Dell OptiPlex Gn Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide (.pdf) - Page 15

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World Wide Web on the Internet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3

Commercial Online Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3

Dell Diagnostics Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3

AutoTech Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3

TechFax Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4

TechConnect BBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4

Automated Order-Status System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4

Technical Support Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4

Problems With Your Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

Product Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

Before You Call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

Dell Contact Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

Appendix A

Diagnostic Video Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Video Memory Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1

Video Hardware Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1

Text Mode Character Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1

Character Attributes Subtest (80 x 25). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-2

Character Set Subtest (80 x 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-3

Video Scan Alignment Subtest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-4

Character Attributes Subtest (40 x 25). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-6

Character Set Subtest (40 x 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-7

Text Mode Color Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-8

Color Attributes Subtest (80 x 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-8

Color Attributes Subtest (40 x 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-9

Color Bars Subtest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-9

Text Mode Pages Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-9

Graphics Mode Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-10

320 x 200 Graphics Mode Screens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-10

640 x 200 Black/White Graphics Mode Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-10

640 x 480 Monochrome Graphics Mode Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-12

320 x 200 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-13



640 x 480 2-Color Graphics Mode Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-13


320 x 200 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-15

Section	Page
Safety Instructions	5
When Using Your Computer System	5
When Working Inside Your Computer	6
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge	6
Preface	7
About This Guide	7
Warranty and Return Policy Information	7
Other Documents You May Need	7
Notational Conventions	8
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes	8
Typographical Conventions	8
Checking the Basics	21
Backing Up Your Files	21
Basic Checks	21
Checking Connections and Switches	22
Look and Listen	23
The System Setup Program	24
The EISA Configuration Utility	24
Messages and Codes	25
System Messages	25
System Beep Codes	33
Warning Messages	37
Diagnostics Messages	37
Finding Software Solutions	39
Installing and Configuring Software	39
Expanded and Extended Memory	39
Using Software	40
Error Messages	40
Input Errors	40
Memory-Resident Programs	40
Program Conflicts	41
Checking for Memory Address Conflicts	41
Avoiding Interrupt Assignment Conflicts	41
Running the Dell Diagnostics	43
Features of the Dell Diagnostics	43
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics	43
Before You Start Testing	43
Starting the Dell Diagnostics	44
How to Use the Dell Diagnostics	45
Confirming the System Configuration Information	46
How to Use the Menu	47
Main Menu Categories	47
Run	47
Select	47
Subtest	47
Run Under Subtest	48
Select Under Subtest	48
Options Under Subtest	48
Test Limits Under Subtest	48
About Under Subtest	48
Key-Help Under Subtest	48
Quit Menu Under Subtest	48
Options	48
Number of Times to Repeat Test(s)	48
Maximum Errors Allowed	48
Pause for User Response	49
Output Device for Status Messages	49
Output Device for Error Messages	50
Test Limits	50
About	50
Key-Help	50
Quit	50
Tests in the Dell Diagnostics	51
Error Messages	54
RAM Test Group	54
Subtests	54
Why Run a RAM Test?	54
System Set Test Group	54
Subtests	54
Why Run a System Set Test?	55
Video Test Group	56
Subtests	56
Why Run a Video Test?	56
Keyboard Test Group	57
Subtests	57
Why Run a Keyboard Test?	57
Mouse Test	57
Subtests	58
Why Run the Mouse Test?	58
Diskette Drives Test Group	58
Subtests	58
Why Run a Diskette Drives Test?	58
Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) Test Group	58
Subtests	59
Why Run a Hard-Disk Drives Test?	59
IDE CD ROM Drives Test Group	59
Subtests	59
Why Run an IDE CD ROM Drives Test?	60
Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group	60
Subtests	60
Why Run a Serial/Infrared Ports Test?	60
Parallel Ports Test Group	61
Subtests	61
Why Run a Parallel Ports Test?	61
SCSI Devices Test Group	62
Subtests	62
Why Run a SCSI Devices Test?	62
Network Interface Test Group	63
Subtests	63
Why Run a Network Interface Test?	63
Audio Test Group	63
Subtests	63
Why Run an Audio Test?	64
Other Test Group	64
Subtests	64
Checking Your Equipment	65
Troubleshooting the Monitor	65
Troubleshooting the Keyboard	66
Troubleshooting I/O Ports	66
Troubleshooting the Basic I/O Functions	67
Troubleshooting a Parallel Printer	68
Troubleshooting a Serial I/O Device	68
Checking Inside Your Computer	69
Safety First—For You and Your Computer	69
Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover	69
Troubleshooting a Wet Computer	70
Troubleshooting a Damaged Computer	70
Troubleshooting the Battery	71
Troubleshooting Expansion Cards	72
Troubleshooting System Memory	73
Troubleshooting the Video Subsystem	74
Troubleshooting the System Board	76
Troubleshooting the Diskette/ Tape Drive Subsystem...	77
Checking the Diskette/Tape Drive Subsystem	77
Troubleshooting a Diskette-Drive Subsystem	77
Troubleshooting a Non-SCSI Internal Tape Drive	79
Troubleshooting a SCSI Tape Drive	80
Troubleshooting Hard-Disk Drives	82
Troubleshooting IDE Hard-Disk Drives	82
Troubleshooting SCSI Hard-Disk Drives in a System ...	83
Troubleshooting SCSI Hard-Disk Drives in a System ...	85
Getting Help	89
Technical Assistance	89
Help Tools	90
Frequently Asked Questions Cards	91
Dell Q&A	91
System Documentation	91
World Wide Web on the Internet	91
Commercial Online Service	91
Dell Diagnostics Program	91
AutoTech Service	91
TechFax Service	92
TechConnect BBS	92
Automated Order-Status System	92
Technical Support Service	92
Problems With Your Order	93
Product Information	93
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit	93
Before You Call	93
Dell Contact Numbers	96
Diagnostic Video Tests	107
Video Memory Test	107
Video Hardware Test	107
Text Mode Character Test	107
Character Attributes Subtest (80 x 25)	108
Character Set Subtest (80 x 25)	109
Video Scan Alignment Subtest	110
Character Attributes Subtest (40 x 25)	112
Character Set Subtest (40 x 25)	113
Text Mode Color Test	114
Color Attributes Subtest (80 x 25)	114
Color Attributes Subtest (40 x 25)	115
Color Bars Subtest	115
Text Mode Pages Test	115
Graphics Mode Test	116
320 x 200 Graphics Mode Screens	116
640 x 200 Black/White Graphics Mode Screen	116
640 x 480 Monochrome Graphics Mode Screen	118
320 x 200 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	119
640 x 200 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	119
640 x 350 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	119
640 x 480 2-Color Graphics Mode Screen	119
640 x 480 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	121
320 x 200 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen	121
640 x 480 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen	121
800 x 600 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	121
800 x 600 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen	121
1024 x 768 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	121
1024 x 768 256-Color Graphics Mode Screen	121
1280 x 1024 16-Color Graphics Mode Screen	121
Color Palettes Test	121
Solid Colors Test	122
Abbreviations and Acronyms	123

Dell OptiPlex Gn Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide (.pdf) - Page 15

Appendix A, Diagnostic Video Tests .A-1, Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit .. 7-5

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