dell inspiron 8200 User Manual

							Solving Problems: Dell Inspiron 8200
Connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack— 
If you have other telephone devices sharing the line, such as an answeri\
ng 
machine, fax machine, surge protector, or line splitter, then bypass the\
m 
and use the telephone line to connect the modem directly to the telephon\
e 
wall jack.
Check the connection— 
Verify that the telephone line is connected to the modem.
Check the telephone line— 
Try using a different telephone line. If you are using a line that is 3 \
m (10 
ft) or more in length, try a shorter one.
Irregular dial tone — 
If you have voice mail service, you might hear an irregular dial tone wh\
en 
you have messages. Contact your telephone company for instructions on 
restoring a dial tone.
Turn off call waiting (catch-phone)— 
See your telephone directory for instructions on deactivating this featu\
re. 
Then adjust the dial-up networking connection properties.1.  Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 
2.  Click Printers and Other Hardware, click Phone and Modem  Options, click the Dialing Rules tab, and then click Edit.... 
3.  In the Edit Location window, ensure that To disable call waiting,  dial: is checked, and then select the proper code as listed in your 
telephone directory. 
4.  Click Apply and click OK. 
5.  Close the Phone and Modems Options window. 
6.  Close the Control Panel window. 
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							Solving Problems: Dell Inspiron 8200
Verify that the modem is communicating with Windows 1.  Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 
2.  Click Printers and Other Hardware. 
3.  Click Phone and Modem Options. 
4.  Click the Modems tab. 
5.  Click the COM port for your modem. 
6.  Click Properties, click the Diagnostics tab, and then click Query  Modem to verify that the modem is communicating with Windows. 
If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.
Scanner Problems
Check the power cable connection— 
Ensure that the scanner power cable is firmly connected to a working 
electrical power source and that the scanner is turned on.
Check the scanner cable connection— 
Ensure that the scanner cable is firmly connected to the computer and to\
 
the scanner.
Unlock the scanner— 
Ensure that your scanner is unlocked if it has a locking tab or button.
Reinstall the scanner driver— 
See the scanner documentation for instructions.
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems
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							Solving Problems: Dell Inspiron 8200
Check the touch pad settings 1.  Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Printers  and Other Hardware. 
2.  Click Mouse. 
3.  Try adjusting the settings. 
Check the mouse cable— 
Shut down the computer. Disconnect the mouse cable and check it for 
damage. For PS/2 cables, check the cable connector for bent or broken 
pins. Firmly reconnect the cable.
If you are using a mouse extension cable, disconnect it and connect the \
mouse directly to the computer.
To verify that the problem is with the mouse, check the touch pad  1.  Turn off the computer. 
2.  Disconnect the mouse. 
3.  Turn on the computer. 
4.  At the Windows desktop, use the touch pad to move the cursor  around, select an icon, and open it. 
If the touch pad operates correctly, the mouse may be defective.
Reinstall the touch pad driver— 
See 
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities.
External Keyboard Problems
HINT: When you attach an external keyboard, the integrated keyboard remains 
fully functional. 
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							Solving Problems: Dell Inspiron 8200
Check the keyboard cable— 
Shut down the computer. Disconnect the keyboard cable and check it for 
damage. For PS/2 cables, check the cable connector for bent or broken 
pins. Firmly reconnect the cable.
If you are using a keyboard extension cable, disconnect it and connect t\
he 
keyboard directly to the computer.
Check the external keyboard 1.  Turn off the computer, wait 1 minute, and turn it on again. 
2.  Verify that the numbers, capitals, and scroll lock lights on the  keyboard blink during the boot routine. 
3.  From the Windows® desktop, click the Start button, point to 
Programs, point to Accessories, and click Notepad. 
4.  Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they  appear on the display. 
If you cannot verify these steps, you may have a defective external 
keyboard. 
To verify that the problem is with the external keyboard, check the 
integrated keyboard 
1.  Turn off the computer. 
2.  Disconnect the external keyboard. 
3.  Turn on the computer. 
4.  From the Windows desktop, click the Start button, point to  Programs, point to Accessories, and click Notepad. 
5.  Type some characters on the integrated keyboard and verify that they\
  appear on the display. 
If the characters appear now but did not with the external keyboard, you\
 
may have a defective external keyboard. Contact Dell (see Contacting D\
ell 
in the Dell Owners Manual that came with your computer).
Unexpected Characters
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							Solving Problems: Dell Inspiron 8200
Disable the numeric keypad— Press  to disable the numeric keypad 
if numbers are displayed instead of letters. Verify that the numbers loc\
k 
light is not lit.
Drive Problems
HINT: For information on saving files to a floppy disk, see the Tell Me How help 
file. To access the help file, see 
Accessing Help. 
If you cannot save a file to a floppy disk drive 
Ensure that Windows® recognizes the drive— 
Click the Start button and click My Computer. If the drive is not listed, 
perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove\
 
viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the 
drive. Insert a bootable disk and restart the computer. Verify that the \
 
light is blinking, indicating normal operation.
Ensure that the disk is not write-protected— You cannot save data to a 
write-protected disk.
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							Solving Problems: Dell Inspiron 8200
 
Try another floppy disk— Insert another disk to eliminate the possibility 
that the original disk is defective.
Reinstall the drive 
1.  Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and shut  down the computer. 
2.  If the drive is installed in the module bay, remove the drive. 
If the drive is a fixed drive, review 
Check the drive for errors.
3.  Reinstall the drive. 
4.  Turn on the computer. 
Clean the drive— See Cleaning Your Computer in the Tell Me How help 
file for instructions. To access the help file, see 
Accessing Help.
If you cannot play a CD, CD-RW, or DVD 
HINT: Because of different worldwide file types, not all DVD titles work in al\
l 
DVD drives. 
High-speed CD drive vibration is normal and may cause noise. This noise \
does not 
indicate a defect with the drive or the CD.
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							Solving Problems: Dell Inspiron 8200
Ensure that Windows® recognizes the drive— Click the Start button 
and click My Computer. If the drive is not listed, perform a full scan with 
your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses. Viruses can 
sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive. Insert a bootable \
disk and restart the computer. Verify that the 
 light is blinking, 
indicating normal operation.
Try another disc— Insert another disc to eliminate the possibility that the 
original disc is defective.
Adjust the Windows volume control— Double-click the speaker icon in 
the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned \
up 
and that the sound is not muted. 
Identify the disc that is not playing— If you have one CD, CD-RW, or 
DVD in the fixed optical drive device and one in the module bay device:
1.  Click the Start button and click My Computer. 
2.  Double-click the drive letter of the device that you are verifying. \
Reinstall the drive  1.  Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, and shut  down the computer. 
2.  If the drive is installed in the module bay, remove the drive. 
If the drive is a fixed drive, review 
Check the drive for errors.
3.  Reinstall the drive. 
4.  Turn on the computer. 
Clean the drive or disc— See Cleaning Your Computer in the Tell Me 
How help file for instructions. To access the help file, see 
Accessing Help.
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							Solving Problems: Dell Inspiron 8200
Check the drive for errors 
If the drive is a fixed optical drive:1.  Remove the hard drive and floppy drive. 
2.  Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD for your computer and turn on the  computer. 
3.  Verify that the 
 light is blinking, indicating normal operation. 
If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, or DVD drive 
tray 
1.  Ensure that the computer is turned off. 
2.  Straighten a paper clip and insert one end into the eject hole at th\
e  front of the drive; push firmly until the tray is partially ejected. 
3.  Gently pull out the tray until it stops. 
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding 
sound 
l     Ensure that the sound is not caused by the program that is running. 
l     Ensure that the disk or disc is inserted properly.
If the CD-RW drive stops writing 
Disable standby mode in Windows before writing to a CD-RW— 
Search for the keyword standby in the Windows Help and Support Center. 
To access the help file, see 
Accessing Help.
Change the write speed to a slower rate— See the help files for your 
CD creation software.
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							Solving Problems: Dell Inspiron 8200
Exit all other open programs— Exiting all other open programs before 
writing to the CD-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 1.  Click the Start button and click My Computer. 
2.  Right-click the drive letter (local disk) that you want to scan fo\
r  errors, and then click Properties. 
3.  Click the Tools tab. 
4.  Under Error-checking, click Check Now. 
5.  Click Start. 
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 Unplug or Eject Hardware icon in the Windows taskbar. 
Ensure that the card is listed.
If you have problems with a Dell-provided PC Card— 
Contact Dell (see Contacting Dell in the Dell Owners Manual that came 
with your computer).
If you have problems with a PC Card not provided by Dell— 
Contact the PC Card manufacturer.
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							Solving Problems: Dell Inspiron 8200
Network Problems
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— 
A green or red-orange status light indicates that the network connection\
 is 
active. If this status light is not lit, try replacing the network cable\
. The 
amber light indicates that the network adapter driver is loaded and the \
adapter is detecting activity.
Restart the computer— 
Try to log on to the network again.
Contact your network administrator— 
Verify that your network settings are correct and that the network is 
functioning.
Error Messages
If the message is not listed, see the documentation for the operating sy\
stem or the 
program that was running at the time the message appeared.
 The file being copied is too large for the destination drive— 
The file that you are trying to copy is too large to fit on the disk, or\
 the disk 
is too full. Try copying the file to a different disk or use a larger ca\
pacity 
disk.
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