Dell 900 - page 49

support.dell.com Basic Troubleshooting 3-7

If you are experiencing problems with a modem, perform the following checks:

•If you have any other telephone devices plugged into this line, such as answering

machines, dedicated fax machines, surge protectors or line splitters, then bypass

them and plug the modem cable directly into the telephone connector on the

wall.

•Disconnect the cable from the modem and plug it directly into a telephone.

Listen for a dial tone.

•Check that the modem cable is connected to the line jack (the jack with a

connector-shaped icon) on the modem. Reseat the cable connections.

•Plug a telephone cable into the telephone jack (the jack with a telephone icon) on

the modem and listen for a dial tone.

•Try a different cable; if you are using a cable that is 10 feet or more in length, try a

shorter one.

•Low connection speeds can be caused by line noise. If you have persistent prob-

lems, contact your telephone company to check for data noise and imbalanced

lines.

•See “Modem” in Chapter 5 for further troubleshooting information.

Network Cards

In general, network malfunctions may be caused by the following problems:

•Wrong or incorrectly installed network interface controller (NIC) drivers

•Interrupt request (IRQ) conflicts

•Damaged RJ45 connector or patch cable

•Bad hub port connection

•Incorrectly installed or malfunctioning network card

NOTE: If you can connect to the network but are having problems accessing network

resources, contact your network administrator.

To troubleshoot a network card, perform the following steps:

1. Run the diagnostics for your network card as described in the documentation

that came with the card.

If the network card is not detected, go to step 2.

If the network card does not pass all the tests, see Chapter 6, “Getting Help,” for

instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

2. Remove the computer cover as described in “Removing and Replacing the Com-

puter Cover” in Chapter 2.

3. Remove the riser-board bracket as described in “Removing and Replacing the

Riser-Board Bracket” in Chapter 2.

Contents

Main ____________________ Safety Instructions When Using Your Computer System Ergonomic Computing Habits When Working Inside Your Computer Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Preface About This Guide Warranty and Return Policy Information Other Documents You May Need Notational Conventions Notes, Notices, and Cautions Page Page Contents Chapter 1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 Chapter 2 Installing Upgrades on the System Boar d . . . . . . . . . 2-1 Chapter 3 Basic Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3- 1 Chapter 4 Software Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Chapter 5 Checking Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 Chapter 6 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 Appendix C Beep Codes and System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C -1 Appendix D Regulatory Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1 Index Figures Tables Page CHAPTER 1 Introduction Hardware Features Software Features Available Upgrades Padlock Ring Page CHAPTER 2 Installing Upgrades on the System Board Safety FirstFor You and Your Computer Installation Guideline s Removing and Replacing the Computer Cover Figure 2-1. Removing the Computer Cover Figure 2-2. Removing the Bezel Inside Your Computer Figure 2-3. Inside the Computer System Board Figure 2-4 shows the system board connectors and sockets, and Table 2-1 describes their functions. Figure 2-4. System Boa rd Features Table 2-1. System Board Connectors and Sockets Jumpers Passwo rd Jump er Table 2-2. Password Jumper Settings Processor Mode Jumper NVRAM Jumper Table 2-3. Processor Mode Jumper Settings Table 2-4. NVRAM Jumper Settings Boot-Block Select Jumper Removing and Replacing the Riser-Board Bracket Table 2-5. Boot-Block Jumper Settings Figure 2-5. Removing the Riser-Board Bracket PCI Expansion Card Upgrades Figure 2-6. PCI Expansion Card Figure 2-7. Riser Board PCI Expansion-Card Connectors Installing Expansion Cards Page Figure 2-10. Installing an Expansion Card Removing Expansion Cards Adding Memory Installing a DIMM Figure 2-11. Installing a DIMM Removing a DI MM Figure 2-12. Removing a DIMM Replacing the System Battery Figure 2-13. Drive Shelf Figure 2-14. System Battery and Battery Socket Page CHAPTER 3 Basic Troubleshooting Backing Up Data Files Installing Additional Hardwar e and Software DellWare Support Checking the Basics External Connections Page Page Page Page Page Diskette Drives Optical Drives Running the Dell Diagnostics Starting the Dell Diagnostics Page Dell Diagnostics Main Screen Figure 3-2. Dell Diagnostics Main Screen Using the Dell Diagnostics Menu Keys Device Group Device Test Versi ons Software Solutions Using the Power Management Features in Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows 2000 Reinstalling Drivers Your Systems Drivers Using the Dell Dimension ResourceCD to Reinstall Drivers Temporarily Disabling the Virus-Scanning Program Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Windows 98 and Windows Me Windows 2000 Windows NT Reinstalling Windows 98 Page Reinstalling Windows Me Reinstalling Windows 2000 Page CHAPTER 5 Checking Inside Your Computer Expansion Cards Page Modem Network Cards System Memory Reseating DI MMs If Your Computer Gets Wet If Your Computer Is Damaged Page CHAPTER 6 Getting Help Technical Assistance Help Tools World Wide Web Automated Order-Status System Technical Support Service Problems With Your Order Product Informatio n Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit Before You Call Figure 6-1. Diagnostics Checklist Dell Contact Numbers Table 6-1. Dell Contact Numbers APPENDIX A System Specifications Table A-1. Technical Specifications Page Page Page Page Page APPENDIX B System Setup Program Entering the System Setup Program Using the System Setup Program Page System Setup Screens and Options Main Screen Figure B-1. Main Screen Menu Table B-2. Main Screen Menu Options Page Page Disk Drives Screen Figure B-4. Disk Drives Screen Menu Table B-5. Disk Drives Screen Menu Options IDE Primary Channel Master Submenu Onboard Peripherals Screen Figure B-6. Onboard Peripherals Screen Menu Table B-7. Onboard Peripherals Screen Menu Options Table B-7. Onboard Peripherals Screen Menu Options (continued) Boot Options Screen Figure B-7. Boot Options Screen Menu Table B-8. Boot Options Screen Menu Options Table B-8. Boot Options Screen Menu Options (continued) Page System Security Screen Figure B-9. System Security Screen Menu Table B-10. System Security Screen Menu Options Advanced Options Screen Memory/Cache Options Submenu Figure B-11. Memory/Cache Options Submenu Table B-12. Memory/Cache Options Submenu Options PnP/PCI Options Submenu Figure B-12. PnP/PCI Options Submenu Table B-13. PnP/PCI Options Screen Submenu Options Disabling a Forgotten Password Table B-13. PnP/PCI Options Screen Submenu Options (continued) Clearing NVRAM Page APPENDIX C Beep Codes and System Messages POST Beep Codes Table C-1. POST Beep Codes System Messages Table C-2. System Messages Table C-1. POST Beep Codes (continued) Page Page Page Page APPENDIX D Regula tory No tices VCCI Notice (Japan Only) Class A ITE VCCI-A Figure D-1. VCCI Class A ITE Regu latory Mark Class B ITE Figure D-2. VCCI Class B ITE Regulatory Mark Battery Disposal Page Index A B C D E F G H J K M N O R S T U V W