Quick Reference Guide

4-2 Dell PowerEdge 2450 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide
When you run the installation routine, be prepared to respond to prompts for informa-
tion about how the computer's operating system is configured, what type of
computer you have, and what peripheral devices are connected to the computer.
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The following subsections discuss errors that can occur as a result of software opera-
tion or configuration.
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Error messages can be produced by an application program, the operating system, or
the computer. Chapter 3, “Messages and Codes,” provides information about the
error messages that are generated by the computer. If you receive an error message
that is not listed in Chapter 3, “Messages and Codes,” check the operating system or
application program documentation.
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If you press a specific key or set of keys at the wrong time, a program may give you
unexpected results. See the documentation that came with the application program
to make sure that the values or characters you are entering are valid.
Make sure that the operating environment is set up to accommodate the programs
you use. Keep in mind that whenever you change the parameters of the computer's
operating environment, you may affect the successful operation of the programs.
Sometimes, after modifying the operating environment, you may need to reinstall a
program that no longer runs properly.
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Some programs may leave portions of their setup information behind, even though
you have exited from them. As a result, other programs cannot run. Rebooting the
system can confirm whether these programs are the cause of the problem.
Device drivers, which are programs that use specialized subroutines, can cause prob-
lems with the computer system. For example, a variation in the way the data is sent
to the monitor may require a special screen driver program that expects a certain kind
of video mode or monitor. In such cases, you may have to develop an alternate
method of running that particular program—by creating a start-up file made especially
for that program, for example. Call the support service for the software you are using
to help you with this problem.
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Problems can arise if two devices attempt to use the same interrupt request (IRQ)
line. To avoid this type of conflict, check the documentation for the IRQ line's default
for each installed expansion card. Then consult Table 4-1 to configure the card for one
of the available IRQ lines.