Dell Inspiron 7500 Reference And Troubleshooting Guide

support.dell.comBasic Troubleshooting3-7
To fix this problem, correct the appropriate options in the Setup program. See 
Appendix B, “Using the Setup Program,” for detailed information about the Setup 
program and its options.
If, after checking the setup options, you have not resolved the problem, see               
“Running the Dell Diagnostics” found later in this chapter.Finding Software Solutions
Because most computers have several application programs installed in addition to 
the operating system,...

3-8Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
read the installation instructions before running a program’s installation routine. If you 
are instructed to modify the start-up files, see the documentation that came with the 
operating system for instructions.
When you run the installation routine, be prepared to respond to prompts for 
information about how the computer’s operating system is configured, what type of 
computer you have, and what peripherals are connected to the...

support.dell.comBasic Troubleshooting3-9
result when other programs require use of all or part of the memory already occupied 
by these TSR programs.
Typically, the operating system’s start-up files contain commands to start TSR 
programs when you boot the computer. If you suspect that one of these TSR          
programs is causing a memory conflict, remove the commands that start them from 
the start-up file. If the problem you were experiencing does not recur, one of the TSR 
programs probably created...

3-10Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting GuideTroubleshooting Procedures
This section provides troubleshooting procedures for integrated components            
(such as the display) and for external devices that connect to the computer (such as         
an external monitor). Before performing any of the procedures in this section, see                       
“Basic Checks” found earlier in this chapter and read the safety instructions at the 
front of this guide. Then perform the...

support.dell.comBasic Troubleshooting3-11CAUTION: Perform step 1 of the following procedure only after you are 
certain that it is safe to do so. If the computer is connected to an electrical 
outlet, Dell recommends turning off AC power at the circuit breaker before 
attempting to remove the power cables from the electrical outlet. Use the 
utmost caution when removing wet cables from live power.
1.Turn off the computer and disconnect it from the AC adapter. Then disconnect      
the AC adapter from the...

3-12Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
15.Does the computer work properly?
Yes. The problem is resolved. 
No. If the computer is able to boot, run the Dell Diagnostics to identify computer 
damage. If the computer is unable to boot, see “Troubleshooting a Power 
Failure” found later in this section. If you cannot identify the damaged 
component(s), call Dell for technical assistance. (See Chapter 5, “Getting Help,”   
for instructions.) Troubleshooting a Damaged Computer
If the...

support.dell.comBasic Troubleshooting3-13Troubleshooting a Power Failure
Occasionally, you may experience a power failure in all or part of the computer.           
A total power failure is indicated by the absence of electrical activity (such as           
status indicators and sounds) from the keyboard, display, hard-disk drive, and diskette 
drive. In a partial power failure, one or more of these indicators shows that there is 
power to a part of the computer.
To determine if there is any power to the...

3-14Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
9.Reseat (remove and reinstall) any installed batteries, and check the AC adapter 
connection. Does the power status indicator, to the right of the display latch,       
light up?
Yes. The problem is resolved. 
No. If the computer is powered by the AC adapter, see the next subsection, 
“Total Power Failure When Using the AC Adapter.” If the computer is using 
battery power, see “Total Power Failure When Using a Battery” found later...

support.dell.comBasic Troubleshooting3-15
3.Press the power button. Does the computer turn on?
Allow one minute for the computer to initialize its components before checking 
for signs of power.
Yes. Go to step 4.
No. Use the AC adapter to connect your computer to an electrical outlet. If the 
computer operates normally when using AC power, go to step 7. If the computer 
does not boot when using the AC adapter, see the preceding subsection,          
“Total Power Failure When Using the AC Adapter.”
4.Is...

3-16Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting GuideNo Power to a Part of the Computer           
If the power status indicator shows that your computer is receiving power, but the  
display remains blank, part of your computer is probably not receiving power. To 
troubleshoot this problem, make a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist found in         
Chapter 5 and fill it out as you perform the following steps:
1.Turn off the computer and peripherals and disconnect them from the electrical...