This section describes computer and software problems, offers corrective actions, describes the utility, and provides computer messages and codes. Before you call Dell for technical assistance, complete the following tasks to help you resolve computer problems:
To use the Dell OptiPlex ResourceCD while you are running the Microsoft® Windows® operating system, perform the following steps:
NOTE: To access device
drivers and user
documentation, you must
use the ResourceCD while
you are running Windows.
Insert the Dell OptiPlex ResourceCD into the CD drive.
If you are using the Dell OptiPlex ResourceCD for the first time on this computer, the ResourceCD Installation window opens to inform you that the ResourceCD is about to begin installation.
Click OK to continue.
To complete the installation, respond to the prompts offered by the installation program.
Click Next at the Welcome Dell System Owner screen.
Select the appropriate System Model, Operating System, Device
Type, and Topic.
To access the Dell OptiPlex ResourceCD Guide, click User's Guides in the Topic pull-down menu and click Dell OptiPlex ResourceCD.
To display a list of device drivers for your computer using the Dell OptiPlex ResourceCD, perform the following steps:
Click My Drivers in the Topic pull-down menu.
The ResourceCD scans your computer's hardware and operating system, and then a list of device drivers for your system configuration is displayed on the screen.
Click the appropriate driver and follow the instructions to download
the driver for your computer.
To view a list of all the available drivers for your computer, click Drivers from the Topic pull-down menu.
Test the electrical outlet: ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device such as a lamp.
Connect the computer power cable directly to an electrical outlet: bypass power protection devices, power strips, and extension cords to verify that the computer turns on.
Check for interference: electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating in close proximity to the computer can cause interference.
If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:
Turn off the computer and devices, and disconnect them from their
electrical outlets.
If you are using a surge protector, remove it.
Make sure the power cable is firmly connected to the computer, and
then verify that the power cable is directly connected to the electrical
outlet.
Turn on the computer.
Does the power light on the front of the computer light up?
Yes. The problem is resolved.
No. The computer may be defective. Contact Dell for technical assistance.
If the monitor power light does not light, check the power connection.
If the external monitor is blank, the computer may be in suspend or hibernate mode. To resume normal operation, press the power button.
Disconnect the monitor cable from the computer and check the cable connector for bent or broken pins. Check for damaged or frayed cables.
If the cable is not damaged, make sure that it is firmly connected to the computer.
Test the electrical outlet. Verify that the device is connected to a working electrical outlet. Verify that the device is turned on.
Check for interference: electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating in close proximity to the computer can cause interference.
Adjust brightness and contrast settings on the monitor.
Reinstall the video driver for your operating system.
Restart the computer.
If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:
Turn off the computer, wait at least 30 seconds, and then turn the
computer back on.
Allow 1 minute for the computer to initialize its components, and
then adjust the monitor's brightness and contrast controls.
Is the monitor readable?
Yes. The problem is resolved.
No. Go to step 3.
Turn off nearby fans, lights, lamps, or other electrical devices.
Is the monitor readable?
Yes. One or more of those devices was causing interference. The problem is resolved.
No. Go to step 4.
Enter system setup and make sure that Primary Video Controller
under the Integrated Devices option is set correctly. Then exit system
setup properly to save the information, and reboot the computer.
For an AGP expansion card, set Primary Video Controller to AGP. For a PCI expansion card, set Primary Video Controller to Auto.
Make sure that the speaker cables are firmly connected to the computer.
Test the electrical outlet: verify that the speakers are connected to a working electrical outlet.
Ensure that the speakers are turned on.
If using a sound card, make sure external audio devices are connected to the sound card's connectors and not to the microphone, line-out, or line-in connectors on the computer's front or back panels.
Adjust the volume.
Reinstall the audio driver for your operating system.
Check for interference: electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating in close proximity to the computer can cause interference.
If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the "Diagnostics Checklist" as you perform the following steps:
Turn off nearby fans, lights, lamps, or other electrical devices.
Are the external speakers functioning properly?
Yes. One or more of those electrical devices was causing interference. The problem is resolved.
No. Go to step 2.
Enter system setup and make sure that Sound under the Integrated
Devices option is set to On, then exit system setup properly to save the
information, and reboot the computer.
Disconnect the cable from the computer and check the cable connector for bent or broken pins. Check for damaged or frayed cables.
If the cable is not damaged, make sure that it is firmly connected to the computer.
Test the electrical outlet: verify that the printer is connected to a working electrical outlet.
Ensure that the printer is turned on.
Check for interference: electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating in close proximity to the computer can cause interference.
See the documentation that came with the printer for the correct parallel port mode. Enter system setup and verify that the appropriate mode is selected in the IntegratedDevice menu.
If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:
No. The printer is probably defective. If you bought the printer from Dell, contact Dell for technical assistance. If you did not, take it to an authorized service center for repair.
NOTE: If you are having
a problem with a printer,
see "Printer Problems."
If a computer error message indicates a port problem or if equipment connected to a port seems to perform incorrectly or not at all, the source of the problem can be any of the following:
A faulty connection between the I/O port and the device
Incorrect settings for system setup options
Incorrect settings in the operating system's configuration files
A faulty cable between the I/O port and the device
A faulty device
Faulty I/O port logic on the system board
Conflicting COM port settings
Lack of drivers
Basic Checks:
Disconnect the cable from the computer and check the cable connector for bent or broken pins. Check for damaged or frayed cables.
If the cable is not damaged, make sure that it is firmly connected to the computer.
Test the electrical outlet. Verify that the device is connected to a working electrical outlet.
Verify that the device is turned on.
Check for interference: electrical appliances on the same circuit or operating in close proximity to the computer can cause interference.
If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:
Enter system setup and check the Integrated Devices option settings.
Then exit system setup properly to save the information, and reboot
the computer.
For a serial device, check the Serial Port options; for a parallel device, check the Parallel Port options. See the device's documentation for additional information on port settings and configuration requirements.
Is the device working properly?
Yes. The problem is resolved.
No. Go to step 2.
Run the Serial Ports device group and/or the Parallel Ports device
group in the Dell Diagnostics.
These device groups check the basic functions of the system board's I/O port logic. If a printer is connected to the parallel port, the Parallel Ports device group tests the communication link between the system board's I/O port logic and the printer.
If the problem is confined to a particular application program, see the
application program's documentation for specific port configuration
requirements.
Is the device working properly?
Yes. The problem is resolved.
No. Go to step 4.
Turn off the computer and the device, swap the device's cable with a
known working cable, and then turn on the computer and the device.
Is the device working properly?
Yes. You need a new device cable. Contact Dell for technical assistance.
No. Go to step 5.
Turn off the computer and the device, swap the device with a
comparable working device, and then turn on the computer and the
device.
Is the device working properly?
Yes. You need a new device. Contact Dell for technical assistance.
Disconnect the cable from the computer and check the cable connector for bent or broken pins. Check for damaged or frayed cables.
If the cable is not damaged, make sure that it is firmly connected to the computer.
Reinstall the mouse driver for your operating system.
Restart the computer.
If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps:
If you are using a PS/2 mouse, enter system setup and make sure that
Mouse Port under the Integrated Devices option is set to On. Then
exit system setup properly to save the information, and reboot the
computer.
Is the device working properly?
Yes. The problem is resolved.
No. Go to step 2.
If you are using a PS/2 mouse, run the Mouse test in the Pointing
Devices device group in the Dell Diagnostics.
Disconnect the cable from the computer and check the cable connector for bent or broken pins. Check for damaged or frayed cables.
If the cable is not damaged, make sure that it is firmly connected to the computer.
Check for interference. Keyboard extension cables can cause problems.
Restart the computer.
If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostic Checklist as you perform the following steps:
Turn off the computer, and then disconnect the keyboard cable and
check it for bent or broken pins.
Do you see bent pins?
Yes. If they can be straightened, straighten them and go to step 2. If they cannot be straightened or are broken, you must replace the keyboard.
No. Go to step 2.
Reconnect the keyboard to the computer.
Make sure the keyboard cable is firmly connected to the computer.
Turn on the computer.
If you are using a keyboard that can be configured with various switch
settings, make sure the switch is set to PS/2, Enhanced XT/AT, or
PC/AT.
The switch settings are usually on the bottom of the keyboard, sometimes behind a panel. See the documentation that came with the keyboard for more information.
Turn off the computer, wait 30 seconds, and turn it on again.
During the boot routine, do the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock lights on the keyboard blink momentarily?
During the power-on self-test (POST), the computer checks the floppy drive, comparing its characteristics with the computer configuration information. The floppy-drive access light blinks as the computer performs this check.
Basic Checks:
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound when a drive is accessed, there could be a hardware malfunction. Contact Dell for technical assistance.
When you turn on the computer, you can hear drive activity during the boot routine. If your computer does not boot, contact Dell for technical assistance.
If you are trying to copy data to the floppy, make sure that it is not write-protected.
Try a different floppy in the drive. If the new floppy works, the original one may be defective.
Test the floppy drive access light by using one of the following methods:
Using MS-DOS®, insert a floppy into the drive, type dir a: at the DOS prompt, and press <Enter>.
Using Microsoft® Windows® or Windows NT®, insert a floppy into the drive, open My Computer from the desktop, and double-click the floppy drive icon.
Check the settings in system setup.
Clean the drive using a commercially available cleaning kit.
NOTICE: Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab. You may
accidentally misalign the heads, rendering the drive inoperable.
If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostics Checklist as you perform the following steps.
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound when a drive is accessed, there could be a hardware malfunction. Contact Dell for technical assistance.
When you turn on the computer, you can hear drive activity during the boot routine. If your computer does not boot, contact Dell for technical assistance.
Test the hard drive by using one of the following methods:
For Windows XP, run the chkdsk utility by following these steps:
Click the Start button, select Shutdown, and then click Restart the Computer.
At the C: prompt, type: CD\Windows\Command and press <Enter>.
Type chkdsk and press <Enter>.
This utility creates and displays a status report, and lists and corrects errors on the disk.
For Windows 2000, run the ScanDisk utility by clicking the Start button, pointing to Run, typing scandskw, and clicking OK.
For Windows NT, run the error-checking utility by double-clicking My Computer and selecting the hard drive that you want to check. Click the right mouse button, select Properties, then click Tools, and select Check Now in in the Error-checking section.
For MS-DOS, type scandisk x: at an MS-DOS prompt, where x is the hard drive letter, and press <Enter>.
If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostic Checklist as you perform the following steps:
Enter system setup and make sure the problem drive is configured
correctly. Make any necessary changes, and reboot the computer.
Is the drive operating properly?
Yes. The problem is resolved.
No. Proceed to step 2.
Test the hard drive by using one of the following methods:
For Windows XP, run the chkdsk utility by following these steps:
Click the Start button, select Shutdown, and then click Restart the Computer.
At the C: prompt, type: CD\Windows\Command and press <Enter>.
Type chkdsk and press <Enter>.
This utility creates and displays a status report, and lists and corrects errors on the disk.
For Windows 2000, run the ScanDisk utility by clicking the Start button, pointing to Run, typing scandskw, and clicking OK.
For Windows NT, run the error-checking utility by double-clicking My Computer and selecting the hard drive that you want to check. Click the right mouse button, select Properties, then click Tools, and select Check Now in in the Error-checking section.
For MS-DOS, type scandisk x: at an MS-DOS prompt, where x is the hard drive letter, and press <Enter>.
For an IDE hard drive, run the IDE Devices device group.
Did any of the diagnostics tests fail?
Yes. Go to the next question.
No. Proceed to step 4.
Did any of the diagnostics tests indicate a faulty drive?
Yes. The hard drive may be faulty. Contact Dell for technical assistance.
No. Go to the next question.
Did any of the diagnostics tests indicate a faulty drive controller?
Yes. The system board may be faulty. Contact Dell for technical assistance.
No. Proceed to step 4.
Turn off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their
electrical outlets, wait 10 to 20 seconds, and then open the computer
cover.
Make sure the DC power cables from the power supply are firmly
connected to the connectors on each drive. Also verify that the
interface cable for each drive is firmly connected to the drive and to
the system board.
Make sure the control panel cable is firmly connected to the system
board. The control panel contains the hard drive activity light. To
locate the control panel system board connector, see the system board.
Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to
their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
Does the hard drive activity light blink during the boot routine?
Yes. Go to the next question.
No. The system board may be faulty. Contact Dell for technical assistance.
Does the computer display a drive error message?
Yes. See "Computer Messages" for an explanation of the message. If you cannot correct the problem by performing the action described in the table, then contact Dell for technical assistance.
No. Go to the next question.
Is this the primary hard drive that contains the operating system?
If an error message indicates a problem with the battery or if configuration information is lost from system setup when the computer is turned off, the battery may be defective.
CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.
If an error message indicates an expansion card problem or if an expansion card seems to perform incorrectly or not at all, the problem could be a faulty connection, a conflict with software or other hardware, or a faulty expansion card.
Turn off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their
electrical outlets, wait 10 to 20 seconds, and then open the computer
cover.
Make sure each expansion card is firmly seated in its connector. If any
expansion cards are loose, reseat them.
Make sure all cables are firmly connected to their corresponding
connectors on the expansion cards. If any cables appear loose,
reconnect them.
For instructions on which cables should be attached to specific connectors on an expansion card, see the expansion card's documentation.
Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to
their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
Is the computer working properly?
Yes. The problem is resolved.
No. You may have a faulty expansion card. Proceed to step 5.
Turn off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their
electrical outlets, wait 10 to 20 seconds, and then open the computer
cover.
Remove all expansion cards except the video card.
NOTE: If your primary hard drive is connected to a drive controller card
and not one of the system board IDE connectors, leave the drive controller
card installed in the computer.
Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to
their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
Spills, splashes, and excessive humidity can cause damage to the computer. If an external device, such as a printer or modem, gets wet, contact the manufacturer of the device for instructions.
Turn off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their
electrical outlets, wait 10 to 20 seconds, and then open the computer
cover.
Let the computer dry for at least 24 hours. Make sure that it is
thoroughly dry before you proceed.
Remove all expansion cards installed in the computer except a video
expansion card.
NOTE: If your primary
hard drive is connected to
a drive controller card
and not one of the system
board IDE connectors,
leave the drive controller
card installed in the
computer.
Close the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to
their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
Hardware conflicts occur when the operating system detects multiple devices that are attempting to operate on the same computer resources when those resources cannot be shared between the devices.
Symptoms:
Computer hangs or locks up, particularly while using a specific device.
Memory parity errors occur on parity-enabled computers.
Noise or other problems from sound cards.
Unintelligible characters printed on the printer.
Mouse pointer hangs and does not move or moves in a stuttering fashion.
Messages stating that the computer is not operating at maximum performance.
Errors and crashes of applications for no apparent reason.
Nothing displays on the video monitor.
To resolve hardware conflicts, remove any newly added hardware and contact the hardware manufacturer. Also see your operating system documentation.
During POST, the computer checks the computer's memory, determines the amount of installed memory, and then writes to and reads from the number of available bytes to ensure proper operation.
Basic Checks:
If an insufficient memory message appears, save and close any open files and exit any open application programs not in use.
Consider installing additional computer memory.
Run the System Memory test in the Dell Diagnostics.
Reseat the memory modules.
Restart the computer.
If the problem still exists after you complete the basic checks, fill out the Diagnostic Checklist as you perform the following steps.
A system board problem can result from a defective system board component, a faulty power supply, or a defective component connected to the system board. If an error message indicates a system board problem, fill out the Diagnostic Checklist as you perform the following steps.
If you experience a problem with your computer, run the Dell Diagnostics before you call Dell for technical assistance. The Dell Diagnostics tests check your computer's hardware without additional equipment and without the risk of destroying data. When the diagnostics tests complete without indicating any problems, you can have confidence in your computer's operation. If the tests indicate a problem you cannot solve by yourself, the test results provide important information you need when talking to Dell's service and support personnel.
NOTICE: Only use the Dell Diagnostics to test your Dell computer. Using this
program with other computers may cause incorrect computer responses or
result in error messages.
Change the Boot Sequence to use the CD drive as the first device in
the boot sequence.
NOTE: Write down your current boot sequence in case you want to
restore it after running the Dell Diagnostics.
Insert the Dell OptiPlex ResourceCD into the CD drive.
Press <Alt><b> to exit system setup and save your changes.
The computer reboots and the Dell logo screen appears followed by a list of the available languages.
NOTE: If you are using the ResourceCD for the first time on this
computer, the ResourceCD Installation window opens to inform you that
the ResourceCD is about to begin installation. Click OK to continue. To
complete the installation, respond to the prompts offered by the
installation program. If the Welcome Dell System Owner screen opens,
click Next to continue.
Select Start computer to run Dell Diagnostics.
Select the number for the language that you want.
A numbered list displays the following options:
Option 1– Dell Diagnostics — Loads the Dell Diagnostics that run computer tests
Option 2– Exit — Exits the main menu and returns to an MS-DOS prompt
Select Option 1– Dell Diagnostics.
After the diagnostics initialize, the Dell Diagnostics main menu appears:
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu
Test All Devices: Performs quick or extensive tests on all devices.
Test One Device: Performs quick or extensive tests on a single device after you select it from a list of device groups. After you select Test One Device, press <F1> for more information about a test.
Advanced Testing: Allows you to modify the parameters of a test, select a group of tests to perform, and access additional information about Advanced Testing.
Information and Results: Provides test results, test errors, version numbers of subtests, and additional information on the Dell Diagnostics.
Program Options: Allows you to change the settings of the Dell Diagnostics.
Exit to MS-DOS: Exits to the MS-DOS prompt.
Select the type of tests to perform:
To perform a quick check of your computer or a specific device, select Quick Tests from the Test All Devices or Test One Device option.
Quick Tests runs only the tests that run fast and do not require user interaction. Dell recommends that you choose Quick Tests first to increase the odds of tracing the source of the problem quickly.
For a thorough check of your computer or to check a particular area of your computer, select Extended Tests from the Test All Devices or Test One Device option.
To customize your test(s), select the Advanced Testing option.
Remove the ResourceCD from the CD drive when you have finished
running the Dell Diagnostics.
Enter system setup and change the Boot Sequence to your original
configuration.
When you select Advanced Testing from the Diagnostics Menu, the following screen appears:
Advanced Testing Screen
NOTE: The groups and
devices listed in your
screen can vary somewhat
based on the components
installed in your
computer.
Information in the Advanced Testing screen is presented as follows:
Device Groups — lists the diagnostic test groups in the order they run if you select All from the Run tests menu option.
To select a test device group, press the up- or down-arrow key to highlight the group.
NOTE: The diagnostics may not list in the Device Groups area the names
of all components or devices that are part of your computer. For example,
it may not list a printer even though it is connected to your computer.
However, the parallel port to which the printer is connected appears in the
Device Groups list. You can test your printer connection in the Parallel
Ports tests.
Devices for Highlighted Group — lists the computer's current hardware.
Device groups menu bar — contains the options Run tests, Devices, Select, Config, and Help.
To select a menu option, press the left- or right-arrow key to highlight the option and press <Enter>, or press the key that corresponds to the highlighted letter in the category title.
NOTE: The options
displayed on your screen
should reflect the
hardware configuration of
your computer.
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 "Computer Messages" or "Computer Beep Codes" for information about each message or beep code.
If you receive a computer message, see the table below for suggestions on resolving any problems indicated by the message. The computer messages are listed alphabetically.
NOTE: If the computer
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
Address mark not
found
The basic input/output system (BIOS) found a faulty disk sector or could not find a particular disk sector.
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 has failed to complete the boot routine three consecutive times for the same error.
See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance, and report the checkpoint code (nnnn) to the support technician.
Attachment failed
to respond
The floppy drive or hard drive controller cannot send data to the associated drive.
Run the chkdsk utility in the Microsoft Windows operating system to check the file structure of the floppy or hard drive. See your operating system documentation for more information.
If you are using another operating system, run the appropriate utility to check the file structure of the floppy or hard drive. See your operating system documentation.
Decreasing
available memory
One or more dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) may be faulty or improperly seated.
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 "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Memory tests
terminated by
keystroke
The memory test was not completed.
Rerun the memory test.
No boot device
available
The computer cannot find the floppy or hard drive.
Enter system setup, check the computer configuration information for the floppy and hard drive, and, if necessary, correct the information.
No boot sector on
hard-disk drive
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 problem persists, reinstall your operating system. See the documentation that came with your operating system.
No timer tick
interrupt
A chip on the system board might be malfunctioning.
The floppy in drive A or your hard drive does not have a bootable operating system installed on it.
A nonbootable floppy is in drive A. Either replace the floppy with one that has a bootable operating system, or remove the floppy from drive A and restart the computer.
Not a boot
diskette
There is no operating system on the floppy.
Boot the computer with a floppy that contains an operating system.
Plug and Play
Configuration
Error
The computer has encountered a problem in trying to configure one or more expansion cards.
Turn your computer off and unplug it. Remove all but one of the cards. Plug in your computer and reboot it. If the problem persists, the expansion card may be malfunctioning. If the message does not reappear, turn off the power and reinsert one of the other cards. Repeat this process until you identify the malfunctioning card.
Read fault
Requested sector
not found
The operating system cannot read from the floppy or hard drive.
The computer could not find a particular sector on the disk, or the requested sector is defective.
The keyboard controller may be malfunctioning, or one or more DIMMs may be loose.
Run the System Memory and the Keyboard tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
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
Power-on self-test (POST) has queried the enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) drive for status information. The drive has returned a parameter from the call that indicates it has detected possible error conditions for its operating specifications.
Once your computer finishes booting, immediately back up your data and replace your hard drive. Restore the data to the replaced 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. This should be done only after you have backed up the data.
Write fault
Write fault on
selected drive
The operating system cannot write to the floppy or hard drive.
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 "Computer Beep Codes." 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
1-1-2
Microprocessor register failure
See Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
1-1-3
NVRAM
Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.
1-1-4
ROM BIOS checksum failure
Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.
1-2-1
Programmable interval timer
Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.
1-2-2
Direct memory access (DMA) initialization failure
Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.
1-2-3
DMA page register read/write failure
Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics, if possible.
A warning message alerts you to a possible problem and asks you to do something before execution continues. For example, before you format a floppy, a message may warn you that you may lose all data on the floppy 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 your application
programs or your
operating system. See
"Software Problems" 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 the Diagnostics Checklist found in "Getting Help." Also see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Should your computer fail to operate, lights on the front panel and back panel of the computer provide diagnostic codes that can help you troubleshoot a computer problem. The following sections describe the meaning of the diagnostic codes.
Ensure that the voltage switch setting is correct. If the computer still has no power, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Solid yellow
A device on the system board may be faulty or is incorrectly installed.
Be sure that each microprocessor is properly seated, remove all expansion cards, and then reboot. If the computer does not boot, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Solid green and a beep code during POST
A problem was detected while the BIOS was executing.
See the previous table for instructions on diagnosing the beep code.
Solid green power light with no beep code and no video duing POST
The monitor or the graphics card may be faulty.
See "Video and Monitor Problems" If the monitor is operating properly and is correctly connected, see "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Solid green power light and no beep code but the computer locks up during POST
An integrated system board device may be faulty.
See "Getting Help" for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
When you turn on your computer, it performs a power-on self-test (POST), which is 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 emit the single beep or appears to stop responding during POST, a series of lights located at the rear of the computer can help you understand which POST test failed or why the computer stopped responding. These lights indicate problems encountered during POST only, not during normal operation.
The light patterns described in the following table can help you determine what to do to resolve the problem. If a problem resolution requires you to open the computer chassis, see "Finding Solutions" for procedures you need to complete prior to performing the suggested resolution. If the problem persists after you perform the suggested problem resolution(s), contact Dell for further help.
The following table lists the codes for the back panel diagnostic lights, gives their probable causes, and offers suggested corrective actions. The light patterns are shown as they appear on the back of the desktop chassis (vertical position).
Light pattern
Problem Description
Suggested Resolution
off off off off
Normal off condition or possible pre-BIOS failure
Verify that the computer is plugged into a working outlet and that you have pressed the power button.
This section provides general guidelines for analyzing software problems. For detailed troubleshooting information on a particular program, see the documentation that accompanied the software or consult the support service for the software.
If your computer is behaving erratically, back up your files immediately. If your computer has a tape drive installed, see the documentation that came with the tape backup software for instructions on performing a backup operation. Otherwise, see your operating system documentation for information on backing up data files.
Basic Checks:
Ensure that the application program is compatible with the operating system installed in your computer and that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements needed to run the software.
Ensure that you properly installed and configured the application program. Reinstall the program if necessary.
Consult the software documentation or contact the software manufacturer for detailed troubleshooting information on a particular application program.
Ensure that you have not made an error while entering data.
Make sure that problems are not caused by a virus — Use a virus-scanning application program to check the floppy disks or CDs.
Verify that the program's device drivers do not conflict with certain application programs.
Confirm that a problem is software-related by running the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. If all tests run successfully, the error condition may be related to a software problem.
Ensure that the use of terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs has not resulted in a memory conflict.
Remove or confirm the possibility of a program conflict by rebooting your computer.
Make sure that a hardware conflict does not exist between devices.
Make sure the computer's operating environment is set up to accommodate the application programs you use. Whenever you change the operating environment parameters, you may also affect the successful operation of the application programs. Sometimes, after modifying the operating environment, you may need to reinstall a program that no longer runs properly.
If a specific key or set of keys is pressed at the wrong time, a program may give you unexpected results. See the documentation that came with your application program to make sure the values or characters you are entering are valid.
Error messages can be produced by an application program, the operating system, or the computer. "Messages and Codes" discusses the error messages that are generated by the computer. If you receive an error message that is not listed in "Messages and Codes," check your operating system or application program documentation.
Programs that use specialized subroutines called device drivers can also cause problems with your computer. For example, a variation in the way the data is sent to the monitor may require a special screen driver program that expects a certain kind of video mode or monitor. In such cases, you may have to develop an alternative method of running that particular program—the creation of a boot file made especially for that program, for example. Call the support service for the software you are using to help you with this problem.
Many utilities and supplementary programs load either when the computer boots or from an operating system prompt. These programs are designed to stay resident in computer memory and thus always be available for use. Because they remain in the computer's memory, memory conflicts and errors can result when other programs require use of all or part of the memory already occupied by these TSR programs.
Typically, your operating system's start-up files (such as config.sys and autoexec.bat) contain commands to start TSR programs when you boot your computer. If you suspect that one of these TSR programs is causing a memory conflict, remove the commands that start them from the start-up files. If the problem you were experiencing does not recur, one of the TSR programs probably created the conflict. Add the TSR commands back into the start-up files one at a time until you identify which TSR program is creating the conflict.
Some programs may leave portions of their setup information behind, even though you have exited from them. As a result, other programs cannot run. Rebooting your computer can confirm whether or not these programs are the cause of the problem.
Memory address conflicts occur when two or more devices try to access the same address in the upper memory blocks (UMB). For example, if a network expansion card and an expanded-memory page frame are assigned an overlapping block of addresses, a memory address conflict arises. As a result, when you try to log in to the network, the operation fails.
To resolve this type of conflict, you can change the address of one of the devices. For example, in the case of the network expansion card and expanded-memory page frame address conflict, you can move the network card to an address block in the range of CC000h through D0000h. To reassign the expansion card's address block, see the documentation for the card.
Problems can arise if two devices attempt to use the same interrupt request (IRQ) line. To avoid this type of conflict, check the documentation for the default IRQ-line setting for each installed expansion card, then consult the following table to configure the card for one of the available IRQ lines.
NOTE: The following
table lists default IRQ
settings. In computers
with Plug and Play
capabilities, you can
modify the default
settings. If you install a
Plug and Play card in a
Plug and Play computer,
the computer
automatically selects an
open IRQ line if any are
available.
IRQ Line
Used/Available
IRQ0
Used by the computer timer
IRQ1
Used by the keyboard to signal that the output buffer is full
IRQ2
Used by interrupt controller 1 to enable IRQ8 through IRQ15
IRQ3
Used by serial connector 2
IRQ4
Used by serial connector 1
IRQ5
Available
IRQ6
Used by the floppy/tape drive controller
IRQ7
Used by the parallel port
IRQ8
Used by the real-time clock (RTC)
IRQ9
Used by the video graphics array (VGA) interface (optional)
IRQ10
Available
IRQ11
Available
IRQ12
Used by the mouse port
IRQ13
Used by the math coprocessor (if applicable)
IRQ14
Used by the primary integrated drive electronics (IDE) controller
