Follow these tips when troubleshooting your computer:
If you added or removed a part before the problem started, review the installation procedures and ensure that the part is correctly installed.
If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly connected.
If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message. This message may help support personnel diagnose and fix the problem(s).
If an error message occurs in a program, see the program's documentation.
NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Microsoft ® Windows® default view, so they may not apply if you set your Dell™ computer to the Windows Classic view.
Battery Problems
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 in the Product Information Guide.
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 "Replacing the Battery" in the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com). If the battery still does not work properly, contact Dell (see Contacting Dell).
Drive Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
Ensure that Microsoft Windows Recognizes the drive —
Windows XP:
Click Start and click My Computer.
Windows Vista®:
Click the Windows Vista Start button ™ and click Computer.
If the 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.
Test the drive —
Insert another disc to eliminate the possibility that the original drive is defective.
Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer.
The optical drive must receive a steady stream of data during the writing process. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. Try closing all programs before you write to the optical.
Turn off standby mode in Windows before writing to a disc —
Click Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors and click Start.
Windows Vista:
Click Start and click Computer.
Right-click Local Disk C:.
Click Properties® Tools®Check Now.
The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue the desired action.
Follow the instructions on the screen.
Error Messages
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
If the error 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:
Windows XP:
Click Start®Control Panel® Add or Remove Programs® Programs and Features.
Select the program you want to remove.
Click Uninstall.
See the program documentation for installation instructions.
Windows Vista:
Click Start®Control Panel® Programs® Programs and Features.
Select the program you want to remove.
Click Uninstall.
See the program documentation for installation instructions.
drive letter :\ is not accessible. The device is not ready —
The drive cannot read the disk. Insert a disk into the drive and try again.
Insert bootable media —
Insert a bootable floppy disk, CD, or DVD.
Non-system disk error —
Remove the floppy disk from the floppy drive 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 may have to restart your computer to restore computer resources. If so, run the program that you want to use first.
Operating system not found —
Contact Dell (see Contacting Dell).
IEEE 1394 Device Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
NOTE: Your computer supports only IEEE 1394a standard.
Ensure that the cable for the IEEE 1394 device is properly inserted into the device and into the connector on the computer
Ensure that the IEEE 1394 device is enabled in system setup —
See System Setup Options.
Ensure that the IEEE 1394 device is recognized by Windows —
Windows XP:
Click Start and clickControl Panel.
Under Pick a Category, click Performance and Maintenance®System®System Properties®Hardware®Device Manager.
Windows Vista:
Click Start®Control Panel® Hardware and Sound.
Click Device Manager.
If your IEEE 1394 device is listed, Windows recognizes the device.
If you have problems with a Dell IEEE 1394 device —
If you have problems with an IEEE 1394 device not provided by Dell —
Contact the IEEE 1394 device manufacturer.
Keyboard Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
Check the keyboard cable —
Ensure that the keyboard cable is firmly connected to the computer.
Shut down the computer (see "Preparing to Work Inside Your Computer" in the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com), reconnect the keyboard cable as shown on the setup diagram for your computer, and then restart the computer.
Ensure that the cable is not damaged or frayed and check cable connectors for bent or broken pins. Straighten any bent pins.
Remove any keyboard extension cables and connect the keyboard directly to the computer.
Test the keyboard —
Connect a properly working keyboard to the computer, then try using the keyboard.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
The computer does not start up
Ensure that the power cable is firmly connected to the computer and to the electrical outlet
The computer stops responding
NOTICE: You may 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), and then restart your computer.
A program stops responding
End the program —
Press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously to access the Task Manager.
Click the Applications tab.
Click to select the program that is no longer responding.
Click End Task.
A program crashes repeatedly
NOTE: Most software includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk, CD, or DVD.
Check the software documentation —
If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.
A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system
Run the Program Compatibility Wizard —
Windows XP:
The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-XP operating system environments.
Click Start®All Programs® Accessories® Program Compatibility Wizard® Next.
Follow the instructions on the screen.
Windows Vista:
The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-Windows Vista operating system environments.
Click Start®Control Panel® Programs® Use an older program with this version of Windows.
In the welcome screen, click Next.
Follow the instructions on the screen.
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), and 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, CDs, or DVDs
Save and close any open files or programs and shut down your computer through the Start menu
Memory Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
If you receive an insufficient memory message —
Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem.
See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements. If necessary, install additional memory (see "Installing Memory" in the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com).
Reseat the memory modules (see "Memory" in the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.
Reseat the memory modules (see Memory in the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.
Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines (see Installing Memory in the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com).
Ensure that the memory you are using is supported by your computer. For more information about the type of memory supported by your computer, see Memory in the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.comon page 161.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
Check the network cable connector —
Ensure that the network cable is firmly inserted into the network connector on the back of the computer and the network jack.
Check the network lights on the back of the computer —
If the link integrity light is off (see Controls and Lights), no network communication is occurring. 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 in the Product Information Guide.
If the power light is white and the computer is not responding —
See Beep Codes.
If the power light is steady amber —
The computer is in standby mode. Press a key on the keyboard, move the mouse, or press the power button 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 in the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.
Bypass power strips, power extension cables, and other power protection devices to verify that the computer turns on properly.
Ensure that any power strips being used are plugged into an electrical outlet and are turned on.
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 (see "System Board Components" in the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com).
Eliminate interference —
Some possible causes of interference are:
Power, keyboard, and mouse extension cables
Too many devices connected to the same power strip
Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet
Printer Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
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:
Click Start®Control Panel®Printers and Other Hardware®View installed printers or fax printers.
If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.
Click Properties®Ports. 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 Vista:
Click Start® Control Panel® Hardware and Sound® Printer.
If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.
Click Properties and click Ports.
Adjust the settings, as needed.
Reinstall the printer driver —
See the printer documentation for information on reinstalling the printer driver.
Scanner Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your scanner, contact the scanner's manufacturer.
Check the scanner documentation —
See the scanner documentation for setup and troubleshooting information.
Unlock the scanner —
Ensure that your scanner is unlocked (if the scanner has a locking tab or button).
Restart the computer and try the scanner again
Check the cable connections —
See the scanner documentation for information on cable connections.
Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer.
Verify that the scanner is recognized by Microsoft Windows —
Windows XP:
Click Start®Control Panel®Printers and Other Hardware®Scanners and Cameras.
If your scanner is listed, Windows recognizes the scanner.
Windows Vista:
Click Start® Control Panel® Hardware and Sound® Scanners and Cameras.
If the scanner is listed, Windows recognizes the scanner.
Reinstall the scanner driver —
See the scanner documentation for instructions.
Sound and Speaker Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
No sound from speakers
NOTE: The volume control in MP3 and other media players may override the Windows volume setting. Always check to ensure that the volume on the media player(s) has not been turned 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 a sound 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.
Eliminate possible interference —
Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, or halogen lamps to check for interference.
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.
Video and Monitor Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
NOTICE: If your computer came with a PCI graphics card installed, removal of the card is not necessary when installing additional graphics cards; however, the card is required for troubleshooting purposes. If you remove the card, store it in a safe and secure location. For information about your graphics card, go to support.dell.com.
The screen is blank
NOTE: For troubleshooting procedures, see the monitor's documentation.
The screen is difficult to read
Check the monitor cable connection —
Ensure that the monitor cable is connected to the correct graphics card (for dual graphics card configurations).
If you are using the optional DVI-to-VGA adapter, ensure that the adapter is correctly attached to the graphics card and monitor.
Ensure that the monitor cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for your computer.
Remove any video extension cables and connect the monitor directly to the computer.
Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine if the monitor's power cable is defective.
Check the connectors 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 lit or blinking, the monitor has power.
If the power light is off, firmly press the button to ensure that the monitor is turned on.
If the power light is blinking, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse to resume normal operation.
Test the electrical outlet —
Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
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 positioned at least 60 centimeters (2 feet) 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.
Rotate the monitor to eliminate sunlight glare and possible interference
Adjust the Windows display settings —
Windows XP:
Click Start®Control Panel®Appearance and Themes.
Click the area you want to change or click the Display icon.
Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution.
Windows Vista:
Click Start ® Control Panel® Hardware and Sound® Personalization® Display Settings.
Adjust Resolutionand Colors settings, as needed.
3D image quality is poor
Check the graphics card power cable connection —
Ensure that the power cable for the graphics card(s) is correctly attached to the card.
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.
Only part of the display is readable
Connect an external monitor —
Shut down your computer and connect an external monitor to the computer.
Turn on the computer and the monitor and adjust the monitor brightness
and contrast controls.
If the external monitor works, the computer display or video controller may be defective. Contact Dell (see Contacting Dell).
Overclocking Problems
Overclocking may result in system instability. After three unsuccessful boot attempts, the system automatically resets the overclock settings in the system setup program to the BIOS defaults.
To correct the issue manually, you must change the overclock setting in the system setup program (see Entering System Setup) or reset CMOS defaults (see Clearing CMOS Settings).
Power Lights
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
The power button light located on the front of the computer illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states:
If the power light is steady white and the computer is not responding, see Beep Codes.
If the power light is blinking white, the computer is in standby mode. Press a key on the keyboard, move the mouse, or press the power button 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.
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 (see "System Board Components" in the Service Manual on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com).
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
The power supply diagnostic LED located on the back of the computer indicates different states of the power supply. To test the power supply, press the power supply test switch.
If the power supply diagnostic LED is green, power is available for the power supply.
If the power supply diagnostic LED is off:
The power supply is not receiving power — Ensure that the main power cable is connected to the system.
The power supply is not working — This issue occurs either due to a bad power supply or a device attached to the power supply.
