Dell Inspiron 3500 Reference And Troubleshooting Manual

Also see for Inspiron 3500: Service manual Installing System Software User guide Service manual Setup guide

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Dell Inspiron 3500 Reference And Troubleshooting Manual Manual pdf 107 page image

4-24 Dell Inspiron 3500 Portable Computer Reference and Troubleshooting Guideá If the computer displays an error message that is related to the external deviceconnected to a port, but corrections to the device do not resolve the error, run theappropriate subtest in the Serial/Infrared Ports test group.6XEWHVWVThe three subtests in the Serial/Infrared Ports test group confirm the following portfunctions:á Serial/Infrared Baud Rate TestChecks the baud rate generator in each serial communications chip against thecomputer’s clock.á Serial/Infrared Interrupt TestChecks the serial port’s ability to send IRQs to the microprocessor.á Serial/Infrared Internal Transmission TestChecks several internal functions of the serial port using the internal loopbackmode of the serial communications chip.3DUDOOHO3RUWV7HVW*URXSThe subtests in the Parallel Ports test group check the computer’s interface withexternal devices, such as a printer, that are connected to the computer through theparallel port. The subtests in this test group are not intended as a diagnostic test forthe actual peripheral attached to each port.:K\5XQD3DUDOOHO3RUWV7HVW"If the diagnostics does not recognize the computer’s parallel port, check the ParallelPort option in the System Devices menu of the Setup program to see if the port hasbeen disabled. (See Chapter 2, “Customizing System Features,” for information onusing the Setup program.) The subtests in the Parallel Ports test group cannot test aport unless it is enabled.When a port is faulty, it may not be immediately evident that the port, and not thedevice connected to the port, is faulty. Instead, the peripheral (such as a printer) mightbehave erratically or not operate at all. If the external device is not properly installedthrough software, it also may not function properly. Try operating the peripheral fromdifferent programs or through the operating system. If it still does not work, you caneliminate the software setup as the cause of the problem.Another possible cause for errors is a problem with the external device itself. Use thedocumentation that came with the peripheral to troubleshoot it and confirm that it isworking properly. (Most printers have a self-test.)