Troubleshooting Your Computer 3-1Chapter 3Troubleshooting Your ComputerIf your Dell computer is not working as expected, thischapter provides both initial checks for solving basiccomputer problems and detailed troubleshooting proce-dures. It lists system messages and beep codes, theirpossible causes, and actions you can take to resolve anyproblems indicated by a message or code. This chapteralso offers some general guidelines for analyzing soft-ware problems.NOTE: When you see the question “Is the problemresolved?” in a troubleshooting procedure, repeat theoperation that caused the problem to see if the problemstill occurs.Backing Up Your FilesYou can lose data when a computer failure occurs. If yourcomputer is behaving erratically, back up your filesimmediately. See your operating system documentationfor instructions on backing up files.Basic ChecksThe following procedure leads you through the checksnecessary to solve some basic computer problems:1. Is your computer wet or damaged?Yes. Go to “Troubleshooting a Wet Computer” or“Troubleshooting a Damaged Computer” found laterin this chapter.No. Continue to step 2.2. Perform the steps in the next subsection, “Check-ing Connections.”Is the problem resolved?Yes. A connection to your computer was loose. Youhave fixed the problem.No. Continue to step 3.3. Perform the steps in “Look and Listen” foundlater in this chapter.Did your computer complete the start-up (boot)routine?NOTE: The boot routine is the operating system’sattempt to load its files into memory from the boot-up sector on the hard-disk drive or bootable diskette.Yes. Continue to step 4.No. Call Dell for technical assistance. (See Chap-ter 5, “Getting Help,” for instructions.)4. Did you receive a system message or beep code?A single beep always sounds during the boot routinewhen the built-in sound ports or attached externalspeakers are tested, unless the SPEAKER VOLUMEoption in the System Setup program is set to OFF. Anysystem beep codes sound at high volume, even if theSPEAKER VOLUME option is set to OFF.Yes. Go to “Messages and Codes” found later in thischapter.No. Continue to step 5.5. Verify, and correct if necessary, the system setupsettings as explained in Chapter 2, “CustomizingSystem Features.”Is the problem resolved?Yes. The system configuration information wasincorrect. You have fixed the problem.No. Continue to step 6.6. Run the Dell diagnostics. (See Chapter 4, “Runningthe Dell Diagnostics.”)
