Dell 7500 manual Troubleshooting the Hard-Disk Drive

5.Remove and reinsert the drive. Reboot the computer. Does the drive access indicator blink during the boot routine?

Yes. Go to step 6.

No. Go to step 10.

6.Remove the hard-disk drive and boot the computer from a bootable CD. Does the drive access indicator blink?

Yes. Go to step 7.

No. Go to step 10.

7.Reinstall the hard-disk drive. Then check the config.sys file (in Windows 98, check the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive configuration in the Settings folder). Is the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM driver installed?

Yes. Go to step 8.

No. Load the driver, and return to step 1 to begin this procedure again. (To load the driver, use the System Software CD you received with your Dell computer.)

8.Insert a bootable diskette into drive A and reboot the computer.

9.Type d: and press <Enter>. Then type dir and press <Enter>. Does MS-DOS display the root directory contents for drive D?

Yes. The problem is resolved.

No. Go to step 10.

10.Insert your Dell Diagnostics diskette into drive A and reboot the computer. Then run the IDE Devices device group. Does your CD-ROM drive pass all the tests?

Yes. Return to step 1 and perform this troubleshooting procedure again. If you continue to experience trouble, call Dell for technical assistance. (See Chapter 5, “Getting Help,” for instructions.)

No. Go to step 11.

11.Call Dell for technical assistance.

See Chapter 5, “Getting Help,” for instructions.

Troubleshooting the Hard-Disk Drive

During POST, the computer checks the hard-disk drive, comparing its characteristics with the system configuration information. (The drive access indicator, located to the right of the display latch, blinks as the computer performs this check.) If a failure occurs with the drive, make a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist found in Chapter 5 and fill it out as you perform the following steps:

1.Shut down the computer.

3-18 Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide