Solid blue screen appears, Windows XP | Dell 531S guide

A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft® Windows® operating system

R U N T H E P R O G R A M C O M P A T I B I L I T Y W I Z A R D —

Windows XP:

The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so that it runs in an environment similar to non-XP operating system environments.

1Click Start→ All Programs→ Accessories→ Program Compatibility Wizard→ Next.

2Follow the instructions on the screen.

Windows Vista®:

Use the Program Compatibility Wizard to configure an operating environment similar to earlier versions of Windows. This may improve the performance of programs designed for earlier versions of Windows.

1 Click Start , point to Control Panel→ Programs→ Programs and features. 2 Under Programs and features, click Use an older program with this version of

windows.

3 Follow the instructions on the screen.

A solid blue screen appears

TU R N T H E C O M P U T E R O F F — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off. Then restart your computer.

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Solving Problems

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Dell 531S owner manual Solid blue screen appears, Windows XP, Windows Follow the instructions on the screen

Contents

W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents Connecting Two Monitors With VGA One Monitor With a DVI ConnectorChanging the Display Settings Power Management Options Setting Up Your Internet Connection CD and DVD drive problemsMail, Modem, and Internet Problems Keyboard Problems Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from headphones Video and Monitor ProblemsDell Diagnostics Main Menu Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Contents Using the Operating System CD Memory Installation Guidelines 112Resolving Software and Hardware 101 Drive Interface Connectors Connecting and Disconnecting Drive CablesInstalling a Second Hard Drive Optional Replacing the Power Supply Changing Boot Sequence for Clearing Forgotten Passwords 176167 172 Technical Support and Customer Service Automated Order-Status Service What Are You Looking For? Find it Here Warranty information Finding InformationYour system May vary Use the Service Tag to identify your Your call when contacting supportWhat Are You Looking For? Code Reinstall the DSS utility. DSS Provides critical updates for yourYour computer and operating System and installs the updates What Are You Looking For? Find it Here Files Problem and press EnterFollow the instructions on the screen Setting Up and Using Your Computer Front View of the Computer Service Tag Located on top of the chassis towards the rear Power buttonPower light FlexBay open/close Back View of the Computer Power supply LED Power connectorCard slots Padlock rings Connector Back Panel ConnectorsLight Connectors MicrophoneUSB VGA video Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure Setting Up and Using Your Computer Connecting a USB Printer Setting Up a PrinterPrinter Cable USB connector on USB printer Computer Printer Cable Playing CDs and DVDs CD player includes the following basic buttons Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture How to Copy a CD or DVD Copying CDs and DVDs Using Blank CDs and DVDs To copy the CD or DVD Helpful Tips Media Type Read Write Rewritable Using a Media Card Reader Optional To use the Media Card Reader Connecting Two Monitors Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors Connecting a TV May not be present on your computer Power Management Changing the Display SettingsPower Management Options in Microsoft Windows XP Standby Mode Hibernate Mode Power Options Properties Power Schemes Tab Advanced Tab Power Management Options in Windows VistaHibernate Tab Standby Mode Balanced Power Saver High Performance Hibernate Mode Power Plan Properties Balanced Power Saver High Performance Enabling Cool ’n’ Quiet Technology Advanced Tab About RAID Configurations For Windows Vista only RAID Level 1 Configuration Configuring Your Hard Drives for RAID Using the Nvidia MediaShield ROM Utility Using Nvidia MediaShield Rebuilding a RAID Configuration Transferring Information to a New Computer To transfer data to the new computer Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard Connecting to the Internet Setting Up Your Internet Connection Setting Up and Using Your Computer Setting Up and Using Your Computer Setting Up and Using Your Computer Battery Problems Troubleshooting TipsSolving Problems Drive Problems Windows XP Click Start and click My Computer Windows Vista CD and DVD drive problems Problems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Hard drive problems N T H E M O D E M H E L P E R D I a G N O S T I C S Error Messages Do not use these characters in filenames Lockups and Software Problems Keyboard ProblemsComputer does not start up Program stops responding Computer stops respondingProgram crashes repeatedly Windows XP Solid blue screen appearsWindows Follow the instructions on the screen Other software problems C K U P Y O U R F I L E S I M M E D I a T E L Y Media Card Reader Problems Memory Problems Mouse Problems Network Problems Power Problems Printer Problems E C K T H E P R I N T E R C a B L E C O N N E C T I O N S Scanner Problems Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from speakers No sound from headphones Video and Monitor Problems If the screen is blank If the screen is difficult to read Solving Problems Power Lights Troubleshooting Tools Beep Codes Code Description Suggested Remedy Repetitive short Beeps Code Description Repetitive short Beeps System Messages Troubleshooting Tools When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Dell DiagnosticsStarting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Option Function OptionFunction Drivers What Is a Driver?Identifying Drivers Using Windows Device Driver Rollback Reinstalling Drivers and UtilitiesWindows Vista Click Start and right-click Computer Using the Drivers and Utilities media Manually Reinstalling Drivers Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Restoring Your Operating System Using Microsoft Windows System Restore Creating a Restore Point Windows XPClick Next and follow the remaining on-screen prompts Tasks list, click System Protection Click Create Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Using Dell PC Restore Select a keyboard layout and click Next Click Finish to reboot the system Removing Dell PC Restore Using the Operating System CD Before You Begin Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista 100 Removing and Installing Parts Before You BeginRecommended Tools 101 Before Working Inside Your Computer Turning Off Your Computer102 Removing the Computer Cover 103 Removing the Support Bracket 105 Inside View of Your Computer 106 System Board Components 22 21 20 19 Removing and Installing Parts107 108 Clear Cmos Fpanel Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments 109 Pin Number Signal name Wire Color Wire Size 110 DC Power Connectors P4 Removing and Installing Parts DC Power Connector P2 Pin Number Signal Name AWG Wire111 Memory Installation Guidelines Pin Number Signal Name AWG WireMemory 112 Installing Memory 113 114 Removing Memory 115 Cards PCI and PCI Express Cards 117 118 119 Removing and Installing Parts If you installed a sound card 121 If you removed an add-in network connector 122 Removing the Bezel Bezel123 Drives Replacing the Bezel Recommended Drive Cable Connections Connecting Drive Cables125 Drive Interface Connectors Connecting and Disconnecting Drive CablesSerial ATA Connector Hard Drives Disconnect the power and data cables from the drive 127 128 Installing a Second Hard Drive Optional 129 Removing and Installing Parts Floppy Drive 131 132 123 Not present on all computers 133 Removing and Installing Parts Attach the power and data cables to the floppy drive 135 Bezel Insert lever FlexBay drive insert Media Card Reader 137 138 139 Removing and Installing Parts CD or DVD Drive 141 Lever CD or DVD drive 143 Replacing the Battery Battery144 145 Power Supply Replacing the Power Supply 147 Processor Removing the Processor 149 Installing the Processor 151 Removing and Installing Parts Removing the I/O Panel Panel153 Installing the I/O Panel Removing the Processor Fan Processor Fan155 156 157 Installing the Processor Fan 158 159 Removing the Chassis Fan Chassis Fan160 Replacing the Chassis Fan 161 System Board Removing the System Board System Board Screws 163 Installing the System Board Replacing the Support Bracket Replacing the Computer Cover 165 Move the computer to the upright position 166 Specifications 167 Audio 168Expansion Bus 169 Drives 170 Controls and Lights Power 171Physical Environmental Entering System Setup System SetupOverview System Setup Options System Setup ScreenDisplays Bios Info and the Service Tag 173 174 Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot Boot Sequence175 Clearing Forgotten Passwords Clearing Cmos Settings 177 Flashing the Bios File Download window appears Cleaning Your Computer Computer, Keyboard, and MonitorMouse 179 CDs and DVDs Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only180 Definition of Dell-Installed Software and Peripherals FCC Notice U.S. OnlyDefinition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals FCC Class B 182 Dcsla Technical Support and Customer Service Getting HelpObtaining Assistance 183 DellConnect Online Services Problems With Your Order AutoTech ServiceAutomated Order-Status Service Product Information Before You Call Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit186 Diagnostics Checklist 187 Contacting Dell 189 Glossary 190 191 Product ID 192 Device driver See driver 193 194 195 196 197 Module bay See media bay 198 NIC See network adapter 199 200 201 202 Video resolution See resolution 203 204 205 Index 206 207 208 209 210 211 212