Dell Latitude Xpi CD - Manual (Page 43)

Troubleshooting Your Computer 3-3
L
ook and Listen
Looking at and listening to your computer is important in
determining the source of a problem. Look and listen for
the indications described in Table 3-1. If looking and
listening to the computer does not resolve the problem,
see the next subsection, “System Setup Options.”
Table 3-1. Boot Routine Indications
Look for: Action
An error message See “Messages and Codes” found later in this chapter.
The power indicator If the computer’s power indicator does not come on, see “Troubleshooting a Power Failure”
found later in this chapter.
The keyboard
indicators The built-in keyboard has three indicators, the < NUM LOCK > key, the < CAPS LOCK > key, and the
< SCROLL LOCK > key. Press each of these keys to toggle the keyboard indicators on and off. If the
keyboard indicators do not light up, run the Keyboard Test Group in the Dell diagnostics. (For
instructions, see Chapter 4, “Running the Dell Diagnostics.”)
The diskette-drive
access indicator The diskette-drive access indicator should flicker when you access data on the diskette drive.
You can test this indicator by inserting a diskette into the drive, typing
dir a: at an MS-DOS
prompt, and pressing < ENTER >. If the diskette-drive access indicator does not light up, see
“Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive” found later in this chapter.
The hard-disk drive/
CD-ROM drive
access indicator The hard-disk drive/CD-ROM drive access indicator should flicker when you access data on
the hard-disk drive or CD-ROM drive. You can test this indicator by typing
dir c: at an
MS-DOS prompt and pressing < ENTER >. If the hard-disk drive/CD-ROM drive access indicator
does not light up, see “Troubleshooting the Hard-Disk Drive” found later in this chapter.
A series of beeps See “Messages and Codes” found later in this chapter.
An unfamiliar con-
stant scraping or
grinding sound when
you access a drive Make sure the sound is not caused by the application program you are running. The sound
could be caused by a hardware malfunction. See Chapter 5, “Getting Help,” for instructions
on obtaining technical assistance from Dell.
The absence of a
familiar sound When you turn on your computer, you can hear the hard-disk drive spin up and the computer
trying to access the boot files from the hard-disk drive or the diskette drive. If your computer
does not boot, call Dell for technical assistance. (See Chapter 5, “Getting Help,” for instruc-
tions.) Otherwise, see Chapter 4, “Running the Dell Diagnostics.”
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary in the online System User’s Guide.