Dell OptiPlex Gn Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide (.pdf) - Page 67
Troubleshooting the Basic I/O Functions, The Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group and the Parallel
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incorrectly or not at all, the source of the problem may be any of the following: • A faulty connection between the I/O port and the peripheral device • A faulty cable between the I/O port and the periph- eral device • A faulty peripheral device • Incorrect settings in the System Setup program • Incorrect settings in the system's configuration files • Faulty I/O port logic on the system board NOTE: With certain modems installed, the Serial Port Test Group subtests may fail because the modem appears to the diagnostics as a serial port, but it cannot be tested as a serial port. If you have a modem installed and you experience a serial-port test failure, remove the modem and run the diagnostic tests again. Troubleshooting the Basic I/O Functions This procedure determines whether the computer's basic I/O functions are operational. If a system error message indicates an I/O port problem or the device connected to the port does not function properly, follow these steps: 1. Enter the System Setup program and check the settings for the Serial Port 1, Serial Port 2, Parallel Port, and Mouse categories. NOTE: Not all systems have a Mouse category in the System Setup program. Are the communication port categories set to Auto, and is the Mouse category set to On? Yes. Go to step 3. No. Go to step 2. 2. Change the setting for the Serial Port 1, Serial Port 2, and Parallel Port categories to Auto, and change the setting for the Mouse category to On; then reboot the system. Is the problem resolved? Yes. You have fixed the problem. No. Go to step 3. 3. Check the contents of your start-up files (such as autoexec.bat and config.sys). (See "Installing and Configuring Software" in Chapter 3.) Are the port configuration commands correct? Yes. Go to step 5. No. Go to step 4. 4. Change the necessary statements in the start-up files. If the port problem is confined to a particular application program, see the application program's documentation for specific port configuration requirements. Is the problem resolved? Yes. You have fixed the problem. No. Go to step 5. 5. Insert the Dell Diagnostics Diskette into drive A, reboot the system, and run the Serial/ Infrared Ports Test Group and/or the Parallel Ports Test Group in the Dell Diagnostics. (See Chapter 4, "Running the Dell Diagnostics.") The Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group and the Parallel Ports Test Group test the basic functions of the system board's I/O port logic. Also, if a parallel printer is connected to the parallel port, the Parallel Ports Test Group tests the communication link between the system board's I/O port logic and the printer. Do the tests complete successfully? Yes. Go to step 6. No. See Chapter 7, "Getting Help," for instructions on obtaining technical assistance. 6. If the problem persists, go to "Troubleshooting a Parallel Printer" or "Troubleshooting a Serial I/O Device" found later in this chapter, depending on which device appears to be malfunctioning. Checking Your Equipment 5-3