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Overview | |
Warning Messages |
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System Messages | |
Diagnostics Messages |
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System Beep Codes |
Your application programs, operating system, and the computer itself are capable of identifying problems and alerting you to them. When a problem occurs, a message may appear on your monitor screen or a beep code may sound. See "System Messages" or "System Beep Codes" for information about each message or beep code.
If you receive a system message, see Table 1 for suggestions on resolving any problems indicated by the message. The system messages are listed alphabetically.
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NOTE: If the system message you received is not listed in the table, check the documentation for the application program that you were running at the time the message appeared and/or the operating system documentation for an explanation of the message and a recommended action. |
| Message | Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| CMOS Battery Bad | The system board battery may be faulty. | See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance. |
| CMOS Checksum Error | A CMOS checksum error has occurred. | See "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
| Diskette Drive x Error Diskette Drive Controller Error |
The diskette drive may be faulty, not configured correctly in System Setup, or not installed correctly. | Run the Diskette tests in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| Equipment Configuration Error | The hardware configuration does not match the System Setup configuration data. | Check the System Setup settings. |
| Expansion ROM Allocation Fail | An expansion ROM on an expansion card was not loaded correctly. | See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards." |
| IDE Drive n Error IDE Drive n Auto Detection Failed |
The IDE drive may be faulty, not configured correctly in System Setup, or not installed correctly. | Run the IDE Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| I/O Parity Error | The I/O subsystem may be faulty. | See "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
| Insert system diskette and press <Enter> to reboot | The diskette in drive A or the hard-disk drive does not have a bootable operating system on it. | If there is a diskette in drive A, remove it and restart the system. If there is no diskette in drive A, run the IDE Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| IRQ Setting Error | An interrupt request line (IRQ) conflict has occurred. | See "Interrupt Assignment Conflicts." |
| Keyboard Interface Error Keyboard Error or Keyboard Not Connected Keyboard Locked |
The keyboard cable may be loose or the keyboard/mouse controller may be faulty. | Check the connection of the keyboard cable to the keyboard connector on the back of the computer. If the problem persists, run the Keyboard tests in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| Memory Error at MMMM:SSSS:OOOO (R:xxxxh, W:xxxxh) | One or more DIMMs may be improperly seated or faulty. | See "Troubleshooting System Memory." |
| NVRAM checksum Error | A CMOS checksum error has occurred. | Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. If the tests do not identify the problem, clear NVRAM to set the system to its defaults. |
| On Board Serial Port 1 Conflict(s) On Board Parallel Port Conflict(s) |
The serial or parallel port on the system board has an address conflict with an expansion card. | See "Software Checks" for information on resolving software conflicts. |
| On Board xxx ... Conflict(s) | A device on the system board has an address conflict with another device. | See "Software Checks" for information on resolving software conflicts. |
| PCI Device Error | A device on the PCI bus may be faulty. | See "Troubleshooting Expansion Cards." If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
| Pointing Device Error Pointing Device Interface Error |
The mouse cable may be loose or the keyboard/mouse controller may be faulty. | Check the connection of the mouse cable to the mouse connector on the back of the computer. If the problem persists, run the Mouse tests in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| Pointing Device IRQ Conflict | The mouse controller on the system board has an IRQ conflict with another device. | See "Interrupt Assignment Conflicts." |
| Press Ctrl_Alt_Esc key to enter SETUP or F1 key to Continue... | A system configuration error has been detected, or the hardware configuration does not match the settings in System Setup. | Verify that the settings in System Setup are correct. |
| Press ESC to turn off NMI, or any key to reboot | A nonmaskable interrupt (NMI) has occurred. | Press <^> to ignore the NMI, or press any other key to restart the system. If the problem persists, see "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
| RAM Parity Error | One or more DIMMs may be faulty or improperly seated. | See "Troubleshooting System Memory." |
| Real Time Clock Error | A real-time clock error has occurred. | See "Troubleshooting the System Board." |
| System Management Memory Bad | One or more DIMMs may be faulty or improperly seated. | See "Troubleshooting System Memory." |
| System Resource Conflict | Two devices in the system are attempting to use the same resource. | See "Software Checks" for information on resolving software conflicts. |
When errors occur during a boot routine that cannot be reported on the monitor, your computer may emit a series of beeps that identify the problem. The beep code is a pattern of sounds: for example, one beep, followed by a second beep, and then a burst of three beeps (code 1-1-3) means that the computer was unable to read the data in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM). This information is invaluable to the Dell support staff if you need to call for technical assistance.
When a beep code is emitted, write it down on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist found in "Getting Help," and then look it up in Table 2. If you are unable to resolve the problem by looking up the meaning of the beep code, use the Dell Diagnostics to identify a more serious cause. If you are still unable to resolve the problem, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
| Code | Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2-1-1 | The Update BIOS with Boot Block option is set to Enabled in System Setup. | Enter System Setup, set the Update BIOS with Boot Block option to Disabled, and then restart the system. |
| 2-2 | SDRAM DIMMs are not installed or EDO DIMMs are installed. | Install SDRAM DIMMs. |
| 2-2-1-1 | Incompatible 100-MHz SDRAM DIMMs are installed. | Install 100-MHz SDRAM DIMMs from Dell. |
| 2-2-2-1 | An EDO DIMM is installed with an SDRAM DIMM. | Replace the EDO DIMM with an SDRAM DIMM. |
| 2-2-2-1-1 | One or more 66-MHz DIMMs are installed. | Replace the 66-MHz DIMMs with 100-MHz DIMMs. |
| 2-2-2-1-1-1 | The system contains a mixture of registered and unregistered DIMMs. | Use only DIMMs purchased from Dell. |
A warning message alerts you to a possible problem and asks you to do something before execution continues. For example, before you format a diskette, a message may warn you that you may lose all data on the diskette as a way to protect against inadvertently erasing or writing over the data. These warning messages usually interrupt the procedure and require you to respond by typing a y (yes) or n (no).
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NOTE:Warning messages are generated by either your application programs or your operating system. See "Software Checks" and the documentation that accompanied your operating system and application programs. |
When you run a test group or subtest in the Dell Diagnostics, an error message may result. These particular error messages are not covered in this section. Record the message on a copy of your Diagnostics Checklist found in "Getting Help." Also see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.