United States December 16, 2002
Maintenance & Service Guide
Presario 5800 Series Personal Computers
MSG Index
|
Troubleshooting
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 to identify some quick checks for common problems.
Solving Minor Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
Computer will not turn on
Ensure that the computer is connected to a working
power source.
Computer date and time display is
incorrect
The real-time clock (RTC) battery may need to be
replaced. See
.
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.
Solving Diskette Drive Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
Diskette drive light stays on
1. Diskette may be damaged. In Windows 95 or 98,
run ScanDisk. Click Start =>
Programs=>Accessories=> System
Tools=>Scandisk to check for problems.
2. Diskette is incorrectly inserted. Remove the
diskette and reinsert.
3. Software program may be damaged. Check the
program diskettes.
4. Drive cable is not properly connected. Reconnect
the drive cable.
Diskette drive cannot write to a
diskette
1. Diskette is not formatted. Format the diskette.
2. Diskette is write-protected. 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.
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.
Solving Monitor Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
Dim characters
1. The brightness and contrast controls are not set
properly. Adjust the brightness and contrast
controls.
2. Cables are not properly connected. Check that the
video cable is securely connected to the video card
and the monitor.
3. The RGB switch on the back of the monitor is
incorrectly set. Set the RGB switch (and sync
options, if this option is available) to 75 ohms, with
the sync set to "external." Refer to the
documentation included with the monitor.
Blank screen
1. Monitor is not turned on and the monitor light is
not on. Turn on the monitor and check that the
monitor light is on.
2. An energy saver feature has been enabled. Press
any key or click the mouse button, and if it is set,
type your password.
3. The brightness needs adjusting. Adjust the
brightness control.
4. System is in Sleep mode. Press the Sleep button
to wake up.
5. The cable connections are not correct. Check the
cable connection from the monitor to the computer
and to the electrical outlet.
Garbled characters on the screen
are mixed with text
Check the monitor connection. Ensure that the
monitor is capable of supporting the resolution that
the computer is using. If using the DOS
environment, you may need the ANSI.SYS driver.
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 keypad
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.
Video colors are wrong
The cable or monitor impedance is incorrect.
1. If you are using BNC cables, be sure that the Red,
Green and Blue BNC cables are connected to the
corresponding monitor connectors.
2. Be sure RGB inputs on the monitor are set to 75
ohms.
Blurry display or requested resolution
cannot be set
If the graphics controller was upgraded, the correct
display drivers may not be loaded. Install the display
drivers on the diskette included in the upgrade kit.
The picture is broken up, or it rolls,
jitters, or blinks
The monitor connections may be incomplete or the
monitor may be incorrectly adjusted.
1. Be sure the monitor cable is securely connected
to the computer.
2. If another monitor is in close proximity, be sure
the electromagnetic field in each monitor is not
interfering with the other by moving them apart.
Solving Hard Drive Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
Hard drive error occurs
Hard disk has bad sectors or has failed. Replace
hard drive.
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.
Solving 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 CD
CD is not properly seated in the drive. Turn off the
computer, insert a thin metal rod, such as a paper
clip, into the emergency eject hole, then push
firmly. Slowly pull the tray out from the drive until
the tray is fully extended, then remove the CD.
CD drive devices are not detected or
driver is not loaded
1. CD drive is not connected properly or not properly
terminated. Open the computer and check to see
that the drive cable is connected properly.
2. Ensure that the correct driver is installed in
CONFIG.SYS.
3. If drive has been changed, make sure the jumper
setting is set for cable select.
CD does not work in the DOS mode
Proper drivers are not loaded. Restart the system
and make sure the CD drive drivers are loaded.
Solving 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 disk may be dirty or scratched. Load
another DVD disk.
DVD movie does not work in the DOS
mode.
DVD will only operate as a CD drive. Make sure that
proper drivers are loaded. Restart the system and
make sure the Optical drive driver is loaded to
enable the DVD drive to operate as a CD drive.
Cannot eject DVD disk
1. 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.
Close the application that is using the CD/DVD, then
press eject.
2. The system is in the Sleep mode. Press the Power
button to bring the system back to full power, then
eject the DVD.
NOTE:
The system will not go into
Sleep mode while playing a DVD movie.
3. DVD disk is not properly seated in the drive. Turn
off the computer, insert a thin metal rod, such as a
paper clip, into the emergency eject hole, 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 that the correct driver is installed in
CONFIG.SYS.
3. If drive has been changed, make sure the jumper
setting is set for cable select.
Proper drivers are not loaded.
Restart the system and make sure the DVD drive
drivers are loaded.
DVD drive delays to start my autorun
CDs.
A DVD drive needs to identify the media descriptor
file from the CD/DVD and this may take some time.
DVD will not start to play like a CD
DVDs are not autoplay like a CD. Go to the Desktop
and click on the DVD player icon.
DVD movie does not fill the screen
Generally, DVD media are dual sided. One side
contains the full screen format, and the other has
the wide screen format. Eject the DVD movie and
place the appropriate format facing up.
Solving for USB Problems
Problem
Possible Solution
USB device does not work with the
system.
The USB device and the system should interoperate.
Ensure that the correct driver is installed. Check
product documentation or the vendor's Web site for
updated drivers.
