Chapter 5. Technical Troubleshooting; Bios Features - IBM Aptiva E 2270 User Manual

Chapter 5. Technical Troubleshooting

This chapter describes diagnostic tools that you can use to identify and correct
problems that might come up as you use your computer. This chapter also
contains information about Option Diskettes and how to recover from a BIOS
update failure.
Note
If your computer does not start when you press the power switch, do the
following:
• Make sure your computer and monitor are connected to working
electrical outlets.
• Make sure all cables are securely connected to the correct locations.
Computer problems can be caused by hardware, software, or user error (for
example, pressing the wrong key). You can use the diagnostic aids discussed in
this chapter to help you solve such problems yourself or gather helpful
information you can pass on to a service technician.
You can check the hardware by following the procedures in this chapter.
If the hardware checks out, and you have not made a user error, you might have a
software problem. If you suspect that you have a software problem see the
operating system documentation supplied with your computer. If you have
installed software applications yourself, see the documentation supplied with the
software.
The following tools are available to diagnose hardware-related problems:
• Power-on self-test (POST)
• Error codes and messages
• Troubleshooting charts

BIOS features

The BIOS of your PC controls the configuration and function of the internal
hardware. It also performs a power-on self-test (POST) when the PC is turned on.
The BIOS is preset for optimum performance and compatibility of your PC.
Normally, you do not need to access or change any of the BIOS settings. You
might be asked to access and change some BIOS settings by a service technician
if you experience problems installing options or peripheral devices.
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