Owner manual
Disable standby or hibernate mode in Windows before writing to a CD-RW — Search for the keyword
standby or hibernate in Windows Help or the Windows Help and Support Center.
Change the write speed to a slower rate — See the help files for your CD or DVD creation software.
Exit all other open programs — Exiting all other open programs before writing to the CD-RW or DVD+RW
may alleviate the problem.
If you have problems with a hard drive
Allow the computer to cool before turning it on — A hot hard drive may prevent the operating system
from starting. Try allowing the computer to return to room temperature before turning it on.
Check the drive for errors —
Run the Windows error-checking tool:
1. In Windows XP, click the Start button and click My Computer. In Windows 2000, double-click My
Computer.
2. Right-click the drive letter (local disk) that you want to scan for errors, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Tools tab.
4. Under Error-checking, click Check Now.
5. Click Start.
Run the IDE Drives tests as described in the Dell Diagnostics.
PC Card Problems
Check the PC Card — Ensure that the PC Card is properly inserted into the connector.
Ensure that the card is recognized by Windows — Double-click the Safely Remove Hardware (Unplug
or Eject Hardware in Windows 2000) icon in the Windows taskbar. Ensure that the card is listed.
Run the PC Card diagnostics test — See the documentation that came with the PC Card for instructions if a
diagnostics test was provided with the card.
If you have problems with a Dell-provided PC Card — Contact Dell
.
If you have problems with a PC Card not provided by Dell — Contact the PC Card manufacturer.
Network Problems
Fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you complete these checks.
Check the network cable connector — Ensure that the network cable connector is firmly connected to the
connector on the computer and the network wall jack.
Check the network lights on the network connector — Green indicates that the network connection is
active. If the status light is not green, try replacing the network cable. Amber indicates that the network