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 68 page image

4-2 Dell Inspiron 3000 Reference and Troubleshooting GuideBefore You Start TestingFollow these steps to safeguard your master copy of theDell Diagnostics Diskette:1. Make a working copy of the Dell DiagnosticsDiskette on a blank diskette.Refer to your operating system’s documentation forinformation on how to duplicate diskettes. Put theoriginal diskette away for safekeeping.2. Disconnect any attached printers.3. Set default values in the Setup program.a. In the Exit menu, choose Get Default Values.b. Choose Yes when prompted to load the defaultconfiguration.For additional instructions, see the topic titled“Setup Program” in the online System User’s Guide.4. In the Setup program, confirm the following set-tings in the System Devices menu:Plug & Play OS = [No]Serial Port = [Auto]Infrared Port = [Auto]Parallel Port = [Auto]Audio = [Enabled]1st DMA Channel = [DMA 1]2nd DMA Channel = [DMA 3]5. In the Power menu of the Setup program, con-firm that the Power Management Mode option isset to Disabled.6. Press to save the settings and exit theSetup program.7. Attach an AC adapter to the computer.Although it is possible to run the Dell Diagnostics ona computer using battery power, connecting the com-puter to AC power helps ensure that power will notbe lost during the tests.Starting the Dell DiagnosticsAfter you complete the preliminary instructions specifiedin the previous section, follow these steps to start thediagnostics:NOTE: You must have a diskette-drive cable to performthe following procedure. If you do not have a diskette-drive cable, you can order one from Dell. See Chapter 5,Getting Help,” for information on contacting Dell.1. Install a CD-ROM drive in the options bay.For instructions, see the topic titled “Options Bay” inthe online System User’s Guide.2. Attach the diskette drive to the parallel port con-nector on the back of the computer.For instructions, see the topic titled “ParallelDevices” in the online System User’s Guide.3. Turn off the computer.4. Place the Dell Diagnostics Diskette in the diskettedrive, and boot the computer.NOTE: Before you read the rest of this chapter, you maywant to start the Dell Diagnostics so you can see themenus on your display.When you start the diagnostics, the Dell logo screenappears, and a program tests the random-access memory(RAM) that will be used by the diagnostics.If a failure in RAM is detected, a message appears on thescreen telling you the memory address of the defectivememory module. Write down the memory address andsee Chapter 5, “Getting Help,” for instructions on obtain-ing technical assistance.If no errors are found in RAM, the diagnostics loads andthe Diagnostics Menu appears (see Figure 4-1). Themenu allows you to exit to the MS-DOS prompt.55899BK1.BK : 55899c41.fm Page 2 Wednesday, February 4, 1998 1:20 PM