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Basic Checks: Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX110 System User's Guide
bullet.gif (1107 bytes) Overview bullet.gif (1107 bytes) Checking Connections and Switches
bullet.gif (1107 bytes) Backing Up Your Files bullet.gif (1107 bytes) Look and Listen
bullet.gif (1107 bytes) Basic Checks bullet.gif (1107 bytes) System Setup

Overview

If your Dell computer system is not working as expected, and if you are not sure what to do, start your troubleshooting with the procedures in this section. This section guides you through basic steps to solve basic computer problems. It also directs you to further detailed troubleshooting information and procedures to solve more complex problems.

Backing Up Your Files

If your system is behaving erratically, back up your files immediately. If your system has a tape drive installed, see the documentation that came with the tape backup software for instructions on performing a backup operation. Otherwise, see your operating system documentation for information on backing up data files.

Basic Checks

See the following sections in the order indicated until the problem is resolved:

Checking Connections and Switches

Improperly set switches and controls and loose or improperly connected cables are the most likely source of problems for your computer, monitor, or other peripheral (such as a printer, keyboard, mouse, or other external equipment).

note.gif (515 bytes) NOTE: See "Controls and Indicators" and "Connecting Peripheral Devices" for the location of your computer's external connections and switches.

Complete the following steps in the order indicated to check all the connections and switches:

  1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals (such as the monitor, keyboard, printer, external drives, scanners, or plotters).

    Disconnect all the AC power cables from their electrical outlets.

  2. If your computer is connected to a power strip, turn the power strip off and then on again. If the problem is not resolved, try another power strip or connect the system directly to an electrical outlet to see if the original power strip is faulty.

  3. Connect the system to a different electrical outlet.

    If doing so corrects the problem, the original outlet is faulty.

  4. Reconnect the system to an electrical outlet. Make sure that all connections fit tightly together, and turn on the system.

  5. If the problem is resolved, you have corrected a faulty connection.

  6. If your monitor is not operating properly, see "Troubleshooting the Monitor."

  7. If your keyboard is not operating properly, see "Troubleshooting the Keyboard."

  8. If your mouse or printer is not operating properly, see "Troubleshooting I/O Ports." Otherwise, see "Look and Listen."

Look and Listen

Looking at and listening to your system is important in determining the source of a problem. Look and listen for the indications described in Table 1.

If after looking and listening to your computer you have not resolved the problem, continue with the recommendations in "System Setup."

Table 1. Boot Routine Indications

Look/Listen for: Action
An error message See "Messages and Codes."
The monitor's power indicator Most monitors have a power indicator (usually on the front bezel). If the monitor's power indicator does not light up, see "Troubleshooting the Monitor."
The power and hard-disk drive indicators Use the power and hard-disk drive indicators to help you identify a system problem when you press the power button to turn on the computer but the system does not boot.
The power indicator Use the power indicator to help you identify a system problem when you press the power button to turn on the computer but the system does not boot:
  • A blinking yellow power indicator before power-on self-test (POST) indicates that the power supply may be faulty. In rare cases, the system board may be faulty. See "Getting Help" for instructions on getting technical assistance from Dell.
  • A solid yellow power indicator before POST indicates that a device on the system board may be faulty or is incorrectly installed.  Be sure that the microprocessor is properly seated, remove all expansion cards, and then reboot. If the system does not boot, see "Getting Help" for instructions on getting technical assistance from Dell.
  • A solid green power indicator and a beep code during POST indicate that a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) may be faulty or is not properly seated. Remove all DIMMs, install only one DIMM, and then reboot. Repeat this procedure until you identify the faulty or improperly seated DIMM.
  • A solid green power indicator and no beep code and no video during POST indicate that the monitor or the integrated video controller may be faulty. See "Troubleshooting the Monitor." If the monitor is operating properly and is correctly connected, see "Getting Help" for instructions on getting technical assistance from Dell.
  • A solid green power indicator and no beep code with video during POST indicate that an integrated system board device may be faulty. See "Getting Help" for instructions on getting technical assistance from Dell.
The keyboard indicators Most keyboards have one or more indicators (usually in the upper-right corner). Press the <Num Lock> key, the <Caps Lock> key, and the <Scroll Lock> key to toggle the keyboard indicators on and off. If the keyboard indicators do not light up, see "Troubleshooting the Keyboard."
The diskette-drive access indicator The diskette-drive access indicator should quickly flash on and off when you access data on the diskette drive. On a system running a Microsoft® Windows® operating system, you can test the drive by opening Windows Explorer and clicking the icon for drive A. If the diskette-drive access indicator does not light up, see "Troubleshooting Drives."
The hard-disk drive access indicator The hard-disk drive access indicator should quickly flash on and off when you access data on the hard-disk drive. On a system running a Windows operating system, you can test the drive by opening Windows Explorer and clicking the icon for drive C. If the hard-disk drive access indicator does not light up, see "Troubleshooting Drives."
A series of beeps See "Messages and Codes."
An unfamiliar constant 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 "Getting Help" for instructions on getting technical assistance from Dell.
The absence of a familiar sound When you turn on your system, you can hear the hard-disk drive spin up, and the system tries to access the boot files from the hard-disk drive or the diskette drive. If your system boots, see "Dell Diagnostics." If your system does not boot, see "Getting Help."

System Setup

You can easily correct certain system problems by verifying the correct settings in System Setup. When you boot your system, your system checks the system configuration information and compares it with the current hardware configuration. If your system hardware configuration does not match the information recorded by System Setup, an error message may appear on your screen.

This problem can happen if you changed your system's hardware configuration and forgot to run System Setup. To correct this problem, enter System Setup, correct the setting for the corresponding System Setup program option, and reboot your system.

If after checking the settings in System Setup you have not resolved the problem, see "Dell Diagnostics."

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