Dell OptiPlex N Troubleshooting Manual

Also see for OptiPlex HUB: Owner's manual Quick start guide Owner's manual Setup guide Technical guidebook

Contents

Dell OptiPlex N Troubleshooting Manual Manual pdf 60 page image

4-18 Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide• Audio Output TestCauses the drive to begin playing the first audiotrack on an audio CD. To determine whether the testpassed, listen to the audio output of the drive.NOTE: To conduct the Audio Output Test, you mustselect it individually. It will not run as part of the testgroup.• Eject Removable MediaChecks the drive’s ability to eject its CD.Why Run an IDE CD ROM Drives Test?If you encounter a problem while using an applicationprogram on a CD, the problem could result from the discor from the drive. When you encounter problems, first tryusing a different CD. If the problem recurs, run the IDECD ROM Drives Test Group.These are the most common symptoms that might promptyou to test an IDE CD-ROM drive:• Seek errors are reported by the operating system orapplication programs.• An error message appears on the screen stating thatthe computer cannot read from an IDE CD-ROMdrive (typically, drive D or drive E).Serial/Infrared Ports Test GroupThe subtests in the Serial/Infrared Ports Test Groupcheck the computer’s interface with external devices,such as a printer and a mouse, that are connected to thecomputer through a serial or infrared port. The subtests inthis test group are not intended as a diagnostic test for theactual peripheral attached to each port.NOTES: With certain modems installed, the Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group subtests may fail because themodem appears to the Dell Diagnostics as a serial orinfrared port, but it cannot be tested as a serial or infra-red port. If a modem is installed and one of the serial/infrared ports subtests fails, remove the modem and run thediagnostic tests again.If an external loopback connector is not attached to aserial or infrared port, the Serial External TransmissionTest will fail for that port and the results of this testshould therefore be ignored. An external modem con-nected to the port does not substitute for an externalloopback connector.SubtestsThe four subtests in the Serial/Infrared Ports Test Groupconfirm the following port functions:• Serial/Infrared Baud Rate TestChecks the baud rate generator in each serial com-munications chip against the computer’s clock• Serial/Infrared Interrupt TestChecks the serial port’s ability to send IRQs to themicroprocessor• Serial/Infrared Internal Transmission TestChecks several internal functions of the serial portusing the internal loopback mode of the serial com-munications chip• Serial External Transmission TestIf a loopback device is attached, checks the line con-trol bits of the serial port and sends a test pattern atseveral baud rates, checking the returned valuesWhy Run a Serial/Infrared Ports Test?If the Dell Diagnostics does not recognize your com-puter’s serial or infrared ports, enter the System Setupprogram and check the Serial/infrared Port category tosee whether the port has been disabled. The subtests inthe Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group cannot test a portunless it is enabled.When a port is faulty, it may not be immediately evidentthat the port, and not the device connected to the port, isfaulty. Instead, the peripheral (such as a printer or mouse)might behave erratically or not operate at all. If theexternal device is not properly installed through yoursoftware, it also may not function properly. Try operatingthe peripheral from different programs or through theoperating system. If it still does not work, you caneliminate the software configuration as the cause of theproblem.