Finding Software Solutions
Because most computers have several application pro- grams installed in addition to the operating system, isolating a software problem can be confusing. Software errors can also appear to be hardware malfunctions at first. Software problems can result from the following circumstances:
•Improper installation or configuration of a program
•Input errors
•Drivers that may conflict with certain application programs
•Memory conflicts resulting from the use of
•Interrupt conflicts between devices
You can confirm that a computer problem is caused by software by first running the System Set test group as described in Chapter 4, “Running the Dell Diagnostics.” If all tests in the test group complete successfully, the error condition is most likely caused by software.
The following subsections provide general guidelines for analyzing some software problems. For detailed trouble- shooting information on a particular program, see the online documentation that accompanied the software or consult the support service for the software.
Installing and Configuring Software
When you obtain software, check it for viruses using
Before installing a program, read its documentation to learn how the program works, what hardware it requires, and what its defaults are. A program usually includes installation instructions in its accompanying documenta- tion and a software installation routine on its program diskettes.
The software installation routine assists you in transfer- ring the appropriate program files to the computer’s
When you run the installation routine, be prepared to respond to prompts for information about how the computer’s operating system is configured, what type of computer you have, and what peripherals are connected to the computer.
Start-Up Files
Whenever you start or reboot the computer, the operating system executes commands from its
These files contain commands that automatically config- ure the operating system by setting system parameters, starting
Using Software
The following subsections discuss errors that can occur while using software.
Error Messages
Error messages can be produced by an application pro- gram, the operating system, or the computer. “Messages and Codes,” found earlier in this chapter, discusses the error messages generated by the computer. If you receive an error message not listed in “Messages and Codes,” check the operating system or application program documentation.
Troubleshooting Your Computer |