Dell 1525, 1526 owner manual Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive

Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive

The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive.

NOTE: If your computer cannot display a screen image, contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 160).

NOTE: If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked), undock it. See the documentation that came with your docking device for instructions.

1Ensure that the computer is connected to an electrical outlet that is known to be working properly.

2Turn on (or restart) your computer.

3Start the Dell Diagnostics in one of the following two ways:

aWhen the DELL™ logo appears, press <F12> immediately. Select Diagnostics from the boot menu, and then press <Enter>.

NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop, then shut down your computer and try again.

NOTE: Before attempting option B, the computer must be powered down completely.

bPress and hold the <Fn> key while powering the computer on.

NOTE: If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, run the Dell Diagnostics from your Drivers and Utilities media.

The computer runs the Pre-boot System Assessment, a series of initial tests of your system board, keyboard, hard drive, and display.

•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 Pre-boot System Assessment, write down the error code(s) and contact Dell.

If the Pre-boot System Assessment completes successfully, you receive the message Booting Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition. Press any key to continue.

4Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive.

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Troubleshooting