1. Graphing Calculator Troubleshooting Guide

2. Having Problems?
If you are having problems making your calculator work, please scroll through the following pages for some hints, or use the list below to go directly to a specific solution.
I can’t turn it on! (Pages 3-5)
I can’t turn it off! (Page 6)
ERR: Syntax (Pages 7-9)
ERR: INVALID DIM (Pages )
ERR: WINDOW RANGE (Page 12)
I can’t get out of this screen! (Pages 13-15)
Other Problems?

3. I can’t turn it on! (Pt1) Blank Screen of Doom! Check the batteries
Are the batteries in the right way?
(positive end toward the flat side, negative end towards the spring)
Remove and replace the batteries or adjust how they sit in the compartment. Sometimes, things get knocked out of place and you don’t get a good connection.
If you have a spare set of AAA’s, try them out. If they still don’t work then you have a different problem.

4. I can’t turn it on! (Pt2) Blank Screen of Doom! Adjust the contrast
The calculator might be turning on just fine, but you won’t be able to see anything if someone turned the contrast all the way down. To adjust the contrast press and release the “2nd’ key and then press and hold the up or down arrow (up = darker, down = lighter).
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5. I can’t turn it on! (Pt3) Blank Screen of Doom!
Check/Replace the back-up battery
Warning, if you remove this battery you run the risk of losing all data and programs on your calculator. Don’t mess with this battery unless you have tried everything else and are sure that you don’t need anything that is on the calculator.
To replace this battery, unscrew the small compartment above the AAA batteries. This is one of those annoying “coin” batteries – you probably won’t have the right kind lying around the house.
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6. I can’t turn it off! This is an easy fix! Before you reach for a
hammer, Press “2nd” and “On”.
Note: Your calculator will shut off
automatically after a while, but your batteries
will last longer if you turn it off for yourself
whenever you aren’t using it.
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7. ERR: Syntax (pt1)
There are several different reasons why you might see this
message. If this happens, choose 2: Goto and the calculator
will show you where the error is coming from. Some of the
most likely culprits include:
Using the wrong negative symbol. When you do math by hand a negative sign usually means the same thing as a minus sign, but it doesn’t mean the same thing to a graphing calculator. Use the white, “(-)” key when you want a negative. Use the grey, “-” key when you want to subtract.

8. ERR: Syntax (pt2)
There are several different reasons why you might see this
message. If this happens, choose 2: Goto and the
calculator will show you where the error is coming from.
Some of the most likely culprits include:
Did you start a set of parenthesis but not finish them?

9. ERR: Syntax (pt3)
There are several different reasons why you might see this
message. If this happens, choose 2: Goto and the calculator
will show you where the error is coming from. Some of the
most likely culprits include:
Did you put something in the wrong order? (Like putting the exponent symbol before the number or the number before the square root? Unlike basic calculators, you should enter everything into a graphing calculator in the same order that it would appear on paper. If you don’t you’ll get errors or wrong answers.)
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10. ERR: INVALID DIM (pt1) This can theoretically happen
for several different reasons but I’ve only
seen it happen for one reason: Your
calculator is trying to graph a stat-plot and
an equation at the same time.
If you want to graph an equation: Press “2nd”, “y=“, and set all stat plots to OFF.

11. ERR: INVALID DIM (pt2) This can theoretically happen
for several different reasons but I’ve only
seen it happen for one reason: Your
calculator is trying to graph a stat-plot and
an equation at the same time.
If you want to graph a stat-plot, press “y=“ and clear any equations.
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12. ERR: WINDOW RANGE You will get this error if you
have set the graphing window to
something silly. (Like XMIN: 100, XMAX: -1. The
XMIN value should be LESS than the XMAX value,
not more).
To fix the problem, press “Window” and
correct the values or press “Zoom” and choose
your favorite option (Option 6 sets the default -10
to 10 window).
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13. I can’t get out of this screen! (pt1)
Thank you for installing the Infinite Happy Face Program®!
Your calculator will now be frozen on this screen…
FOREVER! 
Most of the time, some
combination of the “Quit”
button (2nd & Mode) and
the “Clear” button will get
you out of a program or
screen.
A couple of other hints:
Look for “soft keys”. Some programs display “keys” at the bottom of the screen. Operate these keys using the grey keys that are right beneath them. Ex: Press a key on the far left using the “y=“ key.

14. I can’t get out of this screen! (pt2)
Thank you for installing the Infinite Happy Face Program®!
Your calculator will now be frozen on this screen…
FOREVER! 
Most of the time, some
combination of the “Quit”
button (2nd & Mode) and
the “Clear” button will get
you out of a program or
screen.
A couple of other hints:
If nothing else is working, and you don’t mind losing some data, press the “MEM” key (2nd and +). For a milder, but less effective approach, choose “Reset”, “Defaults”. To clear EVERYTHING off your calculator, choose “Reset, All”.

15. I can’t get out of this screen! (pt3)
Thank you for installing the Infinite Happy Face Program®!
Your calculator will now be frozen on this screen…
FOREVER! 
Most of the time, some
combination of the “Quit”
button (2nd & Mode) and
the “Clear” button will get
you out of a program or
screen.
A couple of other hints:
You can also try removing and replacing the batteries. Just like the MEM options, however, only do this if you are desperate and don’t mind losing everything on your calculator!
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16. Other Problems? Here are a couple of links that might help.
TI-83/84 oakroadsystems.com
TI-84+ For Dummies Cheatsheet
TI-84+ Silver Guidebook from Texas Instruments
Also, remember Mr. Poole can answer questions too!
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