Dell Inspiron 3500 - Manual (Page 71)

Troubleshooting Your Computer 3-25
6. Rename your autoexec.bat and config.sys files, remove the operating system
diskette from drive A, and reboot the computer. Does the operating system load
now?
Yes. You have an error in your autoexec.bat or config.sys file. Use a text editor
to examine the contents of these files and locate the error. For information on the
correct syntax for commands in these files, see the documentation that accom-
panied your operating system.
No. Go to step 7.
7. Insert your diagnostics diskette into drive A and reboot the computer. Then run
the Hard-Disk Drives (Non-SCSI) test group. Does your drive pass all the tests?
Yes. Go to step 8.
No. Go to step 9.
8. Replace your diagnostics diskette with the operating system diskette, and reboot
the computer. Does the operating system load now?
Yes. The hard-disk drive may contain a corrupted operating system or it may have
bad sectors. Reinstall the operating system as described in the documentation
that came with it. If reinstalling the operating system does not correct the prob-
lem, go to step 9.
No. Go to step 9.
9. Call Dell for technical assistance.
See Chapter 5, “Getting Help,” for instructions.
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When you attach an external keyboard, the built-in keyboard remains fully functional.
During POST, the computer checks whether an external keyboard is connected; if it is,
the computer recognizes both the built-in keyboard and the external keyboard. If an
attached external keyboard does not work when you boot the computer, make a copy
of the Diagnostics Checklist found in Chapter 5 and fill it out as you complete the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Turn off the computer, and then remove the keyboard cable and check it for bent
or broken pins.
Yes. If you see bent pins and they can be straightened, straighten them and go to
step 2. If they cannot be straightened, or are broken, you need a new keyboard.
No. Go to step 2.
2. Reconnect the keyboard to the computer.
3. Make sure the cable from the external keyboard is firmly connected to the key-
board/mouse connector on the side of the computer. (See “Checking
Connections” found earlier in this chapter.)