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If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound
If the CD-RW or DVD+RW drive stops writing
If you have problems with a hard drive
PC Card Problems
Smart Card Problems
2. Straighten a paper clip and insert one end into the eject hole at the front of the drive; push firmly until the tray is partially ejected.
3. Gently pull out the tray until it stops.
l Ensure that the sound is not caused by the program that is running.
l Ensure that the disk or disc is inserted properly.
Disable standby or hibernate mode in Windows before writing to a CD-RW — Search for the keyword standby or hibernate in Windows
Help or the Windows Help and Support Center.
Change the write speed to a slower rate — See the help files for your CD or DVD creation software.
Exit all other open programs — Exiting all other open programs before writing to the CD-RW or DVD+RW may alleviate the problem.
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 —
l Run the Windows error-checking tool:
1. In Windows XP, click the Start button and click My Computer. In Windows 2000, double-click My Computer.
2. Right-click the drive letter (local disk) that you want to scan for errors, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Tools tab.
4. Under Error-checking, click Check Now.
5. Click Start.
l Run the IDE Drives tests as described in the Dell Diagnostics.
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 Safely Remove Hardware (Unplug or Eject Hardware in Windows
2000) icon in the Windows taskbar. Ensure that the card is listed.
Run the PC Card diagnostics test — See the documentation that came with the PC Card for instructions if a diagnostics test was provided
with the card.
If you have problems with a Dell-provided PC Card — Contact Dell.
If you have problems with a PC Card not provided by Dell — Contact the PC Card manufacturer.