The power button light located on the front of your computer illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states:
If the power light is green, the power status is good and the computer is functioning properly.
If the power light is green and the computer is not responding, see "Diagnostic Lights."
If the power light is blinking green, the computer is in standby mode. Press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse to resume normal operation.
If the power light is off, the computer is either turned off or is not receiving power.
Reseat the power cable into both the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.
If the computer is plugged into a power strip, ensure that the power strip is plugged into an electrical outlet and that the power strip is turned on. Also bypass power protection devices, power strips, and power extension cables to verify that the computer turns on properly.
Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.
Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board.
If the power light is blinking amber, the computer is receiving electrical power, but an internal power problem might exist.
Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location (if applicable). See your Owners Manual for more information.
Ensure that the processor power cable is securely connected to the system board. See your Owners Manual for more information.
If the power light is steady amber, a device might be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed.
Remove and then reinstall the
graphics card, if applicable.
Diagnostic Lights
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions
located in your Product Information Guide.
To help you troubleshoot a problem, your computer has four lights labeled "A," "B," "C," and "D" on the back panel (see your Owner's Manual). The lights can be yellow or green. When the computer starts normally, the lights flash. After the computer starts, all four lights display solid green. If the computer malfunctions, the color and sequence of the lights identify the problem.
Light Pattern
Problem Description
Suggested Resolution
The computer is in a normal off condition or a possible pre-BIOS failure has occurred.
Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet and press the power button.
Memory modules are detected, but a memory failure has occurred.
If you have one memory
module installed, reinstall it and restart the computer.
If you have two or more memory
modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module, and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.
If
available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer.
If the problem persists, contact Dell (see your Owner's Manual).
A possible graphics card failure has occurred.
If the computer
has a graphics card, remove the card, reinstall it, and then restart the computer.
If the problem still exists, install a graphics card that you know works and restart the computer.
If the problem persists or the computer has integrated graphics, contact Dell (see your Owner's Manual).
A possible floppy or hard drive failure has occurred.
Reseat all power and data cables and restart the computer.
A possible USB failure has occurred.
Reinstall all USB devices, check cable connections, and then restart the computer.
Memory modules are detected, but a memory configuration or compatibility error exists.
Ensure that no
special memory module/memory connector placement requirements exist.
Verify that the
memory modules that you are installing
are compatible with your computer.
If the problem persists, contact Dell (see your Owner's Manual).
A possible expansion card failure has occurred.
Determine if a conflict exists by removing
a card (not a graphics card) and restarting the computer.
If the problem persists, reinstall the card that you removed, remove a different card, and then restart the computer.
Repeat this process for each card. If the computer starts normally, troubleshoot the last card removed from the computer for resource conflicts (see your Owner's Manual).
If the problem persists, contact Dell (see your Owner's Manual).
If there is an error message on your screen identifying a problem with a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive), check the device to make sure it is functioning properly.
The operating system is attempting to boot from a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive); check system setup
to make sure that the boot sequence is correct for the devices installed on your computer.
If the problem persists, contact Dell (see your Owner's Manual).
The computer is in a normal operating condition after POST.
None.
Beep Codes
Your computer might emit a series of beeps during start-up if the monitor cannot display errors or problems. This series of beeps, called a beep code, identifies a problem. One possible beep code (code 1-3-1) consists of one beep, a burst of three beeps, and then one beep. This beep code tells you that the computer encountered a memory problem.
Reseating the memory modules may fix the beep code errors in the following table. If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Code
Cause
1-3-1 through 2-4-4
Memory not being properly identified or used
4-3-1
Memory failure above address 0FFFFh
If you hear one of the following beep codes, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Code
Cause
1-1-2
Microprocessor register failure
1-1-3
NVRAM
1-1-4
ROM BIOS checksum failure
1-2-1
Programmable interval timer
1-2-2
DMA initialization failure
1-2-3
DMA page register read/write failure
3-1-1
Slave DMA register failure
3-1-2
Master DMA register failure
3-1-3
Master interrupt mask register failure
3-1-4
Slave interrupt mask register failure
3-2-2
Interrupt vector loading failure
3-2-4
Keyboard Controller Test failure
3-3-1
NVRAM power loss
3-3-2
NVRAM configuration
3-3-4
Video Memory Test failure
3-4-1
Screen initialization failure
3-4-2
Screen retrace failure
3-4-3
Search for video ROM failure
4-2-1
No time tick
4-2-2
Shutdown failure
4-2-3
Gate A20 failure
4-2-4
Unexpected interrupt in protected mode
4-3-3
Timer-chip counter 2 failure
4-3-4
Time-of-day clock stopped
4-4-1
Serial or parallel port test failure
4-4-4
Cache test failure
System Messages
NOTE: If the message you received is not listed in the table, see the documentation for either the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared.
Message
Possible Cause
Corrective Action
8042 Gate-A20 error
The keyboard controller failed its test.
If you receive this message after you make changes in the system setup
program, enter the system setup program and restore the original value(s).
Address Line Short!
An error in the address decoding circuitry in the memory has occurred.
The hard drive is not working or is not configured correctly.
Ensure that the drive
is installed correctly in the computer and defined correctly in the system
setup program.
Cache Memory Bad, Do Not Enable Cache
The cache memory is not operating.
See "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
CH-2 Timer Error
An error is occurring on the timer on the system board.
See "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
CMOS Battery State Low
CMOS Checksum Failure
CMOS System Options Not Set
CMOS Display Type Mismatch
CMOS Memory Size Mismatch
CMOS Time and Date Not Set
The system configuration information in the system setup program is incorrect or the battery charge may be low.
Enter the
system setup program, verify the system configuration, and then restart the computer.
Diskette Boot Failure
Drive A or B is present but has failed the BIOS POST.
Ensure that the drive
is installed correctly in the computer and defined correctly in the system
setup program. Check the interface cable at both ends.
The BIOS cannot communicate with the floppy drive or hard drive controller.
Ensure that the floppy drive or the
hard drive
is installed correctly in the computer and defined correctly in the system
setup program. Check the interface cable at both ends.
INTR1 Error
INTR2 Error
An interrupt channel on the system board failed to POST.
The keyboard or system board may need to be replaced.
Invalid Boot Diskette
The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C.
Enter the
system setup program and confirm that drive A or drive C is properly identified.
Keyboard Error
The BIOS has detected a stuck key.
Ensure that nothing is resting on the keyboard; if a key appears to be stuck, carefully pry it up. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the keyboard.
KB/Interface Error
An error occurred with the keyboard connector.
Ensure that nothing is resting on the keyboard; if a key appears to be stuck, carefully pry it up. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the keyboard.
No ROM Basic
The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C.
Enter the
system setup program and confirm that drive A or drive C is properly identified.
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