Dell Precision T3400 Troubleshooting

Computer fails to boot up.

Make sure that the power cord is firmly connected to the computer and also to the electrical outlet.

Check to see that there is power in the electrical outlet and that a circuit/fuse has not been switched off.

If there still is no power the power supply may need to be replaced.

Computer will shut down at random.

Make sure that the power cord is firmly connected to the computer and also to the electrical outlet.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove dust from the device.

Install an additional cooling fan.

Place the CPU on a firm, level surface which also provides adequate ventilation.

Make sure the paste holding the heat-sink is secure.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove dust from the device before it is installed.

Disc drive won't read CD-ROMs, discs skip.

Check that the disc is compatible with your drive. While newer drives can read (and write) CD-ROMs as well as DVDs, your model may only read CD-ROMs. For more information on optical drive troubleshooting, see Optical Drive Troubleshooting.

If the disc is visibly scratched or dirty, this is likely the problem. If you haven’t already, try cleaning the disc with a bit of window cleaning solution and a soft cloth. To be sure it’s not something worse, check to see if your computer will read a different disc. For more information on optical drive troubleshooting, see Optical Drive Troubleshooting.

If none of the solutions above seem to work, it’s time to replace the optical drive (link to guide).

The PC turns on but does not boot up or load the operating system.

Turn the PC off and unplug it. Open the case and check that all cables and wires are plugged into the motherboard securely.

Close the cover, plug in your PC and try turning it on again. If you still have the issue, please see the next solutions.

Failure to startup can sometimes be attributed to loose or damaged RAM modules. A good indication of this might be a series of beeps sounding when you turn on the PC. If the PC emits two short beeps, one or more RAM modules may need to be reseated into the motherboard. In some cases, the RAM may need to be replaced.

Please refer to the RAM installation guide for more information on removing and replacing RAM modules.

If the RAM is seated properly but you still cannot get the PC to boot without freezing, it may be a problem with the CPU or the heat sink.

First, check the heat sink and fan. If the heat sink is crooked or not secure , it will not cool the CPU effectively. Likewise, if the fan is clogged with dust it will not be able to disburse heat.

If the heat sink is secured and the fan appears to be clean, the CPU may be loose or require reseating. Please refer to the CPU replacement guide for tips on how to get access to these components.

The computer boots up and the operating system loads, but programs don’t seem to work properly.

A frozen or sluggish PC can most likely be attributed to insufficient levels of RAM. You may need to replace one or all modules with RAM of a higher capacity.

Please refer to the RAM installation guide for more information on removing and replacing RAM modules.

If you know you have enough RAM, then you may have faulty modules. If you have more than one stick of RAM installed, take all modules out and try each one individually.

Please refer to the RAM installation guide for more information on removing and replacing RAM modules.

The computer no longer loads programs quickly or experiences extreme lag time.

Pockets of empty space exist on the hard drive causing slow access times. This empty data must be moved to the end of the disc by using a disc defragmenting program on the computer.

A frozen or sluggish PC can most likely be attributed to insufficient levels of RAM. You may need to replace one or all modules with RAM of a higher capacity.

Please refer to the RAM installation guide for more information.

If you have a lot of programs running, this may slow your computer down. Try closing any programs that you aren’t using.

If very few or no programs are running, you may have a computer virus or malware. Viruses and malwarerun in the background undetected and use up a lot of system resources. Try running an antivirus or antimalware software program.

Images and colors display slowly or incorrectly.

Make sure that the cable connecting the computer to the monitor is secure at both ends. Gently twist the screws on either side of the cable heads to ensure a good connection.

Check the display settings on your computer.

If all else fails, you probably need to replace the video card.