When troubleshooting your computer, remember the following safety guidelines:
•Before touching any of the computer’s internal components, touch an unpainted portion of the chassis. Doing so will safely discharge any static electricity, which could damage your computer.
•Turn off your computer and any connected peripherals.
•Disconnect any peripherals from your computer.
Things to check before troubleshooting:
•Ensure that the AC adapter cable is properly connected between your computer and a grounded,
•Ensure the UPS or power strip is turned on (if applicable).
•If your peripheral devices (e.g. keyboard, mouse, printer, etc.) are not working, ensure that all connections are secure.
•If any computer components were added or removed before the problem began, check to see if you performed the installation or removal procedures properly.
•If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact error message prior to calling Alienware Technical Support to aid in diagnosing and resolving your issue.
•If an error occurs in a specific program, see the program’s documentation.
Software Diagnostic Tools
Pre-Boot System Assessment (PSA)
The computer runs the
To invoke PSA:
1.Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2.Press <F12> to access the Boot Menu.
3.Select Diagnostics from the menu and press <Enter>.
During the assessment, answer any questions that appear.
•If a failure is detected, the computer stops and beeps. To stop the assessment and restart the computer, press <n>; to continue to the next test, press <y>; to retest the component that failed, press <r>.
•If failures are detected during the
If the
If you are experiencing memory issues, press <y> else press <n>. The following message is displayed:
CHAPTER 6: TROUBLESHOOTING
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