Dell OptiPlex GXa, Service Manual

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Basic Troubleshooting 2-9
•
Serial Ports Tests — Check the computer’s interface with external devices
connected through the serial ports
•
Parallel Port Tests — Check the computer’s interface with external devices
connected through the parallel port
•
Network Interface Tests — Verify the basic operation of the network inter-
face controller, including read and write access to its registers and internal
transmit and receive capability
Diskette-Based Diagnostics
The OptiPlex GXa systems use either diskette-based or server-based (EM sys-
tems only) diagnostics. The OptiPlex NX systems use either server-based, hard-
disk–based or optionally diskette-based diagnostics using an external diskette-
drive kit connected to the computer as shown in Figure 2-1 and described in the
following procedure.
The diskette-based diagnostics contains the same tests as the server-based and
hard-disk–based diagnostics. These tests aid in troubleshooting all major com-
ponents of the computer.
Connecting an External Diskette Drive to the NX Computer
Figure 2-1. Connecting an External Diskette Drive to the NX
Computer
CAUTION: To prevent damage to the original diagnostics diskette,
always use a backup copy of the diagnostics diskette when servicing a
user’s computer. Dell recommends that users make several copies of the
original diskette to ensure that one is always available.
P3
hard-disk drive
Y-cable
external diskette drive
interface cable