Manuals

System Codes and Messages: Dell Inspiron 7500

System Codes and Messages: Dell™ Inspiron™ 7500

	Overview
	System Messages
	System Beep Codes

Overview

Your application programs, the operating system, and the computer itself can provide you with status and error information in the form of system messages that appear on the computer�s display or an external monitor (if one is attached), or as beep codes that sound through the computer�s speaker. This section documents the diagnostic and beep codes and system messages generated by the system basic input/output system (BIOS). For other messages, refer to the documentation for your application program or operating system.

System Messages

If a message appears on the display or external monitor, make a note of the message. See Table 1 for an explanation of the message and suggestions for correcting any errors. The system messages are listed alphabetically.

NOTE: If the message is not listed in Table 1, check the documentation for the application programs that were running at the time the message appeared and/or the operating system documentation for an explanation of the message and recommended action.

Table 1. System Error Messages

Message	Cause	Action
Diskette drive A error	A connector may be loose, or the diskette may be faulty.	If the diskette-drive access indicator lights up when you access a file on the diskette, but you still get this error message, try a different diskette. If the problem persists, shut down the computer, remove the drive completely, and then reinsert it. Turn the computer back on, and check for the error message.
Extended RAM failed at offset: nnnn	Extended memory is not configured properly or has failed at the memory address nnnn.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
Failing bits: nnnn	Memory failed at RAM address nnnn.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
Fixed disk 0 failure	The hard-disk drive failed to initialize.	See "Troubleshooting the Hard-Disk Drive" in Chapter 3 of the Dell Inspiron 7500 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide.
Fixed disk controller failure	The hard-disk drive controller may be faulty.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
Incorrect drive A type—run Setup	The diskette drive is not identified properly in the Setup program.	Shut down the computer, remove the drive completely, and then reinsert it. Turn the computer back on, and check for the error message. If the problem persists, reboot the computer and press <F2> as soon as you see the Dell logo screen to enter the Setup program. Write down the setting for FDD Controller in the Main menu. Then call Dell for technical assistance.
Keyboard controller error	The keyboard controller is faulty.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
Keyboard error	If an external keyboard is being used, a cable or connector may be loose or the keyboard may be faulty. If the built-in keyboard is being used, it may be faulty. A key on the integrated keyboard may have been pressed while the computer was booting.	Run the Stuck Key Test in the PC-AT Compatible Keyboards device group in the Dell Diagnostics.
Operating system not found	The operating system may be corrupted. Or, the operating system cannot be found on the hard-disk drive or on the diskette in the diskette drive.	Reinstall the operating system. See the documentation that came with the operating system. If the problem is still not resolved, call Dell for technical assistance.
Parity check 1 nnnn	A parity error was found in the system bus at address nnnn.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
Parity check 2 nnnn	A parity error was found in the I/O bus at address nnnn.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
Real time clock error	The CMOS battery that supports data stored in NVRAM may be dead.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
Shadow RAM failed at offset: nnnn	Shadow RAM failed at address nnnn.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
CMOS battery is dead—Replace and run Setup	The CMOS battery is dead.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
System cache error—cache disabled	The primary cache internal to the microprocessor has failed.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
System CMOS checksum bad—run Setup	The BIOS has been updated. CMOS has been corrupted or modified, possibly by an application program that changes data stored in CMOS.	Reboot the computer and press <F2> as soon as you see the Dell logo screen to enter the Setup program and reconfigure the system. If the problem persists, call Dell for technical assistance.
System RAM failed at offset: nnnn	System RAM failed at address nnnn in the 64 KB block at which the error was detected.	Call Dell for technical assistance.
System timer error	A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning.	Run the System Board Devices device group and the Keyboard Controller Test in the Dell Diagnostics.

NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary in the system Help.

System Beep Codes

When errors occur during the boot routine that cannot be reported on the integrated display or on an external monitor (if attached), the 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 burst of three beeps, followed by a single beep, and then another burst of three beeps (code 1-3-1-3) means that the computer was unable to read data from the keyboard. This information is important to the Dell support staff if you need to call for technical assistance.

When a beep code is emitted, write it down 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, call Dell for technical assistance.

Table 2. Beep Codes

Message	Cause	Action
1-2-2-3	ROM BIOS checksum failure	Run the System Board Devices device group in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load, call Dell for technical assistance.
1-3-1-1	DRAM refresh failure	Run the System Board Devices device group in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load, call Dell for technical assistance.
1-3-1-3	Keyboard controller test failure	Run the PC-AT Compatible Keyboards device group in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load, call Dell for technical assistance.
1-3-4-1	RAM failure on address line nnnn	Run the System Memory device group in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load, call Dell for technical assistance.
1-3-4-3	RAM failure on data bits nnnn of the high byte on the memory bus	Run the System Memory device group in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load, call Dell for technical assistance.
1-4-1-1	RAM failure on data bits nnnn of the low byte on the memory bus	Run the System Memory device group in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load, call Dell for technical assistance.
2-1-2-3	Check ROM copyright notice failure	Run the System Board Devices device group in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load, call Dell for technical assistance.
2-2-3-1	Interrupt mask register failure	Call Dell for technical assistance.

NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary in the system Help.

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