Troubleshooting; Basic Troubleshooting Steps; Diagnostics; Pre-Boot System Assessment - Dell Alienware Series Manual

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Table Of Contents

Table of Contents

Topics:

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Basic troubleshooting steps

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Diagnostics

Basic troubleshooting steps

This section lists some basic troubleshooting steps you can use to resolve common issues with your computer.

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Make sure your computer is turned on and all the components are receiving power.

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Make sure all the cables are firmly connected to the respective ports.

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Make sure that the cables are not damaged or frayed.

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Make sure that there are no bent or broken pins on the connectors.

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Restart your computer and check whether the problem persists.

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For internet connection issues, unplug your modem and router from the electrical outlet, wait for about 30 seconds, plug in the power

cables, and try connecting again.

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For audio issues, make sure that the volume button is not on mute or connect an external speaker and check for sound.

NOTE:

For more information on troubleshooting, solutions to common problems, and FAQs, see www.dell.com/support. To

contact Dell for technical support, see

Diagnostics

Your computer has built-in diagnostic tools to help you determine the issue with you computer. These tools may notify you of a problem

using error messages, light codes, or beep codes.

Pre-Boot System Assessment

You can use the Pre-Boot System Assessment (PSA) to diagnose various hardware problems. The ePSA tests devices such as the system

board, keyboard, display, memory, hard drive, and so on.

NOTE:

PSA may not be supported on all computers.

Invoking PSA

Turn on or restart your computer.

Press F12 at the Dell logo to access the BIOS setup program.

NOTE:

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop,

then restart your computer and try again.

Select Diagnostics and press Enter.

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the test.

Contacting

Dell.