Dell 4100 Confirming the System Configuration Information, Device Groups, Device Groups, Parallel Ports, Back to Contents Page

Using the Dell™ Diagnostics: Dell Inspiron 4100

Confirming the System Configuration Information

When you boot your computer from your Drivers and Utilities CD, the diagnostics checks your system configuration information and displays it in the Device Groups area on the main menu screen.

The following sources supply this configuration information for the diagnostics:

●The system configuration information settings (stored in NVRAM) that you selected while using the system setup program

●Identification tests of the microprocessor, the video controller, the keyboard controller, and other key components

●BIOS configuration information temporarily saved in RAM

Do not be concerned if the Device Groups area does not list the names of all the components or devices you know are part of your computer. For example, you may not see a printer listed, although you know one is attached to your computer. Instead, the printer is listed as a parallel port. The computer recognizes the parallel port as LPT1, which is an address that tells the computer where to send outgoing information and where to look for incoming information. Because your printer is a parallel communications device, the computer recognizes the printer by its LPT1 address and identifies it as a parallel port. You can test your printer connection in the Parallel Ports tests.

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