Dell Inspiron 3700 User manual

System Codes and Messages: Dell™ Inspiron™ 3700
System Reference
Error Messages
Your application programs, operating system, and the computer itself can identify
problems and alert you to them. When this occurs, a message may appear on the
computer's display or on an external monitor (if one is attached), or a flash code may be
emitted.
If an error message appears on the display or external monitor, make a note of the
message. For an explanation of the message and suggestions for correcting any errors,
see Table 1. The messages are listed alphabetically.
NOTES: If the message is not listed in Table 1, see the documentation for
the application program that was running at the time the message
appeared and/or the operating system documentation for an explanation
of the message and a recommended action.
When Table 1 suggests that you run a Dell Diagnostics test, refer to
"Running the Dell Diagnostics" in Chapter 3 of the Reference and
Troubleshooting Guide for instructions. When Table 1 suggests that you
call Dell for technical assistance, refer to "Contacting Dell" in the system
Help for instructions. When Table 1 suggests that you enable or disable a
System Setup program option, refer to System Setup Program.
Table 1. System Error Messages
Message Cause Action
Auxiliary device
failure The touch pad, track stick,
or external Personal
System/2 (PS/2) mouse
may be faulty.
If you are using an external
mouse only, check the
connection for a loose or
improperly connected cable. If
the problem persists, enable the
Pointing Device option. For
information, see "Page 2 Options
of the System Setup Program." If
the problem persists, call Dell for
technical assistance.
Bad command or
file name The command you
entered does not exist or
is not in the pathname you
specified.
Make sure that you have typed
the command correctly, placed
spaces in the proper location,
and used the correct pathname.
Cache disabled
due to failure The primary cache internal
to the microprocessor has
failed.
Call Dell for technical assistance.

CD-ROM drive
controller
failure 1
The CD-ROM drive does
not respond to commands
from the computer.
Turn off the computer, remove
the drive, and boot the computer
from a bootable diskette. Then
turn off the computer again,
reinstall the drive, and reboot the
computer. If the problem
persists, try another drive. Then
run the CD-ROM Drive tests in
the Dell Diagnostics.
Data error The diskette or hard-disk
drive cannot read the
data.
Run the appropriate utility to
check the file structure of the
diskette drive or hard-disk drive.
See the documentation that
came with your operating
system.
Decreasing
available memory One or more memory
modules may be faulty or
improperly seated.
Reseat the memory modules
and, if necessary, replace them.
Disk C: failed
initialization The hard-disk drive failed
initialization. Run the IDE Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Diskette drive 0
seek failure A cable may be loose, or
the system configuration
information may not match
the hardware
configuration.
Run the Diskette tests in the
Dell Diagnostics. If error is not
corrected, have the cables
checked by an authorized
service technician.
Diskette read
failure A cable may be loose, or
the diskette may be faulty. If the diskette-drive access indicator lights up, try a different
diskette.
Diskette
subsystem reset
failed
The diskette drive
controller may be faulty. Run the Diskette tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Diskette write-
protected Because the diskette is
write-protected, the
operation cannot be
completed.
Slide the write-protect notch up.
Drive not ready No diskette is in the
diskette drive, or no hard-
disk drive is in the media
bay. The operation
requires a diskette in the
drive or a hard-disk drive
in the bay before it can
continue.
Put a diskette in the drive bay, or
push the diskette all the way into
the drive until the eject button
pops out. Or, install a hard-disk
drive in the media bay.
Error reading
PCMCIA card The computer cannot
identify the PC Card. Reseat the card or try another PC Card that you know works.

Extended memory
size has changed The amount of memory
recorded in NVRAM does
not match the memory
installed in the computer.
Reboot the computer. If the error
appears on the display again,
call Dell for technical assistance.
Gate A20 failure An installed memory
module may be loose. Reseat the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them.
General failure The operating system is
unable to carry out the
command.
This message is usually followed
by specific information—for
example, Printer out of
paper.Respond by taking the
appropriate action.
Hard-disk drive
configuration
error
The computer cannot
identify the drive type. Turn off the computer, remove the drive, and boot the computer
from a bootable diskette. Then
turn off the computer, reinstall
the drive, and reboot the
computer. Run the IDE Devices
tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Hard-disk drive
controller
failure 0
The hard-disk drive does
not respond to commands
from the computer.
Turn off the computer, remove
the drive, and boot the computer
from a bootable diskette. Then
turn off the computer again,
reinstall the drive, and reboot the
computer. If the problem
persists, try another drive. Then
run the IDE Devices tests in the
Dell Diagostics.
Hard-disk drive
failure The hard-disk drive does
not respond to commands
from the computer.
Turn off the computer, remove
the drive, and boot the computer
from a bootable diskette. Then
turn off the computer again,
reinstall the drive, and reboot the
computer. If the problem
persists, try another drive. Then
run the IDE Devices tests in the
Dell Diagnostics
Hard-disk drive
read failure The hard-disk drive may
be faulty. Turn off the computer, remove the drive, and boot the computer
from a bootable diskette. Then
turn off the computer again,
reinstall the drive, and reboot the
computer. If the problem
persists, try another drive. Then
run the IDE Devices tests in the
Dell Diagnostics
Invalid
configuration
information-
The system configuration
information does not
match the hardware
Correct the appropriate options
in the System Setup program.

please run System
Setup Program configuration. This
message is most likely to
occur after a memory
module is installed.
Keyboard clock
line failure A cable or connector may
be loose, or the keyboard
may be faulty.
Run the PC-AT Compatible
Keyboards test in the Dell
Diagnostics.
Keyboard
controller
failure
A cable or connector may
be loose, or the keyboard
may be faulty.
Reboot the computer, and avoid
touching the keyboard or the
mouse during the boot routine. If
the problem persists, run the PC-
AT Compatible Keyboards test
in the Dell Diagnostics.
Keyboard data
line failure A cable or connector may
be loose, or the keyboard
may be faulty.
Run the PC-AT Compatible
Keyboards test in the Dell
Diagnostics.
Keyboard stuck
key failure If an external keyboard or
keypad is being used, a
cable or connector may be
loose or the keyboard may
be faulty. If the integrated
keyboard is being used,
the keyboard may be
faulty.
A key on the integrated
keyboard or external
keyboard may have been
pressed while the
computer was booting.
Run the PC-AT Compatible
Keyboards test in the Dell
Diagnostics.
Memory address
line failure at
address, read
value expecting
value
An installed memory
module may be faulty or
improperly seated.
Reseat the memory modules
and, if necessary, replace them.
Memory allocation
error The software you are
attempting to run is
conflicting with the
operating system, another
application program, or a
utility.
Turn off the computer, wait 30
seconds, and then restart it. Try
to run the program again. If the
problem persists, contact the
software company.
Memory data line
failure at
address, read
value expecting
value
An installed memory
module may be faulty or
improperly seated.
Reseat the memory modules
and, if necessary, replace them.
Memory double
word logic An installed memory
module may be faulty or Reseat the memory modules and, if necessary, replace them.

failure at
address, read
value expecting
value
improperly seated.
Memory odd/even
logic failure at
address, read
value expecting
value
An installed memory
module may be faulty or
improperly seated.
Reseat the memory modules
and, if necessary, replace them.
Memory write/read
failure at
address, read
value expecting
value
An installed memory
module may be faulty or
improperly seated.
Reseat the memory modules
and, if necessary, replace them.
No boot device
available The computer cannot find
the diskette or hard-disk
drive.
If the diskette drive is your boot
device, make sure that there is a
bootable diskette in the drive. If
the hard-disk drive is your boot
device, make sure that the drive
is installed, properly seated, and
partitioned as a boot device.
No boot sector on
hard-disk drive The operating system may
be corrupted. Reinstall your operating system. See the documentation that
came with your operating
system.
No timer tick
interrupt A chip on the system
board may be
malfunctioning.
Run the System Board Devices
tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Non-system disk
or disk error The diskette in drive A or
your hard-disk drive does
not have a bootable
operating system installed
on it.
If you are trying to boot from the
diskette, replace it with one that
has a bootable operating system.
Not a boot
diskette There is no operating
system on the diskette. Boot the computer with a diskette that contains an
operating system.
Optional ROM bad
checksum The optional ROM
apparently failed. Call Dell for technical assistance.
Sector not found The operating system
cannot locate a sector on
the diskette or hard-disk
drive. You probably have
a bad sector or corrupted
file allocation table ( FAT)
on the diskette or hard-
disk drive.
Run the appropriate utility to
check the file structure on the
diskette or hard-disk drive. If a
large number of sectors are
defective, back up the data (if
possible), and then reformat the
diskette or hard-disk drive.

Seek error The operating system
cannot find a specific track
on the diskette or hard-
disk drive.
If the error is on the diskette
drive, try another diskette in the
drive.
Shutdown failure A chip on the system
board may be
malfunctioning.
Run the System Board Devices
tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Time-of-day clock
lost power Data stored in NVRAM
has become corrupted. Connect your computer to an electrical outlet to charge the
battery. If the problem persists,
try to restore the data. To restore
the data, press <Fn><F1> to
enter the System Setup program.
Then immediately exit it. If the
message reappears, call Dell for
technical assistance.
Time-of-day clock
stopped The reserve battery that
supports the data stored in
NVRAM may be read.
Connect your computer to an
electrical outlet to charge the
battery. If the problem persists,
call Dell for technical assistance.
Time-of-day not
set-please run
the System Setup
program
The time or date stored in
the System Setup
program does not watch
the system clock.
Correct the settings for the Date
and Time options. (For
instructions, see "System Setup
Program.")
Timer chip
counter 2 failed A chip on the system
board may be
malfunctioning.
Run the System Board Devices
tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
Unexpected
interrupt in
protected mode
The keyboard controller
may be malfunctioning, or
an installed memory
module may be loose.
Run the System Memory tests
and the PC-AT Compatible
Keyboards test in the Dell
Diagnostics.
Warning: Battery
is critically
low.
The battery is running out
of charge. Replace the battery, or connect the computer to an electrical
outlet. Otherwise, activate save-
to-disk suspend (S2D) mode or
turn off the computer.
System Flash Codes
When errors that occur during the boot routine cannot be reported on the built-in display
or on an external monitor (if attached), the keyboard status indicators (see Figure 1)
may flash together in a pattern of lights (or flash code) that identifies the problem. For
example, one flash, followed by a second flash, and then a burst of three flashes (code
1-1-3) means that the computer was unable to read the data in nonvolatile random-
access memory (NVRAM). This information is important to the Dell support staff if you
need to call for technical assistance.

The keyboard status indicators flash briefly when the computer is turned on. The flash
codes, if needed, occur after the boot routine.
Figure 1. Flash Code Indicators
1Scroll lock indicator
2Capitals lock indicator
3numbers lock indicator
When the computer emits a flash code, write it down on a copy of the Diagnostics
Checklist and then look up its cause and meaning in Table 2. If you are unable to
resolve the problem, use the Dell Diagnosticsto identify a more serious cause. See
"Running Dell Diagnostics" in Chapter 3 of the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide. If
you are still unable to resolve the problem, call Dell for technical assistance. See
Chapter 5, "Getting Help," in the Reference and Troubleshooting Guide.
Table 2. Flash Codes and Corrective Actions
Message Cause Action
1-1-3 NVRAM write/read failure. Run the System Board Devices tests in the
Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load,
call Dell for technical assistance.
1-1-4 ROM BIOS checksum
failure. Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load,
call Dell for technical assistance.
1-2-1 Programmable interval
timer failure. Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load,
call Dell for technical assistance.
1-2-2 Direct memory access
(DMA) initialization failure. Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load,
call Dell for technical assistance.
1-2-3 DMA page register
write/read failure. Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load,
call Dell for technical assistance.
1-3-1
through
2-4-4
An installed memory
module is not being
properly identified or used.
Make sure that a memory module is installed in
one of the memory module sockets on the
system board. The computer will not function
unless at least one memory module is installed.

3-1-1 Slave DMA register failure. Run the System Board Devices tests in the
Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load,
call Dell for technical assistance.
3-1-2 Master DMA register
failure. Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load,
call Dell for technical assistance.
3-1-3 Master interrupt mask
register failure. Call Dell for technical assistance.
3-1-4 Slave interrupt mask
register failure. Call Dell for technical assistance.
3-2-4 Keyboard controller test
failure. Run the PC-AT Compatible Keyboards test in the Dell Diagnostics.
3-3-4 Display memory test
failure. Run the VESA/VGA Interface test in the Dell Diagnostics.
3-4-1 Display initialization
failure. Run the VESA/VGA Interface tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
3-4-2 Display retrace test failure. Run the VESA/VGA Interface tests in the Dell
Diagnostics.
4-2-1 No timer tick. Call Dell for technical assistance.
4-2-2 Shutdown failure. Call Dell for technical assistance.
4-2-3 Gate A20 failure. Call Dell for technical assistance.
4-2-4 Unexpected interrupt in
protected mode. Call Dell for technical assistance.
4-3-1 Memory failure above
address 0FFFFh. Run the System Memory tests in the Dell Diagnostics.
4-3-3 Timer chip counter 2
failure. Call Dell for technical assistance.
4-3-4 Time-of-day clock
stopped. Call Dell for technical assistance.
4-4-1 Serial port failure. Run the Serial Ports tests in the Dell
Diagnostics.
5-1-2 No usable memory. Run the System Memory tests in the Dell
Diagnostics.