The system, applications, and operating systems can identify problems and alert you to them. Any of the following can indicate when the system is not operating properly:
This section describes each type of message, lists the possible causes, and provides steps to resolve any problems indicated by a message. The system indicators and features are illustrated in this section.
System messages appear on the screen to notify you of a possible problem with the system. Table 2-3 lists the system messages that can occur and the probable cause and corrective action for each message.
|
Message
|
Causes
|
Corrective Actions
|
|---|
Address mark not found
| Faulty diskette, CD, or hard-drive subsystem; defective system board. | Ensure that the diskette, CD, and hard drive cables are properly connected. See "Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive," "Troubleshooting the CD Drive," "Troubleshooting a SATA Hard Drive," or "Troubleshooting a SCSI Hard Drive," in "Troubleshooting Your System" for the appropriate drive(s) installed. If the problem persists, the system board may be defective. See "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
Alert! Cover was
previously removed!
| The chassis has been opened. | Information only. |
Alert! CPU fan was not
detected.
Alert! Memory fan was not
detected.
Alert! PCI fan was not
detected.
| Specified fan is faulty or the fan assembly is not installed correctly. | Ensure that the fan assembly is properly installed. See "Troubleshooting a Fan," in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Alert! DIMM(s) n are
unsupported.
| Unsupported or faulty memory module(s). | Ensure that the memory modules are properly populated. See "Memory Module Installation Guidelines" in "Installing System Components." If the problem persist, see "Troubleshooting System Memory," in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Alert! Invalid
configuration! When using
a single hard disk drive,
SATA Port 0 must be used.
| The SATA hard drive is not connected to the correct connector on the system board. | Ensure that the drive's interface cable is connected to the SATA_PORT_0 connector on the system board. See Figure A-3 for connector locations. |
Alert! Mismatched DIMMs
are detected in Bank n.
Potential for decreased
performance!
| The memory module installation guidelines have not been properly followed. | Ensure that the memory modules are properly populated. See "Memory Module Installation Guidelines" in "Installing System Components." |
Alert! Previous CPU fan
failure.
Alert! Previous Memory fan
failure.
Alert! Previous PCI fan
failure.
| Specified fan failed before last system startup. | Information only. |
Alert! Previous voltage
failure.
| The power supply failed before last system startup. | Information only. |
Alert! Processor thermal
probe failure detected.
| The processor fan is faulty, or the fan assembly is improperly installed. | Ensure that the fan assembly is properly installed. See "Troubleshooting a Fan" in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Alert! Previous processor
thermal event was
detected.
| The processor fan failed before the last system startup. | Information only. |
Amount of available memory
limited to 256MB!
| OS Install Mode is enabled in the System Setup program. | Disable OS Install Mode in the System Setup program. See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide. |
Auxiliary device failure
| Loose or improperly connected mouse or keyboard cable; faulty mouse or keyboard. | Replace the mouse. If the problem persists, replace the keyboard. |
BIOS Update Attempt
Failed!
| Remote BIOS update attempt failed. | Retry the BIOS update. If the problem persists, see "Getting Help." |
Caution! NVRAM_CLR jumper
is installed on system
board. Please run SETUP
| Incorrect configuration settings in System Setup program; NVRAM_CLR jumper is installed; faulty system battery. | Check the System Setup configuration settings. See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide. Remove the NVRAM_CLR jumper. See Figure A-2 for jumper location. |
Data error
| Faulty diskette, diskette drive, CD drive, or hard drive. | Replace the diskette. Ensure that the diskette, CD, and hard drive cables are properly connected. See "Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive," "Troubleshooting the CD Drive," "Troubleshooting a SATA Hard Drive," or "Troubleshooting a SCSI Hard Drive," in "Troubleshooting Your System" for the appropriate drive(s) installed in your system. |
Decreasing available
memory
| Faulty or improperly installed memory modules. | Ensure that all memory modules are properly installed. See "Troubleshooting System Memory," in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Diskette drive 0 seek
failure
| Incorrect configuration settings in System Setup program. | Run the System Setup program to correct the settings. See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide. |
Faulty or improperly installed diskette, loose diskette or CD interface cable, or loose power cable. | Replace the diskette. Ensure that the diskette and CD cables are properly connected. See "Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive," "Troubleshooting the CD Drive," in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Diskette read failure
| Faulty or improperly inserted diskette. | Replace the diskette. |
Diskette subsystem reset
failed
| Faulty diskette or CD-drive controller. | Ensure that the diskette and CD cables are properly connected. See "Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive," "Troubleshooting the CD Drive," in "Troubleshooting Your System." If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
Diskette write protected
| Diskette write-protect feature enabled. | Move the write-protect tab on the diskette to disable the write-protect feature. |
Drive not ready
| Diskette missing or improperly inserted in diskette drive. | Reinsert or replace the diskette. |
Embedded server management
error
| Faulty or improperly installed remote access controller (RAC) or loose cable connection. | Ensure that the RAC's cable is properly connected. Ensure that the RAC is properly installed. See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards" in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Embedded server management
is not present
| Faulty or improperly installed RAC or loose cable connection. | Ensure that the RAC is properly installed. See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards" in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Error: More than one RAC
detected, system halted.
| Two RACs are installed, or faulty or improperly installed RAC. | Ensure that only one RAC is installed and that it is installed in the upper slot. Ensure that the RAC is properly installed. See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards" in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Error: Remote Access Card
initialization failure.
| Faulty or improperly installed RAC. | Ensure that the RAC is properly installed. See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards" in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Error: RAC is not in the
correct PCI slot, system
halted.
| The RAC is not installed in the proper PCI slot. | Ensure that the RAC is installed in the upper slot. See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards" in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Error: RAC cannot be used
with an add-in video card
in this slot.
| Add-in video card is installed. | Remove the add-in video card. See "Removing an Expansion Card" in "Installing System Components." To use the add-in video card, remove the RAC. |
Gate A20 failure
| Faulty keyboard controller (faulty system board). | See "Getting Help." |
General failure
| Operating system corrupted or improperly installed. | Reinstall the operating system. |
Hard disk controller
failure
| Incorrect configuration settings in System Setup program. | Run the System Setup program to correct the settings. See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide. |
Faulty or improperly installed hard drive, or loose power cable. | Ensure that the hard-drive subsystem is properly installed. See "Troubleshooting a SATA Hard Drive" or "Troubleshooting a SCSI Hard Drive" in "Troubleshooting Your System" for the type of hard drive installed in your system. |
IDE CD-ROM drive not found
| Incorrect configuration settings in System Setup program, | Run the System Setup program to correct the settings. See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide. |
Faulty or improperly installed CD drive, loose or faulty cable. | Ensure that the CD-drive subsystem is properly installed. See "Troubleshooting the CD Drive." |
Invalid memory
configuration detected.
Potential corruption
exists!
| Memory module installation guidelines have not been properly followed. | Ensure that the memory modules are properly populated. See "Memory Module Installation Guidelines" in "Installing System Components." |
Keyboard controller
failure
| Faulty keyboard controller (faulty system board). | See "Getting Help." |
Keyboard data line failure
Keyboard failure
Keyboard stuck key failure
| Loose or improperly connected keyboard cable; faulty keyboard; faulty keyboard controller. | Ensure that the keyboard is properly connected. If the problem persists, replace the keyboard. If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the System Board" in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
|
|
Memory address line
failure at address, read
value expecting value
Memory double word logic
failure at address, read
value expecting value
Memory odd/even logic
failure at start address
to end address
Memory write/read failure
at address, read value
expecting value
| Faulty or improperly installed memory modules, or faulty system board. | Ensure that all memory modules are properly installed. See "Troubleshooting System Memory" in "Troubleshooting Your System." If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
|
|
|
Memory allocation error
| Faulty application program. | Restart the application program. |
Memory bank population
error!
| Memory modules are not installed in identical pairs; faulty memory module(s). | Ensure that the memory modules are properly installed. See "Memory Module Installation Guidelines" in "Installing System Components." If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting System Memory" in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Memory parity interrupt at
address
| Faulty or improperly installed memory modules. | Ensure that all memory modules are properly installed. See "Memory Module Installation Guidelines" in "Installing System Components." If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting System Memory" in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Memory tests terminated by
keystroke
| The spacebar was pressed during POST to terminate the memory test. | Information only. |
No boot device available
| Faulty or missing diskette or CD drive subsystem, hard drive, or hard-drive subsystem.
| Check the Integrated Devices configuration settings in the System Setup program. See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide. Ensure that either SCSI Controller, Diskette Controller, or Integrated Drive Controller is enabled. If the system is booting from a SCSI controller, ensure that the controller is properly connected. If the problem persists, replace the diskette/CD drive subsystem. See "Removing the Optional Diskette Drive" in "Installing Drives." If the problem persists, replace the faulty hard drive. See "Hard Drives" in "Installing Drives." |
No boot sector on
hard-disk drive
| An operating system is not on the hard drive. | Check the hard drive configuration settings in the System Setup program. See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide. |
No timer tick interrupt
| Faulty system board. | See "Getting Help." |
Non-system disk or disk
error
| Faulty diskette, diskette/CD-drive assembly, hard drive, or hard-drive subsystem; no operating system on diskette or hard drive. | Use a bootable diskette. If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive," "Troubleshooting the CD Drive," "Troubleshooting a SATA Hard Drive," or "Troubleshooting a SCSI Hard Drive," in "Troubleshooting Your System" for the appropriate drive(s) installed in your system. |
Not a boot diskette
| Not a bootable diskette. | Use a bootable diskette. |
PCI BIOS failed to install
| Loose cables to expansion card(s); faulty or improperly installed expansion card. | Ensure that all appropriate cables are securely connected to the expansion cards. See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards," in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Plug & Play Configuration
Error
| Error encountered in initializing PCI device; faulty system board. | Install the NVRAM_CLR jumper and reboot the system. See Figure A-2 for jumper location. Check for a BIOS update. If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards," in "Troubleshooting Your System." If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
Primary drive n
configuration error
Primary drive n failure
| Faulty or improperly installed hard drive. | Ensure that the CD drive cables are properly connected. See "Troubleshooting the CD Drive." |
Read fault
Requested sector not found
| Faulty diskette, diskette drive, CD drive, or hard drive. | Replace the diskette. Ensure that the diskette, CD, and hard drive cables are properly connected. See "Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive," "Troubleshooting the CD Drive," "Troubleshooting a SATA Hard Drive," or "Troubleshooting a SCSI Hard Drive," in "Troubleshooting Your System" for the appropriate drive(s) installed in your system. |
|
|
Reset failed
| Improperly connected drive interface or power cable. | Ensure that the interface and power cables are securely connected. See "Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive" and "Troubleshooting the CD Drive," in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
ROM bad checksum = address
| Faulty or improperly installed expansion card. | Remove and reseat the expansion cards. See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards," in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
SATA port n hard disk drive
auto-sensing error
SATA port n hard disk drive
configuration error
SATA port n hard disk drive
failure
| Faulty or improperly installed hard drive. | Ensure that the hard drive cables are properly connected. See "Troubleshooting a SATA Hard Drive." |
SATA port n hard drive not
found
| Incorrect configuration settings in the System Setup program. The drive is set as Auto without a disk installed. | Run the System Setup program to correct the settings. See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide. |
Sector not found
Seek error
Seek operation failed
| Faulty diskette or hard drive. | Replace the diskette. If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting a SATA Hard Drive," or "Troubleshooting a SCSI Hard Drive," in "Troubleshooting Your System" for the appropriate drive installed in your system. |
|
|
Shutdown failure
| Shutdown test failure. | Ensure that all memory modules are properly installed. See "Troubleshooting System Memory," in "Troubleshooting Your System." If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
Time-of-day clock stopped
| Faulty battery; faulty system board. | See "Troubleshooting the System Battery" in "Troubleshooting Your System." If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
Time-of-day not set -
please run SETUP program
| Incorrect Time or Date settings; faulty system battery. | Check the Time and Date settings See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide. If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the System Battery" in "Troubleshooting Your System." |
Timer chip counter 2
failed
| Faulty system board. | See "Getting Help." |
Unexpected interrupt in
protected mode
| Faulty or improperly installed memory modules or faulty system board. | Ensure that all memory modules are properly installed. See "Memory Module Installation Guidelines" in "Installing System Components." If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting System Memory" in "Troubleshooting Your System." If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
Unsupported CPU stepping
detected
| Processor is not supported by the system. | Check for a BIOS update. If the problem persists, install a supported processor. See "Processor." |
|
Utility partition not
available
| <F10> key was pressed during POST, but no utility partition exists on the boot hard drive. | Create a utility partition on the boot hard drive. See "Using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD" in your User's Guide. |
Warning! Firmware is
out-of-date
| Firmware is out-of-date. | Update the firmware. See "Getting Help." |
Warning! No microcode
update loaded for
processor
| New or unsupported processor. | Update the BIOS firmware. See "Getting Help." |
Write fault
Write fault on selected
drive
| Faulty diskette, diskette drive, CD drive, hard drive. | Replace the diskette. Ensure that the diskette, CD, and hard drive cables are properly connected. See "Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive," "Troubleshooting the CD Drive," "Troubleshooting a SATA Hard Drive," or "Troubleshooting a SCSI Hard Drive," in "Troubleshooting Your System" for the appropriate drive(s) installed in your system. |
|
If an error that cannot be reported on the screen occurs during POST, the system may emit a series of beeps that identifies the problem.
If a beep code is emitted, write down the series of beeps and then look it up in Table 2-4. If you are unable to resolve the problem by looking up the meaning of the beep code, use system diagnostics to identify the possible cause. If you are still unable to resolve the problem, see "Getting Help."
A warning message alerts you to a possible problem and prompts you to respond before the system continues a task. For example, before you format a diskette, a message will warn you that you may lose all data on the diskette. Warning messages usually interrupt the task and require you to respond by typing y (yes) or n (no).
When you run system diagnostics, an error message may result. Diagnostic error messages are not covered in this section. Record the message on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist in "Getting Help," and then follow the instructions in that section for obtaining technical assistance.
Systems management software generates alert messages for your system. Alert messages include information, status, warning, and failure messages for drive, temperature, fan, and power conditions. For more information, see the systems management software documentation.
