Intel L440GX More Problem Solving Procedures, Monitoring POST, Confirming Loading of the Operating System, Preparing the System for Diagnostic Testing

More Problem Solving Procedures

This section provides a more detailed approach to identifying a problem and locating its source.

Preparing the System for Diagnostic Testing

CAUTION

Turn off devices before disconnecting cables: Before disconnecting any peripheral cables from the system, turn off the system and any external peripheral devices. Failure to do so can cause permanent damage to the system and/or the peripheral devices.

1.Turn off the system and all external peripheral devices. Disconnect all of them from the system, except the keyboard and video monitor.

2.Make sure the system power cord is plugged into a properly grounded AC outlet.

3.Make sure your video display monitor and keyboard are correctly connected to the system. Turn on the video monitor. Set its brightness and contrast controls to at least two thirds of their maximum ranges (see the documentation supplied with your video display monitor).

4.If the operating system normally loads from the hard disk drive, make sure there is no diskette in drive A. Otherwise, place a diskette containing the operating system files in drive A.

5.Turn on the system. If the power LED does not light, see “Power Light Does Not Light” on page 89.

Monitoring POST

See Chapter 3.

Verifying Proper Operation of Key System Lights

As POST determines the system configuration, it tests for the presence of each mass storage device installed in the system. As each device is checked, its activity light should turn on briefly. Check for the following:

qDoes the diskette drive activity light turn on briefly? If not, see “Diskette Drive Activity Light Does Not Light” on page 91.

qIf a second diskette drive is installed, does its activity light turn on briefly? If not, see “Diskette Drive Activity Light Does Not Light” on page 91.

qIf there is a hard disk drive or SCSI devices installed in the system, does the hard disk drive activity light on the control panel turn on briefly? If not, see “Hard Disk Drive Activity Light Does Not Light" on page 91.

Confirming Loading of the Operating System

Once the system boots up, the operating system prompt appears on the screen. The prompt varies according to the operating system. If the operating system prompt does not appear, see “Initial System Startup” on page 85.

88 Solving Problems