Compaq.com - Compaq Presario Maintenance and Service Guide - 2250, 2410 ES, 2510, and 4240 ES Series
United States December 10, 2002
Maintenance & Service Guide
Presario 2250 Series
2510, 2410 ES & 4240 ES Personal Computers
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Troubleshooting without Diagnostics
If you encounter some minor problem with the computer or software
application, go through the following checklist for possible solutions before
running any of the Diagnostic utilities:
■
Is the computer connected to a working power outlet?
■
Is the computer turned on and the power light illuminated?
■
Are all cables connected properly and seated?
■
Are all of the necessary device drivers installed?
■
Is the
CONFIG.SYS
file correct?
■
Is the
AUTOEXEC.BAT
file (MS-DOS) or
DOSSTART.BAT
file correct?
■
Was a non-bootable diskette loaded in the diskette drive at power-up?
■
Are all CMOS settings correct?
Click on a selection below identify some quick checks for common problems.
Solutions for Power Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
Computer will not turn on
Ensure that the computer is connected to
a working power source.
Computer does not
automatically
display the date and time
The real-time clock (RTC) battery may
need to be replaced. See Removal and
Replacement Procedures.
Computer does not beep during
POST
The speaker volume may have been
turned down. Push the volume control
buttons on the computer and adjust the
volume or select the Volume option from
the Control Panel.
Computer powered off
automatically
1. The unit may be in Sleep. If the amber
light on the front bezel is on, then the
unit is in Sleep.
2. The unit temperature may have been
exceeded. Check the fan for function and
blockage.
Diskette Drive Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
Diskette drive light stays on
1. Diskette may be damaged.
From the Windows desktop, click on the
Start button. Choose
Programs=>Accessories=> System
Tools=>Scandisk to check for problems.
2. Diskette may be installed incorrectly.
Remove the diskette and reinsert.
3. Software program may be damaged.
Check the program diskettes.
Diskette drive cannot write to a
diskette
1. Diskette is not formatted. Format the
diskette.
2. Diskette is write-protected. Either use
another diskette that is not write-
protected, or disable the write protection
on the diskette.
3. Writing to the wrong drive. Check the
drive letter in your path statement.
4. Not enough space is left on the
diskette. Use another diskette to write the
information.
Diskette drive cannot read a
diskette
1. Diskette is not formatted. Format the
diskette.
2. Using the wrong diskette type for the
drive type. Use a diskette that is
compatible with the drive.
3. Reading the wrong drive. Check the
drive letter in your path statement.
4. Diskette drive has been disabled by
Setup. Run Setup and enable the diskette
drive.
Solutions for Monitor Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
Characters are dim
The brightness control is not set properly.
Adjust the brightness control.
Screen is blank
1. A screen-blanking (energy-saving)
utility could be installed. Press any key. If
the display reappears, you have a screen-
blanking utility installed.
2. The brightness needs adjusting. Adjust
the brightness control.
3. Screen saver has been initiated. Press
any key or move the mouse to light the
screen.
4. System is in Sleep mode. Press the
Sleep button to wake up.
Garbled characters on the
screen
are mixed with text
The ANSI.SYS driver is not in the
CONFIG.SYS
file. Add the ANSI.SYS driver
to the
CONFIG.SYS
file by inserting the
following line:
DEVICE = C:\ANSI.SYS
Monitor overheats
There is not enough ventilation space for
proper airflow. Leave at least 3 inches
(7.6 cm) of ventilation space. Also, be
sure there is nothing on top of the
monitor to obstruct airflow.
Cursor will not move using the
arrow keys on the numeric
keypad
1. The Num Lock key is on. Press the
Num Lock key. The Num Lock light should
not be on when you want to use the
arrow keys.
2. Possible application error. Restart the
computer.
Solutions for Hard Drive Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
Hard drive error occurs
Hard disk has bad sectors or has failed.
Run Setup. Reformat the hard disk.
Disk transaction problem
The directory structure is bad or there is a
problem with a file.
From the Windows desktop, click on the
Start button. Choose
Programs=>Accessories => System
Tools=>Scandisk to check for problems.
If problems exist, run Scandisk and click
on the "Automatically fix errors" checkbox
at the bottom to correct the problems. If
a large number of lost allocation units is
found, click on the Start button. Choose
Programs=> Accessories=>System
Tools=>Disk Defragmenter.
Drive not found
Cable could be loose. Check cable
connections.
Nonsystem disk message
1. The system is trying to start from a
diskette that is not bootable. Remove the
diskette from the diskette drive.
2. The system is trying to start from the
hard drive but the hard disk has been
damaged. Insert a bootable diskette into
the diskette drive and restart the
computer with Ctrl+Alt+Del.
3. Diskette boot has been disabled in
Setup. Run Setup and enable diskette
boot.
Hard drive operation seems
slow
The hard disk files may be fragmented.
From the Windows desktop, click on the
Start button. Choose Programs
=>Accessories =>System Tools
=>Scandisk to check for problems. If
problems exist, run Scandisk and
checkmark the "Automatically fix errors"
box at the bottom to correct the
problems. If a large number of lost
allocation units is found, click on the Start
button. Choose Programs =>
Accessories=>System Tools=> Disk
Defragmenter.
Hard drive activity light is not
on,
or stays on without blinking
The hard disk files may be fragmented.
From the Windows desktop, click on the
Start button. Choose Programs=>
Accessories => System Tools=>Scandisk
to check for problems. If problems exist,
run Scandisk and checkmark the
"Automatically fix errors" box at the
bottom to correct the problems. If a large
number of lost allocation units is found,
click on the Start button. Choose
Programs=> Accessories => System
Tools=>Disk Defragmenter.
Solutions for CD Drive Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
Cannot read compact disc
1. CD is not properly seated in the drive.
Eject the CD, press down on the CD firmly
to correctly seat it in the drive, then
reload.
2. CD has been loaded upside down. Eject
the CD, turn it over, then reload.
3. CD may be dirty or scratched. Load
another CD.
Cannot eject compact disc
CD is not properly seated in the drive.
Turn off the computer, insert a thin metal
rod into the emergency eject hole, then
push firmly (a straightened paper clip can
be used). Slowly pull the tray out from
the drive until the tray is fully extended,
then remove the CD.
CD drive devices are not
detected; driver is not loaded
1. CD drive is not connected properly.
Open the computer and check to see that
the drive cable is connected properly.
2. Ensure the correct driver is installed in
CONFIG.SYS.
3. If drive has been changed, make sure
the jumper setting is set for "Slave."
Solutions for DVD Drive Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
Cannot read DVD disk
1. DVD or CD is not properly seated in the
drive. Eject the DVD or CD, press down
on the DVD or CD firmly to correctly seat
it in the drive, then reload.
2. DVD or CD has been loaded upside
down. Eject the disk, turn it over, then
reload.
3. DVD or CD disk may be dirty or
scratched. Load another DVD disk.
DVD does not work in the DOS
mode.
Proper drivers are not loaded. Restart the
system and make sure the DVD drive
drivers are loaded.
Cannot eject DVD disk
1. The system is in the Sleep mode. Press
the Power button to bring the system
back to full power, then eject the DVD.
2. The DVD, diskette, or hard drive was
active when attempting to eject the DVD.
Wait until all drive activity ends (the
CD/hard drive light and diskette drive
light will go out), then try to eject the
DVD.
3. DVD disk is not properly seated in the
drive. Turn off the computer, insert a thin
metal rod into the emergency eject hole
(a straightened paper clip can be used),
then push firmly. Slowly pull the tray out
from the drive until the tray is fully
extended, then remove the DVD disk.
DVD drive devices are not
detected; driver is not loaded
1. DVD drive is not connected properly.
Open the computer and check to see that
the drive cable is connected properly.
2. Ensure the correct driver is installed in
CONFIG.SYS.
3. If drive has been changed, make sure
the jumper setting is set for "Slave."
Proper drivers are not loaded.
Restart the system and make sure the
DVD drive drivers are loaded.
Solutions for USB Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
USB device does not work with
the system.
The USB device and the system may use
different USB architectures. Ensure that
the USB device and the system share the
same USB architecture. (UHCI-compliant
devices will only work with a UHCI-
compliant system, and OHCI-compliant
devices will only work with a OHCI-
compliant system).
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