Manuals

Codes and Error Messages: Dell PowerEdge 1550 and PowerApp 120 Systems Service Manual

Codes and Error Messages: Dell™ PowerEdge™ 1550 and PowerApp™ 120 Systems Service Manual

	Overview		Diagnostics Messages
	System Messages		Alert Log Messages From Dell OpenManage Server Agent
	System Beep Codes		Front-Panel Indicators
	Warning Messages		SCSI Hard-Disk Drive Indicator Codes

Overview

This section describes beep codes and system error messages that can occur during system start-up or, in the case of some failures, during normal system operation. The tables in this section list faults that can cause a beep code or system error message to occur and the probable causes of the fault in each case. This section also suggests actions you can take to resolve problems indicated by a message.

If a faulty system does not emit beep codes or display system error messages to indicate a failure, you should run the appropriate tests in the Dell Diagnostics to help isolate the source of the problem. See "Running the Dell Diagnostics."

Several different types of messages can indicate when the system is not functioning properly:

System messages
System beep codes
Warning messages
Diagnostics messages
Alert log messages
Front-panel indicators
SCSI hard-disk drive indicator codes

System Messages

System messages alert you to a possible operating system problem or to a conflict between the software and hardware. Table 1 lists the system error messages that can occur and the probable cause for each message.

If the table does not lead to the source of the problem, run the appropriate tests in the Dell Diagnostics (see the Installation and Troubleshooting Guide) to assist in troubleshooting the problem.

NOTE: If you receive a system message that is not listed in Table 1, check the documentation for the application program that is running when the message appears and/or the operating system documentation for an explanation of the message and recommended action.

Table 1. System Messages

Message	Cause	Corrective Action
Address mark not found	Faulty diskette/tape drive subsystem or hard-disk drive subsystem (defective system board)	Replace the system board.
Alert! Maximum memory size exceeded. Limiting memory size to 2 GB	System supports up to 2 GB of memory	Remove one or more memory modules so that the total memory is 2 GB or less.
Alert! Single-bit memory error previously detected in xxxx xxxxh	Improperly seated or faulty memory modules	Remove and reseat the memory modules. If the problem persists, replace the memory modules.
Alert! Uncorrectable memory error previously detected in xxxx xxxxh	Improperly seated or faulty memory modules	Remove and reseat the memory modules. If the problem persists, replace the memory modules.
Alert! Unsupported memory in DIMM slot(s) n.	Unsupported DIMM(s) installed in specified slot(s)	Replace one or more memory modules so that all memory modules are the same type.
Attachment failed to respond	Diskette drive or hard-disk drive controller cannot send data to associated drive	Replace the drive's interface cable. If the problem persists, replace the diskette drive or hard-disk drive. If the problem still persists, replace the system board.
Auxiliary device failure	Mouse cable connector loose or improperly connected, defective mouse	Check the mouse cable connection. If the problem persists, replace the mouse.
Bad error-correction code (ECC) on disk read Controller has failed	Faulty diskette or hard-disk drive subsystem (defective system board)	See "Drives." Replace the diskette or hard-disk drive. If the problem persists, replace the system board.
CD-ROM drive not found	Improperly connected or missing CD-ROM drive	Check that the CD-ROM drive is firmly connected to the SCSI backplane. See "Drives."
CPUs with different level 2 cache sizes detected	Two different types of microprocessors are installed	Install a correct version of the microprocessor so both microprocessors have the same level 2 cache size.
Data error	Faulty diskette, diskette drive, or hard-disk drive	Replace the diskette, diskette drive, or hard-disk drive.
Decreasing available memory	One or more memory modules improperly seated or faulty	Remove and reseat the memory modules. If the problem persists, replace the memory modules.
Diskette drive 0 seek failure	Faulty or improperly inserted diskette, incorrect configuration settings in System Setup program, loose diskette/tape drive interface cable, or loose power cable	Replace the diskette. Run the System Setup program to correct the diskette drive type. See "Using the System Setup Program." Check that the drive interface cable is firmly seated to the SCSI backplane board.
Diskette read failure	Faulty diskette, faulty or improperly connected diskette/tape drive interface cable, or loose power cable	Check that the diskette drive is properly installed on the SCSI backplane board. See "Drives." Replace the diskette-drive interface cable.
Diskette subsystem reset failed	Faulty diskette/tape drive controller (defective system board)	Replace the system board.
Diskette write protected	Diskette write-protect feature activated	Move the write-protect tab on the diskette.
Drive not ready	Diskette missing from or improperly inserted in diskette drive	Reinsert or replace the diskette.
Gate A20 failure	Faulty keyboard controller (defective system board)	Replace the system board.
General failure	Operating system corrupted or not installed properly	Reinstall the operating system.
Hard disk controller failure	Incorrect configuration settings in System Setup program, improperly connected hard-disk drive, faulty hard-disk drive controller subsystem (defective system board), or loose power cable	Check the hard-disk drive configuration settings in the System Setup program. Reinstall the hard-disk drive. Check the interface cable and power cable connections to the SCSI backplane board.
Invalid configuration information - please run SETUP program	Incorrect CMOS_CLR jumper configuration, incorrect configuration settings in System Setup program, or faulty battery	Remove the plug from the CMOS_CLR jumper. See "Jumpers, Switches, and Connectors" for instructions. Check the System Setup configuration settings. Replace the battery. See "Replacing the Battery."
Invalid CPU speed detected	Microprocessor not supported by system	Install a correct version of the microprocessor in the specified microprocessor connector.
Invalid NVRAM configuration, resource reallocated	System detected and corrected a resource conflict when system resources were allocated using the System Setup program	No action is required.
I/O parity interrupt at address	Expansion card improperly installed or faulty	Reinstall the expansion cards (see "Expansion Cards"). If the problem persists, replace the expansion card.
Keyboard controller failure	Defective keyboard/mouse controller (defective system board)	Replace the system board.
Keyboard failure	Keyboard cable connector loose or improperly connected, defective keyboard, or defective keyboard/mouse controller (defective system board)	Check the keyboard cable connection. Replace the keyboard. If the problem persists, replace the system board.
Keyboard data line failure Keyboard stuck key failure	Keyboard cable connector loose or improperly connected, defective keyboard, or defective keyboard/mouse controller (defective system board)	Check the keyboard cable connection. Replace the keyboard. If the problem persists, replace the system board.
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 address, read value expecting value Memory write/read failure at address, read value expecting value	Faulty or improperly seated memory modules or defective system board	Remove and reseat the memory modules. If the problem persists, replace the memory modules. If the problem still persists, replace the system board.
Memory allocation error	Faulty application	Restart the application.
Memory parity interrupt at address	Improperly seated or faulty memory modules	Remove and reseat the memory modules. If the problem persists, replace the memory modules.
Memory tests terminated by keystroke	POST memory test terminated by pressing the spacebar	No action is required.
No boot device available	Faulty diskette, diskette/tape drive subsystem, hard-disk drive, hard-disk drive subsystem, or no boot disk in drive A	If booting from a diskette, ensure the diskette is bootable. If booting from a hard-disk drive, replace the hard-disk drive. If the problem persists, replace the system board.
No boot sector on hard-disk drive	Incorrect configuration settings in System Setup program, or no operating system on hard-disk drive	Verify the hard-disk drive System Setup information is correct. Install an operating system on the hard-disk drive.
No timer tick interrupt	Defective system board	Replace the system board.
Non-system disk or disk error	Faulty diskette, diskette/tape drive subsystem, or hard-disk drive subsystem	Ensure the diskette is a bootable diskette. If booting from a hard-disk drive, ensure the hard-disk drive is formatted and contains an operating system. Replace the system board.
Not a boot diskette	No operating system on diskette	Use a bootable diskette.
Processor or terminator module not installed!	No microprocessor or terminator module installed in secondary microprocessor connector	Install a terminator module or microprocessor in the secondary microprocessor connector. See "Microprocessors" for instructions.
Read fault Requested sector not found	Faulty diskette, diskette/tape drive subsystem, or hard-disk drive subsystem (defective system board)	Replace the diskette or hard-disk drive. If the problem persists, replace the system board.
Reset failed	Improperly connected diskette/tape drive, hard-disk drive, or power cable	Check that the diskette drive, hard-disk drive carriers, and the power connector are all properly connected to the SCSI backplane board. See "Drives." Replace the diskette drive interface cable. Reinstall the hard-disk drive. Check all cable connections to the SCSI backplane board. See "Drives."
ROM bad checksum = address	Expansion card improperly installed or faulty	Reinstall the expansion cards. If the problem persists, replace the expansion card.
Sector not found	Defective sectors on diskette or hard-disk drive	Replace the diskette or hard-disk drive.
Seek error	Defective sectors on diskette or hard-disk drive	Replace the diskette or hard-disk drive.
Seek operation failed	Faulty diskette or hard-disk drive	Replace the diskette or hard-disk drive.
Shutdown failure	Defective system board	Replace the system board.
System backplane cable error	Improperly attached interface cables	Check the SCSI interface cable connections from the SCSI backplane board to the system board (see "SCSI Backplane Board Connectors"). If the problem persists, replace the system board.
System backplane error	Improperly attached or missing backplane	Check the interface cable connections to the backplane board (see "SCSI Backplane Board Connectors"). If the problem persists, replace the system board.
Time-of-day clock stopped	Defective battery or faulty chip (defective system board)	Replace the system battery. If the problem persists, replace the system board.
Time-of-day not set - please run SETUP program	Incorrect Time or Date settings or defective system battery	Check the Time and Date settings. See "Using the System Setup Program" for instructions. If the problem persists, replace the system battery. If the problem still persists, replace the system board.
Timer chip counter 2 failed	Defective system board	Replace the system board.
Unexpected interrupt in protected mode	Improperly seated memory modules or faulty keyboard/mouse controller chip set (defective system board)	Remove and reseat the memory modules. If the problem persists, replace the memory modules. If the problem still persists, replace the system board.
Unsupported CPU detected in PROCESSOR n Socket Unsupported CPU speed detected!	Microprocessor not supported by system	Install a correct version of the microprocessor in the specified microprocessor connector.
Unsupported CPU speed in CMOS	Microprocessor not supported by BIOS	Upgrade the BIOS. See "Using the System Setup Program" for instructions.
Utility partition not available	<F10> was pressed during boot, but no utility partition exists on the boot hard-disk drive	Create a utility partition on the boot hard-disk drive. For PowerEdge 1550 systems, see "Using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD" in your User's Guide. For PowerApp 120 systems, refer to your PowerApp software documentation.
Write fault Write fault on selected drive	Faulty diskette or hard-disk drive	Replace the diskette or hard-disk drive.

System Beep Codes

When an error that cannot be reported on the monitor occurs during a boot routine, the system might 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 valuable to the Dell technical support representative if you need to call for technical assistance.

When a beep code is emitted, record it on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist, 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. See "Running the Dell Diagnostics" in the system Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.

Table 2. System Beep Codes

Code	Cause	Corrective Action
1-1-3	CMOS write/read failure	Replace the system board.
1-1-4	BIOS checksum failure	Reflash the BIOS firmware. If the problem persists, replace the system board.
1-2-1 1-2-2 1-2-3	Programmable interval-timer failure DMA initialization failure DMA page register write/read failure	Replace the system board.
1-3-1	Main-memory refresh verification failure	Remove and reseat the memory modules. If the problem persists, replace one or more memory modules. If the problem still persists, replace the system board.
1-3-2	No memory installed	Remove and reseat the memory modules. If the problem persists, replace the memory modules. If the problem still persists, replace the system board.
1-3-3 1-3-4 1-4-1 1-4-2 2-1-1 through 2-4-4	Chip set or data line failure in the first 64 KB of main memory Odd/even logic failure in the first 64 KB of main memory Address line failure in the first 64 KB of main memory Parity failure in the first 64 KB of main memory Bit failure in the first 64 KB of main memory	Remove and reseat the memory modules. If the problem persists, replace the memory modules. If the problem still persists, replace the system board.
3-1-1 3-1-2 3-1-3 3-1-4	Slave DMA-register failure Master DMA-register failure Master interrupt-mask register failure Slave interrupt-mask register failure	Replace the system board.
3-2-4	Keyboard-controller test failure	Check the keyboard cable and connector for proper connection. If the problem persists, run the keyboard test in the Dell Diagnostics to determine whether the keyboard or keyboard controller is faulty. If the keyboard controller is faulty, replace the system board.
3-3-1	CMOS failure	Run the system board test in the Dell Diagnostics to isolate the problem.
3-3-2	System configuration check failure	Replace the system board.
3-3-3	Keyboard controller not detected	Replace the system board.
3-3-4 3-4-2 3-4-3	Screen initialization failure Screen-retrace test failure Search for video ROM failure	Run the video tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
4-2-1 4-2-2	No timer tick Shutdown failure	Replace the system board.
4-2-3	Gate A20 failure	Replace the system board.
4-2-4	Unexpected interrupt in protected mode	Ensure that all expansion cards are properly seated, and then reboot the system.
4-3-1	Improperly seated or faulty memory modules	Remove and reseat the memory modules. If the problem persists, replace the memory modules. If the problem still persists, replace the system board.
4-3-3	Defective system board	Replace the system board.
4-3-4	Time-of-day clock stopped	Replace the battery. If the problem persists, replace the system board.
4-4-1	Super I/O chip failure (defective system board)	Replace the system board.
4-4-3	Math coprocessor failure (defective microprocessor)	Remove and reseat the specified microprocessor. If the problem still persists, replace the microprocessor.
4-4-4	Cache test failure (defective microprocessor)	Remove and reseat the specified microprocessor. If the problem still persists, replace the microprocessor.

Warning Messages

A warning message alerts you to a possible problem and asks you to take corrective action before the system continues a task. For example, before you format a diskette, a message might warn you that you might 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 y (yes) or n (no).

NOTE: Warning messages are generated by either the application program or the operating system. See your Installation and Troubleshooting Guide and the documentation that accompanied the operating system and application program for more information on warning messages.

Diagnostics Messages

When you run a test group or subtest in the Dell Diagnostics, an error message might result. These particular error messages are not covered in this section. Record the message on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist, and then follow the instructions in that section for obtaining technical assistance.

Alert Log Messages From Dell OpenManage™ Server Agent

The Dell OpenManage™ Server Agent server management application program generates alert messages that appear in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) trap log file. See your Dell OpenManage Server Agent documentation for more information.

Front-Panel Indicators

The following indicators are on the system's front panel (see Table 3 and Figure 1):

Table 3. Front Panel Indicator Patterns

Indicator

Description

System fault

This LED is normally off. If the system detects a problem with any of the system voltage levels, temperature sensors, or fan sensors, this LED blinks amber.

System attention

For PowerEdge systems:
When the system is reset, the LED is off. When the Dell OpenManage Server Agent software is running, this LED displays a steady green light. If the system hangs, or if the chassis identify function is selected (by the Dell OpenManage ID Assistant software), this LED flashes. This LED stays off if the Dell OpenManage Server Agent software is not installed. There is a duplicate system attention indicator on the back panel.

For PowerApp systems:
This LED indicates the same information as the PowerEdge systems. In addition, when the system requires user intervention, this LED will blink.

Hard-disk drive activity

This LED blinks when activity is detected on the hard-disk drives.

NICs (2)

These LEDs display a steady green light when a link is detected. They flicker when network activity is detected.

NOTE: If AC power is connected to the power supply, but the system is turned off, these LEDs will still function

System power

This LED displays a steady green light when the power supply is turned on. There is a duplicate system power LED on the back panel.

Figure 1. Front-Panel Indicators

1	System fault indicator
2	System attention indicator
3	Drive activity indicator
4	NIC 1 activity indicator
5	NIC 2 activity indicator
6	Power-on indicator

SCSI Hard-Disk Drive Indicator Codes

If an approved redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller is installed in the system, two light-emitting diode (LED) indicators on each of the hard-disk drive carriers provide information on the status of the SCSI hard-disk drives (see Figure 2). The SCSI backplane firmware controls the drive online and drive failed indicator codes.

Figure 2. Hard-Disk Drive Indicators

1	Drive power-on/fault indicator
2	Drive activity indicator

Table 4 lists the drive indicator patterns established by the SCSI backplane firmware. Different patterns are displayed as drive events occur in the system. For example, in the event of a hard-disk drive failure, the "drive failed" pattern appears. After the drive is selected for removal, the "drive being prepared for removal" pattern appears, followed by the "drive ready for insertion or removal" pattern. After the replacement drive is installed, the "drive being prepared for operation" pattern appears, followed by the "drive online" pattern.

NOTE: If you do not have a RAID controller installed, you will see only the "drive online" indicator pattern. You will also see the drive activity indicator blink when the drive is being accessed.

Table 4. SCSI Hard-Disk Drive Indicator Patterns

Condition	Indicator Code
Identify drive	The power-on/fault green indicator blinks four times per second.
Drive being prepared for removal	The power-on/fault green indicator blinks two times per second.
Drive ready for insertion or removal	Both indicators are off.
Drive being prepared for operation	The drive power-on/fault green indicator is on.
Drive predicted failure	The drive power-on/fault indicator slowly blinks green, amber, and off.
Drive failed	The drive power-on/fault amber indicator slowly blinks four times per second.
Drive rebuilding	The drive power-on/fault green indicator slowly blinks.
Drive online	The drive power-on/fault green indicator is on.

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