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System Codes and Messages: Dell™ Dimension™ XPS Txxx and Txxxr Systems Reference

Diagnostic Codes • POST Beep Codes • System Messages

Diagnostic Codes

Your system is equipped with four diagnostic code indicators, which are labeled "A," "B," "C," and "D" on the back of the computer. Each of the four indicators can be yellow, green, or off as shown in Table 1. When the computer is turned on or restarted and the system is functioning normally, the indicators flash during power-on self-test (POST). After the system starts, the indicators remain green to signify normal system operation.

If a malfunction is detected and the computer fails to start, the indicators display a code that identifies the problem. Write down the diagnostic code displayed, and look it up in Table 1.

Table 1. Diagnostic Codes

Diagnostic Code Definition Corrective Action
Power up default. Make sure that the system is connected to an electrical outlet, and then check whether the front-panel power indicator (see Controls and Indicators) is on or off. If the power indicator is off, check the power supply. If the problem persists, refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Dell Dimension XPS Txxx and Txxxr Systems Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

If the power indicator is on, reseat the microprocessor. Remove all expansion cards.  If the system still does not start, refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

System board is receiving power, but the BIOS is not executing. Set the configuration jumper to Maintenance mode and restart the system. Enter the system setup program and ensure that the microprocessor speed is set correctly. Exit and save the setting. Turn off the computer and reset the configuration jumper to Normal mode, and then restart the system. Reseat the microprocessor. Remove all expansion cards and restart the system to determine if a resource conflict exists. If a conflict exists, resolve the conflict as described in "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities" in Chapter 5 of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide. If the problem persists, refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Recovery mode from BIOS failure. Set the configuration jumper to Maintenance mode and restart the system. Enter the system setup program and ensure that the microprocessor speed is set correctly. Exit and save the setting. Turn off the computer and reset the configuration jumper to Normal mode, and then restart the system. If the problem persists, refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Microprocessor has failed a BIOS test. Reseat the microprocessor.  If the problem persists, refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Memory failed to be sized or enabled. Reseat the DIMMs. If the problem persists, remove all but one DIMM and then restart the system. Repeat this step until the malfunctioning DIMM is identified.
PCI bus failure has occurred. Remove all expansion cards and restart the system to determine if a resource conflict exists. If a conflict exists, resolve the conflict as described in "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities" in Chapter 5 of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide. If the problem persists, refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Video controller failed to initialize or respond. Reseat the video card.  If the problem persists, refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
IDE bus failure has occurred. Reseat the IDE cables. If the problem persists, refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
USB port or a device connected to it has failed initialization. Disconnect the device from the USB port. If the problem persists, refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Other failure. Refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
System has started and turned over control to the operating system. No action is necessary.

POST Beep Codes

If the monitor cannot display errors or problems, during POST the computer may emit a series of beeps, or beep code, that identifies the problem. For example, one beep, a burst of three short beeps, and two more single beeps (beep code 1-3-1-1) means that the system has encountered a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) refresh error condition.

If the system emits a beep code and then fails to start, write down the beep code and look it up in Table 2.

Table 2. System Beep Codes

Beep Codes Possible Cause Corrective Action
1-2 No video card detected Reseat the video card.
1-2-2-3 BIOS ROM checksum error Refer to Chapter 7, "Getting Help," of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
1-3-1-1 DRAM refresh error Reseat the DIMMs.
1-3-1-3 8742 keyboard controller error Reseat the keyboard connector.
1-3-3-1 Memory defective or not present Reseat the DIMMs.
1-3-4-1 RAM failure on line xxx Reseat the DIMMs.
1-3-4-3 RAM failure on data bits xxx of low byte on memory bus Reseat the DIMMs.
1-4-1-1 RAM failure on data bits xxx of high byte on memory bus Reseat the DIMMs.

System Messages

The first column in Table 3 lists (in alphabetical order) system messages that may appear on the screen during the boot routine or during normal system operation. The second column in the table lists probable causes of the messages, and the third column either provides a corrective action or refers you to a source for resolving the problem.

Table 3. System Messages

Message Possible Cause Corrective Action
nnnn Cache RAM Passed nnnn KB of system cache RAM has been successfully tested. No action is necessary.
nnnn Extended RAM Passed nnnn KB of extended RAM has been successfully tested. No action is necessary.
nnnn Shadow RAM Passed nnnn KB of shadow RAM has been successfully tested. No action is necessary.
nnnn System RAM Passed nnnn KB of system RAM has been successfully tested. No action is necessary.
CD ROM drive Identified The system's automatic drive-type detection feature has identified the CD-ROM drive. No action is necessary.
Diskette drive A error

Diskette drive B error

 Drive A or B is present but has failed the BIOS POST. Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the chassis and defined correctly in the system setup program.
Entering Setup The system is starting the system setup program. No action is necessary.
Extended RAM Failed at offset: nnnn Extended memory is not working correctly or is not configured correctly at offset nnnn. If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
Failing bits: nnnn nnnn is a map of the bits at the RAM address (in system, extended, or shadow memory) that failed the memory test. Each "1" in the map indicates a failed bit. If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
Fixed Disk n Failure

Fixed Disk Controller Failure

 The hard-disk drive specified by n is not working or not configured correctly. Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the chassis and defined correctly in the system setup program.
Fixed Disk n Identified The system's automatic drive-type detection feature has identified the hard-disk drive(s). No action is necessary.
Incorrect Drive x type - Run SETUP Diskette drive x is not correctly identified in the system setup program. Ensure that the drive is defined correctly in the system setup program.
Invalid NVRAM media type The system is having a problem accessing NVRAM (CMOS). Set the configuration jumper to Maintenance mode and restart the system to return all settings to their defaults.
Invalid system configuration data The system configuration information in the system setup program is incorrect, or the battery charge may be low. Enter the system setup program and verify the system configuration; then restart the system.
Keyboard controller error The keyboard controller failed its test. If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
Keyboard error The keyboard is not working correctly. The keyboard or system board may need to be replaced.
Keyboard error nn The BIOS has detected a stuck key represented by scan code nn. Make sure nothing is resting on the keyboard; if a key appears to be stuck, carefully pry it up. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the keyboard.
Mouse initialized The system's mouse has been found and initialized. No action is necessary.
Operating system not found The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C. Enter the system setup program and confirm that drive A or drive C is properly identified.
Parity check 1 nnnn A parity error has been detected on the system bus. The BIOS attempts to locate the address and display it (nnnn); if it cannot locate the address, it displays ???? instead. If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
Parity check 2 nnnn A parity error has been detected on the I/O bus. The BIOS attempts to locate the address and display it (nnnn); if it cannot locate the address, it displays ???? instead. If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
Press <F1> to resume, <F2> to Setup This message is displayed after any recoverable error message. Press <F1> to start the boot routine or <F2> to enter the system setup program and change any settings.
Press <Del> to enter SETUP Optional message displayed during POST. If desired, press <Del> to enter the system setup program.
Previous boot incomplete - Default configuration used After an unsuccessful boot, POST loads default values and offers to run the system setup program. (POST does not input these default values to the system setup program.) There may be incorrect values or incorrect settings in the system setup program. Run the system setup program and attempt to restore the incorrect setting(s). If the message reappears, set the configuration jumper to Maintenance mode and restart the system to return all settings to their defaults.
Real time clock error The RTC has failed the BIOS test. If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
Resource allocation conflict on motherboard The system cannot configure all system board devices without a resource conflict. Run the system setup program and try to resolve any obvious resource conflicts. If the message reappears, set the configuration jumper to Maintenance mode and restart the system to return all settings to their defaults.
Shadow RAM failed at offset: nnnn Shadow RAM has failed at offset nnnn in the 64-KB block in which the error was detected. If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
System battery is dead - Replace and run SETUP The CMOS clock battery indicator shows the battery is dead. Replace the battery and run the system setup program to reconfigure the system.
System BIOS shadowed The system BIOS has been copied to shadow RAM. No action is necessary.
System cache error - cache disabled RAM cache failed the BIOS test; the BIOS has disabled the cache. If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
System CMOS checksum bad - run SETUP System CMOS has been corrupted or modified incorrectly, perhaps by an application program that changes data stored in CMOS. Run the system setup program and reconfigure the system by either reverting to the default values or by making your own selections.
System RAM failed at offset: nnnn System RAM failed at offset nnnn in the 64-KB block in which the error was detected. If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
System timer error The timer test failed. If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
UMB Upper limit segment address: nnnn Displays the address nnnn of the upper limit of the UMB, indicating released segments of the BIOS which may be reclaimed by a virtual memory manager. No action is necessary.
Video BIOS shadowed The video BIOS has been successfully copied to shadow RAM. No action is necessary.

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