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How to Use and Troubleshoot the Inspiron 3421

Summary: Follow the guide below for using and troubleshooting your Dell Inspiron 3421.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

Using and troubleshooting your Dell Inspiron 3421

Cause

Using and troubleshooting your Dell Inspiron 3421

Resolution

Table of Contents:

  1. Wireless Networking How-to's and Troubleshooting
  2. Dell Windows Support Center
  3. Mouse, Keyboard or Touchpad Not Working Correctly
  4. The Computer Stops Responding or troubleshooting slow performance issues
  5. Microsoft Windows Crashes, Stops, Restarts or a Blue Screen Appears
  6. Troubleshooting a Notebook LCD Screen That is Black, Blank or Hard to See
  7. How to Turn the Wireless Antenna On and Off on a Dell Computer
  8. Inspiron 3421/14 Drivers
  9. Using and Troubleshooting the Dell Webcam and Dell Webcam Central Software
  10. Disabling or Enabling the Touchpad
  11. The Computer Fails to Start or There is No Video
  12. Dell PC Diagnostics Quick Test and SupportAssist for PCs and Tablets
  13. Specifications
  14. Port Locations
  15. Resetting the System Setup (BIOS) to its Default Settings
  16. Computer Component is not Recognized
 

This article provides information on using and troubleshooting your Inspiron 3421/14.

1. Wireless Networking How-to's and Troubleshooting

For how-to's and troubleshooting information on wireless networking please visit the Dell Networking and Wireless Support Center.

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2. Dell Windows Support Center

This link takes you to the Dell Windows Support Center. Select the Operating System you need help with.

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3. Mouse, Keyboard or Touchpad Not Working Correctly

Refer to the following Dell Knowledge Base articles for information on how to use or troubleshoot mouse, keyboard or touchpad issues.

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4. The Computer Stops Responding

  1. Press the power button for at least 15 seconds to make sure the computer turns off.
  2. Disconnect all external peripherals including the keyboard, mouse and external monitor. Peripherals also include external storage devices such as flash drives, USB devices, printers, cards etc.
  3. Press the power button to see if the computer turns on and boots up okay; if not, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Computer Does Not Turn on or is Stuck on the Dell Logo Screen.
  4. Download and install SupportAssist. For more information on how to obtain and install SupportAssist, browse to the SupportAssist for PCs and tablets page.
  5. Perform system maintenance on your computer-- for more information refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Optimization and Maintenance of Microsoft Windows or Troubleshooting Slow Performance Issues.
  6. Start attaching devices to the computer one at a time and test to see if your system stops responding.

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5. Microsoft Windows Crashes, Stops, Restarts or a Blue Screen Appears

This link takes you to the Dell Knowledge Base article Microsoft Windows Locks Up or an Error Occurs.

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6. Troubleshooting a Notebook LCD Screen That is Black, Blank or Hard to See

For information on troubleshooting a notebook LCD Screen, refer to the Dell Knowledge Base article Troubleshooting a Notebook LCD Screen That is Black, Blank or Hard to See.

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7. How to Turn the Wireless Antenna On and Off on a Dell Computer

For more information on how to turn the wireless antenna on and off on a Dell Computer, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article How to Turn the Wireless Antenna On and Off on a Dell Computer.

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8. Inspiron 3421/14 Drivers

For information on the drivers available, browse to the Inspiron 3421/14 Driver Page.

This article provides information on how to download drivers for the Inspiron 3421/14 computer, How to Download and Install a Driver .

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9. Using and Troubleshooting the Dell Webcam and Dell Webcam Central Software

For information on how to troubleshoot the webcam on your computer, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Using and Troubleshooting the Dell Webcam and Dell Webcam Central Software.

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10. Disabling or Enabling the Touchpad

For information on how to turn the touch pad on or off, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Disabling or Enabling the Touchpad.

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11. The Computer Fails to Start or There is No Video

If you experience a situation in which the computer does not start at all or if it does turn on (lights turn on and fans are spinning), but the computer does not show any image, listen for a series of beeps during start-up.

When beeping codes are heard, refer to (Table 1) to help troubleshoot the issue with your computer.
Beeps Description Possible Cause
1 BIOS ROM checksum in progress or failure System board failure, covers BIOS corruption or ROM errors.
2 No Memory (RAM) detected Memory or Memory slot failure
3
  • chipset Error (North and South bridge error, DMA/IMR/Timer error)
  • Time-Of-Day Clock test failure
  • Gate A20 failure
  • Super I/O chip failure
  • Keyboard controller test failure
 System board failure
4 Memory read / write failure Memory failure
5 Real Time Clock (RTC) power fail CMOS battery failure
6 Video BIOS test failure Video subsystem failure
7 CPU Cache test failure Processor failure
8 LCD LCD failure

Table 1: Repetitive Beep Codes

For additional help with your computer, please Contact Technical Support.

 
When no beeping codes are heard, perform the following steps:
  1. Disconnect all external peripherals including the keyboard, mouse and external monitor. Peripherals also include external storage devices such as flash drives, USB devices, printers, cards, etc.
  2. Remove the A/C adapter from the computer and unplug the adapter from the A/C outlet.
  3. Remove the battery; for more information on how to remove the battery, browse to the Inspiron 3421/14 Online Support Page, click Manuals, click PDF next to Owner's Manual.
  4. Press the power button for 15 seconds.
  5. Make sure the connections on the power cord and A/C adapter are firmly pressed together.
  6. Insert the A/C into the computer and a good A/C outlet.
  7. Press the power button to see if the computer turns on and boots up ok, if not, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Computer Does Not Turn on, or is Stuck on the Dell Logo Screen.
  8. Turn the computer off and insert the battery back into the computer.
  9. Press the power button to see if the computer turns on and boots up okay; if not, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Check the Battery.
  10. Start attaching devices one at a time and testing to see if the computer will turn on.

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12. Dell PC Diagnostics Quick Test and SupportAssist for PCs and Tablets

  • The fastest and easiest way to identify and resolve the most common issues is by using our Dell PC Diagnostics quick test. This will either fix the problem automatically, or it will guide you through the steps to resolve the problem.
    Note: When the diagnostic identifies a failing part, depending on the failing part, we will immediately start the process for a free in-warranty replacement part.
  • SupportAssist, previously called My Dell, provides system updates, detects issues and sends you alerts based on your device, which makes solving and preventing problems easier than ever. This application gives you access to everything you need to take the guesswork out of maintaining PCs and tablets. For more information such as how to obtain and install SupportAssist, browse to the SupportAssist for PCs and tablets page.
  • When the computer cannot access the Internet, you can run the built-in diagnostics on your computer, for more information, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article, Run Built-In Diagnostics (ePSA) for Your System.

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13. Specifications

For information on the Inspiron 3421/14 Specifications, browse to the Inspiron 3421/14 Online Manual Page, click PDF next to Specifications.

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14. Port Locations

For information on the port locations, browse to the Inspiron 3421/14 Online Manual Page, click PDF next to Quick Start Guide or Specifications.

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15. Resetting the System Setup (BIOS) to its Default Settings

Option 1:

  1. Reboot the computer.
  2. When prompted during POST, press the <F2> key to enter the setup screen.
  3. On the System Setup screen, press the <Right Arrow> key to move to the Exit menu.
  4. Press the <Down Arrow> key until Load Optimal Defaults is highlighted, and press the <Enter> key.
  5. Press the <Enter> key on Yes to Restore Defaults and restart the computer.

Option 2:
  1. Reboot the computer.
  2. When prompted during POST, press the <F2> key to enter the setup screen.
  3. On the System Setup screen, press the <F9> key.
  4. Press the <Enter> key on Yes to Load Optimized Defaults and restart the computer.

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16. Computer Component is not Recognized

SupportAssist, previously called My Dell, detects issues and sends you alerts based on your device, This application gives you access to everything you need to take the guesswork out of maintaining PCs and tablets. For more information on how to obtain and install SupportAssist, browse to the SupportAssist for PCs and tablets page.

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Affected Products

Inspiron 3421
Article Properties
Article Number: 000130224
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 13 Aug 2021
Version:  7
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