Dell 9300 Personal Computer User Manual


 
Solving Problems 63
Unexpected characters
Lockups and Software Problems
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the
Product Information Guide.
CHECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE Shut down the computer. Disconnect the keyboard cable and check
it for damage, and firmly reconnect the cable.
If you are using a keyboard extension cable, disconnect it and connect the keyboard directly to the
computer.
CHECK THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD
1
Shut down 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
All Programs
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
Shut down the computer.
2
Disconnect the external keyboard.
3
Turn on the computer.
4
From the Windows desktop, click the
Start
button, point to
All Programs
Accessories
, and click
Notepad
.
5
Type some characters on the external 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 Dell" on page 108.
DISABLE THE NUMERIC KEYPAD Press <Num Lk> to disable the numeric keypad if numbers are
displayed instead of letters. Verify that the numbers lock light is not lit.