Dell Latitude LM Reference And Troubleshooting Manual

Also see for Latitude Latitude Z: System information guide Setup guide System information guide Specifications System information guide

Contents

Dell Latitude LM Reference And Troubleshooting Manual Manual pdf 72 page image

4-16 Dell Latitude LM Reference and Troubleshooting GuideSubtestsThe four keyboard subtests confirm the following key-board functions:• Keyboard Controller TestConfirms the ability of the keyboard controller chipto communicate with the keyboard and confirms theprogramming of the controller chip• Keyboard Key Sequence TestVerifies that the keys on the keyboard function cor-rectly when you press them in a predefined order• Keyboard Interactive TestChecks the internal microcode of the keyboard andthe external interface of the keyboard controller chipfor a malfunctioning key• Stuck Key TestChecks the internal microcode of the keyboard andthe external interface of the keyboard controller chipfor a repeating key signalMouse TestThe Mouse Test checks the functionality of the mousecontroller (which affects the ability to move the touchpad/mouse pointer around the screen with itscorresponding movement on your desk or pad) and theoperation of the touch pad/mouse buttons.Why Run the Mouse Test?Touch pad or mouse problems are as likely to be causedin RAM as they are to be caused by a faulty touch pad ormouse. Three sources of problems include the configura-tion of a program (which changes the function of thetouch pad or mouse), memory-resident programs likeSidekick or ProKey, and failure of a device driver (thesoftware that controls the functions of a touch pad ormouse). If these possibilities have been eliminated andthe following symptoms persist, run the Mouse Test:• When you press a touch pad or mouse button, the func-tion of the button continues; the button seems to be stuck.• If the response when you press a touch pad or mousebutton is different from the usual response or theresponse you anticipated, the button contact may bedamaged.• A touch pad or mouse button does not work at all.• The cursor does not respond on the screen in accor-dance with the movements you make with the touchpad or external mouse.SubtestsThere are no subtests for the Mouse Test Group.Diskette Drives Test GroupThe subtests in the Diskette Drives Test Group allow youto test diskette drives of all capacities.NOTE: Before running the Diskette Drives Test Group,install a CD-ROM drive in the options bay and attach thediskette drive to the parallel connector on the back of thecomputer. The subtests in the test group will fail if you do nothave a diskette drive attached to the parallel connector.Why Run a Diskette Drives Test?Very often, a diskette drive problem may first appear tobe a diskette problem. A box of defective diskettes mightproduce faulty-drive error messages. The test results canbe confusing, so you should run the subtests in the Dis-kette Drives Test Group more than once using diskettesfrom different sources.Another possible cause of diskette drive problems ishuman error—typing a command in an incorrect form(usually called a syntax error). Be sure you have entered thecommand properly.When the diskette and command syntax are eliminated ascauses, the following symptoms usually suggest a driveproblem and warrant running a subtest in the DisketteDrives Test Group:• An error message appears on the screen stating thatthe computer cannot read from or write to a diskette.• A diskette cannot be properly formatted, or formaterror messages appear on the screen.• Data on diskettes is corrupted or lost; these problemsmay be intermittent.