Dell Inspiron 3000 Reference And Troubleshooting Manual

Also see for Inspiron 3200: Installing Utilities and Drivers Service manual User guide Specifications

Contents

Dell Inspiron 3000 Reference And Troubleshooting Manual Manual pdf 67 page image

Running the Dell Diagnostics 4-1Chapter 4Running the Dell DiagnosticsUnlike many diagnostic programs, the Dell Diagnos-tics allows you to check the computer’s hardware withoutany additional equipment and without destroying anydata. By using the Dell Diagnostics, you can have confi-dence in the computer’s operation. If you find a problemyou cannot solve by yourself, the Dell diagnostic testscan provide you with important information you willneed when talking to Dell’s service and supportpersonnel.NOTE: If the computer does not boot, call Dell for tech-nical assistance. See Chapter 5, “Getting Help,” forinstructions.Features of the Dell DiagnosticsTo troubleshoot components or devices, run the appropri-ate test (test group or subtest) in the diagnostics on yourDell Diagnostics Diskette. The diagnostics program exer-cises the functional components and devices of thecomputer more vigorously and thoroughly than they areexercised during normal operation.The Dell Diagnostics provides a series of menus andoptions from which you choose particular test groups orsubtests. Each diagnostic test group or subtest allows youto control important testing parameters. You can alsocontrol the sequence in which the tests are run. Thediagnostic test groups or subtests also have these helpfulfeatures:• Options that let you run tests individually orcollectively• An option that allows you to choose the number oftimes a test group or subtest is repeated• The ability to display test results, print them, or savethem in a file• Options to suspend testing when an adjustable errorlimit is reached• A menu option called About that briefly describeseach test and its parameters• Status messages that inform you whether test groupsor subtests were completed successfully• Error messages that appear if any problems aredetectedWhen to Use the DellDiagnosticsWhenever a major component or device in the computerdoes not function properly, the component or device mayhave failed. As long as the microprocessor and input/output (I/O) components of the computer (the display,keyboard, and diskette drive) are working, use the DellDiagnostics. If you are experienced with computers andknow what component(s) you need to test, select theappropriate diagnostic test group(s) or subtest(s). If youare unsure about how to begin diagnosing a problem,read the rest of this chapter.CAUTION: Use the Dell Diagnostics to test onlyyour Dell computer. Using this program with othercomputers may cause incorrect computerresponses or result in misleading error messages.55899BK1.BK : 55899c41.fm Page 1 Wednesday, February 4, 1998 1:20 PM