Dell 900 manual Diskette Drives, Optical Drives

4.Remove all expansion cards installed in the computer (see “Removing Expansion Cards” in Chapter 2) except the network card to prevent a card that is incorrectly configured from causing an interrupt or input/output (I/O) port resource conflict.

5.Replace the riser-board bracket and computer cover, connect all external cables, and turn on the system.

6.Clear nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) as described in “Clearing NVRAM” in Appendix B.

7.Check the network hardware connections by performing the following steps:

a.Check the network card connector for physical damage.

b.Ensure that the cable is inserted properly.

c.Replace the patch cable or network cable from the wall jack to the computer.

d.If replacing the patch cable or network cable does not solve the problem, try moving the computer to known good location on the network.

e.If you still cannot connect to the network, ensure that the right drivers are being used.

If the network card is still not detected, see Chapter 6, “Getting Help,” for informa- tion on obtaining technical assistance. If the network card is detected, repeat step 1.

Diskette Drives

If you have diskette drive problems, perform the following checks:

•Make sure the diskette is not write-protected if you are trying to copy data to it.

•Try a different diskette in the drive. If the new diskette works, the original one may be defective.

•Check the settings on the Disk Drives option of the system setup program as described in Appendix B, “System Setup Program.”

•Run the Diskette device group as described in “Running the Dell Diagnostics” found later in this chapter.

Optical Drives

If you have problems with an optical drive, such as a CD-ROM drive, perform the following checks.

NOTE: Inconsistencies in the recording of CD-ROM media may cause some higher- speed CD-ROM drives to vibrate more than others. Such vibration and associated noise do not indicate a defect in the drive or the CD. It should be noted that not all media can be read by all drives.

3-8 Dell Dimension 900 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide