Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme – 7214 Owner's Manual

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Troubleshooting

Table 1. TroubleshootingThe following table describes some of the issues you may encounter and the general troubleshooting steps.
Issue	Suggested Troubleshooting Steps
Battery Charging	The battery should be charged while the system is off for faster charge time. Users may notice longer charge times when the system is turned on and running graphics-intensive applications. CAUTION There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.
No POST	When a user starts the notebook, the first thing that the BIOS does is to perform the Power-On Self-Test (POST). The POST is a built-in diagnostic program that checks the hardware to make sure that everything is present and functioning properly, before the BIOS begins the actual boot. If the system does not perform a Power-On Self-Test, there are various things that you can look for: Check that the system has a power light. If the system has no power light, make sure that it is plugged into AC power. Remove the battery. Make sure that the power is turned off and the system is unplugged. Remove all CRUs from the system and reconnect the AC adapter to the system and try again. Run the ePSA diagnostics.
Video	If the LCD on the system does not show any display or has other problems, here are some basic steps that you can perform: If the LCD is not displaying video or the video is garbled, run the ePSA diagnostics. If the LCD is not displaying any video, connect an external monitor to eliminate a no-POST problem. A good image on the external monitor eliminates a video card problem or a POST problem. Connect an external monitor, when possible, for all LCD-related problems to help eliminate a possible software or video card problem. If the LCD has dim video, adjust the brightness or connect an AC adapter to eliminate a power management conservation setting in the BIOS. If the LCD has lines on the screen, check the system during POST and system setup, to determine if the lines are present in all modes of operation. Run the ePSA diagnostics. If the LCD has color problems, run the ePSA diagnostics. If the LCD has burned-out pixels, verify that the LCD is still within LCD standard guidelines. For Dell internal users only, click here.
BIOS	If users have problems while using the notebook, the problems may be related to BIOS settings configured incorrectly in BIOS/System Setup. Check the System Setup pages to verify the settings on each page. Try resetting BIOS to default settings by pressing Alt+F.
Touchpad and Keyboard	To troubleshoot touchpad and keyboard-related problems, you can perform the following steps: Attach an external mouse or keyboard to check for peripheral functionality. Run the ePSA diagnostics.
Integrated NIC	If the system is not able to identify any network after connecting the network cable to the network port, try the following troubleshooting steps: Make sure that the network driver has been installed and is working properly. Check System Setup to make sure that the NIC is enabled. Try reseating the cable. Try a known good cable, if one is available. If a known good system is available, check if that system is connecting to the network. Run the ePSA diagnostics on the network port. NOTE If the integrated network hardware solution is defective or nonfunctional, replace the system board.
VGA	No additional drivers or updates are needed for VGA functionality. When troubleshooting an external monitor, keep these tips in mind: Check both ends of the cable for a snug connection into the laptop and into the external monitor. Adjust the contrast and brightness controls on the external monitor. Make sure that the notebook is not set to internal display only. Swap with a known good cable. Try with a known good external monitor. Check the external device's documentation for any additional steps required for functionality. NOTE If the VGA hardware port is defective or nonfunctional, replace the system board.