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Running the Dell Diagnostics: Dell

™

Latitude

™

CPi A-Series

System User's Guide

Overview | Features of the Dell Diagnostics | When to Use the Dell Diagnostics | Before You Start Testing |
Starting the Dell Diagnostics | How to Use the Dell Diagnostics | Confirming the System Configuration
Information | How to Use the Menu | Main Menu Options | Tests in the Dell Diagnostics | Error Messages |
RAM Test Group | System Set Test Group | Video Test Group | Keyboard Test Group | Mouse Test |
Diskette Drives Test Group | Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) Test Group | IDE CD-ROM Drives Test Group |
Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group | Parallel Ports Test Group | SCSI Devices Test Group | Network Interface
Test Group | Audio Test Group | Other Test Group

Overview

Unlike many diagnostic programs, the Dell Diagnostics helps you check the computer's hardware without any
additional equipment and without destroying any data. By using the Dell Diagnostics, you can have
confidence in the computer's operation. If you find a problem you cannot solve by yourself, the diagnostic
tests can provide you with important information you will need when talking to Dell's service and support
personnel.

CAUTION:

Use the Dell Diagnostics to test

only

your Dell computer. Using this program with

other computers may cause incorrect computer responses or result in misleading error
messages.

NOTE:

If the computer does not boot, call Dell for technical assistance. See

instructions.

Features of the Dell Diagnostics

To troubleshoot components or devices, run the appropriate test (test group

or subtest

) in the diagnostics on

your

Dell Diagnostics Diskette

. The diagnostics program exercises the functional components and devices of

the computer more vigorously and thoroughly than they are exercised during normal operation.

The Dell Diagnostics provides a series of menus and options from which you choose particular test groups or
subtests. Each diagnostic test group or subtest allows you to control important testing parameters. You can
also control the sequence in which the tests are run. The diagnostic test groups or subtests also have these
helpful features:

Options that let you run tests individually or collectively
An option that allows you to choose the number of times a test group or subtest is repeated
The ability to display test results, print them, or save them in a file
Options to suspend testing when an adjustable error limit is reached
A menu option called

About

that briefly describes each test and its parameters

Status messages that inform you whether test groups or subtests were completed successfully
Error messages that appear if any problems are detected

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Summary of Contents for Latitude CPi A-Series

Page 1: ...permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell Latitude and the DELL logo are trademarks and DellWare is a service mark of Dell Computer Corporation Microsoft Windows Windows NT and MS DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this docum...

Page 2: ...ned around an Intel microprocessor with Peripheral Component Interconnect PCI technology This chapter describes the major hardware and software features of your computer Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the front and back view of the computer respectively Figure 1 Front View of the Computer 1 Touch pad 2 Keyboard 3 Power button 4 Microphone 5 Display 6 Display latch 7 Status indicator panel 8 Air intake...

Page 3: ...nnector 8 Monitor connector 9 PS 2 connector 10 Infrared port 11 PC card slot 12 Hard disk drive 13 Security cable slot 14 Speaker Hardware Features Your Dell computer has the following features Full multimedia capability through the following standard features A 12 1 inch super video graphics array SVGA thin film transistor TFT 800 x 600 active matrix color display or a 13 3 inch extended graphic...

Page 4: ...PC Cards The upper PC Card connector supports ZV PC Cards NOTE The PC Card controller supports the CardBus standard for 32 bit data transfer on the PC Card Hardware and software support for the Dell Latitude C Port Advanced Port Replicator C Port APR and the Dell Latitude C Dock Expansion Station A touch pad pointing device positioned for both left and right handed users The left and right touch p...

Page 5: ...mber in your location Before turning on your computer for the first time read all license agreements that came with your computer When you turn on your computer for the first time if you agree with the license terms indicate your acceptance by typing y when prompted by the computer Then complete the installation of your operating system Available Options As your computing requirements change you c...

Page 6: ...you don t understand a procedure described in this guide or if your computer does not perform as expected Dell provides a number of tools to help you For more information on these help tools see Getting Help Back to Contents Page ...

Page 7: ...up and Operation Dell Latitude CPi A Series System User s Guide AC Adapter Batteries CD ROM Drive Display Diskette Drive Keyboard PC Cards Modular Bay Touch Pad Securing Your Computer Connecting External Devices I O Connectors ...

Page 8: ...Back to Contents Page Powering Your Computer Dell Latitude CPi A Series System User s Guide AC Adapter Power Management Settings Batteries ...

Page 9: ...s or telephone number Use a permanent marking or stenciling device to write your driver s license number or some other unique identifying mark on the computer If a lost or stolen computer is recovered such marking identifies the computer as your property Service Tag Number The service tag number is a 5 character number on a bar code label located on the bottom of the computer The number is unique ...

Page 10: ...PC Cards themselves CAUTION The PC Card eject button can be damaged if left in the out position Before traveling make sure that the PC Card eject button is flush with the computer case 2 To make the computer as light as possible remove the diskette drive or CD ROM drive from the modular bay and install the travel module 3 To maximize battery life check the charge on your battery Then fully charge ...

Page 11: ...e computer and accessories during travel If you pack the computer in a suitcase do not pack so tightly that the computer display breaks or so loosely that the computer slides around Avoid packing the computer with items such as shaving cream colognes perfumes or food Protect the computer the battery and the hard disk drive from hazards such as extreme temperatures overexposure to sunlight and expo...

Page 12: ... line for your modem connection CAUTION Do not use the CD ROM drive while the computer is in motion Doing so could interrupt the flow of data to and from the CD ROM drive and the hard disk drive or diskette drive Carnet A carnet is an international customs document also known as a merchandise passport that facilitates temporary imports into foreign countries and is valid for up to 1 year Back to C...

Page 13: ...Back to Contents Page Drivers Dell Latitude CPi A Series System User s Guide Installing Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows 98 Drivers Installing Microsoft Windows NT Drivers ...

Page 14: ...Back to Contents Page Customizing Your Computer Dell Latitude CPi A Series System User s Guide Using the System Setup Program Power Management Settings Suspend to Disk Utility ...

Page 15: ... drive perform the following steps 1 Save any open files turn off the computer and remove any installed batteries 2 If there is a hard disk drive in the drive bay remove it Close the display and turn the computer over Use a small Phillips head screwdriver to remove the two screws see Figure 1 that hold the drive carrier in the drive bay Save the screws for use later in this procedure Figure 1 Remo...

Page 16: ...y hard disk drive may be hot to the touch under extreme environmental conditions If the drive is hot allow it to cool before replacing it Preparing a New Primary Drive Every primary hard disk drive must be physically formatted partitioned and logically formatted before it can be used to store data Every primary hard disk drive from Dell is physically formatted before it is sent to you Use the prog...

Page 17: ...e inner metal tabs of the memory module socket just far enough for the memory module to disengage from the socket it should pop up slightly Then lift the memory module away from the socket 3 Ground yourself and unpack the new memory module from the upgrade kit 4 Install the new memory module Memory modules are keyed or designed to fit into their sockets in only one direction The sockets on the sys...

Page 18: ...lick Control Panel and click the System icon The amount of memory installed in the computer is displayed in the lower right corner of the General tab window In the System Setup program the System Memory option appears in the lower right corner of pages 1 2 and 4 If the total is incorrect the memory module s may not be installed properly Repeat preparatory steps 1 through 5 and removal and installa...

Page 19: ...Back to Contents Page Troubleshooting Your Computer Dell Latitude CPi A Series System User s Guide Running the Dell Diagnostics Diagnostic Video Tests Error Messages and Flash Codes ...

Page 20: ...Instruments PCI 1225 CardBus controller PC Card connectors two supports type I and type II cards in any combination type III cards can be used only in the lower connector the upper connector supports zoomed video cards on systems using the Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating system Cards supported 3 3 V and 5 V PC Card connector size 68 pins Data width maximum PCMCIA 16 bits CardBus 32 bi...

Page 21: ...rDA Standard 1 0 Slow IR Audio one microphone in jack one line in audio in jack one headphones speakers jack USB one USB compliant connector Docking one connector for the C Port Advanced Port Replicator or C Dock Expansion Station Audio Audio type Sound Blaster emulation Audio controller NeoMagic 2200 AC97 Codec Stereo conversion 16 bit analog to digital and digital to analog Interfaces Internal P...

Page 22: ...AGP Video controller NeoMagic 2200 Video memory 2 5 MB 12 1 Inch Display Type active matrix color TFT LVDS Dimensions active area Height 184 5 mm 7 26 inches Width 246 0 mm 9 68 inches Diagonal 307 5 mm 12 1 inches Maximum resolution colors 800 x 600 pixels 16 million colors Response time typical 50 ms Operating angle 0 closed to 180 Dot pitch 0 31 mm Power consumption Panel typical 0 6 W Backligh...

Page 23: ...gonal 337 8 mm 13 3 inches Maximum resolution colors 1024 x 768 pixels 65 536 colors Response time typical 50 ms Operating angle 0 closed to 180 Dot pitch 0 26 mm Power consumption Panel typical 1 7 W Backlight 2 6 W Controls brightness can be controlled through a key combination the Display window in the Dell Control Center Windows 95 only or the System Setup program Keyboard Number of keys 87 U ...

Page 24: ...ches Width 139 0 mm 5 47 inches Weight 0 39 kg 0 87 lb Voltage 16 8 VDC Capacity 44 WH Charge time approximate 2 Computer on 2 5 hours Computer off 1 hour Life span approximate 2 500 discharge charge cycles Temperature range Charge 0 to 40 C 32 to 104 F Storage 20 to 60 C 4 to 140 F AC Adapter Input voltage 90 to 135 VAC and 164 to 264 VAC Input current maximum 3 5 A Input frequency 47 to 63 Hz ...

Page 25: ... C 32 to 104 F Storage 20 to 60 C 4 to 140 F Physical Height 38 6 mm 1 52 inches Width 306 0 mm 12 05 inches Depth 241 0 mm 9 49 inches Weight3 2 63 kg 5 8 lb Environmental Computer Temperature Operating 0 to 40 C 32 to 104 F Storage 20 to 60 C 4 to 140 F Relative humidity maximum Operating 10 to 90 noncondensing Storage 5 to 95 noncondensing Maximum vibration Operating 0 51 GRMS using a random vi...

Page 26: ...tude maximum Operating 18 to 3048 m 59 to 10 000 ft Storage 18 to 10 600 m 59 to 35 000 ft Touch Pad Interface PS 2 compatible X Y position resolution graphics table mode 200 points mm 500 points inch Size Thickness 2 50 mm 0 10 inch at highest component Width sensor active area 61 8 mm 2 43 inch at bottom 58 6 mm 2 31 inch at top Height 48 8 mm 1 92 inch rectangle Weight 8 g 0 28 oz 0 5 g 0 02 oz...

Page 27: ...isk drive a battery in the battery bay a diskette drive in the modular bay and one memory module Your computer might weigh more or less depending on its configuration The maximum weight of the Dell Latitude CPi A366XT is 2 81 kg 6 2 lb which includes a hard disk drive two batteries and two memory modules The minimum weight of a Latitude CPi A300ST is 2 4 kg 5 3 lb which includes a hard disk drive ...

Page 28: ... refer to Technical Support Service and Before You Call Help Tools Dell provides a number of tools to assist you These tools are described in the following sections NOTE Some of the following tools are not always available in all locations outside the continental U S Please call your local Dell representative for information on availability World Wide Web on the Internet The Internet is your most ...

Page 29: ...asked by Dell customers When you call AutoTech you use your touch tone telephone to select the subjects that correspond to your questions You can even interrupt an AutoTech session and continue the session later The code number that the AutoTech service gives you allows you to continue your session where you ended it The AutoTech service is available 24 hours a day seven days a week You can also a...

Page 30: ...mbers Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Prepare all items being returned whether for repair or credit as follows 1 Call Dell to obtain an authorization number and write it clearly and prominently on the outside of the box For the telephone number to call refer to Dell Contact Numbers 2 Include a copy of the invoice and a letter describing the reason for the return 3 Include a copy of t...

Page 31: ...and dial the international access code for France followed by the country code for the U K the city code for Bracknell and then the local number as shown in the following illustration To place a long distance call within your own country use area codes instead of international access codes country codes and city codes For example to call Paris France from Montpellier France dial the area code plus...

Page 32: ...da 95 52 5 Netherlands Amsterdam 00 31 20 New Zealand 00 64 Norway Lysaker 095 47 Not required Poland Warsaw 011 48 22 Singapore Singapore 005 65 Not required South Africa Johannesburg 09 091 27 11 Spain Madrid 07 34 1 Sweden Upplands Vasby 009 46 8 Switzerland Geneva 00 41 22 Taiwan 002 886 Thailand 001 66 U K Bracknell 010 44 1344 U S A Austin Texas 011 1 Not required Table 2 Dell Contact Number...

Page 33: ...Sales Federal government education and medical toll free 1 800 567 7542 Sales Major Accounts toll free 1 800 387 5755 TechConnect BBS Austin Texas U S A 512 728 8528 TechFax toll free 1 800 950 1329 Chile Santiago NOTE Customers in Chile call the U S A for sales customer and technical assistance Sales Customer Support and Technical Support toll free 1230 020 4823 China Xiamen Customer Service toll...

Page 34: ...upport dell com Italy Milan Technical Support 2 57782 690 Customer Care 2 57782 555 Sales 2 57782 411 Fax 2 57503530 Switchboard 2 57782 1 Fax 57503530 Web site support euro dell com it E mail support_italy dell com Japan Kawasaki Technical Support toll free 0088 22 7890 Customer Care 044 556 4240 Direct Sales 044 556 3344 Commercial Sales 044 556 3430 556 3440 Switchboard 044 556 4300 Korea Seoul...

Page 35: ...Amsterdam Customer Technical Support 020 5818838 Home Small Business Sales toll free 0800 0663 Home Small Business SalesFax 020 682 7171 Corporate Sales 020 581 8818 Corporate SalesFax 020 686 8003 Fax 020 686 8003 Switchboard 020 581 8818 Web site support euro dell com nl New Zealand Technical Support 0800 446 255 Customer Service 0800 444 617 Sales 0800 441 567 Fax 0800 441 566 Norway Lysaker NO...

Page 36: ...tech dell com Taiwan NOTE Customers in Taiwan call Malaysia for customer assistance Technical Support toll free 0080 651 226 0800 33 557 Customer Service Penang Malaysia 810 4949 Transaction Sales toll free 0080 651 228 0800 33 556 Corporate Sales toll free 0080 651 227 0800 33 555 Thailand NOTE Customers in Thailand call Malaysia for customer assistance Technical Support toll free 0880 060 07 Cus...

Page 37: ...00 289 3355 1 800 879 3355 Spare Parts Sales toll free 1 800 357 3355 DellWare toll free 1 800 753 7201 DellWare FaxBack Service 512 728 1681 Fee Based Technical Support toll free 1 800 433 9005 Sales Catalogs toll free 1 800 426 5150 Fax toll free 1 800 727 8320 TechFax toll free 1 800 950 1329 TechConnect BBS 512 728 8528 Switchboard 512 338 4400 For technical assistance in this country after no...

Page 38: ...avel module without turning off your computer 5 If there is a device in the modular bay remove it a Close the computer display and turn the computer over Slide the modular bay latch toward the unlock icon b Keep holding the modular bay latch with one hand while pulling the device out of the bay with the other hand c Release the modular bay latch CAUTION When the CD ROM and diskette drives are not ...

Page 39: ...n it off and undock it 2 Remove the diskette drive 3 Install the new device 4 Dock the computer and turn it on if necessary Diskette drive CD ROM drive LS 120 drive Second hard disk drive 1 Turn off and undock the computer 2 Remove the diskette drive 3 Install the new device 4 Dock the computer and turn it on LS 120 drive Battery CD ROM drive Diskette drive Second hard disk drive Travel module 1 T...

Page 40: ...undock the computer 2 Remove the travel module 3 Install the new device 4 Dock the computer and turn it on Setting Up a Second Hard Disk Drive The first time you install a second hard disk drive in the modular bay you must format that drive For instructions see the documentation that came with the device Back to Contents Page ...

Page 41: ...m displays the setting you selected rather than the setting currently in effect You must reboot for the new setting to take effect After you set up your computer run the System Setup program to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information and optional settings Dell recommends that you write down the information for future reference NOTES If the computer uses the Microsoft Window...

Page 42: ...ation information and optional settings for your computer Information on the screens is organized in five boxed areas Title The box at the top of all screens lists the page number system name and version number of the basic input output system BIOS Options The box on the left half of screens 1 2 and 4 lists options that define the installed hardware in your computer and the power conservation and ...

Page 43: ... for the data in your computer However they are not foolproof If your data requires more security it is your responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of protection such as data encryption programs or PC Cards with encryption features Alarm Resume The Alarm Resume option directs the computer to resume normal operation when it is in suspend mode and detects an alarm from the real time clock...

Page 44: ...s Battery Status page 3 of the System Setup screens is a graphical representation of the approximate amount of charge left in the main and secondary batteries There are no user selectable settings for this option If there is no battery installed in the main battery compartment or in the modular bay the battery gauge illustration says Battery Status Not Installed If you are not in the System Setup ...

Page 45: ... must reboot your computer Boot Third Device If the system cannot find the software it needs to start the operating system on the drive identified in Boot Second Device it will search the device named in this option Settings for the option are None the default Internal HDD Causes your computer to attempt to boot from the hard disk drive Diskette Drive Causes your computer to attempt to boot from t...

Page 46: ...ys the day of the week corresponding to the settings in the three fields that follow month day of the month and year A change to the Date option becomes effective immediately rebooting is not required However you must reboot to make the change apparent to the operating system To change the date press the right arrow key to increase the number in the highlighted field or press the left arrow key to...

Page 47: ...cess the diskette drive to run at their optimum speed Settings are At Reboot Only and Any Time When Diskette Reconfig is set to Any Time the default you do not have to reboot after installing a diskette drive in the modular bay or attaching a diskette drive to the parallel connector on the back of the computer However some application programs such as virus scans that access the diskette drive wil...

Page 48: ...n keyboard Set this option to Scroll Lock the default if you are using an external keyboard Set this option to Not Installed to disable this function on the external keyboard Infrared Data Port Infrared Data Port allows you to avoid resource conflicts by remapping the address of the infrared ports or disabling the port The COM1 COM2 COM3 and COM4 settings allow you to take advantage of the compute...

Page 49: ...mulated key clicks is controlled by the setting in the Click Volume option Settings for this option are Disabled the default and Enabled A change to the Keyboard Click option takes effect immediately rebooting is not required Modular Bay Modular Bay identifies the kind of device Diskette Drive Battery or CD ROM Drive that is installed in the modular bay If there is no device in the modular bay or ...

Page 50: ... option are Touch Pad PS 2 Mouse the default Serial Mouse Disables the touch pad and allows you to use a mouse connected to the serial connector on the I O port If you want to use a serial mouse you must first set the Pointing Device option to Serial Mouse For a change in the Pointing Device option to take effect you must reboot your computer Power Management Power Management Page 4 of the System ...

Page 51: ...r In order for the Ring Event Resume option to work properly this feature must be enabled in the device driver for your modem PC Card All drivers supplied by Dell with your computer are configured to allow the computer to resume normal operation when a modem receives an incoming call If you use a PC Card that you did not receive from Dell check the documentation to make sure this feature is set to...

Page 52: ...stance The code helps Dell s automated support telephone system direct your call more efficiently Smart CPU Mode Smart CPU Mode allows the computer to slow down the microprocessor automatically if it is not being actively used Settings for this option are Enabled Allows the computer to slow down the microprocessor when it is inactive Disabled Keeps the microprocessor running at its normal operatin...

Page 53: ...on to Disabled if using it causes compatibility problems with your software A change to the Suspend Time Out option takes effect immediately rebooting is not required If you are not in the System Setup program you can activate suspend mode at any time by pressing Fn Esc The computer resumes normal operation automatically when you press a key on the built in keyboard System Memory System Memory dis...

Page 54: ...an one C Port APR and want to minimize the initialization time when you connect the replicator to the computer When this category is set to Disabled the C Port APR is reinitialized each time it is connected to the computer Video Memory Video Memory displays the amount of video memory installed on the system board There are no user selectable settings for this option Back to Contents Page ...

Page 55: ...ed Port Replicator C Port APR or C Dock Expansion Station connect the AC adapter to the C Port APR or C Dock Expansion Station not to the computer NOTE If you are running your computer on AC power with a battery installed the AC adapter charges the battery if needed and then maintains the battery s charge CAUTION The AC adapter should be in a ventilated area such as on a desktop or on the floor wh...

Page 56: ...Back to Contents Page ...

Page 57: ...e being using When two batteries are installed the computer draws power first from the battery in the modular bay The AC adapter first charges the battery in the battery bay The built in charge gauge lets you check a battery s charge before you insert it into the computer The battery s self test capability alerts you to battery conditions such as low charge There is no battery memory effect with l...

Page 58: ...ter can run on battery power for about 9 days if the battery was fully charged before activating suspend or standby mode If two fully charged batteries are installed when you activate suspend or standby mode the computer can run on battery power for about 18 days If you are going to store the computer disconnect all peripheral devices and turn off the computer Leave a fully charged battery in the ...

Page 59: ...ver Slide the battery bay latch toward the Unlock icon Keep holding the latch with one hand while pulling the battery out of the bay with the other hand 5 Release the latch 6 Slide the new battery firmly into the battery bay You should hear a click when the battery is fully seated 7 If you put the computer into suspend mode or suspend to disk mode in step 3 press the power button to resume normal ...

Page 60: ...ll com Dispose of the old battery properly Percentage of Charge If one indicator lights up the battery has 1 to 20 percent of its charge remaining If two indicators light up the battery has 21 to 40 percent of its charge remaining If three indicators light up the battery has 41 to 60 percent of its charge remaining If four indicators light up the battery has 61 to 80 percent of its charge remainin...

Page 61: ...s indicator is on Doing so could cause data loss Instead close all of your applications before turning off the computer Second Low Battery Warning The second low battery warning a steady amber battery indicator occurs when you have about 5 minutes of battery life left under current conditions and the computer is not connected to AC power After the second low battery warning if no further I O activ...

Page 62: ...urn to room temperature Then reconnect the computer to AC power and continue charging the battery If the computer is not allowed to return to room temperature the battery stops charging before it reaches full capacity If the computer is turned off it takes the AC adapter about 1 hour to fully charge a battery that has been completely discharged If the computer determines that the battery is near f...

Page 63: ...h time you attach an AC power source to the computer The battery is even being recharged when you use AC power The battery s life expectancy is largely determined by the number of charges it receives so use an AC power source to run the computer whenever possible You can customize power management by individually controlling the computer s power conservation features These features reduce power co...

Page 64: ... Keep the drive as clean as possible To play a CD press the eject button on the face of the CD ROM drive or press FN F10 When the tray slides out place the CD into the tray label side up Make sure that the CD is seated correctly on the spindle Then gently push in the tray CAUTION If the CD is not seated correctly the CD or the CD ROM drive can be damaged Center the CD over the spindle Then gently ...

Page 65: ...center of the CD to the edge Never use solvents such as benzene record cleaners or antistatic sprays to clean the CD Do not write on the surface of the CD Store CDs in their containers placing them in a cool dry place Extreme temperatures may damage CDs Do not bend or drop a CD Do not place objects on top of a CD Types of Supported Discs CD ROM red book audio discs CD DA CD ROM yellow book mode 1 ...

Page 66: ...ghtness FN up arrow Increases brightness FN right arrow Decreases contrast on the Latitude CP family has no effect on an active matrix display FN left arrow Increases contrast on the Latitude CP family has no effect on an active matrix display NOTES Contrast cannot be changed on an active matrix thin film transistor TFT display To use key combinations on an external keyboard enable the External Ho...

Page 67: ...lor 16 bit True Color 24 bit 1280 x 1024 256 High Color 16 bit True Color 24 bit External monitor only To display more colors select a lower resolution If you select a resolution and color combination that the system does not support the system automatically selects the next supported combination The video adapter inside your computer supports higher resolutions if you are using an external monito...

Page 68: ...Click the NeoMagic tab 8 Select the Set Dual Display checkbox and click Apply 9 Click Yes when prompted to restart your system 10 When the system has restarted reopen the Display icon in the Control Panel 11 Click the Settings tab Two displays now appear in this window 12 Click the display that is greyed out When asked if you want to enable this display click Yes and then click Apply If You Have D...

Page 69: ... the diskette drive insert a 3 5 inch diskette into the drive label side up and metal end first Push the diskette into the drive until the eject button extends outside the drive casing CAUTION Do not travel with a diskette in the diskette drive Doing so could break the eject button and damage the drive To remove a diskette from the drive press the eject button to release the diskette and then pull...

Page 70: ...ghts up Figure 1 Embedded Numeric Keypad Some key combinations can be used whether the keypad is off or on NOTE On an external keyboard use Scroll Lock with the appropriate keys if the External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program Table 1 Embedded Numeric Keypad Key Combinations When Keypad Is On Function Num Lk Toggles the embedded numeric keypad off FN key Temporarily disables t...

Page 71: ...mputer is running a graphical operating system or application program FN F7 Toggles the computer s display between expanded mode and regular video mode FN F8 Switches the video image to the next display in the following sequence the built in display an external monitor or both displays simultaneously FN D Turns off the built in display This key combination does not function with Advanced Configura...

Page 72: ...ns Function FN Page Up Increases the volume of the built in speakers and the external speakers if attached FN Page Dn Decreases the volume of the built in speakers and the external speakers if attached FN End Enables and disables the built in speakers and the external speakers if attached System Function Key Combinations NOTE On an external keyboard use Scroll Lock with the appropriate keys if the...

Page 73: ... external keyboard use Scroll Lock with the appropriate keys if the External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program Table 7 CD ROM Drive Key Combination Key Combinations Function FN F10 Ejects the CD tray Back to Contents Page ...

Page 74: ...ickness not its functionality Your computer recognizes most I O cards and automatically loads the device driver associated with that card CAUTION Take extra precautions if you use extended PC Cards in your computer Extended cards are longer versions of standard PC Cards They fit into and operate correctly with your computer However they extend beyond the edge of the computer when installed If some...

Page 75: ... PC Card connector from dust and other particles Removing PC Cards CAUTION If you are using Windows 95 or Windows 98 use the PC Card configuration utility on the taskbar to select and stop a card before you remove it If you do not remove the card in the configuration utility you could lose data from open software applications CAUTION In Windows NT close all applications that use the PC Card before...

Page 76: ... The PC Card configuration utility performs the following functions Notifies you whenever a PC Card is inserted and tells you how the card is configured Automatically loads the proper device driver if it is available on the hard disk drive If drivers are not available on the hard disk drive prompts you to install them using the device driver diskette that came with the card The operating system au...

Page 77: ...he cursor on the object and tap down up down on the touch pad On the second down motion leave your finger on the touch pad and move the selected object by sliding your finger across the surface To double click an object position the cursor on the object and then tap twice NOTES When enabled the touch pad uses interrupt request IRQ 12 No other device can use IRQ12 while the touch pad is enabled Whe...

Page 78: ...sword features provide a high level of security for the data in your computer or hard disk drive However they are not foolproof If your data requires more security it is your responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of protection such as data encryption programs or PC Cards with encryption features If you forget any of your passwords call Dell For your protection Dell s technical support ...

Page 79: ...ot have an administrator password assigned or if you have both a primary and an administrator password assigned but forget them both call Dell CAUTION Disabling the administrator password also disables the primary password Using a Hard Disk Drive Password The hard disk drive password helps protect the data on your hard disk drive from unauthorized access You can also assign a password for the modu...

Page 80: ...ysically Securing the Computer and the Hard Disk Drive To prevent unauthorized removal of the computer you can use a security cable to attach the computer to an immovable object The same mechanism can be used to lock your hard disk drive to the computer The security cable slot lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer and hard disk drive Antitheft devices for portab...

Page 81: ...tag number perform the following steps 1 Click the Start button point to Programs and click MS DOS Prompt 2 Type asset and a space followed by the new number 3 Press Enter For example type the following command line and press Enter asset 1234 ABCD 4 When the system prompts you to verify the asset tag number type y and press Enter The system displays the new or modified asset tag number and the ser...

Page 82: ... owner tag if the primary or administrator passwords are set Table 1 lists the command line options you can use with the Asset Tag utility To use one of these options open an MS DOS prompt and then type asset and a space followed by the option Table 1 Asset Tag Utility Command Line Options Asset Tag Option Description d Deletes the asset tag number o tag Specifies a new owner tag o d Deletes the o...

Page 83: ... port Audio You can connect audio devices such as speakers microphones headphones and record playback devices to your computer The following information tells you how to connect the cables Figure 2 shows the locations of the audio jacks Connect the audio cable from a microphone to the microphone jack also called the MIC IN jack Connect the audio cable from the speakers to the headphones speakers j...

Page 84: ...inations Keyboard You can attach a Personal System 2 PS 2 compatible external 101 or 102 key keyboard to the computer s mini Deutsche Industrie Norm DIN connector as shown in Figure 3 Figure 3 Attaching an External Keyboard NOTE If the computer is in suspend mode or suspend to disk mode when you attach an external keyboard the device is recognized immediately by the computer when it resumes normal...

Page 85: ...ach a PS 2 compatible mouse to the computer s mini DIN mouse connector as shown in Figure 4 Figure 4 Connecting an External Mouse NOTE If the computer is in suspend mode or suspend to disk mode when you attach an external mouse the device is recognized immediately by the computer when it resumes normal operation However programs that were already running may need to be restarted in order to recogn...

Page 86: ...iskette drive cable that came with the computer to connect the drive to the parallel connector on the input output I O panel as shown in Figure 5 Figure 5 Using the Diskette Drive As an External Device CAUTION When the diskette drive is not being used externally remove the parallel diskette drive cable from the parallel connector CAUTION Use the parallel diskette drive cable only with the diskette...

Page 87: ...e matching video connector on the back of the computer as shown in Figure 6 If the video cable is not permanently attached to the monitor connect it to the monitor also Figure 6 Connecting an External Monitor Be sure to tighten all the screws on the video cable connector s to eliminate radio frequency interference RFI 3 Connect your external monitor to a grounded AC power source Plug the three pro...

Page 88: ...ill sends the video image to the external monitor In this case you will not see an image on either the computer s display or the external monitor To see an image turn on the external monitor or switch the video image to the computer s display by pressing FN F8 on the built in keyboard or Scroll Lock F8 on an external keyboard if the External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program NO...

Page 89: ... will work These device drivers help your computer recognize the external device and direct its operation Instructions for installing this software are usually included in the upgrade kits The C Port Advanced Port Replicator APR has the same I O connectors as your computer In addition the C Port APR has a second Personal System 2 PS 2 connector a second Universal Serial Bus USB connector and an Et...

Page 90: ...O Parallel data bit 4 16 INIT O Initialize printer 7 PD5 I O Parallel data bit 5 17 SLIN O Select in 8 PD6 I O Parallel data bit 6 18 25 N A N A Signal ground 9 PD7 I O Parallel data bit 7 Shell N A N A Frame ground 10 ACK I Acknowledge USB Connector The USB connector supports the use of a USB hub device to attach multiple devices USB devices are typically low speed peripherals such as mice keyboa...

Page 91: ...ector Use the 15 hole video connector to attach an external monitor to the computer Table 3 lists the pin assignments If you reconfigure your hardware you may need pin number and signal information for the monitor connector Table 3 Video Connector Pin Assignments Pin Signal I O Definition 1 RED O Red video 2 GREEN O Green video 3 BLUE O Blue video 4 NC N A No connection 5 8 GND N A Signal ground 9...

Page 92: ...ND N A Signal ground 4 EXK_MSPWR O External keyboard keypad mouse supply voltage 5 EXK_MSCLK I O External keyboard keypad mouse clock 6 NC N A No connection Shell N A N A Frame ground Infrared Port The computer s infrared IR port is compatible with IrDA 1 1 Fast IR and 1 0 Slow IR standards An infrared port lets you transfer files from your computer to another infrared compatible device without us...

Page 93: ...es not work it is possible that the computer and device are misaligned Move the device or computer to bring them into the 30 degree cone Connecting External Devices To connect an external device to the computer perform the following steps 1 Plug the connector on the device s I O cable into the matching connector on the back of the computer See Figure 2 for an example Be sure to tighten all the scr...

Page 94: ...ter with all the options disabled or set to Off Use the computer with all the options set to their minimum or maximum values Using Key Combinations Table 1 identifies the power management key combinations NOTE To use key combinations on an external keyboard enable the External Hot Key option in the System Setup program and use Scroll Lk instead of FN Table 1 Key Combinations to Activate Deactivate...

Page 95: ...nds for the computer to resume operation Suspend Mode Suspend mode stops almost all computer activity but leaves the computer ready to resume operations immediately in about 20 to 30 seconds Use suspend mode whenever you leave the computer unattended Suspend mode conserves battery power by turning off the microprocessor clock the display the hard disk drive the CD ROM drive if installed the extern...

Page 96: ...C Cards may not operate correctly after resuming from suspend to disk mode If you encounter problems with a card remove and reinsert the card NOTE Dell creates an appropriately sized suspend to disk S2D partition before shipping the computer to you Use the Suspend to Disk utility to remove the file to increase the size of the file or to add the suspend to disk file if you removed it These key comb...

Page 97: ... the system battery falls below a certain percentage When you received your computer the Low Battery and Critical Battery alarms check boxes were not checked Dell recommends that you do not select these options Power Meter which allows you to view the percentage of battery life remaining when your system is operating on battery power If your system is operating on AC power the system displays a me...

Page 98: ...our computer uses Windows 95 or Windows 98 the computer is already configured to work with the Dell Latitude C Dock Expansion Station or C Port Advanced Port Replicator APR Use the following procedure the first time you turn on the computer CAUTION Do not dock the computer before turning it on the first time Installing Docking Drivers To install the C Dock Expansion Station or C Port APR drivers p...

Page 99: ...lete the installation 2 Insert the video drivers diskette into the diskette drive 3 Click the Start button point to Settings and then click Control Panel The Control Panel window appears 4 Double click the Display icon The Display Properties window appears 5 Click the Settings tab 6 Click Advanced Properties The Advanced Properties window appears 7 Click the Adapter tab and then click Change The S...

Page 100: ... click Next 8 Select Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location and click Next 9 When prompted for the location of the drivers click Have Disk 10 In the Install from Disk window enter A video and click OK The Select Device window appears 11 Make sure that NeoMagic MagicGraph 256AV is highlighted and click OK 12 In the Update Device Driver Wizard window click Next to begin copying the...

Page 101: ...2 Insert the first software wavetable diskette into the diskette drive 3 Click the Start button and then click Run The Run dialog box appears 4 Type a setup and then click OK or press Enter to install the utility on your hard disk drive 5 Follow the instructions on your screen 6 After the installation is complete remove the final diskette from the diskette drive and restart your computer to use th...

Page 102: ...new hardware select No and then click Next 5 When the Hardware Types window appears select Infrared and then click Next 6 When the Add Infrared Device Wizard window appears click Next 7 Windows 95 only When the Manufacturers and Models window appears select Standard Infrared Devices from the Manufacturers list and Built In Infrared Port on Laptop or Desktop from the Models list and then click Next...

Page 103: ...Device Driver Wizard appears 10 Click the Yes Recommended radio button and then click Next Windows 95 searches for the drivers on the diskette you inserted in step 2 11 Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the installation 12 After the driver is updated close the Device Manager and open Windows Explorer 13 With the Infrared Drivers diskette still in the diskette drive click drive A 1...

Page 104: ... the diskette set you received separately from Dell Installing Video Drivers Video drivers control features such as screen resolution and the number of screen colors NOTE If you need to use extended video modes check the documentation that came with the application program to determine if the drivers are provided If not contact the software manufacturer to get the necessary drivers To install the ...

Page 105: ...the end of this procedure to complete the installation 2 Insert the Softex power management utility diskette into the diskette drive 3 Click the Start button and then click Run The Run dialog box appears 4 Type a setup and then click OK or press Enter to install the utility on your hard disk drive 5 Follow the instructions and restart your computer to activate the utility Installing the PC Card Ut...

Page 106: ...appears 8 Verify that A is highlighted and then click OK The Add Unlisted or Updated Driver window appears 9 Verify that the NeoMagic MagicWare Audio Driver 256AV 3Dx Series Driver is highlighted and then click OK The Audio dialog box appears 10 Click OK 11 After installation is complete restart your computer to activate the drivers Installing Touch Pad Drivers Touch pad drivers and associated uti...

Page 107: ...OS mode to use the utilities See the readme s2d file for more information on using the suspend to disk partition utilities For more information on using the asset tag utility see your Dell system documentation Installing the Software Wavetable The software wavetable allows you to customize certain audio features To install the software wavetable perform the following steps 1 Save your work in all ...

Page 108: ... is not compatible with MS DOS see the readme s2d file for instructions 2 Type rms2d and press Enter Status messages appear on the display as the removal process progresses When the S2D partition has been removed the following message appears The S2D partition was successfully removed NOTE After you remove the S2D partition the computer cannot activate suspend to disk mode until you recreate the p...

Page 109: ... read the readme s2d file before using the following procedure 1 At an MS DOS prompt type cd c dell util and press Enter to change to the directory on your hard disk drive that contains the Suspend to Disk utility files 2 Type mks2d and press Enter As the utility builds the partition status messages appear on the display If an error message appears it provides information about which steps to take...

Page 110: ...ing this program with other computers may cause incorrect computer responses or result in misleading error messages NOTE If the computer does not boot call Dell for technical assistance See Getting Help for instructions Features of the Dell Diagnostics To troubleshoot components or devices run the appropriate test test group or subtest in the diagnostics on your Dell Diagnostics Diskette The diagn...

Page 111: ...attached and make sure it is online 3 Confirm the computer s system configuration information and enable all of its components and devices such as ports For instructions see Using the System Setup Program 4 Disable all system setup options for power management For instructions see Power Management 5 Attach an AC adapter to the computer Although it is possible to run the Dell Diagnostics on a compu...

Page 112: ...our system select the Run Quick Tests option This option runs only the subtests that do not require user interaction and that do not take a long time to run Dell recommends that you choose this option first to increase the odds of tracing the source of the problem quickly For a complete check of your system select the Run All Tests option To check a particular area of your system select the Run Sp...

Page 113: ...rrow key to highlight a menu option The second line gives information about the option currently highlighted CAUTION While the diagnostic tests are running do not interrupt the tests do not unplug the AC adapter and do not reboot the computer Interrupting the tests in any of these ways could lead to the loss of system data It is important to quit the diagnostics program correctly because the progr...

Page 114: ...s Enter After reading the information press Esc to return to the previous screen Main Menu Options The Main menu of the diagnostics main screen lists eight options Run Select Subtest Options Test Limits About Key Help and Quit NOTE Before you run any test groups or subtests by selecting Run and then All you should consider setting global parameters within the Options option They offer you greater ...

Page 115: ...Options Test Limits About Key Help and Quit Menu Each of these options is explained in the following subsections Run Under Subtest Run in the Subtest menu displays five options One Selected All Key Help and Quit Menu If you select One only the highlighted subtest is run If you choose Selected only the selected subtests are run If you select All every subtest in the selected test group is run The s...

Page 116: ... down arrow key To change the values within fields use the left or right arrow key the Spacebar key or the plus and minus keys If the value within a field is numeric you can type in the number If you make a mistake type in zeros until the field is filled with zeros and then start again Table 1 Option Parameters Option Limit Possible Values Number of Times to Repeat Test s 0001 through 9999 or 0000...

Page 117: ...iskette The maximum error limit is reached To continue testing press any key If this parameter is set to No the diagnostics ignores subtests that require your interaction certain subtests can run only if this option is set to Yes because they require user interaction Set this parameter to No when you want to bypass subtests that require user interaction such as when you run the diagnostics overnig...

Page 118: ...mmand as described in Output Device for Status Messages After running particular diagnostic tests and viewing the error messages generated by the tests in the result file you can delete the contents of the file so that it is clear for the next set of messages generated Otherwise the next messages are added to the end of the previous ones in the file Test Limits NOTE The diagnostics program sets de...

Page 119: ...y because the program writes data to the computer s memory that can cause problems unless properly cleared Tests in the Dell Diagnostics The diagnostics is organized by components into test groups and subtests within each test group Each subtest is designed to detect any errors that may interfere with the normal operation of a specific device of the computer NOTE Any subtest requiring hardware not...

Page 120: ...ted touch pad external serial mouse or external PS 2 mouse Diskette Drives Change Line Test Seek Test Read Test Write Test Tests a drive that uses removable diskettes Also tests the associated controlling devices and important parts of the cabling Hard Disk Drives Non SCSI Disk Controller Test Forced Error Correction Code Test Seek Test Read Test Write Test Tests a drive that uses fixed internal d...

Page 121: ...internal microphone and speakers Other Fan Control Test Tests the function of the fan Error Messages When you run a test group or subtest in the diagnostics error messages may result These particular error messages are not covered in this guide because the errors that generate these messages can be resolved only with a technician s assistance Record the messages on a copy of the Diagnostics Checkl...

Page 122: ...parameter If you do not specify a filename when using the f parameter the test report is output to a file named result If you output to the printer the test file is output to LPT1 q c Runs the quick q or comprehensive c subtest The comprehensive subtest is the default value np Does not pause when an error occurs or a subtest finishes Pause p is the default value Why Run a RAM Test Faulty memory ca...

Page 123: ...re appears to malfunction and you confirm that the software itself is not at fault You can confirm that the software is functioning properly by moving it to another computer and running it there A PC Card you previously accessed can no longer be accessed The computer periodically locks up especially at different places and times in different programs Parity errors or page fault failures any error ...

Page 124: ... other functions Only the functions that can be activated by software are tested Interrupt Controller Test Generates an interrupt on each interrupt request IRQ line to verify that devices using that line can communicate with the microprocessor and that the interrupt controller sends the correct memory addresses to the microprocessor Coprocessor Calculation Test Checks the use of different types of...

Page 125: ...n the Video test group If the alignment of text or images is off regardless of the program you are running run the Text Mode Character Test Text Mode Pages Test and Graphics Mode Test If the color on the display or external monitor is intermittent or not displayed at all run the Text Mode Color Test Color Palettes Test and Solid Colors Test If your display or external monitor malfunctions in one m...

Page 126: ...Sometimes the configuration of a program changes the function of a key or key combination Similarly key configuration programs like ProKey can change a key s function Because these programs are memory resident be sure to clear them out of the computer s memory before running a subtest in the Keyboard test group Clear them from memory by booting the computer from the Dell Diagnostics Diskette When ...

Page 127: ...Sidekick or ProKey and failure of a device driver the software that controls the functions of a touch pad or mouse If these possibilities have been eliminated and the following symptoms persist run the Mouse test When you press a touch pad or mouse button the function of the button continues the button seems to be stuck If the response when you press a touch pad or mouse button is different from t...

Page 128: ...ines on the diskette cable Seek Test Checks the drive s ability to search for a specified track on the diskette and to position the read write heads of the drive to all tracks Read Test Positions the read write heads at each cylinder of the diskette and verifies that all tracks on the diskette can be read correctly Write Test Positions the read write heads at each cylinder of the diskette and veri...

Page 129: ...arch for a specified track on the drive and to position the read write heads of the drive to all tracks Read Test Positions the read write heads at each cylinder of the drive and verifies that all tracks on the drive can be read correctly Write Test Positions the read write heads at each cylinder of the drive and verifies that all tracks on the drive can be written to correctly IDE CD ROM Drives T...

Page 130: ...o track on an audio CD To determine if the test passed listen to the audio output of the drive NOTE The Audio Output Test does not run automatically as part of the IDE CD ROM Drives test group you must select this subtest individually Eject Removable Media Checks the drive s ability to eject the CD tray Serial Infrared Ports Test Group The subtests in the Serial Infrared Ports test group check the...

Page 131: ...elated to the external device connected to a port but corrections to the device do not resolve the error run the appropriate subtest in the Serial Infrared Ports test group Subtests The four subtests in the Serial Infrared Ports test group confirm the following port functions Serial Infrared Baud Rate Test Checks the baud rate generator in each serial communications chip against the computer s clo...

Page 132: ...ripherals or software errors they might also suggest a port problem If a peripheral works intermittently or produces intermittent errors the port may be faulty If the computer displays an error message that is related to the external device connected to a port but corrections to the device do not resolve the error run the appropriate subtest in the Parallel Ports test group If your software and th...

Page 133: ...ally large amount over 5 percent of the possible total should not be regarded as a cause for testing the hard disk drive These are the most common symptoms that might prompt you to test a SCSI device A SCSI hard disk drive fails during the boot routine Seek errors are reported by the operating system or application programs An error message appears on the screen stating that the computer cannot re...

Page 134: ...y Run a Network Interface Test Running a subtest in the Network Interface test group helps diagnose problems that may occur while using the computer in a network environment Most network failures are caused by one of the following Poor network connections Failure in the network controller Interrupt conflict the controller trying to use the same IRQ line as another device Software configuration err...

Page 135: ...you expect to it is possible that your operating system or sound application uses resource settings different from those of the audio controller in the computer In the absence of an expected sound first check the documentation that accompanied your operating system or sound application to see if the sound features are correctly configured to work with the computer The default resource settings for...

Page 136: ...he tones Type y if you hear the tones otherwise type n The third interactive test the Record and Playback Test checks the computer s built in microphone and speaker s When prompted press any key on the built in keyboard and say your name in a normal tone of voice NOTE After you press the key you have only a few seconds to speak your name When prompted again hit any key on the built in keyboard to ...

Page 137: ...st Checks the video subsystem s ability to present graphics mode data and colors Color Palettes Test Checks the video subsystem s ability to display all available colors Solid Colors Test Checks the video subsystem s ability to show screens full of solid colors and to display all pixels All of these tests except the Video Memory Test and the Video Hardware Test are interactive These interactive te...

Page 138: ...e normal intensity video reverse video intensified video and blinking video Character Set Subtest 80 x 25 The 80 column x 25 line character set subtest displays all 256 characters in the American Standard Code for Information Interchange ASCII character set in 80 column by 25 line text mode Figure 1 shows part of the character set subtest screen Figure 1 80 Column x 25 Line Character Set Subtest S...

Page 139: ... unique foreground color and each column has a unique background color Where the same foreground and background color intersect the hexadecimal number is not visible Type y if each character is displayed correctly otherwise type n Table 1 indicates the color in each of the rows and columns Table 1 Color Attributes Row or Column Number Foreground Color Background Color 0 black black 1 blue blue 2 g...

Page 140: ...hrough 7 for the zeros Type y if all the rows of numbers on each screen are displayed correctly otherwise type n Graphics Mode Test The Graphics Mode Test checks the video subsystem s ability to present graphics mode data and colors This test displays a number of different screens each of which allows you to check some aspect of graphics mode data and colors The following subsections describe the ...

Page 141: ... 640 x 480 pixel 16 color graphics mode screen displays a series of stars in 16 different colors with the name of the color beneath each star Type y if all the stars are the correct colors otherwise type n 320 x 200 256 Color Graphics Mode Screen The 320 x 200 pixel 256 color graphics mode screen displays a series of squares in 256 different color hues and intensities Type y if all the squares are...

Page 142: ...different shade of its associated color ranging from very light to very dark Type y if all the squares are the correct colors otherwise type n The second screen is the red green blue RGB color combination screen This screen allows you to test the ability of the display or monitor to increase or decrease the intensity of the three basic colors The RGB color combination screen displays an RGB box in...

Page 143: ...tion If the problem persists call Dell for technical Assistance See Getting Help for instructions Bad command or file name The command you entered does not exist or is not in the pathname you specified Make sure that you have typed the command correctly placed spaces in the proper location and used the correct pathname Cache disabled due to failure The primary cache internal to the microprocessor ...

Page 144: ...drive and reboot the computer If the problem persists try another drive Then run the Hard Disk Drive test group in the Dell Diagnostics For instructions see Running the Dell Diagnostics Hard disk drive controller failure 1 The CD ROM drive does not respond to commands from the computer Hard disk drive failure The hard disk drive does not respond to commands from the computer Turn off the computer ...

Page 145: ...lled memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Memory double word logic failure at address read value expecting value An installed memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Memory odd even logic failure at address read value expecting value An installed memory module may be faulty or improperly seated Memory write read failure at address read value expecting value An installed memory...

Page 146: ...Help Time of day clock stopped The reserve battery that supports the data stored in NVRAM may be read Connect your computer to AC power to charge the battery If the problem persists call Dell for technical assistance For instructions see Getting Help Time of day not set please run the System Setup program The time or date stored in the System Setup program does not watch the system clock Correct t...

Page 147: ...ell Diagnostics for instructions If the program does not load call Dell for technical assistance For instructions see Getting Help 1 2 2 DMA initialization failure Run the System Set test group in the Dell Diagnostics See Running the Dell Diagnostics for instructions If the program does not load call Dell for technical assistance For instructions see Getting Help 1 2 3 DMA page register write read...

Page 148: ...ailure Call Dell for technical assistance For instructions see Getting Help 4 3 4 Time of day clock stopped Call Dell for technical assistance For instructions see Getting Help 4 4 1 Serial port failure Run the Serial Infrared Ports test group in the Dell Diagnostics For instructions see Running the Dell Diagnostics 5 1 2 No usable memory Run the RAM test group in the Dell Diagnostics For instruct...

Page 149: ...that the drive requires the attention of the microprocessor Memory Allocations Table 4 provides a map of the conventional memory area When the microprocessor or a program addresses a location within the conventional memory range it is physically addressing a location in main memory NOTE To view memory allocations in Windows 95 and Windows 98 click the Start button point to Settings and click Contr...

Page 150: ...the device NOTE To view I O addresses in Windows 95 and Windows 98 click the Start button point to Settings and click Control Panel Double click the System icon Click the Device Manager tab and then double click Computer Table 6 I O Memory Map Address Device 0000 001F DMA controller 1 0020 003F Interrupt controller 1 0040 005F System timers 0060 006F Keyboard controller 0070 007F RTC and NMI enabl...

Page 151: ...03F0 03F7 Diskette controller 03F8 03FF COM1 0530 0537 Audio controller 0078 077B ECP registers ECE0 ECFF USB controller FFA0 FFAF PCI IDE bus registers Back to Contents Page ...

Page 152: ... refer to Technical Support Service and Before You Call Help Tools Dell provides a number of tools to assist you These tools are described in the following sections NOTE Some of the following tools are not always available in all locations outside the continental U S Please call your local Dell representative for information on availability World Wide Web on the Internet The Internet is your most ...

Page 153: ...asked by Dell customers When you call AutoTech you use your touch tone telephone to select the subjects that correspond to your questions You can even interrupt an AutoTech session and continue the session later The code number that the AutoTech service gives you allows you to continue your session where you ended it The AutoTech service is available 24 hours a day seven days a week You can also a...

Page 154: ...mbers Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Prepare all items being returned whether for repair or credit as follows 1 Call Dell to obtain an authorization number and write it clearly and prominently on the outside of the box For the telephone number to call refer to Dell Contact Numbers 2 Include a copy of the invoice and a letter describing the reason for the return 3 Include a copy of t...

Page 155: ...and dial the international access code for France followed by the country code for the U K the city code for Bracknell and then the local number as shown in the following illustration To place a long distance call within your own country use area codes instead of international access codes country codes and city codes For example to call Paris France from Montpellier France dial the area code plus...

Page 156: ...da 95 52 5 Netherlands Amsterdam 00 31 20 New Zealand 00 64 Norway Lysaker 095 47 Not required Poland Warsaw 011 48 22 Singapore Singapore 005 65 Not required South Africa Johannesburg 09 091 27 11 Spain Madrid 07 34 1 Sweden Upplands Vasby 009 46 8 Switzerland Geneva 00 41 22 Taiwan 002 886 Thailand 001 66 U K Bracknell 010 44 1344 U S A Austin Texas 011 1 Not required Table 2 Dell Contact Number...

Page 157: ...Sales Federal government education and medical toll free 1 800 567 7542 Sales Major Accounts toll free 1 800 387 5755 TechConnect BBS Austin Texas U S A 512 728 8528 TechFax toll free 1 800 950 1329 Chile Santiago NOTE Customers in Chile call the U S A for sales customer and technical assistance Sales Customer Support and Technical Support toll free 1230 020 4823 China Xiamen Customer Service toll...

Page 158: ...upport dell com Italy Milan Technical Support 2 57782 690 Customer Care 2 57782 555 Sales 2 57782 411 Fax 2 57503530 Switchboard 2 57782 1 Fax 57503530 Web site support euro dell com it E mail support_italy dell com Japan Kawasaki Technical Support toll free 0088 22 7890 Customer Care 044 556 4240 Direct Sales 044 556 3344 Commercial Sales 044 556 3430 556 3440 Switchboard 044 556 4300 Korea Seoul...

Page 159: ...Amsterdam Customer Technical Support 020 5818838 Home Small Business Sales toll free 0800 0663 Home Small Business SalesFax 020 682 7171 Corporate Sales 020 581 8818 Corporate SalesFax 020 686 8003 Fax 020 686 8003 Switchboard 020 581 8818 Web site support euro dell com nl New Zealand Technical Support 0800 446 255 Customer Service 0800 444 617 Sales 0800 441 567 Fax 0800 441 566 Norway Lysaker NO...

Page 160: ...tech dell com Taiwan NOTE Customers in Taiwan call Malaysia for customer assistance Technical Support toll free 0080 651 226 0800 33 557 Customer Service Penang Malaysia 810 4949 Transaction Sales toll free 0080 651 228 0800 33 556 Corporate Sales toll free 0080 651 227 0800 33 555 Thailand NOTE Customers in Thailand call Malaysia for customer assistance Technical Support toll free 0880 060 07 Cus...

Page 161: ...00 289 3355 1 800 879 3355 Spare Parts Sales toll free 1 800 357 3355 DellWare toll free 1 800 753 7201 DellWare FaxBack Service 512 728 1681 Fee Based Technical Support toll free 1 800 433 9005 Sales Catalogs toll free 1 800 426 5150 Fax toll free 1 800 727 8320 TechFax toll free 1 800 950 1329 TechConnect BBS 512 728 8528 Switchboard 512 338 4400 For technical assistance in this country after no...

Page 162: ...m displays the setting you selected rather than the setting currently in effect You must reboot for the new setting to take effect After you set up your computer run the System Setup program to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information and optional settings Dell recommends that you write down the information for future reference NOTES If the computer uses the Microsoft Window...

Page 163: ...ation information and optional settings for your computer Information on the screens is organized in five boxed areas Title The box at the top of all screens lists the page number system name and version number of the basic input output system BIOS Options The box on the left half of screens 1 2 and 4 lists options that define the installed hardware in your computer and the power conservation and ...

Page 164: ... for the data in your computer However they are not foolproof If your data requires more security it is your responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of protection such as data encryption programs or PC Cards with encryption features Alarm Resume The Alarm Resume option directs the computer to resume normal operation when it is in suspend mode and detects an alarm from the real time clock...

Page 165: ...s Battery Status page 3 of the System Setup screens is a graphical representation of the approximate amount of charge left in the main and secondary batteries There are no user selectable settings for this option If there is no battery installed in the main battery compartment or in the modular bay the battery gauge illustration says Battery Status Not Installed If you are not in the System Setup ...

Page 166: ... must reboot your computer Boot Third Device If the system cannot find the software it needs to start the operating system on the drive identified in Boot Second Device it will search the device named in this option Settings for the option are None the default Internal HDD Causes your computer to attempt to boot from the hard disk drive Diskette Drive Causes your computer to attempt to boot from t...

Page 167: ...ys the day of the week corresponding to the settings in the three fields that follow month day of the month and year A change to the Date option becomes effective immediately rebooting is not required However you must reboot to make the change apparent to the operating system To change the date press the right arrow key to increase the number in the highlighted field or press the left arrow key to...

Page 168: ...cess the diskette drive to run at their optimum speed Settings are At Reboot Only and Any Time When Diskette Reconfig is set to Any Time the default you do not have to reboot after installing a diskette drive in the modular bay or attaching a diskette drive to the parallel connector on the back of the computer However some application programs such as virus scans that access the diskette drive wil...

Page 169: ...n keyboard Set this option to Scroll Lock the default if you are using an external keyboard Set this option to Not Installed to disable this function on the external keyboard Infrared Data Port Infrared Data Port allows you to avoid resource conflicts by remapping the address of the infrared ports or disabling the port The COM1 COM2 COM3 and COM4 settings allow you to take advantage of the compute...

Page 170: ...mulated key clicks is controlled by the setting in the Click Volume option Settings for this option are Disabled the default and Enabled A change to the Keyboard Click option takes effect immediately rebooting is not required Modular Bay Modular Bay identifies the kind of device Diskette Drive Battery or CD ROM Drive that is installed in the modular bay If there is no device in the modular bay or ...

Page 171: ... option are Touch Pad PS 2 Mouse the default Serial Mouse Disables the touch pad and allows you to use a mouse connected to the serial connector on the I O port If you want to use a serial mouse you must first set the Pointing Device option to Serial Mouse For a change in the Pointing Device option to take effect you must reboot your computer Power Management Power Management Page 4 of the System ...

Page 172: ...r In order for the Ring Event Resume option to work properly this feature must be enabled in the device driver for your modem PC Card All drivers supplied by Dell with your computer are configured to allow the computer to resume normal operation when a modem receives an incoming call If you use a PC Card that you did not receive from Dell check the documentation to make sure this feature is set to...

Page 173: ...stance The code helps Dell s automated support telephone system direct your call more efficiently Smart CPU Mode Smart CPU Mode allows the computer to slow down the microprocessor automatically if it is not being actively used Settings for this option are Enabled Allows the computer to slow down the microprocessor when it is inactive Disabled Keeps the microprocessor running at its normal operatin...

Page 174: ...on to Disabled if using it causes compatibility problems with your software A change to the Suspend Time Out option takes effect immediately rebooting is not required If you are not in the System Setup program you can activate suspend mode at any time by pressing Fn Esc The computer resumes normal operation automatically when you press a key on the built in keyboard System Memory System Memory dis...

Page 175: ...an one C Port APR and want to minimize the initialization time when you connect the replicator to the computer When this category is set to Disabled the C Port APR is reinitialized each time it is connected to the computer Video Memory Video Memory displays the amount of video memory installed on the system board There are no user selectable settings for this option Back to Contents Page ...

Page 176: ...st Checks the video subsystem s ability to present graphics mode data and colors Color Palettes Test Checks the video subsystem s ability to display all available colors Solid Colors Test Checks the video subsystem s ability to show screens full of solid colors and to display all pixels All of these tests except the Video Memory Test and the Video Hardware Test are interactive These interactive te...

Page 177: ...normal intensity video reverse video intensified video and blinking video Character Set Subtest 80 x 25 The 80 column by 25 line character set subtest displays all 256 characters in the American Standard Code for Information Interchange ASCII character set in 80 column by 25 line text mode Figure 1 shows part of the character set subtest screen Figure 1 80 Column by 25 Line Character Set Subtest S...

Page 178: ...a unique foreground color and each column has a unique background color Where the same foreground and background color intersect the hexadecimal number is not visible Type y if each character is displayed correctly otherwise type n Table 1 indicates the color in each of the rows and columns Table 1 Color Attributes Row or Column Number Foreground Color Background Color 0 black black 1 blue blue 2 ...

Page 179: ...through 7 for the zeros Type y if all the rows of numbers on each screen are displayed correctly otherwise type n Graphics Mode Test The Graphics Mode Test checks the video subsystem s ability to present graphics mode data and colors This test displays a number of different screens each of which allows you to check some aspect of graphics mode data and colors The following subsections describe the...

Page 180: ... 640 x 480 pixel 16 color graphics mode screen displays a series of stars in 16 different colors with the name of the color beneath each star Type y if all the stars are the correct colors otherwise type n 320 x 200 256 Color Graphics Mode Screen The 320 x 200 pixel 256 color graphics mode screen displays a series of squares in 256 different color hues and intensities Type y if all the squares are...

Page 181: ...different shade of its associated color ranging from very light to very dark Type y if all the squares are the correct colors otherwise type n The second screen is the red green blue RGB color combination screen This screen allows you to test the ability of the display or monitor to increase or decrease the intensity of the three basic colors The RGB color combination screen displays an RGB box in...

Page 182: ...ing this program with other computers may cause incorrect computer responses or result in misleading error messages NOTE If the computer does not boot call Dell for technical assistance See Getting Help for instructions Features of the Dell Diagnostics To troubleshoot components or devices run the appropriate test test group or subtest in the diagnostics on your Dell Diagnostics Diskette The diagn...

Page 183: ...attached and make sure it is online 3 Confirm the computer s system configuration information and enable all of its components and devices such as ports For instructions see Using the System Setup Program 4 Disable all system setup options for power management For instructions see Power Management 5 Attach an AC adapter to the computer Although it is possible to run the Dell Diagnostics on a compu...

Page 184: ...our system select the Run Quick Tests option This option runs only the subtests that do not require user interaction and that do not take a long time to run Dell recommends that you choose this option first to increase the odds of tracing the source of the problem quickly For a complete check of your system select the Run All Tests option To check a particular area of your system select the Run Sp...

Page 185: ...rrow key to highlight a menu option The second line gives information about the option currently highlighted CAUTION While the diagnostic tests are running do not interrupt the tests do not unplug the AC adapter and do not reboot the computer Interrupting the tests in any of these ways could lead to the loss of system data It is important to quit the diagnostics program correctly because the progr...

Page 186: ...s Enter After reading the information press Esc to return to the previous screen Main Menu Options The Main menu of the diagnostics main screen lists eight options Run Select Subtest Options Test Limits About Key Help and Quit NOTE Before you run any test groups or subtests by selecting Run and then All you should consider setting global parameters within the Options option They offer you greater ...

Page 187: ...Options Test Limits About Key Help and Quit Menu Each of these options is explained in the following subsections Run Under Subtest Run in the Subtest menu displays five options One Selected All Key Help and Quit Menu If you select One only the highlighted subtest is run If you choose Selected only the selected subtests are run If you select All every subtest in the selected test group is run The s...

Page 188: ... down arrow key To change the values within fields use the left or right arrow key the Spacebar key or the plus and minus keys If the value within a field is numeric you can type in the number If you make a mistake type in zeros until the field is filled with zeros and then start again Table 1 Option Parameters Option Limit Possible Values Number of Times to Repeat Test s 0001 through 9999 or 0000...

Page 189: ...iskette The maximum error limit is reached To continue testing press any key If this parameter is set to No the diagnostics ignores subtests that require your interaction certain subtests can run only if this option is set to Yes because they require user interaction Set this parameter to No when you want to bypass subtests that require user interaction such as when you run the diagnostics overnig...

Page 190: ...mmand as described in Output Device for Status Messages After running particular diagnostic tests and viewing the error messages generated by the tests in the result file you can delete the contents of the file so that it is clear for the next set of messages generated Otherwise the next messages are added to the end of the previous ones in the file Test Limits NOTE The diagnostics program sets de...

Page 191: ...y because the program writes data to the computer s memory that can cause problems unless properly cleared Tests in the Dell Diagnostics The diagnostics is organized by components into test groups and subtests within each test group Each subtest is designed to detect any errors that may interfere with the normal operation of a specific device of the computer NOTE Any subtest requiring hardware not...

Page 192: ...ted touch pad external serial mouse or external PS 2 mouse Diskette Drives Change Line Test Seek Test Read Test Write Test Tests a drive that uses removable diskettes Also tests the associated controlling devices and important parts of the cabling Hard Disk Drives Non SCSI Disk Controller Test Forced Error Correction Code Test Seek Test Read Test Write Test Tests a drive that uses fixed internal d...

Page 193: ...internal microphone and speakers Other Fan Control Test Tests the function of the fan Error Messages When you run a test group or subtest in the diagnostics error messages may result These particular error messages are not covered in this guide because the errors that generate these messages can be resolved only with a technician s assistance Record the messages on a copy of the Diagnostics Checkl...

Page 194: ...parameter If you do not specify a filename when using the f parameter the test report is output to a file named result If you output to the printer the test file is output to LPT1 q c Runs the quick q or comprehensive c subtest The comprehensive subtest is the default value np Does not pause when an error occurs or a subtest finishes Pause p is the default value Why Run a RAM Test Faulty memory ca...

Page 195: ...re appears to malfunction and you confirm that the software itself is not at fault You can confirm that the software is functioning properly by moving it to another computer and running it there A PC Card you previously accessed can no longer be accessed The computer periodically locks up especially at different places and times in different programs Parity errors or page fault failures any error ...

Page 196: ... other functions Only the functions that can be activated by software are tested Interrupt Controller Test Generates an interrupt on each interrupt request IRQ line to verify that devices using that line can communicate with the microprocessor and that the interrupt controller sends the correct memory addresses to the microprocessor Coprocessor Calculation Test Checks the use of different types of...

Page 197: ...n the Video test group If the alignment of text or images is off regardless of the program you are running run the Text Mode Character Test Text Mode Pages Test and Graphics Mode Test If the color on the display or external monitor is intermittent or not displayed at all run the Text Mode Color Test Color Palettes Test and Solid Colors Test If your display or external monitor malfunctions in one m...

Page 198: ...Sometimes the configuration of a program changes the function of a key or key combination Similarly key configuration programs like ProKey can change a key s function Because these programs are memory resident be sure to clear them out of the computer s memory before running a subtest in the Keyboard test group Clear them from memory by booting the computer from the Dell Diagnostics Diskette When ...

Page 199: ...Sidekick or ProKey and failure of a device driver the software that controls the functions of a touch pad or mouse If these possibilities have been eliminated and the following symptoms persist run the Mouse test When you press a touch pad or mouse button the function of the button continues the button seems to be stuck If the response when you press a touch pad or mouse button is different from t...

Page 200: ...ines on the diskette cable Seek Test Checks the drive s ability to search for a specified track on the diskette and to position the read write heads of the drive to all tracks Read Test Positions the read write heads at each cylinder of the diskette and verifies that all tracks on the diskette can be read correctly Write Test Positions the read write heads at each cylinder of the diskette and veri...

Page 201: ...arch for a specified track on the drive and to position the read write heads of the drive to all tracks Read Test Positions the read write heads at each cylinder of the drive and verifies that all tracks on the drive can be read correctly Write Test Positions the read write heads at each cylinder of the drive and verifies that all tracks on the drive can be written to correctly IDE CD ROM Drives T...

Page 202: ...o track on an audio CD To determine if the test passed listen to the audio output of the drive NOTE The Audio Output Test does not run automatically as part of the IDE CD ROM Drives test group you must select this subtest individually Eject Removable Media Checks the drive s ability to eject the CD tray Serial Infrared Ports Test Group The subtests in the Serial Infrared Ports test group check the...

Page 203: ...elated to the external device connected to a port but corrections to the device do not resolve the error run the appropriate subtest in the Serial Infrared Ports test group Subtests The four subtests in the Serial Infrared Ports test group confirm the following port functions Serial Infrared Baud Rate Test Checks the baud rate generator in each serial communications chip against the computer s clo...

Page 204: ...ripherals or software errors they might also suggest a port problem If a peripheral works intermittently or produces intermittent errors the port may be faulty If the computer displays an error message that is related to the external device connected to a port but corrections to the device do not resolve the error run the appropriate subtest in the Parallel Ports test group If your software and th...

Page 205: ...ally large amount over 5 percent of the possible total should not be regarded as a cause for testing the hard disk drive These are the most common symptoms that might prompt you to test a SCSI device A SCSI hard disk drive fails during the boot routine Seek errors are reported by the operating system or application programs An error message appears on the screen stating that the computer cannot re...

Page 206: ...y Run a Network Interface Test Running a subtest in the Network Interface test group helps diagnose problems that may occur while using the computer in a network environment Most network failures are caused by one of the following Poor network connections Failure in the network controller Interrupt conflict the controller trying to use the same IRQ line as another device Software configuration err...

Page 207: ...you expect to it is possible that your operating system or sound application uses resource settings different from those of the audio controller in the computer In the absence of an expected sound first check the documentation that accompanied your operating system or sound application to see if the sound features are correctly configured to work with the computer The default resource settings for...

Page 208: ...he tones Type y if you hear the tones otherwise type n The third interactive test the Record and Playback Test checks the computer s built in microphone and speaker s When prompted press any key on the built in keyboard and say your name in a normal tone of voice NOTE After you press the key you have only a few seconds to speak your name When prompted again hit any key on the built in keyboard to ...

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