and
then click Appearance and Themes.
2.Click
Display and click the Settings tab.
3.Try
different settings for Screen resolution and Color
quality.
Windows 2000
1.Click
the Start button, point to Settings, and
then click Control Panel.
2.Double-click
the Display icon and click the Settings
tab.
3.Try
different settings for Screen area or Desktop
area.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section,
follow the safety instructions.
NOTE: Spills, splashes, and excessive humidity can cause
damage to the computer. If an external device, such as a printer or modem,
gets wet, contact the manufacturer of the device for instructions.
Repair
the Wet Computer —
1.Turn
off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their electrical outlets,
wait 10 to 20 seconds, and then open the computer cover.
2.Let
the computer dry for at least 24 hours. Ensure that it is thoroughly dry
before you proceed.
3.Remove
all cards that are installed in the computer, except
graphics cards. If your primary hard drive is connected to a drive controller
card instead of one of the system board connectors, leave the drive
controller card installed in the computer.
4.Close
the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets,
and then turn them on.
5.If
your computer has power, go to step 6. If not, contact Dell for technical assistance.
6.Turn
off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their
electrical outlets, wait 10 to 20 seconds, and then open the computer cover.
7.Reinstall
all cards.
8.Close
the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets,
and then turn them on.
