Home » Dell Manuals » Laptops » Dell Inspiron 3000 » Manual Viewer

Dell Inspiron 3000 Reference and Troubleshooting Guide - Page 88

Help Tools, Table 5-1.

Add to My Manuals
Save this manual to your list of manuals

Page 88 highlights

before you call Dell for technical assistance. Find the Express Service Code icon in the Dell Accessories folder. Double-click the icon and follow the directions. When prompted by Dell's automated telephone system, enter the express service code to route your call directly to the proper support personnel. NOTE: Dell's Express Service may not be available in all countries. For instructions on using the technical support service, see "Technical Support Service" and "Before You Call" found later in this chapter. Help Tools Dell provides a number of tools to assist you. Table 5-1 lists subjects you may want information about, tasks you may want to perform, and the tool(s) you can use for help. Each tool is described later in this section. Table 5-1. Help Tools Subject or Task Tool BIOS revisions TechConnect BBS Frequently asked questions Dell Q&A, AutoTech service Information about Dell, its products, and its service and support policies TechFax service, TechConnect BBS, World Wide Web on the Internet Installation instructions Online System User's Guide, Reference and Troubleshooting Guide, technical support service, AutoTech service Interrupt maps TechFax service Ordering parts Technical support service, TechConnect BBS Software update information TechFax service Technical notes on system compatibility and revisions TechFax service Technical training class information TechFax service Technical specifications TechFax service, online System User's Guide, Reference and Troubleshooting Guide Troubleshooting, step-by-step instructions Reference and Troubleshooting Guide, Dell Diagnostics program, AutoTech service Unresolved problems requiring assistance from a Dell Technical support service, TechConnect BBS technician NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary in the online System User's Guide. 5-2 Dell Inspiron 3000 Reference and Troubleshooting Guide

Section	Page
Safety Instructions	3
When Using Your Computer	3
Ergonomic Computing Habits	4
When Removing or Installing Memory Modules	4
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge	5
Preface	7
About This Guide	7
Warranty and Return Policy Information	7
Other Documents You May Need	8
Notational Conventions	8
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes	8
Typographical Conventions	8
Introduction	23
Hardware Features	24
Software Features	26
Using the Power Button	26
Accessing Online Documentation	26
Available Options	26
Getting Help	27
Customizing System Features	29
System Utilities	29
Setup Program	30
Accessing the Setup Program	30
Main Menu Options	30
System Time	31
System Date	31
Floppy Drive	31
Hard Disk	31
Quiet Boot	31
Video Display Device	31
System Memory	32
Extended Memory	32
System Devices Menu Options	32
PS/2 Mouse	33
IDE Controller	33
FDD Controller	33
CD-ROM Drive Speed	33
Plug & Play O/S	33
Serial Port	33
Infrared Port	33
Parallel Port	33
Audio	34
Security Menu Options	34
System Password	35
Set System Password	35
Password on Boot	35
Power Menu Options	35
Power Management Mode	36
Smart CPU Mode	36
Standby Time-Out	36
Suspend Time-Out	36
Suspend Mode	37
Resume on Modem Ring	37
Resume on Time of Day	37
Resume Time	37
Boot Menu Options	37
Exit Menu Options	38
Save Changes and Exit	39
Discard Changes and Exit	39
Get Default Values	39
Load Previous Values	39
Save Changes	39
Reinstalling Utilities and Drivers	39
Reinstalling Video Drivers	40
Reinstalling Touch Pad Drivers	41
Reinstalling Audio Drivers	41
Reinstalling the Soft Wavetable	41
Reinstalling Infrared Drivers	41
Creating the Save-to-Disk Suspend File	41
Reinstalling the System User’s Guide	42
Troubleshooting Your Computer	43
Backing Up Your Files	43
Basic Checks	43
Checking Connections	44
Look and Listen	45
Setup Options	46
Messages and Codes	47
System Beep Codes	49
Finding Software Solutions	51
Installing and Configuring Software	51
Start-Up Files	51
Using Software	51
Error Messages	51
Input Errors	52
Memory-Resident Programs	52
Program Conflicts	52
Avoiding Interrupt Assignment Conflicts	52
Troubleshooting Procedures	53
Troubleshooting a Wet Computer	53
Troubleshooting a Damaged Computer	54
Troubleshooting a Power Failure	55
Total Power Failure When Using the AC Adapter	55
Total Power Failure When Using a Battery	56
No Power to a Part of the Computer	57
Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive	57
Troubleshooting the CD-ROM Drive	57
Troubleshooting the Hard-Disk Drive	58
Troubleshooting an External Keyboard	59
Troubleshooting Memory	60
Troubleshooting the Built-In Display	60
Troubleshooting an External Monitor	61
Troubleshooting the Serial and Parallel Ports	62
Troubleshooting the Basic I/O Functions	62
Troubleshooting a Parallel Printer	63
Troubleshooting a Serial I/O Device	63
Troubleshooting the Infrared Port	64
Troubleshooting the Touch Pad	64
Troubleshooting Audio Functions	65
Running the Dell Diagnostics	67
Features of the Dell Diagnostics	67
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics	67
Before You Start Testing	68
Starting the Dell Diagnostics	68
Completing the Dell Diagnostics	69
How to Use the Dell Diagnostics	69
Confirming the System Configuration Information	70
How to Use the Menu	71
Main Menu Options	71
Run	71
Select	71
Subtest	71
Run (Under Subtest)	71
Select (Under Subtest)	72
Options (Under Subtest)	72
Test Limits (Under Subtest)	72
About (Under Subtest)	72
Key-Help (Under Subtest)	72
Quit Menu (Under Subtest)	72
Options	72
Number of Times to Repeat Test(s)	73
Maximum Errors Allowed	73
Pause for User Response	73
Output Device for Status Messages	74
Output Device for Error Messages	74
Test Limits	74
About	75
Key-Help	75
Quit	75
Tests in the Dell Diagnostics	75
Error M essages	78
RAM Test Group	78
Why Run a RAM Test?	78
Subtests	78
System Set Test Group	78
Why Run a System Set Test?	78
Subtests	79
Video Test Group	79
Why Run a Video Test?	80
Subtests	80
Keyboard Test Group	80
Why Run a Keyboard Test?	80
Subtests	81
Mouse Test	81
Why Run the Mouse Test?	81
Subtests	81
Diskette Drives Test Group	81
Why Run a Diskette Drives Test?	82
Subtests	82
Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) Test Group	82
Why Run a Hard-Disk Drives Test?	82
Subtests	83
IDE CD ROM Drives Test Group	83
Why Run an IDE CD ROM Drives Test?	83
Subtests	83
Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group	84
Why Run a Serial/Infrared Ports Test?	84
Subtests	84
Parallel Ports Test Group	84
Why Run a Parallel Ports Test?	84
Subtests	85
Audio Test Group	85
Why Run an Audio Test?	85
Subtests	85
Getting Help	87
Technical Assistance	87
Help Tools	88
Dell Q&A	89
System User’s Guide	89
Reference and Troubleshooting Guide	89
World Wide Web on the Internet	89
Commercial Online Service	89
Dell Diagnostics Program	89
AutoTech Service	89
TechFax Service	90
TechConnect BBS	90
Automated Order-Status System	90
Technical Support Service	90
Problems With Your Order	91
Product Information	91
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit	91
Before You Call	91
Dell Contact Numbers	93
Technical Specifications	103
Diagnostic Video Tests	111
Video Memory Test	111
Video Hardware Test	111
Text Mode Character Test	111
Character Attributes Subtest (80 x 25)	112
Character Set Subtest (80 x 25)	112
Character Attributes Subtest (40 x 25)	112
Character Set Subtest (40 x 25)	112
Text Mode Color Test	113
Color Attributes Subtest (80 x 25)	113
Color Attributes Subtest (40 x 25)	114
Color Bars Subtest	114
Text Mode Pages Test	114
Graphics Mode Test	114
320 x 200 Graphics Mode Screens	114
320 x 200 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	114
640 x 200 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	114
640 x 350 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	114
640 x 480 2-Color Graphics Mode Screen	114
640 x 480 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	115
320 x 200 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen	115
640 x 480 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen	115
800 x 600 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	115
800 x 600 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen	115
1024 x 768 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	115
1024 x 768 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen	115
Color Palettes Test	115
Solid Colors Test	116
Regulatory Notices	117
FCC Class B Notice (U.S. Only)	117
Modem Requirements	118
Type of Service	118
Telephone Company Procedures	118
If Problems Arise	118
Installation and Labeling	118
Load Number	118
IC Notice (Canada Only)	118
Canadian Modem Requirements	119
EN 55022 Compliance (Czech Republic Only)	119
CE Notice	119
VCCI Notices (Japan Only)	120
Class A ITE	120
Class B ITE	120
Korean Regulatory Notice	120
Class A Device	120
Class B Device	120
Polish Center for Testing and Certification Notice...	121
Wymagania Polskiego Centrum BadaÒ i Certyfikacji	121
Pozosta³e instrukcje bezpieczeÒstwa	121
NOM 024 Information (Mexico Only)	122
Información para NOM 024 (únicamente para México)...	122
Warranties and Return Policy	123
Limited One-Year Warranty (U.S. and Canada Only)	123
Limited Three-Year Warranty (U.S. and Canada Only)...	124
Coverage During Year One	124
Coverage During Years Two and Three	125
General	125
“Total Satisfaction” Return Policy (U.S. and Canad...	126
Index	127