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Maintenance & Service Guide
Presario 1660 Model

MSG Index | Home Page | Notice | Preface | Product Description | Troubleshooting  
Illustrated Parts Catalog
Removal & Replacement Procedures | Specifications
Pin Assignments
| Battery Pack Operations


Solving Minor Problems (continued)

 

Audio     Battery pack      Battery gauge      CD/DVD drive      Diskette/diskette drive       Display      Hard drive     

Hardware installation   Keyboard     Memory     PC card     Power     Printer     Touchpad/pointing device

 

Display Problems

You can perform a self-test on an external VGA color or monochrome monitor as follows:

1. Turn off the monitor.
2. Turn off the computer.
3. Disconnect the monitor signal cable from the computer.
4. Turn on the monitor and allow it to warm up for one minute.

The display should be white. A narrow black border may also appear on the left and right sides of the display. Either of these displays indicates that the monitor is working properly.

Problem

Probable Cause

Solution(s)

Screen is dim.

 

Control for brightness or contrast (if applicable) is not set properly.

Adjust the Brightness of the display by using Fn + F7 (¯ ) or Fn + F8 (­ ).

Adjust the Contrast of the display by using Fn + F5 (¯ ) or Fn + F6 (­ ).

See other entries in this table if these adjustments do not work.

Computer screen is in direct light.

Tilt display or move computer.

Screen is blank.

 

Screen save was initiated by Power Management due to lack of user activity.

Press any key or touch the Touch Pad.

Display has overheated.

If computer is in direct sunlight, move it and allow it to cool off.

Display is blank and the Suspend icon is flashing.

System is in Suspend mode.

Press any key or touch the Touch Pad.

Internal display is blank and the screen on an external monitor displays information.

Display function was switched to the external monitor.

Use Fn + F2 to switch between LCD or CRT.

Internal display flashes or has garbled characters when computer is connected to external monitor.

Using 1024 × 768 or higher resolution on external monitor and have toggled back to internal display, which supports up to 800 × 600.

Restart the computer.

This display panel has a continuous pattern across it (e.g., a "jailbars" pattern), has a single color on it, or has garbled graphics across the entire panel. This failure is for patterns across the entire panel (not just on one section). Improper display cable connections. Reseat the display cable to the following until the problem is solved:

1. System board

2. Display assembly

Defective display cable. Replace the display assembly.
Defective inverter board. Replace the display assembly.
Defective system board. Replace the system board.
Ghost bars extending from graphics on the display. Common characteristic of STN displays. 1. Change the background colors.

2. Adjust the Contrast of the display by using Fn + F5 (¯ ) or Fn + F6 (­ ).

A single line, small group of lines, or block appears on the display panel. This failure occurs in only a section of the display panel. Defective display panel. Replace the display assembly.
The light tubes on the edge of the display panel do not light up at all and Power-On Self-Test (POST) completes when the unit is powered up.* Improper backlight or display cable connections Replace the display assembly.
Defective inverter board. Replace the display assembly.
Defective display cable. Replace the display assembly.
Defective display panel. Replace the display assembly.
Defective system board. Replace the system board.
The light tubes on the edge of the display panel do not light up at all and Power-On Self-Test (POST) does not complete when the unit is powered up.* Defective system board. Replace the system board.
Backlight (brightness) cannot be adjusted with Fn + F7 (¯ ) or Fn + F8 (­ ).* Improper display cable connections. 1. Reseat the display cable to the system board.

2. Replace the display assembly.

Defective inverter board. Replace the display assembly.
Defective display cable. Replace the display assembly.
Defective system board. Replace the system board.
Contrast cannot be adjusted with Fn + F5 (¯ ) or Fn + F6 (­ ). Improper display cable connections. 1. Reseat the display cable to the system board.

2. Replace the display assembly.

Defective inverter board. Replace the display assembly.
Defective display cable. Replace the display assembly.
Defective system board. Replace the system board.
* This problem indicates that the backlight or its power circuitry has failed. Since you cannot observe the POST result on the display panel when the backlight is not functioning, connect the unit to an external monitor before powering the unit up. If an external monitor is not available, verify that POST completes by opening and closing the display, listening for the single or double beep, and watching for the LEDs turn on at the front of the computer.

 

Hard Drive Problems

CAUTION.GIF (182 bytes)

CAUTION: To prevent loss of information, always maintain an up-to-date backup of your hard drive at all times, in case of errors or failures.

Problem Probable Cause Solution(s)
Reading hard drive takes an unusually long time after restarting the computer. System entered Hibernation due to low battery condition and is now exiting from it. Give the system time to restore the previously saved data to its exact state before Hibernation.
Hard drive error occurs. Hard drive has bad sectors or has failed. Run Computer Checkup.
Hard drive does not work. Hard drive is not seated properly. Turn off and unplug the computer, remove the battery pack, and remove and then reinstall the hard drive.

 

Hardware Installation Problems

Problem Probable Cause Solutions(s)
A new device is not recognized as part of the computer system. Cable(s) of new external device are loose or power cables are unplugged. Ensure that all cables are properly and securely connected.
Power switch of new external device is not turned on. Turn off the computer, turn on the external device, then turn on the computer to integrate the device with the computer system.
Device is not seated properly. Turn off the computer and reinsert the device.

 

Keyboard/Numeric Keypad Problems

Problem

Probable Cause

Solution(s)

Embedded numeric keypad on computer keyboard is disabled.

Num Lock function is not enabled.

Press the Shift+NumLk keys to enable the Num Lock function and embedded numeric keypad. The Num Lock icon on the status panel turns on.

Embedded numeric keypad is disabled and Num Lock function is on.

External numeric keypad is connected to the computer.

Disconnect the external numeric keypad from the computer.

 

Memory Problems

Problem

Probable Cause

Solution(s)

Memory count during Power-On Self-Test (POST) is incorrect.

Optional memory expansion card is installed incorrectly, is incompatible with the computer, or is defective.

Ensure that the optional memory expansion card is installed correctly.

"Out of Memory" message is displayed on the screen or insufficient memory error occurs during operation.

System ran out of memory for the application.

1. Check the application documentation for memory requirements.

2. Install additional memory.

Too many TSR (terminate-and stay-resident) applications are running.

Remove from memory any TSR applications that you do not need.

 

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Revised: 15 January 1999