Gateway p-79 Laptop User Manual


 
CHAPTER 4: Troubleshooting
140
Diagnosing problems
Use the following procedure as a guide for diagnosing notebook problems.
1 Obtain the failing symptoms in as much detail as possible.
2 Verify the symptoms by attempting to re-create the failure by running the diagnostic
test or by repeating the same operation.
3 Use the following table with the verified symptom to determine which page to go to.
System test procedures
Testing the optical drive
Use the following procedure to isolate a problem in an optical drive controller, driver, or
drive.
To test the optical drive:
1 Boot from the diagnostics diskette and start the diagnostics program.
2 Run the CD-ROM Test and see if the test completes successfully.
3 Follow the instructions in the message window.
If an error occurs, reconnect the connector on the system board.
If the error still remains:
4 Reconnect the external optical drive to a USB jack.
5 Replace the external optical drive.
Important
The diagnostic tests are intended to test only Acer products. Non-Acer products,
prototype cards, or modified options can give false errors and invalid system responses.
Symptoms (Verified) Go To
Power failure. (The power indicator does
not go on or stay on.)
“Testing the power system” on page 141
POST does not complete. No beep or error
codes are indicated.
“Power-On Self-Test (POST) error
message” on page 143
“Undetermined problems” on page 155
POST detects an error and displayed
messages on screen.
“Index of error messages” on page 144
Other symptoms (LCD display problems or
others).
“Power-On Self-Test (POST) error
message” on page 143
Symptoms cannot be re-created
(intermittent problems).
Use the customer-reported symptoms
and go to “Power-On Self-Test (POST)
error message” on page 143
“Intermittent problems” on page 155
“Undetermined problems” on page 155
Important
Make sure that the CD-ROM does not have any label attached to it. The label can
cause damage to the drive or can cause the drive to fail.