If it becomes necessary to call for technical assistance, be prepared to do the following to ensure that your
service call is handled properly:
●
Be in front of your computer when you call.
●
Write down the computer serial number, product ID number, and monitor serial number before calling.
●
Spend time troubleshooting the problem with the service technician.
●
Remove any hardware that was recently added to your system.
●
Remove any software that was recently installed.
●
Restore the system from the Recovery Disc Set that you created or restore the system to its original
factory condition in System Software Requirement Disks (SSRD).
IMPORTANT:
Restoring the system will erase all data on the hard drive. Be sure to back up all data files
before running the restore process.
NOTE:
For sales information and warranty upgrades (Care Packs), call your local authorized service provider
or dealer.
Helpful hints
If you encounter problems with the computer, monitor, or software, see the following list of general
suggestions before taking further action:
●
Check that the computer and monitor are plugged into a working electrical outlet.
●
Check that the voltage select switch (some models) is set to the appropriate voltage for your region (115
V or 230 V).
●
Check that the computer is turned on and the white power light is on.
●
Check that the monitor is turned on and the green monitor light is on.
●
Check the Power LED on the front of the computer to see if it is flashing red. The flashing lights are error
codes that will help you diagnose the problem. See
POST error messages and diagnostic front panel
LEDs and audible codes on page 73
for more information.
●
Turn up the brightness and contrast controls of the monitor if the monitor is dim.
●
Press and hold any key. If the system beeps, then the keyboard should be operating correctly.
●
Check all cable connections for loose connections or incorrect connections.
●
Wake the computer by pressing any key on the keyboard or pressing the power button. If the system
remains in suspend mode, shut down the computer by pressing and holding the power button for at
least 4 s then press the power button again to restart the computer. If the system will not shut down,
unplug the power cord, wait a few seconds, then plug it in again. The computer will restart if it is set to
power on automatically as soon as power is restored in Computer Setup. If it does not restart, press the
power button to start the computer.
●
Reconfigure the computer after installing a non-plug and play expansion board or other option. See
Solving hardware installation problems on page 62
for instructions.
●
Be sure that all the needed device drivers have been installed. For example, if you are using a printer,
you need a driver for that model printer.
●
Remove all bootable media (CD/DVD or USB device) from the system before turning it on.
46
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting without diagnostics
