System Information Guide 23
Running the Dell Diagnostics
Dell provides a number of tools to help you if your computer does not perform as expected.
For information on these help tools, see "Getting Help" in your online User’s Guide.
If you have a computer problem and are unable to access the online User’s Guide, use the
Dell Diagnostics to help you determine the cause of the problem and to help you solve it.
The Dell Diagnostics are located on your hard drive.
NOTE: If your computer cannot display a screen image, contact Dell. Otherwise, run the
Diagnostics before you call Dell technical support; the diagnostic tests provide information you
may need when you call.
1Turn off the computer.
2If the computer is docked, undock it.
3Connect the computer to an electrical outlet.
4Press and hold down the Dell AccessDirect™ button while you turn on the computer.
The computer begins to run the Pre-boot System Assessment, a series of embedded
diagnostics that perform initial testing on your system board, keyboard, hard drive, and
display.
• During the Assessment, answer any questions that appear.
• If a component failure is detected, the computer stops and beeps. To stop the
Assessment and reboot to the operating system, press ; to continue to the
next test, press ; to retest the component that failed, press .
• If failures are detected during the Pre-boot System Assessment, write down the
error code(s) and then contact Dell before continuing on to the Dell Diagnostics.
• If you receive a message stating that no Diagnostics Utility partition has been
found, follow the instructions on the screen to run the Dell Diagnostics from your
Drivers and Utilities CD.
If the Pre-boot System Assessment completes successfully, you receive the message
Booting Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition. Press any key to
continue.
5Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the Diagnostics Utility partition on
your hard drive.