Dell Vostro 200 Owner's Manual Slim Tower
Restoring Your Operating System
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CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. |
The power button light (bi-color LED) located on the front of the computer illuminates and blinks or remains solid to indicate different states:
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 consists of repetitive three short beeps. This beep code tells you that the computer encountered a possible motherboard failure.
If your computer beeps during startup:
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Code |
Description |
Suggested Remedy |
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1 | BIOS checksum failure. Possible motherboard failure. | Contact Dell. |
2 | No memory modules are detected | If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module (see Installing Memory), 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 good memory of the same type into your computer (see Installing Memory). If the problem persists, contact Dell. |
3 | Possible motherboard failure | Contact Dell. |
4 | RAM Read/Write failure | Ensure that no special memory module/memory connector placement requirements exist (see Memory Installation Guidelines). Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your computer (see Memory Installation Guidelines). If the problem persists, contact Dell. |
5 | Real time clock failure. Possible battery failure or motherboard failure. | Replace the battery (see Replacing the Battery). If the problem persists, contact Dell. |
6 | Video BIOS Test Failure | Contact Dell. |
7 | CPU cache test failure | Contact Dell. |
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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. |
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Alert! Previous attempts at booting this system have failed at checkpoint [nnnn]. For help in resolving this problem, please note this checkpoint and contact Dell Technical Support The computer failed to complete the boot routine three consecutive times for the same error. See Contacting Dell for assistance. |
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CMOS checksum error Possible motherboard failure or RTC battery low. Replace battery (see Replacing the Battery). See Contacting Dell for assistance. |
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CPU fan failure CPU fan failure. Replace CPU fan. See Processor. |
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Diskette drive 0 seek failure A cable may be loose, or the computer configuration information may not match the hardware configuration. Check cable connections. See Contacting Dell for assistance. |
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Diskette read failure The floppy disk may be defective or a cable may be loose. Replace floppy disk and check for loose cable connection. |
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Hard-disk drive failure Possible hard disk drive failure during HDD POST. Check cables or swap hard disks. See Contacting Dell for assistance. |
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Hard-disk drive read failure Possible HDD failure during HDD boot test. See Contacting Dell for assistance. |
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Keyboard failure Keyboard failure or keyboard cable may be loose. See Keyboard Problems. |
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No boot device available No bootable partition on hard drive, no bootable floppy in floppy driver, the hard drive or floppy cable is loose, or no bootable device exists.
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No timer tick interrupt A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning or motherboard failure. See Contacting Dell for assistance. |
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Non-system disk or disk error Replace the floppy disk with one that has a bootable operating system or remove the floppy disk from drive A and restart the computer. |
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Not a boot diskette Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart your computer. |
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USB over current error Disconnect the USB device. Use external power source for the USB device. |
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NOTICE - Hard Drive SELF MONITORING SYSTEM has reported that a parameter has exceeded its normal operating range. Dell recommends that you back up your data regularly. A parameter out of range may or may not indicate a potential hard drive problem. S.M.A.R.T error or possible hard drive failure. This feature can be enabled or disabled in the BIOS setup. |
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CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. |
If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in Lockups and Software Problems (see Lockups and Software Problems) and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance.
It is recommended that you print these procedures before you begin.
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NOTICE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell computers. |
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NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities media is optional and may not ship with your computer. |
See System Setup to review your computer's configuration information, and ensure that the device that you want to test displays in the system setup program and is active.
Start the Dell Diagnostics from your hard drive or from the Drivers and Utilities media.
The Dell Diagnostics is located on a hidden diagnostic utility partition on your hard drive.
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NOTE: If your computer cannot display a screen image, see Contacting Dell . |
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NOTE: 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. |
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NOTE: If you see a message stating that no diagnostics utility partition has been found, run the Dell Diagnostics from the Drivers and Utilities media. |
When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.
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NOTE: 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. |
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NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only. On the next startup, the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program. |
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NOTE: It is recommended that you select Test System to run a complete test on your computer. |
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Option |
Function |
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Test Memory | Runs the stand-alone memory test |
Test System | Runs System Diagnostics |
Exit | Exits the Diagnostics |
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NOTE: It is recommended that you select Extended Test from the menu below to run a more thorough check of devices in the computer. |
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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. |
A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver program.
A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes.
Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installedno further installation or configuration is needed.
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NOTICE: The Drivers and Utilities media may contain drivers for operating systems that are not on your computer. Ensure that you are installing software appropriate for your operating system. |
Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft Windows operating system. You may need to install drivers if you:
If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver.
Windows XP
If an exclamation point appears next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver (see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities).
Windows Vista
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NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue. |
If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver (see Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities).
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NOTICE: The Dell Support website at support.dell.com and your Drivers and Utilities media provide approved drivers for Dell computers. If you install drivers obtained from other sources, your computer might not work correctly. |
If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver, use Windows Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version.
Windows XP
Windows Vista
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NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager. |
If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore (see Restoring Your Operating System) to return your computer to the operating state that existed before you installed the new driver.
If using Device Driver Rollback or System Restore (see Restoring Your Operating System) does not resolve the problem, then reinstall the driver from the Drivers and Utilities media.
If this is your first time to use the Drivers and Utilities media, go to step 2. If not, go to step 5.
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NOTE: The Drivers and Utilities media displays drivers only for hardware that came installed in your computer. If you installed additional hardware, the drivers for the new hardware might not be displayed by the Drivers and Utilities media. If those drivers are not displayed, exit the Drivers and Utilities media program. For drivers information, see the documentation that came with the device. |
A message appears, stating that the Drivers and Utilities media is detecting hardware in your computer.
The drivers that are used by your computer are automatically displayed in the My DriversThe Drivers and Utilities media has identified these components in your system window.
If a particular driver is not listed, that driver is not required by your operating system.
After extracting the driver files from the Drivers and Utilities media to your hard drive, you may be required to update the driver manually.
Windows XP
Windows Vista
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NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to enter the Device Manager. |
You can restore your operating system in the following ways:
The Windows operating systems provide a System Restore option which allows you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without affecting data files) if changes to the hardware, software, or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. Any changes that System Restore makes to your computer are completely reversible.
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NOTICE: Make regular backups of your data files. System Restore does not monitor your data files or recover them. |
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NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view, so they may not apply if you set your Dell computer to the Windows Classic view. |
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NOTICE: Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state, save and close any open files and exit any open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete. |
Windows XP
Windows Vista
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NOTE: The User Account Control window may appear. If you are an administrator on the computer, click Continue; otherwise, contact your administrator to continue the desired action. |
In the event that System Restore did not resolve the issue, you may undo the last system restore.
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NOTICE: Before you undo the last system restore, save and close all open files and exit any open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete. |
Windows XP
Windows Vista
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NOTE: Windows Vista does not disable System Restore; regardless of low disk space. Therefore, the steps below apply only to Windows XP. |
If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free hard-disk space available, System Restore is automatically disabled.
To see if System Restore is enabled:
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NOTICE: Using Dell PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any programs or drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using these options. Use PC Restore or Dell Factory Image Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem. |
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NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec and Dell Factory Image Restore may not be available in certain countries or on certain computers. |
Use Dell PC Restore (Windows XP) or Dell Factory Image Restore (Windows Vista) only as the last method to restore your operating system. These options restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Any programs or files added since you received your computerincluding data filesare permanently deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos, music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore or Factory Image Restore.
Using PC Restore:
During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.
If you do not press <Ctrl><F11> in time, let the computer finish starting, and then restart the computer again.
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NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot. |
The restore process takes approximately 6 to 10 minutes to complete.
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NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot. |
The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the screens that appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that appeared the first time the computer was turned on.
The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.
Removing PC Restore:
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NOTICE: Removing Dell PC Restore from the hard drive permanently deletes the PC Restore utility from your computer. After you have removed Dell PC Restore, you will not be able to use it to restore your computer operating system. |
Dell PC Restore enables you to restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased your computer. It is recommended that you do not remove PC Restore from your computer, even to gain additional hard-drive space. If you remove PC Restore from the hard drive, you cannot ever recall it, and you will never be able to use PC Restore to return your computer operating system to its original state.
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NOTE: If you do not log on as a local administrator, a message appears stating that you that you must log on as administrator. Click Quit, and then log on as a local administrator. |
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NOTE: If the partition for PC Restore does not exist on your computer hard drive, a message appears stating that the partition was not found. Click Quit; there is no partition to delete. |
The PC Restore partition is deleted and the newly available disk space is added to the free space allocation on the hard drive.
Using Factory Image Restore:
The System Recovery Options window appears.
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NOTE: Depending upon your configuration, you may need to select Dell Factory Tools, then Dell Factory Image Restore. |
The Dell Factory Image Restore welcome screen appears.
The Confirm Data Deletion screen appears.
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NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with Factory Image Restore, click Cancel. |
The restore process begins and may take five or more minutes to complete. A message appears when the operating system and factory-installed applications have been restored to factory condition.
If you are considering reinstalling the Windows operating system to correct a problem with a newly installed driver, first try using Windows Device Driver Rollback. See Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities. If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore to return your operating system to the operating state it was in before you installed the new device driver. See Using Microsoft Windows System Restore.
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NOTICE: Before performing the installation, back up all data files on your primary hard drive. For conventional hard drive configurations, the primary hard drive is the first drive detected by the computer. |
To reinstall Windows, you need the following items:
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NOTE: The Dell Drivers and Utilities media contains drivers that were installed during the assembly of the computer. Use the Dell Drivers and Utilities media to load any required drivers. Depending on the region from which you ordered your computer, or whether you requested the media, the Dell Drivers and Utilities media and Operating System media may not ship with your computer. |
The reinstallation process can take 1 to 2 hours to complete. After you reinstall the operating system, you must also reinstall the device drivers, virus protection program, and other software.
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NOTICE: The Operating System media provides options for reinstalling Windows XP. The options can overwrite files and possibly affect programs that are installed on your hard drive. Therefore, do not reinstall Windows XP unless a Dell technical support representative instructs you to do so. |
When the DELL logo appears, press <F12> immediately.
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NOTE: 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. |
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NOTE: The next steps change the boot sequence for one time only. On the next start-up, the computer boots according to the devices specified in the system setup program. |
If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured, you can use the Hardware Troubleshooter to resolve the incompatibility.
Windows XP
Windows Vista