Dell Dimension 8200 Solution Manual
9p915bk0.book Page 1 Thursday, April 4, 2002 9:26 AM
Dell™ Dimension™ 8200
Solutions Guide
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9p915bk0.book Page 2 Thursday, April 4, 2002 9:26 AM
Hints, Notices, and Cautions
Abbreviations and Acronyms
For a complete list o f abbr eviat ions and acrony ms, see the Tell Me How help
file. To access help files, see page 24.
HINT: A HINT indicates important information that helps you make better
use of your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of
data and tells you how to avoid the problem.
CAUTION: A CA UTION indicat es a po tenti al for proper ty dama ge,
personal injury, or death.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2002 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any mann er whatsoever without the written permi ssion of D el l Co mputer
Corporation is s tr ictly forbi dden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude, OptiPlex, Dell
Precision, DellPlus, and DellNet are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; EMC is the
registered tradema rk of EMC Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered tradem a r ks of Int el
Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming
the marks and names or their products. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest
in trademarks and trade name s oth er than its own.
This product incorporat es copyright protection techn ology that is protected by method claims of
certain U.S. patents and othe r in te ll ec tu al property rights owned by Macrovisi on Corporation and
other rights owners. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision
Corporation, and is intended for home and other limited viewing use s onl y unless otherwise
authorized by Macrovision Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassemb ly is prohibited.
April 2002 P/N 9P915 Rev. A00
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Contents
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
When Using Your Computer
Ergonomic Comput ing Habits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
When Working Inside Your Com puter
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
Battery Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
. . . . . . . . . . . 13
1 Setting Up
Connecting a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Parallel Printer
USB Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Installing the Printer Driver
Transferring Information to a New Computer
(Windows XP Only)
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
(Windows XP Only)
Turning Off the Computer
Windows XP
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Windows Me and Windows 2000
2 Solving Problems
Finding Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Accessing Help Files
Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Contents 3
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Start-Up Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Video and Monitor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
If the screen is blank
If the screen is difficult to read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Sound and Speaker Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Printer Problems
If you cannot print to a parallel port printer
If you cannot print to a USB printer
Scanner Problems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
. . . . . . . . . . 29
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Modem Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Mouse Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Keyboard Problems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk
. . . . . . . . . . . . 36
If you cannot play a music CD or install a program
from a CD
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
If you cannot play a DVD movie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
If the CD-RW drive stops writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
If you have a hard drive problem
Network Problems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
®
Microsoft
Windows® Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
General Program Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
A program crashes
A program stops responding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
A program error causes the system to lock up
A solid blue screen appears
A program is designed for an earlier Windows
operating system
4 Contents
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
. . . . . . . . . 41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
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Internet Connection Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
If you have a problem with your Internet connection
E-Mail Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
. . . . . . . 42
Resolving Other Technical Problems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Reinstalling Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Using the Windows XP Device Driver Rollback
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Windows XP
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
. . . . . . . . . 46
. . . . . . . 47
Windows Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Using System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Creating a Restore Point
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State . . . . . . 52
Undoing the Last System Restore
Reinstalling Windows XP
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Reinstalling Windows Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Reinstalling Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
3 Adding Parts
Front and Back View of the C omputer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Reattaching the Front Door and Hinge Arms
Reattaching the Front Door
Reattaching the Hinge Arms
Opening the Computer Cove r
Looking Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
System Board
Adding Cards
. . . . . . . . . . . 64
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Contents 5
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Removing Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Adding Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
RDRAM Overview
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Replacing the AGP Card
Adding a Second Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Adding Other Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
5.25-Inch Devices
3.5-Inch Devices
Closing the Computer Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
4 Appendix
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Standard Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Viewing Settings
System Setup Program Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Clearing Forgotten Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Replacing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
6 Contents
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)
Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals
Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals
Contacting Dell
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit
Regulatory Information
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
NOM Information (Mexico Only)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 101
. . . . . 101
. . . . . . 102
. . . . . . . . . 117
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Limited Warranties and Return Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
One-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Two-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
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Three-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Four-Year Limited Warranty (U.S. Only) . . . . . . . . . . . 129
One-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only)
Two-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . 134
Three-Year Limited Warranty (Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . 137
"Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (U.S. Only)
One-Year End-User Manufacturer Guarantee
(Latin America and the Caribbean Only)
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
. . . . . . . . . . 132
. . . . . . . . . 141
. . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Contents 7
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8 Contents
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Safety Instructions
As you use your computer, observe the following safe-handling guidelines.
When Using Your Computer
CAUTION: Do not operate your computer with any cover(s)
(including the computer cover , filler brackets, front-panel inserts,
and so on) removed or opened.
• To help avoid damaging your computer, be sure that the voltage
selection switch is set to match the AC power available at your
location:
– 115 V/60 Hz in most of North and South America and some Far
Eastern countries such as South Korea and Taiwan
– 100 V/50 Hz in eastern Japan and 100 V/60 Hz in western Japan
NOTE: The voltage selection switch must be set to the 115V position
even though the AC supply in Japan is 100 V.
– 230 V/50 Hz in most of Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East
Also be sure that your monitor and attached devices are electrically
rated to operate with the AC power available in your locati on.
• To avoid shorting out your computer whe n disconne cting a network
cable, first unplug the cable from the network adapter on the back of
your computer, and then from the network jack. When reconnecting a
network cable to your computer, first plug the cable into the network
jack, and then into the network adapter.
• To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds
after turning off the computer before disconnecting or connecting a
non-USB device from the computer.
Safety Instructions 9
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• To help prevent electric shock , pl ug the computer and device power
• To help protect your computer from sudden, transient increases and
• Be sure that nothing rests on your computer’s cables and that the
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• Do not spill food or liquids on your computer. If the computer gets
cables into properly grounded power sources. These cables are
equipped with 3-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not
use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a cable. If you
must use an extension cable, use a 3-wire ca ble with properly grounded
plugs.
decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner,
or uninterruptible power supply.
cables are not located where they can be stepped on or tripped over.
wet, contact Dell (see page 102).
• Do not p ush an y ob jects into the o pen ings o f yo ur co mput er. Doing so
can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components.
• Keep your co mputer away from radiators and heat sources. Als o , do not
block cooling vents. Avoid placing loose papers underneath your
computer; do not place your computer in a closed-in wall unit or on a
bed, sofa, or rug.
Ergonomic Computing Habits
CAUTION: Improper or prolong ed keyboard u se may resul t in
injury.
CAUTION: Viewing the monitor screen for extended periods of
time may result in eye strain.
For comfort and efficiency, observe the following ergonomic guidelines
when setting up and using your computer:
• Position your computer so that the monitor and keyboard are directly
in front of you as you work. Special shelves are available (from Dell and
other sources) to help you correctly position your keyboard.
• Set the monitor at a comfortable viewing distance (usually 5 10 to
610 millimeters [20 to 24 inches] from your eyes).
• Make sure the monitor screen is at eye level or slightly lower when you
10 Safety Instructions
are sitting in front of the monitor.
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• Adjust the tilt of the monitor, its contrast and brightness setting s, and
the lighting around you (such as overhead lights, desk lamps, and the
curtains or blinds on nearby windows) to minimize reflections and
glare on the monitor screen.
• Use a chair that provides good lower back support.
• Keep your forearms horizontal with your wrists in a neutral,
comfortable position while using the keyboard or mouse.
• Always leave space to rest your hands while using the keyboard or
mouse.
• Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides.
• Sit erect with your feet resting on the floor and your thighs level.
• When sitting, make sure the weight of your legs is on your feet and not
on the front of your chair seat. Adjust your chair’s height or use a
footrest, if necessary, to maintain proper posture.
• Vary your work activities. Try to organize your work so that you do not
have to type for extended periods of time. When you stop typing, try
to do things that use both hands.
Safety Instructions 11
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monitor screen at or
below eye level
wrists relaxed
and flat
computer positioned
directly in front of user
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monitor stand
(optional)
arms at desk level
feet flat on the floor
When Working Inside Your Computer
Before you open the computer cover, perform the following steps in the
sequence indicated.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to service the computer yourself,
except as explained in this guide and elsewhe re in Dell
documentation. Always follow installation and service
instructions closely.
1
2 Turn off all devices.
12 Safety Instructions
Turn off the computer (see page 20).
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3 Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface at the back of
the computer before touching anything inside your computer.
While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the
computer to dissipate any static electricity that might h arm internal
components.
4 Disconnect any devices connected to the computer, including the
monitor, from their electrical outlets to reduce the potential for
personal injury or shock. Also, disconnect any telephone or
telecommunication line s f r om the computer.
5 Disconnect the power cable to your computer, and then press the
power button to ground the system board.
In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:
• When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector, not on the cable
itself. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid
bending any pins. Also, before you connect a cable, make sure that
both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
• Handle components and cards with car e. Don ’t touch t he components
on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal bracket.
CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is
incorrectly installe d. Replace the battery o nly with the same or
equivalent type recomme nded by the manufact urer. Discard used
batteries according to the manufacturer’s ins tructions.
Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
To prevent static damag e, discharge static e lectricit y from your body before
you touch anything inside your computer and periodically while you work
inside the computer. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface
on the back of the computer.
You can also take the following steps to prevent static damage:
• Do not remove items from their antistatic packing material unti l y o u
are ready to install them in your computer. Just before unwrapping the
antistatic packaging, be sure to discharge static electricity from your
body.
• When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic
container or packaging.
Safety Instructions 13
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Battery Disposal
Your computer uses a lithium-ion battery. For instructions about replacing
the lithium-ion battery in y our computer, refer to the section about
replacing the battery in your Dell computer documentation.
Do not dispose of the battery along with household wa ste. Contact your
local waste disposal agency for the address of the nearest battery deposit
site.
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14 Safety Instructions
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SECTION 1
Setting Up
Connecting a Printer
Transferring Information to a New Computer
(Windows XP Only)
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
(Windows XP Only)
Turning Off the Computer
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Connecting a Printer
See the documentation that came with the printer for any recommended
preparation procedures, such as:
• Removing the packaging
• Installing the toner or ink cartridge
•Loading paper
Then follow the instructions that came with the printer to connect it to the
computer. If no information is provided, see the following sections.
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Parallel Printer
Follow the instructions that came with the parallel printe r to connect it to
the computer. If no information is provided, then follow the instructions in
this section.
1 Turn off the computer (see page 20).
NOTICE: Use only a standard IEEE parallel cable measuring 3 m (10 ft) or
less to connect the printer to the co mputer. Use of a nonstandard cable may
prevent the printer from working.
2
Attach the parallel printer cable to the parallel connector on the
computer and tighten the two screws. Attach the cable to the parallel
connector on the printer and sna p the two clips into the two notc hes.
16 Setting Up
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screws (2)
parallel connector
on computer
parallel connector
on printer
parallel printer
cable
notches (2)
3 Turn on the printer a n d then turn on the computer. If the Add New
clips (2)
Hardware Wizard window appears, click Cancel.
4 Install the printer driver if necessary (se e "Installing the P rint er Driver"
on this page).
USB Printer
Follow the instructions that came with the USB prin ter to connect it to the
computer. If no information is provided, then follow the instructions in this
section.
1 Install the printer driver if necessary (see the following section).
2 Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connector on the computer
and the printer. The USB connectors only fit one way.
HINT: You can connect
USB devices while the
computer is turned on.
Setting Up 17
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HINT: Y our computer has
two USB connectors on
the back panel and t wo
USB connectors inside the
door on the front panel
(see page 63).
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USB 1.1 connector
on computer
USB printer
cable
USB connector
on printer
Installing the Printer Drive r
Follow the instructions that came with the printer to instal l printer drivers.
If no was information was provided with the printer, then refer to the
following instructions.
If you need to install a printer driver, insert the printer installation CD into
the CD or DVD drive. Then follow the prompts on the screen using the
instructions that came with the printer.
If your printer install at ion CD does not automatically run, click the Start
®
button on the Mic r os o f t
x:\setup.exe (where x is the letter of your CD or DVD drive [usually
drive D]). Then click OK and follow the prompts on your screen. If your
printer installation CD still does not run, check the documentation that
came with your printer for instructions on how to start the printer
installation CD.
If you connect an older printer and it doesn’t work after you install the
driver, access the system setup program (see page 96) and ensure that the
parallel port is set to operate in bidirectional mode.
Windows® desktop, click Run, and type
18 Setting Up
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To check if your printer driver is installed on a computer running the
Windows XP operating system, click the Start button, click Control Panel,
click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click View installe d printer s
or fax printers. If your computer runs either Windows 2000 or Windows
Millennium Edition (Me), click the Start button, point to Settings, and
then click Printers. If your printer is listed in the Printers window, the
printer is ready to use.
Transferring Information to a New
Computer (Windows XP Only)
Windows XP provides a Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to move data,
such as e-mails, window sizes, toolbar settings, and Internet bookmarks,
from one computer to another. First you collect the data from the source
computer, and then you import the data to the new computer.
If the source computer uses another Windows operating system, the wizard
can be launched from the Windows XP operating system CD or from a
floppy disk created on the Windows XP computer. You may transfer the
data to the new computer over a network or serial connection, or you may
store it on a removable medium, such as a floppy disk, a Zip disk, or a
writable CD.
1
On the computer running Windows XP, click the Start button, point
to All Programs—> Accessories—> System Tools, and then click
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
2 On the welcome screen, click Next.
3 On the Which compute r is this? screen, select New Computer, and
then click Next.
4 Follow the instructions on the screen.
Setting Up a Home and Office Network
(Windows XP Only)
Windows XP provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the
process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between
computers in a home or small office.
HINT: The CD that you
need to place in your CD
or DVD drive is titled
Operating Syste m
.
Setting Up 19
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1 Click the Start button, point to All Programs—> Accessories—>
2 On the welcome screen, click Next.
3 Click checklist for creating a network.
Communications, and then click Network Setup Wizard.
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HINT: Selecting the
connection method This
computer connects
directly to the Internet
enables the integrated
firewall provided with
Windows XP.
HINT: If you are having
difficulty turning off your
computer, see "General
Prog ram Problems” on
page 41.
Complete the checklist and required preparations, and then return to
4
the Network Setup Wizard.
5 Follow the instructions on the screen.
Turning Off the Computer
NOTICE: To prevent data loss, you must turn off your computer through the
Start menu rather than by pressing the power button.
Windows XP
1 Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
2 Click the Start button and then click Turn off Computer.
3 Click Turn off.
The computer automatically turns off after the shutdown process
finishes.
4 Turn off your monitor and any other devices connected to power.
Windows Me and Windows 2000
20 Setting Up
1 Save and exit any programs and files you have open.
2 Click the Start button, and then click Shut Down.
3 Click the pull-down menu under What do you want the computer to
do?.
4 Click Shut down and th en click OK.
The computer automatically turns off after the shutdown process
finishes.
5 Turn off your monitor and any other devices connected to power.
9p915bk0.book Page 21 Thursday, April 4, 2002 9:26 AM
SECTION 2
Solving Problems
Finding Solutions
Accessing Help Files
Power Problems
Start-Up Error Messages
Video and Monitor Problems
Sound and Speaker Problems
Printer Problems
Scanner Problems
Modem Problems
Mouse Problems
Keyboard Problems
Drive Problems
Network Pr oblems
Microsoft
General Program Problems
Internet Connection Problems
E-Mail Problem s
Resolving Other Technical Problems
Reinstalling Drivers
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Using System Restore
Reinstalling Windows XP
R einstalling Windows Me
Reinstalling Windows 2000
®
Windows® Error Messages
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Finding Solutions
Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out where to go for answers. Use this chart
to help you quickly find the ans w ers to your questions.
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See page 25.
Get technical assistance from
Dell. See page 102.
See page 25.
22 Solving Problems
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See page 26.
See page 28.
See page 29.
See page 32.
See page 34.
See page 35.
See page 44.
See page 36.
See page 39.
See page 31.
See page 40.
See page 41.
See page 42.
See page 44.
Solving Problems 23
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Accessing Help Files
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TO ACCESS THE
Tell Me How
HELP FILE
Microsoft® Windows® XP
1 Click the Start button, and then click Help and Support.
2 Click User and system guides, and then click User’s guides.
3 Click Tell Me How.
Windows Millennium Edition (Me) and Windows 2000
Click the Start button, point to Programs, point to User’s Guides, and then click
Tell Me How.
TO ACCESS HELP IN WIND OWS XP
1 Click the Start button, and then click Help and Support.
2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem, and then click the arrow
icon.
3 Click the topic that describes your problem.
4 Follow the instructions shown on the screen.
TO ACCESS HELP IN WIND OWS ME
1 Click the Start button, and then click Help.
2 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem in the Search box, and then
click Go.
3 Click the topic that describes your problem, and then click Display.
4 Follow the instructions shown on the screen.
TO ACCESS HELP IN WIND OWS 2000
24 Solving Problems
1 Click the Start button, and then click Help.
2 Click the Search tab.
3 Type a word or phrase that describes your problem, and then click List Topics.
4 Click the topic that describes your problem, and then click Display.
5 Follow the instructions shown on the screen.
9p915bk0.book Page 25 Thursday, April 4, 2002 9:26 AM
Pow er Problems
CHECK THE POWER LIGHT — When the power light is lit or blinking, the
computer has power. If the power light is blinking, the computer is in standby
mode—press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse. If the power light is off,
the computer is either not turned on or is not receiving electrical power.
TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is
working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
CHECK THE POWER CABLE CONNECTION — Be sure that the power cab le
is firmly inserted into the electrical outlet and the computer power connector.
CONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET —
Bypass power protection devices, power strips, and the extension cable to verify
that the computer turns on.
SWAP THE COMPUTER AND MONITOR POWER CABLES — Swap the
computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is defective.
CHECK FOR INTERFERENCE — Electrical appliances on the same circuit or
operating near the computer can caus e interference. Other causes of
interference: power extension cables, keyboard and mouse extension cables, too
many devices on a power strip, or multiple power strips connected to the same
electrical outlet.
HINT: See the
help file for
How
information on the
standby mode.
Tell Me
CHECK THE POWER PROPERTIES — See the Tell Me How help file or
search for the keyword standby in the Help and Support Center in Windows
XP and Windows Me (Help in Wind o ws 20 00). To access help files, see page24.
Start-Up Error Messages
OPERATING SYSTEM NOT F OUND — Call Dell for technical assistance (see
page 102).
Solving Problems 25
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INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA — The operating system i s trying to boot to a
nonbootable floppy disk or CD. Insert a bootable floppy disk or CD.
NON-SY STEM DISK ERROR — There is a floppy disk in the floppy drive.
Remove the floppy disk and restart the computer.
Video and Monitor Problems
If the screen is blank
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HINT: See the
documentation that came
with your monitor for
fault indications and
troubleshooting
procedures specific to
your monitor.
CHECK THE VIDEO CABLE CONNECTION — Check for bent pins (most
video cable connectors have missing pins, but not bent pins). Ensure that the
video cable is connected as shown on the START HERE sheet for your computer.
PRESS THE MONITOR PO WER BUTTON — Be sure that you firmly pressed
the monitor power button.
CHECK THE POWER LIGHT — When the power light is lit or blinking, the
monitor has power. If the power light is blinking, press a key on the keyboard or
move the mouse.
TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is
working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
SWAP THE COMPUTER AND MONITOR POWER CABLES — Swap the
computer and monitor power cables to determ ine if the power cable is defective.
TEST THE VIDEO EXT ENSI ON CABLE (IF USED)—If you are using a
video extension cable and removing the cable solves th e problem, the cable is
defective.
TEST THE MONITOR — If another monitor is available, connect it to the
computer .
26 Solving Problems
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CHECK THE BACK PANEL LIGHTS — If all four lights below the serial
connector are not green, call Dell for technical assistance (see page 102).
CHECK THE POWER PROPERTIES — See the Tell Me How help file or
search for the keyword standby in the Help and Support Center in Windows XP
and Windows Me (Help in Windows 2000). To access help files, see page 24.
If the screen is difficult to read
ADJUST THE CONTRAST AND BRIGHTNESS — See the documentation
that came with your monitor for instructions on adjusting the co ntrast and
brightness.
MOVE THE SUBWOOFER AWAY FROM THE MONITOR — If your speaker
system includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 2 ft (60cm)
away from the monitor.
MOVE THE MONITOR AWAY FROM EXTERNAL POWER SOURCE S —
Fans, fluorescent lights, halogen lamps, and other electrical devices can cause the
screen image to appear "shaky." Turn off nearby devices to chec k for interference.
ROTATE THE MONITOR TO FACE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION — Eliminate
sunlight glare, which can cause poor picture quality.
DEGAUSS (DEMAGNETIZE) THE MONIT OR — See the documentation that
came with your monitor.
RUN THE MONITOR SELF-TEST — See the documentation that ca me with
your monitor.
RESTORE THE RECOMMENDED S ETTINGS — Restore the original
resolution and refresh rate settings. See the T ell Me How help file for instructions.
To access help file s, see page 24.
Solving Problems 27
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CHECK FOR ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS — See the documenta tion that
came with your monitor for any additional adjustments that your monitor may
require.
ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS
Windows XP
1 Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2 Click Appearance and Themes.
3 Click Display, and then click the Settings tab.
4 Try different sett ings for Screen resolution and Color quality.
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Windows Me and Windows 2000
1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2 Double-click the Display icon, and then click the Settings tab.
Try different settings for Colors and Screen area.
HINT: The volume
control in some MP3
players overrides the
Windows volume setting.
If you have been listening
to MP3 songs, make sure
that you did not turn the
player volume down or off.
CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 47.
Sound and Speaker Problems
ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED
ON — See the setup diagram supplied with the speakers.
ADJUST THE SPEAKER CONTROLS — Adjust the volume, bass, or treble
controls to elim ina te distortion.
VER IFY THE SPEAKER CABLE CONNECTION S — Ensure that the speakers
are connected as shown on the START HERE sheet for your computer and the
setup diagram supplied with the speakers.
BE SURE THAT HEADPHO NES ARE NOT CONNEC TED TO THE FRONT-
PANEL HEADPHONE CONNECTOR — Sound from the sp eakers is
automati cally disabled when hea d p ho n e s are connected to the computer’s frontpanel headphone con nector.
28 Solving Problems
9p915bk0.book Page 29 Thursday, April 4, 2002 9:26 AM
ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CON TROL — In Windows XP, click the
speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. In Windows Me or 2000,
double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Be sure that
the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.
MOVE THE SUBWOOFER AWAY FROM THE MONITOR — If your speaker
system includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 2 ft (60 cm)
away from the monitor.
RUN THE SPEAKER DIA GNOSTICS — Some speaker systems have selfcontained diagnostics. See the speaker documentation for diagnostics
instructions.
ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE — T urn off nearby fans, fluorescent
lights, or halogen lamps to check for interference.
TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is
working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
REINSTALL THE S OUND (AUDIO) DRIVER — See page 44.
CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 47.
Printer Problems
If you cannot print to a parallel port printer
VER IFY THE PRINTER CA BLE CONNECTIONS — E nsure that the printer
cable is conne c te d a s de sc r ibed on page 16.
ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON — See the documentation
supplied with the printer.
HINT: If you need
technical assistance for
your printer, call the
printer’s manufacturer
(see the documentation
that came with the printer
for the correct phone
number). Dell does not
cover the printer’s
warranty.
Solving Problems 29
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VER IFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZ ED BY WINDOWS
Windows XP
1 Click the Start button.
2 Click Control Panel.
3 Click Printers and Other Hardware.
4 Click View installed printers or fax printers. If the printer is listed, right-clic k
5 Click Properties, and then select the Ports tab. Ensure that the Pri nt to the
Windows Me and Windows 2000
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1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
2 Click Properties, and then select the Details tab in Windows Me and the
the printer icon.
following port(s): setting is LPT1 (Printer Port).
If the printer is listed, right-click the printe r ico n.
Ports tab in Windows 2000. Ens ure that the P r int to the following port(s):
setting is LPT1 (Printer Port).
TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is
working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER — See page 18.
CHECK FOR INTERRUPT REQUEST CONFLICTS — See page 47.
If you cannot print to a USB printer
VER IFY THE PRINTER CA BLE CONNECTIONS — E nsure that the printer
cable is connected as described on page 17.
ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON — See the documentation
supplied with the printer.
30 Solving Problems
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