Your application programs, operating system, and computer can identify
problems and alert you to them. When a problem occurs, a message may appear on
your monitor screen, a beep code may sound, or a light code may be generated.
The following subsections present information about messages, beep codes, and
light codes.
If you receive a computer message, see the following table for suggestions on
resolving problems indicated by the message. The computer messages are listed
alphabetically.
The messages can help you determine what to do to resolve a problem. If a
problem resolution requires you to open the computer cover, see "Computer
Cover" for procedures you must complete before performing the suggested
resolution. If the problem persists after you perform the suggested resolution, contact
Dell for technical assistance.
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Message
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Cause
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Action
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Address mark not found
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The BIOS found a faulty disk sector or
could not find a particular disk sector.
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See "Hard Drive Problems."
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Alert! Cover was previously removed.
|
The computer cover was opened.
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Enter system setup and reset the Chassis
Intrusion option.
|
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Alert! CPU fan not detected.
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The microprocessor cooling fan is not installed, has failed, or is not
properly connected to the system board.
|
Ensure that an operational cooling fan for microprocessor is installed
and connected to the system board. Also, ensure that the microprocessor
airflow shroud is properly installed.
See "Microprocessor Problems."
|
|
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.
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The computer failed to complete the boot routine three consecutive times
for the same error.
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Contact Dell for technical assistance,
and report the checkpoint code (nnnn) to the support technician.
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Alert! Previous fan failure.
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The fan caused an error the last time you used the computer.
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Ensure that nothing is blocking the chassis airflow vents on the back of
the computer and that all fans inside the computer are working properly.
|
|
Alert! Previous processor thermal failure.
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The microprocessor overheated the last time you used the computer.
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Ensure that nothing is blocking the chassis airflow vents on the back of
the computer and that all fans inside the computer are working properly.
Also, ensure that the microprocessor heat sinks are properly installed.
|
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Alert! Previous reboot was due to voltage regulator
failure.
|
The VRMs failed the last time you used
the computer.
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Contact Dell for technical assistance.
|
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Alert! Previous shutdown due to thermal event.
|
The microprocessor or hard drive overheated the last time you used the
computer.
|
Ensure that nothing is blocking the chassis airflow vents on the back of
the computer and that the fan inside the computer is working properly. Also,
ensure that the microprocessor heat sink is properly installed.
|
|
Alert! Previous voltage failure.
|
Voltage used by the computer either exceeded or fell below acceptable
thresholds.
|
See "Power Problems" and
"System Board Problems."
|
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Alert! System battery voltage is low.
|
The computer battery is providing inadequate voltage.
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See "Battery Problems."
|
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Alert! Unable to initialize all installed memory.
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One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated.
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See "Computer Memory Problems."
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Alert! Uncorrectable memory error previously detected...
Address XXXXXXXXh,
Device RIMM_Y
|
One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated, or the
system board may be faulty.
|
See "Computer Memory Problems"
and "System Board Problems."
|
|
Attachment failed to respond
|
The floppy drive or hard drive controller cannot send data to the
associated drive.
|
See "Floppy Drive Problems"
and "Hard Drive Problems."
|
|
Bad command or file name
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The command you entered does not exist or the file name you specified is
faulty.
|
Ensure that you have spelled the command correctly, put spaces in the
proper place, and used the correct pathname.
|
|
Bad error-correction code (ECC) on disk read
|
The floppy drive or hard drive controller detected an uncorrectable read
error.
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See "Floppy Drive Problems"
and "Hard Drive Problems."
|
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Controller has failed
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The hard drive or the associated controller is defective.
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See "Hard Drive Problems."
|
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Data error
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The floppy or hard drive cannot read the data.
|
For Microsoft® Windows® 2000, run the ScanDisk utility and for Windows
XP run the chkdsk utility to check the file structure of the
floppy or hard drive. See your operating system documentation for more
information.
If you are using a different operating system, run the appropriate
utility to check the file structure of the floppy or hard drive. See your
operating system documentation.
|
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Decreasing available memory
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One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated.
|
See "Computer Memory Problems."
|
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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.
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See "Floppy Drive Problems."
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Diskette read failure
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A cable may be loose, or the floppy disk may be faulty.
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See "Floppy Drive Problems."
|
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Diskette subsystem reset failed
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The floppy drive controller may be faulty.
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Run the Dell Diagnostics.
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Diskette write protected
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The floppy disk write-protect feature is activated.
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Remove the floppy disk from drive A and move the write-protect tab to the
unlocked position.
|
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Drive not ready
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No floppy disk is in the drive. The operation requires a floppy disk in
the drive before it can continue.
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Put a floppy disk in the drive or close the drive latch.
|
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Gate A20 failure
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One or more memory modules may be loose.
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See "Computer Memory Problems."
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General failure
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The operating system is unable to carry out the command.
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This message is usually followed by specific informationfor example, PRINTER
OUT OF PAPER. Respond by taking the appropriate action.
|
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Hard disk configuration error
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The hard drive failed initialization.
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See "Hard Drive Problems."
|
|
Hard disk controller failure
Hard disk failure
Hard drive read failure
|
The hard drive failed initialization.
|
See "Hard Drive Problems."
|
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Invalid configuration information - please run SETUP
program
|
The computer configuration information does not match the hardware
configuration.
|
Enter system setup and correct the
computer configuration information.
|
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Keyboard controller failure
Keyboard failure
Keyboard stuck key failure
|
A cable or connector may be loose, or the keyboard or keyboard/mouse
controller may be faulty.
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See "Keyboard Problems."
|
|
Memory address line failure at address, read value
expecting value
|
One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated.
|
See "Computer Memory Problems."
|
|
Memory allocation error
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The software you are attempting to run is conflicting with the operating
system or another application program or utility.
|
Turn off the computer, wait 30 seconds, and turn it on. Try to run the
program again. If the problem persists, contact the software company.
|
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Memory data 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
|
One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated.
|
See "Computer Memory Problems."
|
|
Memory size in CMOS invalid
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The amount of memory recorded in the computer configuration information
does not match the memory installed in the computer.
|
Reboot the computer. If the error appears again, see "Computer
Memory Problems."
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No boot device available
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The computer cannot find the floppy or hard drive.
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Enter system setup, check the computer
configuration information for the floppy and hard drive, and if necessary,
correct the information.
|
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No boot sector on hard drive
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The computer configuration information in system setup may be incorrect,
or the operating system may be corrupted.
|
Enter system setup, check the computer
configuration information for the hard drive, and if necessary, correct the
information.
If the message persists, reinstall your operating system. See the
documentation that came with your operating system.
|
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No timer tick interrupt
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A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning.
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Run the Dell Diagnostics.
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Non-system disk or disk error
|
The floppy disk in drive A or your hard drive does not have a bootable
operating system installed.
|
A nonbootable floppy disk is in drive A. Either 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
|
There is no operating system on the floppy disk.
|
Boot the computer with a floppy disk that contains an operating system.
|
|
Please connect USB Keyboard/Mouse to USB port(s) on the
back of the computer.
|
The USB keyboard and/or mouse must be connected to the USB connectors on
the back of the computer.
|
Turn your computer off, connect the USB keyboard and/or mouse to one of
the USB connectors on the back of the computer, and restart your computer.
See "Back Panel Connectors."
|
|
Plug and Play Configuration Error
|
The computer has encountered a problem in trying to configure one or more
expansion cards.
|
See "Expansion-Card Problems."
|
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Read fault
Requested sector not found
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The operating system cannot read from the floppy drive or hard drive.
The computer could not find a particular sector on the disk, or the
requested sector is defective.
|
See "Floppy Drive Problems"
and "Hard Drive Problems."
|
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Reset failed
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The disk reset operation failed.
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See "Floppy Drive Problems"
and "Hard Drive Problems."
|
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Sector not found
|
The operating system is unable to locate a sector on the floppy or hard
drive.
|
See "Floppy Drive Problems"
and "Hard Drive Problems."
|
|
Seek error
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The operating system is unable to find a specific track on the floppy or
hard drive.
|
If the error is on the floppy drive, try a different floppy disk in the
drive.
|
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Shutdown failure
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A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning.
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Run the Dell Diagnostics.
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Time-of-day clock stopped
|
The battery may be dead.
|
Enter system setup and correct the date
or time.
If the problem persists, see "Battery
Problems."
|
|
Time-of-day not set
|
The time or date displayed in the computer configuration information does
not match the computer clock.
|
Enter system setup and correct the date
or time.
|
|
Timer chip counter 2 failed
|
A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning.
|
Run the Dell Diagnostics.
|
|
Unexpected interrupt in protected mode
|
The keyboard controller might be malfunctioning, or one or more memory
modules may be loose.
|
Run the Dell Diagnostics.
|
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WARNING: Dell's Disk Monitoring System has detected that
drive [0/1] on the [primary/secondary] EIDE controller is operating outside
of normal specifications. It is advisable to immediately back up your data
and replace your hard drive by calling your support desk or Dell Computer
Corporation.
|
POST has queried the IDE
drive for status information. The drive has indicated it has detected
possible error conditions for its operating specifications.
|
When your computer finishes booting, immediately back up your data and replace
your hard drive. Restore the data to the replacement drive.
Back up the data on your hard drive. If a replacement drive is not
immediately available and the drive is not the only bootable drive, enter system
setup and change the appropriate drive setting to None. Remove
the drive from the computer.
|
|
Write fault
Write fault on selected drive
|
The operating system cannot write to the floppy or hard drive.
|
See "Floppy Drive Problems"
and "Hard Drive Problems."
|
If an error occurs during startup that cannot be reported on the monitor,
your computer may emit a beep code that identifies 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 NVRAM.
Your application programs or operating system generate warning messages to
alert you to a possible problem and ask you to take an action before you
continue. For example, before you format a floppy disk, a message may warn you
that you can lose all data on the floppy disk 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).
The lights can help you determine what to do to resolve a problem. If a
problem resolution requires you to open the computer cover, see "Computer
Cover" for procedures you must complete before performing the suggested
resolution. If the problem persists after you perform the suggested resolution, contact
Dell for technical assistance.
When you turn on your computer, it performs a series of self-diagnostic
checks. A successful POST ends with a single beep that signifies the start of
normal operation. If the computer fails to complete the POST, a series of lights
located on the computer can help you understand which test failed or why the
computer stopped responding. These lights communicate problems encountered
before and during POST only, not during normal operation.
The following tables lists the codes for the diagnostic lights, gives
probable causes, and suggests corrective actions. The lights are labeled to help
you match the pattern on your computer with one shown in the tables:
The following table lists the SNMP platform event traps your computer
generates.
