CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the
Product Information Guide.
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in this section and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance.
NOTICE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell™ computers.
Turn on (or restart) your computer.
When the DELL™ logo appears, press <F12> immediately.
If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.
When the boot device list appears, highlight Boot to Utility Partition and press <Enter>.
When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears, select the test you want to run (see "Dell
Diagnostics Main Menu").
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu
After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the MainMenu screen appears, click the button for the
option you want.
Option
Function
Express Test
Performs a quick test of devices. This test typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part. Run Express Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly.
Extended Test
Performs a thorough check of devices. This test typically takes an hour or more and requires you to answer questions periodically.
Custom Test
Tests a specific device. You can customize the tests you want to run.
Symptom Tree
Lists the most common symptoms encountered and allows you to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having.
If a problem is encountered during a test, a message appears with an error code and a
description of the problem. Write down the error code and problem description and follow
the instructions on the screen.
If you cannot resolve the error condition, contact Dell. For information about contacting Dell, see your Owner's Manual.
NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen. If you contact Dell,
technical support will ask for your Service Tag.
If you run a test from the Custom Test or Symptom Tree option, click the applicable tab
described in the following table for more information.
Tab
Function
Results
Displays the results of the test and any error conditions encountered.
Errors
Displays error conditions encountered, error codes, and the problem description.
Help
Describes the test and may indicate requirements for running the test.
Configuration
Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device.
The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for all devices from system setup, memory, and various internal tests, and it displays the information in the device list in the left pane of the screen. The device list may not display the names of all the components installed on your computer or all devices attached to your computer.
Parameters
Allows you to customize the test by changing the test settings.
Close the test screen to return to the MainMenu screen. To exit the Dell Diagnostics and restart the computer, close the MainMenu screen.
System Lights
Your power button light and hard-drive activity light may indicate a computer problem.
Power Light
Problem Description
Suggested Resolution
Solid green
Power is on, and the computer is operating normally.
No corrective action is required.
Blinking green
The computer is in a sleep state (Microsoft® Windows® 2000 and Windows XP).
Press the power button, move the mouse, or press a key on the keyboard to wake the computer.
Blinks green several times and then turns off
A configuration error exists.
Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified.
Solid amber
The power supply is working properly, but the system board is not completing power up.
If the Dell Diagnostics is running, allow the testing to complete.
Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified.
If the computer does not boot, contact Dell for technical assistance (see your computer Owner's Manual for information about contacting Dell).
Blinking amber
The power supply is operating outside of its normal range.
Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified. Also, see "Power Problems" in your computer Owner's Manual.
Solid green and a beep code during POST
A problem was detected while the BIOS was executing.
See "Beep Codes" for instructions on diagnosing the beep code. Also, check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified.
Solid green power light and no beep code and no video during POST
The monitor or the graphics card may be faulty or incorrectly installed.
Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified. See "Video and Power Problems" in your computer Owner's Manual.
Solid green power light and no beep code but the computer locks up during POST
An integrated system board device may be faulty.
Check the diagnostic lights to see if the specific problem is identified. If the problem is not identified, contact Dell for technical assistance. See your computer Owner's Manual for information on how to contact Dell.
Hard-Drive Activity Light
Problem Description
Suggested Resolution
Solid green
The hard-drive activity light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when a device such as a CD player is operating.
No corrective action is required.
Diagnostic Lights
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the
Product Information Guide.
To help you troubleshoot a problem, your computer has four lights labeled "1," "2," "3," and "4" on the front panel. 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, has successfully booted to the operating system, or a possible pre-BIOS failure has occurred.
Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet and press the power button. Also see "Power Problems" in your Owner's Manual.
A possible processor failure has occurred.
Contact Dell. For information about contacting Dell, see your Owner's Manual.
Memory modules are detected, but a memory failure has occurred.
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 computer Owner's Manual for information about contacting Dell).
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 computer Owner's Manual for information about contacting Dell).
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.
No memory modules are detected.
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 computer Owner's Manual for information about contacting Dell).
Memory modules are detected, but a memory configuration or compatibility error exists.
Ensure that no special memory module/memory connector placement requirements exist (see "Memory").
Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your computer (see "Memory").
If the problem persists, contact Dell (see your computer Owner's Manual for information about contacting Dell).
A possible expansion card failure has occurred.
Determine if a conflict exists by removing a card —not a graphics card— (see "Cards") 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 "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities" in your computer Owner's Manual).
If the problem persists, contact Dell (see your computer Owner's Manual for information about contacting Dell).
Another failure has occurred.
Ensure that the cables are properly connected to the system board from the hard drive, CD drive, and DVD drive.
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 ensure that the boot sequence is correct for the devices installed on your computer.
If the problem persists, contact Dell (see your computer Owner's Manual for information about contacting Dell).
The computer is in a normal operating condition after POST.
NOTE: The diagnostic lights are not lit after the system successfully boots to the operating system.
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.
