User's Manual

Dell Diagnostics
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When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in Solving Problems and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell (see Contacting
Dell) for technical assistance.
It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin.
Enter system setup (see Entering System Setup), review your computer's configuration information, and ensure that the device you want to test displays in
system setup and is active.
Start the Dell Diagnostics from either your hard drive or from the Drivers and Utilities CD (also known as the ResourceCD).
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Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive
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1. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
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2. WhentheDELL™logoappears,press<F12>immediately.
If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft®Windows®desktop. Then shut down the
computer (see Turn Off Your Computer), and try again.
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3. When the boot device list appears, highlight Boot to Utility Partition and press <Enter>.
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4. When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears, select the test that you want to run (see Dell Diagnostics Main Menu for a list of tests).
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Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD
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1. Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD.
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Unexpectedinterruptinprotectedmode— Run the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
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WARNING: Dell's Disk Monitoring System has detected that drive [0/1] on the [primary/secondary] IDE controller is operating outside
of normal specifications. It is advisable to immediately back up your data and replace your hard drive by calling your support desk or
Dell—
If no replacement drive is immediately available and the drive is not the only bootable drive, Enter system setup (see Entering System
Setup) and change the appropriate drive setting to None. Then remove the drive from the computer.
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Writefault—
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Writefaultonselecteddrive—
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See Drive Problems.
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<drive letter>:\isnotaccessible.Thedeviceisnotready— The floppy drive cannot read the disk. Insert a floppy disk into the drive and
try again.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
NOTICE: TheDellDiagnosticsworksonlyonDell™computers.
NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not ship with all computers.
NOTE: If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, run the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics) from your Drivers
and Utilities CD.
NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities CD is optional and may not ship with all computers.