Back to Contents Page
External Components: Dell Precision™ WorkStation 620 Systems User's Guide
This section provides troubleshooting procedures for equipment that connects directly
to the input/output (I/O) panel of your computer, such as your monitor, keyboard, mouse,
or printer. Before performing any of the procedures in this section, see "Checking Connections and Switches."
Then perform the troubleshooting procedures for the equipment that is malfunctioning.
You need to run the Dell Diagnostics located on the Dell Precision ResourceCD
to perform the procedures in this section.
Troubleshooting video problems involves determining which of the following is the source of the problem:
The procedures in this section troubleshoot problems with the monitor and the monitor interface cable only.
If information on the monitor screen is displayed incorrectly or not at all, perform the following steps in order until the problem is resolved:
Turn on the system, including any attached peripherals.
Adjust the switches and controls as specified in the monitor's documentation
to correct the video image, including the horizontal and vertical position and size.
Insert the Dell Precision ResourceCD into the CD-ROM drive,
reboot the system, and run the Video test group in the
Dell Diagnostics.
Turn off the system and disconnect it from the electrical outlet. Swap the
monitor with one of the same type that is working, and reconnect the system to an
electrical outlet.
Reboot the system, and run the Video test group again.
If the tests complete successfully, the original monitor was faulty. If the tests
still fail, the video controller on the system board may be faulty. See
"Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
This procedure determines what kind of keyboard problem you have. If a system
error message indicates a keyboard problem when you start the computer system or
if the keyboard does not operate as expected, perform the following steps in order
until the problem is resolved:
If the keyboard or its cable shows signs of physical damage or if the keys
do not work, replace the keyboard with a working keyboard.
Insert the Dell Precision ResourceCD into the CD-ROM drive,
reboot the system, and run the Keyboard test group in the
Dell Diagnostics.
If the Keyboard Interactive Test fails, replace the
keyboard.
If the Keyboard Controller Test fails, the system
board may be faulty. See "Getting Help"
for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
This procedure determines what kind of mouse problem you have. If a system
error message indicates a mouse problem when you start the computer system or if
the mouse does not operate as expected, perform the following steps in order until
the problem is resolved:
Clean the mouse as instructed in your mouse documentation.
Most mice have a ball that can be removed and cleaned of debris by turning the
mouse upside down and removing a cover on the bottom of the mouse. Also remove any
lint or other debris that has accumulated on the bottom of the mouse.
- If the mouse or its cable shows signs of physical damage or if the buttons
do not work, replace the mouse with a working mouse.
Insert the Dell Precision ResourceCD into the CD-ROM drive,
reboot the system, and run the Mouse Test in the
Dell Diagnostics.
If the Mouse Test fails, the system board may be faulty.
See "Getting Help" for instructions on
obtaining technical assistance.
This section provides a procedure for troubleshooting the ports on your
computer's I/O panel and the equipment connected to them, such as printers, scanners,
or other peripheral devices.
You can also use this procedure to test I/O ports on expansion cards. However,
you should first make sure that the card is configured and installed correctly.
If a system error message indicates a port problem or if equipment connected to
a port seems to perform incorrectly or fails, the source of the problem may
be any of the following:
A faulty connection between the I/O port and the peripheral device
A faulty cable between the I/O port and the peripheral device
A faulty peripheral device
Incorrect settings in System Setup
Incorrect settings in the system's configuration files
Faulty I/O port logic on the system board
 |
NOTE: With certain modems installed, the Serial Port test group subtests may fail because the modem appears to the diagnostics as a serial port,
but it cannot be tested as a serial port. If you have a modem installed and you experience
a serial port test failure, remove the modem and run the diagnostic tests again. |
If a system error message indicates an I/O port problem, or the device connected to
the port does not function properly, perform the following steps in order until the
problem is resolved:
Enter System Setup and verify that the settings for
the Serial Port 1, Serial Port 2, and
Parallel Port options are set to Auto.
Insert the Dell Precision ResourceCD into the CD-ROM drive, reboot the
system, and run the Serial/Infrared Ports test group and/or the
Parallel Ports test group in the Dell Diagnostics.
If any of the tests fail, the system board may be faulty. See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
If the problem persists, go to "Troubleshooting a Parallel Printer" or "Troubleshooting a Serial I/O Device," depending on which device appears to be malfunctioning.
If the information in "Troubleshooting Basic I/O Functions" indicates that the problem is with a parallel printer, perform the following steps in the
order indicated until the problem is resolved:
Reinstall the printer device driver.
See the documentation for the printer and for your operating system for instructions
on reinstalling the printer driver.
- Turn off the parallel printer and computer, replace the parallel printer interface
cable with a known working cable, and turn on the parallel printer and computer.
If the problem is resolved, the original printer cable was faulty.
Run the parallel printer's self-test.
If the test fails, the printer is faulty.
If the problem still is not resolved, the system board may be faulty. See
"Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
If the information in "Troubleshooting Basic I/O Functions" indicates that the problem is with a device connected to one of the serial ports, perform the following steps in order until the problem is resolved:
Attach the serial device to the other serial port (for example, if it is currently
connected to serial port 1, attach the device to serial port 2).
the problem is resolved, the serial port on the system board is faulty. See
"Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
If the faulty device has a detachable serial cable, replace the serial cable.
If the problem is resolved, the serial cable was faulty.
Replace the faulty serial device.
If the problem is still not resolved, the system board may be faulty. See
"Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
