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.
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 (see "Battery"). If the battery still does not work properly, contact Dell.
Your computer might emit a series of beeps that identify a problem: For example, one beep, followed by a a burst of three beeps, and then one beep (code 1-3-1) means that the computer encountered a memory problem.
Try to resolve the problem —
Write the beep code down on the Diagnostics Checklist, and perform the action recommended in the following table.
Turn off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait 10 to 20 seconds, and open the computer cover.
Ensure that each card is firmly seated in its connector. Reseat any loose cards.
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.
Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.
Test the video card
Turn off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, wait 10 to 20 seconds, and open the computer cover.
Remove all cards except the video 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.
Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.
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.
Insert another disk to eliminate the possibility that the original floppy disk is defective.
Insert a bootable floppy disk and reboot the computer.
Ensure that the disk is not full or write-protected —
Ensure that the disk has available space and that it is not write-protected (locked). See the following illustration.
Test the floppy drive light
MS-DOS®
Insert a floppy disk, type dir a: at the DOS prompt, and press <Enter>.
Microsoft® Windows® operating systems
Insert a floppy disk, double-click My Computer on the desktop, and double-click the floppy drive icon.
Run the Dell Diagnostics —
Run the Diskette Device Group test. If any of the tests fail, contact Dell.
NOTICE: Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab. You may
accidentally misalign the heads, which can render the drive inoperable.
Clean the drive
-
Use a commercially available cleaning kit.
Ensure that Windows recognizes the drive —
Double-click My Computer on the desktop. If the CD 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.
Clean the disc —
Use a commercially available cleaning kit.
NOTE: Because of
different worldwide file
types, not all DVD titles
work in all DVD drives.
Test the drive with another DVD —
Insert another DVD to eliminate the possibility that the original DVD is defective.
Ensure that Windows recognizes the drive —
Double-click My Computer on the desktop. If the DVD 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.
Clean the disc —
Use a commercially available cleaning kit.
NOTE: If you disable
standby mode to write to
a CD-RW drive,
remember to reenable
standby mode when you
finish writing to the CD.
Change the write speed to a slower rate —
The CD-RW drive must receive a steady stream of data when writing. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. Try closing all programs before writing to the CD-RW.
Click the Start button, select Shutdown, and click Restart the Computer.
At the C: prompt, type CD\Windows\Command and press <Enter>.
Type chkdsk and press <Enter>.
The utility creates and displays a status report and lists and corrects errors on the disk.
Windows 2000 — Run the ScanDisk utility:
Click the Start button, point to Run, type scandskw, and click OK.
Windows NT — Run the error-checking utility:
Double-click My Computer and select the hard drive that you want to check.
Click the right mouse button, click Properties, click Tools, and then click Check Now in the Error-checking section.
MS-DOS
Type scandisk x: at an MS-DOS prompt, where x is the hard drive letter, and press <Enter>.
Run the Dell Diagnostics —
Run the IDE Devices device group. If the tests indicate a faulty drive or drive controller, contact Dell.
Check the cable connections
Ensure that the DC power cables from the power supply are firmly connected to the connectors on each drive.
Verify that the interface cable for each drive is firmly connected to the drive and to the system board.
Ensure that the control-panel cable is firmly connected to the system board.
If the hard drive activity light does not blink during the boot routine, contact Dell.
If a drive error message displays, see "Error Messages" for an explanation.
If the primary hard drive that contains the operating system does not boot, files in the operating system might be corrupt. For more information, see your operating system documentation.
Run the Modem Helper diagnostics —
Click the Start button, point to Programs, and then click Modem Helper. Follow the instructions on the screen to identify and resolve modem problems. (Modem Helper is not available on all computers.)
Ensure that you are connected to the Internet —
With the Outlook Express e-mail program open, click File. If Work Offline has a checkmark next to it, click the checkmark to remove it and connect to the Internet.
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 — The computer failed to complete the boot routine three consecutive times for the same error Contact Dell and report the checkpoint code (nnnn) to the support technician.
Attachment failed to respond — The floppy or hard drive controller cannot send data to the associated drive. See "Drive Problems" for troubleshooting suggestions.
Bad command or file name — Ensure that you have spelled the command correctly, have put spaces in the proper place, and have used the correct pathname.
Bad error-correction code (ECC) on disk read — The floppy or hard drive controller detected an uncorrectable read error. See "Drive Problems" for troubleshooting suggestions.
Controller has failed — The hard drive or the associated controller is defective. See "Drive Problems" for troubleshooting suggestions.
Data error — The floppy or hard drive cannot read the data.
For the Windows operating system, run the chkdsk utility to check the file structure of the floppy or hard drive.
For another operating system, run the appropriate corresponding utility.
See your operating system documentation for information on running these utilities.
Decreasing available memory — One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated.
Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them (see "Memory" for module installation procedures).
See "Memory Problems" for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
Diskette drive 0 seek failure — A cable may be loose or the computer configuration information may not match the hardware configuration. See "Drive Problems" for troubleshooting suggestions.
Diskette read failure — The floppy disk may be defective or a cable may be loose.
If the drive access light turns on, try a different disk.
Diskette subsystem reset failed — The floppy drive controller may be faulty. Run the Diskettetests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Drive not ready — No floppy disk is in the drive. Put a floppy disk in the drive.
Diskette write protected — The floppy disk is write-protected. Slide the write-protect notch to the open position.
Gate A20 failure — One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated.
Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them (see "Memory" for module installation procedures).
See "Memory Problems" for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
General failure — The operating system is unable to carry out the command. This message is usually followed by specific information—for example, Printer out of paper. Take the appropriate action to resolve the problem.
Hard-disk configuration error — The hard drive failed initialization.
Invalid configuration information - please run SETUP program — The computer configuration information does not match the hardware configuration. Enter system setup and correct the computer configuration information.
Keyboard failure — A cable or connector may be loose, or the keyboard or keyboard/mouse controller may be faulty. See "Keyboard Problems."
Memory address line failure at address, read value expecting value — A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them. See "Memory Problems" for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
Memory allocation error — The software you are attempting to run is conflicting with the operating system, another program, or a utility.
Turn off the computer, wait 30 seconds, and then restart the computer.
Try to run the program again.
If the error message still appears, see the software documentation for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
Memory data line failure at address, read value expecting value — A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them. See "Memory Problems" for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
Memory double word logic failure at address, read value expecting value — A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them. See "Memory Problems" for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
Memory odd/even logic failure at address, read value expecting value — A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them. See "Memory Problems" for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
Memory write/read failure at address, read value expecting value — A memory module may be faulty or improperly seated. Reinstall the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them. See "Memory Problems" for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
Memory size in CMOS invalid — The amount of memory recorded in the computer configuration information does not match the memory installed in the computer. Restart the computer. If the error appears again, contact Dell. See "Memory Problems" for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
Memory tests terminated by keystroke — A keystroke interrupted the memory test. Restart the computer to rerun the test.
No boot device available — The computer cannot find the floppy disk or hard drive.
If the floppy drive is your boot device, ensure that a bootable floppy disk is in the drive.
If the hard drive is your boot device, ensure that the drive is installed, properly seated, and partitioned as a boot device.
Enter system setup and ensure that the boot sequence information is correct.
No boot sector on hard-disk drive —
The computer configuration information in system setup may be incorrect. Enter system setup and ensure that the computer configuration information for the hard drive is correct.
The operating system might have been corrupted. Reinstall the operating system. See your operating system documentation for reinstallation information.
No timer tick interrupt — A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning. Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Non-system disk or disk error — The floppy disk in drive A does not have a bootable operating system installed on it. Either 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 — The operating system is trying to boot to a floppy disk that does not have a bootable operating system installed on it. Insert a bootable floppy disk.
Plug and Play Configuration Error — The computer encountered a problem while trying to configure one or more cards.
Turn your computer off, unplug it, and remove all but one of the cards.
Plug in your computer and reboot it.
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.
Repeat this process until you identify which card is malfunctioning.
Read fault — The operating system cannot read from the floppy or hard drive, the computer could not find a particular sector on the disk, or the requested sector is defective. See "Drive Problems" for troubleshooting suggestions.
Requested sector not found — The operating system cannot read from the floppy or hard drive, the computer could not find a particular sector on the disk, or the requested sector is defective. See "Drive Problems" for troubleshooting suggestions.
Reset failed — The disk reset operation failed. See "Drive Problems" for troubleshooting suggestions.
Sector not found — The operating system cannot locate a sector on the floppy or hard drive.
Run the Windows error-checking utility to check the file structure on the floppy disk or hard drive. See WindowsHelp for instructions.
If a large number of sectors are defective, back up the data (if possible), and then reformat the floppy disk or hard drive.
Seek error — The operating system cannot find a specific track on the floppy disk or hard drive. See "Drive Problems" for troubleshooting suggestions.
Shutdown failure — A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning. Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Time-of-day clock stopped — The battery might be dead. Enter system setup and correct the date or time. If the problem persists, contact Dell. See "Battery Problems" for additional troubleshooting suggestions.
Time-of-day not set-please run the System Setup program — The time or date stored in system setup does not match the computer clock. Enter system setup and correct the Date and Time options.
Timer chip counter 2 failed — A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning. Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Unexpected interrupt in protected mode — The keyboard controller may be malfunctioning, or a memory module may be loose. Run the System Memory tests and the Keyboard Controller test in 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 — During initial start-up, the drive detected possible error conditions.
When your computer finishes booting, immediately back up your data and replace your hard drive (for installation procedures, see "Adding and Removing Parts" for your computer type).
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.
Write fault — The operating system cannot write to the floppy or hard drive. See "Drive Problems" for troubleshooting suggestions.
Write fault on selected drive — The operating system cannot write to the floppy or hard drive. See "Drive Problems" for troubleshooting suggestions.
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.
Turn the computer off —
If your computer locks up and 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 press the power button again to turn on the computer. You might lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.
NOTE: Software usually
includes installation
instructions in its
documentation or on a
floppy disk or CD.
See the software documentation —
Many software manufacturers maintain websites with information that may help you solve the problem. Ensure that you properly installed and configured the program. If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.
Turn the computer off —
If the computer does not respond to a keystroke or a proper shutdown, press the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off. Press the power button again to restart the computer. The chkdsk program automatically runs during the start-up process. Follow the instructions on the screen.
Other software problems
Consult the software documentation or contact the software manufacturer for troubleshooting information
Back up your files immediately —
If your computer has a CD drive or a zip drive installed, see the documentation supplied with the drive for instructions.
Ensure that you have not made an error while entering data —
See the documentation that came with your program to make sure that the values or characters you are entering are valid.
Check for viruses —
Use a virus-scanning program to check the hard drive, floppy disks, or CDs.
Restart the computer —
Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and then shut down your computer through the Start menu instead of pressing the power button. Otherwise, you may lose data.
Check for compatibility
Ensure that the program is compatible with the operating system installed on your computer and that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software. See the documentation that came with the software for information.
If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.
Ensure that you properly installed and configured the program —
See the documentation that came with the software for information. If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.
Run the Dell Diagnostics —
Run the System Board Devices tests. If all tests run successfully, the error condition is related to a software problem.
Check for device driver conflicts
Verify that the program's device drivers do not conflict with certain programs.
Call the software manufacturer for technical assistance.
General hardware problems
If your computer exhibits one or more of the following symptoms, a device conflict may exist:
Your computer locks up, particularly while using a specific device.
A recently added device does not work.
Memory parity errors occur on parity-enabled computers.
A sound card emits noise or demonstrates other problems.
Unintelligible characters print from the printer.
The mouse pointer does not move or "stutters" when it moves.
Messages appear stating that the computer is not operating at maximum performance.
Errors occur and programs crash for no apparent reason.
Nothing displays on the monitor.
Remove any recently added hardware to see if it resolves the conflict —
If removing the hardware resolves the conflict, see the documentation supplied with the hardware for configuration and troubleshooting instructions. If the problem persists, contact the hardware manufacturer for technical assistance.
See your operating system documentation for additional troubleshooting information
Ensure that the keyboard cable is firmly connected to 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 keyboard that works properly to the computer, and try using the keyboard. If the new keyboard works, the original keyboard is faulty.
Check the keyboard switch setting —
Switch settings are on the bottom of the keyboard, sometimes behind a panel. Ensure that the switch is set to PS/2, Enhanced XT/AT, or PC/AT. See the documentation supplied with the keyboard for recommended settings.
Run the Dell Diagnostics —
RunthePC-AT Compatible Keyboards tests in the Dell Diagnostics. If any of the diagnostics tests fail, contact Dell.
Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem.
Confirm that the computer has sufficient memory to run your programs. See the documentation that came with the software for minimum memory requirements. If necessary, install additional memory (see "Memory" for module installation procedures).
Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.
Restart the computer.
Run the System Memory test group in the Dell Diagnostics. If any of the diagnostics tests fail, contact Dell.
If you experience other memory problems
Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.
Restart the computer.
Run the System Memory test group in the Dell Diagnostics. If any of the diagnostics tests fail, contact Dell.
Run the Dell Diagnostics —
If you are using a PS/2 mouse, run the Mouse test in the Pointing Devices device group. If any of the diagnostics tests fail, contact Dell.
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 there is no network communication. Try replacing the network cable.
These lights indicate there is network communcation:
Green light—indicates a 10-Mbps network connection
Orange light—indicates a 100-Mbps network connection
Blinking amber—indicates network traffic
Restart the computer and try 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.
Adjust the Power Properties —
Your computer may be in standby or hibernate mode. For information on power conservation modes, see your operating system documentation.
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.
Ensure that the power cable is firmly inserted 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.
Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
Ensure that the voltage-selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location.
Bypass power protection devices, power strips, and power extension cables to verify that the computer turns on.
Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is defective.
Ensure that the microprocessor power cable is securely connected to the system board.
Ensure that the power supply cables are securely connected to the system board (see "System Board Components").
If the problem persists, contact Dell.
If the power light is steady amber —
The computer is receiving electrical power, but an internal power problem might exist.
Ensure that the power cable is firmly inserted into both the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.
Ensure that the voltage-selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location.
Ensure that the microprocessor power cable is securely connected to the system board.
Ensure that the power supply cables are securely connected to the system board (see "System Board Components").
If the problem persists, contact Dell.
If the power light is blinking amber —
A device might be malfunctioning or might be incorrectly installed.
Remove and then reinstall the memory modules (see "Memory" for module installation procedures).
Remove and then reinstall any cards (for installation procedures, see "Adding and Removing Parts" for your computer type).
Remove and then reinstall the video card, if applicable (for installation procedures, see "Adding and Removing Parts" for your computer type).
If the problem persists, contact Dell.
Eliminate interference —
Electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating near the computer can cause interference. Other causes of interference are:
Power extension cables
Keyboard and mouse extension cables
Too many devices on a power strip
Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet
NOTE: Dell does not
cover the printer's
warranty. If you need
technical assistance for
your printer, call the
printer's manufacturer.
See the documentation
that came with the printer
for the correct phone
number.
Check the printer documentation —
See the documentation supplied with the printer for setup and troubleshooting information.
Ensure that the printer is turned on —
See the documentation supplied with the printer for power button information.
Verify the printer cable connections —
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
Click the Start button.
Click Control Panel.
Click Printers and Other Hardware.
Click View installed printers or fax printers. If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.
Click Properties, and then select 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 and Windows NT
Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.
Click Properties, and then select 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 98
Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.
Click Properties, and then select the Details 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.
NOTE: If you are having
a problem with a printer,
see "Printer Problems."
Consult the documentation for the device —
See the device's documentation for troubleshooting procedures.
Ensure that the device is turned on —
Firmly press the device's power button.
Check the device cable connections —
Check the connector for bent or broken pins. (It is normal for most device cable connectors to have missing pins.) Ensure that the device cable is firmly connected to the computer.
Test the device cable —
Swap the device's cable with a cable that works properly.
Test the electrical outlet —
Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
Eliminate interference —
Relocate any electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating near the computer that might cause interference. Remove these other possible causes of interference:
Power extension cables
Keyboard and mouse extension cables
Too many devices on a power strip
Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet
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 (for a serial device) or the Parallel Port setting (for a parallel device) matches the recommended settings.
Consult your software documentation —
If the problem occurs with particular software, see the software documentation for the recommended serial or parallel port settings. Ensure that the port settings match the recommended settings.
Run the Dell Diagnostics —
Run the Serial Ports device group and/or the Parallel Ports device group. If the tests do not complete, contact Dell.
Test the device —
Swap the device with a comparable device that works properly.
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.
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.
Eliminate possible interference —
Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, or halogen lamps to check for interference.
Run the speaker diagnostics —
Some speaker systems have self- diagnostics. See the speaker documentation for diagnostics instructions.
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 reboot the computer.
Run the Dell Diagnostics —
Reboot the computer and run the System Board Devices test group in the Dell Diagnostics. If any of the tests fail, contact Dell.
NOTE: See the
documentation that came
with your monitor for
troubleshooting
procedures.
Press the monitor power button —
Firmly press the button to ensure that the monitor is turned on.
Check the monitor power light —
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.
Check the monitor cable connection —
Check the connector for bent or broken pins. (It is normal for monitor cable connectors to have missing pins.)
Test the electrical outlet —
Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
Swap the power cables —
Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is defective.
Test the video extension cable (if used) —
If you are using a video extension cable and removing the cable solves the problem, the cable is defective.
Test another monitor —
If another monitor is available, connect it to the computer.
Check the card setting —Enter system setup and ensure that Primary Video Controller under the Integrated Devices option is set correctly. For a PCI card, set Primary Video Controller to Auto. Exit system setup and reboot the computer.
Run the Dell Diagnostics —
Run the VESA/VGA Interface tests. If any tests fail, contact Dell.
Check the monitor settings —
See the documentation that came with your monitor 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
Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
Click Appearance and Themes.
Click Display, and then click the Settings tab.
Try different settings for Screen resolution and Color quality.
Windows 98, 2000, and Windows NT®
Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click the Display icon, and then click the Settings tab.
Try different settings for Screen area or Desktop area.
Restore the recommended settings —
Restore the original resolution and refresh rate settings. To access help files, see
"Getting
Help."
