•A faulty cable between the I/O port and the periph- eral device
•A faulty peripheral device
•Incorrect settings in the system setup program
•Incorrect settings in the system’s configuration files
•Faulty I/O port logic on the system board
NOTE: With certain modems installed, subtests in the Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group may fail because the modem appears to the diagnostics as a serial port, but it cannot be tested as a serial port. If you have a modem installed and you experience a
Troubleshooting the Basic I/O Functions
This procedure determines whether the computer’s basic I/O functions are operational. If a system error message indicates an I/O port problem or the device connected to the port does not function properly, follow these steps:
1.Enter the system setup program, and check the settings for the Configuration Mode and Mouse categories.
Is the Configuration Mode category set to Auto, and is the Mouse category set to Installed?
Yes. Go to step 3.
No. Continue to step 2.
2.Change the setting for the Configuration Mode category to Auto, and change the setting for the Mouse category to Installed; then reboot the system.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. You have fixed the problem. No. Continue to step 3.
3.Check the contents of the start-up files.
See “Installing and Configuring Software” in Chap- ter 4.
Are the port configuration commands correct? Yes. Go to step 5.
No. Continue to step 4.
4.Change the necessary statements in the start-up files.
If the port problem is confined to a particular appli- cation program, see the application program’s documentation for specific port configuration requirements.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. You have fixed the problem. No. Continue to step 5.
5.Reboot the system from the Dell Server Assistant CD, and run the Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group and/or the Parallel Port Test Group in the system diagnostics.
See Chapter 5, “Running the System Diagnostics.”
The Serial/Infrared Ports Test Group and the Parallel Ports Test Group test the basic functions of the sys- tem board’s I/O port logic. Also, if a parallel printer is connected to the parallel port, the Parallel Ports Test Group tests the communications link between the system board’s I/O port logic and the printer.
Do the tests complete successfully? Yes. Continue to step 6.
No. See Chapter 11, “Getting Help,” for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
6.If the problem persists, go to “Troubleshooting a Parallel Printer” or “Troubleshooting a Serial I/O Device” later in this section, depending on which device appears to be malfunctioning.
Checking the Equipment |