Dell 4100/200 Troubleshooting the Basic I/O Functions, Enter the System Setup program, and check

•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 Port 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 serial-port test failure, remove the modem and run the diagnostic tests again.

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 SERIAL PORT 1, SERIAL PORT 2,

PARALLEL PORT, and MOUSE categories.

Are the communications port categories set to AUTO, and is the MOUSE category set to ENABLED?

Yes. Go to step 3.

No. Go to step 2.

2.Change the setting for the SERIAL PORT 1, SERIAL

PORT 2, and PARALLEL PORT categories to AUTO,

and change the setting for the MOUSE category to ENABLED; then reboot the system.

Is the problem resolved?

Yes. You have fixed the problem.

No. Go 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. Go 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. Go to step 5.

5.Reboot the system from the Dell Server Assistant CD, and run the Serial Port Test Group and/or the Parallel Port Test Group in the system diagnostics.

See Chapter 5, “Running the System Diagnostics.”

The Serial Port Test Group and the Parallel Port Test Group test the basic functions of the system board’s I/O port logic. Also, if a parallel printer is connected to the parallel port, the Parallel Port Test Group tests the communications link between the system board’s I/O port logic and the printer.

Do the tests complete successfully? Yes. Go 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” found later in this chapter, depending on which device appears to be malfunctioning.

Checking the Equipment 6-3