Getting Help 11-1Chapter 11Getting HelpThis chapter describes the tools Dell provides to helpyou when you have a problem with your computer sys-tem. It also tells you when and how to call Dell ComputerCorporation for technical or customer assistance in thefollowing situations:• If you have a technical problem, read the next sec-tion, “Technical Assistance.”• If you are looking for information about a specificsubject or about Dell’s services, read “Help Tools”later in this chapter.• If you have a problem with your order, read “Prob-lems With Your Order” later in this chapter.• If you need to return an item for warranty repair orcredit, read “Returning Items for Warranty Repair orCredit” later in this chapter.• If you would like to place an order or need informa-tion about additional products available from Dell,call Dell at the appropriate telephone number listedin “Dell Contact Numbers” later in this chapter.Technical AssistanceIf you need assistance with a technical problem, performthe following steps:1. Review the documentation that accompaniedyour Dell system.To decide which document has the answers youneed, consult the Preface of the systemdocumentation.2. Run the diagnostics for your Dell system.See Chapter 5, “Running the System Diagnostics,”for instructions on using the diagnostics.3. Make a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist (inAppendix A), and fill it out.NOTE: Save the Diagnostics Checklist as a masterso you can use it to make copies as needed.On your Diagnostics Checklist, document any errormessages or beep codes as they occur so you caninform the Dell technician of them. Describe whatyou were doing when the error occurred. Note thesteps you have taken to solve the problem.4. Use the AutoTech service for help with installa-tion and troubleshooting procedures.For instructions on using the AutoTech service, see“AutoTech Service” later in this chapter.5. If the preceding steps have not resolved the prob-lem and you need to talk to a Dell technician, youcan call Dell’s customer technical support service.For instructions on using the technical support ser-vice, see “Technical Support Service” and “BeforeYou Call” later in this chapter.Help ToolsDell provides a number of tools to assist you. Table 11-1lists subjects you may want information about, tasks youmay want to perform, and the tool(s) you can use forhelp. Each tool is described later in this section.
